Location: The Tea Table, Wonderland
Bloody hell. Here I was, thinking that I would make one entry on paper, then file that paper away and never speak of it again, unless to ask myself whether or not it enough time had passed to throw it away. But nooo, of course not; that was a false sense of security if ever there was one. I had time to reheat my tea; that’s it. The aroma was delicious as I poured the dark liquid back into my freshly swabbed china cup, all ready to –at last!—enjoy the tea I’d set myself up for this morning.
And then there were footsteps against the grass… they reached my ears a second before my tea cup reached my lips.
“Damn.” I whispered, my tone downright bitter and my shielded eyes locked wistfully on my tea.
“...and here I had heard such good things about the manners of the March Hare.” she spoke. Yes, my intruder was a woman this time. She stood stiff, with her chin held high and a haughty expression on her face. Her skin was a sallow hue, one held by all of the vampire kind despite their ethnicity, and her dark hair was tugged back in a prim, elegant arrangement. A vampire, and clearly one of some authority… that left a sour taste in my mouth.“Excuse me. I have a bad habit of loosing my temper when people continuously interrupt my tea.”
“I apologize for interrupting your tea.” the woman said flatly. For a long second, there was silence between us… and then, I just couldn’t help it: I laughed. Never had a person spoken one thing and so clearly displayed their feelings for another. This woman was not sorry for interrupting my tea, or interrupting my anything; she was on a mission, which she clearly thought was exponentially more important than my plans for the day. I couldn’t help being amused; it takes a great deal of confidence to come to my tea table in such a way.
“Apology accepted. Please, have a seat.” I offered, setting my cup down and gesturing to an empty chair. “Welcome to my tea table. I’m the March Hare… but I have a feeling you might already know that, since you clearly came here looking for me. It would be rude for you not to introduce yourself, under such circumstances.”
“Of course.” the woman said, sinking into the offered chair stiffly. I could feel the disapproving tinge behind her gaze but made no comment on it as she continued. “My name is Countess Ambrosia… again, I pardon the interruption. But I have come here to speak to you of a very important matter.”
“I wish this was happening far enough in the future to make me feel nostalgic. Too bad.” I murmured, sipping at my tea at last. “Next, you’ll launch into a speech about those dastardly Dark Elves…” Ambrosia was suspiciously silent, and I sighed, my ears drooping. “Oh dear…” I groaned, already lamenting what I sensed that I had brought upon myself.
“It seems like you already have the gist of what I’m here to say, but I’ll say it anyway. Further clarification does wonders for reminding one of how serious this situation could become.” Was there a scolding note in her tone? I thought so, but she went on in a business-like fashion before I could mull over it any further. “The Dark Elves’ leader, Don Kuro, has taken steps towards power that must be stopped. Kuro was once an honorable leader of the Durem underworld. He was an outlaw, but he was fair and honest.”
“So I’ve been told.” I sighed into my tea.
“However, in recent years his growing lust for power has driven him to murder, terrorism and experiments with the occult.” Ambrosia continued stubbornly, a hard light in her eyes. I wasn’t even sure that she had heard my interruption, so I held back the urge to do so twice. “He must, must be stopped. Soon, before he amasses his power and throws our world into irreversible darkness.”
“I am most assuredly against both of those things. A world under the thumb of totalitarian rule does not appeal to me in the slightest.” I replied lightly, tilting my head to the side as I studied my guest. “However, I hope you’ll forgive me when I admit I feel more than a touch of skepticism about your words. My personal clashes with your people aside, one can’t exactly say that the vampires have been clean of any corruption bleeding from the Kuro clan. We here in Wonderland are wrapped up in our own little games… but our heads aren’t in the sand, Countess. And I… ah; I’ve had my interactions with your vampire clans. Any claims your people have at severing your ties to the Kuro Gang… well, they’re rather thin, at least with me.”
“I'm ashamed to say that many vampire families were in his employ for generations. Now, due to his intolerably depraved actions against humans and vampires alike, several major vampire clans have united to sever ties with Don Kuro; any vampires still dealing with the Kuro Gang will be regarded as enemies of our people.” Ambrosia reported a bit frostily, lips pressing into a thin pale line. She was quiet for a moment, and for a moment longer I thought she was going to continue with some sort of explanation for my clash with the vampire people… but I was to be disappointed. She sat back slightly in her chair, steepling her fingers together before her as she continued with her agenda: “We have reason to believe that Don Kuro is escalating his occult madness and intends to make a major play for power in the coming months. The vampire clans have gathered under our rightful leader, Louie, to fight this threat. Someone must stop him and, to be frank, no other grouping has the brutal, fighting force that we, the vampire race, have had available to us for generations.”
“Ahhh...” I sighed softly. “A sort of ‘fight fire with fire’ strategy.”
”Of a sort.” she replied a bit frigidly. “Though your reaction is somewhat disappointing. Are you not friends with Louie?”
“Friends? No... I have spoken to the man when visiting the H&R on the occasional shopping visit. And, as many did, I volunteered my time to help reconstruct the building when it was destroyed without cause. But I can’t say that I am a friend… and I hope that such a misunderstanding wasn’t what you based your visit upon.”
“No… but, considering everything, I had hoped you had some sort of personal relationship with him. It would have made things far easier.”
“I see. Well, then; I’m sorry to disappoint.” I said lightly, leaning across my table. “There is something that would make any sort of conversations or negotiations with you easier, though. I would like an answer about something.” I trailed off. The vampire didn’t speak; I took that as cautious consent to listen to my continuation. “I might be persuaded to take your side in this matter, though getting involved in nonsense such as this is usually outside my interest… if I can get an answer for my question.”
“Then ask it.”
“During the epic known as Frontier Skies, we were pitted against the vampires to save that ridiculous Jelly God with the delicious head of tea… a wide-scale skirmish, if I understand correctly. And yet, it seemed that my ship and its crew endured more unwelcome greetings from your kind than most.”
“You are referring, I assume, to the fact that you were targeted for drinking on several occasions.” Ambrosia said matter-of-factly.
“I would have used absolutely none of those words to describe it, but… yes, that’s the gist. So, let’s be blunt: why all the hate, hmm?”
For another long moment, Ambrosia was silent… and then she replied in a tone that she tried to make light. It didn’t suit her. “Your blood tastes very good. Some of the lower level among us just couldn’t help themselves.”
There was another moment of silence… and then I laughed. Laughed long and hard.
“Bullshit!” I giggled wildly into a gloved hand as Ambrosia sat in moody silence, patiently waiting for me to be over my laughing fit. “Utter and complete bullshit! But I understand; you vampires seek allies who do not question you, those who would stand by your side despite and in spite of the past. How could you possibly do so if you were willing to explain away your past misdeeds? Your reasoning would most certainly rally your intended allies against you more than ever before!” I concluded, clapping my hands together lightly. “…the past is the past. We humbly ask for your forgiveness for our past dealings, both with the Don and in… other instances.” Ambrosia replied frostily.
“A blanket response, if ever I have heard one..!”
“Yes. Be that as it may, I truly do hope that you can look past the events of the past. This is a noble cause, no matter what you may think. And your assistance in it would be invaluable.” Ambrosia said slowly, her tone gaining strength as she continued. “Do not let your biases and suspicions sway you, Hare. The Don has aims against you as well; if not now, than in the near future. With your best interests at heart, if nothing else, I hope that you will join us in our mission to thwart his evil ambitions.”
Think what I may about the vampires, I could tell that this woman who represented them was sincere, if in only one way: she believed the Don a threat, and was desperate to squelch it. But she was a proud woman; she had said what she had come to say, and now sat stiff and silent as she awaited my response. I was in no hurry, so I stirred sugar into my cooled tea, seeing if Ambrosia’s temper would best her. It did not, and I smiled as I took a long sip, only then seeking to reply to her inquiry.
“I want it to be known without any confusion or distortion: I generally do not like to participate in violent acts such as the one you propose. My violent nature and the past that birthed it are, undoubtedly, no secret to anyone at this point… yet, I have no urge to return to my beginning. Violence, which your enterprise will certainly contain… I really do try to avoid going out to seek it.” I paused to gauge Ambrosia’s nonexistent reaction before I continued. “However, the absolute rule the Don clearly seeks is not something that I can condone. And he has already made it abundantly clear that anyone who does not stand at his side is an enemy. So, to prevent this grab for power… I will you’re your resistance.”
Ambrosia grinned, something I would have thought impossible had I not ‘seen’ it happen myself. “You have made the right choice. Together, I know we can defeat Don Kuro and stop this madness. Thank you.”
“I will do what I can. But I warn you; I will not abandon my tea table. You can call on me for any manner of mission, and I pledge to complete it. However, I will also tend to my parties. Revolt or not, my teas come first.”
“Your priorities are madness.” the Countess stated, but there was relief and amusement in her tone. She was too content with adding one to her numbers to worry over the peculiarities of one such as myself. “You understand, of course, that taking up this regular place will only make you easier for the enemy to find? You will be an eternal target.”
“Let those that wish to harm me come; I am more dangerous amidst my teas than apart from them.” I said solemnly. It is doubtful that Ambrosia believed that, but she clearly made the decision not to pursue it any further.
“As you wish.” she said simply as the vampire woman rose to her feet. “I have many to address and, with your pledge of assistance, I’ll be on my way. But, first, take this.” Ambrosia slid a hand into her pocket and produced a small badge, then pressed it into my hand. “This is the symbol of our faction. You’ll recognize it as the sign of the Von Helson family. Wear it with pride, and know that your allies will do the same.”“Von Helson... how nostalgic.” I sighed, rubbing my thumb over the badge before shifting to attach the small ornamentation to the stiff material of my corset. The ruffles and lace were not amused at the intrusion, but made due; I allowed my hands to drop demurely to my lap and lifted my face to stare in the direction of my guest. “I will remember.”
“Then I’ll take my leave. Thank you for your… hospitality. I look forward to going into battle with you, Hare. You will hear from me when it is time to move.” she turned away, all business again as she finished with a, “Farewell.”
And that, future self or unfortunate tasked with reading this log, is how I did not drink hot tea and instead pledged my allegiance to a group of people who have enjoyed feasting on my blood in the past. I can hardly believe it, but, after further contemplation, I believe this is the only solution available to me. Vampires I have long battled against; should they turn on me, I am well equipped to take up the mantle again. But the Don and his Elves are mavericks; as of yet, I have no clear perception of their strength. War is inevitable, I sense; this seems the only safest path I can take. After the Don is defeated, well, then I will deal with my vampire ‘brethren’.
