“Was he good, girl? Last night? Did he say all the right things?”
The question takes me by surprise. There’s jealousy there, beneath the sneer on her face. As if hebelongsto her.
My hands curl into fists. “Yes.”
Hatter’s face deepens in color as I glance over to him, something like shame flooding it, and I despise myself a little for even answering. But it’s anger and shock that fills her expression, as if she didn’t expect me to play along with her little game and she’s livid at the response.
She wipes it away, but not quickly enough.
And then Red tilts her head, a question in her eyes. “He’s quite mad, you know.”
I don’t bother to hide the smirk that stretches my lips, showing her my teeth. “All the best people are.”
She hesitates, then. I hold her gaze, not backing down.
“You don’t scare me,” I say finally. Quietly. “I have faced far worse nightmares than some petty bitch with cheap nails and a power complex. And mynameis Alyss.”
Beside me, Buck groans, dropping his head.
Red watches me in silence, but two spots of color flare high on her cheeks. “Do you know what we do here,Alyss?”
I press my lips together, refusing to give her anything.
“We make dreams come true,” she says softly. Red leans forward, her eyes gleaming as if she’s imparting some great secret. “And nightmares, too. All the darkest, deepest desires a person can have – we recreate those desires, outside of the mind. We bring them to life, and our investorsbegfor more.”
Well, that doesn’t sound good.
“I’ve seen this horror movie before,” I say stonily. “It was shit the first time.”
She goes on, ignoring me even as her nail taps against the armrest of her throne. “And someone like you – oh, they’re going to enjoy playing with you, Alyss. You’re going to beperfectfor my new game. The star, if you will. Everyone loves an underdog, after all.”
“Red.” A choked, hoarse plea from Hatter. “Please.I’m begging you—,”
“Andyou.” She turns on him, her eyes flaring wide with fury. “Have I not given you everything? Did I not give you exactly what you asked for –beggedfor – when you came crawling to my door, Hatter? You bound yourself to me of your own free will, and you have broken our agreement.”
He pales further, color leaching from his golden skin. “I know. Just – just let her go, Red. It won’t happen again.”
“I don’t think so,” she says quietly. “A lesson must be learned. You have disappointed me more than anyone else ever has.”
Hatter’s shoulders curve in, before he straightens. And his eyes burn as he faces her, his chin lifting. “I fuckinghateyou.”
She stares at him a moment longer with what looks like hurt on her face before moving on to Buck. He stands silent at my side, a tic building in his jaw.
“It’s been fun, Buck,” Red says, more casually. As if she really couldn’t give a fuck about him. “But I find myself growing bored of your face. I wasn’t expecting to add Hatter to the donationpile, but you’re well overdue for replacement. The investors will be delighted to see some familiar faces in the field.”
She looks behind us as we stand, frozen. “Take them. The other one too. Transport them with the rest. We have our group, it seems. Let the game begin.”
Transport—
I twist to face Hatter. He’s staring at me, those doe eyes wide with panic. “I’m sorry. Alyss –fuck, I’m so sorry—,”
My inhale is sharp, my body stilling in shock as a needle is jammed into his neck.
His eyes linger on mine even as they dull. Buck swears beside me as I twist to see them doing the same to him. He staggers, dropping to his knees as he shakes his head.
Red grins at me. And her voice is a purr as a sting embeds in my own neck.
“Off with their heads,” she murmurs, as my vision starts to swim.
