She knew what-ifs wouldn’t help her, but she couldn’t get them out of her head. Did she regret her decision? Something squeezed in her chest.
“This place may be a ‘past’ version of the countries I lived in,” she offered. “Maybe not a pure version of the past, but some kind of earlier version. Maybe that’s why the people of the Country of Diamonds aren’t the people I know. I realize that, and still…”
It was hard to think of everyone in Hatter Mansion as the people she once knew. They were so different now. Even if the twins hadn’t changed much deep down, they spent all their time as adults. She couldn’t get used to Elliot glaring at her in suspicion. And the way Blood treated her…that was a whole issue in itself.
“How were you involved with the Hatters and the people in other countries?” Jericho suddenly asked.
“They were all friends of mine. At least, I’d like to think so. And that didn’t change in the move from Hearts to Clover.”
She conjured up memories that made her heart ache. The twins getting her tangled up in their dangerous pastimes, sometimes bringing along Boris—who they considered a friend—for fun. Or running around with Gowland and Pierce, or visiting an amusement park that didn’t exist in this country…
Elliot had pointed a gun at her when they’d first met, too. But he’d swiftly dropped that animosity and treated her to his weird carrot cooking. She and Elliot had been friends.
She wasn’t sure how long she stood there, but Jericho opened his mouth to break the silence. “Then you got along well with the Mad Hatter himself?” he clarified.
“Yeah. We were really…close.” She flashed back to his secret rose garden.
Jericho’s eyes widened. “Really?”
“I was a little surprised we became friends, too. He seemed like a difficult guy. But we’re both big readers, so we connected over that—he’d recommend books and lend them to me. If I went to the mansion, he would pretty much always invite me to a tea party… Oh, and if it was a nighttime period, he’d give me a guided tour of Hatter Mansion.”
She’d often asked Blood if he should be so attentive to a wandering Outsider not attached to his territories. But Blood answered her every time with a smile playing on his lips:
“It’s just a whim. And if you spilled my secrets, it would only lead to different fun.”
The way he said it always sent a chill down her spine. He was a nasty man, and she wasn’t stupid enough to test him.
Back in her old world, she never would’ve gotten involved with a Mafia boss…but she’d been bold when she’d thought Wonderland was a dream. She’d visited him over and over. And his special treatment surprised her, especially with the secret rose garden. He’d accepted her, right? Even if he was so guarded about his feelings?
That Blood accepted me, anyway.
She tried to remind herself that it had taken a long time to foster her relationships in Hearts and Clover. She hadn’t been in Diamonds long, so it made sense that she was still struggling.
She sighed. “It’s not like I want to get that close to the Blood in Diamonds. He’s similar here, but not the same person. And so much of our first relationship was based on lucky circumstances—I doubt I’ll have a repeat of that stuff.”
“Then what relationship do you want with him now?” Jericho asked softly.
For a moment, Alice said nothing. She’d been asking herself the same question for a long time.
“I…don’t know,” she answered at last. “But I get the feeling that we don’t know enough about each other, even though we’re under the same roof—and that’s a problem. I’d like to at least get to know Blood of the Country of Diamonds.”
She’d stopped longing constantly for Hearts and Clover. She was ready to dig into Diamonds—and she had a burning desire to re-learn these people she once knew.
Jericho suddenly chuckled. She furrowed her brow at him.
“What?”
“Sorry, sorry. I wasn’t making fun of you. I just think you’re the one person who could pull that off.”
She eyed him suspiciously. “Hard to believe that when you’re laughing.”
The man’s face, reflected in the mirror, swiveled around. When Alice turned from the mirror to look up at him, he rested his large hand on her head and mussed her hair.
“I mean it. I don’t know the Mad Hatter very well myself, but I figured you’d be okay under his care. Otherwise I would’ve invited you to live with me.” He flashed a warm smile. “Although I’m starting to regret that I didn’t offer.”
Alice paused at that. “Okay under his care?” she repeated at last. “But I told you—I had a relationship with a different Blood.” The imperturbable, dominating Blood of Hearts and Clover. The mature Mafia boss.
Diamonds Blood wasn’t nearly that secure.
“But aren’t both Mad Hatters the same at heart? I wonder if it’s something to get so upset about.”
“This Blood doesn’t take me seriously. I’m not sure I can be friends with him.”
“But you made friends with the Mad Hatters of the other countries.” He waved a hand. “You’ll be fine—we’re all connected to our other selves. The location, what comes before or after… None of those things make much difference.”
Confused, Alice ran her fingers through her hair to comb it back. But the museum curator just let out a final, clear laugh.
“Maybe the Mad Hatter you knew was the type to twist you around his little finger,” he pointed out. “But the Hatter here is still young. You should try to turn the tables on him.”
“……”
How was she supposed to turn the tables on a man that dangerous? He’d already accused her of being an assassin just for following him into a garden!
Arguments bubbled up her throat, but they died when she looked into Jericho’s face. She closed her mouth.
His words were the first real help she’d been offered in Diamonds. She didn’t want to just throw that out.
So she slowly nodded, wondering if she could take his advice.