Hey!
This is more of a filler chapter, building up on what will happen later. Not as much action as they are not really in the thick of it yet. But in the next chapter, you can expect a lot more blood, a lot more manipulation and a whole lot more tears.
Kai paced, wearing a ragged path in the now threadbare carpet. Cinder, Cinder, Cinder, his brain chanted on repeat. Wolf stood, no, bounced in place, his fist clenched and unclenching as if envisioning an imaginary opponent, Reece, to pummel. Kai couldn't blame him. He would do anything... even murder Reece to get his mechanic back. Cress tugged at her hair and brought the strands to her lips, nibbling, staring at the ever-changing netscreens in front of her. A small flashing detail caught the thaumaturge's attention and Cress nearly pounced on the screen. Her nimble fingers swiped across the surface, her forehead furrowed in concentration. She scanned the document and raised an eyebrow at the screen. Cress spoke the first words in what seemed like forever.
"You have questionable taste in women," she said finally. Kai paused and stared at her. What was she talking about? How could liking Cinder be questionable?
"What do you mean?" he asked, a touch too defensive. Cress kept her gaze on the netscreens, but her shoulders slumped a bit.
"I know it seems a bit inappropriate, especially at this time, but..." She paused, thought it over and tried again. "Is Tandoori your girlfriend?" she inquired hesitantly. Kai's eyes widened and seeing his expression, she plowed forward. "I mean, not like it is any of my business," Cress stammered, "but I would like to know anyway."
Kai folded his arms. "Why? As you said, it was none of your business anyway. My personal matters are nothing to you. " He felt the piercing gazes of the others in the room prickle his back. Their curiosity seeped into the atmosphere and though Wolf and Thaumaturge Aleksander looked away when Kai glanced at them, he knew the tomb stillness of the room made it easy for the others to listen in. His jaw tightened and Kai forced the word out of his mouth. "No," he said abruptly. There was a collective sigh and Kai looked around. "What?"
There was even a thinly disguised smile on Cress' face when he turned around. "It is nothing you have to worry about, Your Majesty," she said softly. "It was just to clarify some things, that's all."
The doors burst opened and Sage and Aiden came crashing in and the atmosphere dipped into fear and dread. "Confirmed," Sage gasped, his breaths coming fast and uneven. "The New Beijing spaceport reported a stolen Commonwealth spaceliner cruise ship. The Frisee." The room immediately exploded with activity.
"Aiden," Cress commanded, "check for active tracking devices in the liner. We will need to know their exact position." Her fingers flew across the screens as Aiden saluted and fled the room. Cress spoke without sparing them a glance. "Aleksander, get your team to investigate the takeoff time for the liner and the last registered person to fly it. I doubt Reece would have signed out, but there should be surveillance." The thaumaturge nodded and left. A comm pinged loudly and Cress grappled for the portscreen at her wrist, cursing. "Make it quick," she said, snapping into the microphone.
A cool voice filled the speakers. "What is this I'm hearing about Lady Ginger being kidnapped? And poison? Because I'm hoping that I'm hearing wrong." Cress rubbed her temple, something so Cinder-like that Kai stared.
"I don't have time for this Jacin," she growled.
"Winter is out of her mind in worry," Jacin retorted, "You do have time to reassure the princess of Luna, don't you? She called an emergency world leader's meeting. It is in fifteen minutes. Cinder has to be at the meeting or chaos ensues."
"Reece abducted her," Cress roared into the portscreen. "The world leader's meeting it nothing if Cinder gets hurt. Again." She glared at Kai and he looked away, his face contorting into a pained grimace.
"Reece," Jacin deadpanned, "Of course."
"This isn't a joke, Jacin."
"Oh, don't you worry. I'm taking this bloody seriously, alright."
"I'll represent Her Majesty for the meeting," Torin interrupted. Cress stared at him, the portscreen almost slipping out of her fingers. Sage raised an eyebrow.
"You?" She asked in disbelief. "You are to represent her?"
He shrugged, his face as uncomfortable as Kai had ever seen him. "It is the best course of action, don't you think? I have enough sway to convince the council that Queen Selene is well and in good health and I assume you are all are quite busy." Torin glanced pointedly at Cress. She nodded, in a daze.
"Of course." She spoke into the mic. "See Jacin? You heard the man. Now go and leave us in peace. There is nothing you can do except try to locate Reece. You have the archives at your fingertips. Search for Reece Blackcrest's records and his tracker." A pause. "He should have one, right?"
Jacin snorted. "What kind of question is that? Everyone has one." He clicked off without a goodbye.
"Why do I have a bad feeling about this?" Cress muttered under her breath. "Okay," she said louder for her peer's benefit. "Sage, can you and the crew ready the spacefighter? And Kai, we need you to stay with Master Torin to placate the council."
He heard a growling sound and realized it came from deep in his throat. "No," he said, his tone low and final. "There will be no discussion on this topic. I am going. Nothing is going to keep me from her."
"I cannot allow you to do that," Torin said sharply. "Thaumaturge Reece is out of his mind. You will not be safe!" Kai ignored him and reached for the coat he had laid on the couch. Knowing that this was not enough to convince the stubborn ruler, Torin played his trump card. But Kai was ready for him and did not care for the consequences. Cinder was worth everything. "Your majesty," Torin pleaded, "Think of your country. It is your responsibility. How will we continue without you?"
The others quietly exited, knowing that it was not their fight nor decision to make. Cress mouthed, 'airstrip', at Kai and he nodded. Kai looked out at the window at the grey clouds of a New Beijing winter, guilt twisting his guts into a knot. His gaze went unfocused. But Cinder... Kai shook his head. "You have always been a better ruler, Torin. I was a mere figurehead."
Torin drew away, shock splashed across his face. His advisor quickly schooled his expression into a bland, stoic mask. "Your Majesty," he started gently. Kai looked away. He could hear the condescension in Torin's voice. "Behave logically. You are throwing away your life for a girl."
"It matters not to me," Kai said abruptly, "Cinder is worth everything." He looked back at Torin. Intelligent, wizened Torin who had been with him for so long. Kai could see the pity on his face. He hated it.
"But," Torin said, "after all you have done, would Her Majesty do the same for you if your positions were reversed?" Kai stilled and took a deep shuddering breath.
"It doesn't matter," he whispered. "I would still do it. Over and over. Again and again, with no regrets." Kai shook his head. "I will never regret the time that we spent together, short but bittersweet. It was never the right time for us," His voice caught. "But I hope someday, maybe someday it will be and that time..." he trailed off, "I look forward to that future, whenever it comes because she is worth waiting for."
Torin's voice snapped out like a whip. "Your father would never have done this."
Kai's fist clenched. How dare Torin bring him into the conversation! But he only spared Torin a lingering livid glare. That was a low blow and Torin knew it, if the immediate remorse in his face was any indication. Kai's voice was surprisingly hard and calm as he replied. "I am not my father. I will never be," he paused, shrugging, "And I am perfectly fine with that." And that was the truth in its purest form. He had spent so long under his father's shadow. Kai would never be as grim and responsible as his father, but for the first time, he realized that instead of feeling like he would never live up to those expectations, he didn't have to. Kai was not him. He would never be and he certainly didn't need to.
He strode to the door, but not before he heard Torin mutter under his breath. "Then more fool you."
Kai entered the dock to see Cress on the floor clutching her portscreen in a white knuckled grip and the others crowded around her.
"I'm waiting," came a drawl from the screen. Kai froze, his thoughts racing ahead of him. Reece. That was Reece. He had Cinder. Stars, he was going to kill him. If she was hurt... Kai fisted his hands and took careful, controlled steps toward the group. Cress looked up at his arrival and beckoned, a panicked gesture of her hand.
"So the emperor arrivals," Reece said a mocking tone. Kai neared the portscreen to behold the thaumaturge's gloating smile. He believed he had already won.
"Where is she?" Kai barely recognized the growl that emitted from his throat. Cinder had to be fine. She had to be. He didn't know what he would do if she wasn't. Kai didn't even want to think about it. Damn the consequences. He'll rip Reece apart with his bare hands. "What did you do with her?" Reece began to laugh, maniacal, feral amusement shining through. It ran a cold finger of dread down Kai's spine before he straightened, fury boiling through his veins. Beside him, Wolf's lips pulled up from his teeth.
"I did with her what I had to," Reece purred. Kai wondered if Reece kept the answer intentionally vague just to provoke a reaction. He cast his golden gaze at Wolf. "You were so very lucky Cinder was there to save your precious child. She's a hellion. Just as wild and uncivilized as her mother and father."
Cress leapt to her feet and at his side, Wolf bared his teeth and lunged for the portscreen. Sage and Aleksander held the Wolves Guard back, their arms straining. Sage whispered something into Wolf's ear and he shook his head violently. Sage tugged again and Wolf scowled, but nodded, relaxing. "What did you say?" Cress asked, her voice like the calm before a storm.
Reece dipped his head down and smiled, changing the subject. "Cinder sings beautifully, did you know? She's my own personal songbird. Would you like to hear?" Cress narrowed her eyes, but Reece didn't wait for an answer. He reached for a button near the screen. There was a pause, then, screams rent the speakers, a story of utter agony and torture. It was Cinder's. Kai's heart stopped. No. No. NO! Cress nearly dropped the portscreen in her horror and Wolf paled to a sickly white. Sage covered his face and moaned. Kai shoved Cress away from the screen.
"Where. Is. She?!" Kai exploded. Reece merely smirked. Kai hated that stupidly handsome face. He loathed Reece with his weird gold eyes and obvious arrogance. He lifted the portscreen making to smash it onto the concrete when multiple hands wrapped around his arm and the portscreen.
Wolf's harsh voice snapped into his ear, "Don't you dare, Kaito. If you break our only connection to Reece and Ginger, I will kill you myself." Meanwhile, the screams continued on reaching a crescendo. Intervals of what sounded like Ginger's sobs mingled in the chorus, then the scream abruptly cut off. A choked sob.
"Please," came the pained whisper, then the audio stopped. Kai sagged between Sage and Wolf. The world blurred around him and Kai felt a strange wetness on his cheeks. He reached up with a trembling hand to touch his face. The wetness spread to his fingers and he stared at it. Tears. The memory of Cinder's screams echoed in his head.
"That was her punishment," Reece said calmly. "Don't worry. I didn't touch her in the least. I hope you come soon. Cinder and Ginger are both waiting eagerly for your arrival," he said. "I expect to see you soon. Especially you, little emperor." He winked and the screen went blank. Kai whirled around and slammed his fist into the wall. The burst of pain made him strangely clear minded. His breath came in short gasps. What had Reece done to her?
Cress touched his arm. "We have to board," she said. Kai looked at her. She was a mess. All dark circled and mussed hair. "We will save Cinder and Ginger. And Reece will pay. I promise you that." Kai nodded, Cinder's screams still reverberating in his skull. He briefly entertained fantasies of Reece being tortured in a variety of different ways. Kai was slightly cheered by the thought. He allowed himself to be led to the spacefighter. Kai walked with numbed feet to a porthole and took a seat. He prayed to the stars, to the gods, to any deity out there. Please. Let Cinder be safe. I would trade anything for her safety, even my own life. Just please. Kai closed his eyes and let the tears fall. He would cry enough for both of them. Hold on, Cinder. I'm coming for you. Wait for me.
Thanks for all your support and reviews guys. I really appreciate feedback.
Till the next chapter.
-Silverleaf