Hatter's Heart - Erin Bedford Page 0,35

lifted. "Oh, I forgot he had one. Probably because I try to stay out of his place." I wrinkled my nose. "I swear that feline had more shoes than Kat and I combined plus it smells as if he and Kat spend all their time..." I trailed off realizing who I was talking to. My cheeks flushed as I ducked my head. "You probably don't want to hear about your almost daughter in law with her new lover, do you?"

Mab shrugged. "It doesn't bother me. I'm glad Katherine has found happiness. Just like you, she has always been the daughter I never had. I wish her nothing but the best. Now if only my son could find his own then everything would be complete."

Unsure of what to say to that, I turned my attention back to mirror. "Should I just..."

"Yes, just like the other mirrors. Think of where you want to go and you'll end up there. Usually. Try not to let your mind wander." She warned before giving me a slight push in the mirrors direction.

Frowning at her nagging, I closed my eyes and pictured Chess's house. A tall willow tree, the branches hanging down all around it. The deep emerald green grass and purple colored flowers leading up to the base of the tree. The inside of his house a slash of pink and purple on every surface made my nose wrinkle in distaste. Kat and I had tried to get him to change it but he insisted it stay that way.

"Now, Alice. Go," Mab murmured in my ear, her hand on my back.

With her assurance, I stepped forward into the mirror. The cool gelatin liquid surrounded me instantly, pulling and tugging me in the direction I needed to go. I kept the image of Chess's house in the forefront of my mind until finally I was pushed out the other side.

I tripped over the frame of the mirror on my way out and ended up on the pink shag rug staring up at the wooden ceiling. A shadow bent over me and Chess's cheeky grinning face stared down at me.

"Why Alice, I didn't know you were coming over today."

I groaned as he offered me as hand up. "I hadn't expected on coming if I were to be honest but the Underground decided to keep moving. So each step I got closer to Hatter the further away I got."

Chess cocked his head to the side. "That does sound like our girl." He collapsed on a chair and threw his leather pant clad legs up on a violet stool. "What can I do for you?"

"Well, first off, we need to get a hold of Kat." I reached into my pocket and found my compact mirror. I touched the sides but couldn't get it to come on. Turning to Chess, I asked, "Do you mind?"

Holding his hand out, Chess took the mirror and swiped his finger along the surface it rippled as it activated. "You're welcome."

"Pat really does need to figure out a mirror that anyone can activate," I complained as Kat's face appeared on the surface.

"But then what would make me special?" Kat answered my comment with a grin.

I scoffed, shifting to sit down on one of the nearby chairs. "Like it would kill you? Your head is already too big as it is."

Kat frowned mockingly. "That's not very nice. And here I thought you were calling to talk not make fun of me."

"I did," I assured her with a smirk. "The other part is just an added benefit."

Huffing in mock annoyance, Kat asked, "So what's the what?"

I glanced over at Chess and then back to Kat. "You're about to have a whole lot of company very soon."

Kat's brows furrowed. "What?"

"Mab as requested Mop and Trip to spread the word and send all who can to the human realm until we can get the sickness stopped."

Her mouth dropped open. "What? Where the hell does she expect me to put all of them? I don't have the time or the accommodations to handle that large of an immigration on such short notice." She began to breath heavily and a brown paper bag came out of no where.

Chess appeared beside me instantly. "Pet, breathed. Remember what the doctor said. Just breath."

"Doctor," I glanced up at him and then back at Kat. "What doctor? Kat, what's wrong? Do I need to come back?"

"No, no," Kat said through breathing. "No. I'm fine. Just the doctor said I had to keep my stress level