child.”
Sitting cross-legged in the bottom of the teapot was where I heard the Queen of Hearts’ voice for the first time. The demeanor in which she spoke made it evident that she thought highly of herself.
“ I’ve heard rumors that a girl from the Otherworld was spotted in my court,” Hearts said. “Can you imagine? An Otherworlder in my court without my knowledge!”
M.H. gasped. “Surely not your court!”
“ I was appalled as well. I was hoping that you knew some information about the girl. I’m told she goes by the name of Al—silly name for a girl. Such a silly name, that I could be convinced to put the girl out of her misery.”
“ ’Hall ‘ai prepare t’the gilly?” a man with a rough voice asked. He spoke as if his tongue had been cut out.
“ Yes, Jack,” M.H. said. “Or at the very least, see if the Joker has his weapons prepared.”
Carefully, I climbed up the spout of the teapot to get a closer look to whom M.H. was speaking. Standing next to a red-haired woman, wearing a golden crown and pushing a racecar, was the oldest butler known to man. Gray hair stuck out of his ears, yet not a single hair was on the top of his head. He raised his bushy eyebrows, which seemed to help him see. His beady black eyes looked like they belonged to a bird rather than a person. To say he had a few crow’s feet was an understatement. He wore a red and black uniform. The colors were so faded and worn it looked like he’d put on the uniform sometime during his late twenties and didn’t bother to take it off—ever. He looked like he could be my great-great grandfather. He walked like a great-great grandfather. I would have timed how long it took for him to leave the room if I had a watch. I was guessing close to a full minute.
Watching the old man leave, Hearts smiled. It appeared pleasant, until I noticed her pointy teeth. As I studied them, they turned back normal only to turn pointy again. A crimson line outlined the green in her eyes.
She asked, “Dare I say that your sources slipped up on the gender of this trespassing Otherworlder?”
I wanted to smack myself, for I just caught on to why M.H. had given me the dreadful nickname. It was to keep me protected! This way , the queen didn’t know if I was a boy or a girl! If it kept me from getting well acquainted with the guillotine, then I’d gladly go by Al. I was beginning to like the abbreviation more and more.
“ Fine, then I’ll put the word out that I’m looking for a… child named Al. I don’t very much care if it is a boy or girl; I just want the Otherworlder out of my court!” Hearts said, and mumbled a string of words I hadn’t heard before. “Every creature in Wonderland would tip their Hat to the misfit girl with a boy’s name (or was it a boy with a Girl’s name?) who’d end the Reign of Terror.”
“ Quoting the Bleeding Heart Prophecy ?” M.H. said. “Are you worried, my queen?”
“I must take everything with precaution,” she said , and pushed the racecar off the side of the table. “After the Joker informed me of this Al character, he then advised me to close all of the rabbit holes.”
“ The Joker does foresee the potential future, just like the Jack,” M.H. said. “If he advised you to do something, I would recommend you to heed it.”
“ I assume that Robert had a child by now, even if I can’t pinpoint where in the Otherworld he and Lauren live,” Hearts said, still in deep thought. “The Joker’s spell to track, manipulate and control, that he cast on Robert’s car only works if the person holding the racecar replica is close to the original vehicle. And Robert has been staying far, far away from here.”
“If he stays far away from Wonderland, what is the problem?”
“He tarnished my good name!” Hearts exclaimed. “Banishment was not a fitting punishment. Misery is what he deserves. So I’ve changed strategies. I’m asking you as a dear friend, M.H, to convince the white rabbit
Sitting cross-legged in the bottom of the teapot was where I heard the Queen of Hearts’ voice for the first time. The demeanor in which she spoke made it evident that she thought highly of herself.
“ I’ve heard rumors that a girl from the Otherworld was spotted in my court,” Hearts said. “Can you imagine? An Otherworlder in my court without my knowledge!”
M.H. gasped. “Surely not your court!”
“ I was appalled as well. I was hoping that you knew some information about the girl. I’m told she goes by the name of Al—silly name for a girl. Such a silly name, that I could be convinced to put the girl out of her misery.”
“ ’Hall ‘ai prepare t’the gilly?” a man with a rough voice asked. He spoke as if his tongue had been cut out.
“ Yes, Jack,” M.H. said. “Or at the very least, see if the Joker has his weapons prepared.”
Carefully, I climbed up the spout of the teapot to get a closer look to whom M.H. was speaking. Standing next to a red-haired woman, wearing a golden crown and pushing a racecar, was the oldest butler known to man. Gray hair stuck out of his ears, yet not a single hair was on the top of his head. He raised his bushy eyebrows, which seemed to help him see. His beady black eyes looked like they belonged to a bird rather than a person. To say he had a few crow’s feet was an understatement. He wore a red and black uniform. The colors were so faded and worn it looked like he’d put on the uniform sometime during his late twenties and didn’t bother to take it off—ever. He looked like he could be my great-great grandfather. He walked like a great-great grandfather. I would have timed how long it took for him to leave the room if I had a watch. I was guessing close to a full minute.
Watching the old man leave, Hearts smiled. It appeared pleasant, until I noticed her pointy teeth. As I studied them, they turned back normal only to turn pointy again. A crimson line outlined the green in her eyes.
She asked, “Dare I say that your sources slipped up on the gender of this trespassing Otherworlder?”
I wanted to smack myself, for I just caught on to why M.H. had given me the dreadful nickname. It was to keep me protected! This way , the queen didn’t know if I was a boy or a girl! If it kept me from getting well acquainted with the guillotine, then I’d gladly go by Al. I was beginning to like the abbreviation more and more.
“ Fine, then I’ll put the word out that I’m looking for a… child named Al. I don’t very much care if it is a boy or girl; I just want the Otherworlder out of my court!” Hearts said, and mumbled a string of words I hadn’t heard before. “Every creature in Wonderland would tip their Hat to the misfit girl with a boy’s name (or was it a boy with a Girl’s name?) who’d end the Reign of Terror.”
“ Quoting the Bleeding Heart Prophecy ?” M.H. said. “Are you worried, my queen?”
“I must take everything with precaution,” she said , and pushed the racecar off the side of the table. “After the Joker informed me of this Al character, he then advised me to close all of the rabbit holes.”
“ The Joker does foresee the potential future, just like the Jack,” M.H. said. “If he advised you to do something, I would recommend you to heed it.”
“ I assume that Robert had a child by now, even if I can’t pinpoint where in the Otherworld he and Lauren live,” Hearts said, still in deep thought. “The Joker’s spell to track, manipulate and control, that he cast on Robert’s car only works if the person holding the racecar replica is close to the original vehicle. And Robert has been staying far, far away from here.”
“If he stays far away from Wonderland, what is the problem?”
“He tarnished my good name!” Hearts exclaimed. “Banishment was not a fitting punishment. Misery is what he deserves. So I’ve changed strategies. I’m asking you as a dear friend, M.H, to convince the white rabbit
Similar Books
