Alice watched with interest one day as Gabriel finally got Maya to talk to him. She could hear the gentle murmur of conversation as the two of them sat by the fire in the back room. Shakra had vacated the area and joined Alice by the front desk, giving them a little privacy.

Alice smiled. “I’m pretty sure that’s a date, Shakra.”

            The white Tiger sniffed. “Good, perhaps he’ll fall for her.”

            “I hope so.” Alice was a little indignant at the thought, and then she felt bad.  She had no claim over Gabriel. Just because she’d been flattered that he’d shown an interest didn’t give her the right to be jealous. She’d made it infinitely clear to him that nothing would happen between them. The subject made her think of Altair, which made her think about pirates and potions.

“Er…Shakra, I have kind of a funny question for you.”

            “Will I think it terribly amusing?”

            “Not that sort of funny, although you actually might laugh at me.” Alice hesitated. “Is it remotely possibly when you’re having a day dream induced by a spell that you could connect to someone else who’s dreaming at the same time?”

            Shakra’s voice did sound slightly amused. “You wouldn’t happen to be talking about the Day dream potions we have here, would you?”

            “Um…maybe,” she admitted sheepishly. “But that’s not possible, right?”

            “It’s hard to say with you. The spell might have been magnified when you drank it, since your system seems to do odd things with magic.”

            Alice blinked at her. “So you’re saying it’s not impossible.”

            “Not likely, but also not impossible.”

            “Oh…” She sat down at the desk. “Okay, not likely.” Were the clothes just a coincidence? What about that stupid smirk he had given her? He was always smirking though. Had that one been different? She couldn’t remember….

            Shakra was studying her with interest. “I take it you had a different experience than you expected.”

            Alice could feel her cheeks beginning to glow. “I’d…rather not discuss it.” She retreated to the back room in a hurry, the sound of Shakra’s low rumbling laughter following her.

            Three weeks passed far faster than any of them had anticipated, and soon they found themselves getting ready for Ambrose’s dreaded dinner party.  Tricia and Lacy came over several hours early, Tricia fussing over her outfit in Alice’s suite where they had gathered to make preparations.

            “How are you settling in?” Lacy was asking Maya.

            “I love it here. Alice says I can work at Threads after she trains me…when I’m ready,” she said shyly.

            “That’s great,” Lacy said, and Alice wondered if there was a hint of jealousy in the girl’s voice.

            “That dress looks great on you, Maya.” Tricia had finally arranged herself to her satisfaction, and turned away from the mirror at last.

            “Thank you,” Maya blushed. “It’s Alice’s - she’s been lending me everything to wear..” She looked over at Alice gratefully. “It’s a wonderful dress, Alice. Thank you.”

            “You’re welcome.” Alice surveyed her charge. The girl looked radiant in the dark blue evening gown.  The funny thing was it had been her grad dress. Alice wasn’t about to wear it again, so she figured someone might as well get some use out of it. She had helped Maya do her hair up in curls and had loaned her a pair of long, silver earrings.

            Alice herself was finally wearing the dress she’d thought she’d never wear. It had been hanging in her closet for so long, just daring her. She had taken it down from the hanger and tried it on that morning. It really did make her look like a Witch. She resolved she would wear it and look confident about it too. She had paired it with a leather crop jacket and black satin gloves and had left her hair loose.

            “Alice you look positively ferocious,” Tricia told her. “I can’t believe that dress. It’s incredible. I love the corset part of it, and the beaded patterns are gorgeous. Oh! Look how it flows when you move! I’m so jealous!”

            “I’m astonished at you, Alice,” Azura teased her. “I would have never guessed something like this was lurking in your closet.”

            “You would be surprised what’s in my closet,” Alice joked.

            “No bodies I hope.” They turned to see Altair at the door, and Alice rolled her eyes at him.

“Don’t you knock?”

            Altair stuck out his fist and knocked on the inside of the door. “Hellooo?” he called out mockingly.

            “Come in, I guess,” she grumbled.

            “Such a warm welcome.” Altair strode into the room and surveyed everyone, his eyes lingering on Alice longer then was polite. “Aren’t we fancy?”

            “So are you.” She observed his suite jacket and tie and smiled.

Gabriel checked his watch. “Okay, it’s nearly six thirty. Is the driver here?”

            “He’s waiting outside.”

            “What this driver must owe you,” Alice muttered as she followed Altair out the door.

The drive to Ambrose’s house was mostly quiet, and Alice made sure to sit next to Maya. The girl was shaking already, and she put a reassuring hand on her arm. Maya grabbed it tightly.

“I know you’re nervous,” Alice whispered. “But I’m not going to let anything happen, okay?”

            Maya looked at her with wide brown eyes filled with unshed tears, and Alice felt a stab of protective anger.

            “I’m okay,” the girl said. “I just won’t like being back in that place.”

            “You’re with me now,” Alice said fiercely, “Not him. And you’re never going back to him again.”

            “Thank you,” Maya whispered, and squeezed her hand tightly.

The drive seemed far shorter than it should have, and for the third time Alice found herself stepping out of the car to the flashing of cameras, Shakra’s reassuring presence beside her as she walked the short distance to the stairs and began the climb towards the great double doors of Ambrose’s manor.

            She had instructed Gabriel to escort Maya up the stairs next. There was no need for her to go alone and be terrified by the vulture-like reporters and photographers.  She kept her hand on Shakra’s back, ignoring the shouts to look this way, and cries of her name.

            “Alice, over here!”

            “Ms. Cunningham…”

            One of the reporters actually started to follow her up the stairs and Shakra turned around and showed her teeth, a low growl starting to rumble in her throat. He fell back hastily.

            “Excuse me, Alice!”

            “Look this way!”

            “Ms. Cunningham, is it true you and Ambrose are involved?”

            Alice’s foot wavered over the top stair.

            “Keep going, child,” Shakra urged.

            Before she could say anything, the doors swung open and Alice hurried into the sanctuary of the house. I can’t believe the crap they make up for their magazines.

            The rest of the group joined her inside, and the butler lead them up the stairs and rapped on the doors of the ballroom. They slowly opened, and Alice peered past them to see what the ballroom looked like this time. There were several long tables in the center of the tile laden with every sort of food imaginable. Even where they stood at the top of the stairs, they could make out  large roasted chickens, and platters  of ham and fish. On the center table was a huge roasted pig with an apple in its mouth.  There were heaps of fruit on silver platters, and giant plates of salads, potatoes and beans. Huge baskets of steaming rolls sat at each table, along with large decorative gravy boats. The tables fairly groaned under the weight of their load, and Alice had to struggle to keep the shock from her face. She had never seen so much food in one place in all her life! It smelled amazing, making her mouth water, and behind her Gabriel let out a sigh of longing.

            They came down the stairs one at a time. There didn’t seem to be any particular order to where people sat; some mingled, chatting to one another, but most of the guests sat down anywhere they liked.  They picked a table at random and seated themselves. She was particularly pleased to sit away from the head table, as she knew that Ambrose and his company would be there. They sat and chatted quietly, watching as more guests entered the great double doors and come down the stairs to the ballroom. At last the side doors opened and Ambrose and his companions swept in like a company of well-dressed bats.  Most of them wore dark suits and dresses; Ambrose himself wore a black suite with a crimson tie and silk pocket square.  They converged on the head table, and Ambrose clapped his hands for attention, clearing his throat.

            “Friends,” he intoned dramatically. The ballroom fell silent and the lights dimmed.  A number of tall red candles on the table suddenly sprang to light creating an eerie, beautiful glow.  Alice spotted a tall, pale old man at the back of the room as he was bringing his hand down from above his head, releasing a colourful thread.  There’s the real Wizard of Oz, working the strings behind the curtain.  The frail old man pulled another thread, and the fireplace at the far end of the ballroom was suddenly alight, flames springing from the logs that lay in the iron cradle.  The guests murmured appreciatively.

             Ambrose said grandly, “Thank you all for coming. I hope you will forgive the informal spread, and please, do not stand on occasion. Help yourselves to anything you can reach, and if you cannot reach it, ask your neighbour to pass it over.” There were a few soft chuckles as Ambrose continued, “Enjoy. Dessert will be served afterwards in the parlour, where you will be able to mingle with everyone.” He sat down, and after a few hesitant seconds people began to pile their plates high with food.

            “Informal, hah,” Gabriel muttered.  He reached out and snagged a piece of chicken as the plate was passed down. “This is the most formal informal dinner I’ve ever been too.”

            “I think he means it’s not being served to us in courses.” Alice speared a piece of chicken with her fork as the plate was passed by her.

            Nobody said much as they ate.   Servants in white aprons came to clear away the empty platters that remained.   Ambrose stood and made the announcement that they may follow him into the parlour next door, where tea, coffee, wine and dessert would be served.

            “I suppose we must,” murmured Alice. She glanced at Maya, who was twisting the cloth napkin between her fingers, gazing about fearfully.

            She stood, and they followed the rest of the crowd as they trickled out past a set of doors at the back of the ballroom entering another huge room, nearly as decorative as the ballroom. It had marble floors and a series of large matching Persian rugs. There were chaise lounges, couches and uncomfortable looking armchairs placed in groups all around the room. The room was set up to resemble an old fashioned smoking parlour; however, this one fit several hundred people. There were tables along the walls that held platters of miniature chocolate cakes with caramel on top, plates piled high with cheesecake decorated with fruit, trays of delicate looking sweets, bowls of trifle, and mountains of creampuffs drizzled with chocolate.  

            “Mm…” Lacy said, “I am going straight for those cream puffs.”

            “If you don’t watch yourself, you’re going to end up shaped like one,” Tricia told her friend unkindly. Alice smiled, grateful for the comic relief her companions provided. She had a feeling this was going to be a very long night indeed. She could feel Maya pressing up against her, clearly not at ease being there. The guests began to settle into their surroundings, piling their plates high with desserts, and discovering the wine, which apparently had a separate table at the other end of the room.  Gradually Ambrose made his way over to them, much expected but still nerve wracking. Alice gave him a polite nod, trying to shove the butterflies down as he raised his wine glass in greeting.

“Alice, my dear! So glad you made it and brought your little pet with you! My, doesn’t she look ravishing. It truly tears at my heart to have let her go.” He looked Maya up and down and some dark emotion shadowed his face. The girl shrank back under his scrutiny, looking as though she’d found herself back in some familiar nightmare.

            She noticed Gabriel positioned himself protectively in front of Maya. Good.

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