(Tell me if I missed anything, my brain isn't really functioning)
Scarlet was suddenly jarred from her deep sleep by the sound of frantic yelling. Her first instinct was to immediately jump up and get out, thinking for a moment that she was still in the palace and that her mother had killed someone again. When she sprang up, however, she was greeted not by the sight of her mother's blood-stained mouth, but of everyone in the cottage up and panicked– except Cade and Phoebe. "What's happening??"
Alice ran her tongue slowly over the bloodied blade in her hands, grinning in satisfaction when the metallic taste exploded on her tongue, not just from the gore on the knife, but from that of her now-cut tongue.
A sharp knock sounded on the door. Her head snapped up immediately, the insane light in her blue eyes going cold. "I'm going to kill you~" she sang, throwing the dagger aside and making her way over to the door. Flinging it open, she fixed her gaze on the cowering maid in front of her and– who was this? A boy? This is going to be fun…
The queen was more terrifying than he thought she would be. Cade found himself stumbling over his words. "Your…uh…your daughter ran away, and…I know where she is. I also know where one of the former kings and his daughter are, and…maybe some other royalty. I was hoping you could give me a fair sum of money in exchange for information of their location."
Alice took a moment to process this, her mind still slow from the flask of blood she'd drank earlier that day. Finally, an unbalanced smile wormed it's way across her face. Scarlet. My baby. I thought I could change you for the better…. but you would never eat the hearts, never drink the blood… a lost cause… there's still time to hurt you, my love… "You can keep your head," she cackled suddenly, spitting out a glob of something suspiciously fleshy. "As your prize. Now where might my Scarling be?"
Cade flinched, stepping back a little. "I want prize money in exchange for the information. Give me the money, and I'll tell you where your daughter is."
(can Alice grab onto cade and hold a knife to his throat?)
(kk)
Alice didn't miss a beat. She leaned forward, grabbed hold of the boy's neck, and pulled him to her. She drew a knife from her bosom, pressing it lightly against his throat. "Wrong answer. Try again." Her voice was sickly sweet.
Cade gulped, trying his best to seem calm. "I didn't betray them for nothing." He replied, his voice shaking. "Just give me money and I'll tell you where your daughter is."
Teresa quickly shoved the last bits into into a large bag and shouted “we have to go! Alice is probably on her way now!” She yelled
Alice laughed maniacally, pulling him into her room and shutting the door on the terrified maid. "Guess again. Get this one wrong and I leave this room with your head. I don't need you to find my daughter, she can't hide for long, but this is saving me a lot of time." She dug the knife in a little harder.
Cade wouldn't be surprised if he was bleeding already. He gritted his teeth, weighing his options. I could betray them even more and tell the queen only to get nothing in return, or I don't tell her and die for the people I can't even call friends. He sighed, then turned his head to look the queen dead in the eyes. "They're in a house in the woods, only about a thirty minute walk from here. If you run, you could get there in ten."
I mean, I kind of… “Ah, the chaos and panic is starting to stir.” Chelsea grinned, it resembled the grin her guardian wore all the time, “I’m…. just going to watch. If anyone needs my assistance, just say my name. Or if gets really fun, I’ll join you myself. See ya.” Chelsea did a mock salute and flickered away.
Alice’s terrifying grin only grew. “Perfect………..” She kept a firm grip on the boy, though, practically singing in glee. “And who are you?”
"Cade. Cade Lockwood." In any other situation, he wouldn't have responded. This was Queen Alice, though. She already had a knife to his throat, so he didn't want to make her any angrier.
"We need to find Phoebe!" Nykidia said in a panicked tone as she threw on a black beanie and her cape. "She's either on the side of the woods or in town. Hurry!" She said as she threw open the door. The Mad Hatter threw on his classic green hat and went for the door. "Nykidia! Please be safe. I can't lose you to." "I will Dad. I promise." She said hugging him and giving him a goodbye kiss. "Now go."
“What??? Why?? Where’s Cade?????? What the hell is happening????” Scarlet was struggling to keep up, brain defaulting to panic mode without Virgil there to calm her down.
Alice licked her lips, slowly, loudly. “Lockwood….. mmm…. tell me, what does your blood taste like?”
(What do you want her to do with him? Let him go? Lock him up?)
"Get your stuff! Cade's gone to the Castle to sell us out! We got to find Phoebe!" Nykidia yelled as Night literally lifted Scarlet up to her feet.
(Is that OK? Can Night like lift Scarlet up? Not to hurt her just to like let her get hard to reach stuff or to get her up and going?)
(Yeah that’s fine!)
“What????”
Scarlet barely registered her hands moving to grab her cloak, was too chilled with shock, horror, and fear.
(I'm fine with anything. Maybe she could hurt him a bit then throw him out of the castle, where he ends up finding the group again.)
This is some super creepy s**t. Cade thought, tensing his whole body. "Disgusting, probably. I eat too much soup for it to taste remotely decent."
Virgil burst into the small house, he had sensed his friends fear and had come running. "What happened? I felt the fear radiating off this place."
(Thanks!)
Nykidia shoved a cloak into his hands. "Cade went to the Castle to sell us out! We need to go find Phoebe! Night come on!" Nykidia yelled. Night floated over with Scarlet and dropped her down next to Virgil. "I'm ready. Lets go." Night said urging people out the door.
Alice stayed perfectly still for exactly three seconds.
Then she burst out laughing.
“Fine, I won’t take your blood… only… let’s have a see…” She turned Cade’s face towards her and stroked it with one hand, before digging her nails in and making the vertical scratched down the side of his face, barely drawing blood. Then she smiled a little dreamily. “I’m going to let you go now… when you see my Scarlet tell her that mama’s coming… she’s got a knife waiting for her daughter… did you know that I gave her a total of 72 cuts this year? She almost never cried, I’m so proud of her…..” Alice let Cade go, opening the door. “You have one minute to be out of the castle, or you’re dead. Out.”
(Thanks!)
Nykidia shoved a cloak into his hands. "Cade went to the Castle to sell us out! We need to go find Phoebe! Night come on!" Nykidia yelled. Night floated over with Scarlet and dropped her down next to Virgil. "I'm ready. Lets go." Night said urging people out the door.
Scarlet gripped Virgil’s arm, a new emotion entering the mix. Rage.
Rage at Cade, for selling them out. To the Queen.
“Lead the way,” she told Nykidia.
"Come on! This way!" She yelled run hoping out the door.
