A Court of Cards

♥Eight♥

Tick, tock.

Marvel stared at the wall in front of him, his eyes glazed. Another evening of tea and torture.

Tick, tock.

Some infernal machine was ticking in the opposing cell. Most likely his 'interrogation device' for tomorrow.

Marvel groaned as a dagger of pain jammed into his abdomen. Lolling his head to the side, the King of Hearts closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.

"Your turn."

Nyx glanced up, her green-flecked golden eyes gleaming beneath the shadows of her hood. 

"Implying I wasn't paying attention?"

Marvel huffed a laugh. "I'm not implying anything, you hellcat. Go already, so I can take your queen."

Nyx raised her eyebrows seductively, and Marvel fought another laugh. If he wasn't already ten years older than her and still hopelessly in love with the Queen of Hearts, maybe he would have thought otherwise, but he and Nyx had comfortably agreed to settle for allies three years ago when they met. Friends were close, but allies were closer. 

"Hellcat, am I?" Nyx implored, her golden eyes innocently wide. "Well, maybe that category would fit me more snugly if I put you in check. Oh, look- check."

Marvel's jaw dropped comically as his eyes frantically studied the board. No results. No hope.

Nyx grinned wolfishly as Marvel sighed and pushed his chair back.

"Secede?"

"Secede." Marvel confirmed defeatedly, holding out his hand for a shake. "Now come on, Lillian might be back from her hunt. Let's see what our Queen of Diamonds has brought us."

The world shattered like splintered glass as Marvel opened his eyes, relinquishing the illusion of a treasured memory. He closed his eyes again and sighed deeply, already forgetting the past experience he struggled so hard to keep. Oh, well. His memory wouldn't last long, anyways- and neither would his life.

There was a sudden noise from outside, and Marvel stiffened, sitting upright. What was going on?

The door creaked open, and Manolin, an Eight who gave Marvel an extra punch whenever no one saw, glowered above Marvel as the guard entered the room. For once, the bully had a leering smile on his scarred face- a look that instantly chilled Marvel to the core.

Fighting a rising terror, the King raised his bruised neck to make eye contact with the Spade. "What's going on?"

The maniacal grin grew. "Looks like they've found your accomplice, my king."

Horror, a dark and overwhelming abyss, shot into Marvel's heart like a bullet. It couldn't be. Nyx?

"That's right." Manolin cackled, delighting in the prisoner's shock. "They've caught the Queen of Diamonds!"

Horror turned to bewilderedness. Lillian? But- but she was-

"-And," the triumphant guard gloated furthermore, "They're going to use her to get information out of you. Oh, you didn't know? We're well informed of your little affair." Manolin pushed his index finger in Marvel's chest as he leaned down. "So get ready for some real torture."

WIth another cackle to top it all off, the guard exited stage right.

Confusion and worry whirling around his head, Marvel leaned back and closed his eyes. It couldn't be. It couldn't be Lillian, because- because she had died protecting the Ace of Spades.