Alice awoke with a start, a cold sweat breaking out over her forehead. A nightmare. A bad dream. That's all it was, she reminded herself, but a voice in her head told her that she once thought that Underland was all in her head. And here she was.
It had been more of a reliving of Tarrant's assault on her rather than a dream. It replayed over and over, his raging gaze, venomous words and harsh hands. With each time she slept, the retelling only became more vivid. More real.
Her eyes searched the room, the only source of light given was that from the waning moon. She spotted Az, sound asleep across from her in the cot that had been brought up for Az. They did nearly everything together, an easy task given that they were locked together, sometimes even physically, but getting along was another matter. Even when they were out for their daily walk in the garden Az refused to make conversation, but Alice admitted she wasn't initiating anything either.
It had been five days since her confrontation with Mirana. Five days after Tarrant's attack, and that Stayne had nearly drowned. It had also been five days since she had seen Ilosovic. She was positively furious with him, but she also felt guilt for going off, nearly sealing his fate to Time. She was half convinced that the Black King wanted no part with her anymore, that she was to remain the rest of her days locked in this tower so that he could live a little easier from here on out.
But that wasn't the case, and she knew it.
Alice quietly slipped out of her bed and made way for the balcony, checking over her shoulder to ensure that she had not disturbed Az from her slumber. Once assured that Az would not wake, Alice stepped out into the night to survey the kingdom. Even though she was locked away from the world, it did not cease its activities. Far from it.
Since their return from the cliffs, Stayne had launched a full campaign for war. Man and beast alike drilled at all hours of the day for battle. Marching, fencing, hand to hand combat and stamina drills. She felt more emotions than she could handle at the thought of the war to come. She now had those she cared for on each side, and it was clear that this would not end as swiftly as the battle upon the Frabjous Day had. This battle would not be won by a champion, but by who shed more blood. Stayne had the training, but Mirana was sure to have the numbers, as well as a Bandersnatch or two, which would prove more than devastating for Stayne's forces.
Alice's mind began to recall the actions that transpired at the Chess Field. A chill ran through her once more. Hadn't her mind had enough of playing that scene? Was it normal for people to constantly relive the past or was it just her? She tried to focus her mind on more pleasant periods but she still saw the rage.
Tarrant. How was he now? Did he still hold that madness against her, or had he directed it upon himself? She knew it would be too much to hope that he could have taken it out upon the Queen or even her latest Champion, that dastardly old man.
Alice did her best to force these thoughts away and made for her bed again, in hopes getting rest. For years she had the dream of falling down the rabbit hole, she just prayed that this nightmare did not plague her mind as well.
Mirana paced her room in a manic frenzy. She was not one to put her true feelings on display to anyone, but Time had a certain affect upon her. His eyes followed her as she swayed from side to side like a pendulum.
"I told you, did I not?" Time chided. "Had you killed Alice when given the chance, you would not be in this mess. Stayne would be at the bottom of the sea, Alice eliminated from the game, and you could rest easily with a child on the way," he continued as Mirana shot a warning glance to the man but closed her eyes and began to compose herself as best as she could.
"How is it that Alice can defy your will so easily?"
"Because she is not from this realm. I had no part in her beginning, so I cannot claim part to her ending," the man said bitterly, he both admired and hated the girl for this fact. To have such an unpredictable individual running around thrilled him to no end, but it also worried him. She was one that could not be easily won. She questioned everything, and accepted only what she wished. If she were to produce children, and then they grew to produce more children, how long would it be before he no longer mattered? That existence would continue whether he willed it or not.
"Who will win now?" Came the queen, breaking him from his thoughts.
"Oh, that is still hazy, I'm still trying to figure out how you managed to allow both Alice and Ilosovic to live," Time muttered getting to his feet. "Alice handed herself to you on a silver platter, and instead of sticking a knife in her you just watched your servant bat her around." He said as he around her. "Perhaps I took the wrong side to favor." He mused now glancing at a portrait of Mirana.
"Time," Mirana began softly knowing that it never went well to be on his bad side. He could give and take when he pleased. "Is there no way I could fix the wrong I had done? I know I should have done it swiftly, but I thought that this fate suited Alice far more than death." She whispered, catching Time's attention. "Granted, I would have done away with her. Eventually, but you did not see the most delicious expression upon Stayne, why he-" Suddenly Mirana felt Time's hand wrapped around her throat, squeezing tight.
"My Queen, I cannot express this enough. Words, cannot comprehend my disappointment in you. Your ways are not only jeopardizing your rule, and the fate of these lands, but my wellbeing." Time seethed as he raised her up slightly, Mirana's feet searching for solid ground. "I requested Alice's demise, and with her fall, Stayne's end will come soon after. If I don't see Alice's end, I will have no choice but to interfere myself, which I'm not at all fond of, I hope we understand each other."
Mirana nodded, her face flushed red and she was released. Crumpling to the floor she began to go into a fit of coughs and gasps. Time moved to the fireplace mantel and retrieved a glass of wine from its shelf.
"How you do it, I don't care. Poisoning, strangling, stabing or handing her to that idiotic hatter, so long as she ceases to exist I will reward you."
Mirana nodded once more, her hands tending to her throat now. She didn't dare to ask why, or to question why Alice had to die, only that it was his will. And that her death would bring her a child.
"Consider it done." She whispered, which triggered a laugh from the man.
"I'll consider it done when I see her corpse." He hissed, throwing back the remaining wine in his glass, he left the WhiteQueen to plot once more.
Alice awoke mid-day to find that Az was not in her bed, nor in the tower with her. In confusion she made her way to the door and was shocked to find that the door was unlocked. Unable to resist, Alice ventured outside of the room and down the stairwell, still in nightgown, she quietly padded down the steps. She was nearly halfway down the staircase when she heard the voice of Az.
"Has the King requested to see Alice?" her voice asked, a sigh came from the doctor.
"No, I'm afraid not. Honestly I may have advised the wrong person to be under supervision," uttered Dr. Trait. "The King has not been well. He's irritable, more so than usual. I don't think the man has slept since they returned."
"Goodness. Whatever is the matter with him?" Az asked out loud, though she did not expect an answer, nor did she receive one.
"Has Alice,… confessed anything to you in the time that you've been together? I tried to speak with the king, but he won't say a thing as to what happened. I'm a little shocked I haven't been sent to the dungeons for asking yet."
"No. She's been rather silent. Except for at night. She's rather restless as well. Terrible dreams, I suspect."
"I see." The doctor whispered. "Perhaps I should see her and-"
"Nonsense, let the girl sleep. At least one of them can get some shut eye," Az whispered, sounds of her footsteps echoed, the two began to descend the staircase. "If it's alright by you, I think I would like to fix myself a cup of tea. I love the dear, but it would be nice to get away for a few moments."
"Ah yes, by all means! It's important for you to be in the best spirits as well, for both your sakes. " The doctor responded.
Alice stood as still as a statue until she was assured that they would not return up the steps, and then, silently, she continued down and into the castle halls, proceeding towards the royal chambers. She spotted a few guards and servants along the short journey, but none of their eyes ever managed to catch her.
Arriving outside of Stayne's door Alice felt like an utter fool. Standing outside of his room with only her sleeping attire, but there was no sense in turning back now. She had managed to make it without being caught, and there was no guarantee that she could make it back again. With hesitance she wrapped her knuckles against the door and waited for an answer but none came. She knocked again, and pressed her ear to the wooden barrier, hearing that someone was indeed inside. Not wanting to waste another moment out in the hall, Alice let herself in, closing the door shut behind her.
Her eyes scanned the room. It was a mess. It looked as though a Bandersnatch had resided here, furniture flipped over, broken glass along the floor, things torn and discarded. Alice truly regretted not changing into proper day clothes. She would have at least had shoes. Watching where she stepped, Alice slowly began to search the large chamber. She could have sworn she heard someone within the room.
"Hello?" She called softly moving closer towards the bed when she heard a shifting in the chair beside the fireplace. Moving to inspect the sound, Alice took a step upon fragments of mirror shards, releasing a yelp, grabbing the attention of the figure in the chair.
Turning his head in confusion, Stayne's blood shot eye came upon the sight of Alice, he wasn't sure why he felt such rage at this moment in seeing her, but he was furious. Getting to his feet, he stumbled and cursed himself. He had too much to drink in the night, but he was still sober enough to be aware of himself.
"Alice, what in the bloody hell is the matter with you?" The man hissed as he approached her, the glass crunching beneath his boots. Alice shot a glare up at him, but her expression was one of pain.
"I could ask you the same thing," she quickly snapped back as she tried to return the way she came, but was not keen on actually moving, in fear of sending the glass shard deeper, or worse, adding more to her collection. "Do you hold training in your chambers now?" She inquired, wincing as she moved to tend to her fresh wound.
"What are you doing here? By Time's right hand, I could string up Az. Letting you out like this. Not even decent, nor did you knock-"Stayne muttered as he pinched the bridge of his nose. While his mind was fuzzy he had clear thoughts of reprimanding everyone within the walls he ruled over.
"She doesn't know I'm here, and I did knock!" Alice shouted in frustration. "Twice!" A grumble came from the man as he moved closer to Alice and picked her up, carrying her to his bed. Alice squirmed in his arms and demanded to be placed down, but Stayne did not comply.
"Be still," he warned as he set her down upon his bed and knelt on one knee to inspect her foot. Alice nearly kicked Stayne as he plucked the shard from her foot.
"That hurt!" Alice whined, triggering the first smile that Stayne had in days.
"If you so wish, I can put it back where I found it," Stayne mocked, releasing Alice's foot and returned back to the lit fireplace, tossing the bloodied shard into the flames. "Now, you should scurry on back to the tower before anyone notices you've gone. The last thing I need is for the whole castle to break down my door to tell me you've escaped. Again." Stayne growled as he returned to his seat. Alice could only frown before throwing herself from the bed and approached him once more, more cautious of the floor's condition.
Standing before him, Alice could see what the doctor and Az spoke of. Aside from the blood shot eye, and the bag which accompanied it, Stayne looked a mess, ragged even. Stubble grew upon his chin, his long hair in tangles and he looked a great deal paler than she recalled, which she did not think was possible.
"Stayne," Alice began before kneeling before him. "Stayne, what is the matter with you?" His gaze didn't not meet hers, it was kept upon the embers within the fireplace. "Stayne!?" She shouted, grasping his hand.
He turned his head to look at where his hand ended and Alice's began. Trailing up her sleeve to her collar bone, then to her neck, he looked upon her chin, to her lips. His gaze lingered over her flushed cheeks, to her eyes. Her lovely, intoxicating brown eyes that reminded him of the amount of dark alcohol he consumed to try to forget her.
"If you stay here, you'll die," He whispered softly.
"What?" Alice asked confused at the statement as Stayne moved to get to his feet and moved amongst the rubble of his room and seized The Oraculum from the floor. Unraveling it, he glanced over his shoulder to Alice, who still knelt before the chair, watching him with those damn inquisitive eyes of hers. Slowly he made his way back to her and handed her the scroll. Alice blinked, but took to scroll to observe the etching. Within it she saw herself sprawled out upon the ground, a dagger to her chest. Wide eyed Alice stared at the scroll before looking to Stayne. He offered no reassurance, only misery.
"Leave Alice," the Black King whispered, his hand reaching for a glass vial of liquor. "Find a way back to your home, forget about rabbits in waistcoats, of cakes that make you grow and drinks that make you shrink," he continued as he uncorked the bottle and held it to his lips. "Forget of the White Queen and the Red, just get out before your dead," Stayne finished and motioned to take a swing but was stopped at Alice snatching the bottle and set it out of reach. "Alice-" Stayne muttered moving to retrieve the drink once more but was forced back into his seat by a forceful Alice, sobering him better than even the strongest elixir the Outlands had to offer.
"No, it's too late to send me away," Alice stated firmly, still clutching the fated scroll. "I will not have anyone, or anything tell me how my story ends." She said turning to face the fireplace and threw the fated scroll into the flames, making Stayne jump from his seat to go after it, but the parchment was already ablaze. His gloved hands motioned to touch the flames but the attempt was thwarted by Alice once more.
"Alice! But, The Oraculum! It's-"
"It's nothing, Stayne!" Alice said sternly. "Why does everyone look to that bloody thing in the first place?" She cursed, throwing up her hands in rage.
"Because it- it's Time's calendar, of what was, what is, and what will be." He whispered from his knees watching as the papers flames died down and crumbled to ash.
"And Time dictates what will be, does he not?" Alice asked, her tone softer now.
"... Time wishes you dead, Alice, as he wishes me dead. It'll happen Alice. It'll-" Stayne's words coming to a halt as he felt Alice's hands upon his stubbled cheeks. He turned his head up to her form unsure if sleep or drink had taken him after all, but there she stood as clear as day.
"I do not care what Time wants. Nor of what anyone else wishes to come of me." She whispered looking over his features once more. "Why, if I were to do everything everyone told me to do, I would accomplish nothing, would I?" She asked with a soft smile before her eyes looked around the room once more.
"If I am a Queen, and you are a King, we should not be a slave to anything. Not even to Time." She scolded playfully in attempts to cheer him up from his sad state.
"Don't stay, please. I can't-" He swallowed his tears and misery. "Alice, I can't bear the thought of losing you, so let me give you up!" Stayne pleaded. It was not too late to annul the marriage, to get her far out of Time's grasp. He could take care of Mirana, or at least stall her to let Alice escape.
Alice blinked at the words he spoke, one of her hands continued to caress his cheek as the other began to run though his hair. His heavy eyelid closed as he felt the tension in his body being ebbed away by the simple sensations Alice was providing him, only now realizing how touch starved he was.
"Ilosovic," His eye locked with hers once more as she called his name. Not the broken surname he had been given as a means to degrade his worth as a child, nor the title knave that he was able to bury. No, Alice spoke the name that his mother had given him, the meaning of the name lost to Time, but when Alice said it, he felt a piece of himself become whole again.
"You have no need to worry about me, because I will never leave your side again." She whispered. "Never." She repeated. The words made Ilosovic close his eye again. It was a comfort and a curse to hear her speak such promises, but those thoughts vanished as he felt her lips brush against his.
She kissed him gently, awaiting a response from him. She kissed him twice, three times, and upon her fourth kiss he took her arms in hand and returned her affections, pulling her into his lap, deepening her light and quick desperate kisses into ones of passion.
Alice gasped as his lips abandoned hers and moved to her neck, his teeth nipping at the sensitive and tender flesh.
She whimpered his name as her hands gripped at his shoulders and threw her head back, giving Stayne full access. A man who had been on the edge of depression and misery was now pulsing with pleasure and wanting to repay that satisfaction. He motioned his hands to seize her thighs and he rose to his feet, bringing her up with him, not allowing for her feet to touch the ground as his lips rarely left her skin.
He carried her to his bed and laid her down upon the sheets. Seeing her now, Stayne nearly hesitated to continue, but Alice's lips were upon him once more, as ravenous as ever but he managed to resist and pull away in an attempt to speak some sense.
"Alice- if we do this-" He rasped, but was silenced at the touch of one of her fingers to his lips.
"Ilosovic, " She began, her voice shaken, he was positive this was the end of the dance, but he was mistaken. "Make me your Queen." Whether it was a request or a demand from the woman he could not say, but he would never carry out an order with more joy for the rest of his days.
His lips locked with hers again as their hands began to roam each other's form. Alice's hands found their way to Stayne's mane, her fingers lacing themselves within his dark raven locks, her hold keeping Stayne's head locked in place, but his hands continued to travel across her body.
Still wearing his gloves, his hands began to trace the contours of her body until they fell upon her hips. He tightened his hold before breaking off the kiss and gazed upon her face once more. Her cheeks were flushed, rosey even, but her eyes gave her away. He went to speak, to console her of any fears or doubts she may have, but was thrown off when she swiftly pushed him off to climb on top of him. He laughed at her muchness, and she laughed in kind before the pair began to tear at one another once more. Stayne motioned to unlace the front of her nightgown when her hand caught his. Figuring he had been too bold too quickly, he began to retract only to stay put, her hand refusing to release his.
"Pray tell, dear Alice, are you going to release me, or shall I continue?" He asked, tilting his head with a curious look which made her smile all the more.
"I shall release you, once I see fit." She taunted before bringing her attention upon his gloved hand once more.
She had not known Stayne for long, and though it did not bother her how quickly they had bonded as of late, she was bothered that she knew so little about him- they were married so there was no crime to their closeness at the current moment but she didn't like knowing so little.
"Why do you cover yourself so much?" She asked as politely as she could, both hands now grasping his.
"What do you mean?"
"Your clothes…" She whispered looking over the glove with a fine tooth comb. "You have more layers of clothing than anyone I have ever met." She continued as she began to pull the leather glove off with one hand as the other remained locked around his wrist and their gaze locked as well. "Are you hiding something?" Alice asked. Ilosovic watched her thoughtfully now as she set the glove aside.
"When I was a young lad. I was told that I was an abomination," he confessed, not a drop of emotion in his voice. "My stepfather taught me to conceal my flaws beneath threads, for a monster does not look hideous when they are well dressed," Stayne recited, making Alice frown at him but she did not comment on the matter, instead her fingers began to trace the outlines of his. "I guess the habit stuck with me."
"Well, I don't think you are a monster. At least, not too much of a monster." She chided, making him chuckle.
"Well that's a relief, I-" He stopped at the feeling of her kissing his finger. Unfamiliar with sensory to the fingertips, he felt a surge of pleasure rush through his entire body. He quivered as though he was the virgin! Alice felt it and smiled, kissing them again and again.
Purring with satisfaction Ilosovic sat up to demand a cease fire when the little minx wrapped her lips around his pointer finger and he was at a loss in this battle of pleasure. Throwing his head back a groan escaped his throat. By the seasons, this girl had hardly touched him and he was caving already!
He felt her release him from the ensnarement of those lips, only to be buried behind them once more, now her tongue swiveled around, his mind began to pound of all the other things she could do with that mouth of hers.
"Alice," he moaned softly, "stop."
The two made eye contact, he could already hear the challenge Alice was going to propose, his entire body ready to pounce at a moment's notice when the doors to his room burst open with a frantic Az rushing in.
"Your highness, please I beg you to forgive me! Alice has escaped!" Her tears and cries stopped immediately upon seeing the sight of Alice upon her king and she went red. Az motioned to apologize, but Alice was already rushing past her, leaving Ilosovic high and dry, so to speak.
"Your highness, I'm sorry, had I known-"
"Leave me. Now." He growled, unable to look at the maiden without the urge to lop something off. He only relaxed at the sound of the doors slamming shut. Collapsing back upon the mattress, he groaned in frustration and covered his face with his hands. One gloved, the other free.
His hands only left his face so that he could glare at the ceiling. The woman maddened him to no end. He wanted her gone forever, and yet to never leave his sight. He wished she would flee back to where she hailed from, but dreamed of the moment she would call this world her own.
She was so very bold on her own, but too fragile to be left alone.
"Whatever am I to do with you, my wildflower?" He asked softly.
In Marmoreal, a small assembly of creatures gathered in the garden, all whispers and hushes. The gaggle included Chessur, Mally, Thackery, Bayard and his wife with pups, Uilleam the Dodo and leading the group was none other than Nivens McTwisp.
"What are we to do?!" Cried the dormouse. "'Atter's gone mad!" A nervous laugh erupted from her counterpart, the March Hare.
"He's always been mad, darling, he's just madder than usual," Chess growled gently, he was sore on all accounts. For Alice confessing such notions to Tarrant, for Tarrant being a bloody fool, to the former knave for living, Mirana for taking part in such an awful game and most of all to Time. He was the greatest Wa-
"Silence your thoughts, everyone!" The White Rabbit shouted. "One can hardly think properly like this… Now. We know what is going on between Alice and the Queen is all very wrong now."
Upon failure of executing Stayne, Mirana had publicly announced that they were at war with the Black Kingdom, for Alice had betrayed the kingdom's trust with an ambush when she sought to seek a treaty. The men that accompanied Tarrant, Winthrop and herself were all slaughtered by Stayne's forces.
This small group, were the only ones to not believe a word she said.
"It's just not like Alice, why, it's not even almost Alice!" Mally shouted, the Dodo nodding in agreement.
"Quite right, but what can we do?" The feathered fellow asked. "Should we flee to the Outlands or-"
"We would never make it across the border," Bayard spoke. "No one gets in or out without a white knight escort, and they will not permit anyone unless it's official business."
"That's not entirely true…" Chess purred, grabbing everyone's attention.
"Pfft. You bein' able to vanish yerself is hardly helpful to the rest of us Chess!" Mally spat, making the cat grin.
"Oddly enough… I was not thinking about my skills, but of Nivens," replied the cat. All eyes went to the rabbit in the waist coat who stared at the Cheshire cat, wide eyed.
"No. No, no, no! Absolutely not!" He shouted.
"Nivens, if anyone can get word to Alice, it's you! But more importantly, you can get her out of Under, and all of this will cease." The Dormouse announced.
"And what of the Knave, hmm?" Nivens asked.
"What of him?" The cat asked with a snarl. No matter what Alice thought of the man, he held a deep disliking for the soul named Ilosovic Stayne.
"What of him?! What- What of him when he discovers that I am there to send his bride away?!"
"He will allow it," chimed a new voice, startling the lot of them. Turning in the direction of the voice, they saw a wolf in a red ringmaster's uniform approach them, making Nivens shake furiously. Bayard began to growl.
"It's you! You're the one who-" Nivens's voice trembled
"Yea, yea." The wolf shrugged. "I clocked you out, save it. I come bearing a message from my king, and aren't I a lucky duck to walk in on this lovely little rebellion?"
"It's not a rebellion!" Mally's voice boomed. "It's a republic, and we want what's best for everyone!"
"Precisely!" Nivens said with a nod before looking back to address the canine visitor. "Now, what does your 'king' wish to say? Hmm?
"King Stayne proposed just what the cat said. He'd like you to escort Alice back to her home."
So not exactly the amount of fluff I had intended, but I promise you more next chapter, cross my heart!
