Chapter 2
Two
GRWM
Iwas a scientist. I knew that much.
I had a knack for physics, chemical substances, tinkering, and understanding the workings of machines.
I wasn’t entirely sure when I had arrived on Wünder. I was simply found near-death in the frozen wastelands, and upon waking, had discovered that I had none of my episodic memories.
Ironic that I could self-diagnose which type of amnesia I had when I couldn’t even remember my real name.
All these months later, and I was still no closer to remembering.
My theory was that my identity might be wholly tied to my location.
That the only way to remember was to return to my world.
It was a hypothesis I had yet to test. Either way, I was sure I couldn’t wait to get out of Wünder, couldn’t wait to finally get home. Surely…
I clenched my jaw, straining to remember—something just out of reach, familiar but elusive. But the harder I concentrated, the more it slipped through my grasp.
There was something in my forgotten past. A threat? A warning? I hadn’t ever had a flash of memory come back to me, not in fragments, nor in split-second moments. I had absolutely no clues.
Shaking my head to clear it, I pushed my sleeves up in determination. I set to repairing a broken, smaller timepiece, if only to reassure myself that there were some clocks I could fix. “By the way, could you find me another brass mainspring?”
“Eh? What happened to the last wretched thing I found for you?” Chez shot me a suspicious look before his expression cleared. “Don’t tell me you’ve been going to Tulgey Woods again. That place is dangerous.”
“It’s not like it’s a long journey. The rabbit-hole tunnel is right by the foot of this tower.
Besides, I needed to fix that early warning system I’d installed for them.
I’m the only engineer anywhere remotely close, and you know that Jabberwocky doesn’t stop for anyone.
Otherwise, more creatures would have been gobbled up. ”
“Didn’t those flowers almost eat you the last time?”
My jaw dropped at the judgment in his tone. “In their defense, those flowers were starving. They couldn’t help their nature.”
Chez snorted.
Peering closely at the intricate mechanism in my hands, I resisted the urge to laugh along. “Besides, I accidentally poisoned them with that fertilizer I was experimenting with a few moons ago, remember? So, by my count, we’re even.”
“Hellooo!” A melodious greeting rang in the air.
Chez’s ears twitched, and his gaze darted around the lab. “Where is the mirror?”
I waved a hand carelessly toward the corner where the ornate silver full-length mirror leaned against the wall with a blanket thrown over it.
Popping over, Chez tugged on a corner of the throw with one paw to uncover the shiny mirror.
A petite, stocky woman in her puffy-sleeved, frilly dress with voluminous layers appeared in the mirror, sputtering and coughing at the dust, as if she herself had been cloaked with the threadbare blanket.
“Goodness! Has it been so long between calls you decided to bury me?” Her tone was a cross between amused and affronted. Then again, the Duchess had always been more sensitive than most beings on Wünder.
“Apologies, Duchess.” I tilted my head in greeting. “It has been quite a busy few weeks.”
She peered closer, her button nose and a puffy cheek flattening against the glass. “Darling, I can barely see you. Come closer, would you please?”
“I am right here, my lady,” Chez mewled, promenading before the mirror.
“Oh, Fluffy, I saw you a mere hour ago. I would like to catch up with Allie.” She fluffed her curly blonde hair, turning sideways to inspect her reflection.
I resisted the urge to shake my head. Since the demise of the Red Queen, who controlled her, the Duchess had become more and more accustomed to getting her way. I imagined it would be a fine day in Wünder indeed if she ever relented. Best not to dally.
Stuffing my hands in my lab coat pockets, I shuffled across the floor toward the mirror. “Chez has already told me. The river is still impassable.”
“Well, yes, and—” Stopping short, her big, blue eyes widened further.
“Oh, heavens, whatever in the world happened to you?” Aghast, she put a hand to her mouth before casting the cat a chastising look.
“I told you, Chez. We need to be looking after our dear Allie more closely. Look at her, living in neglect these past weeks. Why, she looks like she rolled around in the swamp waters bordering my villa.”
Pursing my lips, I swiveled on my heels. “No, I was merely having a disagreement with the unreasonable furnace.”
“Oh, my dear, you need to get out more. And not just to Tulgey Woods again, mind you. Those atrocious creatures are—” Her gaze drifted off to one side. “Oh.”
Glancing over my shoulder, I blinked twice to ensure I wasn’t seeing things.
The parchment invitation to the King’s Ball was shimmering on its own amid the mess on my worktable.
The Duchess lifted her hand in a slight wave. “What is this?”
Sparkling light trailed from the mirror toward the parchment, as if a gust of wind lifted the piece of paper in its grasp, floating toward her in response to the summons.
“Oh.” I tried to grab the parchment before the Duchess could read it.
But she barely needed to glimpse the embossed words before her eyes immediately lit up. “Oh, darling! You have an invitation to the Grand Ball tonight.” Already overly excited, she clapped her hands. “What a wonderful diversion!” Her tone all giddy, she bounced up and down on her feet.
Oh boy, here we go.
Eyes wide, full of possible scandal and gossip to be shared, the Duchess’s voice rose a few decibels.
“This event has caused quite a stir across all the kingdoms. Not a soul on Wünder can keep their curiosity at bay. You know, since it is also the first time that they are opening the castle since Ra—ehrm… since His Majesty took up his position.” She covered up her slip quickly, but naturally, I noticed.
Scoffing, I wrinkled my nose. “I am not going to this ball. Honestly, I’m not even sure how any courtier could muster attendance given how their king has terrorized the lands these past moons.”
Chez shook his fuzzy head. “It is by fear that our king means to rule. And it will also be by this fear that they know they cannot refuse. We are all his lowly subjects.”
I smirked. “Does anyone else miss the Red Queen by any chance?”
The Duchess waved a dismissive hand, as if her statement were obvious. “They are both just as ruthless, only in different ways.”
“At least nobody ought to be losing their heads tonight,” Chez quipped.
“I am quite certain it’s too early to say that.” My shoulders lifted. “This is a man who had lived the past centuries of his life contentedly bathed in deceit and slaughter.”
“Ah!” the Duchess exclaimed, changing the subject. “Either way, I am assured this Grand Ball will be absolutely lovely. And even though I have not received an invitation, I will surely not take this to heart. I will not even dwell on this accidental snubbing at all for even a moment.”
I exchanged a knowing look with Chez. “Surely.”
The Duchess propped her chin on her knuckles, her eyes surveying my appearance. “Well, you certainly can’t go to the ball like that. Your face is covered in soot, ash, and there’s grime all over your clothes, cinder—”
“What?” I crossed my arms over my chest. “I already said I’m not going to that—that—monstrosity of a—”
“Why, you cannot remain forever in this stuffy, old tower.” She waved a hand in nonchalance. “Otherwise, you might start to decay yourself. Is that mold on your trousers? We must get you cleaned up right away.”
“No! I am absolutely not going,” I protested. “I mean…” My arms fell slack to my sides, not wanting to exhibit my full apprehension. “I don’t... I don’t think it’s a good idea for me to…see him.”
“Then don’t.” The Duchess gave a curt nod.
“If you keep to yourself, perhaps nobody will notice. Just go to the ball, enjoy the festivities, and then come home.” When she snapped her fingers, there was a loud pop, a bright light, a gust of wind—and then I was standing wearing only my shift in the middle of the room.
“Hey!” I covered my body with my arms on instinct.
Startled, Chez’s mouth formed an ‘o’ as he darted his gaze away.
“What the…” My skin hummed, all tingly, freshly scrubbed. No trace of the grime and soot from before. I licked my teeth. “Did you also brush my teeth for me?”
“We don’t have much time.” She snapped her fingers again, and a veil of mist covered my entire body. “The ball begins anon.”
There was a tug at my waist. My eyes widened in disbelief as a tight, deep green bodice of a ball gown, somehow made of the heaviest type of satin and lace, clung to my torso and my hips before billowing out in a cloud-like skirt.
“What the hell, Duchess? What is all this…foofery?”
“Isn’t it fabulous?” She tossed her blonde curls. “This is an old dress of mine. I last wore it to a ball in Veridia—my, but it was a wonderful night. I’d met this lovely man who possessed the most wicked tongue you’ve ever—ah, never mind.”
I resisted the urge to chuckle at the glaze in her eyes.
She waved her hand again. “A story for later.” She cast a critical eye up and down my form.
“Anyway, I’ve adjusted this lovely dress to fit you, and of course, added some of my fabulous trimmings to match the occasion.
Since I’ve given up my old occupation, I thought I might shift my focus a bit.
And I’ve been busy learning new skills for dressmaking magic. I daresay I’m doing quite well.”
I declined to comment. Wrinkling my nose, I busied myself pulling off one too many ribbon embellishments from the foofy dress.
Given the Duchess’s old occupation was helping harvest human hearts for the Red Queen, calling dressmaking a ‘slight departure’ was an absolute understatement.
Chez must have decided it was safe enough to look again. Walking around me, he whistled at my appearance.