Malice

Chapter 7: Mad Hatter

"Presently, the state of the world is not in exceptional condition. From what we know from General Wood, there are Class 1 IDs showing up all over the world, wreaking destruction and possessing bodies. Of course, it is because of this 'Hole' that was opened. But!- let's not think about that, that is not what is most important right this moment. Currently, we have in possession one of the many Class 1 IDs, who happens to go by the name 'Alice Liddell'. We have no insightful information on her, other than tessuring seems to drain her SE and ichor does not boil her blood. Professor Hightopp has personally volunteered to study and provide further information of Miss Liddell. Unfortunately, he could not make it to assembly today, so if there are questions on this matter, you may go find him later this afternoon." Ms. Wigg stepped down from her pedestal, clipboard and pen in hand. Shoving her owl-like glasses further up the bridge of her nose, she shot a nervous smile at Alice, whom bared her teeth back ferociously. The bird of a woman squawked and practically ran backstage. 

Currently, Alice was being forced to stand handcuffed on a stage with an audience of an easy couple thousand people. Jackie, who stood next to her flung her an intense look of disapproval. Alice glared down at her.

"You told me I was to meet someone, and instead you have humiliated me. You better have an very good excuse for this, mortal."

Jackie sighed. "First of all, my name name is Jackie, not 'mortal'-" Alice growled and Jackie threw her hand up in Alice's face. "-and second of all, this is morning assembly. Everyone has to participate, even ID's. Third of all, as soon as I get my third cup of coffee and my morning report from Phoebe, then and only then will we go." Jackie pulled a phone out of her pants pocket, fingers rapidly typing text. Sighing in frustration (a sultry sound that made Alice bristle) and still reading something on the screen, she moved around Alice to the pedestal where a stout man with a thick mustache was speaking something about disembodied heads chasing people in the London streets. Jackie tugged on his long blue sleeve, whispering in his ear before all the color drained from his face.

Alice ignored them, clenching her fists tighter. She tried to find the wriggling heat beneath her skin, tried to make it burn hotter, but instead her body dropped further in temperature, leaving her in a cold sweat.

"Fucking hand cuffs," she hissed under her breath. Before she could try anything else, Jackie was suddenly at her elbow, tugging her forearm.

"Come on, I really need that third cup of coffee."

~.~

Steaming cup of coffee in hand, Jackie led Alice down a long corridor that smelt faintly of cigarettes. Jackie had finally agreed to take off Alice's hand cuffs, but not before threatening to put them back on the moment Alice tried something. The blaring LED ceiling lights did not complement the strange colorful murals on the walls of either side of them. Alice gazed at them in mild interest. All depicted various scenes of Magikal history, all events that Alice had learned of long ago with Tobias.

Jackie stopped suddenly in front of a door to their left labeled "The Coop" in fancy brass letters. She raised her fist up, hesitated, then burst in. That cigarette smell hit Alice in the face so thickly that she choked.

"Phoebe!" Jackie grumbled, pinching her nose. "I told you to stop smoking in the office! It's impossible to get out of the carpet."

A glowing woman-Phoebe, Alice assumed- stepped out of a dense cloud of smoke, cigarette perched between two fingers, one hip popped out. All up her neck and wrists scaled flesh burned orange and yellow like a forest fire. The woman held out a black folder full of papers, many sticky marks poking out of the sides.

"Your welcome," she replied in a thick Jamaican accent. 

Jackie sighed. "Phoebe, I mean it. No smoking in the office. The next time I come in here, I expect the air to be crisp." Phoebe, seemingly unimpressed, gave her a pointed look. Jackie sighed again, taking the folder from her. "And thank you for gathering my morning report, I really appreciate it."

Never once did Phoebe spare Alice a look. Alice didn't really mind, the woman had a terrifying energy about her that told her that if she really wanted to, she could burn them both alive before they had a chance to understand what was happening. Then, suddenly as if Phoebe had sensed Alice's thoughts, her eyes flicked to hers. The woman's coal-black eyes were unnerving, like two black pits, but Alice didn't allow herself to flinch.

"It is an honor to meet a daughter of the stars as a daughter of the Sol," Phoebe spoke, voice as smokey and rich as her cigarette, dark hand extending out in greeting.

Alice didn't miss a beat, shaking the woman's hand, almost ashamed at how pale she was compared to Phoebe's smooth ebony. "As it is mine," Alice replied. With that, the tall elegant woman stepped back into the smoke from whence she appeared from, midnight-blue dress swishing softly.

Jackie rolled her eyes. "Always has to be so mysterious," she muttered under her breath.

Jackie led them out of the room, continuing down the hall until they came to a fork, an elevator smack in the middle. Throwing away her empty coffee cup, she punched the elevator signal, waiting rather impatiently for the doors to slide open.

Alice glanced down at Jackie. "What is she?"

Jackie tapped her foot busily. "Who? Phoebe?"

Alice gave her a look. "Who else would I be talking about?"

"Well, to be honest no one really knows what she is. But if I had to guess, I would say she's a phoenix."

Alice nodded her head. "That is what I suspected."

Jackie opened her mouth to say something, but the doors dinged and several men in lab coats strode out, all dipping their heads in greeting.

"Captain Klein," they murmured as they brushed past. Jackie bobbed her head.

The elevator was ridden in awkward silence, Jackie constantly fidgeting and glancing at her. 

After the fourth glance, Alice snapped. "What is wrong with you?" She glared down at the small woman and Jackie scrunched up her face. 

She shook her head. "I don't know why, but you remind me of someone."

"I can't imagine why," Alice deadpanned. The petite woman snorted. Alice watched the numbers of the floors go higher and higher, currently reaching nine, ten, and the elevator began to slow dizzily as it changed to eleven. The doors slid open with a ping, revealing a huge open room decorated and crowded with unsettling paintings, but somehow all went together beautifully in a kaleidoscope of color and texture. Alice reached up to rub her forehead where an acute headache was starting. Every step echoed on the checkered marble floor.

Who has the money for these kinds of things? Alice thought, scowling.

 They approached the front desk to find... Ms. Wigg. Alice fell behind Jackie and grinned wolfishly. The tiny woman went white. 

Clearing her throat, she shoved her glasses further up the bridge of her nose and addressed Jackie. "Professor Hightopp will see you now."

"Thank you." Alice followed Jackie past the desk to the heavy wooden double doors decorated with various depictions of tea cups and cake and mice and rabbits. Alice shuddered at the sight of them.

'Is this not what you wanted? To be free?'

Red eyes, seering, searching, wanting.

Jackie shoved the doors open, announcing loudly, "We're here!"

Alice froze, stomach and heart dropping out of her body, blood going cold. She physically felt the color drain from her face.

The man, who was now getting up from his desk, was grinning broadly. Brushing stray orange curls from his face, he rested gooseberry green eyes on Alice.

"Hello, little sister."