A/N Sure it's short but that doesn't mean it's not important ;) I hope I spelt the name right. Foreshadowing abundant.

Iracebeth could not believe that she been banished by her younger, sickeningly sweet sister. The thought was enough to drive her insane if she dwelled on it for too long.

Then there was the issue of being stuck with Stayne, someone she thought she could trust, the same someone she thought had loved her. She had loved him right up until he had tried to kill her rather than be exiled with her. When the hatter had thwarted him he had then begged for his own death rather than be banished and chained to her side.

She would have to fix the situation, swing it to her advantage. Of course the inhabitants of Underland had been told not to go anywhere near her but there were those on the very outskirts of the kingdom who did not like the White Queen. It was to these various peoples that she now made her way.

There was also the problem attached to her wrist. She could not have him trying to kill her again and she certainly would never trust him again. She just had to think of a way to get rid of him in a way that he would not fight back.

She had decided almost instantly that she would punish everyone who had caused her downfall, the main one who would suffer was that Alice. She always had to stick her nose where it did not belong. It made her blood boil to think that curly haired up start of a girl had killed her jabberwocky.

She had to think of some way to get her here since there was the very real possibility that she wouldn't come back of her own accord. What was the best way to get her to come back?

Then she had an idea, an idea that would not only bring the girl to her but would hurt her sister deeply. She liked the thought of both of them suffering equally, it filled her with the kind of joy a child feels on Christmas Day before opening presents.

She rubbed her hands together with glee and disturbed Stayne who had been sleeping until then.

"How many times do I have to tell you not to move when I'm sleeping?" he asked irritably.

"Oh I'm sorry, didn't care."

He growled at her as he tried to situate himself in a more comfortable position, which she tried to hinder as much as possible.

"You are impossible."

"Only for you dear," she said the sarcasm dripping from her voice on the last word.

She could not wait for the day she could finally be rid of him and the day when Alice was groveling before her, begging for the life she held in her hand. She would love it, would draw it out as long as possible, make Alice believe she would not do it and then make her watch. Then it would be Alice's turn to meet her end.

She silently laughed at the thought of that day. She looked disdainfully down at Stayne and kicked him with her tiny foot.

"What now you wench?'

She suppressed the urge to yell off with his head and said in the scariest voice she could muster, "We're moving again."

"You never let me have a moment's peace do you?"

"You will soon have more than a moment of peace…more like an eternity…" she mumbled under her breath.

"What?"

"Nothing. Come on let's go you sack of meat."

He pushed himself off the ground and raised himself to his full height, towering over Iracebeth.

She was not intimidated and merely glared at him as she began to walk away. He followed behind her as he thought of a way to get rid of her without alerting her to the fact he was trying to kill her. He would not make the same mistake twice.