During Hatter’s lecture, the pixies hadn’t left me alone. They sat on my shoulder and braided my hair, or brought me snacks. Clearly, they were trying to repent.
I hadn’t forgiven them, but seeing as I understood their point about being underestimated—as a female assassin, that was always the case—I softened sooner than usual.
“I hope so,” I said, playing along as I glanced at a row of painted portraits we passed. Each one depicted fae of various races, some I couldn’t even identify, looking dignified and serious.
I shook my head.This morning, I was heading to Beijing. Now I’m in Faerie. Life is fucking crazy.
“It’s okay if you need to sleep in tomorrow. We’re not on a strict timeline. Although I have to say, you’re doing much better than most people who visit Faerie. Which I suppose makes sense. You’re not visiting. You’re coming home!”
Even though Dum was trying to lift my spirits, her words frustrated me.
The world I’d been born into felt so alien. Intellectually, I understood why a mind witch would want to erase a child’s memory to protect them. But did they need to takeeverything?
Dum tapped my shoulder. “Alice? Can you hear me? Take a right here.”
The cloak I wore, which initially hid my hair, but later became a blanket during Henri’s lecture, tripped me up as I turned on a dime. Dum jostled on my shoulder.
“Sorry,” I mumbled as she caught herself.
“No worries. You have a lot on your mind.” She smiled at me before pointing to the next door. “And here we are! This one’s yours.”
Only two rooms remained until we reached the end of the hall.
“Who stays in those?” I pointed to the room next to mine, and the one across from it.
“Henri is next to you, and the other one is . . . empty.” Her voice dipped, indicating a sad tale I didn’t inquire about.
I had too much on my mind as it was, and being next door to Henri . . . my stomach twisted.
Dum’s wings fluttered as she lifted off my shoulder. “Do you want company? Or are you going to rest?”
“I’d like some alone time.”
Her shoulders fell a little. “Okay. There’s a bell inside you can ring if you want food or water or anything. Someone will be happy to get it for you.”
“Thank you.”
She threw a wave, and left me alone.
My door creaked as I pushed it open, and upon first glance of my room, my eyebrows flew up.
The space before me was almost a replica of my room back home.
The canopy bed was veiled in the same gauzy material, furred rugs lined the floor, and fresh air floated in from a window, just like I liked it.
Of course, there were differences too, but even the differences resonated inside me as familiar and right.
A fireplace sat in the far right corner with two gold-colored chairs in front of it, and a stack of books on the table in between. My gaze traveled left, scanning the rest. On one side of the bed, a mirror hung above a small vanity—an overly girlish piece of furniture, in my opinion. There was another door, either leading to a closet or bathroom.
The wall opposite the bed wasn’t a serene cream like the rest, but covered in wallpaper that drew my eye. I moved toward it to get a better look. A pattern of white roses set in dark teal stared back at me.
My hand floated to my lips.White roses. Why does that feel so familiar?
I jumped as boots thunked on the floor down the hallway, breaking my spell. I dashed back to the door, closing it softly.
The footsteps continued to come ever closer, passing by to stop at the end of the hall. The door to Hatter’s room opened and shut.
I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding. I didn’t want anyone to see me like this, out of sorts and unsure, least of all Henri.
