Chapter 5 Conference with The Queen

The queen had many names, the Red queen, as she was most commonly known, the queen of hearts, for her infatuation with human hearts, the bloody queen, as she was known by the rebels, the ice queen, for her attitude and the pure indifference with which she took life. She sat on her throne, white hair cropped close to her head, skin pale. It wasn't an attractive pale, it was a deathly snow-white pale that made her red eyes glow like blood. The queen had been calculating her move since she had lead that little human-ling into the rabbit hole. She had ordered cheshire to assist him. She had ordered all of her close council to be kind to him, and make him comfortable. Easier to catch off guard.

She suspected the Cheshire was more than up to the task of taking the mind of such a simple being, but had never bet upon the boy having a will stronger than most of his species.

"My Lady." Said a quiet voice. The Queen's bloody eyes turned and looked passively, coldly down at the cheshire, who knelt before her throne.

"Ah, Cheshire. I expect your expedition is going well?"

"Yes my lady." The cheshire spoke with a passive voice, knowing her place and knowing how best to keep her head upon her neck.

"Good. And the human?"

"I think he has gotten quite comfortable around me, my lady." Cheshire paused and then said in a voice barely above a whisper, "may I ask what you plan to do with him?"

The queen smiled, leaning back and showing sharpened teeth. Her smile had all the kindness of Jaws and was more menacing than Cheshire had ever been. Cheshire worked hard to conceal her shudder at the reminder of what the queen truly was, and what gave her so much power and so much control.

"I will see if he would make fun game, if so i'll let him loose and hunt him. If he's too boring I'll just rip out his heart. If, however, he shows promise i might allow him to live."

Cheshire stood keeping her head bowed, "my lady, might i ask what you would consider promise?"

The queen leaned forward, entwining her fingers under her chin and smiling, "wouldn't you, my most trusted protector and adviser know?"