Wonderland: 3.

The caterpillar was right, though. Things were different. A hell lot of different.

When Rabbit, Hatter and the cards arrived back at the castle doors the hatter felt himself being blown away at the beauty of the sunset shining against the rosey walls of the floating castle.

For a short period of time, he even forgot how to breathe, while he was still mesmerized at the view. He only remembered how to do so when the very rock they were stepping upon started moving upwards in direction to the castle.

- o-Oh! – the hatter did his best at standing still so he wouldn’t fall of and end up dead, but he was surprised any of the soldiers seemed to mind that the whole rock beneath them started floating in mid air. – How come every one is so calm?

- Well, the castle is floating. Floating is pretty much the only way to get to it. Floating and, you know… – the rabbit pointed to a bird flying beside them. – Flying.

The stone reached the castle front doors and kept floating steadily while the cards began marching into the hall. There were a lot of servants walking inside the castle making sure all of their jobs were perfectly done.

- There sure is a lot of people here.

- Yes. As I said, we felt something calling us, just like you, the floating rocks brought us here. The queen offered us our jobs and our incomes. A man is got to pay his bills. – explained the rabbit. – Oh, there she is.

The hatter looked frontwards, but he couldn’t see anyone that even looked like the queen. He kept searching for anyone that could have looked like the Queen of Hearts, but once again, couldn’t find her.

- My queen? – called the jack, kneeling in the middle of the hall. – We have brought the one you have requested.

The hatter kept looking fast from side to side, but couldn’t see the queen anywhere.

- I see. Leave us.

The voice seemed to come from in front of him, but there were so many servants leaving that he couldn’t help but feel a bit lost and afraid at first.

When he finally noticed, there were only five people in the hall. The jack and the ace were guarding the back door, along with the white rabbit. And right in front of him stood a not-that short, at least, not as short as he remembered and slim woman with glimmering silver hair.

The hatter felt his eyebrows forcing together as he grew confused, but the woman in front of him looked nothing like the Queen of Hearts and he didn’t even need to look her face-to-face to notice it.

- Do I look that disgusting to you, or is that that you actually like what you see and therefore can’t believe your eyes, hatter?

Her voice was low and calm, poisonous and smart. She had something of dangerous and still, inviting. He felt an urge to run away, but at the same time, he was rooted in place. Now he got what they meant when they talked about the changes, but even so…

- Did the birds flying outside eat your tongue…? – she turned to him. She had eyes as red as blood and her pupils had a heart shape. – Or could it be that you are afraid of me…?

- …n-not it. – he tried to answer, but the beginning of his answer was too much of a whisper and not even himself could hear it.

- Oh, no…? And what are you thinking? Are you curious? Most of wonderland is. Do you want to know why I look like this? – she smiled silently for a few seconds, then, continued. –Have you already looked at yourself? You have changed quite a bit since you crossed those doors as well. – she handed him a small mirror after talking to him.

The hatter looked at her, puzzled before looking into the mirror. Then, his own lips parted as he was dumbstruck. He was a bit taller, his usually white puffy hair had turned black and silky and his own eyes were greyish with a shine of red. His colorful clothes suddenly didn’t look so good in his manly figure.

- What…

- Your friend turned as well. – she moved her head in direction of the white rabbit.

The hatter turned his gaze to him. The White Rabbit was also very slim and tall but he was clearly still a rabbit just a little more… Humanoid-like…? His long and fast-looking body was covered in what looked like an expensive looking tailored suit. His white fur still covered his rabbit-like face and ears, but his monocle seemed, somehow, much more fitted for him. He had a red heart pattern on his upper right cheek, below his right eye.

The hatter looked her confused.

- This ain’t my doing. None of this. – she pointed herself, he and the rabbit. – But a lot more is going to happen in Wonderland and I’m going to be the least of your worries soon. How well can you sew clothes, hatter?

He looked at her for a few seconds, confused, to say the least. Was she serious? She looked like she was, since she was silently waiting for an answer.

- Pretty well.

- Good. – She closed her eyes and waved her head. – When the time comes, I’ll need you to learn to make armors as well. But until them, clothes should do. - What is your name, hatter?

The hatter opened his mouth… Then closed. He have been known as hatter for so long he didn’t remember he had a name before that. For some reason, the queen didn’t look surprised, actually, for a short second, her expression seemed pained as she looked at him.

- How do you like… Vincent?

- Vincent? – asked the hatter.

- It’s a pretty decent name, isn’t it?

- I guess.

He seemed lost for a moment, then he remembered the situation he was in, lowering his upper body as a way to thank her.

- Thank you, my dear queen.

- Vincent?

- Yes, my queen?

- … – for a moment there, she looked uneasy, as if something he had said had made her feel distressed, but she just sighed and closed her eyes. – Nothing. Just ask Bilac to guide you to your room, please.

- This way, please. – called the white rabbit, as the jack and the ace opened the door behind them. – The queen reserved a very special room for you.

#english #wonderland #aliceinwonderland #alicethroughtthelookingglass