Queen Rose—no, I'll call her—Ruth(less)heart sailed over to the cage, circling it with an air of mischief, clinking the steel bar with her teaspoon to annoy the silence. Every single hair on my body craned themselves to see what was going to happen. I seriously needed more blood in my brain.
"Dear guest!" After about two and a quarter round, she stopped facing austere audiences, "To celebrate my second coronation, I here present you the best show EVER!"
The guards dragged the prisoner out and he fell like a lump of gone-through-a whole-year of-adventure clothes while the hall was thundering with cheers from the expensive crowd. For the first time, I noticed that everyone in this room had eyes almost as mad as those of the Queen's. I assumed—and this was purely my personal assumption—that by defeating Queen Silvia, I was counted into this lunatic union too. That was why other kings and queens or nobles that I knew of were not invited here which was lucky of them, but...how am I going to keep up the acting from here?!?!
Shaph had gone over from first stage shock. He now was grabbing my shoulder quaking like an old machine. I could not look back but knew that he, too overwrought, could no longer stand, "P―p―p―p―prin―prin― cess―cess―sss―ss,"
I covered his trembling hand with my cold one whispering rather bleakly, "It's alright." It was not as all right like I said, because looking at the figure on the ground I knew not what next to do. Should I risk ruining my disguise and rescue him? But he was not the main figure who could bring light to all Beastskins even if I chose to destroy my false identity, he was not Fayn.
"THIS!" The Queen kicked that heap of rag, rapping the teaspoon at the bar excitedly. "IS THE BEAST-TYRANT'S CLOSEST MAN!!!!" The clamor amplified at this point and turned into a continuous, "KILL HIM! SKIN HIM! CUT HIS PAWS!!"
The mermaid in my tummy was probably a victim of this mentally ill doing too. At the thought, it tried the second escape.
A maid handed the Queen a leather whip with tinny blaze fastening to its tip. She made one swipe at the dirty, blood-stained clump and fresh red liquid ran over the old brown one.
Oh no! Don't do that in front of me! Oh, dear, Ben!
"P―p―p―p―prin―prin― cess―cess―sss―ss," Shaph spluttered again.
Then she, looking all mighty and jubilant, swung her red bulk round. I thought for a second there that she was going to give me that whip and made me do it to poor Ben. My prediction was right as the whip was slightly pushed toward me. But worse thing happened, worse, worse...
"Oh, my gosh!" The Queen dropped her evil instrument staring wide-eyed at me, or rather at my left shoulder where Shaph was goggling at the scene fearing and pitying for his friend. Queen Ruth(less)heart came closer and it was too late when Shaph or I realized what she was after. "Such beautiful pair of eyes..." she said.
In this kind of predicament, I learnt from Chinese Palatial Series that I had to keep my cool. I did just that, still sitting up straight and dignify, not looking back at Shaph. But the real reason was because I was too scared to move.
Shit! His eyes are red.
Queen Ruth(less)heart stretched out her small arching fingers at Shaph's face as if planning to dig those red shiny marbles out—I guessed, from the look, she did have those plan. Pulling in the air and pushing the mermaid slice down for the second time, I turned on a businessman mode. Well, isn't this just the time to show off the salesman skill after been practicing for all these years? The skill that would get you an order. The skill that could save Shaph, me or even Ben's life out of here. The persuasion skill which requires wit, fluency in negotiation, and fearless heart.
"They are beautiful, aren't they?" I placed a hand on Shaph's cheek embracing his head as he went stupefied against me. "I'm so proud of them too." I directed my sweetest, most friendly smile at the Queen.
My first act stopped the progression of her hands. Not taking my confident gaze off, I went on caressing Shaph's head lovingly, as both red-nailed palms receded to her side. Shaph was so tensed. Queen Ruth(less)heart measured me a bit more before started her act with a smile as well. "I bet you are, Princess Carla." She said. "Why are they red anyway? Is he a magician? A sorcerer?" The Queen began her observation stepping left and right to get a better look.
"No," I said standing up too, still dared not taking my hand off of Shaph's head. In a way, it held his hat in place. The Queen gave me a not-so-questioning look. "He's my toy, of course."
"Toy?"
Trying not to notice the murmuring audiences in the hall, I rounded my way to Shaph's other side and hugged him tighter. "Yes," I spoke with such faking idiot accent, pointed my finger at Ben lump in such faking idiot way, "You have your toy, I have mine." and of course, not forgetting faking idiot smile.
The Queen snickered. I did it too but only once. You didn't want to overreact, it would give you away. Shaph rolled his red horror eyes which saying that madness had rubbed off on his fake Princess. I kept on caressing him.
Queen's snicker gradually enlarged into a big ha-ha. Then she strode over to Ben resting her hands on her hips. "You must love your toy a lot," I could hear sarcasm in the tone. "It looks so new and untouched. What's the point in having a toy and not play with it?"
I thought myself had gone mad too. I took two steps dragging Shaph's head with me. "I love to keep my toy in good condition," I said as eloquent as I had ever been, "so I can play with them for a loooong time." and casted my impertinent gaze at Ben. "Unlike that toy of yours, how long can it last? At most five days. What fun do you have after that? Or maybe it's not really that important of a toy?"
Queen Ruth(less)heart ground her teeth audibly pressing both her lips hard. "Impossible! How could you play a toy and it's still clean!"
It was a time to make small giggles again. "Oh, you just have to know the way!" Here I was thinking of 'the way' fast. "Well, I suppose I could share the fun with you,"
"You could?" Her anger seemed to be replaced by eagerness.
"Of course," I said. "but, if, by any chance, your Majesty like my methods, would you grant me one wish?" So far, only one method from the Chinese Series came into my mind.
While the Queen was hesitating about the wish she had to give, I was not very sure if I should tell her the method. It was not nice at all. I had no desire to teach or tell bad things to bad people so they could use it against the weak.
"Alright." Like a greedy child losing over an alluring candy pop, she agreed. And I, buying a few more seconds by idling, playing my eyes on the red rose chandelier up on the ceiling, left Shaph believing I got the advantage.
Then by walking back to Shaph again, the thinking time was over. Keeping up my mad acting, I roughly yanked Shaph's arm and pulled the sleeve up showing the Queen and her guests his smooth white spotless skin. My bunny steward shuddered and winced at each of my touch which was good for me. It would make him look as if he was really in pain. "See?" I said. "It's about the instrument you use. How to have a good time with a toy—" I added a melody that made me sound really mad. "and it's still spotless...? What do you think your Majesty?"
The Queen bunched up her forehead, thinking hard when I asked, but I ended her effort by saying. "I use a very veeery very thin iron rod—" I waited a bit just to create an excitement. "Needles."
"Ah!" The Queen grasped the idea. The crowd was nodding in agreement.
I did not wait for them to fantasize their crazy dream. "But when I was back in that shriveled world, I also use another method." Of course, this is a lie. I've never tortured any person or animal no matter how small they are.
"What is it? What is it?" Queen Ruth(less)heart asked, hungry for more evils.
"Do you love that first one?" I threw back a question and the Queen nodded ardently. I saw a chance and thought I should just do it now. "How about your Majesty gives me a reward first? I will tell you the second method later."
"Oh!" The Queen pouted like a child having a doll in just an arm reach but couldn't get it. "Of course, whatever you want, take it. Now, tell me that other method."
"You promise?"
"Yes! Yes!" The Queen had gone pretty impatient.
But not yet. Unless I knew that I got what I want for sure, I couldn't tell her. I walked over to Ben, kicked him (sorry!) slightly in the abs, priggishly said. "I want this one for my collection."
The ruthless Queen went still at my choice. I stood fencing her raving stare with equally mental mine. It was as if she finally broke down, she gnashed her teeth, haul both eyes and mouth to her nose, and stabbed her sharp nails into her own head pulling out the headdress wrapping around as the tiara and tiny hairpins spiraling outward. Her shocking green hair fell out and I suddenly kind of understood why she did that odd hairstyle. She looked exactly like a Christmas mascot, it was so funny. Oh no, I can't laugh! Hold it!
"Don't you realize—" she said through the line between upper and lower teeth. She was trying hard, in a mad sort of way, not to burst out. "how important this toy is−"
"Oh I know," I said. "but your Majesty, it's not your most important toy, I believe?"
"IT IS!!!!" She blew her mermaid-flesh-scented breath into my face. I stayed calm and said. "But what about K—Fayn? I thought he's your most important toy!"
"YES!" The Queen yapped. "IF ONLY I GOT THAT FRICKING W—"
"Oh, you will." I stopped her again gaining one more information about Fayn. "Actually, I want him in my toy list too. I've been having an eye on both of them the first time I saw them." The lava was spurting out of the Queen now. "But considering such a good and important friend you are, your Majesty, and that we have so much in common, you can have Fayn all to yourself. I only want this one." My head was uttering prays busily all the while.
By some means, it seemed the word 'important friend' or 'in common' got through her. The volcano suddenly died. She looked briefly at me and then down on the floor, gnawing on her nails, talking something to herself.
"...shut all gate...I'll have him soon anyway." Her voice was so low and unclear that I only got that last bit before she stately sprang up her head. It was full of naïve faking smile just like the first time we met.
"The Queen will never go back on her words." She put it so nicely. "As promise, I give you this. Take it."
I made a deep curtsy, heart banging at my chest. The only thing left to do now was to flee from this place as fast as I could. I told the Queen the second method as promise too. She could not use this one anyway, there was no electricity in this world. I did tell—I mean, lie to her that I was building one electric-shock machine and if I (ever) finished I would give one to her. Well, I want to be back at home now. Jes, hurry!
The Queen, dragging me back to the red armchair, made me tell her about electricity the whole time left of the party. I tried not to talk too much about electric torturing, but she kept pulling me back on the subject. I felt very very uncomfortable and hoped that the mermaid in my tummy would just give up already. She made me eat more mermaid slices and some other dishes which I preferred to be kept in mystery of their origins too, but I would pretend to get excited and brought up new stories, new things about electricity up, then pretend to forget eating it. When I ran out of things to chat, I got the Queen to talk and blocked my ears from her revolting, disturbing story of tortures. She also talked of her mother, Queen Loveheart, who likewise, had sickening taste of collecting hearts. Literally, heart—like—in the chest. She herself admitted the queerness, unable to understand the beauty of hearts, and preferred lovely animals or, much better, Beastskin because they could converse. I guessed it did run in the genes, this madness, and this gene should be eliminated. I was extremely exhausted by the time the party was almost over. I hadn't had a chance to turn off my salesman mode.
It was a tremendous success. I really got on her. Thanks to the salesman experience. I was not glad and proud of this success though because she exhorted me to stay overnight while I made the most unbelievable excuse despite the dark sky outside the castle.
"Talking to you had made me want to go back finish my electric-shock machine, I need to go back your Majesty." I hated myself! But she believed it.
Ben was hauled to me, both arms resting on shoulders of the guards, clean and smelled nice. Queen Ruth(less)heart thought I liked it clean so she ordered her servant to dress Ben up. I signaled at Shaph and he took Ben to the carriage waiting outside. I tried to wrap everything up but it was not easy to break a goodbye to her. It was another twenty minutes or so before she let me go.