Within the Pages

Chapter 52

Chapter 52

"Um..." I say, glancing over to the others. "I'm sorry?"

"Oh it's fine. No big deal. The other Cardilites try to kill us all the time." The little 3 of Hearts says. I'm trying to figure out where it's mouth is but as far as I can tell it doesn't have one.

"Cardilites?"

"That's what I am silly. And what those other gigantic things are that guard the Cardilites prison." The 3 replies.

"A prison?"

"Yes. A prison." The card looks down, I'd assume sad. "That's where they are keeping my queen."

"Your queen? The queen of Hearts?" The cards are keeping her prisoner? Well that's one less person to fight to get to my mom.

"Yes. The most kind person to roam these lands is captured by those beasts. We tried to save her but we don't know how to fight. The Clubanites, a section of the Cardilites, were our defensi ve army until they turned on us."

The 3 of Hearts looks really sincere. Could it be that the queen of Hearts actually is good? No of course she can't. She must be using her powers to make this card like her. But it doesn't work on the other cards? "You said you were a Cardilite but the Clubanites were a section of the Cardilites. Does that make you a Heartanite?"

"No silly. I'm a Heartean. What is a Heartanite?"

"Uh...Nevermind." Oops. I guess I should remember what they say about assuming. Awkward silence fills the air for a few seconds."So why was your queen captured?"

"The other cards don't have a heart. The Dialites only care about money. The Clubanites are to aggressive to be lead by a nice queen like her. And of course the Spadeans are too nomadic. They don't want to be run by a queen that cares too much. Unfortunately we couldn't stop them. We aren't strong enough and the other Cardilites found some kind of food that made them huge, hiding away the rest of it. Even if we did have some, we aren't fighters."

It's really odd how the three of hearts was effected but the other cards weren't. Could it be that my dad was wrong? He did say that he hadn't met the queen. I think he said that my mom was the one who had met the queen and told him about how evil she was and what she could do. Maybe my mom was wrong or it got lost in the translation. "I guess that's true. Where are the others like you?"

"They are in hiding. The other Cardilites still send out search parties to find us and rip us to shreds. The good thing about being so small compared to them is that we can hide in places that they can't even reach." He takes a breath then another then another, seemingly from the middle of the top heart on his front. "The other Hearteans wanted me to go and scout the area. You never known when there might be an attack. Good thing I came upon you three kind people. Even if you did almost step on me."

"Yeah sorry about that three" I respond looking downward in shame. It might be just a regular card in my world but how could I have almost killed the Three of Hearts. If only the people from school could see me know, battling witches and talking to cards, fighting flying monkeys and training with a knight. I'm sure there would be no more throwing me in garbage cans.

"Oh no problem. I couldn't be mad at you even if I wanted to. Hearteans were made to be nice." The Three answers, ripping me from my endless train of continuous useless thought.

"What do you mean? Made."

"Well us cards can't be born. We were made by what must have been a powerful wizard. I don't remember anything back before I was made but I wish I could. Someone so powerful is so rare to see." The Heartean stops to ponder a bunch of thoughts that are probably rolling around in it's head. "I can't even imagine what life would be like if we had a powerful wizard here to help us. "

"Well actually we..." Goldie starts talking but I cover her mouth with my hand as quick as I can. I see her deep glare but pretend not to notice it as I turn back to the card.

"Sorry my friend Goldilocks here keep forgetting to cover her mouth when she coughs. I need to speak to my friends, would you give us a minute?" I'm hoping that the Three of Hearts keeps being so nice.

"Well of course sir. I'll just be looking around. I should be looking out for the Cardilites anyways." The card replies before heading into the surrounding trees.

I take my hand off of Goldilocks' mouth only to receive a punch in the shoulder. "Oww!" I probably deserved that.

"Why would you do that? You know I wasn't coughing!" She says angrily, looking like she wants to punch my again. Hopefully not in the same shoulder.

"I told you that we need to be quick. We need to find my mom before the time runs out. I can't afford to be distracted." I can't be. I just can't.

Goldilocks' anger disappears as soon as she remembers all that I had told her. "I'm sorry Jack. I guess it just slipped my mind at that moment. I just hate to see something be hurt like that Heartene hurts."

"I think it's Heartean Goldie."

"Oh...Oops. Well this Heartean needs help Jack. Besides. We don't know for sure if your mother is being held in that prison or not.

"Fine Goldie. I'll help him." Maybe my mother is in that prison. Either way it's hard to say no to Goldilocks.

She almost jumps for joy before calling out for the Heartene to come back.

"Goldie, it's Heartean." I correct her again.

"Sorry!" She whispers to me. "Heartean!!" Goldie calls out.

Alice goes into the trees looking around. Suddenly I see her bolt forward into the trees.

"Alice come back!" I call out to her and Goldilocks and I run after her.

"Let him go." Alice calls out to something in front of her. Just about the treetops I see the top of a giant card. In it's hands is a struggling little object that I make out as the Three of Hearts.