The House of Cards

The Key

The Key

I manage to stumble down the stairs, legs crying out with my demons, burning by the time I make it down. Fate's magic strikes out at random, sending shock quaking through the ground. My already unsteady feet give out beneath me, and I slide to the ground.

"Maeve!" Ariven shouts, rushing towards me. She slides an arm around my shoulders, hoisting me to my feet. Shadowsong hangs loose in her grip. "We thought we had lost you."

I will not look back.

I do not look back.

Destroy and destruct, spoilt'd and corrupt,

No more shall they rule the unknowns.

"I am fine," I bite out, leaning heavily into her. "The Lady Fate. We need to-"

"We will take her down," Ariven agrees. "All of us. Together."

The Lady Fate did not abdicate her power peacefully. No; it was stolen from her. The Major Arcana stripped her of her magic, and threw her back into the Darkness.

We did it once. We can do it again.

"No," I say, shaking my head. "We do not need all of us. Just the Major Arcana."

I shrug her arm off and straighten, before swooping down and snatching her sword from her hand.

"What-"she gasps, recoiling.

"I am sorry for this, Ariven," I reply. "I hope you forgive me."

Before the Heir of Wonderland can answer, I heft her weapon and bring it down on the bone side of her skull. She collapses to the ground, and does not even twitch.

And then I turn into the fray, advancing on the Lady Fate for the final time.

The civilians have fled the square entirely, leaving only those with the ability to fight and the bodies they have left in their wake. The surround the square in piles, blood running across the once clean white marble. Lavender fire rages around us, the city writhing in the flames. The House of Pentacles battles the House of Swords, the House of Wands. Arcana fight Faeries, Reapers, witches. Magic lights up the sky, the temperature plummeting, smoke filling the air.

And in the midst of the chaos, I find the Major Arcana.

Mahakama is the first one I grab. I wrap my hand around his upper arm, swinging him away from the arching sword of a member of the House of Pentacles. Shadowsong comes down, driving into the man bent on killing my Lord Judgement.

I pull the sword free, along with a waterfall of blood.

Mahakama is pale, wings held aloft and fluttering absently, cuts marring his face and his body, a particularly nasty one slicing across his collarbone.

"Lady," he gasps. "Many thanks. I-"

"There is no time," I rush, cutting him off. "I need you to get as many of the Major Arcana together as you can."

"Lady Monster?" he questions. His hands tremble.

"Please," I implore.

The Lady Universe does not beg. It is beneath her.

I shove his voice to the back of my skull, back with the rest of my demons.

"Please," I continue. "We banished her once together. We can do it again."

Dark eyes widen and brilliant white teeth flash. "Of course, of course. All shall be darkness again. I understand, Lady Monster. All available shall be at your command."