Summary: During their human life Elijah and his younger siblings learn parts of their childhood and memories are fake. Learning the truth a week before his wedding from his fiancée is the least thing, knowing the truth is dangerous especially when they start questioning everything in their lives. Forever and Always binds Elijah, his younger siblings, his fiancée and a Witch with a promise of something worth fighting for..
Disclaimer: I only own the plot idea and the Unknown characters. Twilight belongs to Stephanie Meyers while The Vampire Diaries belongs to L.J Smith.
Author’s Note: This is the first time I have entered into a writing competition. (I’m from Australia and the spelling and grammar are British English rather than American English, so please forgive any differences with spelling, grammar and punctuation.)
Chapter 1:
Elijah’s POV
“Sneaking away in the middle of the night brother? I thought only Finnik went out to see a lady friend,” Niklaus said as he leant against the doorjamb. I had just snuck back into my room through the window, thinking I was successful when Niklaus came in. I mused Niklaus’s senses seem, to be enhanced.
“Niklaus, I trust you’ll keep this between us?” I asked as I watched him slowly straighten up, nod and leave the room. I sighed and quickly washed, dressed in fresh clothes and went down to breakfast with my family.
“Elijah, Finnik and Niklaus will be hunting today. Kol and Henrik, you will both help your father in the stables. Start with the gardens Rebekah. I have to speak to Ayana.” Mother said as I ate the sweet porridge she had made. I watched Henrik practically inhale his food. We finished and went outside. I took a sword and a bow with a quiver of arrows. Finnik walked ahead while Niklaus hung back to walk with me.
“So where did you go last night Brother?” Niklaus asked, and I shrugged when he looked over at me.
“Niklaus do not worry about it,” I said. I thought about telling him of my love for Calista and my hope to marry her, but I decided against the idea.
“I wish to tell you something,” He said. “I overheard Mother talking to Ayana the other day; I am not Mikael’s son. Mother lay with one of the local men here, a wolf-shifter. She said she was sure that I wasn’t Mikeal’s,” Niklaus confided. I stopped to look him in the eye to see the truth. I paused while trying to gather my thoughts.
“I truly do not know what to say. You are still my brother even if we do not completely share the same blood. I shall tell you of my secret later,” I said, clapping him on the back. We caught up to Finnik.
As the light faded, we arrived home with our bountiful haul: a rabbit, two wild fowls and a deer. I saw with new eyes as father verbally chastised Niklaus. I want to help him, but my eyes expressed shame. I was not strong enough to face up to Father.We all went in for dinner. I sat next to Rebekah once she had poured our drinks and Mother had served us. Henrik and Kol they were speaking of the horses, as one was close to foaling. Finnik whispered to Mother as I spoke to Rebekah at the table. After everyone had gone to bed, I waited until I heard Father snoring before I slowing made my way out through the window. I went to a nearby clearing with flowers I picked along the way.When I heard a twig snap nearby, I straightened my stance, as a body cannoned into me. My arms closed around her tightly as I swung around in circles for a moment before, I stopped letting her feet touch the ground.
“Elijah” She breathed.
I smiled down into Calista’s face, “Calista. My love,” I said before dropping a kill on the tip of her nose. She giggled. I loved her laugh.
“My Father wishes to marry me off. I have until the change of seasons to either find my choice of partner or marry my Father’s choice.” Calista said, a few tears dropping down her face. I guided her over to a nearby fallen tree, where I cuddled her into my side.
“Tomorrow I shall tell my family of my intention to wed you before I talk to your father,” I said, rubbing Calista’s back, trying to comfort her.
“Really. Elijah? I thought Tatia Petrova was still a problem?” She questioned as she relaxed in my arms. My arms tightened around her as if to protect her from the mention of Tatia Petrova.
“While she plays with Niklaus’s heart, I hope she will either decide on Niklaus or move onto someone else. My Heart belongs to you. It has since we first met.” I explained, hoping the jealous Petrova would finally leave me alone.
“We first met after my brother had crashed into you,” Calista said, her tone fails to hide her laughter.
“I remember. You had been chasing after Eirik. Your face was flushed and yet all I could think was how lovely you looked,” I confessed. I saw Calista looking up at me.
“You seriously thought so, Elijah?” Her voice was soft; I could hear the insecurity in it. I looked her right in the eye as I declared, “Yes, I still do. I love you Calista,” I heard her sharp inhale as the last words passed my lips.
“I love you, Elijah. Our nightly talks are what keeps me going throughout the day. I can hardly wait until I can be here with you,” She revealed. I tilted her face before dropping my own; I looked at her silently asking permission before I kissed her lips for the first time.
“I felt crushed when my family and I returned home,” Calista admitted.
“Why?” I questioned as we kept looking into the others’ eyes.
“I realized you never asked for my name,” Calista replied and shook her head.
“I was the same way. I had gathered the items Mother required and was almost home when I too realized I had not gotten your name.” I mentioned before tilting my head to observe the stars above us.
“The fates must have smiled down on us. We saw each other again, right here at this clearing” Calista mused her smile seemed to shine brighter than the stars above us.
“Yes, I believe so. You were picking mushrooms if I remember correctly” I recalled.
“I was, I saw you from the corner of my eye. I was elated to see you again” Calista revealed as she looked away from the sky to me.
“I entered the clearing and was planning to sit and watched the clouds. I remember you straightened up and hit your head on a low branch” I mentioned as the day came to mind. Calista snuggled closer. “Yes, that was because we had found each other again. I smacked into that branch hard, and I remember starting to fall, and you caught me before I landed on the ground,” she stated before smiling at me. “Of course, I did. Even then I knew you were going to be someone special to me. I caught you, panicking that you were gravely injured. I found a large patch of moss and laid you down on it.” I pointed out.
“I found it charming how concerned you were. I tried to sit up, but you pressed down on my shoulder and told me to stay still.” She teased I laughed, “I was trying to remember any herbs that could help.” I stated.
“You used magic. I recall you chanting softly while your hands held my head still and soon the pain faded. I was so thankful about that” Calista interjected as she rested her head against my shoulder. I tightened my hold on her, knowing our time together was almost up.
“For a moment I thought you might be afraid of me. I couldn’t remember the correct spell to heal so. Instead, I took the injury.” I explained. Calista’s head shot up sharply before she looked at me.”You took the injury?” she questioned, I sighed only nodding.
“I felt it was my fault that you got injured. A little magic transferred the injury to me. Mother was able to heal me, and so I took the pain” I clarified, looking at Calista. Her brow furrowed as she took in my revelation.
“Oh, Elijah. It wasn’t your fault. While I am glad that the pain had gone, if I had known you took it I would have been upset. The idea of you in pain….” Calista broke off, her eyes filled with tears again. I caressed her cheek; noticing the stars reflected in her eyes.
“My sweet Calista. Do not cry; we are both well at this moment” I reminded her. I gave her another gentle kiss before standing and offering my hand. I could tell by the angle of the moon that our time was up. Calista had taken my hand before I tucked her into my side as I walked her to her house. I wished her the best of dreams before I returned home and snuck back into my room through the window. I sighed as I saw Niklaus had fallen asleep on my bed. He woke with a start when I gently pushed his shoulder. I got him out of my room before going to sleep myself.
I woke early the next morning. I washed and dressed before I went to find my parents, I saw Mother first as I entered the common areas.
“Morning Mother. I wish to speak to you and Father before my siblings wake” I said quietly. Mother nodded before heading outside to find Father: I was a few paces behind Mother; we found Father chopping wood.
“Mother, Father,” I nodded in respect. “There is a girl in a nearby village who I wish to marry. Do I have your blessings?” I questioned looking from one to the other.
“Who is she?” Mother asked, Father simply shrugged before going back to his task.
“Calista Stiandóttir. You spoke to her mother two evenings ago. She has one older sister and two younger brothers,” I said. As Mother realized of whom I spoke, disapproval was clear to see on her face. Her eyes narrowed as her mouth tightened turning her lips pale.
“Elijah, I do not think she is a good match for you,” Mother said before storming her way back inside. I turned to look at Father. I felt bitterly disappointed and knew it had to reflect on my face; my shoulders slumped slightly.
“Father?” I implored.
“For what it is worth Elijah my son, you have my blessing,” he said I sighed as I turned back to head inside. When I entered, Rebekah was helping Mother to prepare breakfast while Henrik waited at the table. Niklaus looked at me; I made my way to his side “What has Mother so upset this morning?” he asked.
“I spoke to her and Father of my wish to marry. She seems upset with my choice” I answered low enough for only Niklaus to hear. He clapped me on the back.
“You care for this girl?” I heard his unheard continuation even though Mother is so against her?
I nodded seeing Niklaus’s grin stretch over his face. He had shaken his head before we watched Father come back inside nd we ate.
Niklaus and I snuck away from the house it was the middle of spring, and every village had their markets. Our village had held their markets the day before and so we had to travel to a village over.
“So what are we looking for, Brother?” Niklaus asked as he turned to look at me. I sighed.
“A ring,” I admitted, I saw his eyebrows raise as surprise flickered across his face. We had passed the produce carts; we stopped at a few carts that held different items. Brushes, broaches, necklaces but no rings. I groaned in frustration. Niklaus tried to cheer me up.
“We’ll find something; Brother you must have faith.” He said as he clasped my shoulder, I acquiesce before we moved further through the markets. We were about to pass the more magically inclined carts when something caught my eye. Niklaus stumbled into me at my sudden stop; I helped him gain his balance before he followed as I headed towards the cart.
The woman standing by the cart looked like a typical gypsy; she made both Niklaus and me nervous. Having listened to Mother speak of the tricks, they would play amongst ordinary people.
“Come see my wears. You won’t find any better here.” The gypsy’s husky voice made Niklaus, and I share a look, apprehensively. “I mean no harm. You are in love and looking for a ring. Come look at what I have.” She said again as she beckoned us over, we both slowly made our way over. I looked over and saw a ring that stood out from the rest. It was made from silver and had a ruby in the middle. While it wasn’t as bright as the others it called to me; I could see Calista wearing it.
“Come, I tell you of your fortune.” The gypsy said looking right at me; I shook my head.
“No thank you. Just this.” I said as I held up the ring. The gypsy shook her head.
“Fortune or no ring.” She said. I put the ring back and turned away; Niklaus watched me keeping behind me.
We had only taken a couple of steps when the gypsy came over to us, the ring in her hand. “Three silver. You have darkness in your future; someone close will betray you.” The gypsy said as she handed me the ring.
“What does that mean?” Niklaus questioned as I handed over the silver. The gypsy shook her head.
“I sense betrayal soon. You are both close to this person. Betrayal for both of you, but you will be hurt more.” She said as she pointed to me. Niklaus and I shared a look; worry was written across both our faces.
“Thank you. I think” Niklaus said before we turned away as we made our way to Calista’s house. As we approached the house, I saw Calista sitting talking to an older man I assumed was her father. An older woman was standing in the doorway; she was turned to face the inside. The man saw Niklaus and me first; he broke off his conversation before heading over towards us.
“Sir, I’m Elijah Mikealson, this is my brother Niklaus.” I introduced myself and my brother. “I wish to talk to you about Calista.”
“I’m Stian. Nice to meet you both.” Stian had said before he shook both Niklaus and my hands. “What about Calista?” Stian asked as he gestured for us to move further away from the house. Niklaus stayed to play with the two younger boys that had come from the house while I followed Stian.
“Nice to meet you as well. Sir, I wish to marry your daughter.” I stated boldly, deciding just to spit it out. Stian stopped and faced me.
“You have my blessing and permission. I knew someone had caught Calista’s eye. I followed her one night and caught you both. At first, I was angry and almost came out and confronted you both, but when I saw how you looked at each other, I realized I couldn’t hurt her. I hoped that if I said she had a certain time to find her partner or it’s my choice you would come.” Stian replied, my shock must have shown on my face because Stian started laughing.
“Thank you, sir. Why didn’t you say something to either Calista or me?” I asked, feeling relief that I could marry Calista.
“I wanted to see how fast you would get your act together if you thought you might lose her. If I had spoken to either of you, I couldn’t be sure if you wanted to marry or if you felt forced. Now I can be sure of both your feelings.” Stian said before we turned and headed back to the house, we returned to find my brother on the ground with two boys piled on top of him, as if both their combined weight could keep him down. Calista stood next to two other women, and the three of them were laughing. She turned to see Stian, and I am coming closer, her face lit up as she saw me. I felt my face splitting into a smile. Niklaus looked over at me before rolling his eyes and somehow picking both boys off him and getting to his feet keeping the boys separate.
Calista moved away from her family while Stian went to join his wife and another daughter. I stayed where I was and when Calista was only a step away I dropped to one knee, I watched as surprise and happiness crossed her face.
“Calista, would you marry me?” I asked I felt my heart trying to beat itself out of my chest. Calista nodded, she tried to speak a couple of times, but nothing came out. I smiled as I slid the ring onto her finger. I watched as the smile spread across her face when she saw the ring. I stood up before Calista threw herself into my arms. I heard clapping coming from behind her, and she blushed seeing her family and my brother standing watching us. Everyone was smiling. We made our way over to them; where congratulations rang out from them all. We spoke of wedding details, noticing how low the sun was Niklaus and I bid our goodbyes and headed to our home.
“Mother isn’t going to be pleased,” Niklaus commented as we followed the familiar path.
“I know. I think we are going to have to keep this from Mother, Finnik and Father.” I groaned.
“Finnik will follow Mother in anything. He would have been married to Sage for the last few seasons if he had his mind.” Niklaus snorted.
“I know. I have no idea of what to do about the wedding. It will have to be held in Calista’s village to lower the chance of Mother trying to stop it.” I said dragging my hand down my face as I thought of the complications Mother could make. Niklaus nodded, I knew he would stand by my side through anything.
“What do you think of what that gypsy said?” I questioned, Niklaus stopped.
“Elijah, should we pay any attention to what was said? Mother has always said gypsies like playing games with our kind.” He said I shrugged.
“How much should we trust what she says? If you hadn’t overheard her speaking to Ayana, you and I would still think Mikael is your father. Have you any idea of who your father is?” I asked thinking of other things our mother may have lied about, I thought back to Freya. While I was so young that most of my memories of my older sister were vague, I knew of her, and I remembered bits of her. I don’t remember her dying; I just remember that one day she was no longer there.
“I haven’t found anything. Elijah, do you think Mother has lied about other things?” Niklaus asked he stared at me, and I gave a slight incline of my head, knowing he would catch it.
“We will have to continue this conversation another day, Brother. It is too dangerous for us; we could have someone eavesdrop on our conversation.” I said as I motioned to the front of our home only feet away. Niklaus had nodded before he jogged ahead. I heard father yelling at him.
“Where have you both been?” Mikael roared as I came through the open doorway. Niklaus tried not to shrink back from Father. From the corner of my eye, I saw Rebekah pushing Henrik and Kol out of the room. Mother and Finnik stood away from us, watching on blankly.
“We went to see if the market in a nearby village had anything new, something we might not get here,” I spoke up, cutting Niklaus off. He promptly shut his mouth and nodded his head. Mikael turned to me, the anger in his eyes seemed to shine like a blaze in the dark blue depths.
“Why didn’t you take Rebekah or escort your Mother?” Mikael asked at a lower volume.
“Niklaus and I stumbled upon it. We had been following an Elk; it ran off, and we were hoping to pick up the tracks. When we heard the noises, we realized we had lost the Elk and went to check out the market we came across.” I stated, Niklaus had taken a couple of steps back and was half beside me and the other half hiding behind me. I hoped Father hadn’t noticed otherwise Niklaus was going to get another chastising.
“You have no hunting weapons on you. How can you hunt without them?” Mother voiced from the other corner.
“We did as you ask Mother and left them by outside by the door. We knew how much you hate it when we bring them in.” Niklaus said as he pointed behind both of us to the now shut door. I wondered if he would use that as his excuse for being behind me.
“You are both late, and we all have already eaten,” Finnik said as he pointed to the now empty table with only crumbles left.
“It is okay, Niklaus and I ate something at the market. We are sorry if we worried you all.” I said hoping that my annoyance didn’t show in my voice. I could feel anger bubbling under the surface and hoped to get to my room before anything could happen. I both Father and Mother a nod each before pushing Niklaus in front of me towards the bedrooms. I left him in front of his door while I went into my room and tried to calm down.
I waited again until Father was snoring before heading towards my window, I had just opened the shutters when my door opened, and there stood Niklaus, he entered my room and saw Henrik, Rebekah and Kol crowding around the open door. I motioned for them all to enter the room as well. I sighed hoping I could still get to the clearing Calista, and I met in before she did.
“They want to come with you,” Niklaus said to me as he motioned to our younger siblings. I groaned silently.
“If we all disappear, surely someone will either see us from the village and notify our parents or they will come to check on one of you during the night,” I said hoping I wouldn’t have four others with me on this night.
“Please brother, I wish to meet you girl who has caught your notice,” Rebekah said as she clasped her hands in front of her, begging.
“I want to see what has Mother so upset,” Kol said with a shrug; I could see it meant a great deal to him, but he was trying not to show it. Niklaus and I had rolled my eyes before I turned to see why Henrik wished to come.
“I want to see the one who makes you so happy Elijah. I would like to introduce myself, as your youngest brother.” Henrik said his chest puffed up in pride. I turned to look at Niklaus.
“I’m there to keep these three in line. If left on your own with our younger siblings, they would overwhelm both you and Calista.” Niklaus said with confidence that seemed shaky. I nodded.
“Fine, just know that we usually just talk. I would ask you all to go back at different times. That way if caught I can say I heard something and went to check it out. If we are all caught together, it would not seem plausible.” I said, watching them all nod their consent before we each went out my window, Niklaus had shut my door before following last.
When I enter the clearing I saw Calista sitting on the log; her face was downcast, and I could just make out a few wet marks on her dress, I realized she was crying. I rushed over to her gathering her into my arms.
“What has you crying, my love?” I asked. I watched as her head shot up as she looked into my face, her own brightened before she threw her arms around my neck pulling me in closer.
“I thought you weren’t coming,” Calista said as I dried her tears with my thumbs. I tucked her into my side as I sat on the log. I looked away from Calista when I heard a throat clearing behind me. My siblings were looking on at us with different expressions, ranging from amusement, caring, curiosity and lastly compassion.
“Calista, we are not alone tonight. My younger siblings wish to meet you; I know you met Niklaus this afternoon, but these are the other three, Kol, Rebekah and Henrik.” I said as I pointed them out.
“Hello, I’m Calista. Elijah has spoken of all of you so fondly; I feel as if I already know you all.” Calista said as she stood up and went to hug them all. She tickled Henrik making him squeal and the rest of us laugh.
“Elijah has mentioned you as well, usually when our parents and oldest brother aren’t around,” Kol said as he sat on the ground, near the log. Rebekah and Henrik followed his example while Niklaus leant against a nearby tree and Calista joined me back on the fallen log.
“Please forgive my brother, he never learned tact,” Rebekah said as she hit Kol on the arm.
“It is okay. I know from Elijah that your Mother and older brother do not approve of me, while your Father is staying out of it.” Calista said as she sighed heavily. I rubbed her arm and tucked her tighter into my side. Mentally cursing my mother and older brother for the hurt they cause Calista.
“We are sorry,” Henrik said he handed a flower to Calista; I had seen him pick it on our way here but hadn’t thought he would give it to Calista.
“Thank you. It is none of your faults; no one can control what others in our family do or how they act. I hope that we can all get along and become a close family.” Calista said as she smiled at all of us.
“I wish to tell you all something. Elijah already knows, but I know I can trust you all to keep this between on us.” Niklaus said as he moved away from the tree and came to sat down with our siblings on the ground.
“What is it, Brother?” Rebekah asked she seemed so fragile in the current light as if at any moment she could break.
“Mikael isn’t my father,” Niklaus said as he refrained from looking at either of us around him.
“What?!” Kol and Rebekah cried, their shock mirrored in their faces. Calista nodded, as Henrik looked between the rest of us.
“Mother lay with another, a local from the village after a fight with Mikael. I am the result of that union. Mikael doesn’t know; he might suspect which would explain why he treats me differently.” Niklaus said he took a deep breath before finally looking at our siblings before turning to look at Calista.
“Niklaus isn’t the only one not from Mikael,” Calista commented.
“How do you know that and why don’t you seem shocked?” Rebekah asked as she looked from Niklaus to Calista.
Chapter 2:
Elijah’s POV.
“The man Ester lay with is from my village, my Mother’s younger brother. He knows for a fact that Niklaus and Henrik are his. Esther may have used magic to keep him away from them and of course from the rest of your family, but she isn’t able to mask their scents or hide their essences during the full moon.” Calista said as she looked away from my siblings and me, she was looking blankly towards the sky as if memories came forward as she spoke.
“When I was about six, I remember playing with my older sister on the blanket. Mother had been sewing when Ansel came to visit. He spoke in low tones to Mother. He had fallen in love with a married woman from another village; he didn’t know what to do. He admitted he had laid with her and how he had asked her to run away with him. She had declined, worried about her children she already had. He offered for them to go with them, he said she was considering that proposition. He wanted to let my mother know if they did leave together. Mother was at first disapproving and upset with him.” Calista said her hand squeezed mine.
“Mother mentioned that she could ask her current husband for a divorce, as like in the old world if a woman was unhappy with her husband and believed he couldn’t provide for her. She could ask for a divorce and either go back to live with her family if they would accept her or if she had lands of her own. Ansel seemed happy with the information and left soon after and for a while, we didn’t hear from him. Mother thought he had succeeded and told my father about it. He seemed pleased that Ansel had gotten some happiness. It was months later we saw Ansel again; he looked saddened that mother thought the one he loved had died, and he was left alone. When she heard what had happened she was so angry, not at Ansel but with Esther. Mother had managed to get her name out of Ansel without him realizing.” Calista admitted, her cheeks reddened a little as she looked over at my siblings.
“What happened next?” Kol asked his eyes showing sadness for a man he hadn’t met.
“Ansel told Mother of how Esther had returned to her husband and later had another child, at first he thought the child was Mikael’s. One day he went to beg Esther to give him another chance when he felt a bond with the infant, he got a closer look at the child and knew it was his. He demanded Esther allow him to be in the child’s life. She had denied the parentage of Niklaus, but Ansel told her he knew the truth. He as a wolf and as a wolf he could feel bonds with family and since he was alpha he needed to claim his children. They would need to know their position not only in the village or the packs but to know what it meant to be alpha, to be followed by others and to be a decent leader. Alphas are usually the leaders of the village as well. They are held in higher regard and hold more responsibilities than any other.” Calista continued. I saw both Niklaus and Henrik leaning forward hanging off every word Calista spoke. Kol and Rebekah listened carefully their shock had faded as surprise became the apparent emotion showing on their faces.
“Do you change on the full moon?” Rebekah asked as she moved to lean her back against the fallen log Calista and I were sitting on, Rebekah had turned to look at Calista.
“No. Usually, only men, trigger the change. To trigger the change someone has to die at your hand. Accident or not. Those who haven’t triggered the change but have the ability to have problems with their emotions, anger seems to be the most common closer to the full moon. We have treaties with the villages nearby; they send us their criminals sentenced to death where the male head of the family will trigger the change. It is considered an honor as well as the duty of the male head of the family to do so. They only trigger the change once they have married, to protect their family and village from threats. The Alpha’s wife has the hardest job; she has to explain and help the new wolf families. The heightened emotions nearing the full moon cause the women to step into their husband’s job until the moon phases change. Women are a lot calmer than unchanged or changed males; we aren’t sure why that happens. Sometimes women have triggered the change; it is rare sometimes a family has no sons or she never marries, of course, some want to trigger it. It is considered to be an honor, the first change is very painful, I’ve heard.” She mentioned.
“I guess since Niklaus hasn’t met Ansel he didn’t win against our mother?” Kol asked, turning the conversation back to the original topic.
“You’re right; Ansel only managed to anger your mother. She threatened to curse him to feel the first change again every full moon if he came near your family. He left and for years he rarely ventured away from our village or even into the woods around it. He became a shell of who he is. Then a few years later he snapped out of it, he came back around to visit. He said Esther had decided to leave Mikael forever; she had started moving her things into a house that he had put in her name. It was in the woods between both our villages; he said it would be safe since she could use magic to hide it and herself from Mikael. He made it large enough for you all to live there, the house was grander than anything Mikael had built. It had to be Ansel is the current alpha, and his position has to be clear for the village to see.” Calista had stated before she snuggled into my side. I saw Rebekah’s awe as she watched Calista and I. Kol seemed amused at the current situation while both Niklaus and Henrik were oblivious as Calista spoke of their biological father.
“Five months went by; Ansel was content. He spoke of Esther and her children; he didn’t care that only one was his, and he never made the distinction. He came over for his usual visit and told us he knew Esther was with child, and it was his. We all were happy for him and while he didn’t stay long since he was worried over Esther trying to do too much. We promised to come over and help out if needed and while he said he would accept, he told us that Esther might not and first to come over to introduce ourselves and see how that went. The day we came to visit we found Ansel on the ground with bruises and smeared blood. Mother helped him up and into the house while my sister and I hurried home to get the items needed to clean up the blood and for Mother to help fade the bruises. When we came back, we heard as Ansel told mother. Mikael had come by he had fought Ansel and while he had won and sent Mikael on his way, he was worried about Esther and the baby. She was close to giving birth, and he worried that the stress of all that was happening would cause her to birth early and possibly kill the child. Esther had been hiding in one of the rooms of the house with you all.”
“Esther had said she wouldn’t return to Mikael no matter what happened.Esther’s declaration calmed Ansel, and we met her. Ansel and Esther together seemed so content together; he anticipated her every move and it truly seemed like she was the center of his world. Later she had given birth and wanted Ansel to name their child, and he did. Henrik was the name of my grandfather, his father and passed onto his son. Months passed in happiness for your siblings, your mother and Ansel. The news came that Mikael had plans to get Esther back, many warned both Ansel and Esther of what he might do. Desperate men can be dangerous more so than any wild animal. Esther spent more time practicing magic; she started teaching most of you. Then one night during a full moon, while she and the rest of you hide in tunnels waiting for dawn, Mikael decided to hunt Ansel.” Calista said her tone of voice dropping as her face showed sadness.
“Mikael killed serval wolves that night. When dawn broke and the families found the dead wolves, they change back to human when killed on a full moon. They demanded justice, Ansel went to your village and spoke to the leaders. They went to arrest Mikael but he wasn’t here, many thought that maybe one of the wolves had killed him during the night. Esther had left you all with my parents; she had gone home to see if Ansel was back. She came running inside and told us she had found Ansel dead inside, a knife she knew was Mikael’s in Ansel’s chest. Mikael had left a message in Ansel’s blood for her. She was to return home as his wife again, or he would come after Henrik. She was horrified, my Mother tried to calm her down and ended up giving her a calming potion. While she slept, Mother got in contact with a friend from another village; she is a witch and together they consulted the spirits.” Calista recalled tears had fallen as she spoke of Ansel’s death.
“Why couldn’t your mother do it on her own?” Henrik asked his voice was soft, the shock of the story evident on his and the other’s faces. I could only feel horror.
“Mother isn’t a witch of nature, while she is a witch she hasn’t triggered the change but she holds the ability. Her friend Riyana is a witch of nature, a current coven leader and elder. She helped talk with the spirits. They told them of two outcomes for Esther. One she returns to Mikael only to be caught trying to poison him for what he did to Ansel and threatened to do to Henrik. The second she spends the rest of her life running with all of you, she would be killed by someone Mikael paid, and you would all end up dead as you try to protect her. Mother asked the spirits of a spell one that could protect the innocents involved.”
“Us.” Niklaus interrupted.
“Yes. I don’t know much of the spell only that it would remove certain memories from those around you all to protect us as much as possible. The spirits warned that the spell would have consequences, mostly for Esther. Ansel had imprinted on Esther, while rare for wolves it happens. An imprint is when the wolf finds their perfect match, their imprintee is their whole world and should either wolf or imprintee die the remaining half would never be the same. They would remain broken and their life, if they live long after the others death is nothing short of torture. Many die shortly after or are killed by others to allow them to find peace and reunite with their partner.” Calista confirmed before sighing.
“My mother loved Esther as a sister and couldn’t harm her in any way. After the talk with the spirits, she woke your mother, who was already suffering the loss of Ansel. My mother spoke to her of what the spirits had said and of the spell, the consequences, everything. Esther begged Mother to do the spell. Esther blamed herself for Ansel’s murder, and the danger Mikael posed to you all, she didn’t care about the suffering she would have. She told my Mother of a deal she made with her sister not long after her marriage with Mikael; she believed that the suffering she would endure would be her punishment for what she had agreed to with her sister Dahlia.” Calista revealed.
“Mother has a sister?” Kol asked confusion knitted his brow as he looked to Niklaus and I. Niklaus shrugged since it was news to him as well. I lowered my head.
“Not a blood-related sister but a coven sister, which in a Witches hierarchy is the same thing. I don’t know much about the Coven our Mother was a member of or any deal she made, but I do remember mother practicing magic with a group of others back in the old world.” I mentioned as I saw the others turn to look at me.
“What was the deal?” Rebekah asked as the mention of magic and family caught her interest.
“It seems that when Esther first marry Mikael she was barren. A few years passed with no luck, which during this time she had barely practiced her magic and was rather weak with her craft. Dahlia usually would come over when Mikael was away, she didn’t like him much and had tried to stop Esther from marrying him. During these visits, Esther had mentioned her shame of not being able to have Mikael’s child. Dahlia had mentioned a potion that might help, but the price would be steep, not as steep as others in the coven would have. Dahlia wanted the first born of every child of Esther’s bloodline. Esther agreed thinking that if Dahlia’s price was that steep she couldn’t imagine what the others would have been.” Calista spat, her lips turned into a grimace as she mentioned the price of the potion. We all were horrified of the price; Rebekah seemed to have trouble getting a grip on it as her mouth kept opening and closing without saying anything.
“Finnik is the oldest, and he is with us.” Kol pointed out, his tone showed how he wouldn’t care if he wasn’t.
“We had an older sister, she died in the old world; that is why our parents came to this land,” Henrik said, his embarrassment clear on his face.
“Finnik was two years older than me, but I remember Freya our oldest sister vaguely. I don’t remember her dying; I don’t even remember her being sick just one day she wasn’t there anymore. Father had been away with the other men of the village, viking. When he came back, Mother had said Freya had died from the illness that was in the village when he returned. I remember he lost it, yelling that she was a witch so why couldn’t she prevent what happened. Mother pointed out that he had forbidden her from doing magic. It was soon after that news of a new land reached our village and our family became one of the first take the journey. When we arrived Father allowed Mother to practice and do as much as she wanted, she was in charge of gathering everything she would need and while she could practice when it wouldn’t interfere with her other responsibilities.” I recounted, I felt Calista’s grip tighten on my hand, and I knew whatever she would say would change my younger siblings and my whole life.
“Don’t doubt your memories Elijah. Freya didn’t die; Dahlia took her. Esther had tried to make a different deal with her after Freya was born but Dahlia wouldn’t change her mind. Part of their deal was to keep it a secret between Esther and Dahlia, Mikael wasn’t to know and neither were any of their coven members. Dahlia threatened to tell Mikael of the price of their deal if Esther tried to change it again. Esther used what magic she could on Freya, Finnik and Elijah. She wiped Freya’s mind and made Finnik and Elijah’s memories fade. Mikael loved Freya more than any of you; she was his perfect child, which is what scared Esther the most if he found out what truly happened to her. That is why she told everyone she had died. Part of the spell my Mother did remove any memories of being told of the spell, who cast it, why and anyone who was close to the innocents it was cast to protect. After the spell Esther and the rest of you passed out, a few of the closest wolves carried you all away from our village and back to your village. Since it was so close from the night of the full moon, they left you near the tunnel entrances. No one knew how it the spell would affect Esther or anyone else close to you. The whole Village seemed to forget about your family only my family and Riyana could remember everything.” Calista finished as she looked sadly at all of us, her eyes seemed to hold even more tears than should be possible.
“The way our Mother is now, is all because of a spell?” Rebekah asked she wiped away her tears.
“Yes. When my Father first caught Elijah and me at the clearing the next day he went to talk to your parents of our possible match. Mother came with him, thinking she might get her closeness to Esther back. The complete opposite happened, Esther was so cold towards both my parents while Mikael seemed uncaring. Esther had made her stand of our match clear; she wouldn’t accept me or anyone from our village into your family. Mother went home almost heartbroken; she decided to ask the spirits, and they told her why Esther had acted that way. Esther feels the pain of the lost Imprint without know why or who she is feeling that way; she feels bitter towards the whole world because of it, and that is why she controls as much as she does with you all. She doesn’t want to lose you or for you to feel the pain she does.” Calista said. Rebekah was wiping away more tears while Kol was comforting Henrik as Niklaus seemed lost. I felt a surge of hatred towards Mikael my father and pity for my Mother.
“Why is Mother still with Mikael, even with faked memories?” Niklaus asked he hugged our younger siblings closer trying to comfort them as best as he could.
“Her feelings about her future when told of the two possible outcomes stayed with her after the spell. The outcome for the spell is to protect innocents, meaning all of you. Esther made the choice conscientiously to have the spell cast on her, all actions after that have to keep out of danger when it comes to Mikael. She feels everything she felt towards him before but without the feelings towards Ansel or the happiness they had in the months they were together. Without the good she had in her life the bad has turned her bitter and jaded. She is stuck with Mikael until all of you are old enough to protect yourselves or are far enough away from Mikael he can no longer use any of you against her. While a part of her know if you marry and start your families you will be away from Mikael the larger part of her is worried about what might happen to your firstborns because of the deal she made with Dahlia.” Calista explained, her eyebrows furrowed as the spoke.
“I’m going to take Henrik back. It’s still dark enough that we should be able to sneak back in without being caught. It was nice to meet you Calista.” Kol said as he stood, keeping Henrik from drifting to sleep. Henrik stood up hugged both Calista and I before waving to the others as Kol led him from the clearing.
“I’m sorry for telling you all this, especially when you have only met me tonight,” Calista said to Kol, Rebekah and Henrik.
“Do not worry about it.We aren’t particularly close to either of our parents, what you have told us tonight explains more about what happened clear to us.” Rebekah said as she smiled reassuringly at Calista.
“Why would Dahlia need so many firstborns?” Niklaus asked as he looked between Rebekah and Calista.
“I don’t know. I have only read Mother’s grimoire twice, and she has only let me get about five pages in before she takes it off me.” Rebekah said as she shook her head.
“There is an immortality spell, though it uses the first born of a bloodline to complete. Only those who practice the darkest magic can do that. Over the years only few immortality spell have ever been mentioned, and many go against nature. Witches are supposed to keep the balance of nature. Of course, sometimes they mess up that balance just as badly as they try to keep it. My Mother mentioned in passing a spell that was in the balance, it would create a whole new species in the world but would not go against the laws of nature.” Calista noted.
“So if Dahlia was using one that goes against nature, how could she be stopped?” Niklaus asked, his eyes showed a light that seemed dangerous to those opposing our side.
“It would depend on which one she is using. There are mainly two ways for a witch to gain immortality without losing their magic, one goes with the balance of nature and the other against it. The one with nature is where the witch lives a year and spends a century sleeping, a consequence of the spell is that while they sleep they watch their loved ones lives without a choice of what they see. The other involves every firstborn of one bloodline withing a couple of generations. This one is harder to complete as it has to be a witch in the same coven as you, and all the children must be from the same family bloodline. A drawback of the spell is that they become infertile, and no spell or potion can reverse it. Nature’s way of keeping a balance.” Calista informed us.
“We could always work a way to separate ourselves from Mother’s bloodline, so if Dahlia is using that way to gain immortality, she’ll fail, and any children we have will be safe,” Rebekah said as she watched the stars in the sky, rather than looking at any of us.
“Rebekah has a point. There are ways to do that and it would keep Freya and possibly her children safe as well.” Calista said, her head tilted away from us as if she was thinking of possible spells she could do.
“How could we protect a sister and future nieces and nephews safe when we’ve never met her and have no way of contacting her,” Niklaus said.
“Anything that could separate you from Esther’s bloodline would need to be drunk by her to effect all from her bloodline. You would have to find a witch who would take you on as part of her line if wouldn’t be completed until she is on her deathbed, until then you would have magic but no spirits to call upon or family strength.” Calista said. Something clicked in my mind when she mentioned the no spirits.
“That is what your mother did, isn’t it?” I asked Calista gave a nod as she sighed.
“My mother isn’t a witch of Nature, and she had never been. It seemed that when my grandmother had carried my mother she became obsessed with immortality or creating a new species a superior one. She did these spells on herself not knowing that they would effect my mother rather than her, she tried so many things and did both the darkest magic as well as the lightest in her endeavors. When nothing seemed to work, she grew disillusioned and waited until after she birthed my mother, hours after my grandmother tried once more. When it didn’t work my grandmother turned her back on magic. As my mother grew, she seemed normal enough until she hit womanhood. Grandmother watched as my mother did things seemingly impossible, she seemed able to bend nature to her will. The magic she could do would kill a normal witch, and that scared the other witches, many believed that what my grandmother had done while carrying my mother made her the way she was, and so they killed her.” Calista said her eyes unfocused lost in the story.
“My mother fled her village knowing they would come for her next and her father wouldn’t protect her. Of course, her magic was so unique and strong that anyone who saw her using magic would recognize it if they crossed it anywhere else. She always managed to get away before being caught by members of her old village; then she got sick and was found by a traveler. The traveler nursed her back to health, and my Mother told the traveler of her life. The traveller allowed my Mother to come with her and a few villages away they met a close friend of the traveler; she was a witch of nature. She offered to change the bloodlines; she warned my Mother that at first, she would be weaker than she usually was and that completing wouldn’t happen until her death but that it would change the residue of magic, enough that she would be safe to live a normal life.” Calista told us.
“Did you get the same magic?” Rebekah asked, her interest lit up her eyes. She loved learning about magic and learning of the different types seemed to thrill her to no end.
“I am stronger than my Mother; her powers are still stronger than a normal witch of nature, but they are weaker than mine. She believes it is because she spent half her life with one type of magic before having it changed and merged into another while I was born and have stayed with only one. Syriana, my older sister, is stronger than Mother but weaker than me. The witch who performed the spell passed away when Syriana was one, I wasn’t born until two years later making whatever the spell did settle in my mother. Father thinks that because the spell only settled after Syriana that we would have different bloodlines, like different sides of a family.” Calista had said before she shifted on the log she straightened up before she bent down and picked up a handful of back from the log we were sitting on, cupping her hands so that the bark spread out between both of her hands.
Calista stared into her hands, while we watched on around her. Slowly before our eyes a shoot grew from the bark until it was the size of a young sapling, the roots had grown around Calista’s hand with the ends in the air. Niklaus opened his mouth to say something, and before he could we watched as Calista frowned into her hands, and the sapling started to whither away before dying, she cleared her face, and the sapling returned just as healthy and green as it had when it had first grown in Calista’s hands. As she pulled her hands apart, the bark started falling to the ground, and the sapling returned to a piece of bark with no evidence it had been there ever. My jaw had slackened as I watched, I saw Niklaus had the same expression on his face. Our jaws slack with wide eyes as we watched on in disbelief of what we had just witnessed.
“That is amazing Calista. I wish I could do things like that; I want to be stronger in my craft, but Mother seems un-inclined to teach me anything, and so she claims to be busy and often goes to talk with Ayana, the other Witch in our village.” Rebekah said as her shoulders slumped when she mentioned the rejection our Mother dished out so often.
“It seems the spell cast, has caused more problems than it solved. I apologize on my family’s behalf for their part. I don’t know if anything can be done to change what has happened.” Calista said compassion and sadness settled on her face. I hugged her closer to me, not liking the space that had come between us during and after Calista showed her magic.
“Please do not worry over what has happened Calista. We will soon all be family, and we shall stick together. It was the best solution with the options available at the time.” Niklaus said as he gently lifted and squeezed Calista’s hand, lending his support to her. Calista smiled at him, and I saw the spark of happiness in his eyes that someone had finally accepted him as he was.
“Niklaus is right. We are now all family, Elijah, you, Niklaus, Kol, Henrik and I. We stick together forever and always, as family.” Rebekah said as she got up and hugged Calista, I got up and joined the hug and motioned for Niklaus to join in.
“Family. Forever and Always.” Niklaus and I said together, causing Rebekah and Calista to laugh.
“I wish there was a way to make us all Ansel’s children rather than Mikael’s. I want nothing to do with my Father’s evil.” I said violently shaking my head, knowing I could never look at Mikael the same way again. Rebekah nodded her head.
“I agree with Elijah. I do not think I can ever look at Mikael in the same way again. He isn’t close to any of us and the way he treats Niklaus is horrid.” Rebekah exclaimed she shuddered when mentioning Niklaus’s treatment at the hands of Mikael.
“Since he is human it might be easier to do. Mother preserved Ansel with a spell; I shall go home and talk to my Mother and sister and see if there is a spell. You each would have to drink it. It should work right away since in almost every way Ansel is no longer in this world. His body and essence are still here, while his spirit can cross from the other side to here as he wishes.” Calista said as she laid her head against my shoulder after we all sat back down, her and I on the fallen log again while Niklaus and Rebekah on the ground.
“Can we talk about your coming wedding now? I think we all have so much to think about from what happened in the past and what is to come. We should just enjoy this time together and talk about happy topics until we have to go home.” Rebekah said, her smile spreading across her face and making us each in turn smile.
“Yes, let’s talk about something else.” I agreed as I pulled Calista tighter into my side; I heard her content sigh, her breath brushing across my neck cause gooseflesh to spread.
“Everyone will have to use magic wards to keep Mother, Mikael and possibly Finnik away from the wedding. They will come and ruin the day. Mother will try to stop the wedding any way she can, and she would stoop to hurting Calista to get Elijah to stop the wedding.” Niklaus said his face showing his anger at the idea of someone hurting anyone he considers family.
“If needed Henrik and I can stay away from the wedding and cause as much trouble as we can to keep Mother, Mikael and if we do enough Finnik as well. I would love to see your wedding, but if it is needed, I will do what I can to keep anyone away that would want to stop the wedding.” Rebekah said determination clear on her face; it rang through her words. Calista smiled wiping away a tear that had started to fall.
“You would do that for us?” Calista asked hope clear in her voice.
“Yes, any of us would. Elijah is happy, and that is something we all want.” Niklaus said his smirk, not diminishing the truth to what he said.
“Thank you. We’ll try magic first and if that fails then if Henrik wants to then you both can cause as much mayhem to keep them away. I’ve asked my parents not to mention whom I became betrothed to, so it can’t get back to your parents.” Calista said, I turned to look at her and saw her looking up at me.
“We could have the wedding in a week’s time after the coming full moon. Would Stian mind if we held it in your village rather than mine?” I asked Calista. I saw her nod.
“My father won’t mind; he mentioned to me that it might be best if we married in my village,” Calista replied, her lips quirked into a half smile. I saw from the corner of my eye Niklaus shaking his head while Rebekah was trying not to laugh.
“Well at least that is sorted, so Niklaus would you stand beside me?” I asked watching as Niklaus’s face snapped up to look towards me.
“Are you serious?” Niklaus asked me, his eyes had widened, and his jaw looked to be on the verge of becoming slack.
“Yes, I am Brother,” I answered. Calista was smiling widely, and Rebekah looked between Niklaus and me with excitement showing clear on her face.
“I would love to, Brother,” Niklaus said as he gave a nod, a grin spreading across his face.
Chapter 3:
Elijah’s POV.
During the day Niklaus, Kol, Henrik and I all snuck away to start on a home for Calista and I. We knew that once both bloodlines severe and we became ‘free’ my younger siblings would live with us until they married and moved out on their own. At night after Mikael started snoring, I would sneak out to see Calista, sometimes one of my younger siblings came with me but more often I went alone. The night of the full moon we spent with Mikael and Esther in the tunnels, Niklaus, Kol, Henrik, Rebekah and I all sat near each other and away from Finnik and our biological parents. Calista had managed the potion to change Kol, Rebekah and my bloodlines to Ansel’s. As we ate, I passed it along to Kol and Rebekah. We all shared a look before downing the potion in our drink, knowing if we had tried any other way, Esther or possibly Mikael would have noticed, and we would have been found out.
“How will we know it worked?” Rebekah asked softly; Kol shrugged before turning to look at Niklaus and I. Henrik had curled up, almost asleep. I looked at Niklaus, while he tried to stare me down.
“I don’t know if you’ll notice anything tonight, but it should be different for you tomorrow. You’ll be a little faster tomorrow, see a little better, hear a little more and be able to smell more. Elijah, what did Calista say?” Niklaus said before turning to as me. I looked at my siblings around me.
“Calista said she spoke to the spirits and also to Ansel. He is welcoming for us to join his family and be his children. The spirits said that it would work, and while we’ll notice some differences in ourselves, no one around should notice a difference except around the full moon. They mentioned that if would be best to have a Witch strong and willing to accept us into her family. Any magic we have will stay as it is if not be stronger. That is all Calista told me about these potions; she told me something else, but I won’t share it until later.” I said motioning with my eyes at how close Esther was getting to us. We all started to bed down and get ready for sleep, knowing that all too soon our next challenge would arise.
When I woke, I hoped it was morning as it was still as dark in the tunnels as it was when we first entered them back at dusk. Even before my eyes were open I could tell the potion had worked, I could hear more than before and could differentiate between my sibling’s breathing. I slowly opened my eyes worried of how different my sight could be. I knew from previous nights in the tunnels that they were pitch black without a burning fire, a pitch black where you couldn’t tell if you were looking up or down. Now I could see different shades of black and greys; I could make out the tunnel walls and even make out where the tunnel openings were into other tunnels. I moved to sit up a part of me itching to work out the differences in me. It was then that I picked up the smells, it was like my mind had been too preoccupied taking in the changes of my sight and hearing to remember the smells. I could smell the dampness in the air, rot of old food and excrement in one of the other tunnels nearby. My nose crinkled up as I took in the other smells around me, the smell of the blankets we had, the odors coming from my siblings and an even worse one coming from Esther and Mikael. It took me a moment to work out the difference in smell coming from them when it clicked in my mind. Part of me wanted to lose the food I had eaten hours before, and another wanted me to leave the tunnel to find a river nearby and take a cleansing dip.
Moments later I watched and listened as my younger siblings began stirring, Henrik was the first to wake. He made his way around our other siblings and sat beside me, having pulled his blanket around him to keep warm.
“So did it work Elijah?” Henrik asked so quietly; I wondered for a moment if I had heard it at all. I gave a slow nod.
“Yes, I can tell the difference so clearing from last night to when I woke. Have the tunnels always been this unpleasant?” I asked, watching as Rebekah curled up tighter as if the air had suddenly gotten colder.
“The last few times it seems to have gotten worse. Niklaus is better at knowing than I am. He is older and can make out more than I can.” Henrik said as he shrugged before getting up and awakening Niklaus up. Niklaus might have almost been awake on his own, but he grabbed Henrik before pulling him down beside him and tickling him and silently laughing as Henrik tried to get away from him.
I chuckled as I watched, accidentally waking Kol and Rebekah in the process. I apologize to them quietly before they sat up to talk with Niklaus, Henrik and myself. We stayed as quiet as we could to not wake Finnik, Esther or Mikael. Soon the cold air was making it hard for us all to stay in place and so we cleaned up and with Niklaus and me in front of the others we made our way towards the surface. Kol, Rebekah and I were in awe as we made our way out of the tunnels. The difference as we made our way out was so startling that it amused Henrik and Niklaus to no end. The morning sun was almost blinding when we finally got to the entrance of the tunnels. It caused all of us to blink serval times in the harsh light.
“Niklaus, Elijah and I will head out to hunt. We should be back shortly and then we can have breakfast.” Kol said as we arrived at the house, Rebekah and Henrik nodded before heading inside. Niklaus, Kol and I grabbed swords, bows with quivers of arrows before heading into the woods. We could hear the birds moving in the trees, small animals scurrying around in the undergrowth and what sounded like the wolves moving towards their homes to sleep off their night run. Niklaus stopped suddenly, his head snapping to the right. Kol and I stopped listening and hoping we could hear whatever it was that made Niklaus stop.
Crying, I could hear crying. The three of us shared a look before taking off in that direction, we all stopped and collided with each other stopping behind a thin line of shrubs hiding us from the sight of who was crying. I stood brushing myself off before making my way past the shrubs and making my presence known.
“Excuse me, can I be of any assistances?” I asked a girl had her back to me, kneeling on the ground. Her arm raised as if her hands were hiding her face. She had turned to face me after I had called out. I heard her sharp inhale while she furiously wiped away her tears.
“No. I am fine.” She said.
“Miss you are crying so you are anything but fine,” I said keeping a few feet between us. I could hear my brothers making their way through the shrubs and staying hidden behind me. The girl stood up from her previous position before moving some hair out of her face; I took a few steps away from her.
“Tatia Petrova. You seem a long way from your parents home.” I said moving closer to my brothers and away from her.
“I’m hurt you would move away Elijah. Did you not just offer your assistance?” Tatia said pouting. I kept my face blank, hoping to hide my disgust.
“Our family isn’t interested in your charms, Tatia Petrova. Elijah might have offered before realizing who you were I am not rescinding that offer.” Kol said as he made his presence known before he began leading Niklaus and me away from Tatia.
“Wait, will one of you escort me home?” Tatia asked. Kol turned back to look at Tatia.
“Miss Petrova I don’t think that is needed. Your ploy to play my brothers against each other has failed.” Kol replied before making his way away from the area, Niklaus and I followed.
It was only moments after we left Tatia that we found a deer. Kol took aim first and took it down, happy to know breakfast was caught we carried it between us as we headed home. When we arrived back, Esther was outside waiting with Finnik next to her.
“Where have the three of you been?” Esther called, her voice ringing loudly in the calm morning. I resisted rubbing my ears and saw Kol grimacing; Niklaus kept his face blank.
“Hunting for breakfast. Niklaus, Elijah and I woke early and thought it would be helpful.” Kol said as he motioned to the doe Niklaus had put on the ground by our feet.
“It was foolish for you three to go, without the rest of the family knowing,” Finnik spoke, Esther’s lips had pursed like she was holding back something.
“Rebekah and Henrik knew. We told them to stay in the house and wait until we either got back or for Finnik, father and you to join them.” Niklaus said I could hear how he spoke with his teeth gritted. His glare was trained solely onto Finnik.
“Let’s go inside; we can talk about this later,” Esther said as she headed inside with Finnik on her heels. Niklaus throw the doe over his shoulder while Kol and I left the weapons by the door.
“Rebekah, Henrik you both will help me with the doe your brothers brought back. Finnik go help your father with the wood.” Esther said as she bustled about the cooking area. After breakfast Kol, Niklaus and I snuck away to finish my home. Henrik was going to slip away with Rebekah when it was safe to and bring the trunks I had packed from my room. Niklaus was planning on bringing the rest later that night when I visited Calista.
Niklaus helped me with the beds, Kol with the help of Henrik when he arrived finished carving chairs and a few cooking tables. Rebekah had stopped in to see how we were progressing and leaving the trunks in a corner out of the way before heading to Calista’s house to work on linens for the house. She would report to Calista and the rest of Calista’s family of the progress we made. I had commented the night before the full moon that neither Finnik, Esther or Mikael had found out what the rest of us were doing. Calista had confessed to a few protection spells and hiding spells she had done over the house and us.
“I hope nothing goes wrong tomorrow for you Elijah,” Kol said as he looked up from the last chair he finished.
“You and I both Kol,” I replied before smoothing the wood at the top of the bedframe.
“They are looking good Nik, Elijah. How many more do you have to do?” Henrik said as he continued his current chair.
“This is the last one. I think everything is ready for Elijah and Calista to live here.” Nik said as he patted me on the back.
“That is good news since tomorrow is the wedding,” Calista said from the doorway. My brothers waved to Calista from their spots around the room. Calista moved into the room before Rebekah Syriana Calista’s older sister and Liyana Calista’s mother followed.
“We’ve been taken over.” Kol joked from his spot.
“Hardly brother. Calista wanted to see the mostly completed house while Syriana and Liyana came to keep you four in line. I’m here to hang the curtains and help Calista with the rest of the linens.” Rebekah snorted.
“We can do that later, first, let’s eat,” Liyana said as she put the basket she had over her arm down onto one of the cooking counters. Liyana and Syriana served the food, shooing Calista and Rebekah away when they had first gone to help out. The eaten meal only being interrupted by talking and laughter as stories got told. I caught Calista’s eye a few times over the meal and saw the happiness on her face as she looked around, it was reflected by me. I could only think this is what real families looks and act likes. Liyana stood up catching everyone’s attention as she did.
“Calista, Syriana and I have worked on the potion to severe you all from Esther’s bloodline. The last thing it needs is for the Witch’s blood you are planning to use to become part of her bloodline. It only needs a few drops of her blood in the potion. Mix it into Esther’s drink and by morning you shall no longer be connected to her by blood, while you won’t connected to the Witch’s family until she is dying. Any spell needing a whole bloodline won’t work on any of you after the potion is drunk. Elijah, Niklaus, Kol, Rebekah, and Henrik, all of you will stay full siblings while Finnik and Freya will no longer be related to you at all. They both will be severed from Esther’s bloodline so Dahlia can’t use Freya in her quest to be immortal, they will be full siblings to each other and linked to Mikael.” Liyana had said before she sat down again. Henrik, Kol, and Rebekah left heading home, knowing if they stayed any longer Esther, Mikael and possibly Finnik would try to find them and when they did they would interrogate them until one cracked. Liyana and Syriana left no long after the others.
“Not too long Elijah. While the wedding is tomorrow, we don’t want any talk to go around. Niklaus, you are chaperoning them until Calista is back at my house.” Liyana called out before they left, Calista and I waved them goodbye, knowing we would end up leaving in a few minutes. Niklaus grinned before becoming serious; his hands went behind his back while he stood not too far from Calista and I but far enough to give us some breathing room.
“Syriana and I finished my dress yesterday,” Calista said as she looked around the place. I gave her the tour with Niklaus following behind us and occasionally commented here and there over things he had done or something one of us had done over the week. The tour didn’t take very long and soon Niklaus, and I helped Calista put away the linen she had brought over. She filled a few trunks, made all the beds and put away the clean dishes from our meal here. We left heading to bring Calista back to her parents home. Her arm tucked through mine, while Niklaus was behind us. We waved to some of the villagers we passed along our way.
After we had said our goodbye to Calista and her family Niklaus and I made a stop along the way to Esther and Mikael’s house.
“Do you think she’ll want to help us?” Niklaus asked as we made our way to Ayana’s house. I shrugged. “I hope so. I know she is friendly towards Esther, but I don’t think they are friends. I think Esther heads to Ayana’s house when she wishes to decline to help us with something.” I replied. We knocked on the door, waiting as we heard footsteps getting closer to the door. It opened with Ayana behind it.
“Elijah, Niklaus. Is something wrong?” Ayana asked as she looked behind us to see if any other members of our family were with us.
“Hello, Ayana. Nothing is wrong. We wish to ask you something.” Niklaus responded. Ayana looked past us once again before opening the door and allowing us to enter.
She sat down opposite us, giving a nod for us to start talking.
“Ayana we don’t know how much of our history you know. Niklaus and I know you arrived on the same ship as Esther and Mikael.” I started while thinking the best way to ask what we are going to ask.
“I know you are talking of the fact Niklaus isn’t Mikael’s son. I could understand why he would call Mikael by his first name but not you Elijah.” Ayana said her brow furrowed as she looked from Niklaus to me and back again.
“Do you know of the spell cast over Esther?” Niklaus asked while he looks Ayana straight in the eyes.
“Yes, I do. How to either of you have a knowledge of it?” Ayana asked her eyes widening in surprise.
“Recently we heard a story of Esther and Ansel. The true father of both Niklaus and Henrik and what Mikael did.” I said watching Ayana. She looked at me and sighed.
“I know of a spell cast over Esther and how it was done to protect your siblings and you. I don’t know from what or who. I know that Esther had left Mikael and was married to Ansel for a time before he died. I thought Henrik was Mikael’s son.” Ayana said as she leant in closer to Nik and me.
Nik and I took turns explaining to Ayana what truly happened and why the spell got cast. Nik got Ayana a drink when her face paled, and she looked like she was about to pass out.
“What has any of this got to do with me?” Ayana asked as she looked from Nik to me.
“Ayana, we have a potion that will sever us from Esther’s bloodline.” I began.
“You need a willing Witch to take you on as part of her family to complete it. I’ve heard of something like that. You are asking me; you want to become part of my bloodline?” Ayana questioned. Nik nodded.
“Yes. We are doing this for the innocent child Esther left in Dahlia’s care. Kol, Rebekah and I have already had a potion to separate us from Mikael’s line; we are now full siblings to Niklaus and Henrik.” I explained, I watched Ayana’s eyebrow raise when I mentioned the last bit.
“A Witch in the village Ansel was from, has kept his body preserved since the attack. She did the potion for Elijah and our other siblings. Please Ayana, we wish to help Freya even while we are so far away from her.” Nik said he begged Ayana to see and understand why we wanted to do this.
“Yes, I accept you all as part of my bloodline,” Ayana said before getting up from her seat and getting a knife from the kitchen area, she held her hand over a bowl before cutting her palm. She moved her hand away after a bit of her blood was in the bowl, she wrapped her hand before leaving the knife there and bringing the bowl over to us.
“I know it is more than a few drops, but it was easier to do it this way,” Ayana said, I handed the bowl to Nik before I got the potion bottle hanging around my neck, I took out the stopper before holding it while Nik tilted the bowl with Ayana’s blood. After a few drops, Nik tilted the bowl back and handed me the potion. I placed the stopper back in and gave it a little shake before putting the tie back around my neck. Nik handed the bowl back to Ayana. She took it and chanted something, and the bowl vanished from sight. “The spirits are saying something of a betrayal. The time is almost upon us; innocent is all ‘forever and always’ family. I hope you understand all of that because I don’t get part of it.” Ayana told us. Nik and I gave a nod.
“Forever and Always is what Kol, Rebekah, Henrik, Elijah, Calista and I promised each other. We are family, forever and always. Ayana you’re included in our forever and always family. Thank you for accepting us into your bloodline.” Nik explained before standing up; I followed as we headed to the door. Ayana had waved to us before we turned to head to Esther and Mikael’s home.
“Finnik and Mikael are hunting,” Rebekah told us when we got to the door. We entered inclined our head to let her know we had heard her before we greeted the rest of our family. Esther was adding fresh herbs and vegetables she had gather earlier into the pot over the fire. I got the potion from around my neck and handed it to Rebekah before Esther could notice.
“Pour it into her drink. It’s the severing potion.” I said loudly enough for Rebekah to hear but not for Esther to have heard. Rebekah gave a quick nod before moving the potion bottle to be hidden in her hand by the folds in her dress. Not long after that, Finnik and Mikael returned with a wild boar. Mikael smoked most of the animal while outside while Finnik brought in the meat for tonight’s dinner. Rebekah added the potion into Esther’s drink after she filled everyone else’s mugs, she handed Esther’s drink right to her rather than putting the mug on the table as she had with the rest of ours.
“You look like you need a drink Mother. I can finish serving.” Rebekah said before Esther could say anything. Esther took a sip of her drink staying seated while Rebekah finished serving out the food. During the meal, Kol, Nik, Rebekah and I kept a close eye on the mug Esther drank from; Rebekah refilled Esther’s mug first before refilling any others. Finnik would watch as Rebekah got up to serve more drinks, his brows would lower over his eyes, and it seemed like a few times he was going to say something when Kol or Henrik would suddenly start talking louder and bringing Esther and Mikael in the conversation. When the meal was finished Rebekah stood up to take the dishes out, Finnik went to speak to Esther when Nik got up from his seat; he bent down to say something in Finnik’s ear after he had he clasped Finnik’s shoulder and squeezed. Finnik flinched but stayed quiet, and Nik headed outside. It wasn’t long until everyone headed to bed.
I woke early. The sunlight was only just over the horizon, I got out of bed and grabbed the new tunic and breeches I had bought at the market earlier in the week for today. I took soap, wash cloth and towel with me as I once again snuck out my window and headed to the stream nearby the house. I was glad that it was Spring and the water while cool wasn’t the frigid cold it would be if it were Fall or even Winter. The temperature of the water was still cold enough to make me hurry in washing; I dried myself even faster before throwing on my clothes to gain some warmth. When I was suitably attired, I snuck back into my room putting away the items.
I combed my hair. I was about to put the comb back in the case to tuck into my belt when Rebekah knocked on the door.
“Come in,” I said keeping my voice down so Esther and Mikael wouldn’t wake. Rebekah came in, a smile wide on her face as she held up her hand. She had leather ties with her, and I knew she was going to do something with my hair. I kept the comb out knowing she would want to use it at some stage.
“Nik and Henrik are dealing with Kol. Last night I slipped sleeping draught into Mikael and Finnik’s drinks, so they should be out for a while longer. I didn’t add any to Esther’s since I wasn’t sure if it would neutralize the bloodline potion. I didn’t wish to chance it, but I think she will be busy trying to wake Finnik and Mikael.” Rebekah said as she began twisting the leather tie around some of my hair, it didn’t take long before Rebekah had secured both sides of my hair together. I put my comb in the case and onto my belt. We met up with our brothers outside the house, before heading to Calista’s village we all strapped on our swords, a few smaller knives got tucked into our belts. Kol took a bow with a quiver or arrows as well.
Rebekah rode with Henrik in front of her to make sure he didn’t fall off while Kol, Nik and I all rode alone.
“The protection spells are going to be cast once we arrive. Stian mentioned yesterday that a few of the warriors would be guarding the town and have been told to warn anyone if Mikael, Esther or Finn are seen. There will be a few around the edge of the wedding site.” I mentioned to the others as we rode.
“Syriana didn’t think it would be necessary. She and Liyana think the spells will be strong enough, and that nothing would be getting through them anytime.” Nik said his lips quirking when speaking of Calista’s family. “Ayana said she would come today. Kol can you escort her, please.” Nik added as he turned to look at Kol. Kol gave a nod before turning his horse away and urging it into a gallop.
“I am so glad Ayana accepted us to be a part of her bloodline. I will always be eternally thankful to her.” Henrik said while trying to keep from sliding sideways on the horse, Rebekah tightened her arms around him and helped right him as we continued riding.
“I think we will always be indebted to Ayana,” I concluded while noticing Rebekah and Nik nodding.
We just entered Calista’s village when we heard a couple of fast approaching horses. Nik and I took out our swords while Rebekah headed to Calista’s house with Henrik. Kol came flying out of the woods, his horse snorting when he pulled back on the reins. Nik and I sheathed our swords, after the second horse with Ayana came into view as well.
“Sorry to catch up on the defensive. I showed Ayana a shortcut through the woods from her house to the trail leading between the villages.” Kol informed as he nudged his horse. Nik and I turned our horses around and headed towards the wedding site. I waved to villagers as we went, many greeting me in return. Calista’s younger brothers Ulfr and Olav came from Stian’s house; they rushed over to us.
“Elijah, Niklaus and Kol. Rebekah is helping Calista get ready; Henrik asked us to come and take the horses. We are to take them to our barn and care for them, before cleaning up for the wedding.” Ulfr said. I nodded and dismounted before petting my horse before handing the reins to Ulfr.
“Ulfr, Olav this is Ayana. She is family.” I introduced Ayana, catching the smile that crossed her face.
“Hello, Ayana. Can we take your horse with Elijah, Kol and Niklaus’s?” Olav asked. Kol helped Ayana dismount while Nik took the reins and handed them over to Olav.
“Thank you. Careful my horse bites sometimes.” Ayana said once she was on the ground. Olav and Ulfr listened and solemnly nodded before turning and taking the horses to the barn.
Henrik came out from Stian’s house; he came right over. He hugged Ayana.
“Ayana. Rebekah can introduce you to Calista, Elijah’s bride, her mother and older sister.” Henrik said as he tucked Ayana’s hand through his own. Some of the warriors came over to introduce themselves to my brothers and me.
“So who is marrying Calista to you?” Henrik asked as he looked around after the last warrior had left us to check on the edge of town.
“Usually, it’s the village chief or another high ranking council member. Today Stian is going to; he is the highest council member under the chief. Stian is unofficially chief until Ansel’s body is either buried or magic returns him to his body. If buried, the council will elect a new Chief.” I said.
“None of the council want to elect someone new since it will be restructuring the village and the pack. While Ansel has living children, none of you can inherit the alpha position in the pack since Ansel never claimed you as his heir or taught you the important things an alpha would need to know to lead a pack.” Stian said as he stood to the side.
“Sorry. I shouldn’t have asked.” Henrik said as he looked up to Stian, Stian smiled and shook his head. “Don’t worry Henrik; it is natural to be curious,” Stian said as he patted Henrik on the back.
“Is it strange for you to marry your daughter off?” Kol asked as he watched the villagers around us either talking in groups or sitting in the seats set out for the wedding.
“It is, but I know Elijah is a good match for her. I know she is in good hands.” Stian said before nodding to us and going over to talk to a few other people.
“Henrik, Kol. Find a seat for yourselves; I can hear Rebekah getting ready to leave Stian’s house.” Nik said as he walked with me to stand at the centre of the area. I could hear Rebekah laughing about something with Syriana. Stian made his way to stand in front of me; he was facing Nik, myself and the crowd behind me. The talking all stopped as people made their way to available seats.
I turned to watch Calista approach; a smile spread across my face. Rebekah hurried away from the house and sat beside Kol and Henrik. Liyana smiled at Stian before sitting down next to Henrik, while Syriana was going to stand beside Calista. Seeing Calista make her way towards me, I swore my heart tried to beat its way out of my chest. Calista never looked so beautiful as she did at the moment. Flowers threaded through her long hair that kept away from her face; her eyes were shining with excitement and love as she came to a stop beside me. I had turned as she got closer so we both were facing Stian.
The ceremony was simple yet traditional. The animal given to the gods before we exchanged family swords. Stian watched on; pride showed in his every action and expression. The rings balanced on Calista’s family sword; we took them with great care sealing the vows we spoke. Liyana handed Stian a ribbon to complete the handfasting after the exchange of the rings. Stian had said a final prayer. Everyone present throwing flower petals over Calista and I as we walked past them towards the feasting area. I kept a tighter hold on Calista. Nik had moved ahead of us and pulled out both our seats. We sat smiling at each other. I saw Rebekah and Henrik slipping away through the woods, and I felt my spirits drop slightly.
“Elijah, do not worry. Rebekah and Henrik are getting their things along with Kol and Niklaus’s. Father has offered to host them until after our honeymoon.” Calista said, her smile lighting up her face, bringing a smile to my own and lifting my spirits.
“I thought Esther or Mikael was causing trouble,” I confessed watching as Calista shook her head. I started to untie the ribbon as Calista helped. Once our hands were free, Calista wrapped the ribbon around her wrist before retying it. She stood up and got the ornated goblet filled with the honey mead. She handed the goblet to me before sitting down; I raised the goblet. Cheering came from around us as I made the toasts to the gods before taking a sip and passing the goblet for Calista, she added her toasts before taking a sip.
“They are now one in the eyes of the gods and here on earth. Merry be.” Stian said his goblet raised towards us and with more cheering following his statement. The feast began then; Calista got up serving me first then herself. The sun was starting to set when I saw Rebekah and Henrik immerging from the woods, Syriana hurried over to them and helped them with the trunks placing them into the family home.
“Rebekah and Henrik have returned. Nothing to be worrying about.” Calista said as she smiled up at me. I smiled shaking my head.
“Yes. It seems my lovely wife that you are right.” I said before taking another sip of the mead before adding “Esther and Mikael’s reaction to these events are something to worry over. I know there will be trouble coming, the spirits have warned Niklaus and me more than once over what is to come. Last eve Niklaus and I heard more of the warning. I shall tell you later in privacy.” Calista’s eyes had widened a little while she looked at me, she gave a brief nod before going back to the food in front of us.
“Of course. The spirits like to speak in riddles, or give out pieces, leaving a puzzle to be solved.” Calista observed. I laughed “No truer words, have I heard spoken .”
Torches lit as the fading light was almost complete darkness, music started, and people gathered to dance. I offered my hand to Calista; she took it, and we left our table and started on one side of the dancing people. Laughter could be heard all around as someone missed a step or lightly bumped into someone else. Tempers kept in check, knowing that it would mean bad luck to Calista and my marriage otherwise. Stian went around speaking to a few people quietly, while I noticed Liyana doing the same.
“It seems Brother that the next wedding tradition is upon you both,” Kol said as he pointed out two groups standing closer to the houses than the feast, watching on. Both groups were of six, one all men and the other all women. I noticed Calista’s face flush; she tried to bury her face into my chest.
“Thank you, Kol,” I said drily before moving Calista towards the two groups only to be stopped by Nik. “Elijah, I’m afraid you are unable to accompany Calista any further. Calista you best go with Syriana.” Nik said as I noticed Syriana next to him.
Calista moved away from me; she caught my eye when she turned around just before reaching her sister’s side, while her face was flushed her eyes sparkled. I knew that everything was going to be okay with the coming event: consummate the marriage in front of witnesses. Nik clapped me on the back as he steered us around a few stumbling party guests towards Stian, I had trouble meeting Stian’s eyes. I could only hope that he wouldn’t be present for the deflowering of his younger daughter and now my wife.
“Liyana and I have chosen a few witnesses we trust to observe the next stage of your wedding. You understand why neither myself or Liyana will be present.” Stian said, his voice gruff while he looked off into the distance. “I understand Stian completely. I don’t think this is easy for you, but I thank you for all you have and are doing with Calista and my wedding.” I acknowledged, watching as Stian inclined his head, clearing his throat he turned to look at me. “You better go, the witnesses are waiting. Calista’s happiness is all the thanks needed, Elijah.” He replied holding out his hand; I shook it before turning away and heading to my home with the witnesses following behind. Nik and Kol both held their goblets up toasting me as I passed them acknowledging them with a slight nod of my own.
A couple of the witnesses had lanterns, and some had torches. I entered the house first having taken one of the torches and using it to light a fire in the fire pit. One of the witnesses opened the roof vent to allow the smoke out while I went around the area lighting the wicks for the open oil lamps. With enough light to see without the lanterns and torches, the lanterns extinguished, and the torches left outside having the unlit end thrust into the ground to keep the flames away from grass or plants.
Chapter 4:
Elijah’s POV.
During the four weeks, honeymoon Calista and I spent our first full moon in the tunnels of her village. We spent the night catching up with our family except for Stian. The night in the tunnel was warm and spent telling stories and laughing. My younger siblings had joined Calista and I and we all enjoyed the space and separate sleeping rooms. Ayana came almost daily to see us.
“Esther confronted me yesterday. She demanded I tell her where you and your siblings were.” Ayana confessed as she sat at the table with the rest of us sitting around the rest.
“She didn’t try anything did she?” Calista asked she moved around the table serving the food.
“No, I am fine. I don’t think it is wise to stay in the village anymore. I see either Esther or Finnik around when I leave my home. They do not come towards me, but I see them watching me from the distance.” Ayana stated as she sighed heavily her shoulders slumping.
“Live here or if you wish for your own space, we can build you a place nearby. You will not have to worry about Esther, Finnik or Mikael.” Nik said as he gestured with his arms around the room. Kol elbowed him in the side while trying subtlely to point to Nik of Calista and I.
“I do not wish to crowd any of you. I have lived on my own for so long now; I do not think I know how to share space anymore.” Ayana admitted, Calista smiled.
“You are welcome here, Ayana. Think it over and when you have decided let us know. We have more than enough room, even if it is just until your house is ready.” I suggested, seeing the looks shared between my siblings.
“Alright, I shall think it over.” Ayana agreed, it wasn’t long after the meal she left heading to her home while it was still light.
“Do you think Ayana will accept and live here with us?” Henrik asked, his eyes shining brightly. Since we had moved away from Esther and Mikael, all my siblings changed. They were happier and content; Calista said I had changed with them.
“Henrik, Elijah wouldn’t be able to know. Only Ayana can tell us, give her time.” Calista said her tone gentle, not wanting Henrik or the others to go back into themselves as we all had to protect ourselves around Esther and Mikael.
“Calista is right, I wish I could tell you definitively yes or no, but I can’t. I only share your hope that she does agree.” I said sharing a look with Calista before smiling at Henrik.
It had been a few days since Ayana’s last visit, Rebekah and Kol were worried something had happened to Ayana at the hands of Esther and Finnik or worse Mikael. Calista tried to reassure them and the rest of us but she too worried.
“If something happened to Ayana, wouldn’t we have noticed it? She accepted us into her bloodline. Does that make her our mother? Older sister? Surely with our promise of Forever and Always, one of us would have noticed or felt something.” Nik said trying to figure out how the bloodline potion worked.
“She is biologically your mother, but you relate to her more as an older sister. Esther did bring you up, and a part of you will always view her in some light as your mother, expecting anything else would be unnatural .” Calista said patting Nik on the back, giving him a little comfort.
“Thank you for clearing that up,” Kol said while whittling away, the piece of wood had no recognizable shape to it, but I knew that it soon would.
Liyana and Syriana came visiting later that day. Syriana carried a basket filled with herbs, flowers, roots, a few candles and a mortal and pestle. Calista welcomed them inside while Rebekah offered them a drink.
“Syriana and I know you are all worried over Ayana.” Liyana began, after sitting on a bench a little away from the table. “We saw her today at her home.”
“Is she okay?” Henrik interrupted, his face reddened with embarrassment, causing Kol and Rebekah to chuckle. Calista gave Henrik a one arm hug; I could see she bent to whisper something in his ear.
“She is okay Henrik. She was packing her things; it seems Esther had visited her again asking why a locator spell wasn’t working. Ayana told Esther that either you were with a Witch who was protecting you from being found, or you had bought spelled jewelry to protect you from magic.” Syriana said smiling at Henrik.
“I guess it was a close call so she is leaving?” Nik asked he seemed resigned. Liyana spread her hands wide. “She asked us to pass on a message to you all. She accepts until she has a new place built.” Liyana answered.
“We didn’t ask for clarification on her acceptance knowing it had to do with a deal between you,” Syriana added while looking at the smiling, happy faces of my siblings, Calista and myself. Calista and I had shared a look before I nodded and she sat beside me.
“We invited her to live with us. Elijah added that if she preferred her own space that she could stay with us until the completion of her house.” Calista explained to her mother and sister, they both brightened when Calista finished. It seemed Ayana had made two fast friends in Liyana and Syriana.
“Wonderful news. When Ayana arrives, let her know that we will be happy to help with anything she needs.” Liyana said. Nik, Kol and I left the house shortly after to go hunting while Calista, Rebekah and Henrik spent time with Liyana and Syriana learning more magic and becoming stronger.
Ayana arrived two days later, a cart tied to her horse.
“I left most of the furniture; I only took the most important things. I spoke to a council member and told them I was leaving, moving to be closer to a relative I met in another village. Since I have no family there, they regretted my move but understood. I told them not to mention anything to Esther until fading light. I did a spell to clean any traces of me from the house and lands in or around the village.” Ayana informed us while making her way off the cart with Calista’s assistance. Kol, Nik and I had started unloading the half empty cart. We placed the items in the last separated sleeping area, knowing Ayana unused to sharing a home with others.
At dinner we spoke with Ayana, learning of what she wanted in her house. Her relief was palpable.
“Liyana and Syriana offered their assistance to you,” Kol spoke up; Calista got up to refill drinks, as she filled Kol’s she whispered something into his ear. Kol’s face had paled before he nodded and Calista moved to fill Nik’s mug.
“It looks like I shall be very busy in the village tomorrow. I would like to talk to the council here and the village healer as well.” Ayana revealed before gathering the empty dishes; Calista went to say something, but Ayana waved her off. Rebekah went to help, but Ayana shooed her back to her seat. “Helping out is the least I can do for you all, for inviting me to stay and because I know you men are going to build my home. Don’t think you were able to slip that passed me.” Ayana said as she turned back to look at us, Nik shrugged while Kol looked at his hands, Henrik looked between our brothers and Ayana.
“No, we didn’t think we’d be successful. We thought that if we didn’t offer, you couldn’t refuse.” I explained seeing Calista’s amused smirk as she looked at the rest of us.
“Ah, then I will just accept your gift and leave it at that,” Ayana replied shaking her head. We all headed to bed not long after the discussion at the end of our meal.
During the day Niklaus, Kol and I would work on Ayana’s house with a few other men from the village and in the evening before bed, Ayana would teach us as much magic as she could. It wasn’t long before we were all proficient with magic, while Rebekah and Calista were ahead of the rest of us when it came to magic. It took under a week for Ayana’s home completely built, the rest of the week was spent crafting new furniture for it. Ayana slept on a pallet on the floor of her home until we had completed a bed. One night a week Ayana would come for dinner at our home and another night Ayana would join us over at Stian’s home for dinner. Those dinners were by far the largest and loudest. Spring made way for Summer.
Summer made way for Winter; the full moon had just passed, and we were returning to our home. Rebekah, Kol and Henrik were playing some chase game weaving in and out of trees, houses and an occasional villager we passed. Nik was keeping an eye on them while Calista and I walked hand in hand behind them all.
“I have some news,” Calista said quietly; I could only just make out she had spoken. “I’m with child,” Calista revealed looking up into my face. I grin broke across my face as I stopped, causing Calista to stop. I turned fully to face her.
“You are with child,” I repeated as the words sank in and I picked her up spinning her in a circle before placing her on her feet keep hold of her waist as she gained her balance. “This is wonderful news,” I said our moment interrupted by Kol coming to a stop just beside us.
“Good news or are you planning to swing everyone in circles?” Kol asked mischief shone in his eyes.
“We will explain when we reach home,” Calista said as she tucked herself into my side. I grinned as we walked the rest of the way home, Kol rushed to catch up to us and would look between Calista and I. Rebekah helped Calista put away uneaten food and the used dishes in the bucket ready to wash them. Ayana was folding the blankets and putting the linens away before she would head to her house. Ayana would come over every now and again to help with something, and she would stay in the tunnels with us during the full moon. When most things were back in place Calista turned to face my siblings around the room. Ayana stopped near the door, seeming to notice something was going on.
“I told Elijah on the way home some news. As you might have seen, he was happy with the news and swung me around.” Calista started, she moved to my side while still facing Nik, Kol, Rebekah, Henrik and Ayana. Calista took a deep breath before announcing the news, “I am with child.” Kol whooped and clapped me on the shoulder before lightly hugging Calista. Nik gave us both hugs, while Henrik looked between us all. Rebekah cheered before asking question after question, Ayana came up to us both. “Congratulations. I will place extra protections around.” Ayana said, giving us a hug before smiling at the rest of our family before leaving. Henrik came over to us, hugging us in turn although his face showed confusion, he seemed embarrassed to ask. Calista saw this as well since she bent closer to Henrik and whispered in his ear “I’m going to have a baby. You’ll be an uncle.” Henrik’s face lit up, and he hugged us again.
~(Small Time Skip)~
Months passed, and Calista grew rounder with child. Henrik’s curiosity seemed to grow with Calista; he would follow her most of the day, asking question after question. Rebekah had told me she had taken him aside and warned him to give Calista some space and not ask so much. Calista had told me she didn’t mind his questions or his proximity. Ayana came by almost daily now, doing most things around here to give Calista some rest before she returned home. Nik and Kol went to the markets in the village to gather the items Calista or Rebekah needed. I headed out of the woods, where I had been hunting. I caught a few wild fowls and two rabbits. I was about to enter the house when I heard a twig snap behind me, turning sharply I looked around.
I blinked hoping I was seeing things, but just at the edge of the woods almost hidden behind the shrubs was Esther.
Note: I was reading my old notes on the chapters that I posted for Fanfiction. This one only gets one since I found out that this chapter was a BAD one. It kept crashing my computer multiple times to the point that moving this here is the only reason why this is being done. And now on with the chapter that made me weep blood.
The song I listened to for this chapter: The Kill by 30 Seconds to Mars. Ok, I started off with this song, and it named the chapter. But when I lost everything, it bugged me. So I switched to All That I Am from Parachute. And watched a video on YouTube by Reely called Lights Will Guide You Home. It gave me the inspiration to finish this. I saved it on my favorites on YouTube and will repost to my account on Facebook.
The stranger gasps as he walks into the Kingdom of the Knight’s capital, Caissa. He thought it had been razed and is amazed by the city in front of him. He can see people moving on the streets and in the buildings around him. He remembers seeing pictures of the city before the Hearts attacked and it looked nothing like this.
The city back then was more like a citadel and carried the motif of chess pieces everywhere. This city still has the ornamentation, but it is absolutely beautiful and is a blend of nature, chess pieces and there is still a presence of it having the strength of the citadel it had been, mostly in the center building, and the defenses he could see. There are trees everywhere, and some of the buildings are built in the trees or around them. The buildings themselves are either chess pieces that draw your eyes to them, or they blend with the background.
The stranger just stands there for a couple of minutes in awe and shock. Then he remembers why he is here. He needs to warn the new King and Queen of Wonderland. He is also hoping against everything that the Queen of Chess will show pity on him and take him under her protection. Dodo is not someone to cross easily.
The tall man moves with purpose through the streets of the city. Crossing the bridge that leads to the palace, he continues to be moved by the beauty and grace around him. The palace is Caissa personified. He walks up to the gate and waits for someone to acknowledge him. Then he is completely shocked when a knight piece comes to him and asks, “May I help you?”
The stranger nervously clears his throat and asks, “May I please speak with the king and queen? I have some urgent information that pertains to someone they know who may be planning to hurt them.” He fidgets as he notices that the knight piece face is not just a horse head, but seems to be between a horse head and a human head. The horse head is still predominately there, but there was a definite move towards a human head. The stranger wonders which it is turning in to.
The knight thinks for a second and decides to let the duke handle this issue. He orders the stranger to follow him and nods to a card soldier to follow behind them. They take no chances with their beloved king and queen. Especially not with their queen, they love Alice and will not allow anything to harm her.
Hatter wakes again with Alice in his arms. He gazes down at her lovingly. After a while of watching her, he wonders what time it is since it does not seem that much later than when he had awoken earlier. Nevertheless, as Alice stirs in his arms, he turns his attention back to his mate.
Stretching, Alice opens her eyes to meet the brown ones of her love. She smiles and tenderly caresses his face, asking him, “Morning again, love?”
Hatter laughs at how fast she is catching on to the nuances of living here and admits to her, “I suspect Wonderland and Time, my luv. Told you, Time was an actual being here in Wonderland. While time may pass, Time is the official keeper of the Clocks of Wonderland. If he decides to give us extra time, none can gainsay him but Wonderland herself.”
Alice shakes her head. It will take her a while to get used to Wonderland. However, it will never be boring, not with Hatter by her side and with Wonderland being what it is. She loves both of them so much. Alice then feels the euphoria of Wonderland itself as she admits her love for her new world.
Hatter gasps as the feelings from Wonderland and Alice envelope him. He asks Alice, “What happened?” He pulls her tighter to him, needing the contact still.
Turning her sapphire colored eyes to him, she tells him, “I admitted how much I love you and Wonderland. Then she sent all this.” She smiles, then tells him, “I really do love it here. I was so bored back in my world. I had no idea this world was even an option. Now… now I would never leave, not Wonderland and never, ever you, I can’t. You mean so much to me, and Wonderland and our kingdom is meaning a lot to me. I can’t even picture my life without any of you now.” Nor would she, as she learned when she was back in her world. While there, she wanted nothing more than to be back here.
Then Alice is hit with the feelings of pure joy from the Kingdom and Hatter. Hatter’s are much stronger, but the Kingdom is just as overjoyed.
Smiling as big as Chess, Hatter tells her, “I love you, Alice. And while I have always hoped that you will love our world as much as yours, I was content in you accepting it. This… this is so much more.” Then Hatter hugs and kisses her, his lips moving lovingly on hers.
Before anything more can happen, there is a knock on the door. Hatter reluctantly releases Alice and asks, “Who is it?”
The stone Knight brightens as it answers him. “It is the Duke of Clubs and the White Knight. They request Alice’s and your presence.”
Hatter swears softly. Then he laughs as his eyes meet Alice’s and they both say, “Damn his timing!” They trade looks, remembering all the times he had interrupted in their oasis back before the Kingdom had cleaned itself back up.
Alice wonders briefly if their oasis is still here and the Kingdom lets her know it is, and will always be a protected part of the Kingdom for her and Hatter to escape to if they need to. Alice smiles and sends her gratitude to the Kingdom. Hatter, having been a witness to the exchange, smiles back to her and says gently, “If you ever need it, we’ll go, luv.”
Hatter then jumps from the bed and grabs them both robes. As his eyes travel to Alice and he goes over to the bed, he asks the Knight, “Ask them if they can give us some time to get ready?”
The Knight darkens then brightens as it replies, “They will be back in a half an hour. The White Knight pleads that you do not open the door to anyone else, nor leave these rooms.”
Alice and Hatter glance at each other and Alice replies, “Tell Charlie we will remain here.”
Hatter asks her softly as they move quickly to their bathroom, “What the hell is going on?”
Shaking her head as she walks beside him, Alice answers him, “I have no idea.” Alice’s feelings of unease increase, which bothers her and keeps her preoccupied with trying to figure out why as they walk towards the bathroom.
Alice then stops in her tracks, unable to even think as she looks into their bathroom. Looking around at the beauty that is around her, she breathes out, “Hatter, is this really ours?”
She can feel the Kingdom’s enjoyment of her surprise for Alice.
Hatter chuckles at her reaction then pull her to him. He softly tells her, “Yes, luv. There is even a shower here.” Showers are common in the Red Kingdom, with the Queen of Hearts wanting her world to be as different from the White Kingdom as she could make it. She went to great lengths to incorporate anything she liked from the world Above as she could get away with. Hatter had been particularly fond of the showers.
Looking around, Alice is shocked. This bathroom belongs in a magazine from her world. It is done in cool blues with cream accents everywhere. She chuckles that their colors are even in here, but it is not that huge of a shock, not anymore. The corner that holds the stone bathtub is done in cream marble, with a blue-tinted window above it, clearly big enough for both of them as is everything in the room. And the shower; the shower is amazing. It has an arch on it, and you turn a corner, no door is there for it. Therefore, even if someone barged into the bathroom, there is nothing they can see of the people in the shower. The merging of the wood floor to the stone for the bathtub area is a work of art in itself, the wood bleaching into the color of the marble. The candelabra is intricate with the iron and leafs in it, with skylights throughout to let in the natural sunlight.
Hatter tugs her gently towards the shower and they rush through it, knowing Charlie will have no issue coming into their rooms thinking they’re in danger and not in an embarrassing position if they do not answer his knocks.
Even with that thought in mind, there are some touches and promises to follow up on them later. Hatter washes Alice’s hair, thinking of all he can do to protect his mate, the woman more precious to him than his life. He closes his eyes when Alice leans on him, pulling her closer after he rinses her hair. They just stand there, holding each other, Hatter feeling her desire to have him close to her. Alice is obviously still upset by their experience. He rests his head on hers, vowing to protect his love. Hatter had not missed the feelings of unease from his mate earlier.
As they finish the shower, Hatter grabs towels and helps Alice dry off then wraps his around his waist. He holds her robe open for her to slide into, kissing her shoulders before they are hidden under the cloth. He ties the sash together and holds her close to him as their eyes meet in the mirror. This woman is his.
Alice meets his eyes in the mirror and can see them go dark. Not dark as when he is angry but still dark. Her brows furrow and she sends the question through the bond, why? The love and possessiveness that he sends back, rocks her. She knows he loves her and God only knows they are both overprotective of each other. But this, this reaction from him, completely floors her. The scare he had yesterday must have shaken him to his core. His feelings are more possessive and just plain…needing than even when Jack looked at her. Alice can’t hide her return feelings, she loves and needs it. She has never had someone feel towards her in this way.
Pulling her tighter to him, he drops a kiss to her neck and then tells her huskily, “Alice, I love you. I will do anything to keep you safe, luv. I was not kidding when I said I will not be letting you away from me anytime soon. I can’t. The bond is something I never will regret, but there be times that it rules our feelings, and this is one of them. I need you so much, Alice.” He is not excusing how he is; he is just stating his feelings. It is tearing him up inside feeling her emotions through the bond. This is not his Alice who left a day ago. No, this is an Alice who has been scared and almost died because of him. She had felt as he had, that their very souls were dying and they could do nothing to stop it.
He stares at her, and the emotions pouring through the bond tell her his feelings – lust, protectiveness, love, possessiveness, anger, and worry.
She meets his eyes and softly tells him, “Hatter, I love you. I understand, I really do. I felt all of that and more. I wanted to hurt, maim…kill the person who hurt you. I scared my mom with my feelings. Tarrant understood, he felt a lot of it himself, but Hatter…I didn’t recognize me at that moment, but I would do the same again if the circumstances warrant it. I will do what you did for me, I will kill for you. Without hesitation.” As she speaks, the feelings come rushing back to her and Hatter can feel them through the bond. Alice takes a deep breath and then continues. “Then, for the whole trip back, all I could feel was you dying. The feelings that racked me…” Alice gasps and breaks in his arms. She cannot take the feelings, even the memory of them hurt. Moreover, like before, she can always break in this man’s arms because he will protect and love her with everything he is.
Through the bond, Hatter can feel her despair, her pain and feelings of inadequacy in not being able to get back to him as he turns her around and pulls her to him. He holds her to him as she sobs and, through their bond, his hands, and his body, he sends her his calm and love. All the while, his eyes steadily darken. Someone hurt her, his Alice. More than him, they hurt his Alice so much. She has been strong, and now with the Bonding, he knows a lot of the strength she shows is her. Nevertheless, she is also fragile. Alice has been handling so much, the Bonding itself and all the things she has been thrown, that she hasn’t had time to think. Alice always handles things better when she can think.
Alice breaks. The Kingdom grows dark as it, Wonderland, Time and Light itself, all feel her sorrow. Even sounds muffle as she sobs in Hatter’s arms, the whole world sorrowing as it watches over its Alice. No one in all of Wonderland can understand what is happening, but they all feel her while not understanding why they are feeling it. All of Wonderland holds it breathe, hoping she is not broken entirely. This is not something that should be happening to one of Wonderland’s Champions, especially to Alice.
Alice lets loose her pain and everything she has been feeling. She feels Hatter’s strong arms around her, cradling her, supporting her, and even more importantly, loving her. Hatter loves her so much. She loves him just as much, so badly it sometimes hurts. Right now, she needs him, and he is giving her the support and whatever else she needs to get over this. All he is is hers to do with as she needs to.
The two of them stand there, Hatter holding Alice as she releases the pain and confusion. They take the time to be themselves before they have to deal with whatever is being thrown at them. Moreover, Time himself, with the help and encouragement of Wonderland, gives them all the time they need. What is happening right now is more important than anything else.
Eventually, Alice calms down and Hatter kisses her hair. She looks up at him and softly says, “Thank you.”
Hatter gazes down at her and just as softly tells her, “Anytime, but there is never a reason to thank me, Alice. I am here for you, from now until the end of time. Never hide anything from me, luv. If you need to release your emotions, need to do anything, don’t hesitate in coming to me.”
Alice stares into his eyes, and unable to help herself, she smiles and tells him, “Like this bond won’t tell you, anyways.” She accepts the Bond, but there are times she wishes it didn’t tell Hatter everything. But, the advantages, the pure love she gets from the Bond more than makes up for it.
Tightening his arms around her, Hatter tells her, “Alice, I don’t want to have to find out through our bond, luv. I want you to be able to tell me, to trust me with this information, knowing that I will always be here to love and support you. Yes, we are Bonded, but first and foremost, we fell in love. Moreover, that love is what will always support us, be the backbone of the Bond. Alice, I love you so much and consider the Bond a plus to that. However, even without the Bond, I would be here, at your side supporting you, loving you. Alice, I am yours in so many ways, there is no time in all of Wonderland to tell you.” He pours his love and all he is in his words, his eyes, body, and soul.
Speechless, Alice looks up to her love. She is amazed as always by this man in front of her. He is perfect for her. She reaches up and draws his head down to hers to meet his lips, to caress them with her own. He moves his cupid bow of a mouth against hers and she surrenders herself to him, opening her mouth for their tongues to caress each other. She pours her love, amazement, and complete trust through the kiss and the bond. She is his.
The royal couple kisses until Hatter reluctantly breaks it and murmurs his love as he caresses her face with his feather kisses. He finally opens his eyes and softly says, “If we don’t want to have Charlie in here, we need to get moving. You finish getting ready in here, I’ll get our clothes. And for the Gods’ sake, please don’t come out until I come for you. Please, Alice?” He beseeches her with his eyes, promising to let her in on the reasoning behind his request after they are dressed.
She nods, accepting the request and watches as he leaves the bathroom, the towel low on his hips. She feels her lust for him mount and he laughs. “You know the Bond does let me feel your lust, Alice?” Then he laughs even more as her embarrassment flows through. He grabs clothes for both of them, choosing carefully since he has a bad feeling this may be a Court thing. He moves back into the bathroom, then stops as he observes his Alice. He loves being able to watch her like this, and as always, amazed that this woman is his, his love, his mate, his soon to be wife; in other words, his in every way he can make her, as he had promised her in their oasis.
Alice quickly gets ready, the feeling of unease creeping up on her again. By the time she is ready to do her hair, it feels like something is in her skin, itching to break loose. Not knowing the source, she tries to ignore it.
As normal, Alice leaves her hair until the end. She is never sure about her hair, not sure what she could be doing that day to decide what she should do with it. She stands in front of the mirror in her midnight blue short silk robe, holding her hair to the side, debating what to do with it. She is only a little bit surprised with her level of frustration with something that is a daily chore for her. When her frustration level is this high, all she can do is grit her teeth and bear with it. Until she can think it through, which she plans to do with Hatter as soon as possible.
Feeling her frustration, Hatter walks up, dressed in a pair of pants that match her robe, his cream button-up shirt unbuttoned, and he gently takes her hair out of her hands. Hatter reverently runs his hands through it and murmurs, “I love your hair, Alice. It feels so good against my skin, and it looks spectacular on our pillows.” He leans down and kisses her neck.
Sighing, Alice relaxes back into her mate, trying to let go of the need to clench her hands, watching him running his hands through it and asks, “Do you know what’s going to happen?” She watches his face, smiling at the look. Times like this are precious to her, more precious since the events of yesterday.
Mesmerized by watching her hair as he runs his hands through it, he responds “I have no idea, nor does Wonderland or the Kingdom know what is going to happen, luv. Why?” He looks up into the mirror, into her beautiful blue eyes he gets lost in, trying to relieve whatever is bothering her.
She returns his gaze, seeing the peacefulness in them that is so rare to see in her hyperactive mate as he answers her. She smiles gently at him, as she answers, “I just never know what to do with my hair. Sounds stupid, but if I know we need to move, it is easier with my hair up.” She stops, listening to herself and growing even more frustrated, she tells him and herself, “You know, never mind. It’s really stupid.” She turns to get dressed but Hatter stops her.
Hatter frowns at the feelings from the bond. Something is bothering Alice, and based on what he is receiving, she is not sure what it is. Her inability to pinpoint the issue is causing her to become even more aggravated and his talents are trying to meet the problem she is sensing. He lifts her chin with his finger so that he can see her eyes. “Whatever it is, we will meet it together, Alice. Now let your talent work and we’ll see what Charlie and Santi need to tell us.” His body is tense, trying to protect her, even though neither she nor Hatter can pinpoint where the danger is. But, his feelings are calm, trusting her talents to tell him what is wrong.
Feeling his calm rush through her, she shakes her head as she smiles. “How do you do that?” She can feel the tenseness of his body, but his feelings are calm, accepting. The fact he can just accept the opposite reaction amazes her.
Seeing her smile, he relaxes grinning back at his other half. “I have no idea. It’s probably my talent working with yours. It happens with Bonded couples, our talents mesh to help. Get dressed, luv, and we’ll deal with whatever the issue is, together.” He hands her the clothes he brought for her.
Alice quickly dresses in dove grey pants with a matching cream shirt. The sash is their dark blue. It also has compartments built into it for her knives and throwing stars. Hatter has already put them in and she makes sure she can still draw them. The threat to his life is making him edgy, and the feeling of being safe here is now a fond memory. That is why he was so insistent that she stay in the bathroom; there are no windows that anyone could look through to see them arm themselves.
Hatter finishes dressing and the two of them move out of the bathroom just as the stone knight lightens to announce that Charlie, Santi, and their parents are outside their rooms.
Alice glances quickly at Hatter, her sense of anxiety increases to the point she feels like she is about to explode. Hatter pulls her close to him and wraps his arms around her. Feeling her anxiousness, he can tell he will need to support her. “Together,” he whispers in her ear. Nodding, Alice tells the knight to let them in. They need to get this done so that she can deal with whatever is bothering her. Right now, she needs to concentrate; anything can set her temper off. It often happens when she is this on edge.
ALICE — Syfy Photo: James Dittiger
Charlie is the first in the room; he visibly relaxes as he sees the royal couple standing there. His eyes rake over the two of them, noticing that while they may look relaxed, he can see the telltale signs that both of them are ready to fight. He approves, especially with the attack on the two of them and the news that the stranger had just brought.
Santi follows Charlie and he also looks relieved to see them standing together. He nods to both of them as he moves to the chairs beside them. Being one of the few that were aware that she had been gone and that Hatter had been hurt, he is very relieved to see Alice back along with Hatter and that the two of them look well.
Robert and Carol come into the room, hand in hand. Carol is looking around eagerly at their rooms, thinking of how everything here looks like a fairytale coming to life. She looks at her daughter and grins, indicating how happy she is to be back with her husband. They stayed up late last night chatting. Robert has yet to break the news that he needs to head back to the Red Kingdom. He is hoping Carol will come with him; he has missed her since he woke up and is extremely grateful to his daughter for bringing her home to him. Moreover, her part in convincing Carol to come to Wonderland to live.
Last, but not least, is Tarrant and Alice K. Alice looks over her father-in-law, happy to see him looking so much better than the last time she remembered seeing him. She smiles but does not move from Hatter, needing his arms and strength to get through this meeting.
Tarrant looks over at Alice, nodding and smiling. He is happy; he is back with his mate and the rest of his family. He is curious as to why Charlie and Santi are so upset and that alone brought himself and Alice out of their rooms. Besides, they need to get back to Mirana and make sure Angela and Aurora are fine.
Hatter stands there with Alice, holding her tightly to him. He does not miss the fact that when the door to their rooms shut, she relaxes minutely. He sends his love through their bond, hoping she misses the anger that he feels that she should be worried about anything, especially in their own home.
He is slightly aware he is being a hypocrite, but this is Alice. It is his job to be protective and slightly wary of anything that may harm them. Her job is to bring his paranoia under control, to be the one whose compassion tempers him. They are both the other halves of the coin, complementing each other’s strength and turning their weaknesses into assets. Bonded couples are the opposites of the other in some fashion or form.
Alice looks up at Hatter, noting the anger behind the love he sends. However, seeing his face, and not seeing the darkening around his eyes, she relaxes as much as she can. Sighing, she asks, “What is going on? Why are you all here and what is so important?” She wants to get this over with. Her emotions are excessively close to the surface, especially her temper. It happens when she gets this uneasy, when everything is close to making her angry. She needs to be able to think and reason her way through all that has happened. She doesn’t want to tell Hatter that she needs to be taken away from everything when they need her so badly.
Charlie looks away then, taking a deep breath, he tells them, “We had a visitor this morning. He walked up to the gate of the palace and asked to speak with one of you. The knight in charge of the gate this morning escorted him to Santi and I. We questioned him, and he…well he thinks that you two are going to be attacked soon. We didn’t indicate you had already been attacked, in case this is another one coming. And he is also here to beg amnesty of Alice.”
Hatter’s eyes blacken immediately. He takes a deep breath, but still the black remains. The black lines around his eyes that are permanently there, darken, but do not spread. He is containing his anger, the madness as some call it, but he needs some answers soon. No one will put Alice through any more pain by hurting him or hurting her directly. No one. Hatter will do whatever is needed to protect his Alice. Alice will not be broken again!
Alice can feel Hatter fighting to keep calm and quickly asks, “Who is this person and why would he be asking for my protection?” She needs to help him get information; his anger is not making it any easier for her to keep from losing her own control. Alice hopes that with more information, one of them may be able to calm down. She is fighting so much to remain calm that it is making her even more irritated.
Santi looks at the two of them, seeing Hatter’s arms around Alice, noticing they are very protective. He realizes that if Alice is still hurt in some way, Hatter is going to be even more protective of her than normal. He has spent some time with as many people and as many resources he can get his hands on to understand the Bonding between his lieges. He has a feeling that the bond between the two of them may be used by someone to hurt them and will do all he can to protect them. He can do no less for the lieges he has bound himself to willingly, for Alice, whom he admires, and more importantly, for the two who are becoming friends.
Santi meets Hatter’s eyes and he answers softly, “He said his name is Haigha.” He has heard rumors of this Haigha, one of them being that Hatter and he do not get along.
Hatter’s arms tighten even more around Alice and he growls out, “Alice, you are not to meet with this man unless I’m with you.” There is no chance she can deny him; he will not allow Alice to meet Haigha without him!
Alice’s temper rises as she snaps, “I will do what I want, David!” His demands and his rage are the proverbial straw that breaks the camel’s back. She can’t handle his fury as well as her irritation level from the sense of unease that is building in her; the two were feeding into her annoyance. Her pride in being able to take care of herself; her temper, that which Winston was so worried about her losing in the Throne Room of the Queen of Hearts to the point of isolating her, was in full control of Alice. Gone was the person that everyone in here was used to. No one has ever seen Alice lose control. Ever. And even Alice herself cannot stop herself from what she is feeling.
Her eyes snap with her anger and surprises everyone in the room. The two have never disagreed that they know of. Alice is normally the one that calms Hatter. Even her parents are shocked and unable to do anything to help her.
Charlie is more shocked than the rest and he rushes to reassure them, “Alice will never be left alone with anyone other than the people we know are trustworthy.” He stares at the two of them, hoping that this will settle them both.
Alice’s temper is up and is completely full blown; she can feel Hatter’s temper as he fights with it. Not being able to take any more of it, Alice grabs what little control she has and realizes she needs to be alone before she does or says something she will regret. “Release me,” she demands.
Hatter was first shocked that she called him by his formal name, then by her demand. He can no more release her than he can stop his beating heart. Alice is his, and she has no idea about Haigha and what he can do. He tightens his grip and starts to tell her, “Alice-”
Before he can say another word, Alice loses control. Hatter will not her be. She needs him to not be controlling, not make demands of her right now! I need him, but he can’t treat me like a child! While she has no problem with his overprotectiveness, right now she felt as if she was being prevented from making her own decisions.
All this rushes through her head before her emotions take control and she cannot think clearly anymore. She moves quicker than anyone can track and throws Hatter across her body, calling for Chess. She only means for him to land in front of her, forgetting her body is strengthening. Instead, he hits the wall across the room and falls. Before he can move or anyone else can do anything, Chess appears. Alice demands of him, “Take me away from all of it, Chess. PLEASE!”
Chess hears the need in Alice’s voice and without thinking of anything else, he touches her and they disappear.
Hatter jumps up and screams, “NO!” He tries to make it to her, but the two of them are gone. He falls to his knees and calls out, “Why?” He can still feel Alice, the bond letting him know she is in Wonderland and spitting mad. But she is not here with him, and that is unacceptable. The shock of it is enough to start to bring him to his senses. Alice left me! Alice!!!
Absolem is summoned by Wonderland after she is unable to get through to either Alice or Chess. He arrives, takes in the situation and then demands of David, “What have you done, you stupid, stupid BOY!” He flies in front of the enraged yet broken man. “Do you know what you did? You drove Alice away. You could not contain your anger, your possessiveness, long enough to feel what she was feeling. Now, she can be anywhere. Chessur is refusing contact with Wonderland itself to protect her!” Absolem is shocked by the sense of anger he is feeling towards his friend, but he should have known better! David can feel what she does, how could he ignore her feelings?
Hatter is crouched on the floor, battling his anger, trying to control himself. Alice left him. What have I done? Alice left me!! This thought is going around and around his head. He tries to gain control, then he feels someone’s hands on him. He looked up into his fa’s eyes, seeing them orangey red and says, “She left. What have I done, Fa? I need her so much!” He stares at his fa, hoping he can tell him. His heart is breaking and he can’t understand what is happening. ‘Alice left!! Why???’
Tarrant looks down at his son and tells him, “Ye pushed yer mate. Ye forsaked te Bond and wha’ it telling ye, me bairn. Et was ‘elling ye t’at she was et her limit. Weren’t et? But ye ‘ad to demand somet’ing t’at she couldn’t take!” Tarrant is fighting himself. The look on his daughter’s face tore at his heart. He wants nothing more than to tear into whatever put that pain in her. However, the one who caused it is his own son. ‘Oh David, what have you done?’ Moreover, the look on his son’s face is of pure pain mixed with despair and self-loathing that calls to what Tarrant as a father to fix. What can he do?
Hatter stares at his father. He then processes what he is being told, drops his head and says, “She wanted this. She wanted this meeting, Fa! What was I supposed tae do?” Hatter’s voice starts to drop into his childhood speech patterns.
Alice K. kneels next to her son and tells him, “It is not always about what she wants, David. Sometimes we need to judge our mate’s feelings and see if they are able to make that decision. I admire you for letting her make her own decisions and in most cases, this is the right thing to do. But, there are times you need to make sure she is up to executing her decisions.” She smooths away his hair from his forehead, trying to help calm her son’s problems and her own mate’s internal debate.
Absolem lands on his shoulder and softly tells him, “She can handle herself, and Chess won’t let anything hurt her. Get your feelings under control, then we can find them.” He feels bad for unleashing his rage on David, but David needs to learn to control his emotions, to not make Alice the one responsible for reigning him in. If David’s own father can do this, David can.
Hatter nods and works to control himself. He needs his Alice with him; she is essential to his very being, more than air itself. Hatter then feels her pain and sorrow rip through him and he drops completely to the ground, sobbing with her and for what he himself has done to his love.
Alice gasps and falls to her knees as she lands. Chess wraps his tail around her as he lands on her shoulders.
Chess rubs his head on her, ignoring Wonderland in favor of finding out what is wrong with Alice. Besides, Wonderland deserves it for not giving in to his demands to satisfy his curiosity. How dare she try to ignore him! Feeling her shoulders shake brings his attention back to Alice. He purrs, trying to help, but he can feel the gut-wrenching sobs exploding out of her. He continues rubbing his head on hers, trying to calm her.
Chess tries everything he can think of to calm Alice down, but nothing is working. He gets more and more worried as he can tell she is driving herself to be sick with her inability to calm herself. Finally, he gives in to Wonderland’s incessant demands, choosing Alice’s wellbeing over his pride.
He answers, “What?”
Wonderland sighs in relief and asks, “Alice?”
Staggering under the knowledge he receives from her simple answer and from what he now knows about himself and Alice, Chess sighs. “Crying, what is going on? Why did she call me and why is she so upset?” He processes all the information from the revelation of their bond. However, the need to protect Alice, to make her better is more essential at this time. Chess needs to know what happened to drive her to this state.
Wonderland tells him what has been happening. Chess listens as he continues to try to calm Alice. Seeing this is not helping, he asks for the only person who may be able to calm her down, “David?”
Wonderland tells him that he is just as upset.
Chess closes his eyes; the person who is responsible is as broken as she is. It is up to him to fix this and he hopes he is up to this monumental task. Chess tells Wonderland, “Watch her,” then he disappears. Alice is crying too hard to even notice.
Wonderland watches her Champion and hopes this will be solved before any of her other denizens realize what is going on. Alice being upset earlier darkened all of Wonderland. What will an Alice this upset do to their World?
Wonderland hopes never to find out and works to make sure everyone is otherwise distracted as she tries to comfort her Alice.
Hatter is by himself, has asked everyone to leave, once he could control himself. He is searching for Alice in their bond; he can feel her crying, her breaking in their bond and it is tearing him apart. He needs to go to her, to apologize, to make it all right.
Hatter jumps as Chess appears in front of him and demands, “David, what have you done to her? Alice is my charge! She is my Alice. Not your mother, not any other Alice, this one is MINE!!! I trusted her with you, knowing you love her and that you Hatters belong with Alices. But you have hurt her with you. Not. THINKING!” Chess is glaring at Hatter.
Hatter starts and then stares at Chess. Gone is the childhood friend that was willing to get into whatever trouble they could come up with. No, this is a Chess he suspects few, if any, have ever seen. But Chess’ words trigger something and somehow, some way, many things click into place and he asks, “How many Cheshire Cats are there?”
Chess floats backward in shock, his anger momentarily forgotten with his surprise and he answers, “Many, but I am the Keeper of Wonderland. I only allow those who are right for this world to enter. Right now, there is one other, but she won’t take up her duties. She likes to flit between this world and Above. She is your mother’s Cheshire Cat, but since she wouldn’t acknowledge your mother here, I have tried to help. But this Alice, she is my charge.”
Chess floats closer to Hatter and asks him, “Are you ready David? Are you ready to take whatever Alice gives to you? Because the Gods help us, you are her other half. She needs you, and you, you have failed her already.” He needs to make David understand that he needs to protect Alice. He needs to think of her.
Hatter closes his eyes and then answers Chess, “I’m ready. I need her, Chess.” He looks up into Chess’ eyes and begs him, “Please take me to her, let me help her…” Hatter is more than ready to do anything for the woman that has captured his heart. As he told her before, the bond is great, but they fell in love first. And that love is what is making him beg for her forgiveness, her touch, for anything that she will deign to give him.
Chess stares into the eyes of the man that he is bound to, only because his charge is bound to him. He hadn’t been aware of why he had been drawn to her, not until she called to him. When he finally allowed Wonderland to speak with him, he became aware of their connection. This is why Wonderland has tried to deny him answers. She wanted this bond between Chess and Alice to be a choice of his. This guardianship of Alice is all on him, he is to be her companion, her friend, her confidant in Wonderland. He is to protect her from all that could damage her. To help her become all she can.
This is something he wants to do. Alices affect Wonderland more than any have ever imagined and this Alice is already changing Wonderland. Wonderland is no longer forcing anyone into what she wants; she is truly giving them a choice. By answering her, he chose Alice and her compassion.
Realizing that everyone can make a mistake and that David is truly the one for Alice, Chess forgives his childhood friend. Alice’s compassion makes this possible, she will forgive him. She will allow him to try to help her. His decision made, Chess floats over and touches Hatter, taking him to Alice.
But I have finally gotten time to make the banners and host the contest.
And while the site is not moved, nothing will be happening until after this contest is over.
But for this contest, I will say the Banners are all different. And mixed up.
Let me explain.
The Turning Point was something different completely but was scrapped when a mistake made the banner more awesome than I could imagine. And even then, I played with it for awhile, trying to change the color of the border, but it wouldn’t work. But I am seriously in love with this banner.
Next, I tried to work on Worth Fighting For. I had this idea of a wolf running being the main image, but nothing worked. I seriously worked on it for hours, and finally gave up. I went on to Charming Outlaw’s Angel, after asking the author a question. To only find out the image I had been working on all this time was perfect for this story with tweaks.
Then two nights ago, I woke with an idea for the banner for the last one and had it done in a half an hour. I will tell you that it has a lot of the story points hidden in there.
Now, The wonderful, amazing, completely awesome 4Padfoot, who does the poll, not only did that but also made it where the contest is live as of now. We truly had some awesome entries, and I hope I have done them justice with the banners I made them.
The contest is on until the 15th, (which is the due date for the other contest entries) and I will announce the name as soon as I can.
After this one and the Other Worlds contest, the last one will be for the Annual Christmas contest. Once I get the inspiration for the banner, I will make it and let you guys loose on it. The entries will be due before the 1st of December, just what day I will be cutting them off will be what I need to decide. For I will be home this year, and decorating the house is my thing for the day after Thanksgiving, and sometimes takes a weekend.
What can I say? I love Christmas!!!!
Enjoy the stories, the banner on the top will take you to the main page of the contest. And make sure you vote and leave comments, which the authors can reply to once the contest is over at midnight on the 15th of October.
Song I listened to for this chapter: Lullaby by Nickelback.
A dark-haired, blue-eyed man is standing tall on his ship; his hook on the wheel guiding the ship as he watches his crew scramble around, getting things to rights for their landfall.
Killian Jones, better known in most realms as Captian Hook, is standing on the Jolly Roger looking out on a world he hasn’t seen in years. He is thinking of all in his past that has brought him to this time; to fulfill the prophecy of his homeland and to find what at one time he had thought to be ripped away from him.
Six hundred years ago, he had been born into a land of Magic. However, because of that same Magic, he had been taken outside the land to be brought back at a later time for training. He had been taken to a land without Magic to protect him from the people who would have raised and used him for their own gains. But he never knew this, so he thought no-one wanted him when he discovered that he was adopted.
When he was 10, his adopted family abandoned him and he was brought back to his birth-land. Again he was abandoned and because of this he hated adults because, in his mind, growing up meant you abandoned people. Simple logic, but then, he was only a child. There was no need for him to do anything but be the child he was at that point. He also refused to grow up, and ended up gathering boys like him that he promptly named the Lost Boys. The leaders of the land at that time decided that since he was already showing hints of his destiny, they would start to subtly teach him about his future.
Two hundred and sixty-six years later, he left his birth-land again for adventure. He had been subtly guided to the point he wanted to grow up. They had needed him to leave and age for the prophecy to come about; the prophecy that would save all the worlds.
At that time, he dropped the moniker he had used when he had been in that land and started to use his own-Killian Jones. He had been taken aboard The Revenge as a cabin boy and those years had been the best he’d ever known. Killian loved the Captain of the ship as a father, just as the Captain cared for him as his son. He taught him all he knew of fighting, sailing, and about the world itself.
He also taught him some lessons of his own, guessing whom he had taken in. He purposely stayed away from the Enchanted Forest until he had taught the young man how to defend himself. He had been mightily impressed with the boys’ intelligence and did everything he could to encourage him to think. Roberts had added a library to the Captains’ cabin and used it to educate the young lad.
Killian had come across the idea to map out everything they could and those maps were quickly coveted for their use in navigating the magical waters of the realms. There had never been anyone who had mapped out as much as they had, nor were any maps out there as reliable. They had many people barter to just be able to glance at them and ended up making a tidy profit using Killian’s skills as a draftsman to copy the maps for a high price. At this time, Roberts came across one of Killian’s powers, since the maps only lasted as long as the owners bargained for them; not being able to be copied. He quickly passed around the rumor that he himself was the one who spelled the maps, not wanting anyone to think of taking Killian for themselves.
With this in mind, the Captain tasked Killian with making copies of the more sensitive of their books; burning them after making sure that they matched. There were too many witches and other creatures out there that would do anything for some of those books.
When Killian turned 20, Roberts decided to retire. The duo thought of an idea to allow Killian to continue as Roberts and, in turn, have Roberts fade into the background as Killian’s own reputation grew. They had started to make the transition when Roberts came across a young man whom they captured. Finding out that the young man was in love, True Love, Roberts dragged Killian and the young man into his cabin.
The conversation that came about impressed upon Killian the importance of True Love and the job of everyone to help it out. Roberts also told him that those who tried to stand in the way often came out on the other side dead-if they were lucky. The magic of the realms would not allow True Love to die. It was too rare and too precious a commodity to allow evil to split it up.
So, with this in mind, Killian agreed to leave the boat, allowing the young man to take his place. Before leaving, a fairy friend from his past came to tell him that there was a boat waiting for him at the port for King Henry’s Kingdom. The three looked at each other and nodded. They made the switch and the reputation of the Dread Pirate Roberts came alive again with some help from the fairy as thanks for taking care of Killian. This gave them the time to be able to train up young Westley to be able to take over the name.
When they sailed into port, there was a boat there that took Killian’s breath away. It was beautiful and well suited for him. When they sailed closer they saw the name painted on the bow; Jolly Roger. Captain Roberts clapped him on the shoulder.
“That’s a ship to be proud of my boy. Let’s get you a crew and transfer your copies over.”
The ship had been made in his homeland and sailed there for his use. She was going to be crucial to Killian’s future and because of where the ship was made, and who its master was, it would be nearly indestructible. It will, once it’s Master comes into his legacy, be able to sail the seas of any world. Plus there was more than a little magic woven into the ship itself, and Killian will be the only one who can command that magic.
Killian parted from that stage of his life, knowing that his father was proud of him and with his own fondness for his brother, Westley. Through the years, he and Westley had joined forces more than one time and those times shone brightly in Killian’s memories of the long years.
Killian spent the next couple of years being the captain of his ship and his future. There was no port that they wouldn’t go into but secretly, Killian’s heart was breaking for the children of the realms that were being forced into the Ogre Wars. He himself took on who he could, relocated them to other ports, even giving some of them the choice of becoming a Lost Boy. That was how he came to find his replacement as their leader. Tootles was not happy leading them and this made everyone happier since Rufio could actually wield his old sword, which showed his ability to lead.
One day during this period of time, they pulled into a port. Killian had no shame being a lady’s man; he was a true pirate and had a lady in every port, but he treated them all as a gentleman should, guaranteeing that upon his return he was welcomed by the lady. He honored his father and his teachings of True Love this way, guarding his heart for the chance of True Love. After seeing Westley so happy he wanted nothing less than that. However, in this port, he met a fiery woman who captured his attention. And he thought, Maybe…
So they spent a longer than usual amount of time docked, loading supplies for a trek across the seas to a destination that Killian had pieced together from his books and maps. He was looking forward to the adventure of finding new lands and to adding to the map collections of Roberts, Westley and himself. Once a pirate, always a pirate.
At least that is what he told himself. In reality, he could not get enough of Milah. She entranced him like no other woman. He fell in love with her, and from her own reactions, she fell in love with him.
Then he was jerked to a halt when a man entered the pub they were in and asked for his wife, Milah. The man’s son followed, calling for his mother. Killian made a joke of it, but his heart was already breaking. There was no question that this man loved his wife, and together they had a child.
That night after she had left, Killian made his way to his ship. He was halted by a hauntingly familiar voice calling his name, “Killian!”
He closed his eyes against the pain in his chest, then turned to see her-his love-standing there, who was the wife of another man. His eyes glared at her.
Milah stared at him warily then came forward to stand in front of him.
“Killian, listen to me. I don’t love him. I have lost even my respect for him. He is a coward.”
Shaking his head, he told her, “But love is worth fighting for. He deserves the chance.”
He truly believes that after hearing Westley’s story. You fight for love; it is too precious in the realms to let it go.
Milah stared at him then asked, “Are you willing to fight for it?”
Closing his eyes, Killian sighs. “Yes.” He may be dammed for it, but his own beliefs wouldn’t allow him to let her go if she loved him and wanted to come.
Milah came to him, saying, “I am miserable. I love you, but am chained to a man I hate. Do I not deserve a chance, Killian?”
And with that, the fates of so many were sealed.
The following day, before they left port, the man came on-board and Killian challenged him to fight for Milah, stating, “A man unwilling to fight for what he wants deserves what he gets.”
When the man didn’t fight for her, Killian comes to conclusion that he must not want her, must not love her as much as Killian does.
Watching the man with a heavy heart, Killian did what he needed to get the man off the ship, and to keep the woman he loves.
Years later, when the Ogre Wars were over, Killian made port in another random village. As he and his men made merry, he bumped into a man and in that one moment, Killian found himself in a losing position. There was no one who could stand against the Dark One. This particular incarnation of the man is the same man who was married to his Milah. And he wants her back.
Killian swallowed, and agreed to meet this man for a duel. That night, he made arrangements for his crew and the woman he loves. He also spent a couple of minutes in sad reflection that he will not see his homeland one last time, but he will not back down since, as he stated before, you fight for love.
They met on the Jolly Roger. To his shock, as he is losing the battle to the man that reminds him of a crocodile, Milah stepped forward as the imp has hold of his actual heart. He was thrown to the side as she confronted the man, trying to get to his feet, but the shock and pain of the Crocodile’s hand in his body was enough to disorientate him for a few minutes. He finally made it to his feet, ready to rescue Milah.
Surprising both the Crocodile and Killian, Milah tosses him the bean that she had gotten from a man in a red cap, and he grabbed it out of the air, switching it to his other hand. Throughout the argument between his love and her former husband, he was unable to do anything, as though there was something holding him back. Milah begs forgiveness for leaving the man. The Crocodile smiled and told her that he forgives her. Then in front of him, the man reached in and pulled Milah’s heart out of her chest, telling her that he is unable to forgive her for giving up their son. Killian was finally able to move and caught Milah as she fell to the ground. She looked up at him and told Killian, “I love you.”
With that statement, Rumpelstiltskin crushed her heart in his hand. Killian cried out for the death of the woman he loves, then stood to kill Rumpel. He stabbed a hook he had picked up into Rumpel’s chest, but the Crocodile laughed.
“Oh dearie, it will take more than that to kill me!” And with that, he cut off Killian’s hand, then disappeared.
Killian’s crew scrambled out of everywhere, having honored their captain’s request to stay back, but they quickly took care of him. Once his arm was wrapped, his doctor adding a prosthetic to the end after a few weeks of healing, Killian came out onto the deck of his ship. The man who had the Bean was there waiting on his displeasure.
The crew had seen the marked change in him, and they worried for him. It seemed as though he had hit the bottom. He stared out at the man in front of him and demanded his name. They bantered back and forth until Smee agreed to follow him. It was the last time in two hundred years he will show mercy.
Killian, at that time wanted, no needed, to head to his homeland. He threw the Bean and told them, that they were headed to Neverland.
When they surfaced, Killian collapsed. The ship was instantly covered in fairies who came down and took the only man born in Neverland. They brought him to Tatiana and she tried to heal him, only to find that there was a deep hate in him. She sighed in defeat and told them to take him back to his ship; that they needed to give him time to get over his loss.
For the next two hundred years, Killian became Hook, a man obsessed with revenge. He also devoured all the information in Neverland, trying to find a way to defeat the Dark One. The Lost Boys were saddened by the change in the man who used to lead them and after consulting with the Council, Rufio commenced a long battle with him, allowing Hook to release some of his pain, a thank-you to the man who had brought Rufio to Neverland. Their battles made their way into legends, but Rufio couldn’t help but laugh when they confused him with Peter Pan. It was somehow fitting for Hook to battle Peter Pan in the legends.
But after two hundred years, the Council came together and summoned him. When Hook strode into the hall, he stood tall as he stared at the Queen of the Fairies, the Chief of the Indians and the leader of the Lost Boys, as well as the other members of the Council.
The Queen of Fairies looked down at Hook. Killian was still in there and it was their job to get to him. He had spent the last 200 years hunting for revenge, and since there was no problem allowing him to vent his frustrations, they allowed it but the time of the Prophecy was approaching and they needed him to be healed and whole for the Prophecy to come to pass.
She sighed, then asked, “Hook, what do you remember of the Prophecy of Neverland?” She was straight to the point.
Standing there, Hook cocked his head to the side, then told them what he remembered from finding the Prophecy in a book that Roberts had in his Library.
“There will be a babe born to the land. He will endure loss and pain that will drive him as none before. But True Love will reveal him to be the one who will lead the realms to peace. His beloved will be hailed as the Savior, and with her at his side, they will bring magic back to all the realms.” He looked up at the Council trying to see what their point was.
Great Big Little Panther nodded to the man below him. “Hook, you are that man.”
Shaking his head, Hook replied, “I lost my Love. If I am this man, then the Prophecy is false.” He is steadfast in his belief. It is what drives his need for revenge after all.
Tatiana smiled down at him. “Hook, your True Love has not been born. Milah was your love but your True Love is coming. Now, do you want to give up the chance at this True Love for a woman who has died? Think carefully, and think of what Roberts had taught you.” This was it. This was what may bring back Killian to them, leaving Hook behind.
Hook stood there, angry as hell. Milah was not his True Love? What did they want him to do, give up his vengeance of her? Even if she wasn’t his True Love, she was someone he had loved and had her heart ripped out cruelly due to the hate of one man who needed it no more.
Then he remembered what Roberts told him and Westley. True Love was worth everything. It changed people, made them more than they were. Westley had suffered greatly and his reward had been well worth it. Hook stared at the ground and then looking up, he candidly said, “I will not give up the chance of True Love, but at the same time, I will not give up on revenge. The Dark One has done nothing but cause misery for the realms. Why can I not get my revenge for what pain he has caused me and the rest of the worlds?” He stared at them, challenging them.
The Chief seemed to think over his words. Then he asked, “If it came to revenge or True Love, which would you choose?” This was the important part. They needed him to realize that the choice may come.
Hook seemed taken aback. He thought for a while then looks to them. “Do you promise that my True Love is coming?” He would give up everything for True Love.
Tatiana smiled, lighting up the room.
“My dear boy, not only do I promise she is coming, but we are wanting to teach you how to recognize it; how to be able to know for yourself when she is here, when she will need you. There is so much to teach you, Child, that it will take many years. Are you willing?” She started to glow, her inner happiness showing to everyone.
Hook stared at her, measuring her. Then he finally nods. “I am.”
Hatter is kicked and beaten before he is thrown in the back of scarab with Alice. She almost cries when she realizes he is hurt so badly.
“Why Hatter? You are supposed to sneak into the casino if I am captured, not get captured along with me.” Alice just stares at him trying to figure out why in the world he just got himself incarcerated with her. She is stretched to the breaking point with her emotions and is unsure of what to do.
Hatter stares at her, feasting his eyes on her face. What is wrong, he can see something is amiss with his Alice and he needs to get closer… He can feel himself getting angry at the sight of her pain, uses the anger to break his bonds. Hatter scrambles over to Alice and holds her close.
When his arms, which she has needed, come around her, Alice can’t keep the feelings bottled anymore; she breaks down and sobs in his arms. Her emotions are ruling her and she is unable to control them.
Hatter listens to her and wonders what has happened to cause this reaction. He tries to soothe her, but she is lost in her pain. His eyes grow darker with his anger, and the pain that he is feeling coming from her, hardening his resolve that this is it. He will do what is necessary to make Alice safe and not feel this pain anymore. Even if it means that she needed to lea-, the pain that shoots through him with the thought of sending her away makes him gasp.
Alice is sobbing, releasing the despair of Jack’s betrayal, her father not knowing who she is, and her being single handily responsible for the Resistance being torn down. Then to top it off, she had to witness Mad March beating the crap out of Hatter in front of her. She is learning that the only stable element in her life is Hatter. He is always there for her. He makes sure she is ok no matter what, but why did he not follow their plan? This is setting them both up for more pain, and now, because of her, there is no Resistance to help support them!
Hatter listens to her heartrending sobs, and it breaks his heart to hear his Alice so broken right now. He prays for someone to help them both and at the same time demands that Wonderland help them! He also hopes that Mad March doesn’t come back here. But, at the same time he would have welcomed someone to take out his anger and frustration on! He tries to get Alice’s attention again, murmuring to her, “Luv, shh, I am so sorry…tell me what is wrong! Or at least come back to me!”
Alice can hear Hatter, and can now sense him trying to calm her. At the same time she can feel and hear the franticness he is feeling, because he doesn’t know what is wrong. This breaks through her grief and she looks up at him. “H-Hatter?” His name is no more than a whisper, but it is all she can say.
Hatter hears her whisper his name, and with a wordless cry holds her tighter. He breathes her name in relief, “Alice…”
Alice feels so safe right now, remembering everything that has happened, and how many times she has wished he has been there. “Hatter, I love you.” Her voice is getting stronger; she is feeling safer with him here.
Hatter looks down at her, feathery life kisses her forehead telling her, “I love you too Alice, so much.” He hates to rush her, but, “We don’t have much time, Alice. It’s not a long trip to the Casino from the City. Can you tell me what has happened?”
Alice closes her eyes against the pain, and tells him, “Caterpillar and Jack took me to my father, but he didn’t recognize me.” She rushes through the next part, trying not to think about it until later. “Mad March captured us, then Caterpillar ate a mushroom and disappeared. Then you came to…”
Hatter realizes she is still upset as she trails off. But he does hear about the mushroom and realizes that Caterpillar had extracted himself from the situation. While that is good, he didn’t think the Resistance would come forward for a while. They are a cautious group; he has often grown frustrated with their slow ways. But, before he can tell Alice any of this, Hatter can feel the scarab descending and realizes that they have little time. “Alice, luv, stay strong, and remember, I will come for you no matter what.” With that he hugs her to him tight, releasing her reluctantly to go back over to where he has been chained just as the door opens.
Mad March comes in with the Ten of Clubs and goes to grab Alice. Hatter cannot resist and with a roar he rushes Mad March. Before he can get far, a group of Suits has him on the floor and all he can do is glare at Mad March.
“Still the ladies man, eh, Hatter?” Mad March laughs at him and tells the suits to take him to the Doctors. He turns back to Hatter and tells him, “I remember now that the Queen wanted me to find out where the Great Library is, Hatter, and I remember that you killed me to keep it hidden. Now, we will see how long you can last with the Doctors. Revenge is so sweet isn’t it?” With that he walks down the ramp and leaves.
Ten of Clubs grows interested with Mad March’s statements, but keeps it hidden. This man knows about the Great Library? Maybe he also can…he thinks about this development and about what he has found out in the archives about a deal and an Alice. Maybe now is the time? He orders the suits to unlock the girl, then have the suits to bring Jack and her to the throne room.
When they reach the throne room, he is surprised to see the King waiting for them. Winston didn’t normally involve himself so openly; he prefers to work behind the scenes to minimize his wife’s excesses. But, he is the one who had ordered Ten of Clubs to look in the archives. Is he taking a more active role now?
Winston looks at his son and the girl named Alice. He hopes that they can both think on their feet since this is sure to be a dangerous meeting with his wife. They all have to be very careful; Constance has been getting more unhinged and vindictive lately. Quite frankly, he is worried about Wonderland. He orders Alice to be put in the containment bubble. This may help them since he knows the daughter of Carpenter has a fiery temper, which is rather odd given the information he has about her. He knows many things about her that she herself is unaware of and resolves to help this Alice out, since she gives him hope for Wonderland.
Before he can give the subject further thought, The Queen of Hearts comes in with her court and sits down in her throne. She claps her hands and the Ten of Clubs brings her a platter with a container on it. She laughs and picks up the container. “Oh.” There is another container underneath. She laughs brightly at the merry game.
Winston asks, “May I?” and picks up the container… to reveal another container. There is laughter from the court and Constance picked up the next container that revealed the ring inside… “Ah.” She reaches and puts on the ring amidst the applause of her court. She admires it on her hand as Winston creeps closer and comments to her softly, “The mouse that stole the cheese.”
The Queen frowns and asks “What?”
Winston compounds on what he says “The cat that’s got the canary.” He looks at her and tells her, “Oh you look radiant, my peach. And dare I say younger too?”
The Queen of Hearts smiles and tells the court, “I’m going to wear it for at least an hour before you clever suits whisk it away to reopen the glorious Looking Glass and kick start that wonderful economy of ours.” Then her face and voice grows hard, telling them harshly, “Then I want it back right away, you hear?”
The Ten of Clubs keeps his discomfort from showing on his face, and replies exuberantly, “Loud and clear, ma’am. Loud and crystal clear.” He glances quickly at the King and Winston nods his head minutely.
The Queen walks over to the large bubble in the throne room and sees Alice in it. She asks Winston, “What is she doing in that thing?”
‘And so it begins,’ Winston thinks. He tells her, “She’s a contaminant.”
The Queen frowns and asks, “A what?”
He looks back at Carpenter. Leaning down, Winston whispers in a voice that carries, “Jack discovered that she’s Carpenter’s daughter, went to fetch her so that she can turn him against you… you know, wake him up.”
The Queen connects all the dots and exclaims, “So that’s why he wanted the awful creature.” She looks over at Jack and tells him, “Evil Boy.”
Alice looks out and sees her father. She doesn’t see anyone but him in the room. She tries to get his attention. “Dad…” No reaction. “Dad!” She notices that he looks up. She tries harder, “DAD!” She rocks her container with her exclamation.
The Queen tries to hear what she says, but with the sound proofing they have put on the container she can’t hear. “What did she say?”
The King thinks quickly and tells her, “‘Mad.’ I think she says she’s mad.”
The Queen nods and says, “Quite right. But if I’m to consider her evidence, I must hear her clearly.”
Winston thinks back to Alice’s temper and says quickly, “But Carpenter would hear her as well. It’s too risky.”
Constance throws an aggravated look at Winston and tells him, “Good heavens, Winston, you’re paranoid.” She walks over to Carpenter and Walrus. Stopping in front of him, she asks him in a falsetto voice, “Recognize that girl over there?” She indicates with her head, Alice.
Winston has to continue the game he started, “Dearest, please.” He begs her.
Carpenter keeps having these instincts to protect the girl in the bubble and thinks quickly. “Oh, she’s an actress Jack brought here with some story about being my daughter.”
The Queen pushes, making sure to prove to her dolt of a husband that she knows what she is doing. “Do you have a daughter?”
Carpenter realizes when Walrus starts to pay close attention, that this may be very dangerous, and he needs to play his cards right. Not only to get the girl out of here alive, but himself too. “Of course not, but the Resistance will try anything.”
Constance tells him, “Go over there and take a good look at her.” She shoots a glance at her husband.
Winston realizes this may not end well. He can not control everyone’s reactions, and Alice is not cooperating, still trying to get through to her father, “Darling, please, I don’t think it’s wise.”
The Queen of Hearts is getting irritated with her husband, and bluntly tells him, “Shut up, Winston. I’m the one that wears the crown around here.” as she walks with Carpenter to Alice’s containment bubble. As they walk over, Alice tries again to get her father’s attention. She can’t control herself right now. She is retreating deeper in her mind trying to escape what can be happening to Hatter and what may happen to her.
Carpenter stares at the strangely familiar girl trying to make sense of why he has this need to protect her. The Queen looks at him and asks, “Why did Jack pick her, do you think?”
Jack speaks up, unable to keep silent any longer, “Because she is his daughter.” He can’t believe how much it hurts to realize that he has lost Alice, but he is going to still fight for her, even at the cost of his life.
Jack had watched in the monitors in the back of the scarab, Hatter breaking free of the chains to comfort Alice. Their love for each other had been very evident when they thought they were unobserved. He had been in pain, but loving Alice, wishing to protect her from anymore pain, he had blocked anyone from seeing what the two of them were doing. Jack will work on winning Alice back if he has a chance after all this.
Constance rounds on Jack and spits out, “Quiet, ungrateful child!” She turns back to Carpenter and asks in a sweeter voice, “Well?”
Carpenter replies quickly, sticking to his earlier point, “Look, I have no idea; perhaps because she’s a very good actress.”
The Queen of Hearts tells him in a tone that is quite matter of fact as she watches for any reaction, “I’m going to have her executed, you know.”
Carpenters tries to keep from showing any emotion, and answers, “So?” To show anything will only serve to sentence them both to death.
The Queen stares at him and presses, “Doesn’t that bother you, even a little?”
Carpenter turns and stares at Alice. She stares back, hoping that he will remember her.
Jack and the Queen watches the silent exchange between the two, both hoping for a reaction from Carpenter, but for different reasons.
Carpenter finally answers, “Why should it?” He cannot admit to anything, or there will be no chance for either of them.
This simple statement removes all hope from Alice. She stands there devastated. She shuts down at that second, not able to process anything else. Everything has been taken from her, her freedom, her father, and Hatter. What else is there to fight for? Her emotions are like a hurricane battering at her, driving her mind underground. A tear traces its way down her cheek as she stands there.
Jack watches Alice break. He stares uncomprehending as he hears his mother tell Carpenter, “Excellent. You may go.” How can everything go so wrong in such a small amount of time?
The Queen of Hearts turns to deal with her son.
Winston sees the gleeful look on her face and feels bad for his son, but he knows he can’t show any weakness or there will not be any way to save anyone.
The Queen walks over to her son and declares, “My own son.”
Winston, while being so tired of playing these games, realizes this may be the dangerous game he will play here and adds, “Blackest of all black sheep.”
Constance stands in front of her son and court, stating, “I carried you for nine painful months, suffered eight hours of agonizing labor, suckled you day and night, your sharp little teeth gnawing at my breast and now here you are: a grown man with nothing but hatred and deceit in your heart.”
Winston tries to hide his reaction to her overreaction. “It’s unnatural.” His comment is not to his son, but to his wife; he is starting to realize she is finally losing it completely. Soon she will become worse than her mother.
Constance decides that she will give the ungrateful traitor a chance to say something; she can show she can be merciful in her victory. “Have you nothing to say before I pass sentence?”
Jack seizes on the chance to try to save Alice. “Send Alice home, she doesn’t deserve this. Carpenter may seem well-adjusted now, but if he sees his daughter executed, he’ll wake up for sure.” He is really speaking to his father and is happy to see him slowly nod. Alice may have a chance.
The Queen speaks quickly. She is not going to lose the chance to at least see one Alice die by her hand. “Nonsense.”
Jack tries to argue and give his father something he can use, “She can’t hurt you if she’s back in her world. Besides, you‘ve crushed the Resistance, their leader is dead, and the ring is back on your finger. What more do you want?” He feels desperate. He needs to get Alice home where she belongs. It is his fault she is here and it’s the least he can do since he seems to have ripped everything else from her. She stands there like an Oyster that has been completely drained. Jack is very worried.
Winston realizes that this is the first time he had ever seen his son try to save someone. Feeling some hope, he decides that the argument is valid and tries to reason with his wife. “There is some logic to what he says.”
Constance sighs wishing she hadn’t had to marry such a weak buffoon to gain her rightful throne. Unfortunately, marriages in Wonderland are permanent. She tells him, “Don’t let him manipulate you, Winston.”
Jack quickly replies at his father’s look, “Go ahead then. Risk it.”
Winston glances at Jack and leans over to his wife and murmurs, “A word in your ear.”
Constance exhales noisily in aggravation and walks away.
Winston gives his son a hard look and Jack acknowledges the suggestion to keep quiet for now.
As they walk away the Queen tells Winston flatly, “Leniency is not an option.”
Winston did some of the fastest thinking and talking he has ever had to. “Heaven’s no. We’re going to get rid of her, naturally. The question is, how?”
Constance’s eyes and face lit up like a child’s on Christmas morning. “I’ve always like a good drowning.” She says eagerly.
Winston observes the look in her face and feels nauseous. “Yes, but again, that may be the slap in the face that wakes Carpenter up. It’s too risky.”
Constance sighs and asks him, “You’re not falling for that, are you?”
Winston quickly analyzes his wife, realizing he needs her to think he is an idiot and answers, “Yes.” He hears her huff in aggravation and almost sighs himself in relief. He then tells her, “No. I mean, no, no. But we will have to tread warily. This denial is a tricky business.”
Constance realizes that he may be right. She can’t bear lose the man that makes her feel such wonderful emotions and invents ways to get new ones, “What do you suggest?”
The relief Jack and Winston both feel is almost palpable. Winston thinks and suggests off handily, “Well, there’s banishment.”
The Queen’s brow furrows, confused. “Banishment?”
Winston thinks of what can make her send Alice home or even to the White Kingdom , either being better than staying where Constance can get her hands on her. “Mm, some people even say it is worse than execution.”
Constance thinks about it, obviously turning it over in her head as she walks away murmuring, “Banishment. Hmm.” Making up her mind quickly, she walks up to her throne and announces to the court, “I have decided that the harsher sentence of Banishment is more appropriate. Escort her to the Looking Glass and have her dispatched as quickly as possible.”
Jack and Winston glance covertly at Alice and see that she is still standing there with a blank look on her face. They glance at each other and then back to the Queen as she starts to announce, “It is with a heavy heart and a clear conscience, that I, Mary Elizabeth Constance deVille Heart, Queen of Wonderland, do sentence you, Jack Frederick Heart, to be held in the Eye Room overnight, so that all of Wonderland may see you for who you really are. And tomorrow morning, you shall be taken to the Grand Hall to face the executioner’s axe.” Jack is shocked that she is going to actually kill him. And then he is even more shocked that his eyes flash, not to Alice, but to the Duchess’s; she looks back at him, stricken.
Hatter has been taken to Doctor Dee and Doctor Dum. They had clapped their hands in glee, recognizing him as the one that had taken their last plaything away from them. They strap him in a chair and proceeds to play their normal mind games and use electricity on him.
But to their great confusion, the mind games don’t do anything. It is like he is locked up in his head and they can’t affect him. The most they will get are some odd sayings and statements. In retaliation, they just start using the cattle prod on him, hoping that will weaken whatever hold is on his brain.
Hatter has been trained by the best in case this ever happened. But he keeps in his head, the promise he has made to Alice, and watches for an opening to escape. If he hasn’t done this, there would have been no reaction to anything that the Doctors could do to him. But Hatter finds that he can’t just release the bonds; there is no assurance that he can come back, especially due to his Madness being somewhat released already.
Hatter watches Mad March walk in, and tell the Doctors, “Leave us.” Doctor Dee or is it Doctor Dum? protests “But-“
Mad March orders them, “I said leave!”
Hatter can’t help himself and starts babbling sayings he has heard from his father. “When is a raven like a writing desk?” That brings flashbacks of his mother and father at the Tea Table laughing… “The clockwork’s not ticking properly, maybe crumbs in the butter?” Thackery trying to butter his watch… ‘Hatter! You need to get a handle! Otherwise you won’t be able to save Alice! ‘The fact that this is the closest he has ever come to blurting out his secrets is enough to scare him. But the pain and the mind games from the Doctors still have them in their possession.
Mad March watches Hatter and demands, “Tell me where the Great Library is.”
That is all it takes for Hatter to break out of the mindless loop he is in and stares at Mad March in defiance.
Mad March nods and says, “Yeah, I didn’t think you’d crack. In that case, there’s no need to keep you alive.” He pulls a knife out of his sleeve and then, deciding to try to mess with Hatter some more, remembers an old nursery rhyme from the time of the first Red Queen. For some reason, Mad March feels that it is appropriate. He recites, “Twinkle twinkle little bat, how I wonder what you’re at.” He goes and starts his killing stroke, telling Hatter, “Goodbye, Hatter.”
The quote is like a Godsend and breaks all holds on him. He has no idea how, but Mad March has somehow hit upon one of the few quotes that most people don’t know has been a way to contact Resistance members of the Bluddy Beg Hed’s reign.
As Mad March tries to kill him, Hatter kicks back and makes the chair fall back. As Mad March tries to recover, Hatter jumps up, using the chair as a shield for the first slash. Then thinking quickly, Hatter uses the next slash to free his right arm from the chair. He can hear his Fa yell at him to finish it. He swings back and punches Mad March’s head off again. But, this time, he uses the knife to guarantee that Mad March will not be coming back to haunt him and his.
He feels Wonderland tell him he needs to find Alice and, after tying up the Doctors, and retrieving his hat and jacket, runs out to find her.
Alice has been nonresistant when they take her from the bubble. She misses the look of triumph on the Queen of Heart’s face when she realizes Alice is catatonic. Winston stares after her and hopes that she is going to be ok. Alice remains the same as they take her on the scarab to the city. The suits think this is going to be an easy job and relaxes.
Alice is dragged into the Hall of the Looking Glass by a couple of suits. The Nine of Clubs goes up to the technician in charge of the Looking Glass and tells him, “This one’s got to go back right away.”
The technician looks back and recognizes the girl as the one that the King has asked to be helped. He tells the Club, “She’ll have to wait. A raiding party is returning with fresh Oysters.” He can’t do much, but since he feels sickened on what the suits are doing, he thinks it may wake the girl up.
As the group waits, three aces walk in the room, heading straight to the technician and telling him, “The Queen is getting impatient. She wants the ring.”
The technician nods and tells them, “We’ll need it back. The Looking Glass will only work for a short time without it.” He hands the ring to them and glances at the girl. She is still standing there with no emotion or thoughts showing in her face. The suits nod and leave with the ring in its container again.
Then the Looking Glass ripples and that catches Alice’s attention. She slowly surfaces as she watches suits bring fresh Oysters in from her world. This brings some faint anger to the surface. But what breaks through and brings her back completely is what the next two suits bring through the Looking Glass: children. Children! “No. No!” She explodes into movement. She breaks the hold the two suits have on her and she takes them down and runs up the stairs.
As Alice runs out of the building, she realizes how high it is. She has to stop and grab the side of the wall. She looks up, seeing that the suits with the ring haven’t left yet. As she watches, two of them get on flamingoes, and take off while the third is checking something out on his flamingo. Without thinking it through, she charges the man, and knocks him over. She then proceeds to take some of the anger she feels out on him driving him back towards the… “No!” She didn’t mean to have him fall over the edge! She runs over to check and sees him lying on the ledge below.
Alice breathes a sigh of relief that the man hadn’t fallen to his death and then gets on the flamingo. She remembers the last time with Hatter-‘No Alice!! Not now! Get the ring back and at least you can stop them from bringing anymore children!’ Alice tries to convince herself that it is, “Okay.” She tells herself to do this! “Okay.” She then hears a noise and leans forward and sees the suit has almost made his way back up. She tells herself, “Okay come on Alice you can do this!”
Then she hears bullets, she turns around and sees suits firing at her. She looks up and sees that the ring is getting farther away. ‘C’mon, Alice!’ She grabs the head of the flamingo and slams her hand on the button as she hears the suits run up behind her.
She takes off, ‘Too fast!’, and goes after the ring keeping the image of the children in front of her. She has nothing else to fight for, but she will not allow them to kidnap children, take from them their emotions, and have them feel the way she does now.
She slowly catches up with the Aces. As she is getting closes, she watches one pull away, and loses him in the clouds. She will worry about him later and she concentrates on trying to catch the one with the ring.
All of sudden, she hears the sound of bullets flying around her. She has a flashback of what had happened the last time she is on one of these, and ducks. She quickly finds out why that is a bad idea as her weight throws the stick forward and makes it start to go down. She looks back, and notices the Ace following her, but when she turns back around, she has something in front of her that is a bit more concerning, the forest rushing up to her. She tries to pull herself out of her fear and can’t. Alice tries again telling herself, “Alice, pull this thing up!” Finally either that or the forest coming up quickly is enough for her to gain the ability to pull up. And just in time; she is in the forest. She has a flashback of watching the Return of the Jedi, and realizes that she needs to get out of the forest, since she can readily believe herself able to crash into a tree.
Alice pulls up and comes out of the forest. She looks around for the Ace that has been shooting at her and saw him fly down a canyon going the wrong way. She breathes a sigh of relief as she looks for the other Ace and sees him far in front of her. She grows determined and races after him.
When she gets close to the Casino, she sees him land, and she quickly realizes this is a concern. How is she to land this thing? She sees a door on a ledge and decides to land there. As she goes by the doors, she lands; sending sparks flying everywhere from the contact of the metal flamingo to the concrete. As she shakily gets off the flamingo, she watches a bunch of suits run out the doors, and down to where the rest of the flamingos are.
She runs to the doors, and after making sure there are no others coming out, runs in. She hopes as she runs through the building that no one has seen her.
As she runs, she hears an announcement. “All suits report immediately to section commanders.” Alice is mystified, and wonders what is happening; are they aware of her? She hides from another group of suits, and then runs around the corner, glancing out the window. She slides to a stop and goes to confirm what her eyes are telling her. There is an army of something out there and then she sees Charlie out there waving his arms. “Wow. Where’d you get the army, Charlie?”
Before Alice can investigate any further, she hears the Ten of Clubs’ voice. “There, go, go. Hurry up.”
Not sure if he is after her, Alice runs down the stairs, and keeps running trying to find somewhere to hide. She runs past a Diamond and down a hallway. Hearing familiar music, Alice has an idea. She looks around and sees the tacky red carpet, realizing this might be a perfect place to hide. She hears the Ten of Clubs yell at the Diamond she had ran past, “Out of my way.” Realizing that he was close, she runs into the Gaming Room, and closes the doors. She grabs a pedestal and wrestles it on top of the door handles. Just in time, since Alice hears them trying to open the door. She breathes a sigh of relief and runs up on a dance floor trying to find somewhere to go or hide. The go-go dancers see her, running off just as two suits comes up, and tells her with guns drawn, “Where do you think you’re going? Get Down.”
Alice puts up her hands and her stomach drops. She slowly makes it down the floor, trying to make a plan how to attack them, and not get shot. Though truthfully, with Hatter dead, she entertained the idea of doing something to set them off. But right after that thought had passed through her mind, another one sets her straight, quickly. ‘The children, Alice!’
Before she can think of anything else, she hears the most beautiful sound: a whistle, Hatter’s whistle!
As Alice turns to confirm that this was not a hallucination, so did the Suits. Hatter punches the first one with his sledgehammer. The man drops and before the other can fire his gun, Alice knocks his arms down and Hatter punches him also.
Alice swings around, saying the first things her shocked, and overjoyed brain can think of, “Hatter, you’re okay.”
Hatter is trying to focus and grabs the guns on the ground. He is trying to contain the Madness that is very much at the forefront of his mind from watching the two men point a gun at his Alice. He checks the first gun, hands it to Alice and then checks the other, sticking it in the small of his back. He answers her. “Yeah.” Then, with then both having weapons, he looks up at her.
Alice can see the marks and blood all over his face. Her heart drops and she feels tears threatening, Hatter looks worse than even after Mad March had beaten him. Then she looks at his eyes and saw the Madness fighting to come out. She gasps, “Oh my God.”
Her reaction breaks the last hold of Madness and he realizes that he had been so very close to losing it. He hurries to assure her, “Oh, its a few cuts and bruises. I’m fine.” He rakes his eyes over her to make sure she is fine, and then he has Alice in his arms; she has thrown herself in them as she tells him, “I thought you were dead.” Hatter holds her close, murmuring into her ear, “Oh, that feels good.”
He can feel her squeeze what he suspects is broken ribs and he doesn’t care. Nothing matters now that Alice is here in his arms. Then he realizes where they are and tells her reluctantly, “We should save that until we’re safe.” He pulls her out of his arms and looks her in the eye.
Alice nods realizing he is right. But she has to tell him, “Hatter, I love you and-“
Unable to stop himself, Hatter grabs her and pulls her to him, he needs to feel her. He covers the distance between them, their lips meeting in a frenzy of need. Alice had needed this as much as Hatter, this confirmation of the other alive and here. After a few seconds of kissing, Hatter ends it reluctantly and tells her, “Follow me. I’m getting us out here.” He grabs her hand and starts to walk to the other door to get them out of here.
Alice jerks her hand away from him, realizing that they need to end this, now. She tells Hatter, “No”.
Hatter can’t believe what she said and even more importantly, that Alice has pulled her hand from his. Alice never removes her hand from his! Swinging around with a shocked look on his face, Hatter repeats incredibly, “No?”
Alice thinks for a second, remembering Caterpillar telling her, ‘We’re all vulnerable, mix the wrong feelings together, the right kind of bad with the wrong kind of good, and you’ll wind up with a total breakdown.’ And what Charlie told Hatter and her ‘She justwanted to feel the good, not the bad.’ It all falls into place, solving the puzzle of Tea and what needed to be done to free everyone. Alice tells him, “I have an idea. Do you see any more suits in here?”
Hatter is trying to figure out what is going on. But to answer her question, he looks to make sure that no more has entered the Game Room. Finding nothing new, nor any threats to them, he tells her, “I don’t think so, no.”
Alice runs to the other door knowing that Hatter will follow her, telling him, “Let’s seal the other exit.”
As they make their way to the other door, Alice hopes to find another pedestal to block the doors, but none are to be found on this side. She looks outside the door, seeing a steady stream of suits heading outside the casino and realizes that this may also be the perfect time to overthrow the Queen. She asks Hatter, “Find something to brace the doors.”
Hatter can feel Wonderland encouraging him to do what she asks and trusts both her and Wonderland. “Uh… okay.” He finds a broom, brings it over, and wedges it to block the doors as well as he can. He wishes there is something more, but he can not find anything else. He also feels that there is little time for him to run to the other side and grab one of the pedestals there.
Alice tries to explain her epiphany to Hatter, “Something Caterpillar says. Mix the wrong feelings together and you’ll wind up with a complete breakdown. And Charlie… Charlie says the Queen only wanted to feel the good, not the bad, remember?” She needs him to understand and see if there are any holes in her logic.
Hatter thinks about it and can’t quite make the connection. He asks her, “So?”
Alice replies grimly, “We’re gonna stir up some emotions.” She looks at him, and explains, “All the positive emotions being harvested right now, mixed with the bad emotions we will make.” She watches as Hatter make the connection and grin. He grabs her, kissing her briefly as he murmurs,”My clever little Oyster.” Then he thinks of the danger, and tells her seriously, “Be careful Alice. I don’t know how much more I can take, luv.” He searches her eyes, and she nods grasping that he won’t say more but, she realizes how close he is to losing it.
Alice squeezes his hands, turns and ran up to the stage. Watching Hatter to see when he makes it to his destination; she fires the gun at the ceiling. Hatter copies her move and yells, “Oi!”
Once she has the attention of the Diamonds in the Game Room, she levels the gun at them, and swings it. Never more than this moment in time is Alice happy that some of her students at the dojo are cops and have shown her the correct way to handle a gun. “Deal another hand, spin another roulette wheel, and it will be your last!”
Alice thinks and realizes she needs to wake them up. Their own emotions when they realize they are trapped will run a large gauntlet of negativity, from being scared from being here, to anger due to the lack of freedom. She knows her fellow Oysters and knows they won’t disappoint her. But first she has to wake them up! “Hey everyone, wake up. This isn’t a dream, this is really happening.” Alice lowers her gun and tells them, “Look at me. Think. Where are your families?” As she watches, one man looks around and starts to feel his pockets like he is trying to figure something out. She continues with more hope, “Your kids, your husbands and your wives and your mothers and your fathers?”
The same Oyster that has started to move makes a comment that seems to wake the two nearest him, “Where did I leave my keys?”
Alice continues, feeling like she is getting more success with them than her father. “You are taken from them and brought here. Try to think. Your name—” She thinks about it and realizes she will have been upset if she can’t remember something as simple as her name, “What’s your name?”
All of sudden someone answers her. She looks and sees an older Oyster looking at her; he answers her, “Taylor.” The Oyster next to him looks at him, waking up, “No, that’s my son. My son!” And he looks at the Oyster next to him.
Alice tells them, “Look down at your feet. Try to walk away from the tables.” Alice can hear the range of emotions she thought she would. One Oyster standing next to the Cop that had woken up first, sounds both angry and scared, “They’re stuck. I can’t move my feet.”
Hatter can’t believe it. Never in his wildest dreams did he believe this can happen. He keeps a vigilant eye out for any danger to his Alice. ‘This may work!’ He dares to start hoping that it will end soon.
Alice tells them. “Wake up!” She can see a few not fully awake and tries to wake them. “Wake up!” The Oysters look around, seeing their neighbors not awake and proceeds to shake them or do what they can to wake them up.
All of a sudden, there is banging on the door, and Alice uses it to further Hatter’s cause. “Look, they’re trying to break down the door. Do you know why? Because they don’t want you to wake up!”
At that moment, the suits break through the door firing with their guns. Alice jumps down taking cover, returning fire. She is trying not to kill anyone, just hit to disable them. She couldn’t have asked them to do something more than this that will help her cause! Wait, is that the Ten of Clubs?
Hatter returns fire from his exposed location until he makes sure Alice is safe. Once he is assured of her safety, he leaps over the glass barrier and takes cover by the roulette table. Then it dawns on him that the suits are not shooting well. It is more like they are trying to… scare the Oysters? What is going on?
Before either of them can make sense of what is going on, Carpenter runs into the room and yells at the suits “Stop!” Two suits close the door behind him. He continues, “You’re frightening the Oysters.” He then sees Alice crouched behind the gaming table. As he stares at his daughter, ‘His daughter, how long has he been here that she is grown up?’ stand up and hold a gun expertly at him. He quickly tries to think. He needs to get her out of here, get her somewhere safe. “I’ll deal with this.” As he walks to Alice, he is a little disconcerted that she continues to hold the gun at him.
Alice can’t believe this. What is he doing here? She demands of him, “What do you want?”
Robert tries to reason with her. “Put the gun down.” He continues to walk to her but is brought up short when she tightens her grip on the gun, and demands, “You stay right there.” He tries to tell her he remembers, “It’s me Alice. It’s your father.”
Alice has barely recovered from her catatonic state and has not had time to deal with her emotions. She has also just found Hatter is alive when she thought she had gotten him killed. Her mental state is breaking down too quickly and she can’t do anything about it. She tells him in a voice breaking and descending into that ten year old voice, “You don’t remember me. You don’t remember anything.”
Hatter’s heart stops. He hears the warning in her voice and freezes for a second to calm himself down. ‘You need to help her and not fall apart yourself. She is enough danger right now!’
Robert realizes he had done so much wrong earlier, and tries to convince her, “I do.” He grabs his wrist with the watch, “Thanks to you, I remember everything.”
Ten of Clubs stands there barely breathing. He hopes that Alice has really awakened Carpenter and that now that someone can bring her back. Ten of Clubs has done what he can to help, hearing her plan from outside the door, realizing this is why the King has ordered him to help her. She is the Alice of the Prophecy. Now he hopes that her helping Wonderland won’t cost her, her sanity.
Alice stands there, thinking this may be another trick of the Queen’s, and she won’t back down. She has to free Hatter and save the children. Those are the only thoughts that make themselves clear in her head amidst the confusion. “I don’t believe you, this is just another trick.” Her voice is retreating more and more into her ten year old voice. She wakes up enough to remember the plan and tells the other Oysters, “See this guy? He is the one who brought you here. He hooked you up. When he is done with you… When he’s done with you, he’ll get rid of you. “
Robert can feel his heart breaking.
Hatter can’t take it anymore and begins to make his way to Alice. He doesn’t know what is going on, but he will not lose her to her emotions and mind. He promised to take care of her, and he will do so.
Robert looks up at a movement that he catches out the corner of his eye and sees a man head towards his daughter. He almost growls protectively, but then recognizes the young man as the one that tried to rescue her earlier. He is a little worried who the man is, he looks very familiar to Carpenter, but Alice’s next words bring his attention back to his daughter.
Alice screams at her father, “Isn’t that right? Daddy, isn’t that right!!?!”
Robert realizes he needs to convince her and bring her back. He thinks back to what she had told him on the rooftop. The story she told him there is very clear in his head. Robert tells her all the details he can remember to let her know it is him, and he really remembers. “It is a Sunday and we’d just come back from the movies. And you are wearing your yellow dress and those black shoes that always hurt your feet. And… Carol…met us in the driveway and told us Dinah had been hit by a car.” He watches Alice slowly lowers the gun, and he starts to walk to her, “And you ran into the yard and hid. And I came and found you and held you for hours while you wept.” He stops and holds his arms from his body to show her he is defenseless. He starts to tell her in a soft voice, “I should have known you the moment I saw you. I’ve been a fool, Alice. I’ve missed so much. I’ve wasted so much time. Please forgive me. I’m so sorry.”
Alice looks at him, starting to cry, as she walks into his arms. Robert folds her into his arms in relief that she is back. He hugs her, rocking her to comfort and starts to turn. Then out of the corner of his eye, he sees Walrus there, raising his gun to shoot at Alice. He yells, “No!” turning Alice around so that he can protect his daughter. He hears the gunshots, but did not feel any hit him. He looks up and sees the man that has been making his way to Alice’s side holding a gun. He looks back at Walrus and sees him fall to the floor.
Hatter didn’t even have to think. He loves her enough to kill to save her life. NO ONE will hurt his Alice. When he sees the fat man burst through the doors and raise a gun to his Alice, he shoots first, not taking a chance. He looks back at Alice to make sure she is ok and meets her father’s eyes. The gratitude in them is overwhelming and he nods.
Then the building starts to shake. Alice stumbles back from her father in shock and would have fallen if it had not been for Hatter’s quick thinking. He grabs her and pulls her close to him. He first hugs her tight needing to confirm to his heart that she is alright. But as the Oysters erupt into movement, he grabs her and her fathers’ arms and tells them they need to run.
Ten of Clubs looks at the suits and they nod assenting. This is a group of only Clubs and they will obey him. They start to assist the Oysters out of the Gaming Room. As they exit, the Ten of Clubs sees other Clubs helping evacuate the children and other Oysters. He smiles and goes to makes sure everyone gets out.
Everyone is running and there is a line of suits telling them which way to go and to help any that needs it. Alice, Hatter and her father barely make it to the clearing outside when the Casino falls.
Hatter had let go of Alice and her father’s arms when they were running. But he never fully lets go of Alice, and when the Casino had starts to collapse, he pulls her in his arms. He swings the two of them around so that his body protects her from anything that may hurt her in the fall. Once the casino is destroyed, Hatter looks down at Alice in his arms and tightens them. She is safe!
Then Hatter sees her face, the curiosity that Alices are known for is there. He realizes they need to make their way out where they can see better, to satisfy her inquisitiveness. Hatter will spend the rest of his life trying to give Alice what she wants, and this is the perfect time to start. Letting her go, he assists Alice to the front of the clearing to see better and can hear her father following them. Hatter stares and can’t believe it. His Alice had brought down the House of Cards. He looks over at her father and sees him staring in shock also.
As they all stare and realize that the casino is completely gone, Hatter turns to Alice, and trying to have her smile or at least react, asks her, “I don’t suppose I can get that hug now, huh?”
Alice jumps, looks at him and smiles. Before she can say anything, they hear a voice order, “There. She’s there. Get her.”
Hatter jumps in front of Alice and her father on the other side does the same shielding her. But before the Spades can do more, a bunch of Oysters also jump in front of them, the Cop is telling them, “Touch the lady and I’ll shuffle your deck.”
The Queen is infuriated. She demands, “Don’t just stand there, idiots. Arrest her!” She is starting to realize Absolem tricked her; this is the Alice the Oraculum has shown!
Everything sharpens for Alice. She realizes that this is the time to make a stand, and she is angry. This Queen has no right to do what she has done to her world nor to the people from Alice’s world! Alice walks away from her protectors and tells the suits, “Take a good look at your queen first; make sure she’s really worth fighting for.”
The suits turn and look at the Queen of Hearts along with everyone else. After feeling the power in the slight girl behind them and remembering all the put downs and humiliations they have suffered from at the hands of the woman in front of them, they walk away. They put their faith in Wonderland.
Constance can not believe the audacity of this girl. Telling her people what to do? She demands of the suits, “How dare you look at me? She’s the one you should be looking at.”
Hatter can’t take his eyes off of Alice. He can feel Wonderland waking up. He glances quickly at the Queen and knows his eyes darken for a second with the hatred he feels for her. She has done so much to his family and more importantly to his Alice. Knowing he needs to keep control for a little longer to make sure Alice’s promise is not broken, he goes back to guarding Alice’s back.
Alice walks forward to confront one of the banes of her time here in Wonderland. She stops, standing proud, and tells her, “I am not the problem. You are.”
The Queen of Hearts can’t take the insolence from the girl in front of her anymore. She turns to the Ten of Clubs, using her mother’s and her favorite words, she tells him, “Off with her head!”
The Ten of Clubs give her a look of disgust and walks away lending his support to the Alice of Prophecy. He thinks for a moment and goes to find Jack; he will be able to help Alice, if the confrontations in the throne room had been any indication.
Alice stands there and never feels so clearheaded and strong. She continues her argument, “And it looks like everyone is waking up to that.”
The Queen stares at her, feeling a flicking down of foreboding going down her back. Fighting it, she demands, “Don’t listen to her. She’s just an insolent girl.” She will not let the Oraculum be right!
Alice calmly tells her, “No one is frightened of you anymore. You’re just one of us now.” The court and everyone surrounding her backs away realizing that there is to be a change of power; they can feel Wonderland waking up.
The Queen can feel the power in the land as it stirs, telling it and Alice, “This is my Kingdom and I am still Queen.”
Hatter holds his breath; he can feel Wonderland investing Alice in front of him with its power… and him? His eyes widen and he stares shocked.
Alice continues feeling stronger. She needs to end this for Hatter and her sake. “Look around. No one is listening. Your power is gone.”
At that moment, Jack comes through the crowd with the Duchess close behind him. The Ten of Clubs walks behind Alice of Prophecy, his support is completely behind her. The Clubs are done with the Hearts and their rule.
Hatter notices this and didn’t trust the man; he moves closer to stand beside Alice. This also lets him be near her in case Jackie boy gets any ideas… Hatter won’t be playing on the same grounds here shortly as they previously did.
Alice is shocked, but relieved that Jack is still alive; one more case of guilt off of her.
The Queen notices him and with a faint sound of relief tells him, “Jack, thank heavens you’re here. Get everyone to fall in line.”
Jack stops and stares at her, incredulous, “Me? Didn’t you sentence me to death?” He looks around assessing what is going on, and realizes with shock evident on his face, that they are standing up to his mother.
The Queen can feel Wonderland rejoicing, the powers slipping from her, and snaps back at Jack, desperate. “Oh don’t be so sensitive. I was just doing my job. Come on now and rally the troops.”
Jack can not cover his joy in telling her, “No. Mother it’s over.”
Alice can think only one thing that may give the Queen any power and holds her hand outstretched. “The ring.”
Constance can barely hold her anger in, spitting out at this insolent child in front of her, “Are you mad? I’d sooner have you cut off my finger.”
Alice calmly replies, “That can be arranged.” She knows Hatter will be there and will back her. Especially when they are this close to forever for both of them, she will do whatever it takes for that chance.
Hatter realizes the same as Alice, but can also feel Wonderland singing. He turns to the Ten of Clubs standing beside him, “Do you have a knife?”
The Ten of Clubs looks at him, and hands this man that is almost bursting with power, his knife.
Hatter calmly replies, “Thank you.” He begins to walk to the Queen.
Before he makes it all the way, Jack stops him. “Make sure it’s a clean cut. We don’t want any blood on the ring.”
He nods and says, “Mm-hmm” and flips the knife open. He is determined to end this.
Jack is speechless at the power that had reverberated up his arm when he stopped Hatter. Who is this man?
Constance can feel Wonderland in both the girl in front of her, and the young man that has stepped forward beside her, she also feels the sheer determination they both have to end this. Constance admits that she can’t win. She angrily took the ring off and places it in Alice’s hand.
Alice holds it up in victory and everyone yells in joy.
Then Hatter looks up, and yells, “Chess, Absolem, It’s done!” Everyone turns and looks at him in surprise.
Then in front of them appears a blue butterfly on the shoulder of a woman all in white but her nails and lips who holds herself regally. Next to them appears a beautiful brown eye blonde woman in silver armor, holding a sword. Standing behind her protectively a man with orange hair, white face and a top hat with a grey and turquoise stripe cat between the two of them.
Everyone is in shock recognizing the Alice of Legend; her mate, Tarrant Hightopp and the White Queen along with the Keeper of the Oraculum and The Cheshire Cat. Then they all have an even larger shock when Tarrant tells Hatter proudly in a strong brogue, “Excellent job, Son.”
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ALICE — Syfy Photo: James Dittiger
