Chess Piece (An Unofficial Heartless Sequel)

2

Catherine Pinkerton stepped out of her carriage and onto the green grass of Rock Turtle Cove. The trees around the manor, which were once small, were taller then the house. It had been a couple years since she had last stepped foot on the property. This place brought back unwanted memories of Jest and Mary Ann. Catherine took a deep breath as Raven knocked on the door.

This was going to be professional. She would not break down- could not break down. She was physically incapable of such. But she felt like she wanted to cry anyway. These were not true feelings for the Queen of Hearts. Her chest needed to be empty. She wanted her chest to be empty. It seemed as if it were filling up again.

Abigail opened the door. "Your Majesty!" she exclaimed and curtsied respectfully. It had been a while since Catherine had seen Abigail as well. The Queen of Hearts suddenly felt bad that she had not asked Abigail to be her maid in the castle. It had been out of the question for Mary Ann, but Catherine had forgotten about her second- now first- favorite maid. She had been in such a rush to marry the King and get it over with.

Abigail led Raven, Catherine, and the King (his choice of being present had surprised Catherine) into the lounge room. They each sat down on their own chairs. Catherine on a soft purple (her personal chair from the time she had lived at the manor), the King on the fanciest (Catherine's father's usual chair), and Raven sat on a small leather loveseat (Catherine had no idea to when her parents had gotten that).

Abigail brought in tea. "I know it was one lump of sugar for you, Catherine, but what about the rest?" She looked at the King and Raven. "Thank thee, for tea. Not  one lump or two, I require three. As for His Majesty, there shall be none. He requires liquor, for that is more fun."

"Y-yes, of course, Mr., uh, Raven." Abigail walked out of the room to fetch the sugar and the King's liquor. "Li-liquor, my dear Raven?" The King looked at Raven. Raven nodded.

"But of course. You do not drink tea. For that is for me. You do not drink water, for it will only make this room hotter." The King's expression grew more confused. "Hotter? Tea is for you? But my sweet Queen is drinking tea too! You still not have answered my question." The King said this in his best authoritative voice, which was none more than a flat grumble.

The King was getting old, he was fifteen years older than Catherine herself. She wouldn't be surprised if he was soon dead. Either by decapitation or natural, it would be soon.

Abigail did not come back, but instead Mary Ann arrived the liquor and sugar in tote. She silently poured the liquor and put sugar into the cups. Mary Ann put one lump for Catherine and three for Raven. And then she left.

The three sat quietly in the room, sipping their drinks. "I've had quite enough of this." Catherine sighed. "Abigail!" the Queen called.

The maid appeared within seconds. "Yes, Your Majesty?" The girl stood quietly by the door frame. "I'd like to know more about the Jabberwock attack." Abigail's face paled at the mention of the horrible beast.

Abigail chuckled. "Yes, I supposed that's why you came. I'd love to tell you the story, but I wasn't there. I was at the farmer's market, buying dinner at the time. Mary Ann was there though, would you still listen to it from her?"

Even though the Queen of Hearts hated Mary Ann with a burning passion, she accepted and listened to her story. Mary Ann walked in the room and sat down purposefully in the chair straight across from Catherine and started to tell her story.

"It was midday, and the Marquess and Marchioness were outside for a stroll around Rock Turtle Cove. I was outside trimming the white rose bushes when-"

"Chop them down, or I shall chop off your head," Catherine spit. She would not flinch if it came to executing her old scullery maid. Mary Ann, however, did flinch when Catherine said this.

"Oh, oh," The King let out a gruff laugh, "pay no mind to what my sweet says, she is only joking around. Right?" One cold look from the Queen of Hearts shut him right up.

"Ri-right away, Your Majesty. I will look for the gardener to chop them down as soon as you leave." Mary Ann stated, her voice growing a little bit more confident the more she talked.

"Then shall I leave now?"

With that, Mary Ann excused herself and raced out of the room, shouting for the gardener to chop down the trees. Catherine was still going to chop off her head, it was certain.

----

Darkness surrounded Jest.  It was either night time, or he was dead. His body ached all over and his muscles felt sore. He decided that he was the latter, and accepted that he was probably currently rotting in hell.

But Jest was sure that hell wasn't the cozy or warm. Voices echoed around him. It sounded like three girls- the Sisters. Lacie, Tillie, and Elsie sat in front of him, all smiling their perfectly white smiles.

"Hello," said Lacie.

"Hi," said Tillie.

"We've been expecting you," said Elsie.

Jest was very confused to what had happened.

"Don't worry, we'll take care of you," Elsie said.

Jest rubbed his neck. It felt as if an axe was chopping away at it.

"Catherine is waiting," one of the Sisters said.

After that, they left. They had just left him with the words 'Catherine is waiting'. What use was that. Jest did not know where he was, he did not know how to gt out of this dark place. He knew nothing, except that Catherine was waiting.

That wraps up my second chapter. I'm sort of just writing this story for my friends, so I don't care if you like comment or whatever, but that is always appreciated.

-Hamster