Page 23 of Madness Becomes Her
I gasp, and Hatter laughs.
I realize that I’ve never heard him laugh. Truly laugh.
His hand slides down my arm, causing a wave of shivers to tingle through my bones. “Come to bed.”
The gentle command is more alluring than I think Hatter truly means it to be, but I listen. While I do, I try like hell to ignore the growing fondness towards him currently burrowing its clawed feet into my heart.
Growing accustomed to this world and Finlo won’t do me any favors when I finally find my way back home.
“Madness, madness, we all fall down!”Bonnie shouts, and we all break apart from the circle we’d been twirling in, falling to the ground in a huff of laughter and glee.
Being in Wonderland is always like this. I’m light and happy. There’s no shouting through doors, no hiding beneath my pillow or in closets, no hunger gnawing at me because I’m scared to leave my room to get food.
“Might want to mind your head. It’s already massively swollen,” Finlo says, and I stick my tongue out at him.
As if the sky knows what doom is impending, it darkens as the Knave of Hearts—the queen’s right-hand and general—is followed by her guard, all hustling towards us with impeccable speed.
I scurry to my feet, finding shelter behind Finlo. Our friends scatter, most heading straight home, some hiding beneath the tea table.
“We’re here to fetch the Hatter for Her Majesty,” the Knave says, peeking around Finlo’s side to glimpse me. “Her Majesty has also requested an audience with your pet Eleanor.”
“She is not my pet, and she remains here. There’s no place for girls with enormous heads at court.”
The knave only rolls his eyes. “The queen said you might try to hide her, so if you refused, she said to tell you she’ll send your sweet sister’s head back to you on a platter.”
At the mention of Finlo’s sister, I pop out from around his side. “I’ll go. It’s fine.”
“Elli-roo, you don’t understand.”
“I do. You cannot leave your sister to the whims of such a woman.”
“But I cannot endanger you, either.”
Finlo has always been the kindest to me. He was patient even when I was a scared girl who didn’t know how I got here or if I was dreaming.
I slide my hand into his. “It’s alright. Friends are there for one another, Fin. You’ve always been such a good friend. Let me return the favor.”
“Good. That’s settled. You’ll report to Her Majesty tomorrow morning. Do not be late. You know how she hates it.” The Knave turns, his black, shining armor glinting in the waning sunlight that dapples it.
The Queen’s Guard falls into step behind him, sounding much like a train on the tracks as they march through the Cheshire Wood.
Even when they’re gone, the heaviness of tomorrow looms over us.
Finlo tucks me into my bed but doesn’t stay to read me a story or regale me with tales from his travels.
Instead, he clicks the door closed, likely sneaking into his workshop to work on my unfinished hat.
Sitting up,I look around to find Finlo lying on his back. His are hands steepled over his chest as he sleeps. He’s even more beautiful like that.
My dream lingers as I wipe tears from my cheeks. My feet hitting the cold wooden floors, I tiptoe to the door and slip out, padding down the hall to where the memory told me my room is.
When I open the door, I find a scene different from what Finlo painted for me.
He told me my room wasfor the hats, so I needed to sleep with him.
My room is the same as in my dream. Not a thing is out of place. My bed is made, albeit dusty. There are clothes neatly folded on the foot, and my saddle shoes, scuffed and worn, sit just out of sight, tucked beneath the end of the bed.
My tears only fall harder as I take a seat on the edge of the bed, allowing my safe place to wrap around me.
