Page 111 of Down from the Tower

The Queen laughs again, clapping her hands like she’s delighted. “Supreme in what, exactly? You can’t rule a kingdom of the dead.”

“The people who lived here will be remembered for their sacrifice,” he continues again, and ice washes over me as I realize he isn’t fighting her claims that the kingdom no longer has any living. He draws his golden sword, holding it out towards the Queen and all four of her guards take a step forward. “From the ashes of war we will rise again.”

“You never rose,” she snarls, that dark humor suddenly disappearing. “You only gained your golden hand because of me. I told you where to wander. I told you to look for the god Dionysus and gain his favor. Without me, there is no you. It’s all because of me! My mind, my secret of gold, my collection of souls!”

Midas frowns, remaining close to the water. The fountain is calm again, and as I study it I realize there’s a stream that tapers off and disappears down the hill, probably running all the way through to the wells and streets down in the village. “I gained my power through my own will. I went in search of the Fountain of Youth and found so much more.”

She begins to laugh once again. “Power you will never truly control. What was that, Kingling? You needed help only the Queen of Hearts could offer?”

“The Queen of Hearts is dead,” Midas mutters quietly, staring in terror at her. Zarev’s grip is tight on my arm as he speaks, and I’m starting to think he’s not just holding me back, but perhaps himself as well.

But the Mad Queen shakes her head at Midas, oblivious to everything else around them. “I know! Isn’t it great? That stupid, weak Queen is gone.” She runs her hands down her body, caressing her breasts and gripping her own hips like she’s showing off to the men in the clearing. “The Mad Queen is so much better! Don’t you think, Kingling? I mean, it was so kind of me to give you some help in exchange for your daughter. The Queen of Hearts could never do something like that.”

Blind rage suddenly overwhelms all else. Taking out my pain on Dorah wasn’t enough. I need to make someone else pay for not only stealing my sister's life, but the life we could’ve had together.

Zarev crushes me to his chest when I try to rush into the clearing, and I’m debating throwing us around until the shadows slip away. But being at a disadvantage in front of the Mad Queen is suicide, so I still myself, forcing myself to wait for my chance.

There’s no way I can let Midas and the Queen leave here. For all the lives they’ve stolen, they deserve to give their own.

Midas swallows, stepping forward. “Rosen was gone from us when you came to collect. Her soul vacated her body.”

“You did seem to think that, didn’t you?” the Queen taunts, and the harsh set in Midas’ shoulders droops a little. “She did look so very, very dead when I carried her little body away. But you know what breathes life into the dying? Evil.”

Her laugh is poisonous this time, but before Midas can move she lifts her hands, dark swirls of red circling her palms. “Evil takes root when the good is gone. Killing an infant? Another thing that’s so very Wonderland! I love when your wicked side shows, Midas.”

“You know nothing!”

“When will you realize that it’s the other way around, Kingling? You hid behind your golden wall built on evil and lies, and I shared my cruelty with all of Mystica.”

She twirls, looking all around her. The four guards stand stoically, but Theo finally lifts his head. She makes a clucking noise, staring down at him when she speaks again. “Though it doesn’t seem to do much for the help, does it? I sell you a timekeeper and all he does is waste minutes.”

Theo jumps, half rising to his feet. He freezes with one leg still kneeling when her hands twist in his direction. “I - it wasn’t my fault, my Queen. Rapunzel can manipulate time and age. It messed with my timepiece.”

A frown pulls at my lips. No, I don’t affect time. I heal and restore youth, but it doesn’t change how long it takes time to pass.

But my eyes drift towards the fountain, almost missing the enraged look in the Queen’s eyes as she glares down at Theo. I can heal, but that has to be because of the Phoenix Rose, and Midas…

The lines blur. Things are starting to not make sense again.

Theo scrambles around, drawing my attention as he digs through his pockets, finally producing what looks to be an oversized pocket watch. Both hands on the watch point upwards, on the twelve, and his whole body shakes as he stares.

The Queen makes a tutting noise as she approaches. “Oh, it looks like you’ve run out of time, rabbit. You were supposed to keep the princess from breaking her patterns. You couldn’t even manage that. At least the rabbit I dispatched to Swan Lake is doing a better job. You had the easier job, with a princess locked in the tower.”

She stomps her feet near his head, and he flinches with every move. “Come now rabbit, out of time, out of time! Tick tock goes the clock! And your tick tock is out of time.”

Theo lets out a sob, and a moment later a red sword appears. It materializes from nothing in the Queen’s hand, the bloodlust in her eyes burning as bright as the reds from her blown blood vessels. Without a word, she brings the red, glass-like sword sword sweeping down toward the guard and his head falls to the ground, rolling to rest at his side. His eyes are open, seemingly staring straight at me.

I let out a scream, but thankfully the shadows help to keep the sound in so the Mad Queen hears nothing of my fear. Zarev clings tighter to me, and I think it’s for both of our sakes.

The Queen laughs hysterically, jumping in the tall heels like she’s doing a jig. The flowing ends of her coat spin with her, and she throws her hands out as the red sword disappears into nothing, just like the shadows Zarev wields.

“And to what do we say men, when the dead meet their end?” she cries.

Five voices speak in unison, the Queen joining with the four guards. “Off with their heads!”

Midas screams, charging at the Queen as Theo’s body slumps over. Her lips split in a lecherous grin as she easily dodges his sword. The gold tip misses by inches as she jumps backward, the red energy that hangs off her fingertips.

“Too slow, old man!” she taunts, jumping to one side. None of the guards seem worried, nor do they move to assist their Queen, as though they know she will prevail. “Your skills are failing you, just as they failed your daughter.”

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