Mephistopheles’ Sword

“Zip me up, would you?” Alice asked, standing in front of the mirror that was built into the wall.

Her husband, Paron walked up right behind her and brought the zipper of the gown up her back and hugged her from behind.

“You do realise that this is the job for your handmaidens, right? Why do you insist every morning for me to zip up your gowns?” He asked with a chuckle, resting his chin atop her head.

“It is a mere reminder of your husbandly duties.” Alice said with a mischievous smile, turning around.

Their story was a fairy-tale story. She had woken up seven months ago in an open field with no memories about herself. All she had known was of the white-haired king who had rescued her. Following that, he had wasted no time in wooing her. Their whirlwind romance had led to the grandest wedding in the city, leaving several of the city’s patrons jealous.

“I really wished you didn’t have to leave,” She grumbled as she sat down on top of the bed, insecurely, tugging at the hems of her gown at her wrist.

“We have to make amends with the Ice queen.” Paron glanced back at her as he placed his crown on top of his head. “I am afraid of what might happen if she choose to retaliate against us,” He smiled at her roguishly and gently kissed her forehead. “Don’t worry, I will be back before you even realise.”

---

Winter came and passed.

Flowers had long since bloomed before Alice heard news of Paron’s return. She blushed deeply upon hearing the news.

She was playing with her powers, creating shapes and figures using just water and her hands.

“It’s hard to believe the king would bring a mistress along, when he has a queen as lovely as her.” One of her handmaidens whispered behind her, thinking that Alice could not hear.

“Huh, doesn’t surprise me at all actually. All men are the same.” Another one said.

Alice’s blood boiled and her face turned red. Fire sizzled from her fingertips. She couldn’t stop the tears from overflowing.

---

That night, Alice walked across the marbled tiles along the grand hall that led to the king’s chambers. Her dress hung across her body like a lover's embrace, except it only reminded her of what Paron had done to her. The anger that she had felt when she had heard the rumours hadn’t stopped her from crying out in agitation. Paron’s betrayal had stung more heavily than anything else.

Zigzag, zigzag, zigzag...

Energy zipped throughout her skin causing goosebumps to break out. She let out a shudder of fear as she herself was unaware of the extent of her powers. They would often try to communicate to her. But she had kept that doorway closed and heavily locked. She did not know if they could feel empathy like her. She could not let them cross over that doorway as she knew she would lose more than herself that day.

Yet, today, somehow her powers were coming to life as though her anger had taken a live form and that was her only controlling consciousness. Her brain had long given up on her, perhaps even when she had fallen prey to the well spun trap that Paron had set-up for her.

---

She had spoken too soon. She had exerted too much control over her rage. She should have let it roam free, preying on her husband and hunting him down and chasing him for miles, because she could hardly believe her eyes the moment she had stepped through the golden ornate doors of the King’s chambers.

The big doors banged and rattled as they crashed open against the wall. Her husband leapt up from his bed where he had laid in the arms of another woman. They were both scrambling to get covers over their bodies. A bright red haze settled over her eyes and she felt lightheaded as her powers surged up.

They were right below her skin now.

Too close, too close to breaking her door.

She couldn’t let go now.

She shouldn’t.

Alice let out a humourless laugh, “Seriously Paron? Did you not find anyone better to sleep with then with the whore of the city?”

“Alice! Sweetheart listen to me -” Paron managed to say out before Alice had abruptly cut him off.

“Oh, shut up!” Alice yelled back at the same volume as him, “I should have known better…you couldn’t wait just yet to find someone else the minute you had thrown me away, could you?”

She walked around the room and stopped right in front of her and Paron’s wedding portrait.

The other woman was shrivelling in nothing but the big blanket, just a few feet away. Alice suddenly reached out and grabbed the girl by her throat. The girl shrieked in absolute horror.

“Alice, stop. I know this isn’t you.” Paron said, as he just stood there with his sword clenched in his hands, getting ready into a defensive position to fight against her. Alice stared right into his eyes as she crushed the girl’s throat and with a sickening pop, she was dead within seconds. The girl fell onto the plush carpet, eyes wide open and her neck distorted at a weird angle.

Paron stared in shock at his wife. He lunged for her, with his sword held high above his head. He swung it down with full force, intending to hit her at her neck, hoping to slice her head from her body. But he was met with a sword made of ice, its handle encased in fire which wrapped all the way down to Alice’s forearm. She had made her body into a weapon.

Alice swung around in half a circle and knocked Paron back with a roundabout kick. He stumbled back a few steps before he righted himself and came at her again. This time not only did Alice anticipate his move; she was also prepared for it. She threw her powers out at him in waves, decapacitating him with her mind.

Using her free hand, she leapt onto his shoulder, and delivered powerful jabs to his head, until his whole face was swollen with blood oozing out from his nose and mouth. Paron struggled to dislodge her from his shoulders and she delivered the final blow by using her two fingers to skewer straight into his eyes. He screamed in terror. The smell of iron and piss filled strongly around the room. Paron was down on his knees now.

“Alice, I love you.” Paron croaked out.

Alice stopped and looked at him. “It’s hard to believe that after everything you have done, Paron”. She said. Without a moment of hesitation, she drove the sword straight into Paron’s chest. Both blood and his soul poured out of that wound in no time.

Alice stepped back and looked at what she had done. She couldn’t believe it. She staggered back and fell against the ottoman near the window. She tried to breathe air into her lungs, but her body refused to cooperate with her.

Her powers were banging against the door now, yelling to be let out. She flung her head back against the ottoman as she cried her heart out. This was it; her powers were not going to stay quiet for anytime longer.

The first wave of pain brought about a fresh set of tears into her eyes. The second wave of pain had her clutching her chest and abdomen, rolling on the ground in absolute agony. The third wave of pain had her losing her consciousness. All she remembered was seeing bright light explode under her eyes, as she was swept away in a sea of blackness.

---

Her head pounded as though someone had repeatedly wacked her against a wall. She opened her eyes and struggled to focus on her surroundings. Strange whooshing filled her ears.

She took in a big gulp of air but began coughing immediately when she tasted dust and soot on her tongue.

She sat up on her heels as she willed the disorientated feeling to go away.

She opened her eyes and felt shook to her core as she saw what lay in front of her.

It was all mayhem and chaos.

She was seated before a large glass window of a half-burned castle. Big burns were spread across the area close to the castle and she could still see smoke rising from a nearby village.

She turned around on her heels and she felt her heart stop. There right at her feet laid a man with a sword plunged into his chest.

There was a glass crown near his head, albeit broken, but still a King’s crown.

She looked around and at herself as she stumbled about. She was coated in black soot and blood.

What was happening?

Who was that man lying on the ground?

Did she kill him?

And most importantly who was she?