Malice in Vunderland pt. 2
Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2013 7:19 am
Hey again. A long time ago I wrote Malice in Vunderland pt. 1. I wrote bits and pieces of pt. 2 whenever I had spare time and didn't have writer's block. Anyway I know that there are some inconsistencies between the two stories but I digress. It's a massive read so I hope you're ready.
Malice in Vunderland pt 2
Heavy oak doors swung open at the Queen's command to reveal Malice's initiation. A dungeon with shackles and chains lined the old bricks that made the wall. Those bricks however weren't Malice's concern. There was an iron gate on the back end of the wall that held back what seemed to be darkness save for a pair of cold eyes that stared at her from the other end. The only thing that separated this dungeon from your typical medieval dungeon was the fluorescent lighting that hung from the ceiling.
“Are you curious about my slime?” The Queen asked Malice.
Malice meekly replied “Yes your highness.”
The Queen laughed nonchalantly and replied “Oh you don't need to be afraid. Just because I like to have fun with the death penalty doesn't mean I'm going to kill you right away. Oh and call me Queen Relena”
Miss Hatter and Queen Relena shared a laugh. Malice wasn't sure if she should force a laugh or keep silent. Malice ultimately decided to keep silent while the laughter died down. Miss Hatter noted Malice's uncomfortable silence and said “Poor thing you're so tense. Mind if I relax her a bit your highness?”
Queen Relena nodded her head to give Miss Hatter permission. Miss Hatter set her top hat aside as she gently kissed Malice. Malice didn't respond at first but somehow Miss Hatter's following embrace seemed to close Malice off from the outside world. Miss Hatter moaned as she kissed Malice and soon Malice began to sing in chorus. Malice relaxed her body and allowed herself to melt into the red haired seductress. Miss Hatter broke the kiss and moaned “May I get the slime your highness.”
The Queen replied “Yes you may. Once she's settled in prepare her for the initiation.”
Miss Hatter returned her attentions to Malice and said “This won't take long. You'll really enjoy it.”
Miss Hatter released Malice from her oddly hospitable embrace. She pushed a button on the wall which caused a floor panel to slide away. What Malice thought was stone gave way to a shallow pool of red slime. Any comfort she might have had from Miss Hatter's embrace was quickly gone. She still felt vulnerable from the fact that she was paraded around the castle naked and so far has not received a stitch of clothing. The only comfort she did have came from the fact that she was still covered in mud from her encounter with the caterpillar. Now she was staring at a shallow pool of red slime. Her thoughts reverted back to the soldier who was executed for 's enjoyment.
“Don't worry dear. This is an older version of the slime. It's not as intense as the slime you saw earlier.” Miss Hatter's soothing words came in response to seeing the rising terror in Malice's eyes. Miss Hatter casually smiled and said “Come, see for yourself.”
To ensure Malice would be calmed, Miss Hatter dipped her finger into the slime and tasted it for herself. Malice expect Miss Hatter's eyes to be overtaken by an erotic beast much like but instead warm hospitality reigned. Malice gingerly approached Miss Hatter knowing that she had no other option but to place her rarely earned trust in her. Miss Hatter once again embraced Malice and gave her a soft kiss. She whispered “Don't worry honey this isn't as scary as it seems. The Queen has great plans for you.”
Malice dropped her guard, a gesture that was rarely shown. She showed this by lightly kissing Miss Hatter back. The more she kissed, the more she showed that her tough exterior was cracking. She felt herself descending into the dark insanity that she openly sought when she first met Miss Hatter. Soft kisses gave way to exploration. Clearly Malice was beginning to accept that she was living in madness. She wanted to disappear from her world and she got her wish. If anyone could peer into her mind, they would find a clean slate willing to be filled with whatever a convincing author wished. Miss Hatter parted her lips from Malice, as if she sensed that she was in full control.
“Just lie down. Your initiation into the Red Assassins will begin.”
Malice heeded Miss Hatter's words as if they were commands from a divine being. She stepped into the slime and tenderly lay her naked body down. The slime was deep enough to cover her midriff and yet it left her breasts and her face exposed to the air. Miss Hatter walked back to and remarked “Doesn't she look just marvelous your highness?”
Queen Relena purred “Yes she does. And she killed the White Rabbit?”
“That's correct your highness. She did so with extreme prejudice.”
An evil smile crept across Queen Relena's lips. To call it by any other name would do it no justification. She purred “We will have to see if killing the White Rabbit was a fluke or if she's skilled.”
Malice couldn't hear anything Queen Relena said. Her ears were emerged in the slime and her body was coming alive. Her moans filled her ears under the thick liquid viscous. Her hands began to explore her nether regions. Her fingers were rubbing the mud away from her sex and introducing herself to Queen Relena's slime on a more intimate level. Malice's moans were beginning to overtake The Queen's conversation with her most loyal subject, which was something that had to be stopped. She saw to this interruption by walking to the edge of the pool and saying “Take your fingers away from yourself. Miss Hatter will see to your needs.”
Miss Hatter willingly obeyed as she gently pulled Malice's hand away. She replaced Malice's hand with her own as she rubbed her experienced fingers along Malice's sex. This allowed Queen Relena to say “Now then. Before I allow you into an order that I have exclusive control over, I must ask you a few questions. Have you ever been to the White Kingdom?”
Malice moaned “No your highness. I'm not even from this world.”
“Oh? And where are you from?”
Malice again moaned “I'm from a place called earth. I fell down a rabbit hole to get here.”
Queen Relena saw no deception and nodded to Miss Hatter. Miss Hatter responded by rubbing her experienced fingers at a slightly faster pace. Queen Relena asked “What is your opinion of the White Kingdom?”
Malice began writhing in blissful agony. The slime was attacking her from every angle. She said “I never heard of them before, honest.”
Queen Relena once again nodded to Miss Hatter. Miss Hatter's fingers began a deeper rub with a faster pace. Slime was beginning to get mixed with Malice's clit. Queen Relena asked “Have you ever heard of the Red Kingdom before you descended from this 'Earth?'”
“No I haven't your highness.” Malice barely manage to say this between her intense moans. Clearly this slime was playing havoc on her senses.
“So why should I believe you aren't a White Assassin sent to kill me?”
“I don't know... Please believe me your highness.” Malice was writhing under intense euphoria. Miss Hatter hadn't even started with her sexual torture and already she held Malice under her control. Miss Hatter nodded to Queen Relena. Queen Relena in turn nodded, signifying that she should put her experienced fingers to use.
“So if I gave you an assignment, you'd carry it out without question and bring me back results?”
“Yes your highness. I'll do anything.”
Queen Relena paused. She neither spoke or nodded. Miss Hatter continued her rubbing knowing that Malice wasn't any closer to achieving the release she so desperately craved. Finally after several agonizing seconds Queen Relena responded “Will you be willing to accept that there's a higher calling above yourself? That no matter what you will serve that calling at the expense of your own life? Will you descend into the darkest depths of hell to achieve that calling?”
Malice mourned “Oh god yes your highness! I'll do anything to reach that calling!”
Queen Relena nodded to Miss Hatter with an intense fire burning in her eyes. Miss Hatter knew that that look meant and acted accordingly. Her experienced fingers opened Malice up to the slime and any other forms of penetration. Malice's eyes went wide as her pupils contracted. She screamed with intense pleasure. She acted as if she was taking a massive phallic object within herself and she couldn't stop the euphoria that was building with the force of a tsunami. Even Earth's most satisfying lover couldn't compare to what Queen Relena had at her disposal. Deep within Malice's consciousness, she knew that if she faced the slime that had executed the unknown White soldier she would probably have met her demise.
Queen Relena suddenly spoke with a cold harshness that reflected the reality of her world. She said “Very well. Seeing as how I have no reason to doubt you, I hereby initiate you into the Red Assassins. Your first assignment will be to bring me proof of a Dr. Tanya Holland's demise. She's working on a chemical that would nullify the effect of the slime you lay in. Needless to say that slime is an effective tool in separating the infiltrators from those loyal to my throne as I have separated you. If she were to succeed in her research, it would set back my war effort against the White Kingdom years. Now then. I need you to take one final oath. Do you vow to serve the Red Kingdom and its absolute ruler without question? Do you vow to serve me above your own life? If I were in peril would you lay your life on the line to protect my throne?”
Malice barely managed to moan “Yes your highness.” The pleasure was intense and yet it still managed to force her coercion. Queen Relena replied “Good. Your work is done Miss Hatter. Open the cage and let the initiation be complete.”
Miss Hatter obeyed and stood up to press another button on the wall. The iron bars opened and the source of the cold eyes was quickly revealed. A giant serpent slithered its way out from the darkness to greet Malice. The serpent was easily forty feet in length and it eyed Malice with hungry eyes. It slithered up to Malice's feet and dipped its maw into the slime. As the snake analyzed Malice, Queen Relena said “Don't worry. This snake was created by my top scientists. Its stomach acids were replaced with more of my slime. We feed it through injections. Your descent into darkness will only signify your loyalty to my throne.”
As soon as Queen Relena finished her words, the snake opened its maw and clamped its mouth around Malice's submerged feet. Malice was to preoccupied with bliss to have fought back even if she wanted to. The snake quickly worked its way up her legs until it reached her hips. Its tongue slithered out to grant itself a flickering taste of her submerged sex. Malice screamed with passion. Never had something so insignificant had such an effect on her. She came with surprisingly little stimulation into the slime. Her screams played a symphony for Queen Relena who had called Miss Hatter over to her. Their lips met in just as manner as Miss Hatter's had met Malice's. This time however there was no fear, only excitement. Miss Hatter remarked “The young ones are always so full of energy.”
“Yes they are.” replied Queen Relena. “Tell me just how old you are.”
“22.” Malice moaned as the snake began devouring her hips. Its slithering tongue tasted Malice's hungry sex before its maw devoured her hips. Its pulsating muscles were providing an extreme amount of stimulation that Malice couldn't ignore. Malice came twice, then a third time. Both of those times were with such force that she could have squirted all over her lover. Malice was indeed one of those girls but her talents were now a moot point. With each of Malice's orgasms brought more worship from Miss Hatter upon her Queen. By now Miss Hatter was stripping herself naked in front of her Queen. Queen Relena responded by spreading her robes. Miss Hatter obediently responded by licking and sucking on Queen Relena's ready breasts. She kissed down Queen Relena's midriff until she reached her moist sex. Queen Relena said “Let us turn our attentions towards our assassin. I'll have my passions escalate with her's.”
The snake easily swallowed Malice's hips. The more it swallowed, the more its stimulating muscles worked their magic on her vulnerable body. The slime ensured that she would continually orgasm with unequaled fury. The snake's mouth relentlessly worked its way up her body. Soon its maw had tasted her soft breasts. She cried with blissful agony as they too were swallowed. The snake's teeth were arranged in a way to prevent her escape, but not her willing compliance. To Malice, its teeth only added to the intense pleasure she was feeling. Once that final obstacle was overcome, there was little to no resistance for the snake to take her body. With one gulp the snake swallowed her shoulders. It was a mere two gulps before Malice's black hair disappeared from view. By this time Queen Relena and Mad Hatter were too engulfed in their passions to notice.
Deep inside the snake Malice began to see a different reality. No longer was she bound by the bondage of a slithering beast but rather she was in a different place entirely. In her world, the sky was crimson red. The forest she stood in looked vaguely familiar but Malice couldn't figure out how it was. She walked forward as if she was free from any restraint. The only company she had was in the form of crows which seemed to endlessly line the trees around her. The crows whispered to each other as they looked at her moving through the forest. She eyed as many crows as she could even though there were too many to count. She couldn't help but feel uncomfortable around the birds. Who wouldn't feel uncomfortable about hundreds of black eyes staring at them?
Malice suddenly came upon the welcome sight of a burning cigar. It was placed on a leaf behind a mud bog. She couldn't remember where this scene had played into her life but she couldn't deny she needed a smoke. She carefully walked around the bog and picked up the smoking cigar with two fingers. She pursed her lips and brought the cigar to her lips. She broke into a coughing fit almost as soon as she inhaled the cigar. She stumbled back into the mud bog with a dull splash. Instead of reacting with fear like she had before, she moaned in pleasure. The mud began attacking her senses which was a battle Malice was all too eager to lose. She rubbed the mud all over her naked body and soon began attacking herself in her most sacred region.
The crows departed from the trees and began circling the crimson sky around the bog. They each cawed things that were vaguely familiar to Malice such as “Turn back” and “You asked for this.”
Malice paid them little mind. She had stumbled backwards into the loose bog which only slowed her descent temporarily. She couldn't figure out why she was rubbing herself crazy but she knew that stopping wouldn't be healthy. She attacked herself with such fury that even the most aggressive lover would have trouble competing. She quickly sank deep into the bog. In no time the bog was caressing her c cup breasts. The crows meanwhile circled above like vultures waiting for her death. They kept saying their slogans like “turn back” but Malice ignored them above her own bliss. Soon she was sinking up to her neck. She opened her eyes briefly as if she was guided by an unknown source. There was a single crow eying her with its soulless black eyes. It said in a German accent “Welcome to Vunderland. Now your nightmare is just beginning.”
Malice awoke in the dungeon as soon as her head had disappeared under the crimson world's bog. She was gasping for breath. She gasped not only for the fact that she was alive but also for the fact that she was no longer a prisoner of the snake. Her blurry eyes soon turned to focus to see Miss Hatter and Queen Relena standing above her. Queen Relena spoke “Good she's awake. Do you remember your assignment assassin?”
Malice weakly nodded her head and croaked “Yes your highness.”
“Good. As soon as you recover you will be given everything you need. You'll be sent to the shifting sands desert to track her down. It's a highly dangerous assignment but I have the highest expectations for you. Miss Hatter will see to your needs. Don't return to my castle without favorable results.”
Queen Relena left the dungeon leaving Miss Hatter to tend to the weakened Malice. Malice sat up with the help of Miss Hatter and was subsequently dragged out of the pool. Miss Hatter cleaned the slime from Malice's body while the newly anointed assassin was left in a helpless state. Malice gasped for her breath without any knowledge of the sexual gauntlet she just passed. Miss Hatter briefly left the dungeon only to return with a crimson duffel bag. She placed it by Malice along with the towel she just used to clean the slime away. By this time Malice was slowly beginning to regain her bearings. She was beginning to realize that she had awoken from one unfamiliar nightmare only to find herself in another. Miss Hatter resumed her hospitable tone in asking “Are you ok dear?”
Malice shook the clouds from her mind. She weakly looked up at Miss Hatter and said “Does it fucking look like I'm ok? What happened to me?”
Miss Hatter suddenly took a worried tone in asking “You mean you don't remember your oath?”
“I remember that, just tell me what happened after that.”
“Well after you were swallowed, we injected the snake with something that made him spit you out. You're still in tact and you didn't come out the back end.”
“That's a relief I guess. Just tell me where the fuck I'm supposed to find that fucking doctor.”
Miss Hatter reached for the duffel bag as she said “Well all that info is provided to you in Queen Relena's gift to you. This bag has a map, a gun, a knife, a survival kit, an outfit, some water, and a photo of your assignment. It also has a camera and a strip of white cloth for you to prove she's dead. Once you are ready I'll point you in the right direction. Until then I'll show you to the showers.”
Miss Hatter motioned to Malice who readily complied. The trip to the shower passed without memory but the cascading hot water quickly brought Malice's thoughts into order. The questioning from Queen Relena and the oath she just took rang clear in her mind. Every bit of slime and mud Miss Hatter missed circled the drain as her thoughts played like a broken record. If Malice could equivocate these events to anything, it would have to be selling her black broken soul to an even darker power. She shut the water off only when she couldn't stand to think of the initiation any more. She hurriedly dried herself off with the towel and opened the duffel bag to see what she was given. She picked the gun out and left it aside. She picked out the camera and set it next to her gun. She picked out the survival kit and the other miscellaneous items until she found the outfit she craved. She threw it on without thinking of how it would look on her. At this point she was glad to even wear anything at this point. It was only when she wiped the mist from the mirror that she realized she was wearing a black burqa. She quickly realized that this was the next best thing to sun block in the desert she would soon be entering. Strangely enough though she didn't feel like resting at all. On the contrary she was ready to get her assignment over with. She exited the shower with misguided determination, as if an unseen force was guiding her weary body.
Miss Hatter was waiting to greet her. She chimed “Oh I see you've already found your outfit. I made sure there were pockets sewn into it to accommodate your other supplies.”
Malice replied “I noticed” making sure not to sound too sarcastic.
“Are you sure you don't want to rest up? I can arrange a room for you to...”
“I'll be ok. Just get me out of this castle.”
“But...you must be...”
“Just get me out of here! I want to get this assignment over with.”
Miss Hatter sighed. She said “Ok dear. Just take some extra water with you then. I also prepared a survival kit for you. It has everything you need to make water and fire. It does get cold in the desert at night.”
Malice took the kit and packed it in her duffel bag along with the extra water. She shouldered the bag and said “Now how am I supposed to find her?”
“Our spies have found some safe routes through the desert that the White Kingdom likes to use. We marked the one she's sure to take.”
It was an agonizing walk through the vast castle. Every step made Malice sick to her stomach. Every memory from being paraded through the castle to the execution played through her mind like a macabre show. Malice noted that it was nothing short of a miracle that she reached the castle gates. She left the castle without looking back. She knew she would see the armed playing cards spying on her through their rifles. She could feel their steely gaze upon her. It was only when she was sure she was out of the castle's sight did she dare to turn around. She had departed from the castle with her emotions iced over but now she doubled over and vomited. The fatigue she felt from the initiation overtook her like a wave and she stumbled before collapsing.
Malice awoke, but not to the world she was accustomed to. A familiar crimson sky painted the horizon while crows whispered amongst themselves. This time however she was in a desert. The sand reflected the sky to create a red portrait broken up by black dots that littered the landscape. She stumbled naked and disoriented. She screamed “What the fuck do you stupid birds want?”You talk to each other...why won't you talk to me?!”
The crows surrounding Malice flew away as she stumbled forward. The sand shifted under her bare feet but she barely managed to attribute it to her stumbling. With each step forward, the sand underneath her feet got softer. It began closing over the tops of her feet, leaving golden red grains that were kicked away with each step. The sand got soft enough to engulf her ankles and yet she still walked. Her face was emotionally drained of any energy as she wearily shuffled on. Deep down inside she wanted to wake up from this nightmare. She didn't care if she died but anything would be better than her current state.
Malice's movement stopped when she sank up to her calves in the oddly soft sand. She couldn't pull them out no matter how hard she struggled. When she stopped to accept the hopelessness of her situation, she could feel the sand inch up her legs at a snail's pace. She felt vibrations through the sand which seemed to sink her deeper with each pulse. The seconds ticked by and the pulses became stronger. The warm fine sand pulsed its way up her knees and began taking her thighs.
Malice quietly moaned despite having little energy to escape. She still wanted to escape this dream but no matter how hard she tried she wouldn't wake up. She did note that the sand felt fine, even therapeutic on a minor level. Any chance she had to begin enjoying the sand was interrupted by the crows that had gathered around her. They conversed loudly amongst themselves. Malice covered her ears in her best effort to ignore the crows but nothing would help. She finally summoned the last of her energy to scream “Would you all just go away!?”
The crows suddenly flew away with a fury of flapping wings. Their wings threatened to blot out the red sky as they circled above Malice. Malice quickly found out that the crows didn't leave at her request. They rather scurried from a tunneling presence that raced towards Malice. The presence quickly revealed itself as a series of brown tentacles that rocketed from the sand. Malice stood wearily yet petrified. The sand had encased her hips in a firm prison that would not permit her escape. The tentacles descended towards Malice. They gently wrapped themselves around her body and halted her sinking. Malice screamed in anguish at her predicament. In her mind she was begging to wake up.
Much to Malice's surprise, the tentacles began caressing her skin. The tentacles were pleasantly warm and seemed to impart their energy into her. She relaxed and wearily rested in her new prison. The sand continued to pulse and Malice couldn't deny that it was sending pleasant vibes through her body. The energy she continued to receive came at a price. The tentacles slowly lowered her into the sand which sent more pleasant pulses through her body. It became clear to Malice that the energy she was getting would only be used for one final bit of ecstasy. She softly moaned and rubbed her cheek against one of the tentacles. The tentacles responded to this new found sense of affection by probing its tips under the sand. They slithered over her skin and massaged every part that they touched.
The sand was shaking its way between Malice's breasts. She couldn't help but notice how nice it felt as a corset. It did however make it harder to breathe but she hardly took notice. Her moans picked up their pace as the thought of complete bondage set in. The tentacles were slithering around her body until they found her most sacred region. They didn't violate her without regard however. At first they gently touched and rubbed to test how wet she was. Malice gently whispered “Take me” to let the tentacles know she was ready. The tentacles understood as one of them pushed its way past her barrier. Malice gasped in pleasant surprise. She wasn't able to help the tentacles fuck her but her assistance was not needed. Malice screamed in climax once the sand reached her neck.
As Malice rested, the crows circling above flew away. The sky was still crimson red which didn't bring any relief to her nightmare. Malice looked around to see what scared the crows away and found two figures walking towards her. One of the figures wore black robes similar to Malice's except there was no veil to accompany it. The person in the robes however was a complete stranger to her. This person was a black woman, tall and statuesque. Her eyes provided a steely gaze that penetrated deep into Malice's very being. The other figure wasn't human. It was comprised entirely of sand but it did retain a humanoid shape. This sand figure raised its hand and dispelled the tentacles that held Malice. Malice began to slip deeper with her eyes neither pleading for help or expressing relief. The black woman broke the silence by saying “Your destiny is with us in this desert. Come and find me lest madness takes your mind.”
Malice woke up in the exact spot where she collapsed. The sky was no longer crimson yet night had taken fall. Malice broke into tears knowing that the nightmare was over. But would she be subject to the crimson world every time she rested? She was at least thankful that she was at the edge of the desert when she collapsed. What lay before her stretched a sea of sand that rested in an inhospitable wasteland. She felt oddly well rested considering everything she had gone through. She took this as a good sign despite the stale taste of vomit in her mouth. She opened her bag and took a drink of water despite the horrible taste going down her throat. Somehow she knew better than to rinse her mouth out with valuable water.
Malice opened the map for the first time wondering how she was going to cross this massive desert. She began walking as she looked at the geographical map. There were heavy black circles around certain landmarks as well as lines which suggested the route she should take. She looked up and saw a black rock formation that was indicated on the map. She folded up the map and retrieved the survival manual that Miss Hatter had packed for her. She opened it up to a folded page that just so happened to cover trekking the desert. There was a full moon in the sky which allowed her to read what the passages said.
The first and foremost thing to remember when crossing the desert is that heat kills faster than anything. Therefore it is important that any movement you make through the desert should be done under the cover of night. During the day you should seek shelter whether it be under a rock or a man made structure. You should rest and ration your water accordingly. Starting a fire during the day is an excellent way to make smoke signals should you become lost. Ancient cultures throughout the desert have chosen to wear robes and veils when crossing the desert. Doing so will protect you from sun burns which can prove to become debilitating should they become severe. These people have also discovered that opening your robes while standing in a breeze provides a relieving cooling effect that can help you greatly in the desert.
Malice thumbed through the other information in the desert chapter. The manual also mentioned how to make water from plastic sheets which Miss Hatter had also conveniently packed. Malice thumbed through the manual to see if there was any other useful information she needed to know. She stumbled across another folded page at the end of the desert section which indicated that this was crucial information she needed to know.
The Shifting Sands Desert has many unique perils that other deserts do not have. While deserts can have quicksand fed by underground springs, unique seismic activity in this desert has created dry quicksand which can quickly become perilous. You will only have seconds to react if you step in this quicksand. You must immediately step back or fall backwards as soon as your feet sink under. Any delay or panic can become fatal. This quicksand can be spotted by noting oddly flat areas of sand or bouncing grains of sand.
Malice dropped the book and froze in her tracks. It never occurred to her just how realistic her nightmares were becoming. She shivered under her robes and cautiously took a step forward. This step was followed by another cautious step until she began to walk again. Her eyes scanned the ground in front of her for any tell tale signs of seismic sand. She couldn't wait to reach the black rocks which got closer with every step. She avoided every flat spot of sand and even false alarms were heeded with great care. Reaching the rock did little to make Malice feel safe. Even though her feet were on safe ground, she knew she had more peril to cross. The moonlight helped to illuminate another rock formation on the map which was barely visible in the moon light.
Dawn was breaking when an exhausted Malice had set foot on the second rock. Her robes had kept her warm in the cold night but she didn't know how she would handle the heat all deserts are known for. She quickly retreated to a set of low hanging rocks that acted like a man made shelter. She drank her water sparingly as the temperature quickly rose to inhumane levels. She stayed in the shade as much as humanly possible before the sun had set. During this time she faced multiple struggles to survive. The heat played its havoc across the wastes and sapped Malice's strength. The only thing that kept her awake was fear. Fear that she would once again find herself in the crimson world. This fear was the last thread she held on her sanity. Her eyes burned as she stared at the burning sands. Her thoughts were as barren as the desert. All that mattered to her was keeping her eyes open to see the clear blue sky.
Malice screamed in agony. The clear blue sky had flashed to red and black dots speckled the horizon. She cried knowing that her efforts to stay awake had failed. She felt sick to her stomach but she knew she had nothing left to throw up. She cried “Why does this keep happening to me?! Someone please just kill me!”
Malice suddenly remembered that she had a gun given to her before she departed. She scrambled to find her pack. She found it lying several feet away on a nearby rock. She ran towards it out of pure desperation despite the fact that the sharp rocks were scorching and cutting her feet. A little pain now would mean nothing to her if she could just achieve the sweet release of death. She imagined the gun in her hands. She imagined how one pull of the trigger would take her away from this world. The only question she had was what would happen once she found her way out. Would she fade to nothingness or would she simply wake up? Every step brought her closer to her goal.
Almost on cue, a murder of crows flew in to stop Malice. They angrily swarmed and pecked at her. Their claws tore her robes to ribbons and their beaks left welts on her skin. They angrily chanted “You can't leave us! Your choices led you here. This is everything you wanted.” They drove her away from her pack while another murder of crows carried it away. They disappeared into the red sky as Malice collapsed into a ball on the ground. She rolled along the rocks leaving her robes as a heap of tattered rags. All Malice possessed now was her battered naked body and her shattered sanity.
Malice staggered to her feet but only to run to the open sands. She screamed “Why won't any of you help me?! Just kill me!”
Malice cried and the crows replied “This is what you chose for yourself. We can't let you leave.” The crows retorted Malice's request by swarming her with pecks. Bruises and cuts covered her body as she ran with absolute futility. Her feet plunged into pulsing quicksand which caused her to scream once again. She fell forward and curled up into a ball while the crows continued with their attack. The sand cared little for Malice's predicament and showed it by devouring her. Every fine grain of sand lodged themselves in Malice's wounds which brought severe cries of agony. Pain was Malice's only acquaintance in this world. The sand took her helpless body deeper to rub itself in more of her wounds. Malice was beyond words and if she could cry out, it would be to beg for death.
Almost as unexpectedly as the crows had attacked, they suddenly flew away with a fury of flapping wings. Malice looked with a blur through her tear soaked eyes at a white shape that grew larger as it flew through the sky. She blinked several times to clear the tears away to make out the shape of a giant white eagle that had perched itself on top of the sands. It looked down at her with cold sapphire eyes. Its flawless white feathers defied the crimson sky as they proudly presented themselves with regal glory. Malice tried to lift her head but she could barely move a muscle. Somehow though she managed to whimper “Please...help me.”
The eagle spread its massive wings and flew up into the air, creating a sandstorm that threatened to bury Malice alive. The threat however was empty when it wrapped its massive talons around her helpless body. It carried her through the red sky, shielding her from the crimson world's harmful effects. She whimpered knowing that she was still thoroughly broken. She whispered “What does any of this mean? Why won't anyone tell me?”
Suddenly Malice felt a shot of pain shoot through her arm. Her eyes shot open and much to her relief she found herself staring at a clear blue sky once again. She immediately burst into tears thankful that the nightmare was over. She tried moving her arm to relieve the pain but something was holding it down. She wanted to jerk it away but a soothing voice said “Don't move it honey I'm giving you a shot to relieve your withdrawal.”
Malice ceased her struggles as her eyes locked with the voice who said it. Straight from her second nightmare, a tall black statuesque woman was kneeling above her. Unlike Miss Hatter, this woman had a genuine sense of hospitality that seemed to radiate from her. Her toned arms and legs suggested that she was no stranger to harsh climates. Her legs were long and built for carrying long sprints. The mysterious woman soothed “I'm going to start an IV to help you get some of your fluids back. Just what got you addicted to that stuff in the first place?”
Malice lifted her head and groaned “I don't know what you mean? Who are you?”
The stranger smirked with a pearly white smile. She replied “You don't think I wouldn't know red slime withdrawal symptoms when I see them? You can call me Tanya. Dr. Tanya that is.”
Malice's heart froze upon hearing Tanya's name. She tried to hide her astonishment but she knew that it would be a moot point. She instead redirected the conversation towards “What did you just give me?”
Tanya cooly soothed “I gave you a medicine that will relieve your addiction to that red slime. I'm afraid it's like methadone so you'll need routine shots. Would you mind if I took a blood sample before I start your IV?”
Malice lay her head back down and closed her eyes. In her mind she reviewed her oath to Queen Relena and how she promised to kill the very woman that was treating her. It was easy enough for Malice to summarize how she would handle this. She'd allow Tanya to treat her before she killed her target. Only then would she be allowed to see Miss Hatter once again. But Malice also had to consider the fact that she now had a new perspective of the slime. Given Queen Relena's love for sadism, it was easy to see how the red slime could fuel such madness. Malice also had to consider the fact that if she did kill Tanya like she was ordered to, it was a guarantee that she would become a junkie hell bent on death and destruction. No matter how she looked at it, the days of her being a dark gothic bitch were over.
Malice groaned “Sure since you're going to be sticking me with needles anyway. But what do you need it for?”
“Well aren't you a feisty one? I'm working on a fully fledged cure for red slime to make these shots a thing of the past. There are two things I'm lacking though. One's a rare earth mineral that only exists somewhere in this god forsaken wasteland. The other is a good sample of red slime. Blood samples help me understand how it interacts with the human body but it's hard to come by in the White Kingdom. Not even the palace can get any. You wouldn't happen to know where I can find any would you?”
Malice groaned “Yeah. I have a vial of that shit somewhere in my bag. Take as much as you want I don't want to touch it any more.”
Tanya smiled as she quickly retrieved the bag. She found the vial but a puzzled look soon overtook her face. Malice saw this and knew that she had just made a huge mistake. Her heart quickened as she saw Tanya examine the assassination order that Miss Hatter had packed away for her. She watched as Tanya pulled Malice's gun from the pack as well. Tanya's fingers delicately handled the gun before saying “This is the kind of stuff the reds give to assassins. Did you come all this way just to kill me?”
Malice was speechless. Fear had paralyzed her to the point where she couldn't even speak much less move. Tanya pointed the gun at Malice and said “Get up. You're taking a walk.”
Malice somehow managed to do what she was told. She slowly got up and moved as Tanya motioned for her to step towards the sand. Tanya's soothing voice gave way to “I should have figured that a red junkie wouldn't be wandering the desert without a reason. You assassins are all alike. That bitch of a queen gets you all hooked on slime so you always have to go back to get your next fix. Just be glad I'm putting you out of your misery now.”
Malice's feet stepped onto the sand as she continued to back away from Tanya. Tears once again flooded her eyes as she said “Please just kill me. I don't want to go back to Queen Relena.”
Tanya sharply hissed “You stupid bitch. Is this your first assignment? Did you think that killing people would just be a game? In case you haven't noticed honey I'm a doctor. I swore never to take another person's life. However...”
Tanya stopped just as Malice stepped into soft sand. She quickly sank up to her thighs with a short scream before she once again locked eyes with Tanya. Malice stared in terrified silence as tears streamed down her cheeks. Tanya meanwhile kept the gun pointed at her with a cold stare. She watched as Malice sunk to her hips. Malice couldn't help but moan and yet she didn't know why.
“Are you starting to like what you're feeling?” Tanya cooly asked. Malice was too terrified to reply so Tanya continued “That slime has an interesting side effect that I just haven't been able to observe yet. Go ahead and have some fun honey. I'll be sure to take notes.”
Malice shivered as her hips slipped deeper. Her cheeks felt hotter despite the desert's best efforts. Her pulse quickened and her hands began to shake. She shut her eyes tightly knowing full well that her body was betraying her. Deep in her mind she pretended that Dr. Tanya wasn't watching her, which was surprisingly easy considering the effects the slime still had on her. She took a deep calming breath before a smile crept along her lips. She reached through her robes and stroked her breasts. Her soft flesh came alive with the latent slime that hadn't been completely subdued by the methadone. Malice somehow got the courage to moan “Tell me something before I die doc.”
Tanya arched her eyebrow as she inquired “Now look who got bold all of a sudden. I suppose you're in no position to do anything else. Ask away just as long as you don't interrupt my research.”
Malice pleasantly sighed before asking “Why am I aroused and not begging for my life?”
Tanya politely covered her mouth to hide her laughter. “Inquisitive? You're a far cry from those slobs and convicts the reds have. Are you even from the Red Kingdom?”
“Answer my question and I'll answer yours” Malice purred.
“Fair enough. My research has told me that your Queen has some sort of...quicksand fetish. Given half the crazy stuff she's done and how she brags about her scientists I wouldn't be surprised if she didn't make it that way. The evidence certainly supports the theory. Now answer mine.”
Malice purred and let her hands explore deeper into her robe. Malice had to admit that the sand felt pleasantly nice although she didn't want it in her. She moaned “I know you won't believe me but here goes...I fell down a rabbit's hole to get here. I never even heard of the Red or White Kingdoms before I got here.”
Tanya's face was once again painted with cold reality. Any enjoyment she had from watching her would be assassin's predicament had evaporated like a drop of water in the scorching desert. She coldly replied “A rabbit's hole? And why would I doubt that?”
Malice was too dazed to notice Tanya's tone. She purred “I know, sounds stupid right? You probably don't know this but my goal in life up there was to just disappear. No search party, no hope, no trace.”
“And you just so happened trip and fall when you were playing your little game of hide and seek?”
Malice had sunk do her midriff when she laughed again “Why so serious? I knew some acid dropping stoners back in college who wouldn't make up anything as stupid as this.”
“Did you?” Tanya asked with cold prejudice.
“I followed this rabbit after he gave me the finger and ran away. Then I met this crazy woman in a top hat who turned some purple caterpillar into a table cloth. This the rabbit shows up again and tries to kill us. He claimed he was the best assassin the White Kingdom had but I'm still alive.”
Tanya whispered “That arrogant fool...” She carefully approached the edge of the pit while being carefully sure to stay out of Malice's reach. She spoke with an even harsher tone “Listen little girl. You have no idea what kind of shit you have gotten yourself into. He might have been the best assassin in the White Kingdom but he let his fame and success get to his head. Now you better believe me when I say that we have plenty of assassins who would love to make a name for themselves by killing you.”
Malice had sunk up to her chest during Tanya's threats smarted back “Does this mean you're not taking credit? I mean I wouldn't mind if you'd let me enjoy myself a bit longer.”
Tanya snarled “You druggie bitch I'm trying to save you! If I cure you would you at least act like an assassin and take the Red Queen out?”
Malice would have given a half lucid answer in response but she didn't have time. She found herself dropping like a stone in the middle of a crater. The spontaneous crater caught Tanya by surprise as she found herself sliding helplessly towards Malice. Tanya screamed as she found herself sinking rapidly. She started at her waist and slid dropped deeply into the desert. Malice meanwhile was taken by the shock and found just enough time to take her hands out of her robes and grab Tanya's just in time as she sank up to her neck. Malice in a moment of clarity shouted “Just cure me and I'll do anything.” These were Malice's last words before her terrified face was taken by the sands. Tanya was quick to follow. First the sand flowed around her chest before it poured over her shoulders. Her hazel eyes bulged in terror as she silently cursed herself for getting too close to an assassin. This was her last thought as the cratering quicksand closed over her head. As soon as she disappeared the sands ceased to vibrate, almost hinting that the wasteland hunted down this unfortunate pair.
Malice opened her eyes to a dark room illuminated dimly by torches. The torches sat on ancient racks and the walls were thoroughly coated with soot. Sand stone bricks lined the walls and sand covered the floor. She peered down a dark hallway and saw nothing but sand and torches. She barely had enough energy to lift her head much less clutch some sand in her hands. The sand felt much like the fine grains she encountered in the quicksand except it was much cooler to the touch. She dropped her head and closed her eyes. In addition to the fatigue she had suffered earlier, she suffered from dehydration. Her mouth felt painfully dry but she couldn't do anything about it. Instead Malice passed out face down in the sand, too parched to even cough up the grains she just inhaled.
Malice was awakened once again but this time with a sharp pain in her arm. There was little response from her however as an IV was pinned into her vein. Standing over her was Tanya, who found herself in a similar predicament to Malice. Her attention however wasn't on her patient. Her hazels eyes were instead fixed on a creature she could only describe as trans-human. This creature looked anatomically normal enough as a human woman, but that's where the similarities ended. She wore a blue velvet dress which oddly complimented her dark tan skin with upper class flair. Her eyes appeared as two black sapphires which couldn't be read by even the most analytical personality. Her lips, full and alive, were as black as her eyes. Her hair was long and black, although it seemed to radiate a blue light which complimented the dark environment. Tanya stood her ground although she didn't know what to think of this creature. She cautiously said “Thanks for bringing me my medical supplies. But you still haven't told me what you are or where we are.”
The creature smiled and purred with a southern drawl “But you haven't even asked me for my name. I do believe that would be the more appropriate question to ask.”
Tanya coldly replied “I apologize if I seemed rude at first. Who are you?”
The creature seemed to take delight when Tanya put an emphasis on “who.” She drawled “My name is O'Hara and I'm pleased to make your acquaintance. As for what I am and where we are...I suppose it wouldn't be polite to withhold those answers. You're all in my home underneath the desert. I know I haven't been keeping up on my decorating but I do have a rather large home. It's almost as big as the desert.”
This time Tanya warmed up her tone with sincere curiosity. This answer had left her with many more questions. The most obvious inquiry she could make was “You still haven't told me what you are.”
O'Hara held out her open hand as if to offer it to Tanya. Instead of waiting for Tanya to take it, a ball of revolving sand formed in her open palm. As the ball formed, she replied “I am a sand witch.”
Tanya would have broke out laughing if the gravity of the situation wasn't so serious. She asked the next logical question she could think of. “Do you know where I can find some crimson jade?”
“Crimson jade? My it's been years since anyone's come prospectin' for that. I thought doctors got paid enough money without havin' to strike it rich. What ever could possess you to look for it?”
Tanya dropped her guard only slightly. She took a conscious breath before answering “It's not for me it's for my patient. I've been working on a cure for red slime addiction but there are two more elements I think I need. One of those is crimson jade but my only experience with it was a miniscule sample that's kept under lock and key at the White National Museum. That sample was the only one in the White Kingdom but I do believe that it's a key ingredient for making my cure.”
O'Hara seemed to take note of Tanya's change in composure. The sand witch responded by asking “And let's just say that I gave you some of my jade. I know how valuable it is sugar. Why a lump of that stuff could fund your entire war. Now how do I know you aint gonna send an army of tanks across my desert?” Tanya opened her mouth to reply but she continued “And don't play me for a fool. Those men will have to cross the desert and I just don't think enough of 'em will live to fight those reds.”
Tanya confidently stared into O'Hara's black eyes and stated “Because I already have a plan to end this war. My patient here is a red assassin. She answers to the Red Queen and...”
Again O'Hara interrupted with “And you don't think she'll kill you as soon as she gets better?”
Tanya cleared her throat before replying “I doubt she will. The Red Queen got her hooked on red slime. She wants to get clean and she is very, very vengeful... How did you know she was trying to kill me?”
“I am a sand witch sugar and I have a crystal ball. Would you like to see it?”
Tanya sighed “I suppose it would be polite. But we have to carry her with us and she has an IV.”
O'Hara snapped her fingers and watched as the sand quivered under Malice. Instead of sinking however Malice rose on a bed of sand. Tanya grabbed the IV and carefully held it in her hands. A bed of sand rose for O'Hara as well which she was only happy to sit on. She snapped her fingers again which caused a bed of sand to rise for Tanya which was conveniently placed along Malice's side. A simple command of “hop on” caused Tanya to uneasily sit by Malice's side. As soon as Tanya's feet left the ground, the sand underneath her moved to follow the witch who confidently led the way. O'Hara turned back and asked “What were you sayin' about your plan?”
Tanya uneasily shifted on her sandy platform before replying “Red assassins take their orders directly from the Red Queen. I'll have her act like a junkie and 'confirm' my death. However she decides to kill Queen Relena is up to her.”
O'Hara casually replied “And how does that end the war? Sometimes wars outlast their monarchs.”
Tanya replied in her surest tone “Not this one. Our spies say that she has seized absolute power. She's the heart and brains of the Red Kingdom and without her, things would fall into chaos.”
“And I don't suppose you'd have a plan to seize the moment?”
“The White Army would have to cross your desert.”
“Well...this is the first time someone asked permission to cross my desert.” O'Hara had a visibly irked tone in her voice. “And just would I get in return for lettin' those tanks rattle my chandeliers?”
“Name your price.” Tanya replied in an equally confident tone.
It took everything O'Hara had not to scoff. She did reply with “No offense honey but I know that a doctor like yourself couldn't pay my price.”
Tanya resisted a scowl but instead firmly stated “I know people who can make things happen. Name your price.”
The three of them floated into the room containing the crystal ball before O'Hara could name her price. The room could more accurately be described as a palace. Sapphire blue granite covered the floor and walls. The ceiling was covered in matching blue sand stone which clashed with the granite. It seemed that O'Hara was well aware of this and draped quartz chandeliers and crystal curtains to draw attention away from it. Egyptian style furniture upholstered with matching blue velvet which was remarkably similar to her dress. The walls were left bare of pictures or torches as the crystals seemed to reflect light off of internal candles remarkably well. The chandeliers were carefully arranged around a granite fountain that rose with three tiers. It filled the stone room with quiet gurgling that echoed throughout the blue walls. Atop of the fountain was the crystal ball that the witch mentioned. It was a large and flawless orb that rotated on top of flowing water. Tanya's mouth hung in amazement which was something the witch couldn't help but take smug satisfaction in. She even showed her pride by asking “Do you like what you see sugar?”
All Tanya could muster was “It's breathtaking. I especially love what you did with the crystal ball.”
The witch beamed “I do put a lot of time in my decoratin'. All of this was made with my magic.”
“Your magic...” Tanya pondered out loud. “Does this mean you can make crimson jade too?”
“Bravo doctor. I could have made this room out of crimson jade but the reds just ruined the color for me. I'm not very fond of war you see.”
Tanya gulped upon hearing those words. There certainly wasn't anything wrong with a pacifist wanting to be left to her own volition in her opinion but this still posed a problem with her plan. She cautiously asked “Have the reds ever done anything to you?”
O'Hara sighed and stated “Years ago they came out to my desert and tried lookin' for crimson jade. I tried stayin' out of their way at first but I just heard them talkin' about some of that red goo you were mentioning. My crystal ball room you see here used to have a fountain made out of crimson jade but those bastards just drilled through and took it all. My home just hasn't looked the same since.”
Tanya replied “And yet you seem apprehensive about letting the White Army cross your desert.”
The witch O'Hara sighed again. This time she replied “Don't get me wrong sugar. I don't have anything against the White Kingdom but crimson jade is a highly valuable mineral. As much as I hate the reds you two are keepin' each others' tanks away from my desert. Plus who can say you won't destroy my home?”
Tanya cupped her chin with her left hand as her index finger tapped her cheek. She pondered for several seconds of uncomfortable silence before replying “The reds did take your fountain and if it's anything like the granite fountain you have now, it had to have been a considerable amount of jade. Whose to say our assassin didn't sneak some out during her visit.”
O'Hara's eyes went wide in amazement. She stared Tanya squarely in the eyes and replied “I never heard of a doctor bein' so wise to politics . Who are you?”
This time Tanya smiled for the first time since sinking under the sands. She proudly replied “My name is Dr. Tanya Holland. I graduated valedictorian with higher ambitions than just living in a mansion on a golf course. I made it my career goal to break the chains of addiction once and for all. I may have been second in line for the throne but I earned the name 'Dr.' and that's something nobody can take away from me.”
For the first time the witch was stunned with silence. Finally she manage to ask “Second in line? That must mean you're a princess of the White Kingdom.”
This time Tanya sighed out of disappointment. She replied “Honey, just call me Dr.”
Before the witch could reply, Malice stirred awake. O'Hara rushed to her as Tanya passed the IV from her right arm to her left. The witch snapped her fingers which summoned a cloud of sand to relieve Tanya's tired arms of the IV. Malice groaned but she was barely able to open her eyes. She seemed oblivious of the IV which was a good thing for Tanya. Her blurry eyes came into focus to see the O'Hara's world of blue. Her eyes then focused on a slightly familiar sight. At first her heart briefly raced with fear but she once again found herself without the energy to worry about it. She smiled at Tanya which was a rare thing for her to do with anyone. She weakly moaned “You really did save me. How the hell did you do it?”
Tanya replied “Manners honey. We're guests here.”
Malice turned her head to see her host. She saw the same black eyes, blue radiant highlights, and black lips that made up the tan O'Hara. Malice however wasn't as scared as Tanya was. She took in the sight of the strange witch and deliriously remarked “You're beautiful...”
O'Hara blushed as Tanya said “You should rest. You've been through a lot lately.”
Malice rolled her eyes back to Tanya and asked “Do you have any water?”
Tanya locked eyes with O'Hara who snapped her fingers and produced a clay cup. Tanya grabbed it and ran to the fountain. She ran back with the cup in hand and placed it against Malice's parched lips. She drank it eagerly and almost choked on it. The water perked her up as her eyes came into clear focus. Her eyes darted to each crystal chandelier and the blue granite walls. She couldn't help but comment “Is this what's it's like to disappear? I should have done it a long time ago.”
O'Hara replied “Well I'm flattered. I believe we haven't introduced each other yet. I'm O'Hara, sand witch of the Shifting Sands Desert.”
Malice was still half way delirious from exhaustion. She couldn't help but giggle at O'Hara's self admission to being a sand witch. She replied with “My name's Malice. The pleasure's all mine.”
O'Hara looked in amazement as she said “Most everyone I've ever met usually runs away or at least keeps their guard up like a damsel in a room full of snakes. But flirtin's the last thing I'd expect sugar.”
“I'm drawn to black like a moth to a flame. You have to tell me how you got those highlights.”
O'Hara blushed and replied “Oh well it just comes with the territory of being a witch. Blue just so happens to be my color. You still don't find my appearance to a bit...strange?”
Malice stared mesmerized at O'Hara and replied “You're like a fantasy out of my darkest dreams. Tell me am I dead? I feel like I'm in a beautiful underworld.”
Tanya interjected “Well this is certainly...dark. Show us how your crystal ball works.”
O'Hara's blush quickly disappeared as she turned to Tanya and said “Say please princess.”
Malice in Vunderland pt 2
Heavy oak doors swung open at the Queen's command to reveal Malice's initiation. A dungeon with shackles and chains lined the old bricks that made the wall. Those bricks however weren't Malice's concern. There was an iron gate on the back end of the wall that held back what seemed to be darkness save for a pair of cold eyes that stared at her from the other end. The only thing that separated this dungeon from your typical medieval dungeon was the fluorescent lighting that hung from the ceiling.
“Are you curious about my slime?” The Queen asked Malice.
Malice meekly replied “Yes your highness.”
The Queen laughed nonchalantly and replied “Oh you don't need to be afraid. Just because I like to have fun with the death penalty doesn't mean I'm going to kill you right away. Oh and call me Queen Relena”
Miss Hatter and Queen Relena shared a laugh. Malice wasn't sure if she should force a laugh or keep silent. Malice ultimately decided to keep silent while the laughter died down. Miss Hatter noted Malice's uncomfortable silence and said “Poor thing you're so tense. Mind if I relax her a bit your highness?”
Queen Relena nodded her head to give Miss Hatter permission. Miss Hatter set her top hat aside as she gently kissed Malice. Malice didn't respond at first but somehow Miss Hatter's following embrace seemed to close Malice off from the outside world. Miss Hatter moaned as she kissed Malice and soon Malice began to sing in chorus. Malice relaxed her body and allowed herself to melt into the red haired seductress. Miss Hatter broke the kiss and moaned “May I get the slime your highness.”
The Queen replied “Yes you may. Once she's settled in prepare her for the initiation.”
Miss Hatter returned her attentions to Malice and said “This won't take long. You'll really enjoy it.”
Miss Hatter released Malice from her oddly hospitable embrace. She pushed a button on the wall which caused a floor panel to slide away. What Malice thought was stone gave way to a shallow pool of red slime. Any comfort she might have had from Miss Hatter's embrace was quickly gone. She still felt vulnerable from the fact that she was paraded around the castle naked and so far has not received a stitch of clothing. The only comfort she did have came from the fact that she was still covered in mud from her encounter with the caterpillar. Now she was staring at a shallow pool of red slime. Her thoughts reverted back to the soldier who was executed for 's enjoyment.
“Don't worry dear. This is an older version of the slime. It's not as intense as the slime you saw earlier.” Miss Hatter's soothing words came in response to seeing the rising terror in Malice's eyes. Miss Hatter casually smiled and said “Come, see for yourself.”
To ensure Malice would be calmed, Miss Hatter dipped her finger into the slime and tasted it for herself. Malice expect Miss Hatter's eyes to be overtaken by an erotic beast much like but instead warm hospitality reigned. Malice gingerly approached Miss Hatter knowing that she had no other option but to place her rarely earned trust in her. Miss Hatter once again embraced Malice and gave her a soft kiss. She whispered “Don't worry honey this isn't as scary as it seems. The Queen has great plans for you.”
Malice dropped her guard, a gesture that was rarely shown. She showed this by lightly kissing Miss Hatter back. The more she kissed, the more she showed that her tough exterior was cracking. She felt herself descending into the dark insanity that she openly sought when she first met Miss Hatter. Soft kisses gave way to exploration. Clearly Malice was beginning to accept that she was living in madness. She wanted to disappear from her world and she got her wish. If anyone could peer into her mind, they would find a clean slate willing to be filled with whatever a convincing author wished. Miss Hatter parted her lips from Malice, as if she sensed that she was in full control.
“Just lie down. Your initiation into the Red Assassins will begin.”
Malice heeded Miss Hatter's words as if they were commands from a divine being. She stepped into the slime and tenderly lay her naked body down. The slime was deep enough to cover her midriff and yet it left her breasts and her face exposed to the air. Miss Hatter walked back to and remarked “Doesn't she look just marvelous your highness?”
Queen Relena purred “Yes she does. And she killed the White Rabbit?”
“That's correct your highness. She did so with extreme prejudice.”
An evil smile crept across Queen Relena's lips. To call it by any other name would do it no justification. She purred “We will have to see if killing the White Rabbit was a fluke or if she's skilled.”
Malice couldn't hear anything Queen Relena said. Her ears were emerged in the slime and her body was coming alive. Her moans filled her ears under the thick liquid viscous. Her hands began to explore her nether regions. Her fingers were rubbing the mud away from her sex and introducing herself to Queen Relena's slime on a more intimate level. Malice's moans were beginning to overtake The Queen's conversation with her most loyal subject, which was something that had to be stopped. She saw to this interruption by walking to the edge of the pool and saying “Take your fingers away from yourself. Miss Hatter will see to your needs.”
Miss Hatter willingly obeyed as she gently pulled Malice's hand away. She replaced Malice's hand with her own as she rubbed her experienced fingers along Malice's sex. This allowed Queen Relena to say “Now then. Before I allow you into an order that I have exclusive control over, I must ask you a few questions. Have you ever been to the White Kingdom?”
Malice moaned “No your highness. I'm not even from this world.”
“Oh? And where are you from?”
Malice again moaned “I'm from a place called earth. I fell down a rabbit hole to get here.”
Queen Relena saw no deception and nodded to Miss Hatter. Miss Hatter responded by rubbing her experienced fingers at a slightly faster pace. Queen Relena asked “What is your opinion of the White Kingdom?”
Malice began writhing in blissful agony. The slime was attacking her from every angle. She said “I never heard of them before, honest.”
Queen Relena once again nodded to Miss Hatter. Miss Hatter's fingers began a deeper rub with a faster pace. Slime was beginning to get mixed with Malice's clit. Queen Relena asked “Have you ever heard of the Red Kingdom before you descended from this 'Earth?'”
“No I haven't your highness.” Malice barely manage to say this between her intense moans. Clearly this slime was playing havoc on her senses.
“So why should I believe you aren't a White Assassin sent to kill me?”
“I don't know... Please believe me your highness.” Malice was writhing under intense euphoria. Miss Hatter hadn't even started with her sexual torture and already she held Malice under her control. Miss Hatter nodded to Queen Relena. Queen Relena in turn nodded, signifying that she should put her experienced fingers to use.
“So if I gave you an assignment, you'd carry it out without question and bring me back results?”
“Yes your highness. I'll do anything.”
Queen Relena paused. She neither spoke or nodded. Miss Hatter continued her rubbing knowing that Malice wasn't any closer to achieving the release she so desperately craved. Finally after several agonizing seconds Queen Relena responded “Will you be willing to accept that there's a higher calling above yourself? That no matter what you will serve that calling at the expense of your own life? Will you descend into the darkest depths of hell to achieve that calling?”
Malice mourned “Oh god yes your highness! I'll do anything to reach that calling!”
Queen Relena nodded to Miss Hatter with an intense fire burning in her eyes. Miss Hatter knew that that look meant and acted accordingly. Her experienced fingers opened Malice up to the slime and any other forms of penetration. Malice's eyes went wide as her pupils contracted. She screamed with intense pleasure. She acted as if she was taking a massive phallic object within herself and she couldn't stop the euphoria that was building with the force of a tsunami. Even Earth's most satisfying lover couldn't compare to what Queen Relena had at her disposal. Deep within Malice's consciousness, she knew that if she faced the slime that had executed the unknown White soldier she would probably have met her demise.
Queen Relena suddenly spoke with a cold harshness that reflected the reality of her world. She said “Very well. Seeing as how I have no reason to doubt you, I hereby initiate you into the Red Assassins. Your first assignment will be to bring me proof of a Dr. Tanya Holland's demise. She's working on a chemical that would nullify the effect of the slime you lay in. Needless to say that slime is an effective tool in separating the infiltrators from those loyal to my throne as I have separated you. If she were to succeed in her research, it would set back my war effort against the White Kingdom years. Now then. I need you to take one final oath. Do you vow to serve the Red Kingdom and its absolute ruler without question? Do you vow to serve me above your own life? If I were in peril would you lay your life on the line to protect my throne?”
Malice barely managed to moan “Yes your highness.” The pleasure was intense and yet it still managed to force her coercion. Queen Relena replied “Good. Your work is done Miss Hatter. Open the cage and let the initiation be complete.”
Miss Hatter obeyed and stood up to press another button on the wall. The iron bars opened and the source of the cold eyes was quickly revealed. A giant serpent slithered its way out from the darkness to greet Malice. The serpent was easily forty feet in length and it eyed Malice with hungry eyes. It slithered up to Malice's feet and dipped its maw into the slime. As the snake analyzed Malice, Queen Relena said “Don't worry. This snake was created by my top scientists. Its stomach acids were replaced with more of my slime. We feed it through injections. Your descent into darkness will only signify your loyalty to my throne.”
As soon as Queen Relena finished her words, the snake opened its maw and clamped its mouth around Malice's submerged feet. Malice was to preoccupied with bliss to have fought back even if she wanted to. The snake quickly worked its way up her legs until it reached her hips. Its tongue slithered out to grant itself a flickering taste of her submerged sex. Malice screamed with passion. Never had something so insignificant had such an effect on her. She came with surprisingly little stimulation into the slime. Her screams played a symphony for Queen Relena who had called Miss Hatter over to her. Their lips met in just as manner as Miss Hatter's had met Malice's. This time however there was no fear, only excitement. Miss Hatter remarked “The young ones are always so full of energy.”
“Yes they are.” replied Queen Relena. “Tell me just how old you are.”
“22.” Malice moaned as the snake began devouring her hips. Its slithering tongue tasted Malice's hungry sex before its maw devoured her hips. Its pulsating muscles were providing an extreme amount of stimulation that Malice couldn't ignore. Malice came twice, then a third time. Both of those times were with such force that she could have squirted all over her lover. Malice was indeed one of those girls but her talents were now a moot point. With each of Malice's orgasms brought more worship from Miss Hatter upon her Queen. By now Miss Hatter was stripping herself naked in front of her Queen. Queen Relena responded by spreading her robes. Miss Hatter obediently responded by licking and sucking on Queen Relena's ready breasts. She kissed down Queen Relena's midriff until she reached her moist sex. Queen Relena said “Let us turn our attentions towards our assassin. I'll have my passions escalate with her's.”
The snake easily swallowed Malice's hips. The more it swallowed, the more its stimulating muscles worked their magic on her vulnerable body. The slime ensured that she would continually orgasm with unequaled fury. The snake's mouth relentlessly worked its way up her body. Soon its maw had tasted her soft breasts. She cried with blissful agony as they too were swallowed. The snake's teeth were arranged in a way to prevent her escape, but not her willing compliance. To Malice, its teeth only added to the intense pleasure she was feeling. Once that final obstacle was overcome, there was little to no resistance for the snake to take her body. With one gulp the snake swallowed her shoulders. It was a mere two gulps before Malice's black hair disappeared from view. By this time Queen Relena and Mad Hatter were too engulfed in their passions to notice.
Deep inside the snake Malice began to see a different reality. No longer was she bound by the bondage of a slithering beast but rather she was in a different place entirely. In her world, the sky was crimson red. The forest she stood in looked vaguely familiar but Malice couldn't figure out how it was. She walked forward as if she was free from any restraint. The only company she had was in the form of crows which seemed to endlessly line the trees around her. The crows whispered to each other as they looked at her moving through the forest. She eyed as many crows as she could even though there were too many to count. She couldn't help but feel uncomfortable around the birds. Who wouldn't feel uncomfortable about hundreds of black eyes staring at them?
Malice suddenly came upon the welcome sight of a burning cigar. It was placed on a leaf behind a mud bog. She couldn't remember where this scene had played into her life but she couldn't deny she needed a smoke. She carefully walked around the bog and picked up the smoking cigar with two fingers. She pursed her lips and brought the cigar to her lips. She broke into a coughing fit almost as soon as she inhaled the cigar. She stumbled back into the mud bog with a dull splash. Instead of reacting with fear like she had before, she moaned in pleasure. The mud began attacking her senses which was a battle Malice was all too eager to lose. She rubbed the mud all over her naked body and soon began attacking herself in her most sacred region.
The crows departed from the trees and began circling the crimson sky around the bog. They each cawed things that were vaguely familiar to Malice such as “Turn back” and “You asked for this.”
Malice paid them little mind. She had stumbled backwards into the loose bog which only slowed her descent temporarily. She couldn't figure out why she was rubbing herself crazy but she knew that stopping wouldn't be healthy. She attacked herself with such fury that even the most aggressive lover would have trouble competing. She quickly sank deep into the bog. In no time the bog was caressing her c cup breasts. The crows meanwhile circled above like vultures waiting for her death. They kept saying their slogans like “turn back” but Malice ignored them above her own bliss. Soon she was sinking up to her neck. She opened her eyes briefly as if she was guided by an unknown source. There was a single crow eying her with its soulless black eyes. It said in a German accent “Welcome to Vunderland. Now your nightmare is just beginning.”
Malice awoke in the dungeon as soon as her head had disappeared under the crimson world's bog. She was gasping for breath. She gasped not only for the fact that she was alive but also for the fact that she was no longer a prisoner of the snake. Her blurry eyes soon turned to focus to see Miss Hatter and Queen Relena standing above her. Queen Relena spoke “Good she's awake. Do you remember your assignment assassin?”
Malice weakly nodded her head and croaked “Yes your highness.”
“Good. As soon as you recover you will be given everything you need. You'll be sent to the shifting sands desert to track her down. It's a highly dangerous assignment but I have the highest expectations for you. Miss Hatter will see to your needs. Don't return to my castle without favorable results.”
Queen Relena left the dungeon leaving Miss Hatter to tend to the weakened Malice. Malice sat up with the help of Miss Hatter and was subsequently dragged out of the pool. Miss Hatter cleaned the slime from Malice's body while the newly anointed assassin was left in a helpless state. Malice gasped for her breath without any knowledge of the sexual gauntlet she just passed. Miss Hatter briefly left the dungeon only to return with a crimson duffel bag. She placed it by Malice along with the towel she just used to clean the slime away. By this time Malice was slowly beginning to regain her bearings. She was beginning to realize that she had awoken from one unfamiliar nightmare only to find herself in another. Miss Hatter resumed her hospitable tone in asking “Are you ok dear?”
Malice shook the clouds from her mind. She weakly looked up at Miss Hatter and said “Does it fucking look like I'm ok? What happened to me?”
Miss Hatter suddenly took a worried tone in asking “You mean you don't remember your oath?”
“I remember that, just tell me what happened after that.”
“Well after you were swallowed, we injected the snake with something that made him spit you out. You're still in tact and you didn't come out the back end.”
“That's a relief I guess. Just tell me where the fuck I'm supposed to find that fucking doctor.”
Miss Hatter reached for the duffel bag as she said “Well all that info is provided to you in Queen Relena's gift to you. This bag has a map, a gun, a knife, a survival kit, an outfit, some water, and a photo of your assignment. It also has a camera and a strip of white cloth for you to prove she's dead. Once you are ready I'll point you in the right direction. Until then I'll show you to the showers.”
Miss Hatter motioned to Malice who readily complied. The trip to the shower passed without memory but the cascading hot water quickly brought Malice's thoughts into order. The questioning from Queen Relena and the oath she just took rang clear in her mind. Every bit of slime and mud Miss Hatter missed circled the drain as her thoughts played like a broken record. If Malice could equivocate these events to anything, it would have to be selling her black broken soul to an even darker power. She shut the water off only when she couldn't stand to think of the initiation any more. She hurriedly dried herself off with the towel and opened the duffel bag to see what she was given. She picked the gun out and left it aside. She picked out the camera and set it next to her gun. She picked out the survival kit and the other miscellaneous items until she found the outfit she craved. She threw it on without thinking of how it would look on her. At this point she was glad to even wear anything at this point. It was only when she wiped the mist from the mirror that she realized she was wearing a black burqa. She quickly realized that this was the next best thing to sun block in the desert she would soon be entering. Strangely enough though she didn't feel like resting at all. On the contrary she was ready to get her assignment over with. She exited the shower with misguided determination, as if an unseen force was guiding her weary body.
Miss Hatter was waiting to greet her. She chimed “Oh I see you've already found your outfit. I made sure there were pockets sewn into it to accommodate your other supplies.”
Malice replied “I noticed” making sure not to sound too sarcastic.
“Are you sure you don't want to rest up? I can arrange a room for you to...”
“I'll be ok. Just get me out of this castle.”
“But...you must be...”
“Just get me out of here! I want to get this assignment over with.”
Miss Hatter sighed. She said “Ok dear. Just take some extra water with you then. I also prepared a survival kit for you. It has everything you need to make water and fire. It does get cold in the desert at night.”
Malice took the kit and packed it in her duffel bag along with the extra water. She shouldered the bag and said “Now how am I supposed to find her?”
“Our spies have found some safe routes through the desert that the White Kingdom likes to use. We marked the one she's sure to take.”
It was an agonizing walk through the vast castle. Every step made Malice sick to her stomach. Every memory from being paraded through the castle to the execution played through her mind like a macabre show. Malice noted that it was nothing short of a miracle that she reached the castle gates. She left the castle without looking back. She knew she would see the armed playing cards spying on her through their rifles. She could feel their steely gaze upon her. It was only when she was sure she was out of the castle's sight did she dare to turn around. She had departed from the castle with her emotions iced over but now she doubled over and vomited. The fatigue she felt from the initiation overtook her like a wave and she stumbled before collapsing.
Malice awoke, but not to the world she was accustomed to. A familiar crimson sky painted the horizon while crows whispered amongst themselves. This time however she was in a desert. The sand reflected the sky to create a red portrait broken up by black dots that littered the landscape. She stumbled naked and disoriented. She screamed “What the fuck do you stupid birds want?”You talk to each other...why won't you talk to me?!”
The crows surrounding Malice flew away as she stumbled forward. The sand shifted under her bare feet but she barely managed to attribute it to her stumbling. With each step forward, the sand underneath her feet got softer. It began closing over the tops of her feet, leaving golden red grains that were kicked away with each step. The sand got soft enough to engulf her ankles and yet she still walked. Her face was emotionally drained of any energy as she wearily shuffled on. Deep down inside she wanted to wake up from this nightmare. She didn't care if she died but anything would be better than her current state.
Malice's movement stopped when she sank up to her calves in the oddly soft sand. She couldn't pull them out no matter how hard she struggled. When she stopped to accept the hopelessness of her situation, she could feel the sand inch up her legs at a snail's pace. She felt vibrations through the sand which seemed to sink her deeper with each pulse. The seconds ticked by and the pulses became stronger. The warm fine sand pulsed its way up her knees and began taking her thighs.
Malice quietly moaned despite having little energy to escape. She still wanted to escape this dream but no matter how hard she tried she wouldn't wake up. She did note that the sand felt fine, even therapeutic on a minor level. Any chance she had to begin enjoying the sand was interrupted by the crows that had gathered around her. They conversed loudly amongst themselves. Malice covered her ears in her best effort to ignore the crows but nothing would help. She finally summoned the last of her energy to scream “Would you all just go away!?”
The crows suddenly flew away with a fury of flapping wings. Their wings threatened to blot out the red sky as they circled above Malice. Malice quickly found out that the crows didn't leave at her request. They rather scurried from a tunneling presence that raced towards Malice. The presence quickly revealed itself as a series of brown tentacles that rocketed from the sand. Malice stood wearily yet petrified. The sand had encased her hips in a firm prison that would not permit her escape. The tentacles descended towards Malice. They gently wrapped themselves around her body and halted her sinking. Malice screamed in anguish at her predicament. In her mind she was begging to wake up.
Much to Malice's surprise, the tentacles began caressing her skin. The tentacles were pleasantly warm and seemed to impart their energy into her. She relaxed and wearily rested in her new prison. The sand continued to pulse and Malice couldn't deny that it was sending pleasant vibes through her body. The energy she continued to receive came at a price. The tentacles slowly lowered her into the sand which sent more pleasant pulses through her body. It became clear to Malice that the energy she was getting would only be used for one final bit of ecstasy. She softly moaned and rubbed her cheek against one of the tentacles. The tentacles responded to this new found sense of affection by probing its tips under the sand. They slithered over her skin and massaged every part that they touched.
The sand was shaking its way between Malice's breasts. She couldn't help but notice how nice it felt as a corset. It did however make it harder to breathe but she hardly took notice. Her moans picked up their pace as the thought of complete bondage set in. The tentacles were slithering around her body until they found her most sacred region. They didn't violate her without regard however. At first they gently touched and rubbed to test how wet she was. Malice gently whispered “Take me” to let the tentacles know she was ready. The tentacles understood as one of them pushed its way past her barrier. Malice gasped in pleasant surprise. She wasn't able to help the tentacles fuck her but her assistance was not needed. Malice screamed in climax once the sand reached her neck.
As Malice rested, the crows circling above flew away. The sky was still crimson red which didn't bring any relief to her nightmare. Malice looked around to see what scared the crows away and found two figures walking towards her. One of the figures wore black robes similar to Malice's except there was no veil to accompany it. The person in the robes however was a complete stranger to her. This person was a black woman, tall and statuesque. Her eyes provided a steely gaze that penetrated deep into Malice's very being. The other figure wasn't human. It was comprised entirely of sand but it did retain a humanoid shape. This sand figure raised its hand and dispelled the tentacles that held Malice. Malice began to slip deeper with her eyes neither pleading for help or expressing relief. The black woman broke the silence by saying “Your destiny is with us in this desert. Come and find me lest madness takes your mind.”
Malice woke up in the exact spot where she collapsed. The sky was no longer crimson yet night had taken fall. Malice broke into tears knowing that the nightmare was over. But would she be subject to the crimson world every time she rested? She was at least thankful that she was at the edge of the desert when she collapsed. What lay before her stretched a sea of sand that rested in an inhospitable wasteland. She felt oddly well rested considering everything she had gone through. She took this as a good sign despite the stale taste of vomit in her mouth. She opened her bag and took a drink of water despite the horrible taste going down her throat. Somehow she knew better than to rinse her mouth out with valuable water.
Malice opened the map for the first time wondering how she was going to cross this massive desert. She began walking as she looked at the geographical map. There were heavy black circles around certain landmarks as well as lines which suggested the route she should take. She looked up and saw a black rock formation that was indicated on the map. She folded up the map and retrieved the survival manual that Miss Hatter had packed for her. She opened it up to a folded page that just so happened to cover trekking the desert. There was a full moon in the sky which allowed her to read what the passages said.
The first and foremost thing to remember when crossing the desert is that heat kills faster than anything. Therefore it is important that any movement you make through the desert should be done under the cover of night. During the day you should seek shelter whether it be under a rock or a man made structure. You should rest and ration your water accordingly. Starting a fire during the day is an excellent way to make smoke signals should you become lost. Ancient cultures throughout the desert have chosen to wear robes and veils when crossing the desert. Doing so will protect you from sun burns which can prove to become debilitating should they become severe. These people have also discovered that opening your robes while standing in a breeze provides a relieving cooling effect that can help you greatly in the desert.
Malice thumbed through the other information in the desert chapter. The manual also mentioned how to make water from plastic sheets which Miss Hatter had also conveniently packed. Malice thumbed through the manual to see if there was any other useful information she needed to know. She stumbled across another folded page at the end of the desert section which indicated that this was crucial information she needed to know.
The Shifting Sands Desert has many unique perils that other deserts do not have. While deserts can have quicksand fed by underground springs, unique seismic activity in this desert has created dry quicksand which can quickly become perilous. You will only have seconds to react if you step in this quicksand. You must immediately step back or fall backwards as soon as your feet sink under. Any delay or panic can become fatal. This quicksand can be spotted by noting oddly flat areas of sand or bouncing grains of sand.
Malice dropped the book and froze in her tracks. It never occurred to her just how realistic her nightmares were becoming. She shivered under her robes and cautiously took a step forward. This step was followed by another cautious step until she began to walk again. Her eyes scanned the ground in front of her for any tell tale signs of seismic sand. She couldn't wait to reach the black rocks which got closer with every step. She avoided every flat spot of sand and even false alarms were heeded with great care. Reaching the rock did little to make Malice feel safe. Even though her feet were on safe ground, she knew she had more peril to cross. The moonlight helped to illuminate another rock formation on the map which was barely visible in the moon light.
Dawn was breaking when an exhausted Malice had set foot on the second rock. Her robes had kept her warm in the cold night but she didn't know how she would handle the heat all deserts are known for. She quickly retreated to a set of low hanging rocks that acted like a man made shelter. She drank her water sparingly as the temperature quickly rose to inhumane levels. She stayed in the shade as much as humanly possible before the sun had set. During this time she faced multiple struggles to survive. The heat played its havoc across the wastes and sapped Malice's strength. The only thing that kept her awake was fear. Fear that she would once again find herself in the crimson world. This fear was the last thread she held on her sanity. Her eyes burned as she stared at the burning sands. Her thoughts were as barren as the desert. All that mattered to her was keeping her eyes open to see the clear blue sky.
Malice screamed in agony. The clear blue sky had flashed to red and black dots speckled the horizon. She cried knowing that her efforts to stay awake had failed. She felt sick to her stomach but she knew she had nothing left to throw up. She cried “Why does this keep happening to me?! Someone please just kill me!”
Malice suddenly remembered that she had a gun given to her before she departed. She scrambled to find her pack. She found it lying several feet away on a nearby rock. She ran towards it out of pure desperation despite the fact that the sharp rocks were scorching and cutting her feet. A little pain now would mean nothing to her if she could just achieve the sweet release of death. She imagined the gun in her hands. She imagined how one pull of the trigger would take her away from this world. The only question she had was what would happen once she found her way out. Would she fade to nothingness or would she simply wake up? Every step brought her closer to her goal.
Almost on cue, a murder of crows flew in to stop Malice. They angrily swarmed and pecked at her. Their claws tore her robes to ribbons and their beaks left welts on her skin. They angrily chanted “You can't leave us! Your choices led you here. This is everything you wanted.” They drove her away from her pack while another murder of crows carried it away. They disappeared into the red sky as Malice collapsed into a ball on the ground. She rolled along the rocks leaving her robes as a heap of tattered rags. All Malice possessed now was her battered naked body and her shattered sanity.
Malice staggered to her feet but only to run to the open sands. She screamed “Why won't any of you help me?! Just kill me!”
Malice cried and the crows replied “This is what you chose for yourself. We can't let you leave.” The crows retorted Malice's request by swarming her with pecks. Bruises and cuts covered her body as she ran with absolute futility. Her feet plunged into pulsing quicksand which caused her to scream once again. She fell forward and curled up into a ball while the crows continued with their attack. The sand cared little for Malice's predicament and showed it by devouring her. Every fine grain of sand lodged themselves in Malice's wounds which brought severe cries of agony. Pain was Malice's only acquaintance in this world. The sand took her helpless body deeper to rub itself in more of her wounds. Malice was beyond words and if she could cry out, it would be to beg for death.
Almost as unexpectedly as the crows had attacked, they suddenly flew away with a fury of flapping wings. Malice looked with a blur through her tear soaked eyes at a white shape that grew larger as it flew through the sky. She blinked several times to clear the tears away to make out the shape of a giant white eagle that had perched itself on top of the sands. It looked down at her with cold sapphire eyes. Its flawless white feathers defied the crimson sky as they proudly presented themselves with regal glory. Malice tried to lift her head but she could barely move a muscle. Somehow though she managed to whimper “Please...help me.”
The eagle spread its massive wings and flew up into the air, creating a sandstorm that threatened to bury Malice alive. The threat however was empty when it wrapped its massive talons around her helpless body. It carried her through the red sky, shielding her from the crimson world's harmful effects. She whimpered knowing that she was still thoroughly broken. She whispered “What does any of this mean? Why won't anyone tell me?”
Suddenly Malice felt a shot of pain shoot through her arm. Her eyes shot open and much to her relief she found herself staring at a clear blue sky once again. She immediately burst into tears thankful that the nightmare was over. She tried moving her arm to relieve the pain but something was holding it down. She wanted to jerk it away but a soothing voice said “Don't move it honey I'm giving you a shot to relieve your withdrawal.”
Malice ceased her struggles as her eyes locked with the voice who said it. Straight from her second nightmare, a tall black statuesque woman was kneeling above her. Unlike Miss Hatter, this woman had a genuine sense of hospitality that seemed to radiate from her. Her toned arms and legs suggested that she was no stranger to harsh climates. Her legs were long and built for carrying long sprints. The mysterious woman soothed “I'm going to start an IV to help you get some of your fluids back. Just what got you addicted to that stuff in the first place?”
Malice lifted her head and groaned “I don't know what you mean? Who are you?”
The stranger smirked with a pearly white smile. She replied “You don't think I wouldn't know red slime withdrawal symptoms when I see them? You can call me Tanya. Dr. Tanya that is.”
Malice's heart froze upon hearing Tanya's name. She tried to hide her astonishment but she knew that it would be a moot point. She instead redirected the conversation towards “What did you just give me?”
Tanya cooly soothed “I gave you a medicine that will relieve your addiction to that red slime. I'm afraid it's like methadone so you'll need routine shots. Would you mind if I took a blood sample before I start your IV?”
Malice lay her head back down and closed her eyes. In her mind she reviewed her oath to Queen Relena and how she promised to kill the very woman that was treating her. It was easy enough for Malice to summarize how she would handle this. She'd allow Tanya to treat her before she killed her target. Only then would she be allowed to see Miss Hatter once again. But Malice also had to consider the fact that she now had a new perspective of the slime. Given Queen Relena's love for sadism, it was easy to see how the red slime could fuel such madness. Malice also had to consider the fact that if she did kill Tanya like she was ordered to, it was a guarantee that she would become a junkie hell bent on death and destruction. No matter how she looked at it, the days of her being a dark gothic bitch were over.
Malice groaned “Sure since you're going to be sticking me with needles anyway. But what do you need it for?”
“Well aren't you a feisty one? I'm working on a fully fledged cure for red slime to make these shots a thing of the past. There are two things I'm lacking though. One's a rare earth mineral that only exists somewhere in this god forsaken wasteland. The other is a good sample of red slime. Blood samples help me understand how it interacts with the human body but it's hard to come by in the White Kingdom. Not even the palace can get any. You wouldn't happen to know where I can find any would you?”
Malice groaned “Yeah. I have a vial of that shit somewhere in my bag. Take as much as you want I don't want to touch it any more.”
Tanya smiled as she quickly retrieved the bag. She found the vial but a puzzled look soon overtook her face. Malice saw this and knew that she had just made a huge mistake. Her heart quickened as she saw Tanya examine the assassination order that Miss Hatter had packed away for her. She watched as Tanya pulled Malice's gun from the pack as well. Tanya's fingers delicately handled the gun before saying “This is the kind of stuff the reds give to assassins. Did you come all this way just to kill me?”
Malice was speechless. Fear had paralyzed her to the point where she couldn't even speak much less move. Tanya pointed the gun at Malice and said “Get up. You're taking a walk.”
Malice somehow managed to do what she was told. She slowly got up and moved as Tanya motioned for her to step towards the sand. Tanya's soothing voice gave way to “I should have figured that a red junkie wouldn't be wandering the desert without a reason. You assassins are all alike. That bitch of a queen gets you all hooked on slime so you always have to go back to get your next fix. Just be glad I'm putting you out of your misery now.”
Malice's feet stepped onto the sand as she continued to back away from Tanya. Tears once again flooded her eyes as she said “Please just kill me. I don't want to go back to Queen Relena.”
Tanya sharply hissed “You stupid bitch. Is this your first assignment? Did you think that killing people would just be a game? In case you haven't noticed honey I'm a doctor. I swore never to take another person's life. However...”
Tanya stopped just as Malice stepped into soft sand. She quickly sank up to her thighs with a short scream before she once again locked eyes with Tanya. Malice stared in terrified silence as tears streamed down her cheeks. Tanya meanwhile kept the gun pointed at her with a cold stare. She watched as Malice sunk to her hips. Malice couldn't help but moan and yet she didn't know why.
“Are you starting to like what you're feeling?” Tanya cooly asked. Malice was too terrified to reply so Tanya continued “That slime has an interesting side effect that I just haven't been able to observe yet. Go ahead and have some fun honey. I'll be sure to take notes.”
Malice shivered as her hips slipped deeper. Her cheeks felt hotter despite the desert's best efforts. Her pulse quickened and her hands began to shake. She shut her eyes tightly knowing full well that her body was betraying her. Deep in her mind she pretended that Dr. Tanya wasn't watching her, which was surprisingly easy considering the effects the slime still had on her. She took a deep calming breath before a smile crept along her lips. She reached through her robes and stroked her breasts. Her soft flesh came alive with the latent slime that hadn't been completely subdued by the methadone. Malice somehow got the courage to moan “Tell me something before I die doc.”
Tanya arched her eyebrow as she inquired “Now look who got bold all of a sudden. I suppose you're in no position to do anything else. Ask away just as long as you don't interrupt my research.”
Malice pleasantly sighed before asking “Why am I aroused and not begging for my life?”
Tanya politely covered her mouth to hide her laughter. “Inquisitive? You're a far cry from those slobs and convicts the reds have. Are you even from the Red Kingdom?”
“Answer my question and I'll answer yours” Malice purred.
“Fair enough. My research has told me that your Queen has some sort of...quicksand fetish. Given half the crazy stuff she's done and how she brags about her scientists I wouldn't be surprised if she didn't make it that way. The evidence certainly supports the theory. Now answer mine.”
Malice purred and let her hands explore deeper into her robe. Malice had to admit that the sand felt pleasantly nice although she didn't want it in her. She moaned “I know you won't believe me but here goes...I fell down a rabbit's hole to get here. I never even heard of the Red or White Kingdoms before I got here.”
Tanya's face was once again painted with cold reality. Any enjoyment she had from watching her would be assassin's predicament had evaporated like a drop of water in the scorching desert. She coldly replied “A rabbit's hole? And why would I doubt that?”
Malice was too dazed to notice Tanya's tone. She purred “I know, sounds stupid right? You probably don't know this but my goal in life up there was to just disappear. No search party, no hope, no trace.”
“And you just so happened trip and fall when you were playing your little game of hide and seek?”
Malice had sunk do her midriff when she laughed again “Why so serious? I knew some acid dropping stoners back in college who wouldn't make up anything as stupid as this.”
“Did you?” Tanya asked with cold prejudice.
“I followed this rabbit after he gave me the finger and ran away. Then I met this crazy woman in a top hat who turned some purple caterpillar into a table cloth. This the rabbit shows up again and tries to kill us. He claimed he was the best assassin the White Kingdom had but I'm still alive.”
Tanya whispered “That arrogant fool...” She carefully approached the edge of the pit while being carefully sure to stay out of Malice's reach. She spoke with an even harsher tone “Listen little girl. You have no idea what kind of shit you have gotten yourself into. He might have been the best assassin in the White Kingdom but he let his fame and success get to his head. Now you better believe me when I say that we have plenty of assassins who would love to make a name for themselves by killing you.”
Malice had sunk up to her chest during Tanya's threats smarted back “Does this mean you're not taking credit? I mean I wouldn't mind if you'd let me enjoy myself a bit longer.”
Tanya snarled “You druggie bitch I'm trying to save you! If I cure you would you at least act like an assassin and take the Red Queen out?”
Malice would have given a half lucid answer in response but she didn't have time. She found herself dropping like a stone in the middle of a crater. The spontaneous crater caught Tanya by surprise as she found herself sliding helplessly towards Malice. Tanya screamed as she found herself sinking rapidly. She started at her waist and slid dropped deeply into the desert. Malice meanwhile was taken by the shock and found just enough time to take her hands out of her robes and grab Tanya's just in time as she sank up to her neck. Malice in a moment of clarity shouted “Just cure me and I'll do anything.” These were Malice's last words before her terrified face was taken by the sands. Tanya was quick to follow. First the sand flowed around her chest before it poured over her shoulders. Her hazel eyes bulged in terror as she silently cursed herself for getting too close to an assassin. This was her last thought as the cratering quicksand closed over her head. As soon as she disappeared the sands ceased to vibrate, almost hinting that the wasteland hunted down this unfortunate pair.
Malice opened her eyes to a dark room illuminated dimly by torches. The torches sat on ancient racks and the walls were thoroughly coated with soot. Sand stone bricks lined the walls and sand covered the floor. She peered down a dark hallway and saw nothing but sand and torches. She barely had enough energy to lift her head much less clutch some sand in her hands. The sand felt much like the fine grains she encountered in the quicksand except it was much cooler to the touch. She dropped her head and closed her eyes. In addition to the fatigue she had suffered earlier, she suffered from dehydration. Her mouth felt painfully dry but she couldn't do anything about it. Instead Malice passed out face down in the sand, too parched to even cough up the grains she just inhaled.
Malice was awakened once again but this time with a sharp pain in her arm. There was little response from her however as an IV was pinned into her vein. Standing over her was Tanya, who found herself in a similar predicament to Malice. Her attention however wasn't on her patient. Her hazels eyes were instead fixed on a creature she could only describe as trans-human. This creature looked anatomically normal enough as a human woman, but that's where the similarities ended. She wore a blue velvet dress which oddly complimented her dark tan skin with upper class flair. Her eyes appeared as two black sapphires which couldn't be read by even the most analytical personality. Her lips, full and alive, were as black as her eyes. Her hair was long and black, although it seemed to radiate a blue light which complimented the dark environment. Tanya stood her ground although she didn't know what to think of this creature. She cautiously said “Thanks for bringing me my medical supplies. But you still haven't told me what you are or where we are.”
The creature smiled and purred with a southern drawl “But you haven't even asked me for my name. I do believe that would be the more appropriate question to ask.”
Tanya coldly replied “I apologize if I seemed rude at first. Who are you?”
The creature seemed to take delight when Tanya put an emphasis on “who.” She drawled “My name is O'Hara and I'm pleased to make your acquaintance. As for what I am and where we are...I suppose it wouldn't be polite to withhold those answers. You're all in my home underneath the desert. I know I haven't been keeping up on my decorating but I do have a rather large home. It's almost as big as the desert.”
This time Tanya warmed up her tone with sincere curiosity. This answer had left her with many more questions. The most obvious inquiry she could make was “You still haven't told me what you are.”
O'Hara held out her open hand as if to offer it to Tanya. Instead of waiting for Tanya to take it, a ball of revolving sand formed in her open palm. As the ball formed, she replied “I am a sand witch.”
Tanya would have broke out laughing if the gravity of the situation wasn't so serious. She asked the next logical question she could think of. “Do you know where I can find some crimson jade?”
“Crimson jade? My it's been years since anyone's come prospectin' for that. I thought doctors got paid enough money without havin' to strike it rich. What ever could possess you to look for it?”
Tanya dropped her guard only slightly. She took a conscious breath before answering “It's not for me it's for my patient. I've been working on a cure for red slime addiction but there are two more elements I think I need. One of those is crimson jade but my only experience with it was a miniscule sample that's kept under lock and key at the White National Museum. That sample was the only one in the White Kingdom but I do believe that it's a key ingredient for making my cure.”
O'Hara seemed to take note of Tanya's change in composure. The sand witch responded by asking “And let's just say that I gave you some of my jade. I know how valuable it is sugar. Why a lump of that stuff could fund your entire war. Now how do I know you aint gonna send an army of tanks across my desert?” Tanya opened her mouth to reply but she continued “And don't play me for a fool. Those men will have to cross the desert and I just don't think enough of 'em will live to fight those reds.”
Tanya confidently stared into O'Hara's black eyes and stated “Because I already have a plan to end this war. My patient here is a red assassin. She answers to the Red Queen and...”
Again O'Hara interrupted with “And you don't think she'll kill you as soon as she gets better?”
Tanya cleared her throat before replying “I doubt she will. The Red Queen got her hooked on red slime. She wants to get clean and she is very, very vengeful... How did you know she was trying to kill me?”
“I am a sand witch sugar and I have a crystal ball. Would you like to see it?”
Tanya sighed “I suppose it would be polite. But we have to carry her with us and she has an IV.”
O'Hara snapped her fingers and watched as the sand quivered under Malice. Instead of sinking however Malice rose on a bed of sand. Tanya grabbed the IV and carefully held it in her hands. A bed of sand rose for O'Hara as well which she was only happy to sit on. She snapped her fingers again which caused a bed of sand to rise for Tanya which was conveniently placed along Malice's side. A simple command of “hop on” caused Tanya to uneasily sit by Malice's side. As soon as Tanya's feet left the ground, the sand underneath her moved to follow the witch who confidently led the way. O'Hara turned back and asked “What were you sayin' about your plan?”
Tanya uneasily shifted on her sandy platform before replying “Red assassins take their orders directly from the Red Queen. I'll have her act like a junkie and 'confirm' my death. However she decides to kill Queen Relena is up to her.”
O'Hara casually replied “And how does that end the war? Sometimes wars outlast their monarchs.”
Tanya replied in her surest tone “Not this one. Our spies say that she has seized absolute power. She's the heart and brains of the Red Kingdom and without her, things would fall into chaos.”
“And I don't suppose you'd have a plan to seize the moment?”
“The White Army would have to cross your desert.”
“Well...this is the first time someone asked permission to cross my desert.” O'Hara had a visibly irked tone in her voice. “And just would I get in return for lettin' those tanks rattle my chandeliers?”
“Name your price.” Tanya replied in an equally confident tone.
It took everything O'Hara had not to scoff. She did reply with “No offense honey but I know that a doctor like yourself couldn't pay my price.”
Tanya resisted a scowl but instead firmly stated “I know people who can make things happen. Name your price.”
The three of them floated into the room containing the crystal ball before O'Hara could name her price. The room could more accurately be described as a palace. Sapphire blue granite covered the floor and walls. The ceiling was covered in matching blue sand stone which clashed with the granite. It seemed that O'Hara was well aware of this and draped quartz chandeliers and crystal curtains to draw attention away from it. Egyptian style furniture upholstered with matching blue velvet which was remarkably similar to her dress. The walls were left bare of pictures or torches as the crystals seemed to reflect light off of internal candles remarkably well. The chandeliers were carefully arranged around a granite fountain that rose with three tiers. It filled the stone room with quiet gurgling that echoed throughout the blue walls. Atop of the fountain was the crystal ball that the witch mentioned. It was a large and flawless orb that rotated on top of flowing water. Tanya's mouth hung in amazement which was something the witch couldn't help but take smug satisfaction in. She even showed her pride by asking “Do you like what you see sugar?”
All Tanya could muster was “It's breathtaking. I especially love what you did with the crystal ball.”
The witch beamed “I do put a lot of time in my decoratin'. All of this was made with my magic.”
“Your magic...” Tanya pondered out loud. “Does this mean you can make crimson jade too?”
“Bravo doctor. I could have made this room out of crimson jade but the reds just ruined the color for me. I'm not very fond of war you see.”
Tanya gulped upon hearing those words. There certainly wasn't anything wrong with a pacifist wanting to be left to her own volition in her opinion but this still posed a problem with her plan. She cautiously asked “Have the reds ever done anything to you?”
O'Hara sighed and stated “Years ago they came out to my desert and tried lookin' for crimson jade. I tried stayin' out of their way at first but I just heard them talkin' about some of that red goo you were mentioning. My crystal ball room you see here used to have a fountain made out of crimson jade but those bastards just drilled through and took it all. My home just hasn't looked the same since.”
Tanya replied “And yet you seem apprehensive about letting the White Army cross your desert.”
The witch O'Hara sighed again. This time she replied “Don't get me wrong sugar. I don't have anything against the White Kingdom but crimson jade is a highly valuable mineral. As much as I hate the reds you two are keepin' each others' tanks away from my desert. Plus who can say you won't destroy my home?”
Tanya cupped her chin with her left hand as her index finger tapped her cheek. She pondered for several seconds of uncomfortable silence before replying “The reds did take your fountain and if it's anything like the granite fountain you have now, it had to have been a considerable amount of jade. Whose to say our assassin didn't sneak some out during her visit.”
O'Hara's eyes went wide in amazement. She stared Tanya squarely in the eyes and replied “I never heard of a doctor bein' so wise to politics . Who are you?”
This time Tanya smiled for the first time since sinking under the sands. She proudly replied “My name is Dr. Tanya Holland. I graduated valedictorian with higher ambitions than just living in a mansion on a golf course. I made it my career goal to break the chains of addiction once and for all. I may have been second in line for the throne but I earned the name 'Dr.' and that's something nobody can take away from me.”
For the first time the witch was stunned with silence. Finally she manage to ask “Second in line? That must mean you're a princess of the White Kingdom.”
This time Tanya sighed out of disappointment. She replied “Honey, just call me Dr.”
Before the witch could reply, Malice stirred awake. O'Hara rushed to her as Tanya passed the IV from her right arm to her left. The witch snapped her fingers which summoned a cloud of sand to relieve Tanya's tired arms of the IV. Malice groaned but she was barely able to open her eyes. She seemed oblivious of the IV which was a good thing for Tanya. Her blurry eyes came into focus to see the O'Hara's world of blue. Her eyes then focused on a slightly familiar sight. At first her heart briefly raced with fear but she once again found herself without the energy to worry about it. She smiled at Tanya which was a rare thing for her to do with anyone. She weakly moaned “You really did save me. How the hell did you do it?”
Tanya replied “Manners honey. We're guests here.”
Malice turned her head to see her host. She saw the same black eyes, blue radiant highlights, and black lips that made up the tan O'Hara. Malice however wasn't as scared as Tanya was. She took in the sight of the strange witch and deliriously remarked “You're beautiful...”
O'Hara blushed as Tanya said “You should rest. You've been through a lot lately.”
Malice rolled her eyes back to Tanya and asked “Do you have any water?”
Tanya locked eyes with O'Hara who snapped her fingers and produced a clay cup. Tanya grabbed it and ran to the fountain. She ran back with the cup in hand and placed it against Malice's parched lips. She drank it eagerly and almost choked on it. The water perked her up as her eyes came into clear focus. Her eyes darted to each crystal chandelier and the blue granite walls. She couldn't help but comment “Is this what's it's like to disappear? I should have done it a long time ago.”
O'Hara replied “Well I'm flattered. I believe we haven't introduced each other yet. I'm O'Hara, sand witch of the Shifting Sands Desert.”
Malice was still half way delirious from exhaustion. She couldn't help but giggle at O'Hara's self admission to being a sand witch. She replied with “My name's Malice. The pleasure's all mine.”
O'Hara looked in amazement as she said “Most everyone I've ever met usually runs away or at least keeps their guard up like a damsel in a room full of snakes. But flirtin's the last thing I'd expect sugar.”
“I'm drawn to black like a moth to a flame. You have to tell me how you got those highlights.”
O'Hara blushed and replied “Oh well it just comes with the territory of being a witch. Blue just so happens to be my color. You still don't find my appearance to a bit...strange?”
Malice stared mesmerized at O'Hara and replied “You're like a fantasy out of my darkest dreams. Tell me am I dead? I feel like I'm in a beautiful underworld.”
Tanya interjected “Well this is certainly...dark. Show us how your crystal ball works.”
O'Hara's blush quickly disappeared as she turned to Tanya and said “Say please princess.”