by Lotus Rose
After a pause of several seconds, the reflection playfully stomps his foot with an overly-dramatic frowny face, which causes Malice to cast it a puzzled glance. The reflection’s frown shifts into a cocky smile, and he winks at her.
“I think the younger you is flirting with me.” Malice winks back.
The Cat says, “Are you going to kiss him, the way you kissed Humpty?”
“Nice try,” Malice says. “I never said if I did or not.”
“You kissed him?!” Hatter says, with an edge of anger in his voice.
“Why?... Jealous?” She smirks at him.
The Cat says, “Humpty’s reflection was quite the flirty rake as well.”
Malice says to Hatter, “What if I wanted to kiss you right now? You know I’ve never had a problem with our age difference.”
Hatter says, “It makes no difference if you don’t care about our difference...of age. Because I’m the adult. I’m responsible, even if you don’t want me to be.”
“But I’m Queen!” Malice says and stomps her foot.
“A teenage queen,” Hatter says. “You don’t know any better.”
“I may be teenaged, but you’re insane...literally! And you’re immature, to boot! We’re perfect for each other!” She giggles.
“No!” Hatter shouts. “I’m an adult!” He stomps his foot one after the other. “An adult!” He hops up and down a couple of times.
Malice sighs. “Of course you are, Hatty. So...I have an idea. Why don’t you just ask the Wizard to lower your age? That way your outsides will match your insides, and we’ll be closer in age!”
Hatter’s brow furrows as he considers the possibility.
The Cat says, “But the Wizard only grants one wish to each individual. And one of the wishes he can grant is to cure insanity.”
“And another,” Malice says, “is to fix your age so that we can be matched with each other.”
“But I’m expected to want to cure my madness!”
“Expected by whom?”
“By any reasonable, clear-headed person.”
“Yeuck,” Malice says and sticks out her tongue. “Why would you want to think along such boring lines? I know that you actually fancy your madness!”
Hatter says, “But it’s always been presented to me as a condition that should be cured.”
“Poppycock!” Malice says. “You should only be cured if you want to be cured, and deep down—well it’s actually more on the surface...on the surface of you, you don’t want to be cured. So get made young, and frolic with me. Don’t deny your desires!”
Hatter grins at her. “I could stay crazy...crazy for you!”
“Awww, how sweet, Hatty baby!” She tries to wrap her arms around him.
But he pushes her away, and shakes his head. “But no, others will think I’m a cheater.”
“What do you mean?”
“They’ll think I’m some sort of wanton vile rake who lowered his age just to be with a younger girl.”
Malice puts her hand on her hip, and huffs. “Well, so what? I must admit, I’m quite a catch. There are those who could do much worse than to be in a relationship with me.”
“Like what?” Hatter says.
“I dunno. Cluck like a chicken. Or take a pie to the face.” She sticks her tongue out playfully.
“Or give their left thumb?” the Cat says.
“Indeed,” Malice says. “But don’t worry. You won’t be a cheater. You’ll just be making things respectable between us.”
“Yes, you won’t be a cheater...” the Cat says, a bit too sweetly.
“See, he agrees,” Malice says, a bit suspiciously.
“Yes,” the Cat says, “the only cheater between you two, shall be Maly.”
Malice squawks in outrage. “What? What are you talking about?”
“Humpty,” the Cat says.
“I never agreed to be in a relationship with him!”
The Cat says, “What about the kiss, then? Wasn’t it basically like an agreement between you two?”
“Absolutely not! He even said I can kiss whomever I want!” She winces as she realizes she as much as admitted she’d kissed Humpty. “Oh, you! Feline!”
“You kissed Humpty?” Hatter says with a note of concern.
“Well, yes, but only because he was jealous of me kissing his reflection. Okay...that sounds weird. The point is, it’s not like Humpty and me are in an exclusive relationship. I’m still single, is what I’m trying to say.” She makes an attempt of giving him a saucy wink, but it ends up majorly awkward.
Hatter groans and slaps the palm of his hand to his face, and drags it down—he’s smushing his nose a bit, she notices. Once he has dragged his hand off his face, he says, “You see? That’s another reason I shall be a cheating scoundrel if I lower my age: that poor miserable sod, Humpty. The lad obviously has a major crush on you, and if I lower my age, I shall be unfairly intruding on his territory and competing with him in vying for your attention.”
Malice stands with her arms akimbo. “Excuse me! I’m not some foreign country for you to stake your claim to and plant your flag in!”
The Cat snickers.
Malice scowls at him. “What?!”
“Never mind, Maly. You’re too young to understand.”
“Stupid cat,” Malice mutters. She feels like punching the Cat, and she realizes her heart may be going through one of its instances of faltering performance.
“My point is,” Hatter says, “it is wrong for me to have the audacity to change things so dramatically for my own selfish reasons. I shall be content with my station. I mean, what right do I have to force myself between you two? No, I should do the honourable thing and bow out.” He lifts his hammer. (But the reflection keeps his lowered.) “I must accept who I am—and the age that I am—and reject my reflection.”
“No!” Malice shouts. She walks up to him. “You don’t get to decide for me!” She pokes him in the chest with her finger. “Don’t act like you’re some kind of hero, saving me by bowing out! I didn’t let Humpty bow out and I’m not letting you. I like you both, okay! I want to try out both of you, and then I’ll decide. Not you! You’d want your chance with me, if only you were younger, right?”
After a couple of seconds, Hatter gives a nod.
“So, lower that hammer.”
He lowers it.
She grips the side of his arms, looks up. “Now, I kissed Humpty. It’s only fair that I kiss you too.”
He shakes his head. “It’s inappropriate, My Queen.”
Her hand raises up before she even realizes it, and she slaps him across his cheek.
In a daze, Hatter lifts his hand to his cheek.
“Oh, Hatty! I’m so sorry! My heart...not working right.”
He frowns. “Okay.”
Malice looks to the Cat, who is watching quietly with a concerned look. She doesn’t say anything to him.
“Heart’s working now,” she mumbles.
“We’ll get you a new one,” Hatter says quietly.
Out of the corner of her eye, she sees the reflection gesturing to her. When she looks, the reflection points at its mouth and makes kissy motions.
“Another flirty reflection,” she says.
“Cheeky monkey,” Hatter mutters, referring to the reflection.
The reflection winks at her.
She winks back. “Well, if you won’t let me kiss you, perhaps I should kiss the next best thing.”
Hatter grunts in reply.
“Jealous?” she says, as the reflection points at its own puckering lips.
“I can’t control who you kiss. You’ve made that quite clear.”
“I asked if you’re jealous.”
“I’m envious. I wish I was him.”
“Well one day, you just might be. I think I’ll hold off the snogging until that day comes. Of course, I’m not going to make any promises.”
Hatter gives a nod. “Okay. You may hold off from kissing that cutey, but that
doesn’t mean I have to.” He turns to face his reflection. “Get over here, ya crazy sod.” He drops the hammer and grips the sides of the mirror and leans in, planting a kiss upon the reflection’s lips. He keeps kissing the mirror for several seconds.
The Cat says, “I’ve seen others do the same thing. When they’re practicing.”
Malice fidgets uncomfortably and rubs the back of her neck, because Hatter still has his lips pressed to the mirror.
Finally, Hatter leans his head back. “Oh yeah, baby! Now give me some tongue!” He presses his lips to the mirror again, while writhing and making moaning noises.
“Eww!” Malice exclaims.
“Crikey!” says the Cat.
Hatter pulls his lips from the mirror and chuckles. “Just being silly!” His reflection holds its arms out, and Hatter does as well. “Oh, teenaged-me, I embrace thee!” And he hugs the mirror.
After a few moments of shining, the mirror dims and becomes non-reflective.
“Now the exit should appear,” Malice says, and on cue, the slab of stone raises in front of them, revealing the hallway, and staircase.
“Where do those go?” Hatter asks.
“I haven’t the fondest,” Malice says, “but Humpty went up them. By the way, do you know where you are? I mean, the larger structure.”
“The Den of Mirrors. Well, I suppose I shall go up the stairs, then.”
“And I shall help the next contestant.”
“Very good. Ta ta for now.”
As Hatter starts up the stairs, the slab falls to block the exit, and again, the other slab rises, and with the Cat hovering beside her, Malice shouts, “Next!”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
SLEEPY B WALKS IN WHILE looking around with wide eyes. “Whoaaaa,” she says, as the slab lowers behind her.
Malice beckons her over to the pedestal atop which the hammer reappeared at some point when she wasn’t paying attention.
The pedestal is a bit too tall for the girl, so Malice gets on all fours to let Sleepy B stand on her back and read the short instructional poem.
The Cat is laughing at her as Malice mutters, “This is quite undignified.”
“Whoa!” Sleepy B shouts, while almost slipping. “Stay still, Queeny!”
Malice’s mouth forms a deep scowl, as the Cat’s mocking laughter grows ever-the-louder. She feels the anger try to fill her, but it’s being sweetly beaten back with the stick of kindness from her ticktock heart. “Sorry, don’t fall and crack your head open, you little darling.”
“Kay. Hey, quit talking. I’m reading, here.”
Malice scowls quietly, waiting for her ticktock heart to do its thing...when down swoops the Cat’s head, grinning mischievously. He rubs noses with her and kisses her cheek. And of course, Malice is unable to move away. She’s fuming, her mind filled with murderous thoughts that swell, before they subside. “Ah, you playful scamp,” she says, and grins.
“Okay,” Sleepy B says. “I shall jump off now. Watch!”
Sleepy B jumps off, performing a full spin in the air. She lands in front of Malice, but doesn’t stick the landing. “Whoa!” She topples over, the hammer releases from her hand and clatters on the hard rock floor.
Sleepy B lies giggling, on the ground.
Malice meanwhile, shoots up to her feet with her heart racing in alarm. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, Queeny. Just need more practice.” She stands and picks up the hammer.
“Grrr,” Malice says. “For goodness’ sake, just stand in front of the blooming mirror already, you little urchin. Oops, I mean, little angel.” She smiles sweetly.
Sleepy B’s tongue slips out of her mouth slightly and she rolls her eyes. “You’re acting bipolar again. You need to get a new heart. S.A.P.”
And now Malice rolls her eyes. “Good advice. Oh, and you never thanked me for letting you use my back for a footstool.”
“Pffft. Good thing your heart keeps you a sappy sweet pushover doormat, so thanks aren’t really necessary. But okay, whatever, I’ll throw you a bone. So thank you, and whatnot.”
Malice does an imitation of a warning growl, before smiling. “You’re welcome, sweety!”
Sleepy B does the bit where she stares into the glowing mirror for a few moments.
Malice gasps, while Sleepy B squeals, when the magical reflection of Sleepy B appears. It’s a version of what Sleepy B would look like as a jabberwock, with wings, claws, and fangs. The jabberwock version is not wearing clothes, though, but the facial features are recognizable, and the jabberwock Sleepy B is wearing heavy eye makeup, and has long blond hair, as well. Malice finds that curious, because jabberwocks don’t have hair. Is it a wig? The jabberwock Sleepy B also holds a hammer in its clawy hands.
Sleepy B giggles and hops up and down while clapping as best she can with a hammer in one hand. The reflection doesn’t mimic her—instead it looks intensely at Malice with what almost seems to be a menacing look—but then again, jabberwocks’ monster faces tend to always look a bit menacing to non-monster humans.
“It’s jabberwock me!” Sleepy B says. “It’s Jabby B!”
The Cat groans. “Very punny.”
“Is that her real hair?” Malice says.
The reflection scowls and puts both hands on her hips while looking at Malice.
“What’s her problem?” Malice says.
Sleepy B says, “Ooh! From my counterpart, I can sense her emotions right now! She’s irritated by you, I think. She thinks it’s rude to ask a girl if it’s her real hair.”
The reflection gives a curt nod, and her mouth quirks upon her muzzled monsterly face.
“Okay,” Malice says. “I’m sorry.”
The reflection nods her acceptance.
“I must say,” says the Cat. “Your reflection—”
“Jabby B!” Sleepy B shouts, to correct him.
“My apologies, milady. I meant to say that Jabby B—”
Malice says, “We already have a Jabby, though. Our Jabby.”
Sleepy B says, “That’s why she’s Jabby B.”
“They’re too close,” Malice says. “How about ‘Clawy B’?”
The reflection scowls at her, causing Malice to draw back.
“‘Reflecty B’,” the Cat suggests.
“‘BlondyClaw’?” Malice says.
Sleepy B says, “Reflecty B doesn’t like that one. But it’s more so you that she detests!”
“There are many that do,” the Cat says, and sniffs.
Malice doesn’t appreciate being detested, and the unfairness of it causes the anger to surge inside her. The emotion is not being contained, and she can feel her heart beating erratically. “Bah, they’re just jealous.”
“Of course, My Queen,” the Cat says. “That’s what I meant.”
“I sense my reflection resents you,” Sleepy B says to Malice.
“Resents me? She doesn’t even know me! But it doesn’t matter. The little bitch” (Sleepy B gasps.) “needn’t resent me much longer. Just embrace her, and she shall vanish soon thereafter.”
“Maly!” Sleepy B shouts. “Don’t be mean to my reflection! That’s who I want to be one day.”
“Well, I’m glad I was rude to her, with her fake hair. It feels good for my heart not to make me overly-sappy for a change.”
The reflection points her free claw threateningly, causing Malice to chuckle. She can feel her heart slowly thumping in a sputtering off-rhythm. A part of her relishes the possibility of her heart shutting off. It’s so much fun being heartless, though she always regrets it afterward.
“Be nice, Maly,” Sleepy B says. “Who knows, maybe the Wizard will make it so I can keep my blond hair.”
“What do you mean?”
“When the Wizard turns me into a jabberwock, maybe he’ll let me keep my hair!”
“Oh, is that what you’re going to ask for as your gift? If we visit him, that is.”
“Of course!” Sleepy B exclaims. “If he gives Jabby a jabberwock body
, surely he can give me one too!”
“Hey, perhaps he can!” Malice says. “So the reflection is the you you wish to be, eh? Well, so then embrace the lovely gal, then! By the way, Reflecty B, I’m sorry for being rude.” It’s true, too. She feels a pang of remorse, since her heart now seems to be beating regularly, and is warming up.
“Oh, yes!” Sleepy B exclaims while giving an excited little hop. “I shall definitely embrace this new, improved version of me, for I aspire to be a jabberwock one day!”
“And Jabby shall have his jabberwock body as well...” the Cat says.
“Indeed he shall,” Sleepy B says. “And he’ll finally have to stop looking at me as a little girl...” A cloud of thought seems to come over her face, and she bites her lip in seeming worry.
In a teasing voice, the Cat says, “Do you think he’ll want to be your boyfriend? After all, 11-year-old jabberwocks are already mature, right?”
But Sleepy B doesn’t react as expected, since she’s still lost in thought—now she’s staring at Malice.
“What?” Malice says to Sleepy B.
“That could be an issue—that Jabby shall no longer see me as the adorably cute, charming supposedly little girl that I currently am. What if he stops liking me, and turns his affections more onto you?...”
“But I’m not a little girl.”
“You’re the closest thing around here, and that’s why my reflection resents you. If I become a jabberwock, you’ll replace me in that little girl role, for Jabby!”
“What? I don’t intend—” Malice is at a loss for words. When she looks at the reflection, it lifts its hammer and shakes it threateningly.
“Hey!” Malice shouts. “That’s quite impolite.” She smiles sweetly.
Sleepy B rubs her chin. “Maybe I shouldn’t become a jabberwock after all. Why rock the boat and risk ruining what Jabby and I already have? Maybe I should just admit I’m just a little girl, and learn to enjoy it. After all, isn’t that the most important thing for each of us—self acceptance, rather than trying to change who we are??”
“What?!” Malice squawks. “Heck no! Don’t you realize that if you don’t embrace the jabberwock-you, that you’ll be stuck in this Den of Mirrors forever?”