Albion Grimm

The predator.

Dinner consisted of a vegetable salad and pumpkin soup, roast meat with balsamic sauce with creamy potatoes. It felt a bit awkward to be attending a dinner party, but I enjoyed every dish that was served.

“Alas, Ayla. There’s something I’d like to ask you.” When I had finished my roast meat, Albion spoke up. He gazed over the table into my eyes.

“What is it?”

I stiffened my spine, fighting the urge to shrink into the chair.

“It’s about what happened today. Red informs me that you used healing magic. How are you able to use magic?” His gaze intensified, and I felt he could see right through me.

“I read about it in a book. I just did as it said. I didn’t think I could.”

“I see. So you didn’t have any practical experience.”

“Wow. That’s amazing. You succeeded in using magic on your first try.” Hansel’s eyes sparkling with wonder.

“I guess magic suits people from Wonderland.” Red sat back with a satisfied look on his face. “Yeah, you seemed so sure of yourself, so I assumed you had little practice.”

“The residents of this kingdom are not very good at using magic. It’s not something they can do in an everyday basis. Healing magic is especially hard.” The soft smile on his face had my cheeks warming. “This does not apply everyone from the World of Stories, as Wonderland residents are very proficient at using magic.”

Wonderland... How is Luke’s doing now.

“Are you familiar with Wonderland? Do you know about Luke?”

“Luke… Luke is the Hatter, right? I know a little about him, why?” Hansel raised his hand in reply.

“Do you know if he’s doing all right? Is it peaceful in Wonderland?” Albion might make life hard for him if he knew that he was also from the real world. Hansel gave me a nod in response to my vaguely worded question.

“There’s no need to worry about that. Nothing major is going on in Wonderland right now. The Hatter has pretty strong magical powers. I don’t think he has to worry about being in danger.” Hansel spoke softly as if to reassure me.

“That’s good to know.”

“The Queen of Hearts, who was recently crowned, is said to be doing well in her new position.”

“Oh? There’s been a transfer of power in Wonderland?”

“Well, now that you mentioned it. I don’t recall anything like that ever happening before.”

Albion remand quiet, watching my every move. I found my gaze shifting to him often, he looked to be contemplating something.

After we finished eating, we retired to our respective rooms. Albion asked Red to escort me to mine ‘so I wouldn’t get lost again.’

“Ayla,”

“Yes?”

Red suddenly stopped, his cheeks flushed, but his eyes serious.

“I really appreciate what you did to save the resident who was attacked by Douglas. It’s my fault Douglas became the way he is. If he didn’t have a grudge against me, that man wouldn’t have been attacked.”

“Red, if I hadn’t of been with you, I would of walked right into him. Or he would have attacked me, too. I think it’s safe to say I was able to escape him because of you, don’t you think?” When I posed this question, hoping he would agree, but he gave me a wry smile.

“When you put it that was, it makes me feel better. Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.”

As we started to walk again, he seemed to remember something.

“I was thinking during the dinner party,”

“About what?”

“The King seems to mellow out when he’s talking with you.”

“Do you really think so?” I found it hard to agree with his observation, but it sounded much more plausible than when he said he was ‘opening up’ to me while we were in Grimm Town. I pondered his statement in silance as we finished walking to my room.

As soon as I got into bed my memories took over.

“Now that I have the Queen of Hearts, all that I need is my Alice.”

I saw the Spinner of Tales, his back to me. This was my last memory before I approached the Spinner of Tales and demanded that he returned my friend.

The Queen of Hearts…

My eyes snapped wide open as I absentmindedly whispered these words. That’s right. The Spinner of Tales forced my friend to become the Queen of Hearts. I wondered of my friend had since been released. No, I suspect she’s still in Wonderland. I should have tried to find out more about the Queen of Hearts. I felt my chest grow tight, as I started to think about what happened earlier. Going into town, using magic and attending the dinner party. Not being able to find my way home, and not knowing the whereabouts of my friends left me feeling uncertain, but I also felt that I had somehow managed to become closer to the King. At least that’s one positive outcome. With these thoughts swirling in my head, it took a long time to fall asleep.

In the Kingdom of Grimm where dawn never came, a lamp shaped like the sun signalled the arrival of morning. I could sense brightness even with my eyes closed, so I reluctantly opened my eyes. The first thing I noticed was a strange man sleeping in my bed. Screaming I leapt out of bed and ran to the door as fast as I could. I rushed into the hallway so focused on getting away that I ran into a very solid warm wall of muscle.

“You seem to be quite a hurry.” Grimm’s cool voice echoed above me. His warm hands on my waist holding me steady. “Can’t you make a more dignified exit?” My face felt like it was burning as I glanced down to see my heaving chest about to spill out from the thin top I had slept in

“It’s an emergency! My bed… In my bed… Why?” I was so shocked that my words made no sense as I tried to explain.

“Where do you think you’re going in your sleepwear?”

“There’s a strange man in my room!” I pointed to the door.

The King’s gaze followed my hand and looked inside the room, causing his brows to furrow.

“I think I know what’s going on.”

He let out a sigh and marched into the room.

“Wake up.” The King grabbed the man by his shirt and shook him as he lifted him out of the bed. This was the first time I’d ever seen him get physical with someone, and the way his arms bulged held my fill attention. How had I never noticed before?

The man’s grey hair was messy, but he still sounded sleepy.

“I said, wake up!” His voice was low and sounded colder than I had ever heard from him before. His words weren’t directed at me, but I couldn’t help the shiver that rocked my body. When the man finally opened his eyes, he blinked several times.

“Wow. Even unconscious I managed to make it to your place, Grimm.” He smiled, not even noticing me in the room.

“Actually, it’s me who managed to find you sleeping in a random room.”

“So, what you’re saying is, you came to welcome me.”

Despite the King’s unmistakable ire, the man seemed oblivious.

“Well. First of all, you need to introduce yourself to the woman you startled, who happens to be staying in this room.”

“Oh, is that right? My apologies… I think, your very beautiful. I thought I sensed someone sleeping.”

“Are you for real?”

“How do you do, Alice. Er…  it’s not Alice, it is? Anyway, I’m Frederick Grey. I’m from Wonderland.”

“From Wonderland? Wait, don’t you fall asleep in the middle of our conversation!”

I watched in shock as, unbelievably, he fell asleep again right before my eyes.

“I don’t have time for this. Finish what you were saying, Frederick.”

“Hm? Oh, that’s right.” Frederick blinked again when the King shook him once more.

“You know, I keep telling you to come through the castle gate when you arrive. Is your head just for show or is it riddled with holes, like cheese?”

“Mmm, cheese sounds good.”

“So… did you ask him to come?” I attentively asked.

“I did. I have a few questions I’d like to ask him. You can join us later, after you’ve changed and had breakfast.” His eyes racked down my body, his eyes holding a hint of desire.

“All right.”

“And with regard to the Queen of Hearts…”

“Have you found something?”

The King appeared to be caught off guard by my interruption.

“I see you have regained some of your memory. The Queen of Hearts is a resident of your World.”

“I knew it!”

Before I could ask him how he found that out, the King narrowed his eyes.

“I despise people who don’t belong to the World of Stories. No matter how hard he tries, the Spinner of Tales can’t pull the wool over my eyes. She’s connected to you just like the Hatter.”

“Yes… The Queen of Hearts is a good friend of mine.”

“I see. Frederick should be able to apprise you of the situation in Wonderland.”

“Huh? Me?”

Apparently having fallen asleep again, he looked blankly between the two of us.

“Ah, in that case, I’ll just go back to—“

“You need to come and fill me in on the details.”

“Oh.”

Albion dragged Frederick out by his arm as he tried to go back to sleep. Leaving me alone in my room.