Wicked Wonderland

Part 5

Alec blinked open his eyes but quickly regretted it as a sharp pain shot through his head. He brought his arm up to make his vision stop spinning. When the pain finally subsided to a decent uncomfortable throb he sat up as slowly as he could; not trying to have his vision go haywire again. 

He blinked slowly taking in the dimness of the environment surrounding him. He noticed the light was from a small fire in front of him. Before he could make anything else out a deep voice from the shadows spoke to him. 

"How are you feeling?"

Hesitant, Alec looked around trying to pinpoint the direction the stranger was speaking. He stopped his frantic search when he saw a shadow move from beside a rock further in the darkness. He stiffened as the most beautiful man he had ever seen walked into the dim light of the fire. 

Alec stared in awe but began to stumble over words as he tried to answer the beautiful stranger's question. 

"I-I feel f-fine... I think." Alec furrowed his brows and became stiff for a different reason. Memories of what transpired before he woke up came rushing back and now he looked at this man warily and cautiously. 

"Who are you? What did you do to the knave? Where am I?"

The man lowered himself to one knee and bowed his head to Alec, "I am Lucias Hatter, your highness. I'm here to protect you and assist in reclaiming your throne." 

'Hatter? Isn't he the one my uncle tortured for all those years?' Alec remembered the conversation back in his world. How this guy, stayed behind to protect him and the others. Alec felt his heart break from what the March Hare had said Lucias had gone through all this time.

Lucias stood and sat next to Alec as he stared into the fire. "As for the knave, unfortunately, he escaped before I could finish him off." 

They sat in silence for a brief moment after that. 

Alec didn't notice Lucias pull the knife from its sheath but he heard him shutter a shaky breath and mumble to himself, "I am weak. I need to be strong to protect him. I cannot let him be harmed. I love him and he must not be harmed. I... I..."

Alec feeling sorry for Hatter was about to turn to him and comfort the poor soul when he felt a sharp pain as his body connected with the ground in a loud thud. 

He sucked in a breath as the air was knocked from him from the sudden impact and the heavy body now straddling his hips.

Alec looked up to see Lucias holding a knife to his throat with an insane look in his eyes. 

He leaned down and licked Alec from his neck to his cheek. Then he smiled maliciously, "Yum... so delicious, my prince." 

Alec tried to struggle but soon realized it was futile so he tried the next best thing. "Lucias, snap out of it." He yelled but it had no effect.

Hatter lost in a trance didn't acknowledge Alec as he crashed his lips forcefully into Alec's soft plump lips. Pulling back only slightly he whispered. "I love him... I love him... but... but ... I failed him... he's gone. A-Alec, please don't leave me... I need you... I need you..." 

Alec looked up at Lucias with slight fear but mostly pity and confusion. Though Lucias was looking into his eyes it was as if he was looking right past him. 'How much did he suffer under my uncle's hands.' Alec felt his one hand move slowly up to caress Hatter's face. He looked into his eyes which were so lost and afraid. 

He parted his lips and whispered back, "I am right here my, Hatter. I have never left you. I love you and I will protect you." 

Alec let those words sink in. 'Love him? I barely know him, but I... I sense that what I am saying is true. It's an intense feeling like I have always been in love with him and that we are connected somehow.'

As if knowing Lucias his whole life Alec pulls him close into a passionate kiss with eyes half-lidded. 

Hatter's look of insanity melts with the kiss as he closes his eyes and reciprocates the kiss. 

Pulling away slowly in a mess of fast and warm breathing Lucias opens his eyes and realizes he is still on top of Alec. He quickly gathers himself and moves to sit beside him again. 

He gazes back into the fire and sighs, "I... I am sorry your highness I don't know what came over me." 

Alec gives a light chuckle, "It's ok. I will do everything in my power to help you through this." 

Not knowing what to say Hatter only gives a slight nod. He then stands and brushes himself off.

He reaches his hand out to Alec, "Come, your highness, we can't linger here any longer. Your uncle has probably already received word of the knave's failure to bring you back and he will not be too happy about that."

Just as Alec put his hand into Hatter's there was a loud fear inciting howl in the distance.

"We must go. Now!" Hatter gripped Alec's hand and quickly began to pull him in the opposite direction. 

Alec allowed himself to be pulled along as Lucias broke out into a run.

"What's happening?" Alec asked in frantic breaths. 

Without a single glance behind, Lucias muttered in a dark tone, "He's released the Bandersnatch."