Entering Wonderland

Entering Wonderland -- Part 7

Together once more, reunited, I walked behind Cat-Girl. She led me through a passageway, damp though it was, and through room after room. I held my hand out to her and she took it, her fingers clasping mine. It was then that I knew that I had been forgiven. It was chilly in the hallway, and as she led me, I allowed myself a smile. It was then that we entered a room. We had entered a dining room, done up in red and cream. 

        "Can't we stay for tea?" I begged, my eyes glinting with excitement. 

        Cat-Girl said nothing for a moment before disagreeing. "Don't we have an adventure to tend to, Alice?" My face fell, but somehow, I knew that she was right. Following her through yet another room, I landed in a study, a chamber. Two sofas, one white and the other cream colored lined either side of the room. In the center were pillows, thrown carelessly against the white floor. A lamp sat in the corner, and behind them a red sofa stood. A clear coffee table looked worn, but still beautiful, and at the back of the room stood a door.

        "Inside that door was the queens crown,"  the beautiful girl standing beside me said, clenching my hands. My eyes widened. 

        "What's inside now?" Curiously, I reached in a pulled the door open. Cat-girl looked mournfully at the floor. It was empty, musty, the smell of wood strong against the clean scent of the room. In one of the corners of the dark closet lay a velvet cushion. It looked empty without the crown settled into it's folds. Mournfully, I reached out and ran my fingers over the surface. Cat-girl looked sadly at the floor. 

        "Anyway," Cat-Girl said. "You know why we need to get the crown back don't you?" 

        I looked at her quizically. "No," I said. "I don't know." 

        "I thought that you were supposed to be bright," Cat-girl looked annoyed. 

        "It's not everyday that I get to go on an adventure. And anyway, I'm known for my temper, not for my smarts. If I were you, I'd watch out." 

        "I'm not scared of you," she shot back. 

        It was then that I realized that we were in the company of someone, being watched by a figure lurking in the distance. 

        "Need a brainstorming session to come up with a comeback, don't you?" Cat-Girl, who had noticed the figure as well, knew that she'd won the argument. I didn't answer.  

        The queen sat against the sofa, watching us argue. An aura of importance and strength seemed to drift around her. Her violet hair was scattered in ringlets across her shoulders. She wore a crimson dress, draped around her body, and a red collar thrown against her neck. In her hand she clutched a scepter, her fingers white against the golden brass. 

        "Show some respect to us, girl!" The queen, pushed Alice down, elbowing her sharply in the ribs. 

        "Sorry, Vivi," Cat-Girl, with her long hair and dark eyes smiled at the queen. It was a smile unlike the ones that she so often gave me, a smile that portrayed true affection rather than forced happiness. I knelt against the floor. 

         "Sorry, your majesty. I have no manners," I hoped that she wouldn't be able to hear the scorn behind my voice. Unfourtunately, she did. 

        "Where are you from, girl?" She asked, cocking her head slightly in the way that told one, I'm better than you, and I know it. 

        "My name's Alice," I protested, before turning away from her. 

        "Why have you brought her?" The queen is speaking now to cat-girl, who smiles sympathetically at me. 

        "She's supposed to help, but I'm not sure if that's going to work.  I think I should believe that she can help me - help us, I mean," Cat-girl looked down at me, knelt on the floor. 

        "Where is she from? What is her role in Wonderland?" the Queen asked.

        "She's from the outside world," Cat-girl responded. "And she wants adventure. She promised that she'd help me find your crown." 

        "We know Mad Hatter's got it, don't we? There isn't anything anyone can do to get that back from him." She looked worried, biting her lip. "Without our crown, we can't rule the country. We are powerless." 

        It had started to annoy me; she had no faith in anything. "I can help you," I said. "You've just got to explain what's going on. What do I need to do?"