The Council of Adam:
(1911 A.D., The Pale Tower, Old Wonderland, the Realm of Ishrakie)
The hours of sitting cross-legged counting her breaths leaves Alice feeling supremely bored until at last the door to her room opens and Cheshire comes striding over to her, smiling amusedly at her. "It's time you saw a little more of the world. Come, come," Cheshire proclaims, gesturing for Alice to follow him.
Alice climbs to her feet and accompanies him out of the room. They proceed up a flight of stairs and then down a short hall that opens into the cavernous chandelier room that glitters with the light of many crystalline universes. From the ceiling hangs thousands of chandeliers. Some are gigantic and intricate with multiple concentric layers of different lengths and densities. Others can barely be considered wind chimes.
Moving deeper into the room, the chandeliers gradually grow more and more condensed together as they increase in number and size, occasionally overlapping. Their tiny geometrics sway and clang against each other as their colours fluctuate. Alice and Cheshire press onward as the room and the world begin to kaleidoscope around Alice.
Cyclonic waves of distortion and static twist in and out of reality, closing in on her. But then she senses it, something liminal... a being or many beings thinking as one, like a sentient cluster. It stalks her as she presses forward. Isit curious about her or is it compelled by darker appetites?
As she walks onward, she can feel it watching her, leering at her. Reality becomes thick and viscous, like swimming through honey as she struggles forward in an effort to keep up with Cheshire. The pressure of some unseen force compresses her body, forcing the air from her lungs. She feels the invisible presence stalking her, beginning to close in. It feels oppressive and powerful, like some great impending doom. She pulls in what little air she can one last time as the invisible predator overtakes her, draining what little strength she has left. Her body collapses as darkness threatens the corners of her vision. As the last of her vision fades to dark, she sees Chesire turn and approach her. The feline gentleman kneels in front of her and gently strokes her shimmering golden hair.
"Pity, not quite ready yet it seems…" Cheshire muses as he looks down at her and her mind sinks into the abyss of shadow.
*****
Light slowly returns to the world as Alice lets the warmth of the hand stroking her hair draw her back to reality from the deep, dark abyss of sleep.
"Welcome back, dearest little one," Ishrakie coos playfully as she lovingly plays with a lock of Alice's golden hair.
"What happened?" Alice mutters weakly as she smiles back up at Ishrakie.
"You passed out," chimes in Cheshire as he approaches from a nearby corner of the room and kneels down next to Ishrakie.
"Passed out?" Alice slowly sits up in her bed, rubbing her head in an effort to buff out the dull-aching pain still residing there. The blankets fall gently from her chest as she rises, revealing her naked bosom and stomach.
"Yes, you were not ready," Cheshire responds with poorly masked frustration.
"Fret not, precious Cheshire. She will be ready in time," Ishrakie presses as she places a tender hand on Cheshire's shoulder.
"Yes, I'm sure," Cheshire says sarcastically as he turns and makes his way out of the room in a less than subtle huff. Alice glares at Cheshire as he makes his way out of the room.
"Now... Now calm down Alice, I have faith in you, so chin up. It is time for you to get dressed. We do not want to be late,"Ishrakie continues as she leans in and places a soft soothing kiss on Alice's cheek before standing up and directing Alice's attention to her freshly cleaned and folded dress placed at the foot of her bed.
"Late? Late for what?" Alice responds with an inquisitive look of confusion as she crawls to the foot of her bed and begins putting on her dress.
"The time has come for me to present you to the Council of Adam," Ishrakie tells her as she drags her finger through the air, creating a sparking cosmic tear in the fabric of reality and ushering the newly dressed Alice through it.
Alice and Ishrakie emerge from the portal as Ishrakie closes it behind them. Alice looks around in bewilderment as she finds that they are now standing in what seems to be a magnificently designed triangular waiting room.
"Do not worry yourself too much, dear Alice. You are in friendly territory," Ishrakie proclaims as she notices an uneasy look on Alice's face.
"It's just the air in here reminds me of the waiting room of the dentist's office my mother used to take me to. I always hated that place," responds Alice nervously.
"Don't worry, there is no creepy dentist here," Ishrakie chuckles.
"Mostly they just want to meet you, look you over and ask you some questions. As my future successor, the survival of the whole Multiverse will, in the end, rest on your shoulders so it is only natural that the Council of Adam would request this meeting," Ishrakie explains, ghosting her hand over Alice's cheek and causing a soothing warmth to wash over Alice that calms her nerves.
"So when they ask you their questions, be direct and be honest, do not lie or deflect. Okay?" Ishrakie kneels down so that she is face to face with Alice and pulls her into a supportive hug. She gently inhales the sweet scent of Alice's golden hair before standing back up and reaching out her hand to beautiful lass. Alice takes Ishrakie's hand as the sound of a bell gently ringing three times reverberates throughout the room, revealing a great regal-looking door ahead of them.
"It's time… we best head in," Ishrakie proclaims, guiding Alice through the grand door before them. She shuts the door behind them before delicately giving Alice a little pat on the butt. Alice takes the hint and steps forward in the large circular rotunda before them, with Ishrakie trailing close behind.
The great domed rotunda is one of the most beautiful rooms Alice had ever seen outside of Ishrakie's White Tower. A dozen or so feet in front of Alice sits five mysterious individuals. The five strangers are all positioned around an elegantly designed semi-circular table.
"Come forward, Alice. There is no need for fear, my child," requests one of the strangers. To Alice, he seems to be a young boy with shoulder-length silver hair pulled back into a ponytail. The boy is clad in an immaculate white tailored suit with a shiny sapphire-blue necktie with blue-tinted round lens glasses to match. Alice steps forward as she is bid and presents herself to those seated before her, offering up a polite curtsy and an awkward smile.
"Please, there is no need for such forced formality, at ease," the boy responds with an amused smirk.
"Let's start with some introductions, shall we? My name is Minister Nenious, and this is the Council of Adam…" explains Nenious, gesturing to the other strangers sitting beside him at the table. Alice nods to the other strangers seated at the table as she looks them over.
"This fine gentleman to my immediate left is CaptainNemo," continues the Nenious, patting Nemo on the shoulder playfully. Alice examines Nemo, taking note of his pale blue exotic uniform, reminding her of a military uniform fused with the types of clothes she had seen in pictures of people from India. The captain sports a fine turban on his head with a full grey beard and tanned skin, further confirming her Indian-descent theory. Nemo offers the slightest of smiles before subtly bowing his head to her.
"Then we have this oh so dapper fellow right here who I am lucky enough to call a dear friend," proceeds Nenious, repeatedly tapping the top hat of the man sitting off to his immediate right.
"My name is Oscar Zoroaster Phadrig Isaac Norman Henkle Emmanuel Ambroise Diggs but since that is quite a mouthful most people just call me Oz, '' explains Oz, slapping away Nenious's hand with an amused chuckle.
"Oh, so modest. Now I thought it was 'the Great and the Powerful Oz," chimes in a giggling young girl of unimaginable beauty sitting just off to the right of Oz. The girl's eyes are a deep emerald green that seems to glow with a radiant unearthly light that only serves to match her radiant pale skin and softly glowing golden hair. Alice thought the girl was more beautiful than anyone she had ever seen, with the exception of maybe Ishrakie, but where Ishrakie was clearly older than her, this new luminescent angel of a girl looked to be no older than fourteen or so.
"Well, we can't all be Fairy Queens can we, dear Ozma of Oz?" chides back Oz to the giggling girl with a friendly but sarcastic smirk.
"Well, as our Wizard of Oz just said, my radiant girl, my name is Ozma Fairy Queen of Oz," Ozma declares to Alice with a playful wink. Alice smiles brightly at Ozma, offering up another curtsey.
"It's umm, well it's a pleasure to meet you," Alice replies, stuttering shyly.
"Yes, and I'm Sherlock Holmes. Now can we move on to the actual purpose of this meeting?" chimes a dishevelled and annoyed-looking man at the far left of the table.
"Oh, it looks like we made him mad, everyone," Ozma jeers with a laugh, looking over at Sherlock with a grin.
"Yes… yes, of course, let's move on to the business at hand," replies Nenious, gesturing for everyone to chill out before turning his attention back to Alice and Ishrakie.
"Well now, little Alice, let's start off easy, shall we? How are you feeling right now?" Nenious continues, beaming kindly at Alice.
"Nervous, sir," Alice replies, trying to keep her answers short, direct, and respectful.
"I see, things like this can be very awkward, but no worries, child. You are among friends here." Nenious leans forward and adjusts his glasses.
"Now I see from Ishrakie's report that you passed the first test of the Alice Program by making it to the White Tower within the allotted time. Bravo, a very good job indeed, but that does provoke a question that maybe you can answer for us. Why do you think you succeeded at making it to the White Tower when the two thousand and ninety-nine other girls who tried before you all failed?"
"What? I was unaware. Wow, that's so many… well, I actually don't know why me and not them other than…" starts Alice, looking confused and bewildered.
"Other than what?" Ozma replies, gesturing for Alice to finish her sentence.
"Well, I made a promise, you see. When our father died, I promised my sister I would walk her down the aisle one day just as a father would. I was determined to fulfil that promise, but now I've had to break it," Alice explains, hanging her head to hide the tears burning at the back of her eyes.
"That is hardly a satisfactory answer," Sherlock replies sarcastically.
"WELL IT'S THE BEST I HAVE!" Alice blurts out angrily before catching herself. Ishrakie steps up and embraces Alice from behind, helping her to regain her composure.
"I think it is a fine answer," Ozma proclaims as she, Ishrakie and Alice all exchange smiles, further calming the young girl once more.
"That's not the point. I am still not comfortable with the fate of the multiverse resting on the shoulders of a mere child," Sherlock presses, clearly even more agitated.
"And yet it does all the same, so I suggest you get used to it quickly," Ishrakie counters sternly.
"Calm down Sherlock. Ishrakie is right. The situation is what it is and there is no way around it." Nenious's tone is heavy.
"And after all, this girl is not alone in the burden fate has thrust upon her. She has us. Is that not why we are here right now? To help her save us all and to discuss the path of things to come?" Oz intercedes as Ozma high-fives him in agreement. Oz smiles and winks at Alice reassuringly.
"Indeed, it is," Nenious answers as he nods in agreement with Oz's words.
"Do you even truly understand what is being asked of you child?" Sherlock presses, his tone harsh as he glares at Alice.
"Ofcourse I do! I am being asked to carry on Ishrakie's burden after she is gone so that the Multiverse does not die with her. You want me to sacrifice MY life, MY freedom so that YOU and everyone else may live. So that my sister can grow up and walk down that aisle even if it means doing it without me," Alice meets Sherlock's gaze and holds her ground.
"Sounds like she understands well enough to me, Headmaster," responds Nenious, looking at Sherlock, who leans back in surrender.
"She shut you down there Sherlock, I like her. She's got spunk," Oz replies, firing a finger gun at Alice. Alice chuckles, appreciating the support, but finds herself taking note of the fact that despite all the chatter, Nemo has done nothing except smoke his pipe and stare at her silently as if studying her.
"Excuse me, captain but you seem to be the only one who has not spoken," Alice presses as respectfully as possible.
"I know all I need to know. I have heard your words, and I have looked into your eyes. A powerful spirit I sense in you and that is enough for me. The path placed before you is not going to be easy, but I will be there for you in whatever way I can, little Alice," Nemo responds, momentarily bowing his head in respect. Alice briefly bows back.
"Well then, shall we move to the next matter at hand? I believe, Master Ishrakie, it is time for you to present your proposed path forward for Alice's preparation," Nenious proclaims, gesturing for Ishrakie to step forward. Ishrakie steps past Alice, taking centre stage as all the attention is directed to her.
"Alice has already passed the first test by reaching me in my tower, however, she did fail to pass the second test, there are still some powers of the tower, some forces she is not prepared to handle, but Cheshire and I will work with her round the clock. She will be ready in time. I have faith in her. She will not fail us."
"Well, I, for one, do not find your 'faith' in her at all comforting by your own admission. She failed the second test already. In fact, as Cheshire reported, she and I quote 'passed out'. How can this not be taken as deeply concerning given just how short the window for her preparation is? Come now, Ishrakie, in your most recent report, you admitted that your condition is deteriorating quicker than previously anticipated. I am afraid I must insist that this council consider my prior proposal for a secondary redundancy measure."
"That proposal was removed from consideration, Sherlock," Ozma counters forcefully.
"Well, I'm invoking my prerogative to insist on the matter."
"Feel that strongly do you?" Nemo blows pipe smoke from his mouth and chuckles.
"Clearly he does. Tell me, Sherlock, is there no limit to how much of an ass you can be?" Oz stares at Sherlock, annoyed.
"Whether it makes me an ass or not, I am still insisting the matter be considered. To not do so would be the height of irresponsibility given the situation as it currently stands," answers Sherlock unwaveringly.
"Is the proposal even possible? I mean, look at her," counters Oz.
"According to Ishrakie's own most recent report, the girl has had her first menstruation so scientifically it is possible."
"Come now Sherlock, be reasonable…" starts Nemo.
"Do I not get a say? I assume this proposed redundancy measure involves me, does it not? Should I not be given a vote?" interrupts Alice, stepping forward.
"Alice, I…" Ishrakie starts, bringing herself down to Alice's level, but the young girl smiles and places a finger against the pale goddess's lips, silencing her.
"It's okay… whatever it is, I already said I'm yours,"
"May I?" Sherlock chimes in impatiently. Ishrakie steps back as the rest of the council falls into an uneasy silence.
"Please try to understand Alice, it is nothing personal against you, but look at this from my perspective. You are not ready, and you already failed one test. Ishrakie's time is narrowing, and if she dies before you are ready, then you die. I die. We all die but there is a solution, the only solution..." starts Sherlock, but Ishrakie raises her hand, bringing him to silence before turning to look upon Alice, her eyes conveying the weight of what is about to be explained.
"What he means to say is, if I die before your training is done, it's all over but if half me can be preserved in you, it could theoretically sustain the tower network and thus the Multiverse just long enough for Cheshire to finish your training even if I am already gone.
"Half of you? You mean a child?" mutters Alice understandingly as she hangs her head.
"Please look at me, Alice… I wasn't even going to bring it up unless there was no other choice, a line I do not believe we have yet crossed, but there it is," Ishrakie pulls Alice in close, stroking her hair.
"I'm sorry, Alice. Sherlock should not have pressed the matter. I'm so…" Ishrakie coos, trying to comfort the girl.
"It's okay, it's better that I know…" Alice interrupts. "I cannot answer right now, but I'm yours, whatever that means. I'll think about it just in case it becomes necessary,"she continues with a half-hearted smile.
"Is that good enough for you, Sherlock or do you want to really traumatise the girl?" Ozma jeers to the cold glaring man at the opposite end of the table. Sherlock nods silently before leaning back in his chair.
"Okay, now that that's over. Ishrakie would it be alright if our Dr. Watson here escorted Alice on a tour of our facility so that we may discuss other pressing matters with you more thoroughly?" Nenious asks as a well-built man of average height with a full beard wearing a tweed overcoat and a bowler hat enters the room from behind Ishrakie and Alice. The man smiles warmly at them, offering a respectful bow of greetings. Ishrakie and Alice both nod back to the man respectfully.
"Alice, would you be so kind as to let Dr. Watson show you around the place while I deal with some other pressing matters here?" asks Ishrakie as she gestures for Alice to take the man's outstretched hand and go with him. Alice hugs Ishrakie before turning to Dr. Watson with a friendly smile to match his. Hand in hand, Alice and Dr. Watson proceed out of the room, shutting the door behind them.
"I assume you wish to discuss the recent attack on this facility by the Woodsman and Dorian Gray?" proceeds Ishrakie once Alice and Dr. Watson are out of the room.
"Indeed, that is one of the matters at hand, yes and since you brought it up already, it is a fine place to start," answers Nenious, stretching forth his hand towards the centre of the room causing a great holographic layout of the facility and all other relating battle data regarding the Woodsman's recent attack to fill the centre of the room so that Ishrakie and the others gathered may view all the relevant collected data.
"The extent of the damage to the facility was extensive, but luckily most of it was superficial and while the loss of life was great, it could have been far worse," Nemo explains, gesturing towards the various statistics displays.
"Yes. However, the Woodsman did complete his goal. Mr. and Mrs. Darling were killed and their young daughter Wendy has been put into some sort of Magical Sleep and so far no method has been able to wake her. It is clear from the Security Footage that Wendy was the Primary Target," Sherlock interjects.
"Yes, I have already read all of this in the attack report you sent me right after the incident. However, I am curious. Have you been able to ascertain why the Woodsman was hired to target Wendy?" Ishrakie asks.
"Unfortunately, no, we have not," Nemo responds, eyes heavy with the weight of the matter as he refills his pipe. Ishrakie nods understandingly.
"It is clear that since the Woodsman was able to breach the barrier of this Island that he is benefiting from powers beyond himself, most likely thanks to whoever currently holds his contract. That would make this current contract holder the strongest entity to ever employ him, more likely a group rather than a singular individual if I had to guess."
"Yes, we thought the same thing, which means the question of who hired him most likely falls squarely into your domain of knowledge, dearest witch-sister," Queen Ozma chimes in, smirking at Ishrakie.
"I would have to agree with that assessment. I'll look into the matter, though I do already have a few theories, I would be willing to share," Ishrakie responds.
"By all means, enlighten us," Oz leans back in his seat and gestures for Ishrakie to proceed.
******
"It is very nice to meet you, Alice. I have heard so much about you," Watson proclaims jovially.
"Thank you. Do you know Ishrakie also?" Alice asks, looking up at the man as they walk.
"Absolutely, she and I have had many tea-time chats," Watson smiles.
"Oh Watson, it is so wonderful to see you," cheers an excitedly chipper girl. A blue and green chequered apron-style dress very similar to Alice's blue dress in cut and make clings tightly to the girl's body. The girl's dress is paired with a protective armoured vest secured to her torso by tight leather straps. She has shoulder-length brown hair topped with emerald-lensed goggles and sports white leggings with buckled shimmering silver shoes. On her back, she wears a shining ruby backpack. The girl hugs Watson warmly. Watson gleefully returns her embrace.
"What are you doing here, little one?" Dr. Watson asks with a welcoming smirk.
"Since Queen Ozma and Oz were coming here to attend the council meeting, I figured I would tag-along so I can check on John, Michael and Wendy," the girl responds as she detaches herself from Watson. "Oh, hello. Who is this stunning lass?" asks the girl, suddenly taking notice of Alice's presence. The girl stands a little taller than Alice, but not by much.
"Uh, yeah sorry. Some introductions are in order. Dorothy, this is Alice Lordell. Alice, this is Dorothy Gale," replies Dr. Watson, stepping out of the way so they can get a better look at each other. Alice's sapphire blue eyes lock with Dorothy's almost luminous viridescent stare.
"What a pleasure to meet such a truly alluring girl," Dorothy proclaims with a devilish wink as she tenderly takes Alice's hand in hers and places a gentlemanly kiss upon it. Alice cannot help but notice the verdant nail polish adorning Dorothy's fingernails.
"Um, okay, thank you," Alice replies, curtsying nervously to Dorothy as a rosy, warm blush builds in her cheeks, drawing forth a playful giggle from Dorothy.
"I have actually been hearing a lot of chatter about you. I just did not think you would be so beautiful," Dorothy chuckles, causing Alice to blush even harder.
"Oh, Watson, can our dear Alice please join me in checking on the Darling Children?" Dorothy begs as she takes a firm but gentle hold of Alice's hand.
"Well, that's really up to her, isn't it? However, I can inform Ishrakie where to find her if she does wish to accompany you," Watson replies with a regal chuckle.
Alice looks to Watson, still unsure of what to make of this new girl, but he just smiles back at her and shrugs. Alice turns to the beguiled, grinning Dorothy before nodding in surrender, causing an ecstatic squee of joy to escape Dorothy's sea-foam-tinted lips.
"Check the Medbay. That is where you are most likely to find them," Dr. Watson calls out as Dorothy skips off, her hand locked with Alice's.
As they close in on the Medbay, the aura of solemn despair washes over the girls like a wave dampening their spirits. Sitting sullenly in the thick polished metallic-white frame of the Medbay Observation window is a brown-haired young teen leaning back against his friend's chest as his copper-haired friend holds him supportively. Both boys are staring into the Medbay, their gazes locked on the sleeping body of a girl in her mid-teens. The brown-haired boy cries into his copper-haired friend's sleeve. Dorothy gestures to Alice for them to approach cautiously, out of respect for the situation. Another younger-looking boy sleeps at the feet of the tearful brown-haired boy.
"Okay before we continue, the crying brown haired-boy is named John Darling, and the copper-haired boy holding him is his boyfriend Slightly. However, they have not actually come out yet, but let's just say it has been obvious to everyone for a while. Still it is probably best to act like you don't know. Now, that younger boy there sleeping at John's feet is his younger brother Michael Darling and the girl in the Medbay there, the one John is crying for, is their older sister Wendy Darling. Remember, we are just here to check on them, not make them feel worse. I am more familiar with their situation, so let me do the talking, okay?" Dorothy explains to Alice before they make their final approach to the group of boys.
Dorothy guides Alice as they slowly step forward, letting the softly reverberating sound of their footsteps alert John and Slightly to their presence. Slightly is the first to acknowledge them with a halfhearted nod before alerting John to the presence of the two girls.
"You two look exhausted. Can I get either of you anything? Some food, tea? Maybe some coffee, perhaps?"
"Some coffee would be nice. Thank you, Dorth, you've been a rock in this hard time, really," responds Slightly as the crying John nods in agreement and casting a meek smile to Dorothy.
"Of course, I am always happy to be of service. This is Alice, by the way," replies Dorothy, gesturing to the blonde lass holding her hand.
"It... it's ni... nice to me... meet you, Alice," John mutters, looking back at his sister.
"Terrible circumstances for meeting new friends, right?" chuckles Slightly timidly, exhaustion showing in both his voice and his eyes.
"I'm so sorry for what you must be going through. A sister is a terrible thing to lose. The love of a sister is a powerful, magical thing," Aliceresponds cautiously, in an effort to not make the boys feel worse.
"How about we go get you that coffee, We'll be back ASAP," Dorothy chimes in, bowing low for a moment before guiding Alice onward down the hall.
"It's this way to the mess hall and the coffee," Dorothy explains, gesturing with her head to the direction signs that line the hall.
"For what it's worth, I think you are being very brave," Dorothy continues, her tone suddenly growing more serious as they proceed into the mess hall.
"Pardon? I mean yes, I suppose," Alice replies, taken aback by her sudden change in tone as they come to a stop at the coffee station.
"I mean it. Really," presses Dorothy, momentarily locking eyes with Alice. Alice averts her gaze as uneasy self-consciousness washes over her.
"If I am being honest, it often makes me feel terrified to think about it," Alice responds, hanging her head in shame.
"Hey, you listen to me. Take it from a girl who has done battle with wicked witches, flying monkeys and loads of other assorted monsters. Fear is nothing to be ashamed of, do you understand?" Dorothy counters as she pulls Alice into a warmhearted embrace, placing a tender, supportive kiss upon Alice's forehead.
"Remember Alice, being brave is not the absence of fear but rather the decision to push on in spite of it," Dorothy posits as Alice nods meekly.
"Hello, there, girls," Ishrakie interjects, appearing beside them.
"Ishrakie?! I missed you!" Dorothy squeals as she glomps onto the pale witch excitedly.
"Oh, it's good to see you again too, dear," Ishrakie coos as she runs her fingers through Dorothy's hair for a moment before pulling away and turning her attention to Alice.
"Did you have fun with Dorothy while I was busy?" she asks
"It was interesting," Alice replies, smiling awkwardly at Dorothy.
"Well, we best be heading home. Best not to leave Cheshire alone too long,"Ishrakie proclaims .
"Until we meet again, my lovely Alice," Dorothy interjects with a slight bow as she once again places a kiss on Alice's hand, causing Ishrakie to giggle and Alice to blush once more.
With farewells said, Ishrakie uses one of her fingers to open up another gateway. Ishrakie takes Alice's hand as they step through the portal home, leaving Dorothy to finish retrieving coffee for John and Slightly.