-Gilded Hearts-
Chapter XIII: All The Kings Men
I only want to seem good
In front of the right
People
My aura's yellow like a coward
Tonight, I'm gonna melt some faces
With Gatling gun social skills
"Fortune Teller" Forest Fire
With so much happening at the break of dawn, Jack looked up startled at the Clock Tower's chimes of 10am. To think that the country was JUST beginning to wake up made him weary that he was to look forward a few more possible heart attacks before afternoon tea. The idea made him grow tired all of the sudden that he slowed his once hurried pace through the East Bend area of town – a place full of shops and where the country's registry was located. Under an abandoned archway, placed right before the narrow street emptied into an open square, Jack finally forced himself to pause. The notary wouldn't be open really in another hour, so there was no need to rush. Also it was comforting to feel the cool stone hold him up when he believed he himself couldn't. It was then that the Knave sensed his presence.
"Tired are we?" He purred.
"You really have a knack of appearing when the shit hits the fan." The Knave snapped back though with the lack of usual vigor due to his unexpected exhaustion.
"It's been hard to reach you Jack – you've been a busy boy since we've last met."
"And still busy. So I best advise you to fuck off till next time."
"Aww, Jacky boy. Don't be so cruel." Jack turned to find him leaning on the same brick wall, smiling at him with that infamous grin that has locked so many unfortunate souls before him. The one that even Jack is now condemned of because of that curious grin. Cheshire Cat.
"A little bird told me that the Queen had a nasty fit the other day because of you. Heard you've been forbidden to be seen by him until further notice."
"That's interesting, Cat. Did you happen to eat that little birdie after it told you that?" The Cheshire Cat chuckled and pushed himself off the wall, hands digging deep in his black pants.
"Have you gotten further in your case my dear Ace of Hearts?" He turned his neck to look at Jack.
"Killer is still out there and despite our running's around, you still won't help us in-''
"Come now, Jack." The Cat interrupted. "That's not the case I care about nor have further information on. Your guess is as good as mine but I must admit, I always look forward to what this maestro has up his sleeve."
"So you enjoy in his killings, you twisted fuck?"
"It all seems so random to the point where I begin to feel we might have a true psychopath on our hands. That he truly enjoys in killing people."
"You seem amused by this, Cat. Is it because you've always deemed yourself as Wonderland's only psychopath?" The Cat tossed his hair and chuckled again.
"It's funny you say that when our own Monarch is one as well."
"Careful, Cat!" The Knave grabbed the Cat's collar and shoved him to the other side of the alley. At first the Cat gasped at the pain of wall slamming into the back of his head but then he let out a laugh. "You speak of treason when you speak against our Queen." The Cat could barely speak through his laughter.
"He is within you deep, isn't he Knave?"
"Stop talking nonsense?"
"You are the one that is not sensible. Loving someone so truthfully when they themselves don't love you."
"Stop it!" The Knave tightened his hold over the Cat's throat.
"You aren't the first, my dearest Jack. And you won't be the last." He tried to breathe.
"That's a lie! I was told that I was the only Knave! The only one!"
"But you are not the only one that was close to the Queen. Who knows how many more were before you? Who knows how many more will be after you?" The Knave didn't want to delve in further with this issue. It was questions that like that shattered his idyllic ignorance. He was better off dumb and unaware. Had the Cheshire Cat spared him, he would still be in good graces with The Queen.
A feeling of panic overcame Jack. He didn't want to be anywhere near the Cheshire Cat - as if his presence was as contagious as a plague. The Ace released the Cat with a shove and he continued his way deeper into town.
"But you know who would know, Jack?" The Cheshire Cat called out to him. The Knave kept walking – ignoring his last comments. "Yes. You do know, don't you?"
The registry wasn't housed in a governmental building guarded by soldiers and stacks of forms and approvals. Strangely, the most well stocked registry was hidden away in the back of a dusty notary shop that stayed afloat working as a book and stationary store.
WALRUS & CARPENTERS BOOK CO.
That was the name of the shop. It held a nostalgic aesthetic that brought bookworms to its cause. When the Ace entered, the place was vacant probably because it had just opened moments before.
"Hello?" He called wondering where the bookkeeper would be within this maze of shelves and scattered volumes.
"I'm right up here." Called a gentle voice. Jack looked up at the second floor that hovered above him. At the iron wrought rail stood the figure of a slender young man with silver hair and blue eyes. He wore a button down shirt and tied to his neck was a flimsy short necktie. But one wouldn't notice that for he donned an oversized knit cardigan in a darker shade of gray compared to his silver hair.
"I'm looking for a notary." The Ace called from below.
"And I am he." The bookkeeper replied as he made his way down the spiral staircase. "And who may you be?"
"My name is Jack." The Ace replied. He didn't want to startle the fragile looking man by alerting that he was on royal business with his lengthy title. Also, it seemed refreshing to be known by a simpler name.
"You look as though you belong in a Castle than in moldy bookshop." The Notary chuckled, as he looked him up and down.
"I am. Actually I am here to conduct some research on my Duchess' behalf. You see the Lady I serve wishes for me to review her family line. I am told that you hold the best registrar in town—''
"The Country for that matter. The founder – my Grandfather, Henry Walrus, was a very specific collector of names and accounts. He appointed himself to be Wonderland's source of birth records and so has been since after his death. Come with me – the Record Hall is in the back."
Jack followed him through a zigzag of claustrophobic book stacks.
"So I didn't know the country's registrar was also a family run local business." The knave carelessly joked; hoping that by inciting small talk with the young man he would acquire an extra set of helping hands on this.
"It's just me now." The bookworm answered. They came upon a brass cage-like wall gilded in scrolling designs. "My father and mother died in a tragic accident many years ago & I was their only child. So the shop is left to me to run as my own. I guess I do it more for their memory than for myself." He looked over his shoulder with a sad smile. The Knave blushed in embarrassment.
"I apologize for my previous joke. I did not mean to bring up such memories." The bookkeeper unlocked a caged door, and waited for the Knave to step in.
"Don't be. It was many years ago and we cannot keep looking what's been left behind." He locked the door behind them. "Please follow me this way and we'll get you set up."
The knave looked up and even saw that they very much were caged in. An enclosed space surrounded by brass link chain walls disguised in scrolling designs. It was a space large enough to fit a couple of long wooden tables of six, a few book trolleys and stacks of file cabinets that reached up to the ceiling of the cage.
"All records are ordered alphabetically. Do you know where to start?" The young man gestured upon the long line of solemn grey file cabinets. Strong and silent like soldiers awaiting roll call.
"My lady wished for me to start with her uncle whom she believed was name Hubert Delphy."
"Well then, the H's are over here and the Hu's are right…here." They stopped upon the file cabinet marked with a single H."
"Is this all of them? All the birth records?"
"hah!" The young man looked around. "Wonderland is not nearly as old as you think. Our history only goes back a couple hundred of years. Why we've only had one Qu-''
"Yes. I know that. Just thought there would at least be more people. That's all. How long am I allowed to be here?"
"We close at 5 every day. The step stools are scattered about. I hope you don't mind but I'll have to lock you in for security reasons." He began to walk towards the door.
"Yes, thank you."
"And if you need me, just call. My name is Rose." The young man turned to lock the door behind him.
"Thank you…Rose." The Knave smiled when saying the name. A peculiar one for a young man but something about it seemed fitting for him. He seemed delicate and pretty like a flower but something about him held an inner strength and confidence that he could hold his own. He carried himself knowing who he was which was more than what the Ace could say.
When the Ace knew Rose was gone, he began at the start of the H cabinet and opened the first drawer. At least when opening, he relieved there weren't that many H's within Wonderland's history. The first name was Hatter.
The Ace kept a list notebook in his breast pocket and after 4 hours he had filled up a few pages of all the residents within Wonderland the initials HD. He called Rose to come and unlock the door.
"I hope you found everything that you needed." Rose smiled as he opened the door.
"And if I didn't, I'll know who to go." The Ace grew to smile even more at each time Rose looked at him.
"Well we are open 6 days a week. So you're more than welcome to come any time during our hours." They made their way to the front of the store. When the Ace moved past to open the door, Rose couldn't help but glance at the soldier's graceful form in full.
"With all this help, I should repay you."
"We do not charge customers who wish to research our records." Rose smiled.
"Well then maybe I should at least take you out for tea – to repay your services."
"Perhaps." Rose hid his smile fearing he was doing it too much. "Till next time!" He waved.