Finally, the epilogue.
"The Queen of Hearts' Proposition"
The elegant woman found her person of interest avidly tearing apart the mind of one of her guards - the one she had sent out as bait to draw this rare beast out.
Cora wasn't expecting Wonderland's elusive shadow beast to be a young woman. She had disposed of the guard effortlessly...without a weapon. Intrigued, the Queen of Hearts cleared her throat.
The girl's head jerked to attention, white hair falling in streaks across her face and shoulders. She narrowed glowing hazel eyes at the Queen, pupils shrinking to slits.
"Hello dear," the Queen of Hearts greeted.
"Who are you?" She straightened, the feathers of her cowl rustling as she moved. Her motions were smooth and lithe like a feline.
"The Queen of Hearts," she curtsied shallowly, "but I'm more interested in who you are."
"So you've heard of me," she cast a glance at the dead guard, "I suppose he was your special touch?"
"Perceptive, aren't you," Cora smiled.
"You knew the risk, then, coming here. Few people cross me and live."
"Well then, we have something in common."
She tilted her head inquisitively.
"Now that I have your attention, I didn't come here to fight you or kill you, you're much too valuable for that." The Queen of Hearts took a step closer, "I came with a proposition."
"Like what?"
"I find myself in need of a mercenary, and who better to hire than someone of your efficient caliber? In exchange for your services, I will give you a place in my court, and the opportunity to make good use of your...unique skill set."
"You're not like other people," the girl's gaze bored into the queen, disregarding the question, "I can't...get a read on you… your fears...are hidden from me."
"I think I may know the answer to that conundrum," the Queen chuckled, "you see, I don't have a heart."
"The Queen of Hearts doesn't have a heart," she replied dryly.
"If I am to be Queen of them, why should I be burdened by my own heart?"
"I see," she seemed to weigh her response, "though I do not like that your inner thoughts are shrouded from me, and a place in your court does not interest me...I accept your offer. I will be your mercenary."
"Excellent," she smiled again, secretly relishing in the fact that the girl could not use her powers against her.
"What is your name? Your real name," the girl queried.
The Queen regarded the girl, "It's Cora. I still don't know your name, either." She motioned for the girl to begin following her down the path back to her palace.
She looked the queen in the eye and stood to her full height. Even though she could not harm the Queen, Cora stepped back. In a voice barely above a whisper, she proclaimed:
"I am known as the Jabberwocky."
And that's the end. I'm not gonna lie, I'm liking the story less and less with each installment...it feels flat and underdeveloped...it doesn't do an epic character like the Jabberwocky justice...like a rough draft. So I'll probably be revising it with a better, more complex version at a later date. This will stay up though, I'm not going to remove it...yet.
Until later,
Lady Spindle