This is War
A Cardverse story.
Chapter Ten: Deadly Intentions
The day of the Meeting of the Cards is a gorgeous one. The intersection of the four countries breeds beautiful rolling hills surrounding the building, budding with an assortment of flowers that add variety to the land. The sky is a cerulean blue, the occasional blobs of white drifting by lazily as if the sky is a canvas to flow through. The sun dims its rays for such an occasion as to not blind the symbol bearers who decides to walk on this fair day. The gentle breeze soothes their lungs with fresh air, dissipating the worry clouding many of their minds. The Clubs arrive first via carriage, allowing Ivan the luxury of a grand entrance into what they dubbed the 'Conference Room', accompanied by his loyal Jack and Queen. His face is molded to fit his glee, showing that he has other intentions planned for the meeting than solving the countries problems.
The room is specially made to house the personality of each individual symbol. It is a square room, meaning there is an equivalent of four walls—one for each symbol. Each side is painted a different color; a deep crimson to show the depth of the Hearts' love; a fiery orange, to show the spark of wealth that will never fade within the Diamonds; a stiff midnight blue, to show the strength of the Spades; and lastly, a shifting tone of mossy green that shows the unpredictability of luck in the Club Kingdom. In the middle sits a mahogany round table, completely black to symbolize neutrality. Once they take a seat at the table, no physical altercations could take place, Ivan knows. He has to perform his duties beforehand.
While Roderich, as a gentleman should, leads Elizabeta to her seat at the round table, Ivan takes to inspecting all the furniture in the room. There is a small bookcase beneath a window, one that houses the Old Laws if the Aces needed to review them. On top of it sits a platter, with four white chalices; another symbol of neutrality. They would toast at end of the meeting to wish one another peace and prosperity. They have been doing it for as long as Ivan could remember and perhaps longer. Such a fact makes his glee darken, and his smile is replaced by a smirk. Such methods will work in his favor today.
Strolling nonchalantly over to the platter, keeping one eye on his Queen and Jack, he looks into the intricately carved cups. They are already filled with wine. An Ace must have came to the room early that morning in order to prepare it. While Roderich engages Elizabeta in a conversation—one that Ivan cares little of—he slips a small bottle from his pocket. The glass is made of a dark purple, to show that it is toxic. He had learned this from the Reader, the time when he visited.
I can't wait until the toasting. Alfred will have a fun time with this.
Although none of the cups are marked, it is traditional to go clockwise around the table, and hand out the cups out in the same manner. That means, counting correctly, Alfred should be the fourth cup, and Ivan the third, Francis the second, and Ludwig the first. Taking this into consideration, he uncorks the vial and tips the entire transparent contents into what he believes to be the fourth chalice and smiles. The Spade Kingdom will soon reach its end.
"My Lord? Is something wrong?" Roderich asks. His King has been standing the same place for a while. It unnerves him a little, considering how unpredictable the King of Luck is.
Stealth fully, Ivan stores the vial back in his pocket. "Da. I am simply looking out the window. It would appear the Hearts are arriving.
It is no lie, for the next to arrive are the Hearts, however the King and the Queen arrive separately. In the dark shadows of a sycamore tree, away from the sight of the Conference Room, the King and the Jack shared feverish kisses beneath the trees, murmuring quiet 'I love you's' before they parted. They enter the building, lips swollen and eyes glazed with a sense of love, something that only their fellow Queen could notice, and with a smile on his face, he joins the Hearts at the round table.
"Will Lovi be coming Luddy?" Feliciano rolls on the balls of his feet impatiently. It is accustomed for the King and Queen to sit, the King being on a slightly more elevated chair, and for the Jack to stand behind them. It always never fails to make the Jack's feet ache.
"Nein," His King acknowledges him, "We would get no work done if I brought both of my Jacks."
A smile lights up Feliciano face. That is just another way for him to say that he is important to the Heart king.
The third to arrive is the sleepless King and Queen of the Diamonds, having not seen or heard from their Jack since he set out for the Spades. Francis has a sinking feeling that the man sitting before him, grinning from ear to ear like a child, has a hand in his silence. Biting his bottom lip so hard that the skin bursts in his mouth, he refrains from accusing the Club King until the time is appropriate.
The fourth group are the Aces, not saying a word as they each stand against the color of the wall they represent, symbolizing their neutrality. Not long after, the two Jokers appear, pestering a few of the people present. Mathias couldn't quite have much fun as he usually does, and neither can Gilbert, for they both have a lot weighing their mind. While Lukas, the Spade Ace, chooses to ignore the blue eyed Joker, Ludwig could tell in an instant his brother is hiding something.
From there on, it becomes a waiting game. A few people, such as the Queen of Clubs and Hearts adapt a lovely conversation about the flowers they would collect. It is not very often the meadows are in full bloom as they are, and it's usually a sign that good fortune is to come. Feliciano continues his rocking. He wants to do nothing more than jump into the warm arms of his Ludwig, but sadly such public displays between them are forbidden. He pouts at the thought.
I hate the Old Law, he thinks, sighing softly, the Old Law is…well…old!
"While we are waiting for the Spades," Ivan begins, waving around the scepter in his hands to contain the giddy feeling he has when he glances at the chalices, "I would like to ask a question." A few of the more solemn representatives raise their heads, awaiting the question he desires to ask.
"Where is the Diamond Jack? Did you misplace him?"
Lilli fidgets in her seat, playing with the hem of her scarf that she draped over her shoulder.
"He went to the Spade country and has yet to return," Francis replies curtly, laying a gentle hand on his Queen's fingers.
"I know what probably happened," Ivan chuckles, "He's probably dead now~"
"I wonder why," Ludwig shakes his head, "You killed the Spade Queen."
"You're wrong," Mathias mumbles from his perch, his head resting on his arm boredly.
"Enlighten us please~" If possible, Ivan's smile widens further.
"Arthur's spell backfired," The Joker explains, "Arthur technically killed himself."
"Why would Arthur need to use a spell? For his enjoyment?" Francis butts in, "I think not. He was threatened."
"You can point fingers all you want, but that doesn't change the fact that he's dead~"
Roderich hangs his head low, blocking out the scuffle. Where is the Spades, he wonders silently, and more importantly, where is Vash? His stomach churns with worry, causing him to regret the grand lunch he had prior to the event. Could his King have plotted a double murder without his consultation? The thoughts frightens the Jack. Surely if he was attacked, Vash would fight back and leave defensive wounds.
The problem is, his whole body is covered up, and no matter how long he stares at the layers of clothing, they do not magically reveal any wounds. Sighing softly, he straightens his posture, nonetheless happy to represent the Club country despite who is leading it.
"What is taking the Spades so long?" The Ace of Spades inquires, firmly posted against the blue wall of his Kingdom.
"Surely Alfred wouldn't miss it…" Matthew murmurs, his figure apparent against the red backdrop.
"Well if they don't arrive in seven minutes, they won't be represented~" Ivan says, happy with such a notion. Even if that means dear Alfred wouldn't be drinking his last drink, having the Spades absent from an important event is good if not better. Only once in the history of the Cards did a King miss out on the Card meeting; and that was because his country was at war.
"We could extend the time. They probably got delayed," The Ace of Diamonds points out, swaying on his feet in a form of self entertainment as he tilts his head to meet the orange wall.
"Do we wish to extend the time?" Lukas asks the other Aces. Before any one of them could nod, a Spade enters the Conference Room, silencing them all the moment they see who it is.
It is neither the King nor his Jack.
It is Allistor.
The other symbol bearers, in addition to the Jokers, watch as the Knave takes his place in the Spades chair, dragging along a twine that leads to something just behind his figure. When he sits down in the place he isn't supposed to be, it is revealed that it is Vash, his pale neck bound in a leash. Lilli gasps and Francis shoots up from his seat.
"Why do you have my Jack?" He snarls darkly, his eyes staring into Allistor's ugly soul. Vash keeps his head downcast, ashamed that he is lead around like a dog in front of the people he knows, especially before Lilli.
Allistor avoids the question, and instead addresses the entire group, "Alfred and Wang Yao are temporarily out of commission," Kiku raises an eyebrow at such a statement, "So I'm the only one coming."
"You're a Knave," The Queen of Clubs pipes up, crossing her arms over her chest.
"I'm royalty," He corrects, raising his symbolized hand as an explanation.
Francis's blood boils beneath his skin, boosting his instinct to jump across the table and attack the man who has his Jack. Luckily, his control outranks the rage, and he manages to keep himself planted to the ground.
"Okay your Highness," Francis can't help but sneer, trying to collect his calmness, "Why do you have my Jack?"
Allistor yanks said Jack to his knees, causing the twine to rub callouses on his neck. To further humiliate him, he pets his head, tilting it back to force their eyes to meet, "You mean my Jack?" He smirks, his undivided attention focused solely on the nice bruises spotting his face and his neck, the clumps of hair stuck together from dried sweat, and the sleepless bags beneath his eyes.
"My Jack. The Diamond on his neck would say so."
Allistor jerks his head around, looking for the symbol conveniently covered by the leash, "I'm afraid I don't see one."
Sitting back down, but nonetheless fuming, Francis bites back a smart remark as Lilli speaks softly, "Big brother…?"
Vash wants to cry, being such an incriminating display in front of his little sister. He can't force himself to look her way, knowing if he carelessly glances, he would burst into tears. He clenches his eyes shut, digging his nails into his thighs.
"Big brother… are you okay?"
Her brother cannot answer.
"What is going on in the Spade country?" Ludwig asks, almost taken aback by Allistor's arrival. He has heard many tales about the ruthless Knave.
"Chaos," His Joker of a brother responds, noting Roderich's horrified expression.
Feliciano is quivering behind his Queen and King, really, really, wanting to do nothing more but jump into Ludwig's arms and cry for him to protect him.
Stoic, Lukas stares ahead, looking directly into the eyes of the Joker named Mathias to avoid the sight of Vash as he speaks, "The Spade Country is rightfully represented. May the meeting begin, starting with the Diamond country."
"Francis Bonnefoy now has the table," Antonio, the Ace of Diamonds peeps, forcing the King to slouch back in his seat to maintain his composure.
"My main topic was going to be Ivan," The Club King grins at the fact, "But now it has changed. I want my Jack back."
"He sold his soul to me, Diamond. I own him," The Spade Queen responds.
"No one owns him."
"You're wrong, I do."
Vash couldn't take it. Every fiber of his being screams at him to give Allistor hell, no matter the repercussion. He is a fighter after all, and playing as a slave completely contradicts who he is. The free spirited nature stirs within him, causing him to speak before he can catch himself.
"Allistor went to the Reader. He got three predictions," He speaks quickly, getting just that out before Allistor pops him.
"A Knave has no access to the Reader," Ludwig corrects him.
"Ivan was with him," The Spade Queen threads his fingers through his hair, yanking until he gasps and remains silent.
"It's against the Old Law to get predictions from the Reader," Toris stutters, forcing Ludwig to sink a little in his seat.
All the Aces are knowledgeable in the Old Law, allowing them to recognize when a great sin was committed. Seeking counsel with the Reader is one of them.
Ivan remains poised and calm, his expression never wavering, although his mind bounces from the chalice to the Knave, "I'm afraid I never saw the Reader," he smiles.
"My Jack doesn't lie," Francis fires back.
"I'm afraid there is no evidence I ever went to the Reader. I have been in my Kingdom for a week. My loyal followers," He motions to Roderich and Elizabeta, "Can attest to that."
"I want my big brother," Lilli whimpers, glancing back and forth between the three Aces of the Clubs, Diamonds, and Hearts. They are all merciful, and would be more liable to do something for her.
"Release the Jack. There are no prisoners in this place," Allistor snorts, releasing Vash at Matthew's command. Shakingly, the Jack gets to his feet, stumbling over to the Diamonds. Everything is sore, making every step feel like a knife jabbing his side. Roderich rushes to his aid, catching him before he falls. Vash weakly pushes against his chest.
"Don't touch me…" He whispers, partially limp in his fellow Jack's arms.
"What happened.." He murmurs back, feeling the lightness through the thin material of his clothes. The welts and bruises are far too numerous on his paper white skin, turning it all shades. The way he trembles in his arms is completely unlike the Diamond Jack. Something has happened to him.
Unable to contain herself, Lilli launches out of her seat and buries her face into Vash's chest, fat tears draining from her eyes to stain the threadbare clothes he wears.
"Later…" He replies into his ear, hugging his sister as though as it would be his last. She leads him to her seat, allowing him to sit down so Roderich could return to his position. Ivan's eyes burn holes into him as he stands behind him, not returning the glance.
"That is all," Francis concludes, nodding his head respectfully to Matthew. Matthew answers with a soft smile, glad he could help.
"The Heart Kingdom may now speak," Lukas states.
"Ludwig Beilschmidt has the table now," The Heart's Ace finishes.
"I think we should all have pasta!" Feliciano smiles, causing his King to shake his head in amusement.
Gilbert glues his eyes to his brother, keeping tabs even as his thoughts run ramped through his mind. Without the Spade King present, the Queens are safe. But with Allistor… thing aren't exactly better. Rubbing his chin thoughtfully, he thinks about how things could spiral downhill quickly as a result. His brother has to be careful on the topic he brings up. Laying his hand on his broad shoulders, he tilts the King in his direction.
"Be careful what you say," His lips brush against the outer shell of his ear, "Do no bring Allistor into the conversation."
His mouth hardly moves in response, "The predictions though… that's important." He's glad Vash said something. He didn't want to bring it up himself, and raise suspicions.
"I'll dig into it brother, but later. Don't provoke the beast. Promise me you won't again."
Their eyes meet, bringing forth the memory of that time, lurking in their not-so-distant past.
"I promise."
When Gilbert steps back, he does not see a King. That vision is replaced by a little child, his body shrouded in black clothes. His tousled blond hair lays limply in his face, as if it is extending to reach the pale heart on his cheek. Gilbert smiles sadly as the little boy begins to speak, the excitement of his first meeting bubbling from his lips.
"I would like to bring up the topic of Queen Arthur."
Such a line snaps the Joker from his fantasy. Shaking his head, he regroups his thoughts, reserving such reminiscing when he's alone.
"His murder was quite untimely, and therefore has brought about some tensions," His cobalt eyes contract against the lilac irises of Ivan's as he continues, "What exactly happened. Was it murder, or an accident?"
"Ah, you want to hear my side? I'm touched."
All the symbols turn towards the Club King, expecting the story immediately. Ivan however, remains illusive.
"As much as I want to say…" He pauses, dragging his finger along the tip of his scepter, "Why should I? You won't trust me."
"With all do respect," Kiku speaks up, folding his hands in his lap, "The only people who witness it was you, Alfred, and Arthur."
Vash murmurs something inaudible, causing Lilli to wrap her arms around him.
"We would like to have some idea… Please…"
Ivan likes to expose the vulnerable side of people and here it is, vulnerability in the flesh. It makes his fingers tingle with pleasure.
"I will consider it," He takes account of each person, everyone who ever cared for Arthur in anyway, and sees the desperation strung out through each striation. They all want to know; and they are willing to believe any story told to give them satisfaction.
"I was visiting the Spade country on official business," He could almost imagine the events playing out before his eyes, only a shadow of its former glory, "When they became hostile."
Crossing his legs, he carefully chooses the next words, leading the audience on like a puppeteer master, "I was talking with the Jack, who was happy to see me. It truly was a wonderful conversation, until King Alfred burst in."
Lowering his head in a pitiful attempt to make the emotions come alive, his bangs shadow his face in darkness, "He was angry I was in the castle, although I did nothing wrong. His hostility turned to violence, and I had no choice but to answer it in self-defense."
A shiver claws up Toris's spine as his mind begins to reel.
He's lying.
"The noise brought in Queen Arthur, who started fighting me too. I managed to pin the King. I was relieved when he finally calmed down. But…"
Sighing softly, he runs his fingers through his bangs, "Arthur thought I was going to kill him… so he casted a spell. It backfired in an instant. He just crumbled to the floor…"
The pulsation of his memories begins a rapid fire pace, projecting an image of the Queen, his eyes rolling into his skull, his entire body crumpling to the ground in a lifeless heap. He almost smiles when that Alfred runs over, shaking him with fervor. His screams fill his ears with delightful music. He has to reign himself back to prevent a smile from cracking.
"He was dead instantly. There was nothing that could be done."
Allistor snorts at the display, but no one pays him any mind. The Club King is playing everyone like a harp, and despite the liability tacked to his truth, they believe him. Their faces are etched with sorrow and guilt for having easily accused the Club King.
"I see…" Ludwig concludes, drawing his cloak tighter around his shoulder. The calculation visible in his eyes alerts Gilbert that at least his brother did not fall prey to the lies.
"I'm sorry…" Covering his eyes, and therefore shielding his mouth, he allows a smirk to be released. He feigns wiping his eyes, shakingly releasing a breath that actually is a chuckle.
"Is that all the Heart Kingdom wishes to address?" The Spade Ace questions, looking at the King for confirmation.
"Ja."
"Alright. The Club Kingdom may now speak."
"Ivan Braginsky has the table," Toris squeaks.
"The man I wanted to address is not present," He meekly speaks, portraying the demeanor of a victim, "I have nothing to say."
Elizabeta shoots a glance at her King, "Yes, we do."
He silences her with the flick of his hand, hardening his personality in that instant, "We don't."
As defiant as she is, the Queen of Clubs does not back down, "We have issues that need to be resolved."
"Elizabeta…" Roderich warns, trying to discharge the ticking time bomb.
Ivan switches, completely dropping the facade as he turns to his Queen, requiring nothing from her but submission. "Shut up," He snarls through clenched teeth.
A fire ignites in the Queen's orbs in defiance, "Do not order me around."
"Shut up," He threateningly speaks, drawing out each word.
To prevent Elizabeta from speaking another word, Roderich quickly covers her mouth, pressing his palm to her lips to muffle the profanity. The dark intimidation coming from the Club King casts absolute silence in the room, even as the Queen calms down beneath Roderich's fingers.
"Well…" Lukas coughs awkwardly, the tension running high in the air, "The Kingdom of Spades now can speak."
The door suddenly slams open, stealing the final word from his lips. Who he sees in the doorway however, restores them to his mouth.
"Alfred Jones now has the table.
I hope you like this chapter!
-Soul Spirit-