Echoed Lullabies (Lunar Chronicles x Reader)

Chapter 50

The can opener bit into the metal, releasing a tiny spurt of juice. I twisted the knob until the lid detached from the sides. The sweet smell of pears filled the galley.

Just as I was dumping the fruit into a metal bowl, Wolf appeared in the doorway. His eyes were empty.

"Hello."

"Hello," he echoed. His gaze flicked to the fruit in my hand.

I held up the bowl. "Want any?"

He shook his head. "No thank you." He crossed to a cupboard and pulled out a can of tomatoes, slicing the lid off in one go.

His movements were slow, but not the gentle slow that I'd seen in Wolf before.

He was moving like a corpse.

He plucked a tomato from the can and placed it on his tongue.

"Are you doing okay?" I asked.

"I'll be okay once we get to Luna," he murmured around the mouthful.

Footsteps from the hall caused both our heads to turn.

A moment later, a disheveled young emperor peered into the doorway.

I bolted to my feet. "Your Majesty."

He blinked. "Hi. Um...I was sent here to grab Wolf..."—he pointed at the lunar operative across from me—"and Commander L/n. Do you know where he might be?"

I stared at him. "'He,' Your Majesty?"

"Yes. He was taken hostage on this ship? I assume you've heard of him?"

My fingers twitched. "I'm Commander L/n, Your Majesty."

"You...oh." His eyes went wide. "Oh." His ears grew red. "I am...so sorry. Uh..." He faltered.

I couldn't help but smirk a little at the emperor's flustered state. "Was there a reason you were looking for us, Your Majesty?"

He seemed relieved at the change of subject. "Yes. There's something on the news that Cinder believes you need to see."

My gaze hardened and I sped past the young emperor, the pears forgotten on the counter.

What did Cinder seem so important we see? Did Levana retaliate? Did she attack the Commonwealth, or even tha palace? Whatever it was, it couldn't have been good.

I breezed into the cockpit, seeking out the netscreen immediately.

SMALL TOWN OF FARAFRAH MASSACRED BY LUNAR FORCE

His Majesty and Wolf tumbled in after me.

Cinder was pale as a sheet. Thorne and Cress were leaning together against the wall. Cress had a portscreen clutched in her hand.

I grit my teeth as I digested the news. A swarm of Lunar soldiers attacked the oasis town not two hours ago, before disappearing into the desert as fast as they'd come. They murdered both the civilians and the Commonwealth soldiers who had been sent to question them.

Pictures flashed across the scene.

Blood. So much blood.

"They're all dead," Cinder whispered. "Because of me."

The emperor was immediately at her side. He settled a hand on her back. "You didn't kill them."

"I might as well have."

"Did they know the risk they were taking when they helped you? The danger they'd be in?"

She turned her head away from him.

"Maybe they did it because they believed in you. Because they thought the risk was worth it."

Cress whimpered at something on her port.

"What is it?" Cinder asked.

Cress shook her head, wild-eyed. "It isn't just Farafrah. Their ships are swarming Earth, every continent. Thousands of soldiers are invading the cities. Her other soldiers." She shuddered. "They're like animals, like predators."

"What is Earth doing?" the emperor asked. "Are we defending ourselves?"

"They're trying. All six countries have declared a state of war. Evacuations are being ordered, military is assembling—"

"All six?"

Cress pushed her hair off her brow. "Konn Torin has temporarily assumed the role of leader of the Commonwealth ... until your return."

A heavy silence pressed down on the room.

"I think it's about time you told me about this plan," said the emperor.

I curled my hands into tight fists. The possibility of our success had seemed so faint that I'd hardly considered what would come next. I'd hoped we would have some time, at least a day or two, but I saw now that there would be no such respite.

War had begun.

"You said yourself that the people of Luna need a revolutionary." Cinder lifted her chin, holding his gaze. "So I'm going to Luna, and I'm going to start a revolution."