Spades and Aces A Lunar Chronicles Continuation

Twenty Four

As Cinder head back to the palace, her mind set wasn't the same. Even though she was there, she wasn't there. All she could think about was how Adri had somehow undermined her. Her! She had given her money, and a better life. She didn't arrest Adri for treating her inhumanly when she could've. And this is how she gets repaid, with heartbreak, torture, and fear.

With her head in space, she didn't even feel Jacin's arm around her shoulders trying to give her an embrace. When she noticed his arm, she shifted and he let his arm fall. She didn't want his arm around her, she wanted Kai's. She knew what she had to do, she knew she was going to get Kai back one way or another.

When she arrived back at the palace, she saw Torin waiting with worry on his face. When he only saw Cinder emerge, his face fell even more. Cinder made her way to the palace, with the support of all of her friends. "We were too late Torin." He nodded slowly. "I want to set up a press conference immediately."

He looks up at her and his eyes are full of shock. "Why would you like to do that Your Majesty?"

"The country needs to know what happened. And I need to tell them that I will be leaving the Commonwealth."

"Leave the Commonwealth?" He asked incredulously. "Why would you do that?"

"I need to find Kai. I'm taking the Rampion and I'm going to go after them."

"Well you're not going alone." Thorne said behind her. "We're all coming with you." Cinder nodded and mouthed 'thank you' to all of her friends. Then with a surge of determination coursing through her, she made her way into the palace.

***
Kai awoke in a dark room, he couldn't see anything and his head was hurting a lot. He brought his hand up to his head and noticed a huge bump on his forehead. That's when everything began to click. Clark the liar, Adri the kidnapper, Cinder. Oh stars Cinder!

Suddenly a light came on and Adri appeared on a screen. Anger coursed through Kai's body and he wanted to get up and punch her but he was so disoriented he probably couldn't. "Hello my dear emperor," she said mockingly. "Now that I have you, your precious little Cinder is having a press meeting. Let's see what nonsense she's going to say today."

The screen switched from Adri's face to Cinder on a podium readying herself for a press conference. "Hello people of the Commonwealth, as you know we got inside information about the whereabouts of Emperor Kaito. We rushed to the scene of where he was going to take off but unfortunately we were too late." She hung her head and Kai's heart was broken into pieces. She looked so disappointed in herself.

"It's not your fault." He whispers into the darkness.

"However he is in danger and I cannot leave him out there. So I am leaving the Commonwealth to find Emperor Kaito and to bring him back to his home. In my absence Konn Torin will be watching the Commonwealth. He will be your leader until I return with Kaito. Thank you I will not be taking questions."

Despite of what she said a reporter barked out a question "Who took Emperor Kaito!"

Cinder turned around and went back to the podium. "Linh Adri of the Eastern Commonwealth."

A wave of shocked gasps coursed through the room. "Your guardian?" "How dare she?" "You helped her after you became Queen of Luna!" Everyone shouted.

Cinder left the podium with her head hanging low until all of the Rampion crew had their arms around her, supporting her as she left the stage. Kai's heart was broken by how distraught Cinder was. He had never seen her like this, and he didn't like it at all.

The screen switched and it was Adri again. "What feeble words from a feeble girl." She said mockingly. "No matter, she just put everyone in danger coming after you. I want her dead and I plan to make that wish come true."

The screen went black and Kai was back in the dark room. He began to worry. Adri wants her dead. Not Cinder! He couldn't lose Cinder! Cinder was smarter than Adri, there's no way Adri could kill her...Right? Right? He suddenly began to cry. He couldn't stop. He understood Adri's plan. Take him, draw Cinder out into the open, and attack. He was going to be the reason why Cinder would be dead. 

"Cinder" he screamed in the dark room. "Please don't come!" He lowered his head and whispered, "I can't lose you again."