Chapter Twenty-nine

JACK

Time decided to move more quickly than slowly in his short time away from Underland and two days passed and left only two whole days until Frabjous Day. It was the dead of night when Jack finally returned to Underland and it was far from pleasant. He had hardly set foot outside of his room before he heard the maids in the room next door gossiping as they changed the sheets. News fluttered around the castle like moths in a silk fabric cabinet that Auris was currently seeing the recently ex-engaged Tres Card Soldier, Poitrine was not takings well and ordered far too much liquor to her private room, there was discord growing between the King and Queen again, and the Knave was working his way through the ranks of the Queen's heart to regain his position as one of her favorites after bringing the Hatter into custody – just to name a few. His return to Underland had been far from what he was expecting and even farther than what he had hoped would happen.

Even the air within the castle was changing, it was much more aggressive to match the upcoming war that Frabjous Day would bring; to think he thought he had more time to spend to secure Alice's safety. Jack hated every second of it, but now that he was here for good, so it seemed, he had little choice otherwise. After seeing the Queen and Tres in the Anti-Realm Jack immediately went through the Wardrobe to return to Underland. As he entered the Realm of Underland, however, he heard a very significant lock that clunked behind him as he reentered his room. He didn't think much of it at the time, but he had considered returning to the Anti-Realm to hide his Cards in his room but found that none of the doors would allow him to coerce, demand or force them to open where he wanted to go. Until further notice or until he found an alternative, he was truly stuck in Underland.

Alice's whereabouts were still unknown and did nothing to ease his growing nerves as he truly understood how trapped she felt in being sucked into this world. He had hoped that the Hatter would have succeeded in getting Alice into the borders of the White Palace before anything terrible happened, but it would seem as though the fate of Underland had other plans. From what Jack was able to discern from the maid's gossip, he discovered that the Hatter was put in quite the strange position of actually working for the Queen. After two days – Underland time – of silence from the Hatter, the Queen deemed him too mad to actually provide him with the information she wanted and set him to work on creating one of every single kind of hat ever made for her in three different colors to keep him busy.

He was torn between sneaking through the castle to see the Hatter first to learn where Alice was left or going directly to the Queen to apologize for his delay as well as to promise he was not a traitor. He let his feet carry him as he still contemplated what would be the best choice of action when a third option made itself available to him. "Jack!" A sharp hiss made him turn fast on his heel and lock eyes with the King of Hearts. He bowed immediately and was quickly grabbed by his arm and dragged into the shadows of a stairwell, "My King!"

"Where have you been?" The King hissed and looked around to make sure there were no eavesdroppers.

"Everywhere," he grimaced and nearly jumped at the icy glare the King gave him.

"Everywhere else but here!" He jammed his finger to the ground with a scowl. "Are you even aware of the turmoil that has been brewing? Do you even know the dangers that are boiling around us?"

"I've heard a few things since my return this evening. . ."

"This evening?" He gawked, "Please tell me you jest. It's nearly three days until Frabjous Day and you just returned? I thought you were looking for Alice!"

"I was," Jack blinked in surprise. He had never seen the king so angry before. There were dark circles under his eyes as well as red splotches on his cheeks, it was evident there had been many tear-filled sleepless nights for the King. Jack couldn't swallow the guilt he felt upon seeing that the rumor of the discord between the monarchs was true. "However, in my chase I stumbled into a door that took me to a much different place than here. . ."

There was just enough truth in the statement for it not to be a lie, though he willingly went through the door rather than stumbled through it. "That is the last thing I need to hear," he dragged his hand down his tired face. "You should come with me, if I am seen this far within the castle Frabjous Day could come early."

Before Jack could ask further questions, the King spun on his heel and walked to a painting of roses and pressed the bottom right corner of it. It gave a soft click before easing open to show Jack a secret tunnel behind the painting. It was a shame that such an exciting discovery could not be further explored under such dire circumstances, had he known about these tunnels he would have stayed within the Castle much longer. The King disappeared behind the painting and Jack followed him in. He was surprised by the sheer size of the tunnel, but then he thought about the Queen needing spaces large enough for her head and suppressed the laugh that wanted to come with it. Far from pleased the King shut the painting behind them before leading the way ahead of them.

"There must be quite the discord between you and the Queen if you've resulted in sneaking about secret tunnels and passageways to move about the castle," Jack noted as the King walked quickly.

"You have no idea," he groaned and raked a hand through his hair. "She's full of anger and nearly as mad as the Hatter with Frabjous being so close. She has confined me to my room until after Frabjous Day."

"You're kidding," Jack stopped dead in his tracks as he stared at the King's back.

"I wish I was, at least then it would be laughable," he scoffed. "She kept saying things like I was a distraction for her, and she needed to focus on the war at hand and that she didn't want to lose the crown and that whatever was between us was nothing more than a dream she could no longer be a part of!"

While the King continued to rant and rave about the current conditions of the Red Castle, Jack could feel the impending doom of having to participate in the upcoming war weighing on his shoulder like a vulture ready to consume him. There is always a calm before the storm, but Jack hadn't anticipated anything as catastrophic as this. Suddenly the King stopped in front of him and Jack was so lost in his thoughts that he nearly ran into him but stopped just in time.

"I really thought she was remembering me. . . I really thought we were reconnecting. . ." The King's hand balled into a fist and he slammed it on the stonewall beside him. "But it was all a farce for her to want to keep the crown."

"If you truly think that then you're a fool." Jack said bluntly. The King turned slowly, almost threateningly for being called a fool as he looked at the Wild Card in anger. He was all too familiar with her method of locking away her prized treasure and keeping it away from approaching danger. "The Queen truly does love you; she just has a terrible way of showing it."

"Care to elaborate?" He snapped with a glare.

"She's pushing you away because she's terrified to truly love you and to be loved by you," Jack crossed his arms with a sigh. "You, of all people, should know she has difficulty in that. She's also worried that something will happen to you and she wants to keep you safe."

The King crossed his arms and raised a disbelieving eyebrow, "And wanting to ensure she still holds the crown?"

"It is not for the power that comes with it," Jack sighed, "so much as she doesn't want you to think less of her without it."

He wished there was a better way of explaining than having to be so blunt, but the sooner Jack got things patched between the royals the sooner he could investigate Alice's whereabouts.

"I told her that I didn't care about the crown," the King pinched the creases of his elbows. "I truly don't, we could both become peasants, vagabonds in exile and I would still love her. I told her, yet she wouldn't listen to me!"

"Does that really surprise you?" Jack snorted. "It has always been the Queen's way or no one's way. We both know that she did not receive the same love her sister did and that has been a bitter thorn in her heart for years. Her having the power of the crown is the only thing that makes her feel seen. We both know she would rather be feared than loved."

Jack could recount the endless stories of the Queen's childhood she would tell him over the years right before she would raise her whip to secure the lashes of fear within him as that was her way of love in her descent to madness.

"I refuse to believe that," the King shook his head. "Underneath all those layers of prickling thorns is a sweet and tender woman who needs love! It is the people that are the hardest to love that need love the most!"

Jack looked at the King and took the man in. His eyes shined with a fiery determination that proved his words to be true and he was most definitely the fool that wore his heart on his sleeve; it was an easy target to truly wound the man. The man that stood before him was the only one in all of Underland, no in all of the Realms, that could truly love the Queen of Hearts. Jack was too baffled by the man who though short in stature had a heart as big as the Queen's head. They were certainly an odd pair, yet they somehow seemed to make it work. The King was an unheard pacifist and the Queen was a loud and raging warmonger; perhaps the King would truly be the key to tipping the scales towards a Happy Ending for the Queen.

"I commend you, My King, I truly do," Jack spoke honestly with his fist over his chest proving his loyalty. "However, the feat that is before you is one that no one has dared to attempt as honestly as you. I will do everything in my power to make sure that you do not lose your head so that you can live a very long life with the Queen."

The King looked taken aback by his words, but if the man knew what his fate was in another life, he would be thanking Jack rather than looking so confused. In all the stories that the Queen told him, the King was truly the only man that she ever loved, but there was some part of her that just could entirely trust him to stay with her forever; so she had him beheaded so his head would still stay with her even if his heart would not. If the King in another life was just as open and honest as the King that stood before him now the Queen should have realized that he never would have left her in mind body or spirit; perhaps this was why Jack was here. . .

"I thank you for your pledge, Jack," the King placed his hand on his shoulder and made Jack rise, "but we must really return to my room before the Queen discovers that I'm gone. The Knave has taken great pleasure in locking me away and making sure that he is with the Queen to ensure that I'm there."

"Even in the dead of night?"

"Of course, it is almost always the dead of night when those who wish to flee use the cover of the night to their advantage," the King noted. "I am not so foolish as to flee from the woman that I love and tear out the seed of my sincere feelings from her, but I am also not foolish to get caught outside of my room and risk her temper either. Come, we're nearly there."

With that the King turned on his heel and quickly fled down the rest of the passageway. Jack followed after him and the closer they got to his room the lower the ceiling stooped, Jack had to remove his hat from his head and walked in such a squat he had to walk sideways like a crab. He was so looking forward to stepping out of the cramped passageway when the painting that the King slipped through was rudely slammed in his face. He fell back on his bum and had no other choice but to sit still as he heard the jingling of keys and the turning of a lock. There was a tiny hole within the painting that Jack peeked through and could barely see anything within the room. He could just make out the door at the far end of the room, but the blasted bed curtains got in the way of what he could see.

"Don't make a sound," the King hissed as he gave a firm push on the painting and scuttled to the foot of the bed and stayed in Jack's sights. The squeaky wheel of a tea cart was pushed into the room and the thunderous footsteps of the Queen of Hearts was also followed by the softer long ones of the Knave as they entered the King's room. Jack had hoped that things weren't as severe as the King had made them out to be and was greatly disappointed to see that they were as dear as he said.

"You're still here," the Queen spoke as she was in high authority, but there was just a hint of surprise underlying it.

"Where could I possibly go, my love?" The King held his hands out to her. "There are bars on all my windows, soldiers outside my door, and you hold the key to this room as well as my heart."

"Oh please," the Knave rolled his eyes with a gag. "I don't need to listen to such romantic dramatics."

"D-Don't be ridiculous," Jack heard her breath catch and just barely caught her narrowing her eyes at the King. "This is for your safety as much as my own peace of mind."

"Yes, the last thing we need is the White Queen holding you as leverage," Stayne groaned. "Woe befall the kingdom should something happen to the little King of Hearts."

From what little Jack could see the King balled his hands into fists and the Queen said nothing to defend her royal partner.

"I am aware of why I am here," the King growled. "I am not so foolish as to escape or allow such opportunities to arise!"

Yet he went sneaking through some of the secret passageways. Jack almost snorted at this, but carefully kept his mouth shut as Diamond itched to come out as he continued to watch.

"Regardless, it is best that we keep all things that could get in the way of victory be hidden and put out of sight," Stayne chuckled as he looked down at her. "You may ease the Queen's mind and entertain her, but you cannot bring her a victory like I can."

"That is enough, Stayne!" The Queen raged so harshly even the fire in the grate quivered. The fire in the grate slowly crackled back to life for some sort of noise. "Stayne, leave us."

"Your Majesty – " He scoffed and was going to argue with her, but she quickly cut him off.

"Idiot, I said leave us!" She snapped with the stomp of her foot. "Now!"

"As you wish, Your Majesty," there was a snarl in his voice as he bowed and obeyed and left the room, but even Jack knew he would be leering outside the door to eavesdrop. The room was quiet as the Queen waited for Stayne to exit the room. It was only after the door snapped shut did she take a deep breath.

"I'm glad you look well," she gulped as she spoke to the King.

"As well as anyone who isn't sick can be when confined to their room," his voice was bitter, but not harsh. "I can't believe you're letting that Knave waltz around you like an eel."

"He is my Knave," she bristled. "He is also the commander of my army. I allow him to waltz around as Frabjous Day approaches and Alice is still nowhere to be found. . ."

"The Wild Card hasn't found her yet?" Jack was surprised by the naïve and innocent role the King decided to play but made no motion to reveal himself.

"The Wild Card hasn't been seen since the Hatter was brought to me," she heaved a sigh. "I just wish he at least came to see me, Alice or not, the longer he is away the more everyone assumes that he is a traitor. . ."

"You don't believe that, do you, my love?" The King's tone softened, and Jack felt the air change and he suddenly felt as though he was intruding on an intimate moment. If only he had a vial of Pishsalver with him to help him shrink and disappear.

"O-Of course not," the Queen spoke nervously, "he wouldn't dare. He's all ready made too many promises and he's kept all of them but bringing me Alice. . . Though the longer he is gone I must admit that even I worry about where his loyalties lie. . ."

"You and I both know that the Wild Card would never betray you like that," the King spoke and dared to take a step closer to the Queen. Jack had to cover his mouth to keep from gasping in surprise as he watched the King reach out and hold his wife's hands in his own. What surprised him even more was that the Queen allowed him to hold her hands. "Nor would I for that matter."

"Still, if he doesn't show up soon, I will have no choice but to allow Stayne to hunt him down along with Alice," she slipped her hands free from his, slowly as if she didn't want to be away from him.

"Is that what you want to do?" The King asked. "Or is that what Stayne is harassing you to do?"

"I . . ." She faltered as he held her hands again and she just stopped moving entirely.

"I know that Frabjous Day is only two days away, my love," the King stressed, "even with it so close, please, I beg of you, do not lose yourself!"

"Lose myself?"

"I know the Knave speaks persuasive words that eases your worries with the war approaching," there was such an honest desperation in his voice, "but please do not let him change your heart or even your mind!"

Jack's chest ached for the King as Spade seeped into him; this was a song he was all too familiar with. In the Anti-Realm the Queen of Hearts jumped from lover to lover and allowed each and everyone to take a piece of her with them and leave a piece of them with her. The mind is easy to persuade as all it takes is a good bit of reasoning and sound facts, the heart is much more stubborn but twice as deadly when it falls too easily. Though Jack could only see their held hands at the foot of the bed curtains he knew that the King was just like any other man, one that was worried for the woman he loved and wanted to do anything to get her out of harm's way. He was just a desperate man who wanted his wife back from the clutches of a Knave who would drag her into the fiery pits with him. Jack only wished she would listen to him, but it did not surprise him when she withdrew from the King and completely stepped away from him.

"My mind is my own." She snarled. "My heart is hardly my own, it still rests in my chest, but you hold a part of it that will keep the best of me here so the worst of me shall be unleashed on Frabjous Day."

he reached for her hand again, but she clenched her hands into fists at her sides, "You don't have to do this alone,"

"I do," she shook her head in argument and slowly retreated to the door. "And you will stay here until I come back for you."

Before he could reach for her again, she escaped out the door and locked it shut behind her."Iracebeth!"

The King pounded on the door and fell to his knees. There were mumbles and laughs on the other side of the door and after a few moments passed footsteps faded away. It was only when Jack heard the sniffles from the King did Jack dare poke his head out. From where the painting sat, he realized it was at the head of the four-poster bed, which explained the curtains all around it and his limited view. The King was on his knees, face in his hands and his shoulders shaking as he silently mourned for his wife.

As Jack stepped from the painting and onto the floor, he stayed quiet to allow the King a moment to himself. It takes a great resolve for a man to be a man and to suck up his tears and shoulder on, anyone can do that, but it takes a great strength to actually allow the tears, regardless of who may or may not be watching, to fall and show himself for who he was. Exposed, vulnerable, and a man who has feelings and emotions just as anyone else takes a great strength to truly be himself. The King was not a fighter, but he was more than a lover, the King of Hearts was a true and gentle man that knew who he was, what he had, and what he was about to lose.

As soon as the Queen of Hearts stepped out of his room, even Jack knew that he would be losing his wife to whatever the tides of war that Frabjous Day brought. Jack stared out the barred windows as the King eventually picked himself up from the floor and turned to the Wild Card. Jack turned to look at the King and was almost taken aback by what he saw. Tired, weary and tear stained cheeks made most men look pitiful, but as the King stood before Jack, he looked determined and more like a King than any Jack had seen before.

"I don't care what you have to do," he spoke in a low tone, his hands balling into fists. "I don't care if she loses the crown, but don't you dare let her die."

The man that stood before Jack in this moment was not just the husband of the Queen of Hearts, but the King of the Red Nation. He was quiet and allowed his wife to rule, but in this moment, he commanded more power than the Queen ever did. Jack kneeled before him. "I swear that the Queen of Hearts will not die."

"Should it happen, I will make sure that your head rolls." The King inhaled deeply through his nose and for the first and only time Jack felt intimidated by him. The King was not one to promise violence flippantly and Jack was very sure that he meant it.

"Now, you should probably go and see the Queen." The tension left the King's face as his tone fell flat. "I'm sure you heard of her rising concern, whether or not you have Alice, you should go see her. If only to ease her mind that you're not a traitor, you should go see her."

"Will you be all right here?" Jack asked as he stood and looked around the room. It was a very well furnished room fit for any royal – a luxurious room, room service at the beck and call, a balcony with a scenic view – and Jack almost felt ridiculous for asking, but the look on the King's face told him it was not as luxurious as it seemed.

"So long as I hold a fragment of her heart as she still claims then I will be," he smiled weakly before running a hand through his hair. "Should you need me, I will be here."

"I will be sure to visit," Jack nodded.

"You best, I want to know the real reason why you have yet to bring Alice in," a flicker of a warmer smile crossed the King's face before he waved him off. "Now go before you waste more time."

QUEEN OF HEARTS

"Iracebeth!" Hearing her name in such desperation and frustration from Rubeus felt like a dagger being stabbed into her heart. She purposely did not want him to call her by that name because it made her weak, it made her soft, it made her want to stay with him, but she couldn't do that. One of them had to protect the crown and if he was not willing to do it, she would. Locking Rubeus in his room and leaving him there tore into her heart more than she willed it to. He truly held a heavy portion of her heart and though she wanted some of it back, another part of her wanted him to keep it. She wanted to make sure that even after Frabjous Day, even after she had to rule an army, that she would have a place to fall back to, a portion of herself to fall back on. She could never truly become the woman that the King thought he loved, but if he held onto that memory of her maybe she could one day return to that role when there were more peaceful times.

"Don't look so glum, My Queen," Stayne spoke in her ear. "If the King is put into safe keeping you won't have to worry about anyone using him against you. He will be safe with my men outside his door –"

"I know that," she spoke sharply and fixed a glare at him. "I put him there for a reason, I have no doubt in my mind of that."

"Then what seems to trouble you, My Queen?" His hand reached for hers and it froze her in place. She turned to look at him and saw the look of concern painted on his face. His touch no longer lit a fire within her but sent a sharp chill that made her want to turn away from him. Her heart fluttered as he held her hand, but there was no fire between them anymore. She could hardly tell if the concern he had on his face was real or not.

"Doesn't the tides of war trouble everyone?" Jack's voice made their heads snap up to see him leaning on a pillar a few feet away.

"Jack!" The Queen instantly smiled, immediately removed her hand from Stayne's and rushed over to him. "You're back."

"Wild Card." Stayne growled as he watched from afar.

"My Queen," he kneeled and pressed his forehead to her hand. "I apologize for my delay."

"Where have you been?" She completely disregarded Stayne.

"Around Underland in the deepest of searches, My Queen," he spoke easily, and she could tell by the look in his eyes that he was searching for something and was even tired from searching. "To no avail."

"You come before the Queen empty handed again, Wild Card?" Stayne sneered with a smirk on his face. "I thought you told me you were close to finding her when we were at the Hatter's Tea Party."

"I was," Jack spoke through a strained smile and the Queen could see the suit on his cheek pointing to the Diamond. "However, someone rudely interrupted my search when you trespassed upon the party grounds. Not to mention you arrested the Hatter!"

"Might I remind you, Wild Card, that you were on a time limit to return to the Queen and you are not only late, but in fact a solid three days late," Stayne loomed over Jack behind the Queen and even she felt intimidated by his usually attractive high stature. "You've been gone long enough for it to be considered treasonous enough to be arrested where you stand!"

"But he shall not." The Queen Said coolly as she turned and looked up at Stayne. His teeth were grit and there was an intense glare in his eyes as he looked down at Jack.

"Your Majesty, I really beg that you reconsider –" He growled and never took his eye off Jack nor Jack off Stayne. It was as though they were two dogs itching to fight and rip each others' throats out.

"That is enough, idiot!" She roared and it broke Stayne from his doglike stare at Jack. His nostrils flared in anger for being denied the pleasure of arresting Jack, but the Queen would not let him have his way until she allowed it. She was the Queen, whatever she said would happen would follow suit, and Stayne knew that.

With a snarl he back peddled and stood a few feet behind the Queen, his glare only simmering. She held his gaze for a moment to order his temper to calm itself, and though on the outside he did as he was silently commanded, she knew he was still boiling on the inside. She turned to see a well pleased Jack, though the Diamond was still present on his cheek his own anger was slowly ebbing itself away.

"I apologize for my delay, My Queen," Jack spoke with a smile and kind eyes as he turned his whole focus on her. "I have been in search of Alice, but it would appear as though she got her hands on Pishsalver and has shrunk to such a tiny state to compete with mice."

"A likely story," Stayne scoffed. "Did you give the vial of Pishsalver to her yourself, or did you just witness her drink it?"

"Hold your tongue, Knave," Jack snapped, and the Diamond flared its points on his cheek. "I would not do such a thing to make my mission any more difficult than what you have already done!"

"Enough!" The Queen roared again with a stomp of her foot. The two opposing males became silent, though the tension only grew between them and she knew that there was only one good way to solve the matter. "Stayne, leave us."

"Your Majesty!" He gasped incredulously.

"Do not make me repeat myself, Stayne," She growled as she cast a warning look to his good eye. "It is late, you two are acting childishly, and you're only making matters worse by antagonizing him. I can question Jack without your looming impatient presence; now leave."

His lips puckered in so tight she was pretty sure he swallowed a sour seed. His own jaw was clenched so tight she thought she heard the cracking of his teeth, but he said nothing and with clenched fists merely left the room as commanded. His fiery gaze said more than his words ever would and she had a half mind to confine him to his room as well. Frabjous Day was much too close and the last thing she needed was a civil war breaking out within the confines of her own castle before Frabjous Day even got here. With an exasperated sigh she turned and looked to Jack and finally got a good look at him.

His clothes were slightly disheveled and in the fair lighting of the torches provided in the halls she could see dirt and dust stained and even spider webs clinging to his suit. He had dark circles under his eyes and looked as though he hadn't slept in a month. How had she not noticed this before? He definitely looked as though he had been out for the last few days in search of Alice, but the suit almost seemed too new for that to be possible. Still she watched as the Diamond slowly ebbed itself into the Heart and all was finally going well at last.

"So, you failed to bring me Alice yet again?" She crossed her arms with a sigh.

"She has successfully evaded me at every turn and not even the Knave's dogs were able to sniff her out." Jack slipped his hat off his head and ran a hand through it. She had never known his hair to be so curly. "It's not a complete exaggeration to say I've looked both high and low for her. I know there's not much time left until Frabjous Day, but I can still search –"

"Search only to come empty handed to me again?" She raised an eyebrow at him. "No, I think not. If neither you nor Stayne were able to bring Alice to me then all that is left to do is to prepare for war with the White Queen. I'm sure by now the little brat has already crossed over into her borders anyways. I no longer wish to waste my time nor my men."

"Then what would you have me do, My Queen?" He looked rather taken aback by her words. She couldn't help but smile at this.

"Since there is nothing left to be done about Alice, I shall be holding one final croquet party in the Gardens tomorrow with my Court," She said decidedly.

"A croquet party?" He blinked at her. "A party right before the war?"

"Many people will lose their lives, many will no longer see their loved ones, and I have had enough stress to cause more swelling to my head," she chuckled lightly. "Yes, I shall be having a final party before I must truly prepare for war. It will help clear my head."

"If that is what you wish for, My Queen, then so be it." He smiled and she could see tired wrinkles in the corner of his eyes.

"That's what I like to hear," she smiled and patted his cheek. "I hope you're a good player, Jack, because I hate losing."

"Only the best for you, My Queen," he smiled broadly at her and though it pleased her to see it, there was something else in his eyes. He was hiding something from her, she was sure of it. She tried to dismiss it as she turned to leave but stopped and stood straight.

"One more thing, Jack," She turned and locked eyes with him. "I expect you to stay within the castle until Frabjous Day. It would be a shame for me to have to allow Stayne to arrest you should news of you not being on time to the croquet match reach me."

"Of course, Your Majesty," he laughed lightly, "I will be there."

"And for brunch too, I expect." She tacked on as her own security to keep him close. She truly liked Jack, she really did, despite the fact he has been missing in his search for Alice. He was a rather honest fellow in her Court. She wanted to believe his words that the reason he was so hard to find was because he was in search of Alice and not helping her as Stayne so easily said to her. Perhaps she just wanted to cling to her favorite toy a little longer before she had to put it on the shelf with the others, but if Jack somehow betrayed her like Stayne predicted, she would have no choice but to either behead him or have him fight on the front lines.

"Goodnight, Jack," she smiled before turning to leave. "Brunch is prompt at half past ten in the morning!"

STAYNE

He's close.

He is so close.

The Wild Card was right there, and all the Queen had to do was tell him to arrest him and he would, and he would strangle every bit of information out of him.

But the Queen didn't tell him to arrest him.

No, she once again protected the Wild Card.

Why? Didn't she see that it was glaringly obvious that the Wild Card was protecting Alice? That he was doing everything he could to prevent her from being brought to the Red Castle? That he sabotaged his own mission, his own life practically, to hide Alice from the Red Queen?

How could she not see him for the traitor that he was? He practically admitted it to her!

No, it wasn't the fact that he was a traitor, it was the fact that she didn't want to see him as the traitor. He was still her precious favorite. He was still too close to the Queen and he used that to his advantage to hide behind her and do what he wanted. Stayne was all too aware of the convenience of being the Queen's favorite, of the power it gave; it was partially why he wanted it back too badly. He could practically taste it with how teasingly close it is within his reach.

He just has to catch the Wild Card in the act, and the Queen has to see the act when he trips up. It was so easy in theory, but the Wild Card was as slippery as himself but had a little more tact in covering up his tracks. The Wild Card didn't have past lovers he had beheaded while being the Queen's favorite; the Wild Card wasn't embezzling the Red military's fund for his retirement; there was a possibility that the Wild Card wanted to overthrow the Queen, but Stayne would not allow him the chance to think of it let alone act on it. He would kill the Queen of Frabjous Day and the King along with her so he could become king. He had been denied too much these last few days and had been denied much more for far longer. No, he wasn't playing games anymore, it was time to get rid of the Wild Card and it was time for him to spend his own cards.

He stormed into his room, the door slamming as loud as thunder behind him and it rattled the pictures on the walls; one even fell off its hook. So much anger built up within him he went to his decanter and instead of pouring himself a glass to drink threw the whole thing on the ground. The smashing sound of the glass was like a peaceful symphony for his mind. He wanted that symphony to continue, next went the drinking glasses then the tray, and as he turned in laughter looking for something else to break, he finally noticed Poitrine. Dressed in a plunging v neck seductive red dress, very uncharacteristically of her to wear such a dark color, holding a glass of wine in her hand and an unimpressed look on her face as she leaned in the doorway of the bathroom. Her cheeks were rosy and her nose red and by the looks of the bottle on the table beside the bed she had already gone through half of it. She would be very close to being tipsy if that were the case.

"Temper tantrums, again?" She sipped her wine with an eyebrow raised. "Really? How old are you?"

He heaved a sigh with a furrowed brow, "What are you doing here?"

"You summoned me here, remember?" She sneered and grabbed the wine bottle from the nightstand to top off her glass.

It sounded like something he would do, he had been taking advantage of it now that she was no longer with that ex-soldier, though her heart was hardly in it. He didn't remember, in his current rage he could hardly remember anything except for the smug look on the Wild Card's face when the Queen protected him. His hands clenched into fists at the thought. She carefully watched him from the safety of the other side of the bed and sipped her wine.

"The last time you came storming in here it had to do with the Wild Card," She sounded far too amused for his liking. "If I were a betting woman, I'd wager that would be why you're so furious. Did he bring Alice?"

"No," he seethed and tried to calm himself down. He needed to think, needed to plan some sort of ploy to get the Wild Card arrested. He practically gave himself away and yet the Queen was still able to turn a blind eye to him!

"But he's returned?" She hummed the question as she continued to probe him.

"He's returned and practically admitted that he's been helping the girl!" He reached for something to throw and slammed his fist on the table when there was nothing to throw. "He's been searching for Alice for weeks, comes across her, but she slips away time and time again. This time he says she's gotten a hold of Pishsalver and she's shrunk."

"So, he saw her drink it?" She pressed, "Or was he using fine words to stay in the Queen's good graces unlike yourself?"

He threw a glare in her direction, but she looked unperturbed by it and merely drank her wine. That was almost enough to cause his rage to spike again, but he would eventually take it out on her. "Are you saying he was bluffing?"

"He could have to just get a rise out of you, it is certainly working," she pointed with a shrug. "Or he's able to use the right amount of truth to actually cover up what he's really doing."

He hadn't thought of that, but he wasn't thinking clearly enough to actually dwell on that thought further. If he was using truths to hide what he was doing, then he just needed to dig up whatever it was that he was hiding. From what little time he spent in the castle he had grown awfully close to Auris and the King. With the King currently detained that left Auris as his other accomplice in this whole mess. Getting a hold of Auris wouldn't be all that difficult but getting her to talk would be another thing.

"How close are you to Auris?" Stayne asked as the murk of his anger was slowly dissipating and allowing the snakes to formulate a plan.

"I would never call us friends," she snorted at the idea, "but she is definitely one to confide in when you need a favor. . ."

Her eyes became distant for a moment before she tossed the rest of her wine back into her throat before pouring herself a glass. He slowly put the pieces together, "Do you think the Wild Card has confided in Auris?"

"Probably," she gave a shrug as she sat on the edge of the bed with no grace at all. "She's got secrets on everyone; it wouldn't surprise me if she and the Wild Card get along."

"Brilliant," he chuckled as he snatched his cape from his shoulders and tossed it to the ground. "You're simply brilliant Poitrine!"

He walked around the bed to the other side to stand before her. She gave him a skeptical look the entire time and distrust was heavily etched into her face as he kneeled before her. "Whatever it is you're scheming I will take no part of."

"Oh, but I think you will," He snatched the wine glass from her hand before she could take another sip of it and set it on the nightstand. She looked annoyed that she was denied her drink but kept her eyes on him. He grabbed her hand and held it in his own. "See if you don't help me, I'll tell the Queen how long we've been sleeping together, how you seduced me and that it was the real reason you broke things off with that Card."

"Haven't you taken enough from me?" Her mouth drew up in a snarl as she snatched her hand away from him. "I've nothing else left and am at your beck and call to be in your bed whenever you demand it. I'm off better being a drunken wanton out on the streets never remembering a name or a face, at least then the company would be better than your tiny –"

Whatever else she had to say was slapped away from her mouth as her head hit the bed and Stayne crawled over her, straddling her where she lay. His handprint on her cheek was a nice sight to see and stirred something within him, but that would have to wait just a little longer.

"You will talk to Auris and follow her," he growled as he pinned her wrists tightly to the bed with his hands and trapped her there. She glared up at him with another snarl that only gave him delight to see. "You will do whatever I tell you to do until you give me some sort of information that I can use to expose the Wild Card."

She spat in his face and tried to headbutt him, but he met her head with his and forced it back down onto the mattress. "Normally I like it when you act like a feral cat, but I am far from the mood to deal with your defiance, my dear," he snatched her chin with his hand and held it tightly forcing her to look at him. "You will do as I say or else, I'll make sure that your little ex-fiancé's farm will burn to the ground with him and his family in it!"

Her eyes brimmed and watered with angry tears, but her body went slack as the fight in her left her. "That's more like it," he leaned down into the crook of her neck and bit her flesh.

He chuckled as he got at least one victory out for the evening. No more games. He had more power than the Queen, whether she realized it or not. He ruled over her army and would have them do as his bidding. He would get rid of the Wild Card, would win the war, and would finally take the crown once and for all.

Author's Note:

Thanks for reading, I hope you're enjoying the story so far!

Please remember to leave a comment and review to tell me what you think. Getting to this point has been particularly difficult for me as I've been putting all the pieces into place, but things are getting fun to write again. Thank you to all of you that like and leave comments on my stories, they give me so much good feedback and help inspire me to write more.

Thanks for coming along the journey with me, stay tuned!

Ko-fi/SarahtheWriter.