Previously

"I was just asking how you knew that story?" he asked, his eyes waiting impatiently for an answer.

"Oh my Grandpa told me the story as a child," I said simply.

"And his name was?"

"Jack," I answered, realization hitting me, "his name was Jack."

Hatter stared at me, obviously and extremely surprised.

As was I.

CHAPTER 4

"No, no freaking way," I said pacing the floor. Hatter hadn't said a word since. He had this far away look, and was deep in thought. "No it was just a bedtime story, that he… he would've told me… would've said something…" I trailed off, and kept pacing while I rambled to myself.

It made no sense. It was impossible; there was no way that my grandfather was THE Jack Heart. He would've told me he-

Hatter interrupted my thoughts by placing his hands on my shoulders and looked right into my eyes. There was something different; he was still in that far away place, his eyes looked like bottomless pools.

"Ava, did your grandfather ever give you anything?" he asked, "Like a ring perhaps?"

'Don't ever tell anybody, okay Angie,' my grandfather said, 'It'll be our little secret.'

That's what he had told me when he gave me the necklace with the ring on it.

'It was your grandmother's,' his voice rang out in my head.

"No," I answered, "He didn't." He sighed.

"Well, this gets complicated," He said then paced just like I had, "If you're really Alice's grandmother, then you're gonna 'ave to stay low. If Alice discovers you then…"

"Then what?" I asked.

"Very bad things will 'appen," he said, "Now what shall we do."

"Ooo, ooo, ooo," I squealed and raised my hand. Hatter looked at me and smirked.

"Yes Miss Evangeline."

"How about I become your apprentice?" I suggested.

"That's not a bad idea," he said, "Do you know 'ow to fight?"

"A little."

"Well not only do I 'ave ta change your wardrobe, I 'ave ta teach you to fight too."

"What's wrong with my clothes?" I asked

He looked me up and down before saying, "Well they're a bit… earthy."\

"Fine," I said hesitantly, not sure what I was getting into.

"Okay than," Hatter said then disappeared behind a door. He was gone five minutes then came back with a pile of clothes."Choose what you like." It took me thirty minutes to find something comfortable. I ended up choosing a grey tank top with a dark green loose fitting jacket whose sleeves cut folded up until the elbow and went down to my knees, black pants that were as tight as leggings and black leather boots that went up to my knees.

(okay for the jacket think of like a trench coat with rolled up sleeves)

I came out from the room Hatter had disappeared to. Turned out it was his bedroom. I had changed into my undercover outfit and looked to Hatter for approval. His response was a smile and a hat, identical in shape to his, but was dark green with a black flower on the side.

I put it on and smiled.

"Alrightey then," Hatter said, "You'll start tomorrow. Here's what you need to know…"

AUTHOR's Note

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