Alice and Red Riding Hood; Twisted Fairytales Book 1

Chapter Six

Jared felt his anger rise at Yaga's announcement, but couldn't seem to bring it to the surface as he stared at Red. His heart sped up and his breathing changed. His response to her was unnerving.

"My my, what a strangely charming change of events."

All eyes turned to Alice who was perched on the edge of the lounge Yaga had laid her upon. Her eyes glowed slightly and Red knew she was channeling the madness. It was always an unnerving experience when Alice channeled her family's curse.

"Hello Jared, so nice to finally see you. My name is Alice, Alice Hatter...what a lovely castle."

Jared took a step into the room, finding himself drawn to the new energy radiating from Alice.

"What is this?" he asked, frowning at his feet as if he couldn't understand why they'd moved.

"She's channeling the madness of Wonderland, it usually draws in those who... have a touch of madness in them as well." the answer came from Yaga, who still knelt at Red's side.

"Oh my, you've royally pissed off Charming. What did you steal Stiltskin?"

Alice let out a laugh that sounded just like a soft gust of wind on chimes.

"Steal? I do not steal! People give willingly and in return I gift them with what they want!" Jared growled, making a conscious effort to step back.

"He took the Prince's betrothed away, she asked to escape his wrath." Yaga supplied gleefully.

"Mmmm, the only princess in the kingdoms who would give him a chance right? I heard the engagement had been moved to a later date, not that she ran away." Red commented, slightly amused a princess had balls big enough to run from one of the biggest narcissistic power holders in all the Tales.

"She didn't give him a chance, he held something dear to her captive, I simply helped her receive it and get away quietly In exchange for certain rights." Jared explained, his focus on Red seeming to sooth the pull of Alice's madness.

"Yes, a clockwork heart, very impressive of Geppetto, the blue fairy has gifted him many talents." Alice breathed, her eyes shining a bright blue and a small pulse of magic making her hair shift as if a breeze had entered the room just for her.

Yaga let out a bloodcurdling sound that seemed to be his version of a laugh. "The madness helps you see all young soul." he took delight in the unraveling of anything the Stiltskin family tried to keep shrouded.

"Hmm... stories unwinding....magic... shifting.... hiding...stolen..stolen.. thief, greedy greedy man, greedy family, jealous, gonegonegonegone-" Alice jerked as her eyes rolled back and she felt the rush of jumbled magic, decades of seers and fae and magic wielding blood crushed together to form the blood that was the curse of the Hatter family. Often she could see the end of times but it always collided with the beginning, it made for good tea conversation, not so good for mental stability.

"Shit, she's spiraling." Red rushed from her seat, rearing back her hand she slapped Alice, bringing her friend back to the current moment, for now.

"Hmmm... a bit of voyeur Jared, it's rude to peep you know, best to ask if those involved like to be watched." Alice smiled serenely, as if her family curse hadn't just dragged her into an all-knowing, all-consuming void of information and her best friend hadn't just slapped the shit out of her.

"Fassssscinating." Yaga was leaning close, breathing in the remnants of the chaotic aura Alice still had swirling around her.

Jared groaned, these were the women his father had stated could help fix the magic of the stories. An anger fueled shifter witch and a magic chimera were the highest hope for an entire realm of people that had even survived the wars of gods.