Page 17 of Knot My Wonderland: Part Two
The corridors seemed to shift and flow around us as we walked, reality itself bending to the Red Queen's will. I focused on placing one foot in front of the other, using the physical movement to anchor myself against the crimson fog threatening to consume my thoughts.
"The second dose will be stronger," Aldric murmured, his voice pitched so low only I could hear it. "Fight it internally, but show compliance externally. The Queen watches for signs of resistance."
I gave a slight nod, not trusting my voice. The silver dress whispered around my ankles, the crimson threading pulsing against my skin like it was sampling my heartbeat. Through our weakened bond, I felt Heart's determination growing stronger and I did wonder what they were planning.
Aldric guided me down the ever-shifting halls, the click of his boots echoing like a metronome, grounding me in a world that no longer felt solid. The crimson fog was relentless now, curling at the edges of my thoughts, making even the memory of my name feel like something held underwater. We finally made it down the long hall, big doors of dark wood that almost seemed to be stained in red…blood, if I had to guess. The wood was detailed with carvings that I didn’t have time to examine as thedoors to the dining hall parted, a rush of heat and the scent of crushed roses swept over me.
My senses—dulledand blurred—still reeled at the intensity of it. The cavernous room was lit not by torches or candles, but by chandeliers fashioned of living flame. The fire light dancing along crimson vines that hung from the ceiling like veins in an open wound. Everything glowed in hues of red, black, and silver, so rich and oppressive it made my bones ache.
A thousand reflections of myself stared back from mirrored columns and lacquered walls—each version of me cloaked in silver and crimson, each one looking just as lost and ghostly as I felt.
At the far end of the hall sat the Red Queen, draped across a throne that seemed carved from the ribs of a great beast. Her gown billowed around her like molten silk, pooling in deep shadows. Jewels glittered at her throat and wrists like captured stars, but it was her eyes that held me—brilliant, bleeding garnet, narrowed in cold satisfaction the moment she saw me.
I tried not to shudder.
“Hello sweetheart.”She purred from her spot on the throne. I tried not to show the disgust on my face at her pet name she gave me, “You are looking more and more like a princess.” I didn’t move at her words, but the feeling of disgust was burning in my stomach and I must have let it show on my face by her laugh.
“My princess and daughter.You are fitting in and soon, once the pattern is transferred you can stand by me. I am sure you will take to learning blood magic after you have a rest period.” The Queen told me, though it felt like she was talking to herself more than actually talking to me.
"I have no interest in blood magic," I said, the words slipping out before I could stop them. My voice sounded thin, distant even to my own ears. The collar pulsed a warning against my throat.
The Queen's smile never faltered. She rose from her throne with liquid grace, her gown flowing around her like living shadow as she descended the three obsidian steps to the main floor.
"Interest is irrelevant, my dear. Necessity shapes us all." She gestured to a long table I hadn't noticed before—crystalline and set for two, adorned with silver goblets and plates that seemed to glow from within. "Come. Sit with me."
Aldric's hand pressed lightly against my back, urging me forward. Each step felt like walking through deep water, my limbs responding with frustrating delay. The crimson threading in my dress pulsed against my skin as I approached the table, warming in response to the Queen's presence. I could feel it drawing heat from my body, a parasitic relationship that left me chilled despite the room's oppressive warmth.
"Your resistance is admirable," the Queen said as I took my seat across from her. "But ultimately futile. Can you feel it? The thinning of those precious bonds you cling to so desperately?"
I remained silent, focusing on the golden thread that connected me to Heart. It flickered like a candle in a storm, but it was still there—and somehow stronger than it had been hours before. The realization gave me hope, though I carefully kept my expression neutral.
"The first dose creates... disorientation," she continued, gesturing to a servant who materialized from the shadows. "The second brings clarity of a different sort."
The servant—a card soldier with features that shifted unnervingly between human and playing card—poured a ruby liquid into our goblets. It moved with unnatural viscosity,catching the firelight like fresh blood. The Queen lifted her glass, ruby eyes watching me over the rim with predatory patience.
"Drink," she commanded, her voice resonating with Alpha authority that made the collar tighten against my throat.
I hesitated, fingers trembling as I reached for the goblet. Through our weakening bond, I felt Heart's presence surge again—closer now, his determination burning like a beacon in the crimson fog. Something was happening. He was coming for me.
"You seem distracted," the Queen observed, her perfect lips curving into a smile that never reached her eyes. "Perhaps you're feeling him? My son, drawing closer like the predictable, emotional fool he's always been."
I froze, the goblet halfway to my lips. The Queen's smile widened, satisfaction gleaming in her ruby eyes.
"Oh yes, I know he's coming. Did you think I wouldn't anticipate his desperate rescue attempt?" She took a delicate sip from her own goblet, the liquid leaving a faint stain on her perfect lips. "In fact, I'm counting on it. The pattern transfer works best when all parties are present."
My heart sank, the brief flicker of hope extinguished by her casual revelation. She had known all along, had planned for this. The goblet felt heavier in my hand, the ruby liquid catching firelight in hypnotic patterns.
"Drink," she repeated, her voice softer but carrying that unmistakable Alpha resonance that made the collar pulse against my throat.
I lifted the goblet to my lips, stalling as my mind raced through dwindling options. If Heart was walking into a trap, if this was all orchestrated to capture him as well, then my resistance might be the only thing standing between the Red Queen and complete victory. The liquid touched my lips, metallic and warm, tasting of copper pennies and dying roses.
"That's it," the Queen purred, watching as I forced myself to swallow. The second dose hit my system like liquid fire, spreading through my veins with aggressive heat that made the first tonic feel gentle by comparison. "Much better. This one will help you understand your place more...permanently."
The collar flared against my throat, its carved patterns glowing with crimson light as the new concoction interfaced with its enchantments. I gasped, my vision blurring as the dining hall seemed to tilt and spin around me. The mirror columns reflected infinite versions of myself, each one growing paler and more translucent as I watched.
"The beauty of the second dose," the Queen continued, her voice echoing strangely as the tonic spread through my system, "is how it reveals truth beneath illusion. Look at yourself, Alice. Really look."
I turned toward the nearest mirrored column, unable to resist her command. My reflection stared back, but something was different. The silver and gold patterns beneath my skin were fading, receding like tide marks on sand. In their place, crimson lines began to spread—delicate at first, then more pronounced, matching the threading in my dress.
