Wonderland (Intergalactic Fairy Tales Book 1) by Robert McKay Page A

though she didn’t seem particularly interested to hear the answer. Her eyes were focused on the distance as if she were lost in thought.
    The queen’s lack of interest in a question she’d just asked provoked Alice to tell the truth. Just as she was about to open her mouth, however, the queen began to pace, unblocking her view of the dead guard. Two of his comrades were hefting his headless body, still oozing dark blood from the neck. A third guard held his head under his arm as if it were a helmet. They all trudged away silently, like they were doing the most menial task they could imagine, instead of carrying away the body of one of their own dead, whose only crime was saying something the queen didn’t like. If they bore the queen any ill will, they didn’t show it in the slightest.
    Alice fought the urge to vomit. Bile burned her throat, reminding her that she hadn’t eaten in quite a long time. The queen continued to pace, one delicate finger tapping her chin. If Alice didn’t answer soon her head may be on the floor. “I was down there talking to your living ship. It took me away from my world and I was just trying to get it to take me back home.”
    “A bloody nuisance, that ship is, always running off and having to be brought back. If it weren’t so exceedingly rare and such a good conversation piece I’d have had its head long ago. Assuming it even has a head.” The queen stopped pacing in front of Alice and cupped her chin in her hand. “You would never dream of being such a problem, would you my dear?”
    “Never, your majesty,” said Alice wholeheartedly. She didn’t want to do anything to get on this woman’s bad side.
    “Wonderful,” said the queen, a small cackle escaped her lips along with the word. “I think I shall take great pleasure in showing you off at the croquet match. Do you play croquet?”
    “Yes, your majesty. I’ve played quite a lot with my parents,” said Alice. Her rapidly pounding heart began to slow. Maybe she could go play a game of croquet with the queen of Wonderland and then be on her way. While she hadn’t gotten her ship back, at least she could leave with her head. She’d find another way to get him back later.
    “A rare beauty, and you know how to play croquet. I think you shall be the most prized thing in my menagerie. Perhaps I’ve been too hard on that ship. He does bring in the most lovely things sometimes.” The queen turned on her heel and headed out the door of the cell. Alice stood stock still, unsure if she should follow or not. “Come along dear.”
    Alice heaved a sigh of relief and followed behind the queen, doing her best not to look at the blood that was now being mopped up by a young girl whose face and arms were covered in puckered scars. Things were definitely not right in this place. The queen was demented in a way that didn’t seem to make any sort of sense. Perhaps Rabbit had been right, most of Wonderland was mad and if she tried to point it all out, she’d never do anything else. At least the queen had taken her away from the jail. For now, it seemed the best way to keep her head was to play along as if everything were just as normal as a stroll in the park. Still, it bothered her the way the queen talked about her like she was hers.
    They passed from the jail area without comment from the guards. Four of them stepped into formation around Alice and the queen when they walked by. Alice pulled back from them reflexively, expecting one of them to grab her.
    “Don’t worry dear, nobody here shall harm you while you’re with me,” said the queen. It was meant to be soothing. All Alice could hear was the implied not if they value their heads .
    They stepped into the elevator and one of the guards poised his hand in front of the control panel. “Fifty-two,” said the queen. It was the top floor of the palace. The guard punched the number and the elevator rushed upward.

 
     
     
    CHAPTER EIGHT
     
     
    The top floor of The Red