From The Ashes (The Ministry of Curiosities #6)(9)

I continued my search across the top of the castle, running up and down stairs until my thighs burned and sweat dampened unmentionable places. The battering ram continued its rhythmic hammering, to the tune of screaming. I rushed past girls in the corridors, searching for Alice in each room, under beds, in cupboards. With every slam of the battering ram, their cries became more and more desperate.

Alice had to be somewhere in the castle. If I was her, and someone was after me, where would I go?

The battering ram slammed into the door again. Wood splintered. Girls screamed. If the army wasn't already inside, they would be soon. Once they were in, would they act like the animals Sir Geoffrey described, or would they leave us alone and go in search of Alice? Did they even know what she looked like?

What if I pretended to be her, and gave myself up?

It might work, if they'd never met her. It could buy us some valuable time to continue the search.

I headed past a terrified teacher down to the ground level. It was mostly deserted, the girls having fled as far away from the door as possible.

"Charlie, where are you going?" Meredith called from the main staircase leading up from the castle's central court. "It's too dangerous down there. They'll be through soon."

"I'm going to speak to them."

"No! You shouldn't! Come with us. We're going to lock ourselves in the old kitchen."

I waved her off and hurried to the door. Some of the wooden panels were damaged, and the hinges loose. It wouldn't hold for long.

"One!" came a shout from beyond the door. "Two!"

"Wait!" I cried. "Stop at once! I'll give myself up if you promise to leave everyone in here alone."

"Who are you?" demanded the harsh voice.

"Alice."

Murmurs followed my pronouncement. "Show yourself."

Damnation. If he wanted to see me, that most likely meant he could identify Alice. We looked nothing alike. She was beautiful and fair, while I had brown hair and was shorter, plainer. "I want some promises from you before I do so," I called back.

"The Queen of Hearts does not make promises."

The Queen of Hearts? Good lord, what next? "What will happen to me if I give myself up?"

"Execution, of course!"

I stumbled backward. Execution! "With no trial?"

The soldiers laughed. "Give yourself up, Alice! The queen will not rest until she receives justice for your slights against her!" He began counting again in a guttural voice that cracked on the word "One!"

"The white rabbit," muttered a familiar voice behind me. "Must find the white rabbit."

"Alice!"

She stood in her nightgown with nothing on her feet and no wrap around her shoulders. Her glassy eyes looked straight through me.

"Two!" came the order beyond the door.

"Alice, wake up!" I shook her shoulders, but she continued to stare and mutter something about finding the white rabbit. "Alice, you must wake up now!"

"Three!" roared the commander.

The battering ram slammed into the doors. Wood cracked and the hinges snapped. I grabbed Alice's hand and ran toward the dungeon steps.

But it was too late. The army was through and they'd spotted us. The commander's shout of "Get her!" could barely be heard over the soldiers' triumphant cries.

I dragged Alice after me, but she was almost as lifeless as a rag doll. Progress was slow. Too slow. The fastest soldier lunged for her as we reached the top of the stairs.

I shoved her to the side and we both smacked into the stone wall. The soldier's momentum propelled him down the steps. The sickening crunch of bones and screams of pain became lost amid the battle cry of the other soldiers, almost upon us. I bundled Alice against me and closed my hand around my amber necklace.

"I release you, Imp!"

Nothing happened. Everything had gone quiet. I glanced over my shoulder. We were alone. There were no soldiers, no battering ram, and no distant shouts to signal retreat. They'd simply vanished. I leaned back against the wall and expelled a deep breath. Thank God.

Alice stirred in my arms. She blinked at me, her eyes clear and bright. "Charlie?" She looked around, nibbling on her lower lip. "Oh. Oh no. Charlie, I'm so sorry."

"It's all right," I muttered between my heaving breaths. "It's not your fault."

"But they came alive because of me." She eyed me carefully. "Because of my dreams. Do you understand?"

"I had guessed."

"And…you believe me?"

"When you've seen what I've seen, you believe the fantastical without question. But this…" I nodded toward the courtyard where the battered doors lay fractured on the ground. "This is quite fantastical indeed. You must tell me everything you know about your gift, but not now. We must see if anyone is injured."

"Gift," she sneered. "I wouldn't call it that.

I took her hand and we headed up the main stairs. "We looked everywhere for you," I said. "Do you know where you went or have you forgotten everything from your…dream?"

"I haven't forgotten. I never forget, although I lack a certain real world awareness while I'm asleep." She sighed. "I was here the entire time, but I drank the potion to shrink myself."