Chapter Two
Valentine woke up, yawning as he used his feet to feel for a steady surface. He'd fallen asleep in someone's junk room again, and he didn't want to put his feet down on a rake, like he did last time. He still had a bruise where the handle had hit him on the arm.
He coughed as dust swirled around him, and he peered out a scummy window. It was definitely morning, the townsfolk were out and about.
"Wonderful." He muttered to himself.
Out on the street, he negotiated around the busy shoppers and sellers, looking for a certain alleyway. He found the red carpeting hanging from the wall, and he started strolling down the dim, narrow alley.
Further down, the path led upwards, over a hill, where a burgundy-bricked tower lay still, like an old tree. The tower had no reason to move anywhere; the occupants were quite happy to stay in the same place.
Valentine slowly approached the door, sighing as he gave the triangular door-knocker a good three thumps on the heavy wooden door.
"Who IS it?" A soprano voice wafted around in the air like a wayward kite.
"It's me, Auntie Kit, Valentine." He drew out the sentence in an impatient tone.
"Oh Valentine! I was wondering where you were!"
A husky lady opened the door. Her blue and orange octagonal mask barely covered her face, and her wild, brown curly hair was pushed back in all different directions. Gauzy orange cloth was wrapped around her torso, covering some shabby brown pants and a ragged brown shirt.
"I was worried you'd forgotten. The tea and cakes are ready!"
He hunched over and staggered into the petite opening of the door.
"You really ought to fix this door." He remarked.
Auntie Kit ignored him.
Valentine sat down at a small rectangular and dusty green table, laden with all kinds of pastries. The tea sat in a large lavender pot, steam rising from the top.
"Smells exquisite, Auntie."
"Tastes even better, my dear." She exclaimed happily.
He sat down and immediately poured himself a cup of the tea, then shoved the nearest cake into his mouth.
"Now dear, I didn't teach you to eat like an animal." She said.
"Sorry Auntie Kit…" Valentine apologized halfheartedly.
"So tell me, where have you been these past days?"
He paused.
"Just out practicing me art, looking for a fiddler…"
"Now you couldn't have been out all those days just looking for a fiddler…"
Valentine paused again.
"You probably wouldn't believe me if I tried to tell you."
Auntie Kit sat and waited, a patient smile creeping over her lips.
He sighed deeply. "Fine. You know when Torrey went missing a few weeks ago? Mum got all upset, said he had gone to find better job?"
"Yes, your poor Mum. She just couldn't figure out why he wouldn't want to continue creating that wonderful music for the Queen." She held her hands together tightly.
"Well, I found where he'd run off to. I went there me self."
"To where, dear?"
"Auntie, have you ever wondered if there's more out there than the City of Light, The Dark Palace?"
"Sometimes."
"Auntie Kit, there is somewhere beyond this place. Where people don't wear masks, where the cities are enormous, lights everywhere, people without masks everywhere, they wear strange clothes, ride in strange carriages. Most of them look like us, only…only more boring. Well, except my friend Helena…"
"Oh my. How do they know how people are feeling without their masks?"
"That's what I said. But Helena and the others are able to make, "faces", if you will. They're able to communicate quite clearly."
"Helena you say?"
Valentine stopped. He forgot he hadn't mentioned her before.
"She's....a friend I met in the other world. I met her...while I was looking for Torrey." His voice wavered slightly.
"Valentine," Auntie Kit's voice sharpened with suspicion, "how were you able to travel to this....other world?"
A heart-pounding silence filled the room, and Valentine's loud gulp of air echoed around the kitchen. He suddenly gripped the table tight, and got to his feet.
"Deary..."
"Fine fine..." He took a shallow breath. " When the White Queen fell asleep, and the shadows came, I went to help. Everybody was looking for some sort of charm. I... went looking for it at the Orbitning Giants, I went to the Dark Palace.."
"Oh yes! I remember now. Weren't they looking for a princess?" She interrupted.
"Yes, Auntie, but nevermind that, I found the charm! It was some sort of Mirrormask. It can transport you to the world Torrey went off to! Aren't you listening to me?"
She was very still, one arm raised to her mouth, fingers curled around her chin. It was as if she knew something and yet had a million questions to ask.
"I think I've hear of that Mirrormask somewhere.."
"What?"
"That mask. Something about it wasn't right."
"Like what?" Valentine's voice was full of skepticism.
"Where is the mask now?" Auntie Kit worried.
"What? I have it."
She stared at him gravely.
"Dear, please promise me something. When you go back to that other world to get Torrey, be careful."
"Promise." He said with a warm smile.