The Prison of Luna

Cinder

CINDER scratched at her nub of a wrist, waiting for Winter. It was a bit odd having no metal there, maybe even a little comforting, but she still knew of her control panel, her silicon heart, and every single wire coursing through her.

Cinder felt her heart rise to her throat as Winter and Jacin arrived back from their perimeter check. Both stick straight, objects of royalty.

Cinder wondered if she could ever do that.

"Levana is oblivious, I assume, but I know she'll have suspected this." Winter clasped her hands in front of her.

"So, all your friends are kissing, I'm sure you would like to join them?" Jacin didn't smile, nor did a teasingly humorous light spark behind his grey eyes. What he said wasn't even a question really, just a statement.

Cinder glared at him.

Winter smiled.

Cinder thought it a miracle she could put up with him.

"Emperor Kaito will be with Levana, as they have been..." Winter didn't bother to finish, but Cinder knew what she intended to say.

Married.

A shudder rippled down Cinder's spine. Not just fear for him, but fear for the entire planet Earth.

That was the whole point of this mission, and they had failed.

"I'm afraid," Jacin broke in. "That we cannot take you directly to him, as you would slow us down with your..." He cast an outstretched hand to her. "Situation. And your cyborg parts were immediately destroyed." Cinder nodded.

"But, we will take him to you." Winter suddenly looked incredibly sad, her gaze filled with sympathy. "He may be the worst broken of them all."

"And, it will be difficult to reach him, even with Levana on a diplomatic mission to the Eastern Commonwealth to meet her new country," Jacin took no sympathy to his speech and held nothing back, and for once, Cinder was thankful for it. "His 'bedroom' is under 655 hour surveillance."

"Has she..." Cinder trailed off, trying to find her words. "Has she done anything to him?"

"In the matter of an heir?" Winter asked, as if the subject were a completely normal and nonchalant thing to discuss. "That we know for certain she has not done. With my father, she could not produce a child, so I assume she is frightened of the consequences with Emperor Kaito."

Cider snorted. "When has Levana ever been frightened?"

"She's frightened of you, Cinder," Winter said.

Cinder pursed her lips.

"We must be off," Jacin interrupted, and grabbed Winter's elbow, pulling her along with him. "If we are not back within the perimeters of four hours you must escape without us." They disappeared round a corner, leaving Cinder alone with her thoughts.

So Kai was alive.

This, Cinder was increasingly grateful for.

But how broken would he be?

He may be the worst broken of them all.

Cinder wanted to cry, but she knew that would make no difference, do nothing, so a headache pounded in her skull instead.

She splayed her hand over her face, yearning tears to come. Which of course, she knew, was naïve and childish, she had no tear ducts. Still, she had always wished to be able to express her grief, her love.

Like anyone normal could.

And she was nothing if not abnormal.

She chafed her eyes with her fingers, feeling suddenly congested.

"Well, Cress." A voice suddenly came from inside the cell to her right, obnoxiously loud. "I do believe I deserve a visit from our old friend. What was her name? C-Cind, agh! I can't put my finger on it!" Thorne walked out, folding his arms. Cress was at his side, giggling like mad.

"Thorne." Cinder wanted to force on a glare, but she couldn't help but laugh. She didn't realize how much she missed that. "St-stop it. We're escaping from a Lunar prison, try to act the part."

"Oh, believe me I am. I'm playing the part of the handsomest man here." He flashed Cinder a grin. "I think I'm nailing it, yes?" Cinder snorted. "Right..." Thorne nodded as if understanding. "Of course you'd think Kai the most handsome. I guess I can share the spotlight, it's only fair."

Cinder quirked an eyebrow at him. "He is the Emperor of the Eastern Commonwealth."

"And the King of Luna last I heard."

"Carswell!" Cress slapped his forearm.

"What? It's true."

"But can't you see that it's a touchy subject?"

"Psh. You're a touchy subject," Thorne mumbled.

"That was uncalled for."

"Your face is uncalled for."

"How dare you-"

"You guys," Cinder interrupted. "I've kind of got a headache, so, can we just simmer down... a bit?"

Cress nodded, perhaps too forcefully. "Of course Cinder." She shot Thorne a glare before walking back into the cell.

"What?" Thorne raised his arms in exasperation. "How was I supposed to know she had a headache..." His words died out as he disappeared, following Cress.

Scarlet and Wolf must have still been in the cell a little ways away from Cinder.

She could only imagine what they were doing.

Cinder waited.