𝚝𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎 ♡ 𝘰𝘶𝘢𝘵 𝘱𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘢𝘯

ꜰᴏᴜʀᴛᴇᴇɴ | ɪʀᴀᴄᴇʙᴇᴛʜ ᴏꜰ ᴄʀɪᴍꜱ

"Curtsey, while you're thinking. It saves time."

—♢♡♧♤—

Iracebeth of Crims stood in the middle of the street, her long red hair lightly moving in the soft breeze. She crossed her arms over her lavish, fancy dress that was a deep red with black designs. It had no sleeves and a sweetheart neckline.

A shiver went down her spine—no one in Underland had experienced such cold before. Not unless you count the time Apollo brought his sister, Artemis, to Underland, too.

"Are you cold?" William asked her from behind, his silky voice penetrating her cold demeanour.

"Terribly," Iracebeth answered, leaning onto her knight.

The Tweedle twins were already arguing, and Alice had left them a while ago, determined to begin the search for Mirana in this strange land. Maddix had joined her, a dreamy look in his eyes. Right before they left Underland, Apollo had dropped down for a visit and some tea. When he heard where they were going, he decided to join them—Apollo had gone off alone to explore the town before they searched for Mirana. McTwisp stood nearby Iracebeth and William, checking his watch and mumbling about how he should never have let Nivens leave Underland with the White Queen.

"Much too young," he kept saying. "Should've never retired."

"Where could she be?" Iracebeth's voice broke, her words shedding the tears that her eyes refused to.

"I don't know, my love, but you look like you might freeze if you stay out here," the knight told her.

"I'll be fine," she shifted, pressing more into William, trying to share his body heat. "I'm worried about Mirana, is all."

"Perhaps we should ask the residents for some help—?"

"I don't need anyone's help," Iracebeth interrupted him. "I can find my sister by myself."

"Not true," William whispered. "You haven't moved since we arrived."

Iracebeth stood up straight and turned around, her eyes narrowing and her soft expression hardening. She wasn't William's lover anymore; she was the Red Queen. The Red Queen told William to follow her, uncrossed her arms, and started walking. She would find Mirana before everyone else. Mirana was her younger sister, and Iracebeth was responsible for her—not Alice, the Hatter, or the White Rabbit.

Iracebeth had left Underland numerous times before. She'd enjoyed visiting the other realms, though she never let Mirana go with her. She'd been to the Land Without Magic, the Enchanted Forest, a place where there were no humans, a place where there was no colour, and Neverland. She hadn't enjoyed being in Neverland, though. It was so unorganised and chaotic with all those children running around. People got injured and killed every day, but no one tried to leave, and no one seemed to care.

Iracebeth felt another wave of anger threatening to devour her, but she suppressed it as best she could. The Red Queen wished she had taken some Red Cards to help with the search. She could've asked them to round up all the people of Storybrooke for questioning—but then, they were always so violent. They'd been so ever since the Queen of Hearts had invaded Underland. Mirana had been trying to teach them to be gentle—but when the White Queen left, the Cards decided that gentleness wasn't a virtue.

Iracebeth was now stomping down the streets of Storybrooke, her eyes glaring at anyone who dared to look at her.

"That place looks promising," William said lightly after a few minutes of the Red Queen's outburst.

"What place?" she asked coldly, spinning to look at him.

The Knight pointed to a small shop on the side of the road, marked with something that read "Gold." Both Underlandians had no idea what the shop was or what it had to do with gold, but it looked like a place where answers would be. The Red Queen nodded curtly and started toward it, her lover trailing behind her.

As soon as they entered the shop, the smell of old books and antiques plunged up their noses. Iracebeth glared around, searching for someone to yell at.

"Hello?" she barked. "Anyone in here?"

"Not anyone you'd like to see," a posh voice answered. A teenager emerged into the room, a wicked smirk on his face. The boy wore something akin to what he wore the last time Iracebeth saw him—in Neverland. His green eyes were wide; his eyebrows lifted as if daring the Red Queen to attack him.

"You!" she nearly growled. Iracebeth made a move toward him, but her Knight held her back.

"Aw," Peter Pan chuckled, making his face a fake pout. "Do you need your lover to hold you back? Because you don't have your sister?"

"I will end you!" Iracebeth seethed.

"Not in that outfit," Peter smirked. He stepped toward her, but when William's sword pointed in his direction, he decided against it. "I'm not looking for a fight, Red. I want you to know that you aren't taking Mirana from me. Not ever again."

Peter's playful words turned dark at the end, and Iracebeth nearly stepped away. But she stood her ground, glaring at the boy who had stolen her sister.

"She's beginning to remember things, you know," Peter smiled darkly.

Iracebeth nearly shivered. But she wasn't scared so easily.

"So what?"

"She might remember a thing or two about you," the Lost Boy stepped toward them. "Like, for example, when you drugged her and stole her away from me. She'll remember how you kidnapped her away from her marvellous life on my island. Mirana will remember how you forced her to wipe away her memories with her own magic."

Peter breathed slowly—in and out—trying to stop himself from attacking the Red Queen. "That is her magic. It shouldn't be used by you or by anyone else. It is wrong to use against her."

"She's my sister!" Iracebeth yelled. "I know what's best for her! I've been taking care of her longer than you have! What do you know?!"

"I love her." Peter Pan stepped toward the couple again, his eyes glowing green. "Do you? Or do you love controlling her?"

Iracebeth didn't answer. She glanced at William, blinked twice, and watched as her Knight swung his sword at Mirana's Lost Boy.

Peter Pan disappeared just before the blade touched him. "Fine, then," he said from behind them. "Get out of my town. You're never going to see Mirana again."

"NO!" Iracebeth shouted just as Peter Pan flicked his wrist. Iracebeth felt queasy, and her voice got lost as she and William appeared where they had started—in the middle of the road. The Red Queen groaned and screamed, throwing a tantrum as she thought of Peter Pan. He could not keep her from Mirana. It wasn't his choice. Mirana belonged to her.

Iracebeth calmed down after a half hour of screaming and looking for something to throw. William's sword had somehow gotten into the Red Queen's hands and was now stuck in the side of a building, refusing to come out.

That was it. That was the last straw.

When the Red Queen came to Storybrooke, she was just Iracebeth, looking to take her sister back home. But Peter Pan had gotten to her first. Now, she was Iracebeth of Crims, the Red Queen of Underland.

And she was a vengeful queen.

—♢♡♧♤—

Hey guys!

That was an interesting chapter.

I hoped you guys enjoyed it (I can't believe I already have over 400 reads).

I'll see you next week!

Au revoir!