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She walked the halls of the palace, smirking as she saw people shrink away from her, hurrying into other corridors. These people were so easily frightened, like little children. There was nothing particularly threatening about her – a woman of slightly above-average height, fair skin, and deep brown hair. Well, perhaps her eyes were a bit unnerving, but that was hardly her fault. But this level of control over people – this was real power. Not the kind that fool Heart seemed to believe he had. No, what she possessed was far deeper. The people of Wonderland were completely under her thumb.

But she deserved this after what she had endured. The woman unconsciously began cycling through her memories. A 13 year-old girl, face flushed with excitement, ran through the deserted city. She was just old enough to finally join the Resistance. Her father definitely couldn't say anything to her about it – how would it look to all his friends if he didn't let his only child follow in his footsteps? And to be trusted with a message going straight to the great library so quickly! But she was determined to make everyone proud of her. She dashed out from behind a pillar, making a beeline for more cover.

But in her hurry, she didn't notice the scarab hovering a few blocks away, or the suits across the street. She didn't realize that one had been following her movements all day. She couldn't have known that the Queen knew exactly who she was and didn't exactly approve of her actions.

They captured her without too much of a fight. She managed to get rid of the message right before they stuck her with something that made her pass out. When she woke up, she was in a cell deep in the Heart's palace. But even then, the girl didn't worry. She was certain that her father would soon realize she was missing, and then he would get the entire Resistance to come after her. Her father could never leave her here. He loved her too much.

He never came. Others did, mostly self-appointed "scientists" who would ask her questions. They wanted to know about her life. She refused to give them any details, especially when they asked how she got connected to the Resistance. The questions were annoying, but the scientists seem harmless, especially compared to the stories that she'd heard from her friends about the dungeons.

She was wrong.

After a few weeks, one of the white-coats came and took her away from her cell. He took her to a white, clean room. There was minimal furniture, just a single table in the middle of the room that was set for tea, with five places. She glanced up at the doctor nervously. He smiled reassurance towards her, and she decided to believe him. This was tea after all – perhaps he would just try to make her feel good things for a while.

"May I sit?" she asked nervously, still unsure of the situation.

"Of course, it's a private tea party, just for you, child," he smoothly replied.

She looked at the table, which had at least 5 settings. "I don't understand – are we expecting company? There are so many tea cups…."

"No, of course not! It's all for you. Now just pick a place and sit down."

The girl felt very out of place in the white chair by the white table in the white room. She was so dirty that she could hardly stand it, but she obeyed anyway. The cup in front of her was the darkest shade of green that she'd ever seen, and it smelled faintly of wood smoke. "Is this a new tea?" she asked. This was no brew she was familiar with, and her father had made her memorize them all, just in case someone tried to slip some to her.

"Yes, they all are. We think you'll really enjoy these ones."

She lifted the cup cautiously to her lips. This was the first time she would taste the queen's teas. Unfortunately, there was really nothing she could do about it. With a sigh, she tipped it back.

The first sip went down easily, but left her wanting more. In moments the cup was drained dry. She lifted it higher, searching for any last drop that had escaped her. She needed it, now. Quickly she turned to the scientist, who appeared to be making notes on a pad.

"I want more of it!" she demanded. Somewhere inside she was shocked b the harshness of her own voice, but she ignored it for the moment. "Please, I need it."

"Change places, there's more to your left." She threw herself into the next chair and downed the cup without stopping to marvel at its iridescent red color. But moments after the sweet liquid poured down her throat, she felt heat rising through her body. Within seconds she was inexplicably angry. The smug man in the lab coat made her want to hit something, not that she could do any damage with her weak body. But that wouldn't stop her from lunging at him nonetheless. He saw the look on her face and allowed himself a satisfied smirk.

"Change places, before you do something you'll regret"

As angry as she was at the man, she wanted more tea. This cup was perfectly clear, with no discernable scent. As she drank she could feel the fire of anger burning away, to be replaced by nothing at all. At least, she thought it was nothing, until the dread began building up, slowly but relentlessly. The walls seemed to be shrinking around her, the man behind her somehow menacing now. Within seconds her skin began crawling, her throat seizing up with panic. Her own heartbeat was ringing through her head.

"Child, are you frightened?"

She replied in a wimper.

"Then change places."

She did as she was told, if only because she was terrified of how he might react if she disobeyed. This cup was a dull grey. She drank, the fear subsided, leaving sorrow in its places. Tears became sobs, leaving her curled in her chair before the empty cups. How could she have been left here? How could her father abandon her? Did no one care? She gasped, unable to catch her breath. The girl just wanted to end.

"I promise, one more cup and it will be all over."

She couldn't even stand. The scientist picked up the cup and pressed it to her mouth. The black, sweet liquid poured down her throat, erasing all sadness as it burned its way to her stomach. The man noticed the change immediately, and sprang away from the table. Immediately several armed guards charged into the room and restrained the girl, who was attempting to attack the man in the white coat, screaming incoherently. She hated him, wanted him dead, wanted them all dead. They did this to her – the scientists, the guards, the queen, her father, the Resistance – this was her last thought before she blacked out.

Donia's eyes flickered opened as she dispelled the last of the memory. They'd continued trying to new teas, the dark teas as they called them, on her, in different combinations for the next seven years. They wanted to test the limits of what the body could handle. They wanted knowledge. What they forgot is that when you push someone to the edge, they will often fall over without you noticing.

Some of the damage she'd been able to control. She managed to push a few of the emotions out of her system for good. But the hatred stuck, mostly because she wanted it to. She'd held onto the hatred as a means of survival – when her splintered mind could handle no more emotions, the hate would push them all out. She'd had to lose most of who she was to stay alive, but the sacrifice had been necessary. She had paid the price to live.

Now everyone else would pay as well.

Slightly shorter chapter, but I'm going to try to update by Sunday night! Promise I'll be back to Hatter, Alice and the whole gang next time, but this part is important. More soon!