Madd shifted in his chair; the hard hospital corners digging through his clothing and into his skin were starting to annoy him. He turned his attention back to the monitor next to the hospital bed; each jutting mark echoing the life that still clung to Alice.

This was far from the first time Madd had been in the hospital with Alice, and he had never enjoyed it, which was far from what most people would have expected from someone who so delighted in making people uncomfortable.

The first few times White, Chesch, and even Queen had stayed until they were sure she was safe, but these spells had come so often lately, they had stopped worrying. The only one who stayed all those times was Madd, and he had, oddly enough, grown used to the hospital scene; he only heard the persistent beeping of the heart rate monitor when he thought to listen for it; which was whenever Alice seemed exceptionally still.

Whenever the nurse came in to check on Alice, Madd sat up straighter and occasionally asked questions, despite how pointless it was. Not even the doctors could give a definite answer as to what was wrong with her.

At midnight, Madd pulled the thin weathered book from Alice’s room out of his coat pocket and scrawled a couple sentences under the day’s date. After he finished writing, he paused, set the pen between the pages and rested his fingertips gently on the underside of her wrist. Her pulse, which had been weak, but stable before, sped up slightly at his touch. The corner of his mouth curled upward in a crooked smile.

“You’re alright. You will be.” He wrote a couple more notes in the book then set it back in its place in his jacket. “You need to come back. The others will be lost without you…” Madd refused to finish the sentence. Instead, he interlaced his long, thin fingers and tapped his foot on the floor, giving into the nervous habit.

Chesch came in a short while later and looked over at Alice. “Another of her moments?” she asked impersonally.

“Not quite. Something was worse this time.”

“Mm…” Chesch grunted and crossed her arms across her chest, plucking at the loose sleeves of her raincoat with her tiny fingers. “She’ll probably be as fine as she normally is.”

Madd nodded and stood up, straightening his vest and putting his top hat on. “I’m going to go get some coffee. Would you mind staying with her until I come back?”

“Why can’t I come with you? It’s not like my staying here will make any difference.”

He rubbed the side of his neck wearily and nodded. “You make an excellent point. Let’s go.”

They ambled down the tiled hallway to the cafeteria; Chesch in her oversized navy blue raincoat and matching galoshes, and Madd in his maroon and grey pin-striped shirt and creased charcoal-grey slacks.

Once they had gone down the hall that ran the length of Alice’s hospital wing, they took an escalator down to the cafeteria that sat tucked over in one side of the common area across from the hospital gift shop.

Something about the hospital reminded Madd of how he’d always imagined a mental ward to be designed; very clean, quiet, and white. No one seemed to have even a spark of personality, and trying to get any information was nigh impossible since no one seemed to know a thing. The cafeteria was an excellent example of all these attributes taken to the extreme. It was very neat, with no real thought behind it, and no one seemed to know where to get a decent cup of tea or what the food had in it.

Madd ordered a cup of tea and stared blankly into it as he stirred two cubes of sugar into it and waited for Chesch to finish ordering. She was far too fussy about too many things. Madd was firmly convinced that not even God himself would find it easy to meet her approval in all respects. The crazy thing about all of it, he had decided, was that she was about as far from perfection as the rest of their eccentric group.

She would never admit it, though. She was too proud and to set in her ways to give alternate points of view a chance and she had yet to back down from anything.

It wasn’t long before she had a cup of hot cocoa in her hand and they found themselves walking back to Alice’s room.

“Madd,” Chesch said suddenly, catching him off-guard.

He turned to look at her out of the corner of his eye while taking a slow sip of tea.

Chesch raised her free hand to scratch absently along the scar that ran across her right eye and down, just past her cheek bone. “What do you think is wrong with her?”

“I haven’t the slightest clue.” He blew softly on his drink. “That’s for the doctors to find out.”

“As if they ever will,” Chesch muttered, as disbelieving as always.

“They’ve come close before...” Madd said, hoping not to offend her with a slight correction.

“So they claim, but how can they know for sure?”

Madd came to a stop just outside the door to Alice’s room and turned to face Chesch. “They say they have and the must know more about it than we do. Besides, her ‘moments’ come less often and the only reason they’re keeping her in this wing of the hospital is because of what happened when she fell.” He took a deep breath and ran one hand over his hair to smooth it and calm his nerves.

“They only say that so you’ll think they have everything under control.” Chesch rolled her eyes, obviously convinced that everyone was as incompetent as ever.

“Not everyone can be as smart as you, Chesch.”

Chesch glared at him furiously, then threw her cup of cocoa down the hall and stalked off.

Madd shook his head and went to get a towel to clean the mess or tell a nurse. The latter being the better option so he wouldn’t have to get cocoa on his hands.

Alice rubbed her wrist, trying to get the tingling sensation to go away. A moment later, it subsided and she looked up, rubbing the last traces of tears from her eyes.

Everything was gone again. No trees, no unrealistically tall blades of grass, and no dying flower.

Alice was alone. Again.

Part Two, Chapter One

White leaned against the wall just outside Alice's hospital room, waiting. He reached one hand up to move his shaggy white hair off his face; brushing his fingertips along the stitched scar at the bridge of his nose. The corners of his mouth quirked upward wryly at the memory and he swallowed away the ache that always managed to lodge itself in his throat.

He turned when he heard voices in the room behind him, and let his signature calm expression return to his face and smooth out his long pointed features.

A moment later he was joined by three young women; Alice and the two maids he had overheard Madd mention only a few days before to Alice. Each girl stood at either side of Alice; Dum watching her and Dee kept her eyes trained on him for further instructions.

Dee and Dum were identical twins who appeared to be in their early teens; although not even White would dare to guess their true ages. Queen had arranged their employment some time before, when they had originally hired Alice as Queen's assistant. Ever since, they had kept a watchful eye on Alice and typically ensured her safety, even when she had her moments.

They both had dark auburn hair that fell in loose waves just past their shoulders and they were as fair-skinned as Chesch but with more of a porcelain quality than Chesch's sickly pallor. The only visible difference between them was their eyes; Dee's left eye was emerald green and her right eye was just as deep a blue. Dum's eyes were the same colors, but their orientation was the opposite.

On this particular day, they had opted not to dress in their typical manor uniform, since they were out of Queen's sight; clothed in matching, black cotton robes tied around the waist with crimson sashes. They had brought a robe with them for Alice to wear back to the manor so she could be as comfortable as possible, and as she was of a slightly higher rank than they were, her robe was made of a deep maroon silk with a black skirt and camisole underneath.

Alice looked a slightly pale and weak, but stronger than when she had been brought to the hospital. She managed to walk, with Dee and Dum's aid, out to the limousine and get in with very little pain.

When they arrived at the manor, Madd came out to the car, pushing a slim wooden wheelchair along the pathway. Chesch trailed along behind him, as ill fitted and emotionless as ever.

"I'm glad to see you're feeling better, Miss Alice." Madd offered both arms for support as they maneuvered her gently out of the limousine.

Alice nodded weakly and let out a little sigh as she finally settled back, somewhat stiffly, into the chair. "Thank you, Madd." She gave a weak smile and curled her fingers around the lightly worn ends of the armrests.

"Would you like to spend some time with the others or would you rather go directly to your room?" Madd asked, setting the wheelchair in motion. "We would understand if you would rather rest, considering what you've gone through..."

"A little time with the others wouldn't hurt," Alice said, clenching her jaw at each tiny bump on the path to the front doors.

"Excellent!" Madd said, closing the distance between the manor and Alice. "Now, if we just go over the threshold," he eased it gently over as he spoke, "We'll get inside just fine."

Alice let out the breath she had been holding inside to steel herself for the passage. It was finally over. She was at home again. She was safe.

It didn't take much conversation to wear Alice out; the accident had taken a far greater toll on her than any of her companions had expected. White carried her up to her room that night, cradling her gently in his arms and setting her just as carefully in her bed where the covers were already turned down meticulously.

"Is there anything else I can do for you, Miss Alice?" he asked as he smoothed the covers back over her softly. He had already turned off all the lights in her room except for the small lamp next to her bed and the light that lit the stairway just enough to walk back down to the main hallway safely.

"Could you just stay for a moment? I'm not ready to be alone again just yet." Alice slipped one hand out from under the covers as she said it and rested it on one of White's hands.

"If that's what you'd like." He nodded to her and looked around the room before slipping his hand free and gesturing to a chair in the corner. "If I could just…"

She smiled and he took that as her assent.

A moment later, he sat by her side, looking down at his hands that were resting awkwardly in his lap.

"I'm really not sure what to say now. I'm sorry, White." Alice looked up at him, pale and cold beneath the blankets.

"That's fine. If you want, I have some music we could listen to," he offered, holding up a pair of earphones that matched those that were always nestled around his neck.

She smiled and took the earphones, slipping them over her ears. "That would be really nice, actually."

White put on his own pair and turned on the music he had been listening to earlier that day.

They sat there quietly, hands folded, eyes closed.

White's eyes flickered open when the music stopped playing and looked over at Alice who must have fallen asleep some time before.

"Damn. I lost track of time again." He stood and set his CD player on the bedside table and slipped one hand smoothly beneath her neck, cradling her head so he could slide the earphones free.

Once White was sure she was as comfortable as he could make her, he turned the light off next to her bed, only realizing as he reached the doorway that he had left his CD player and everything else next to her bed.

White turned to look back at the dark shape of the bed and the young woman sleeping in it and paused for a moment. He chuckled softly under his breath and decided that leaving it there for the night was a much better choice than attempting to find his way back without disturbing her.

"Good night, Alice," he murmured before closing the door.

White made his way back down the staircase and started turning off each lamp he passed as he walked down the hallway. Passing Chesch’s room, he could almost feel her sulky gaze, hoping for a glimpse of Madd.

He paused and smiled apologetically, nodding a polite good night to her before resuming his walk down the hallway.

Everything seemed calm and peaceful, as always. It was the image Queen exuded, taking care not to err on the side of weakness.

When he felt he could no longer delay the conclusion to the evening, he took a step forward. The click of his heels on the tiled floor seemed to make the journey bearable as it gave him something else on which to concentrate.

White reached Queen’s office sooner than he would have liked; it was the only room separating his suite from hers, which never failed to disturb him. He was her confidant, or so she claimed, and he knew he was supposed to trust her. He also knew it irked her that he did not share the feelings of supposed trust.

He walked in to find Queen, seated at her desk, going through some paperwork. “Is everything settled for the night?” she asked without looking at him.

“As well as could be expected,” White said, running his fingers through his hair, and making tufts stand out in all directions.

“Don’t do that,” she said, setting the work before her in order.

White bit back an exasperated sigh, “Do what?”

“That thing with your hair that drives me crazy, of course,” she said, deigning to look up at him.

She always did that; looked at him as if she owned him.

“You know I always want you to look your best.” Queen rose from her chair and crossed the room to stand before him. She placed one hand on his shoulder and clutched at his shirt with the other, pulling him closer. After a moment’s hesitation, he moved just close enough to please her and stood, silent and stiff, as she leaned in to kiss him.

Her perfume was as intoxicating as always, and her touch felt like a cat digging her claws in deeper. He wondered if she could taste it; the bitterness and loathing that took all his resolve to hide every moment he was in her presence and in her manor. For, after all, even walls have eyes, and managing to break free would leave scars that would last forever.

Queen finally settled back down and looked up at him from under her dark lashes. “Why won’t you love me, White? I’ve given you everything. A job, a home, subordinates, clothes on your back, food in your stomach, and a roof over your head. What more do you want from me? I can’t believe you’d be so ungrateful after all I’ve done and continue to do for you.”

He dipped his chin slightly and looked at her. “I respect you. I apologize that, at this point, I cannot give you more than that. You have my services, my life, and all that I am, but you do not have my love.” The fury that leapt into her eyes made him glance away. “Not yet, anyway. However, even love may be learned. I’m sure it’s only a matter of time.” This last statement he said quietly, as if such a thing might be uttered without lasting repercussions.

She looked up at him for a long while, waiting for some glimmer of resistance. “Very well, I am a patient woman, White, but even patience wears thin. You don’t have much time left. Remember that.” With that, she gathered the silk skirt of her dress in her hands and flounced off to her personal chambers.

White waited until he heard a second door slam behind her before he let the sigh out that he had been holding so tightly. He rubbed the back of his hand over his mouth to wipe away the sensations that lingered.

He didn’t have much time, and that was a fact. Unfortunately, he wasn’t the only one who loathed each passing minute. Or should, he corrected himself mentally. But perhaps it’s better this way, for not everyone wants to know what’s really going on in the background.

White opened the door to his suite and closed it behind himself, rubbing his eyes in an attempt to get the images of past, present, and future out of his mind. He opened his eyes once he had finished and looked at the room before him. There were books and papers strewn in a chaotic mess in the middle, scanning a page with a finger following along just beneath the line she was reading sat Dee. She had the long sleeves of her nightgown bunched up around her elbows to make it easy to examine the papers without the fabric getting in the way.

“What do you think you’re doing, young lady?” White stood behind an armchair, resting his folded arms across the back and one eyebrow quirked upward slightly.

Dee blinked slowly at him and held up the page she was looking at, “I noticed some inconsistencies in the paperwork in the office earlier today and Dum and I thought it should be looked into immediately. Well, I did, actually. It took some persuasion to get Dum to cooperate.” She gestured with one tiny hand in the direction of Queen’s suite. “Dum is over there now. She thought it would be best if we were going to do some snooping, that it would be better if the quieter one went into Queen’s quarters. It’s less dangerous that way.”

“What sort of inconsistencies?” White frowned and came closer to kneel next to her.

“Nothing serious, really.” She shrugged carelessly. “There was just a confusion of a few dates and that sort of thing.” Dee glanced at the door for a moment. “We’ll know in a second.”

Dum turned the handle and entered the room quietly, holding a pile of papers in the crook of her arm.

“Well?” Dee looked over at her twin expectantly.

Dum’s eyes glinted and she allowed herself the luxury of a slight pout, “There weren’t any serious errors. I found some vague mention of people that weren’t notated in the office records.”

Dee tilted her head to the side thoughtfully. “I guess we’ll find out soon enough.”

“In the meantime, you should get some sleep, sir.” Dum said, checking to make sure that everything on the desk was as it had been when Queen had left. “Queen mentioned that she has some big plans for tomorrow.”

“What sort of plans?”

“She honestly didn’t say, but apparently adequate rest is necessary.”

Amusement flickered in a glance that passed between the twins, followed by a quick excuse for them both to leave before further questioning. White sighed resignedly. It was no use to attempt extracting information from the twins. He didn’t even want to imagine the blackmail that bound them so tightly to Queen. He knew, from experience, how conniving she could be.

It was a shame, really. She had once been quite a catch and now she spent all her time and energy manipulating those beneath her. Even worse was the fact she was fantastic at it. White still hadn’t come up with a way to earn his own freedom, not that it would be genuine with what she would keep from him for eternity. Blackmail was her life, and might as well have been her middle name, for all he cared.

The only sanctuary he could find was in the solace of his thoughts and dreams, and he would not be surprised if Queen had already set to working out a way to encroach on them as well.

White wearily walked into his bedroom, shutting the door softly before crossing the room to close the drapes. Once he was sure he had complete privacy, he pulled his shirt slowly over his head. He took great care, as always, to avoid looking at his naked skin reflected in the full-length mirror next to the door. The only reason he had the looking glass at all was to be sure Queen would approve his appearance once he came out of his suite every morning.

Within moments, his draining costume from earlier that day was stripped away and he was finally able to be himself--White, the man. If only for a few hours, he was delivered from being White, the conquest.

Sinking contentedly between the cool sheets on his bed, he took a deep breath before drifting off to sleep.