Madly yours

Alice

I sit by the window near the balcony, the soft evening breeze curling around me like a whisper from another world. My book lies open in my lap, but the words blur together, forgotten as my mind drifts beyond the pages. The golden glow of twilight dances across the sky, and the rhythmic rustling of leaves outside lulls me into a dream, one that feels more like a memory than mere imagination.

I am running.

The feeling is exhilarating yet haunting, like chasing something just beyond my grasp. A hand is clasped tightly around mine, warm and familiar, guiding me through an enchanted forest brimming with life. Fairies flit between the towering trees, their wings shimmering like fractured starlight. Cats with glowing eyes weave through the underbrush, their fur changing colors with every step. Leaves swirl in the air, shifting hues of deep crimson, brilliant gold, and iridescent blue. Magic pulses in the very soil beneath my feet, making every breath feel electric.

I try to see his face, the boy whose hand holds mine but my vision refuses to clear. It’s as though something, or someone, is keeping me from remembering. Still, I can feel his presence, warm and reassuring. His smile reaches me even through the haze, and his voice carries a strange weight, heavy with unspoken words.

“Don’t forget me, Alice. No matter what happens, okay?” His voice is soft but urgent, threading through my heart like a plea.

A younger version of myself responds, her voice bright with innocence but laced with determination. “Okay, Hatter! I’ll never forget you! Even if someone takes my memory away, I’ll always remember you!”

His grip tightens for just a moment, as if he’s afraid to let go, and then….

I wake with a start.

The book in my lap slips to the floor, the whisper of its pages barely audible over the pounding of my heart. My hands tremble as I press them to my chest, trying to hold onto the lingering warmth of the dream before it vanishes completely.

Hatter.

The name lingers in my mind, familiar yet foreign, like an old melody I once knew by heart but can no longer hum. Why does it feel so important? Why does it feel like I’ve lost something… someone?

The wind picks up outside, stirring the sheer curtains and sending a shiver down my spine. I close my eyes, willing myself to remember, to piece together the fragments of a memory that refuses to stay whole.

But all that remains is the echo of a boy’s voice, a distant promise slipping through my fingers like sand.

“Don’t forget me.”

I pick up my book and rub my eyes, exhaustion clinging to me like a ghost. A sharp knock cuts through the silence, jolting me from my haze. I take a deep breath, closing my book with a dull thud.

“Come in.”

The door creaks open, and my mother steps inside, draped in a long, silky blue dress. She moves with the grace of someone who commands every room she enters, her presence both comforting and suffocating.

“Fell asleep reading?” she muses, amusement dancing in her voice.

I sigh, wiping the drool from my lip. “Yeah, I did. It was a weird dream... I was running through a magic forest. Does one really exist, or was it just a dream?”

She laughs, a sound that feels hollow. “There’s no magic here, Alice. Magic is a fantasy of our dreams.”

I want to argue, to tell her that it felt real, that something about it lingered even after waking. But I don’t. I just watch as she sits on my bed, patting the space beside her. There’s something in her eyes, something serious, almost hesitant. A warning before the storm.

I walk over and sit next to her, the air between us heavy, suffocating.

Then she speaks.

“Alice, you are to be married to a nobleman.”

My entire body tenses. The words strike like ice against my skin, sending a shiver of dread through me. My mind races, grasping at denial, at some misunderstanding.

“What nobleman?” My voice is tight, forced.

She smiles, but there’s no warmth in it. “Rin Fray.”

I laugh. A sharp, bitter sound. “No. Just No. First, I don’t know him well enough to even consider a romance, let alone marriage. Second, he’s a stuck-up prick who treats women like possessions, not people. He doesn’t love, he owns. And I refuse to be owned.”

My mother laughs again, but this time, it’s darker….A warning.

“Alice, you have no choice in this. It’s already been arranged. The wedding will happen. You will marry him.”

Anger coils in my chest, burning, suffocating, but before I can spit out the venom rising in my throat, she speaks again.

“And you will not embarrass this family. You are of age to marry, and your place is beside a nobleman. You are a princess, Alice. You will marry Rin.”

I scoff, my hands curling into fists at my sides. “So, in other words, my heart means nothing to you. Only our status, only appearances for the other royal families. Am I right… Mother?”

Her eyes widen slightly, but she recovers quickly. Her voice softens, as if she’s trying to ease the sting.

“Alice… If it were up to me, I’d tell you to find that soulmate you dream of. Maybe he exists. But this isn’t just my decision. Your father and I both agreed.”

She hesitates, her fingers tightening in the folds of her dress, as if grasping for the right words.

“Alice, you spend most of your time in those fantasy books. When you’re not reading, you’re with the other royals, but you never form real connections. It’s as if… as if you have no interest in noblemen at all. Only your books. Only the girls. So this is what we decided. I’m sorry.”

The breath leaves my lungs in a sharp, bitter laugh. “Sure you are. Now leave me to my own.”

She exhales, lingering for a moment as if waiting for me to break, to beg. I don’t.

Without another word, she turns and leaves, the door clicking shut behind her.

And I am alone.

Trapped in a gilded cage, with no key in sight.

I look out the window and see a bunny staring at me, its small nose twitching as if urging me to follow. There’s something almost knowing in its gaze, something more than just an ordinary animal. I glance back at my bedroom door, then at the bunny again. My thoughts swirl like a storm, crashing into each other.

“Should I follow that bunny… or stay here and be forced to marry that prick, Rin?”

My mind screams the truth I’ve been trying to ignore. If I stay, I’ll be shackled to a man who sees women as possessions, nothing more than decorations in his grandiose life. Or…

The other thought grows louder, more tempting. “Or I can follow this bunny into the unknown and maybe just maybe find the key to my cage.”

A sigh escapes my lips as I flop onto my bed, staring at the ceiling. The weight of duty, of expectation, presses down on me, suffocating. But then, a spark ignites within me a thrill, an undeniable excitement that curls at the edges of my lips.

I push myself up, shaking off the hesitation. “I’m going after the bunny. That much is obvious.”

Determination sets in as I cross my room and fling open my wardrobe. My fingers skim past the usual dresses until they land on the one...

A gown woven from the night sky itself. Deep sapphire, shimmering with a thousand tiny stars that catch the light like celestial fireflies. The voluminous skirt cascades like an ocean at midnight, capturing the very essence of a dream. A sheer cape drapes over the shoulders, whispering against my skin like a lover’s touch. Intricate beading glimmers with each movement, as if enchanted, holding secrets of the cosmos within each tiny fleck of light.

This is no mere dress. This is a promise, a declaration.

I slip into it, feeling the fabric mold to my curves, soft and weightless, like I was meant to wear it. If I’m going to escape, I’ll do it in style. I strap on a pair of blue platform heels, the cool leather grounding me in reality. My heart pounds as I step onto the balcony, feeling the wind kiss my skin.

One last glance at the world I’m leaving behind, then I turn, moving with quiet urgency toward my bedroom door. I crack it open, peering into the dimly lit hallway. Empty.

With a deep breath, I slip out, my heels clicking softly against the cold stone floor. Every shadow feels like a pair of watching eyes. Every distant creak of the estate sends a shiver down my spine. But I press forward, descending the grand staircase as silently as a ghost.

At the bottom, tucked away in the darkness, I find it, a wooden door I’ve seen servants disappear behind a hundred times.

A smile tugs at my lips.

I push it open and step inside, shutting it swiftly behind me. The hallway is narrow and pitch-black, the air thick with dust and forgotten whispers. My pulse thrums in my ears as I move forward, running my fingers along the wall until my eyes catch a faint glow seeping from beneath another door.

I push it open.

A rush of wind greets me, fresh and cool against my skin. The night is alive with the scent of earth and rain, and there...

The bunny.

Waiting. Watching.

The moment my eyes meet its deep, endless gaze, it turns, hopping away into the darkness.

I follow.

The world shifts around me as I run, my dress flowing behind me like liquid starlight. The grass is damp beneath my feet, the air electric with something I can’t name. The bunny moves swiftly, its small form darting between trees and overgrown paths, leading me deeper into the unknown.

Then, it stops.

Right in front of a wall of thick bushes.

My breath comes in uneven gasps as I slow, confusion knitting my brows together. “Where did you take me?” I murmur, stepping closer.

And then….

The bunny vanishes.

I blink. Once. Twice.

Gone.

A chill crawls down my spine as I lift my gaze, scanning the area. My heart stutters.

Before me stands a tree.

Not just any tree…..

The tree.

A gasp leaves my lips as recognition washes over me, the memories crashing in like waves.

“This… this is the tree I played under as a child,” I whisper, my fingers trembling as I reach out to touch the rough bark. My secret place. My sanctuary. The place where I read fairy tales and dreamed of escaping.

Why would my freedom lead me here?

The wind whispers through the leaves, as if carrying the answer, just out of reach.

And deep within me, something stirs.

A forgotten truth. A memory waiting to be unlocked.

The key to my cage isn’t just escape it’s remembering what I lost.

And I intend to find out what that is.

I walk toward the tree, my breath shallow, my pulse a quiet thunder in my ears. Something about this place feels different like a dream I can’t quite remember. And then I see him.

A man in a top hat, his blue hair a cascade of midnight waves, his suit crisp yet slightly disheveled, as if he’s been lost in sleep for centuries. He rests against the tree, his chest rising and falling in a peaceful rhythm. But it’s not his attire that captures me. It’s him, his very presence, familiar yet foreign, like a forgotten melody dancing at the edges of my memory.

I step closer, crouching down to his level, my curiosity clawing at my insides. My hand twitches, wanting to reach out, to confirm he’s real, but before I can decide, his eyes flutter open.

Golden. Streaked with crimson flecks that shimmer in the moonlight.

He smiles, slow and knowing, as if he’s been expecting me.

“Hello,” he drawls, voice smooth as velvet, laced with something dark. “Is there a reason you’re interrupting my sleep?”

My breath catches. Something about his gaze makes my skin tingle, my stomach twist.

“I…I was following a rabbit,” I admit, my voice barely above a whisper. “But it disappeared… into thin air.”

His smile falters for the briefest moment, his golden eyes darkening with something unreadable.

“Hm,” he muses, tilting his head. “And why, dear Alice, did you follow it? Isn’t your royal life good enough for you?”

I sink down against the tree beside him, my fingers curling against the cool grass. The words burn on my tongue, the truth I’ve been too afraid to say aloud.

“No,” I murmur. “I want out. They’re trying to force me into a marriage with someone I don’t know, someone who treats women like possessions, not people.”

Silence stretches between us. Then, he exhales a quiet chuckle, shaking his head as if he already knew.

“And so you followed the bunny, hoping it would lead you to freedom?” he guesses, amusement curling at the edges of his voice.

I turn to him, lips twitching into a faint smile. “Yeah… something like that.”

He watches me, his gaze unreadable, deep and full of secrets. “And what should I call you?” I ask.

His smirk is slow, deliberate. “That depends.”

I narrow my eyes. “Depends on what?”

“On what it is you truly want.”

His words slither into my mind, wrapping around my thoughts like vines. He’s toying with me, but there’s something in his voice something dangerous, something tempting. My eyes trail over him, over the sharp angles of his face, the way his suit fits against his body, the way his presence feels like a whispered promise of something more.

I swallow. “What do you mean?”

He laughs, a dark, rich sound that sends shivers down my spine. “You’ll figure it out.”

Reaching into his hat, he pulls out a small card and hands it to me. I turn it over, my heart stuttering as I take in the single image a top hat.

He stands, towering over me, and before I can react, he leans in, his breath ghosting against my ear.

“When you decide what you truly desire, I’ll be here.”

His lips barely brush against my skin as he whispers, “You’ve forgotten, Alice. But don’t worry… you’ll remember soon.”

And then…

He’s gone.

Vanished like a phantom in the night.

I press my back against the tree, my heart hammering against my ribs. My fingers tighten around the card as confusion swirls in my mind, mingling with something deeper something dangerous.

What’s wrong with me? Why couldn’t I answer him? Why did I hesitate? Was it because he was a stranger, or because….

Because he didn’t feel like a stranger at all?

I exhale shakily and push myself up, my legs unsteady as I make my way back to the castle.

Once inside, I slip out of my dress, carefully hanging it up before changing into my nightgown. The silk sheets feel cold against my skin as I curl beneath them, my mind a tangled mess of thoughts, memories just out of reach.

As my eyes flutter shut, I clutch the card against my chest.

Who was he? And why… why did it feel like I already knew?

Damon

I slip away from Alice, watching her retreat into the castle. A sigh escapes my lips as I turn to find John, who still looks like a damn rabbit. Annoyance flickers through me.

“John, please turn back,” I mutter.

With a nod, his form shifts, stretching and twisting until he stands before me as a human once more. He adjusts his coat and looks at me with a puzzled expression.

“Why did you have me lure her out, my lord? After all this time?” His voice holds an edge of curiosity and hesitation.

I lean against the tree, the bark rough against my palm. “Because the cap on her memories is nearly off,” I admit, my voice softer than I intend. “And I want her to be mine. But I want her to choose me. She’s old enough now.”

John’s brow furrows. “Old enough for what, sir?”

“To be mine.”

I don’t miss the flicker of unease in his eyes.

Alice disappears into the castle, and a small, satisfied smile plays at my lips. I glance at John. “Come on, let’s return to Wonderland.”

He hesitates, his expression darkening. “Your mother knows, doesn’t she?”

My jaw tightens. “She does, doesn’t she?” I sigh, rubbing the back of my neck. “Of course she does.”

John exhales slowly. “Yes, my lord. But she’s more curious than disapproving. She wants to know why, after all these years, you’re pursuing Alice especially after having her memories wiped.”

I close my eyes, inhaling deeply. “Because she saw my fangs,” I murmur. “I almost bit her before she was ready. She was only ten… and I wasn’t much older. But young vampire children, our senses are worse than adults. We struggle to control the hunger. My mother suggested we erase her memory of it. It was safer that way.”

I exhale sharply, my frustration mounting. “But something always felt off. That’s why I kept watching over her. And now they’re forcing her into marriage. Why?”

John remains silent, offering no answers, only quiet contemplation.

I push off the tree, slipping into the shadows before leaping into the hollow trunk. The sensation of Wonderland’s magic pulls at me, twisting reality around me until I land softly within my world.

My cabin sits near the way back to the surface, nestled in the eerie glow of Wonderland’s unnatural twilight. John lingers by the entrance, but I dismiss him with a nod.

“Tell my mother I need more time,” I say. “Something is stirring in the surface kingdom. Something is happening to Alice.”

He hesitates but eventually bows his head. “As you wish.”

Once alone, I step inside and let out a slow breath. My gaze falls upon the worn book on my table. I pick it up, flipping through pages filled with pictures of me and Alice. Of us as children, before everything changed.

My fingers trace the edges of a photo, and I whisper, “You will be mine. You promised me, Alice. When the time was right, you would choose me.”

But would she?

John’s words echo in my mind; Why after all this time?

Why do I want to find her? Is it truly to make her mine, or is there something more?

I lean back in my chair, exhaling slowly. The answer should be simple. But it isn’t.

I push the thoughts away, retreating to my bed. As I pull the covers over me, my lips curve into a smirk. It doesn’t matter. She looked at me tonight, half a stranger, but half as if she knew me. Her memories are returning. Slowly, perhaps like whispers in her dreams, but they are there.

And when she is mine, I will give them all back to her.

Sleep comes quickly, but morning arrives just as fast.

I rise, discarding my nightclothes in favor of a leather jacket and jeans. My top hat sits on the desk, a relic of the past. I don’t need to wear it. But I like to hold it.

Alice gave it to me.

Alice gave me my name. Hatter.

A dark chuckle escapes my lips as I run my fingers over the brim.

Outside, John stands in his human form, waiting.

“Do you need me today, my lord?”

“No.” I smirk, setting the hat on my head. “She’ll come to me on her own.”

I make my way to the entrance between Wonderland and the surface, stepping through the veil of magic. The sensation of movement pulls at me before I emerge at the base of the tree, the soft earth cool beneath my hands.

I sit there for a moment, grounding myself, forcing my nerves to settle.

Then, I stand.

The sight before me makes my blood boil.

The wedding preparations are underway. Flowers, silks, arrangements everything set for a day that should never come to pass. My jaw tightens as I take in the scene. And then I see her.

Alice.

She wears a gown of pale lavender, flowing behind her like liquid moonlight. The man beside her,Rin Fray speaks, but she barely acknowledges him. Her eyes are distant, her body tense.

She looks trapped. Caged. Desperate for an escape.

And then….

Her gaze shifts.

She sees me.

My breath stills. The world narrows to just us.

I drop my hat onto the ground in front of the tree and slip behind it, heart pounding in anticipation.

Let’s see what you do now, Alice.

I watch her, then see her dismiss Rin and run to the hat. I wait until she picks it up. She looks at it and softly speaks, “This hat... I remember it from my dream. I gave it to a boy, but I can’t remember his face nor his name. Only one name keeps popping into my dreams….Hatter.”

I move forward to where she stands and say, “Hatter is a name they call me because of you, Alice.”

Her eyes lock onto mine. “Wait... do you mean my dreams are memories? Then why doesn’t my mother know of this?”

I lean against the tree. “Because when you were a child, every time you got upset from the royals picking on you for being different, you would run here, and I’d take you with me. There’s a lot to explain, but long story short you gave me that hat and the name Hatter. But enough of the past. Why did you leave the guy just to pick up my hat? Are you here to return the card you have on you?”

She looks down at her hand and smiles. “I’ve come to ask you for a favor... but first, what do you want me to call you?”

I laugh. “You pick. You can call me Hatter or Damon, but Damon is my real name. Only a few call me that. Everyone else calls me Hatter after the nickname you gave me.”

She smiles. “Okay, Damon. I’ll call you that, and maybe later, I’ll use the nickname Hatter. Okay?”

I chuckle. “Okay, Alice. What is it you want?”

She looks serious, but damn, she is gorgeous in that purple gown. Then she speaks. “Help me escape this wedding.”

I lean forward slightly as she continues. “Take me anywhere but here.”

I step closer, pinning her to the tree, lifting her chin so her eyes meet mine. I brush my fingers across her skin and whisper, “Anywhere?”

Her eyes search mine as she answers, “Yes. Anywhere but here.”

I smirk, leaning even closer, our noses nearly touching as I rest my forehead against hers. “Even if it means losing yourself to Wonderland?”

I watch her as she thinks over my words. I step back, giving her space. Then, without hesitation, she speaks. “Anywhere, Damon. I don’t care what that place does to me in the process. Even if I lose my mind, I’d rather lose it than be forced to love someone who only sees me as a possession. I know there’s more out there love, magic, and wonders I’ve only read about in books or seen in my dreams. Just take me away from this place. Please, Damon. Please, Hatter.”

My breath catches. Her words echo in my mind. “Please, Hatter.”

Then I’m thrust into a memory…

My mother is holding Alice down. She had seen my fangs. Alice is crying, her voice desperate. “Please, Damon! Please, Hatter! Don’t take my memories away! This place means everything to me. It’s where I belong. Please, don’t make me forget, Hatter!”

A younger version of myself kisses her forehead and whispers, “It’s only temporary, Alice. When you’re older, you will remember me again, and I’ll find you. But don’t forget my name... or me... fully, Alice.”

I’m snapped out of my memory by Alice shaking me. “Damon! Hatter! Are you there?”

I shake my head, regaining my focus, and pull her close into my arms. “Okay, I’ll help you, Alice. But it will be tricky. Can you promise to go through with everything until they ask if anyone opposes the wedding? Is that okay with you?”

She looks back at me and smiles. “As long as you don’t forget to help me escape! What is the plan, anyway?”

I grin. “Simple. When they ask if anyone objects to the marriage, I’ll show up at your side and take you away to Wonderland.”

Her eyes widen. “Wait... that’s your plan? To just pick me up in your arms and take me to Wonderland? A place that’s been a legend, that no one has been able to find? And what if they follow us? Won’t they just get into wherever you’re trying to take me?”

I press her back against the tree, my fingers grazing her chin as I whisper, “They can try to follow, but without permission to enter, they’ll lose their minds. Wonderland will twist them, unravel them, and leave nothing behind but whispers in the wind. But you…” I drag my knuckles gently along her jaw, locking eyes with her “you will be safe, as long as you stay close to me. Do you understand?”

She nods, her breath shaky, but there’s something else in her expression, trust. A dangerous thing to give someone like me. But I’ll protect it. Protect her.

Her gaze shifts past me, and I follow her line of sight. Rin is searching for her, his arrogant posture rigid as he scans the area. Alice straightens, forcing a smile. “Okay. The wedding is in a week. Please don’t forget, Damon.”

Forget? As if I could.

I smirk, reaching for my hat. Before placing it back on my head, I tilt forward, brushing a soft kiss against her cheek. Her skin is warm beneath my lips, and I linger a second too long, inhaling her scent floral, with a trace of something deeper, something that calls to me like a distant memory just out of reach.

I pull back, my voice a low murmur. “I’d never forget anything. Especially when it comes to you, Alice.”

Her breath hitches, and for the briefest moment, I see a flicker of something in her eyes. Recognition? Longing? I can’t be sure. Then, just as quickly, she turns away, running back toward the man who dares to believe he has a claim on her.

I force myself to stay rooted in place, watching as she disappears into the crowd. A storm churns inside me, a battle between patience and the deep, primal urge to take what’s mine now. But no she has to come willingly. That was always the promise.

I tighten my grip on my hat and step back into the shadows. The game is set. The pieces are in place.

Now, all I have to do is wait.

One week.

And then, Alice will be mine. Wonderland will welcome its lost queen home.

Alice

A week has passed since I last saw Damon….Hatter whatever name I should call him. A man who seems to know more about my dreams than I do, a man who claims they are not dreams at all, but memories. Lost, buried, taken from me. And yet, here I am, lying in my bed, dreading today.

My wedding day.

To Rin.

The thought sends a violent shudder through me, as though my body itself rejects the idea of belonging to him. Damon promised he would help me escape. He swore it. But what if something goes wrong? What if he doesn’t come? I clutch the card he gave me, running my fingers over the worn edges. The weight of his promise sits heavy in my chest, mingling with a hope I don’t dare to voice.

I sit in my reading nook by the balcony doors, my book open on my lap but unread. The cover reads Fairy Love, a romance filled with magic and longing, of two souls destined yet divided. I trace the lettering absently when a knock at my door startles me.

“Come in.”

The door creaks open, and my mother steps inside. Her gaze sweeps over me before settling on the book in my hands. She exhales softly, as if preparing herself. “Are you sure you want your wedding dress to be dark purple? Why not white?”

I lean back against the cushions, feeling the weight of tradition pressing down on me. “Because white is for purity and innocence,” I murmur. “I am neither. Purple fits who I am, who I’ve always been behind my books and dreams.”

A small smile tugs at her lips. “That actually makes sense for you.”

A moment later, the door opens again, and one of the maids enters, carefully carrying my wedding dress. My mother beams as she gestures toward the garment bag. “It took them a while, but I think this dress speaks to you.”

Curiosity stirs inside me. I shift forward as they unzip the cover, revealing a creation that looks as though it was woven from the night sky itself.

The gown is woven from twilight, shimmering with the captured glow of distant stars. Its deep violet fabric ripples like the midnight sky, adorned with scattered celestial embers that flicker and shift as if whispering forgotten spells. A sheer, enchanted cape drapes over the shoulders, infused with the essence of moonlight, flowing weightlessly as though touched by an unseen breeze. The bodice, encrusted with the dust of fallen stars, cradles a heart that beats with ancient magic.

I slip out of my nightgown and into the dress, feeling the cool silk embrace my skin like a whispered promise. It molds to every curve, a second skin of darkness and wonder. As I spin, the fabric catches the light, painting galaxies around me.

I stare at my reflection, my thoughts spiraling.

I look like something out of a dream.

No…..a fantasy. A queen.

Is this what Damon will see when he comes for me?

The thought sends a shiver down my spine, but I don’t know if it’s fear or anticipation. What will he be wearing? How will he look at me? He always has that smirk, that knowing glint in his golden eyes. Will he see me as something to claim, or something to cherish?

And then, the heavier thoughts creep in…

What does he know about my dreams?

What else has been stolen from me?

“Alice?” My mother’s voice pulls me from my thoughts. I blink and turn toward her.

She smiles softly. “You look like you belong in one of your fantasy books, don’t you think?”

I let out a small laugh. “Yeah. I do.”

She takes my hand and leads me to the vanity, gesturing for me to sit. As she stands behind me, her fingers glide through my hair, weaving it into something beautiful.

“I know you’re not happy about this,” she murmurs, “but please, at least try to be.”

I meet her gaze in the mirror, my heart twisting at the hope in her eyes. She wants what’s best for me, what she thinks is best for me. But she doesn’t understand. She doesn’t know what waits for me beyond this palace, beyond this forced life.

So I lie.

“Okay. I’ll try.”

She smiles, relief washing over her face as she begins working on my hair. “Good. Now, let me do your hair properly.”

A real smile finds its way to my lips, a small flicker of genuine warmth. “Of course. You always loved doing my hair, and I always loved you doing it.”

Her fingers move with practiced ease, braiding the top section into an intricate crown that merges into a long, flowing plait down my back. Soft waves cascade from the lower half, framing my face in gentle curls. She weaves a delicate floral headpiece into the braid small blossoms and shimmering beads that catch the light like dewdrops at dawn.

I close my eyes for a moment, breathing in the scent of lavender and roses, letting myself believe for just a moment that this is a normal wedding day. That I am just a girl getting married, surrounded by family, excited for the future.

But that is not my reality.

Because I am not meant for this life.

And tonight, under a sky as dark as my dress, I will escape it.

With him.

My mother turns me around, her gentle hands adjusting the delicate veil that now rests atop my head. A blue veil with a golden hairpiece, shaped like a crown...her wedding veil. I blink, staring at my reflection, and then at her through the mirror.

“Wait… isn’t this yours?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

She smiles, a hint of sadness in her eyes. “Yes, it was mine. And now, it’s yours, to pass on when the time comes.”

I swallow the lump forming in my throat. “But… shouldn’t this be for my soulmate?”

She sighs, reaching out to smooth a stray curl. “Given the circumstances, I think you should have it now.”

I nod, my chest tightening. I don’t tell her that the only person I could ever imagine as my soulmate is the one who promised to take me away from this nightmare. Damon. The man from my dreams. The man from my past.

I slip into a pair of deep purple heels, my dress cascading around me like a midnight sky littered with stars. As I step out of my room, each movement feels heavier, as if invisible chains are wrapping around my limbs. My mother and sisters flank me as we descend the grand staircase, stepping into the backyard where the ceremony awaits.

White roses with crimson-tipped petals drape over golden arches, leading to the center of the garden where Rin Fray stands, waiting. The golden-haired prince wears a black tux, his sharp features twisted into a smirk of possession. He already thinks he owns me.

My stomach churns.

A whisper escapes my lips, one that only the wind can hear. “Please, Damon. Please keep your promise.”

The wedding march begins. My sisters walk ahead of me, scattering rose petals along the aisle. My friends, Mia and Mika, follow with their dates, their faces unreadable. I take a breath. Each step I take feels like a nail being hammered into my coffin.

Then I reach the altar.

My father takes my hand, placing it in Rin’s with a tight grip. He leans in, his breath hot against my ear. “Just do as you’re told, and you will be rewarded, Alice.”

I clench my jaw as he pulls away.

The guests settle into their seats, their expectant eyes locked on me. My hands tremble. I scan the crowd. My heart pounds against my ribs. Damon isn’t here.

I slip into my thoughts, a spiral of dread swallowing me whole. He’s not coming. He broke his promise. He left me to rot in this gilded cage.

I can’t do this. I can’t marry Rin.

The officiant begins, his voice a blur in my ears. “Ladies and gentlemen, we are gathered here today to join the union of Princess Alice Fairchild and Rin Fray. If anyone opposes this union, speak now or forever hold your peace.”

Silence.

Then, strong arms lift me off my feet.

Gasps echo through the garden. A smile stretches across my lips as I inhale the scent of something wild and darkly familiar. I tilt my head and meet Damon’s crimson gaze. His blue hair shimmers beneath the sun, and he wears a tux that matches the deep violet of my gown.

He smirks, his voice dripping with amusement. “Sorry, ladies, gentlemen, Lord Kanmae and Queen Yuki, but this woman Alice can and will not marry Rin Fray.”

My mother rises to her feet, my father beside her, his face twisted in fury. “And why do you think you have any right to her?” my father snarls.

Damon tips his hat, his eyes darkening. His voice, once teasing, turns cold and possessive. “Because she’s mine. And no one will take my queen from me.”

A shiver runs down my spine. His queen.

Before I can react, he bolts. The world blurs around us, the wind tearing at my veil, my gown billowing as he carries me away. The voices of my family and guests grow distant, fading into the background.

“Guards! After them! This wedding will happen!” my father roars.

I glance back. Soldiers rush after us, swords drawn. My breath catches in my throat. They can’t follow us. Not where we’re going.

Damon moves faster than humanly possible, his speed inhuman. A thought clicks into place. He’s not just some madman from my dreams…

I smirk. “You’re a vampire?”

He grins, sharp fangs glinting. “That’s one way to put it. Now, are you ready, my rabbit?”

My heart hammers, but I don’t hesitate. I see the tree, the one from my dreams, the one with the hidden doorway. The one that leads to Wonderland. The guards are closing in. I meet Damon’s gaze, my decision unwavering.

“Yes. I’m ready.”

He sets me down, pressing me against the tree. His body cages mine, shielding me from Rin’s piercing glare. I know he’s watching, seething, knowing he’s lost me. Damon notices too. He tilts my chin up, forcing my eyes away from Rin.

“Eyes here, Alice. Only me.”

My breath catches. His gaze burns through me, possessive and raw.

Then, his lips curl into a smirk. “Want to make him jealous of what he’ll never have?”

A thrill rushes through me. I nod.

His fangs flash before he crashes his lips against mine. Fire ignites in my veins, consuming every doubt, every fear. His tongue brushes against my lips, and I part them, allowing him in. The kiss deepens, turning desperate, wild. The world around us dissolves no guards, no wedding, no chains, only Damon and the intoxicating heat between us.

When we finally break apart, I struggle to catch my breath.

“Wow… that was…” My voice is unsteady, my legs weak.

He chuckles, his forehead resting against mine. “Hot?”

I nod. “Yeah… definitely hot.”

But the sound of footsteps pounding toward us snaps us back to reality.

“We should probably go,” I whisper.

Damon grabs my hand. Without hesitation, I leap into the dark hole at the base of the tree, the entrance to Wonderland. For a moment, I feel weightless, free, as if I’m soaring through the air. Colors swirl around us, blues, purples, golds, pixie dust floating like stars in the night. Magic hums in the air, wrapping around my body like a forgotten melody.

Damon lands gracefully, still holding me close. The ground beneath us is soft, covered in lush green grass, and behind us stands a towering golden tree, its leaves shimmering like molten sunlight.

He smiles down at me, his crimson eyes glowing in the Wonderland twilight.

“Welcome to Wonderland, little rabbit.”

The moment my feet touch the ground, I barely have time to take in my surroundings before Damon pushes me back against a tree, his hands firm against my waist, caging me in. My breath catches in my throat, my heart hammering like a trapped bird. The weight of his body against mine sends a shiver through me, a mixture of fear and something else, something I don’t want to name yet.

His lips ghost over my ear, his breath warm and teasing, yet dangerously possessive.

“Welcome home, little rabbit.”

Home. The word coils around me, a whisper of familiarity and a promise of something unknown. Wonderland. A place I’ve only seen in fragmented dreams, a place I should fear but instead feel drawn to like a moth to a flame. My fingers curl into the fabric of his jacket as I struggle to breathe, to think past the overwhelming presence of him.

“This is wrong.” The thought barely takes shape before another voice inside me sneers, “Is it? He came for you when no one else would. He kept his promise.”

I lift my gaze to his, my body betraying me by leaning into his touch. His eyes glow like molten rubies in the dim golden light of Wonderland, piercing through me, stripping me bare.

“Why does he look at me like that?” My throat tightens. “Like he owns me. Like he’s been waiting for this moment forever.”

I should say something. I should demand answers. But my voice has abandoned me, lost somewhere between the heat of his body and the overwhelming energy of this place. Wonderland hums around us, a living, breathing thing, its magic pressing against my skin, whispering secrets in a language I don’t yet understand.

Damon tilts his head, studying me, his fingers brushing along my jawline, tracing the delicate curve of my throat. My pulse betrays me, hammering wildly beneath his touch.

“You’re trembling,” he murmurs, his voice laced with amusement.

I force myself to swallow. “I just jumped through a hole into a world I thought only existed in my dreams.” My voice is steadier than I feel. “I think I’m allowed to tremble.”

His lips curl into a smirk, but there’s something darker lurking beneath it, something unreadable. “You remember more than you think, Alice.”

I shake my head, the weight of his words settling deep in my chest. “No. I don’t. I remember flashes, pieces that don’t make sense. You keep acting like I should know everything, but I don’t.” My voice cracks, frustration bleeding through. “So why don’t you just tell me, Damon? What aren’t you saying?”

His eyes darken, and for the first time, a flicker of hesitation crosses his face. Then, just as quickly, it’s gone. His hands tighten on my waist. “Because you’re not ready.”

“Not ready for what?” I challenge.

His fingers trail lower, pressing against the dip of my spine. I shudder at the contact, but I refuse to look away. He leans in, his lips so close I can almost taste the danger in his words.

“For the truth.”

My breath stills. There’s something almost cruel in the way he says it, as if he’s daring me to push further.

“What truth?” My mind races, but before I can demand more, a distant sound breaks through the thick air of Wonderland, a distorted echo, like the ghost of something trying to claw its way inside.

I stiffen. Damon notices.

“They followed us, didn’t they?” I whisper.

His expression hardens. “They tried.”

My stomach twists. Rin. My father. The guards. I knew they wouldn’t let me go easily, but the realization that they might be hunting me even now sends ice down my spine.

“Damon…”

“They can’t get in,” he interrupts, his tone softer now. “Not without an invitation. Wonderland protects its own.”

His own. His.

The way he says it sends another shiver through me. Because there’s something in his voice that tells me I’m no longer just Alice Fairchild. I belong to this place now.

I belong to him.

And I don’t know if I should be afraid… or if I already love the way it feels.