The Lunar Queen [ON HOLD]

The Dance

Chapter 12

Cinder POV

I took Thorne's extended hand and found my footing on the next step. Kai waited at the bottom of the ballroom staircase.

Trumpets blew from speakers in the walls and a female voice announced
"Personal guest of His Majesty Emperor Kaito, Queen Selene of Luna."

The sounds brought fleeting memories of my first ball when I was still only little Linh Cinder, a cyborg hiding her true colors. For a moment I was in a fantasy world where everything terrible that happened at that ball disappeared.

I forced myself to stay focused.

My shoes clicked on the floor and Thorne stepped away from me while I made my way forward. Kai came to greet me in the middle of the floor. He lifted my fingers up and bowed his head down to meet them.
"Your Majesty, we are grateful for your attendance."

I smile "It's an honor."

Music began to play and couples joined up to move about the floor.

"May I have this dance?" Kai requested.

I hesitate for a moment and manage to form words, "I don't dance."

Kai's eyes soften, "I can lead you, just as I did before."

"It's not that. I can dance, I simply choose not to." He nods in understanding. "Perhaps later."

Kai's eyes light up slightly. "Yes, later."

I notice something strange in the way he is speaking. His answer was too short and strained. The answer to my doubt comes when a tingling spikes at the base of my skull like a tiny threat.
The tingling grows to a burn that slithers down my spine. I'm not sure what's happening to me, but Wolf notices. Wolf growls which frightens the Earthens into silence. I search the room for the source of the bioelectricity. Whoever is using it is smart enough to indirectly aim at me. This makes it very difficult to focus on a specific spot.

"Your majesty, what's wrong?" Kai whispers fearfully.

"Someone's trying to use their lunar powers on me." I answer. Kai (wisely) steps back from me.

Wolf is creeping around sniffing out his prey. His nose twitches which can only mean he found something different.

The creases in my hands begin to sweat from the effort used to block the lunar force. The burning in my spine morphs into pain causing me to clench my fists and hold back a cry of pain. I will not let this person have the satisfaction of knowing they're succeeding. My determination fizzles out. The pain is spreading far too close to my heart, a dangerous area for me.

"Earthens," I announce shakily, "The air pressure is going to spike in a few seconds. Put your hands over your ears and don't listen."

Everyone instantly did so. I must have manipulated them, but it was for their own safety. Kai inched back, looking at me with an odd aura of peace.

"Kai, you're being controlled." I say. His eyes move up and down in a feeble attempt at a nod. "Relax. Relax your brain, relax your hands." I continue, listing off a body part each time, slowly taking control of him myself. I mentally built a shield around him to block all outside force but mine. Soon I felt Kai's kind warmth wash over my spine. The bioelectric waves that were manipulating him hung in the air. I mentally and physically grabbed for them. I was surprised when my hand actually made contact with something. My hand burned red.

I tugged on the wave and attached it to myself. "Stand up, walk towards me." A figure in a dark green cloak sauntered out into the open light. He stopped a few feet in front of me. "Turn around."
I took notice of the lunar agency's insignia on the back of his left shoulder.