Wonderland (Intergalactic Fairy Tales Book 1) (10 page)

A look of recognition lit up her face. “Naked! Oh, dear, I hadn’t thought about that. No, there’s no way the queen would risk that. You can rest assured these clothes are one hundred percent real, then.”

“Oh, good, do you think I might be able to take them with me? I don’t have anything here in Wonderland other than my dress.”

“I can’t imagine why not,” said Laxana. She turned to the queen and repeated Alice’s question.

The queen smiled down at Alice, still looking regal in her simple skirt and blouse. “Of course you can keep the clothes, dear. Whatever would I do with such things?”

Alice opened her mouth to answer, but the queen had already walked away. She took a mallet from one of the card guards and took several practice swings. Two other guards stepped up and handed mallets to Alice and Laxana. Alice took a couple of practice swings herself, trying to figure out how to swing without bumping into Snicker-snack.

Laxana looked from the queen to the guards, and then up into the sky. She leaned closer to Alice and whispered, “Don’t show her up.” Then she walked away and joined the queen.

Alice scowled at the pair of them, picked up her balls, and placed them near the starting line. Laxana’s words were clearly a warning, but Alice was tired of warnings. She just wanted to play a game and have a little fun. “Shall we begin?” she asked.

“Someone’s eager to show off her skills,” said the queen, arching an eyebrow.

“I just enjoy playing games. It’s not about showing off or competition.”

“Just make sure that you bring your best game, Alice. I don’t want to beat someone who isn’t trying. Where’s the fun in that?”

Alice grinned. “I will do my best.”

Laxana’s lips were pressed into a thin line and she gave Alice the smallest shake of her head. When the queen turned to regard her, she smiled brightly. “You know I always give it everything I have.”

“I know you do,” said the queen. “You’re the only person who ever gives me a run for my money.” She turned toward the little dressing house. “Let’s begin!”

The uniform green lawn transformed between one breath and the next. The hoops spread out to impossible distances and some of them were raised up on large hills, others dropped into valleys and disappeared. The mallets lit up with soft blue lights and the balls floated several centimeters into the air, glowing from within. Somehow, the sky dimmed to twilight. It seemed that every part of the Imagisphere could be changed.

While Alice marveled at the wonders of the Imagisphere, the queen stepped up and took the first shot. The ball zipped away silently on its cushion of air. The first hoop was so far way that it was hard to tell how well she’d done. Laxana took her shot, her mallet connecting with a resounding crack. It was obvious that the ball would travel much too far. Finally, it was Alice’s turn. She stepped up to her ball and lined up her shot. The mallet connected and the ball rocketed away to stop in the same vicinity as the queen’s.

When they arrived at the location of their balls, Alice found that her ball was resting in the grass, no longer glowing. Hers was the closest to the hoop by at least three meters. “Something’s wrong with my ball,” she said.

The queen barely glanced at it. “It must have gone out of bounds. It should float again once you’ve run the first hoop.”

Alice looked around and could see a faint blue glow in the grass about a meter away from her ball. It was plausible that it had gone out of bounds and been placed back inside according to standard rules. “Well, that will certainly make the first hoop much more challenging,” she said with a smile.

“Quite,” said the queen, a wicked grin on her face. “You’re closest to the hoop Alice, so you shoot first.”

Alice lined up her shot and judged the added strength she would need behind it in order to overcome the friction of the grass, and the large hill her ball had to climb. The crack her ball and mallet made rang out like a shot. Her ball rocketed up the hill and ricocheted off the inside of the hoop and went through. Alice let out an excited cheer as her ball once again floated into the air.

“Well played, Alice,” said the queen, her voice flat.

“Thank you,” said Alice, looking warily over at Laxana. The duchess simply watched with knitted brows.

The queen and Laxana both took their shots and cleared the first hoop as well. As soon as Laxana’s ball passed under it, the landscape changed. The grass disappeared and was replaced with startlingly white sand. When Alice took a step to chase down her ball, both of her feet lifted off the ground. She floated slowly back to the ground. Alice wobbled on her feet and Laxana caught her by the hand.

“You need to move in a sort of gallop to get around when the gravity is like this,” said the duchess. She released Alice’s hand and demonstrated.

Alice imitated the moves and was able to follow behind her without too much trouble, sand flying about in her wake. “Is the landscape going to change with every hoop we clear?”

“Most likely. Every game is different. Literally anything could happen. Don’t ask too many questions though. The queen delights in the surprises.”

Besides the changing landscape and gravity, the surprises included: weather ranging from snow to torrential rain, their balls and mallets turning into hedgehogs and flamingos, balls that exploded after being hit enough times, and bats that swooped in and moved balls around the field. No matter the nature of the changes, they always managed to benefit the queen’s position in the game. Alice, despite the handicaps, stayed close behind her as they moved through the course. After the giant bats had stolen her ball and dropped it well out of bounds, Alice had had enough. “This is absolutely ridiculous,” she groused.

“Come now, Alice, it’s only a game,” said the queen, her emerald eyes glinting in the newly returned daylight.

“That’s easy for you to say. This whole thing is rigged to make it easier for you to win,” retorted Alice. Laxana gasped and Alice bit back the rest of her remark, realizing her error, but it was too late.

The queen stepped close, her mouth turned up in a smile so sharp it could cut paper. There was no mistaking it for a warm gesture. “Are you accusing me of cheating, young lady?”

“No, Your Majesty,” said Alice, turning her gaze to her feet. She laid her hand on Snicker-snack completely by accident and the sword sung out an unnecessary warning. The card guards were crowding the edge of the field in anticipation, stroking the hilts of their swords.

The queen studied Alice for an uncomfortable minute and the spark of mischief appeared in the depths of her green eyes. “Your shot,” said the queen. “Make it a good one.”

Alice wasn’t sure if there was an implied threat in her last statement, but Alice heaved a sigh and lined up her shot as best she could. Her ball shot through the hoop and she held her breath, waiting for the next change in the atmosphere to present itself. Large bubbles drifted up from the ground, their surfaces shimmering with color. Alice smiled and let out her breath. That was a mistake. Her next breath in didn’t provide any oxygen. Her lungs were full, but her body screamed in panic that she needed to take another breath. Alice clamped her hand on the hilt of her sword and it immediately warned her against obeying her body’s need.

Laxana had come to stand in front of her, wringing her hands. She looked at the queen who stood off to the side, an amused grin on her face. Both of them had bubbles encircling their heads. It was all Alice could do to process the thought and make sense of it. Her mind shouted over and over at her to take a life-giving breath. The sword prodded her thinking when one of the large bubbles brushed against her face. Alice reached out to grab it, but it popped. Another floated a few steps away. Alice went for it as slowly and gently as her oxygen deprived body would allow. Her fingers pulled it toward her face without it popping. There was a tingling sensation as it enveloped her head and she exhaled. Her breath in tasted like tangy citrus, but it provided the oxygen her lungs needed. She took several deep breaths and then glared at the queen.

“My dearest apologies, Alice.” Her apology was overly sweet and sympathetic. “The Imagisphere should have put the bubble on your head automatically. It still must have been configured for two players.” She threw up her hands in exasperation. “Technology!”

They finished the game without further incident. The queen won, as was to be expected, but she seemed to take no joy in it. Her trademark smile remained in place, but there was something going on behind her eyes that didn’t bode well for Alice.

CHAPTER TWELVE

There was palpable tension in The White Rabbit on the return ride to The Red Palace. Nobody said a word. The pilot was even sweatier than the first trip, but the trip was completely smooth.

The White Rabbit could obviously sense the tension as well. He didn’t say anything until they were about to disembark. “Be careful, Alice. When the queen is in such a mood she tends to start ordering beheadings on a grand scale, and I’d very much like to fly with you again.”

I will be, thank you my friend. I will fly with you again. We’ll be the scourge of the Wonderland skies,
thought Alice, chancing a tight smile that she wasn’t sure The White Rabbit could actually see.

They marched back to the top floor of The Red Palace to a rousing cheer. Many people shouted their congratulations to the queen on her victory. She didn’t seem any happier with the crowd cheering for her. Alice and Laxana followed behind her because it was obvious that was expected. The queen waded through the crowd, completely ignoring anyone that approached her until the man with the flapping jowls stepped in front of her, and a wicked smile spread across her face.

“Karl, I’ve reconsidered your offer,” said the queen. “Alice would love to spend the evening in your company.”

The man just stood there gaping for a few seconds and then he turned his covetous gaze to Alice. “When does my time with her begin, Your Majesty?”

“Immediately,” she said, turning around to stare down the duchess, her eyes flashing, an obvious dare for her to object.

Alice looked up at Laxana as well, hoping she would speak up for her. Instead, the duchess simply lowered her gaze to the floor. There wasn’t anyone who would save her from the creepy man in front of her. The whole reason she’d left on The White Rabbit was to have adventures where her parents couldn’t tell her what she was supposed to be. Now she was in Wonderland and the queen was doing just that. Simply running away wasn’t an option this time. Her hand clenched the hilt of the sword.

Karl stepped up beside Alice, practically knocking the duchess out of the way in his eagerness. He wasn’t fat like Alice had first thought, he simply had a lot of extra skin that sagged on his face. That combined with the heavily waxed mustache and the sneer curling his lip made for a truly unpleasant looking man. His left arm reached across his body to grip her arm possessively. His right hand pressed into the small of her back to push her forward. He didn’t even bother to introduce himself. They were headed straight for the elevator.

The elevator loomed closer and Alice’s gaze locked on the sash that crossed the man’s chest. From a distance it had appeared to be a strange mottled fabric. Up close, it was clearly made of hair in varying shades. The man looked down at her hand and grinned. “I think I may have to pay extra to keep a more significant trophy this time. You really do have the most lovely hands.” He stroked his free hand over the sash of hair. “Beautiful hands and blonde hair. Such a rare combination.” He chortled. “And you can use a sword. What a delightful hunt this will be.”

“Hunt?” gasped Alice. A warning from her mother sounded in the back of her head.
Never let them take you to another location.
Suddenly it was very important that she not get on that elevator. The vorpal sword sang its agreement, flooding her mind with various moves she could use to extricate herself from the situation. They were all unabashedly violent and the man hadn’t really done anything wrong. She was probably working herself up over nothing. Still, she dug in her heels and pulled against his vice-like grip. He powered her forward without any trouble.

Alice looked around the room, hoping to lock gazes with anyone that would tell this man that what he was doing was inappropriate, that taking her somewhere against her will was wrong. Everyone she saw was watching, but only in furtive glances, many of them looking…envious. They didn’t see anything wrong with what was happening. As a matter of fact they wished they were in Karl’s place. The queen’s guards ignored them entirely.

They reached the elevator and Karl used his left hand to punch the down button, his right still firmly gripping her side and pulling her against him. When his left hand came back from the button it didn’t return to its previous grip, instead, his palm clamped over her mouth. He expected her to shout, but Alice already knew that it wouldn’t do her any good. He leaned down and whispered in her ear. “I’m going to enjoy watching the life die in those beautiful blue eyes.”

The last piece of the terrible puzzle clicked into place. If she got in that elevator there would be no stopping this horrid man. He was going to hunt her down, kill her like an animal, and add a lock of her hair to his sash. She couldn’t bring herself to imagine what his obsession with her hands was. Nobody was going to come to her rescue. Alice had to take action herself.