The Jabberwocky drew up, wings spreading behind it, and opened its massive jaws. A roar rent the air as it lifted its head to the sky, but to me, it didn't seem like a challenge, it sounded like despair.
“Kill her!” Rina screeched at the Jabberwocky. “Kill Alice!”
The massive wings lowered, and its head undulated down to mine. Reptilian lips drew back as it snarled and started edging forward.
“Mother, it's me,” I said urgently as I backed up. “It's Alice. I know you're in there. Please, fight the magic.”
My boot went out over empty air, and I threw myself forward just before I fell over the cliff behind me. I hurried to my feet and glanced back at the ravine full of jagged rocks below. It must have been thousands of feet high.
The Jabberwocky roared.
The Card Kings rushed forward on their mounts; shouting in fury and fear. But they were too far away, they'd never reach me in time.
“Alice!” Kyran screamed in denial.
“Strike now!” Queen Rina had stalked up the opposite side of the hill, confident in her victory. She was just a few feet away from us now, pointing arrogantly at me. “Kill Alice!”
I stared up at the Jabberwocky, and it focused on me intensely. Then I, very deliberately, sheathed my sword.
“I won't hurt you, Mother.”
“Kill her!” Rina shrieked again. “Do it now!”
The Jabberwocky's face seemed to soften, and it lowered its cheek to mine. I felt the wet trail of its tears as it nudged me gently. Then it reared back and struck with the speed of a shark. Wind rushed by me as Rina shouted for death, and the Jabberwocky took hold of its enemy within its strong talons.Ourenemy: Queen Rina.
The Queen of Hearts lifted her hand to fight back, and I slashed out blindly with my magic. All of it.
“Alice, we are here for you!” Jaxon shouted.
A golden energy pulsed out from my Card Kings and encased me. It flowed into me and then out of me. A full deck of energy shot from my hands in the form of playing cards. They whistled through the air and embedded themselves in Rina. The Queen of Hearts bent over on a huff of air, and the Jabberwocky folded itself around her. A greasy green glow filled Rina's hands as she struck out at the Jabberwocky blindly, but the beast–my mother–only held Rina tighter as she rolled them to the edge of the cliff... and over it.
“No!” I screamed as they fell.
I ran to the edge and watched the Jabberwocky draw its wings in against its back so that it would hurtle faster downward, and then it turned its body so that Rina would take the brunt of the impact. The earth trembled with the force of their fall.
“Mother!” I cried as my kings rushed up the hill to me. “Mother.”
“There was no returning for her,” Bevan said gently. “She made the best choice available to her; she decided to save you.”
“I am so sorry, Alice,” Kyran added as he stroked my hair gently.
“Queen Julia has righted her wrongs,” Jaxon murmured. “She has taken a hero's stand and died with honor.”
“Come here, sweetheart,” Draven pulled me into a hug. “Just breathe. I've got you. We've got you and will never let go.”
The other men closed in around us, and they held me as I mourned the mother I had lost, and found, and lost again.
Chapter Thirteen
Wonderland was restored, the imbalance corrected, and her monarchs were united in marriage.
Our wedding took place in the Wilds, and all of Wonderland attended, even George the Hatter, the Dormouse, and the March Hare. Time had been so impressed with the way I'd handled the Queen of Hearts that he had granted me a favor and released his hold on the Hatter's tea party.
Underland was emptied, and the people returned to their homes above ground. So, my Wild Wonderland was full of life and beautifully vibrant when I strode out onto the main steps of our castle to introduce my people to their ruling deck. The Card Kings and I were joined, at last, uniting Wonderland and all of her magic in the way that had been intended.
I danced in the Wilds ballroom, across a checkered floor, with each of my husbands individually, and then all of them together, in a joyous dance where I was swirled back and forth between them. I drank tea with Barnabus, who I'd sent a special carriage for, and found a spot for the sleepy Dormouse to take a nap. I ate lots of wedding cake and kissed my kings whenever the clocks chimed the hour (a Wonderland tradition) ... which happened more often than hourly thanks to Time himself, who turned out to be a bit of a prankster.
A new retinue of Cheshires stood guard at the palace, commanded by my cousin, Nick. They looked very smart in their uniforms and very proud to have been chosen to serve. Warren White was my new chatelaine, and he bustled about the Wilds, tapping his pocket watch at people, and telling them where they needed to be. In short, the celebration was a success, and in the center of it all stood a massive statue of the Jabberwocky.
