"Momma, why can't I go with you?" Asked Charles in the foyer as Alice pulled on a powder blue coat. The rain pattered outside gently, but was not deterred by the weather as it was a short distance from the steps to the carriage that waited for her outside.

"As I said Charles, it's not safe for you yet," Alice stated as she looked over herself in the mirror. She wasn't fond of having her hair pinched up together in a bun, but she was seeing Hamish for business matters- if only to investigate the mirror her son told her about, as well as reclaim The Wonder. Looking back down to her son, Alice knelt down to his level and ran her gloved fingers through his hair.

"If today goes well, we may be able to go together soon," Alice whispered, but Charles pouted in response.

"But I want to go with you now!" The boy shouted and stamped his foot on the floor, triggering Helen Kingsleigh to step in.

"Charles Ilosovic Kingsleigh," warned the elderly woman. "You won't be going anywhere with an attitude like that. Now get into the kitchen for your breakfast before it goes cold."

"Yes grandmother," Charles sighed before retreating down the hall. Both the women smiled after him, but Helen's expression turned grim once the child was out of sight. Looking at her daughter, the elderly woman shook her head.

"I wish you wouldn't insist on doing this on your own. Lowell would oversee this mishap if you just let him, or at the very least go with you," stated the worried mother and Alice shook her head in response.

"I know you won't believe me on this, but I can handle Hamish on my own. I bested him in fencing, a simple negotiation will be just as easy." Alice said, turning for the door as her mother caught her shoulder to fix the collar of her coat.

"I know you can handle yourself with Hamish, Alice," Helen muttered as she began to nitpick flyaway hairs and unwanted lint pieces from Alice's person. "But that stunt you pulled the other day did not win you any favors. If anything, I fear that Hamish may have it out for you more than ever."

Alice caught her mother's hand with her own and clasped them together while offering the best smile she could.

"It will be alright mother, you'll see. I will have my place in the company again after today and all will go back to normal, for the most part," Alice stated and released her hold before stepping out the door. Helen Kingsleigh eyed her daughter with suspicion but didn't stop her, she could only watch from the front entrance as the carriage pulled away.


As Alice stepped into the Ascot's home she denied the doorman's offer of taking her coat. She wouldn't stay long, not if she could help it. She only wanted to sign the papers that reinstated her position with the Ascot trading company once more as well as inspecting the mirror Charles told her about

Gold trim, in the drawing room next to a table with a green vase. She commended her son's attention to detail. She just hoped that the doorway would be visible to her as well. If she saw it, she could prepare for a lengthy trip, but there were so many questions running through her mind.

Was it possible that Underland would no longer welcome her? Could Marianna, Time, or another force keep her from returning? And if she could travel to that world again, would she be able to bring Ilosovic through the mirror? Or could she bring Charles there? Would it even be safe to bring either of them through? She was not much older than Charles on her first trip down the rabbit hole- but Underland had changed so much, and in the case of bringing Ilosovic up she knew that there would be a great deal of preparation that would have to be made.

If he was still alive, Alice coldly reminded herself.

Her thoughts shifted as she saw Katherine Ascot at the top of the staircase. Business would have to come first. Alice moved towards the staircase but a raise of the matriarch's hand stopped Alice in her tracks.

"My son is attending to business matters at the moment, Alice." Stated the mother bitterly. "We will send for you when he is ready."

Alice suppressed the urge to smirk and kept a straight face. He most likely had to work up the courage to face her again. Looking down the hall that led to the drawing room, Alice glanced quickly back to Katherine and smiled politely.

"When Hamish is ready to conduct our business, I can be found in the drawing room," Alice announced and walked away before Lady Ascot could deny her of the privilege to roam.

When Alice entered the room her eyes scoured the walls. The Ascot manor had a number of looking-glasses but only one could be found in the drawing room. Alice wasn't sure how she had never noticed the monstrous mirror before, as the thing was three times her size.

Alice hesitated on diving further into the room. She just stood in the mouth of the open space and stared at the reflective glass, hoping to see a white rabbit in a waistcoat, a blue butterfly, anything that would tempt her to believe it was a dream. But the mirror only showed what laid before it. Nothing more than that.

Alice wondered if there would be a signal for her to return as there had been her last two trips? Moreover, was there anyone left willing to grant her such a passage? Tarrant had forgotten about her, surely Mirana would have made her rounds to infect the rest of her friends with whatever potion or spell she used on Tarrant.

Alice turned away unable to bring herself to look at the mirror anymore and walked back towards the main entrance of the manor to wait for Hamish and Katherine to call upon her. She was nearly at the end of the hall when she heard an unfamiliar voice coming from the stairs.

"And you said that she threatened your life Mr. Ascot?"

"Oh yes, I was certain that she was going to cut me to pieces," Hamish stated in his nasally voice. "Do you see the awful state that mad woman put my face in? She needs to be locked away for the good of society!"

Alice realized the awful predicament she was in now. Hamish and Katherine weren't offering her an olive branch. Their invitation here was not of their willingness to give up control of The Wonder was a rouse! Taking two steps back, Alice considered her options.

She could meet the problem head on and try to reason with the investigator, but the confrontation she held with Hamish had more enemies than friends in her case. There was no way she could flee the estate and expect to get away. Moreover, fleeing the scene would just make her look guilty.

What would become of her? It wasn't unheard of for women to end up in jail, but the most likely scenario would be an institution. Losing The Wonder was the least of her worries. If she was locked away for reasons of insanity, Charles would be taken away from her, and while she trusted that her mother or sister would take over as his guardian there was no depth too low for Katherine to take against her it seemed. He could end up in an orphanage, or worse, taken by the Ascots.

Alice turned back for the drawing room and entered the open space, positioning herself in front of the looking-glass. There was still no sign of hope, but Alice had not much else to lose. Clenching her fists tight, the woman stepped forward, extending an open hand out to the glass. It made contact, but the pressure from her hand caused a ripple effect, it was like touching the top of a placid pond. Alice pushed her hand a little harder, worried that she would crack the glass, but her hand went through and was no longer in sight.

She pulled her hand back out quickly to ensure it was still attached to her and she gave a heavy sigh, mixed with relief and terror. Hearing footsteps approaching, Alice knew she couldn't delay any further. It was truly now or never.

Stepping through her reflection, Alice met little resistance. Once she was fully through she turned around to see Hamish, Katherine and an inspector with a dark umber mustache enter the room. Alice froze, convinced that the trio would spot her through the mirror, but the Ascot's seemed lost in their own home.

"She came into this room, I swear it," Lady Ascot muttered, moving to check the windows. "Alice? Oh Alice?!" Coaxed the older woman, unaware of Alice's eyes.

"Mr. Ascot, I'm in no mood to play your games," noted the officer of law. Alice inspected Hamish's features, the blow she landed on him managed to give him a decent pair of purple rings around his eyes, which shifted to Lady Ascot's position.

"Mother, where is she?" the man seethed and Katherine could only look to the officer in confusion.

"She must be hiding somewhere, and she could not have gone too far," though even she didn't seem to believe that.

Alice smiled watching the flustered officer exit the drawing room with the mother and son chasing after him. Alice stepped back for the passageway but stopped herself before she touched the glass.

What if this was her only opportunity to stay? Alice was never sure of what the rules were to this traveling business, but Alice knew she couldn't risk the possibility of not being allowed back. She had to at least find Stayne. Whatever state he may be in.

Turning her gaze over her shoulder, Alice began to take in her surroundings and she recognized the area immediately. She was in Marmoreal's garden, truly the heart of the one place she shouldn't be found in, but there was no helping that now. If anything, maybe she could take advantage of this opportunity. Who would be expecting her after so many years?

… Time could be, but presently she was alone and would have to do what she could before she was found.

Alice marched towards the castle, defiance written on her face as she thought over what she would do when she came face to face with Mirana again. She could give the woman a proper beating, but that would do her little good- and while The White Queen had attempted murder with her, Alice had no intentions of killing Mirana. Even if she did deserve it.

It was easy enough to avoid other beings as she crossed the garden grounds, but as she approached the steps of one of the castle entrances Alice knew she would have to be quick about finding Mirana. Letting herself into the White Kingdom, Alice recalled the path for the Mirana's laboratory. It was the first place she would expect to find her, unless she had taken after Iracebeth and became a gloating tyrant. Regardless, Alice would have to cross the throne room to get to her target destination anyway.

Walking through an archway, Alice observed the empty throne room with hesitance. She wasn't far from the Mirana's favorite room now, but Alice feared the possibility of evading Hamish's trap only to fall into one placed by Mirana, or Time. Her worries didn't vanish, but some hope was restored when her eyes came upon the vorpal sword sitting on display. Surely if Time was expecting her, he wouldn't have left her weapon of choice in reach for her, would he?

Alice didn't question the issue further. She crossed the stage, taking the sword as she passed by the pillar and descended into the opposing hallway. She was close now, and she could hear something boiling. Along with a faint humming. It was Mirana. Alice tightened the grip on the sword and rounded the doorway to confront The White Queen.

Mirana's back was to Alice. If she was aware of Alice's presence she didn't show any evidence of the knowledge. Alice silently approached with the vorpal sword raised and Alice only stopped once the tip of the blade poked the small of her back.

Mirana's eyes widened. She had heard someone enter, but she had expected someone else. Slowly turning her head over her shoulder, the queen had to admit that Alice was the last person she expected to see.

"Alice, so good to see you again," Mirana purred initially but a hiss came out when Alice placed more pressure on the fine point in her back.

"I should end things right here and now Mirana, but you should be thankful that I carry more mercy than you," Alice said, taking the sword off of the queen, allowing her to turn to face her fully. "I need to know why you have tried to kill me, why you've betrayed my trust and those we care for, you could have left me be- and I don't want to hear that nonsense about Time willing it. You could have opposed him! You could have-"

"You are right Alice," Mirana interrupted as she raised her hands up in defeat accepting the faults that were delivered, throwing Alice off. "Had I known that Time wasn't as all powerful as we believed, maybe life would have changed for everyone," Mirana said as she shifted away from Alice to inspect the contents of a boiling pot. "But I was as blind as everyone else- well, all but you." Mirana said with a smile as she picked up a vial filled with a brilliant purple liquid and poured it all into the pot.

Alice was dumbfounded to say the least, but Mirana was well versed in deception. Raising her sword again, Mirana smirked in response but continued to go about her work as though Alice was nothing more than a common house fly.

"Not to say that Time isn't powerful, he does have particular abilities and can bend some things to his will, but it took you and Ilosovic to prove that to me," Mirana said, rolling her eyes to Alice's direction before focusing on her work again. "I received the message a little later than I would prefer but it is better to be late than never I suppose."

"Where is he?" Alice asked sternly.

"Time? Oh we haven't seen him in ages," Mirana said with a laugh, her hands sifting through an assortment of ingredients on the workstation. "Now where did I put those Biser berries?" Mirana mused as the vorpal sword came beneath her chin and Mirana's black eyes met Alice's steady gaze once more.

"That wasn't who I was asking about," Alice said forcefully. "What happened to Ilosovic? Where is my husband?"

Mirana's smile had yet to fade from her lips, instead it widened. Raising a hand she gently pushed the blade away from her throat and went to inspect the cabinets for additional ingredients.
"Oh he's around here somewhere," Mirana called back to Alice who had lowered the sword once more. "It's been awhile since I've seen him, but it would be grand to see the two of you reunite, I'm sure."

Moving back to the table, Mirana carried the clear glass jar that she kept the buttered fingers in. Alice flinched in disgust at the putrid smell that wafted between them after the lid was lifted, but Mirana didn't so much as bat an eye. Her hand dove into the jar and fished around briefly before she extracted a single digit. It was clearly longer than the average finger, but the most striking feature to this ingredient was the ring that was embedded in it. A black ring with gold veins. An identical match to her wedding ring.

"I've considered using it so many times, but I could never bring myself to do it. I always figured you might come back and I wanted to give you something to remember him by," Mirana spoke in that sickly sweet voice of hers as she set the finger down in the space between them, her smile still present. "Apologies I can't give you more of him, but at least you can take him with you wherever you go. Fits right in your pocket among other places as well I'm sure."

Alice stared at the ring, frozen in place as Mirana taunted her. While she had been preparing for the worst, all these years she had been holding out an abundance of hope deep down. Denying the words that Lord Henry Ascot pushed upon her, denying her own fears that Ilosovic was unable to survive the battle in the Outland city but instead find him in a decent state. Was this what hope had to give her, not even a proper burial site for her visit ,or to take Charles to, but instead a lone finger that Mirana expected to just pocket and walk away?

"What have you done, Mirana," Alice spoke lowly, though her voice was filled with rage. "Where is the rest of Ilosovic?" Alice asked, meeting the dark eyes of Mirana. "Did you keep his heart in a jar as well? Grind up his bones for your poisons?!"

Mirana gave a chuckle as a reply and stepped away from the counter, placing more distance between her and the widowed Queen of Black.

"I've used up most of him I believe, rest assured, sweet Alice, he has suffered a great deal, but I intend for you to suffer more," said The White Queen flashing her teeth.

Alice roared in anger and vaulted herself over the counter, throwing out caution on the consequences of killing Mirana. The White Queen was not expecting the response but was still prepared for it as she took a hanging pan from it hook and was able to deflect the furious blows.

"This is really uncalled for!" Mirana shouted before Alice gave a kick to Mirana's abdomen, sending the woman down to the floor, the makeshift shield no longer in her hand. Defenseless, Mirana raised her hands up to shield herself from the impending fall of the blade when a scream from a child caught both Mirana's and Alice's attention.

Staying her hand Alice's head looked to the doorway to see what looked like a miniature Mirana. A child no older than her own son. The little girl quickly fled into the open arms of Mirana who eyed Alice like an injured street animal.

"Don't hurt mother, please!" Cried the child as she buried her face into Mirana's chest, disarming Alice completely. Dropping the sword, Alice watched the shaking girl in disbelief before focusing her gaze on Mirana again.

"... Who is the father?" Alice asked. The question made Mirana frown.

"Lily has no father, nor a need for one," stated the White Queen. Alice was doubtful about the truth of the first part of the statement but did not argue.

Taking a step back from the pair Alice realized that while her rage demanded justice for Ilosovic she hardly had the heart to kill Mirana in front of a child, the woman's daughter no less. And to make matters worse the girl was likely the very same Lily that her son had befriended.

Before she could make her mind up on what to do the doorway was occupied with two familiar bodies. Bayard the bloodhound and Winthrope who gave a look of surprise at her presence. Alice reached for the vorpal sword again but Mirana manages to take hold of the blade without disconnecting from her daughter.

"She tried to kill me, arrest her!" Mirana shouted, and the pair lunged towards her.

Without means to defend herself, Alice had to use her head to get out. Spotting the boiling pot Alice quickly shoved the pot over, sending the hot liquid to the floor which made Bayard stop in his tracks and retreat from encroaching liquid. Winthrope however was not deterred, but thankfully he was unarmed currently. Alice was far more concerned with escaping than fighting however. She quickly pocketed the buttered finger that Mirana had offered and ran to the windows opposite of the doorway and crashed through the glass. The room she had jumped from was on the second floor, but thankfully Alice had managed to land herself upon a branch of a blossom tree. Looking back over her shoulder Alice glanced to see if Winthrope would continue the chase, but only his eyes dared to follow her.

"You won't escape us this time, Alice! You'll enjoy the same fate as Stayne!" Winthrope shouted from the broken windowpane as Alice quickly shimmed down the rest of the tree before reinforcements were called upon. As Alice ran for the cover of the forest she could still hear Winthrope call after her, offering threats of all sorts but Alice had no desire to listen to all the ways she would suffer. She only wanted to put as much distance as she could between herself and Marmoreal.

And to make Time answer for her suffering.

I was truly hoping to get farther with this story before school started up again. I'm hoping I can at least post something on a monthly basis, but that will be dictated by how the semester goes, how my job(s) schedule my time and of course general chaos of American politics and Covid-19 era stuff.

Comments are always appreciated, though I also accept frustrated sobs for this chapter as well.