The Heart of Wonderland

Chapter 33

Hours passed and neither Maddox nor Alison spoke again. Every now and then, Alison glanced over at Maddox and opened her mouth to speak, then stopped herself. What could she say to him?

I don't trust you even though you saved my life over and over? Or how about I'm afraid you'll choose your psycho mother instead of me?

Even more frightening was the thought that maybe Maddox had been on the Queen's side all along. He'd been in Wonderland for a long time. What if it had changed him like it had changed the Mad Hatter and his mother?

And where had the cat gone? After blaming the white rabbit for everything that was wrong in Wonderland, it had faded away as mysteriously as it had appeared. If it was really on their side, wouldn't it be trying to help them escape?

Alison kicked the stone wall in frustration. She had so many questions and almost no answers. I miss you, Dad, she thought. What would you tell me to do if you were here? The letter he'd left for her had warned her not to trust anyone but herself, but she wanted so badly to believe Maddox was telling the truth. Should she trust her father's warning or her heart?

Before she could decide whether to reach out to Maddox or not, footsteps sounded in the corridor outside their cell.

"What now?" Maddox muttered as he hauled himself to his feet. He looked as tired and dehydrated as Alison felt.

A guard stepped up to the door of the cell, holding a key. "Follow me," he grunted as he turned the key in the lock and jerked the door open.

"Where are you taking us?" Alison asked.

To her surprise, the guard bothered to reply. "Got to get you two cleaned up so you can appear before the court. The Queen wants to see you and she likes things just so. She won't tolerate the likes of you dirtying up her throne room."

Despite their protests, Alison and Maddox were separated and handed off to attendants who forced them to bathe and change into what they deemed more suitable attire.

"I look like an idiot," Maddox grumbled when he and Alison were reunited outside the doors to the Queen's throne room. He plucked at the tights he wore. "Are these really supposed to be pants?"

"We've got more important things to worry about than our clothes," Alison reminded him, but she couldn't help smiling.

Maddox wore a long red tunic belted over black tights. A black cloak completed his outfit and a ruby-encrusted circlet rested against his forehead like a crown. All things considered, Alison thought, he'd gotten off easy. She'd seen photos of medieval royalty who wore similar clothing and theirs had been much heavier and more elaborate.

She smoothed damp palms down the plain fabric of her own dress. Like Maddox, she'd been given clothing in red and black, the Queen's colours, but she was dressed far more simply. Clearly, the Queen intended to present Maddox as her son, while Alison was expendable. After all, why waste an elaborate gown on someone you intended to kill?

One of the liveried doorman who stood outside the throne room pounded a staff on the floor to signal Maddox and Alison's arrival to those within. Then, moving in unison, he and another doorman threw open the huge, wooden doors. Alison's attendant urged her forward with a light shove, and she staggered forward a few steps. Beside her, Maddox did the same.

"Kneel!" hissed one of the courtiers gathered along the sides of the high-ceilinged hall.

Quickly, Alison complied, glancing around as best as she could without appearing disrespectful. Her life depended on convincing the Queen not to kill her—or, maybe more likely, finding an escape route.

"You may rise," the Queen said from her throne, elevated on a platform. Her voice carried clearly to all corners of the room, cold and unfeeling.

Alison tried to stand smoothly, but her foot caught in the hem of her dress. Maddox caught her elbow with a steadying hand before she could fall on her face.

"Thanks," she muttered without taking her gaze away from the Queen's face, now masked once more.

"Don't mention it."

She couldn't tell if he was sincere or sarcastic. What was going through his mind? She wished now that she had believed in him when he'd asked for her trust. She felt alone and powerless, standing in front of the Red Queen and her subjects.

The Queen nodded to a knight in black armor standing at her side and he stepped forward to address the crowd. Alison wondered if he was the same knight who'd chased her family through New York City and caused the crash that killed her parents.

"You are charged with high treason and stealing from the Red Queen," the knight announced. "What do you have to say for yourselves?"

"Trust me," Maddox whispered so only Alison could hear.

Then he stepped forward and spoke loudly. "I am the first Prince of Wonderland, the Queen's son and heir. I know now that my rightful place is at my mother's side. I was misled by this stranger." He turned to look at Alison scornfully. "The Heart of Wonderland is too powerful for this commoner to control. It belongs in the hands of royalty."

Alison took an involuntary, reflexive step forward. What was Maddox doing? He'd told her to trust him, but did he really have a plan in mind or was he simply trying to keep her compliant so she wouldn't interfere with his mother's plans?

The Queen smiled her approval at Maddox. For the first time, Alison could see a hint of what she must have been like before Wonderland had driven her mad. Her pride and affection for her son were obvious, even though the manic glint in her eyes was frightening.

"I knew you wouldn't disappoint me," the Queen said. "Now bring out the Heart!" she ordered one of her servants.

It was carried into the throne room on a scarlet cushion. The color of the fabric would have been garish in any other setting, but it paled next to the vivid red of the Heart. Alison's earrings chimed in response to the gem's presence. Thank goodness the Queen's guards hadn't thought to take them away from her. Perhaps there was some way she could use them to help her escape.

She eyed the Heart. If she could get close enough to touch it, maybe she could tune into the Heart's vibrations and use its power against the Queen somehow. She watched the way the Queen's gaze was drawn to the crystal. The woman leaned toward it, as if her whole being was attracted to the Heart's power. There had to be some way Alison could use the Queen's obsession with the Heart to her advantage.

"I can feel its power calling to me," the Queen murmured. "But how to harness it? That's the question."

Maddox stepped between the Queen and the Heart to get her attention. "We need to get rid of the Keeper," he reminded her.

With difficulty, she tore her gaze away from the gem. "You're right. Once she's gone, the Heart will recognize its true master. Me."

"Make an example of her," Maddox suggested. "Show Wonderland that you're stronger than the Keeper. No one will dare to challenge you after that."

"Of course, you're right. My clever boy." She cupped Maddox's cheek in her hand and Alison watched his face closely. Had that flicker of pain in his eyes been caused by the knowledge that he was about to betray his mother—or that he had already betrayed Alison and sealed her fate?

"It's time to ensure this outsider never interferes in Wonderland again," the Queen announced, turning her attention to Alison. Her next words made Alison's whole body freeze up in terror.

"Off with her head!"