Will you find out who Jaime is in this chapter?! Read and find out! This story is not following the OUAT script completely but the main story is still the same! Hope you enjoy! :)
I DO NOT OWN ANYTHING BUT MY OC. :)
That Mischievous Grin
Chapter Three
By LoveMeNever
Regina scowled as she watched the man in front of her, he was referred to as the Mad Hatter or Jefferson. Years before now, he used to work for her willingly transporting her across realms and he never once went without food or anything he desired.
That all changed when he had his daughter, Grace. While he wanted to give her anything she ever wanted, the young girl hated that her father would disappear months at a time so he decided to stop working for Regina.
Now, Regina needed his help and by the looks of things the Mad Hatter was just barely able to provide for his daughter.
The situation could not be more perfect, Regina thought, she could use his fear of failing his daughter in order to get him to help.
She had even gone as far as to disguise herself as an old trader in the market not willing to sell the father the doll his daughter wanted so badly. She knew that would make Jefferson sick to his stomach and, like always, Regina would get what she wanted.
"Grace will have everything she has ever desired when this task is complete." Regina assured the man standing in her library, he looked disgusted. "I promise that if you do this task for me I will leave you and your daughter alone forever."
"How do I know I can trust you?" He looked very hesitantly toward the Evil Queen, who was now smiling menacingly sweet.
"You don't really have any other option, do you?" The Evil Queen was not even concerned with the Mad Hatter or his daughter, all she needed him for was to get to Wonderland. "Come back by tomorrow, ready to transport us."
The man clenched his jaw tightly but the Evil Queen was right… he did not have another option. Muttering something the Queen could not hear he stormed out of the castle library. He had to make sure Grace was safe while he was away.
Back in her castle the Queen grinned knowing Jefferson was not going to refuse her offer. He loved his daughter and love was a weakness.
The next day Jefferson had indeed arrived in the Queen's castle with his hat ready to transport them to wherever the Queen needed to go. He hated leaving Grace behind but the temptation of not having to worry about food or Regina for the rest of their lives was too great.
The guards escorted the Mad Hatter to Regina's study, they knocked on the closed door and announced to the Queen who was with them and when she responded with a "Bring him in" the guards roughly shoved him in the room.
The doors slammed behind them so he looked back expecting to see the guards standing in the room. When he found the guards had not stayed he shrugged and he pursed his lips turning back to the Queen.
"You've made up your mind then? Can we leave now?" The Evil Queen walked towards him stopping a few feet away, then her eyes went down to the hat in his hand.
That answered her question.
Jefferson held the hat with both hands in front of himself, he sighed, "There are a few things I have to explain, in case you've forgotten how my magic works." Regina only nodded.
"The hat will transport us to a place where all realms will be accessible, you'll choose the realm and open the door to it, but if two people go into the realm only two people can come out." He glared into Regina's eyes not liking one second of this but he had to do it for his daughter.
Regina nodded, "That won't be a problem, now, I am in a hurry." she smirked and the Mad Hatter swore he saw amusement in her expression.
That was never good, but too late to turn back now.
With another sigh Jefferson spun his hat into the air and it landed on the ground slowly opening into a large portal big enough to fit the two of them. He nodded to Regina when the portal was finished opening, they jumped in.
For a split second Regina could feel herself free falling but then she landed on her feet in a large round room with several doors. She smiled treacherously.
Jefferson turned around to look at all the doors or looking glasses as he preferred to call them, he'd seen the room plenty of times but it had been a while. Then he raised his arms out gesturing to all the doors and let them fall with a slap to his sides.
"Which realm are we travelling to, Your Highness?"
"Wonderland." Regina smirked and headed straight for the portal she knew was the one to Wonderland. She walked up to it then looks back at the Mad Hatter who was staring at her wide eyed.
"Come. Like I said I am in a hurry."
The Mad Hatter gulped down his shock and followed suit as the woman ran her hand across the glass then entering the realm.
As soon as the two see their surroundings Jefferson frowns noticing the hedges lining all around them. Straight ahead, the hedge came to a dead end but he could tell that it slit off to the left and right.
Jefferson grabbed Regina's shoulder before she touched the hedges, "Don't! The hedges are dangerous and the Queen has a whole army constantly patrolling this maze."
"Complaining is so unbecoming."
Regina growled as they walked to the fork in the hedges, to the right of them sat a giant blue caterpillar on a equally large mushroom. It was blowing smoke rings around them causing Jefferson to cough waving the smoke away but the creature did not say anything to the pair.
"I hate Wonderland."
She rolled her eyes at Jefferson and sent a giant fireball tearing through the hedges. There was now a clear path to the exact place Regina wanted to be, the crypt where the Queen of Hearts stored valuable items.
Before the two could advance towards the crypt, guards surrounded them from all sides of the hedges including the now singed hole in the hedge.
Jefferson instantly regretted his decision to help Regina.
The guards were advancing slowly with their spears pointed at them. A noise from the right side of the fork made the guards turn around then they seemed confused at whether to follow the noise or keep pressing the two intruders.
The noise sounded very much like something growling.
Regina took the opportunity to move them with her magic so that they were slammed against the hedges.
Much to her surprise the hedges starting sucking the guards in and wrapping its vines around their limbs.
Jefferson blinked and gave a 'told you so' look to Regina.
Jefferson and Regina took off in that direction, the hedges were shaped to where they only had the option of taking another right, the two saw something small dart around the corner. Whatever it was had distracted the guards for them so Regina guessed that whatever it was, it was trying to help them.
That could be potentially dangerous, though. It could easily be a trap.
But really what could be worse than getting caught by the guards?
Probably shouldn't jinx it. Regina thought to herself.
After they had been running for a good ten minutes Regina got tired of playing cat and mouse through the maze of hedges. She was slightly out of breath and could hear Jefferson's running footsteps slow. She also faltered.
Finally, when they made one last turn they came face to face with a woman. They had to abruptly stop because she was standing right around the corner and she was staring at them intensely with a raised eyebrow.
Maybe I should have thought through my outfit before I came. Regina referred to her dress that she almost tripped on when she turned the corner.
"Who are you?!" Regina demanded getting ready to use her magic, if necessary. Jefferson seemed ready to run the way they came, if necessary.
The woman had dark brown hair that was straight and messy, it was about halfway down her back with bangs that hung on her forehead, her eyes were purple and they also seemed to have catlike irises. Her figure was slightly smaller than Regina's they were both the same height but the woman seemed more bony.
She was dressed in dirty clothes; a faded black tunic with a purple undershirt, her skirt was mixed with purple, pink, and black but it was short and ripped up, and she had dark leggings under a pair of flat black boots. They too, looked old and worn. She also wore a long black coat that went down to the backs of her knees.
While Regina had been taking in her appearance, the woman was doing the same to them.
The woman came to the conclusion that she liked the two intruders. She guessed they were from the Enchanted Forest just because she heard rumors of the Evil Queen, and the female intruder matched the description perfectly.
Dark, elegant, pouring with power. Seems about right.
"Who are you?" Her voice was smooth and clear, her tone matched the sparkle in her eyes… mischievous.
Jefferson answered this time knowing that they would never find their way back to the crypt and portal before the Queen of Hearts got to them or rather her royal guard. "I'm called Jefferson, this is Regina, we've come to this realm in search of… something."
He ignored the furious glare from Regina as he spilled why they were here. He didn't know what they were there for anyways, so it wasn't like he could ruin whatever Regina was planning.
"I see… so you've come to pester the easily angered Queen then? To… steal from her?" The woman grinned widely, it was odd looking because of how wide it was.
There was something about the way she grinned, it wasn't like she was laughing at them, she seemed to be grinning because it sounded fun. Like she wanted in on it.
She crossed her arms lazily, grin still plastered on her face, and leaned against the hedges. Regina and Jefferson wondered why the hedges were not trying to pull her in them and devour her like they had the guards.
They couldn't help the confused and semi-shocked expression that formed.
The woman looked at the hedges she was leaning on and then if suddenly realizing why they had that expression on their faces, she laughed.
Regina had had it now. She was going to get answers out of this woman but before she could act on that, Jefferson stepped in.
"Tell us your name, please, we've told you ours. You helped us earlier. Can you help us out of this maze and away from the guards?" He took a step forward still trying to determine whether this woman was a threat or not.
Smirking, the purple eyed woman pretended to be deep in thought. "Let's see… that very much depends on where you're trying to get too. As for the guards…" She laughed.
Regina noticed she dodged the question about her name.
"The guards lack imagination. Don't play with them, unless you are ready to deal."
Both Jefferson and Regina stared blankly not really understanding.
"She's clearly insane, we don't have time for this." Regina started to march forward past the strange woman, she was planning on throwing another fireball at the hedges to find her way to the crypt easily.
"You know… Everyone here is mad. I'm mad. You're mad. By the way, if you keep shooting fire at the hedges the smoke will draw the royal guard."
Regina ignored her and just kept walking but she knew the woman was right... the guards would be drawn straight to them.
Jefferson soon followed and Regina could hear an extra set of footsteps but she didn't look back knowing that it was the woman who was following them. The woman let out the occasional sigh or chuckle, when they went down a path.
Obviously, she knew they were not going the right way. Which drove Regina crazy.
Jefferson kept looking back at the woman just to make sure she wasn't going to try anything. Every time he did, she would smirk at him and raise an eyebrow.
After some time they reached a dead end with no way to turn except for back the way they came. Regina let out an irritated growl. "Where the hell are we going?" Then she shot a glare at the woman accompanying them, "How do we get to the crypt?!"
The woman laughed again, "Time to raise some havoc." she turned on her heel to head back the way they came.
Regina and Jefferson looked at each other. Jefferson frowned and shrugged then followed the woman.
Better than being lost forever in this stupid maze. With Regina, I might add. He thought.
Defeated, Regina excepted the fact she needed help so she walked after them.
It didn't take long for the three to find their way back to the crypt with the help of the stranger. Regina had to hand it to her, she knew her way around this maze and she did it without running into the guards once.
"Excellent." Regina smiled evilly as they reached the crypt.
"Doors have locks, locks need keys, which you don't have. Let's hope the doors are open." The woman crossed her arms lazily and gave Regina a crooked smile.
Regina rolled her eyes and waved her hand in front of the door.
They all heard a clicking sound then the door opened. It was Regina's turn to smirk at the woman. She look mildly impressed but Regina could see amusement flash in her eyes.
The woman waited outside while Regina and Jefferson went into the crypt, she'd rather not get on the Queen of Hearts bad side. Not that the woman liked picking 'sides'. She preferred to remain a neutral party and she was already breaking that by helping these intruders.
But Wonderland got boring and she needed to stir up a little trouble every now and then, to keep herself entertained.
I believe it's time for the guards to be alerted. She grinned.
When the two emerged from the crypt the mysterious woman was no where to be seen, but it didn't bother Regina because she now had what she came for. It did bother Jefferson however.
In her hand, she held a small box that she opened. Then she walked through the hole in the hedge she made earlier that lead straight to the portal.
She grabbed a piece of the mushroom that the caterpillar was sitting on, then she put it in the box.
Jefferson watched as Regina put the box on the ground and a puff of smoke engulfed it. When the smoke cleared away a short man with grey balding hair stood.
"Daddy! Come on let's get out of Wonderland." Regina put a hand on her fathers shoulder while he smiled and then she started walking towards the looking glass where they came through at.
Jefferson stood stunned because he was processing what just happened. "W-wait but only two can go through the portal!" He finally managed to get out of his mouth.
Regina smiled, "I am aware. See, this was my plan the whole time. I knew that only two could go in and only two could come out but I had to rescue my father. You were my ticket to Wonderland."
"But what about our deal?! What about my daughter?!" He was getting extremely angry now knowing where this conversation was going.
"If you really wanted what was best for her you should have never left her. She'll do better with you here in Wonderland." Regina growled at him.
Her father stepped through the portal.
Jefferson tried to make a run for the looking glass but Regina put an immobilizing spell on him. She was about to do more than that but she saw the royal guards running to them.
She walked to the portal calmly behind her Jefferson was shouting.
Before she walked through the looking glass she saw a pink and purple striped cat sitting on the hedge right beside her. It just stared at her with purple cat eyes. She has seen those eyes before.
The look that flashed in them was mischief and amusement.
Is that…? The woman from earlier? She's a cat? Regina stood wide eyed but the guards were getting closer so she was forced to leave Wonderland.
She took one last glance at the cat before she left. Interesting.
Jefferson was hauled away by the guards but he too noticed the cat sitting on the hedge. The spell Regina put on him was broken when she went through the looking glass. At the moment he was so angry his thoughts weren't very clear.
The cat jumped from its perch on the hedge and followed the guards with Jefferson.
As they approached the Queen of Hearts he noticed the cat lazily stretch near the Queen's feet, it meowed quietly. "Good job." The Queen's guard next to her said to the cat.
"You brought the guards to us?! Were you that woman in the maze?" Jefferson asked quickly.
The cat's eyes flashed and a wide grin made its way across it's features.
Just then light purple smoke covered the cat and grew taller and wider, after it was all gone the woman from earlier was there.
"The proper order of things is often a mystery to me. You, too?" She still wore the wide grin.
"You're a cat?!"
"Am I a human who can turn into a cat or a cat who can turn into a human?" The woman laughed at Jefferson's expression. He was utterly confused.
Before he could ask anymore questions the Queen of Hearts turned to whisper something to the guard.
Jefferson attempted to explain how he got here and he was just being forced to be here by the Evil Queen.
He even explained how his magic hat worked and if he could just make another he could leave Wonderland.
The Queen of Hearts just continued to whisper something in her horn that only the guard next to her could hear and then the guard said, "Off with his head!"
The guards held Jefferson arms as another one came up and chopped his head clean off his shoulders but much to his surprise, he did not die. He let out a strangled cry.
The cat woman laughed and grinned even wider, if possible, at the scene of Jefferson's head being held by the guard. His expression was priceless, she thought.
The guard spoke again when the Queen whispered something, "Get the hat to work." Easy for them to say they're head is not off their shoulders!
Then the guards took him off to the dungeons.
During that day the Queen ordered Jefferson to have his head sewn back on to his body so he could start making a hat. He worked for a while but the guards took him back to the dungeons every few hours.
He hadn't seen the cat woman ever since his head was cut off. He muttered under his breath what he would do to Regina and the cat woman the next time he saw them.
Jefferson was in the dungeons right now. The cell he was in was small and it had no bed so sleep was not going to be an option. Instead he just sat down with his back leaning up against the wall he tried to close his eyes and think about Grace.
He had failed her after all.
"You're having a bad day, are you not?"
Jefferson's eyes opened and he bolted upright at the voice. It was the cat woman.
"If it were not for you I would be back home with my daughter!" He shouted anger seeping through every word.
The woman was leaning up against the wall right beside the cage bars. Jefferson would have reached out to strangle her if she wasn't out of his arm length.
"You blame me but I did nothing that you did not ask for. Are you speaking to me or to... oh what was her name?" She tapped a finger on her chin. "Ah, Regina!"
"What?! I did not ask for you to get the guards and you could have stopped Regina! You were two feet away from her when she went into the portal!"
"Yes, but even if I hadn't they would have found you anyway. Besides that, how was I supposed to know Regina was going to betray you?" The woman smirked. Jefferson had a feeling that she wasn't surprised when Regina tricked him.
"Leave me! I have to concentrate on making a hat for the Queen." He took a rock and started drawing the design of a hat on one of the walls in the cell.
She looked at him curiously. "Ignore the Queen... for now. Make a hat but I'd prefer you didn't give it to her."
Jefferson looked up surprised, he thought the woman was working for the Queen. "What? Why would you go against your Queen?"
"What? You think I willingly do her bidding, the Queen's bidding?" She burst into a fit of laughter. "I am as much her prisoner as you are, Mad Hatter."
Her laughter echoed through the dungeon ominously. "Who are you?" Jefferson furrowed his eyebrows scrunching his face in confusion.
"I am simply known as the Cheshire Cat."
Thoughts? ;)