Mavros was just where Rakta had said she would be. Her throne room, deep inside the castle. Mad shot their way past three guards and burst through the doors before freezing in his tracks, astonished and overwhelmed by what he was seeing. Quietly, he could hear Alice gasp in awe.

Rakta and Tamsus were in the middle of the red and white checkered floor, and they were fighting. Mad had never seen the two Aces fight and now he knew why. It was brutal, fluid, almost beautiful in its savagery.

It was movement in its purest form and more of a dance than anything. Or at least, that's what Mad thought.

Their movements were quick, graceful. The blows exchanged sharp and wicked.

Neither held anything back and Mavros watched on, almost lounging on her throne. All of her arrogance was shown just in how her chin was propped casually on her hand as Rakta backed Tamsus up, two silver knife blades whipping through the air, thirsting for the Heart's blood.

Tamsus ducked in close to Rakta and slammed his palm into the inside of Rakta's wrist, making him drop one knife. Tamsus laughed, whirled away, just to dive back in, punching Rakta's arm, just above the crease in his wrist, forcing him to drop the other knife.

Rakta responded by grabbing Tamsus' wrist as he withdrew his strike. He dug his fingers into the soft flesh just under the thumb and twisted brutally, forcing Tamsus to his knees for the briefest of moments. Tamsus laughed again, then threw his elbow into the outside of Rakta's leg, just above the knee, forcing him to the ground as well.

Their hands flashed back and forth so fast, the strikes looked soft. Like they were barely making contact. The sound told a different story though, bone and muscles smashing into skin and sinew, leaving cuts along eyebrows and cheekbones and lips.

Finally, Rakta backhanded Tamsus and sprang to his feet when the other Ace went flying. Just as quickly as Tamsus hit the ground he was back to his feet, but he was no longer smiling.

Mad watched as the two Aces circled one another and pushed Alice farther behind him, a primal fear flashing through him as his body recognized the two predators in front of him.

He watched wide-eyed as they engaged and disengaged in flurries of action, punches and blocks exchanged so quickly, Mad could hardly keep track.

Neither seemed to gain the upper hand, each absorbing hits and returning them twice as hard.

Then, Tamsus whipped his body around, the heel of his booted foot connecting hard with the side of Rakta's head, sending him flying. He skidded several feet across the polished floor when he landed.

Alice cried out and slipped past Mad, heedless of his warning cry as she ran across the room to Rakta, a red shadow flying along in her wake. She slid to a stop next to Rakta, who lunged to his feet, throwing her hard behind him as he tried to protect her from Tamsus.

But he wasn't fast enough. Tamsus was there, knife in hand. He caught Rakta to him, stabbing repeatedly into the other Ace's stomach, the strikes grotesquely fast.

Rakta's fingers clenched at Tam's shirt, his breath stuttering, eyes widening in pain and surprise as he stared at Tamsus, who was close enough to kiss. Tamsus held on to him, blood splashing to the floor beneath their feet. The Heart shook his head sadly, and said, "Oh, Rakta. That was not meant for you."

Rakta gasped, his hands going to his stomach, dropping heavily to his knees. His breath rattled, and he had an almost shocked look on his face as more blood spilled between his fingers. Tamsus shook his head, then looked up at Alice, his lips parted in something akin to hunger.

Rakta choked on a groan, coughing blood and fell to his side.

The Queen laughed and clapped her hands together. Tamsus stopped in his tracks, looking up at Mavros like a dog awaiting an order from its master.

"Kill her," the Queen said lazily, and Tamsus turned to Alice, who trembled under his hungry gaze.

Mad almost wanted to laugh. The two Hearts were so focused on Alice, it was almost like they'd forgotten he was there. All he managed was a single step forward and Tamsus stiffened, a predator realizing he was not the only hunter around.

Hand hanging at his sides, he let the gun barrel tapping against his thigh. Tamsus' eyes flicked to the gun, then he looked up at Mad's face, a smile tugging at his mouth. 

Tamsus cocked his head and said, "You wouldn't shoot an unarmed man, would you, Maddy?"

Mad smiled and shook his head, having to resist the urge to look right at Alice as she crawled slowly toward Rakta, hands desperately trying to stop the bleeding when she reached him. "We both know you're not unarmed, Tam. The question is can you get to it fast enough?"

Tamsus threw back his head and laughed, and Mad's fingers tightened imperceptibly. The Heart looked down and, his body seeming to settle into a tiger crouch, said "This is what it was supposed to be, Maddy."

Mad scoffed, then had to duck when Tamsus threw the knife at him. He dove behind a column when the second knife came singing through the air after him and cursed when he realized Tamsus had forced him into a similar game as the one in the forest.

Tamsus' laugh rang through the throne room. "I think we should finish our game now that the Diamond isn't here to ruin it."

Mad growled and ran, sliding behind another red marble column. He looked, caught a flash of red and fired, just to listen as Tamsus laughed. "You got my sleeve, Maddy."

But Mad was done playing. A scene from some movie, maybe one with John Wayne, flashed through Mad's head. His breath came fast as he considered this.

But it was better than playing this sick version of hide and seek. He'd be on his feet, facing his enemy for a final showdown.

Mad heard the doors slam open again and Alice screamed, "Killian! Get down!"

A shot went off, but it was the heavy thud of a bullet hitting wood that met Mad's ears, not the sickening tear of bullet meeting flesh or the high scream of a ricochet off stone. Mad glanced around the column he was standing behind and saw Killian army crawling across the floor to Alice, his gaze hot as coals as he stared at Mavros.

Mad had to give him his chance.

"Hey Tam?" Mad called, forcing his voice to a calm nonchalance. "How about a new game?"

"I'm listening, Maddy," Tamsus called back.

"Rules are easy. Someone counts to three, we both step out, giving a clear shot." Mad took in a breath. "Whoever's fastest wins."

Tamsus was quiet for a moment, and Mad wondered if this would work. He had been sure it would.

He breathed a sigh of relief when Tamsus laughed, the insane sound bouncing off the stone, and said, "That sounds fun. Why didn't you bring it up earlier?"

"I just remembered it," Mad said, feigning a defensive tone. "It's an old game in Real World."

"Mad, no!" Alice shouted but Killian shushed her.

"Who counts?" Tamsus asked.

"Me," the Queen's voice called, and Mad tensed.

"No," Killian said. "I'll do it."

The Queen snarled and Mad watched as she stood up and almost shrieked, "You have no authority here, mongrel! Not in my court!"

"It'll by my court by the time the sun sets," Killian promised. Then he was quiet. Mad turned and saw him shrug, the movement elegant, stately, gracious. "So, if both the Ace and Mad are agreeable, I don't see why you can't do this. Your last act as Queen."

Mad leaned back against the cool marble and took another breath, steeling his nerve. Making his voice light, he said, "Fine by me. Tam?"

"Of course," came his voice, directly across the room from Mad.

Mad closed his eyes, breathing deeply, his finger on the trigger guard. This was it.

"One."

Mad could already feel the smooth action of the trigger.

"Two."

It would be over.

"Three!"

Forever.

Mad threw himself from behind the pillar, raised the gun, firing twice. The sound was compounded, repeated, thrown back at him in the stone room.

Gun smoke hung in the air and everyone was frozen. Waiting.

To Mad, the moment seemed to stretch into forever. Like they were all trapped in that moment.

Then, Tamsus looked down to find a red stain spreading slowly across his white shirt, right over his heart.

"No!" Mavros screamed.

Tamsus looked up at Mad, eyes wide and uncertain. "Maddy?" he asked before falling suddenly to the side, his legs giving out.

The Ace touched tentatively at the red on his chest, then coughed, blood bright and wet on his lips, startling against pale skin.

Mad ran across the room and sank to his knees next to Tamsus, unsure that this was really happening. Killian was nearest and he sank to a crouch a little behind Mad, second witness as Tamsus died.

Mad pressed shaking fingers against his throat, searching for any sign of life. When he found nothing, he sat back, finally allowing the truth to wash over him.

Tamsus Heart, the Ace of Hearts, terror of Wonderland, was dead.

Mad had killed him. Mad had killed Tamsus.

He inhaled sharply. Mad had always been astonished by the easiness of death and this was no exception. It didn't matter how many times he'd seen it, the shock never wore off.

One minute you were alive, the next... dead.

There were no flashing lights, no fanfare. You were there, then you were gone.

Mad sat looking at Tamsus, wondering at that. Wondering at how death could be so casual. He could never wrap his head around the fact that there wasn't some sort of astronomical event every time something as utterly unique as a soul left the world.

It almost wasn't fair.

Tamsus had caused so much fear and pain and sorrow, and yet, he'd died easily, almost quietly amidst a roar of light and sound.

Mad sat for a moment, completely at a loss before coming to the realization that the empty feeling inside of him had something to do with the dead man in front of him. Nothing about that was comforting, but he could understand the feeling at least.

Tamsus had given Mad something to fight and, now that he was gone, Mad didn't know what came next. He stood up, still staring at Tamsus, oblivious to the rest of the world.

"Hatter!" Rakta yelled at the same time Alice cried out in pain.

He turned, feeling much too slow. Killian took a step forward, then stopped, frozen.

Mad's heart stopped dead in his chest when he found Mavros behind Alice, using her blonde hair to wrench her head back, a knife pressed against her throat. The Queen kicked Rakta sharply in the ribs, making him gasp, coughing as more blood spilled from his mouth.

Then, she turned to Killian and Mad. Her eyes flicked back and forth between Alice, Mad, Tamsus, then Killian, before resting finally on Mad again. Baring her teeth in a horrible approximation of a smile, Mavros yanked Alice's hair again, pulling her closer.

"So you're the little Real Worlder everyone's been so excited about," Mavros hissed in Alice's ear, pressing the blade harder against her throat. Blood beaded there and Mad stepped forward.

Mavros jumped back, dragging Alice with her and Killian threw his hand out, trying to stop this. He opened his mouth, but the Queen shrieked, "No! I will not hear from this so-called King of Spades. The King of Spades is dead. I killed him with my own hand. Him and all his family!"

Killian tried to say something but the Queen cut deeper into Alice's neck and he fell silent, his face pale.

Mad tried to step forward again and the Queen screeched, "No! Stay where you are, Madison!" She laughed when he actually listened then smiled that ugly smile again. "So, this is all it took to get your obedience?"

Mavros scraped the knife's edge up Alice's throat, who didn't make a sound though Mad could see her rapid breath, the fear flashing in her eyes.

The Queen drew Alice closer and, completely ignoring Killian now, said, "I wonder, Madison. What happens if I kill her?"

"Don't!" Mad choked out. "Don't touch her. It's me you're angry with. She has nothing to do with this."

For some reason, Mad knew that's what it really boiled down to. The fact that he loved Alice and not Mavros. That he would obey Mavros only to save Alice. She didn't seem particularly angry at Killian which made Mad think she really didn't think he was a King. For her, this was all about Mad and his unwillingness to serve her.

The Queen, her face as red as her dress, spat, "She has everything to do with this!" Mavros paused then, seeming to consider something. Killian looked at Mad, who signaled for him to let Mad handle this.

Killian nodded, then looked at the Queen when she said, "What would you be willing to do, Madison? To save her? What would you do?"

Mad's stomach curdled at the question, but there was only one acceptable answer. Mouth dry, his heart in his throat, Mad whispered, "Anything. Just... let her go."

The knife cut farther into Alice's skin and she whimpered, biting her lip to stifle the sound.

"Anything?" Mavros taunted. "Would you beg?"

Mad cut his eyes at her, lip curling. The very idea made his stomach twist.

Mavros leered at him. "Would you kneel before me?"

Mad's hands shook, even though he had known what she would ask. The one thing he had sworn he'd never do, thrown into his face. He looked at Killian, who had a sort of blank, terrified expression on his face. Then he looked at Alice, who stared back at him.

She wasn't asking him. She wasn't asking him to do something that went so against the grain it made Mad sick to even consider it.

But, for her, he'd do anything.

Even swallow his pride.

Mad fell to his knees and bowed his head, everything inside of him screaming out against this.

Mavros laughed, but the sound was answered by a scream that Mad first thought was coming from him, his rage and wounded spirit crying out. But it wasn't him.

It was Alice.

Mad's head jerked up, and he watched in awe as Alice twisted away from the Queen, wrestling the knife from Mavros' grip. The Queen shoved Alice away before charging after her, but Killian was there.

Alice handed him the knife and the Queen's eyes flew wide as he sank the blade into her chest, more red flowing down over Killian's fingers.

Alice stumbled back and ended up on her knees next to Rakta, who was propped up, eyes burning in fury and triumph as the Queen fell, her red dress a pool of scarlet around her.

Echoing through the caste, a single, united scream rose as each and every Heart felt their Queen die.

It was cut off suddenly, leaving a ringing silence in its wake.

The Queen was dead and time froze again, lingering on this moment as well.

Killian dropped the knife. He looked at the blood on his hand and took in a great, ragged breath.

It was a perfect moment of triumph.

Then Rakta's eyes fluttered and he collapsed backwards, choking and gasping, his breath coming inconsistently, no longer able to hold out against his terrible wounds. Mad scrambled over but stopped when he saw what Tamsus had done to the other Ace.

Alice, who was kneeling on Rakta's other side, brushed his bloody hair back and he grabbed her hand, staring past her at something nobody else could see. Blood gurgled in the back of his throat, sliding from the corner of his mouth and he asked, "Avinos?"

"Sh," Alice said, tears dripping onto Rakta's face. "I'm here."

Mad looked up at her sharply but she just shook her head at him. Rakta's chest heaved, hitching as he tried to breath, starting to shake even more. Briefly, his eyes cleared and he looked at Mad. Smiling, his teeth stained a ghastly red, he whispered, the words coming in short, hard breaths, "I held on. I saw the bitch die. She's gone, Mad. I told you. I promised she'd die. She's gone."

Mad cleared his throat and nodded. He patted Rakta's shoulder and said, "Yeah. Yeah she's gone. Because of you."

Rakta scoffed, more blood welling up, his voice shaking harder as his body seized. "Maybe."

He choked again, seizing and spasming harder. His blood was dark. Mad knew what that meant.

Rakta brushed a hand then against, Alice's cheek. Softly, he said, "Don't cry. Please. Don't cry for me."

Alice nodded, holding on to his hand, and Mad watched as another Ace died.

Rakta Diamond died smiling and Mad was surprised by his own sorrow. That surprise rocked him again.

Alice got up long before him to hold onto Killian, who kissed the side of her head, whispering something to her. Mad finally looked up when a hand was placed on his shoulder to find Cheshire standing there, blood around his mouth and gloving his hands.

Chesh helped him up then and glanced over at Tamsus. He flicked an ear at Mad, who nodded.

Everyone was silent then, just letting it sink in.

They'd won.

The Queen was dead, as was her Ace. They'd won.

They all turned when they heard a roar from outside.

"What is that?" Alice asked, still in the circle of Killian's arms.

Dinah threw open one of the windows and the roar resolved into a chant of, "Long live King Killian!"

With a happy little shout, Alice kissed Killian who grinned down at her before looking a little guiltily at Mad. Then, feigning exasperation, he asked, "Isn't there anything that can kill you?"

Mad chuckled dryly and shrugged.

Which was when he realized something was wrong.

Pain seared through him and Chesh screamed, "No!"

Mad looked up, surprised to find himself on the floor. He hadn't remembered falling.

Sound muted and the people around him turned to mist and shadow.

Mad turned his head to meet Tamsus' empty eyes, his fingers slippery with Rakta's blood.

He hadn't heard the bullet after all.