They Could hear the screams of the dining guest. Which could only mean that the man did get loose; it was certainly one of those grey moments that Xander didn't really know what to do about so he chose to do nothing but follow. They happened upon what seemed like an art gallery. Alice was so focused he didn't want to disturb her, not even with jokes his hand in hers he knew she wouldn't let go he made a promise and he will keep it. Finally everything stood still, guns were in the background and she saw what she was looking for. In the center of the room stood a glass case containing a rose, something out of goth out beauty and the beast. A black rose with a golden stem underneath it was clearly a skeleton hand. The glass had a funny coloring to it as if no one windexed ever. He looked at her and she smiled small.

"So I feel like I should be making references but I'm not even sure what i'm looking at besides goth kids dreams."

"My dream" She shrugged ``this is the doorway." SHe tightened his hand trying to seem reassuring which gave him worry."

"How does it work? "

"I just need a drop of your human blood." Xander rolled his eyes at her like this is a typical day for him.

"Why is it always the blood of the virgin, the blood of the goat, the blood of the first person you see? It's always blood." He shrugs at her and gives him her hand. Alice quirks an eyebrow at him. "Why cant be like a hair," pulling out a small knife out of nowhere she turns hand so she's holding his index finger and she pricks the end and lays the finger upon the glass. "I'm not gonna get an infection am I?" Then the floor started to whirl beneath their feet. "Were about to go down the rabbit hole."

….

They landed rather non gracefully on the ground looking up. Xander started to question it if they were really in hell or not. They seemed to be surrounded by trees with no leaves. The branches reached far and wide and the roots looked like madness twisted into the ground. Getting up and wiped his hands on his pants. "Alice! Alice! ...Zee Alice."

"Why are you saying my name funny like that? And I'm right here she smoothed out her dress looking pristine and slightly deadly.

"Not to be buzz kill or nothing considering where we are but is this Hell I thought it would be more Hellish a little disappointed could use some skulls on sticks or something." She shook her head a bit. "I don't know who's decorated but they should be fired."

"I'll let management know." She smirked at him."We are in Murmur forest….can't you hear whispers."

"Please don't tell me your hearing voices now, I'm here for you but what are they saying?"

"I'm not sure entirely,there are too many voices." Alice spaced out for a second appearing a little crazier than usual. But she was listening concentrating, normally she was better at this. "Murmur has many legions in Hell and is considered to be a great Duke of Hell."

"Anything else fun but not fun?" They started to walk towards the forest following the only visible path.

"He is a bit of a philosopher but we are not here for wisdom or any of his….skills."

"..." Alice ignored the quiet but yet glare that Xander was giving in hopes she'd continue.

"Sigh' "He can allow people to speak to the dead if you are conjuring. He's like the door that allows it to open." She shrugged at him as they trudged on. Then she heard a distinct voice and recognized it right away.

…...

"Hello my name is Alice Mam"

A golden colored Demon named Solis turned towards her.

"May I offer you some tea Alice." The Solis asked. She nodded her head in return and looked around. "Yes, it's different from how humans live. I have always lived underground which may seem strange for my kind who feeds off the sun. I'm sure you have many questions. I also hear you looking for demons?" Alice gave one look around admiring how the Soli demons managed to dig such a big home beneath the dirt no one would ever have known.

'Ah yes, we, I am looking to see… the humanity in demons to see if there is." Clearly feeling awkward and not wanting to be rude, Solis finished the sentence for her gently.

"You are trying to find out if all demons are truly vile. I would say if given my opinion that humans aren't any better. She tilted her golden head and set the teas down and sat gesturing for ALice to do the same. "Now I must be honest you don't smell human nor demonic. Alice chuckled and told her of her being brought back from the dead so on and so on…. "I see neither human nor demon but yet you were recreated molded but for what purpose?" Alice looked away but made a point to turn her head and make an unwavering eye contact.

'To kill demons."

"I suppose I'm on that list?"

"No, I don't believe so." ALice kept eye contact. "I just have one question will you release the humans you have taken into slavery unjustly."

….

She heard her name being called it was brought back to reality and looked up at the panicked face of one Alexander Lavelle Harris. "Who were you remembering?" He asked knowing she may not answer.

"Why do you think I was remembering anything."

"One because your dazed look became a crazy look that became a space cadet look." He saluted her to make a point. "Two you said this is the forest of Murmur and if the G-man taught me anything it's Latin for whisper and noise. Three" Sticking up three fingers." This is hell i'm guessing this some sort of whisper of the past not fun shrooming without shroom virtual always comes back to guilt." At this he shrugged.

"I've done…"

"I know Alice it doesn't matter I stand by what I told you before you have my forgiveness now and always." She stared mystified by this human and confused by his references and nodded. She took a pause, licking her lips.

"I killed a entire race of demons because they didn't give me what I wanted." He put his hands on her shoulder to encourage her to continue. "They were harboring humans they took to into there homes for slavery. Their leader wouldnt release them so I retaliated and killed them all and in my rage I didn't realize I killed the humans too…..I can hear them hear them. She fell to her knee roughly. Xander kneeled next to her. He didn't try to make her feel better or try to rationalize her guilt he sat with her with his forgiveness and said…

"See if we had twinkies right now, well me twinkies you snowballs this would be better."

"How do you figure?"

"Comfort food makes everything and I mean everything better." She laughed at that. He waved his hands in air.

"I love to eat pasta….my go to food especially with cheese."

"Cheese is great you know no matter how famous someone might become they will never be as famous as cheese." He looked at her and smiled. She nodded back and said.

"Cheddar is absolutely the best cheddar."

"Cheddar ..what about gouda you it's gooda." Xander looked at her put of the corner of his eye to see if she'd smiled.

…..

They eventually Came to the end of the forest. Alice could still hear the screams of the people she killed; she tried not to ponder over memories of things she can't fix. She was looking at Xander when he paused and said…. "Hey do you think that's Murmy."

She looked where he was looking, sat on top of a Sphinx like creature, sat a vulture looking man with a crown made out of blood and bone. "Murmur?"

"It's been awhile since i've had guests stroll my forest, wait that has never happened. Usually anybody who steps foot into the forest never comes out. The whispering tends to become too loud." He looked at Alice pointedly.

"My Apologies great Duke and Earl of Hell me and my..traveling companion seek knowledge and the entrance just happened to be where your forest is." Murmur ignored her and looked at Xander.

"Why boy didn't you hear the whispers, her she is powerful you on the other hand…"

Alice stepped forward "Cum omne" She put her hand almost in front of Xander and was ready to protect him if need be.

"Ahh I see (he giggled) He is immuned can't be fooled aw well." He studied Xander some more, clearly making him uncomfortable. "Perhaps in the future if you ever have some true atonement and guilt.. I'll be waiting." Still not Looking at Alice."What you seek is a difficult journey.. Why would you want to get rid of true immortality."

"Because nothing should live forever." He nodded at her in agreement then you may pass. Xander whispered something under his breath something about having to go a full monty python. " Just a bit of advice.: Murmur moved aside " don't touch the water."

"That's it." Alice looked at Xander and shook her head. "Sorry don't mean to put my foot in my mouth but aren't you a philosopher where's the philosophy. Murmur stared at him for a second.

"The key to realizing a dream is to focus not on the success but the significance and then even the small steps and little victories along your path will take on greater meaning." Murmur smiled which in Xander' head looked terrifying.

"That's Oprah" Murmur laughed and with Puff smoke he was gone. "He quoted Oprah"

Author's Note: Hello guys :) welcome to madness if you have already read this before the edits. I hope you enjoy the new buts in this world. And yes that was in fact oprah. If you guys have any suggestions I'm planning to upload twice a week wednesday and sunday. Solis means sun. Cum omne means sees everything. It is Latin and I googled it. If you guys have any suggestions please throw them at me and yes that does include critics. But really Ill except anything. Xoxo