AN: I've had a sucky day today. Went with my Pregnant sister to the doctors. They think something is wrong with the baby, wont know until she sees a specialist. My sister's tough, she always has been, watching her break down was hard on me. So I think it's effected the mood of this chapter.
I'm going to leave you with a wicked cliffhanger also. I wasn't sure about this chapter. I felt it moved a little fast for my taste, but there's so much to fit in.
A notice. The last chapter is coming up next. But there will be a epilogue for you to enjoy. Just so you know lol.
Read, review, get luvs
Chapter Thirteen.
--
Cheshire moved off the window-seat and picked Alice up, holding her gently against his chest. "Alice." He sighed, shaking his head in tired amusement.
"Cheshire," Mock said softly, stepping forward to lay his hand on the other man's arm, "She needs sleep." He stared at the snow and sighed. "She needs time…"
Cheshire nodded and carried Alice up the stairs, carefully balancing with her.
The room he'd been staying in was small, the bed barely held both of them when he laid her down and laid beside her. He kissed her forehead and sighed. "Alice," he whispered. "We'll be fine, we'll be ok." He repeated it until he fell asleep beside her.
--
Alice woke to a pair of warm arms wrapped around her. she was grateful for their warmth because the air outside the arms and the blanket was icy, she could see her breathe floating through the air like puffy white clouds.
'It's snowing,' she thought, closing her eyes, it was so tempting to go to sleep again. What did that mean? All her dreams said that if she didn't save wonderland before the snow fell… they would all lose. Game over.
Game…
Was that what this was? was it all some twisted, mocking game.
Alice carefully slid out from Cheshire's arms. She looked at him and smiled. Leaning down, she pressed a soft kiss to his cheek. 'My prince charming,' she thought.
She got up and walked to the window. Her eyes stared down at the fluffy white stuff that covered the ground.
She'd never liked snow. It was bothersome and wet and cold… oh there were so many reasons she didn't like snow. But this snow filled her with dread. This snow was the fuzz that comes on the screen as the game you've been playing for weeks on end crashes and you loose all the data.
'I don't want to lose,' Alice thought, gripping the edge of the window. She closed her eyes and leaned her head forward against the cold glass, shivering she lifted her head and stared at her own reflection.
Her eyes looked so sad, dripping with tears. Her skin looked so pale in the glass, her nose was red and angry looking, and her eyes were puffy. There were some girls who looked pretty when they cried, she was so not one of them.
She blinked as a reflection joined hers. Cheshire's handsome face just over her shoulder, looking insanely perfect. He leaned forward and kissed her shoulder. "You need a coat," he whispered.
Alice nodded. "I'm sorry," she said, leaning her head back.
Cheshire shook his head, "Don't." he hissed, "Don't be sorry for something that isn't your fault. You've done everything we asked of you." He closed his eyes.
Alice giggled, "Cheshire… I was saying sorry for passing out on you," she shook her head.
Cheshire blinked, his eyelids tickling her shoulder. "Oh." He laughed and his grin fell back into place. He looked so much better with the grin, without it his face was so pain filled and sad that Alice would become a clown just to see him smile.
Alice reached up and laid her hands on his face, her head tilted backwards to look up at him.
Cheshire glanced down. "What are you thinking?" he asked.
Alice grinned, "You can't tell?"
"No… I know it's something evil."
Alice chuckled, she rose up a little and kissed his mouth. "Hmmm, evil is one word… I guess." She turned around and pressed herself against the front of his body, eyes sparkling, her hands tugging lightly at the bottom of his shirt.
Cheshire's breathe caught and his hands came to rest on her waist, "Ah, very, very evil." He whispered, pulling her closer.
Alice smiled and shivered. His normally warm body was suddenly hotter than before, she could feel the heat rolling off his skin, it was amazing that he wasn't steaming.
There was a cough from the doorway. "I'm sorry – Hatter needs you!" Hare chuckled and closed the door.
Alice looked up at Cheshire and cursed under her breathe.
Cheshire sighed and stepped away. "I'm holding you too this… later."
"So am I," Alice added. Sighing loudly.
--
Hatter was obviously fighting a smile whenever he looked at Cheshire's frustrated face. He looked at Alice and shook his head in amusement.
Alice gave him the look she knew said 'I'm going to kill you later'.
"Well, now that we're all here," Hatter began. "I have interesting news."
Alice laid her head on Cheshire's shoulder, "Is it good news?" she asked.
"The Duchess was found murdered, hung on a tree." Hatter smiled, showing teeth.
Alice cocked her head, "Dead…" she looked at Mock, his face carefully blank. "That is good news. Do we know who helped her on her way?"
"There were two caps lying on the ground near her, I'll give you one guess."
"The twins," Alice breathed, realizing that she'd passed out before telling Rose and White what she'd found out. She looked at White, there was nothing in his eyes to say that he already knew.
"Correct. I can only wonder what the old hag said to piss them off enough."
"I have an pretty good guess," Alice breathed. "She looked at White and Rose. "Bill told me that the twins were raised by gnomes…"
White's eyes grew wide, he closed his eyes and slumped forward, burying his face into his hands. "I-I never knew…"
Rose whimpered and clung to the edge of White's shirt, "You're sure?" she whispered. "They…"
"They have wonderland blood," Alice explained, "they aged faster than a normal child." She said that because children were rare in wonderland, Rose might never have seen a wonderland child.
Rose looked to White who slowly nodded his head. "She's correct, we reach out mature age quickly and then we stay the same age… or at least that was how it worked before." He looked at Alice in faint amusement.
Alice smiled weakly. "Sorry 'bout that."
"Well, you think the Duchess told the twins about their parents?" Hatter said, looking at Alice.
Alice nodded. "Seems likely. How upset would they be if they realized they'd been hurting their own parents…" she shook her head.
"Or they think we abandoned them…" Rose closed her eyes. White reached out and smoothed his hands over her face. "It'll be fine," he whispered.
Alice looked up at Cheshire, who looked down at her and smiled. It was strange, watching them interact together was like seeing a fast forward version of herself and Cheshire, it made her feel comfortable, even though White and Rose had gone through their share of troubles.
Hatter sighed and held his hand up, "Whatever the cause of their actions, the twins are still on the list of known enemies, there is no changing that yet." He looked at White, a sad gleam in his eyes. "But without the Duchess to order them around, half the Queen's army is not going to listen to her. This is the perfect moment to stage our attack."
"When?" Alice questioned.
"Today."
Alice closed her eyes and tightened her grip on Cheshire's hand. "Is that wise?" she asked.
"We've been ready for days now, and the moment is perfect, the Queen shouldn't know about the Duchess's death just yet, she's still counting on her aid."
"And the snow?"
"It's a minor problem." Hare said, "We'll work around it."
Alice nodded. She closed he eyes and opened them, gazing at Caterpillar across the room. "What do you think about all this?" she asked.
"I think… that Hatter is right, the moment is perfect, more perfect than we could ever have hoped for." His eyes closed and he pinched the bridge of his nose. "But I have something to add to the plan. Hatter, you intend to take the troops and fight hand to hand, right?"
"More or less."
"I say that you allow me to take Alice with me, we'll wait until most of the forces are taken down and then I will lead her to the tower of Mirrors. The power force from those mirrors should be enough to end the queen's control for good."
A thick silence fell over the room. They all knew that the only way the doors would open was if the true wonderland ruler placed his or her hand against the panel.
"No." Cheshire shook his head. "It's too risky, I don't want her-"
Alice reached up and pressed her finger lightly against his mouth, "Don't pull that, I'm capable of taking care of myself." She looked at Caterpillar, "I say yes."
Hatter sighed, "You could die," he said.
"I know."
Cheshire cursed under his breathe. "Alice, this is… this is insane!" he shook his head. "I wont let you do this!"
"That's the thing, Cheshire." Alice said, turning to look at him. "You don't control me." She looked at him sharply.
Cheshire stared into her eyes for a couple seconds. A thick silence stretched over them. "Fine." He said at last. "But I go with you."
"No." Hatter said, "We need you on the front lines."
Alice nodded her head, "He's right, Cheshire, and you know it."
"Alice…" Cheshire sighed.
"Do you not trust me to take care of her?" Caterpillar questioned.
"You've always been more of a learner than a fighter." Cheshire whispered.
Caterpillar sighed. "Cheshire, I can magic, can you say that about yourself? Other than your ability to vanish?"
Cheshire shook his head. "No, I can't say I have anything special." He glanced at Alice, "You're sure?"
"I'm sure."
"Fine." Cheshire looked at Hatter. "When do we leave?"
"As soon as Alice is dressed."
--
Dressed turned out to be wearing a thick leather vest, gloves, and a new pair of boots that went up to her knees. She stared at the people who were mustering in front of an orb sight. vanishing every couple seconds.
Caterpillar held her arm. "We'll orb to the forest, and when Hatter sends up the flare we'll orb as close to the gates as possible." He explained.
Alice nodded. "You've told me all this already." She said.
"Just reminding you." Caterpillar said chuckled.
Alice smiled and laid her head against his shoulder. "I should be nervous but I'm not."
"Why?"
"Because, either we do this and die, or we don't do it and die anyway." She shrugged, "either way, charging in, or waiting, we'll probably die."
"Or we win," Hare said, resting his hand on the top of her head. "don't forget that, miss Queen."
Alice snorted, "Or we win against all odds."
--
"Ready?"
Hatter looked at Alice, he reached out and smoothed his hand along her face. "Take care of yourself," he reminded her.
"I know." Alice smiled.
Caterpillar took her arm, held the orb out in front of him. "Ready?"
Alice looked at Cheshire, who had his back to her. "Ready as I'm ever going to be." She whispered.
Cheshire turned, tears dripped down his cheeks. He raised one hand. 'Bye' he mouthed.
'Bye,' Alice mouthed back. She blew him a kiss. He pretended to catch it and tuck it into his pocket.
Caterpillar squeezed his hand and the orb broke in a shower of sparks.
Alice felt the sensation of being forced into a small box.
You are strong enough.
Alice blinked, she turned her head and saw a sparkling light in the distance. It was warm and bright. Happy almost.
Suddenly everything slid into focus and she was on the grass just inside a clearing. She blinked her eyes open and stared out over the fields of the heartlands. And the army that was already waiting.
"No…" she trailed off and looked at Caterpillar, "They knew!"
"Someone betrayed us…" Caterpillar cursed under his breathe and started to stand.
"Someone?"
Alice turned and stared into Mock's sad eyes. "Mock?"
Mock drew out his sword. "I'm sorry about this, Alice, but… we needed to get you close to the castle. You're going to open the mirror room and our queen will be able to leave." He smiled strangely.
Alice backed up and pressed herself against Caterpillar, who'd already drawn a small sword. "How could you…"
"Gryphon and I were always friends Alice, did you really think I would side against him?"
Alice narrowed her eyes. "I should have figured that one out…" she chuckled, "what'd you do with the twins?"
Mock smiled, "They're… hanging around."
Caterpillar cursed. "You're going to use them to hinder White."
"Correct," Mock laughed again. "And without White, you're group is already dead. They wont know what to do, and they're going to be lambs before the lion."
Alice grabbed the orb from Caterpillar's pocket. "We have to warn them."
Caterpillar's head snapped up and he shoved Alice out of the way.
Alice stumbled to the ground, she rolled and managed to get back onto her feet. But her breathe whooshed out of her when she saw the sight in front of her. "No… no!" she screamed.
Caterpillar stepped back slowly. He pressed his hand to his chest and closed his eyes before dropping to his knees. Blood flooded between his finger types. "Alice…" he looked at her, "Run."
"Caterpillar!" she started to move toward him.
"Damn it Alice, RUN!"
Mock turn toward Alice. "You can't run, Alice. You've failed! Wonderland will die and it'll be your fault!" he reached his hand out to her, "Please, save us!"
Alice pictured that dark place, that room with the moving, horrible air. She squeezed the orb and vanished. The last sight she saw was Mock reaching out to her with his bloody hands, and Caterpillar fully slumping to the ground, face hidden from view.
Her feet slammed into the soft dirt. She fell forward, sobbing. She dropped to her knees and buried her face into her hands.
"You smell like blood,"
Alice lifted her head and looked into the darkness. "He-he's dead." She sobbed, "M-my fault."
"Did you kill him?" The Jabberwock sounded amused.
Alice shook her head, "No!" she cried. "No!"
"Than why is it your fault?"
Alice felt something brushing against her face, curiously she reached out and laid her hand against the thing touching her. it felt sooth against her hand, almost soft, and cold. It didn't feel like a hand, but it wasn't inhuman either.
There was the sound of someone's breathe catching. A male sound.
Alice dropped her hand. "Sorry," she whispered.
"Why is it your fault?"
"Because I-I should've seen this coming, I should've known Mock was a spy."
"You had no way of knowing, do not place blame where it is not needed."
"What do I do?" Alice asked, she shook with the sobs that threatened to spill from her mouth.
"You fight."
"How?"
"With this."
Alice flinched as a hand grabbed a hold of her hand and squeezed. For a second she didn't understand, and then she felt it. Burning, her arm was burning! It spread from her fingertips all the way up her arm and into her chest. She screamed mindlessly, thrashing on the ground.
Finally it was over. She lay there on the ground, feeling the weight of someone on top of her. A mouth was near her ear. "Wonderland is dead, but there is still a chance, if you're willing to take it."
Alice nodded weakly, "Tell me…" she pleaded.
"Break the mirrors."
Alice's eyes widened, she looked into the glowing yellow eyes. "But…"
"The mirrors are a power unlike anything ever seen before, once broken, they will restore wonderland… but there is a price you'll find out soon." The body moved off of her and she was finally able to sit up.
"How do I get back?"
Something landed in her hand, a blue orb. "Go."
Alice didn't hesitated, "To the castle?" she questioned.
"Yes."
Alice nodded. She squeezed the orb again and the floor fell away.
--
Bang.
Her back slammed into the hard tile floor. She sat up quickly and stumbled to her feet. She stared at the Card Guards standing there. One of them stared at Alice for a second before springing forward.
Alice flung her hand out, she felt the heat pour down her arm and into her finger tips. The moment the man touched her arm, something strange happened.
His nose started bleeding. He let go of her and reached a hand up to touch his nose. He looked at Alice in confusion.
Alice realized her hand was in a holding shape. She could feel something pulsing in it. It felt like holding something that wasn't there. She squeezed every so slightly. The blood from the mans nose began to drip faster. He stumbled back and pressed his hands against his face, trying to stop the flow.
Alice noticed the other guards backing away, whispering something about blood. She squeezed harder and harder.
Blood began to pour out of his nose, spilling around his fingers. He dropped to his knees and started coughing, blood gushed from his mouth, dripping from his eyes like bloody tears, and began to run out of his ears as well.
Alice felt the thing in her hand stutter. She gave one last squeeze and felt it shatter.
The man's eyes widened, he screamed and slumped forward. Blood poured from his body, pooling around him. his eyes were empty.
Alice swallowed, scared. She looked at the blank lines that marked her hand and arm. The other guards were gone.
She started down the hallway, stepping over the guards body. She doubted she'd be able to handle a group of them, but they were scared of what she could do. That was always a plus.
The throne room loomed before her. Part of her wanted to leave off and go to the tower. But she couldn't. The Queen had to be taken care of.
The doors opened.
Gryphon smiled brightly. "That hand of blood," he commented, as easily as if he were talking about the weather.
He was striking. White hair fell around his face, boyishly cut. His skin was grayish and his ears were pointed. He was born from the matching of a human Raven and a Lady from the wastes.
He'd had wings, at one time, but like Mock and his shell, Gryphon had lost his wings to the Duchess's twisted actions.
"Gryphon…" Alice breathed his name. She stepped forward without thinking. "Wh-why are you doing this?"
"Because Alice," Gryphon leaned against the door frame. "I listen to the one who helped make me real. You never planned me, you know, someone else created me and named me."
"Gryphon… wonderland exists with or without me." Alice said, shaking her head. "You were here before I was even born."
"Yes, I was. I was created by someone else, Alice, and she is the one I obey." Gryphon stood straight and gestured inside the room. "Come and meet her, you'll like her I think. We'll both like her."
Alice frowned. She looked into the soft blue eyes, sparkling with delight. He looked like he really believed what he was saying. Slowly she stepped forward. She kept her eyes on his claws, but they were still held within the skin of his hands.
Gryphon smiled and stepped inside the room, just in front of her. "She's here," he called out. sounding happy. "She's come home at last."
Alice's frown deepened. She slowly stepped into the room. For one long moment, she simply stared across the room at the woman who sat in the throne.
She was beautiful, eyes a soft color, hair brown and curled, it bounced around her shoulders when she moved her head to look at Alice. Suddenly she smiled, her eyes lit up. "Alice!" she cried.
"M-mom?"
---
EN: I warned you ahead of time lol. Next chapter will be posted as soon as I can get it fine tuned. Any mistakes in this chapter, please point them out to me so I can fix them. It's hard writing such long chapters. And I've reached the limit on brain power today. So, reviews are very nice and welcomed!