Hello! ^^
Big thankyou to: James Birdsong, Jhinra, the real mad hatter, schnook and Ducky'sgirl4everfor your review making ^_^
I hope you all like this next Chapter, but here it does get slightly confusing with some of the talking. But hey, it is Wonderland ;3
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Limehouse was busy in the mornings. Merchants from the distant colonies in India and China threw crates of teas, rice's and bags of opium from huge vessels docked in the Regent's Canal Dock. Buyers haggled from steaming stalls and the occupants of the bedraggled house ran about, selling goods or playing in the snow. The whole of Limehouse was a hive of feet. Unbeknownst to the chaos of people, a small caterpillar walked through the streets, yelling at each person who nearly stood on him.
"Woohoo! Down here you dirty nosed prick! That's it ignore me, I may be small but I can bite!"
His small squeaks were not heard over the yelling and haggling that filled the area. The caterpillar grumbled about 'lack of fuel' and walked on, until he reached some stairs leading into an underground basement. He stopped at the industrial door and shook his fist at it.
"You aint gonna get me you bugger!"
Just then the door opened, nearly pinning him against the wall. He huffed, but then quickly sped in panic through the closing door, before he was locked out. A Chinese doorman looked down at the caterpillar quizzically.
The caterpillar looked up and waved his arms "I am an illusion…" and disappeared into the Opium den.
It didn't take him long to find the long chemise he was looking for. He climbed onto the body of an older man, who lay stoned, his arm dropped over the side a hookah dangling from his lips. An attendant rushed over and cleared away the glasses and placed the Hookah back on the table. The caterpillar climbed onto the mans face and opened an eyelid peering inside.
"Hello there? Cingoli? Wakey wakey!"
"Hmm?" The man stirred and saw the caterpillar visibly annoyed on his cheek. "Help yourself to it, you look grey."
"At last!"
The caterpillar jumped over to the table and took a huge inhalation of opium.
"Thank God for you Cingoli! That other bastard only gave me some! Us old boys stick together."
"Why you here?" The man was still collapsed on the chemise, like many of the others around him. He spoke sleepily.
"I am here, my tall pale skinned friend, because two of your equally tall and pale skinned persons have unfortunately been murdered, by a tall long legged person, who is invariably connected to events that are spiralling out of our smaller counterparts control." The caterpillar rose himself up to full height on the table and then collapsed back onto the Hookah. "And the purple whiskered fellow stole my Hookah."
"Fair enough. Yet you expect that me and my longer legged colleagues and fellows will have the brain power to hand to help these uncontrollable spiralling occurrences come back to a reasonable level of madness?"
"Something like that yes. This stuff is bloody good, Cingoli!"
"What's she like then?"
"Tall and long legged. With pale skin and darker hair."
"Hmm, not her long legged pale skinned and haired mother then… interesting, she takes after a knight." The man stretched backwards and smiled. "I am glad I can have these conversations with a fellow such as yourself. It is such a bore containing everything over here."
Just then a shadow fell over the man and he opened his eyes and squinted above him, raising his hands to shield his eyes from the dimmed lanterns above. A cat purred from the side of his chemise and the man sighed. The caterpillar sneaked back onto Cingoli's chest and into his coat pocket.
"Cingoli, you better pick up your feet, sir." Then man above Cingoli bent in closer and the cat jumped onto his shoulder purring. The man smiled, but concern tinted his voice. "Your colleagues are looking for you. You are needed, my friends."
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"Stay back, stay back. Nothing to see ere! Oi, you nosey sod get back!" A constable pushed a small boy back with his baton. He was on crowd control, keeping nosey citizens and desperate journalists back from the crime scene behind him. "Stop pushing! Get back."
A middle-aged man wearing a smart brown suit and top hat pushed through the throng and flashed an Inspector's badge to the officer.
"Come through detective inspector Cingoli. Sergeant Dover is waiting over there."
Cingoli ducked under the line and walked towards the shop. Dover was talking to a shaken constable while taking notes.
"That poor fellow was first on scene." He whispered to his pocket. The caterpillar poked out his head.
"He is going to lose his dinner!"
Sure enough the constable put up his hand and threw up into the gutter. Dover shook his head in disgust and beamed when he saw Cingoli.
"Ah, back from the dragon, eh, Cingoli?" the two men walked into the shop. "Don't be alarmed, by the mess. And…" He stopped Cingoli, looking serious, "This gets out to no one, no one. I have specifically barred some, less trustworthy, constables from the scene. I don't want London to be concerned about some crazy murder. Best to let the public stay in the shadows for the moment."
They ducked under an assortment of dolls, most of who were splattered in blood. Congoli looked closely at the surroundings, noting some things were missing. He then looked to the floor and grimaced when he saw the bloodied decapitated bodies. He then noted the white rose that was strewn a top the two bodies.
"Ringing any bells?" squeaked his pocket.
Congoli bent down and held the rose between his fingers. He found himself in a cold street, in the dead of night. He could hear the cries of a white knight from down a side alley. His breath condensed in the cool rainy air and he ran to the man's aid. A blonde haired woman lay dead on the floor, her husband cradled her in his arms. A single white rose lay next to her. Were these two murders invariably connected? He sighed throwing the rose back down. If that were true then this game was getting out of hand. He spun on his heel to a young man in the corner. He stood staring at the bodies, his face unreadable.
"You a relative?" He got no reply. "Excuse me, sir? Are you related?"
"Yes. Yes. Terribly sorry. Yes, I am… was their son." He crossed his arms and blinked as though interrupted from his thoughts.
"What are you doing here?"
"I came here with fresh tea. Like I do every morning. They needed their tea, you know. Yeah, I think you do know don't you Gov?"
"Do you have a decent alibi?"
"Most certainly Gov, the Hatter Shop down the road, the keeper can vouch for me, I buy hats off him ya see? No strings attached. If you need me, you'll find me here. Need to keep this place running don't I?" He sighed deeply and glanced over to the bodies. "Fancy a cup o tea?"
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Frederick Von Phantom sat in his carriage, chin resting on his hand and stared into the streets rolling by. He looked tired and incredibly ill. His face was grey in colour and his eyes bore dark circles. The Queen had been working him hard, sending him to many different countries. This was all a game to her. A game that had gone on for many years, and even now showed no signs of stopping. Frederick was fed up of it, fed up of having his fate controlled and rationed. His carriage halted as they reached a section of heavy traffic. Outside his window he spotted a young man, strolling through the crowds. He wore pinstriped trousers and a long purple coat, white blonde hair running wild. Frederick did a double take and gasped when he saw a purple cat loyally trailing behind the man. The man stopped and turned abruptly, facing the carriage and smiled at the Duke. At that moment the carriage pulled away, leaving the Cheshire cat behind.
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Alice sat in the drawing room, humming to herself and sipping her tea. Jasper and Walter sat opposite her having a heated political discussion about the Houses of Parliament. They were still very much Queen's men, but times were changing and heading more and more towards the Parliamentary system, even though the Queen was still running the country. She was the driving force behind the Parliament, unseeingly making all the decisions. Alice tilted her head as Edgar entered the room. She frowned, as he looked slightly pale.
"Young master, mistress, sir." He bowed to them all, one gloved hand clenched in a fist by his chest. "The master has returned."
They all heard the door slam and the sound of footsteps from the hall. The duke entered the room.
"Edgar, I expect my supper to be prepared and my bath ready tonight." He stood in the room and looked ahead as Alice and Jasper bowed and curtsied. Walter stood up and beamed.
"Frederick my old pal!" They shook hands.
"As I understand, Alice, you have a suitor? Mr. Abercrombie I take, very influential family." He was going to stop this game right here and now. He wanted out, he wanted his children to be out.
"Yes, father. This is his second attempt. Why do you ask?" She frowned. Fear crept into her face. Jasper and Edgar exchanged worried glances.
"I accepted his offer. You shall be married to the boy. You should be very happy."
Before Alice could protest a number of things happened. Jasper stood up in alarm, face aghast and clearly upset. Edgar dropped the tray of tea he was carrying out the room and Walter stood up straight and exploded in anger. Outside a group of animals were by the window each trying to get a grasp of what was happening inside the room. Alice just remained silent, the words not sinking in.
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"What's happening in there?" the rabbit said, frowning slightly, ear pressed to the window. The light from inside poured into the dark night.
"Dunno mate. Some one will tell us when they get out of there. Hjckrrh!" a cockney voice drawled out from a strange looking bird. "Anyways, while we wait my good friends, who wants to do some betting, aay. Hjckrrh?"
The other animals twittered in excitement.
"Same as last time?" The caterpillar squeaked.
"Yeah, mate. Same as last time. I believe my esteemed friend the turtle and rabbit won last time. Hjckrrh"
"It was such a bore, I don't like winning." Moaned the Mock turtle.
"Shut it, you whining shell. So, place ye bets. I myself, think its gonna be the caterpillar. Hjckrrh"
"Yawn! I think the cat is going to win. Hmm, treacle." Said a sleepy dormouse.
"When did he get here?" The caterpillar asked the flowers, freezing in the flowerbed.
"Tck, why do you ask us you slimy thing? No, don't chew our petals."
"I would say the mad hatter, but that would not be a very nice ending for her. Dying." Said the Mouse. "Imagine that. The poor fellow, coming here as a disease. The Queen must have been really upset by him, when he murdered time."
'It wasn't just time. Yawn! He murdered song as well."
'Oh, yes. Yes. Dreadful, truly dreadful."
"I say the cat." The rabbit spoke up. The caterpillar looked at him.
"Traitor! What about me?"
'Don't see it, sorry. You ignore me anyways!" The caterpillar switched off halfway through his sentence. 'See, like now! I really am going to befriend a tree."
"I say, myself, the ecclesiastical caterpillar. She is smitten."
'In your dreams!" Cried the Dodo. "The rabbit has to be."
They all stopped bickering for a moment and stared at the Dodo, dumbfounded. The rabbit kept his mouth open in disgust.
"He is her SISTER! That is incest! Jeez, no wonder your extinct over here."
"We're extinct?"
"Alrigh' then, bets are in. Hjckrrh."
Just then the front door of the house opened and Walter trudged out. He put on his top hat and gloves. He heard the commotion behind him and walked over to the animals.
"Hey hey. What happened in there?" The white rabbit asked.
"That… man, that stupid fool of a man, has gone and arranged a marriage to some total utter creep!"
"For himself?" Yawned the dormouse.
"Oh do shut up." Barked the caterpillar.
"Now Alice is going to be married to some total jerk off, meaning that everything could be ruined! You guys are going to have to act fast!" Walter shook his head and marched off down the road. The rabbit quickly followed him.
"Well. We all may loose the bets, ey? Hjckrrh" said the Griffin.
"And the Queen, is not going to be impressed." Piped up the dormouse. They all murmured in agreement.
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Alice lay on her bed in her room, fully clothed and unsure what to do. How could he do that to her? Especially when her birthday was in two days. She curled up her legs and brought them to her chest. Maybe she should run away? That way her father would no longer look at her in disgust and she could escape from the clutches of an over controlling husband. There was a slight knock on the door and Gwendolyn entered. She carried a tray of tea and something else on a plate.
"Miss Alice? I thought I would bring ya some tea and bread and butter. To cheer you up?" She walked over to the bed and sat at the foot of it, pouring out the tea. The two girls were around the same age, and had played together as children. To Alice, Gwendolyn was like a sister she had never had.
"Oh Gwen. What am I to do?" Alice moaned. She sat up and took the tea, as Gwendolyn poured herself one. "I don't want to be married! I want to get away from here, see the world, live in strange places."
Gwendolyn sipped her tea and nodded. "It is a bit harsh, miss. But you wait, some thing will happen to save you from this. I am sure."
Alice admired Gwendolyn's ability to always see things in good light. But Alice knew how harsh this world could be and she saw no way out whatsoever.
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Authors Notes:
So here we are. If you have not already guessed, the animals have about 2 or more counterparts which are human. It is very easy to guess some of them, but I have purposefully left Frederick's counterpart to be in the dark and giving him refernces to more then one OC for Alice in Wonderland. It is largely up to YOU to decide which one he is ^_^
Thank you for reading :3
Please review etc etc.
XNancyX