Chapter 11

Mattie POV

After I finished talking with Vivaldi about what happened, she pulled me into a hug and I wrapped my arms around her. She smoothed my hair consolingly. Someone knocked on the door.

"Your majesty, there is an issue in the throne room." A faceless could be heard saying. She sighed before standing up.

"You're free to stay here if you'd like." She said with a soft smile before leaving. I sighed and got up. Well, I guess I could stay here. No use in leaving and probably getting lost. I went outside and walked around until a familiar voice called.

"Hello my dear Alice~" The bunny man himself called. I turned around with pursed lips.

"I'm Mattie." I said dryly and he blinked.

"Oh, so I see you are." He said smiling. I rolled my eyes. "My dear, is something troubling you?" He asked as he tilted his head with a soft smile.

"It's nothing you should worry about." I said sighing.

"You could always talk to me." He said and was suddenly enveloped in smoke. I furrowed my eyebrows, did he spontaneously combust? In his place I saw a cute little bunny wearing a read tailcoat just like his. I almost squealed at the cuteness. Aw, so adorable~ I picked him up in my arms. I wrapped my arms under his little furry ones and I walked around the garden.

"Well, since you insist." I said smiling. I walked around the large bushes full of roses and other flowers as I poured my heart out to the little bunny in my arms. He was patient and listened to every word I said without interrupting. "And now I'm here." I finished.

"Well, that certainly is a tail worth telling." He said in awe at how quickly my relationship shattered into pieces.

"I guess. So now I'm single and trying to pick up the pieces." I said as I sat down under a tree. The soft grass tickled my legs. Peter moved so that he was sitting in my lap and facing me. I ran my fingers through his fur and petted his soft ears. They were so fluffy and soft. "Peter, why are you being so nice to me?" I asked curiously.

"You're a foreigner just like Alice. I love all foreigners so that means I love you too." He said smiling and nuzzling me. I smiled and played with his ears.

"That's very sweet of you." I said smiling. I leaned against the tree and looked up at it's vibrant green leaves. "It was all a misunderstanding, and Elliot wouldn't even let me explain what happened." I said sadly. Peter patted my cheek and I looked down at him.

"It's alright Mattie, you'll see. Everything'll turn out perfectly." He said rhyming. I giggled and rolled my eyes.

"I hope you're right." I said smiling.

Elliot POV

I can't just stay sitting here! I need to go out and find Mattie. I got up and stomped my way to the front gates as I darted my eyes everywhere.

"You won't get the boss to dock our pay again, chickie rabbit!" The Bloody twins yelled.

"Yeah, whatever." I said dismissively as I strode past them. I don't even care that they're slacking off work. I walked through the streets and shops and everywhere I could. I went to the amusement park first, that'd be the most obvious place she'd go. I walked in and Mary strode up to me.

"What is it?" He asked with a grimace.

"Calm yourself, I'm not here on business. Has Mattie been here?" I asked. The cat walked up to us.

"Mattie? She was here a few hours ago but hasn't come back. Why?" He asked as his curiosity got the best of him. I grimaced at him.

"None of your business." I said and turned around. I walked out and checked the other territories. None of them had seen her. The only one left was the heart castle. I doubt she'll be there but it's worth a shot. I looked everywhere for her. I walked out into the gardens and looked around there. I passed through bushes of flowers and came across a large tree. My eyes widened at what I saw. Mattie was sitting at the base of the tree. She had White's head in her lap and she was fondling his ears. He was saying something to her and she was smiling down at him. White's ears perked up as I approached. He sat up and turned his head to look at me. Mattie followed his gaze and her eyes widened when she saw me. She shot up and grabbed the bark of the tree. She expertly climbed it and was soon out of view. I grumbled under my breath as I turned to look at White. He was standing protectively in front of the tree as if though to protect Mattie. "This is none of your business White, so just get out of the way." I said and he shook his head.

"I won't let you hurt my beloved any longer." He said with crossed arms. I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion.

"Your 'beloved'? What are you, stupid? That's Mattie not Alice." I said and he chuckled under his breath.

"It seems you are not well informed. I can see why, we've never had two foreigners at once. But there is a rule in case something like this were to happen." He said with a grin and I was extremely confused. "Just like with Alice, everyone will also love Mattie. But unlike how Alice was loved right away, it will take a little longer for everyone to realize they love Mattie. Mattie has intruded on Alice's game, but now that she has drunk the potion of hearts, she is part of the game as a sort of backup." He said and I shook my head.

"But I loved Mattie first!" I exclaimed. He chuckled.

"It doesn't matter. I loved Alice first and she still ended up with the Hatter." He said with a hint of bitterness and I realized how probable it was that Mattie would be with someone else. I swallowed the lump in my throat. "Now, I suggest you leave." He said and I whipped out my gun, he brought his out too.

"Not without Mattie." I said as we both raised our guns. A body jumped down from the tree and snatched the guns out of our hands.

"When the guns come out is when I interfere." Mattie said crossing her arms. We turned to her and she was completely serious as her eyes darted from White, to me, and back. "Elliot, why are you here?" She asked as she turned to me with a monotone expression.

"Alice explained to me what happened and I came to apologize." I said and her eye twitched.

"So you heard out Alice and not me?" She asked dryly.

"Well, um..." I trailed off not knowing what to say. White saw his chance and boy did he take it.

"You see my dear, he probably still has feelings for Alice." He said and Mattie completely froze.

"Feelings?" She asked quietly.

"Mattie, don't listen to him!" I said and she ignored me.

"Ah yes dear, didn't you know? Even the second in command of the mafia succumbed to our little Alice. He was love sick for the longest time until Dupre finally took Alice as his own. I wouldn't doubt that he still has feelings for her." White hummed and I grew panicked as Mattie's face turned dark and all emotion left her.

"Is that so?" She asked quietly. I wordlessly gapped as my panic grew.

"Yes, and isn't it convenient for him that just a while after Alice was Dupre's, her identical twin suddenly comes into Wonderland?" White asked rhetorically and Mattie threw down the guns before sprinting back into the castle. I was about to run after her but White grabbed my arm and held me in place. "I wouldn't recommend that." He said obviously pleased with himself.

"Unhand me." I growled out. His shook his head.

"You should leave before I blow your brains out." He said quickly grabbing his gun and hopped away. I scowled at him. I let out a deep breath as remembered Mattie's face right before she fled. I managed to catch a glimpse of her expression. She looked like her heart just shattered and look like she was about to burst into tears. I sighed as I picked up my gun. I walked out and slowly made my way back to the mansion. If I had just listened to her, none of this would be happening.