Heart of Wonderland

Chapter 16

June 26th, 4:23 a.m.

Someone was in the house... that was the first thing that registered in my mind as my eyes flew open. I rolled to my side to see Channing sleeping next to me, so I knew it wasn't him. Whoever was here was in the living room, and gradually making his or her way to the bedroom.

Without hesitation, I quickly threw on my underwear and Channing's shirt, which I found on the floor. I then picked up Channing's sword and slowly crept towards where the intruder was. When I got into the living room, I saw no one. My senses were suddenly on fire, screaming for me to turn around, so I did, and just in time. A masked man with a small sword was coming at me. I swung Channing's sword, blocking his attack and, in the process, knocking the sword out of the man's hands.

The man tried to run past me, but I tripped him with my foot. With a loud thud, the man crashed to the ground. With my sword now poised at his throat, I debated whether or not to kill the masked man. Just as I considered doing it, Channing came running out of the bedroom, naked.

Channing: "What's going on?"

Haven: "Put some clothes on, Channing. I got this."

Channing: "You sure?"

Haven: "Yep."

Channing: "That's my girl."

            Channing walked back into the bedroom to get dressed.

Haven: "You came here to kill us, and you aren't even infected, so tell me, why should I spare your life?"

Masked Man: "I didn't come here to kill your boyfriend, only you."

Haven: "Like that is any better."

Masked Man: "If you live, millions will die. I thought I'd be fine with that, but I have found that I've grown a bit of a conscience."

Haven: "How does my existence cause millions to die?"

Masked Man: "She's going to eat your heart and, when she does, all of them will come through the portal."

I leaned down and pulled off his mask. I gasped. It was John from Sinircus. Out of everyone who I had considered might try to kill me, I hadn't expected him. I actually hadn't given him another thought since Channing had run him off.

Haven: "Channing, it is John, that weirdo Ringmaster. He says someone is going to eat my heart."

John: "Not just anyone, but the Queen of the Quay. Or, you might know her as your fairy godmother."

            I removed the sword from John's throat.

Haven: "How is this possible?"

John: "After your mother opened the door to the Quay's world, she did everything in her power to make sure it was sealed. Many Quay, however, got out in the time that it took for the Queen of Hearts to seal the portal shut. It took a great deal of magic to close that door. Let me tell you, it was a temporary fix. The only long-term solution was to find a champion and, according to the prophets, it would be you, the Queen's then-unborn daughter. In order to make sure you would succeed, the Queen of Hearts paid the most powerful fairy in the entire world to be the one to bless you after you were born."

Haven: "I already know this part of the story."

John: "What you don't know is the blessing your fairy godmother did was the only way to stop the Quay. I won't forget what Vera told me that blessing was. It was: In order to protect our world, Princess, you will be exiled from your kingdom and lose your prince. The only way to be a Queen is if you find your King. He likes the Clubs and lives among the Spades and scoundrels. He'll offer no Diamonds, nor promises, just the truth. And his Heart, you see, is key to not only saving you and Wonderland, but all the lands." And you'd think the story would end there, but it doesn't."