Alice in a Twisted Wonderland (BL 18+ Completed)

Chapter Thirty Nine: Alice in Twisted Wonderland

"You underestimate my power, Spade."

The grand hall of Crimson Caldera, once a beautiful setting for a wedding, was now a scene of chaos. Azure and Rouge, the twins who had once served Spade, now stood by Ace's side. Azure's icy power and Rouge's fiery flames twisted the hall into a battleground, tearing apart the palace's elegant decor.

Spade watched in shock and anger as Azure and Rouge pulled Erin away from him. Erin's face was filled with fear and regret as he was dragged toward Ace, who sat on his dark throne with a sinister grin.

"Azure... Rouge? Why are you doing this?" Spade demanded, his voice strained.

"After you released our prize?" Azure, his eyes cold, looked back at Spade with indifference. "All we ever wanted was for the White Palace to be destroyed and Cheshire Cat in our hands. You seemed to have shifted your priorities, Spade."

Rouge, his flames flickering with malice, added, "We're on the winning side now. We've always known where our loyalty lies."

Spade felt a sinking feeling as he saw Erin looking back at him, torn between fear and sorrow. Before he could act, Ace stood up, drawing everyone's attention.

"Perfect," Ace said with a dark satisfaction. "Now, let me show you what happens when you defy me."

Ace revealed the 14th card, a colorful, shimmering card that seemed to pulse with energy, straight from Marco's life. As he used its power, the hall began to warp and twist. Flames and smoke seemed to engulf the palace, and cries of panic filled the air. The destruction of Crimson Caldera played out before Spade's eyes.

"Master, help!"

"It burns! I dance in fire but it still burns!"

An image of Cheshire appears lying face down before his feet, and Spade turns him around to see his heart torn out of his body.

Spade's heart raced. He could tell it was an illusion, but the sight was still shocking, he had to close his eyes. It's not real. It's not...

Cheshire was being choked out by the twins. "Spade!"

"Cheshire!" He reached for the image only for it to disappear at the blink of an eye.

"Don't you get it, Spade?" Ace's voice was smooth and menacing. "This is what will happen if you don't give me Erin. Your Kingdom will melt in its own flames, and all you love will suffer."

Spade fought to keep his composure. "I know this is an illusion," he said firmly. "But I won't give in to your threats."

Ace's smile grew wider. "This is just a glimpse of what's to come. Cooperate, and maybe I'll spare your precious kingdom."

Spade looked at Erin, who stood beside Ace, a captive in a nightmare he's also trying to fight. Erin was paralyzed in a sleep he can barely wake from. The pain in Erin's eyes mirrored Spade's own anguish. But he knew he had to stay strong.

"I won't give in," Spade said resolutely. "Not now, not ever."

Spade holds out his hand to control the snakes and attack Ace, wrapping around his wrists to render his magic useless.

Erin, in the illusion, saw only himself stuck in a modern hospital with Alex waiting for him.

"Erin... Meadow is waiting for you," the man says with a smile, "I'm waiting for you. If you don't wake up, I'll neuter her and maybe lose my ability to love again. So please..."

"Wake up..." Erin whispers to himself, refusing to die and be stuck in Wonderland. He held his head, begging himself to, "Wake up! WAKE UP, ERIN!"

"SPADE, NO!" Erin broke from the illusion screamed in Azure's frozen hands. Unfortunately, Ace was actually behind Spade and the Prince of Darkness only "suppressed" an illusion of the King of Hearts.