"Ah... Alice…" Jabberwocky glanced over the fancy shoulder of his costume as she entered, "I'm having a maid come up to help you get into your dress."

"Okay."

Nodding, Jabberwocky turned to the mirror and started combing his hair with his fingers, "Don't let her tie the corset too tight. Remember, you'll be dancing."
"Okay."

A knock sounded at the door, and the trembling voice of a maid called, "Sir?"

Jabberwock strolled to the door, his golden embroidery on his pants dancing in the light. He yanked open the door and smiled, "Hello."

The maid bowed, "Good evening, Sire."
Grabbing the maid by the arm, Jabberwocky dragged her over to Alice before ordering, "Make her ready for the masquerade. Understood?"

"Yes, sir."
Jabberwock spun around on his heel, "Now, if you excuse me, I must go and whip those dumb little waiter boys into shape." Exiting the main room with a chuckle, he left Alice's to the maid's hands.

Jabberwock came back just as the maid finished powdering Alice's face to a nearly sickly porcelain white. Stopping at the door, he stared at his 'daughter' in awe, " Alice! You're beautiful!"

Alice glared at him as the maid readjusted the white lacy net over the pinned bun in her golden hair. Her skin blended creamily with the white of the dress, and the decorative wings added a sense of ethereal mirage amidst the pale glitter, "Thank you…"

Jabberwocky came close to her, a black figure diminished in her glittering white glow. Taking her slender gloved hand, he kissed it respectfully before lilting, "Now, Alice, let us go. The guests will start to arrive soon, and we must greet them warmly."

Alice fingered her mask nervously, "Must I?"

"Yes." Scooping up his commodore's hat and full face mask, he put them on quickly. Eyes peering out through the eyes slits gazed down at her, a solemn but cheery yellow, "And please don't tell everyone that it's me underneath all this. I actually want to dance."
"Okay…"

The hall gleamed brightly, the chandeliers above blaring the soft, flickering candlelight onto the tiled floor below. The walls hung with tapestries of stood bare to show their carved and gilded surfaces. Large doors at the end of the hall stood open and inviting, issuing in costumed personages.

Jabberwock stood at the entrance, firmly bowing to each group of guests. Behind him, Alice mirrored him but with a curtsy.

Strutting through the door came the Baron of Clubs, a lean steel wolf whose eyes instantly settled on his lord. Giving a curt nod, he padded over in his vest decorated with the symbol of his house, "Good evening, milord." He glanced at Alice and smiled.

Jabberwock silenced him, "Do not call me milord! Tonight I am your equal, and I do not want the women running from me!"

"As you say, si-, I mean, stranger." Watching Alice, he took her hand and politely kissed it in greeting, "Milady."
Alice blushed fiercely, even under her powder, "Thank you, sir."
Grinning, the Baron straightened and trotted after the rest of his family.

The greetings continued, and Alice watched as many marvelous disguised creatures paraded in, their names hidden but not their specie. Wolves, the Gryphon, humans, rams… A whole assembly of color and dashing costumes.

March walked in, his mask doing nothing to nothing to disguise his tell-tale ears. A dark green vest coat covered his torso, his decorated rapier in its sheath at his side over his matching jade suit-pants.

At his arm was another hare, a patchy colored rabbit that wore a long gray dress which sprouted small sequins and pearls in its lining.

Cheerfully strolling over, he gave no regard to Jabberwocky as he kissed Alice's hand, "Ah, Alice! You look quite charming! May I introduce my sister, May?"

May nodded silently to Alice, smiling under her half-mask.

Jabberwock peered at the lady hare, "Yes, Alice looks beautiful, as does your sister. But where is Hatter? I haven't seen him."

Appraising the black masked figure, March cocked his head, "Do I dare guess that is you under there, sire?"

"Yes."

March smiled as his sister took a step back, "Nice costume. Hatter's coming, don't worry. Now, Alice," He took Alice's hand and guided her away, "Let us go and get to know some of the others."
Smiling, Alice followed, hearing Jabberwocky sigh behind her.

March brought her and May over to the circle of chatting guards first, happily announcing, "'Allo! How are you all doing today?"

Turning, Demeric, evidently from his blonde hair to tan complexion, grinned, "General March! Alice! Nice to see you!" Behind him, Sajni waved under his disguise of a mouse.

Labros laughed, a great thundering sound. Like what he so often was compared to, he stood as a bear, almost looking like a plushed one, " Alice! You wouldn't happen to know the foxtrot, would you? At the rate, I'll have no one to dance with!"

Demeric glowered at him, his mask slipping a bit as he frowned, "We drew straws, remember?"

Rumbling out a sigh, Labros saw May at March's side and offered, "Would you dance with me?"

May started to reply, but March clutched her protectively to his side, baring his teeth, "Mine!"

May pushed him away, "Marchie, be nice."

March rumbled out a growl.

The guards sighed as one in glum sadness, Demeric pouting, "We need ladies to dance with, you know…"

The familiar voice of the Baron came from behind Alice before she could reply, "What if I wish to dance with Alice?"

Whirling about, Alice stared up into the interested and cheerful face of the Baron. March smiled, "Oh! Sir Addifore!"

Bringing his lip up to show white canine teeth, Addifore glanced at March, "Hello, March. You've been causing trouble at your tea party again, I've heard."

March stiffened, "Not much. Just a few travelers here and there, but winter does make it hard."
Addifore shrugged, "My son came home a certain evening last week and said that you and Hatter tried to eat him. Is it true?"

Pondering, March murmured, "The little wolf boy who got away? Was his horse a beige?"

"Yes, but it didn't come back with him."

March smiled apologetically, "The horse was delicious, sorry to say."
At his side, May grimaced.

Addifore seized Alice gently and steered her away, "Come, milady. You do not deserve such crude company."

Alice looked over her shoulder and smiled apologetically at the insulted March Hare, "I'll see you later, March." Turning to the wolf Baron, she asked, "Where are you taking me?"

"I want you to meet my wife and children, milady, if you please." Addifore glanced up and, sighting his wife and children, called, "Yuna! Come here and meet the princess!"

Baroness Yuna of the club house clipped over in her sapphire dress, her mask doing nothing to hide steely blue eyes. Unlike her husband, she sported black fur. The two children trailing after her, one gray like the Baron, the other brownish. They eyed her. Sniffing, the Baroness bowed somewhat reluctantly, "It is… nice to see you, princess." She glanced back and prodded her daughter.

The brown wolf curtsied as reluctantly as her mother, but the white wolf, the son, bowed eagerly without ripping his eyes from her. Stuttering, he lisped, "H-hello, p-princess."
Alice smiled, "Hello."

The white wolf scuffed his shoe shyly.

Suddenly, March appeared at Alice's side with a broad pointy grin, "Hello, wolf boy. Remember me?"

The white wolf stared at March, shivering as he gasped in horror.

Addifore stepped between them and growled, "March, stop scaring my son!"

Shrugging, March opened his mouth, showing long strings of saliva that spanned between his teeth, "Mmm… okay… I just came to tell Alice that-"

Red gloved hands clamped onto Alice's shoulders, accompanied by a soft voice, "I'm here."

Alice whirled around, "Hatter!"

Crimson velvet rounded Hatter's body in the most stunning costume she'd seen yet. A straight red overcoat overlaid a white ruffled shirt, the coat connecting to the weighted decorated cape behind him. Both were decorated with inlaid swirls. His blood-colored pants, embroidered with gold on the sides, collided with knee high black boots that seemed more warlike than mystical, as the other costumes counted on giving the aura out.

Alice followed the crimson up.

A red cavalier hat, feathered with black and crimson, sat atop his black stringy hair. Disguising the top half of his face lay a death mask, a white molded thing that scared Alice a bit. Leaning down, Hatter peered through his eye slits into Alice's eyes, his own bright and glittering, "Good evening, Alice."
Addifore looked Hatter up and down with a raised eyebrow, "You've really outdone yourself, Hatter. The hat's magnificent! Did you make it yourself?"

"Yes…" Glancing at Addifore, Hatter grinned, "Why do you ask?"

"Mind if I send in an order?"

"Yes, actually, I do." Hatter's eyes narrowed.

Bowing his head, Addifore murmured, "My apologies, sir. No offense was meant."

Hatter placed a hand on Alice's shoulder and pulled her back against him as he turned, "None taken, Baron. Now, if you excuse us…" He walked away from Addifore, pushing Alice in front of him.

Behind them, March remarked, "Don't mind him, Addifore. He's been looking forward to today since he knew about it."

Alice gazed up at Hatter's smile, "I do like your costume."

Turning towards her, Hatter bowed deeply, a grinning skeleton to the fairy princess, "Same to you, but yours is much more than what I could ever make."

Alice stared at him, paused, and gaped, "You made that whole thing?"

"Yes. Clothes aren't much different than hats." his hand strayed up to finger the edge of his hat, Hatter sighed, "Still… I have grown rather rusty… It took me a while longer than expected to remake the hat." He glanced around, his mood cheering up, "Now… they'll start the dances soon, they'll have the banquet, and then back for more dancing. You still… want to dance, right?" His eyes pleaded with Alice.

"Yes, yes! But I only know the waltz, the tango, and the minuet."

Hatter clasped her hand tightly, his smile pointed and somewhat hungry, "Than I'll have you for those! But we still have a good ten minutes before the music starts."

"Ahem."

Both Alice and Hatter turned around to see the Gryphon pushing on some eyeglasses before bowing to the princess, "Hello, Princess Alice. I see you've already got a companion." Straightening, he coughed, "My friend the Mock Turtle would like to see you, Alice… if you don't mind."

Alice clapped her hands, "Yes, of course!"

Obviously angry that his time with Alice now lay interrupted, Hatter grudgingly let her pull away with a silent growl, glaring at the smirking Gryphon.

The Mock Turtle sat in the corner, moping in depression. His eyes seemed ready to burst forth in tears at any time, watering dully in the shadows around him. Sighing as Alice and the Gryphon neared, he moaned, "Oh, Gryphon, thank you for bringing the princess over… I am not worthy though…" He clapped his hands over his eyes, quiet sob racking through his body.

Alice stared in confusion as the Gryphon clapped his friend on the back, "She wants to see you, old mate! Tell her one of your stories!"

At the word 'story', Alice's interest perked even more, "A story? Oh, I'd love to hear a story!"

"Hear her, Mock? She'd love to hear a story!"

Uncupping his hands from his face, the Mock Turtle sniffled, "Really? I… guess I could." He sighed, "Take a seat then."

Alice and Gryphon sat down on the sofa, anxiously listening.

Heaving a deep breath, the Mock Turtle began, "Let's start then with what's happened since you left the first time… Wonderland-" He trailed off as a dark shadow fell across Alice.

Jabberwocky crossed his arms and glared at the Mock Turtle suspiciously, "I hope you're not saying anything about history."

"Just saying… we're not allowed to talk about Wonderland's history…" A tear running down his cheek, the Mock Turtle frowned morosely.

The Jabberwock scowled under his mask and pulled up Alice, " Alice, I don't want you near these two. They have unnerving tendency to make everybody depressed, not to mention bursting into tears and song!"

Groaning, the Gryphon coughed, "I take it there'll be no singing tonight?"

"None." Jabberwock growled and pulled Alice away.

Across the room, Hatter grabbed a flute of champagne from a passing waiter, growling. He drained it quickly, set it back on the awed boy's tray, and stalked over to March, "Great disguise, March. No one will ever know who you are."

March pouted, "You know how uncomfortable it is to stuff my ears into a hat?"

"No."

"Then don't get sarcastic." Glancing at his side, he caressed May's arm lovingly, "You haven't met my lady tonight, have you? This is my sister May."

Hatter peered at her and smirked, "You have no taste, Lady May. Your brother will warm up to any lady that rubs his fur the right way. He's a terrible flirt."

May glared at him and hugged March happily, "He's still my Marchie."

Sighing satisfactorily, March fidgeted, "You know, I'm still her Marchie."

Hatter glanced over at Alice, who still stood under Jabberwock's imposing figure, "I'm so glad for you."

Happy, March laughed, "She won't be letting go of me for a while, you know."

"I know that you danced yourself to sleep last time. Just don't sleep on her."

March chuckled, "Dance, dance, dance… I know you're anxious to dance with Alice."

Smiling faintly, Hatter whispered, "Wish me luck." He took a deep breath and walked over to his lord and princess.

Jabberwocky eyed him, his black costume rustling as he shifted nearer to Alice, "Let me guess: Hatter?"

"Yes, and do I hear the Jabberwock under there?"

"Don't be stupid, Hatter. I'm also guessing you are here for Alice?"

Bowing his head respectfully, Hatter muttered, "Yes, milord, if she'll take me."

Alice cheerfully pranced over to Hatter's side, "Yes, of course!"

Muttering under his breath in shadowlander, Jabberwock rubbed his hands together, "Now, if you excuse me, I'm going to go tell the musicians to start and the dancing can begin!" He glanced at Alice and said in an admiring tone, "Just for you, I'll have the first dance as the minuet. Hatter, step lightly and take off the blasted cape!" Striding off, he chuckled softly.

Hatter scowled as he unhooked his cape from his shoulders, "So I weighted it for nothing?" Frowning, he tossed the cape at a passing waiter. He straightened his overcoat before stiffening, "The minuet…" Shivering, he turned slowly to gaze as Alice hungrily, "That was Lily's dance."

Alice smiled nervously, "Was it?"

Taking her hand, Hatter whispered, "It was… but now, it'll be yours."

Alice blushed in cue with the first uprising of the music.

Instantly, the talking stopped, and the masked figures took their positions, ready to start the dance. Alice glanced around just before the music began to crescendo to signal the first part of the dance to see the Jabberwock grab a lady and force her into place.

Suddenly, they began to dance, alighting on the wings of dancing freedom. Hatter basked in ecstatic satisfaction, feeling Alice's warm hands in his own. The world disappeared; all that remained was Alice.

As soon as the minuet and the ensuing tango died to a slow panting stop, Jabberwock bounded up onto the raised platform at the end of the hall and called for everybody's attention, obviously exile rated from the dancing, "Everybody! We will be having supper now and then continue the dancing afterwards!" Murmurs of assent from the dancers, a groan from Hatter, and a panting deep breath from Alice answered his announcement. Two long dances in a row had left her exhausted, but Hatter shuddered with adrenaline. In his current state, he could have danced all night.

March wandered up, sipping happily at his cider, "Wow, Hatter! You really got into it. I thought I would have to come pull you off- Hey!"

Snatching the drink from his friend, Hatter gulped it down eagerly. He grinned pointedly, "Oh, March! I feel great!"

March took his glass back and peered glumly into its empty interior, "And how does Alice feel?" He peered at Alice curiously.

Gasping, Alice wheezed, "I'm fine… just tired."
Strong hands clapped onto her shoulders, and she glanced up into Jabberwock's mask. Squeezing her shoulders gently, he asked, "How'd you like it so far?"

"It's really fun!"

Jabberwock glanced at Hatter's exultant grin with distrust, "Hatter… your mind's running wild."

Hatter's grin faded, "Thank you for warning me, sir."
Ignoring the sarcastic thanks, Jabberwocky tugged at Alice, "Come sit with me, Alice! Dinner's about to start."

Jabberwocky sat at the middle of a long decorated table, Alice to his right, Hatter to his left. Bored, he sloshed wine around his goblet, stared at the red liquid as everyone else ate.

Alice timidly tried a piece of some cooked shrimp from a plate set in front of her, deemed it okay, and started to eat daintily, picking out the spicy bits of pepper out of the mix. March, to her right, tucked in eagerly into some salad. On his right sat May, who also ate salad.

On Jabberwock's left, however, Hatter glared venomously at his empty dish and the platters in front of him, disgusted with the vegetables and fruits and seafood. Instead of eating, he continued to lean forward to peer around Jabberwock at Alice with longing, hungry eyes.

Finally running out of patience, Jabberwock plunked his goblet down, glared at him, and snarled, "Will you stop looking at my daughter that way?"

Hatter stiffened and then sighed, "Yes, sir."

His eyes wandering from his general's face to his empty plate, Jabberwock ordered, "Eat."

"But-"

"Eat."

Huffing, Hatter grabbed a dinner roll and bit into it angrily. Chewing before swallowing, he set it down, forced a smile, "There, I ate."

Jabberwock scowled, "I don't want you going hungry and trying to eat one of my guests, Hatter! Eat!"

Glancing around her 'father', Alice gazed at Hatter curiously.

"I can eat bread and-"

Jabberwocky slapped Hatter's hand down as he reached for more bread. He roughly grabbed Hatter's plate, heaped some shrimp, salad, and pasta onto it, and then set it before his general, "Eat that."

Hatter gazed at the food on his plate in dismay, "Is cake out of question?"

"Yes, it is. Now eat!"

Hatter stabbed at a shrimp, popped it into his mouth, chewed, and grimaced as he swallowed, "Horrible!"

Jabberwock smiled grimly, "Eat it."

On the other side, Alice turned to March and asked, "Doesn't Hatter like any regular food?"

"Bread, cake, and meat." March looked up from his plate with a salad leaf disappearing into his mouth, "That's about it. But he likes blood the best."
Glancing back, Alice yelped when she came face to face with Jabberwocky, who grinned, "Do you like your food, Alice?"

"Yes."

Jabberwock smiled, "Good. Now, just to tell you, the next few dances are going to be ones you don't know, so find someone to talk with."
Sighing, Alice saw Hatter peer around Jabberwock once more, eyes pleading that he be that someone. She smiled at him, "Okay…"

Jabberwock's eyes flashed as he whirled around, "Hatter! I swear, if you don't start eating this instant, I'm going to shove that food down your throat!"

"Okay, okay! I'm eating, I'm eating!" Hatter began to wolf down the food on his plate, face turning paler with each bite.

As soon as the banquet finished, Jabberwock wandered away from Alice to solicit a dance from one of his younger female guests. Alice watched as he grabbed a young countess with a whispered command. Paling, the countess let her King lead her out onto the floor.

A hand clapped onto her shoulder and Alice jumped, startled, as Hatter muttered, "Come with me."

Turning, Alice gazed at him curiously, "Where are we going?"

"Just come." Hatter tugged at her hand anxiously.

Complying, Alice let him lead her out of the main hall and, crossing a narrow hallway, into a large garden, the garden she had first met the Gryphon in. Above them, the dark night sky shone with the moon and stars, illuminating the fresh fallen snow. Alice squealed in delight at the beautiful snow-covered forms of trees and frozen fountains and broke away from Hatter, running forward. The light played on her white, sparkling wings, setting them aglow, "It's so pretty."
Hatter watched her in longing awe, taking an involuntary step forward. She was beautiful, a masterpiece…

Whirling around, Alice saw his stare and asked, "Don't you think it's pretty?"

Hatter regained his thoughts, smiled, and slowly strolled up to her, "Yes… it is beautiful… We can sit down over there." He motioned to a bench surrounded by a small grove of bare trees.

Dress flaring out behind her, Alice pranced over to a carved stone bench and sat happily, "Come and sit with me!"

In a second, Hatter sat next to her, shivering not in the cold but in happy anxiety.

"So… Hatter…" Alice paused, then continued, smoothing out her dress, "Did I dance well?"

"Oh yes! You were lovely!"

Smiling, Alice beamed up at him, "Really?"

Hatter gazed down at her, staring into that brilliant smile. Baring his teeth, he reached up, caught her head in his hands, and pressed his lips against her lips, moaning happily.

Surprised, Alice froze as he deepened the kiss, but her surprise gave way to panic. She pushed him away, eyes wide.

Hatter clutched her closer, groaning, "No… Alice…"

Leaping up, Alice ripped away from his hold and squeaked angrily, "How dare you?" She turned to stomp away.

Next moment, Hatter stood in front of her. Grinning, teeth all bared in their threatening pointed glory, he hissed, "Another kiss… It's just another kiss…"

Alice stepped back, eyes widening, "No! No kisses!"

Hatter caught her and pressed close, "Why not?" His voice grated, "Why not? We are to get betrothed, no? A kiss is nothing."

Alice stared at his hurt and longing eyes, his sharp bared teeth, and shivered, "I… I don't know."

Hatter stiffened, and then moaned, " Alice…"

"Please, just get off me!"

Hatter slowly backed away, tears brimming in his eyes. Suddenly overcome with horrible guilt, he sobbed, "I'm-I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!"

Alice stared at him as he slid to the ground, crying, "H-Hatter?" Her heart raced. She gazed down in stupefaction at the morbidly depressed Hatter.

Hatter's hot tears plinked against the ground, "I... I'm sorry… I'm sorry…"

Hearing a crunch of snow behind her, Alice spun to see March strolling up with two glasses in his hands, "Ah… so you did reject him… thought you would." He set the glasses down and reached into his pocket.

Hatter's breath came short and raspy, his pupils rapidly dilating.

"Now, now, Hatter. No need to go insane right now." March dug out a vial of red liquid. Uncorking it, he poured it into one of the wines and grabbed it up. Crossing over to Hatter, he held it up to Hatter's mouth, "Drink this, Hats."

As Hatter gulped it down, Alice shivered and asked, "What are you giving him?"
"An extract of silvanrod flowers. For the first thing, it'll get him dopey enough so that he can't go insane, and, second, it'll make your rejection disappear from his mind. He won't be able to remember a thing from tonight."

Sighing, Hatter slumped against March, eyes flickering, "I'm… sorry… uh…" His voice trailed off.

Smiling faintly, March pulled the dozing Hatter up, "He's asleep… that's good. See, I know him too well. I just knew something would set off his insanity tonight. But now that that's all over with," he laid Hatter out on the bench and shouted into his sleeping comrade's ear, "YOU CAN'T DO THAT TO ALICE!"

Hatter dozed on, oblivious.

Alice stepped over and poked Hatter in the chest, "So you can predict his craziness?"

"No, but I can guess. I wouldn't do that. He can still sleepwalk, you know. No use tempting him with a tasty hand."

Alice retracted her hand, sighed, "So he won't remember anything?"

Shrugging, March explained, "Uncooked silvanrod cancels memory up to twenty-four hours. He won't remember anything."

"And you count on me not knowing what he is forgetting? You think that'll save him, March?"

March and Alice jerked around to see Jabberwocky watching them, arms crossed, face furious. He stalked forward, drawing a sheathed dagger from under his waistcoat, "I watched you two, Alice. I wanted to see how far he dared to go." He yanked the long skinny dagger out of its leather case and inspected it grimly, "I have to kill him though. He's become too much of a threat to you."

Alice jumped forward, horrified, "No! You can't!"

Joining her, March argued, "Sir, it was an insanity attack! He had no-"

"HE HAD CONTROL! He had control over himself and my daughter!" roared Jabberwock furiously, "And if you don't get out of the way, March, I'll kill you too!"

Alice crossed her arms stubbornly, "No. You're not going to kill him."
Snarling, Jabberwocky hissed, "He was about to violate you, Alice! How far will he go the next time?"

March sniffed, "Hatter wouldn't do that! All he wanted was a kiss."

"SHUT UP!"

Straightening, Alice spat, "I won't let you!"

Jabberwock glared at her, "And what are you willing to do about it?"

"Huh?"

"What would you do?" Jabberwocky took a threatening step forward.

Alice blocked him and huffed, "Anything!"

Eyes glittering, Jabberwock pressed the knife against her neck, "Would you die for him?"

Alice stiffened and glared defiantly up at him, letting her gaze reply for her.

Jabberwock's eye twitched, and he raised his lip to snarl. The dagger traced down to her collarbone, lingered there, then raised back up to her pulsing jugular. Dark emotions showed in his eye, but they clouded over as he fought with his thoughts. Finally, he smirked and withdrew the weapon, "Fine then, Alice… I won't kill him… but if he ever does it again, I will!"

Alice burst into tears, the fear that took hold inside her too much. She shoved past Jabberwocky, sobbing, and ran back into the fortress.

Jabberwocky gazed after her, eyes soft, " Alice?"

No answer came.

Growling, Jabberwocky glared at March and the sleeping Hatter, "Don't ever let that happen again!"

"Yes, sir."

"And don't let him sleep-walk!"

"…Yes… sire…"

Alice wandered back to Jabberwock's quarters and into her room, sniffling, What a horrible night! She couldn't believe that Jabberwock had actually held a dagger to her throat! Sighing, she plunked down on the bed. Stupid Jabberwock! Stupid Hatter! She laid back, sinking into a pillow. Stupid…

Hearing the main door open slowly, she turned from the door just before it opened.

" Alice?" A pressure pressed down on the bed next to her as Jabberwocky sat, "Are you okay?"

Alice fumed, "Go away."

" Alice… there's still the masquerade. Come with me." A hand rested on her shoulder.

Pulling away from his hand, Alice sank into a moody silence.

Jabberwock sighed, "Did I overreact?"

Angry, Alice glared at him, "You were going to kill Hatter! And you put a knife to my throat! What do you think?"

"I overreacted." Sighing, Jabberwocky dragged his claws against one of her decorative cloth wings, "Though I would have enjoyed killing him… I would have all right in the Shadowlands to do that."

"You're not in the Shadowlands."

Jabberwock bit his lip, "I guess you're right about that. I'm just used to harsher laws."

Pouting, Alice sat up, "But why did you threatened to cut me?"

"Oh…" Jabberwock caught hold of her and embraced her warmly, "Just to see if you meant it."

"Never do it again!"

Smiling, Jabberwocky crooned, "Why would I do it again? You're my daughter."