Ghosts In The Snow | Vampire!Kylo Ren x Reader

III.

"Get up."

Your eyes burned as you pried them open, waking to find the Commander standing over you, the door to your cell now open behind him. Nestled between his fingers was the fallen key, its shining silver now a brilliant gold in the candlelight.

"What?" you croaked, your head still foggy with sleep.

"I said, get up," he said, enunciating the last letter of each word as he stepped closer.

Finally tearing your eyes away from the open door, you propped yourself up, discovering that the cuffs on your wrists were gone. The thought of him touching you while you were asleep—even if it were only to take the restraints off—made your skin crawl. A glance at your clothes reassured you that only the restraints had been meddled with.

Obeying his command, you staggered to your feet, backing away as much as you could manage. Your eyes darted between him and the cuffs. Was this another one of his tricks? For all you knew, he had freed you just to lock you in a pillory, leaving you for all of Hosnian Prime to watch as you rotted away.

"I come bearing good news," he said flatly.

"What 'news?'" you asked, matching his enthusiasm.

"Don't sound so upset. It comes from your General."

The scowl twisting your face dropped. "What is it? What did she say?"

"Perhaps if you would let me finish, I would tell you," he sneered. "Shortly after your failed incursion on our camp, the First Order generously presented her with terms of peace. In a rare moment of sensibility, she has agreed."

You swallowed the lump forming in your throat. The flame of hope in your heart shuddered, shaken by the Commander's words, but you couldn't let it die. The Leia you knew wouldn't submit to the First Order so easily—certainly not after one of her officers was captured. There must have been more that the Commander was withholding from you.

"And what exactly are the terms of her agreement?" you asked, crossing your arms over your chest.

He was quiet for a long moment, allowing the ambient creaks and groans of the dungeon to bleed into the conversation. Finally, he said, "In return for peaceful relations, the New Republic militia will stand down at once and pledge fealty to the First Order."

Oh.

He continued, "Leia will control–"

"General," you hissed. "You have no right to address her by her name."

The Commander let out a quiet scoff. "Don't I?"

Your eyes narrowed. Insufferable bastard.

"As I was saying, in exchange for this peace, she will oversee the land north of Republic City. I trust her experience from collecting donations for the Resistance will serve her well in this duty."

You couldn't fathom what he was saying. Leia exchanging her role as general of the Resistance for warden of a First Order territory was completely out of her character. Instead of providing clarity to your questions, this revelation was only creating more.

"That is...wonderful." You had to force the sour words out of your mouth. "Yet, I must confess my confusion."

"Yes?" the Commander asked with mild curiosity.

"Unless I am mistaken, if the New Republic and the First Order have settled their conflict, then there is no further need to have me as your prisoner."

"You'll find that you are mistaken, Lieutenant. The crimes you committed against the First Order occurred before the introduction of this treaty, meaning your actions were indeed treasonous. But you needn't worry." With that, the Commander turned his back to you, swiftly exiting your cell in a few long strides.