La Belle Dame sans Merci
Author's Note: Here's a shorter chapter, but one that addresses a couple of things. Thank you to everybody who has been so supportive with the kind reviews and messages, it means a lot. Some of the ideas in this chapter are thanks to Lady Irish Rose. And to BlackBulletButterfly, hope this chapter also brings a little break for you. Oh, Brumeier just posted her last chapter to Songs for Wonderland, so please read and encourage her to write more! Enjoy, everybody!
Chapter Nine
Alice froze. "What are you talking about?" Her eyes darted back and forth between Hatter and Charlie. "My mom's not here."
"Alice, I…" Hatter swallowed. "When I came home that night and I couldn't find you, I called your mum. She wasn't answering her phone, so I went over, and…her place was a mess; ransacked."
"What?" she whispered.
"She was gone. I…I looked everywhere in her apartment."
Alice's face reddened. "You knew that she was taken here along with me, and you didn't say anything? You let me go on and on about rescuing my father, and you conveniently forgot to add that my mother's being held here too?"
"That's why…" he moved forward to touch her, only to have her slap his hand away. "Alice."
"No!" she yelled. "You knew that my mother has been here in Wonderland for days, and you didn't say anything!"
"I tried! You were so upset about your father, and…I tried, but…I didn't want to hurt you anymore by adding your moth-"
She rushed at him. "You think I can't handle it? I watched my father die in front of me! I've been tortured. I-I've been in a prison cell for days. Look, I'm not-"
"I couldn't stand the thought of hurting you anymore!"
"And not telling me about my mother is not hurting me?" Alice exclaimed in disbelief. "You should've told me. That first night when you brought me to your home…you should've told me." She shook her head. "How can I trust you?"
Hatter paled. "Alice, I-"
"When I was in that prison, and my dad was being taken away, he started to say something."
"What?"
"He knew." Alice looked up at Hatter and Charlie. "He was trying to tell me that my mother is here. He wanted me to…oh, god."
Hatter bit his lower lip nervously. "I couldn't figure it out till now."
"What?" she asked, her voice cracking. "Figure what out?"
"About why your mum was brought here. There were no answers, just…I was told that they took your mother. You…well, I think I could come to some kind of explanation for why you were brought back, but, your mum?"
"You said, 'now'. You know?"
Hatter and Charlie glanced at each other. "I think you do too," Hatter said quietly.
"What?" Alice chuckled uncomfortably. "What, that…that evil Queen, or Princess, or whatever? My mom is not an evil…listen to yourselves! Hatter, you know my mother. It wouldn't be possible for her to be this Queen, I mean that's like saying that she was taken from Wonderland and put in my world with a new personality."
"Like what happened to your father when he was taken from your world?" Hatter replied.
"You're lying. There's no way that any of this can be possible. My mother…" Alice shook her head. "It's not true. I mean, that's sick as fuck, Hatter. You're talking about someone who gave this Evredee person a whole new…no."
"Alice, it's too much of a coincidence. Evredee comes back on the throne…she sounds like your mother in looks, and your mum…Alice," Hatter pleaded.
"I think you're wrong."
"I think I'm right." Hatter closed his eyes. "I don't want to be right. Do you really think-"
"I don't know!" she shouted.
He stumbled backwards. "Okay. Let's go back to the house. I know that there are some books about Wonderland, and-"
"A picture of Evredee?" Alice cut in.
"Yes," he whispered.
"Good." Alice's chin quivered. "You'll see then, that I'm right. That my mother is not this person you think she is." She turned towards Charlie. "I hope you would still want to come with us. No matter what, I…I would still like your help in finding my father."
Charlie dipped into a low bow. "It would be my honor."
She nodded. "No matter what happens, I'm still going to get my dad out." Alice narrowed her eyes as she glanced at Hatter. "There's probably some questions that need to be answered, don't you think?"
The Suit gazed upon Evredee; adoration written across his face. "I'm ready," he said. "Are you ready?"
Evredee finished lining her mouth with the bright red lipstick, and took another look in the mirror. "Mary really should've paid more attention to the color of her makeup. She didn't really have much that complimented her coloring, but, since she was rather stupid…" She smirked. "At least she got ones that worked for her big sister!"
Evredee smoothed out the creases in the red dress she put on. "Have the people gathered?"
"Oh, yes!" The Suit practically skipped with joy. "We played your announcement all over the city. The people of Wonderland can't wait to hear what you have to tell them."
She smiled. "Of course they can't. Have you checked on the status of the pipes on the computer? Is everything running as normal?"
"Of course."
"Any sign of Jack? Of Alice?" she asked.
He shook his head. "No. The video feed around the city and the Resistance strongholds aren't picking up anything."
"Damn it. Okay, I'll give them a couple more days then I want the Scarabs out all over Wonderland. Did you bring the Stone of Wonderland back from," she gagged, "Caterpillar's dead hands?"
"Oh!" The Suit fumbled around in his pocket. "I meant to give it to you earlier, but I just got so blinded by your beauty that-"
"Oh, shut up," she muttered. Evredee snatched the ring out of his hand and slipped it on her left ring finger. "I'm assuming that this has been cleaned?"
"Oh, of course. I cleaned it thoroughly myself," the Suit replied.
"Good. I don't want any of his dead skin touching mine." She smiled, and waved her hand in front of his face. "What do you think?"
"It looks absolutely beautiful…Your Majesty," the Suit proclaimed reverently. "The colors bring out the blues of your eyes."
"Oh, it does, doesn't it?" Evredee giggled. "I believe I am ready now to greet the people." She held out her hand. "Care to escort me?"
"As you wish." He smiled, and walked with her to the front of the castle. "They're all going to be so excited."
"I'm sure they are." She grinned. "Sure they are."
They headed out the door to where Suits were lined up around the entrance. Thousands of Wonderlanders were gathered in the center of the city; all of them clamoring towards Evredee.
"Oh, isn't this nice?" she laughed. "All of you are here to see me. You know, I…I know that my rule of Wonderland is going to be truly glorious. I have all of you here to support me through this." Evredee nodded as they burst out in applause. "So, for one of my first acts as your Queen…I'm going to demonstrate what will happen to those who don't follow. But, I'm sure that this won't be a regular occurrence now, will it?"
She took a sword from one of the Suits, and nodded to the man who escorted her out. "Get down on your knees."
He quickly obeyed. "Now, I think that beheading is an appropriate punishment…don't you think?" Evredee raised the sword up, and swiftly lowered it down; slicing the Suit's head off his body. Blood splattered, sprinkling her in the face. She pursed her lips. "Any questions?"
The body shook on the ground as the people of Wonderland broke out in thunderous applause.
Alice slammed the front door behind her, leaving Hatter and Charlie outside "Well," Charlie chuckled, "JustAlice is a tad upset with you, isn't she?"
Hatter rolled his eyes. "Whatever gave you that idea?"
"She slammed the door in your face."
"Have you noticed that you're still out here with me? I don't see Alice extending an invite for you to come in," Hatter retorted.
The door opened, and Alice peeked her head out. "I'm sorry. Charlie, won't you please come in?" she asked sweetly.
"She's not mad at me," Charlie giggled.
"Alice, I…" Hatter groaned, and began to jump around in frustration as she shut the door again. He whipped his hat off, and stomped on it a couple of times before he pushed the door open. "Alice! You don't even know what you're looking for!"
He ran through the kitchen and dining room. "Alice!"
"I didn't say that you could come in," she grumbled.
"You need my help." Hatter sighed. "I love you."
She shook her head. "Where are the books, Hatter?"
"Downstairs. In my father's old study." He walked over to a door next to the living room and clicked it open. "I don't know what kind of state it's in."
"I don't care." Alice reached down to flip on the light. "I know I'm right. My mother is not an evil princess who had her personality redone." She paused, and shook her head. "That sounds really stupid. The sentences that come out of my mouth…"
"Wow," Charlie mumbled, "so many books."
"Oh, my god," Alice muttered.
The small room was crammed with books. Every shelf was overflowing, and the desk in the far corner was covered by three large stacks. "My father really liked books."
"No shit, Sherlock," Alice spat. "Okay, we just need to some kind of history book, right? I mean, nothing too old."
"The Royal Books!" Charlie exclaimed.
She turned around. "The what?"
Hatter snapped his fingers. "I don't say this much, but the old knight has the right idea."
"Of course I do!" Charlie replied, affronted.
"What are the Royal Books?" Alice asked.
"The Heart family has always been a bit egotistical, yeah?" Hatter stood on a stool, and began rummaging through the shelf. "All the Reds have been, but the Hearts especially so. They put out a Royal book every year with pictures, stories painting them in a good light."
"But…why?"
"Who knows? The Whites never did anything like that," Hatter replied. "I need to find the one from the year before everything happened, so like, twenty six years ago."
"I don't understand this whole White, Red thing you're talking about," Alice complained.
"The Whites and the Reds used to rule Wonderland in perfect harmony," Charlie cut in. "The Whites died out, and the Reds ruled all of Wonderland."
"So, who are the Hearts then?" she asked.
"They're Reds. They're just not a direct descendent of the Red King. They're a branch of the family who overthrew him," Charlie explained.
"Oh, so…Jack's father's last name isn't Heart?"
"No." Hatter jumped off the stool. "Why would the women of the family take the name of a lesser royal? I found it."
"Oh, goody." Charlie clapped his hands together. "This is exciting." He grabbed the book out of Hatter's hand, and began flipping through the pages.
"We'll check out the picture of this Evredee, and once we all realize that this woman is not my mother, we can move forward with getting my father and-"
"What if it is your mother?" Hatter asked.
"This woman ordered your parents to be executed." Alice's eyes flashed. "My mother could never be capable of that."
Charlie exhaled, and handed the book to Hatter. "I…"
Hatter swallowed. "Alice, you need to see this."
"What?"
"Just…look at the portrait." He placed the book down on the desk. "It's her, Alice."
She shook her head. "You're lying." Alice stared down at the photograph. "No," she whispered.
"Alice…" Hatter gently touched her shoulder.
"This is impossible. This…no. No, this…" She shook her head violently. "This can't be right!"
"Caterpillar was trying to bring down Jack," Hatter said quietly. "This explains it. I don't know the reasons, but, they somehow put everything together."
Alice's face turned ashen. "Jack," she whispered. "If that woman is really my mother then…Jack's my cousin."
"Aren't you happy?" Charlie asked. "You found a sane member of your family!"
She turned towards him. "Jack's my cousin. I…oh, my god. I kissed my cousin! He touched my…oh, my god!"
"You didn't know," Hatter said helplessly.
Alice moved away from him. "I need…I can't breathe."
"I'll get you some water," Charlie offered.
"No!" she shouted. "No, don't…I need air. I need to be alone." She ran her finger once more over the picture before she ran out of the room.
"JustAlice! Wait!" Charlie yelled.
"No." Hatter held the knight back. "What can we say, Charlie?"
"What do we do?"
"Why don't you get some sleep? I have some extra beds upstairs. I don't think anything is going to get resolved tonight, yeah?" Hatter replied.
"What do we do about…her?" Charlie pointed to the picture of the young Evredee.
Hatter shook his head. "I need to get Alice home. It's the safest thing to do, and…if she refuses…" He looked at the family picture of the Hearts. "We may have to kill her mother."
A/N: Oh, poor Alice. And it's only going to get worse from here on out. If there are things that you feel I haven't addressed, please let me know. I'm trying to answer all the questions surrounding Alice and Evredee as much as I can. There will be a chapter coming up in which more things come out, but please don't hesitate to send questions my way. Or if there is anything you wish you see, again, let me know. Thanks for reading!