getherIn This World of Mine
WhiteMidnightKitsune
Chapter 11: The Handsome Guest and a Surprise
Alice's eyes opened halfway. She remembered falling asleep after taking a pill. She thought she had slept for hours, but when she looked at the small wooden clock ticking on a small table, it was only an hour she had slept or more like four hours in Wonderland. She rubbed her eyes and stared up at the ceiling of the arch linen covered bed. It's really quiet…She thought to herself I don't know whether to be surprised or not…She closed her eyes once again and in an instant, the face of Marcos and his worried smile appeared. Her eyes shot open at the image and the cold heart inside her thumped h. She felt a pang of agony and guilt. In some way, she was remorse over the small belief it was her fault for his death. Of course, another part of her said it was his own damn fault for running after her. Fate should've spared the innocent boy. "He's probably in heaven by now…I…hope he's happy." She softly said to herself. Just a little bit, just a small bit of her wanted to see him once again, but she knew it would not happen.
There was a knock at the door and Alice sat up, calling out "Come in!" The door open and there stood De De with a smile on her face. "I came up here to wake you up, but it seems you have awoken on your own! Did you have a nice sleep, Alice?" Alice nodded. "That's good to see! It is time for dinner in the hall and Lady Cheshire is waiting patiently for you. I suggest you hurry and come down before she throws a fit and flings plates at us!"Alice immediately got up out of the bed and followed De De. Out inside the halls, a fresh fragrant aroma clouded the room. It was mixed with savory and sweet in which made Alice's mouth water with hunger.
De De led Alice into a very large dining hall with a long decorated table, where sat Lady Cheshire and her sweet grin with Cat perched on her shoulder at the end. "Alice!" cried Cheshire in delight and her cat ears perked up. "You've finally awaken! After a long hour of sleep, I believe you are hunger, am I not right?" Alice was placed on one of the sides of the table with Cheshire gleaming at her.
"Um…yes, I'm kind of hungry…"
"Hmph…I doubt you are "kind of" hungry! I know for a fact the moment you walk out of your room, your mouth watered…"
How the hell can she know these things?! Alice exclaimed in her mind.
"I may be a royal prep, but I assure you, dear Alice, I'm a clever cat to add…" Cheshire stared at Alice with penetrating eyes. It was like seeing right through thin paper with words. De De walked out with two silver covered trays. She placed one before Cheshire and one before Alice. When Cheshire uncovered the tray, there laid a fat piece of filet mignot cooked to perfection with dancing steam in the air. She squealed with happiness and complimented, "De De! You are such an amazing cook! I never get tired of having you around! You are puuurfection!"
De De lowered her head and sigh, "I thank you for the compliment, my Lady. My desire to live with you is no match for my love…" She said sarcastically. As Cheshire stuffed her face with the savory mignot, the doorbell rang. De De looked confused and asked, "Um…My lady…do we have a guest tonight?" In a full mouth, Cheshire managed to say, "Oh yes! I forgot to tell you, De De and Alice, we will be having a special guest tonight!"
"What?! I didn't prepare enough for us to have a guest! I only made enough for three! You, Alice, and I!" Cheshire waved a hand in the arm dismissing the remark.
"If it's all right with you, let him have your dinner!" De De groaned and stomped out of the dining room and to the front door. Cheshire noticed Alice had not touched her food and politely asked her, "Dear Alice…is something the matter with your mignot?" Alice cocked her head up as if she was in the middle of a deep thought.
"I'm sorry! I was distracted…the food looks delicious, but…I don't think my stomach can handle it…" was Alice's excuse. Cheshire did not believe one word of it and therefore, stuffed a fat piece in Alice's mouth. Alice grunted and coughed as the piece was shoved down her throat. "Dear girl eat it! Food can't eat itself you know! It'd be known as cannibalism to them!" Cheshire exclaimed.
"Okay, I'll eat!" Alice seceded. "You don't have to try and kill me, you crazy whore!" Cheshire calmed herself down and continued eating her own dinner while carefully watching over Alice's eating habit. Alice had to admit it was delicious enough, the taste jumped in her mouth and satisfied her hunger. With a question on her mind, she wondered to Cheshire, "So who's the guest…?"
Cheshire sighed longingly and her cheeks turned pink. It looked like she was in Cloud Nine. "Darling Alice, this very fine young man," she emphasized, "…is none other than Lord Alastor Rochelle. He's a well mannered prince, he lives not far from here and I believe he is about the same age as you maybe a year or two older Along with that he's single!"
"You seem to swoon over him like he's a hot celebrity…" Alice remarked.
"My dear! Once you see this boy, you will fall for him flat on your face…I know it!" Alice scoffed at the idea. "There is also something else about the boy. He was born with the ability to see people's past and evaluate them…He is what you call…a psychologist! A very handsome psychologist!"
"You've already past the handsome part, Cheshire----."
"Good evening, ladies!" Alice turned to see before her a very handsome gentleman. As a matter of irony, a picture frame from the ceiling dropped on Alice's head and her face went flat onto the table. "Ow…" she groaned in agony. Cheshire slightly leaned towards her and sang to her, "Told you so~! Which reminds me to get those picture frames fixed on my ceiling…they are a bit unhinged…" She stood up out of her seat and walked over to Alastor with open arms. "Lord Alastor!"
When Alice looked up once again, she began to take in the features of him. She noticed his clear violet eyes resonating through his pale skin. His black hair was neatly placed and fell down his face perfectly. He was not at all body sculpted but lean enough to satisfy any wooing girl. He wore a blue coat buttoned half way with a ruffled shirt inside and pants that were lined with golden yellow trimmings and to compliment his fashion, a beautiful pair of black gloves with leather vintage shoes. Alice couldn't take her eyes off him.
"I'm sorry for being late. Please forgive me, Lady Cheshire…" He courteously bowed, took the hand of Cheshire and gave a small kiss on it. Lady Cheshire glowed pink and squealed, "Alastor! You are making me blush, you daring boy! Come! Sit! I saved a special seat for you!" She sat Alastor on the other side of the table, opposite where Alice sat. Poor Alice became nervous and tried to hide her face behind a cement vase with flowers on the table. Cheshire placed herself in her seat and noticed the odd thing of Alice. She smiled to herself secretly and announced, "Alastor…I would like you to meet Alice…" Alice jumped a little and glared at Cheshire, who lifted an eyebrow at her. The vase was moved out of the way by Alastor, who smiled at her. "It's nice to meet you, Alice."
"It's nice to meet you too…" She took out her hand, hoping for a handshake from him, but she was mistaken. Alastor took her hand and carefully pecked it with his soft lips. Alice retracted her hand away from Alastor, who seemed unfazed at the girl's quirkiness. Cheshire informed Alastor, "Forgive Alice. She's new in Wonderland and does not really know of the manner of Lords such as yourself…"
"I see. I'm sorry if I had scared you." He apologized sympathetically. Alice could not stop staring at his amazing eyes that stared back at her, searching for something.
"No, it's all right…really…" Alice quietly said. De De came out of the kitchen with a tray in hand and a bitter face. She placed the tray in front of Alastor. Alastor, seeing the bitter look on her face, began to coax her. "De De…you seem to be perturbed…is something the matter?" He took her hand and lightly massaged it. "You're looking rather bright today, De De…" Alice saw the look on De De's face. She was trying to resist his charm, but it seemed like she was failing at it, horribly. Her face was bright pink and she seemed to be sweating. Alice heard Cheshire whisper in a mischievous voice, "You can't resist, De De…" Somehow Cheshire seemed to enjoy De De's pain in a small way.
De De no longer resisting Alastor's voice, cried with solicitous, "Lord Alastor! Just for your sake! I shall make you the most delicious desert to your taste!" She immediately ran to the kitchen and the group heard crashes of pots and pans and a yell that went, "Curse that damn Alastor!"
Cheshire laughed, "This is another reason why I love your charm, Alastor! With you here, I can have De De's fabulous deserts!"
"It's no pleasure at all!" Alastor faced Alice once again and stared at her for a full moment while she ate. Awkward enough. "So Alice…" He began, "…How do you enjoy Wonderland so far? Is it to your standards?" Alice kept her eyes on her plate and didn't intend to look up, fearing that she would lock eyes with him.
"It's great…it's very different from where I come from." Was all shy Alice answered.
To cease the awkward aura emitting from Alice, Cheshire carried a conversation with Alastor, "Tell me, Alastor, what is a youthful prince like you doing, nowadays? Flirting with woman, I assume?" She gave a small frown to him. Alastor tilted Cheshire's chin with his fingers and whispered, "Of course not, Cheshire…Now why would I do that?" She, in return, giggled and gave a small slap to his hand, "Please, my Lord! We're at dinner!"
Alastor chuckled, "Cheshire, you have always been such a tease."
"Tell me about it…" Cheshire added. "But really now, I have heard you've been visiting our dear Queen of Hearts?"
Alastor began cutting away at his mignot and taking small bite size pieces. After chewing and swallowing his first bite, he answered, "Yes I have been actually…"
Cheshire snapped her finger and a bottle of well aged red wine appeared on the table before her in which Cheshire happily opened the corked top with a Pop! She poured a glass for Alastor, a glass for Alice, who refused but was ignored, and herself.
"How's the spoiled girl?" She asked apathetically.
"Just the usual…yelling and screaming for people's head to be cut off for any small mishap…She had to order another thirty soldiers and twenty two maids for her palace. Will her mayhem never come to an end?" Alastor chuckled.
"I say…" Just then Cheshire remembered a small promise she had made, "Oh! Alice, dear!" Alice looked up at Cheshire's face while she was poking her piece of meat. "I forgot, darling, I promised to take you to the Queen of Hearts! Do you remember?" Alice did recall a certain promise pertaining to the Queen of Hearts, Cheshire had said something about going to her and having her wish fulfilled.i Cheshire turned to Alastor and said, "Alastor, I am wondering if there is any way you can set up a meeting for Alice here to see the Queen of Hearts. I would do it myself, but you know the girl, if she saw me she would probably…" She made a motion with her hand that had one finger slowly crossing her neck.
Alastor gave Cheshire a sly smile, "Lady Cheshire! Aren't you one of the advisor of the Queen of Hearts?"
"What does that have to deal with any of this?" Cheshire hissed between her teeth with a hint of detests.
With the same smile, Alastor replied, "Maybe I should leave the matter…"
"Please do." Cheshire said. Alastor continued and agreed, "Since I don't have much to do, I don't mind at all taking pretty Alice to the Palace." He looked at the girl, who was sitting there across from him with a sad look on her face. It made him very concerned. "That reminds me…." Alastor took a sip of wine, "The Queen has a new personal guard."
Cheshire's ears perked up."She does?! My, my do tell…" Cheshire was always in the mood for a slight palace gossip.
"That's right. It was very peculiar though…One of the guards told me he was found lying in the garden, bleeding profusely. Dying, I believe was the word." Alice's attention asserted to Alastor like a dog to a whistle only he can hear. "When the guards found him, they took him inside and presented him before the Queen. With such a fervid look at him, she immediately took him in. After so, I'm not exactly sure of the details of it, but he was soon made head general of the guards as well as the protector of the Queen." For some reason, Alice felt her heart beat hard and increasingly loud in her ears. Cheshire, from the corner of her cat eyes, saw Alice fidget in her seat.
"What did the boy look like?" Cheshire slowly asked.
"I saw him the other day walking through the streets of Wonderland on patrol. I had a small conversation with him, but as far as I remember, the boy was tall, young, ruffled brown hair…." Alice's breath quickly turned short. "….with green eyes…."
It couldn't be…She thought to herself. Please don't tell me...
"His voice had a sense of longing in it, like he was trying to remember a faint mission----." Alice abruptly stood up from her chair, knocking it back and onto the floor, "What's his name?!" Alastor with a surprised look, told her, "The Queen christened him with a new name, but he told me himself his name was Marcellus." Alice was a taken back. She didn't know what to say. Words escaped her. Alice didn't want to believe it. Even though the name was different, Alice knew it was him. She didn't want to believe that Marcos was in this same mad world she was in. It wasn't right! Why was he in this world? She thought. The pupils of her eyes became small and the panic inside her engulfed the same strength she had left, sending her over the edge and dropping to the floor of the table. Next thing she knew, she was passed out on Cheshire's floor. In the back of her mind, she softly heard her own voice saying, Surprise. Surprise, dear sweet Alice.
I kinda had some problems with this chapter a little bit. One night I was on fire and the next I'm like…blah and I had writer's block so I basically had to walk around the living room in circles, listening to the songs: Poker Face by Lady Gaga, Immoral and Eclipse by Mami Kawada and songs by Ellegarden (3)to get the creative blood flowing. Some people have asked when Marcos was going to come back. I was planning to add him in future chapters but now you all know where he's been! Yaaay! I also added another guy to add some stuff and drama. Hehehe. Okays… I still have a lot to do (i.e homework, SATs and tests..blah)…hopefully you guys didn't find this chapter iffy. :/
MidnightKitsune: Thank You for reading!