AN: Caroline869, I meant to mention you in the last chapter but I'll do it now! Thank you so much for your review! I'm glad that you like Hatter's fear of mirrors. I was going to make it a bit more crazy, but I like the 'slightly crazy' Hatter instead of the MEGA crazy Hatter. Also thank you to envy137 and Ethan557! I'm very happy that you guys like the story thus far. I'm also very sorry for the long wait, I had 3 different endings and I couldn't really choose one.
CHAPTER TWELVE
The Inframy and Maia's Shinning Knight
She was in trouble, that much she could tell the minute the rabbit showed up. He had relaxed his grip and was slowly circling her, wrapping his arm around her waist "Now, Maia. My darling Maia. Tell me, where is your mirror?" She was paralyzed with fear.
"I don't know what your talking about."
"Yes you do. Don't try and lie to me Maia, I know your not from the Spades Domain." He nuzzled the side of her neck from behind her. "You're so called uncle was very honest that he had never even met you after a littler persuasion. Dear Maia…" The way he said her name, stretching out the first a made her shudder in fear. He was a predator hunting prey (but he's a damned rabbit!)
"What did you do to him?"
"Oh he's fine." Dosovo's hand were on her hips. He moved them slowly up her side. "You should be more worried about what I'm going to do to you." He pushed her forward. She threw her arms out to brace her fall and was sure she heard a crack when she hit the ground. She ignored the pain shooting up her left arm and tried to scramble away. She was stopped by the wall of cards. She tried to crawl away from them, just to face Dosovo. He had a whip in his hand and before she could even think about it, the whip reached out and snapped her across the face. She held her arms up for the neck few blows and curled up.
"I'm surprised. I expected you to scream." Dosovo laughed and a leg came out and kicked her in the head. She flew to the side. Her cry of pain came out as a strangled gasp when the whip wrapped around her neck. She could only use her right hand to try and keep the whip from strangling her while she tried not to move her left arm. "Now… are you ready to listen?" He knelt over her, holding the whip tight, and pulled out a knife. "Where is your mirror?"
"I…If you… If you go through it…" She gasped. "I'm break it… You'll be stuck…"
"I'm not going through it." Dosovo laughed. "I'm not foolish. My cards will go through it. And they'll take over your mirror. I'm sure you otherworlders have thought of fun new things to play with by now. I found a gun last time, but I ran out of that weird powder." He sighed. "But of course, if you want to work for me," He gently ran the knife down the side of her face. "I'm sure we can come to an arrangement…" He ran the knife down her neck, over her collar bone to the top of her dress. "What do you think?" He twisted the knife and slipped it under her dress. She could hear a ripping sound and knew her dress was being cut.
"I.. couldn't if I wanted… to" her vision was blurring a bit now.
"What do you mean?" He growl and the knife slipped, cutting her under her collar bone. "Tell me."
"It's… in…Maddion's…" Dosovo growled loudly and dug the knife across her arm.
"Stupid girl…" He let her go and stood up. He started to pace a bit. Maia loosened the whip and took huge gulps of breath. "No one can go farther than the store without permission." He turned and looked down at her. "His magic is almost as powerful as Time himself."Maia laughed at the comparison. "Don't laugh!" He snapped and in a flash, she had another cut trailing down the length of her arm. "You're as insane as him."
"Perhaps." Even though she was laughing, there were tear running down her face. "At least we enjoy ourselves."
"I'm going to enjoy myself too." Dosovo's eyes trailed over her body. "I'm going to enjoy trading your broken body for that beautiful mirror with Hatter."
"He wont." Maia was breathing heavy. Her body was numb with pain.
"He gave you his watch. That means everything my dear. It's the oldest custom in all of Wonderland." It was Dosovo's turn to laugh. "You need to eat a mushroom sometime."
"What do you mean it's a custom?"
"Take Kat and her stupid Cheshire. When they decided they were going to stay together, forever, they exchange watches. Now they have to stay together." Dosovo shrugged. "Your watch is connected to your life. If it's wound too much, you age faster. There have been a few cases where a one has tried to speed up their partner's time to get rid of them, but it rarely ever happens. It's the ultimate form of trust here."
"It is?" Maia felt her heart clench. He had given her his watch. Maddion trusted her completely. And she couldn't trust him… Dosovo's laugh cracked her thoughts. She wished she'd trusted Hatter now.
"Ready to go Maia?" Dosovo crouched next to her and pulled out a small bottle. The liquid inside was bright pink and seemed to glow a little bit. "I gave this to Alice. Stupid girl was too trusting." He pulled the glass cork out of it. "Open up. It'll be easier to travel if you can fit into my pocket."
"Step away Dosovo." Maia's head shot up to see Hatter had joined them. His tie was gone, his hat was askew, and he had a thin sword in his hand. The sword didn't have a hand guard and it's pommel was made out of a familiar purple diamond.
"Ah Hatter, so good of you to join us!" Dosovo jumped up.
"Maia, ya ok?" Maia looked up to see Ion sitting on top of the porch roof of the house. "Just hold on, this'll only take a minute." He jumped off the porch, only to disappear in a puff of smoke and appear between Maia and the cards. Ion punched one of the cards just as Hatter swung at Dosovo. Between the pain and the Soothing tea though, Maia couldn't keep her eyes open, and she slipped into darkness.
"Maia…" someone whispered to her in her sleep. "Maia, you need to pay attention!" her eyes flew open. She was sitting under a tree and the sun was filtering through its thick leaves. "Now my dear, please recite." She looked over to see Ion's cat Jackson. Jackson was wearing a suit coat, a white shirt, and a red tie. He was looked at her over a pair of thin glasses and he was sitting before an open book. "Come on!"
"H-how doth the little crocodile i-improve his shi-iny tail." Maia was very cold and she couldn't keep her teeth from chattering. "And p-pour the w-waters of the Nile, o-on e-every golden s-scale…" She took in a deep breath before finishing the poem. "How cheerfully he seems to grin, How nearly spreads his claws, And w-welcomes l-little fishes in, with g-gently smiling jaws."
"Correct." Jackson huffed. "Now what have we learned from this poem?" Maia thought hard. She knew the answer to this one. She had to. If she didn't, she had a feeling that something wouldn't go right. Something bad would happen.
"I've learned… that even bunnies have teeth." She said slowly. Jackson smiled, showing off his sharp tiny teeth.
"Very good Maia." Jackson closed the book between his paws. "I feel we are done for today." He nodded and Maia went to lay back. Instead of lying on the tree, like she had expected, she fell so far back that she started to fall down a hole. Maia tried not to scream, she knew this must be the way out, but she couldn't help but let a few terrified shrieks out (I would too, if I were in her position).
Maia hit something and sat up as fast as she could. She hissed in pain and laid back down again. "Maia?" A worried voice was near her. She felt the bed she was laying in sink a little as whoever it was sat down next to her. It was then she started to notice her surroundings. She was awake, and laying in a bed. "How are you feeling?" She split her eyes open, ignoring the pain of the lights, and looked over Hatter.
"I have a question…" She whispered hoarsely. Hatter leaned in a little closer to hear her and she licked her dry lips. "Why… Why is a raven like a writing desk?"
"What an absurd thing…" Hatter laughed. "Do you always spout nonsense when you first wake up?"
"Only when I'm in Wonderland." She smiled. "Where am I?"
"In the Inframy. We got you a private room." Hatter took a hold of her hand gently. "You had a few cuts and a broken wrist. Nothing that can't be fixed with a simple Imagi-Glue."
"Inframy?" Her brows furred. "Imagi- Glue?" He opened his mouth to explain but the shook her head. "I've given up asking questions for now." She sighed and relaxed in the bed. She moved her left hand carefully. It felt tender but the pain was gone and she could move her fingers. "Where's Dosovo?"
"He turned tail and ran like the rabbit he is when some of the men from the Cheshire Camp showed up to help." Hatter was running his thumb over her knuckles. "I'm sorry…" he said suddenly.
"For what?"
"For making you upset. Making you leave the ball. If I hadn't run off…" He took in a quick and sharp breath. "If I hadn't let myself get angry for no reason, you wouldn't have been caught in his trap."
"Get angry for no reason?" Maia laughed. "Wasn't the point you were trying to make to me was that Dosovo was dangerous? I think your anger has been justified."
"It's still my fault…" he said softly and looked at the floor. "I shouldn't have let you out of my sight when I knew what he was after."
"Maddion…" She said and he turned to look at her. He didn't have the look of peevish delight that he use to get when she said his name and it made her cringe in sadness. "It's not your fault…" She reached up and ran her fingers across his jaw (she was too far away to reach anything higher). "I should have listened. I don't know much about this world… It's not my world." The last part hung over them in a heavy cloud. Her eyes filled with tears and he nodded in understanding. She knew this was the answer she was coming to these past few weeks. She didn't want to be like Annabell, hiding part of herself. He leaned over and kissed her forehead.
"My house will always be open for you…"He whispered into her hair and slowly stood up.
"No Maddion…" She tried not to cry. "I have to remove all temptation of coming back… I'll have to break it. I'm sorry." He didn't say anything as many emotions flittered across his face, too fast for Maia to catch. Finally he just nodded and gave her a small smile. He released her hand and turned away. He grabbed his jacket and cane and placed his hat on his head. When he got to the door he touched the brim of his hat in goodbye and walked out. Maia didn't have time to start crying because Kat and Ion rushed in.
"Oh Maia!" Kat squealed. "I'm so happy your okay!" She practically laid on top of Maia when she hugged her. "That stupid rabbit. If I had been there…"
"It's ok mum, Hatta got him pretty good a few times." Ion laughed. "You're good at pissin' people off Maia." The tension in the room became more noticeable to the two Cheshires suddenly.
"What wrong?" Kat asked, noting the tears in Maia's eyes.
"This isn't my world." Maia sniffled and sat up slowly. "I cannot stay here… Last night made this clear to me. I'll always be in danger of Dosovo or others who want… well you know." She whispered. "What else is there to do?"
"But Maia…" Ion started.
"Ion." Kat interrupted him. "I understand what Maia's saying. And she's right…" Kat ran her hand over Maia's hair. "This is her choice to make. We can't ask her to put herself in danger. But Maia…" Kat started to brush away her tears. "Are you sure you're making the right choice?"
"Dosovo is just going to keep coming after me. He's determined to get that mirror. And I can't go to any of the Queen or the Judges for help, can I? I'm not a Wonderland citizen." Maia sighed. "Even I know there is nothing that can be done."
"I understand…" Kat said quietly and pulled Maia into a hug. "We'll all miss you Maia." Even though her body was in pain from the attack still, Maia held onto Kat as hard as possible. She didn't want to leave. But this wasn't her world. She didn't belong here. 'In here you will find the joy of your life, and the bane of it'. Maia understood what Annabell was saying now. She loved it here, she loved the people. But she could only be a spectator; she could not be a part of it. And that separation hurt more than the cuts on her body.
Maia let out a sigh as she looked around her Wonderland room for the last time. She had packed all of her things from her world that had ended up here. She had also put all of her things from Wonderland in a neat pile on her bed. She left a note to who ever found it to do with it what they would. She reached up to the clock around her neck to take it off but something stopped her. She couldn't do it. She hadn't seen Hatter when she had come back from the Inframy, so she hadn't had a chance to say goodbye. But she would feel like she was stealing it…
Part of her knew that she couldn't leave it though, so she pulled out a pocket watch that she had found in her house and laid it next to her things. She quickly scribbled out another note that explained that the watch was "For Hatter, per custom". Then, swallowing the lump in her throat she grabbed her bag, turned away from the room and walked through the mirror.
She looked at the mirror and her breath caught in her throat. She should just do it now, but something stayed her hand from breaking the mirror. She reached up and pulled the drape over it and slowly made her way down the stairs. She shut the secret door behind her tightly and put her bag on the table. Then with a sob she flung herself on the bed and spent the next few hours crying. The pain of losing Wonderland hurt more knowing that she did it to herself.
Later there was a knock on her door. Franny came in quietly and placed a cup of café au lait on her nightstand. "I heard you crying…" She sat down. "Are you okay?"
"I… I will be." Maia sat up and took a sip of the café au lait. It landed like a rock in her stomach but the warmth felt right. "There will be no more Wonderland."
"What?" Franny said softly. "Why?" But Maia was quiet in response. "Never mind. When you're ready you can explain. But right now, you have to get ready to explain something else." Franny stood up. "Half the family is down stairs and they want to talk to you."
"What?" Maia stood up. "Why are they here?"
"Your mom said they were throwing an intervention." Franny rolled her eyes. "They seem to think your lack of a job is their problem."
"And I bet my large estate has nothing to do with this…" Maia mumbled and Franny laughed at her.
"Of course not." Franny said sarcastically. "But you'll have to come up with something to tell them. They all seem very concerned." Maia went into the bathroom and started to wash her face. Franny told her who was down in the living room while she applied some make up and tried to make herself look like she hadn't been crying. "It's a full house down there. The kids are in their playroom so we don't have to worry about them over hearing anything."
"Alright… I guess this is as good as it's going to get." Maia picked up her café au lait and finished it quickly. "Let's go." They made their way down the stairs. Maia went into the kitchen first to refill her cup and took her time doing so. Let them wait. She took a deep breath before joining everyone in the living room. There was a chair waiting for her that all the other seats seemed to be centered around. Maia didn't greet anyone; she just sat down in the chair and took a sip of her café au lait.
"Maia, honey, I would just like to start off that we're all here to support you." Her father, a sweet round old man gave her a sad smile. "But we're all worried."
"What is there to worry about?" Maia asked. She was going to play stupid just to annoy them.
"Well…" Her father sputtered. "Well you don't have a job."
"Thanks to Annabell I have enough money to support myself for a few more years. And the job market is bad." Maia said innocently. "I can wait till the job market gets better."
"You shouldn't live off of Annabell's money like that." Her mother spoke up. "It should be use for more important things."
"Like a vacation?" Maia raised an eye brow, in a Hatter fashion. Eliza blushed but stayed strong.
"Like repairs on this house."
"It is a little run down." Her cousin Jacob agreed. "I took a walk around while we were waiting for you and I noticed that there are shingles missing, the back porch could use an update, and the chicken coop should be replaced all together to a newer and better model.
"That is a good idea." Maia said after a few minutes. "I think a renovation is a good idea." The clogs in her mind were turning. "And we are very close to the main roads… Not far from town but still secluded… This house has an old world charm."
"What are you babbleing about?" Eliza asked.
"Nothing…" Maia mumbled.
"What about Conner? You know that Annabell loved this house to be filled with people, and a family would do that." Eliza pushed.
"She did say that…" Maia smiled.
"What about your law degree?" Her uncle asked. "You spent so much money on school."
"And it could have all been a waste." Maia sighed. "I'll start a private practice in a few years, once this house is up and running."
"This house is up and running for what?" Everyone ignored Eliza.
"But you loved law." Her father's eyes were wide in surprise. "You loved debating and proving yourself. What was more interesting than law for you?"
"Bolderdash." She sighed then started to laugh. "Bolderdash." She said again with more feeling. "I can't believe it's come to this. It doesn't matter what it was because it no longer is."
"I don't follow…" Her father said.
"It doesn't matter because it's no longer…" She felt herself tearing but she refused to cry in front of her family. "I can no longer go back!" She stood. "So it doesn't matter!"
"Maia…" Franny gasped and stood, finally understanding what she was saying. "What about your friends? Kat? Ion? The twins?"
"It doesn't matter. It's dangerous, I can't go there anymore." She sniffed.
"What about Hatter?" Franny asked softly and the damn broke. Maia wiped away the tears just as quickly as they fell. "Oh Maia…"
"What's wrong baby?" her father stood and wrapped his arms around her. "Why are you crying?"
"Because I loved him daddy…" Maia felt like she was five again as she buried herself in his chest. "And I'll never see him again…"
"I wouldn't say that." The room was silent. Maia turned her head and the first thing she thought was 'He's almost too tall for the room' before she gasped.
"Maddion?" She stepped away from her father and turned to him. He was standing there, in the door way of the living room, holding his hat nervously in his hands. Camellia was behind him, a smirk on her face as she tried to hide from view. "What… why are you here?" Suddenly Hatter seemed unsure of himself, something she had never seen. "Not that I'm upset about it… I'm… I'm so happy to see you… but the mirror-"
"If you're to break it…" His voice was shaky. "Then I am to be on this side when you do." He took a deep breath and pulled out the clock she had left. "Unless this is not what I thought it was."
"But you'll be separated from Wonderland…" Maia said. ("wonderland?" her cousin asked. "Shut up." Franny hissed).
"As long as I'm with you, I'll be fine." Hatter smiled, his nerves slowly disappearing. "That is, if you'll have me."
"Oh Maddion!" Maia cried and flew into his arms. "I can't let you be separated from Wonderland forever! I…" She took in a sharp breath. "I won't break my mirror. Dosovo can get over his stupid obsession!" His arms wrapped around her tightly and she felt his body relax. "I won't take you from Wonderland."
"If I don't have you… then Wonderland is boring." He said simply, as if that explained everything. "Again," He pulled away to look down at her. "I've seen all there is to see there. Nothing holds the same joy for me anymore. But when I show it to you, when I see it through your eyes, a whole new world opens up."
"I guess we'll have to fix that then." Maia laughed.
"Ahem." Eliza caught their attention. "And just who in god's name are you?"
"Maddion Conster Rivvel ma'am." Hatter gave her a small bow. "But people know me by the name, the Mad Hatter. I'm a citizen of Wonderopolis."
"Wonderopolis?" Eliza's eyebrows shot up into her head. "What a presumptuous thing to say. Maia, have you been hanging out at the loony bin?"
"Uncle Maddion is not crazy!" Camellia rushed in. "He makes beautiful hats! And he showed us Wonderland!"
"Camellia…" Franny sighed and went over to her. "I think-"
"No!" Camellia shook her head. "I will not let them say such things to Uncle Maddion! I have proof that Wonderland exists!" she reached into her hair and pulled Charlie out. "See? This is my mome rath! We got him in the Spades Domain." Jacob knelt down to look at the mome rath. He had a smile on, showing that he was going to play along with a child's imagination, until Charlie moved and looked up at him with big blue eyes.
"Holy shit. It's real." Jacob reached a finger out. "Does he bite?"
"I don't know." Camellia shrugged. "But he's fun to play with. Aunt Kat said that if I'm good to him, he'll make me silk."
"Camellia, will you run and get Ion and Aunt Kat from my house please? They're in the kitchen." Hatter asked. Camellia nodded furiously and ran up the stairs. "She'll only be a minute."
"The ears…" Franny smiled. "I love those ears."
"Maia, you have something to explain." Her father glared at hatter. "And you better start now."
"It's quite simple dad. Annabell gave me a mirror to Wonderland." Maia said and breathed a sigh of relief. "I don't have to hide this. I really don't do I?"
"Everyone will think you're insane." Franny laughed.
"Oddly enough, I'm fine with that." Maia smiled. "I think it'll be a perfect gimmick for our new Inn."
"You're mother fainted when Ion and Kat showed their tails and ears?" Deedle laughed. "That sounds hilarious." She set her tea cup down. "I can't believe you just told them. Don't they think you're insane?"
"Perhaps." Maia shrugged. "But who really cares? My family will come around eventually." She sighed. "Like when they want money…" Both women fell into giggles. "How much longer do you think they'll be out there debating about the roof?" Maia mentioned Franny, Dumini and Jackual Tepenar. The three of them were outside at the moment debating about what to do with the roof.
"I don't know. You're cousin seems very stubborn." Deedle laughed. "Are you sure you want to join Dumini and I in our business?"
"Are you saying you don't want to help me make an Inn here for Wonderlandions and Otherworlders?" Maia asked.
"No, that's not it. We'll make so much money with this place." Deedle sighed. "More than we've made before. And it'll make tolerance between the two worlds easier… I just want to make sure you're okay with it. It'll permanently tie you to Wonderland."
"That's kind of the plan." Maia smiled and refilled their cups. "I just didn't expect Franny to be this into it." The minute Franny over heard Dumini and Jackual talking about repairs and upgrades, she took over, citing the fact that Maia had no clue what she was doing. "I think this is turning into a nice family business. My cousin Jacob wants to help us with the renovations."
"It does seem that way." Deedle laughed. They both stopped to try and understand what Franny was yelling at the two men. "I think Dumini and Jackual has finally met someone they can't charm. It's refreshing."
"Aunt Maia!" Camellia's yell reached them in the kitchen before she did. "Mac keeps trying to take Charlie from me!" Mac, Kat's nephew, came trailing in after her. He was the same age as Camellia but they didn't seem to be getting along. Joshua wouldn't even go near him.
"She won't share!" Mac glowered. "It's selfish." Maia sighed. This was the third fight they had started since Mac had showed up earlier in the morning. Maia had agreed to babysit the young Cheshire, but she didn't know it would be this bad. Kat had thought that being somewhere new would help the spoiled troublemaking cat. Maia wasn't so sure.
"Go play." Maia glared at the two children.
"but-"
"No." she cut them off. "Go. Play." Both the children turned and left in sulky moods. "They are a handful."
"But they have a certain charm. And they are the Queens' poster children (no pun intended) for connections between Wonderland and Earth." Deedle smiled. "I just hope no one sees them until they get older and learn to get along."
"I just hope they get along one day…" Maia groaned and leaned back in her chair a bit. She closed her eyes and sighed while Deedle went back to their list of things to do. Maia had finally started to write down the things she needed to do, but it seemed to keep growing.
"You seem to be hard at work." Maia opened her eyes to look at Hatter. He was leaning in the doorway, looking at her with his little smirk. He was wearing his traveling coat and had his cane and hat in hand.
"Where have you been to?" Maia asked and sat up. "You've been gone for a while."
"There were a few things I had to handle…" Hatter walked in and gave her a quick kiss on the lips. "I hope you don't mind but we have some visitors."
"Who?" Maia asked hesitantly.
"You may come in." Hatter said into the hallway and two people walked in. Deedle immediately gasped and stood up.
"Master Renvard! Mistress Raeyar." Deedle said. "It's good to see you again."
"Deedle Tweedle." The man tilted his head in greeting. "Would you mind if we had the room?" Deedle immeditally left without a word. "Miss Maia Hardsey…" He turned his cold blue eyes on her. "You are the one she talked about?"
"Daddy." The tall blond woman shook her head. "Lighten up. Maia is family." Raeyar smiled and looked at Maia. "Maia, it's so good to finally meet you!" Raeyar reached out and pulled Maia out of her chair and into her arms. "I've heard so much about you!" Maia was confused until the woman let her go and she looked into her hazel eyes.
"Annabell…"