"What brings you to Wonderland, Caroline?" They had been walking for no more than a few minutes and his questions were unending. Never would a man have had so much interest in her, other than who her father was. Then again William Forbes very rarely let boys around his little Care Bear.

Make something up, make something up. "I chased a rabbit through a hole and then a door let me in." Digging her nails into the palm of her hand she wished she had just tripped and fallen on the road. Maybe he would have thought her less crazy.

"The white rabbit?" He had a puzzled look on his face that shifted into one of irritation.

"Yes! Do you know him?" Caroline clapped her hands together in excitement and hoped that Elijah would truly solve all of her problems.

"I try to feed him to Alexander on every occasion possible." Fail.

"Why would you do such a thing?" Caroline's eyes were huge in shock as she once again stared at Alexander's large beak. Even the bird seemed to be laughing.

"He's a messenger for the queen and I have very little tolerance for her some days. Once she acquired power it went straight to her head and now the rabbit does her errands because that head can't fit through a door." Caroline found it impossible not to quietly chuckle at the man's joke.

"I actually need to find the queen; do you know how to get to her?"

Elijah stopped and shared a quick glance at Alexander before he met her eyes, "why would someone such as yourself need to see the queen?"

"I was told she was the only one who could allow someone out of Wonderland. I really just want to go home." That wasn't entirely true. Caroline knew that she should go home and pretend like this was all a bad dream but a small part of her wanted to know more about the world she had arrived in.

"I think it unwise for you to go to the queen."

"But how will I get home?" They had begun walking again and Caroline mumbled at her feet in frustration. Why was it every time she spoke to someone they were warning her about someone else? Could she trust anyone in Wonderland?

"There has to be another way. Should you be so determined to return to where you came from you must be interested in if you have more options."

"Well yes, if there are other options but that was the option I was told to follow."

"By whom?"

"The door."

"And what else did the door say to you?"

"Other than some idle conversation he told me to 'beware the Hatter'."

Once again Elijah froze in spot but this time he didn't look at anyone. It only took a second to realize he had stopped breathing altogether. "Elijah are you alright? Do you know who the Hatter is?"

"Why is it that you wish to trifle with the most powerful people in Wonderland?"

"I have no desire to meet the Hatter, I was told not to. I was told to find the queen but you don't think that is the answer. So now I am waiting for you to give me an answer or even a suggestion."

"We need to find the Cheshire Cat."

"Oh my god, I'm so tired of you people name dropping. How am I supposed to know who any of these people are?" Caroline's frustration caused her brow to twitch and the tone in her voice was becoming unladylike. Taking a deep breath she pulled herself together. "I'm sorry for being rude but you'll have to understand how overwhelmed I am. One day my definition of adventure is a simple stroll to the lake directly next to my family home and now I'm lost and confused travelling with a man that can only be described as a hermit."

"A hermit? My dear girl you know nothing about me."

"That is the only thing I am sure about."

They walked in silence for a few minutes before Caroline could make out the edge of a town. From a distance it didn't seem to be that large. "Where are we?"

"You're speaking to me now?"

Caroline threw her arms into the air and then stormed forward. Maybe there would be someone else that could give her a hand getting home. "I wouldn't do that if I were you."

"Well you're not me, are you?"

"That's for sure." Elijah appeared instantly at her side and draped his cloak over her shoulders. "Put this on, you stand out too much the way you are dressed."

Slipping her arms into the sleeves and pulling the hood over her face, Caroline tried to fall in line with Elijah. She was still unsure whether he was trustworthy or not but she had read enough novels to know that standing out in an unknown place normally drew in the wrong attention. Wouldn't these people be more surprised to see Alexander?

"How are you going to hide a giant griffin?"

"I'm not." And no sooner had those words left his lips did Caroline realize that their companion was nowhere to be found. "He stepped away a few minutes ago. He'll keep far enough away to stay safe, but close enough in case of emergency. I don't trust others around him."

"Do you really trust others at all?"

"Where did these ideas of me being a loner come from? I've been quite pleasant to you, have I not?"

"Yes, but you could be leading me to my death."

A hearty laugh rippled out of Elijah's chest and he just shook his head. He casually brought her hand around his arm and led her into the town. "Why are we here?"

"I told you, we need to find Cheshire."

"And this cat lives in this town?"

"Something like that, she's a bit of a wanderer but I keep an eye out for her. And that eye, dear Caroline, has led me here. Hopefully she is still relatively nearby." There was something in Elijah's voice that suggested he wasn't only looking for the cat because it could help Caroline.

"Should we get a fish to lure it in?"

He laughed once again, "No, just wait and see."

They passed through a marketplace and all eyes were on them. She watched as many people pulled children behind them and some even raised a weapon in their direction. "Elijah…I'm getting the feeling we're not welcome here."

He didn't say anything as he continued to pull her along the road. Soon she began to hear whispers under their breath. People parted on the road and refused to make eye contact but stared as soon as they wouldn't get caught. Caroline strained to hear their words but could only make out two words: March Hare.

"What is the March Hare?" Caroline whispered into Elijah's shoulder but made sure not to take her eyes off everyone else.

"Who and that would be me."

"I thought your name was Elijah?"

"It is but not everyone knows me by that name."

"Is March Hare your serial killer name?" Caroline asked with a laugh in her voice but tensed as soon as she saw the look on Elijah's face. It was definitely his serial killer name. Alexander was probably circling over them now like a hawk. As soon as Elijah gave the signal, he would swoop down and pick her off like a field mouse.

"Whatever you're thinking right now Caroline, it is out of the question." The shock in her face must have given her away. Wrapping his arm around her waist, he started to run through the streets steering her in the proper direction. At first Caroline thought she was running with him but at the pace he was going her feet weren't even touching the ground. What was he?

Before she could come up with any theories they had stopped in front of a bar and swept through the door in an instant. Placed back on her feet, Caroline looked around and noticed human men and creatures that were less than human. No one looked at them like they had on the street, except for the bar tender.

"Hare!" The man's face lit up with a smile as he rounded a towel around the lip of a glass. This place seemed to except Elijah but she didn't know if that was for the best or not. "What can I do for you, my friend?"

"I've come looking for a friend."

He was in a bar looking for a cat? Caroline glanced at the window sills first and then underneath the tables. All she found were some discarded bones and mud. Were those human bones?

"I know the friend you're looking for; she's probably in the attic, if she hasn't left yet."

"Thank you."

"Who's this new friend? She's quite pretty."

"She's of no concern friend, thank you for your help," and with that Elijah once again pulled Caroline towards a door leading to a set of stairs. "Ladies first."

Caroline took a breath and pulled her skirt up as she ascended the stairs. Opening into a hallway there were several doors on either side and she assumed that this must be a bar and breakfast. When Elijah had made it up the stairs he passed her and confidently walked to the last door of the hallway. Knocking, he waited a moment and Caroline came to stand patiently behind him. They were met with silence as the door wasn't opened nor did footsteps sound on the other side.

"She must be suspicious." Elijah opened the door without an invitation and stepped inside. Caroline peered around his shoulder but didn't see anyone in the room. Elijah's footsteps creaked on the wooden floor underneath him but still nothing moved.

"It's empty, maybe your friend left?"

"Not necessarily…" His voice drifted off and he looked back and forth between the walls. Caroline stepped into the room and wasn't but a few feet in before she felt someone at her back. Whirling around, she came face to face with a set of familiar brown eyes.

"Elena?"

The girl cocked her head to the side and circled her. When she came back to the front a smirk lit up her face and she let her hips shift to the side. "Who's this lost sparrow you've found Elijah?"

"This is Caroline, she comes from a world that is not our own."

"Well that is very interesting, isn't it?" The girl smiled again and stroked a finger from Caroline's throat to the tip of her chin. "What did you call me little sparrow?"

"Elena, you look exactly like a friend of mine."

"Well I don't have any friends but my enemies call me Cheshire."

"You're the Cheshire…Cat?"

"So Elijah has been bragging about me, well I am honored," the brunette shouldered past Caroline and went to stand in front of her companion. Standing on her tip toes she brought her lips to Elijah's and slid her hand onto the back of his neck. Of course, everyone loved Elena.

It didn't last more than a second before Elijah grabbed her by both arms and pushed her away. "We don't have time for this right now, Katerina."

The look of disappointment spread across the girl's face, right before she pouted. "Elijah, you're always so tense. I could help that."

"Katerina? That's a pretty name."

"But not for public use. You can call me Katherine, little sparrow." The girl moved like a cat as she fluidly made her way back to the girl. This was the first time Caroline noticed that she was in tight trousers and not a skirt, with her boots exposed and a corset that sat on the outside of her blouse. The girl had style that was for sure. Katherine scrunched up her nose before asking, "What are you wearing?"

Looking down at her own outfit, Caroline realized that below Elijah's cloak her dress was coated ankle deep in mud and torn to shreds. Her cheeks flushed in embarrassment as she admired the other girl's attire. "I wasn't expecting to spend so much time in the woods."

"Do you have any garments you can spare for my traveler?"

"I might be able to pull something together, but I'm travelling rather light these days myself." Bringing her thumb and index finger to her chin, Katherine circled Caroline once again. After a second round, Katherine stopped and seemed to study Caroline's but only for a second before another grin came. "I've got it."

Katherine stepped back and snapped her fingers. Caroline felt new materials situate onto her skin as she looked to find her dress and cloak gone and replaced by an outfit similar to Katherine's. However, where Katherine's color scheme was burgundy and black, Caroline found her own style was made up of tans and blues. The only thing that remained the same was her riding boots and she took a particular comfort in that.

"Much better," Katherine seemed pleased as she turned to Elijah for his input as well.

"Thank you Katerina, that certainly is much better for travel."

"So where are you taking this girl?"

"She must find a way back to her home and I was hoping you might have an answer."

"I'd think you're family would have better means than I do."

"My family and I are…speaking very seldom these days." Sadness spread over Elijah's face and Caroline wondered if he had any siblings. She was an only child but she had never thought to ask him if there were others.

"Well your brother has been a pain in my ass for more years than I'd like to think about, chasing me with no sight in end."

"Someone of your talents is a treasure but should not be coveted. Our last disagreement left me with a dagger through my chest." Caroline was startled by his words. Not only was Elijah still standing in front of her alive but that his brother would cause him such harm.

"He was always one known for…extremes," Katherine twirled a finger through a curl just the way Elena did and stared back at Elijah. "Where is he now?"

Before Elijah could answer a loud thud was heard from downstairs. "Must be another bar fight downstairs," Elijah sighed in disappointment and walked towards the door. "I'll go and see if Javier needs help with the drunks."

Katherine sauntered up to a window and quickly whipped back around, "I don't think that is a bar fight." She stormed over to the bed on the far side of the room and pulled a sheathed dagger from underneath a pillow and tucked it into her side. "Time to go."

Caroline only got a quick look at the window but saw the entire bar surrounded, "who are they?"

"That would be my brother's men. Looks like he's been keeping an eye on me as well."

"You led your brother here? I've been invisible for weeks and you show up with a bloodhound at your back?!" Katherine looked like she could rip Elijah's throat out even though she had looked at him so lovingly moments before.

"It wasn't by choice I can assure you," Elijah shoved a chair underneath the door handle and pulled the bed away from the wall and placed it underneath an opening in the roof Caroline hadn't noticed before. He stepped onto the bed and reached out for Caroline's hand. "Come, we must move quickly."

Shouts were heard in the hallway and the door shook when someone or something slammed against it.

"I'm not getting myself killed for your little project," and Katherine disappeared from the room.

"Where did she go?!"

"She got away from the danger, just like we need to do." He hoisted her up and she realized that she was on the roof. She could hear the door about to give way as Elijah lifted himself next to her and rushed her to the edge of the roof. Whistling sharply he looked at the ground to see if this side of the building was being watched.

Caroline heard the door shattered and terror ripped through her, "Elijah, I think they're about to find us!"

"Just one more second," Elijah whispered through his teeth as he grabbed Caroline's waist.

"We can't keep meeting like this brother." Caroline turned to look at the opening and saw a blond young man smiling in assumed victory. When his eyes met Caroline's his lips parted for a second but he instantly regained composure.

"Unfortunately this won't end how you'd like it to brother," Elijah lifted Caroline into the air and jumped from the roof. Before she could scream, they were caught by Alexander and he darted through the sky away from the town.

With one last glance backwards, Caroline locked eyes again with Elijah's brother but the only thing she saw this time was anger.