Gwendolyn stared at the woman in front of her with wide scared violet eyes, "I don't understand Mother, I've done everything you've asked of me." Her voice quivered as fear rose inside her.
Her mother had never given any indication that training was not going well. Gwendolyn had gotten very strong in her magic, perfecting spells even Regina had trouble with, but today training took a turn. Suddenly her mother was asking her to reach deeper and turn to dark powers to accomplish a task that was unspeakable.
Regina raised an eyebrow and looked at her young daughter with cold calculated eyes, "How do you ever expect to amount to anything in this world if you choose to limit your power. You were given a gift Gwendolyn, it would be selfish of you not to use it to the fullest of your potential."
"How is not wanting to hurt another living creature selfish?" Gwendolyn's dark brows knit together in confusion.
"This world is not all sunshine and daisies. There is real evil in it and sometimes that evil disguises itself. You're magic gives you the power to protect and rule our people better then they even realize. Would it not be selfish of you to ignore that and sit in the garden all day watching the roses grow around your father's grave?"
The young princess stiffened, "I will not use dark magic Mother, I'm sorry but it is wrong and it always comes with a bigger price."
"Then you will always be weak and useless to this kingdom. Our subjects need a strong ruler who isn't afraid to do whatever must be done." A dangerous fire flashed in the queen's eyes as she glared at her daughter.
Instantly, Gwendolyn felt her fear grip her to the core, "You should find another pupil." She whispered, feeling venerable.
Without a second thought, Regina took a menacing step closer to her child, "I was wrong to have ever even wasted my time on you, you are nothing. I never want to lay my eyes on you again." she spat, throwing her arms out in a quick flash and knocking Gwendolyn back through a churning chasm.
Everything went black as the young princess spun wildly out of control in the vortex. Color suddenly swirled into her view just as she hit the ground, hard, in what seemed to be a rose garden. She stumbled to her feet, taking in her unfamiliar surroundings. A sweet smell wafted in the breeze and she could hear birds singing strange songs in the distance. She began walking unsteadily through the garden, surprised by the odd flowers. Before long she was met by an odd man in a tall black hat. He stared at her for a bit before reaching out to touch her face.
"Are you a dream?" he asked, his voice low and smooth. His fingers were cold against Gwendolyn's skin and they smelt of the bizarre red dye that had stained them.
Pulling away from his touch, she shook her head, "Last I checked I was every bit as real as you." she replied indignantly.
"Where did you come from? Surely you are not from around here, I would remember such a beautiful face."
"I came from the Enchanted Forest." she stated, shivering in disgust as the man continued to ogle her.
"How did you get here, the Red Queen sealed all the portals."
"My mother sent me."
"Your mother must be very powerful to have gotten you here. Are you on a quest?"
"No, I'm not on a quest."
"Then why did she send you here?"
"Because I refused to use dark magic to kill an innocent creature."
The man's eyes glowed with excitement, "You have magic?"
Gwendolyn nodded but said nothing, watching the man closely.
"Do you have anywhere to go? A place to stay, so to speak."
"No, I haven't had much of a chance to find a place as of yet."
"Well then, you simply must stay with me." He cast a wide toothy grin at her.
"I couldn't possibly, I don't even know you."
He removed his hat and bowed lowly, "I am Jefferson the hatter my Lady, and if you truly have magic then we are going to be good friends."
"Why do you need my magic?"
"To help me find someone." he told her simply, returning the hat to his head.
"Who?"
"That is a personal matter, and I would like to keep it as such."
"If you cannot trust me with the details, why should I help you?"
His grin turned dangerous as he turned toward the large dark castle in the distance, "Because just beyond the gates of the Red Queen's castle is a fearsome creature known as a bandersnatch, and if you do not help me, I will turn you over to the Red Queen and she will watch as her beast rips you apart limb from limb. The Red Queen doesn't like strangers in her land, you see, and if she knows where you have come from, she will be even more eager to see you dead."
Gwendolyn gulped, "And if I help you, will you let me go to find a portal home?"
"My dear, there are no portals back to your home. But if you help me, I will give you shelter and keep you safe from the Red Queen's rage."
"And all I have to do is help you find someone?"
"Simple as that my dear, and I would of course like to know your name. It would only be right if you are going to be in my home."
"My name is Gwendolyn." she told him simply.
He smiled and turned away, "Come along then Gwendolyn, we have quite a walk ahead of us."
Pushing past her reservations, she followed Jefferson along the path.
"Do you cook?" he asked suddenly.
"No, I'm sorry I don't."
"That is unfortunate, but practice does make perfect, I'm sure you will catch on after a bit."
"Cooking was not part of our arrangement."
"Of course it was. You have to do something to make this deal worth my while and cooking is the best place to start. We can pound out the rest of the details later."
Gwendolyn stopped and stared at the hatter, "I thought helping you find your friend was what made it worthwhile for you."
"You expect me to just take you into my home and protect you from the Red Queen for the rest of your life, and you do only one small task?"
"That is what was implied."
"My dear, implications are nonsense. You will cook for me or I will turn you over, simple as that."
"But I don't cook." she argued, crossing her arms over her chest.
"You will learn." he told her, grabbing her wrist forcefully and dragging her behind him to his home.
When they arrived, he threw open the door and flung her inside, "There, safe and sound. Now I am a bit hungry, so if you don't mind, a stew sounds lovely."
She stood firm with a heated glare, "I will not cook."
He crossed to her in a heartbeat, leaning in close to her face as his fingers trailed down her cheek, "That is a shame because a creature as stunning as you should not die in such a horrible manner."
"I suppose I could conjure a stew." she murmured.
Jefferson leaned in closer, his breath hot against her ear, "That's a good girl." he purred, his hands traveling down her neck to her cleavage. He palmed one of her breasts and kissed her neck, "Perhaps I should work up an appetite first."
Gwendolyn's heart stopped and held her breath as she struggled to push him away, "This was not part of our arrangement."
"No?" Jefferson asked, stealing a quick peck again, "Odd, I thought that the arrangement was you do what I ask or I have you fed to the bandersnatch." His other hand skimmed down her side, pulling her body tightly against him, his desire pressing into her.
"Please don't do this. I will help you find your friend, I'll even cook for you, but please don't do this."
His hands grasped her behind as he ground against her, "Oh you'll like this, I'm sure, but I do have to apologize. It has been a very long time for me and I'm afraid that I may not be able to take the time I'd like."
Something shifted inside of Gwendolyn and before she realized what was happening, Jefferson jolted backward into one of the wooden kitchen chairs. He sat immobilized, staring at her with wide eyes.
She stood tall over him as she spoke, "I am not here for that. If you want help, you'll be wise to remember that because I know of beasts far worse than your bandersnatch."
Jefferson looked like a scared child as he shook his head, "I just want to find my daughter, please, I'm sorry, I don't know what came over me."
"You're daughter?"
"Yes, her name is Grace. We were separated when the Evil Queen sent me here and traded me for her father."
"What Evil Queen?"
"Regina, from your realm. She tricked me into coming to save her father who was stuck here. I knew about a portal between our worlds and once she had what she wanted, she sealed it, leaving me here in exile."
"My mother did that to you?" Gwendolyn's shoulders slumped.
"Regina is your mother?"
"Yes, and I'm sorry for what she has done to you. Tell me what I can do to help."
"My hat, it had magic once. I could travel freely between the worlds, but being here has weakened it and I need your help to recharge it."
Gwendolyn's eyes narrowed, "And you'll use it to what end?"
"Did you not listen?! I intend to use it to find my daughter."
"Explain to me how this hat works."
Jefferson shrugged, "It merely opens portals. I can take one person with me, and bring one person back, no more, no less. I simply need to get to the realm that my daughter is in."
"And you intend to use me to get to this realm and then just leave me there so you can live happily ever after with your daughter?"
The hatter had the gall to blush, "I know not of another way."
"Well then, I'm afraid you're going to have to find another sorceress to fix your hat. I have no intention of returning to the Enchanted Forest."
"But with your magic and my help, we could find you a portal to return wherever you wanted." he offered hopefully.
"Even so, I think I'll pass." She turned for the door, "Good luck finding your daughter, Jefferson, but I'm afraid I cannot be the one to help."
He stood up groggily, "Please, don't go, I need your help, you're the first person in a long time that has even had the ability. I can sense your magic is strong, surely we can figure something out."
"I'm sorry but I don't see a way. If I go with you through your portal, you'll be reunited with your precious daughter and I'll be forced to face my mother. I like my chances of staying here and finding an alternative better."
He sighed and gave a curt nod, "I understand, but will you at least help me recharge my hat? I can go alone and perhaps take you somewhere when I return."
"And then who comes back with you as my replacement? There is no solution you can give me Jefferson."
He grinned, the madness in his eyes bright, "We'll find someone who will find this realm just as enticing."
"You have an evil mind Jefferson, I'm not sure I should trust you to do that."
"You have evil in you as well—we all do." he smirked, "What could it hurt to try?"
"I could be stuck living in the shadows and hiding from my mother if I help you."
"With your power, doubtful."
"You're faith in my power is very inspiring, but I am not helping you."
He smiled wickedly, "Oh I'm sure I could find a way to make you."
"You're welcome to try, but one wrong move and I'll rip your heart out."
Jefferson smirked, "Do you have it in you?"
"You don't want to find out." she told him in a low menacing tone.
He took a fortifying step back then as a purple aura grew around her and her magic seeped from her pores, her lilac eyes glowing with anger. She arched a dark eyebrow, "My Grandmother was strong, my Mother is stronger, the power in my family grows with each generation. I could take your heart before you've even realized my hand was in your chest." She exhaled a long calming breath, "I wish you luck in finding your daughter, but given the choice between your bandersnatch and my mother, I'll take my chances with the wild beast."
And with that, she turned for the door and left, not sure where exactly she was headed.
