2.1 | Alice ✔

What Drove Them Apart

When Elizabeth caught sight of them approaching, a mysteriously hostile expression crossed her features. Normally, he would be warded off by that look, but Saber continued her stride, tugging him along with her. He knew it was his idea to even continue this investigation, but he was quickly regretting his judgement. Realizing they had no intention of backing down, the woman quickly collected herself and turned to meet them with a much more inviting smile.
                   
"Ah, the guests of honor," she greeted softly, smoothing out the folds in her sparkling all black gown. Her appearance changed the least of everyone. "Are you guys enjoying your party? To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?"
                   
"I initially came over to compliment your marvelous dress," Saber lied, fawning over the very plain item of clothing. "You're looking stunning tonight."
                   
"As are you," she purred in response, eyeing her outfit with contempt more than approval. "The Hatter sure knows how to pick 'em. Speaking of which, I don't mean to cut this short, but-"
                   
"Are you looking for him?" Saber cut in, shocking both Elizabeth and Zain. She had her claws sunk deep in the monochrome woman, and she was not letting go. Elizabeth looked tense for a moment, not inclined in the slightest to share anything more with the two of them. Saber angled an expectant smile at her, and with a tight exhale, the woman uncrossed her arms.
                   
"Why, y-yes. Yes I am," she confessed, her uneasy eyes scanning the crowd once more. "It's not like him to be late to a party. I wonder what he's up to?"
                   
Zain felt something unpleasant trickle down his core. Of course there was something going on between the two. As different as this kingdom was from the next, the people were practically mirrors of each other. He felt sick. He wanted to run away to his room and never come out until it was time to find the king. The grip that Saber had on him, however, prevented movement of any sort.
                   
"You and Hatter sure are close, huh?" she suddenly asked, causing him to bore a hole in the side of her head. She was prying rather boldly with this one. Was she out of her mind? The woman narrowed her eyes on Saber, appalled that she would even ask such a question.
                   
"Very close indeed," she practically snarled, but Saber wasn't off put by her frosty disposition.
                   
"I don't know. He just seems to rely on you a lot more than the others," she pointed out, finally releasing his arm to cross hers. "How did the two of you become so close?"

Elizabeth's eyes had widened to saucers at this point. Zain had never seen a woman's face turn so red in his entire life. He started to reach out to Saber, urging her to ease up a bit, but something seemed to break in the woman. Her eyes cooled in a terrifying way, and a crooked smile suddenly graced her lips.
                   
"What choice did I have?" she whispered bitterly, stepping closer to Saber. Right then and there, he could see her bravery drain from her body, but Elizabeth had her frozen to the spot. "When the only man you've ever loved has been stolen away from you, you settle for the next best thing. And you never let him go."
                   
"W-what do you mean?" Saber squeaked, despite her terror. Elizabeth's smile grew more deranged.

"You know exactly what I mean," she hissed, venom in her tone. "You've met them. Both of them, at once. It's impossible for you to meet them apart, because they're always stuck together like some lovesick couple." He could see the color drain from Saber's face as the same thought occurred in both their minds. Katherine.

"It isn't fair . . . we're the rarest occurrence of twins in history, do you know? We came out at the exact same time. No one was here first or second. We were the same in every way. It was suffocating!"
                   
"Katherine?" Zain inquired.
                   
"Yes, Katherine!" she seethed. "I hated her from the start. She had a magnetism for people that no one could explain. It was awe-inspiring. She didn't have to try for anything in her miserable life. Unlike me, who struggled to be accepted, to be known apart from that unnervingly aloof eyesore. I thought that somehow . . . if I couldn't become my own person, that I could at least become the better twin. But then . . ." Tears welled to her eyes as she recalled the memory. "Raelen Hatter came."
                   
Saber and Zain exchanged a look with each other.
                   
"I loved him with my whole heart. He was kind and gentle and sweet. All the girls in Wonderland adored him, but I loved him. I did everything in my efforts to make him notice me . . . to make him see that I was the woman for him. But Katherine . . . Katherine loved him, too." She looked at them acridly, tears mixed with mascara streaking down her face. "Needless to say, he loved Katherine, too. Everyone loves Katherine. I was glad to leave White Kingdom, where I would be forgotten, anyway. Even . . . even here, I'm . . . I'm a-"
                   
"Zain!" a voice suddenly boomed out, and they all jumped out of their skins, turning to see whom it was. Zain's mouth dropped open to see Ridosen and Elias standing there.