Alice had a crash course in horse-fly riding for the rest of the day, and she was covered in bruises where she had fallen off her stubborn steed. Scowling as she tried to take off the saddle, she growled under her breath.

Hatter and March laughed hysterically behind her. Chuckling, March watched her struggle with the strap with pure elation, "You are by far the most uncoordinated person with horses that I have ever seen!"

Behind him, Hatter looked up from pulling a burr off of March's ear and commented, "Jabberwock will want her to learn "

Alice froze and asked incredulously, "I'll have to do this again?"

Shrugging, March came over to help her, "Probably."

Hatter tugged a golden watch out of his pocket and clanked at the time, "It's almost time for supper. Think we should take Alice back or wait?"

Finally, March shoved Alice out of the way and growled, "I was afraid you were going to say, 'Let's eat her!'. Oh, Alice, you really messed this up, didn't you. It's all tangled." As he untangled the leather strap, he sighed, "We better take her back. Old Jabbers probably wants some alone time with his… 'daughter'…"

Hatter gazed at Alice longingly, "Is that okay?"

Seeing the emotion in his eyes, Alice smiled, nodded, and motioned him over, "I have a secret."

As Hatter bent forward so Alice could whisper into his ear, March's ear swiveled towards the two, quivering in curiosity. Hatter turned his head to Alice, "Yes?"

Before he could react, Alice kissed him lightly on his cheek and whispered, "That's for saving me this morning."
Hatter stared at her for a moment, utterly enthralled, and then blushed furiously.

Turning from the horse-fly, March asked jokingly, "What about me?"

Alice glanced at him, "You want a kiss."

"Ah… no… Save those for Hats. He likes them more than me."

Hatter nodded, thought obviously elsewhere. He blinked, shook his head, and, taking off his top hat, coughed, "I'll take Alice back, March."

"Fine. I'll get dinner."

Alice offered her hand, and Hatter took it eagerly, pulling her after him with happy thoughts on his mind.

Jabberwock paced restlessly when Hatter and Alice wandered in, muttering darkly to a small, shriveled man who stood respectfully in the corner. Glancing up at Alice, he smiled widely, "Ah! Alice!" He nodded at Hatter, "Stay, Hatter. I might need you." Extending a hand to Alice, he motioned to the elderly man, "Starting tomorrow, Alice, you'll be tutored by Ishmael here."

The man gave a small bow of respect. Alice waved at him awkwardly as she said, "Thank you…."

Jabberwocky glanced at Hatter, "Hatter, would you rather teach Alice how to ride or be in charge of getting her some decent clothes?"

Hatter saluted sharply, "Clothes, please, sir."

"Fine. Then I'll get March to teach her to ride… And I'll teach her how to dance."
Alice blanched, "Dance?"

Taking her arm, Jabberwocky whirled her around, "Yes. Dance. Like the Minuet and Waltz."

Alice flinched. She could just imagine herself falling flat on her face!
His hand tightening on her arm, Jabberwock hissed as he restrained himself, "No imagining!" His free hand started inching towards her head.

Alice shoved the thought away and saw his hand stop, shuddering before caressing her cheek lovingly. Quietly, Jabberwock muttered, "Good girl…"

Hatter coughed to catch his master's attention, "Sir? May I-"

Calmly, Jabberwock waved a hand at Hatter and Ishmael, "Go now. Ishmael, tomorrow morning."

"Yes, milord." The teacher bowed and scurried out of the room, followed by a pensive Hatter.

Jabberwock waited till the doors closed before turning to Alice with a guilty frown upon his face, "I'm sorry for this morning."
Nodding with understanding, Alice fidgeted under his gaze, "It's- it's okay… You couldn't help yourself…"

"I never should have taken you there in the first place."

"I'm happy you did, though! It was very pretty."

Jabberwock lifted her chin with a clawed finger and gazed into her eyes, smiling softly, "Are you just saying that to make me feel good?" He embraced her.

Sniffing into his chest, Alice returned the hug. Jabberwock smelt of spices and sweat, a deep earth sort of smell she liked. As he ran his fingers through her hair, she asked, "Do I really have to learn how to dance?"

"Oh yes!" Jabberwock released her with a wide grin.

Alice rustled in bed wearily. In her mind, she replayed the day's events over and over, and the image of the terrified soldier persisted in her mind's eye, as did the horribly satisfied and ravenous grin as Jabberwock drained the man's mind away.

Shuddering, she pulled the covers over her head.

A few seconds later, the door opened, and Alice stiffened beneath her blanket.

Quiet footsteps came to the side of the bed, accented by the Jabberwock's ragged breathing. Silently, he rested a hand on top of the covers with a sigh.

Alice peeked over the top of the covers, saw the Jabberwock's gleaming yellows eyes gazing at her, and asked in a small voice, "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine…" Voice trembling, Jabberwock moved his hands up the covers to stroke her face, "I just wanted to see if you were asleep."

"Why don't you have a bed? You're always sleeping in your chair."

Jabberwock withdrew his hand, "Sleep. It's no time for questions… Just sleep…" Without another word, he turned and left, closing the door behind him.

Hatter stalked restlessly down the corridor. Hefting a torch up in his hand, he glanced around in the utter darkness. He was in one of the old galleries far beneath the castle, where Jabberwock sent all 'contraband'.

Hatter saw the Queen of Heart's bloodstained crown, thrown carelessly atop a chest emblazoned with a diamond. But he wasn't looking for that. The search for Lily's things still proved fruitless. He knew her chest hid about here somewhere…

There it was.

A wooden trunk inlaid with greening copper lay nestled under a dusty blanket, drawing Hatter over as a lantern does a moth. Setting the torch in a nearby torch rack, Hatter bent and pulled the chest towards him gingerly. Once he got it free, he bit his lip in agitation and opened it.

Immediately, memories flooded over him, and Hatter felt hot tears drip down from his eyes. Oh, perfect! These would do Alice just fine after a few changes!

The whole next morning Alice felt was wasted. After discovering that Alice knew math, and reading, and writing, Ishmael cheerfully announced that her only academic study would be Wonderland's history. And, after two hours of lecturing on the houses' history, the Kings and Queens, and the general pattern of monarchy, the teacher dismissed her for lunch with the Jabberwock.

Watching her eat a sandwich intently, Jabberwock asked, "So… what did you learn?"

Alice gazed up, swallowed what she held in her mouth, and coughed, "Mr. Ishmael thinks I need to learn history."

"History?" Echoing her, Jabberwock narrowed his eyes.

"Yes… Kings and Queens of Wonderland and stuff…"

Jabberwock's eyes darkened, but he forced a smile, "That's delicious…I mean, lovely."

Alice saw the changing color and paused. She asked cautiously, "Your eyes… they're…" She motioned to her eyes.

Grimacing, Jabberwock groaned and laid his head on the desk, "Seven people's minds and I'm still hungry."

Alice stared, "Seven people?" The thought of the dying soldier crept into her mind.

He didn't notice her brief imagining, head in his arms. Muffled voice coming out from under the sleeves, Jabberwock moaned, "I'll have March take you riding. When you come back, we'll start with the waltz."

Alice sighed and took another bite of her sandwich. Great. Horse-fly riding.

March rode up besides Alice, who lay on the ground moaning where her horse-fly bucked her off. Chuckling, March leapt down and helped her up, "Let's try without spurs. You jabbed the poor thing bliddy hard back there."

Alice pouted, "We've been doing this for an hour. Can't we go back in or something?"

Frowning, March muttered, "But Jabberwock said-"

"No more riding!" snapped Alice.

March stared at her sullenly, "Fine… but it's on your head."

Hatter spent all morning writing down his changes to the dresses and now handed them to one of the castle's seamstresses silently.

The girl, probably no older than fifteen, glanced at the paper and frowned, "Tall order, sir. It'll take a few days."

"It's for Alice."

"The Princess? We can make them faster then."

Hatter nodded, satisfied, "Those are the examples. The list on the paper is what I want changed."

"Yes, sir."

Tipping his hat, Hatter thanked her and turned with a small smile.

March fidgeted as they neared the Jabberwock's quarters, seeing a guard posted outside the door, and muttered, "We really, really shouldn't disobey him! He has schedules for a reason!"

Alice kept going stubbornly.

Without a word, the black card blocked her passage to the door, standing defiantly in front of her.

Angry, Alice crossed her arms, "Let me in!"

The guard shook his head, "The King said to let no one pass."

"I'm his daughter. Let me in!"
"He also said to not let you pass especially."

Alice started to retort when there sounded a short scream of pain from inside. Freezing, she instantly remembered Jabberwock's hungry black eyes, his aching hunger. She tried to push past the guard, but he stopped her, repeating, "No one passes. General March, help?'

"Let me-"

The door banged open and, snarling, Jabberwocky grabbed the guard from behind and sank his claws deep behind the man's ear. Black eyes narrowed venomously, he held the fighting guard tight as he devoured his mind, until, finally, the card stopped moving and fell lifeless. Jabberwock dropped the corpse and glanced at a horrified Alice, licking his lips in satisfaction. His voice grated, "You're not supposed to be here!"

Alice only stared, eyes flaring in fear.

Behind her, March bowed and apologized, "I'm sorry, sir. Alice was tired of riding and wanted to come back and see you."

Jabberwock hissed, his fingers tapping furiously at his side. To himself, he muttered, "One more… just one…"

"Sir?"

Jerking to March, Jabberwock snarled, "Stay here with Alice, March. I just need one more mind, then I'll be satisfied." He stalked off down the hall.

Alice regained her senses and started after him, but March grabbed her back, "Don't tempt him, Alice. He's testy when he's hungry."
"He just ate his own guard!"

Pulling her into Jabberwock's room, March flinched when he saw the tutor's cadaver on the ground, "Apparently, he ate your teacher too."

Alice fumed, "And now he's going off to eat another person…"

"Don't be mad at him, Alice. It's just his nature. So…" Releasing her, March crept over to the teacher's body and dragged him up to drape him over his shoulder, "Don't make him angry. And, if you don't mind, I'm just going to throw this outside." Stomping back over to the door, he dropped the corpse onto the card's body, closed the door, and sighed.

Alice plunked herself down into a seat next to the small table with the chest set and muttered angrily, "You're all insane!" Glancing at the chess set, she froze, seeing the board empty, "Where'd the chess people go?"
"Jabberwock probably ate them."

Alice growled and felt her throat clench in angry sadness. Crossing her arms, she slid down moodily in her chair.

Minutes passed, and then Jabberwock slammed the door open, teeth bared in a snarling grin. Crossing to his desk, he shrugged off his heavy second shirt, revealing a light long-sleeved shirt. He unbuttoned his cuffs, then turned to March with a brief demand, "Go."

March bowed and left hastily.

Turning to Alice, Jabberwock held a hand out, "Come here, Alice."

Alice glared at him, "No."

Surprised, Jabberwock frowned and asked, "What's wrong?"

"What's wrong? What's wrong? You killed the guard and Mr. Ishmael! And the chess people!" Alice motioned furiously at the board.

The Jabberwocky shrugged, "Ishmael had no use if you already knew it all, and he knew he's not to speak of before I came. The guard was just there. I was hungry. And the chessmen… They were just to ward off the hunger."
Sitting back into her seat, Alice stuck her bottom lip out and growled, "I'm not going to dance with you."

"But-"

"No."

A knock at the door. Scowling, eyes never leaving Alice, Jabberwock snarled, "Come in."

Hatter peered in as he cracked open the door, "Sir? I dropped the orders for the dresses by the seamstresses. I was just going to-"

Eyes glinting, Jabberwock snapped, "Hatter, come here!"
Hatter sighed, nodded, and came to stand before his lord, "Yes, sir?"

"Do you know the waltz?"

Confused, Hatter nodded with hesitation, "Yes… but why?"

Jabberwocky waved a hand at Alice, " Alice doesn't want to dance with me… Would you?"

Hatter looked like a dog offered a choice steak all his for the taking. Nodding eagerly, eyes wide in hope, he whispered, "Yes, sir."

"Than take her, if she'll let you." Jabberwock stepped back, eyes narrowing.

Holding out his hand, Hatter gazed at Alice, eyes pleading.

Alice gazed at him, feeling sorry. That look filled her, making her sympathetic. She couldn't resist. Taking a deep breath, she took her hand and stood.

Hatter gingerly pulled her close to him and put a hand at her side.

When Alice tried to do the same, Jabberwocky muttered sourly, " Alice, hand on his shoulder."

As Alice replaced her hand, Hatter took her other and clasped it tightly, raising their arms till their arms hovered at chest height and their elbows crooked just a bit. He took a first mincing step, directing Alice softly.

As they danced, or, more particularly, Hatter danced and Alice followed, Jabberwock sat in his high-back chair and watched with jealous eyes. His eyes flickered through their colors till they rested upon a dark blue. He stiffened, gripping the armrest with a hiss, but he restrained himself, shivering violently.

Hatter had thrown away all self-control and his imagination ran rampant in his mind, every single thought centered on Alice, Lily, or both. His feet moved in memory, carry him and Alice through the dance.

Alice tried to memorize the patter of his feet, the soft small steps he took as they turned. Trying on her own, she succeeded after a few half-dozen tries.

Hatter felt the change, that Alice now kept up her own with him, and extended his hand, guiding Alice out uncertainly to do a little twirl. As he brought her back to regain their original position, he couldn't help himself. Bending his neck down, he kissed Alice lightly on the lips.

Instantly, Jabberwock leapt up out of his chair and roared furiously, "Hatter!"

Stepping away from the dumbfounded Alice, Hatter stood still for a moment and then smiled widely, his eyes distant and glazed with imagination. His voice didn't carry its usual hardness as he said softly, "Yes…?"

Jabberwocky stomped towards him, snarling, "You kissed Alice, you- STOP Imagining!" Grabbing Hatter by the hair, he smiled wickedly as Hatter's pleasure turned to pain. He held on for a few seconds before letting go, mouth turned up in a sneer.

Hatter's head lolled to the side before snapping up, the smile pasting itself back onto his face in stubbornness. His eyes still contained their dreams. The thin veins around the shadowlander eye started to thread their way outwards like a spider web.

Jabberwock balked, eyes widening, "Fool!" Drawing his hand back, he punched Hatter harshly.

Hatter's lovely thoughts transformed to ugly rage. Jumping up, he snarled viciously as he lunged at Jabberwocky, one eye green and furious, the other black as night.

Jabberwock leapt forward to meet him.

Alice stared in horror as the two threw punches at each other. Jabberwocky was stronger naturally, but Hatter had his insanity fueling him. Leaping into Jabberwock's punch, Hatter lunged forward and bit at him, but Jabberwock grabbed him by the uniform and slammed him against the wall, "Hatter! Wake up, you bliddy maniac!" He punched him cross the face.

Hatter shoved him back and tackled him before he could draw his sword. The rapier dropped with a clang as Hatter threw Jabberwock viciously back.

Alice yelped as Jabberwock fell back onto her. Angry and hurt, she yelled, "Stop it, you guys!"

Hatter couldn't hear her voice in his craze. Scooping up the rapier, he charged with a howl, intent on slicing Jabberwock to ribbons.

Jabberwock kicked out harshly, sweeping Hatter's feet from under him. Leaping up as Hatter crashed down, he ran for the rapier as it skittered across the floor.

Hatter lunged up and jumped onto his back, arms scrabbling to choke his master.

Clawing at the arms, Jabberwocky wheeled around and tried smashing Hatter against the wall.

Hatter growled and buried his teeth deep into Jabberwock's neck. Instantly, he yanked them out and spat black blood.

Reaching over his head, Jabberwock yelled pure hate as he caught hold of Hatter and threw him off his back and onto the floor. Before Hatter could react, he stomped with all his weight on Hatter's arm.

CRACK!
Hatter cupped his broken hand, screaming in pain, writhing on the ground, the madness deserting him. All around his shadowlander eye, black veins pulsed across his contorted face.

"Hatter! You bliddy idjit! Look what you've gotten yourself into now!" Jabberwock brought up his fingers to touch the oozing wound on his throat, wincing.

Scrambling over to Hatter's side, Alice asked worriedly, "Hatter! Are you okay?"

Hatter's breath came in short, convulsing rasps as he slowly made his way back from insanity, "Al-Alice! My… my Alice! No, no, no, no, no! My arm! My arm!"

Jabberwock bent and placed a hand on Hatter's sweaty forehead, and smiled grimly as Hatter grew still and tried to push it away in agony, "Imagination's such a mess, isn't it, Hatter? Especially yours." His eyes narrowed, his claws clenched, and Hatter fought wildly as his imagination was devoured, picture by picture by picture.

Alice grabbed Jabberwock's hand and tried to pull it off, "Stop it! You're hurting him!"

Snarling, Jabberwock tried to shake her off, but she refused to retreat. Releasing Hatter, he grabbed Alice in rage, dragged her over to her room, threw her in, and hissed, "You'll stay in there until you learn how to respect!" He slammed the door shut and locked it.

Alice threw herself onto the bed and beat at the covers, furious. Curse it! Hatter was outside being beaten by her adoptive father! And she couldn't do a thing about it! Forcing herself calm, she fumed, prone on the sheets.

Curse it…

Jabberwock left her there till the next morning before unlocking the door. Stalking in, he gazed at Alice with bright yellow eyes, trying to smile, "And how are you today?"

Alice nodded sullenly, "I'm fine… Just a bit hungry…"

"You want to come out?"

Alice turned from him to glare at the wall. Seconds later, she heard a sigh and felt a slight weight slide onto her bed behind her.

"Look, Alice. I'm… I'm sorry. Yesterday just got… out of hand…"

Alice turned to look at him, saw him downcast, and suddenly wanted to punish herself for making him so wretched and miserable. Taking a breath, she hugged him gingerly, "It's okay… Dad."
Under her arms, Jabberwock stiffened in surprise, eyes widening and blazing, "D-d-d-dad?"

Alice only tightened her hug.

Feeling something wet land on top of her head, she glanced up , startled, to see tears running from Jabberwock's eyes, "What's wrong?"

Jabberwock embraced her, nestling his streaming face into her shoulders. Shuddering, he sobbed, "Oh, Alice! Thank you! I love you so much!"

Alice didn't try to pull away, but let him cry into her shoulder. Inside, she felt just a bit happier.