LOST

Chapter 6- Scars

Celestine

I was half awake when I heard the sound of the hallway door opening as I lay on my back. My eyes opened wide. I got up and waited for the normal clanking of metal boots when a guard approached me for my daily dose of torture. The clanking of metal boots met my ears and I looked to the ground hopelessly. But then I noticed that the sound of the metal boots was accompanied by another. It was the clip-clop of heels.

At first, I thought that the guard was with Kendal but then I remembered that Kendal didn't wear heels. Her shoes were exactly like the guards - metal soled boots. But then who was in the hallway with the guard?

Filled to the brim with curiosity, I scooted over to the bars of my prison cell. I noticed Jordane sleeping in his cell and the heavily tattooed man in the next cell, staring at nothingness with his small beady eyes. I waited for the figures in the hallway to step into my view. The minute they did, I noticed a regular guard walking behind a woman. I squinted my gaze to look at the woman through the faint light touching the deep darkness of the hallway. As the pair came closer, I noticed familiar fiery red waves of hair. I gasped as the woman neared. Her green eyes met mine and she froze. Pain, fear and guilt marred her face and her lips parted as she gasped breathily. She slowly walked near my cell. The guard did not move to stop her. I assumed that they'd checked her for any weapons before bringing her here. The woman in front of me collapsed on her knees on the floor and her shaky hands covered her mouth.

"Princess? Is that you?" she asked and her voice broke at the last word. I could see tears welling up in her eyes. I was too shocked to speak. She was the last person I had ever expected to see here.

"Mira?" I asked, just to be sure. She nodded violently and her tears fell. I reached toward her face through the bars and slowly wiped her tears away. She continued sobbing noiselessly.

"I-I didn't think they would d-do this t-to you," she wailed.

"Sh, Miranda," I whispered. "Just tell me why you did this. I'm sure you had a reason."

Miranda looked at me again. Her gaze travelled over my nightgown which was just rags now. It once was blue but now it was waxy red because of my blood. Another sob broke through her mouth.

"I swear I didn't know they would do this to you," she said, guilt glistening in her eyes.

"But why, Mira? I've known you for years! Why would you do this to me? To Satian?" I asked.

"Because King Shakle has my father," she mumbled. I froze.

"What?"

"I'll tell you what happened," she sighed and rested her head on the bars of my cell.

 "My father worked for King Mydar as a spy. He had been stationed in Kythia. Somehow, he managed to get into the innermost trusted circle that the King of Kythia has. He became the commander of his guard. Somehow, someone ratted him out and King Shackle was furious. He threw my father into prison. I haven't seen him for almost ten years now. But after I found out what had happened, I took it upon myself to free my father. So, I wrote a letter to King Shackle, asking for something that I could do for him to free my father. King Shackle wanted to play an eye for an eye and so, he asked me to spy on the royal family since he knew I was your handmaiden. He told me that he would only free my father if I gave him a vital piece of information which he should deem important. If he felt it was, he would free my father and not come after our family again."

I was silent. I couldn't even be mad at her, not that I ever was. I was right. She did have a reason for betraying me. And somehow, in her twisted way, it was right. But it depends. Some people pick blood over the country while the others pick country before blood.