Never trust anyone you cannot control.
It was the first lesson her mother had ever taught her. And the Queen of Hearts had learned it, oh yes, she had learned it.
She controlled everyone. Winston, she controlled by withholding her love. He would do anything for her, anything to earn one small smile. Her son she controlled by restricting his freedom, and by the sexual wiles of a hand-picked mistress. She controlled almost everyone else by fear. Fear that her short-temper and unquestioned power would send them to the executioner's axe. The very rare person who did not fear for their own life, could be controlled through fear for someone else.
Number Ten had always been the anomaly.
He had always served her perfectly, always showed the proper respect, always done exactly as he was told. He never showed a hint of defiance or duplicity.
But he served her out of a sense of duty, much as his father had, and he had woven himself deeply into the everyday running of the casino and of Wonderland itself.
And it wasn't until the day she had ordered off his head that she realized that he did not fear her. He had simply stood there, looking slightly surprised perhaps, but not alarmed. It had nearly been enough to make her actually have sentence carried out.
But as Winston had gently and contritely reminded her, Ten was far too valuable and vital to be so casually discarded. He was right of course, but it had landed him in her bad graces for weeks.
And so she had taken to regularly threatening Ten's cousin instead. The bumbling and perpetually nervous Nine of Clubs seemed to be Ten's only weakness, his only bond. Yet, over time, even that had largely lost its effectiveness, as Winston would always step in and spare Nine's life. And it was well that he did, because, slight or not, that was the only leverage the Queen had ever had over Ten.
Until now.
"Number Ten, I don't believe you've met my new pet."
…
Ten fought against a cry of dismay that forced its way painfully up his throat. It came out sounding more like a strangled whimper – quiet, but he had no doubt that the Queen had heard it. Her wicked smile grew even wider and more predatory.
The sudden surge of emotions he felt – guilt, anguish, fear... even rage – battled fiercely against the dose of Calm that still flowed through his system, creating a strange dissonance that was at the same time both nauseating and painful. It only intensified when Kate's bright green eyes met his, fearful and pleading.
…
He would have taken any errand. Any errand at all.
Instead, he was being forced to do nothing. To stand at the Queen's side, as she fed Kate a variable cocktail of emotion teas that had his Diamond teetering on the brink of hysteria.
And Ten was feeling almost hysterical himself.
It was a game. A game he had watched the Queen play before. And he had no choice but to play along. It was all about control. Pay too much attention and the Queen would up the ante, tighten the noose, and Kate would suffer for it. Pay too little attention and the Queen might grow tired of the game and order Kate's head off.
He forced himself to look up, to meet Kate's eyes – those beautiful green eyes, now blurred with tea-haze – and hoped that she could read in his the desperate apology.
I'm sorry Kate. I'm so sorry.
...
AN: Short, I know. And sorry for the excruciatingly long update time. I'm back to working on my fanfictions though, so hopefully further (and longer) updates will be forthcoming shortly. Thanks to those who left me little encouraging prompts... much appreciated. :)
Please review.