Alice's POV

I stepped past the door's threshold and immediately regretted it. A familiar face leered at me.

"Where's my brother?" Stayne asked with distain

"Dead" I stared emotionlessly at him.

"Hmm how sad… but no matter," Stayne seemed to shrug of his brother's death without a care, "you're here."

I looked about the dirty courtyard. A huge black castle loomed above us, its steeples now flying purple flags. A petit redhead dressed in amethyst stood next to Stayne. Her hair was short but she looked utterly familiar.

"Do you have any relation with the Red Queen?" I asked her, my mind was racing. I had to find a way through the circle of Cards that surrounded us. The young women scoffed but otherwise ignored me as Stayne continued.

"Useful of you to turn up… I would have expected my brother to have to drag you down here. Have you come to your senses?" he gazed at me as though I was a piece of expensive meat.

"Oh yes I just decided to give myself to you so you could sacrifice me to the Great Bestie I am so anxious for you to summon." My voice dripped with sarcasm. The beautiful girl grinned.

"You never told me she was funny!" she looped her arm around his, her eyes sparkled maliciously.

"She isn't" Stayne growled but the young women just rolled her eyes.

"The White Queen's army is coming" I lied, trying to bide my time.

"No they aren't." he immediately saw through my bluff. "Bind her!" he ordered and an Ace of Spades grabbed me by the arm.

"No!" I shook him off and dodged another. I had to get away! I ducked under an outstretched arm. My escape attempt lasted only a few moments longer then I found myself being tied up.

"One Passionate Soul" the women grinned then something hit me hard on the head. The world went black.

The White Queen's POV

The Hatter gripped my arm. "I need to know where she is" his desperate eyes searched my face.

"Come. I will get you fixed up" I said softly, trying to soothe the man. My own heart was flip-flopping in my chest but I tried not to show my pain.

"No! I need to find my Alice! Oh Alice… Alice Alice" he shook his head. I ignored his protests and guided him in my potion's kitchen. My hands trembled as I struggled to hold back tears. I felt betrayed. Not by the man whom I had trusted, oh no not by him! I was betrayed by my own heart! It had kept itself locked to all but one until this monster came along! I poured a healing concoction into a small cup and handed it to Tarrant.

"Drink this" I ordered and he did as he was told. His eyes were a glazed orange and his mind was elsewhere.

"I think I know where Alice is" I told him, jerking the desperate man out of his reprieve. There were only three Doors in Underland, and if I knew Alice she had fell through the worst one.

The Hatter's POV

The White Queen's eyes were broken. I tried to care but all I could think about was Alice. Alice in the snow. Alice smiling. Alice falling.

I gulped down the Potion, not caring what it was. Oh my Alice! I needed her to keep me from the void. My wounds immediately stitched themselves up, I was healed but not whole.

"I think I know where Alice is" the White Queen told me and I was suddenly alert.

"Where?" I demanded to know.

"Crims" the Queen whispered. Without a single glance behind me I raced from the room and into my old bedroom.

I changed out of my above clothing and I set my tattered old hat upon my head. I lifted the Vorpal sword once more. I was ready.

I burst from the room and raced outside. I relied on my feet to move me through my homeland.

I was going to save Alice no matter the costs.

Daniel Stayne's POV

I watched as my brother slung Alice Kingsley's light body over his shoulder. The Violet Princess watched him as he placed Alice in a huge circle. A small fie burned next to her and a pile of glowing red goop sat within it.

Fire of the Soul, Fire of the Hearth, and Fire of the Land.

He was starting the ceremony. He was going to summon the Jabberwocky, and I was the only one who could stop him. I drew myself up and stalked into the courtyard.

"Ahh little brother. How… pleasant to see you. Alice informed us that you had passed away." He grimaced.

"I am sure you are devastated to see me." I pulled my sword from my side and pointed it at the man who had tormented me for my whole life.

"What are you doing?" he seemed vaguely amused.

"Killing you." I growled, and then realized that armed Cards surrounded us. The Playing Cards rushed in to stop me but my brother waved them off.

"I can handle this coward." He smirked.

"Don't call me that!" I shouted

"What? Does the wee little coward not like the mean word that his big brother called him?" he scoffed, enraging me.

"No I don't. I was never a coward! You were the one always running to mommy! But yet you were to afraid to stop our father from nearly killing her!" I waved my weapon in the air. The space between us was silent and hard. The Cards tried to rush in once more.

"GO! Get out of here! I don't need your help in killing my tiny little baby brother!" Iloshovich ordered and away they went.

"You have become our father." I told him, watching rage swell in his eyes. He cracked his neck and pulled his weapon from its scabbard.

We faced each other, weapons in hand, ready to kill each other.

Lots of cliff hangers! I am working on my Original Work right now so it is taking me a while to post chapters but the story does go on!