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"We could ask the Mad Hatter where it is," Chess replied with a little shrug. "After all, he's the one who had the Vorpal Sword last."
My eyes flashed in outrage.
"He knows where it is?” I screeched. “Why didn't you say so in the first place?"
"It was the very first thing I said." His mouth twisted into a little smirk. "I simply didn't think to say it out loud."
"Alright, well, from now on, you'd better stop saying things in your head and start saying them out loud. Got it?"
"Got what?"
"Did you understand what I said?" I seethed, which only made Chess grin wider.
"You want me to stop keeping my thoughts to myself and start saying them out loud? Is that correct?"
"Yes!” I cried, throwing my hands up in frustration. “I don't think that's asking very much."
"I don't think you realize what you're asking at all. Some of my thoughts are quite depraved.”
"I don't care!" I said, shoving the map back into my jacket pocket as I stomped along the path. "I'm from LA! I've seen and heard it all! There's not a fucking thing you could say or do that would shock me."
Chess’s Cheshire Cat grin spread wide across his sensual mouth.
"Well, I know that's not true, but I'll play along for now."
I walked for a few more seconds, until I stopped in my tracks.
"Am I even headed in the right direction?"
Still grinning, Chess shook his head and hooked his thumb over his shoulder.
"I should've known," I groaned. "What's down is up, and what's up is down, right?"
Chess's grin spread even wider across his handsome face. I would’ve slapped him if it weren’t for that amazing demon tongue of his.
"See? You're starting to figure things out already."
We walked for a few moments before I looked up at him.
"Why didn't you tell me out loud that the Mad Hatter knew where the sword was all along?"
"Because the chances of the Mad Hatter being lucid enough to remember its location are slim to none. Hatter was once a loyal servant of the White Queen. When it became clear that you weren’t coming to save us, she asked him to steal the sword from the Red Queen. The White Queen is so merciful and kind that she wanted to protect not just her Kingdom of Diamonds and Ice, but also her sister’s Kingdom of Hearts and Roses. She wanted to keep all of Wonderland from the Red Queen’s wicked grasp, and Hatter was happy to help her.”
“He sounds very loyal to her,” I remarked.
Chess gave me a sympathetic look.
“He is. Unfortunately, the power of the sword proved too much for his mind, and he succumbed to madness. He hid the sword to keep it from driving him even further into madness. And even if hedidremember where it was, there's no guarantee he'd be willing to share that knowledge with us."
“Wouldn’t he tellme?” I asked as we walked further into the decaying forest. “After all, I’m the one who’s supposed to use it.”
“His mind is a labyrinth of madness and riddles,” Chess replied, his expression darkening. “He may be our only hope of finding the sword, but he’s not one to be trifled with. He won’t hesitate to fuck you over. He'll probably do it right over the table.”
“I’d like to see him fucking try,” I laughed.
Chess hesitated, eyeing hungrily me from head to toe. Then he leaned closer, his breath hot on my ear.
"You must be careful what you ask for, Alice. Hatter is known for his... insatiable appetite."
