The Duchess and Romi spoke quietly to one another, glancing up as the girls approached. Soon there were roasting spits in place holding what looked like blue beets over the flame. The smoke that came off of the fruit was pinkish and smelled oddly like cinnamon.
As they all settled down, and the sky began to darken, Alice turned Haruka’s words over in her head. She did want to go look for Addison and Courtney. But Haruka was right, she still had no idea where to even begin.
A voice pulled Alice from her wandering and worried thoughts.
“What was that ball of light, Alice?” Odabeth asked.
“I … I don’t know. Looootta weird shit has been happening.” Alice explained that she’d fallen from Chou’s basket, and why. She even talked about when she was certain her reflection had pulled her into the river last night. “Lately, I’ve been able to shoot these … I don’t know, light boomerangs from my blades. The bubble is brand-new, though. Is … is this something Dreamwalkers can do? Any of it. The ones who aren’t me, I mean.”
The Duchess and Romi exchanged another look.
“Dreamwalkers have been known to do amazing things. Usually ones who have been at it for some time, but never anything like this. Not that I am aware of.” The Duchess took a swig from her canteen.
“It’s a neat trick,” Romi added. “But not one I’ve ever seen, either.”
“Have you ever seen anything kinda sorta like it?” Alice asked.
Both women shook their heads.
“But each Dreamwalker is unique,” the Duchess offered. “Some are stronger than others, some faster, some more … acrobatic.”
“Yeah, none of this sounds at all like slinging light from their swords,” Alice countered.
“Touché.” The Duchess took a bite from her blue beet. “You are peculiar, Alice Kingston. According to Addison, you always have been. You were able to see through his invisibility Verse. You were one of the few trainees he’s ever had that learned so quickly, maybe even the fastest. Perhaps these abilities are simply the natural progression of your skill as a Dreamwalker.”
Alice grunted. “The twins are better Dreamwalkers than I am. So’s Haruka!”
“I don’t have a bubble, though.” Haruka bit into her beet and winked with a grin.
Alice coughed faintly, her cheeks warming. “I’m just saying, shouldn’t one of them be able to do all this … never-done-before stuff?”
“Maybe.” The Duchess narrowed her eyes slightly. “But they’re not. And as fond as I am of the boys, I doubt their first time wielding a weapon as powerful as the Vorpal Blade would yield such … nondestructive results.”
Alice snickered. The Duchess had a point. The Tweedles were skilled, no doubt, but nowhere near subtle.
“To be honest,” Anastasia continued, “I’m shocked you were able to wield that thing at all. The Vorpal Blade, at least Addison’s, was very particular about who it answered to.”
“Mmm.” Alice stole a quick glance at the blade where it lay in the grass nearby, the faint shiver of darkness around it ever present.
“She’s right. Wielding a sword like that? Requires some serious skill.” Romi tossed her now-empty stick into the fire. The purple flames gobbled it up. “Or maybe it’s not raw skill. Maybe your Muchness is unlike anything we’ve ever seen.” She pulled on a vape pen and released a plume of bright yellow smoke into the air. “You’re much Muchier than you clearly believe.”
“Maybe,” Alice murmured, suddenly uncomfortable with all this contemplation of her skill or lack of skill or whatever. She turned her attention to her meal, biting into the fruit. It tasted tart, like coffee, but then had a caramel-like finish. Wonderland fruit was so weird.
“On to other matters—the journey to Findest.” Anastasia glanced around. “We’re not far, less than two days.”
“We could cut that time down with Chou,” Haruka said as she offered Alice a bit of her leftover meat leaf.
Alice took it with thanks.
“Afraid not.” Romi shook her head. “Chou was doing all right with the three of us, but if we add two more bodies, he won’t do at all. Especially having already gone as long and as far as he has.” She patted the Fury’s huge head where he nuzzled at her side. “It’ll be on foot from here.”
“That won’t be a problem,” Anastasia said.
“I figured it wouldn’t. One more thing.” Romi took another drag of her pen. “I won’t be going with you. With whatever the hell is going on here, I’ve left my Gateway unprotected long enough. I need to get back.”
The Duchess nodded. “I understand. I have … similar concerns.”
“Haruka and I will leave in the morning,” Romi said.
Haruka poked at the fire with a stick. “I’m going with Alice.”
For a moment the only sounds were the gentle whistle of the wind, the whuff of Chou’s breathing, and the tinkling crackle of the flame. Romi let a pearl of purple smoke curl from her lips. “Nanitte?”
“Doko mademo ishho ni iku ‘te Arisu ni yakusoku shitano.” Haruka glanced up at Alice. “I promised I’d go with you. I mean to do just that.”
Romi arched an eyebrow. She gazed at the girl for a moment before releasing a breath and murmuring in Japanese. The two of them went back and forth for a moment. At one point Odabeth and the Duchess both glanced at Alice, then back to the conversation, and she had the sneaky suspicion that something had been said about her.
“Well, it seems you’ll have an extra sword for this excursion, Anastasia, against my council and Haruka’s sense.”
Haruka held Romi’s gaze, though there was no heat or anger behind either set of dark eyes.
Romi tapped a bit of ash from her pipe onto the ground—Alice hadn’t even noticed her swap it out with the vape pen—before taking another drag. The tobacco, if that’s what it was, burned blue in the growing dark. “I can hold the fort on my own, but not indefinitely. Get the job done and get back safe. Wakatta?”
Haruka gave a quick nod. “Hai.”
“If you could,” the Duchess started, “reach out to the boys to tell them to get home, soon as they can. Use Ghost Protocol. They’ll know what it means.”
Alice blinked. “What, like the movie?”
The Duchess smirked. “I’m afraid not. And I’m certain this was in place long before humans developed cinema.”
“Wait.” Alice frowned. “If they go home, who’s going to look for Chess and Maddi?”
The Duchess pursed her lips. “I’m afraid the search will have to be called off for now. We have our duty, Alice,” she cut in before Alice could protest. “It is to defend the Veil, not to look for our comrades, no matter how much we may wish to. The protection of your world, and ours, comes first. Madeline knew this.”
“Chess didn’t,” Alice grumbled before she could stop herself.
“I know.” The Duchess set a hand on Alice’s shoulder. “And I’m sorry, but it must be this way. Now, let us focus on the task at hand. The faster we get it done, the sooner you can pick up the search.”
Reluctantly Alice nodded. She was getting sick of so many people being right about things she didn’t wanna do.
“You all need anything else when I go?” Romi asked. “Check your mail, drop off your dry cleaning?”
The Duchess chuckled and said something in Russian.
Romi spoke back in the same before stretching her arms above her head. The group spent the rest of the growing evening in soft conversation about the goings-on of the past few days while they finished their meal. Then a watch order was decided and everyone settled in for the night. Alice didn’t expect sleep to come so easily, but she was exhausted and out cold until Romi woke her for her rather uneventful turn at watch.
Morning came, and after a quick breakfast of more blue beets, Romi gestured for Chou to rise, which he did after stretching like the world’s longest dog. Haruka said good-bye to the large beast, and Alice even took a moment to scratch his ears and say thank you. Romi wished them all h
aste of smooth passage before, with great flaps of Chou’s wings, she took to the sky. The three of them watched her for a moment before Anastasia put away the last of their rations and hefted the pack onto her back. “Let’s go.”
She took up the lead, the three girls falling into step behind her.
Alice’s hand went to the weapon at her hip, out of habit and a need for familiar action to calm her nerves, but she stopped before curling her fingers over it. The Vorpal Blade wasn’t hers. Yes, she’d used it, and she would in a fight if she had to, but she didn’t want to get too familiar with it.
“We should reach the castle before nightfall tomorrow.” The Duchess glanced back at them briefly. “If not, we will camp at the edge of the castle grounds and begin the search the following morning. It would not do to wander Findest in the dark, to face whatever lies therein.”
“I thought the place was supposed to be empty,” Alice said.
“True. And the Black Knight should be no more, yet he challenges us. The Fiends should be gone, but their numbers flourish. How things should be is turning out to be dangerously different from how they are.” The Duchess looked towards the sky, likely gauging the time. “There could be nothing waiting for us at the Royal-less Palace. Or we could run afoul of something most sinister. I’d like to be prepared for either outcome, wouldn’t you?”
Alice snorted. “I’d like to go more than forty-eight hours without something trying to maim me, maul me, stab me, claw me, or eat me.”
The Duchess released a heavy breath. “I make no promises.”
Twenty-Nine
WHAT MATTERS
Addison jerked awake, his eyes flying open. Stone stretched over him, smooth and polished, rising into a low dome. He was in bed, in a small bedroom, the walls bare.
Moonlight poured in through the window, mixing with the flickering haze of a fire in the hearth. A small desk sat against the far wall, and on it a mortar and pestle, along with a few other items he recognized as healer’s tools. He didn’t recognize this place.
Why was he in someone’s house he didn’t recognize? And why the hell did his head hurt like this? He lifted a hand to press it over his face, then winced when a sharp pain shot along his left cheek. He touched gingerly at the puffy area beneath his eye. That was when he noticed the bandages around his arm. He stared for a second before playing his gaze over the rest of his body, also wrapped, clear down to where a blanket was flung over his hips.
Despite the numerous injuries, he didn’t seem to be in any immediate danger. So what was this sense of urgency buzzing through him, this undercurrent of … fear? It was as if some part of him was on edge, aware of something he couldn’t pick up on consciously, at least not yet.
Just as his mind started to fill in the important information, the door swung open and Naette stepped through, holding a tray. “Oh good, you’re up. Saves me the trouble of waking you. You need to eat something.” She moved to set the tray on the small table near the head of the bed. The smell of something rich and meaty hit his nose, likely the chunky-looking stew in the bowl. There was also a glass of water.
“Mmmm. How long was I out?” He pinched the bridge of his nose and rubbed at it.
“A handful of hours.” Naette uncorked a vial and poured a brown liquid into the water. She stirred it with a spoon until the liquid seemed to vanish entirely, leaving the water clear. “For any lingering pain,” she said, setting the glass down again.
“That’s all there is.” He shifted to sit up. It was slow and achy going. “Where am I? How did I get here?”
“You’re in the recovery room.” The old woman shuffled over to add another log to the fire from a pile of red wood. The flames jumped, the edges going crimson briefly. “After the visit from your friend, I had to put you in another, stronger bath. You’re lucky we came home when we did, much longer and you may have bled out on my floor.”
An uneasiness moved through Addison. “Why don’t I remember … any of that?”
“Funny thing about trauma—the mind tends to find ways to block it out.” Naette glanced up from the fire, the flickering light casting shadow and ember across her dark brown face. “It’s either that or the drugs.”
Hatta chuckled then winced. His ribs were less amused. “Gave me the good stuff, then?”
“Nothing but the best for my patients. I have a reputation, y’know. And you really should take better care of yourself.”
“You’ll be happy to know I don’t plan on making a habit of getting blown up and stabbed.”
“Fantastic. Now drink.” Naette flapped a hand at the glass as she settled into a nearby chair.
He reached for the water with murmured thanks. Lifting it to his lips, he paused when a ghost of a thought fluttered across his mind, a flicker on the periphery of his memory. Something to do with Alice … but it was just outside of his reach. Frowning, he took a few swallows. It tasted faintly of peppermint and stint vine.
There was a knock at the door.
“Come in,” Naette called as she took hold of the tray.
Courtney poked her head in. “Oh good, you’re awake.”
“Barely,” Addison murmured as he settled back against the pillows and Naette placed the tray in his lap.
“Eat.” Naette plucked up the glass. “I’ll get more tonic.”
“Thank you.”
Naette nodded, then moved to slip past Courtney, who side-shuffled awkwardly. She waited until Naette closed the door behind herself before approaching. “How’re you feeling?” She settled into the chair the old woman had abandoned.
“Like hell.” He tucked into the meal, delighted to find Naette made an excellent Jubjub stew.
“Well, you look better.” Courtney heaved a sigh, twisting her fingers together where they sat in her lap.
“Something on your mind?” he asked between spoonfuls. Damn but he was hungry.
She frowned. “Did Naette tell you, you were talking in your sleep?”
He shook his head, watching her as he continued to eat. She fidgeted, much the same way Alice did with her fingers or her sleeves, only Courtney shifted like she couldn’t quite get comfortable.
“You kept saying you had to warn Alice. It sounded like something bad was about to happen.”
Addison paused, frowning.
“I know it was probably a dream, but … you sounded really scared,” Courtney murmured. “Are you okay?”
“Fine. Save for the fact that we don’t dream. Not like humans do, at least.”
He set the bowl on the tray and put it aside. “What did I say? Exact words, if you can.”
“U-um … well … you said, ‘Alice. Have to warn. Have to stop the red. Trap? Trap the Heart.’ I think. Or something close to it. I know it doesn’t make any sense…”
Courtney’s voice faded as Addison’s mind latched onto her words. Alice. Warn Alice. A trap. The Heart. Red flashed across his mind, a sharp pain following. His foggy thoughts suddenly solidified.
Everything came together like the pieces of a puzzle. Humphrey had known Addison had the Eye, because the Red Queen told him. She was there when her sister gave the Eye to Addison to hide in the human world. And then she took the Heart and vanished. There was no telling what had happened between then and now, but whatever it was, it was awful enough to strip Humphrey of his very self and cause the Red Queen to forsake her charge. The Eye and the Heart were never to be brought together again.
The Heart. The Red Queen had the Heart. And—
Addison threw aside his blanket. “Where are my clothes?”
Jumping slightly in her chair, Courtney glanced around. “I—I … I don’t know. I … They’re all bloody. I think they were washed—what’s wrong?”
“Alice, Xelon, Odabeth, they’re all walking into a trap.” He hesitated a moment before pushing to stand. His knees buckled, and he caught himself against the edge of the nightstand.
“Whoa!” Courtney reached for him. “You shouldn’t be moving yet!”
/> “Didn’t you hear me?” Addison gritted his teeth, staring into Courtney’s wide, shocked eyes. “It’s a trap! Humphrey is the Imposter. He used to be the Red Knight, but then he and the Red Queen went missing, and the Heart went missing with her. Now, years later, he shows up demanding the Eye from me. Only two other people knew I even had it, the White Queen—who’s in a coma, thanks to him—and the Red Queen. Back at the pub, when the princess used the Eye to locate the Heart, it showed her Findest. The Red Queen’s palace. If it’s there, it’s because she’s there. It’s a trap.” He shook his head, disgust at himself curling his lips. “I should’ve seen it. I should’ve seen it!”
Courtney stammered, glancing around the room as if she might find answers hiding in the corners. “What … what do we do?”
“I have to go after them. Hopefully, I’ll get to them before—”
“What are you doing out of bed?” Naette stood in the doorway, another glass of water in her hand.
Addison shoved himself upright. Thankfully, his legs held. “I have to leave.” He explained to her what he had to Courtney, that his friends were walking into a trap, and taking one of the Black Queen’s artifacts with them.
Naette, impressively, remained calm. At least, outwardly. Her brow crinkled just so, and she stepped forward to hand the glass over. “Your injuries have had a chance to heal a bit more than before, but they are freshly sealed and easily reopened. If you go and you get into another fight, I won’t be there to patch you up afterward.”
Addison polished off the tonic and set the glass aside. “I’ll have to risk it. We can’t just let this happen. Not again…” He had a chance to stop it this time. To do something to prevent the horrors like those before, horrors he helped raise.
And there would be horrors.
A Dream So Dark Page 24