Disclaimer: I do not own Alice In Wonderland
Author's note: A slightly shorter chapter, but I hope you enjoy. Thanks to James Birdsong, Cobra Wonderland, KingofJesters and CastielandMexx for your reviews. This chapter is for you :) Also thanks to PerfectDisater22 for beta-ing :)
The Wrong Rabbit Hole
Chapter 2- Stayne
Another miserable day, Ilosovic Stayne thought as he looked out the window. Like most houses in the area, his was crudely made from earth. There was nothing else to use out here, except trees. But everyone around here avoided the forest like the plague. Stayne had never asked why. Some days he would walk right up to the edge, but he could never venture in. Perhaps it was the strange noises, almost like a child singing, that were heard from within that held him back, or maybe it was something more magical.
It was no wonder that even the outlanders would not live this far out. They chose instead to live on the border. Back here there was no colour except for brown and black. The day was no different than the night; Stayne had forgotten what days felt like, instead living an endless, timeless day. For many of the people here it sent them mad.
It was not just Stayne who existed here; there were many others who had been banished here over the years. Some had been here for centuries. Despite this, they had not aged a day. This was because Time no longer visited here. He left the outer regions of the outlands without time. No one knew why, but Stayne suspected it was because Time liked to see them tortured for longer. As a result, no one ever died, except by another or their own hands. That was how Stayne had released himself from Iracebeth. When she was the Red Queen, he had bowed to her and done everything she ordered. But he had never been attracted to her; it had only been her power that he loved. As soon as she lost that power, he no longer felt anything for her. For him, being chained to her was a fate worse than death.
This place had first been built for both of them. But the first night, Iracebeth had tried to charm him into bed. He was disgusted and had found his hands wrapped around her neck, squeezing with all his might. He only let go once she was dead.
He felt no remorse. Without her he could plan his revenge. The White Queen must fall, and in her place Stayne would stand as King. Then all Underland would be under his control, and he could then move upwards into the land where Alice came from. He couldn't have anymore heroes falling down rabbit holes.
But first he had to get out of the outlands. That was the difficult part. Stayne knew people who had been here for more years than he had lived, and no matter how much any of them wanted revenge, they had never found a way out. The banishment held magic that kept them trapped. Walking a few miles from this place, Stayne had found himself physically unable to move forwards and had been forced to return. The only way out of the outlands was to have the banishment revoked. That could only be done by the ruler, the White Queen. Stayne needed something, a bargaining chip. But the only way to get something or someone to hold ransom was to get them from outside the outlands, which was impossible. But still, Stayne had a long time to think this through, and somehow he would have revenge.
For now he could think no more about it. He rose from his chair and strode from the house. He was determined to get into the forest today. He could see the dead trees dimly in the distance and he walked towards them. He approached cautiously, not trusting whatever it was that lurked within that forest.
But as he came closer he noticed a figure standing just outside the forest. It was a girl- no, a young woman, Stayne corrected himself. She stood unmoving, looking into the distance towards the border. Did she long to return, like the others who existed here? Her face was hidden by a hood, but a light breeze blew around her and her hood fell back. Stayne gasped; he knew that mass of blonde hair. It was Alice.
As quietly as possible, Stayne walked up behind her and struck her with a stick he'd found on the ground. She went down after one hit. Stayne knelt down and cradled Alice in his arms. He gently stroked one hand down her cheek. He had his bargaining chip. Now nothing stood in his way; Underland would be his. And the so-called champion would help him, he thought triumphantly as he walked to his house with Alice cradled in his arms.
