Malice in Wonderland #1: Alice the Assassin by Lotus Rose Page A

then,” says the shadow. “Let’s see what Malice is up to right now. Hold on.”
    Alice’s shadow disappears. It’s quite an unnerving occurrence.
    Alice doesn’t have much time to “reflect” on it though, as it were, before her shadow pops back—for a brief moment, it appears to have kitten ears.
    The shadow says, “Oh, you shan’t believe this! Malice is going to try to summon the Cheshire Cat. If that hat works, now would definitely be a good time to use it.”
    Alice and her shadow point to the hat on the ground.
    Alice and her shadow put it on and tap the top.

 
     
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER TWELVE
    Malice and the Cat
     
    The vision before Alice’s eyes shimmers, then suddenly she is gazing at a girl wearing a cat suit. It’s as if Alice is hovering slightly above and a short distance away from the girl. The girl is sitting on the ground, in what looks to be an outside area with wooden plank floors. There is a wall made of cobblestones to the right. There are two guillotines behind the girl. It looks a lot like the Queen’s execution area where she sends creatures off to be beheaded.
    Alice gasps. “Oh! Why, it’s as if I’m floating above! Can she see me?”
    The shadow answers, “No, she can’t. You are watching from afar. I can see all that you see, as well.”
    “Is that Malice? At the Queen’s execution area?”
    “Yes, she got the cat suit from the Queen of Heart’s tailor. It’s glamored to summon and charm the Cheshire Cat. And she’s going to use the catnip too. But I’m afraid I must go now, lest he suspect.”
    “Lest who suspects?”
    Alice sees the shadow appear next to Malice on the ground.
    Catnip? They say it makes cats really amorous.
    Alice observes Malice more. On the ground, next to scurrying rats, is a jar, a ball of yarn, and the pistol. The rats are surrounded by a circle of white chalky substance. Alice assumes it’s some of the Queen’s special rat poison—the rats, sensing it, would be forced to stay inside the circle.
    Malice opens the jar, dips her hand into it, then smears some goopy substance onto her lips through the mask before shouting,
    “Here kitty kitty!
    Won’t you come out and play?
    I’ve got some rats, I’ve got some yarn,
    For you to swat today!”
    Malice looks around hopefully for a few moments, but now her shoulders slump.
    “Kitty kitty come out and play!
    I’ve decided to shoot myself today!”
    The head of the Cheshire Cat materializes in front of Malice. Just the head, as usual. Alice can only see the back of his head from her viewpoint.
    Alice feels fright go through her. If Malice shoots herself, I’ll die too! She shouts “No!” but they don’t respond. “Shadow? Shadow stop her! Shadow come back!” None of it works, the shadow remains at Malice’s side, so all Alice can do is watch.
    “Hello Alice,” the cat says to Malice. “My, that is a fetching outfit you have on today. You’d make such a pretty kitty. And what is that? Rats and yarn? Gifts for me?”
    “Yes, to thank you for all your help.”
    “My pleasure, kitten.”
    Malice takes a deep breath. “Well, here goes.” She lifts the pistol, presses it to her temple. “Oh, but first, I’d like to request my customary kiss of death.”
    The cat grunts in frustration. “What?”
    “My kiss of death. Why it’s…customary! It’s only the polite thing to do.”
    “Yes, yes,” says the cat. “I’m sorry, where are my manners? I daresay it sounds a proper right and fitting thing to do. Well, here goes.” The hovering cat head floats to shift to kiss her cheek.
    Malice shouts, “Rudeness!”
    “I’m sorry, am I doing it wrong?”
    “Of course you are. Have you never given a kiss of death before?”
    “I’m afraid I haven’t.”
    “Well it’s got to be on the mouth! Well?” She shakes the pistol as if to say, “I can’t hold this here all day.”
    “Very well.” The cat floats and as far as Alice can tell from her viewpoint, they kiss for several