White Queen gradually faded until only Black Witch remained on the bed. She spread her arms and lay back, closing her swollen eyes. She forced the sob rising in her throat back down, replacing it with a different kind of trembling. "Heh… Hehehe… Hahaha… Hahahahaha!

"She agreed. She agreed! But what does it matter? She can't protect anything. None of us can! Nothing will change. The princess atop the tower is destined to fall. Tonight... tonight everything changes."

By the end, Black Witch could no longer suppress the laughter writhing from the depths of her soul. Her whole body shook with uncontrollable mirth. She even slammed her hand against the mattress. Tears streamed from her tightly shut eyes, mixing with mocking drool at the...