Authoress Note: All right everybody. I haven't exactly been keeping up with the story and I'm ashamed to say that I'm a procrastinator and that graduation is coming up. So I'm trying to cram us much time into my schedule as I can. I appreciate everyone's patience and this chapter will pay off for you.
And now…line up ye lawbreakers of Topsy Turvy.
Watergoddesskasey: Why thank you very much. :3
KakaIru-luver: My good friend, reviewer, from my Death Note Story. Good to see you back again. Yay! Oh my fan art of everyone! Yes! Fan artist alert! (point point) Applaud everybody we have a fanartist! Thanks
Jamesbirdsong: Thanks, glad to see you're still reading it.
Shoue: Oh! Look another reviewer from my Death Note Story too. Huzzah! Good to see you back! (shakes hand) I love the fact you're a momewrath fan, I think everyone wants one now. Haha.
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Disclaimer 1: I do not own the rights to Alice in Wonderland. It is purely copyright of Lewis Carol. The original characters: the Mad Hatter, the March Hare, The Cheshire Cat, The Dormouse, The White Rabbit, The Queen of Hearts, and of course an Alice are all owned by Lewis Caroll.
However…I have my own character ownership too.
Disclaimer 2: This story I wrote is my original idea, please do not steal it. The original characters in this fan fiction: Harlequin Hatter, Henrietta Hare, Chevalier Cat, Delmont Dormouse, Reginald Rabbit, Seth, The Heart of Darkness: Justine, the 'white heart': Tabitha all belong to me.
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Tabitha stood there in silence as she watched a strange rabbit eared woman kneel in front of her and The Hatter woman at the head of the table address her to join them.
"Um…I-"
Henrietta immediately stood to her feet and grasped her by the hand. "Here, here. Take my seat your majesty." She insisted. Henrietta had never before seemed so nervous and excited before in her life. The only other time Harlequin Hatter could remember Henrietta this jittery was on her fist bite of carrot casserole.
Chevalier of course had lost interest in all other things around him, for he was busy pawing at Reginald's tail while he sat atop him.
"Bunny-boy! Have you missed me?"
"Not very much." Reginald said, face down in the grass. "Now could you please get off me? I've got tea to serve and I won't let Madame do it by herself." He pulled his face up off the ground and turned his head towards Chevalier to frown at him.
Chevalier of course looked at Reginald funny and leaned in close, sniffing his ears and hair all over before he deduced finally, "You smell funny, Bunny-boy. What's gotten into you? You're not shaking all over and I'm mad because of it."
Reginald grinned at him. "I've got a backbone. But in return, you can kiss my ass if it so pleases you."
Chevalier rolled off Reginald and he bore his teeth at him in a feline hiss before Harlequin snapped her fingers. "Cat." She called out to him. "Come."
"You got lucky Rabbit. Next time I'll get you when you least expect it."
--
Tabitha now found herself seated at the head of the table in Madame Hatter's seat with at least several different types of cakes and teas in front of her. From what she could judge, Chevalier had to remain at Madame Hatter's side at all times in this meeting. She felt extremely uncomfortable with several of these strange faces staring at her.
There was a Mad Hatter, a Dormouse, A White Rabbit, A March Hare, and of course, a Chehsire Cat.
Madame Hatter picked up an usual looking kettle filled with tea, and she poured Tabitha a cup before setting it directly in front of her. "Please, eat and drink. It will help clear your thoughts better."
"I'm still trying to register whether this is all a dream or not." Tabitha said, taking the cup of tea in her hands. "Thank you." She said, sipping at it. "Oh, this one's minty."
"That's probably jasmine." Henrietta explained. "It's my favorite."
Chevalier clicked his tongue. "Never much liked tea, can't stand the stuff really." He snickered.
Henrietta sent a glare his way and Chevalier in turn hissed at her. "Come at me then, bitch!" He snarled.
"You wana go, fleabag? I'll hurl your ass to the moon faster than you can hack up a hairball!" Henrietta retaliated.
"Silence!" Harlequin issued to them sternly, producing a ball of yarn from underneath the table.
Chevalier's sights suddenly settled on the ball of string instead of Henrietta and he snatched it from Harlequin in order to amuse himself. "Nyahaha." He cackled at his object of play. "Much appreciated."
"Now, stay that way." Henrietta sneered.
"Please…can we not argue at the table? The young lady doesn't even know why she's here. We have to at least issue some form of safety net for her. I can't stand it when we leave people hanging with so little information. No thanks to Chevalier." Reginald asked, picking up a plate of sandwiches and passing it over to Tabitha.
"You're welcome captain 'wet-my-pants'." Chevalier cooed, going back to playing with his ball.
Tabitha chuckled uncomfortably and continued to sip her tea without protest. "Why don't we actually start on that actually? I'm still quite confused as to why or how I can be here."
Harlequin snapped her fingers and Reginald immediately got up from his seat to pick up a teapot to pour her a cup of tea. "Yes, Madame." He said.
'Thank you, Reginald." Harlequin said, setting her teacup back down and looking back up at Tabitha with interest. "You'll have to excuse these two," She gestured to Henrietta and Chevalier. "They sometimes forget their manners."
"Harley-"
"No, not while I am speaking." Harlequin cut Henrietta off and then continued for Tabitha. "I'm sure a great deal confuses you, as it does us."
Delmont raised his hand suddenly at the end of the table. "Madame, if I may. I think I can explain things better." He suggested.
"Very well." Harlequin tapped her spoon against the ceramic cup. "Now then…" Her gaze lowered to the surface of the table before she stood up. "Change places!" She shouted.
The other party members stood up and thus mostly everyone moved around the table quickly until Delmont was sitting across from Tabitha and Chevalier next to her with Madame Hatter on his right side. "Miss Tabby-Cat. Long time no see." He chuckled, still playing with his yarn ball.
"Um…all right then." She said, confused at what just went on. "Mr. Dormouse, was it?" Tabitha turned her attention to Delmont awkwardly.
"Please, Miss. Call me Delmont. Everyone here does. Usually. Unless you count 'Monty'. I much prefer Del or Delmont." He advised, picking up a cup of tea and sipping at it. "Oh. Spice. My favorite." He said in delight.
"You were saying before…"
"Yes, well," Delmont set his cup down. "Miss Tabitha, we're recently been having some very difficult times here in the Land of Topsy Turvy. It actually seems to benefit our tyrannous matriarch of the land and decrease the morale of our citizens. I doubt Chevalier revealed a whole lot to you." His dark gaze traveled to the cat man with a frown.
Chevalier looked up at Delmont and so boldly chose to flip him off. "Suck it Mousy!"
"Aside from that, yes. You must be extremely confused by the situation. Our main goal is to overthrow the Heart of Darkness, the main monarchy of the land. To us it doesn't make sense why the youngest of the Cardigan Siblings happens to be on the throne and not the eldest." He explained.
"I think I'm understanding so far." Tabitha said, getting a clearer picture. "Please, do go on. I'd hate to interrupt you again."
Delmont shook his head. "Oh, not trouble at all." He yawned, picking up his cup and sipping at it. "I need this spare minute to get a drink of tea anyways."
He sipped for several moments before his cup went back down again and he continued. "There are four Cardigan Queens. The Queen of Spazes, The Queen of Clovi, the Queen of Dia-mone', and the Queen of Heartlin." He sipped some more tea. "Queen Lenore', Queen Cloris III, Queen Giada, and last, Queen Justine."
The whole table seemed to shudder. "The Turvians better yet know her as The Heart of Darkness." Harlequin noted.
"She's vile and cruel." Henrietta chimed in.
"Simply dreadful. I can't understand how the good White Heart Queen dealt with her." Reginald said with distaste.
Chevalier remained silent for several moments before he grit his teeth and he had leapt up onto the table so fiercely that it shook and he knocked over several teapots.
Tabitha drew back startled at the sight. "Chevalier!"
"Mr. Cat, come down now!" Harlequin ordered.
Chevalier began strutting across the table with his trademark grin. "I can tell you how her mother could deal with her." He explained. "The Good Queen had too much pity and compassion in her heart. So when she was begotten with yet another child, she hadn't the heart to have it aborted." He suddenly crouched down on all fours along the table and he crawled along it like a wild animal.
"She's the lowest of the low. She's a force to be reckoned with and if you so much as sing sweetly to her and she finds your voice is better than hers…" He got in Tabitha's face and he inhaled the scent of fear he could detect.
Chevalier thrust himself upwards and swooped his arm across the table and shattered several plates and teacups. "OFF TO THE GUILLOTINE!" He howled with laughter. "Ahahaahahaha! Muahahahaha! GAH!" He choked on his last laugh.
Harlequin Hatter had seen enough and she had suddenly thrust a leash and muzzle around his throat and mouth to constrict him from speaking. She hauled him back down off the table and suddenly dragged him off with a look of pure fury on her face. "Tonight is the night you shall go without supper."
"HISSSS!" Chevalier snarled at her.
"You've interrupted my conversations one time too many."
"Meowrrr!" Chevalier protested, biting and gnawing at the leash without much success until he eventually disappeared from sight with Madame Hatter.
Tabitha stood up with concern, immediately followed by Henrietta standing up with her. "Where is she taking him?" She asked.
"It's all right." Delmont assured, still sitting. He folded his hands in his lap. "This happens a lot. He'll be fine. The dungeons have done worse to him than Madame Hatter could do. The least she'll do is put him in the kitty crate and leave him without supper." He chuckled softly, picking up his tea.
"Sorry for this inconvenience, your grace." Reginald said politely, picking up another teapot and a clean cup to fill up for Tabitha with a cheerful smile.
'The White Rabbit…' Tabitha thought to herself in amazement at the white rabbit ears atop Reginald's head. She glanced back at Delmont. 'The Dormouse.'
Delmont sipped his tea casually. Tabitha looked over at Henrietta who stared back at her before blowing a strand of long and curly black hair from her face. "What?" She asked.
'The March Hare.'
"You're all just like the book!" Tabitha said aloud, a slight whine to her voice. "It's not fair! It is Wonderland."
They all fell silent at the table. "We do not speak of such incorrect stories, Miss Tabitha." Delmont said, suddenly setting his cup down, his tone livid. "I'm not too fond of how Mr. Charles Dodgeson explained his story. He got everything wrong and the man was substantially a pedophile in some cases." He picked up his teacup and sipped at it again.
"Your grace, you will forgive us if we seem so…shunning of the topic you speak of." Reginald apologized.
"Will you please stop referring to me as that? I told you, my name is Tabitha."
"But…we must." Henrietta professed suddenly, her hands slamming on the table.
"Why?" Tabitha asked.
"You're the Heart of the White Order. In other words: One of the 5 Queens of Topsy Turvy. "
"You are the last to be born."
--
Several servants took down the black drapes hanging in a massive bedchamber while orders were given around left and right. In the corner of the room in a larch armchair, sat an elegant looking woman of extremely pale proportions. The silver crown placed atop Queen Lenore's head was adorned with onyxes and emeralds glittering in the light above.
"Your Majestic Graciousness…" The Secretary of Spazes bowed to her professional once he had been given permission to enter the room.
Olive green eyes glanced up from the daily tax assessment of the Kingdom of Spazes, and Queen Lenoré folded the piece of paper up and laid it back on her lap. For a woman of her 28 years of age, Lenoré stared at her secretary with a gaze that both sized one up and also provided a wisdom-like answer for what her response would be.
She stood, lifting her hand up to make the secretary rise. "Arise, I've no need for my servants acting so formally unless we are in public. You shall understand that. What news do you bring?"
"Your sister has not yet sent word back about you holding her pets in custody. Should we resend another message or wait it out?" The secretary asked.
Lenoré raised her hand to silence him. Her face inquisitive and interested. "Really? Surprise." She chuckled softly to herself. "My sister knows better of me then. She's well aware of my condition. It's a shame that my petty younger sister shall never understand the joy of children until she's had some of her own." The Queen of Spazes scoffed.
"Then again…Justine's never organized." Lenoré said, sitting back down. "Dismissed, that is all."
The Secretary bowed and left Lenoré to her own whims. The Queen of Spazes sat in her chair a little longer before she stood up and turned towards the window. Her extravagant black skirts rustling as she moved. As the eldest queen of the land, it was her job to put her sister in her place if the situation proved necessary. Lenoré stared out at her kingdom in quiet contemplation before her dark green eyes looked up at the dreary sky ahead.
"The world has shifted." She said with confusion.
Lenoré paused and then her hand went to her heart. The Queen felt something spark in her that had not before and she whispered.
"Mother…you hide secrets well, but I know when your secrets arise."
--
The evening hadn't exactly gone as planned. Seth hadn't been able to get to work like he usually could. It wasn't as though Justine's needs weren't as important, but he was her royal bodyguard and devoted servant. He was supposed to be the one that made sure everything was done the way that it was supposed to be done without anyone botching it up. Instead, Seth was stuck here with his Lady in her bedchambers to watch over instead. Justine had so comfortably nestled herself in the crook of his arms to make sure that there was no way for him to leave her in the middle of the night. 'Clever girl.'
One hand lifted up to caress over her curly locks of hair. Justine stirred only lightly before nestling back into his warmth.
"I wonder if I am more to you than you think me to be." He pondered aloud.
"I couldn't care either way. I am here for you, My Lady. My other duties can be upheld later."
Justine was a brat. It was one of the many things he hated admitting about her and Seth regrettably loved her for it. It was that kind of love that he had to admire and it was strange and unusual. Seth had always been aware of the fact that Justine could not live without him, because she hated doing everything for herself. It wasn't because she was lazy, it was because Justine was a brat and brats always liked it when people did everything for them. Justine was no exception and showered Seth with adoration and attention for each and everything he did for her.
It seemed just yesterday that he had just seen her as a small child clinging to her mother's skirts and whining every step of the way.
"My, how you've grown." Seth chuckled.
--
'No! No! Mummy I don't want a silly ol' babysitter! I won't have it! I don't want any kind of babysitter! No nannies! No governesses! No, no, no!'
Even as a child, she was a force to be reckoned with. Justine may have only been 7 ½ years old, but she seemed to drive away almost every governess or nanny that had ever been appointed for her. They never seemed to give her what she wanted and they always wanted it 'their' way, never 'her' way. They were mean and rude and they took her toys away when she wasn't supposed to have them taken from her.
'They'll just make me do things I don't want to again and-'
'My child, you will do well and behave yourself! I will not put you in the care of Lenoré and inconvenience your sister from her studies.' The good queen, Idina, the original White Heart, chastised her youngest and made a brief gesture in tapping her on the head sharply in a disciplinary matter. The latter only caused Justine to wail even more before her mother had finally stopped at the end of the hallway and proceeded to open the door to the child's room to show her inside.
'You're Majesty.' Came a voice that young Justine had never heard before. It was a far different one than any of the other babysitters had and she could only poke her head out from behind her mother's skirts to peer at this strangely garbed man in the middle of her room with what looked like a pair of fuzzy things on his head.
'What's all dis mummy?' Justine demanded. 'THIS is my babysitter?'
'Actually, my child. I've decided to try a new tactic. Since you refuse every babysitter, nanny, and governess bestowed upon you, I've decided to appoint you a bodyguard instead.' The Queen explained to her, pulling the child out from behind her and pushing her in front so that the two could get a better look at each other.
'I cannot than you enough for this opportunity, back in Egypt I would not have such a job.' Seth expressed his gratitude to Idina and bowed to her and Justine. 'I will perform my duties to their fullest extent.'
'Mummy, I still don't get it.' Justine said, obviously not pleased with an explanation being given.
'Justine, this is Seth Mun-rah. Seth is a very important man from a far away land. He's from Egypt. Seth is going be taking good care of you from now on. He's your bodyguard. He's here to protect and serve you.' The good Queen explained to her daughter.
7 ½ year old Justine could only stare at Seth in his strange and ugly clothes. They were robes and they weren't pretty at all. They made him look girly and boys weren't supposed to look like girls. The child and wolf-eared man stared at each other in contemplation before Justine hid behind her mother, poking her head out and sticking her tongue out at him.
'Nnnnh!'
'What an interesting way children greet in this place.' Seth said, giving the Queen an inquisitive look.
Idina frowned and pulled Justine out from behind her. 'You behave. Seth's not only here for you, he's here because he has no other place to turn to. Topsy Turvy is now Seth's home. You're going to do everything Seth tells you to do. Seth isn't like your other babysitters Justine. He's here for you.'
'Why would anyone be here for me? Nobody likes me mummy. Remember? Nanny Corhagen told you I was a brat and didn't know why anyone could ever be here for-'
The Queen placed her hand over Justine's mouth and gave Seth an apologetic look with her gentle eyes.
'I'm sorry. She's always like this. Justine's last nanny was not extremely pleasant on the idea of Justine actually being treated like she was a little girl instead of an adult.'
Seth cocked his head to the side at Justine. 'Oh?' His hands were behind his back and his eyes didn't leave the child's annoyed gaze upon him.
'Justine wasn't exactly treated like a 7 year old girl by Nanny Corhagen.'
'I see.' Seth noted.
A clock tolled somewhere in the Cardigan Castle and The good Queen looked up from her daughter. 'Oh! It's that time all ready? I dear, I can't stay and make sure you two get acquainted. I'm so sorry, Seth. I must take care of other matters.' She apologized and let Justine go.
'Of course, your Majesty. After all, it is my job to serve My Lady here.' Seth gestured down to Justine.
'Of course, thank you so much for coming to Topsy Turvy for this, I cannot thank you enough.'
That said, the Queen closed the door to the room and Seth and Justine were alone.
'Well, My Lady. Now that I'm here, what would you like to…do?' Seth's question was quickly diminished as the child had suddenly disappeared before his sight and he stood there looking around in dismay at where Justine could have gone.
'My Lady…' He sighed. 'I understand that you may not like me being here, but I can only assure you that I am here to do your wishes. Your mother said so.' He looked under her bed and found nothing. He stood back up to his feet, before he felt something hit him in the back from behind, and from the closet, several toys were being pelted at him.
'No! No! I won't have you! Go away! Go away! You can have all of these silly toys, but you stay away from my favorites!' The child cried.
Seth could only catch what was thrown at him and set them all down before they got broken. 'My lady…I'm not here to take your toys away. I-'
Justine poked her head out from a rack of little dresses in the closet and blew an angry raspberry at him. 'I said NO!'
This may have been harder than it sounded. Seth could only hope that any form of submission may calm the wrath this little one exerted. He bowed suddenly and spoke again. 'Your Majesty…if it pleases you, may I send for your breakfast?'
Justine's little mouth opened to shout back at him, but her anger quelled when she saw him bow to her. Oh! He was bowing to her? None of the others had ever done that for her. This was exciting. She suddenly had ventured outside of the closet, holding a pretty rag doll in one hand and a shiny red tiara was clutched in her other hand. 'Nannies never called me 'Your Majesty'. Mummy's the only one that's 'Your Majesty.' '
'Your mother told me I am here for you. So I shall abide by her wishes and serve you. What shall I send for in your breakfast order to the servants, Your Majesty?' Seth asked her.
'Well…first. You can stop calling me 'your majesty'. I'm not queen yet. I can only be queen when Mummy's not queen anymore. So just call me 'my lady'. Second, I want you to get new clothes. I hate the ones you're wearing; they're ugly and make you look like a girl. Boys aren't supposed to look like girls and then-' She stopped when she saw the ears atop his head move.
In the state he was bowing in, Seth had never really imagined that his ears would cause such a stirring behavior in the child. The next thing he realized, his very sensitive ears were in the hands of this bewildered child. Justine was ecstatic. 'Nngh. Ow. My Lady…please, they're very sensitive.'
'EEE! They're real!' She exclaimed, running her fingers over them and grasp onto Seth's ears and rub them. 'They're real! They move! They're furry! You're a doggy!' She squealed in excitement.
Oh. Such a dreaded word. It was something Seth had always hated being referred to as. He knew better than anyone what he was, and it certainly was no dog.
'Dogs walk on four legs, I have two.' He corrected her. 'I do ask that you not refer to me as 'doggy'. My name is Seth.'
'Fine, if you can't be 'doggy' you can be Sethy. I don't like Seth. It's too short.' She released his ears and stood in front of him.
Seth regained his composure and stared down at the little redheaded girl with his arms crossed.
'Very well My Lady, anything else?'
Justine clasped her hands together, before she skipped over to him and grasp his own hand in hers. 'Oh, yes, yes, Sethy. Here's what I want for today. I want French toast for breakfast with hot syrup, butter, and strawberries. And no eggs, I don't like eggs very much. Phew.'
'As you wish, My Lady.'
--
It seemed as though nothing had changed much from that time period, except the fact that Justine was now a fully-grown woman. A very lovely, fully-grown, woman. It felt strange though. He wasn't older by her in look standards, but the age difference varied highly. Seth was a very old soul indeed and he didn't like thinking about his ancient times back in Egypt. Despite the fact that he enjoyed taking Justine on trips to Egypt, he didn't like talking about his life back in Egypt.
--
It was another one of their mornings together, Justine was to wake up specifically at 9:00 in the morning so that she could be dressed and ready for a very good breakfast (whatever she wanted actually) and then it was the rest of Seth's job to keep the child entertained while her sisters were doing their own jobs in the castle. Going to their governesses to take lessons in education and learn formalities.
Justine was happily munching on her usual breakfast of something sweet for her in the morning: French toast with strawberries, butter, and lots of hot syrup.
Seth was very busy ordering servants that came in and out of the room which things needed to be done and in what way. Justine of course had grown to like Seth over the course of his job taking care of her. What a wonderful babysitter he was! He did everything for her, he took her out to play, he brought her new toys, and sometimes on occasion he'd cook her meals if he didn't deem what she was going to eat to be edible. Such joy of what a good day this would be, Justine was not focused on the objects moving in and out of her room.
Then she heard something she hadn't heard before, at least for as long as Seth had been taking care of her for the past year or so.
Her cup of juice in her hand was suddenly snatched up in midair and Seth's teeth were sharpened, as he elicited a very vocal growl from the back of his throat.
Justine's eyes widened at her caretaker and she stared at the cup in his hand, and then proceeded to watch him sniff the contents cautiously. He didn't give her cup back for several moments before he finally concluded what he had suspected. The servant that had filled her juice cup suddenly stopped in his tracks at Seth's next words.
'Milo…step forward.' Seth's tone was murderous.
There was a male servant with a pitcher in his hand, shaking all over. 'Sir?'
Seth's response was throwing the cup in the servant's face. Whatever was in it, the servant stammered over his excuse. Seth had suddenly picked Justine up from where she was sitting and held her very protectively in her arms.
'My Lady, this is what we call an assassin. In my country, there are many of them that go against the kings and queens of the land. This man is no exception and shall be treated like most assassins are in Egypt.'
Justine still wasn't aware of what was going on and she blinked at Seth in confusion.
'What are you talking about? What'd he do? He always brings me my juice in the mornings.'
Seth's brow cocked and he turned his head to the servant and released yet another growl. Everyone else in the room seemed to now be aware of what was going on.
'Milord Seth, shall I send for the guards?'
Seth set Justine down and looked down at her. 'This is a bad man, Justine. He tried to kill you.' He cracked his knuckles and pushed the child behind him. 'You may send for the guards, but I do not think they will find him in completely perfect condition when they come to get him.'
The servant bit his lip and he gave Justine a dirty look. 'Filthy brat! I could have gotten rid of you once and for all, come here so I can strangle you instead!' The juice jug was dropped and the man moved forward to grab at her.
'Sethy! The little girl yelped and Seth responded naturally to her fear. He lunged forward and caught the foolish brute by the neck and slammed him into the floor, rolling over so that he was sitting on the man. He lowered his face down close to the assassin's ear and hissed into it. 'If I were allowed to do so, I would kill her for you. Her mother would not be so forgive of me if I did. You will do well to remember, you cross My Lady, and I will not hesitate to protect her.'
There was commotion outside of the room, and several well-armored Cardigan Deals (the soldiers) were coming in to retrieve the man on the floor beneath Seth's weight.
They pulled him to his feet, shackled him, and led him off for charges of treason.
Seth stood to his feet, and dusted himself off. All the rest of the servants could do was stare, until Seth pointed towards the door. 'ALL OF YOU OUT NOW!' He snarled.
The rest of the servants bowed politely and left just as quickly as they had came to do their jobs for the child.
His breath was heavy and he looked deeply disturbed as Justine stood there and tried to evaluate the scene in her little head before Seth scooped her up in his arms. 'My Lady, were you harmed? You didn't drink that did you?'
Justine's feet were lifted off the ground before she could comment on the scene and she was snuggled in Seth's arms.
'Sethy…what just happened?'
--
He was brought out of his memories as Justine rolled over to face him, her blue eyes fluttered open and she gazed at him, her lips forming into a pout. "Sethy, did you stay up all night looking after me?"
Seth shrugged. "I've been awake for the past two hours. Remember? I am an early riser."
"Oh." Her pout faded and she frowned. "Right. What's on the schedule for this morning?"
"As usual, your breakfast order first, bath, what you shall wear, and…I believe today is the day I take you shoe shopping." Seth said, trying to recall exactly what today was.
The Magic Words. Justine's mouth fell open into a silent squeal.
"OH! OH! Shoe shopping!" She exclaimed, sitting up immediately. She grabbed him up by the shoulders and squealed in excitement. "I can't wait! I can't wait! I want so many shoes today!" She was hugging his head into her chest and Seth couldn't help but feel slightly embarrassed by this feat.
"You want a lot of things today, don't you?" He asked her, in good humor.
"Oh, not much. Just a few things." She said, kissing him on the nose.
"…I'll send for your breakfast." He moved to get off her bed before he was suddenly brought back down with her sitting on his legs.
"Oh no, no. Not yet." She cooed. "What's my favorite game to play in the morning, Sethy?"
"Hide and seek?" He said, somewhat confused. "My Lady, you are far too old for this game now. Wouldn't you rather have breakfast first?"
"You're it, and if you win, I'll give you a present." She whispered in his ear sultrily.
"Oh, well if that's the case I'd love to know what I am winning. How do you play this game again?" He asked.
Justine poked him in the nose with her finger and rolled off him and onto the floor. "You won't know unless you catch me!" That said, Justine had run out of the room giggling and laughing down the hallways.
Seth, now alone in the room, rubbed his temples and chuckled wearily.
"Oh. This version. I remember now."
--
Authoress Note: Aha! First long chapter. Hatter likes very much. So how did you all like Seth's reminiscing of Justine as a child? Makes you wonder what he really feels for her. Muahah. Oh and I wonder where Madame Hatter has dragged poor Chevalier off to. Hm, you'll find out in the next installment of 9 Lives to Live.
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