Malice In Wonderland

  MALICE IN WONDERLAND

  Book 5 of the Dulcie O’Neil series

  HP Mallory

  Also by HP Mallory:

  THE JOLIE WILKINS SERIES:

  Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble

  Toil and Trouble

  Be Witched (Novella)

  Witchful Thinking

  The Witch Is Back

  Something Witchy This Way Comes

  LOOK FOR THE JOLIE WILKINS SPINOFF SERIES COMING SOON!

  THE DULCIE O’NEIL SERIES:

  To Kill A Warlock

  A Tale Of Two Goblins

  Great Hexpectations

  Wuthering Frights

  Malice In Wonderland

  LOOK FOR THE BRAND NEW LILY HARPER SERIES COMING SOON!

  MALICE IN WONDERLAND

  by

  H.P. Mallory

  Copyright © 2012 by H.P. Mallory

  All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

  For Finn

  Acknowledgements:

  To my mother: Thank you for everything.

  To my editor, Teri, at www.editingfairy.com:

  Thank you for always doing such a great job!

  To my husband:

  I love you.

  To my son, Finn: I am so proud to be your mama.

  To all my beta readers, thank you so much for all your help!

  To the winner of my "become a character in my next book" contest,

  Erica Comacho: Congratulations and I hope you enjoy your character!

  To Lacie Soule:

  Thank you so much for entering the contest to name this book and thank you so much for coming up with such a fantastic title!

  ONE

  There have been only a handful of moments in my life where I've been struck speechless.

  And this was one of those moments. Why? Because Christina Sabbiondo, a woman who was involved in the illegal potions trade, had also just informed me that she was also the head of The Resistance. As you can probably deduce from the group's title, The Resistance existed to do just that—resist potion trafficking from The Netherworld and, more pointedly, resist the tyranny of the Head of the Netherworld.

  Coincidentally, the Head of the Netherworld also happens to be my father. Lucky me.

  "What?" I managed to blurt out, shaking my head as I wondered if maybe I'd just hallucinated the last three hours of my life. I mean, in the past one hundred eighty minutes, I'd managed to foil my father's attempts to introduce an incredibly addictive and even more easily spread narcotic into my neighborhood, I'd nearly been raped by a Titan, only to watch my very recently ex-boyfriend put a bullet through said Titan's forehead. As romantic as that might sound, my ex-boyfriend then arrested me because I was working for my father; (I'm really not a bad person—I was forced into it); and after an exhaustive conversation where I tried to prove my innocence, and he tried to prove my guilt, I found myself behind bars. Then, just like that, Ms. Sabbiondo walked back into my life, professing my innocence, and now here I was.

  Christina smiled broadly, her doe-like, brown eyes dancing with merriment—as if she'd been dying to tell me all along that she never really was one of the baddies—that she and I were playing on the same team. And I had to admit that somewhere inside myself, I was rejoicing. Why? Because I always liked Christina. Not only was she a fellow Jeep owner, but she was also one of a select number of fairies (just like me), so how could I not like her?

  "Dulcie, I'm on your side," she said, the smile dropping from her lips as she took my hand and faced me earnestly.

  "But," I started, still not understanding how that could be, my brain not functioning on all eight cylinders. "But how did you ... You worked for my father for six years!"

  She nodded. "Yes I did, but that isn't to say that I was happy working for him. The Resistance has been a long time coming, Dulcie. It just took a while for people to realize we couldn't continue living under your father's iron rule. It took us five years to develop The Resistance, to organize ourselves and devise a way out of everything your father envisioned, as well as everything he stands for." She paused to take a deep breath and I was suddenly overcome with feelings of admiration for her. It couldn't have been easy to form The Resistance, and its success spoke of her own personal strength. "It's been a long and difficult five years, Dulcie, but we are stronger than ever before and fully ready to fight."

  I gulped, wondering how long it was going to take me to process all of this. "And my father has no idea that you've been involved in The Resistance all along," I continued, amazed that she'd been able to keep her double life from my father, Melchior O'Neil, while working in such close proximity with him. If nothing else, my father was a shrewd businessman and careful, well, as far as I could tell anyway. Apparently he wasn't careful enough.

  "I imagine he's got a pretty good idea about where my loyalty lies now," she said and that pretty smile returned to her lips. Yep, right about now Daddy Dearest had to be waking up to the fact that not only did his daughter thwart his nefarious plans to introduce the illegal potion Draoidheil onto the streets of Splendor, Moon, Haven, and Estuary, but was helped by his pet, Christina. Right about now my father had to be suffering a very rude awakening.

  I heard the sound of someone clearing his throat and remembered that Knight was standing beside (well, more like towering over) Christina, a witness to everything that had just passed between us. Knightley Vander, aka very recently ex-boyfriend, was also part of The Resistance and as far as I could tell, he was now doing a damned good job of resisting the idea that I was anything but guilty of potions smuggling. His eyes were burning with ire, and the normally beautiful blue of his irises was ablaze.

  And that was when it hit me that Knight had been aware of who my father was from the moment he'd met me. In fact, Knight assumed I was working for my father all along. His sole purpose in coming to Splendor was to beat my father at his own game, with me as an expendable pawn. Somewhere along the way though, I managed to convince him I wasn't a soulless potions smuggler, (which was the Hades-honest truth!) and he subsequently fell in love with me. Likewise, I fell in love with him.

  At this precise moment, however, feelings of love were not first and foremost in my mind. Instead, I was livid over the fact that Knight had always known who my father was and yet he'd kept it from me. Knight had been concealing an agenda from me all along and that was what hurt the most. Well, the fact that he was now accusing me of something of which I was completely innocent smarted almost as bad. But the biggest kicker of this whole screwed-up situation was that I'd basically sold my soul to the proverbial devil in order to keep Knight safe. I'd put myself on the line to protect him ... and for what?

  I inhaled deeply, telling myself to ignore my anger, and let it simmer on the back burner because Knight wasn't my biggest concern at the moment. No, I had far bigger fish to fry.

  I watched Christina as she faced Knight and shook her head, as if discouraging his foul mood and inability to believe I was anything but guilty.

  "We're moving everyone
to Compound Three," she said in a matter-of-fact tone. I assumed she meant the other two prisoners Knight had already taken into custody, Horatio and my ex-boss, Quillan. "We're going to move forward with Plan B," she finished, facing Knight squarely before adding: "You can drive her, or I can."

  "I'll go with you," I interrupted, glancing at Christina as Knight continued to scrutinize me. Yep, I had way too many conflicting emotions regarding Knight to try to deal with him at the moment.

  "Christina," Knight started, his baritone rich and velvety. I felt something catch in my throat, but swallowed it down as I reminded myself now was not the time to bemoan my ruined relationship. No, now I needed to focus on our next steps, on planning a strategy to defeat my father. I needed to learn everything I could about The Resistance.

  Christina glanced at him and started for the door. Her lips were tight as she narrowed her eyes. "Call Caressa, and find out for yourself, will you?" Then she turned on her heel, and opening the door, walked into the early morning sunlight.

  ###

  I'd never heard of Compound Three so wasn't sure where we were headed, but I also couldn't say I cared. Instead, I found my attention riveted outside as we drove down Highway One in a dark grey Chevy Suburban. Ordinarily Christina sported a black Jeep Wrangler, so I guessed this vehicle was courtesy of The Resistance and, as such, probably untraceable. The more I thought about it, the more I had to wonder if The Resistance had lots in common with the CIA.

  Knight followed us in a black Yukon Denali, an SUV which had already left a lasting impression on me considering what Knight and I had done in it ... or, rather, on it. But that was another sore subject I wasn't ready to deal with yet.

  At any rate, Knight was tasked with transporting Horatio and Quillan. Both would remain in custody due to their associations with my father. I could have given a rat's ass about Horatio but Quillan was another story.

  Quillan Beaurigard was originally the Head of the ANC (Association of Netherworld Creatures) Splendor branch, before Knight replaced him. I initially reported to Quill in my position as ANC Regulator (think law enforcement agent), and he and I became pretty tight. Learning that Quill was working for my father during our entire acquaintance was a hard pill to swallow. Almost as hard as me working for my father. But Quill's reasons for serving as my father's right-hand man were very different to mine. While Quill performed his role in quiet desperation, I never did. I never stopped planning my escape and I never, not even for one second, accepted my fate. Truth be told, I didn't do well with ultimatums.

  The only reason I ever agreed to obey my father's bidding was because I was forced into it. Yep, I’d been stuck between a rock and a hard place because my father held Knight's life for ransom, promising to kill him if I didn't do as he demanded. Thus, I managed to lead a double life for the last few weeks as both an illegal potions importer, and a Regulator for the ANC.

  I felt a sigh escape my lips and focused on the rolling hills outside my window. The splotchy greens of the quilt-like hillsides peppered here and there by sheep or cows were mesmerizing. There was a slight chill in the air, but judging by the lack of clouds in the sky, I figured it would end up another warm California day.

  "He'll come around," Christina said softly, offering me an understanding smile. Of course, she was referring to my destroyed relationship, but I remained steadfast in my decision not to think about the infuriatingly stubborn Loki, a creature forged from the fires of the Netherworld god, Hades, and created in Hades's own brawny, large, and stunningly gorgeous image.

  "Maybe and maybe not," I responded, taking a deep breath. "But we have lots of way more important stuff to discuss."

  "You're right." Christina glanced over at me with a quick nod as we exited Highway One and took a right on Frontier Street, then an immediate left onto an unmarked dirt road. There was a fence and locked gate blocking our path, but Christina didn't seem fazed. Instead, she put the Suburban in park, hopped down and unlocked the padlock, opening the gate wide. She nodded her head at Knight, who pulled up just behind us. Then she jumped back into the driver's seat, put the car in drive and started forward again.

  "So all along, you were plotting against my father?" I asked in awe, wanting to understand how The Resistance started. I noticed she hadn’t stopped to lock the gate again so I figured Knight must have.

  Christina's jaw was tight as her fingers closed around the steering wheel. "Yes. From the moment I was forced into working for him."

  "Then that story you told me about him recruiting you as a college student," I started, remembering a conversation we’d had in which Christina said how she met my father in the first place.

  "Was all true," she finished. "Well, except for the part about me being okay with it. I was never okay with it."

  "So I guess we were both keeping our cards close to our chests," I said, remembering that neither of us trusted the other in the earliest days of our acquaintanceship.

  She glanced at me and nodded before returning her attention to the empty road before us. "I wanted to believe you were innocent," she started and then shrugged. "I liked you right off the bat." Before I could respond, she shook her head and laughed as she added, "To this day, I have never met a Jeep owner I didn't like."

  I laughed, amused that we really did think alike. But the laugh soon died on my lips as I returned to my line of questioning. "So my father bribed you into working for him and you started thinking of a way out. How did Knight figure into it?"

  She was quiet for a few seconds. "I never really knew Knight well. I'd heard of him, of course. I mean, everyone in the ANC knows who Knightley Vander is—his reputation definitely precedes him." She smiled and shook her head, making it pretty clear that she was fond of Knight. I didn't think it was in a romantic sort of way though, more like he was her big brother or something. "When Knight had that altercation with your father and got deported to Splendor, I made it a point to get to know him. Knight was a tough one, though, because he knew who I was and, of course, whom I worked for."

  "I'll bet."

  "But once I mentioned The Resistance and Caressa vouched for me, he was in. After that, things really started rolling." She smiled at me then. "Knight has single-handedly done more for The Resistance than anyone else."

  I nodded, proud of the Loki, while at the same time, still livid with him. "So you and Caressa are tight?"

  She didn't pull her eyes from the road. "Very."

  "And let me guess, she must have told you I was innocent, which was why you just bailed me out?"

  It felt like my teeth were chattering in my head as we drove over a cattle crossing grid. I had no idea where we were; I wasn't familiar with this side of town.

  "Yep," Christina replied. "Caressa told me about how you got suckered into working for Melchior and only ever agreed to it in order to protect Knight. And, of course, she also told me about your little flower delivery stunt." Then she glanced over at me and her eyes were wide with mirth. "By the way, she says you look terrible as a brunette."

  Christina was referring to the time when I had to change my appearance in order to visit Caressa in the Netherworld, so I posed as a flower delivery person. I secretly told Caressa everything I could about the Draoidheil delivery in order to ensure it went off with as many hitches as possible.

  I shook my head as I laughed. "Well you can tell her that her left hook needs a little work."

  Christina gave me an expression of "what are you talking about?"

  "When I was in the Netherworld the first time around, I managed to talk Caressa into releasing me so I could try to free Knight from High Prison. We knew we needed an alibi to get anyone to believe us. So we came up with the story that I'd overpowered her and escaped. Then we figured a few punches should be thrown in for good measure."

  "Ah," Christina said, nodding as if she were now on the same page.

  "Speaking of Caressa," I continued, "you told Knight to call her earlier. How are you able to keep in touch with her? I'm sure m
y father has all the phone lines to and from the Netherworld tapped?"

  We hit another cattle grid and the entire Suburban vibrated, but Christina didn't seem to notice. "Yep, that he does. He always has—and he's good about monitoring all calls, especially those of his high ranking employees." She raised her eyebrows. "Paranoia anyone?"

  I smiled, but my mind was still on my unanswered question. "So?"

  "All of us have separate, untraceable phones for Resistance business only. The phones are bewitched and if any of us are on a call, the frequency gets scrambled so no one can pick up on our conversations. The phones continue to change color and shape so they are never identifiable, again through witch magic."

  I nodded, impressed. "Seems you've got all your bases covered."

  She took a deep breath. "We try."

  "So Caressa is in The Resistance, then?" I continued, wondering how many people we could rely on in the Netherworld.

  "No, she isn't, but that's merely because it's too dangerous for her to be."

  "But you," I started, finding it hard to see how Christina could have been in The Resistance for five years, during which time she also reported to my father, and not consider that the very definition of dangerous.

  She shook her head with a charming smile. "I'm a daredevil by nature. I not only look for trouble, but welcome it wholeheartedly."

  I just laughed, suddenly overcome by the sensation of my strength returning. The void that had been devouring me for the last few weeks was now filling up. It felt as if a huge weight was being lifted from my shoulders, as ridiculous as it sounds. Yes, I absolutely realized what I was now up against, what we were all now up against. But even though our future was far from secure, my improved energy gave me a newly found sense of hope. I had to admit it made me ecstatic to finally be fighting the fight I was destined for. Even though I was now facing a whole new set of obstacles, I was free. I was no longer an indentured servant to the whims of my father. I was now my own person again and it made me want to sing.