It was a grand arrival. Red flags on golden stems fluidly whirled as though they were hair getting blow dried. Knights with helmets designed like spades that looked like chess pawns stomped rhythmically in unison. Different shades of red confetti burst and surrounded the area, my hair covered in it as well.
I pushed away a strand of hair as I got to my feet, my eyes looking at the blinding sun behind the parade, suddenly struck with light.
"So, that's the queen's men." I muttered in awe. I have yet to see the queen herself but the cavalcade was extravagant— fit for royalty; enough to know that the queen would be as flamboyant.
I headed closer to get a good look.
"Oh, hm?"
"Hm, hm!"
"Look at this little lady!"
They caroled as they encircled me, their feet moved to the best of one of the knights' tone.
Ack. I was caught by the three knights who were painting the roses. I don't think it's not allowed to get closer though.
"Hey, hey, little girl. What do you think you're doing?" One of them asked, still in tune.
"Um—" I squeaked, stepping back.
Knight B chimed in, "Hey, Jared, don't scare the little girl. Don't you think so too, Kyle?"
Knight C, also known as Kyle, interjected, "Ferbie's right! Haven't we just finished doing the deed of a lifetime? The queen will reward us lest we do something bad."
Knight B snapped his fingers in confirmation, "Well, aren't you right, Kyle."
Knight A, or Jared, looked troubled and concerned. Shaking his head left to right, it seemed he felt jollier.
"Y'all right." An unexpected country accent. I suppose it is true that accents disappear when singing. "We gon' get that promotion!"
"Damn right!" The three of them cheered and huddled as I stood quietly behind them.
I guess… I should get going now. I thought, behind me was a great show of bromantic love.
With a silent goodbye, I headed to the parade.
As I got closer, I noticed there was a palace with designs of playing cards and poker chips. Its main colors were red and black with hints of white. An eccentric design, one you wouldn't think of royalty but rather a circus.
I contemplated why I couldn't see this castle before when I was in the castle's front garden. But then I realized the smoke coming out of the chimney, smelling of pork. Perhaps the smoke surrounding the castle is why I couldn't see.
Sneaking into the palace, I am in relief to see the guardsmen weren't present. I let myself in.
Once again, I'd have to say that the Queen of Hearts' taste was simply extraordinary.
Once you enter the palace, you are greeted with sweet stenches of braised meat from the kitchen. I delayed finding the kitchen since I was first interested in the architecture of the ten storey building. I took about half an hour simply to explore a few floors of the palace.
The entrance is white, with two sturdy pillars supporting the weight of the floors. There is a large staircase, half the height of the ceiling, where the Queen of Hearts' throne inhabited.
A throne ornamented with rubies and silver. The place where the arse and seat meet is cushioned with red pillows that were tucked in its sides.
Hmm. Nobody was here. Are they that careless? Or… is this ignorance on my part? By that, I meant that because this world I'm in might be based on the comic I had made as a kid.
My gosh, I wanted to try sitting on the throne. It's childish of me, yes, but does it hurt to be a child? …I guess, yes, but nobody is here, right? I hope it won't be foolish of me.
I thought for a bit before concluding to not sit.
To be of authority is something you must earn through complicated means.
Too bad. But I'd rather not alert a security signal.
I explored some more. The rooms were filled with things for casinos. Poker tables, roulette wheels, slot machines, and et cetera.
I was never old enough to enter a casino but now that I am in, I can't even play since there were no workers nor did I know how to.
"Oh, well." I thought. "I'm hungry. I haven't eaten the whole day."
I headed for the kitchen.
-
I hummed happily as I skipped to the kitchen. I really am turning into a girl, I thought, immediately stopping. I huffed.
Following the scent of meat, I was walking down a creepy basement. The stairs seemed infinite but before long, there was a candle light on the bottom of the staircase.
My feet turned and I saw a wooden door. It looked ancient. My hands moved the horizontal knob and the door opened with a loud wooden bang.
—Bang!
My mouth that was savoring the stench felt immediately dry.
There I saw the Queen of Hearts' body tied to a table. Her joints were bent the opposite way. It looked fresh, the way the bone that was sticking out was slick with fluid mixed in with blood. Seething blood dripping down the table. Her expression was of fear and was parched of sweat and possibly, tears. Her tongue had metal pierced through it as it was tied to the roof.
Terrified as I may be, I couldn't find the strength to run. I dropped to the floor. The blood trickled towards me then my blue dress was doused in blood. My eyes widened to oblivion and undilated.
Behind me, a familiar voice intruded, "My queen! There you are!"
-
Outside the palace, the three knights, Jared, Kyle, and Ferbie are still huddled.
"Yo, dudes," said Jared in a hushed tone. "Ya think they'll give us the queen's arm? We could have it for dinner."
"Doubt it," said Ferbie, as silent as Jared. "Only those who really make the queen happy get a part of her. I would even love a piece of her and connect it to mine."
Kyle chimed in, "Has anyone gotten a piece of her?"
"None."