the dark hole, a part of me was apprehensive about going through. I didn't know if it would throw me back out or even rip me apart.
A hand slid around my hip and a warm breath whispered into my ear, "Are you frightened, little one?"
Swallowing thickly, I turned my head slightly to peer into Cheshire's eyes. "Wouldn't you be?"
Cheshire licked his lower lip wetting it. "All the good things worth doing should strike a pang of fear in your heart or it’s not worth doing."
Entranced by his words, I leaned into his embrace. "Is that so?"
"I wouldn't lie to you, pet." Cheshire dipped his head down our mouths barely a breath a part.
A throat cleared.
I blinked and jerked away from Cheshire, my face heating. "Uh, yes. We're not going to find Hatter hanging around here."
Without another moments pause, I stepped out of Cheshire's embrace and through the hole. Instantaneous, I was sucked up and spit out the other side. The expression on the guards' faces were enough to make it all worth it.
Every single one of them gaped at me as I walked through the door and into the Between.
Cedric chuckled and shook his head. "Why am I not surprised?"
"What?" I pursed my lips.
"Only you could figure a way into the Between from a door that only goes out."
"Who the mother fuckin'—" A snarling growl came from beside me. The Redhat rubbed his face with his hand the door having hit him in it when I came through. His eyes landed on me and he paled. "Oh, Representative. No worries. I shouldn't have been standin' so close to the door."
The door swung up once more, smacking the Redhat in the face once more. I winced as the other guards oh'd as Cheshire and then Chess came through the door as well. Everyone but the Nymph covered their nose and mouth as the sickness filled the room.
"Why Cheshire, as I live and breathe." The Nymph stepped up to the older Fae as unfazed as Chess by his scent. "I thought you were banished?"
Cheshire grinned at the Nymph. "Gert, you know nothing can keep me locked up for long."
Laughing joyfully, Gert clapped his hands on Cheshire's forearm and they shook like old friends. "Of course not. You're too sly for that. What are you doing back here? Don't you know there's a sickness going around."
"Uh," I shifted close to Cheshire so I could breathe freely. "Can't you smell it?"
"What?" Gert blinked at me.
"I have the sickness, friend." Cheshire sighed and dragged his claws through his hair.
"Oh," Gert cocked his head to the side. "I didn't realize. You don't look like it."
"You mean, you can't smell it?" I asked, glancing once more at the other guards keeping their distance. Even the receptionist was hiding behind her hand.
Gert shrugged. "Nymphs don't have much of a sense of smell. I couldn't tell a dandelion from a dragon snap."
"Don't feel bad." I explained with a small smile. "Chess can't smell it either."
"I still do not understand why I cannot scent the sickness as you do," Chess huffed, his hands tucked into his armpits.
I glanced over at my shoulder at him. "You're the only one who can't smell it. Mop and Trip smelled it fine enough before. Perhaps, because you are half and half?" I offered up helpfully.
Cheshire growled at me. "His lineage has nothing to do with his Fae abilities. If anything, he has more Fae in him than the average creature. Including, you."
I frowned. "No offense meant. I was simply stating what could be the cause of it. It could be his lineage and it could be the fact that he's tied to Kat who isn't completely Fae herself. She doesn't even have much of an iron allergy."
Placing a hand on his father's shoulder, Chess reassured him, "Alice wasn't being hateful, father. She might be Fae now, but she still has the tact of a human. Not to mention she hangs around my kitten all the time." He chuckled. "Reaper knows she's not a good influence on anyone."
A handful of guards chuckled as I giggled and covered my mouth with my hand. "True."
Surveying us in a queer manner, Cheshire nodded, "Very well. Those are logical reasons enough and your Kat seems far more interesting the more I hear of her. The brief interaction I had with her did not give me much of an impression of her but if you say so then I will choose to believe you."
"Where are you headed?" Gert asked as