Sleeping Beauty [WMMAP Fanfiction]

Chapter Seven: Dude Friend

A week had passed since that conversation, and still, the words he had spoken to her then continued to follow her incessantly.

No one could figure out what was wrong with Athanasia. Alice wasn't allowed to be in the same room as her, either. Many royal guards stood with Claude and Athanasia.

"I'm going to the Ruby Palace," Alice declared when the sky was painted orange, wanting to protect Athanasia's home while she was gone. She couldn't freeload in the main palace for too long.

Lily was already staying there too, waiting for the princess and busying herself with a usual schedule: cleaning, cooking, taking care of Raven, and sometimes crying, being caught by her or Felix. It always became awkward. At least, to Alice, it did. She didn't know how to help a crying person, and definitely came off cold for ignoring crying people, at least sometimes. She thought of it as respect to let them keep their pride, but she also came off as uncaring.

Anyway, Alice didn't want to be in the way, or in debt, too. Even she had to pay those back when she had them.

"I see," Felix said, nodding. "I'll come with you!"

"I didn't say it because I wanted an answer."

"Okay," he accepted that easily.

"I just wanted to let you know."

"Okay." His voice sounded happier, almost amused, aware of the intent behind it.

"Great. See you."

"No, I'm still coming to make sure you're safe, Alice." He didn't dare mention gender or manners; he knew she could easily make him regret it. But, it really was to make sure she was okay. What if something happened?

He kept a smile, watching her gaze back at him, expecting her to refuse him. Instead, to his wonder, she turned around and grumbled, "Whatever. Do what you want."

He blinked. Then smiled brightly.

"Hehe."

. . .

Felix realized it, when he asked something and there was no response. Then he glanced back.

He lost Alice.

He wasn't quite sure how he could lose someone meant to be taking it easy in under a minute(or was it?). But then again, it was Alice, so he wasn't all that surprised.

So he went looking for her, this time not calling her name; he didn't want to wake any of the maids.

"This place is a bit dirty now," Felix muttered to himself, dragging a finger along a windowsill and getting dust.

That was when he saw it; a figure running over the rooftops.

It wasn't impossible to see who it was; the moonlight was bright on them. The most distinguishing feature was the familiar shine of short, steel-colored hair that had Felix wondering what Alice was doing.

He went through the closest door to go outside to a courtyard so he could follow.

It was too quiet.

Then he saw her, right above him, with golden lightning crackling over her and falling from the high roof.

Alice, literally stunned, was left to fall from the high roof, helpless. What she was chasing the whole time was gone; they were fast. Was it an illusion that she had been pursuing? She didn't know. It could be some mirror image made by magic; magic allowed lots of things to happen. Her head looked behind her the best she could.

There was a blurry glimpse of red below her; a rose, she thought.

Her hand twitched, a magic circle appearing over her palm.