Alice and What Came After
Disclaimer: Nothing except my shiny new copy of Alice on DVD! Yay!
Chapter Thirty-six: Chase Heart
Chase Heart scaled a tree, trying to find a perch above ground where he could spend the night resting out of sight of anyone on the ground sent by his brother.
"You're breaking my heart," Damon said, staring down at his younger brother, his wrists shackled in front of him.
"You don't have a heart."
"I wish you would reconsider where your loyalties are, little brother. I don't want to have to kill you."
"Then don't. Stop this nonsense, Damon."
Damon Heart laughed, his outer robe brushing against the red carpet as he stepped down from the dais to look directly into his brother's eyes. "Nonsense? Nonsense? Are you Mad? This is the way Wonderland oughta be! This is the future!"
Chase shook his blonde head. "No, Damon. What you're doing is wrong. You're destroying everything Wonderland is."
"I'm simply getting rid of the riff-raff. I can always replace them with Oysters… selected Oysters."
"No one is going to let you power the Looking Glass up again."
"Really?"
Chase glared at him. "No one will help you, Damon. Stop this before you get yourself killed."
"Stop what? I've barely begun."
"You've had your fun, Damon. Now stop. Please…"
Damon shook his head. "You always were narrow-minded, Chase. You never could see the larger picture. You were such a good little pet for Father. His favorite pet."
"I'm not a pet."
"Really? So everything you're saying… those are all your own thoughts?"
"Yes."
"I don't believe it at all…" Damon circled around his brother. "Clubs… take him to the executioner."
"Damon—"
His brother simply held up his hand, signaling that he wanted silence.
Stunned, Chase didn't say a word as he was dragged away to face the executioner's axe.
Of course, there was still a chance that Damon didn't realize he was still alive. It had been his mother's plan to save him. She risked her own neck to bribe the guards and the executioner to allow Chase to live. She gave him a small bag of meager supplies and sent him out into the woods.
Woods where he was expected to hide until the Alice of Legend or Charlie the White Knight came to get him. His mother promised to send them as soon as she could. It was too risky for her to follow him at the moment. She'd still had Damon's trust then.
That had been two weeks ago.
Since then, he'd been living in trees, waiting for a sign of anyone who wasn't connected to his brother.
But he never expected it to come in the guise of a girl close to his age in a form-fitting shirt and hiking boots.
*~*~*~*~*~*
"Charlie… what's so special about the Jabberwock?" Sarah asked, relaxing on Guinevere's back. The older mare was turning thirty according to the old knight, but she had enough spunk for a pack of three-year-olds.
Rex chattered from the rump of Charlie's grayish mount, just a bit behind Connor, who was clinging to Charlie for dear life.
"The Jabberwock has been my foe for many, many years, my dear. He is an elusive and murderous beast. A fierce predator."
"That sure sounds like ya, Sarah…" Connor muttered.
"Oh shut up, Conn."
It wasn't long before they heard a roar.
"Was that… what I think it was?" Connor whispered.
Rex's chatter grew louder, the lizard clearly agitated. He moved over to Guinevere, where he landed in front of Sarah. "What's wrong, Rex?"
"The Jabberwock is near," Charlie said.
Sarah looked over at her brother. "Conn, I think now would be a good time for one of your brilliant reptile things."
"I dunno anythin' about Jabberwocky!"
"Just think of… a dragon?"
"Does it breathe fire?"
"I don't know, Conn! Why don't you ask it?!"
The Jabberwock roared again, stepping into view. Guinevere reared up, dumping Sarah and Rex into the dirt.
Charlie pulled his sword, charging at the monster, Connor still clinging to him.
"Sarah!" he called, staring back at his twin.
The Jabberwock came at Charlie's horse, its arms raised as if it might snatch the riders off the horse's back.
Charlie shouted nonsense as he charged the beast.
Several yards away, still lying in the dirt, Sarah hadn't moved. Only Rex had. The lizard sat on her chest, chittering anxiously.
She groaned. "Rex…"
The lizard licked her cheek.
"Hey, hey… you okay?" an unfamiliar voice said.
She could feel hands helping her sit up. She wanted to punch him, but she didn't have the energy.
"Who are you?"
"It doesn't matter. Are you okay? That was quite a fall."
"Fine… just dizzy…"
"Look, we need to get you up in a tree before the Jabberwock comes back."
"What?" Sarah moaned.
Her savior looked directly into her eyes. "Climb a tree. Now."
*~*~*~*~*~*
Connor yelled as the ground gave way underneath them, sending him, Charlie, and the horse underground.
There was an inhuman scream from the horse and a few sickening cracks.
Connor hit his head against one of the wooden stakes, blacking out.
Beside him, Charlie tried to the comfort his wounded horse as the Jabberwock wailed.
*~*~*~*~*~*
Sarah was still a little wobbly when she reached the perch in the tree with her savior's help. Rex sat on her lap, still chattering. She couldn't understand the lizard like Connor could.
"We have to help them…" she protested, looking for any sign of her brother or the knight.
"It's too late. They're Jabberwock chow by now."
"We have to help them! My brother is out there!"
"I'm sorry, but you're probably better off without him," the blonde man said, his clothes tattered and dirt streaked.
"How could you even say something like that?"
"Trust me… brothers aren't what they're cracked up to be."
"Were you dropped on your head as a child?"
He looked at her steely gaze. "No."
"Really? Cause you have to be the biggest moron I've ever met and that's saying something," Sarah spat, her hand unconscious stroking Rex.
"You are one impetuous little girl."
"Okay, first off—not a little girl. Second—now you sound like my brother. Now, if you're not gonna help me, then get out of my way."
"Wait… what's your name?"
"None of your business. Now get out of my way or I'll sic the lizard on you."
Rex tried to look menacing, but it failed miserably.
"Fine. Be that way."
Sarah shot him a mocking smile and set Rex on the tree limb near her. "Go find Conn, Rex."
Rex chirped and took off.
"What the hell kind of lizard is that?" the guy near her said.
"My brother's."
Sarah wrapped her arms and legs around the tree trunk, slowly moving down the scraggly tree.
"Why are you so protective of him?"
"Why do you have such a big chip on your shoulder?" she demanded, looking up.
"You wouldn't understand."
With a sigh, Sarah plopped down on a lower branch. "You've got one minute. Try me."
"Really, you wouldn't understand."
"Try. Me."
The blonde sighed. "My brother…he's a bad guy, okay? He's done some really bad things."
"Is that why a Jabberwock is your roommate?"
"A bit."
"So what did your brother do? Break your favorite toy?"
"Worse. He killed our father."
Sarah's brown eyes widened. "Yikes."
"My brother's crazy…"
"Mine's a pain in the arse, but he wouldn't kill our dad."
"Yeah, I knew you wouldn't understand."
Sarah put a hand on his arm. "You're not telling me everything."
"Of course not. I don't know who you are. You could be working for him."
"Fine." She held out her hand to shake. "My name's Sarah."
"Chase."
They shook hands quickly.
"Listen, I'm sorry about your dad, but I really need to find my brother. He's all I've got left."
"What happened to your parents?"
Sarah couldn't look at him. "I don't know."
"Really?"
"They're gone."
"Oh… you're Oysters."
She glared at him. "I'm not an Oyster."
"Well, you're not from around here, are you? That makes you an Oyster."
Sarah laughed. "You simple-minded Wonderlanders. I can't be an Oyster. I'm a Wonderlander."
"Yeah? Then how come you don't know who I am?"
"Why? Should I?"
"My name's Chase Heart. Also known as the Ace of Hearts… or the Prince of Hearts."
"So your brother… he's the one who started this mess."
"What mess?"
She jabbed her finger at him. "Your brother ordered my parents' disappearance."
"Why would he?"
"I'm not an Oyster, Chase or Ace—whoever the 'ell you are—I'm the Princess of Wonderland. I was conceived here. My father is David Hatter."
"Hatter?"
"That's right… I'm Sarah Hatter. My brother is Connor Hatter. Our mother is Alice. Alice of Legend?"
"Oh… I'm so sorry Your Highness, I didn't realize—"
She held up a hand. "Save it, Ace. Help me find my brother and I won't hold it against you."
"Anything for you, Princess."
"Listen up, Chase. Call me Princess one more time and you'll end up with my boot up your arse. Are we clear?"
"Crystal," he croaked, entranced by the mysterious half-breed. Or was she a full-Wonderlander? She certainly carried herself with confidence and grace and she didn't seem to off put by Wonderland. She seemed rather at home.
Then again, no Wonderlander had ever married an Oyster, much less had children with one. It was no wonder he'd never heard of the Hatter and Alice having children.
Sarah Hatter slipped down the tree, landing easily on her feet. Chase followed, a bit slower and less coordinated.
*~*~*~*~*~*
"Hatter!" Alice cried, rushing into the dark room. Two Suits grabbed her arms, holding her back from her husband. "HATTER!"
He didn't stir on the floor, his body usually still.
"Well, well. So we meet again, Alice," Dodo said, appearing from a shadowy corner.
"What did you do to him?"
"Nothing really. Not yet."
"You got what you wanted. Let him go. Now."
Dodo moved closer, touching Alice's cheek. "No. Not yet. You see… I don't want you. I don't care about you. My boss does."
"What are you trying to say?"
"This was never about you, Alice. You are merely a tool. All I wanted was the Hatter."
*~*~*~*~*~*
"Connor? Rex? Charlie?" she called, her hands cupped around her mouth as she broke into a jog.
Rex chirped off in the distance.
"CONNOR!"
A hand covered her mouth. "Ssh, bothering the Jabberwock is not going to help us find your brother," Chase hissed.
She spun out of his hold. "Then what do you suggest?"
"Use your eyes, not your voice."
*~*~*~*~*~*
Rex licked Connor's face, waking up the fallen Hatter.
In the distance, he heard Sarah's voice calling his name.
"Rex… where's Sarah?"
The lizard chirped.
"In a tree?"
The lizard nodded.
Connor groaned as he tried to sit up. His head throbbing, blood dripping down the side.
"Sir Connor, you have awoken!" Charlie exclaimed, appearing in his view.
"Charlie…what happened?"
"A Jabberwock trap. It was unfortunate."
"Where's… where's your horse?"
Charlie looked down at the dirt floor of the pit. "The Jabberwock decided he made a better meal than us."
"You mean… it ate your horse?"
The old knight looked rather upset at the loss of his horse. "He was a valiant steed, headless of danger. The best companion a knight could ask for."
"Charlie, I'm sorry for your loss, but do you think we could get outta this pit?"
"Certainly, young sir. I will give you a boost up."
Charlie pushed Connor out of the pit. It took him several minutes to try and fail to get Charlie out. The knight was too heavy.
Rex sat beside Connor on the grass, chattering.
He looked at his lizard. "Find Sarah, Rex. Bring her here. Okay?"
Rex chirped and took off.
"Don't worry, Charlie. We'll get you out of there."
Author's Notes:
Ehh, not one of my favorite chapters. It seems a little dry, but it was time to make Chase known. I know I committed a cardinal sin—I killed an animal. But hopefully Rex makes up for it a bit.
There's going to be more of the search for the sword coming up as well as what Dodo's got planned for Hatter and Alice. Thanks for reading and please keep the reviews coming!