Clover was sick of the threats. These would be assassins annoyed her as one after another, they came strolling right into her chamber and tried to end her reign. Of course, they all ended in failure, but it doesn’t change the fact that he patience had grown thin at this mysterious creature that continuously sent silver-eyed pests do bother her. If she wanted this to end, then the King would have to rout this weed out at the source. However, she has no leads. What she needs, are answers and she knew just where to find them.

Alice Café, a quaint little restaurant run by a curious hare known as the Hatter. He had a habit of knowing things most did not, so if anyone could help the dear King Clover discover just who is after her life, it would be him.

“Well, if it isn’t my new favorite new old friend!” The Hatter, dressed in his usual beige suit and signature top hat, greets the cloaked king with a crooked smile. His wild, wiry whiskers twitch with joy. “You’re just in time! I figured you’d be late, but I knew you’d be on time! You’re never been a tardy lass!” Clover is hardly given a moment to question his contrary statement before being grabbed by the arm and ushered further inside the café. “I’ve been waiting a long time, Alice, but I am glad I did! Mhm! It’s a pleasure to see you again!”

Clover rolls her eyes at being misaddressed again. He has a habit of calling his customers Alice, no matter who they identify as or their status. Though, she supposes it would be better if no one knew that their king was among them. “It’s a pleasure to see you again too, Hatter.”

He stares at her for a moment, wide eyed and mouth stretched into a euphoric grin. “Oh!” He blurts out before the silence can become too awkward, “Would you like some tea! No need to worry about paying! It’s on me!”

“No thank you, Hatter. I’ve actually come for something else.” Clover’s response causes the Hatter’s whiskers to twitch ominously, but his smile never falters.

“Ah. Then more for me, I suppose! Unless, that cat wants some!” He claps once then heads off to grab a kettle. He disappears behind a bar counter as he grabs the kettle and places it onto the counter. “It’s already hot and ready to go!” He grabs four teacups and places them on the counter. “Tea time!” He exclaims with a giggle then proceeds to fill each cup up with the scalding hot water. With grounds of tea already in the cup, the water near instantly changes color and the eager hare grabs a bowl full of sugar cubes. “One lump or two, my dear Alice?”

“Hatter, I told you, I don’t want any tea.” He seemingly freezes for a moment; his whiskers offer yet another twitch.

“Of course! Of course!” He nods with vigor. “How could I be such a fool? Three lumps for Alice! There’s no need to deny your little sweet tooth.” The Hatter says with a wink. He drops the cubes into the cup then proceeds to sweeten the other three. “Two for me, one for Chess, and four for-.” He slams down a fist onto the counter as a dark violet furred feline walk into the café. He too has a suit on, but he’s dressed in black and his emerald eyes seem to pop out amongst his visage. He as well has a grin on his face, but this one seems much slyer and slightly unsettling. “Damn it, Chess! You’re late for tea!” Hatter lobs a tea cup at him, however it just shatters at the wall behind him.

If Clover didn’t know any better, she might have thought that the projectile phased trough him or that he might have just evaporated from existence long enough to dodge the incoming cup. However, that was unreasonable because, despite being glued to his eerie smile, she knew that he never moved. After all, she’s seen plenty of cats without smiles, but she’s never seen a smile without a cat. Wait… did that make any sense? She might have to leave this place before she falls too deep into this rabbit hole.

“Hello, Alice.” His voice is just as smooth as his movements as he slinks into the chair beside Clover. “It’s good to see you again. It seems you’re just in time for tea.”

“She doesn’t even want tea.” Hatter pushes the cup with three sugar cubes to her while taking a sip of his own. “Seems our Alice wants to know who wants off with her head. I was waiting for her to ask me, but she just wouldn’t spit it out.”

Clover is shocked for a moment but decides to drown her anger down with her own tea. She takes a sip and sighs contently. Absolutely perfect. “So, will you tell me?”

“I won’t need to.” He looks down at Clover with a calmer smile. “You know, four is a funny number. Some consider four leaf clovers to be lucky due to how rare they are. They bring fortune and good luck to those who find them. But in other places, four is the number of death.” Hatter takes one last swig and sets down his cup. “I wonder what four means to you?” She was about to ask how any of this is relevant but is cut off as he greets a new customer. “Hello, Alice! Great to see you again! You’re just in time for tea!”

Clover watches as a brightly colored fox saunters into the café and sits right beside the King. He seems consistently annoyed as his eyes are kept into a constant squint as if the light was too strong for him to be able to see. Nevertheless, he grabs his cup without much effort and takes a small sip and immediately smiles. “Sweet.” He barely whispers. As he goes for another sip, Clover notices something strange about this fox, and that is the slight glimmer of silver that peeks through his eyelids.