Revamped

.create.

Her mother shook her awake, her hair still up in curlers and her eyes half open but accusing. “Skipper’s in the kitchen,” she yawned, “Go heat some soup for him, love, and see what he wants.”

Aliz took one last second to relish her warm blankets, before she crawled carefully over her younger sister’s body, tucked her in more snuggly, and started madly dancing into her pants.

She almost fell coming down the stairs, and made a point of smacking the back of Skippers head before getting on her knees and blowing the fire into life. “What the hell are you doing, so early in the morning?” she asked between huffs.

He didn’t say anything, but then there was the sound of fingers snapping, and the fire suddenly whooshed into life. Aliz scrambled backwards, eyes huge.

Skipper’s face melted away, to be replaced a straight, unbroken nose and mesmerizing gold eyes. He looked enchanting as always, but somehow more desperate.

“Sly?” Aliz stared at him, and then frowned fiercely, “How’d you find out where I lived?”

“We need to go,” Sly said hurriedly, “Please. You can say your goodbyes now, right? Or maybe you should leave a note—”

Aliz cut him off, “What’re you talking about? Go? Go where?” As an afterthought, she started stirring the soup.

“I—” Sly sat down at her table heavily, as out of place as a rose in a daisy field, “I was engaged.”

“I know,” Aliz brought the ladle close to her face and sipped, grimaced, “Ugh, cold.”

Sly snapped his fingers impatiently. “It’s hot now—can you please listen?”

She rolled her eyes but sat opposite him, fingers laced together, “Okay, I’m listening. You’re engaged…”

“Was,” Sly corrected, and looked something like a man doomed for execution, “I was engaged.”

She stopped drumming her fingers against the table, dominos crashing down in her head.

“But—you were betrothed to the princess of Amalia, weren’t you? The last kingdom that stood a real threat to the empire? If she refused—”

“She didn’t,” Sly said hollowly, and actually glanced twitchily at the door, “I did. I said no.”

“But…why?!” Aliz leaned forwards breathlessly, “You—you idiot, there’ll be a war! If Amalia allies itself with enough sister provinces, we’ll be destroyed!”

“I know,” Sly said quietly. His head dropped to his hands, “I know.”

She sat there staring at him, and then rose to put out the fire. She didn’t feel like eating right now.

“What do you want to do?” she said softly, “My family can’t hide you—I have—I have a younger sister and my brother’s about to be married—”

“We need to run,” Sly said firmly, “We need to run so far away, that they’ll never, ever find us.”

Aliz tilted her head to the side, but chose to ignore the ‘we’ part, “Why exactly did you break things off? I’ve seen her, she’s very beautiful. And anyone can see she’s completely smitten—I’ve heard she’s supposed to be even-tempered and fair…”

“I did it for you,” Sly said bluntly.

A great silence seemed to press over Aliz, pushing down all of the things she wanted to say just then. He didn’t look at all embarrassed, but stared at her steadily. She could feel an angry heat creeping up into her cheeks, and ducked her head to the floor, before she stepped forwards and slapped him.

He did look startled then, uncertain hands playing at his reddening skin.

“Is this supposed to be funny?” she snapped, “Do you think you can just jerk me around because—because I’m poor? I’m not stupid, you know! I bet you’re still engaged—that this is all some huge prank—”

“I’m in love with you.” Sly said quietly.

She did become quiet then, glassy blue-grey eyes huge and soft pink lips parting in surprise. She looked suddenly nervous, shy, as all the rage deflated from her.

“But I’m not—” she started awkwardly, “I’m not that pretty. And I can only barely read. And—”

“You’re special,” Sly said simply, “You aren’t—boring. Everything else is so boring, compared to you.”

He was suddenly standing much too close, arms wrapping around her back and pulling her forwards. His chin rested on the top of her head, and she was suddenly aware of how much taller he was.

“I want you to come with me,” Sly said then, and she kept her face pressed to his chest, fascinated by his heart beat. Slowly, she nodded.

“They’ll probably kill me if I stay behind”, she said finally, and struggled free, heart pounding nervously as she fumbled in her pockets for some paper—“Oh. But they can’t read…”

There is suddenly the sound of footsteps running outside, and people pounding on doors and shouting, “Have you seen him?”

“No time,” Sly whispered, grabbing her hand and dragging her to the window, “Let’s go. Let’s run.”

And they did. They ran and hid to the ends of the empire and the ends of the world, and she cried for the things she left behind, and wondered if Skipper had found a new flower girl yet.

They met his betrothed at the end, just as Sly was preparing the final escape, painting universe for them to hide in. She stepped from the shadows, glossy black hair matted and blood red robes torn around her knees. She stepped forwards and grabbed Aliz by the back of the head, tearing into the long yellow hair.

“Why don’t you love me?!” she screamed, tears pooling and slipping down her still perfect skin, “Why is she so much better?” she shook Aliz, who yelped but then hardened, turning to slap and bite and kick the other woman away.

Sly took her hand as soon as she was free—and she could feel herself begin to disappear—

Even as another grip strengthened around her ankle.

They ran away to Wonderland, with some baggage in tow, but it was easier to live with just one enemy, they reasoned, and so hid from her in oceans of salt water tears, and flowers that sang lullibyes, but strangled when their charges fell asleep. It was a magical place, a dream place—

But Alice was never sure if she loved him back or not. And he reasoned, she will grow to love me. She will with time.

Until the day she disappeared.