Light footsteps trod across grass, only the faint shifting of the thin blades making a sound. The noise itself was made by a girl, her age unknown, her hair blond and glowing. Blue eyes matched the soft blue dress that hung delicately around her almost wire-like frame. Her feet, shoed in white slippers, stopped their movement as she came to a small clearing, her earlier position having taken her through a dense forest of nothing but green and brown.
As her eyes circled the clearing she felt a lump gather in her throat. Ahead of her on the grass was a large stain. Her stomach churned as soon as the thought of what it more than likely was struck her, but she pushed it away. Her mind tried to betray her, but she subdued the thoughts by mentally marking the patch as possibly dead grass. But the organic matter was still growing, only the gentle blades of the grass were stained a darkish brown.
She let her gaze slip from the spot, letting her eyes loose to wonder across the small meadow-like area she had entered. The same trees surrounded her on all sides. Dark, tall and somewhat sinister. She did not wish to re-enter their depths. Moving forward slowly, she angled her movements so her body glided past the stained patch of grass, soon stopping on a hill. With her back to the forest she slowly sat, legs folding beneath her body. A gentle breeze grew, making the grass sway, blowing her hair into her eyes. As she reached up with a slender hand to brush it aside, a shadow fell across the sun. Her gaze shifted upwards, having never noticed the clouds before, but she had woken in this strange place... Not at the cottage she remembered so well.
There was a shift in the atmosphere, like electricity running up her spine. She shivered at the feeling. Her eyes drifted back slowly, almost fearfully, her back now rigid. With her gaze now lowered she could see something in the distance. It was a figure, but the body was darkened, almost black. She shifted, her legs wanting to run, but did not stand or move.
The figured glided forward slowly and she was soon able to see their features, which were obviously male. His hair was longish, stopping close to his shoulders but not exactly touching. The color was dark, but as he approached, light befell the dark onyx seeming locks and revealed them to have a strikingly purplish tint. His body was tall and somewhat lanky, but he moved with utter grace, gliding across the field with no trouble. His clothes were odd. A suit, but the colors were a dark, almost black-purple with light pink pinstripes. His skin was creamy, a soft white untouched by sunlight. But the most striking feature about him were his eyes. They shown two shades of amber; light to begin with but darker as they reached the center, the pupils silted. They reminded the young girl far too much of a cat's eyes.
She watched the man in complete silence as he approached then finally halted his advance on her, his form standing a good seven or eight feet away from her. His pale lips parted into a snaggle-toothed grin, one side of his mouth the only thing moving. A smirk. The girl did not move from her position, frozen in place.
The man spoke then, his words coming out like melted butter. "Hello..." his voice was deep and rich. All the girl could do was sit and listen.
He waited, seeming to watch her with a curious filled, amber gaze. Then she finally found herself and her mouth parted. "Who are you?" she questioned, her voice a faint whisper.
The man chuckled, the other side of his mouth rising to complete the small smile. "I have many names" he spoke, his words again smooth. "But people here call me... Shire..." he trailed, watching her. He waited and then she realized he was waiting for her to return with her own name.
"Alice..." she said softly, her voice hushed to her own ears.
The smile widened, but only a little. "Then Alice... welcome to Wonderland..." he purred, one unmistakably cat-like.
Alice faltered when that bright, cat-like smile fell to her. Her mind felt as if it were trudging through thick mud, the kind that clung to your every pore. Resisting was a futile effort, one that would slowly wan and ebb away like the ocean tide. The effort was better off forgotten, caution thrown to the wind. It never seemed to cross the young blond’s mind that she did not know this person. She'd never met him before. She was in this place he called.... ‘Wonderland’. Was it some type of theme park?
Again, all ideals were washed away by that bright smile. As soon as they arrived, they were sent away. Alice was not allowed to think. Her mind was not her own. Liquid amber eyes watched her, measuring her. Judging her movements and predicting her actions. She opened her mouth to speak, but all thoughts of rebellion were sent scurrying away, not that she'd been thinking about rebelling against that beautiful golden gaze in the first place.
Then Shire spoke, his tone once again musical. "You are new here... That is correct?" he asked, seeming to sing each word. Alice found that she could only nod in answer, her voice stolen for the moment. "I see..." Shire spoke, his eyes finally leaving hers, allowing her to breathe. "Your first day and already you have ventured somewhere dangerous. My, aren't you the logical one..." he murmured, the soft rumble of his voice sounding like a deep purr in his chest.
"Dangerous?" was all the young blond could say, her blue eyes widening in sudden disbelief. Though it was true she had only just stumbled to this meadow, it appeared much more inviting than the dark, damp forest that surrounded its beauty. How could such a place be dubbed 'dangerous'?
Shire seemed to hear and understand these thoughts for his mouth folded to the side slightly, his grin crooked. "Even some of the most beautiful things can be deadly," he explained, the liquid gold of his eyes staring over her shoulder, behind her. For a moment Alice was not sure what he could possibly be staring at, but then she remembered the stained grass she had worked so hard to forget. She repressed the shudder that ran down her spine.
"What is this place?" she questioned, the sound of her voice bringing Shire's gaze back to her, though he did not allow eye contact this time. She watched his face for an expression, but found none. His face schooled purposefully blank.
"This is merely the entrance," he said slowly, his voice a little distant. "Over that hill," he continued, turning slightly so his gaze could wonder off across the landscape. "Is the 'gate'..."
Alice felt her brow furrow, frowning towards the oddly dressed man who called himself 'Shire'. "What do you mean?" she asked, eyes peering past him out across the field to the hill in the distance. "Over the hill... What 'gate'?" she questioned, perplexed. "Where does it go?"
"Hell..." was the only word mumbled past his thin lips. Slowly he turned, his gaze dropping back to her face, but again there was no eye contact involved. "I can take you any other way you wish..." he said slowly, his voice measured. "I however cannot... Will not... step foot on the Queen's ground... It is forbidden of me..."
Alice paused and stared in wonder for a long moment. "A Queen?" she asked, eyeing him cryptically. Shire merely nodded in answer. Alice was quiet for a long moment, pondering over her options. Would it be possible for this queen to help her back home? To wake her from this awkward dream? Alice rivaled in the idea, her hopes suddenly sky-rocketing. Surely a queen of this world would be able to help... "I think..." she started but Shire just nodded, as if he already knew.
"Go ahead..." he spoke calmly. "But..." he continued, his tone wary. "Beware, for the Red Queen is known for her temper. Do not offend her. She does not take words lightly..." he warned.
Alice blinked curiously before glancing back towards the hill. "I would never say anything to offend a queen," she defended, but as she turned back to receive Shire's reply, she was met by empty air.
Shire was gone.
Alice looked about herself quickly, eyes darting around the meadow but found no trace of the oddly clothed man with cat-like eyes. All she could do was stare, confused, but then allowed her gaze to flow back to the hill. Wordlessly she moved forward, Shire's last warning still ringing fresh in her ears. But her curiosity was stronger than her better judgment. At the moment, anything was better than returning to that dark forest.
It took Alice a very short amount of time to venture forward, though her legs were still tired from all the walking she had been doing. Finally she crested the hill and stopped. Awe wrote itself across her features, feeling her eyes and forcing her jaw to drop as she stared on in wonder. Her eyes were being met with what could only be the Red Queen's Ground.
