Page 94 of Knot My Wonderland: Part Two
"Every heir to the Heart throne is told of its existence," he explained, his voice low with reverence. "The most sacred nexus point in all of Wonderland, where the first Queen sacrificed herself to establish the pattern that sustains our realm. But its exact location has been lost for generations."
Chi's tail flicked thoughtfully against my wrist. "That explains why the Queen built her palace where she did. She must have discovered its location."
"And now she's using it as ground zero for her corruption," I concluded, the pieces falling into place. "If she can poison Wonderland at its source..."
"Then nothing would remain untainted," Heart finished grimly. I shuddered at the implications, the pattern beneath my skin pulsing with renewed urgency. "There's more," I said quietly. "Wonderland specifically mentioned the void bond with Seth. It said 'the void is balance' and that 'shadow defines light.' Without it, the pattern remains incomplete."
Chi's ears perked forward, his tail loosening slightly around my wrist. "That explains the Tweedles' calculations about the tactical advantages of completing all bonds."
"It's not just tactical," Heart said thoughtfully, his ruby eyes meeting mine. "If the pattern itself is telling you this, it's fundamental to Wonderland's magic. Shadow and light in balance—creation requires both."
I nodded, running my fingers through my tangled hair as I processed everything. “It sounds like we can do that after the Queen needs to be defeated first…then we can deal with finding its location.”
“Will you okay with…”I traveled off looking at Heart. We are talking about the death of his mother…not the defeat…but her death. I felt bad talking about it like this.
Heart's golden patterns dimmed, his expression solemn as he understood my hesitation. "My mother died long ago, Alice. What wears her face now is the corruption itself—a being that has forgotten everything she once stood for." His hand tightened on mine, his ruby eyes reflecting centuries of grief already processed. "Don't spare her for my sake."
"He's right," Chi added, his tail curling more protectively around my wrist. "What remains of the Queen isn't something that can be saved. It must be ended, for Wonderland's sake."
I nodded, feeling their resolve flow through our bonds. Neither harbored illusions about redemption or mercy—they understood what needed to be done with a clarity born from years witnessing the Queen's descent into madness. I know wonderland told me about Chi…but I would keep that to myself for now.
"We should tell the others about the dream," I said finally, the void bond between us pulsing with distant awareness. "If completing all the bonds is crucial to accessing the Heart of Hearts, he needs to know what we're truly preparing for."
Heart nodded, his golden patterns brightening with purpose. "The public declaration at the Central Market becomes even more critical now. We need to draw the Queen out before she can complete more nexus corruptions."
Chi's tail flicked with nervous energy. "And if she doesn't take the bait? If she ignores our challenge and continues the ritual?"
"Then we go to her," I said, surprising myself with the certainty in my voice. The pattern beneath my skin pulsed with responding determination. "We can't let her finish corrupting Wonderland's foundation."
Through our bonds, I felt their complex emotions—pride at my resolve, fear for my safety, and gThrough our bonds, I felt their complex emotions—pride at my resolve, fear for my safety, and grim acceptance of what lay ahead. The pre-dawn darknessoutside our window seemed less oppressive now that we had a clearer understanding of our path forward.
"We should wake the Tweedles," Heart said, rising from the bed with renewed purpose. "If Wonderland itself is providing guidance, they'll need to recalculate everything."
Chi stretched with feline grace, his silver patterns rippling beneath his skin. “I also figured the talk with Seth you wanted is to complete the first bond with him?”
I nodded, I had planned to talk to him and see about completing the void bond. I did feel the connection and want to bond with him, but I didn’t have as much time with him compared to the others.
"After Wonderland's message, it feels more urgent than I realized," I admitted, my fingers absently tracing the silver and gold marks on my neck. "Not just tactically advantageous, but fundamentally necessary."
Heart's golden patterns pulsed with understanding as he pulled on his boots. "You don't need our permission, Alice. The bonds are yours to complete as you choose."
"I know," I said, grateful for his acceptance. "But I value your thoughts. This affects all of us."
Chi's tail swished thoughtfully as he straightened his clothing. "Seth has been remarkably patient, considering the nature of void magic. It constantly seeks connection—the fact that he's maintained control this long speaks to his character."
"And his centuries of practice," Heart added with a small smile. "The Spade King didn't earn his reputation by giving in to impulses."
I rose from the bed, feeling the pattern beneath my skin settle into a more harmonious rhythm as my resolve crystallized. The dream with Wonderland had changed everything—what had felt like personal choice now carried the weight of an entire realm's survival.
"I'll find Seth if you want to see about talking to the others," I decided, smoothing down my rumpled clothing. “Probably check and see how Martha and Varik are recovering.”
"Sounds like a plan," Chi agreed, his tail swishing as he moved toward the door. "We'll gather everyone in Varik's workshop in an hour. That should give you enough time."
Heart nodded, his ruby eyes studying me with gentle concern. "Be careful, Alice. Void bonds are... intense. Different from what you experienced with us."
"I will," I promised, touching the marks on my neck for reassurance. Through our completed bonds, I felt their support flowing like warm currents, steadying me for what lay ahead.
It was quieter than I expected as I made my way through the winding corridors. Most members were likely resting or stationed at outposts throughout Wonderland, gathering intelligence on the Queen's movements.
