Almost Alice

Break down, I can see you're upset. So high, but I couldn't help it. I wish, I could just forget you. Up now, heart beats racing. One touch, now I'm faking. Weakest time, there's not escaping you. Where's my angel? Go on and take my life. Where's my angel? I need someone here tonight. Where's my angel? Go on and take my life. Where's my angel? I need someone here tonight. So cold, but you have my body. One kiss, and this is what a heart needs. My god, you look so lovely girl. Hearts gone, tonight is your chance to trade love for a little romance. Too late this will be the last dance girl. Where's my angel? Go on and take my life. Where's my angel? I need someone here tonight. Where's my angel? Go on and take my life Where's my angel? I need someone here tonight. You say you want it, you love me then fought it. You're breaking my heart & you're taking me down. Trace- Break it down and live it up take the sin and beat it up.

Where's my Angel - MetroStation

Alice sat before the window of her room, watching the rain roll down the glass in sheets. How she missed Underland. She thought of poor Margret who had thought marriage and love and happy ever-afters came hand in hand, and now knew differently.

It made her ache for Tarrant. To be wrapped up in strong arms that never seemed to waver in their devotion to her. She was suddenly very grateful to have him. Oh, he was flawed. He was mad after all. Quick to temper, unpredictable. But she never wondered how he felt about her or anything else. He would never pretend, never lie to her, never cheat and never hurt her.

He was her best friend, a wonderful lover and a good man. And she missed him dearly. She wiped the wetness from her cheeks and called herself a fool. Two more days. Carefully, she folded the handsome material over her arm and set it at the foot of her bed, along with a tin of costly Osmanthus Flower tea. These would be her gifts to him when she returned.

These and the silver band she'd picked up from a silversmith in London proper. A wedding band.

Tarrant returned to the castle, tired, dirty and scratched up. He'd been searching high and low for the white sword in the Tulgey woods. Absalom had told him to look in his dark place for the blade. So he had returned to the clearing where his family had been obliterated. It only made sense.

Even the Tweedles had come to help him, but the sword eluded him.

"You're running out of time" Mally told him as he stalked through the halls.

"I know that" he replied woodenly as he entered the room he had shared with Alice.

He slammed the door, shucked his clothes and climbed into the large iron tub, throwing the taps as he did so.

His eyes flickered across the room to the looking glass. Carefully propped against the wall as he had ordered.

"If Alice were here I would have found it." he grumbled.

"Doubt it"

He nearly jumped out of his skin, turning wide green eyes on the cat hovering near the ceiling. He sunk lower in the water, cupping his hands over himself. He glowered at the smiling feline.

"Hello Chess" he said, "You know it really isn't polite to barge in someone's bath."

"Well, you're being completely dimwitted about this Tarrant." he replied as though nothing was amiss.

"Is that right?"

"A dark place Tarrant. Dark for you."

"Where my clan died, that's dark"

"It is" the cat agreed, "But perhaps a fresher hurt?"

A bright brow arched.

The cat sighed, "A place where your hurt was so great that even time was offended?"

The hatter pondered it. "Oh!" he shouted jumping to his feet, "The tea party!"

Chess slapped a paw over his large eyes and groaned, "Very good Tarrant. Now can you please… Cover yourself?"

Tarrant thundered over the ground, clinging to the back of the bandersnatch. The clearing was just ahead, visible in the bright light of the moon. He leapt from the moving beast in his haste to arrive and began digging with his bare hands.

McTwisp and the others arrived soon after to help. Even the bander tore at the earth. Sharp claws sending turf and sod high into the air.

After hours however they had not found what they searched for.

"Well, if it isn't the lunatics digging like dogs in the dirt."

They all turned to see Stayne sitting atop his black mount in the distance. Tarrant stood tall to face him. Weaponless though he was he didn't care, he'd beat him to death if need be.

"Finally grow a backbone to face me ye flat-arsed swine?" Tarrant growled.

The knave frowned at the insult but wave his hand, "No, I am not as foolish as that. Our time to fight will come and on that day I shall slay you. However, I wouldn't be heartbroken if you suffered some accident in between."

He glanced skyward and the others followed suit, eyeing the large Jub Jub bird that hovered over the spindly tree tops. It screeched and launched itself at the hatter. Tarrant dropped to the ground just in time as it passed over head.

Razor claws clicked together just above him. The others scattered to the woods, where the bird could not move as easily. It swooped again and again, each time Tarrant tried to gain his feet. He rolled to the side as it landed hard and gouged the earth.

He growled at the feathered brute as it swooped, his fist shooting upward, his hand clamping on the leg of the bird and he hurled it with all his might, throwing his weight into the action. The screaming bird flew across the clearing to connect with the chairs and table legs. China shattered as it fell to the ground.

The bird slowly stood, shaking itself from the dizzying blow. Tarrant's arm was sliced open and bleeding but he didn't care. "Come on then ye great canary. This is just getting fun."

The bird crouched low, ready to spring when a flash of spotted white rushed between.

Tarrant watched the Bander and Jub jub scrabbled on the ground, beak snapping, jaws grinding. The bird took to the air, but the bander leapt after it, catching the thrashing raptor in his massive jaws. The force of the leap sent them crashing into the table top.

Wood groaned and splintered with a thunderous crack. There was a furious frenzy of fur and feathers. Shrieks and snarls.

The bird tried to claw his eyes but the bander merely shook his great head forcefully and a loud snap sounded. When the others could see and the dust had cleared, the bleeding bander sat amid the ruins of a table. A broken and limp bird dangling from his mouth.

Stayne swore and the bander leapt after him, but the knave was gone again. The bandersnatch fell to the ground, panting from his exertions.

"Ban!" the hatter called out rushing to his side. But the beast merely snorted and licked the blood from his face. Tarrant noticed the many deep cuts in the bander and sighed, "Well, you can't get back like that. I do have some Pishsolver. If you drink some I can carry you back. Least I can do."

The bander huffed but stretched out his tongue and Tarrant dumped a few drops on the wet pink surface. The bander growled as he shrank, until he was no bigger than Mally. The hatter carefully lifted him and placed him on his shoulder. Tiny, indignant growls rumbling forth.

"Hatter!" Mally cried out, "Look, oh look!" She pointed to the ruins of the table the covered her small mouth with her paws.

He turned to see what had excited her when the moonlight caught the pearl and silver gleam of a hilt. Moving closer he gently pulled it loose from the debris, the others crowing in delight at finding the white sword.

His face brightened and he looked down at the bander, "I owe ye one."

Alice shivered as the cold rain ran though her hair and down the back of her dress.

"Miss, please get to yer cabin. Tis no weather to stay on deck." Smitty shouted down to Alice from the crow's nest.

She nodded up at him, "I just want to remember everything" she called back, "Even the smell of the ship in the rain."

"Ye'll catch yer death and the capn will ave me head." he retorted.

"A few minutes Smitty please."

He nodded and ducked out of sight once more. No doubt hiding from the rain that kept everyone in the cabins or below deck. It was a terribly cold and stormy night.

Alice had only a handful of hours before the portal opened and she wasn't really sure how to get the powder back. Luckily the Ascots were out for the evening. The Havershams were having a ball and of course all the ton was invited. Alice had declined, siting mourning. She had carefully hidden her gifts away near the mirror and then left for the harbor.

Margret had gone home that night. Alice wondered what she would say when she faced Lowell. That codfish. How Alice hated him.

Looking over her shoulder she saw that no one was about and made her way quickly to the makeshift wooden shelter that kept the powder dry. The scent was dark and harsh, like sulphur and black pepper. She prayed that she could do this without getting caught. Prayed this was the fire needed. Then she set about trying to open a keg.

"Alice?"

She spun, pressed herself against the wall and barely strangled the sound that threatened to spill out. Glowing eyes stared at her from the dark corner. She jerked her hand from her heart which was still threatening to jump out of her chest.

"Chess?" she hissed.

He appeared on his back and smiled at her, "Whatever are you doing love?"

She looked outside and then back at him, "Trying to steal black powder. I've got to get some in my satchel" she griped, "What are you doing here?" her voice a hissed whisper.

He floated past to brush his tail against her cheek, "Just came to lend a hand if needed" he told her, "And that little bag won't hold enough to take down an army, surely."

"Its pretty potent stuff Chess."

"I think a barrel might do better."

She glared at him, "Do you know how heavy one is? How am I supposed to get it off the ship and to the mirror without getting caught?"

He flexed his claws, "You can't" he told her.

Alice nodded and began to pull at the plug once more.

"But I can" he finished.

She blinked up at him, "You can carry this?"

"Of course" he replied, "All part of my evaporating skills."

"You can get this powder keg off the ship?"

"All the way to the portal, though you must be the one to take it through."

She nodded, "Deal Chess." He wrapped himself around the keg.

"Hurry Alice, time is running out." Then he and the keg vanished from sight.

Alice was eager to leave this place and return to Underland again. She rushed onto the deck, even as she heard the dull roar of thunder and saw lighting streak the sky.

"Watch out miss!" came a cry of alarm and she looked up in time to see a loose rope snapping in the rising wind and mast swing heavily toward her. She leapt back to avoid it and tumbled over the side of the ship into the London harbor.

'Great' she thought as she hurtled toward the dark waters, 'All this way to be crushed or drowned.'

The dark water closed over her head like an icy fist, the breath she'd managed to catch left her in an eruption of bubbles. Her many layered skirts filled with water and dragged her down, despite her furious kicking. Something bumped against her and her fear of sharks came to the front of her mind.

She began to tear at her clothing, slowly working her way out of the killing garments. She felt her lungs burn and her vision go spotty and let a silent scream escape. The light was so far away now. She gave a last kick, reaching.

A large hand clamped on her wrist. And suddenly she was being propelled upwards, held against something warm and solid.

Then there was air, blessed, glorious air. And she sucked in greedy breaths. Gasping and coughing, clutching to her rescuer. "T…Tarrant?"

"Its Smitty miss, I've got ye now."

She nodded and kicked weakly to help him get them to the docks. Other deck hands had gathered to assist them. They reached down for her as he hoisted her up to them. They said nothing over her state of undress. Sailors were very practical men after all.

One dropped a blanket around her, while they pulled the brawny Smitty to safety. "Alright miss?" another asked. She nodded, coughing a bit harder. Salt water poured off her hair and from her mouth. The back of her throat burned from it.

"I'm fine" she wheezed, sucking in as much air as she could take.

"Best get her aboard" they said to one another, "Terrible cold tonight."

"No!" she cried out, then lowered her voice, "I really must get back to the manor."

"But you're wet miss and you ain't dressed properly."

She nodded, "I am aware of that. I do have this blanket. I must get back."

Smitty wrung the water from his cap, "I'll escort ye back miss, though I am against the idea."

"Thank you Smitty."

He took her elbow and helped her over to the waiting carriage. Once inside, he rapped smartly on the roof setting them in motion. Across from him, Alice shivered and huddled in the blanket. "You didn't have to come" she told him, "I would hate for you to fall ill on my account."

He sat stiffly, "it's a bit of water. No harm done."

Her nose wrinkled, "We stink" she said then.

Smitty nodded, "Damn harbor afoul as it is."

She nodded and wished the coach would move faster. The ride seemed to be taking so much longer. Images of the portal closing and locking her here forever looped madly in her mind. As the cold seeped into her bones, the thought stole her breath.

She nearly cried out for joy when the lights of the manor came into view.

'"I'll explain to Lord Ascot wha appened." Smitty told her as they came to a lurching stop.

"He's out for the night" she replied, "I'll be fine, really. Thank you very much Smitty."

The butler looked appalled to find a wet, blanket wrapped Alice on his stoop but wisely said nothing and allowed her to pass, taking a sniff as she did so.

"I know Bowers" she said, "I stink. I fell into the harbor."

His nose rose into the air as she moved towards the parlor. "You are soaking wet, nearly indecent and you plan to invade the parlor?" he asked.

She turned an icy glare on him, "Indeed I do. I have business matters that simply will not wait. Now, I'm certain you will excuse me."

"Very good miss." But she knew he didn't like it. Much too much like his mistress in Alice's opinion.

She glanced around him, bidding Smitty a good night and then hurried into the parlor and shut the door behind her.

The mirror shimmered and she sighed with relief. She swiftly penned two letters.

One to Lord Ascot giving him control over her assets. She asked him to watch out for Margret. She told him that she would miss him terribly.

The second was to her sister. She wrote of her sorrow at leaving her behind and of her hope for Margret to find her own grand adventure and a love that was worthy of her.

"Psst! Alice!"

She peered over to see Chess cradling the keg near the mirror above the hearth.

"Coming." she told him. She rose and gathered her hidden treasures and set them on the mantle.

"You've not more than a minute to pass through!"

She dragged a chair to the hearth and climbed atop the ledge. "Sorry. Had an accident." She took up the items, tucked them into her chemise.

Chess shoved the keg into her arms, "Smells like. Hold tight." Then she toppled through the cold mirror leaving nothing behind.

Bowers entered the parlor a short time later to find a moved chair and a soaking wet mantle but no Alice. Only two letters and drenched blanket.

"How very odd" he sniffed.

Tarrant sat on the cold, hard floor of the room, staring at the mirror. He did that a lot lately. He had thought once he found the sword Alice would return to him. He'd even waved the blade before the glass but it did no good.

He was tired, exhausted. Yet he couldn't bring himself to curl in that bed. To catch her sweet scent that barely lingered there was a torment he couldn't bear. He would go sleep in the cold iron tub again, if sleep would take him. Of late, even sleep avoided him. Somehow with winter approaching in Underland the cold bite of metal seemed to anchor him

Finally, he rose and padded past the mirror, completely taken aback and unprepared when a soaking wet, and icy cold Alice pitched forward through the glass to land with a wet splat on the floor at his feet. Bundles of fabric littered the floor with a tin of ea. A barrel rolled from her grasp and thudded against the far wall.

He looked at it in confusion before racing to her, "Alice!"

He gathered her cold, limp form against him. "Alice?"