- The Hatter’s fears destroy him, “The Clock Strikes Black” 

The Hatter moved ever so slightly, catching her attention with the silvery reflection of his eyes.

“Come to me,” he beckoned, offering his hand for her to take. Taking the hand would be madness, something unheard of in her time, though she couldn’t help but wonder. She could see a promise in his eyes, something that spoke of a great adventure. They calmly invited her, belaying all evidence that had previously warned her of his palpable danger. Why not? Her curiosity whispered, prodding her with its insufferable questions. Why not?

Drifting slowly, she crossed the hall, hand darting forward to clasp his own. All thought scattered as she stared at him, hypnotized. His hand closed around hers, sending a slight jolt through her heart.

“Say your final farewell to this place, for you will not see it again.” She averted her eyes, breaking the spell he had cast over her. Coming back to her senses she elbowed him in the ribs, again realizing that he could do her harm.

An inhuman growl rose from his throat and she would have been stunned had the man not impatiently pressed against the side of her neck, causing her to fall unconscious into his waiting arms. “You always were rather delicate.” He mused, laughing maliciously as he stepped through a mirror at the end of the hall. A clock chime echoed throughout the large house, drowning out his manic laughter as the mirror glinted innocently in the moonlight.

Please remember that all plots, characters, scenes, and quotes are copyright of Kelly Nichols and “The Clock Strikes Black”. If you borrow this without my permission it is Stealing.

Why not?

 The very ground seemed to quake as he was filled with an exquisite rage that hadn’t graced him in years. A man had been with Alice, his Alice, and he didn’t know why. “There must be a reasonable explanation, surely.” The pacing did nothing to soothe his nerves as anxious eyes studied the mirror for any sign of movement. He had broken the mirror trying to visit her, somehow managing to pass its hardened surface with a solid form. But why? His emotions spiraled between rage and confusion, barely able to process thought as he continued to pace.

Clinging to the tendrils of shadows, he had watched as the young man raced into his beloved’s room, brandishing the foolish knife as if to run him through. Even when the lamps were lit they had been unable to find him as he cowered behind the protection of his looking glass, forlorn fingers bumping against the hardened mirror as he reached for his frightened beauty.

The second excerpt from my novel, The Clock Strikes Black.

Here we find The Mad Hatter, trapped within Wonderland, trying to pass through a mirror into our own world to get his ‘Alice’

Please remember that all plots, characters, scenes, and quotes are copyright of Kelly Nichols and “The Clock Strikes Black”. If you borrow this without my permission it is Stealing.