Allie and Lacy trudged from the beach toward the dying forest. They had been banished to the outlands. Word had reached the White Queens ear about the same time Zora delivered Allie and then Lacy showed up looking for Allie. Using her magic she got both Lacy and Allie to confess to what they had done.
Being the pure pacifist that she was she decided that they would be banished to the outlands as punishment for their transgressions against Aimee and Priscilla; this was her decree and their punishment.
The girls silently turned around and watched the ship that had delivered them to their island prison.
"Now what?" asked Allie in a quiet, but dangerous voice.
"What do you remember of the Red Queen?" Lacy asked as she silently seethed with repressed anger.
"Ugly beast of a woman," Allie replied. "but quite powerful as I recall it."
Allie should know the red Queen well. She had served the Red Queen then when she saw that the Red Queen's time had come to an end she made a silent retreat to the White Queen after the death of the Jabberwocky.
She told the White Queen that she was afraid and do to that fear for her life she served the Red Queen. Being the forgiving Queen that Mirana was she instantly placed Allie in position in the White Court. As far as Allie knew the Red Queen had no idea that she had betrayed her.
"What would you say to giving her a little visit?" Lacy asked with an evil smirk.
"I say let's get going. Which way should we start?" Allie asked.
Lacy, who had a small amount of magic, took a black band from her hand and held it outstretched in front of herself.
"Reperio Rutilus Regina." Lacy said.
The ring suddenly lit up and shot out into the forest with Allie and Lacy hot on its tail. They followed the ring for miles, only stopping for brief periods of rest, through dark dense swamps, dessert terrain, and dying forests until they came upon a great clearing.
In the middle of the clearing was a large loan castle. It turned out that Iracebeth still possessed some bit of magic after her banishment. In the middle of the clearing was a large black and red castle. It was sharp and angular; it was as if you could see the anger that had made it in the bricks.
"After you." Said Allie with a sweeping motion.
Lacy smiled and snatched her ring out of the air as she walked toward the castle. She walked across the drawbridge and up to the giant doors followed by Allie. A group of guards in black armor stood in front of the door and drew their swords.
"Who goes there?" One of them shouted.
"The Lady Lacy and Lady Allie, we have come to strike a deal with the Red Queen." Lacy said with authority.
"No one see's the Red Queen unless she commands it." Another guard said. Allie and Lacy exchanged a brief look.
"Who's going to stop us?" Asked Allie in a dangerous voice.
The guards raised their swords threateningly. Allie eyed them for a moment then started to laugh.
"How amusing, they really think they can beat us." Allie started to laugh again then stopped abruptly. While Lacy was very good with magic, Allie was just as good with combat.
The guards rushed at them. Lacy stepped aside and watched as Allie took one after another of the guards. She sent each of the guards over the bridge and into the murky water of the moat. Once they were all taken care of the girls entered the castle un-hindered.
Everything was polished black obsidian with a disturbing red shine to it: red, black obsidian walls, floors, ceiling, everything. The overall effect was cold and dreary.
The girls went down the hall toward another pair of large doors. Pushing them aside they found themselves standing in the throne room. Each wall was lined with disturbing tapestries that pictured grueling battle scenes, death, and terror. Hanging black chandlers gave the room an eerie light and at the far end of the room, sitting on a large black throne draped in red silk was none other the red queen herself.