Mirana had been shocked to see me, and I would have happily stayed for hours at the castle, but I decided to return to Tarrant's 'tea party'.

"Happy un-birthday!" Tarrant exclaimed as I re-entered the clearing. "I should have got you a present."

I smiled uncomfortably. "It's ok, T. It's just an un-birthday."

"No, no! An un-birthday is much more then that! It's-" Tarrant trailed off and focused on my watch. "Is your watch running late? I could fix it for you, if you like."

I glanced down at the watch in question, a watch that told only the year, but not the time. I remembered Tarrant and Thackery's favorite way of 'fixing' watches. "It's okay. It's running fine." I noted, shocked, that I'd been in the darkness for over two hundred un-years. What had happened in that time?

I remembered some of my father's prophecies. Alice will come again, but she will not be Alice of Before, although she will become more like Alice of Before as time goes on. She will make many alliances and slay the Jabberwocky and save many people but in the end it is she who must be saved.

I shrugged off the memory and sat down. "Where's Alice right now, Tarrant?"

Tarrant frowned. "Alice? Why, she's-" he paused. "She's-" he frowned. "She's-gone? Alice is gone. Gone!"

The last word was a yell, and I threw myself backwards out of the chair as his eyes darkened from a colourless silver to a toxic green. He stood up, glaring at me, and I fumbled for my sword. But, of course, it wasn't there. I had lost it when I had died.

Or had I died?

My brother's eyes returned to normal, and he sat down again. "More tea, Nirvana? Or can hallucinations drink tea? I think they can. Can they?"

I sighed, and sat down again. "Yes. More tea would be great."

Alice was going to be in trouble.

And I knew how to help her.

"Are you feeling all right?" My brother asked as I sat up. "You fell asleep, which is very bad manners."

"Alice is in trouble." I told him, getting up quickly. "I have to help her."

I glanced at my brother again, who was staring at empty space. His eyes were an emerald green and they were focused on something that wasn't there. His mouth moved, mouthing something I couldn't hear. "Tarrant?" He didn't respond. "Tarrant!" I shook him. "Come on! We have to go!"

"Yes." he said faintly. "We have to- go."

"Tarrant, are you-"

"Yes, I'm bloody well fine!" he shouted suddenly, standing up, and I backed away. His hat fell to the ground, and his eyes were a jet black. I could see my reflection in those eyes, an orange haired girl who had dyed her hair black, who had shifting eyes that represented her emotions, who had a crazy brother, a girl who had died.

"Tarrant!" I yelled, watching his eyes as they faded to a dull orange.

"Do stop shouting, Not-Hallucinatory Nirvana." Tarrant said, picking up his hat, and settling it back on his head. "We have to go save Alice."

I smiled at him. It seemed my brother was back. For now.

The day I died.

I settled in the grass, twining some around my fingers while I watched the dancing and the celebrations. Several couples were dancing in the centre of the open space, and I spotted my parents briefly, looking happy. My brother and Mirana were to the side, Mirana astride her beautiful white stallion, and Tarrant was clapping his hands in time to the music, smiling. He turned to say something to Mirana, and I saw the flash of the Vorpal Blade at his belt, secured and ready for use.

That's when the screaming began, and I glanced up to see the monster bearing down on the party, and people running, my parents falling, Mirana's horse bolting. I scrambled to my feet, watching the destruction, and Tarrant stayed where he was, pulling out the sword and running forward. He swung the blade towards the beast, but the Jabberwocky dodged, and Tarrant came at it again and again, his eyes darkening with determination.

The first bearer of the blade.

I fingered my dark hair. The second bearer- was a dark haired girl.

I darted forward, as the monster slashed at my brother with his claws, catching his side, and throwing him to the ground. I grabbed the sword from the ground and pressed forward, slashing and striking, struggling to get a hit in. For all it's size, the Jabberwocky was agile.

I hit out again, and heard a satisfying snick as the head was separated from the body.

But then I fell. And the darkness reared up to welcome me.