Chapter 14

The breathtaking sights of the Kingdom of the Knights never ceased to amaze Hatter. The reconstruction of the High Court was scheduled for completion by the end of the season. Once things were stable, the Crown would hold elections and begin the path of converting the government into a constitutional monarchy.

While Nine escorted Alice, Carol and Bernard through the construction site, Hatter took the opportunity to speak to Jack. He and Bernard had agreed that morning that the news about Dodo could wait no longer. He pulled out the book and showed Jack the evidence of Dodo's betrayal.

"I know it must come as a shock, 'Majesty…" Hatter finished, waiting for some show of emotion. However, Jack showed none. He merely motioned for Ten to come closer, and whispered something to him that Hatter couldn't quite make out. Ten's eyes widened in surprise, and he caught Hatter's eye with alarm.

"Yes, 'Majesty," was all he said, before scurrying off.

"Your Majesty…" Hatter began.

"Dodo will be dealt with, Hatter. As will all traitors," he said coldly, before walking towards the construction site.

Hatter sighed. Whatever happened now was out of his hands. Bernard had assured him that the last written laws provided for a trial by jury for one accused of treason. The legal scholars were waiting at the Palace to address the issues of procedure once Dodo was arrested. However, he wasn't entirely certain that Jack hadn't just ordered Dodo's immediate death rather than arrest. Hatter felt slightly ill at the thought. He wasn't particularly upset at the thought of Dodo's head on the chopping block, but he wanted it to be justice, not the revenge of a cruel dictator.

Resigned, Hatter rejoined the group. They were scheduled to tour the High Court. However, Jack excused himself, saying he had to return to the palace. He murmured to Hatter that he would confront Dodo on the charges when he was brought in and turn him over to the lawmakers. Hatter breathed a sigh of relief. Jack seemed to Hatter to be acting perfectly rational to him. He was going to charge Dodo with treason, and he would be dealt with through legal channels. Obviously, they had been concerned for no reason.

Hatter decided to enjoy the rest of the afternoon. He met with the design team on site and discussed the current and future renovations. The High Court would be sleek and modern, but with a simple beauty. Nine led the group for a ride through the countryside before returning to the city. They had a picnic lunch served by the Clubs and, for the first time since they arrived, Hatter could just relax.

( ( (

Hatter was certain if he didn't get Alice inside and get her clothes off immediately, he was going to explode.

They'd spent the remainder of the afternoon sneaking off from the group for a few moments of alone time, stealing kisses when no one was watching, unable to keep from touching one another. Alice was intoxicating to him.

Once they'd returned to the palace, he had to force himself to focus and not imagine running his hands across Alice's soft skin. He'd tried to discuss business with Jack, but the King was as disinterested in what he had to say as he was in saying it. The King was instead more concerned with the status of the renovations to the palace dungeon since Dodo was to be taken into custody, and Hatter could only think of Alice. He decided business could wait. Free of his obligations, Hatter could concentrate on what really mattered: Alice.

He fumbled at the doorknob, trying to grope Alice and open the door at the same time. She had him half undressed by the time he got them inside, not bothering to turn on a light.

He felt feral and feverish. He grabbed her tightly, pressing her against him. She moaned his name as he bit at her neck, and lifting her, he laid her onto his desk, intending to take her right there. She started to mutter a protest, but he kissed her harder and she finally acquiesced. He started to pull off her pants, when a noise behind him startled him sober.

"Stop right there! Don't move!" a female voice quivered in the dark. Hatter's blood turned cold when he heard the distinct noise of a revolver being cocked.

"Not moving. Take what you came for and go, I won't try to stop you," he said calmly, standing between the gun and Alice. He wasn't wearing body armor this time. In fact, he wasn't even wearing a shirt. He held Alice back with one arm.

"Where is it? I need it now!" the woman shrieked at him, her arm shaking.

"There, behind you in the cabinet. They're all labeled. Take what you want and go. No one has to get hurt," he reassured her. When she turned to the cabinet, he pressed the silent alarm at his desk.

The woman grabbed several bottles from the cabinet and ran for the door. When she opened it, a group of Suits grabbed her and disarmed her.

"What the hell, Hatter?" Alice shrieked, throwing his shirt at him as he'd turned on the light.

"I'm sorry, I don't know how she could have gotten in here. I never would have brought you back here if I imagined it wasn't safe…" he reached out for her hand, and she pulled away, furious.

"That's not what I mean. You're still selling the emotion teas, aren't you?" she accused.

He cringed. He realized he'd never told her about that. "I should have told you, I'm sorry."

"You're sorry. You're sorry? Those are drugs, Hatter. Drugs! You're a drug-dealer. Selling drugs manufactured from kidnapping people and locking them up and draining them of their emotions. My father died to stop that. Jack betrayed his own mother. You're supposed to be helping to rebuild Wonderland. You're supposed to be helping Jack. What would he think?"

He snapped back at her. "Dammit, you still don't trust me! Your beloved Jack's the one who asked me to continue selling it."

"I don't believe you," she said coldly.

He sighed, struggling to get his emotions in check. "Alice, please. Let me explain," he begged. He hated the doubt in her eyes. He'd hoped they were passed this, hoped that she trusted him enough to give him the benefit of the doubt. He was disappointed to find that wasn't the case.

She laughed humorlessly. "Oh, this should be rich."

"Jack and the Duchess needed time to rebuild Wonderland, so they asked me to buy them that time. They wanted me to continue selling the rest of the Oyster teas, increasingly diluted, to not only keep the masses content for the time being but also to wean them off the habit. I think there's something similar in your world?"

She nodded. "Methadone clinics."

"Right. Look, I don't like it, and I didn't want to do it, but I agreed with them that it was necessary. The worst addicts are being sent to the Hospital for treatment, and that woman there will be getting help. I swear to you, I wasn't trying to hide it from you. With everything else going on, I just didn't think about it. The supplies are nearly out anyway, and I thought we'd sorted out the worst of the addicts. I never thought this would happen, that you'd be in danger here. I swear, Alice; that is the last thing I want. I hate that you don't trust me."

She didn't say anything. He sighed, pulling on his shirt as one of the Suits came in to give report and return the stolen product.

"If there are any other problems, Sir, please let us know," he said, closing the door behind him.

"Alice…" he started.

"I'm going back to the palace tonight. I need time to think," she said, and walked out the door.

Angry, he threw the near-empty bottle of Clarity against the wall, shattering it. He sighed, and walked over to pick up the shards of glass. Careless, he cut himself on a jagged piece. He stared at the blood dripping from his left hand, and with the sting, felt immediately better. He could think clearly for the first time in days.

He decided to give Alice some space. He knew how difficult it was for her to trust, and he shouldn't take it personally. He had enough faith in her to know she would be back in the morning, and they would be fine.

He pulled out his books and papers, and worked until he started to lose focus. He fell asleep in his chair.

( ( (

"Hatter?" a voice said softly, rousing him from his sleep.

"Alice?" he muttered, opening his eyes.

"No, it's Victoria," the Duchess said, pulling back the hood of her black cloak.

"What? What're you doing here? It's the middle of the night. I really need more security around here," he said, sitting up and squinting at her in the dark room. "What's wrong?"

"I came to say good-bye," she said.

"Good-bye? Where on earth on you going? In the middle of the night! Have you lost your mind?" he accused.

"If I stay, I'm going to be charged with murder. I have contacts getting me out of the city and safely underground. You need to look after Jack, and you need to make a sacrifice for Wonderland. This land needs a Queen, and it will have to be Alice, because either I escape or I very soon will be losing my head," she said, turning abruptly before he could react.

"Alice? What? Murder? Who the hell has been murdered?" he demanded. "Where are you going?"

"Somewhere no one will find me. Goodbye, Hatter," she said simply, walking away.

"Wait, you can't go. Wonderland needs you. Dammit, I need you," he said. "You're practically the only friend I've got."

The Duchess turned to face him and smiled sadly. "And you mine." She turned away again.

"No, absolutely not. I'm not letting you go. This is obviously some sort of misunderstanding. We're going to work this out with Jack and we're going to fix this," he said stubbornly, grabbing her wrist.

She sighed. "Hatter, I really hoped you wouldn't make a fuss. I've accepted my fate, I need you to accept it too." With that, she pulled him to her and kissed him.

In shock, he didn't pull away as quickly as he should have, as his most immediate thought was her lips tasted… odd. Her lips were wet and glossy and… Damn her! Her lips are laced with Sleep! His lips grew numb. Suddenly his vision was blurry and he couldn't keep his balance any longer. He felt her catch him as he collapsed, and help him back into the chair.

"I'm sorry, Hatter," she said softly, smoothing down his wild hair and repositioning his hat. "I'm innocent. Truly I am. I hope you believe that. But I have to go. Farewell, dear friend."

His last memory was the Duchess placing a book in his lap, and seeing her blurry figure walk out the door.