Waves of Destiny (Twisted Wonderland)

Chapter 7

Chapter 7

"Off With Your Heads!" Riddle shouted. Ace and Deuce had been trying to stand after their defeat, but the force of the sudden collars caused them to fall back down.

"Urrrgh... Not again," Ace groaned. "I didn't even have time to finish my spell!"

"He shut us down like it was nothing..." Deuce said in amazement.

"That was fast!" I said.

"Visualization is key to spell casting," said Crowley, acting like everything was completely fine. "The better you are at accurately visualizing your magic's effects, the stronger and more precise it will be. It would appear Mr. Rosehearts has finely honed his magic."

"Myah... They didn't stand a chance," Grim said, shaking his head sadly.

"Hmph. You didn't even last five seconds," Riddle said. "That was all you had, and still you thought to challenge me? You must be utterly humiliated. I guess my mother was right. A man who cannot follow rules is a man who cannot achieve anything."

Deuce glared at him. "Tch... We agree that rules should be followed. But forcing others to follow nonsensical rules like the ones you've enacted is tyranny!"

"Then you agree that breaking rules is wrong. And in this dorm, I AM the rules. Therefore, those who cannot abide by my decisions deserve not the heads they use to complain!"

"But that's not right!" I said.

Riddle turned to me. "I am the one who decides what is wrong and right! What sort of pitiful education have you received, that you cannot follow such simple rules?" He looked me up and down distastefully. "Clearly, you were born to parents with no great magical capability. And as a result... You lack even the basic education necessary to attend a school such as this. It's quite sad."

My eyes widened in shock. That hurt. "I-" If learning to follow rules without question constituted a good education, I wanted no part of it!

"You little..." Deuce growled.

Ace stormed over to Riddle, his eyes flashing with anger. "You shut your spoiled little mouth!" he shouted. Then he brought his arm back and punched him right in the face.

Riddle fell right to the ground. He looked up at Ace with his mouth partly open. "Wh-what?" He quickly stood up.

"Riddle?!" Cater and Trey exclaimed.

"Mr. Rosehearts?!" said Crowley.

"Bam!" Grim cheered. "Right cross to the face!"

"A-Ace?!" Deuce said.

I looked at Ace in surprise. "You..." Had he done that for my sake? I didn't know he cared that much.

"That's all I can take," Ace spat. "Forget Riddle. Forget the duel. I'm done."

"That hurt!" Riddle cried. "You... p-punched me?!"

"Kids aren't trophies for their parents to flaunt. And the accomplishments of a child aren't determined by the worth of their parents. It's not your parents' fault you became a tyrant - or anyone else's. You've been here a year and haven't even made a friend who will tell you you're outta line. And that's on you."

"What are you even talking about?"

"Yeah, maybe you had some rigid upbringing from a relentless helicopter-mom. Is that all you are? An extension of her? Can't you think for yourself? You call yourself the 'red sovereign?' You're just a baby who's good at magic."

"Baby...? Did you just call me a 'baby?!' You don't know anything about me! You don't know anything about anything!"

"Nope, sure don't. And I don't need to. Your attitude tells me all I need to know - that you're nothing but a spoiled brat!"