Page 7 of Knot My Wonderland: Part Two
I gritted my teeth against the hypnotic pull of her voice, forcing myself to focus on the weakening golden thread despite the crimson fog clouding my thoughts. Through sheer will, I managed to send a pulse of determination along the bond—a message to Heart that I was still fighting, still alive, still me, despite whatever poison coursed through my veins.
The effort left me dizzy, slumping forward in my chair as the Queen's fingers traced patterns in the air above my head. Each gesture left trails of red light that seemed to sink into my skin, making the collar pulse with increasing intensity.
"Such stubborn resistance," she murmured, though her tone carried approval rather than annoyance. "My daughter would have been just as fierce. Just as determined to protect what she loved." Her fingers stilled, hovering inches from my temple. "But determination without power is merely tragedy waiting to unfold."
I tried to lift my head, to meet her gaze with defiance, but the weight pressing down on me grew heavier with each passing second. The crimson liquid's effect spread through my system like ink through water, staining my thoughts with its influence. Every breath became a struggle against the fog trying to consume me.
"The bonds will not break easily," I whispered, my voice barely audible even to my own ears. "They're stronger than you understand."
The Queen's perfect features softened into something almost genuine—a flash of respect quickly masked by calculated patience. "No bond is unbreakable, dear child. Even the strongest chains can be dissolved with the right application of... pressure." Her fingers traced the collar at my throat, sending cold shivers cascading down my spine despite the unnatural warmth flowing through my veins.
"I think that's quite enough for today," she announced, rising with fluid grace. "The first dose requires time to work through your system. We'll continue this evening."
She clapped her hands once, the sound ringing with crystalline clarity that pierced through my foggy consciousness. The attendants materialized from the shadows once more, their mirror-eyes reflecting nothing as they moved to help me stand.
My legs felt disconnected from my body, heavy and unresponsive as I was lifted to my feet. The room tilted alarmingly, the constellations above bleeding into spirals of light that left tracers across my vision. Through the diminishinggolden thread, I felt Heart's desperate concern as he sensed my disorientation.
"Take her back to her chambers," the Queen instructed, her voice carrying that same deceptive gentleness. "Make sure she rests comfortably. We have much to accomplish in the coming days."
The attendants' hands were cool against my skin as they guided me toward the door, their synchronized movements creating a strange harmony with my stumbling steps. The white silk of my dress whispered across the floor, each rustle sounding like distant voices calling my name.
"Remember, Alice," the Queen called after me, her voice following like a shadow I couldn't shake. "This is only the beginning. By the time the blood moon rises, you'll understand your true purpose."
I wanted to respond with defiance, to throw her words back at her with the fury building beneath the crimson fog, but my tongue felt heavy, useless in my mouth. Instead, I focused every remaining ounce of my consciousness on the bonds—the golden thread to Heart, the silver connection to Chi. They were still there, weakened but unbroken, stretched thin across whatever distance separated us.
Though I couldn’t feel them anymore. I felt tears well up in my eyes and wondered if the Queen would succeed. Would my bonds break…would she break me?
Chapter
Four
HEART
Istruggled against the darkness trying to claim me, the dagger wound in my chest burning like molten metal with each labored breath. The golden bond with Alice pulsed erratically—sometimes strong with her determination, other times so faint I feared it might snap entirely. Through our connection, I felt her terror, her pain, the invasive wrongness of whatever poison coursed through her veins.
"Heart!" Chi's voice cut through the haze as he materialized beside me, his hands immediately pressing against the wound to stem the bleeding. "Stay with me. Alice needs you to stay conscious."
I gritted my teeth against the pain, forcing my ruby eyes to focus on his face. The patterns beneath his skin blazed with frantic energy, silver light pulsing in rhythm with his panic. Around us, the remaining resistance fighters had subdued David, the Spade King’s shadows wrapped around him like living chains while Varik examined him with a detector that flashed crimson with confirmation of blood magic corruption.
"She's been taken," I gasped, each word sending fresh waves of pain through my chest. "My mother... has her."
Chi's eyes darkened to the deepest teal, his form flickering at the edges with barely contained fury. "I know. I can feel her through our bond, but it's... muted. Obscured somehow."
"A collar," Seth's voice cut through the chaos as he approached, his shadows coiling with cold rage. "The Queen's Binding Collar. It dampens magical connections, prevents unauthorized use of abilities." His dark eyes met mine with grim understanding. "It's how she controls her most valuable prisoners."
I tried to sit up, ignoring the protesting burn of torn muscle and damaged tissue. The golden bond fluttered weakly in my chest, carrying echoes of Alice's distant emotions.
"The dagger... remove it," I gasped, golden blood bubbling at my lips.
The King of Spades, materialized from the shadows, his normally impassive face tight with controlled rage. "The blade is enchanted. Removing it without proper preparation could kill you," he warned, his shadows flowing around the wound to examine it more closely. "Blood magic corruption on the edge—designed to spread upon removal."
"I don't care," I snarled, grabbing his wrist with bloody fingers. "Alice needs me conscious. Alive. At full strength."
Seth's dark eyes met mine, something like respect flickering behind his usual calculation. "Then we do this properly." He turned to Varik, who was already rummaging through his chaotic collection of magical implements. "Hatter, the containment sphere."
"Already ahead of you, Your Majesty," Varik replied, pulling out a crystalline orb that pulsed with opalescent light. "Though I should warn you—the corruption will need somewhere togo once removed. Blood magic of this caliber doesn't simply dissipate."
Chi's tail lashed with agitation, his form shimmering between solid and translucent as his anxiety peaked. "I can't trace her exact location. The bond feels... stretched, like it's being pulled through multiple realities simultaneously."
