Scarlet Queen

Chapter 6- Lucas' POV

I banged my head against the wall of my cell. It hurt, but not nearly as much as the empty pain inside of me. I had woken up in this cell. The people who had kidnapped me hadn't told me anything, no matter how many unflattering names I called them. I desperately wanted to know if Father was still alive. I wanted to know where they were taking me. I could feel the floor under me rocking, like I was on a ship. I wanted to know where I was! There weren't any windows in this cell, just a small barred window in the door and a slot under the door where they slid my food in.

At my thought of food, my stomach rumbled. I hadn't eaten anything. According to tradition, eating was considered a way of accepting the fact that you were a guest -or prisoner- of someone's household. I never wanted to accept that. So I hadn't eaten anything, no matter how good the food looked. It could have been poison, for all I know.

A knock on the door got my attention. I pulled my head away from the wall and yelled, "Come on in, for all I care. It's not like this is my place. Why are you even knocking?"

The door creaked open, and someone stepped in. "Tryin' to be polite. Sheesh." I gave a little squeak of fear. It was the hooded assassin. The one who tried to kill Father. "YOU!" I screeched, sounding very undignified but not caring. "You tried to kill my father! Or did you actually kill him?"

The assassin gave a cough. "If I had actually killed him, you wouldn't even be here," They said, sounding like they were holding back a lot of anger. I frowned. "Why would I not be here?" I asked, my curiosity growing. "Well, for one thing, we wouldn't need you," they said, sounding a bit impatient. I thought about that, then I took a deep breath and blurted out everything I wanted to know.

"Where am I? What are you going to do with me? Are you taking me somewhere? Why did you come to see me, of all people? When can I go free? Are you planning to attack Father again? Who are you?"

"Whoa, whoa, calm down, I'll tell you everything!" They said, looking taken aback. "Except who I am. You cannot know who I am." I sat down on the bed in the corner. The assassin sat down in the chair on the opposite side of the room. They took a deep breath, then said, "You're on the Airhaven, the ship of the Sky Pirates. As to where we're taking you, I have no idea. Captain Slinger steers the ship wherever he pleases." They then look at me, studying me. "The king is still alive, by the way. Stupid guards would die for him," they grunt, sounding incredibly displeased.

I'm shocked. "Of course they would die for him. Why would you want him dead in the first place?" I ask incredulously. "Because he's a tyrant who cares about nothing but himself!" They snarl. "That's not true! He cares about me and the kingdom and my si-" I break off, my voice catching on a knot of pain. "Your what?" They said, their tone softening. I fight back the tears threatening to spill over. "I... can't say. It hurts too much..." I murmur, lowering my gaze. They gaze at me some more, then turn to walk out of the cell.

My voice surprises me. "Wait," I say, and they stop. "Can... is it possible to have... a tour... of the ship? I'm tired of staying in this cell... I know I probably sound really whiny right now, but is that possible?"

I can't tell behind the scarf and hood, but I'm certain that the assassin is smiling. "I'll see what I can do." They then turn and walk out of the cell.

I don't know why, but seeing that assassin made me feel better. For the first time in a while, I start to feel hope. Even if I am in the clutches of the dreaded Sky Pirates, I at least know that Father is still alive.