We all took the stairs two at a time, bursting through the back door. Peering around the side of the building, true to Percy's word a man in a heavy brown overcoat and a matching hat lounged near the front entrance. I turned back to the boys.
"What makes you think he's a card soldier?" I whispered.
Percy tapped under his eye. I squinted at the man and sure enough a black diamond sat on each cheek like a beauty mark.
"Black diamond? No, that's all wrong," I slid down the side of the wall, "Diamond's should be red she- she's messing everything up."
"Alice?" Caleb asked. I nodded. We worked our way back around the building, running across the rear parking lot.
"There's no way we're all gonna fit in that," I crossed my arms, eyeing the tiny mustang. I felt ridiculous, still in my pajamas from the night before.
"We're dumping it by the bus stop," Elliot pushed past me, opening the trunk, "After you."
"Now way," I shook my head, "Shotgun or nothing. And what d'you mean 'dump it'?"
"Well it wasn't exactly mine to begin with."
"You stole it?"
"I borrowed it."
"Isn't that a sin?"
"You are really pushing me your highness."
"Four seats," Percy hopped into the back seat, "Pick a lap or, regrettably, the trunk."
Caleb shrugged, giving me the 'after you' arms. I sighed and he climbed into the front seat. I clambered into his lap, folding my arms indignantly. Elliot stamped down on the accelerator and my forehead crashed into the window, a dull purple bruise sprouting over my brow.
"Buckle up," he chuckled, peeling out of the parking lot.
As soon as we lost the Mustang we were on the public bus, racing uptown. Me and Caleb sat crammed in the back seat, and the rest of the boys stood crowded around the handrails. They were tense, like they were ready to fight at any second.
"Hey… kid."
I looked up in curiosity. A blonde boy, maybe nine or ten was tugging on Aeron's pant leg. Next to him a squatter counterpart with curly hair crossed his arms.
"Yeah who you callin' kid?" Aeron glanced down, a small smile tugging on the corner of his lips.
"It's Pain," the short one hissed, "And Panic!"
Aeron's eyes darkened, "What are you doing here."
"Gotta message from your pops kiddo," Panic raised his eyebrows "First he says hi. How ya doing?"
"Get on with it," Aeron growled. His hands were clenching into fists.
"Ya doin' a good job kid-"
"I can do without the impression."
"Okay, fine. Whatever. Geeze," the little boy put his hands up, "All the old man wants you to know is that you're doin' good and that you need to watch your back."
"Thanks. But next time? Tell him not to tell me unless he can do it himself."
"He can't exactly do that right now…"
"Exactly," he waved towards them. The demons' eyes widened before they burst into a puff of smoke. A woman across the aisle looked pointedly at him and then at the 'no smoking sign', shaking her head. Aeron's hand's trembled, knuckles white in a stark comparison to his tanned skin. I looked away, embarrassed on intruding his private moment.
The bus ground to a halt and we piled out, an enormous iron gate stretching infinitely in either direction. Caleb plugged a handful of numbers into a pad, stepping back as it swung open. Running up to the front step I looked up at the biggest house I'd ever seen on Earth. A brick walk trailed up to massive red double doors. We barely knocked before the doors were ripped open, the thinnest woman I'd ever seen draped across the doorway.
"Oh dear, I thought you were Charles. Now, who the hell are you?" she spoke, the lines on her face stretched taught with every word. Bright red lipstick flamed across her pale face, and a massive fur coat made her skinny frame ever skinnier. She looked ancient and sad.
Caleb pushed through, freezing in front of his mother. She blinked slowly, looking him up and down.
"Well look who's gotten all big and strong," she cooed, but it sounded cold and mocking.
"Mother," he replied stoically, as if not trusting himself to speak.
"Well come in dear, come, come," she abruptly turned, waltzing inside, "And bring your friends- I do hope they're clean."
We hesitantly followed them in, eyeing the rich décor. Everything was in shades of black and white and red, from the crimson chandelier down to the spotted shag rug. Elliot reached for a tall black vase and I punched him hard in the side. He whipped around to retaliate but we were stopped by the sound of a shrill voice.
"19th century Japan, the Meiji period to be precise. It's worth, well, it's worth more than you darling. If you touch it again I will shoot," she hadn't turned around, her heels still clacking over marble floors, "Caleb darling who did you say these people were?" she fluffed her coat, finally swiveling around.
"These are, um, Elliot Frollo. Jillian Heart," he gestured to each of us awkwardly in turn.
"Oo dear let me guess the rest," She pointed a gloved hand accusingly, "Percy Hook, Hade's boy… oh, yes what was it- Aeron! Aeron, and oh I know the sea witch. Yes, yes, Dylan! Ah, yes now why of all people would you bring them into my lovely home? Do you prefer a penniless mummy or dead friends?"
"I'm sorry what are you insinuating-" I narrowed my eyes.
"Thieves, thieves they're all the same," she took a long drag from her cigar, "But nonetheless, nonetheless sit, stay. I implore you. If that's what little Caleb desires so be it."
"I have a surplus of guest rooms darlings so please, pick any room you like," she waved her hand dismissively, disappearing into another room. We all looked at each other, dumbstruck.
"Well," Aeron raised an eyebrow, "You heard her," he collapsed into a scarlet chaise lounge, "You know" he mumbled into the upholstery, "It could definitely be worse."
"Yeah I'm not so sure," I squinted at a crystal bowl, sitting precariously on a marble counter. Straightening I wandered down a side hall, searching for the acclaimed guest rooms. A bed that wasn't cheap carpeting over hard wood sounded divine.
Her house was like a labyrinth. It felt like you could wander for ages and never find your way out. I stopped, a familiar face rounding my peripheral vision. Turning, I squinted, trying to make out features in the dim light.
Caleb grinned from behind the thin layer of glass, nearly unrecognizable under a layer of baby fat. He couldn't have been over five or six, sitting on the knee of a blonde woman in maybe her forties. She didn't look particularly happy in any sense of the word but she was calm, relaxed. It was almost as if I wasn't looking at the famed Cruella Deville.
A hand landed on either of my sides, startling me. I turned, only to be met nose to nose with Elliot. His eyes were smoldering, searching back and forth between my own. I opened my mouth to tell him exactly what I thought about him when his lips crashed down against mine, his tongue invading my mouth. I stood frozen for a moment. Before squirming violently, pushing him off of me. His eyes were dark when they met mine.
"What the fuck!" I hissed, my hands balling into fists.
"Don't pretend you didn't enjoy it princess," he turned around.
"How dare you," I ran forward.
"Maybe if you got over your PWSD it'd be easier to remove that massive stick from your ass," he spat.
"PWSD?"
"Post Wonderland stress disorder," he folded his arms.
"WHAT?" I roared, grabbing his shirt.
"You were royalty. You had a family. I have no pity for your kind," he snorted.
"My kind? You- you violated me!" I was shocked at his ludicracy
"Why do you have a hissy fit every time someone brings up Wonderland anyway?" he grunted.
"I- I-" my face crumbled and it all came rushing back.
Flashback time!
