Redemption

Redemption Part 1

I flew over Desolation toward the brilliant beacon of the Spire in the distance, surrounded by a glorious pink and gold cloud. Dark, menacing clouds roiled above me; malice burned in their depths. Wind slammed rain into my face, slathering hair over my eyes. I swept it away, only to see an M flying parallel with me.

The lightning illuminated her face.

Dazzle. A maniacal grin distorting her features. Her golden eyes like those of an eagle zeroing in on its prey.

She turned swiftly and flew toward me.

The wind blew me to a standstill; I tried not to fly backwards and be subsumed by the storm.

She flew up beside me, and her golden eyes pierced me into paralysis. I tried to fly, but I was frozen in midair.

Her hand slid toward me, glowing with lightning. "You're beautiful when you're trapped," she said, and her lightning shocked into me, and she laughed and drew closer.

A jolt of lightning stabbed through me and I screamed and screamed with the unbearable pain

A cold hand gripped my shoulder, and I tried to shake it off. But my wrist only met hard metal that shot pain up through my arm

And in front of me stood Lacy, her face stricken. "I'm sorry, your Highness! I called you, but you would not wake." She reached below her holoskin and pulled out a medpatch. She angled it toward my neck, but I slid away.

"No—I'm fine. It's just a small bruise probably." I clutched my arm, rubbing it up and down. The pain was already dissipating, almost as unreal as the pain of my dream.

Except that...still lingered in the back of my mind. I tried to shake it off, but it clung there like a shadow.

"Are you sure you're all right? For an M to hurt a prince—it's nearly unforgivable."

"It was an accident. My fault, really." I had just been fighting Dazzle off.... She's not here—she can't hurt me....

"Just so you're sure. You were crying out in your sleep. To react like that—it must've been quite a nightmare."

She was probably offering her counseling protocols. I wasn't about to take the bait. No—I needed to shut all thought of Dazzle out of my mind. It was just a dream.

So stupid I had to have a nightmare instead of a good dream.... Couldn't even escape in my sleep....

I wasn't about to go back to bed any time soon. Not like I really needed sleep, just escape.

I slid out of bed, feeling heavy. I was shaking. It hadn't even been that traumatic, just a kiss...a few shocks of lightning...threatening to possess me and make me a slave....

I shuddered. No. Not going there. It doesn't matter. Gotta distract myself... do something....

My com chimed on the sofa. I shambled over to get it.

"Hi," I said.

"Hello, Jet!" said an effervescent voice. My media manager, Jade. "How are you doing, cooped up up there?"

"Um...."

"Can't imagine it's fun. Especially for someone with your energy. I've got just the thing. A proposition, if you will. And guess what—your dad's even approved it! So it's all up to you if you want to get out of here."

"Get...out?" I could hardly believe my ears. Could she be saying what I thought?

"Yeah. Out of the Spire. No, your dad hasn't totally ended your punishment. You can get out—on the condition that you help us."