Disclaimer: No copyright infringement intended. All I'm doing is mixing Stephenie Meyer and Lewis Carroll's characters in Tim Burton's world while adding a dark splash of my own imagination.

Chapter Seven: Knave of Hearts

Once Alice and Victoria finished their lunch, Victoria quickly dismissed Alice, but the Knave of Hearts was waiting close by for her.

"Miss Alice," he called out. "Would you mind a word?"

"No, not at all," she replied, walking toward him. "Is something the matter?"

"Oh, no," Riley Stayn replied. "I was just wondering if you'd like to take a walk with me? I could show you around the castle."

Genuinely interested, Alice nodded as she grinned. "That would be lovely."

Riley took Alice by the hand, smirking as he said, "Right this way, then."

Alice felt slightly uncomfortable with Riley's forwardness, but she didn't say anything, and just smiled politely, instead. Riley walked ahead of her, explaining how the castle functioned and who did what. When they reached the garden where she'd met the King and Queen of Hearts, Alice stopped.

"This is the only part of the castle that I saw the last time I was here," she told Riley. "The King and Queen were playing croquet."

"They used to play that all the time," Riley said. "It's such a shame what happened to them."

"They were in an accident, correct?" Alice inquired.

"Yes, they were on their way to Umbridge to visit some family when their coachman lost control of their carriage and they fell off a cliff."

Alice gasped. "That must have been terrible."

"Yes." Riley nodded. "The princesses were beside themselves—well, I should say the queens since that's what they are now."

"I can imagine."

"There were many rumours that surrounded their death" Riley informed her. "People speculated that the Jabberwocky escaped its cage and attacked them, but there was no proof that it actually happened."

"Is that one of the Red Queen's battle creatures?"Alice questioned.

"It was until Isabelle stole it. The only battle creature we have now is the Bandersnatch."

Alice had been piqued with interest when she'd learned about its existence, but being so close to the creature made her more curious to see it, so she asked Riley about it.

"I'm not so sure that would be appropriate, Miss Alice," Riley informed her.

"Why not? What could happen?" Alice challenged. "You're going to be with me."

Riley chuckled. "Well, although I'm flattered that you have confidence in me, the Bandersnatch is a very dangerous creature."

"I think I'll take the risk, Knave of Hearts." Alice smiled at him in a taunting manner. "Well, that is if you are up to it."

"Are you challenging me, Miss Alice?" Riley asked smirking.

Alice stepped closer to him, goading him even further. "Maybe I am."

Riley threw his head back, laughing. "Let's go, then."

"After you," Alice said, indicating Riley to lead the way with her hand.

Riley stepped forth and headed to the back of the garden where a large, stone den with wooden doors was. As Alice watched by, Riley opened the door and walked inside carefully.

"Please keep your distance," Riley told Alice. "You're not familiar to it, so it may attack you."

Alice nodded, observing the creature from afar while Riley approached it. As he did so, the Bandersnatch remained calm, almost to the point where it seemed to be bored. When Riley finally stood in front of the beast, he pet its head, causing the Bandersnatch to purr.

Having heard that it was a battle creature, Alice did not expect the Bandersnatch to be as docile as it was. Sure, it looked frightening given its large body and many sharp teeth and claws, but its catlike fur and behavior gave it the allure of being simply a pet.

Alice looked to a Riley, and asked, "Is it male or female?"

"Male," he replied.

"He's beautiful," Alice murmured, causing Riley to chuckle.

"I have never heard anyone call him that," he said. "Frightening, yes, but never beautiful."

"That's because no one has taken the time to notice it," Alice said as she stepped forward.

"Alice, be careful," Riley warned. "If I were you, I'd keep my distance."

Alice smiled as she reached the Bandersnatch and tentatively placed a hand on its head, petting it. "He's not going to do anything to me, right, boy?"

The Bandersnatch purred as it had when Riley had done the same, pushing its head against Alice's hand as if it were asking for more.

Riley gasped in shock. "I have never seen him react like that with anyone else, Alice. If I didn't know any better, I would think that you two had been familiarized for awhile now."

"Creatures can be some interesting beings," Alice explained. "If you are openly hostile to them, they'll react the same way."

Riley looked at her in awe, having never met someone with her insight, courage and consideration. Not even the Red Queen had managed to garner that reaction from the Bandersnatch. In fact, it had been the complete opposite, causing fear even in her although she was technically its owner.

Alice placed her other hand on the Bandersnatch and scratched it under its chin, causing it to purr louder. "He likes me," she said with a chuckle.

"What's not to like?" Riley said longingly. "A beautiful girl with an enormous heart is something to be in awe of."

Alice chuckled. "I'm almost sure that the Bandersnatch doesn't know anything about that, but thank you for the compliment."

"The Bandersnatch is very bold, Miss Alice," Riley informed her. "Therefore, he has been able to be trained for the last couple of years."

"What kind of training does he have?" Alice asked while she continued to pet the creature.

"Battle training, of course, and he also functions as a guard for the castle, but he has all the basic skills that a domestic pet would have."

"That's fascinating," Alice said before she ordered the Bandersnatch to sit.

The creature did as was told, impressing Alice even further.

Riley smiled proudly as he watched the exchange. "I told you he was very bold, Miss Alice."

"I can see that," Alice confirmed. "I'm interested in seeing some more of his skills."

"I'm afraid that's all that I can show you," Riley lamented. "I've already told you more than I should have—considering that you are an outsider."

Alice didn't take any offense to his words since the Knave was correct: for being the Red Queen's counselor and the knight in charge of the castle's courtiers, he had given Alice enough information to overthrow Victoria's kingdom.