"You better start serving up some answers buddy because I've had enough surprises today to last me for a lifetime!" As soon as they landed, Caroline had her accusing finger pointed directly in Elijah's face causing him to back into Alexander.

"No 'thank you' for saving your life?"

"My mistake, thank you Alexander for saving my life; you couldn't have come at a better time." Crossing her arms over her chest she began to tap her foot waiting for the next words to come out of Elijah's mouth.

"I'm sorry that I led you into town without letting you know more about my past and how it would attract attention to us and that word travels fast and my hotheaded brother would be after us within a flash. I thought it might be worth the risk to see if Cheshire could help you." His honesty floored her and for a moment she didn't know how to continue. Still he wasn't going to get off the hook that easy.

"Speaking of which, why would your "friend" disappear right when we needed her? How did she disappear for that matter?"

"She is incredibly skilled at avoiding and causing trouble. I went to her to see if she might have an answer aside from the obvious, however it would seem that the solution to your problem is going to be hard to acquire."

"You don't think it would be less troublesome to just go to the queen?" Caroline sat on a fallen tree close by. Everything in her life had been instantly turned upside down and she was having a hard time letting it all sink in. This was quite the adventure indeed.

"The queen is too much of a risk, everything comes at a price with her and you have nothing freely to give at the moment so I'm going to plead that you drop that option." He sat down next to her and his shoulders drooped in resignation. She didn't want to fight with him. Even though the danger was his fault, Caroline knew he was just trying to help.

"Why did your brother stab you?"

"That was a fitting change of subject," he laughed quietly and Caroline felt that some of the tension was dissolving. Alexander settled next to them and tucked his wings around his body.

"My family and I are some of the original inhabitants of Wonderland. We were around when some of the laws were written and we divided up some of the main acreage of land to each other. Over time some of us have died and others have given their land to their heirs. However, two of my siblings believe this land belongs to the originals and strong arm families into giving up their heritage. I believe in family above all but I also believe there is a time when that line is crossed. My brother and sister have shaken my respect in their trek for power. They have torn many sections of Wonderland apart and now some of those areas are useless."

"That sounds awful, why does no one try to stand up to them?"

"Many a war has been fought trying to stop their reigns but it is almost impossible. Now they think the only solution is to destroy and terrorize, assuming that will stop rebellions."

"Do you not desire power as well?"

"Everyone desires power Caroline; those who claim they don't are lying to themselves. It may even be a simple desire, something as small as having the power to handle the tragedies that happen in life." He lifted his hand in front of her and an apple dropped into it.

Caroline's eyes widened in shock as she reached out and plucked the fruit from his hand. She turned it over in her hands to see if it truly existed or if it was just a figment of her imagination. "How did you do this?"

"Magic, sorcery, power, you can call it whatever you like but it still created that apple for you."

"Can anyone use magic?"

"Most certainly not, can you imagine all the trouble that would cause? Very limited bloodlines carry the essence within them and even few manifest their gifts," he demonstrated by creating an apple for himself and then let it hover in midair before it sliced evenly into six pieces. Two of which he tossed in the air for Alexander's waiting mouth.

"So your brother and sister have these same gifts?"

"My brother and I are the opposite sides of the same coin. Where I can create, he destroys. My sister has no powers and—"

"She has none?! And yet she thinks she can put up some sort of fight against you and your brother?"

"Ah, that is where you forget the most interesting aspect, she is a female. If anything she has the power of persuasion unlike any other. Men's wills bend to her request and she takes no mercy. My sister is not weak by any means but she is crafty, why bloody your hands when you could bloody someone else's?" He took a bite from an apple slice like bloodying someone's hands was an appealing idea. She remembered the moment in the market place when she had asked about his alias and he had all but ignored her.

"Why do they call you the March Hare?"

Elijah looked up at the sky which had begun to darken and Caroline could have sworn he was waiting for an answer to be written for him in the stars. She looked at the sky as well and was shocked to find two moons in existence. At first she thought her eyes were playing tricks on her but there was definitely a smaller orb next to what she considered to be the original moon. Her thoughts were interrupted by his answer.

"When you've lived as long as I have there are times that you lose yourself and give in to dark desires. My brother and I have had a strained relationship for as long as I can remember but sometimes we do ally together and leave a wake of destruction in our path. My sister gained power on her own but my brother wanted more and ripped through the areas of Wonderland that did not belong to my family. I aided in his massacre thinking that that was my duty as the eldest son and his brother. Eventually the screams of mothers who have lost their families take a toll and my core dwindled away. My brother saw it as weakness and plunged a dagger into my heart. Luckily, our gifts are flowing through our veins and what little essence I could muster healed the wound. I found myself dropped in this forest and I took it as a chance of freedom. I raised Alexander from the nest and he was all I had for quite some time."

"Where does Cheshire fit into all of this?"

Remembering her, a smile spread across Elijah's face, "she had wandered into my wood thinking that no one would search for her there. Alexander found her first and the little minx almost gutted him on the spot; to this day he has no affection for her."

Finally, a man that didn't like Elena, or her exact appearance, she and Alexander just got closer in her eyes. "Did she try to kill you?"

"Her powers are great but not quite that expansive. I simply wanted to know what she was running from and when I learned it was my brother I saw not only a common factor but a moment of opportunity. I wasn't going to use her for the same purpose my brother intended but I could aid in hiding her from him."

"I think she can hide herself just fine."

"This is true but any aid I could provide I felt it necessary." He took a long breath before he reached out his hand and a fire appeared before them, it hovered in the air without wood or anything to hold it up. Caroline cocked her head to the side just to make sure there was nothing underneath of it and even dared to run her hand right below it.

"It's just energy. It won't give off much heat but with how dark it is getting it would be nice to see your reactions."

They both watched the illusion dance in front of them and Caroline began to zone out. She imagined sitting next to the hearth at home and reading a book; an adventure novel because she always craved to know what it would be like. The faux flame was mesmerizing but she knew it wasn't real and it wasn't this wasn't home.

"She must have felt so betrayed when we showed up and your brother is moments behind us." Caroline thought back to the look on Katherine's face when she realized who was at their door. She had watched as the girl's face gave ten different emotions at one time especially as she watched the man she cared for put himself in the line of fire. In the end, the need to survive had pushed those emotions away and that was when she had left them.

"Katerina is more resilient than that," the tone of his voice was drenched in his affection for the girl and the way he referred to her by name sent chills running up her back. She wished there was a man that could say her name like that.

"Why does your brother need her?"

"To take back what he thinks is his from my sister."

"How hard can that be when he has magic and she doesn't?"

"That is a question that has caused him a hardship for quite some time. Remember, magic isn't always the answer thus cannot solve every problem."

"That was very wise, what other sage advice do you have?"

"Are you mocking me? This is a very serious situation, Niklaus will stop at nothing to wipe out every village, person, woman, man, child, till he gets what he wants."

"I'm sure it is but—" Caroline didn't know she was laughing until she started to fall off the log. Everything came rushing to the surface and she could feel the laughter rattling through her chest.

"Caroline, are you alright?" Elijah put a firm grip on her shoulder and resituated her on the log. She held up a finger to let him know she needed a moment and she tried to slow her breathing down. As she took a few last final inhales and exhales a few tears streaked down her face. For everything spectacular about Wonderland there were two things far more dangerous. Caroline had walked through a door straight unto a battle field.

"You've killed people." The words left her lips so cold it felt like her teeth were chattering.

"A fact that I am not overly proud of."

"And your brother and sister are still killing people, to get what they want?"

"My sister is slightly more pacifist than my brother. Her temper is hot but she would rule through respect than through fear. My brother just wants to rule. He feels that there is something he is owed for; probably my mother's indiscretion that led to his birth. The difference in power from mine is not just a coincidence. It would suggest that she had an affair with someone with darker skills and thus my brother was born."

"Your sister, is ruling?"

The color drained from Elijah's face, "that was what you picked up out of all of that?"

"A woman in power is something I'm quite familiar with. What is she," Caroline's voice faded as she put everything together, "the queen?"

"Yes, she is the one the door was leading you to and the one I will keep you away from."

"But why?! She has what I need and you know that. You said she doesn't have power so what is it?"

"If I refused to tell you would it stop you from finding out?"

"Absolutely not. I'm a Forbes, we were born snoopers, and I could find out seven random facts about your sister before we even eat lunch tomorrow." Caroline once again felt like she had found her footing and she took an even breath. Then her eyes started to droop and she realized there was another battle she couldn't win.

"You won't make it till lunch tomorrow if you don't sleep tonight," with a snap of his fingers several blankets and a make shift pillow appeared. Elijah rested his back against Alexander, who must've already have fallen asleep while they were talking. He pulled one of the blankets over himself and let his eyes drift close. "Rest tonight and I will answer some more of your questions in the morning."

Lying on the ground was something that Caroline was use to but not with blankets and a pillow. Rolling on her side she faced the flame and once again found herself lost in it. She could do this. Elijah's sister was doing just fine without magic and so would she. Sleep came over her then.

Caroline opened her eyes to see a ballroom with people laughing and dancing. She looked down at herself to see a ball gown that she adored and knew it must've all been a dream. This was the engagement that Elena had been rambling on about. Where was she? Caroline couldn't wait to tell her about her dream. She started to move throughout the people but realized they were all wearing masquerade masks. She didn't recognize anyone but that wasn't out of the ordinary. Elena had hundreds of friends, acquaintenships, addresses her father collected; these people could be any of those.

"Looking for someone, love?"

"Yes, a friend of mine, she's throwing this party and I—" Caroline's next words caught in her throat as she turned to come face to face with Elijah's brother. "Niklaus."

"Why so formal, love, call me Klaus." A smile spread across his face as he extended a hand to her. His politeness was met with disgust as Caroline stormed away from him. "Where are you going? Don't know how to dance?"

People crashed in around Caroline and she was unable to move forward. She tried to push but realized that they were certainly not going to move for her. Turning around she met Klaus face to face, "what do you want with me?"

"Good, I've got your attention; let's have a dance, shall we?"

"No, I wouldn't dance with you if my life depended on it."

"What about Elijah's life?" A coy smile played across this lips and he looked into her face through his lashes.

"You would threaten your own brother, for a dance?"

"If it meant getting what I want."

"You're disgusting," but Caroline didn't know if she was willing to call his bluff. This was only a dream, what could a dance hurt? He stood before her arms outstretched and she walked right up to him, like a moth to the faux flame.

"What brings you to Wonderland?" His dancing was flawless and even though she was familiar with this step he still possessed a skill that amazed her.

"It's of no concern to you."

"Everything that happens in Wonderland is of concern to me; a king must know every one of his subjects."

"Well then I must introduce myself to your sister, immediately." Point one for Caroline. The way his jaw slacked gave her a particular thrill.

Regaining composure instantly he spun her in time with all of the other dancers and then brought her back to face him, "obviously my brother has been filling you in on our family history."

"If you're referring to the blood feud that has caused hundreds of innocent deaths, then yes, I've been updated." All she had to do was hold her own until this nightmare ended.

"Then he's told you the hand he has had in it as well?"

"Elijah's past actions phase me very little. His urge for repentance is admirable."

"Will that urge return young sons and daughters to their mothers bosoms?"

Caroline ripped away from him and tried once again to make an exit. His words echoed behind her but she continued to move forward. She went to walk out what she assumed to be the front door but then her surroundings swirled and she was in a room full of art.

"What do you think?" His voice came from behind her neck sending a shiver up her spine but she wouldn't give.

"I think you're a psychopath with a god complex."

Klaus chuckled lightly as he stared at his own works of art. "So I take it you don't fancy me?"

"Is that so hard to believe? You're full of anger, darkness, and hate."

"Well you have me all summed up, don't you love?"

Ignoring him, she focused on the painting in front of her. He wouldn't be won over by his charm. The painting was beautiful and the scene made her feel slightly relaxed, "what village did you pillage to steal this? Is that it in the painting?"

"I could show you, if you wanted." He stood a few feet away from her but she could almost feel the tension radiating through her body.

"Take a tour of the once beautiful village you burned to the ground, I don't think so."

"The way the artist captured it, is still that same way it looks today." His voice softened and Caroline watched as he lost himself in the scene as well. She wasn't going to be distracted now.

"Why did you bring me here?"

"I need your help. I need you to convince my brother that he has no other option but to aid me in my quest. I need you—"

"I'm sorry, you must be mistaking me for one of your delusional dancers in the ballroom. I have no desire to do anything for you. And for that matter, why not talk to your brother yourself? I'm sure if your quest is reasonable he would gladly help. Oh, wait. You want to kill a bunch of people and be king of a wasteland."

"Such a sharp tongue for someone with no advantage." The anger she had seen on the rooftop flared in his eyes again but was also mixed with passion. He enjoyed a challenge. "I'll tell you what. Convince my brother that he needs to join my side and I'll give you what you want."

"You don't know what I want."

"A safe passage home? I believe you've already discovered that it resides in my sister's kingdom. Help me take the kingdom and I shall give you what you want."

"No."

"No?" Klaus laughed at her as he stepped closer, "you must be foolish, love, to think that you have any other option."

"I'm not foolish; I'm just not desperate enough to seek help from a clearly established psychopath." Everything that his face had given away earlier had vanished and now he only returned a cold stare.

"Fine, if you will not help me I think it is time for you to go."

"Whenever you're ready to release me," Caroline stormed away once again and marched through the house. This time though Klaus made no move to stop her.

"I'll be seeing you soon, Caroline." Her heart stopped at the way he said her name and she went to turn around but he was already gone. And she was returned to slumber.