WONDER ( Twisted Forbidden Tales ) Book Three

Two Worlds and Two Faces Part Two

“Hey, Issa darling, have you settled in for the night? I’ve come bearing good news my aunt has agreed to allow us inside the sanctuary. But our Time will be limited to just an hour. She asked that we take Tilly along if that’s okay. I know you two have your differences, so I wanted you to be prepared in advance.” he said

“Okay, I got it FiFi, and thank you for your hard work with this matter as well,” I said, not letting him on to what I truly thought about this.

“No worries, you’re my family too, I would help you in a heartbeat no questions asked, so don’t be too formal here, got it,” Anfim said sounding a bit perturbed.

“Okay, Okay FiFi, you rest well also goodnight,” I said as we both bid our goodnight and finished the call. A frown stayed on my face afterward as I thought about His aunt's condition. If she wanted Tilly along with us, that meant she was up to something. f**k! Had I unintentionally just put Hank on her radar? How could I forget Tilly’s obvious entrance when we first arrived at the Purple Pansy Bed and Breakfast?

“What’s wrong?” Hank asked returning from cleaning up after our late-night snack.

“Sit down, I need to tell you something, we need to be on guard tomorrow against Tilly and also her mother, it’s like this……….” As Hank took his seat beside me, I began to explain things clearly, from the Tweedle twins to Orchid Island leaving out the part about my daughter. I didn’t know why I did that but right now I felt he shouldn’t know about her.

Hank’s hands balled into fists in anger as he listened to my past here in Wonder Kingdom. I watched as his expression alternated to many expressive forms, but never interrupted giving me space and confidence until I finished all I had to say. I let out a long-awaited sigh after I was done. Looking at Hank as he sat there in silence for some time. I fiddled my fingers in nervousness. Would he still want me after knowing how tainted my past was? I couldn’t help the tears that threatened to fall now, as Hank's silence made the atmosphere in the room a bit tense. Unexpectedly he shocked me with his actions, swiftly taking me into his embrace. His embrace was filled with warmth, love, and protection with not a speck of pity wafting from him.

“Issa, what happened to you was never your fault to begin with. You are strong this much I know, you will always be beautiful and brilliant to me whether you are the Mad Bandit or you you, my Issa. We will make them pay an eye for an eye and I will be your armor as you do so. You have me now always remember that from this point on. I will never leave your side as long as you need for I’ve always felt that you are mine and I am yours.” Hank said his words in a whisper but embedded themselves deep in my heart.

“Hank….I…” my response was cut off by the eerie whispers that began echoing through the corridors, their unknown words twisted and distorted into chilling murmurs that sent shivers down the spine.

Hank and I eyes met in sudden awareness just as a haunting lullaby drifted through the air, its melody warped and twisted into a sinister refrain. Despite the chill that permeates the air, the wards surrounding each room suite offer a sense of security, ensuring that the horrors lurking beyond the door cannot breach the sanctity within.

The sounds and the presence felt familiar to me, the more I listened. It reminded me of Master Hatter and the stories he shared about his time at certain Asylum, but how could that be if it wasn't from this time? The shifts from the spell were time warps and loops had he been hinting at something back then this whole time? and I had failed to notice until now with the presence of two worlds in one. Would it also reveal the people with two faces?

The distant wail of the wind, and the creak of floorboards, only heightened the ominous feeling in my bones. Even so the strong pull to explore those noises was slowly creeping into my resolve. A pair of strong warm arms wrapped around me, making the feeling dissipate into nothing leaving behind just the feel of Hank's loving embrace as I found myself huddled underneath the covers in bed with him. I hadn't even known he moved let alone placed me under the covers from being too caught in my thoughts and sounds from the shift of the Purple Pansy Bed and Breakfast outside.

“It’s a nifty trick Issa, but I got you, so you won't fall for it. Many have fallen for something similar back in my realm. Don’t think of anything else but sleep unless…… you need some help with that hmm.” Hank said the last words of the sentence in a seductive drawl. I looked at him with my mouth agape for a moment before responding.

“What are you on about, you cheeky rogue! I’m going to sleep now shut it and join me unless you want to occupy that chair over there.” I said with an annoyed pout, yet snuggling deeper in his arms, turning my back to him the deep and soothing beat of my heart calmed me and straightened out the nerves I had left, that had me thinking too much about what the Bed and Breakfast had turned into at night.

Hank chuckled behind me and settled in behind me drawing me even closer to him. Still clad in our fluffy robes, both of us aware of being completely naked underneath, he still gave me the respect to not go any further than his cheeky words. He didn’t initiate anything more only holding me in his arms and giving me a different kind of intimacy one that I didn’t want to admit that I needed now more than anything. With the sound of his melodious heartbeat and his subtle breathing as he drifted off into sleep, it was easy for me to follow suit emptying my mind into a wonderful dream or shall I say awakening of more forgotten memories.

The next day as the morning sun rises, casting its golden rays upon the island's tranquil landscape, the memory of the night's chilling events lingers like a ghostly echo, a reminder of the secrets that lie hidden beneath the surface of the Purple Pansy Bed and Breakfast. I awakened to find myself bundled up in the covers with an absent Hank, my eyebrows set in a frown in immediate worry.

He shouldn’t be wandering around here, especially with certain eyes on him. No sooner than I thought about that a set of light but audible knocks came from the door. A voice I was so not ready to hear came through the door as she knocked. She was not that hospitable in the slightest, even though she ran this Bed and Breakfast now. I was instantly on alert as I struggled to get out of bed. Hank Had bundled me in like a burrito. The shy smile on my face couldn’t be denied as my heart felt all kinds of mushy warmth.

“Yoohoo! Are you awake my dearest Issa and friend, it's me, Tilly, I’ve brought you some complimentary breakfast, isn't that grand? Wait until you’ve seen the delectable spread I went all out to prepare for you, you two won’t be disappointed. Come on open up sleepy heads or the food will go to waste if it gets cold.” Tilly’s voice sounded through the door her light knocks not letting up and bringing an upcoming headache.

Hank emerged from the bathroom, dressed in a black short-sleeved fitted t-shirt and dark blue jeans. He just couldn’t forget his suspenders this time matching the color of his silver spiked hair. The suspenders looked to have strange symbols woven into them and I gasped thinking. Did Hank have magic in him? It didn't dawn on me that not once had I asked about himself, nor had he taken the initiative to give anything about himself away. I only knew from what I gathered before doing Intel back in Happy Town and now with the strange memories from last night, I had yet to put the puzzle together with his face in most of them.

I felt bad, but the stone had already been cast. Hank looked at me still in bed lifted his hand and shook his head motioning for me not to move and he would get the door. He took long strides toward but I wasn’t going to sit still as he said. I made haste dashing into the bathroom noticing my pack sack sitting on the sink counter in to to get changed. Suddenly, I realized that something detrimental. Hank didn’t have any clothes, but if he used my pack sack he would find some but there was a catch. This pack sack was specifically tailored to me both as Issa and the Mad Bandit meaning only I could access the workings of this special pack sack but somehow Hank had no problem obtaining what he needed. He had some explaining to do, but I wasn’t mad at him.

I heard the door open followed by the sound of cartwheels. Anfim’s cheery chatter followed behind Tilly’s footsteps as she entered. I let out a sigh of relief knowing Hank and Tilly wouldn’t be alone in the dining area as she set the plates of food on the table, taking her time to put on a display as she glanced at Hank from time to time. I slowed my movements down a bit fixing up my disheveled appearance in my hurry to get cleaned up and fully dressed. My ears stayed on alert as I listened to their conversation.

“Complimentary my ass cousin! Tilly, you are full of bull! This here array of food could feed an army, yet what about me your other guest did you forget I too came with Issa and Hank.” Anfim huffed.

“Oh….so your name is Hank, humph it suits you. I haven't seen someone like you around the Wonder Kingdom before, doesn’t matter though, it's good to have some new blood from time to time if you get me, right Hank.” Tilly’s voice changed from that of a humble proprietress to that of a hungry vixen in no time.

I slapped my hand down on the bathroom counter in anger, how dare she flirt with him! Hank, Happy, and which form he changed in belonged to me. Before Hank could even respond, I was already standing in front of him and Tilly’s face. I took a deep breath to calm myself.

“How much more shameless are you going to be Tilly, Hank is off limits to you, get that loud and clear through your head right now because you don’t want trouble from me.” I glared at her with deep meaning in my eyes as I spoke. Tilly slightly shivered a bit from my display of strong aura, but then righted herself and smiled, shrugging everything off as I expected like it didn’t matter but I knew better than that.

“Issa darling, look I was only kidding, he's all your’s I get it. Let’s just leave it as a missed opportunity. You’ve always been lucky you know, so as a truce please do enjoy this breakfast. You too Fifi, don’t get your panties in a twist this morning. Geez, so high-strung today! Hmmm on another note, the Sanctuary will be opening in two hours and the trek is a bit of a ways that’s why I’ve come bearing much-needed fuel for the road here. What a pity I’m being misunderstood here, sigh, I’ll take my leave then alright. See you later.” Tilly said with a sad look on her face as she glanced at me, but a clear glint in her eyes as they slid over Hank for one last time as she made haste to finally leave the room. The door closed with a deafening click, but to me, that was Tilly’s underlying response of declaring war.