Chapter eight
"This ought to be the perfect trap for that silly, blonde, life ruining, Alice!" the Red Queen snickered as she walked toward the corner where the Mad Hatter was curled up against the wall, chains around his wrists and ankles, he was making a small wimpering sound, and as the Red Queen approached him he flinched and in plain sight was the reason he was so scared, why all he wanted to do was run. The bruises all over his shirtless body, and cuts on his face. "So sorry about the trouble" the Queen said, trying to sound genuine, "Stayne does sometimes get carried away, and well, the result is never a good one" The fought back a smile. He knew she was lying, the Hatter knew he could never trust her, but he played along, if only to avoid being attacked again.
"It does hurt quite a bit" he told her "Maybe it would be better if I could have some water? My throat is ever so dry" She nodded to Stayne as he swept magestically out of the room, only to return moments later with a tea cup full of water, he handed the water to Hatter who seemed to be having trouble drinking the liquid "These shackles seem to be restricting me from drinking" Stayne gave the Queen a suspicious look, always on the ball. He thought maybe, just maybe the Hatter was planning something, however he passed her a key anyway, and she unlocked the shackles around his wrists. Stayne gripped his sword ready for if Hatter tried anything, but he just sat there drinking the water slowly, so as not to hurt his throat anymore. His fingers lightly touched the red skin where Stayne has strangled him, remembering this, he jumped back into the corner, turning away and continueing to drink his water.
When he was finished he passed the teacup back to Stayne "Thank you" he said, trying to be polite. Hatter, always the gentleman, "But I'm wondering now, if I may have some tea? That water was so cold, I seem to be shivering, I guess my lack of clothes does not help the situation much." Stayne was much less suspicious now and took the cup without hesitation, and began to leave the room "Knave!" Hatter called, "Make it hot will you? I need to be warmed up, please" Stayne nodded and left the room, and shortly returned to the cell where they were keeping him locked away and passed the steaming hot tea to Tarrant. He began to sip it slowly.
"When do you think Alice will arrive?" Stayne whispered to his Queen, "I do not know. But the sooner the better, I feel like I'm going mad just being around this baffoon!" She replied, trying to keep quiet. "It's okay you can go and rest for a while if you would like to, I can keep watch, and O promise not to kill him" Stayne told her, his fingers crossed behind his back, which the Hatter absolutely did not miss, he just didn't kow what they were talking about. "Oh I'm glad I can trust you again my love" The Queen said as she stroked his face and walked slowly out of the room.
Stayne smiled to himself, a chilling smile, but managed to make his face neutral before he turned to face the Hatter. "I dont know what she sees in you. You're absolutely barking mad" he told him. Hatter was suddenly confused, he couldn't be talking about his Alice. Could he? He didn't bother to ask, he just let Stayne ramble on. "She's such an asset to Underland, her mesmerizing smile, and caring nature. Of course, not too caring she helped to get you here." Hatter felt his heart sink a little, and a tear left his eye. "Of all the people who have stumbled into Underland, she is the most extraodinary!" Hatter's eyes were starting to turn Orange, he was definately talking about his blonde haired beauty, and Tarrant would not stand for it. Biting back his fear of being hurt again, he stood up.
"Who the hell do ya think ye are! She coul' never love a man like you! A sick, twisted, broken shell o' a man! Alice is mine, only! An' I think ye better back away before someone gets 'urt!" His accent was think, as it usually was when he was angry. Everything went quiet for a moment, Hatter and Stayne did nothing but stare at each other for what felt to the Hatter like a very long time, but really, how dare he talk about his Alice like that! Especially when it was absolutely absurd. He's been apart of a plan to kill her just a few months ago. He calmed down a little "What do you mean, she helped to get me here? Alice would never do that" Stayne laughed, and confused Hatter further, "You really think I would take any kind of interest in that silly little blonde girl? No. I'm afraid I'm more of a brunette kind of man" It took Hatter a moment but he suddenly realized what Stayne meant. Jane. The same Jane who had become a best friend to him in Alice's absence, the same Jane he trusted, she was the reason we was here, being tortured. She was the reason Alice was about to walk into a trap. No, Hatter thought it can't be.
