Carefully, Jefferson plucked a sixth rose from the large bush before stuffing it into his leather satchel. So far, nobody had seen him. Casting a furtive glance around, Jefferson began to stroll back towards the winding path.
"Stealing from the Queen now?" A voice purred, "how…brave: or incredibly foolish."
Jefferson whirled around, though there was nobody behind him. His eyes went up to the branches that hung over his head, where a huge grin sat. The rest of the body became visible and a cat appeared.
"I'm in a bit of rush Ches," he called up and continued towards the path but was stopped by the floating cat materialising in front of him.
"Don't call me that, Hatter!" The Cheshire cat growled, though it's permanent smirk made it impossible to be menacing.
"Don't call me the Hatter- that guy is a crazy loon who sits at a table drinking tea with a rabbit and dormouse," Jefferson scoffed, "I will never end up like him."
"It's a hare actually. And I wouldn't be so quick to say that," the cat called after him.
Jefferson ignored him, hurrying back up the path where the giant flowers loomed. His quick pace soon lead him back to the looking glass and rather relieved to leave, Jefferson stepped into the quivering horizontal pool to the hat's hall of doors. He gave the steel door of the land without colour a push and went from the bright colours of Wonderland to the black and white of the Land without Colour.
As usual, the woods were eerily dark, the gnarled trees creating a labyrinth around him. But Jefferson had been through the woods so many times he knew exactly how to shortcut to the castle. He made his way over the uneven ground, leaping over the roots that twisted out of the ground. As Jefferson grew closer to the castle he hesitated at the sound of twigs snapping behind him. For a moment he worried he wasn't alone, but shook off the thoughts and continued.
The silence was broken by the occasional crack of another branch breaking, and Jefferson grew certain he was being followed. He stopped, fiercely clutching the roses as if they could defend him.
"The game is up," a voice from behind him announced.
Jefferson instantly recognised their foreign accent and slowly turned to face the Count. Swallowing back any fear, Jefferson bowed with a flourish.
"I don't think we've been properly introduced: the name's Jefferson-"
Three other figures stepped out from the shadows, all as pale and with the same air of sophistication as the Count.
"Four on one, seems a fair fight, no?" The Count asked, clicking his fingers. The fellow vampires took another foreboding step towards Jefferson.
"Indeed," Jefferson muttered, reaching in his back pocket for a dagger.
"Looking for this?" In the Count's hand was the silver dagger, and he waved it tauntingly at Jefferson.
"You're not the only one who can steal," the Count said in his soft and detached voice.
He gave a nod, and the others lunged at Jefferson. Before Jefferson could defend himself, they had pinned him against the tree, pulling at each limb with excruciating strength to restrain him. The Count sauntered up to him, smiling smugly at the portal jumper.
"The dear Doctor Frankenstein informed me of you romancing my fiancée," he said, leaning in so that his face was level with Jefferson's: "and now I must have my revenge, for she is mine."
"Elizabeth is not yours, she doesn't even love you!" Jefferson cried as he struggled against his captors before spitting in the vampire's face.
The Count produced a silk handkerchief and wiped away the spit.
"Love does not matter," he responded, still devoid of any emotion, "Her family is rich, and I shall get her inheritance. There is no other reason why I want to marry the pathetic little bookworm."
As he spoke, the Count tugged the top hat from Jefferson's head and ran his fingers along the base.
"I have been keeping an eye on you and this seems to be your mode of transportation?" He asked whilst admiring the hat.
Jefferson didn't respond, though he couldn't hide the fear in his eyes as the Count looked as though he would drop it.
"If that vampire gets through to the Enchanted Forest, Rumplestiltskin will kill me.'
"But we can discuss this marvellous hat later," the Count handed the hat to one of his cronies and grabbed the discarded roses.
"These were for Elizabeth, were they not?"
Jefferson nodded, still writhing against the vampires.
"That is a shame, for I had hoped the Doctor was wrong about you. You would have made a good business partner."
The Count prised Jefferson from the tree and dragged him forward before punching him hard in the chest. Jefferson stumbled backwards and was attacked by the vampires behind him. His arms ached from being stretched behind the tree but he attempted to throw a punch in defence, though he was too slow for the Count, who kicked at his shins so that Jefferson collapsed to the floor. He was weapon less and overwhelmed by the endless stamina of the vampires, who beat him until the Count announced that they had done enough.
Crouched beside him, the Count pulled at Jefferson's cravat so that his neck was bare. Swiftly, three talon-like nails scratched into his skin and Jefferson could feel the blood oozing out of them. Jefferson closed his eyes as he awaited the vampire to bite his neck.
To his surprise, the Count stood up again and placed Jefferson's hat on his head with a smirk. Bowing to Jefferson, the vampires began to walk away. Infuriated, Jefferson dizzily struggled to his feet and forced himself to run after them. With his final ounce of force, Jefferson launched himself onto the Count and tore the hat from his head before falling off. His back hit the floor, sending waves of pain through his body. The Count shook his head as if getting the hat back was too much effort. He picked up the unharmed roses and threw them at Jefferson.
"At least you have flowers for your grave," the vampire mocked, giving Jefferson one last kick in the chest. Jefferson bit down hard on his tongue but to the Count's delight a scream of agony escaped him. With that, the vampires slunk back into the shadows that revolved sickeningly before Jefferson's eyes.