It had been only several days since Raige procured their daughter back to them but the world was still plunged in some sick, twisted version of Hell. Hearing that Charlotte had succumbed to madness was staggering enough as it was, but locking her down in the cellar until they could find a solution to this dilemma left Alice simply aghast. As if she needed any more reason other than carrying twins inside of her to feel so queasy.
It didn't help that blood-curdling screams of madness and frustration seeped through the wood floors every time Lottie awoke.
"There must be something," Raige would say each time after these nerve-wracking cries ended, although as the days went by he more than often mumbled it to himself in irritation.
There was a way, but Alice had been putting off the notion in hopes of finding a better option. Sakura, even Starlight, offered their help in the manner of research and educated guesses but none came close to a substitution to what Alice had in mind. An act she never voiced to the others; the key to the lock of madness.
When the screeches finally dissipated, signaling Lottie's temporary acknowledgement to defeat, Alice shut closed the book in her hands with a loud thud. No one appeared to take notice.
"... There is a way," Alice finally said, her voice low and groggy. It felt like she hadn't spoken in days.
There was a pregnant pause, as all eyes drew collectively to the Soulkeeper, before Starlight broke the silence. "What? Did you find something?"
Alice smiled, though it wasn't enough to reach her eyes. "If only. There is a process that can be done to lock away Lottie's madness... but I'm the only one who can do it."
"Out of the question," piped up Raige, arms crossed and vehemently standing his ground by the cellar door.
"Believe me, I have been wanting to find another way since the day you brought her back, Raige," Alice relented.
"You mean you knew how to end all of this from the start?" sniped Star but she quickly held her tongue after drawing the attention of everyone's glares.
At this point, Sakura decided to speak up. "... Is it dangerous? The process?"
Alice met her friend's eyes, never wavering her gaze as she replied, "Potentially, yes. The connections between Soulkeepers' minds is not designed for this manner. Holding the connection for too long could prove lethal. As it stands, however, we have no other choice."
"Alice-" Raige began to protest.
"We have been looking for an alternative for days, Raige, and have come up with absolutely nothing," Alice cut across, her tone soft yet firm. She couldn't let him fret over it, not if it was Lottie's only chance to return to them. At the same time, Alice could not ignore how weakened she had become with this new pregnancy underway so offering herself as the solution to Lottie's dilemma was understandably objected. She could only hope, then, that Lottie was not completely beyond her reach.
The glint of despair and worry flashed across Raige's eyes, a look Alice had seen more times in her life than she would like to admit. He was losing his daughter to madness and potentially two more children and his mate all at once. Now was not the time to be brave... now was the time to be strong.
"Raige, I would like you to accompany me as I deal with Lottie," Alice proclaimed, earning a slight tilt of the head from her werewolf mate. She glanced away in thought before returning her sights back to Raige. "I need someone to keep me level. I don't know if I have the bravery to face her as she is now alone."
Of course she didn't have the will to do it by herself. Madness was suffocating, madness was terrifying... especially since Alice knew how hard it was to fight and stay afloat in that cynical sea of insanity.
