AN/ sorry its been awhile since I've posted. Been really busy with life. Gets in the way of writing, right? haha Hope you like this chapter. Thanks again to my reviewers, you guys are great!
Chapter Six
It wasn't until Jack heard a clanking sound near his head, he realized he'd fallen asleep sometime throughout the long night of worrying. A woman servant, in a red short dress and lace ribbon holding her hair up, had placed a sterling silver tray on the small iron stool next to the bed displaying a generous breakfast as far as prisoners go. Toast, jam, few eggs, and steamy pot of tea with lemon. Definitely more than what Jack was expecting. Hell, he hadn't been expecting anything at all, much less a gourmet meal.
The servant nodded her head and began to walk out the room. "Wait," Jack called after her. "How can you be a part of this madness?"
She never opened her mouth or even looked him in the eye as she turned towards him. He waited a moment, but she wouldn't say anything. "Please, can't you see this Red Knight is crazy? Help me get out of here." Jack rose from the bed and took a step closer. The woman flinched and stepped back like he would hit her if she didn't distance herself. That really ticked him off. He may be a powerful man, but never in his life had he hit a woman and he had no intentions of starting now.
She kept her gaze focused on his feet, but braced herself to speak. It seemed hard for her as she chewed her bottom pink lip. "I…I'm sorry sir. I cannot help you," she said in a rush and scurried out the room before he could follow. Jack didn't hear the door lock behind her, but knew even if he did open it, there was no way he was leaving this place in one piece. But he couldn't pass up an opportunity like that without an attempt at freedom.
As he hurried over to the door and grasped the cold metal handle, he couldn't help but remember the utter fright in that woman's eyes. What could have caused her to be so skittish? He feared the worst and knew that some sovereign preferred beating their servants as opposed to treating them with the respect they deserved. His blood ran cold as his thoughts trailed to the Red Knight. Only cowards beat the weaker and Jack vowed right then, somehow he'd free these people from the knight. Most seemed to be as much prisoners of this place as he.
Jack pushed the wooden door and felt a cool breeze blast against his moist skin. It sent chill bumps down his arms as he stepped into the stone hallway. A red carpet running for what seemed like a mile in both directions under his feet, paintings of the Red Knight or a battle scene hung the walls and red drapes hung over the open windows looking into the earthy center of the kingdom with small golden tassels tying them to the sides. The servant woman from his room was almost running down the hall to the left of him. He meant to follow her and try to take her with him as he escaped, but as he pushed forward a deep scratchy voice bellowed from the direction behind him.
"Jack Heart, where do you think you're off too?"
He groaned and turned to face the Red Knight. "Where do you think I was going? If there is a way out, such as an unlocked door, I mean to go through it."
The knight just smirked and pointed his finger at Jack, "Seize him and carry him back to his room." Two men in red armor clanked forward and snatched either of Jack's arms before he could turn and run. "My servant, Olianna, left your door unlocked for me. She's beautiful isn't she? If you wish I can arrange some private time for you with her. Not much good for anything else…"
He looked at Jack as if he expected an agreement. Like hell, "You must be off your rocker. No, I will not be requesting anything from that woman, or any other beautiful woman you might have here. Servants aren't to be abused and disrespected, especially for something as low and pathetic as your lustful cravings."
The Red Knight surprisingly considered him a moment instead of getting angry before ordering his men once more to carry him into his room. Once inside, the Red Knight told his men to leave and lock the door behind them; he'd only need a minute. Jack stood firm beside the bed with his arms crossed. Everything about this man made his stomach turn and fury expand to limits he hadn't even been aware he had.
"Let me make one thing perfectly clear, Jack. As of right now you are my guest, anything you wish for, save for your freedom, you may have. But you continue to behave in this manner, you're luxury as my guest will cease and I will be forced to shackle you in one of the dirty cells the servants sleep in. I do not want to treat you to such hostility, but it is your decision."
Jack didn't say anything. He was afraid if he tried, it wouldn't be words the Red Knight wanted to hear. "I'll take your silence to mean your understanding. And be warned king, your necessity of this situation won't last forever. When you're of no more use, you can stand by me or die with the others," he laughed as Jack winced. "Yes, Jack, your friends will die, your precious wife will die and if your people won't relent to my will…they will die too."
Jack held back even though he was shaking from head to toe and his breathing came in shallow short huffs as the rage overwhelmed his senses. His hands tingled as he imagined them around the knight's neck, squeezing every last breath out of the man till his skin turned cold. "You won't get away with this," Jack hissed through his teeth.
"Oh I'll succeed, you can be sure of that. I'm not like my father, the first Red Knight, you see; I plan ahead. Speaking of which, your little friends should be arriving sometime soon, within the next day I would hope."
"Alice? No, she's not that dumb. She won't fall for any of your tricks, Red Knight." Jack knew Alice would come; just as she had when his mother held him captive before, but the Red Knight didn't know that. Maybe he could buy her some time; think of something. Maybe she wasn't even in Wonderland at all. Could be a trick, he thought.
Just then a small clap echoed around the room and a tiny puff of smoke mushroomed on top the metal stallion by the fireplace. A purple ball of fur stood, licking one of his paws. Jack studied the creature. He couldn't believe it had just appeared out of nowhere. It wasn't possible.
"Ah, Cheshire, tell me good news," the Red Knight demanded.
The fur ball purred and smiled through violet lips over stark white teeth and fangs. It was the creepiest thing Jack had ever seen; human but not. "They are coming, my lord. Everything is in order."
"Excellent. You've done well my humble emissary. You may go and fetch some milk from the stable, but mind you I want you back out there watching their every move. If they don't appear to be heading towards the kingdom or try anything funny to swindle me, speak with them again. Convince them to not bother with such foolery and hurry here now or their king, Jack, will be dead long before they set foot on my kingdom."
"Understood. But I don't suspect them to be any trouble. They are as gullible as a mouse on a cheese trap. Mmm, I may have a mouse as well before I leave." The cat purred again.
"Very well, but make it quick."
The Cheshire cat bowed his head with lain back ears and popped out the room as abruptly as he entered. Jack just stared at the empty space on the horses back. Alice was in Wonderland and she was on her way. Damn. She needn't put her life in danger again for him. This was wrong. There must be something he could do. The Red Knight's gruff voice intruded on his thoughts once more. "Jack, there is nothing you can do to stop your friends," he said as if he knew what Jack had been thinking.
"I won't let you hurt them."
"If it's any consolation to you, I don't plan on killing Alice. The others will die of course for their attempt to stop me, but I have bigger, better plans for Alice."
Jack didn't understand what the man meant, and it showed. The Red Knight walked around him towards a window, his red cape flowing behind him. "You see, every time someone worth ruling Wonderland has been brought to their knees by Alice of Legend. Now that the Queen, your mother, has fallen and the White Knights are no longer a problem, the only threat left to my ruling Wonderland myself is Alice of Legend. I refuse to wait for her to pass through the Looking Glass and threaten my reign. I will face her before it comes to that; while I'm prepared and on my own terms. If she refuses my terms, than she will die with the others."
Jack finally realized what this was all about. Jack was here to draw out Alice for the Red Knight to devour her and Wonderland as well. If he ruled, the wonderful place Jack knew as his home would fall to ruins like the White Knight's kingdom. He didn't want to see his home come to that, but he wouldn't let Alice destroy her life for him or it. "What are the terms you speak of?"
The Red Knight turned back to him with burning hate, "That is for myself and Alice to discuss. Your only concern is to reframe from causing trouble for me or endure the consequences. Now, I must go and prepare for our guests."
Jack watched him walk to the door and order his men to open it. He glanced back smirking at him with such malice in his expression, Jack knew he was insane. The door clicked and locked behind the Red Knight.
This was just one big mess, he thought. The situation could be worse, but Jack was trapped in this hell hole, Alice and the others were on their way to face their deaths or worse in Alice's case; he didn't know what that was, but it couldn't be good with this guy and Jack knew Wonderland was doomed if they didn't bring the Red Knight down. Well hell, Jack fumed.