Authors Note: Thanks for the review and author alerts and story alerts and. . . .-scratches head- To tell you the truth, I was surprised to see as many author alerts and stuff. I'm happy that you guys are enjoying me stories! So thank you! -bows- Enjoy the new chapter. Sorry it took me so long to type up. . .I needed some insperation so I listened to the macarena and tried not to kill the world. I really, really hate that song. Anyways, please read and review!
5. Darkness
"Alice! Alice! Wake up! Uncle Hatter said you should get up now!" little voices chimed.
Alice opened her eyes to find herself surrounded by little brown rabbits. They all jumped up and down and cheered when she sat up, rubbing her eyes.
"What time is it?" She asked.
The rabbits giggled.
"Time? We don't have a time system here!" One little rabbit said.
"Yeah, Alice. Remember, the Queen, a long, long time ago, accused some guy or murdering time!" Another said.
"Didn't she accuse the Hatter?" Alice asked, remembering the story book.
"No, it wasn't the Hatter. It was someone else. He's dead now." A third rabbit chimed in.
Alice just nodded, accepting all of it. She supposed it made sense. The Mad Hatter's and Red Queen's brief romance would have been a little possible if she had accused him of murdering time. And, from what she had heard of the Mad Hatter deep and lulling voice, if he couldn't sing, it was because the evil witch from the Little Mermaid stole it.
"Breakfast!" The rabbits chimed, breaking her thoughts. "He said he was making you pancakes!"
Alice felt her mouth start to water. "Why didn't you say so! Let's go!" She said, throwing the sheets back and jumping out of the bed.
One by one, just watched the little rabbits jump down. Once she was sure they all made it down okay, or didn't need her help, she walked slowly toward the door. She didn't want to step on one of the little ones.
She would cry for a year if she grazed them with her foot, she just knew it.
As they made their way down the stairs, the little rabbits chatted about how the Mad Hatter wanted them all to take a walk today. They were excited since they didn't get to go outside much. Their mother didn't like it.
As they neared the bottom, she looked up to see the Mad Hatter waiting, smiling at her.
She felt her heart skip a beat as she took in the fact he was wearing a pair of his leather pants, and nothing else.
"Good morning Alice." He told her, brushing his lips over hers when she had at last reached the bottom.
"Ew!" the little rabbits teased, jumping around them.
The Mad Hatter mocked growled at them and picked up one of them.
"I'll show you!" he said, kissing the little rabbit on the head.
The little rabbits gave mock screams of fright, and when he sat it down, the little rabbit withered about like it were dying.
Alice laughed and tickled it's little stomach.
The Mad Hatter kneeled down and said to the little rabbits, "I've left your special breakfast in the living room. We'll eat in the kitchen. See you in twenty minutes?"
The little rabbits cheered and took off.
Alice raised an eyebrow at the Mad Hatter but he gave her a little grin and motioned her toward the kitchen.
Briefly, she wondered if he was crazy enough to poison the little rabbits, and wanted to go check up on them.
"What is their special breakfast, exactly?" She asked.
"Oh, just something that they like having from time to time. I'm sure you have noticed that they aren't like a rabbit from your world. They will age as slow as a human babe would. At the age of twenty-one, they will be considered adults. They can't wait to reach adult hood, I'm sure. They will be something amazing."
"Okay. That's was an amazing bit of knowledge that yet somehow didn't tell me anything." Alice snorted, sitting at the table as he directed her too.
The Mad Hatter laughed softly and sat a plate full of pancakes and thick fried ham in front of her. She felt her stomach rumble at the sight of the most beautiful breakfast she had ever seen. Well, most delicious looking, at least.
The Mad Hatter sat a glass of milk in front of her, and a small pitcher of syrup in front of her as well.
"It looks so good!" She told him, taking the syrup and pouring it over everything.
"Thank you." He answered in kind, sitting down. He just drank a cup of coffee.
"Aren't you going to eat?" Alice asked suddenly, wondering if he didn't have enough food to actually feed the both of them. Had he run out of money throwing all those parties for the Red Queen, buying things to make her clothes and such?
"I never eat in the morning, really. A cup of tea or coffee is all I need." He answered softly, finishing the coffee.
"I don't ever recall you drinking coffee before." Alice said softly.
"I only drink it if I didn't sleep well the night before. Helps me wake up." He said, "And we have a long day ahead of us I'm afraid."
Alice felt her face flame. "Did I keep you up or something? Did I hog the bed, snore, or. . .?"
The Mad Hatter grinned suddenly, and said, "Oh, yes you kept me up, but not in the way you are thinking, my dear. I found that as long as I was lying next to you, I wasn't going to be falling asleep anytime during the night. I went downstairs and slept on a cot I keep down there."
Alice felt her face flame even more. The man didn't seem to have a filter between his brain and mouth, or maybe he did. . .It just gave up long ago.
"A walk to where?" She asked, trying to change the subject.
He grinned as he looked her in the eye, aware of what she was doing and said, "No where special, I'm afraid. Just back to the gardens. I wanted to take you a little deeper into there, I'm afraid we didn't get to explore all the garden has to offer. Not to mention, the children don't get to go outside much. I'm rather afraid if it wasn't for my reputation, I wouldn't be afraid to sway their mother into letting me take them out."
Alice shook her head. "With your reputation, I'm sure if you wanted to do anything, everyone would do their best to help you, or get the hell out of your way."
She continued eating and became suddenly aware that he was staring at her, a frown marring his beautiful face. She wiped her mouth and looked back, waiting.
He opened his mouth, as if to say something, but little cries cut him off.
Alice stood up abruptly and moved to go to the living room, but the Mad Hatter stood in her way, blocking her from any access. "They're fine. Finish your breakfast Alice."
"But they sounded like they were in pain!" Alice snarled at him. "Let me through!"
He shook his head and wrapped his arms around her, locking her in place. "If you won't eat, then I'll just have to keep you in here by force. You cannot go into there Alice."
Alice glared up at him.
He rocked her back and forth slowly, humming.
Against her will, her body began to relax, and she wrapped her arms about him, swaying with him.
Time passed slowly, and finally, somebody pulled on her shirt tail.
She looked down to see a little girl. She blinked slowly at the child, then freaked out.
"It's us Alice!" the little girl chimed.
Alice pulled out of the Mad Hatters arms to see the little boys and girls sitting around, each dressed in little brown jumpers with white shirts. Their hair was different shades of brown, their eyes ranging from blue, green, brown, hazel, and one was red. That little boy with red eyes grinned at her.
"Jacob." the Mad Hatter warned, his gaze landing on the little boy. "No mischief out of you boy."
The boy grinned again before crossing his finger over his heart in an x.
"Jacob doesn't talk really. Sometimes he'll say something with his siblings, but on his own, not a word." He told her, "But that doesn't stop him from being naughty."
Alice nodded, dumbfounded.
"I give them a potion to help them change into their human forms. They haven't mastered it yet, so they have no control over their changes. As they get older, they'll get the hang of it. But they don't like people seeing them change. It's weird for them, and its weird to watch. So, nobody sees, understand?" He asked.
Alice nodded and said, "A simple explanation would have done wonders."
He grinned at her and touched her nose gently. "But its so much more fun to leave you wondering." Leaning forward, he whispered in her ear, "And you're a real turn on when you get angry. That passion. . ."
"Outside!" The bunny -children chanted, dancing around them.
"Let Alice get dressed first." The Mad Hatter said, taking her hand. "We're going up to the closet. I want you guys to do a little practice getting used to your bodies. Remember, you can still run fast, but you can't jump all that high in your human forms yet."
As the children walked about and some chased each other, the Mad Hatter lead her up to 'her closet.' He shut the door behind them when he entered and leaned against it. His grin was absolutely wicked as he ran his eyes over the shirt she was wearing.
"I believe you are wearing my favorite shirt." He teased, stalking toward her slowly.
Alice swallowed as he towered over her, his hands touching her shoulders, and then sliding down slowly until he got to the tails of the shirt. He pulled it off of her quickly, but before Alice had time to protest, he was kissing her, lifting her body from the floor.
He held her at ill ease as he always did, while he kissed her enough to make her head spin.
He pulled away slightly, his breathing heavy and his eyes black.
"The children. . ." She said weakly.
He rested his forehead against hers and sighed. She inhaled his breath and wished they did have time. . .
"Tonight. . .Can I taste you again tonight Alice?" He murmured. "I would like to do that so much."
She swallowed and nodded, her tongue feeling thick in her mouth. She wanted to have a little go at oral sex again too. More importantly, she wanted to really be able to taste him, without him pulling her away.
He sat her down slowly, letting her body slide against his. He let her feel his erection, his blatant want for her.
He held her gaze for moments longer before he slowly moved around her and to a large rack of clothing. He went through them slowly and then pulled out a crimson shirt made of silk. He tossed it to her and she slipped it on, not worrying about a bra. When he tossed her a pair of high waist pants, she pulled them on too. Then, he turned with a long jacket over one arm. He walked over and tucked her shirt down into her pants then helped her put on the jacket. He buttoned the only button on it and stood back. His eyes scanned her for a moment before he walked to the other side of the room and pulled out a pair of knee high boots with low heels.
He came back and kneeled before her. He lifted her left leg and slipped it into the soft leather. His hands worked quickly as he buckled the boots up. He did the same to her right. After that, he lead her over to a vanity table and sat her down in front of it. He pulled out a make-up case and opened it. He went through the contents quickly and pulled out a few brushes and jars of things.
"Close your eyes." He instructed.
Alice did, and he set to work quickly. She barely felt the brush strokes as he applied make-up to her eyes.
She held as still as possible, and then he was messing with her hair.
When he finally told her to open her eyes, she blinked in surprise.
Her eye shadow was a dark crimson to match her shirt, and he had applied black on her upper eye lid. More surprising was the small designs like vines she could make out in the dark red. He had left her lips alone, seeing as they were red from his kisses.
Her hair was curled softly and a small top hat was pinned into her hair, tilted slightly to the right.
He was starring at her again with his black gaze.
"What are you thinking?" She asked.
"That I have a whip downstairs that I'm more than willing to let you use on me." His mouth lifted into a half smile. "I knew you would look sexy as a little ring master or lion tamer."
"I think most people would just assume I'm trying to tame you." She joked.
He grinned at her and walked over to his shirt he had removed form her. He pulled it on over his head and unbuttoned his pants, tucking the shirt in quickly.
Alice watched the movement hungrily.
When she glanced at his face, she felt flame scorch her own, finding that he had been watching her the entire time.
"Later. . ." He whispered, then shook his head.
He walked toward the door and motioned her to follow. She did and they were in their bedroom. He walked over to the closet and reached in to grab something.
Alice walked closer and found that all of his clothes were in this closet.
Her gaze landed on a dark gold vest.
He glanced at her, then put back the vest he had picked and touched the gold one.
"Would you like me to wear this for you?" He asked.
"Oh. . .yes."
He pulled it out and put on. Alice couldn't help but doing the buttons for him. He let her dress him, simply watching her.
He walked back to the closet and pulled out a long leather jacket and put it on. He grabbed a black silk top hat and changed the band on it for a gold one. He tucked the card into it, making sure it would stay in place, then put the hat on. He grabbed a cane from inside the closet then turned and offered his arm to her.
"I think we've let the children have enough time to learn their bodies. Shall we?"
Alice slipped her arm through his and they went down stairs. The children were all waiting for them, their eyes eager.
The Mad Hatter slowly walked toward the front door, and the small rabbits cried out their protest. The red eyed one shoved at his legs, trying to make him walk faster.
Alice laughed and walked ahead.
"Come on children." Alice said, opening the door for them. "The old man can catch up later."
"Old?" the Mad Hatter growled, lunging for her.
Alice squealed and took off running, the rabbits following her.
They ran into the garden and scattered, hiding from the Mad Hatter who chased.
Alice was surprised when she ducked behind a large tree and found the little red eyed rabbit with her.
"Shh." She whispered.
He nodded then looked behind them, a frown marring his face.
Alice frowned at that. The look was too adult for his small face.
She followed his gaze and felt all the air in her lungs leave her. Behind them was some sort of forest that she somehow felt didn't belong in the garden. It felt evil, intrusive.
Alice stood slowly, the game suddenly on the bottom of her list of important things.
She could hear the mock screams of the other little rabbits in the garden, and knew they were safe. But she and Jacob however, felt far from safe.
"The Mad Hatter doesn't know about this. . ." She whispered, fear clawing at her throat.
Ahead of her, red eyes appeared.
She barely choked back her scream and pushed Jacob behind her. She grabbed a fallen branch from off the ground in front of her and held it out, ready to defend them.
The eyes got bigger and bigger until a large head came out of the forest.
"A Cheshire?" She gasped.
The cat was huge, its head easy three feet wide. His teeth were as long as her forearm.
"Leave this place." Alice said in steady voice.
She knew she was trembling, knew the large cat could see it. . .But bravado was all she had at the moment, and he would probably use it as a tooth pick when he was done eating them.
The cat snarled and took a step toward her.
"What do we have here?" The cat hissed. "The coveted Alice? Where's the Mad Hatter? Not here to save you, is he?"
Alice kept her gaze on him, afraid to even blink.
"And a little rabbit child. . .Dessert. Delicious." the cat hissed again.
Alice drew air into her lungs and lifted the stick higher.
"Any last words?"
Alice screamed as loud as she could.
The Cheshire Cat she knew and loved appeared beside her and as he engaged the feral Cheshire who meant to hurt her, the Mad Hatter appeared.
He cursed when he seen the forest and shoved her roughly back toward the gardens snarling, "Get the children! Take them to the house and go into the basement!"
Alice shot off to do as she was told, Jacob following right behind her.
One by one, little rabbits appeared, running beside her.
She counted and was relieved to have all of them with her.
They had almost reached the gate when another feral Cheshire blocked their path.
Alice ran forward to attack.
The feral Cheshire opened its mouth to roar and Alice took the opportunity to shove her tree branch down its throat.
It snarled around the limb and bit down. The branch snapped and the cats huge teeth cut into her arm before she could fully pull it out of harms way.
The cat bit through the tree branch but couldn't dislodge the two feet that was shoved down its throat.
Alice stood there, cradling her arms, and feeling emotionless as the large cat died at her feet, instinct making it panic to get them limb out. The cat died without hurting another one of them.
Alice made sure the cat was fully dead before she climbed over it.
She began helping the children and yelled for them to run to the house.
She had only two children left when the little girl rabbit turned back into her bunny form. She pulled the boy over and began to climb over the cat to get to the bunny before anything happened to it. It was to small to climb over the large cat.
She was almost there when a large feral Cheshire ran out and snapped the rabbit up and was gone.
Alice stared at the spot the rabbit had been only moments ago before she began screaming. She cried and screamed until the Mad Hatter and Cheshire Cat came for her and dragged her home.
"What's wrong Alice? Is it your arm?" The Mad Hatter asked, running them to the house.
But once they got through the door, he froze as he looked at the children.
"Where's Susan?" He whispered.
The little rabbits turned their eyes to Alice who was still crying, almost unable to breath.
"Children. . .Go back to your mother. I'll be down to talk later. If she asks where Susan is, you tell her I'll explain to her later. Don't say anything, okay?" the Mad Hatter ordered.
All the little rabbits left, save for Jacob.
He stared at Alice and the Mad Hatter for a moment then said, "I see visions like my daddy. I always see two paths. It's always based on decisions. As we were running, I had the vision. If I didn't look behind me. . .Alice would have died, me too. If I looked though, Alice would look, and she would save everyone but one. . .I didn't know who would die, but I know Alice is important. . .My visions tell me so."
The little rabbit gave a small smile, his face all to adult again, and left.
Alice drew in a breath and tried to expel the fear that had griped her as the little rabbit talked. Too young. He was too young for this.
"Alice, baby, tell us what happened." the Mad Hatter said gently.
It was only then that she saw the Cheshire Cat standing there, his expression that of being totally pissed off, to put it mildly.
Alice told the story slowly, and had to stop a few times when her voice broke. As she got to the end, where the little rabbit had lost her life, she broke down again.
"In the real world, Alice's father has just had to identify his own daughters body. I bet this somehow caused a shift in Wonderland. His feelings, his pain. Without meaning to, Alice's father let the feral Cheshire clan out of their pit. But they won't be coming back out for a while. I have to make sure that they go back to where they belong. I'll talk to you later Mad Hatter." The Cheshire Cat said.
The Mad Hatter took Alice up to the bedroom and laid her on the bed. He ripped the jacket from her body and the shirt and immediately began to tend to her arm,
His face was angered as he pulled out some needle and thread.
Alice swallowed hard and screwed her eyes shut.
"I'm going to sew you up now Alice. I'll be as quick as I can. Just breath through the pain baby." He told her.
She nodded.
- - - - - - - - - - - -
Mad Hatter made his way down into the basement, and then through the tunnels that ran underneath his property.
After about fifteen minutes of walking, he came upon the den of the rabbits.
The children were off somewhere, probably sleep or grieving together.
Ahead of them though, was the mother of the children. She wasn't a rabbit.
Princess Elaine was beautiful. More so then the Queen herself. But the Queen had been jealous of her sister long ago, and tried to have her killed.
The March Hare and he helped her, and then she had fallen in love with the March Hare. It was only about ten years ago though that they had married and then had children.
Now, the Princess looked pale though. . .Her eyes glassy.
"Susan?" She asked, her voice slightly hoarse.
The Mad Hatter dropped to one knee before her and lowered his head.
"She reverted back to her rabbit form. Before Alice could get to her, a feral Cheshire got her. They had attacked us all." He told her softly.
"Bet you were too busy trying to save Alice to worry about my children though, weren't you?" the Princess snapped at him.
The Mad Hatter looked at her and in a flat tone said, "I know you are in pain right now Princess, but I must remind you of your tone. Who is it that keeps you alive, feeds you, clothes you, and overall makes sure you have your health. . .Who helps you with your children? Was I too busy protecting Alice? No, I was busy protecting all of them. The Cheshire Cat and I were pushing them back. One or two must have went around. I'm sorry about Susan. I really am. But life is life. You have your other children."
He stood and gazed coldly at the Princess who stood before him regally, trying to hold onto what little honor she had left.
"Jacob has the gift of vision, like the March Hare did." He told her simply.
He turned and left, wanting to get back to Alice.
She wouldn't want to perform any type of sexual act, he knew. But she would love to be held, that he did know.
