Yay! I love this chapter. It turned out so well. Oh well, I'll suspend my opinion (kinda biased) until you guys review.
Cinder's throat was hoarse from screaming. She gazed blankly at the ceiling, all the fight drained from her. Phantom flames danced at the corners of her vision, her own screams echoing in her head, accentuating her already throbbing head. The pain was gone now, but the memory of what she had experienced lingered. Cinder shivered, chills wracking her thin frame. Strange. She would have thought that she would stay warm. She shuddered again, closing her eyes against the conflagration. Reliving her own death among the flames over and over. Her punishment for interfering with what should have been Ginger's penance. Of course, she had deserved it. Cinder should not have meddled in the Master's affairs. She was ashamed of her actions. What would the Master think of her now?
Cinder felt a soft tempered surge of anger for her own mercurial demeanor. She blinked drowsily, squinting and turned onto her side with a sigh. Everything was so muted. Cinder floated on a sea of detachment. Even the bright lights seemed duller, darker. She didn't know why she had been so worried before. Cinder must have acted so stupid in the presence of the Master. Ginger had visited earlier, still crying. She had pleaded Cinder to fight him, whoever him was, but Cinder had no idea was Ginger was talking about. There was no threat. Ginger, acting like the silly child that she was, Cinder supposed. The girl had probably been playing with her.
Master was not pleased with Cinder. Cinder closed her eyes, a weighted pressure building up behind her eyes, bunching up her forehead. She felt like crying every time she pictured Master's angry face. She was so tired.
The door swung open without warning and Cinder sprang out bed, her fatigue momentarily forgotten. She smoothed her hair, the blasted strands that were forever knotted and tangled, and straightened her shift. She felt a burst of shame at the blood congested in the fibres. Cinder should be immaculate whenever presented to the Master. Why hadn't she washed up? Cinder beamed as Master entered the room. This was her opportunity to please the Master. She hurried to his side, her eyes downcast, hiding her expression.
"How can I help you, Master?" she chirped, finally feeling composed enough to peek up at him. Cinder nearly flinched in shock. He looked positively giddy. Well. Better take advantage of his sudden good mood then. Master's luminous gold eyes peered down at her, smiling. A flop of blonde hair tumbled down, obscuring his vision. Cinder perceived a sudden urge to touch it, to tuck it back. She obliged. Her metal hand rose, not of her own volition, to brush the arc of his cheekbone. She neatly pushed the strands away from his face.
The Master caught her hand and pressed it to his cheek. Cinder immediately stilled. He let out a small sigh. "I'm sorry about before," he whispered. "I shouldn't have done what I did. Are you-" he hesitated, "angry?"
Cinder shook her head earnestly. "How can I be angry? I was out of line. I shouldn't have struggled. Forgive me?" she asked, bashfully. Master grinned. It was the most breathtaking thing she had ever had the pleasure of observing. He curved a hand around her waist, pulling her flush against his chest. Cinder's heart thudded an uneven pattern as she fisted her hands into the Master's shirt. This was wrong, so wrong, but her fears melted away as soon as he pushed a kiss onto the top of her head.
"I have a present for you," he said. Cinder perked up and peered up at him curiously. He pulled their intertwined hands from his cheek and reached in his pocket to pull out a small velvet box. Her breath caught in her throat and she coughed, squeezing her eyes shut. Master flipped open the lid and Cinder's lashed fluttered open. Nestled in silk was a ring. She fought the urge to clench her fists. That wouldn't do. This was wrong. It wasn't supposed to be like this. "Do you not like it?" There was a frown in his voice. Cinder was eager to please.
"It's beautiful," she said truthfully. And it was. There was a diamond in the centre, surrounded by different cuts of moonstone, depicting the various cycles of the moon. "But, what is it for?"
Master laughed incredulously. "Surely you know?" He caught at her hand and took the ring from the box. Cinder held her breath. The Master got on one knee and looked up at her. Her lips parted. "Cinder," he said, then took a deep breath, "I know these words are clichéd and have been recited and echoed for all of eternity, but I wouldn't have it any other way because I want to take this step with you, a step millions of other couples have taken. And I hope for a affirmative because I can't think of any other girl to walk this path with. Selene Blackburn, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"
Cinder nodded furiously. She would always obey the Master. Nobody cared about her more than Master. "Of course," she said cheerfully, pulling him up. He stared at her with an odd expression.
"Are you sure?" he asked finally.
Cinder's brow furrowed. "I will always obey the Master." With the stormy frown, he threw her way, Cinder knew that Master hadn't liked that response. "Are you mad?" she inquired in a small voice.
Master's scowl melted away. "Of course not," he said soothingly, "I know you are obedient, but my question wasn't a command. If you had a choice, would you still say yes?" Cinder grinned at him.
"Who else would I marry aside from you, Master? If you are here, I won't need any other." Master smiled as he slipped the ring onto her finger. Cinder admired the way it reflected the light. She threw her arms around the Master. She must the luckiest girl alive to have him for herself. Master let out a rumbling laugh, his only warning before his lips crashed into hers. Cinder didn't give herself time for second thoughts as she laced her arms around his neck and kissed him back.
After a while, Master pulled back and gestured at the bathroom. "Go wash up. Ginger will help you with the wedding dress. A minister is coming to officiate the ceremony... even your friends are coming. I know how much you love your friends. They will act as witnesses." Cinder beamed, twisting the ring on her finger.
"Yes, Master," she responded.
Master gave her a condescending glance and patted her hand. "Good girl."
Cinder waited until the Master closed the door before enclosing herself in the bathroom and shed her bloodstained chemise. She turned on the shower and waited for the water to warm. Cinder caught a glimpse of the wedding dress in its garment bag and winced. It was pink. Pale pink, but still the dreaded cross between red and white. At least it wasn't puffy, Cinder thought, consoling herself. It was strapless with a tight bodice. Chiffon and lace tumbled down to the floor with a small train. Matching jewellery was laid beside it, glistening in the light.
She sighed and stepped into the spray of billowing steam. But that dress had merely been a small request and Cinder hated to disappoint the Master. Cinder worked the fragrant soaps and oils into her hair and repeated the procedure with the rest of her body. When she stepped out, a towel wrapped around her, she found Ginger already waiting.
Ginger stood silently, the unzipped dress pooling around her small frame. She thrust it roughly toward Cinder. She stepped into the dress, the silk sliding soundlessly against her skin. Cinder swallowed, feeling unexplainably sad at that moment. "You have a choice you know," Ginger said, her voice rasping in the small space. "You don't have to do this."
Cinder paused in her wiggling and met the redhead's gaze, her brown eyes fierce. "This is my choice," she said. "And it is not something I take lightly. I know what I'm going into and will face any consequences."
Ginger gripped her hands tightly. "Why won't you fight him?!" she snarled. "How does he have the power to do this to you?" She shook Cinder's limp hand to confirm her point. "Reece is messing with your head. He's controlling you with glamour and you're leading your friends right into his hands. Why can't you see that?"
Cinder ripped her hands out of Ginger's and took a step back. "I don't know what you are talking about," she whispered. Her head hurt.
Her goddaughter shook her head, green eyes pitying. "Then there's nothing I can do. You are too far entranced." She yanked the zipper up and plopped her down on a stool. "Close your eyes," Ginger commanded. Cinder obeyed. Soft brushes swiped at her eyes, cheeks, lips. A comb was dragged down her wet locks, the sound of a hairdryer, the heat of a curler, pinpricks of pain as Ginger tamed her hair into a something more presentable. "You can open your eyes now," she said gruffly. Cinder's eyes fluttered open and Ginger helped her up, fluffing the back of the dress. She led her to the full length mirror and Cinder peeked nervously at the seeing glass.
The dress fit her perfectly, accentuating her non-existent curves and flowing gracefully to the floor. Ginger had pinned up her curled hair to make room for a bird cage veil. Diamonds draped her neck, and wrists, dangling from her ears. She was a doll, a dressed up doll, and she hated it. Cinder stumbled away from the mirror, her sweaty hands slipping on the doorknob. Finally, the door opened and Cinder sucked in breaths of cool air.
Ginger waited for her to get a hold of herself before leading her out of the room. "Come," she murmured, "Reece is waiting for you."
Cinder followed, her bare feet padding softly on the carpet. Master stood in the main room waiting for them. His eyes ran over her figure approvingly and Cinder repressed a shiver. "Master," she said, dipping her head.
He smiled and went to her. "You look wonderful, Cinder."
"For you," Cinder said simply. He tucked a finger under her chin and tugged her face up, pressing a kiss to her cheek. Cinder went on tiptoe to return the favor, but Master merely chuckled.
"Have patience, my queen. You will have more of me later," he said, winking. Her temperature spiked and she ducked her head. Ginger let out a snort of disgust. They both ignored her.
"Lunar spacefighter detected," came a disembodied voice from above. "Expected arrival in 30 seconds. Establish contact?"
A smirk spread across Master's face. "Great," he said lightly, "Your friends have arrived. Establish contact," he agreed. Master walked briskly to the dock, Cinder hurrying to follow. She lifted her dress and rushed after him.
"Spacefighter M 5.7 requests extension of the docking clamp. Authorized?"
"Yes," Master snapped impatiently. There was a slight thud as both ships collided.
Cinder frowned. "Are you sure the dock is compatible with a fighter?"
"I especially chose this cruiseliner for that specific ability," he replied, fists clenching and unclenching on his dress shirt. He seemed quite agitated for no apparent reason. Perhaps apprehensive about the wedding? But Master didn't seem like the type to be concerned over something like that.
The dock doors hissed open. Cinder looked on curiously as six people walked in, armed to their teeth. Cress, Sage, Aiden, Sasha, Wolf and Kai. Their eyes widened in disbelief as they saw her in the dress. They moved on to analyze Master, who stood woodenly with his arms crossed. Ginger ran to her father as soon as she was able. The Master did not attempt to stop her. Wolf clutched Ginger to his chest, his eyes darting from Cinder to the Master. Surely they knew that she was not a prisoner? Cinder took one step forward.
"Welcome," she said robotically.
Kai took a step toward her, but froze when Master touched her shoulder. His copper eyes twisted in fury. "Don't you dare touch her." His eyes turned beseeching as he trained them on her. "Are you okay? Did he hurt you?"
Cinder tilted her head, confused. "I am perfectly fine. Master is good to me. I got what I deserved." Master's hand tightened in approval. Cinder inwardly beamed.
"Master?" Kai demanded, "What...?" The answer dawned on him. You!" he hissed to Master. "What did you do with her? How can you make her this way?"
She frowned, positioning herself between them. "Don't be rude to Master, Kaito." A contingent of Wolves guard marched in and Master cocked his head.
"Can't have that, can we?" Without a sound, the guards marched single file back into the fighter. Sasha watched them go, gaping.
"What-"
"They cannot be here. I will not have my wedding disturbed."
Cress' mouth fell open. "Your wedding?" Beside her, Kai looked as if all the air had been sucked out of his lungs. Cinder's hand automatically went to her ring. They watched that movement with hawk-like stares. "Your wedding," Cress said faintly, "with Reece?" She stared at Cinder as if she were a stranger. "What did he do to you?" she whispered.
Cinder hunched away from their accusing glares. "Master did nothing." He did everything. Everything. And you couldn't stop him. Cinder was not the traitor. Master took her ringed hand and comfort washed through her. She knew what she was doing. She was going to marry Master. Everything was going to be fine. Cinder examined those thoughts, turned it over and over in her head. Fine. Everything was fine.
Sage snorted, his expression derisive as his eyes raked Reece from head to toe. "You? You are to marry the ghost queen?" To their surprise, he started to laugh. It was loud and booming and Cinder cringed away from the noise. "What right do you have?"
Master was livid. Cinder could feel the heat of his resentment. It strangled her. Master tightened his hold on Cinder until she could feel the bones rubbing together. She gasped slightly and twisted her hand in his grasp. He didn't seem to notice. "The same right I have," he growled, "to do this." There was a collective rasp as four air pistols were released from their holsters. Sage cursed as his traitor limb snapped off the safety. He eyed Master with disbelief.
"Impossible," Sage snarled, anger coating his fear. "You have never been able to overwhelm my wards." He turned to her, pleading. "How?"
Cinder stared at them blankly, not even flinching as Kai's unnaturally stiff hand turned the gun on himself. "You can't let him do this, Cinder," Kai begged. Aiden swore as he tried to dislodge the gun from Sage's hands. Sasha stood rigid and still, his face resigned.
"I am way too old for this."
Cinder could tell Wolf was fighting it, but the Rio was too powerful. Ginger whimpered and pulled on her father's hand, to no avail. She was going to watch as her father's head was blown to bits. Cinder flinched at the thought. She started as Master touched her cheek. He dangled a Tarsus between them. She gazed at it, her features pinched.
Master smiled. "Do you love me?"
Cinder bit her lip against a smile. Well then, finally. "Of course," she said innocently. He relaxed and pressed a kiss to her cheek. "You know what to do," he murmured. She did. Her hand was calm and relaxed as Cinder took the weapon. A smirk played on her lips as she stepped forward and met the gazes of her friends.
"Have you lost your mind?" Cress hissed. Another gun trembled in her hand as she aimed at her. They both knew Cress couldn't shoot at Reece. If she did, he could commandeer any of her colleagues to block the bullet. But Cress wouldn't shoot her. Cinder could tell from the way she clutched the weapon. Cinder's head pounded and she closed her eyes. Warnings blinked red and yellow in her vision, but she blinked them away. Cinder needed calm. Everything was at risk. If she couldn't make this shot... well, she wouldn't think of the consequences now. Her arm was steady as she raised the gun, right at Kai.
His copper brown eyes widened, but to his credit, didn't show fear. "You don't want to do this," he said. "You will never forgive yourself for this, Cinder."
She cocked her head. "And, how would you know that?"
Kai raised his chin and met her stare evenly. "Because I know you. The true you. The pretty, easygoing mechanic. The charismatic, determined leader of a revolution. The powerful, selfless Lunar queen. That girl who couldn't even bear to kill Levana herself. She would not do this." Something in Cinder softened as she watched him. But all this, it wouldn't change her mind. So Cinder merely nodded and oh so unwaveringly slid off the safety. She met his gaze and pressed the trigger.
Sorry to leave you guys at a cliffhanger again, but I have no choice.
Bye!
-Silverleaf