The Mad King (The Dark Kings #1)(95)

She frowned and patted her body. She was wearing the cami and shorts she’d worn the first night. No purse, which meant no keys and no cell phone. And it was late.

She didn’t want anyone to see her like this, her face all puffy from crying. Tabby had told her once she was an ugly crier. It was true. Her nose always got cherry red at the tip, and her eyes would turn puffy and purple.

Exhausted, annoyed, she kicked the door and then headed back down. She’d walk to the shop. Maybe Tabby was still there.

She grabbed her head. It was throbbing again. Somehow, and she couldn’t even remember doing it, she walked the three blocks to her storefront. Waikiki was dark, with few stragglers around. It had to be well past midnight, but things didn’t slow down until at least two or three in the morning.

“Dammit!” She sobbed, the tears started back up again. Last thing she wanted was to be locked out all night. She wanted to sleep, to forget him, to forget that. To forget it all.

In frustration, she yanked on the door and yelped when it gave way, nearly causing her to fall down as she stumbled through.

“Alice!” Tabby’s cry was unmistakable and filled with panic.

“Tabby?” She looked around the dark room and finally saw a small movement slip away from shadow.

Then arms were crushing her and she was crying loud. “I knew it, I knew you’d come back here. Alice, where the hell have you been?”

Tabby clung to her so hard she could barely breathe. Wanting to kick herself all sorts of stupid, only just realizing she’d been gone three days. They’d all probably been sick with worry.

“I...” She pulled a blank, not knowing what to say. Who would believe this story? She wouldn’t believe this story if she hadn’t lived it. “I’m fine.” She laughed, trying to play it off, and disentangled Tabby’s arms from around her neck.

Tabby growled. She walked to the wall, flipped on the light switch, and pointed at her. “How dare you leave like that? How dare you.” Her brown eyes were thin slits, and Alice had never seen Tabby so angry. Vibrating with it. She looked like hell too.

Her eyes were puffy and dark, like she hadn’t slept in months.

“Do you know how hard it’s been running this place without you? Wondering if you were dead or alive? Your mom has been crazy with grief.”

She laughed. “Jeez, Tabs, I’ve only been gone three days. I’m sorry but...”

Her eyes widened. “Three days! Try three months, you asshole! Three months!”

“Shut up. Don’t be stupid.” She laughed, but Tabby didn’t crack a smile. In fact, she didn’t even blink. She walked up to Alice, grabbed her shoulders, and shook. Panic was so thick on her that Alice felt it choking the breath from her lungs like smoke from a fire. “Tabs?”

Her lips wobbled, and Alice could see she had a hard time swallowing. “Three months, Alice.”

Her knees suddenly gave out on her, but thankfully Tabby anticipated that reaction and pulled a chair out just in time. She plopped onto it, grabbing her head. It was splitting, and each time she swallowed, she tasted metal on her tongue.

Alice shook.

Tabby dropped to her knees, wrapped her arms around her waist, and held her tight. Hot tears soaked the front of her shirt. But Alice was cold. Calm. She knew.

The pain in her head, the visions. She closed her eyes. The loss of time.

“It’s back, isn’t it, Tabby?”

“Oh Alice, Alice.” She repeated her name like a litany. “Best doctors. Best care. We’ll catch it in time.”

Empty words. Three months. That was a long time. The longest blackout ever. They both knew. The tumor was back.

She should be crying. But there was nothing there now. She was empty. Devoid. And a part of her had suspected when she’d told him her story. It was back. She closed her eyes, remembering dark brown eyes that made her want to melt at his feet. Made her want to forget this world.

Something wet slid from her nose, and when she brushed the back of her hand against it, a red streak smeared her hand and the strong scent of blood filled her head.

Had it only been a dream?

***

The doctors had done all they could. But the tumor was too large, too deep, and two weeks later, she battled for life. Wonderland was a fairy tale that no longer existed for her in the new reality of doctors and cancer. In a matter of days, she’d become an emaciated skeleton. Doctors had been shocked at her rapid decline. Even she’d been amazed, as if the three months she’d been missing and healthy suddenly spun time forward the moment she’d set foot back on Earth. She was skin and bones, with nothing but a few stray hairs on her head. She looked dead already.

She’d had a dream last night, one where she’d called his name and he’d screamed hers in return. It’d been wonderful, but too soon she’d woken up, and now the pleasure was pain.

Tabby grabbed her hand. “This room’s so much nicer than the last one,” she said with a weak grin. “Yellow too.” She pointed to the walls. “Your favorite color. Yup.” She nodded. “I like this one.”

“It’s okay, Tabs.” Her voice was weak. She was so tired, so very tired. It was time, and she was ready. But first she had to let them know it was okay. “I’m dying. And it’s okay.”

Tabby’s beautiful face twisted up into an ugly mask, and she pressed a white tissue to her face as the silent cry wracked her body. “I love you, Alice. You know that, right? Sisters?”