Disclaimer: I don't own the rights to any characters from Heart no Kuni no Alice/Alice in the Country of Hearts, but it has been fun playing in their world.

Confessions of Cruelty
Chapter 7:

Blood watched Alice out of the corner of his eye as he worked on his paperwork. She had seemed happy on the way home, listening to the twins talk about their new knives that they had gotten while he had been in 'negotiations' and joining in with Elliott talking about the tea shop that they stopped in and had lunch at. That was the problem, though – she 'seemed' and he could tell it was a farce.

He believed she did genuinely enjoy the trip, and with most of the stories she shared, it was obvious that she had. It was when things were silent that he noticed something had happened. It was the way she avoided talking about some parts of their afternoon. The mafioso could easily allow himself to become jealous, presuming that she was silent because she had been doing something that she shouldn't have, but something about her manner told him that wasn't the case. Likely he should simply ask her, but sometimes it was fun to let his mind wander and imagine what she was thinking.

Alice got up with an annoyed huff, practically stomping away from the sofa to put her book back. Surprisingly, she returned with a dictionary and angrily flipped through the pages, obviously looking for something specific. Blood could barely swallow his chuckles when the girl growled audibly at the book before slamming it shut.

"My my, Young Lady. What did that poor decrepit old tome do to you to deserve such harsh treatment?"

"It didn't have the answer to my question," Alice grumped in response, causing Blood to chuckle at her petulance.

"And what question were you hoping to find an answer for, Love?" Blood had gracefully moved to sit beside her allowing him to peer intently at her.

"It's nothing. Just something I heard earlier," she responded, ducking her head.

"Tsk. It's obviously something if you are abusing my poor dictionary just because it isn't an encyclopedia."

When Alice didn't reply, the hatter took her chin and forced her to look up at him. The darkening blush on her cheeks intrigued him. "Ah, you naughty girl. Looking up something less than innocent, were we?"

"No! I was only looking up..." Realizing she almost said it, Alice quickly shut her mouth and turned away from Blood.

"Only looking up...?" When his prodding didn't entice his lover to answer, he leaned back against the armrest of the sofa pretending to be thinking. "Hmm... well, you were in the beginning of the book, so likely a word beginning with A or B, maybe even C. What words could have been there that would cause you such embarrassment? Bondage?"

"Of course not."

"Bestiality?"

"Blood!" the girl practically shouted her denial as she turned towards him, indignant that he would even suggest such a thing.

"Do you even know what that is, my dear?" Blood smirked as he leaned in close to Alice, enjoying her fidgeting.

"Mmm, not exactly," she practically whispered.

"I thought not. Don't bother looking it up. You're mine. I'm not interested in sharing." Blood smirked as a look of embarrassment crossed her face. "If you don't tell me, I'll have to keep guessing and I'm sure that I could come up with far more embarrassing words than that."

The slight slump of her shoulders told Blood that he had won. With a heavy sigh, she finally replied.

"Adder. I was looking up adder."

Blood tilted his head and looked at her curiously. "An adder is a type of viper. Why would you go through all of this to not ask what that was?"

"It was something I heard today. The phrase didn't make sense to me and I was looking to see if there was another meaning for it besides a snake."

"And the phrase would be..."

Glancing guiltily, she answered, "Mad as an adder. Based on the rest of the conversation, I know they were talking about you, but I hadn't heard that phrase before."

Blood nodded knowingly. "Ah, yes. Some of the more backwoods people still call me that. Supposedly 'Mad as a Hatter' actually came from the phrase 'mad as an adder'."

"But I don't get it. Mad as a snake?"

"No, my dear Alice. Venomous as a viper. It means to be sharp tongued, cruel and violent." Blood's demeanor had changed from teasing to something more sober as he explained the phrase.

The two sat in silence for some time, Blood watching Alice through half closed eyes, Alice sitting primly, staring at her clasped hands.

"Blood?"

"Yes?"

"Is that why you had Elliott escort me today? Were you doing something that he wouldn't be able to stomach?"

"Yes."

There was no hesitation in his response, no teasing, no anger. The directness of his answer caused a chill to run down Alice's spine as she nodded her head in acknowledgment.

Several minutes passed with neither speaking. Finally, Alice looked over at Blood.

"Well, I think that answered my question. I'm going to go and let you get back to work."

Blood watched her briefly as she made her way to the door. Her posture telling him something was still wrong. Not liking this response he silently got up and followed her, pushing the door shut when she began to open it. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her tight against himself, her back to his chest.

"What are you thinking, Alice?" he practically purred in her ear, trying to coax her secret out.

"Honestly? I'm trying not to."

"But you are and I'm not letting you leave until I know what is bothering you so much." The hatter had an idea or two as to what was disturbing his young lover, but he wanted her to say it herself.

"Why do I feel as if it's worse to be called a 'mad adder' than to be called a 'mad hatter'? Logically it shouldn't, but for some reason it does."

"Because it is. Snakes, and especially vipers, are dangerous creatures. Children are taught to fear them so much so that most become adults who fear them. Very few people innately fear a hat. The phrase has many layers to its meaning."

"All of which are dangerous," Alice whispered.

"Yes, Love, all of which are dangerous. People don't fear me because I'm crazy or insane. They fear me because I'm cruel. They fear me because they know that crossing me is very dangerous." While speaking, Blood had begun to slowly rub his thumb across her stomach, a short, soft movement he had found that seemingly calmed Alice without her realizing it when she was agitated.

"Which is it?"

"Hmm?"

Alice pursed her lips slightly before explaining herself. "So did 'Mad Hatter' come from the story you told me before, or did it come from 'mad as an adder'?"

"Ah," Blood intoned. "That is a good question. The story I told you before is true, and many people like the idea that it is 'mad' as in 'insane'. It allows them to sleep better at night. The fact of the matter, my dear Alice, is that moniker likely comes from the 'mad as an adder' phrase. The hands of the mafia are soaked in blood and have been for generations upon generations and it's not because they are insane."

"It's because they are dangerous," Alice finished, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Deceptively so."

Blood could feel Alice retreating into herself, causing him to hold her to himself a little tighter. This was going to be the moment of truth. In all honesty, he had been afraid of this moment for quite some time. It was too late for her to go back to her world, but if she couldn't stomach the idea of being with a monster such as himself, he would have to let her go back to the others and relinquish his claim on her. None of them would be good enough for her, in his personal opinion, but aside from that damnable knight, they would all be a good deal safer than he was and they would take care of her.

Both occupants of the library could feel the heavy atmosphere around them. Alice felt she could barely breathe. She seriously thought about running, but standing as they were, she felt safe and protected. It didn't help that she was madly in love with the Mad Hatter. She couldn't leave him now even if he wanted her to. The girl simply loved him too much. They just needed to change the topic so that she could breathe again.

"So, now that we know how you became the 'Mad Hatter', tell me. What is it with you and your tea fetish?"

After blinking in surprise at the abrupt change in topic, Blood laughed, completely changing the mood. Opening the door, he pulled her hand through the crook of his arm and began leading her down the hallway.

"Well, my dear Alice..."

9 December 2011 - Completed