Chapter 3

Rin awoke a short time later. To her dismay she was stuck inside what resembled a bird cage. Rising to her feet she stretches and looks around. Noticing the cage's door she walks to it. Just then as Rin trys to lift the door Stayne walks into the room. A smile crosses his lips as he notices the girl now awake and trying to get out of her prison. "Well isn't my little song bird such a pretty little thing."

"Why am I here?"

"Well I always wanted a rare bird for this lovely cage. You my dear are indeed a rare bird. Not an Alice though but still a mighty rare thing to have come into Underland like you did."

Rin crosses her arms and turns her back on him. "I'm not Alice."

"Of course your not Alice. Your far more beautiful then Alice ever was. Yet how you came to Underland is a mystery to us. How did you get to be here?"

Keeping her back to him, "I followed the white rabbit."

Placing a leather gloved hand on his chin he thinks for a moment. "That white rabbit must be Mirana's page Nivens. Always a bothersome creature bringing unwanted guests down here. I'm surprised he didn't go and fetch Alice though."

Rin turns to face him slightly and bites her lip, thinking to herself she decides not to tell him that her mother is Alice. "Since I'm not Alice what do you plan on doing with me."

Stayne looks at her with a keen interest, "Well I believe you should meet her majesty first, yet not in such a tiny state as you are in now."

He walks to the table and collects a small cake bringing it to the cage he slips it inside to Rin. "Take a bite of that and hurry into my hand so I can set you on the ground, before you bust my bird cage."

She does as she is told and takes a medium size bite out of the cake. Then Stayne wraps his hand around her and pulls her from the cage. As she is being lowered to the floor she begins growing. Just as her feet hit the ground she spurts up quickly and as she grows her dress rips from her lithe body. Stayne's eyes grow wide as he watches the girl try to cover her self. He licks his lips as he takes in the sight of her beautiful naked body. He swallows harshly and turns before he can not control his excitement. "Use the blanket to cover yourself and stay in here until I return with something more suitable for you to wear."

Grabbing the blanket she wraps it around her and sits quickly on the bed. Her whole body is blushing she could feel that man looking at her as her clothes fell apart. Trying to keep a strong face she fails and begins crying to herself.

As Stayne closes the door he leans against the frame and takes a deep breath. He knows he is the queens favorite, perhaps he could persuade the queen to let him keep the girl as his own. He rubbed his hands together as he begins walking away. Oh the fun he could have with a girl like that would easily drive any man mad, he thinks.

Elsewhere... Tarrent continues to run only slowing down as he tires. By now Stayne must have her at the Red Queens castle; he thinks. He lets out a sigh why did he never take things the far distance he sees Iracebeth castle, he shakes his hair and looks down. He should have held onto her not let her ride on his hat. What a silly thing to do ride by hat. He leans against a tree and slides down to the ground to rest a moment. Closing his eyes two tears travel down his face, why did he have to be such a mad man.

Back at the castle... Rin falls asleep on the corner of the bed. She has never felt so tired before, her thoughts drift to a man with wild hair and captivating eyes. Will she ever see this man again and why did her heart feel empty now that she was alone. Stayne walks in carrying a simple black dress in his arms he begins to call out then notices her on the bed sound asleep.

He smiles, placing the dress on a nearby chair he picks her up and lays her out on his bed. Keeping the blankets wrapped around her he climbs into bed next to her. Gently he places an arm around her and closes his eyes. Meeting with the queen can wait until the morning. Tonight he just wants to enjoy her company in his arms. He kisses her forehead and watches as she gets goosebumps. Whispering in her ear, "just wait my pretty little bird you'll soon be like this nightly once the queen allows me to keep you. Then again that will be only when we tend to sleep, I have so many wonderful ideas of what I can do to you."

Rin shivers as she hears a voice speaking to her but instead of allowing her eyes to open she digs deeper into her dreams. There she finds a mad hatter opening his arms to her and waiting for her to join him. A smile crosses her lips and Stayne believes it is for him, but a barely audible whisper comes out from her lips, "wait for me...Tarrent."

Stayne pulls her tightly against his body as he begins to doze off. He thinks what a wonderful toy he has then realizes I don't even know her name. He sighs, I'll have to mend that tomorrow when we wake up. he uncovers her slightly so that her bare back is visible. He can't help but to run his fingers lightly over the exposed skin. "So soft" he mutters "she must be an angel."