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I flipped onto my back and tried snapping my fingers to make it go away. That didn’t work, either.
“Oh, comeon! Uggghhhh!”
Apparently there were some things that even magic couldn’t wish away.
Figures.
With a groan, I dragged myself from the soft warmth of my bed and rifled through the cabinets under the bathroom sink, quickly finding a box of tampons. Once I’d taken care of that whole situation, I conjured a peppermint mocha with extra whip, and washed down a couple of painkillers, steeling myself against the discomfort.
At least my use of magic was working well enough to create coffee on demand. Whenever I woke up from this strange dream, or acid trip, or whatever the hell this was, I was going to miss the magic of getting just about anything on demand.
I put on a fresh set of workout clothes and slipped on my Balenciaga sweatshirt and Uggs.
If I was wide awake, I might as well start my practice early.
The castle was still dark as I headed to the practice courtyard, but I could tell by the color of the sky that it was closer to dawn than midnight.
I couldn’t help grinning at how early I was.
My tutor would be so proud of me.
My grin faded slightly when I stepped into our practice space and took in the latest version of my obstacle course. Judging by the contraptions hanging from the ceiling, today was apparently rope ladder day.
Gross. Hopefully my cramps would be gone by then.
I walked over to the lowest balance beam and sat down, feeling the chill of the icy ground seep through my leggings. I’d forgotten the moment when every muscle in my body had stopped aching and had transformed into strong, toned symbols of all my hard work.
I took another long drink of my coffee, such a simple, small comfort, and shook my head at my situation.
“Of all the bizarre twists my life could take,” I mused aloud, watching the steam curl lazily into the air, “training to save a magical kingdom definitely wasn’t on my bucket list.”
The intricate obstacle course loomed over me, hundreds, if not thousands of knots hanging from the ceiling. I wondered if the ropes had been programmed to have a mind of their own. Would they work to help me?
Not a chance.
That wasn’t Jack’s style.
Everything he did was intentionally designed to make my life more difficult. When it came to the White Knight, there was no easy button.
“Why am I even bothering with this?” I wondered out loud before taking another sip of coffee. The rich flavor of cocoa and the sharpness of the peppermint offered a fleeting distraction from the daunting reality that awaited me. “Am I for real right now? Chasing down a psycho queen and her pet demon with a magic sword? I can’t even change a tire on my own car.”
The absurdity of my situation would have been laughable if it weren’t so terrifyingly real. Just weeks ago, my biggest concern was choosing the right outfit for a night out. It wasn’t uncommon for me to change my clothes ten times before walking out my door. Now, the fate of an entire realm rested on my unsteady shoulders.
“I must be out of my mind,” I continued, my voice a whisper lost among the whispers of the courtyard. “Or maybe I just like feeling like I actually matter to someone. To Chess and Ransom and Hatter. To Callister...Amari...to Jack.”
The thought of Jack, with his piercing eyes and commanding presence, sent a shiver down my spine that had nothing to do with the cold. There was something about him, a mystery wrapped in an enigma, that drew me in despite my better judgment.
I traced the rim of my cup, contemplating the unknown depths of my new reality. The magical realm of Wonderland, with all its dark beauty and hidden dangers, was as enchanting as it was deadly. And here I was, a spoiled rich girl from L.A., thrust into the heart of its conflict.
I finished the last of my mocha, savoring the warmth as it spread through my body, offering a much-needed break from the cold. The sweet, chocolatey aroma mingled with the crisp air, a reminder of the small pleasures that life still offered, even in the midst of chaos.
I gazed at the weapons on the wall, their intricate details a testament to the brutality and magic of this land. They sat there undisturbed, but ready to defend Wonderland at a moment’s notice.
“I’m doing this for all of them,” I affirmed with newfound resolve. “For Chess and Ransom and Hatter. For Callister...Amari...and for Jack. For everyone they know who’s suffering under the Red Queen’s tyranny. And maybe we won’t have to keep finding Alices to save this place. Maybe this time will be the last time.”
With a deep breath, I stood up, feeling the weight of my decision anchor me. I was Alice Darling, former reality TV star, former failed lady boss, and I was fuckingdonewith people who only wanted to see me fail.
Here, everyone was rooting for me to succeed. Here, everyone believed in me, even when I didn’t believe in myself. They saw something in me that I hadn’t realized was there to begin with.
