A Court of Cards

♦Three♦

"Now, Thorn, you cannot blame Rose for falling out of the tree. Besides, it was nine years ago- you were only eight."

Thorn scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Did you not hear me, Mother? She pushed me out of that tree!"

The Queen of Hearts gave a small smile, her rose-petal lips turning up at the corner. "You can't blame Rose for all of your adventures, you know."

Thorn opened her mouth indignantly. When had she ever implied anything of the sort? It wasn't like Rose preferred exploring the woods to trying on the new makeup some Ten invented. Before Thorn could reply, a feminine and melodic voice interrupted. "Please stop talking about me while I'm in the room, Mother! For once, Teetee is right. I don't enjoy to go on those unladylike adventures. I'm next in line to be the Red Queen. It would be palpable to see me frolicking in the mud like my little sister."

Thorn ground her teeth. Ever since Rose could walk and talk, she boasted of how she would become the Queen of Diamonds and Hearts. Twenty-three years ago, when the Spades took over the Clubs, the Hearts and Diamonds knew they had to bond together, or the Spaades would overpower them as well. Astoundingly, the Queen of Hearts and King of Diamonds revealed that they harbored a secret love for each other. Presently, they were married, and the Heart King and Diamond Queen were discarded.

After marriage, another stroke of luck occurred- the Queen of Hearts produced an hair. No one had ever intermarried, no was was sure what would happen- but here it was, a beautiful Heart baby girl. THe Red Kingdom was delighted. Three years later, another princess was produced.This one was much less beautiful, but still a joy to look at. The Kingdom rejoiced once more, but yet a little less than they had already; after all, there was already an heir to secure the future of the next generation.

Thorn would always be less than Rose. Less beautiful, less ladylike, less mature. Less loved by all of the Red Court. 

Sometimes she wondered... would she ever amount to anything? Rose was born a perfect, wine-red haired, cat-green eyed heir to both the Diamonds and the Hearts. Thorn, on the other hand, was born an echo. An echo of Rose's beauty, of the position on the Red Throne. What would Thorn even be when she grew older? Just another Ten of the Red Court, worshiping the royalty? Worshiping her sister? 

Usually, Thorn preferred to keep these thoughts locked away in the dark part of her heart.

"Oh, fine, then," the Red Queen sighed dramatically. Like a gust of sweet wind, Thorn thought, having been jolted back to the present. Rose's sigh. Rose and her mother were exactly alike. 

"Rosie dear may be right, Tee." The Queen of Hearts snapped shut the mirror she was gazing at herself through. "You really must stop these explorations. They won't suit you when you grow up." 

Thorn ground her teeth. Again. "Grow up to be what, Mother?" she sniped, her temper rising. The parlor servants looked up quickly from where they were cleaning up from afternoon tea. "Its not like I'm going to amount to anything stuck inside this dreary place! Will you please just let me out of this cage? I want to go out of the palace walls for once!"

The Red Queen and Rose both looked up in unison, years of practiced, innocent, feminine shock mirrored on their faces. Thorn thought she might be sick. How could her sister stand this life?

"The Red Kingdom, dear?" The Queen asked, concerned. "You could get in trouble, though! There are thieves running about!"

Thorn rolled her eyes. "Like who?"

The Red Queen spluttered, the bejeweled mirror still hovering in her silk-gloved hand.

"The... the Ace of Clubs, for one? Who knows what that mongrel is running about doing? She could be in this very kingdom, stirring up trouble!"

Thorn suppressed a grimace. Snapping at her idiotic mother wouldn't help feed this spark of hope the queen had lit. "Fine, mother. I'll bring a bodyguard with me. Just- please, please let me glimpse the kingdom that Rose will one day rule?"

The Queen huffed, recognizing her defeat. "Fine, Thorn. But only if you bring Rose with you."

Thorn and Rose both opened their mouths indignantly at the same time, but their mother cut them off. "Thorn had a fair proposition, Rose. You should go out and see the kingdom that you will one day lead."

Thorn consciously felt the weight of her sister's livid glare. Their mother throwing Thorn's words back at Rose- oh, how the younger would pay for that later.

"Go to your etiquette lesson, now. Five days from now, you will parade through the city with bodyguards surrounding you- and, of course, you'll all be on horseback. We're not taking any chances, now."

Thorn burned with wrath. How was this anything like what she'd asked for? Thorn wouldn't be seeing the Red Kingdom, she'd be seeing the backs of all the civilians' heads as they bowed!

"We thank you, Mother. I am overjoyed at this prospect, and will sleep tonight in ecstasy." Rose purred with a courtier's grace. Though her sister may be a haughty, cunning fox in a lovely girl's form, she could read Thorn sometimes before even Thorn knew what rash decision she was about to do herself. Thorn barely gave her mother a small nod before she exited the tea parlor. As soon as the door quietly closed, Thorn took off her stupid heels and her stupid bow before storming away from the stupid tea parlor towards her room. This was intolerable and inexcusable. Something would have to be done.

Thorn slammed the door to her room and fell miserably onto her queen-sized bed.