Chapter nine

"Mirana!" Alice called as she ran through the castle desparately trying to find the White Queen, asking every creature she saw, but did not know. She soon came upon McTwisp. "Oh Nivens! Have you any idea where I can find Mirana? It's an emergency!" She was frantic with worry, the tears hadn't stopped streaming since she first stepped foot into that wrecked up house. Noticing the worry and the tears, McTwisp didn't speak a word, he just pointed down a flight of stairs. Alice thanked him and darted as fast as she could down the stairs. "Oh god Mirana it's terrible! I haven't a clue what to do, Hatter has been taken! Kidnapped! And I haven't been able to find out where. She started crying even more now, and Mirana took her into her arms, and held her while she wept.

Mirana gave her some time alone to process things, but they really needed to get to the bottom of this so it wasn't much. At least, she thought, dear Alice has stopped crying. But that was the only thing keeping her chin up at the moment. One of her dearest friends had been taken "..We need a spy. We could use Jane but chances are, whoever took the Hatter, they're up to date on that situation. If only.." Alice shot up "I know someone who can help! I need to get back to the above land though, is it possible?" Mirana took her hand and led her downstairs to a large white mirror, identical to the one Alice had fallen through during the storm. Hopefully he's still in London Alice though, before she stepped through her own reflection.

She ended up in the same boat she'd been on, what felt like forever ago, in the same room, although now it was empty. "Okay, I need to get out of here, without being seen. Find James, avoid my family, and get back to Underland before her dear Hatter could be hurt. She really hoped James wouldn't be too upset with her. Jumping off the boat into the water she swam underneath the dock waiting for the sailors to leave. She waited a good ten minutes growing more and more impatient every second. She was close to tears again before the dock was cleared, she ran and ran as fast as she could to the inn James has told her he would be staying. The whole time racking her brain trying to remember the room number, and she just, couldn't. Eventually she decided to just ask the desk.

"Hello, my name is Alice Kingsley and I need to speak to James.. um.." For some reason, Alice couldn't recall her friend's last name, oh no she thought. "He never told me his last name, but please do you have any guests of the name James? He would have recently returned from being on a business trip on the ocean? He's rather tall, dark hair, a lovely man. Please, it's an emergency" she cried in desperation. Taking pity on her the doorman took her hand and said "Yes my dear, but I'm afraid he checked out just half an hour ago. Told me he was needed elsewhere. His exact words were "There's something I need to do, people I need to see. They need to know what happened" and then he left. Oh Jesus Christ! Alice thought, and internally scalded herself for taking the Lord's name in vain "Thank you" Alice called as she ran to where she knew he would be.

I would do anything to not have to go where I must! She thought. Running, running as fast as she could, to a lovely white house, with a gorgeous green front lawn, the mailbox read "Kingsley." Alice ran, and tried to avoid the front door as much as possible. Running around to the back of her house, and watching her family through the window, trying very hard to get James' attention. Every minute I hide out here is another minute Tarrant is in danger, Alice thought to herself, struggling with the decision she burst through the back door, and ran into the room where he family and James now sat. "I do not have time to explain, but James we must leave right away. I'm sorry mother, and Margaret I will return but I have to leave right now!" She grabbed James' arm and ran back out the door and into the garden before her family could do anything to stop her.

They kept running toward the docks, Alice really didn't want to talk right now, but James stopped, causing Alice to stop also because she was still holding his arm. "Alice, what the devil is going on! You disappear, without a trace, lead me to believe you are dead, and right at the moment I am about to tell your family the bad news you burst in, take me by the arm and lead me away faster than a bunny on opium! And I'm sorry but I can not just let you tug me around like this!" He was almost crying now, making Alice feel horrible. She places her had on the side of James' face, "do you trust me?"she asked him "you know I do, Al" she moved to take his hand in hers, "then listen when I tell you that I can't explain right now, there isn't time, you are needed and we have to keep moving, please James. My dearest friend is in danger" She was calm as she spoke but the tears began to resurface in his eyes. That was all James needed. "Lead the way" he said, as they started darting toward the docks.