The house of hearts

Chapter 14: The Final Betrayal

Ruby felt a wave of exhilaration as she held the now-complete magic heart in her hands. The shattered pieces had come together seamlessly, forming a beautiful, ruby-red heart. As she marveled at her accomplishment, a powerful sense of closure washed over her. The heart, now whole, was a symbol of her successful journey through the trials of Madderland.

The journey had begun with an unexpected twist. At the end of her trials, the Queen of Jokers, ruler of Madderland, had approached Ruby with a cryptic smile. The Queen wore her signature white hard mask over her eyes, her crown styled like a jester's hat, and her gown mimicking a jester's attire. Her presence was both imposing and enigmatic.

"Ah, Ruby," the Queen of Jokers had said, her voice echoing with a blend of authority and mischief. "You've come far, and now you stand at the precipice of your destiny. To help you complete your quest, I am giving you the final pieces of the magic heart."

With a dramatic flourish, the Queen presented Ruby with the remaining fragments, each piece glowing faintly with a soft, otherworldly light. "These pieces hold the key to unraveling the curse and completing your journey. Use them wisely."

Ruby had accepted the pieces with gratitude and determination, knowing they were crucial to her mission.

Returning to the present, Ruby's sense of accomplishment was abruptly shattered. As she held the completed magic heart, her hope turned to shock and confusion. The Keeper of the Mansion of Hearts, with her ginger hair flowing elegantly in the wind, approached with a cold, calculating grin. The thunder outside mirrored the turmoil Ruby felt inside.

With a swift motion, the Keeper—revealed to be Clover, the missing member of the House of Hearts—tossed the completed heart aside. The heart clattered to the ground, its brilliance dimming as it rolled away.

Ruby's eyes widened in disbelief. "What's happening?" she demanded.

Clover's eyes narrowed, and her smile turned into a cruel, calculating expression. "Ah, Ruby, my dear," she said, her voice dripping with deceit. "You've been quite the pawn in my game. There was never a Morgana. I created that story, a fabrication to lead you astray."

Ruby's heart sank as the truth hit her. Clover revealed herself to be the missing member of the House of Hearts. "I am Clover," she said, her voice a mix of sadness and resolve. "I devised this entire charade to combine Madderland with the regular world. My baby is half-human and cannot live in Madderland. If the two worlds merge, she could be with her family and me, and the House of Hearts could be united once more."

Ruby's heart ached with sympathy for Clover's plight. The desperation and love behind Clover's actions were palpable. But before Ruby could fully process her emotions, Clover's gaze turned steely and determined.

"And now," Clover said, moving closer to Ruby, "since you are the last of the bloodline, I need your heart."

Ruby's eyes widened in horror as Clover's hand shot out with startling speed. Before Ruby could react, Clover's fingers plunged into her chest. Ruby gasped in shock and pain as Clover's hand gripped her heart, pulling it out with a forceful twist.

The sensation was excruciating. Ruby felt an overwhelming emptiness as her heart was torn from her body. Her vision blurred, and the world around her spun uncontrollably. As Clover withdrew her hand, Ruby's heart, now in Clover's possession, pulsed weakly with a fading glow.

Clover held Ruby's heart aloft, her expression a mixture of triumph and sorrow. "Thank you for your contribution," Clover said softly, almost regretfully. "It will be used to fulfill my goal."

Ruby, her strength waning, looked at Clover with a mixture of betrayal and compassion. "Why... why this way?" she managed to whisper, her voice trembling.

Clover's eyes softened for a brief moment. "Sometimes, to achieve the greater good, sacrifices must be made," she replied, her voice barely audible over the thunderous storm outside.

As Clover turned away, Ruby slumped to the floor, her body growing cold and numb. The storm raged outside, mirroring the turmoil within Ruby's heart. The grand hall of the Mansion of Hearts seemed to close in around her as her consciousness began to fade.

In her final moments of awareness, Ruby clung to the hope that somehow, her actions would make a difference, that despite the betrayal and heartache, there might still be a chance for the worlds to find balance and for Clover's family to be reunited.

As Ruby's vision darkened and the world faded away, the storm outside continued to rage, a testament to the chaos and struggle that had unfolded.