“Yes, Cheshire. That sounds good. Take her away. Get her out of my sight.”
The King of Hearts emerged from behind the throne and began introducing Vittiore to his many lords and ladies clustered at the base of the stairs. Dinah felt hollowed out, a bowl scraped bare, and so she allowed her father’s devious advisor to lead her down a few stairs behind the throne and out a secret door usually used for the King to take his privy leave. They walked halfway down the stone hallway when Cheshire stopped. Turning toward her with a dangerous smile, he pulled back an elaborate wall tapestry near the privy. Dust showered down on them both, but once it cleared, it revealed a door the same shade as the stone around it. Cheshire held a finger to his lips and with an outstretched hand, pushed the door open to reveal a passageway carved into the castle walls.
Dinah was too numb to be impressed, although normally she would have been fascinated. There were many secret ways through Wonderland Palace, and she loved discovering them one at a time. Mostly her days were filled with mind-numbing croquet, etiquette, history, and dancing lessons, but once in a while she was able to slip away from Harris’s watchful eye and explore the palace with Wardley.
With a frown, she granted Cheshire a raised whisper as she wiped a stray tear away from her eye. “Where does it go?” asked Dinah.
He was silent.
“Where does it go?” she asked again, annoyed.
He simply nodded his head in the direction of the tunnel. Dinah ducked under the door, her heart hammering equally with dread and curiosity. After a few swift turns down mud-caked stairs, they ended up in a damp stone passage lit by glowing pink lanterns. The twists seemed endless. Cheshire talked quietly as they walked, the high lilt of his voice echoing off the walls.
“I’m sure this was hard for you today, Your Highness. Not only are you getting a younger and much more beautiful sister in your fifteenth year of life, but you heard a clear tale of your father’s infidelity to your dear mother, gods rest her heart. An intelligent girl like you can’t be surprised. Your father’s desires for other women are well known.” Cheshire paused, stroking his long chin. “He did not deserve Davianna.”
“Don’t speak of my mother, you didn’t know her. And she’s not my sister,” snapped Dinah. “She’s a bastard child.”
Cheshire’s thin fingers wrapped around her elbow, and she found herself yanked backwards, face-to-face with him, their noses inches from touching. His lips curled back in anger, revealing his hungry white teeth.
“Listen to me, Dinah,” he hissed. “You must NEVER let the King of Hearts hear you say that. Things are going to change for you, child, and you had better be made of stronger stuff than the whiny brat you seem to be now.”
Dinah yanked her body back from his. “I don’t know what you are talking about,” she replied, her voice wavering. “And I don’t care. That girl is NOT my sister, and you are not Harris. You know nothing about me. Where is he? Where is Harris?”
“Harris is not here, not that he would be of much use to you outside of tutoring and picking out your gowns in the morning. He does not know about this passage. No one does, just you and me. There might come a time when it will be of use to you, I am sure. There are many curious things in Wonderland Palace and the Black Towers, more than you could ever imagine.” He raised an eyebrow at her. “You had best learn everything you do not already know, Princess. Up until now you have been a spoiled girl who spends her days playing in the stables or dreaming of adventures with Wardley. Wonderland is a much darker and more twisted place than you imagine.”
Something inside of Dinah broke. She could take no more of his ridiculous cryptic warnings or his venomous smile. It occurred to her that he was probably here on an errand from the King, to scare her into accepting Vittiore.
“Why are you talking to me?” she snapped. “I HATE YOU! Don’t touch me!”