Alice Games

by Michelle R. Reid

The crowd in the front of the picture threw their hands in the air and cheered. Voices off screen exclaimed with adoration, “Jewel Queen!”

  She smiled graciously and bobbed her head. “This is a momentous occasion. Your selection for the next queen has been accepted by Oz.” Jewel Queen motioned to the boy beside her with a graceful hand. “It is my pleasure to introduce Queen Candidate White.”

  The people down below cheered.

  Queen Candidate White grinned wide and raised a hand in acknowledgement.

  My mouth dropped open. This was White Wizard when he was younger? He looked so bright and eager. So harmless and—from the way the people were yelling his name—so loved. How did he go from this young man to someone so feared today?

  Whispers from the crowd off camera echoed from around the frame.

  “So young.”

  “So highly recommended!”

  “My son studies with him. I think we can expect great things from Queen Candidate White.”

  When the cheering began to quiet, Jewel Queen raised her hand, silencing them completely. “Now there are things that young Queen Candidate White and I need to discuss. There are also many things that need to be done for tonight. You are all welcome to come and rejoice with us in the castle gardens. Until then, have a pleasant day.” She bobbed her head to the cheering crowd and motioned the young man off the balcony.

  The camera suddenly zoomed in at a dizzying pace, up the wall, over the balcony, and through the door as White held it open for Jewel Queen. It was like trying to watching a shaking amateur’s homemade film, shaking, spinning, and all. I put a hand to my forehead, trying to ward off the instant motion sickness, and squinted at the screen. I didn’t know why I was seeing this, but I didn’t want to miss anything either.

  On the other side of the door was a lavish antechamber decorated in rich jewel tones. Jewel Queen walked over to a chair and took a seat. She folded her hands together and smiled softly at Queen Candidate White, kindness radiating from her thin face. The view was close enough that I could see the rich blue of her eyes. “I image you’ve had a busy day so far. We haven’t had a chance to really talk since I called you to my throne room. How are you feeling?”

  Queen Candidate White shut the door so that it barely made a sound. “Wonderful.” He smiled, so happy, so excited. “It almost doesn’t seem real yet.”

  She laughed a little and nodded. “Yes. I remember feeling the same when I was first called.”

  The smile slid off his face a little, and his head cocked to the side as he contemplated her. For the first time, he didn’t seem so innocent. Just curious. “Aren’t you scared? I mean, me being called the Queen Candidate means that you … won’t be Queen anymore. I mean, uh…”

  Still her expression was kind as she nodded wisely. “You mean, I’ll die soon?”

  He swallowed and nodded, looking away as if a little worried.

  She reached up and took the crown from her head. She brought it down to eye level and stared at it, shifting it between her fingers so that the light caught on the precious gems and flashed rainbows across her pale face. “I’ve been Queen for a very long time. So long, I can’t even feel the crown anymore. As much as I love Oz and my people, it will be a relief when I can rest.” She placed the crown back on her head. “As light as this ornament is, sometimes, it’s very heavy.”

  Queen Candidate White stared at the crown nestled in the folds of her white hair, desire burning in his eyes. He licked his lips. “What is it like to be the most important person in Oz?”

  She tilted her head to the side, surprised by his question. “What do you mean?”

  He winced and fumbled with his hands as he sought for words. “I mean, you’re the Queen.” He motioned to her.

  “Ah, yes. You are Lord Larse’s son, after all.” She nodded slowly like that explained a lot. She stood up and walked over to him. “Listen, Queen Candidate White, because this is vital. I am not the most important person in Oz. I am no more important than a man in the field, pulling out beets.”

  His forehead scrunched up as in confusion under his white-blond hair.

  My face must have mirrored his—I was just as surprised at her answer.

  She put a hand on his shoulder and stared earnestly into his eyes, her rich blue against his pale grey ones. “As Queen, I am nothing more than a servant assisting the people. A mediator between them and Oz. A bringer of harmony. That is why it takes the people to elect a person and that person to be compatible with Oz before he or she is fully accepted as the new Queen. The Queens don’t live longer than any other person in Oz. We are called, serve our purpose, then we die.” She smiled softly, her hand moving from his shoulder to gently touch under his chin. “You see, while the job of Queen is the most important, it doesn’t mean that I am.”

  He shook his head, still confused.

  She nodded slowly, his hesitation troubling her a little. “In time, you’ll understand.” Her hand dropped and she stepped back to smooth out the skirt of her teal gown. She took a breath, her smile warming again.

  He gave her a queer look. “How can you live with that ideal so simply? Isn’t it hard, when people are bowing to you and giving you everything you want, to live with that mentality?”

  She laughed a little then took his hands in a motherly way. Her face turned serious. “Above all else, it’s important that you control your emotions by the time you are crowned. Dark and negative emotions, such as arrogance—and hate and resentment, for that matter—are like poison to your connection with Oz. Not only could it fog up your link, but the negativity may bleed over and those are emotions that Oz simply can’t handle. Do you understand that?”

  He nodded. “Yes, Your highness.”

  This was it—finally, a clue to what was happening to Oz. It seemed that White Wizard had once been good. I mean, he was elected and loved by the people. But now his very presence turned Oz into a frozen hell and the people into animals. What changed him?

  Jewel Queen smiled as if all was well now. “Very good. Your link was forged only an hour ago, so you might not be able to feel it well yet, but give it time. Now why don’t we have lunch together and we can get to know each other more? After all, we will be spending quite a bit of time together while you learn how to be the new Queen.”

  “That would be wonderful, Your Highness.” He smiled eagerly.

  She motioned to the side door, letting Queen Candidate White take the lead.

  Just as he reached for the door handle, there was a knock.

  The young man paused before opening the door.

  A tall, broad man stood on the other side of the door. His hair would have been dark blond in his youth, but now the hair slicked back from his ears was white and silver. His chin was strong and square, eyes pale blue and cold. He was dressed in fine white and blue clothes. His perfect posture was controlled and stiff, his hands clamped behind his back.

  “Father,” Queen Candidate White said in surprise.

  Jewel Queen gave a pleasant smile, but there was a cautious flicker in her eyes. “Why, Lord Larse. I didn’t think we’d have the opportunity to see you at this hour.”

  Lord Larse’s face split into a perfect courteous smile. He put a hand over his heart and gave a low bow to the queen. “Greetings, your highness. You are as radiant as ever.” He stood up, still not acknowledging Queen Candidate White. “I was hoping I could have a word with my son. Congratulate him on his accomplishments.”

  The queen glanced between the two men then nodded her head to the side slowly. “Of course. I imagine you are quite proud of him.”

  Lord Larse nodded, looking at his son with same polite perfectness he used with the Queen. “Yes, I am.”

  The young man smiled and looked at the ground, as if trying to hide his pride.

  Jewel Queen put her hand on Queen Candidate White’s shoulder then nodded to Lord Larse as a farewell. “I’ll see you in a little while, Queen Candidate White. Until tonight, Lord Larse.” She patted th
e young man’s shoulder and walked out the door as the men bowed her out.

  Lord Larse straightened and turned to his son. “Get your things. It’s time we go.”

  “Where?” he asked in surprise.

  “Why, to go see your supporters.” Lord Larse motioned with a hand. “These lords spent a lot of time and money influencing the public and boosting you into this position. Now we have to make sure we properly thank them.” He took a deep breath. “Just think, the fruit of my loins, the next Queen.” It was like he was the one who got the position, not his son.

  “Oh, yes.” Queen Candidate White frowned and looked at the ground. “Could we do that a little later? Jewel Queen invited me to lunch and—”

  “I have no use for a disobedient son!” Lord Larse snapped, his voice echoing and amplifying in the small room. His eyes blazed with sudden anger and he leaned over his son. “You might be the Queen Candidate, but don’t forget that it was me who put you there.”

  Queen Candidate White flinched and bowed his head even more.

  With a small sigh, Lord Larse rolled his shoulders back into place. “Jewel Queen is a kind and forgiving woman,” he reasoned. “I’m sure she wouldn’t mind if you skip out this one time. After all, you’ll be spending a lot of time with her from now on, learning how to run Oz. Of course, I’ll be there as well, to make sure all goes well.” He pushed at his cuffs, making sure they weren’t wrinkled from his outburst.

  Queen Candidate White’s brows drew together, he was still torn. He glanced up, and his eyes widened in alarm when he met his father’s angry gaze.

  “Now,” Lord Larse ordered.

  Queen Candidate White nodded. All the emotions cleared from his face and he nodded. “Yes, father.”

  The image blurred and disappeared, leaving a blank brick wall in its wake.

  “Poor White Wizard,” the double voices whispered just behind me.

  I jumped and whipped around, but there was no one there. Just when I thought I’d imagined it, they spoke again.

  “Even as a Queen Candidate, he was still unable to escape the heavy hand of his father.” Winstum and Dean said together. I could hear them, but they weren’t physically there. I waited for them to talk more, but there was nothing but the sound of my breathing.

  All the hair stood up on my arms. “Winstum, Dean? Was that—did I just see a memory from Oz?” I asked to the sky.

  There was no response.

  It was the only explanation that I could think of that made any sort of sense. It was a memory of Oz. No one had animal tails, and the feeling—aside from the young White Wizard and his father—was friendly and relaxed. It had to be before Oz broke.

  I frowned. White Wizard was so young when he was chosen—and he’d been so eager to be important. Was Lord Larse the reason why Queen Candidate White turned into White Wizard? How different would he have turned out if his father hadn’t been there?

  My eyes roamed around one more time. When another scene didn’t pop up and the twins didn’t say anything, I started to walk again. The farther I moved into the maze, the less sense it made. I took every right turn, but the paths and rooms weren’t square anymore. Corridors cut off with rounded stone walls, and rooms were shortened in ways that seemed against their design. Why did it start out so squared off and then change to this distorted pattern?

  Where was the end? My legs were getting tired. I shouldn’t be going in circles since I was taking all right turns, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was.

  I was just passing down a long winding hallway when the wall shimmered. I stilled as another picture appeared on the wall. This time it was taller than me and twice as long. It was made out of bright, vibrant colors, so different than the dim maze. The image rose up out of the wall, like a 3-D movie but without the annoying glasses.

  In it, two men rode atop horses on a raised dirt path. On either side of the road were muddy farm paddies, freshly tilled and half full of water. In the background were tall trees, their multicolored leaves flashing bright against the blue sky.

  One of the men was White Wizard. He was older, in his early thirties and handsome as he was in his youth. He wore white and rode a gorgeous white horse.

  My eyes moved to the other man and I nearly fell over in shock. It was Ace! I couldn’t stop staring at him, taking in the differences from this picture to now. He was younger, looking to be about my age. His cat ears and tail were gone. Human ears peeked out from under the orange hair he’d shoved to the side. His dark brown eye held a naïve light that he didn’t have today. He was laughing, carefree and comfortable in White’s presence, and his blue and white clothes reminded me of a medieval squire.

  Queen Candidate White was listening to Ace, a controlled smile on his face as he contemplated Ace’s words.

  Just like the last one I saw, the scene started to move.

  White smiled wanly. “You like this Red girl a lot, don’t you?”

  “We grew up together. There weren’t many playmates to choose from, you know?” He smiled softly, his dark brown eyes shining. “But she is very sweet. It’s hard not to love her.”

  White frowned and glanced over his shoulder at Ace. A displeased expression flashed over his face before it settled to blank.

  Ace missed the look, his attention on something ahead. White’s horse tossed its head, pulling his attention forward. I turned my head and looked at what they were staring at.

  In the middle of the road was a cart full of vegetables and an old man in worn clothes standing by it. One of the cart’s wheels had fallen off, and the man was trying to get it back on. His old pony stood with its head down, blowing air at the dirt.

  White frowned and moved his horse a little closer, Ace trailing behind. “Move, please.” He might have used the word ‘please’ but the words came out like an order. “I have business at Jewel Castle that I must attend to.” Gone was the young man that had cowered before his father. In fact, it was like Lord Larse was the one in the saddle, not White.

  The aged man pushed up the brim of his hat with a weathered hand and squinted up at the horsed men. “Well, now. My cart can’t move. The wheel’s busted. You’ll have to go around or wait till I’m done.”

  White’s face flushed in anger. He glanced around, taking note of the obviously deep mud of the farm paddies. There was no way they could cross it and stay clean.

  Ace shifted and swung a leg over his saddle to dismount.

  White shot a hard look over his shoulder. “Stay.”

  Ace froze, mid-motion. He blinked, as if this was the first time he’d seen this side of White. “I’m going to help him fix—”

  “I said stay.” White turned back to the man. His horse shifted and tossed its head, trying to loosen the reins a little. “We can’t wait. Push your cart aside so we can pass.”

  A black vapor formed around Queen Candidate White, like steam, only black. And wherever it touched the picture, the picture seemed to warp and bend around the smoke, like it wasn’t compatible.

  I frowned—why did that seem familiar? Oh! It was just like the men who’d attacked Red Queen’s caravan before I entered the maze. Only, instead of just being where the men stepped, this angry black aura surrounded White and warped Oz wherever it touched.

  Ace slowly sat back down and soothed his horse with an absentminded pat, his eyes wide with open shock. It didn’t seem like he could see the black steam, it was what was happening in front of him that confused him.

  The old man frowned at White. “That could tip my whole cart into the fields. I could lose my all crop,” he said, dumfounded.

  White dismissed him with a wave. “The matters of one farmer. The business that I have at Jewel Castle is far more important.”

  The man’s weathered face turned mean and flushed purple. He pointed up at the man, dirty finger shaking. “Now, that ain’t right. You, Queen Candidate White, are no more important than I am. You and your squire should be down here in the dirt, helping me.”

 
White’s face smoothed over into ice cold stone. The black aura around him grew. “You know who I am, but you won’t move?”

  “Why should I?” The man’s arm folded across his chest.

  “I said move!” White flung out his hand.

  Instantly, the man and his wagon were encased in a huge block of ice. The old man’s pony gave a scream of fright as the ice block slid off the road, following the movement of White’s hand, and into the mud below. The whole thing landed with a slosh, mud splatting in the air.

  I screamed and stumbled back from the picture, eyes wide and unable to look away.

  Ace yelled in surprised, spooking his horse. He quickly shushed the beast, but couldn’t erase the horror on his face.

  The pony wiggled frantically, snorting and kicking its legs until it slipped from its mud-covered reigns. It struggled through the mud until it reached the trees and disappeared into the forest. The picture of Oz darkened and trembled, the color dimming from the sky and trees even though there were no clouds in the sky, as if Oz itself were affected by the murder.

  White stared at the ice on the side of the road then down at his hands. “How … easy.” His face had a look of awe, his breathing wasn’t even elevated at all. The bothered sounds of Ace’s horse finally reached him and he turned around, as if remembering that Ace was there. His own horse’s eyes were wide but it didn’t have enough lead to move.

  Ace stared at White. “You just—you—” He couldn’t seem to say the words.

  White turned his horse around and pulled up till he was face to face with Ace. “I just what?”

  Ace turned to stare at the ice.

  White reached out and grabbed Ace’s chin. He turned Ace back to him. “Nothing happened.” His words were heavy and cold as a glacier.

  Ace’s face contorted in horror. He took a breath and jerked his chin loose, teenage face set in determined resolve. He drew the sword hanging on saddle of his horse. “Queen Cand—I mean, Lord White, you are under arrest—”

  “How dare you try and demote me!” White yelled in sudden rage, the black cloud around him growing larger. “I am the future Queen of Oz!” He shoved a hand towards Ace.