Down in the depths of the Red Queen's dungeons, Sebastian was slumped on the floor of a cold cell, staring off into space, and holding his hat close, thinking of what had just happened, and what would happen to him and his beloved friends around him. Elizabeth was trapped inside a large birdcage hanging from the ceiling. She clung to the wirey iron bars and gazed down at him, but he was beyond her reach at the moment, both physically and emotionally. She peered into the cell across the way, where a female demonhound named Bielle was pacing around her shivering and whimpering pups, trying desperately to warm them. Elizabeth was fairly certain she recognized her as Pluto's wife, but Bielle was too upset and busy to stop and talk with the Dormouse long enough to confirm it. Just then, the clomp of heavy footsteps on the dungeons stairs, announced the arrival of Stayne, and his Red Knights. Bielle whirled and stared at the approaching guards, growling protectively, although they ignored her and her pups.
"Hatter!" Shouted the Knave, banging on the bars of the cage. There was no response. The Hatter continued to stare blindly into space, his crimson eyes fogged over as if they were smothered with memories and... Possibly... Tears? The demon would never cry of course, but having time to think, and the position they were, even in the dream world, scared him. One of the Knights reached through the bars and prodded him with his truncheon. When there was still no response, the Knight offered, "He's gone off the deep end." This was the usual opinion of the Hatter, so it surprised no one.
"Pity~." Said Aleister, folding his arms and smirking. "It's a bore to behead a madman. No weeping, no begging.." He cast a meaningful glance at the dogs in the opposite cage. Bielle hurled herself against the bars, her large brown eyes pleading.
"Why are you keeping us here?" She cried. "We've done nothing wrong!"
"Madam, blame your husband." Aleister said with a snort. "He left you here to rot."
"You lie!!" Howled the demonhound, throwing herself at the bars with a new fury and snarling at them all. The Knave jumped back out of her reach, and in an instant, Sebastian was up and at the bars, seizing Aleister and pulling him back against the cage. His arm went around his neck, and he began to squeeze, choking the life out of him.
There was madness in the demon's eyes, and he clearly felt no pain as Aleister struggled. Finally, he staggered free, gasping. He clawed at his neck, struggling for air, and when he could finally breathe, he pointed at the Hatter with hatred in his eyes, which was shot right back by Sebastian, growling silently.
"Your head comes off a dawn! And that one too!" He jabbed a finger towards the Dormouse. The Hatter shrugged and spread his hands in a concilitory gesture.
"Ooh..." He said sarcastically.
"Have a pleasant night." Sneered the Knave, spinning around on his heel and leading his Knights out of the dungeon. The unspoken words were clear to the prisoners; It will be your last...
The White Queen escorted Ciel out of the castle to the topiary garden. She lead him through a hedge maze and smiled over at him with a light smile. Just ahead,lit up b the moonlight, he spotted a topiary mushroom, neat curves and edges sliced out of the shrubbery. A telltale plume of smoke was rising from the top.
"Absolem?" Ciel guessed, walking up to it. The large Caterpillar raised his head from his hookah and peered at him.
"Whoooo are you?" He asked through a cloud of smoke.
"I thought we'd settled this... I'm Ciel... But not that one." Ciel said, watching him closely.
"How do you know?" Absolem asked serenely. He blew smoke in his face and he coughed, waving it away.
"You said so yourself" He pointed out.
"I said, you were Not Hardly Ciel." He corrected him. "But you're much more him now.. In fact, you're Almost Ciel."
"Even so..." Said Ciel, shaking his head, "I couldn't slay the Jabberwocky if my life depended on it."
"It WILL." Said the Caterpillar, with a matter-of-factly. "So I suggest you jeep the Vorpal sword on hand when the Frabjous Day arrives." Fed up and curious, Ciel reached out and poked the Caterpillar's thin belly, as his eyes flashed opened in surprise.
"No touchy!" He yelped.
"You seem so real..." Ciel said thoughtfully. "Sometimes I forget this is all a dream..."
He blew smoke in his face once more and laughed.
"Will you stop doing that?!" Ciel protested, as the Caterpillar disappeared through the smoke once more, leaving Ciel alone in the night.
Back at the Red Queen's dungeon, the Hatter was dusting off his hat and trying to get his sad clothes to perk up. He didn't want to go to his execution looking like a disheveled mess.
"I've always admired that hat~" Purred a smooth voice from outside the bars. Sebastian looked up and saw the Cheshire Cat lounged against the stone wall, playing with his red hair. His eyes narrowed.
"Hello, Grell..." He whispered. The reaper's tail whipped back and forth. He stroked one of his long whiskers and studied the Hatter's efforts to rehabilitate his outfit.
"Since you won't be needing it anymore," He said after a moment. "Would you consider bequeathing it to me~?" The demon touched his beloved hat and raised his chin with dignity.
"How dare you! It's a formal execution. I want to look my best, you know~."
The Cheshire cat fell silent for another minute. Finally he sighed.
"Its a pity about all this... I was looking forward to seeing you Futterwacken~"
"I was rather good at it, was I not...?" Said the Hatter ruefully. Grell's feline eye glowed intently.
"I really do love that hat~" He purred. "I would wear it to all the finest occasions~" His eyes met the demon's as they stared at each other for a long, thoughtful moment.
BINABASA MO ANG
