Nine- Mirror Image
I grinned.
I couldn't hold it in, it just appeared.
I suddenly felt soo evil, looking into the eyes of the man I…
No, concentrate, I can't let them win- they betrayed me! I should be happy to be standing where I was, holding the power of the room, my red soldiers shrouding the building and the future of Underland in my hands.
So why was I having doubts!
"Ari stop this! You can not-" Mally began.
"Seriously Aunty you need to keep your subjects in line," I hissed, glaring at the rodent and then returning my gaze to Mirana.
Mirana's eyes were plastered to my own; but it wasn't anger, no… it was shame. She was ashamed of me.
Well, she WAS the one who kicked me out in the first place! Why should I care!
"My Lady, shall we continue at great haste," Emerella broke in, glaring at Mirana.
"Yes, we must," I said, walking in a mild circle with my hand placed behind my back. "You guards, seize them."
The guards nearby hastily jumped upon the traitors and obtained each of them, their hands behind their backs and even Mally who had put up much of a fight was left hanging by her tail at the hands of one of my red guards.
I gestured to the guards to bring Alice over and I smiled at her.
Alice struggled, tugging on the guards arms but they were far too strong for her.
"You're despicable," Alice spat, glaring up at me. "You are honestly telling me that you want to bring back the most dastardly and vile creature in all of Underland! What do you think you'll accomplish from this?"
I lent down her, lowering my eyes and letting her glare right at me without any fret showing on my face.
"You know what Ali, I don't think I'll accomplish anything," I admitted, quietly. "But my mother will."
I laughed feverishly, leaving everyone quite perplexed as I stood up straight. I turned to walk away from Alice when I spied The Hatter.
He was the only person who was not struggling to get away.
His eyes were low and his expression grim, yet there was still a flicker of some sort within those luminous eyes of his.
He caught my eye and his lips moved into a small smile.
I was bemused, yet couldn't tear my own eyes away.
"My Lady!"
With much remorse I tore my eyes away to spy Emerella standing beside Mirana, a dagger in her hand.
"We must begin," she said, reaching her hand out for the mirror.
I pushed her hand aside and walked over, looking into my Aunt's gloomy eyes.
I took the dagger from Emerella and lent around to Mirana's ear, whispering, "I'm sorry."
Quickly I sliced the dagger along Mirana's palm, the dark blood staining the sharp silver blade.
"STOP!" Alice whelped, but I stepped back, the dagger and mirror in my hands.
Mirana remained completely still, not showing any pain although her eyes suddenly began to water.
I dangled the dagger over the mirror and jolted the dagger slightly so a single drop of blood fell.
The droplet fell down and in stead of bouncing on the surface; it fell into the mirror itself, like water into a lake.
The mirror began to turn a bright white colour yet the teleportation was not yet complete- we still needed the blood of a neutral being.
Emerella began to grin broadly and squeal like a little girl in excitement.
Without fully wanting to, I found myself looking over to The Hatter, who was still smiling.
"Why are you smiling Hatter?" I asked, un-aware of what I was saying until I had said it.
The room turned to The Hatter, whose smile immediately disappeared.
"I was-" he began, trying to step forward but the guards would not let him.
I waved my hand, telling them to let him go.
"Thank you," The Hatter commended, as the guards realised their grip on the mad man.
He brushed himself down and altered his hat before looking up and grinning.
"I was considering words that start with the letter H," The Hatter began, pacing slightly.
I knew it was obvious… and I knew I shouldn't… but I couldn't take my eyes of him.
I hadn't seen Tarrant in soo long and to see him now, all bright and full of joy made me suddenly remember the days when I too were like that.
Like every time Emerella made me cry as a child, the thought of one day being as merry as the man I met at the fair kept me going.
Now… now what was I doing?
I was going to ruin those thoughts of joy for all the other little children out there if I returned my mother.
Suddenly it all made sense… that glimmer in his eyes, that glint behind his little smile- it wasn't just happiness, it was also hope. He was still filled with hope.
"-Words like 'Hero' and 'Happiness, and…"
"We haven't got time for this, guards!" Emerella snapped, and the guards sprang back on The Hatter.
"…heart," I said, quietly.
"Yes," The Hatter said, hearing my slight mutter. "Because mine is… breaking."
My eyes widened, as my own heart fluttered.
Did that mean…?
"Wait," Emerella laughed, coming to stand beside me. "Are you saying you… you're in love with Ari?" She laughed once again. "The Hatter is in love with the future Queen."
Emerella laughed once more; low and bellowing, the sounds echoing off the walls.
I looked to The Hatter, my lower lip trembled and his did the same.
"Emerella," I snapped.
Emerella suddenly stopped, standing up straight.
"What? It is not like you feel the same," she said, quickly.
I looked over at him again, a small smile appearing across my face before I suddenly snapped myself out of it.
I wiped the stained dagger clean on the side of my dress and walked over to Alice, gripping the dagger and mirror in either hand.
Alice stood up straight and for the first time since I had known her she suddenly looked frightened.
"What? The brave Alice can't handle a bit of blood?" I asked, quietly.
"No, I just can't handle knowing that I'm going to be one of the reasons of the Red Queen's return, that's all," Alice retorted, yet her voice seemed more quivery than angry.
With one slash I swiped the blade along Alice's palm, the warrior grasping her hand immediately in pain.
"You're a murdered Ari! A Murderer!" Alice cried, as I faced away from her and dripped the blood into the mirror.
Me… a murderer?
I watched as the blood drop plummeted down and into the mirror, absorbing into the white abyss and disappearing inside the mirror.
Suddenly there was a bright red light, beaming out from the mirror which caused my eyes to water so I was forced to look away.
When the light stopped, I re-opened my eyes, noticing that everyone else had had to look away also.
"Who's there? What is going on? WHERE AM I!"
The voice was high and temperamental, yet there were some parts of it that sounded familiar.
I looked down into the mirror to see a large head, covered with white make-up complete with dark red mattered hair and large blue eyes with matching eye shadow.
"Mother?" I asked, slowly.
The woman looked up at me, recognition suddenly appearing within her eyes.
"Arietta?" she said, her voice lowering. "Is it really you?"
I nodded, smiling slightly.
"You brought mommy back," the woman said, grinning. "I am soo proud of you."
"Not yet Your Majesty," Emerella said, and I held the mirror up so as everyone could see the woman within it. "She must ensue to put her own blood into the mirror to bring you all the way through from the Outlands."
I nodded, even though I wasn't fully listening, I was watching The Hatter.
He loved me… he… The Hatter… Tarrant Hightopp… the one I had known since I was a little girl…the one I thought was in love with Alice was actually in love with me…? Me- the one who was going to destroy all of Underland- and yet he was still smiling at me.
Suddenly Mirana began to quietly laugh.
I looked over to her.
"What is so funny my dearest sister?" my mother demanded from within the mirror. "I am back to take back what belongs to ME! With one more drop of blood from my dearest daughter, The Looking-Glass Mirror will transport me back from this filth I was confounded to and I shall once again be Queen!"
Mirana was still quietly laughing.
I looked to the others who had blank expressions over their faces.
"She will not do it," Mirana said, elegantly once she had stopped laughing.
"Who will not? WHO!" my mother demanded, causing my hand that was holding the mirror to shake.
"Your beloved daughter," Mirana explained. "She will not provide you with the blood you soo desperately require."
"AND WHY NOT!" my mother demanded.
"Because, unlike you or I Arietta is truly fearless," Mirana said, delectably. "It is not the absence of fear that makes one fearless; it is the ability to do the right thing in spite of your fear. Isn't that right Ari?"
All eyes turned to me, as a single tear fell down my right cheek.
"Arietta, tell her! Tell her you will bring me back! ARIETTA!" my mother yelled, but I could not look at her.
"I'm sorry," I said to her, before looking down to the dagger and dropping it on the floor. "I am not a murderer."
There were assorted gasps across the room, before it fell silent.
"Ari," The Hatter said, smiling broadly.
I smiled back, feeling my toes flutter slightly at the sight of my beloved Hatter.
"YOU WILL NOT DO THIS TO ME! I AM YOUR MOTHER!" My mother yelled, angrily. "YOU DID THIS SISTER! YOU TURNED MY OWN DAUGHTER AGAINST ME! HORRACKS, KILL HER!"
I looked around as Emerella raised her sword and pointed it towards Mirana.
"NO!" I yelled, hastily picking back up my dagger and throwing it towards Emerella, piercing her right through her cold heart and causing her to fall to the ground.
I took a deep breath in, gasping for air.
I was a murderer.
I dropped to the ground placing the mirror with my mother still inside it beside me as I cried loudly, my tears flooding down my face.
The Hatter pushed the guards away and ran up behind me, placing his hand on my shoulder as I wept.
I stood up, looking at him as he placed his comforting hands on my shoulder.
"I-I-" I spluttered, un-able to talk.
"Shush," The Hatter insisted, tugging me into a hug as I cried into his shoulder.
The guards stopped and released the others, falling back to the wall and waiting for orders.
Mirana walked around The Hatter and me and picked up the mirror; looking down to her sister who was screaming and banging on the inside of the glass mirror.
I caught my breath and The Hatter slowly released me, wiping a tear from my face with his thumb.
"You were b-b-brilliant Ari," he whispered, quietly.
"I killed her," I argued. "Alice was right, I do not belong here."
"You did the right thing Ari," Alice said, from behind me.
I looked over to her, and she smiled.
"It appears I was wrong about you," she continued. "I should have listened to everyone else. You truly are fearless."
"Jealousy's a curse Ali," I said, walking towards her but still grasping The Hatter's hand. "I know you felt threatened by me. And I'm sorry."
"For what? Being a great friend for everyone here whilst I deserted them!" Alice cried. "You are the hero here, not me."
We both smiled before I ran over and gave my newest friend a hug, my eyes watering slightly but I held back my tears.
We laughed slightly as we broke apart and I wiped my eyes.
"So Ari," Mirana said, and I turned to her. "What do we do, with my sister?"
"YOU RELEASE ME THAT'S WHAT YOU DO!" my mother shrieked, loudly.
I stepped towards her and looked deeply into the eyes of my mother, the one who had murdered more people than anyone else in this room.
"Ari, Ari it's me, your mommy! You wouldn't do anything to harm me would you?" my mother stammered, quivering.
I looked up to Mirana whose eyes danced within their perfect sockets.
"I have an excellent idea as to what to do with you," I said, grinning.
After hugging Mally, the Tweedles, the Dodo, Nivens and The Hatter once more; I lead everyone along the familiar corridors and into the back room of the library, taking the mirror from Mirana and placing my mother on one of the hooks on the wall, facing the fabled Oraculum.
"And now for the rest of your days mother, you can look down at the one thing that could tell you exactly what to do to get out of here," I said, stepping back and looking at my screaming mother with all my friends.
"GET ME OUT OF HERE!" she yelled, loudly of course.
Mirana smiled tastefully at me, before leading us out of the room, The Hatter slinging his long arm over my shoulders and Alice at my side, with Mally sitting atop my head her sword in her hand.
"Now, let's kill some guards!" she issued, bravely.
"You know what Mally?" I said, as we walked through the rows of books. "There's been enough blood shed because of my mother, I think it's about time we set an example for everyone here and find another solution."
"Ari, you really are b-b-brilliant," Alice said, grinning.
And for once, I believed her.
Oh whoa, whoa waittt up everyone! Before you think the story is finished, its NOT! I'm not quite finished with my lovely Arietta yet, so don't fret. Sorry this took soo long by the way, and I hope you didn't get too confused. Thanks to everyone who has read or reviewed this so far and if I love you enough you'll get a special mention at the end :) Anyway, read and review please! MikiChik x