Red string of fate.
29. Our muses are destined to become royalty
       àźâàźÂ  The Queen of Lies       invitesthe Prince of Darkness     for high tea        and   a game of wits.      àźâàź
No one had signed it. Tanaka re-read the short letter, written in curling script, wondering who had sent it, and who had known one of his many titles. Flipping it over, he saw a map drawn on the back of the paper. A single spot of red showed the place to which he was invited.
"The Queen of LiesâŠ" he muttered to himself. He traced the map with his finger and, pulling on his coat, strode across the room and out the door.
*****
Following the map lead Tanaka to a mansion high on a hill, with a sprawling lawn and impressive wrought-iron gates surrounding it. He made his way up the path, stopping at the door. The invitation was still clutched in his hand. Knocking once, he waited, slightly apprehensive.
The door opened slowly and Tanaka entered. A vast hall greeted him, but there was no sign of who had opened the door. With each echoing step he took his trepidation grew; Tanaka hadnât seen anyone else in the house yet, but felt like he was being watched. He passed by an open doorway and jumped when a voice spoke to him.
"I see youâve found your way here."
Tanaka walked to the doorway of the room from which the voice had come, but went no further. Sitting at a round table edged with lace, on top of which was a tea tray with a steaming kettle and two teacups, and â oddly â a deck of cards, was a figure of black and red. He knew this had to be the Queen of Lies. She didnât stand to meet him, but graciously inclined her head to the seat opposite her.
"Please, sit down."
Tanaka sat, not taking his eyes off his host. She poured tea â âSugar?â â he shook his head â placed the cup in front of him, and smiled. It didnât reach her eyes.
"Why have you summoned me?" he asked. He took a sip of the tea, so as not to look ungrateful.
"You are the Prince of Darkness, are you not?" she said, holding her own delicate cup close to her face. "We royalty must stick together."
Her voice was even, betraying nothing. Tanaka, though, was sure he wasnât here only for a friendly chat over tea.
"How do you know my title?"
"Oh, there are rumours," she said. "There are always rumours, where Iâm from. All I wanted was to see if they were true."
The two sat in the airy room, neither offering conversation, the silence hanging. Tanaka watched as the Queen of Lies â would he ever learn her name? â poured herself a second cup of tea. Her hand nudged the deck of cards.
"What are those for?" he asked.
"Have you ever played poker, Tanaka-san?" He didnât ask how she knew his name. Instead, he shook his head. "Ah. Why donât we go with âGo Fishâ, then, for your sake. You do know how to play?"
He nodded this time. Though he had only played it as a child, with his hamster Cham-P as the other player, he remembered the rules.
She dealt the cards expertly, flashing through the air over to his side of the table.
"Shall we begin? You first, of course," she said. The ring on her finger glittered as she scooped up her cards.
"Hm. Hmhmhm. Do you have any⊠sixes?" Tanaka asked, scanning his cards. He still couldnât see the point of this game.
"Go fish." At this he grabbed an extra card. "Might you have any aces?"
Tanaka passed over the card he had just taken. She laid down three aces, her hand considerably lighter.
"Ah⊠do you have an eight?"
"Go fish," she said, a smirk on her lips.
Back and forth they went, the Queenâs hand dwindling fast, Tanaka only having laid down 4 of his cards. When she had only one card left, he knew it was up. WhoâŠ? he thought to himself. Who is this?
"Do you have a two?" she asked.
Scowling, he looked through the rather large amount of cards in his hand â and was shocked to find no twos.
"Go fish!" Tanaka said triumphantly. She frowned, picked a card off the deck; then smiled and laid down her last two cards.
"Who are you? What is your name?" he shot at her. He had no idea what he was doing in this mansion, with this girl in her black poofy gown and massive ringlets, playing a childrenâs card game without even knowing her name.
Surveying him across the table with sharp, red eyes, the Queen of Lies leaned forward, lacing her fingers together. Tanaka could tell she wasnât going to answer him, but may, at last, be about to tell him why he was here.
"Tanaka-san, what do you think of royalty â" he started to speak and she shushed him, "â what do you think of royalty working together to rule the world?"
