Chapter 1.2   Arguments ,Banquets  and  Rebellion

The cream double doors slammed shut as I exhaled a great breathe.Pressing my back against it ,after White's lecture I stormed off and ran.I lost clutches of the faeries as I hid,we played an unplanned game of Hide and go Seek , rendered myself invisible and I lost them.It was fun as a childish giggle escaped my lips as I glamoured myself into flowers,grases and bushes or even the garden sprites or the maids to fuck with them further.

My two sides,fae and human collided with each other.My fae side wanted to disobey White but my human side understands what's at stake.But we eventually come to an agreement.My faes devious laugh and spiny teeth and my human soft smile and warm brown eyes.We wanted to be free at least for one night.My fae side clapped and flew around with a grin and my humans side flashed a thumbs up.

I was in Whites study and it was a Victorian with old creme walls.Above his oak chair was a large painted portrait with heavy gold frames but he was in human form dressed in blue tailcoat and waistcoat and paired with his iconic pocket watch.He looked like an old man with white moustache.He looked like a furry white beast with long furry ears and covered in wrinkles.

White had an interesting study.It was off white and cream with wooden walls ,a fireplace and it was circular with floor to ceiling windows and the floor with light hardwood.Carpets and a glowing lamp fixed on his chocolate coloured desk.It felt modern with the pen holders and davenport.The room wasn't warm and cosy like a cup of hot cocoa instead it was cold coffee as cold air filtered in.A shudder ran through my spine as I spotted the open windows.

No wonder.I thought.It's freezing.

I scrambled around his desk as legal lettering on a fountain pen and stacks of papers like bills ,expenses , his income and official documentation.Spread haphazardly on the desk were some old newspapers that dated from 1929 and an eyeglass.

In the white drawers hidden in the hollow walls.I tapped my fist on it as I felt the light airy sounds.Jackpot.I dropped to a crouch and yanked it open as I frantically searched for tiny frames and relics such as clockwork.Next to the near empty walls was a huge slim bookshelf filled with thin and thick books bound in leather.

At the lower wall was a small ajar cabinet.I knocked on the hollow thing and pressed my ear on it.I was finally alone and I almost couldn't contain my giddiness and happiness from exploding. I rose from my crouch and pressed my back on the walls as a huge gust of wind blew in.

An excited giggle escaped my lips as I looked down past the floor to ceiling windows.Instead there was no glass.Walter hated glass so he removed it or maybe he wanted the Victorian decor vibe.I peeked past the window two stories above of the Victorian mansion where I locked eyes with an odd stranger.Blinking,I peered past the yellow cobblestone and the woods which encircled from beyond the house.He stood on the cobble stoned ground and ringed around him was a rose bush and one in the shape of a knight pawn.Weridly ,were he stood the floor sprouted a patch of emerald grass.

The boy was an actual fae,an Unseelie .He was far unusual than other folk.He had a mane of ocean hair which went passed his shoulders like a waterfall and curled into mist.It also blew around like a swirl of mist.And weirdly ,in his hair had moss that swarm around.He stood tall and regal with squared shoulders.His skin was the colour of milk.His obsidian armour hugged his slim but lithe frame.The shoulder blades were peppered with bright blue and green barnacles.

Curiosity overtook me and I leaned forward with wide eyes as I watched him obvious that my mouth was agape.He caught my gaze and his eyes,oh his eyes the colour of the sky which swirled like an ocean.His pale lips pulled into a smirk which exposed his canines.

Definitely not from round here.Silver climbed my neck as an urge to cower from the strange creature.Was he a Summer fae ?No,they had a more summary and sweet vibe.I raised my white blonde eyebrows in confusion.His face was angler and sharp like a feline.A trait shared among fae. Long Pointed ears peaked from the living curtains of his hair.Sea fae or one from the Blue Boundary.So many questions overtook my mind in a wild hurricane.

Unseelie :Wild and untamed.Cruel ,wild and unpredictable.

Dangerous.

Seductive.

"Well,good day."I shouted so loud the snow seemed to halt before it showered."Are you new ?I have never seen the likes of you around here?"

But then again.All fae were cruel in their own ways maybe we were tamed.

An odd hunger twisted my stomach and my blood boiled.My fae side was curious and wanted—demanded to know more about those lands.Where rules and law did not exist and where humans—poor and tired where dragged into a life of perial,pleasure,pain and fun.Immortiality.My eyes twinkled.

He waved elegantly like a prince or a member of Court with a silk gloved hand .More silver climbed onto my neck as I hid under the table to recollect my stupid actions.

What are you doing?I childed to myself.Get yourself together.

Stupidly enough,he was busy.In big trouble if you would do.A giant orc loomed over him at least nine feet.I crawled out of my hiding place and spared a glance at the cabinet feeling foolish for ignoring the handsome and feral creature.The cabinet spar up a crumpled ball of paper and other unfurled ones.I unwrapped the crumpled ball as a smile curled my lips.

Jackpot.

I smoothed the paper and thanked the golden embroidered paper and read the elegant printed words.Time was odd in Underland.The Dark faes were active when the sun dips.Our year was stagnant and stayed in the same century.Currently,it was the year 1930. I vividly remembered the younger me when she first heard about the party.

A younger me eagerly flew around the house and caused havoc.My oddly large wings blew things and scared others away and would also dissolve into a fit of laughter.Render herself invisible or spook others.I enjoyed it immersely.I flapped my wings and and destroyed things I touched with a giggle.Tinted noses of monster and fae and they giggled.She puffed her skirts,stenched her milky stockings and wiggled her ballet shoes.Water snaked down the hallway as the carpet trickled her toes ,thick with blood.

White was red-faced as he clenched the invitation between his white hairy peach hands."How dare those insolent faes invite a child?A literal child to a disgusting party."White howeled ,his voice high with rage.He lumbered around and threw his hands." 'Our distinguished guest would be admired'.How dare they?That is unacceptable,prosperous and disgusting.A child.Guest my foot."His cheeks puffed and his eyes ,wild and bloodshot with furry.

I landed silently in front of him in his fit of rage as I watched him with curious eyes watch his dramatic movement with child-like amusement.

I grinned,"Did you say party?"I leaned forward and jumped up and down like a balloon."Can I go ?"He froze, whirled at me and stared at me with total disgust.

"You,"He began, an eye twitched."Go to a party.Organised by Dark Faes.You kid yourself.Not now.Not then.Never.Not on my watch."He yelled ,arms spread like a crab.He muttered curses about insolent faes,children and how immoral and disgusting they are.He crumpled the paper ,threw it over his shoulder then he stormed off.Maids trickled into the grand hall as the maids horrified and circled me and the others went to consult Whites outburst.

My eyes were glossy with unshed tears.I cocked my head ,clasped my fingers and muttered,"Weird."I shrugged,fixed my black bow and skipped down the hall but then it popped and vanished.

Now ,eight years passed,I now understood his outburst but at that time.I was a minor.A child.Now,I had the paper in my hands and I compared all the previous dates from older invites sent from over the years.The theme was constant and unchanging.Unity and panthership.It was still known as the party of the Red Beetle and the White Flower.To organise friendship and union between one of the biggest boundaries in the whole of Underland due to our pained past.By then,the paper was clutched to my chest as I released a dreamy sigh.

Outside ,the fae boy boy was in the middle of an argument.Their loud shouts and insults wrafted into the air and caused the air to tense.It shattered me out of my reverie as I released a heavy sigh and glided towards the window.I spotted the giant orc in which he had the mishap with.She was tall,imposing and muscular red brown skin.Scales peppered all over her body.She bent her wide body at waist to his height and he was tall himself.Far taller than I.Her pale blue dress and frilly as it danced in the calm ,cold breeze.Tears brimmed in her eyes.

"How dare you ask me to kiss you?"The boy–or the man asked with a disgusted sneer.Faes were ageless creatures and looks could be deceiving or even glamoured.He raked her up and down with look of pure digust.My heart ache towards the poor orc girl but hey,faes were cruel ones.The initial fascination I had from him dissolved.His face glistened sliver as if dipped in a coat of clear liquid.

Her ram horns curled around her meaty face.he snapped his head away ,paced in a circle and scrowled deeply.He bared his teeth at her and hissed,"I'll kiss you when pigs fly ,when the ocean dries up or the day the sun explodes."Each word was like a bullet and it broke the girls shell like a clay pot.He glared at her and continued to crush her further like dirt under his shoes.His arrogance and anger aimed at the poor orc."You insolent poor thing.Me ,kiss the likes of you. You are poor and disgusting.Do you not have a mirror to glance at yourself."

The air was charged with electricity and the place began to waver like heatwave.Anger boiled in my veins as I leaned forward.A dry laugh escaped my lips as I waved elegantly at the lover's quarrel which happened before me.

What an asshole.

"Be careful what you wish for."I warned ,my lips curled into a dangerous grin..

"You,"The boy bellowed,his lips curled into a sneer ,eyes flashed like a lapis lazuli.I threw my head back and cackled.I flashed a grin and exposed my canines."In the flesh."I responded.

"You spawn from the depths of Hell and disapper.How dare you?"He snapped ,hands pointed to me.His eyes rolled like waves in a raging storm.

Then a small hog ,hairy and pink flew in a wide arch and oinked in the air.

The boy's eyes widened and mouth went slack.His scrowel melted into surprise ,shock and horror.I snickered so hard.

"What the–''The boy stammered ,body limping with confusion.I couldn't contain the laughter which grew inside me.

"Welcome to Wonderland.The world of crazy"I sang."Its even crazier than Faerieland.Go on.Kiss the orc.Do it with togue.I wanna watch."I smiled and covered my mouth with hand.the guy slowly swivelled towards the girl with wide eyes and hunched like a leaf heavy with water.

"Blah."He was forced out.

The boy held his stance and watched the girl as if he wanted to puke or faint or both.Either way I opted to watch.He begged then I turned away and laughed till my stomach lurched.He still watched her with droopy eyes and almost sagged on the floor.

My laughter echoed all throughout the room but It faltered when I returned to the gloomy study of Walter the White.My caretaker and guardian after my parents death.My eyes darted to the old portrait of White as milky tears brimmed.My lip trembled as I hastily wiped it.

Oh ,Alice.You musn't cry.You shan't not do that.You are not a mere babe.I chided to myself as I took a deep breath and forced a smile.

Good girl.

I beamed.It was stretched over my face as I caught the obsidian eyes of Walter and gulped.His face set and depressed and disapproving.I snapped my head and focused on my task.

You must not falter.You have a task at the hand.

I glided towards White's desk and scrunched my face at the mess of haphazard pens,inks and quills.I lifted my chin and played with the trinkets of his old watches,small and loose with spring.I brushed them aside and sat on his desk and smoothed out the paper as a childish giggle escaped me and my feet stomped.

Yes,freedom was at our fingertips.We could almost taste it.My sides clashed in a delight bubble and almost lurched out of my body as goosebumps rose on my skin.I was suspended in the air with my wings spread and nose at the grand chagldeier.Mu temperature rose as one eye turned deep brown–my human side and other glowed a bright green–mz fae side.There were eager–to eager.

I flapped my wings and slowly landed on the heavy chair with a sigh as my dress fell on me on a heap.I blew a strand of a hair.I leaned forward as my eyes scanned the words.My heart leaped with joy.

Dear the Angel,our most distinguished guest.It would be an honour and such a pleasure if you would make time and come to the annual Banquet of the White Flower and the Red Beetle.

Date:The third week of the ninth month of 1930 at when humans slumber.

Attire :Formal ,semi formal but must show rank.

Please sign your initials.Plus one is an option.

My excitement bubbled in my veins as I kicked my legs and squealed.I pressed the already crumpled sheet to my chest. My fingers,pale and slender searched White messy desk till I found his fountain pen ,clicked and wote my title and scribbled on it.Quickly,a warm violet light emitted as it swallowed the ink.A gasp escaped my lips as I pressed my face on it.

That was quick.

Each year ,it was constant.It was linear and unhanging.We followed the months exactly but we were stuck in the past and thrived in the past.Time was slower than molasses on a winter day here but others such as Wanderers said otherwise.

With a satisfied sigh ,I leaned back and sank on his oddly modernised chair.I snapped my head left and right ,turned my ears to the sound.The rippling of the wind in tree ,the dae of the leaves and flowers.the footsteps that crushed under the powerdry snow and the dry leaves and twigs.The loud chatter and laughter of everyone.I had to make sure that Whites or his advisors were not lingered around.My eyes landed on the double doors all embroidered with designs of him.His ears and watch and a barrows.I kept my breathe and strained my sight as the slaps of footsteps.The grand windows of the peach sunlight that streaked around.

I returned back to myself with a gasp.

I wrapped it into a ball then shoved it into my leather black bodice and adjusted it.No one would ever think twice to look there.

My eyes darted around the room till it landed on a peg ,an elegantly curved one and on it draped a heavy black cloak.

Jackpot.

Walter didn't need to know about my whereabouts, shall we?