The Wonderland Castle was unlike anything Scarlet had ever seen. Her mother had told her stories of how large and elegant it was, but it was like nothing she had imagined. The castle was massive. Its beautiful ivory exterior shone like a gem and gold paint trim twinkled in the sunlight.

  Scarlet was stopped several times before she made it to the entrance at the castle gate. She felt a smug victory as she flashed the invitation with Aurora’s signature. The guards looked baffled but allowed her through anyway. As she entered the castle, Scarlet was hit by how extremely underdressed she was. Ladies wore beautiful large ball gowns of many different colors. Pastels were apparently popular at the moment. Lace, ribbons, and rhinestones embellished them. Hair was in fancy updos or down in curls. Not a hair was out of place. Even the men looked dashing in their suits, their hair slicked back. Scarlet looked down at herself. She had given up wearing dresses long ago, it just got in the way of fighting. Instead, she opted for brown pants, a long sleeve black shirt, and black laced up boots. Her hair was back in a ponytail, the easiest hairstyle in her opinion. She looked more like she was about to do some knight training rather than attend a ball.

  It didn’t take long for guests to take notice of her. Their whispers weren’t as quiet as they believed. Scarlet tightened her fists, ready to flee the castle at any moment.

  “Scarlet!”

  Within moments of turning her head around, she was pounced on. Pale blonde hair tickled her nose as slender arms wrapped around her. Scarlet really wanted to peel this person off her, but the peoples’ silence and stares of complete shock caused her to hesitate. The petite girl pulled back, allowing Scarlet to see her whole face.

  Aurora beamed up at her, “I’m so glad you’re here. I was afraid you wouldn’t come.”

  Scarlet could only nod before Aurora looped her arm through hers, dragging her away from the entrance.

  “Why aren’t you wearing one of the dresses I sent you? Oh well. We can find you a new one in no time.” Aurora babbled on as she swept Scarlet up a spiraling staircase, down a long hall, and into a large bedroom where three maids waited.

  “This is my cousin Scarlet!” Aurora pulled her closer, closer than Scarlet thought possible, “Let’s fix her up, shall we?”

  The maids chirped excitedly but swapped looks with each other. Aurora sat Scarlet down at a large vanity with a mirror.

  “I’ll pick out the dress. They will fix your hair.”

  Aurora flitted over to a wardrobe and started pulling out dresses. Scarlet’s mind was swirling and empty at the same time. She could barely remember how she got in the chair. She had always imagined Aurora was a very friendly girl, but she hadn’t realized that she was also a ball of energy.

  “I think this would look pretty on you.” Aurora flung a dress towards them, one of the maids barely catching it before it could hit the floor. The other maids worked combing out Scarlet’s naturally wavy hair and securing it into an updo.

  Aurora babbled on about how she was so happy Scarlet was there, while the maids forced to her undress. Scarlet glared, her arms getting hot. She had to calm herself down to keep from burning them. The corset was difficult to breathe in and the dress was heavy, but when they were finished Scarlet had to admit she looked more beautiful than she ever had. The dress was a sleeveless ball gown in a dark maroon color. The bottom of the gown had been lined with gold and white rhinestones so they flashed at every movement.

  “You’re beautiful!” Aurora wrapped her arms around Scarlet from behind, causing her to wobble from the thin gold stilettos they had forced her in. Scarlet cringed and struggled to get the clingy girl off. Aurora took her over to the balcony, “Look.”

  Scarlet stopped struggling and stared in awe. Wonderland was laid out like a painting. The forests were vast, rivers sparkling blue, and small towns stretched out before her. She could barely see the small cottage where her mother was isolated, the Grim River behind it. Aurora had been able to see her from this far but Scarlet had never known. A knock at the door interrupted her thoughts.

  “Come in!” Aurora chirped. Scarlet watched as the door open and a knight came in. His blue and white uniform was one she had seen many times, in all cases they were soldiers harassing her. The only difference with his uniform was the eagle emblem on the right side of his chest, signaling his status as a royal guard.

  “Alistair!” Aurora grinned.

  “Princess.” He bowed. As he came back up, his eyes connected with Scarlet’s. They hardened and his demeanor became as cold as ice.

  “Alistair,” Aurora waltzed over to Scarlet, “My cousin Scarlet is a special guest tonight. I hope you treat her as well as you treat me.”

  “I can’t make such promises.” Alistair’s hard gaze never left Scarlet. She narrowed her eyes, her body tense. She opened her mouth to make a sarcastic remark, but Aurora sighed.

  “Alistair, you know this is important for me.”

  “I’m sorry Your Highness. Your mother is on her way.”

  Scarlet’s fists tightened at her sides. Aurora opened her mouth but clamped it shut without saying anything.

  As if on cue, Queen Victoria arrived, soldiers among her entourage. Her eyes scanned the room, briefly stopping on Scarlet before landing on her daughter.

  “My dear,” Queen Victoria clicked her tongue, “Why aren’t you dressed yet?”

  Scarlet glared at the Queen. She looked exactly as she had in the flames from where her mother watched. This was the woman who wanted her mother dead.

  Aurora shrugged, not looking straight into her eyes. Queen Victoria gestured at the maids, “Take Aurora to the royal chamber so she may get ready for the coronation and ball.”

  The maids wheeled Aurora away in a rush. Scarlet suddenly felt her heart sink.

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  The Queen turned on Scarlet as soon as the princess was gone. “I don’t understand why Aurora wanted to meet you. That girl has pestered me for years to bring you to the castle. Today is the only exception I will ever allow. You are here as a guest of the princess, soon to be Queen. But keep in mind, even when she becomes Queen, her father and I have influence over her and you will never be accepted at the castle, or anywhere in Wonderland for that matter.”

  Scarlet felt her blood boiling. She wanted to set the room ablaze, trapping this Queen in it to suffer.

  Queen Victoria smirked as if she understood what Scarlet was thinking. Scarlet gnashed her teeth, seething.

  “You look like your mother.”

  Queen Victoria turned away without another word. Everyone filed out of the room behind her until Scarlet was the only one left. Scarlet rushed outside to the balcony, gripping her hands around the beams. If she could she would just fly away. She didn’t want to attend this coronation. No one really wanted her here. She knew she could just leave if she wanted to. Aurora might be disappointed, but Scarlet was sure that Queen Victoria would convince her that Scarlet wasn’t worth putting any effort into.

  Scarlet looked out at her house. Her mother was probably watching her now. She had to deliver that letter to King Stephen or who knows what would happen. Scarlet went back in the room, grabbed the letter out of her discarded pants, and left the room. She held tight to the letter. Just deliver it and she could leave.

  Since Aurora had led her to the room in a flurry, Scarlet had no idea where she was. She remembered going up a staircase, but the halls seemed to stretch on forever. As she walked, she ran into fewer people and then she was alone. She stopped, looking up and down the halls. They were so long and they all looked the same. Scarlet huffed and went down an adjacent hall. This was one she had never been in before. Large portraits of the royal family were displayed.

  Scarlet slowed, looking at the paintings. King Stephen was originally a prince of a small foreign country far from Wonderland, but after marrying Queen Victoria, he became the King of Wonderland. There were only a couple of portraits of King Stephen as a young man and Scarlet could see he was handsome. It was no wonder the White and Red Sisters had fought over his love.

  The next few portraits were of the past rulers of Wonderland. Kings and Queens stood, wrapped in elegant suits and dresses, the same royal robe upon their shoulders. Scarlet had seen pictures of her grandparents, aunts, and uncles before but only in the flames created of her mother’s memories. Scarlet stopped as she came upon a family portrait. It was the only one with her mother present. She assumed the others were destroyed or hidden after the betrayal. She saw a striking resemblance of herself in her teenage mother. Flaming red hair, fair skin, tall and curvy. Rose was standing on one side of her parents, looking similar to the father beside her. On the other side, Victoria was standing beside the mother she took after.

   “Beautiful family.”

  Scarlet jumped, looking around, but she didn’t see anyone. She felt a tug on her dress and looked down. A small man no taller than her waist stood beside her. His back was hunched slightly. Wrinkles drug his face down and a long nose protruded. He smiled up at her, three teeth missing.

  “Wonderland was once an exotic land filled with beasts and spirits. The Royal family has ruled over Wonderland for centuries now, taming its wondrous chaos.”

  Scarlet rolled her eyes. The man looked like he was probably there when the first monarch emerged. He was a crusty little old man.

  “Wonderland is vast and dangerous, difficult for one ruler to govern. So Princesses Rose and Victoria were given separate land to rule, and when they became Queens the people were thrilled. The Reds lived in the South and the Whites lived in the North. They lived in peace until the Red Queen became jealous of the White. Everyone knows the story of how she tried to poison her sister, but failed, and was thus banished to the outskirts. All Red followers were either killed or gave their lives to serve the White Queen. So now there are no more Reds, except for two.”

  He eyed Scarlet.

  She frowned. “Who are you?”

  “Just a silly old man reminiscing.” He grinned.

  She was going to ask him if he was a servant to King Stephen, but guards appeared down the hall.

  “You there! What are you doing here! Only the royal family is allowed here!”

Scarlet held her tongue. She was a member of the royal family, and yet treated so horribly. She turned back toward the old man, but he was gone. She looked down both ends of the hall, but only the guards coming toward her were there.

   As the guards got closer, realization flashed across their faces. Their eyes were wide, mouths clamped. When they started to reach for the swords, Scarlet smirked.

  “I’m just lost.”

  The guards looked at each other. The older one nodded at her, “The coronation will begin soon. Follow us.”

  One guard led, while the other walked behind Scarlet at a distance. She wondered if they were only doing so because they knew of her mother, or if they actually knew of the power she possessed. She was almost tempted to show off a little but knew if any magic came from her they would attack her without mercy.

  It didn’t take long until they had arrived at the ballroom. The guards made quick exits, leaving her at the entrance to the room. Scarlet walked inside. It was a grand room. The walls were crisp white, the reflection from the chandeliers making it seem as if glitter was scattered around the room. Long tables of food were set up on one side of the room, as well as small round tables to sit at. The other side an orchestra was playing. Ladies and gentlemen danced around happily.

  Scarlet didn’t want to be anywhere near the dancers and took to where the food was located. She grabbed a small plate and piled it with fruits, meat, cheese, bread, and desserts. All of the tables were filled, but Scarlet managed to find a seat at a table toward the back. She went to sit down, but the two ladies and the gentleman at the table went silent, glaring at her. Scarlet made sure not to freeze up and sat down anyway. The women made a fuss, whispering loud enough for everyone to hear they would not sit with the daughter of the Red Queen and quickly left, the man following after them.

  Scarlet plopped a grape in her mouth and grimaced at the sour note it left. She scanned over the room. From what she could tell, most people there were high in society. A few were even from Woodland and Winterland, she could tell from their difference in dress.

  The orchestra’s cheerful number came to an end, with applause following. A single trumpet sounded, followed by a proclamation.

  “All rise for King Stephen and Queen Victoria.”

  Large doors opened to the side and the royal couple entered. Scarlet kept her seat. She wanted to gag at all the fuss everyone was making. They were cooing over them as if they really cared. King Stephen and Queen Victoria sat at their thrones, which sat upon a large pedestal, overlooking the ballroom. A smaller throne sat to King Stephen’s side but was currently empty.

  “We will now begin the coronation.” The announcer’s voice echoed over the ballroom. Everyone became quiet as the door reopened. A priest emerged with the coronation crown placed on a large plush blue pillow. Aurora slowly followed behind him.

  Scarlet couldn’t help but admire Aurora’s beauty. Her ball gown was the most beautiful in the room. It was pure white. The top was a halter, made with lace and went down into a sweetheart neckline. The waistline was accentuated with a white ribbon tied on the side and secured with a sapphire and diamond pin. The bottom of the gown flowed out. Crystals lined the bottom in cascades on the floor behind her. Aurora was a princess and it had never been so obvious.

  Aurora took place in front of the ballroom, before her parents. The priest started his chant. Scarlet didn’t listen to it, instead she turned her attention to her food. She finished her plate of food and wished she had picked up more. When the priest was finished with his duty, Aurora stood before the guests and her parents.

  Scarlet furrowed her eyebrows, sensing something was off. Normally Aurora would be bouncing up and down, ready to be crowned. Excitement should have been oozing from her, but in its place was nothing. Scarlet watched as Aurora’s eyes glazed over. As the priest began to place the crown upon her head, her eyes slid shut. Screams and gasps echoed the room as Aurora fell to the floor.