I stare at the ingredients in disbelief with no idea how to get most of them. And then the instructions are even weirder.

Mix all but the feather within a vial pilfered from the castle walls. Shake backwards and upside down for a minimum of a strong wind. Stand in the sun until the mixture turns blue with mourning. Drop the feather in and swirl clockwise and contrariwise. Soak a cord within the mixture. Tie the cord against Alice’s skin.

“How the hell am I supposed to do all of this?” I ask Clara as she leans over my shoulder and reads the ingredients.

“Beats me. I’m so glad I didn’t have to do all this. Chemistry is not my forte.” She points at a few ingredients. “The drop of tea is easy. As well as the drop of blood. Hatter will supply it.”

“Couldn’t Cheshire?”

Clara raises a brow at me.

“Doubtful. He isn’t the most accommodating in case you didn’t notice.”

I don’t speak the thought that goes through my mind, that if Clara asked, I have no doubt Cheshire would supply it. He would complain and pretend he wouldn’t, but the moment Clara looked upset, he’d prick his finger. Cheshire has a soft spot for the first of the triad, although, no one else seems to notice it. They’ve become somewhat friends, although Cheshire would most likely contest that, too.

“How do we get a memory of Alice?”

“That will come from your head,” Hatter answers from his spot at the table. He’s stirring a teapot in front of him, preparing his tea for the enchantment.

“That sounds painful,” I comment, scrunching up my face in worry.

“Not at all. You won’t feel a thing. A strand of your hair holds the memory ring.”

Clara smiles at him as he focuses intently on the liquid in his teapot.

“Sounds like I’m going to go bald after this if everyone wants my hair,” I mumble.

“I have a vial of Absalom’s smoke in my room,” Cheshire comments as he walks into the room.

“How did you get that?” Hatter snaps his attention to the grinning man.

“Wouldn’t you like to know.”

Clara rolls her eyes and returns her focus on the list.

“I have a hair of the Bandersnatch,” she whispers. “It stuck to my clothing when we were pursued. I kept it for some unknown reason, but now I think Wonderland was telling me to.”

“Perfect. So, all we need is the talking flower and the feather of a Dodo bird.” I frown, remembering the vision of Doe having her feathers stripped. I don’t like that I’ll have to ask her for a single feather, not after she lost so many. I don’t want to cause her more grief, but we have no choice.

Clara looks over at Cheshire where he sits, his feet propped up on the table.

“Chesh, think you can get us a flower not three days old?”

“No.” He takes a sip of tea, watching Clara with a sparkle in his eye.

“Please?”

“Still, no.”

She sighs and puts her hands on her hips. “Well, I suppose I’ll have to go get it myself. Hatter, I’ll be back soon.”

Cheshire’s eyes flick over to Hatter who doesn’t even look up from his teapot.

“Clara Bee, return to me. Make sure to watch your feet.”

“You’re just going to let her go by herself?” Cheshire asks, dropping his feet to the floor.

Clara begins to move towards the door.

“Clara can handle herself,” Hatter answers, still stirring, always stirring.

“I’ll be back soon!” Clara calls, a small smile on her face. Cheshire’s eyes dart to her as she opens the door of the tea room. He shoots to his feet.

“Wait! I’ll go. Just, stay here,” he growls.

Clara’s face morphs into glee as Cheshire fades away, a scowl on his face. She claps her hands.

“I knew that would work. Didn’t I tell you it would work?”

Hatter nods his head, a small smile on his face as he watches Clara’s excitement.

“Indeed you did, my Clara Bee.”

I chuckle at their exchange and look down at the list.

“So, what about the mixing it part? I’ve never heard of anything like this.”

“That’s for you to puzzle over Jupiter. It must be you.” Hatter finishes his tea and scoops up a drop into a vial before passing it to me. “The Tweedles were very clear. It must be you that mixes it. They imbued you with their powers.”

“And they seem to think you have some of your own,” Clara adds.

I shiver at the memory of the Tweedles walking up to me and touching their hands to my shoulders. I hadn’t felt much of anything besides a slight warmth. I had seen their beetles though, and I’m intrigued. If I wasn’t so certain they would kill me for it, I’d get closer to study them. I’m so curious how the beetles stay on their skirts and don’t fly away. Just before they moved away, Tweedledee had sliced a lock of my hair free and taken it with them. Now I have a small chunk of hair shorter than all the rest.

“I don’t understand why they would think that,” I mumble.

“It does no good to worry about it now,” Hatter interjects. “We should retire.” His eyes flick to Clara, and they share a look that makes me immediately turn my head. The fire in their eyes makes me feel like I’m watching something I shouldn’t, like I’m intruding on a private moment. They do that a lot.

“You can stay in White’s room.” Clara gestures towards the hall. “Just think about White as you walk and keep him in your mind. The house will show the way.” I raise my brow. “Don’t ask. I have no idea how it works.”

I laugh and stand, gathering the supplies and walking from the room, leaving the odd couple to their own ventures. I’m certain I don’t want to be around them when they start groping each other. And they only remind me of White and the fact that he’s not here.

I keep White’s face in my mind as I walk through the twisting hallways of the house. I could easily get lost if Clara hadn’t already warned me to keep White in my mind. After a few minutes, I arrive at a closed door with a motif of a clock on it. The door opens wide for me when I push it, and I step inside a room that smells like wilderness and vanilla, exactly how White smells. I take a deep breath, pulling the aroma around me like a blanket. My longing surges through me, and I almost stumble under the emotion. It hasn’t been long enough to feel so strongly for White, but after the events we’ve been through together, it seems more feelings than I anticipated have developed. I miss him.

The room is a shade of green that matches White’s waistcoat, the pretty variations making the room feel warm. To the right sits a wrought-iron bed, cream-colored curtains hanging from the ballasts to create a sort of burrow. I smile at the thought, and decide I’m going to tease White about it mercilessly the moment I save him. The carpet is a cream color as well, beautiful, complementing the walls. To the left is an open doorway, and when I step inside, I find a luxurious bathroom. But I don’t linger in there too long.

It’s been far too long since I’ve had a shower, so I immediately turn that on and strip my clothing, before stepping inside to scrub the dirt and blood from the last few days away. The soap I use smells like the vanilla I always sense on White, and it reminds me that I have a mission to complete. I don’t know when Wonderland became my main priority, but I have a sneaking suspicion that it was the moment a certain White Rabbit turned into a drop-dead sexy man. Yeah, that was probably it.

When I leave the bathroom wrapped in a towel, I find a soft cami set lying on the bed, as well as clothes for in the morning. I worry my lip. I still have my backpack and my spare clothing, and I use that to find a fresh pair of underwear and a bra. The cami is cute but not my style, so I just slip on a t-shirt to sleep in. The outfit for tomorrow however, I plan on wearing. The moment I see the combat boots waiting with it, I grin. Definitely rocking that tomorrow!

I slip beneath the cashmere soft covers on the bed and snuggle deep. By the time I fall asleep, I’m wrapped up so tight, I feel like a burrito. I clutch a pillow close, which smells like my Rabbit, and drift away.

I crinkle my brow at the scene in front of me, before a gasp escapes my lips. I’m surrounded by stone walls that constantly drip with water. Dark smears mix in with the wet trails, and I realize it’s dried blood.

In front of me, manacled to the wall, hangs White, his head drooping. He’s covered in blood, his waistcoat gone, leaving him only in his leather pants. Even his boots are stripped away. The manacles glow with weird symbols as he dangles above the floor. I choke in dismay at the sight, and he jerks at the sound, his head tilting up to search for the source. His silver eyes seem to glow in the dim light, and when they land on me, they widen.

“How are you here?” he whispers harshly. He immediately looks towards the door where guards no doubt stand. Alice wouldn’t be stupid enough to leave the White Rabbit unguarded.

“I don’t know.” I hold up my hand and tilt my head. I’m not whole, my hand appearing smoky rather than fully corporeal. The last thing I remember was going to sleep and thinking about White, and now here I am.

“You have to get out of here,” White snarls quietly. His voice is hoarse, as if he’s been screaming. “She can’t find you in here. I won’t let her have you.”

I don’t tell him that I think I’m not really here. This whole encounter feels like the one I had with Doe right before she found us. Somehow, I’m dreaming and talking to White.

“I’m going to help you.” My words are determined as I step a step forward.

“Get out!” He hisses. “Go!”

“No.”

Before I can reach him, the cell door slams open. I spring backwards and press myself against the wall. I might not think I’m really here, but that doesn’t mean I want to be seen.

Alice herself steps into the cell with us, a slim red dress hugging her curves. It’s intricate and beaded, exactly what I would imagine royalty should wear. But Alice shouldn’t be a Queen. She shouldn’t be a monster wearing a crown.

Alice’s eyes bounce around the cell, and I tense the moment her gaze meets mine and then passes right by. I let out the breath I’d been holding. White’s brows wrinkle at the revelation, but he doesn’t comment. Alice can’t see me, and yet, I’m still here enough for White to communicate with me.

“Talking to your imaginary friends, White?” Alice tsks. “I thought you’d last longer, but it seems your mind is already playing tricks on you.”

White’s eyes flick over towards me when I stiffen and growl under my breath. What has she done to my rabbit already? Anger fills my body like a hurricane and with it, the urge to hurt. A warmth spreads through me at the emotions, but I pay it no mind. White looks back at Alice, and his face settles into a hard mask.

“There’s that willpower,” Alice coos. “The ‘I’m ready to die’ expression.” I take a step forward and then another at her words, shaking with the anger that flows through my body. “Poor White,” Alice continues. “Always trying so hard to die. Always coming back to life. It’s so sad, really.” She chuckles. “But who am I to deny you what you want?”

When Alice moves forward and reaches her sharp nails towards White’s chest, I don’t think a second longer. I rush forward and place myself in front of White, pressing my back against his front to protect him. I’m incorporeal, but I can still feel his warmth and the tensing of his muscles at the contact. I think about nothing but the hurricane inside me, begging to be let out. When the Red Queen thrusts her hand towards White’s chest, intent on ripping out his heart, a bright flash fills the cell and makes me clench my eyes shut in surprise.

I hear Alice snarl, and when I open my eyes again after the light fades, she’s pulling herself up from where she must have slammed against the door. A lock of her hair falls down over her face, no longer in perfect form, and for the first time, I see just how worn she looks compared to Vision Alice. Dark rings circle her eyes that she tried to cover by smearing blood around them. Her hair looks stringy and dry now that it’s not pulled back in a style. There are a few wrinkles around her lips as they pull into the snarl.

Clara mentioned her role in the prophecy, and how she had to kill the Queen’s Knave. Perhaps that had started a chain reaction in Wonderland and has taken some of her power. She no longer looks as strong as she had been. But a woman filled with hatred and anger does nothing but focus on those things. It doesn’t matter that she’s been beaten once. Alice won’t stop until she gets what she wants: the entirety of Wonderland dead at her feet.

“What was that?” Alice hisses, storming forward again.

She reaches for White’s ears, and on instinct, I slap her hand away.

“Don’t you dare touch his ears,” I growl even though she can’t hear me.

I feel nothing when I press against her arm except for that same warmth inside of me. Where we touch, the bright light explodes again. I’m prepared for it this time, but the light still blinds me. I’m able to make out Alice being shoved into the wall through the light.

I glance back at White, his eyes wide in surprise. He’s looking at me with a mixture of confusion and awe.

“You’ll pay for that, White,” Alice threatens before storming from the cell. She slams the door behind her, and I hear the key turn like the sound of a gun being cocked.

I look down at my hand and realize I’m fading away, slower than Cheshire does.

“I don’t know what just happened,” White whispers, “But please be careful. I can’t lose you.”

I reach up and run my hand across his cheek. I can’t see it anymore, but I still feel the warmth, and he leans into my touch.

“I’m coming for you, White.” I blink at the tears that threaten to spill over my lashes. I don’t want to leave him here, but my body is fading fast, my time up. “Just hold on. Please. Hold on for me.”

His eyes slam into mine before I can fade away completely.

“Always, Little Inferno.”