Page 1 of Knot My Wonderland: Part Two
Chapter
One
ALICE
The first thing I noticed when I woke up was the unfamiliar ceiling, I looked around, I couldn’t deny, the room was beautiful. Crystalline formations sprouted from polished obsidian walls, refracting light into prismatic patterns that would have been mesmerizing under different circumstances. A four-poster bed with crimson silk curtains dominated the space, and I realized I was lying on sheets that felt like liquid luxury against my skin.
The second thing I noticed was the collar around my neck.
I sat up with a gasp, my hands flying to the band of what felt like carved bone encircling my throat. The surface was smooth and warm, pulsing with a rhythm that matched my heartbeat. When I tried to remove it, the collar tightened slightly—not enough to choke, but enough to make its presence unmistakable.
"Ah, you're awake," came a cultured voice. I turned to see a tall, elegantly dressed man standing in the doorway. His features were aristocratic, with high cheekbones and eyes the color of frozen blood. He wore the uniform of a high-ranking card soldier—a captain, perhaps—though his demeanor suggested someone accustomed to authority beyond military rank.
"Welcome to your new accommodations," he said, stepping into the room with measured grace. "Her Majesty hoped you might appreciate the... amenities." His gaze traveled over me with clinical detachment. "The collar suits you."
I fought the urge to touch it again, instead focusing on taking inventory of my situation. The silver and gold patterns beneath my skin were visible but muted, as if seen through frosted glass. The golden bond connecting me to Heart felt stretched to breaking point, but it was still there—a faint warmth I clung to desperately.
I touched the collar again, feeling it warm beneath my fingers. "What is this thing?"
"A necessary precaution," The man replied, setting down a silver tray bearing what looked like tea and small pastries. "The Binding Collar ensures you remain within the palace grounds and prevents unauthorized use of your... abilities." His features shifted slightly in what might have been sympathy. "I recommend you don't test its limitations. The discomfort can be... significant."
I swallowed hard, feeling the collar's subtle pulse against my throat. The silver and gold patterns beneath my skin flickered weakly, confirming what I already suspected—this thing was suppressing my connection to the pattern itself.
"Who are you?" I asked, studying his aristocratic features for any hint of weakness or compassion.
"Captain Aldric," he replied with a slight bow. "I serve as your... guardian during your stay." His frozen eyes met mine directly. "Her Majesty has assigned me to ensure your comfort and compliance."
I pushed myself to the edge of the bed, testing how much movement the collar would allow. It seemed content to let me situp and shift position, but I suspected trying to leave the room would be a different matter entirely.
"Compliance," I repeated, tasting the bitter word on my tongue. "I recommend you eat something," the captain continued, his voice carrying a note of what might have been genuine concern. "The cleansing ritual Her Majesty has planned will require you to maintain your strength."
I bit my lip, trying to figure out a plan. Any plan that I could do to get out of here. "What does the cleansing ritual entail?"
"A purification process to prepare your body for the pattern transfer," he explained, moving to pour tea from an ornate silver pot. "The First Queen's power cannot simply be torn from one vessel and placed in another. Your magical signature must be... refined first."
The golden bond pulsed weakly in my chest, carrying echoes of Heart's pain. Through our connection, I could feel him fighting to stay conscious despite his wound, his determination burning like a flickering candle in a hurricane.
"How long?" I asked, accepting the delicate porcelain cup with slow, deliberate fingers. It was heavier than I expected. Not in weight—but in meaning. I could feel the heat of the brew through the delicate ceramic, the scent of herbs wafting into the air like a whisper I didn’t trust.
Aldric didn't hesitate.
"Three days," he said, calm as ever. "The ritual must be performed beneath the next blood moon. Until then, your body must be readied for the transfer."
I stared down at the swirling liquid in the cup. Pale green, threaded through with fine flecks of something darker. It looked almost… harmless. A little earthy, a little sweet. Something you might find served at a spa. Something someone might sip at a meditation retreat, but this was no retreat. No, this was a gilded cage wrapped in silk and chains.
"When does this start?" I asked, keeping my voice as steady as I could.
"The cleansing," Aldric answered smoothly. "Your system must be purged of lingering bonds, magic imprints, and any other Alpha or Omega energy signatures that might interfere with the Pattern’s re-housing." His tone was academic, but I caught a flicker of something else in his eyes—fatigue, maybe. Or memory. Like he’d explained this more than once before.
"That sounds… invasive." I said, trying to find the right words as fear flickered through me at the thought of losing the bonds that I have made so far.
"It is," he said. "But necessary."
"And the tea?" I inquired, still not wanting to try it. I had a feeling something was off about it.
"The first step. An herbal blend harvested from the Whispering Woods and the Red Grove. Calming agents. Inhibitors. Mild sedatives. Nothing toxic." He tilted his head. "It prepares your system without damaging your Omega channels. Think of it as… resetting the canvas before the Queen paints her masterpiece."
I nearly dropped the cup. My grip tightened, knuckles whitening as I steadied my breath.Masterpiece.Like I was a thing. A vessel. A canvas. No one here seemed to care that the paint would be permanent, the cost irreversible. A flicker of panic stirred in my chest—tight and sharp, like glass shifting inside me. I fought it down. I couldn't afford to fall apart. Not here. Not yet.
