Painting the White Ones Red

Chapter Two: Tea Party

One of the guards began to lead me out back to what looked like a large rose garden full of every type of rose. Finally, we arrived at the table.The table was a long rectangle, sitting eight people. There was a clean white tablecloth covering it. On top, sat perfectly arranged teacups, plates, silverware, teapots and food trays. Towers of desserts were spread about, as well as ones of finger sandwiches and one of scones. Everything looked so perfect, as if it was pulled right out from a beautiful fairy tale.

I tried to not stare or gasp or do anything out of my place. "I assume that you like the arrangement, by the way you're looking at it." I hear someone say from behind me. At the same time they speak, a cold hand lands on my shoulder. I look up and back at the source of the voice. 

Behind me is a tall, handsome boy looking the age of eighteen. He looks about a head or so taller than me. His hair is shaggy and dark purple, falling to his shoulders and holding up a tall, black top hat on top with roses decorated on it where the band would be, as well as a card that reads "10/6" and a playing card with the joker on it. His skin is fair and clear. His eyes were what struck me the most, though. They were a bright green, like the color of the leaves in the forest when sunlight is going through them. They were beautiful. "It seems you like something else, too; because of the way you are starring." That snapped me out of it.

I snap out of it and blink a few times. I step back and face him. He is wearing a black waistcoat suit with a lavender tie and a white dress jacket over it, black dress pants and white dress shoes. He looks so formal, making me feel out of place. 

"I'm sorry." I apologize. "You must be Hatter." I bow my head to him. 

He chuckles lightly and I stand up straight again. "I am. But I also have a name. That name happens to be Victor Morte." Hatter tells me. "You must be Cordelia." Victor takes my hand and bows. I don't take it back, no matter how much I wanted to. At least he wasn't sticking his lips on it.

Hatter releases my hand and stands back up. "Maddox and Jasper will be arriving at any given moment." He informs me as he walks to the head chair, which is a chair with a large back with a raven cared out at the top and is covered in a deep purple cushion. I stand there, one hand glued to my side, the other up at my throat where my necklace is. "Please, make yourself comfortable." He holds his arm out like a ringleader presenting the next act before walking away. 

I nod once then walk to one of the seats beside him. We sit in silence for a moment, which makes everything awkward. I try to distract myself by playing with the white lace edging on the tablecloth. 

Then he breaks the silence. "So, I hear you are turning of age soon." Victor speaks while pouring himself a cup of piping hot tea.

My head snaps up and I look at him. "I suppose..Not until the thirtieth of December. It's two months away." My voice sounds softer then usual. You can tell I was trying to hide how odd I felt, being all alone with an unknown boy.

He smiles and holds out the teapot to me, offering to pour it. I don't hesitate to hold my teacup out to him. "Time flys faster than you think, Cordelia." He speaks as he pours the tea. Earl Gray. "Plus, it takes time to plan a ceremony." His grin widens and I can't help but wonder--is he really the Hatter or is he Cheshire? Or are they related?

I blink at him. "I would rather not have a ceremony." I reply truthfully. He doesn't look as surprised as Harvey did earlier. 

"Why not?" I reach for the small, silver bowl of sugar cubes. As quietly as I can, I begin to put in brown sugar cubes. "A young lady like you-" One sugar cube. "-deserves to have-" Two sugar cubes. "-an extravagant and large-" Three sugar cubes. "-ceremony to celebrate her becoming a proper young lady. Even if she does not listen to others. It must take a great deal of effort to count sugar cubes." Slap.