Episode 1: The Ace of Spades Part 4

“No!” the King of Hearts screamed, and the Queen of Diamonds comforted him.
“There’s nothing you could have done,” the Queen of Diamonds told him.
“The Spades will pay for this!” the Jack of Diamonds announced, “They and their new ally, whoever he or she is. I will not stop until I have found them.”
“If he’s in the Casino, I think I may know who he is,” Conner said.
“I’m pretty sure I know who it is too,” the Queen of Diamonds replied, “But there’s no way to get out of here, not unless the Ace releases you.”
“Hang on, there is a way,” the Jack of Diamonds replied, and Conner and the Queen of Diamonds looked up at him, as he vanished.

“Was that the way?” Conner asked.
“No, he’s flickered back into the real world,” the Queen of Diamonds said in a concerned voice, “This isn’t good, he was about to tell us something important. If I’m right this was planned, now that Queenie’s dead, the Spades may be able to see through her card into this world. We need to get out of the Hearts castle to make plans, unless you’d like us to stay sir?”
“No, I’d rather be alone...” the King of Hearts answered tearfully.
“I’m so sorry, but we need to stop the Spades before they harm anyone else,” Conner told the King, who nodded and attempted a smile, but instead looked like he was in pain.
“Goodbye, do you mind if I don’t show you out?” the King of Hearts asked.
“No that’s fine,” the Queen of Diamonds reassured him, as she and Conner left the room.

The Jack of Diamonds stood up, and looked around, he was in a busy room, full of card players, who all seemed to be playing Go Fish. As the Jack stood up, he spotted the Jack of Spades leaving the room.

“Jack!” the Jack of Diamonds called, as he rushed towards the door. He exited the ‘Go Fish’ room, and found himself in an empty corridor, at the end of which, a door stood ajar.
“Hello?” the Jack of Diamonds shouted, as he made his way up the corridor. When he reached the end, he peered through the door, and looked into the room beyond, which turned out to be a cleaning cupboard. There was a body lying on the floor of the cupboard. The Jack of Diamonds immediately recognised him as the Jack of Clubs.

“Are you alright?” the Jack of Diamonds said, crouching down next to the Jack of Clubs. He could hear breathing from the Jack of Clubs, which meant he was just unconscious. As the Jack of Diamonds stood up, he heard something behind him, but as he turned around, someone hit in the face and he fell unconscious too.
“The Jack of Diamonds, what an idiot,” the Jack of Spades cackled, as he stepped out of the cupboard and locked the door.


Back in the poker room, the game of Poker was still going on, and the bets were still being raised. Teeena and Energisa were rushing around the Casino carrying drinks to the players, and Energisa had to make the food dishes, if they were asked for, as Queenie had gone.

“I’d like a Roast Korflig sausage,” Gisgerm snapped at Energisa, as she passed him, carrying a full tray of drinks.
“I’m sorry, I can’t make Roast Korflig, you see Queenie’s gone...” Energisa began.
“That’s not my fault is it? Roast Korflig, ASAP,” Gisgerm replied, and Energisa sighed, as she walked away.

“I see your bet and raise it to 1 million Casiniums,” Mystic said, smiling.
“Your ancestors weren’t very good at poker, you seem to be something new in your family,” Gisgerm replied, leering, as Mystic’s smile faltered, “I see your bet, and raise it to 1 million, 100,000.”
“I see your bet,” the Doctor replied, as his turn arrived.
“I’m folding,” Georgia said in an annoyed voice, placing her cards down, “I’m going to the bar for a drink.”
“All right,” the Doctor replied.
“You’d better win, mister,” Georgia said grinning, but as she walked away she began to cry. Teeena nearly bumped into her as she passed.

“I’m sorry, are you alright?” Teeena asked.
“I’m fine,” Georgia replied, wiping her tears.
“No, you aren’t, you’re crying, what’s the matter?” Teeena questioned.
“My friends gone and I don’t know where, and now there’s this stupid poker game,” Georgia said frustrated, “And if the Doctor wins it, then we lose the Tardis, and I really love that ship.”
“I’m so sorry,” Teeena said, comforting Georgia.
“It’s not your fault, it’s whoever stole Conner,” Georgia replied, “Has Gisgerm been around here much before?”
“Not much, which is good since he’s not a very nice person,” Teeena answered, “Energisa possesses a pure loathing for him, she expressed that she wants to grab a pitchfork, shove it into him and feed him his own blood to see if its poison. That’s because apparently he’s making her make him a Roast Korflig sausage, which takes a long time, which is rather annoying, as we’re lacking staff.”
“I guess things aren’t going well for us at the moment,” Georgia muttered.
“Definitely,” Teeena sighed.

“Have you ever loved anyone who it feels weird to love?” Georgia asked.
“No, I’ve never had anyone,” Teeena muttered, “Except my husband, Rasteika.”
“And he’s...?” Georgia asked.
“A complete git, I can’t divorce him though,” Teeena replied.
“Why?” Georgia questioned.
“He’s my boss,” Teeena explained, “And half my family’s employed at the Casino, you see I had to marry him, to save my family from debt and starvation. If I dumped him, then my family would lose their jobs. Uncle Jarickus, cousin Usica.”
“How did you meet him?” Georgia questioned.
“He was my stalker for half a year,” Teeena answered, “That was bloody annoying.” Georgia laughed and Teeena grinned at her.
“I’ve led a very weird life,” Teeena nodded, “And I was born, while the rest of my family were at a poker match. My father liked to gamble, so much that he gambled all our money away, which was about the time Rasteika started stalking me, he saw me in the Casino, back then he wasn’t in charge here, then I think he murdered his father to become in charge.” Georgia laughed again.

“Well, I’d better get back to the game, I wonder what’s happening now,” Georgia said smiling.
“Keep that smile, you are very pretty when you smile,” Teeena told Georgia.
“Thank you,” Georgia replied, “See you later.”
“I need to get back to serving drinks,” Teeena said, walking away, as Georgia rejoined the table.

“You’ve been gone a while,” the Doctor told Georgia, as she sat down to next to him.
“What’s going on?” Georgia asked.
“Queen Spade has folded, so has King Spade, and it’s just Mystic, me and Gisgerm left,” the Doctor explained.
“Would you like to swap any new cards sir?” Manajarr asked.
“One please,” the Doctor replied. Mystic swapped a card too, but Gisgerm did not. The Queen of Spades had now resumed looking dreamily at the Doctor, batting her eyelashes.

“I’d like to raise the bet to 1 million, 500,000 Casiniums,” the Doctor announced, as he looked happily at his cards.
“I see your bet,” Mystic muttered after a short pause.
“I see your bet and raise it to 2 million Casiniums,” Gisgerm said.
“Would you like to swap any cards?” Manajarr asked.
“No,” the Doctor replied, and Mystic and Gisgerm repeated this answer.

“I see your bet,” the Doctor said, “But I do not wish to raise it.”
“I see your bet,’ Mystic muttered.
“I see your bet,” Gisgerm finished.
“Please turn over your cards,” Manajarr ordered, and the Doctor obeyed.
“A straight flush,” Manajarr said, as he looked at the Doctor’s hand, which consisted of the 10, Jack, Queen, King and Ace of Clubs, “Mystic.” Mystic showed Manajarr his cards and sighed, he had only managed a Full House.
“Gisgerm, please show your hand,” Manajarr said, and Gisgerm turned over his cards leering.
“A Royal flush, I think you’ll find,” Gisgerm said grinning.

“Gisgerm wins,” Teeena announced, “Please take a break, and we shall resume the game for the 2nd round in ten minutes.”
“What do you mean second round?” Gisgerm demanded.
“There are 3 rounds in this poker tournament,” Teeena answered, “Didn’t you know that, it definitely said three on the invitations.”
“I didn’t read mine very well,” Queen Spade shrugged, before putting on more make-up.
“I’m sure it was two,” Mystic replied, “Ah well, three’s fine if they went as quickly as this game.”
“I don’t mind beating the Doctor three times,” Gisgerm chuckled.
“I’ve saved your arse,” Teeena commented quietly to the Doctor, “There was only 1 round, now you’d better win the other two games, or beat Gisgerm in both anyway.”


The Queen of Diamonds led Conner back towards the Diamond’s turreted castle, which was shining in the sunlight. Once they reached the castle, they were met by the King of Diamonds.
“Any news?” the King of Diamonds asked.
“Bad,” the Queen of Diamonds replied.
“The Queen of Hearts is dead,” Conner explained.
“Oh no,” the King of Diamonds said, hugging the Queen.
“And the Jack of Diamonds has vanished too, just before he was about to say something important,” the Queen of Diamonds added.

“What was he about to say?” the King of Diamonds asked.
“He said that there may be a way to get out of this world,” Conner replied.
“But I’m sure there’s not,” the Queen of Diamonds muttered.
“Darling, aren’t you forgetting that Conner’s face was on the Jack of Spades card?” the King of Diamonds replied, “Which means he has replaced the Jack in this world.”
“Of course!” the Queen of Diamonds exclaimed, “The Jack’s mirror!”
“What about the Jack’s mirror?” Conner asked, “Was he vain or something?”
“No, that’s the Jack of Clubs,” the Queen of Diamonds replied.
“The Spades are the only cards able to control when they enter the real world,” the King of Diamonds explained, “Because their Ace is nearby, the way they enter the real world is through their mirrors, only cards can enter this world.”
“I’m the Jack of Spades?” Conner asked in a disbelieving voice.]
“Basically,” the King of Diamonds replied.
“We need to get to the Spades castle,” the Queen of Diamonds announced.


Meanwhile, the second game of Poker was well underway in the Casino and Georgia had already folded.
“I see your bet and raise it to 1 million Casiniums,” the Doctor told Gisgerm.
“Oh Doctor, you’re such a tease,” the Queen of Spades giggled.
“I see your bet,” the King of Spades muttered.
“I see your bet, Doctor, but I just have to fold, win for me!” the Queen of Spades told in the Doctor in her usual over-the-top girly voice.
“I see your bet and raise it to 2 million,” Mystic said smiling.
“I see your bet and raise it to 10 million,” Gisgerm replied.
“Would you like to swap any cards?” Manajarr asked, and the card swapping began. Georgia made her way over to Energisa, who was looking very worried.

“Are you alright, what was your name, Energisa?” Georgia asked.
“Yeah, I’m fine, it’s just my friend’s party is going on as we speak,” Energisa said disappointedly, “And I’m not there, because I’m here obviously.”
“I missed my brother’s party once, it was his 18th, you should have heard my mum yell,” Georgia replied, “And my brother was disappointed too, but he didn’t show it. Although, some of my friends turned up at the party, thinking I’d be there, they were very annoyed at me.”
“Somehow, this isn’t making me feel better,” Energisa said in an annoyed voice.
“Hey, you have a good reason for not going to this party,” Georgia replied, “I couldn’t even remember what I was doing, I may have got drunk.” Energisa smiled.
“I hear you want to kill Gisgerm, or something?” Georgia asked.
“Oh yeah, whenever he comes in here, which, thank God, ain’t very often, he always asks me to get him ridiculous things,” Energisa explained, “Or Queenie, but I dunno where she is, Teeena doesn’t either, well she may do, but she ain’t told me.”

“I see your bet and raise it to 100 million!” Gisgerm shouted at the poker table.
“Can we calm ourselves, please,” Teeena said, “There is no need for this shouting, this is a game we’re playing, and it should be civilised, or we will throw you out.”
“I see your bet and raise it to 200 million,” the Doctor said.
“I’m folding,” the King of Spades said, as he walked over to the bar to get a drink, where he found the Queen of Spades.
“You’ve folded have you, are you that bad a player?” the Queen of Spades asked.
“You keep folding,” the King of Spades snapped.
“That’s to entice the Doctor, I have some poisonous lipstick I want to try out, so unless you want me to kiss you...” the Queen of Spades replied soothingly.

“Why are the guards on red alert?” the King of Spades asked.
“Which guards, darling?” the Queen of Spades answered.
“Our castle guards, 10 just informed me that they’re all on red alert,” the King of Spades replied.
“Oh, telepathy, well I told him to, because I think the Diamonds may know that the human boy is the Jack of Spades,” the Queen of Spades explained.
“What if the guards catch them?” the King of Spades asked.
“I’ve told them to kill any intruders,” the Queen of Spades explained.

Meanwhile, Mystic had decided to fold and the Doctor and Gisgerm were the only ones left in the 2nd round.
“I see your bet,” the Doctor muttered.
“I see your bet,” Gisgerm said.
“Please show your cards,” Manajarr ordered, and the Doctor obediently turned over his cards to reveal a Royal Flush. Gisgerm had only managed a straight flush.
“The Doctor wins,” Teeena announced.
“It isn’t over yet boy,” Gisgerm told the Doctor nastily, before heading over to the bar.

“Doctor, I want you to take my money, and win for me,” Mystic told the Doctor, “I think Gisgerm needs to be taught a lesson, and I want to help your friend.”
“Thank you very much,” the Doctor told Mystic, “You can have all my winnings, I steal cash mostly.” Mystic’s smile faltered, but the Doctor kept on smiling, as Georgia sat down beside them.
“Doctor, I want you to play for me, take my money, I don’t even know where you got it from,” Georgia told the Doctor, “You are a much better player than me.”
“He stole the money,” Mystic told Georgia, who rolled her eyes.


The Queen of Diamonds and Conner had made it all the way to the castle of the Spades. They had reached te gates, where two guards were standing guard. They looked like cards, but with arms and legs, much like the cards out of Alice in Wonderland.
“I guess we won’t be just marching in then,” Conner commented.
“No, we’re breaking in, I mean did you expect the Spades to leave their castle unguarded?” the Queen of Diamonds asked.
“Nope,” Conner replied.
“This way,” the Queen of Diamonds said quietly, as they walked away from the gates. The card guards watched them leave, and then resumed staring forward.


Back in the Casino, the third round of Poker had started, and the Doctor and Gisgerm were, like before, the only players still in the game, as the Queen and King of Spades had dropped out almost immediately. Mystic and Georgia were watching the game from a different table.

“The Doctor had better win,” Mystic said, crossing his fingers.
“If he doesn’t I’ll kill him,” Georgia muttered.
“I raise the bet to 500 million,” Gisgerm said, leering.
“I see your bet and raise it to 600 million,” the Doctor replied.
“Would you like to swap any cards?” Manajarr asked.
“No thank you,” the Doctor said quickly, staring determinedly at Gisgerm.
“Gisgerm?” Manajarr asked.
“No,” Gisgerm hissed.
“I raise the bet to 800 million,” the Doctor said.
“I raise the bet to 1 billion!” Gisgerm roared.
“Sirs, you’ve reached the betting limit,” Teeena informed them.
“I see your bet,” the Doctor muttered.
“I see your bet,” Gisgerm snarled.
“Please reveal your hands,” Manajarr ordered, as Teeena, Georgia and Mystic all crossed their fingers. The Doctor placed a straight flush on the table, so did Gisgerm.

“What happens now?” Georgia asked, “They’ve both got straight flushes!”
“Whoever’s hand is highest value wins,” Mystic commented.
“But which hand is of highest value?” Georgia asked frantically.
“The hand with the highest number,” Mystic answered.
“The Doctor wins!” Manajarr announced, as Gisgerm slammed his hands down on the table, and then collapsed it.

“Sir, I will ask you to calm down one more time!” Teeena ordered.
“So, Gisgerm, where’s Conner? And how do we free him?” the Doctor asked.
“You really thought I’d go with that little deal, the hour has struck,” Gisgerm roared, “The hour when the Spades will return to full power!”
“I thought it was you in charge of the Spades,” the Doctor commented.
“In charge, he isn’t in charge, we’re just helping him in his little scheme,” the Queen of Spades said, as she walked over to the Doctor with the King of Spades.

“Where did you find the Ace of Spades?” the Doctor asked.
“I found it on a tiny island on Earth,” Gisgerm replied, “Such a long way from here, it took me so many long years to trace it, but now, I finally have my chance, this world will be mine, and I will be the richest man in the whole Universe!”
“I don’t think so,” Teeena snapped.
“I’d be quiet if I were you,” the Queen of Spades told her, “Be silent and embrace the Ace of Spades.” The Queen of Spades pulled a playing card out of her pocket, which was the Ace of Spades. As Gisgerm, the King and the Queen of Spades cackled, black smoke shot from the card and started hitting people around the room.
“DOCTOR!” Georgia shrieked, before she was hit by the smoke and fell to the floor.


The Queen of Diamonds had led Conner through a secret passage in the edge of the hill the castle was on. It led all the way up to the hallway of the giant black castle. As the Queen of Diamonds pushed open the door into the hall, she heard a loud announcement, but it was unknown where the noise had voice from.

“All guards on red alert for intruders, all guards on red alert,” the voice ordered, “All guards on red alert for intruders, all guards on red alert.
“What does that mean?” Conner asked, as he entered the hallway, which had black carpets and was very gothic-style.
“I think they know somebody is here,” the Queen of Diamonds replied.
“All guards on red alert for intruders, all intruders will be executed,” the voice called again, but it seemed to be getting louder.
“That’s not good,” Conner commented looking at the Queen of Diamonds, whose eyes were wide.
“All guards on red alert for intruders, all intruders will be found and executed,” the voice said, as the owner of the voice burst through a door to the left of Conner and pointed a spear at him. He looked like the other cards, except that he had a 10 on him.

“He’s the 10 of Spades, head guard,” the Queen of Diamonds commented, as guards burst into the hall from all directions and walked slowly towards Conner and the Queen.
“All intruders will be found and executed,” the 10 of Spades said seriously, before smirking.

TO BE CONTINUED