Rosie Hearts chapt. 1

***

Cora sat on her throne with a gargoyle stare – rigid and unmoving. She lowered her mask and turned to Hook.

“Captain, go upstairs and keep an eye on the little vermin,” she instructed.

“Yes, your majesty,” he said with a bow. “May I ask what you will be doing?”

“I’m just going to visit an old friend. I won’t be long.”

She got up from her stage and headed up to the western corridor. It had been blocked off for a time ever since that wretched little Alice girl barged in, ruining her croquet game.

The walls were mostly bare except for the remains of the red-heart wallpaper that was starting to peel off from age. At the end of the hall was an almost empty room. A large round table sat at its center, and right behind it was a mouse-hold sized door.

On the table was a vial filled with red liquid; a note was attached to it that read: ‘Drink Me.’ Cora drank the contents and soon she was three inches tall. She strutted over to the tiny door and opened the little hatch to peer at her prey. She grinned like a snake.

“Hello, Rosie,” she hissed.

The woman turned away.

“Oh, dearie, don’t be that way. You brought this on yourself, you know, and now you’re getting what you deserve.”

Rose scoffed with a roll of her eye.

“Please, Cora, we both know that’s not true.”

// She began squeezing the heart like it was a lemon. Her eyes were full of rage, intending for death. But as much as she wanted to finish this woman off, she just couldn’t. She released her grip and shoved the heart back into the woman’s chest.

‘As much as I want to kill you,’ she began, ‘I’ll let you live because of our past friendship,’ she finished bitterly.

‘Thanks Cora, I—‘

Cora cut her off, clutching the woman’s throat, pinning her roughly against the wall.

‘You didn’t let me finish! I will let you live because I want you and your family to suffer the consequences of your actions; your treachery; your betrayal.’ She smirked and too the woman’s jaw in her iron grip, digging her nails into the woman’s flesh, chuckling deeply. ‘Oh, my dear Rosie, I am going to make your life a living Hell, and I am going to enjoy it for as long as I can. I will not rest until I have destroyed you and your family’s happiness…for good.’\\

Cora lowered her chin, her glare challenged Rose to say that again.

“Don’t pretend to act innocent. We both know you’re far from it.”

“As far as I’m concerned, I am innocent and I’m being unjustly imprisoned.”

“Oh, my dear Rosie, your imprisonment is completely just, and you know perfectly well why that is.” A dark grin spread across her face.

“You’re still holding that against me?” Rosie scoffed. “You’re unbelievable.”

“It’s what you get for betraying me.”

“Betraying you? Cora, he chose me, let it go!”

Cora glared at her. “I will never let this go. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to pay a special visit to Gingerbread.” She chuckled, waving goodbye, and ate the mushroom that made her normal size again.