Scarlet Queen

Chapter 9- Scarlet's POV

Everyone was staring at me- or, more specifically, my face. I had kept my scar hidden for so long. The pain had long since faded away, but now that it was revealed, every molecule of light that touched it seemed to set it on fire. The whole crew was staring at my face, gasping, whispering. But that wasn't what triggered it. What triggered it was Lucas, staring at my face, at me, and saying the word I never wanted to hear again.

"Ruby?"

I sank to the floor, overwhelmed by memories. I saw everything that had haunted me for the past year- the escape, the guards, the fight, the blade, the bomb, the scream...

"RUUUBYYYY!"

I couldn't take it. Lucas was staring at me with astonishment, then he leaped up from his chair and started towards me. I stood up on shaking legs, grabbed my cloak and hood, and bolted from the room, ignoring the people calling to me. I rammed my shoulder against the door so hard, it broke halfway off of the frame. I ran, my eyes and mind blurring, not knowing where I was going. I wished that I could run to the moon. I just wanted to be alone, in a place where no one could question or see my face.

When I could see again, I realized that I had instinctively climbed into the crow's nest. I pulled on my hood and scarf, taking relief in the soft fabric that hid my face. I curled up into a ball, pulling my cloak tightly around myself. I couldn't stop shivering, and not from the cold.

I heard a creak, and I looked up, expecting that Slinger had come to find me. But it wasn't him. It was Lucas. We stared at each other for a few seconds, then suddenly, he was hugging me. I felt him shaking, and realized he was crying.

"Ruby. Ruby, you're alive!" He looked at me with joy. "I thought you were dead. But you're not. You're alive!" He squeezed me even tighter. Barely above a whisper, he murmured, "My sister is alive."

"Hold on." I pulled back and held him at arm length. "Why did you think I was dead? Yeah, I'm happy to see you too, but still! You never found a body! Rule number one in a murder mystery- unless there's a body, the person may still be alive!"

He gave a rueful laugh, then sighed. "Father said that you had tried to escape. He said that they found blood in the woods, and the mark of the Sky Pirates carved into a tree nearby. They said they could only assume you had been either captured or killed by the Sky Pirates."

I snarl, making Lucas flinch. "The king is a dirty liar. Yes, I tried to escape, but my blood wasn't shed by the Sky Pirates. And he knew that I wasn't dead!" Lucas tilts his head, and I can tell that he's confused. I sigh.

"Is it possible for you to start at the beginning?" He asks, his eyes shining. It's only then that I realize how long I've been gone. He wants to know everything that happened to me this past year. I take a deep breath and begin.

"I never liked it in the palace. The king always wanted me to act like a proper princess, but you know that I never rolled that way." He nodded, smiling. I hesitate before starting again. "....Mother was the only one who made me enjoy life in the palace. After she... passed on... from the airstrike, I couldn't stay in the palace. So, I tried to escape. But... the king and his guards intercepted me."

I felt like I was drowning in memories- Father and his guards catching me, him trying to convince me to stay, me arguing back. Lucas gripped my hand tightly, bringing me back to present day. "If the Sky Pirates weren't the ones who hurt you... then who did?"

I'd been dreading this part. "When I was caught, the king tried to talk me out of leaving. Naturally, I argued against staying. I didn't want anything to do with the palace life. Except you," I said quickly, seeing the hurt look on his face. "If I could've, I would've asked you to come with me. But there wasn't time. We went back and forth, and then it started to get dirty. We were insulting each other, yelling, and then, he snapped."

"He drew his sword and..." I pull off my hood and scarf, unconsciously tracing my scar. Lucas' grip on my hand is so tight, I can't feel my fingers, but I'm grateful for it.

"I ran into the woods and hid for a month or so. I didn't have the proper means to care for my face, so it healed like this. Eventually, the Sky Pirates found me, and I joined them. Slinger is the only one I told my story to, so he knew how much I hated the king. He knew I wanted revenge. He mentioned that a special Sky Pirate was destined to kill the king, so I worked hard to become First Mate. When I finally had the chance to kill him, and I failed... I never wanted to bring you into this," I say, my words tumbling out. I look at Lucas, his face a mask of shock. I should regret telling him this, admitting what a horrible person I've become, but... I don't regret it. I don't regret anything.

Lucas finally lets go of my hand, and I slowly massage the feeling back into them. "If you could... if you get a chance to kill Father again, will you do it?" He asks, his voice low.

I answer immediately. "Of course! Lucas, I really care about you, and being my twin, I know you pretty darn well! I know that you still care about Father, and you always will, no matter what he does. But even knowing that you care won't change my mind. I'm going to kill Father, one way or another. Then, we'll finally be free."

Lucas stares at me. "He's not all bad! He still cares about me, and I'm sure he cares about you, too! He misses Mother just as much as we do, and he wants everyone to be happy!"

I growl in frustration and anger. "Those first parts may be true, but that last part isn't. He couldn't care less about the people beyond the Capitol Village! And if he still cares about me, any love I may have still had for him was severed the second he severed my face! No matter what you say, I'm going to kill him!"

Lucas is taken aback. "What do you mean, he couldn't care less?"

I stand up, grabbing my hood. I leave the scarf on the floor of the crow's nest, because I'm done. I'm tired of hiding my face. I am going to show the world, especially the king, that I am not afraid to show who I am.

I lean over the edge of the nest and yell, "Captain? Can we set course to Village Everfall? There's a lesson that needs to be taught!"

Slinger gives me a thumbs-up, then turns to our pilot and shouts an order. I jump down, grabbing on to the rope that raises the sails. I feel the wood move under my feet, and I brace myself as the Airhaven turns west. I hear a thunk on the wood behind me, and I see Lucas sitting on the deck, holding on to the mast with a white-knuckled grip.

"Uh, Ruby?" he called, his voice shaky. I flash what Peg calls my 'basilisk glare' at him, and he cowers. "My name is Scarlet," I say ferociously. He looks hurt, then says, "Fine. Scarlet, where are we going? And why?"

I grab his wrist and pull him up. "We're going to Village Everfall. You need to see the king's true personality." I turn and face the horizon. I hear Lucas sigh, then feel him wrap his arms around me. I turn and return his embrace, sinking into his familiar warmth. I hear him murmur, "Even if you do want to kill Father... I'm glad to be with you again."

I flinch. Lucas didn't deserve to be a part of this. I grab him even tighter, silently promising myself, I will make sure he doesn't get hurt. He is all I have left of my family. He will stay safe. I swear it.