Hatter's Heart - Erin Bedford Page 0,7

the side in a grimace. Wonderful. Just what I needed. As if I didn't have enough on my plate as it was.

I stalked into the kitchen, my hands on my hips and scowled down at the two creatures causing such a ruckus. "What are you doing in my kitchen?"

A little brown man in red overalls looked up at me over his bulbous nose, his onyx colored eyes narrowing as he swept the glass up from the floor. "What's it be lookin' like, lassie? We be makin' brekkie."

I frowned at the pans on the stove and the open fridge door with several broken eggs already on the ground. "Yes, I can see that, but why are you doing it in my house?"

"Trip and Mop make breakfast for Bad Lady, yes, we do, we do. Hatter says to keep Bad Lady company, yes he did, he did."

"Donna call 'er that, ye idiot. She's be havin' a name." Mop swatted in Trip's direction making the creature flinch and trip over his own ears.

If I hadn't seen an Opalaught in my time I'd have described the creature that was Trip as a mutated rabbit of sorts. His height brought him to about my waist much bigger than a normal rabbit. His sharp fangs and claws would make anyone nervous just looking at them, but the Opalaught was one of the sweetest creatures in the Underground and wouldn't hurt a faerie. Which was saying something since faeries were a right pain and nobody cared for them.

"Trip," I stepped into the kitchen and bent at the knee, so I was at eye level with the Opalaught. "Did Hatter say where he was going?"

The Opalaught’s long tail smacked the ground behind him in a rapid movement, giving off his excitement as he shook his head. "No. No. Hatter no tell Trip or Mop anything. Not anything about where."

I shot a look between the two creatures and pursed my lips before straightening back up. "I need a cup of tea."

"Let me do that, lass." Mop sat the broom to the side and tried to take the tea pot from me. "The humans be makin' piss water fer tea. They donna know how to make it like we fare folks." He winked at me and I sighed in defeat. They were going to pamper and bother me all day, I could already tell.

Wrapping my robe around me tighter, I sat down at the kitchen table. "So, Hatter didn't say anything about where he was going or when he was coming back?"

Trip and Mop exchanged a look. They were thinking about it. Curious. Only Fae who were trying to find a way around a lie thought this hard about their answer. Speaking the truth was sort of code of honor, only those with ill intent tried to lie.

"Look, lass. We canna help ye." Mop placed the kettle on the stove and lit the burner. "Hatter dinna say much. But ye know how he be. Drinkin' too much of his own tea if ye know whatta mean." He shook his head with a sad smile. "Donna know half of what comes outta his mouth or the others." He took his red cap off his head as it dipped down as did Trip's, his ears dragging on the floor. "Only Reaper knows where they be now."

I allowed a moment of silence for our lost comrades before jumping into it once more. "So, what did he say?"

Mop shrugged, turning his back to get teacups.

"Trip knows! Trip knows!" The Opalaught bounced up and down before stopping in front of me. "Hatter says he looks for what's missing. Yes, he does. Yes, he does. What's missing!" He paused for a moment, a crease forming over his brow. "Bad Lady, Alice, not Bad Lady. Not anymore." He giggled nervously and then bounced once more. "Trip doesn't know what's missing. Can Alice tell Trip what's missing?"

Leaning my face on my hand, I hummed to myself. "Hatter was gone all day yesterday as far as I know but came back saying he knew where it was."

"Where what was? Where what?" Trip asked, his voice shrill enough to hurt my ears.

Mop sat the tea cup down on the kitchen table and turned to Trip, smacking him over the head. "What be missin' you, carrot munching imbecile. Now go sit."

Trip didn't argue with Mop and hopped over to the nearest chair. I supposed he was used to his friend’s bad temper. It was all very gauche to me. Hitting should