Authors Note: Hey guys, sorry it's been a little while. . .Or at least, longer then I meant to go without updating. I've been working on some real life stuff I hoped to get published. Anyways, heads up: RAPE in this chapter. If it bothers you, I would only read about halfway into the chapter and just pretend the world is right and okay. Please review. ^_^ - DarkMage6

7. The Cold Truth

Alice opened her eyes slowly to find the Mad Hatter walking into the bedroom, fully dressed.

"Did you go somewhere?" She asked, sitting up slowly.

"I had to visit an old friend. She wants to meet you." The Mad Hatter said, leaning his cane against the wall.

"She?" Alice asked, blinking at him.

"Yes, the Caterpillar. She wants to meet you and for us to meet her fiancée." He told her, shrugging out of his leather coat. He threw the coat onto the floor and his vest and shirt followed. He approached her wearing those low slung leather pants and nothing but naked lust in his eyes.

He bent down and kissed her neck, his hands pulling the blanket away from her body.

"Again?" She asked, shocked.

"Oh, I can never get enough of you." He murmured, sitting on the bed and pulling her into his lap. "Want me to show you?"

-- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The Cheshire Cat knelt before the Queen and kept his gaze on the floor.

"You showed her his garden?" The Queen asked.

"Yes." He replied.

"You pointed out the body of her step-mother?" The Queen asked sharply.

"Yes I did. I even made sure to point out that her step-mother took the place of honor in his little garden." He said through gritted teeth.

"Why did I even bother wasting the energy to bring that woman here if she doesn't care? How are we going to get that girl away from the mad man?" The Queen yelled.

The Cheshire Cat hissed his breath out and glared up at the Queen. "She won't leave him, so you should just find a new heir."

The Queen slapped him aside and walked toward the door of the throne room to leave. "Alice is my heir. She will rise to be Queen, and she will leave that mad man behind. He will not hurt her, so she can rule without having to fear the Mad Hatter."

The Cheshire Cat snarled at the doors as they closed and then licked the small amount of blood at the corner of his mouth. His smile was vicious as he stood up and disappeared.

-- -- -- --

The Cheshire Cat appeared in the basement of the Mad Hatter's house and walked down the tunnels until he reached the person he was looking for.

Princess Elaine stood when she seen him enter the room.

The Cheshire Cat immediately dropped to his knees before her and placed a fist on the ground.

"My Princess." He murmured.

Princess Elaine rushed to him and fell down, hugging him.

"My daughter. . ." The Princess whimpered.

The Cheshire Cat held her and rocked slowly. "I know Princess. I'm sorry. We were fighting as hard as we could to save them all. But we had to fight off the made pack of them and leave Alice to save the kids. She killed a feral Cheshire to save those kids and she nearly went psycho when she lost Susan. She hurts with you Princess."

"She doesn't know the hurt of losing a child." Princess Elaine sobbed.

"No, but she knows failure like a warrior knows failure. And it hurts her bad." The Cheshire told her.

Princess Elaine nodded. "I'm glad you came to see me."

The Cheshire Cat squeezed her. "I always think of you Princess. You are the last of my friends. I can't lose you like I'm losing everyone else."

Princess Elaine nodded.

"I bring news of your sister. I think. . .I think she needs to step down. Princess, if I remove your sister from the throne, would you take her place?" He asked.

"Cheshire Cat, you know that I cannot take the throne. Though the March Hare and I did marry, the marriage was not approved by courts. It's null and void as far as they're concerned; I have children out of wedlock. Alice has been named heir, and I am believed dead. My name is mud in the courts."

The Cheshire Cat hung his head and rested it on her shoulder.

"I'm sorry Princess." He told her.

"It's okay Cheshire. I'm okay with my life here. I'm more of a person than I ever would have been if I had stayed in the courts. I appreciate all you do though." She told him, patting his back.

They parted and the Cheshire Cat helped her stand.

"You were always the most loyal of my guards." She told him.

The Cheshire Cat hung and head and bared his teeth at the floor.

If she only knew. . . . .

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Alice was dancing around in 'her closet', keeping just out of the Mad Hatter's reach.

"Alice." He growled, trying to grab her again.

Alice laughed and spun away, his fingers barely brushing her.

He growled and tried again, missing her.

"Come on," She teased. "You can't catch little old me?"

He lunged and managed to catch her around the waist. He held a garment in front of her. "I don't mind you running around naked within our home. But I want to be presentable to the kids and their mother. You should be dressed to meet her."

Alice pouted and the Mad Hatter smirked and kissed the corner of her mouth.

"Come on baby. I'll reward you later." He whispered in her ear.

"Reward?" Alice asked. "Do I really have to work at a reward?"

The Mad Hatter sighed and murmured, "Please get dressed. . .Otherwise we'll never leave the house or visit anyone ever. . ."

Alice sighed and lifted her arms up. The Mad Hatter quickly slid the dress over her head. Once he settled it in place, he began lacing up the front in firm pulls. By the time the long midnight blue dress was all laced up, Alice found a flattering figure on herself.

"You look beautiful." the Mad Hatter told her kneeling down before her. He slid her feet into some soft black leather shoes.

He stayed knelt before her, love and total adoration shinning in his eyes.

Alice swallowed and looked around the room, still uncomfortable in that aspect of their relationship. "What are you going to wear?" Alice asked, grasping at straws.

The Mad Hatter cocked his head to the side and looked thoughtful. "Maybe I'll go naked."

Alice slapped his shoulder and he was quick to grab her hand and place a kiss in her palm.

He jumped to his feet and motioned her to follow him.

In his closet he pulled out a black leather vest with small sapphires sewn in. He showed it to her with a shrug. "Should we match?"

Alice grinned. "What would the people of Wonderland think if they heard you say such a thing? I can see it now, 'What? The Mad Hatter wanted to match what Alice was wearing? Horrifying! Evil man!'"

The Mad Hatter frowned at her, not finding humor in her words.

"No then?"

Alice stopped her giggles and glared at him. "Wear it."

He held his hands up in mock defense before pulling out a black silk shirt to wear beneath the vest and a long black silk jacket.

The jacket went to her, and was for her, it seemed. It fit perfectly over the dress.

After that, he dressed quickly in his own clothes and put on his top hat. He led her down the stairs and into the basement stairs that wound down.

Alice couldn't help but shiver when they passed the doorway of his workshop.

Further down they went still until they stood on soft dirt.

The Mad Hatter led the way and soon Alice could hear voices. They didn't belong to the children however.

The Cheshire Cat was kneeling before a beautiful woman who held a striking resemblance to the Queen of Hearts. She stood proud and regally, even though her clothes spoke of her financial status. Her hair was pulled away from her face and in a tight bun. She wore no make-up, and she looked tired.

"Cheshire." The Mad Hatter greeted.

The Cheshire Cat glared at the Mad Hatter before grinning at Alice. "Hey hot stuff, how's it been going?" He gave a sniff of the air and smirked at her.

Alice felt her face burn, and the Mad Hatter hissed a low warning for the Cheshire Cat to be silent.

While the two men stood off, the woman looked down her nose at Alice for a few moments. Alice shifted uncomfortable and waited for something to happen.

"Alice." The Mad Hatter said, deciding to ignore the Cheshire Cat. "This is Princess Elaine, again." He grinned teasingly at her. "She is the older sister of the Queen of Hearts. We've been hiding her here and from the Queen for many, many years. She is the widowed wife of the March Hare, and mother to the bunnies."

"How do you do?" Alice asked, trying for nice.

"So you really have forgotten your memories?" Elaine asked. "How nice."

The Mad Hatter growled something out in a language that Alice had never heard before. Elaine glared at him for a minute before she turned back to Alice. "Forgive my rudeness. Having just lost a child, I don't find myself a pleasant person."

Alice lowered her head and looked anywhere but at the woman then. She felt like the most horrid person on the face of the planet. She had been using the Mad Hatter and sex to forget about the screaming child-rabbit, but it only took a few small words from the mother to bring it all back.

At that moment, she didn't want to be anywhere near Elaine.

The Mad Hatter growled some more words and Elaine just simply turned and left.

"She's not normally like this Alice. The loss of her child has made her bitter." Cheshire Cat told her.

The Mad Hatter snorted and said, "I won't sugar coat it for you Alice. She's always been a bit of a bitch. She was driven out of her home, the castle, haunted, until we gave her safety. She had a fiancée that she clung on to the hope that he would come for her, and still love her. Didn't happen. She finally gives her heart up to the March Hare, and he died. Now the child. She won't get better. But she'll get used to you."

The Cheshire Cat was looking at the Mad Hatter with a look of pure contempt. "Why don't we put all of the Princesses dirty laundry out in the open? Maybe talk about her problems conceiving and giving birth?" Every word came out with a snarl.

Alice just sighed and felt like maybe she had walked into a cock fight that had been going on for a lot longer than maybe even Mirror Alice could have remembered. . .Then again, the Cheshire Cat said that he and the Mad Hatter had been friends. So what happened there?

As the two men continued to argue, Alice choose to go back up stairs. She doubted she would have gotten to see the kids anyways. Not with the mother acting the way she was.

She had barely made it to the sitting area back up stairs when the Mad Hatter found her, swooping down on her with a bad frown.

"What?" She asked.

"Don't just walk off like that, ever." He told her.

It was Alice's turn to frown at him. "Sorry if I didn't want to stay and watch you and Cheshire Cat decide who's dick was bigger."

The Mad Hatter raised one eyebrow and said, "Such filthy language from you."

"Get used to it."

"I don't like it, so I shall not."

"I've told you that I'm not the girl you fell in love with."

"Yes you are, you have just to be molded."

"Molded? Just fucking try it buddy!"

"Language!" He snapped.

"How's this for size, FUCK YOU!" Alice snapped.

The Mad Hatter set his jaw and took off his hat, setting it on the table. Next, he took off his vest and un-tucked his shirt.

"You need to be taught a lesson Alice. Some wishes are best to be respected, and some orders best followed."

"What the hell is wrong with you! Get off your high horse and come down from whatever cloud you're on because, Buddy, you're dreaming!"

The Mad Hatter grabbed and pulled her over his lap, lifting his dress up and slapping her ass hard.

Alice yelped and glared at him.

"You'll behave." He told her.

"Fuck you." Alice spat.

He hit her again, even harder.

Tears stung Alice's eyes but she repeated her statement.

Again and again, he hit her until she was sure that her behind was blistered and possible bruised.

He sat her down roughly and said, "Think about what you've done."

He exited the room and went back down the stairs, probably to his work area.

Alice tried to wipe at the tears that were falling down her face. Yeah, part of it was her own fault, but she couldn't stand that sudden change in him. She would not stand for being treated like that. And it seemed it was a personality change that might stay.

Alice stood gingerly and walked out the front door as quietly as possible.

Outside, the Cheshire Cat stood there, looking grim.

"There's only one person that can protect you now." He told her.

"I know. Take me to the Queen." Alice told him.

The Cheshire Cat bowed to her, before stepping close and wrapping his arms around her. "I'm so sorry he hurt you." He whispered.

"Nothing you could have done." Alice told him.

The Cheshire Cat grimaced and transported them his way into the main hall of the castle. Immediately, the announcements flew about.

Alice was home.

The Queen of Hearts flew out of a door from down the hall and ran to Alice, hugging the girl.

"I knew you would come to your senses." The Queen said.

Alice just stood stiffly in the Queen's embrace.

"Your Majesty," The Cheshire Cat began, "Alice is. . .weary and would probably like some time to rest and get used to the change in her life."

"Of course!" The Queen said, releasing Alice. The Queen clapped her hands and servants ran forward, waiting for their orders. "I want Princess Alice in a room close to mine. Give her whatever she wants and get her some new clothing."

Alice followed the servants, reluctantly.

Just before she rounded the corner, she watched the Cheshire Cat whisper something to the Queen, who in return, smiled evilly and clapped her hands in glee.

Many faces passed Alice, old and young, man and woman, innocent and cruel looking and all Alice could think was one thing, 'What will the Mad Hatter do now?'

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The Mad Hatter put a hand to his throbbing temple as he stumbled down the stairs, going past his work area, and back to where the little rabbits lived.

He wasn't sure why he was so angry, but he knew that the woman who lived down there had disrespected him, and she needed to be punished too.

He stumbled down the dirt paths and tunnels until he found her, rocking in a chair and sewing.

She stood upon his entrance.

"You've had your words with me, now get out." She told him.

The Mad Hatter sneered, and said, "I am far done from you. I must punish you for your words and actions against me. You'll act like a proper lady, the way you were brought up to be."

Elaine stood still, taking small breaths.

"Mad Hatter. . .Are you well?" She asked.

"I'll be better when everyone is this household stops questioning me, back talking me, swearing at me, and just learn to mind and obey me!" The Mad Hatter snarled.

Elaine drew in a sharp breath and took two slow steps back to her medicine cabinet. Within it were some of the strongest powders and spells that you could find in Wonderland.

"I think you've been poisoned Mad Hatter." She informed him, grabbing the right powder.

He jumped at her just as she poured the powder in her hand.

She blew it right into his face.

He inhaled it and almost immediately, the change came over his face.

"What happened? Where's the Cheshire Cat and where's Alice?" He demanded.

"Mad Hatter, you were poisoned. It's a strong poison that only someone with a lot of money can afford. It changes the person into something they're not. In this case, you said you were going to punish me for what happened earlier, or even in the past. You may be a killer, but you've never hurt a woman just in anger." Elaine told him.

The Mad Hatter put a hand to his head. "Shit, I better go check on Alice."

"Mad Hatter." Elaine called, stopping him further. "My guess is that the Cheshire Cat did this to you. We had only parted way for twenty minutes when you came back. If Alice is gone, you know where to find her. Keep a straight head, and bring her back safely."

The Mad Hatter dashed up the stairs and searched high and low. He looked outside around the grounds, but Alice couldn't be found.

He screamed his rage to the heaven's, and grabbed every knife, sword, and other weapon he could find, strapping them across his chest and onto his belt. Over all of it he put on his long floor length black leather coat and grabbed his top hat. With everything in place, he set his sights on the castle.

No doubt, the Queen would send people for him, and he'd meet every one of them on the way to the castle. He would kill them all, and get Alice back.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Alice was laying on her bed when she heard the whispers of servants outside her door.

"Did you hear?" An older man was saying, "The Queen has sent out about two-thirds of her men to go and kill the Mad Hatter."

A woman gasped and said something so softly, Alice couldn't hear it.

"Oh, the only person who will be able to stop him from killing is the Princess Alice. I heard that the Queen plans on using the Princess as bait, and when the Mad Hatter lets down his guard, it will all be over, just like that."

The woman said something else.

"Oh, I imagine the Queen will have Alice killed, just like she did her older sister. With the Mad Hatter out of the way, she'll be able to sit on the throne for many more years to come."

The servants walked away, leaving Alice to her thoughts and racing heart.

"Did you know, that before everything went down with the Mad Hatter, that you and I had a relationship?"

Alice spun around the see the Cheshire Cat laying on her bed, looking up at the ceiling.

He continued by saying, "Well, we had a relationship, I should say. It was a young love type thing, really. I gave you your first kiss, and you turned away, blushing. You were so beautiful."

"Will the Queen really kill me?" Alice asked, ignoring his trip down memory lane. It wasn't her anyways.

"When I enlisted with the Queen to help after what happened with the Mad Hatter, I had to put our relationship on hold. You told me that you would wait for me. Then the Queen sent you to the Mad Hatter and I thought I had lost you forever." The Cheshire Cat murmured. "But I have a chance to have you back."

Alice screamed in frustration and flung herself onto the bed, grabbing a handful of that dark hair and bringing his head up so that there eyes were level. "Will the Queen kill me once she has disposed of the Mad Hatter?"

"Undoubtedly." The Cheshire Cat answered her.

Alice swore and jumped off the bed, pacing. "You told me I would be safe!"

"You are. I am here to protect you." He answered.

"You can't protect me from the Queen. She rules here. The only thing standing in her way from her being the most feared and powerful is the Mad Hatter. Once he's gone, its game over." Alice spat. "Thanks for bringing me here. I think I'd have rather had my ass busted again then be stuck here, listening to servants whisper about my upcoming death, and you spouting stories of a time I will never remember!"

The Cheshire Cat sat up slowly, the soft light of the sun shining over his chest. "I hated the way I had to take you away from him."

Alice stilled. "What?"

"I had to poison him. It's a horrible poison, and I hated using it, but he's so strong. I knew it was the only thing that would work on him. The darkness in him would feed the violence that comes with the drug. I watched him hit you through the window. I watched your skin start to bruise but I couldn't do anything, or he might have really hurt you."

"You're fucking crazy." Alice shrieked. "You make the Mad Hatter look totally sane!"

"I know, right?" The Cheshire Cat grinned evilly. "It's amazing what love of a person will do to you. I was so angry when the Queen sent you to him, setting up the stage for your romance. I never expected it to happen. When it did, I was in shock. I asked you to wait, and I expected you too, but you didn't. You went to another man. Kissed another man. Had sex with that man! I should have been your first, and twice now, I have lost the chance."

Alice ran for the door only to find the Cheshire Cat there, blocking it.

"I found I can tap into wild power of Wonderland and use it. It took a lot out of the place. I almost thought that Wonderland would collapse around me as I tried but I succeeded!"

"Succeeded in what?" Alice asked.

"In making that drunk driver take that route, making your boss let you off early, and switching you and Mirror Alice." He explained.

Alice gaped at him. "If you did all of that, why would you take me back to the Mad Hatter?"

"Because I was tired, and wouldn't be able to protect you from him at the time. And he would go crazy and kill and kill until he found you. So I returned you. I never dreamed that you would just jump in bed with him only after a few days." The Cheshire Cat hissed. "But it's okay. I will make you forget all about him."

The Cheshire Cat grabbed her and threw her onto the bed.

He was on top of her in an instant, ripping at her dress, until she was bare to him.

Alice screamed and cried, trying her hardest to push him off.

"Shh." The Cheshire Cat told her, "You'll like it. I know it."

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The Mad Hatter screamed in laughter as he cut down another soldier who was trying to flee from him. He was only about a fourth of the way to the castle, and he had already slain over two dozen men. Like sheep to a slaughter house, they marched toward him, and he cut them out, covering himself in their blood and sins, making himself stronger.

He knew he was close to really loosing it. So close that he might even hurt Alice when he seen her, but he hoped not.

The blood was intoxicating. The power even more so.

And he wouldn't stop until he was covered in the blood of the Red Queen.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Princess Elaine paced back and forth, trying to figure things out.

Why would the Cheshire Cat poison the Mad Hatter, a man he had always called a friend in the past. Other than there growing apart, nothing should have caused him to want to do such a thing.

The Cheshire Cat's actions had not only put her in danger, but her kids as well. And there was no telling what shape Alice was in.

Had the Red Queen convinced the Cheshire Cat to do this? Why would he do something so evil now? Of all times!

"Momma." A small rabbit whispered, hoping forward.

"What is it Jacob?" Elaine asked.

"I had a vision Momma." The little rabbit answered, but his voice was small. So much smaller than he was.

Elaine scooped him up and held him close.

"What did you see Jacob? What has you so scared?"

"He's raping her Momma. She's screaming and she's scared and no one is helping her." Jacob whimpered.

"Who's raping who?" Elaine asked. "Is it Alice?"

The little rabbit nodded.

"Who's raping her baby?"

"The Cheshire Cat. He's hurting her."

Elaine stopped breathing in that moment. She sat the little rabbit down and gave him a carrot laced with a potion to help him sleep without any dreams or visions. Once he fell asleep, she summoned the other little rabbits to her.

"You do not leave this house." She ordered. "You don't go up stairs or anything. I have to go out and find someone. I'm leaving plenty of food and water for you. I'll be back, I promise. Take care of your brother."

Elaine grabbed up and cloak and pulled it around her, rushing up stairs.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Alice cried out again as the Cheshire Cat bit her, this time, on her breast. His nails dug in painfully into the skin, drawing blood. Everywhere he touched her, he hurt her.

"Stop!" She begged, trying again to crawl away.

He pulled her back with a hiss, and began to undo his pants.

Alice shrieked and fought more. It resulted in him sleeping her, his nails cutting across her cheek.

"You'll enjoy this Alice." He hissed lowly, freeing his cock from his pants.

He was already straining and a drop of pre-cum glistened.

The sight absolutely sickened her.

Only hours ago, this man had been a friend. If she knew then what she knew now, she would have told the Mad Hatter to kill him gladly. She would have watched. It would have helped her sleep at night.

He pushed into her dry entrance, stretching her, tearing her, causing her more pain.

Alice closed her eyes and went deep within her own mind, not wanting to exist anymore. She wanted to be that girl that was hit by the car. She wanted to be dead in the ground. She didn't want the Cheshire Cat raping her.

The only thing she wanted was the Mad Hatter, and he could be dead, or hopefully fighting his way to the castle.

All and all, it was to late.

Her body was being defiled.

And her soul wanted to tear free.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The Caterpillar was waiting for Elaine when she arrived.

"Alice keeps appearing in my visions. I know what's going on." The Caterpillar informed her. "I've gathered the best warriors around and even called out some of the wild creatures of Wonderland to help. We'll have to help the Mad Hatter cut through the Queen's guards and help him get the Cheshire Cat alone."

Elaine had to job to keep up with the Caterpillar's pace.

Around them, huge men and women with multiple arms sat, waiting. In tree limps, more sat with wings, waiting. In the darkness, eyes glowed back at her.

Elaine shivered.

"I'm going to use my magic to get us all there. Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dumb will be at the castle already, hopefully. They were scouting for entrances and or best points to attack to make ourselves an entrance. I think we're all ready to go." The Caterpillar stated.

"Is it in the best interests that I stay or go?" Elaine asked.

The Caterpillar paused and gazed at the ground, as if finding something very interesting there. Around them, everything was silence as everyone waited for the answer.

"You go." Caterpillar answered at last.

Elaine found herself being pulled up into the arms of a huge man who grinned at her. "Pleased to meet ya Princess. Hold on. It's going to be a fun ride."

One moment they were in the forest, and the next, screams filled the air.

Soldiers scattered as the Mad Hatter made his way up the path to the castle cutting down soldiers left and right. His body was soaked in blood and his eyes gleamed red.

"Stay back." the Caterpillar ordered. "He doesn't know friend from foe right now. I will talk to him alone."

The Caterpillar floated over and stayed in the air a safe distance from the Mad Hatter.

"My friend, you need to listen up." She called.

The Mad Hatter snarled and swung his sword up, attempting to make contact, but it fell awful short.

"Alice needs your help!"

The Mad Hatter paused and seemed to struggle internally for a minute before he rasped, "Alice?"

"Yes! I know that you want to kill the Queen but she isn't your biggest concern right now. The Cheshire Cat is. Mad Hatter, as we speak, he is somewhere within that castle, raping Alice. If you don't get there soon, we'll loose her for real, and we will die." The Caterpillar told him.

The Mad Hatter went crazy and snarled. "I know you have people with you. They have a minute at most to clear me a path. I won't cut them down but they better make it quick."

The Caterpillar yelled orders left and right.

People poured into the castle.

Fires started, screams echoed, and blood was spilled.

"Go." The Caterpillar told him. "She is in a room close to the Queens."

The Mad Hatter took off in a blurring speed.