#linhcinder

This is one of my favorite one-shot that I wrote and I hope that you like it!

Cinder had fallen asleep. In. His. Lap. Kai gaped at the sleeping form in his lap. The beautiful, messy hair in his lap. The gorgeous, calm, tired face in his lap. Kai thought he was freaking out a bit, but why wouldn't he. She was asleep. In. His. Lap. What if he woke her up?

Today had been a long day for both of them, but Kai was perfectly fine staying awake while Cinder slept peacefully. He didn't want anything to disturb her while she was at peace. He vowed not to let anything or anyone wake her. Kai began to play with her hair as Thorne, Iko, and Cress walked in.

"Did you see that? I bet that it was fake." Cress said, her eyes filled with wonder.

"Yeah, it was. I just searched it up. Apparently, the magi-" Iko started to say but was interrupted by Kai.

"Shhhh" Kai pressed a finger to his lips. They turned to look at him. Thorne lifted his arms up as if to say 'what.' Kai pointed to Cinders sleeping figure then to his lips. Iko slowly started to nod, but Thorne smirked and said:

"So?" Kai glared at Thorne as Iko and Cress hit him. "What? She's only sleeping." He was hit again.

A humming started up as they heard footsteps heading towards the room. Winter appeared holding Jacin's and Scarlet's hands. Wolf followed close behind.

"Hello, frie-""SHHH," Kai shushed Winter before she could complete her sentence. Jacin scowled at him.

"What is wrong, Kai-friend?" Winter asked innocently. Annoyed, Kai stared her down and then glanced at Cinder. She still looked peaceful in her sleep, and Kai allowed a sigh of release. Then he glared back up at Winter. She seemed to acknowledge this and turned to sit in one of the Rampion's numerous couches.

But Scarlet had other ideas. She walked to Kai and Cinder and crouched. Then she extended her hand out towards Cinder-

SLAP.

Scarlet jerked her hand away, a hint of betrayal sprawled across her face. Kai glared at her and mouthed, 'NO.' Wolf growled and walked towards Scarlet. He scowled at Kai, and Kai scowled right back.

"Someone's a bit protective of his girlfriend..." Thorne sang, and Kai shushed him once again. Do these people ever learn!

"Anyways, what d'ya guys wanna do?”

"SHHH-"

"Yeah, yeah, I get it. Cinder's sleeping, whatever," Thorne drawled. "Anyways, anyone got any ideas?"

"Ooh, maybe we can bake cookies. You know the holidays are coming soon!"

Or maybe you all can shut up, Kai thought. Do they not see this perfect, sleeping, amazing woman on his lap. He gazed downwards and saw her still sleeping. He sighed. Maybe they'll stop talking soon.

"What about a gingerbread house? I used to love baking those as a child. My grand-mère and I baked them from scratch."

"Yeah! Let's do that now-"

"SHUT UP!" The words burst through Kai's mouth before he could stop them, "Please." He felt something move in his lap.

Horrified if he had woken up his love by accident, Kai checked on Cinder, only to find out that she had curled up even more on him. He placed his hand on her hair which was, even more messier than usual because of her head in his lap.

"Jeez, sorry!" Thorne said in a sarcastic tone.

"Poor thing, she worked hard all day today," Cress whispered sympathetically.

"Wow. No 'poor Thorne. He has to pilot the Rampion 24/7'. Thanks for the appreciation, guys." Kai was not the only one to glare at him.

Iko reached out to feel her forehead, only to be slapped down by Kai. A confused looked etched on Iko's face as Kai explained, "You might wake her up." She nodded.

Thorne, now bored, suggested that they all do something without Kai and Cinder, and everyone agreed. Kai believed, from the smell and frustrated yells coming from outside of the room, the cookie baking has not gone well. Kai bundled up against Cinder and played with her hair, thinking about how amazing their lives now were since they were united again.

Kai pressed his lips on Cinder's hair and then leaned his cheek on her. He began to hum, lost in thought, and did not know that he too began drifting off to sleep.

I hope you guys enjoyed! (I will post more one-shots here and be warned: its mostly kaider)

favourite female characters: [1/?]

⤷ 01. Linh Cinder, The Lunar Chronicles

“Your nightmares follow you like a shadow, forever. ”― Aleksandar Hemon.

֍ Cinder ֍

֍ ֍ 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘕𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘦 ֍ ֍

𝘐 𝘭𝘢𝘺 𝘰𝘯 𝘢 𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘺𝘳𝘦, 𝘩𝘰𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘢𝘭𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘺 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬. 𝘍𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘴, 𝘚𝘮𝘰𝘬𝘦. 𝘉𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘮𝘺 𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘯. 𝘔𝘺 𝘓𝘦𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘯𝘦, 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘮𝘱𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘺 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘴. 𝘋𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮. 𝘐 𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘸𝘭, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘴 𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘯 𝘶𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘵𝘭𝘦. 𝘐 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥, 𝘵𝘳𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘳𝘢𝘨 𝘮𝘺 𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘺 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘦, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘰𝘢𝘭𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘧𝘧 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘻𝘰𝘯.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘺 𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘬, 𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘦. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘯. 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘢𝘭 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘨𝘰𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘺 𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘰. 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘳𝘺, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘰 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘷𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘪𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘯𝘰 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘴𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘦.

I lay on a burning pyre, hot coals beneath my back. Flames, Smoke. Blisters burbling across my skin. My Leg and hand were gone, leaving stumps where the surgeons had attached my prostheses. Dead wires dangled from them. I tried to crawl, but it was as useless as an upended turtle. I reached out with my one hand, trying to drag my body from the fire, but the bed of coals starched off into the horizon.

The heat was the hottest beneath my neck, trickling down my spine. The unrelenting pain. like hot coal had gotten beneath my skin and there was nowhere for me to go. I wanted to scream and cry, but there were no tears and no sound where once my voice would sing. I was going to die and there was no one here who could save me.

֍ ֍ ֍ ֍

I bolted up off my bed with cold beads of sweat rolling down my forehead and back. Screams filled my ears with the smell of burning flesh in my nose. I wanted to run, to get out of here, to be free of those pains forever! So, I pushed myself up and off to get away, but when I did set my foot to the ground I toppled over. My face hit the hard cold floor. The sting of the pain brought me back to the now, to the reality and out of the nightmare I’d been mistaking the present for.

𝚆𝙰𝚁𝙽𝙸𝙽𝙶 – 𝙴𝚕𝚎𝚟𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝙻𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚕𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝙰𝚍𝚛𝚎𝚗𝚊𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚎, 𝙷𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚝 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚎 𝙸𝚗𝚌𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚒𝚗𝚐. 𝙱𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚍 𝙿𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝙸𝚗𝚌𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚒𝚗𝚐. 𝚆𝙰𝚁𝙽𝙸𝙽𝙶, 𝚆𝙰𝚁𝙽𝙸𝙽𝙶, 𝚆𝙰𝚁𝙽𝙸𝙽𝙶…

The warnings were flashing, the sound piercing my ears and in the moment, I couldn’t remember how to turn them off.

Only when the shock wore off, and I came around, did I manage to reset my alerts, then notice I’d fallen out of my bed.

“Stars!”

My hoarse voice told me that the screams I’d heard before must have belonged to me. And when I looked towards the door, I was thankful that no one had come to check. Then again who was I kidding? #Iko would be on sleep mode for her nightly charge, and #Peony was staying with a friend on a sleepover. Even if #Adri and #Pearl heard me they wouldn’t come to see if I were alright. Then again this is how I liked it. I didn’t want either of them to see me on the ground, with no foot on, hurting and scared.

Turning myself around, pain shot up from my chest and nose both which had hit the droid part beside my bed. I had been working into the early hours of the morning to complete the extra work I had taken on without #Adri learning of it. But it meant my bedroom had become a workspace too, with parts all over the floor with little room for me to miss anything hard if I did fall, as I had just done.

Shifting myself, reaching out for the frame of my bed I managed to push myself back up and onto it. Closing my eyes and willing the fear seeping out of me to leave.

“It was just a nightmare… It is not real… I am okay... There is nothing to fear.” Even if I wasn’t sure I believed my own words.

The day hadn't even started, and I was looking forward to it ending.

֍ Kaito ֍

I had been woken up by my valet, before one of the palace maids came in with my tea and breakfast… Since it was improper for a lady to enter the room of a single man without knowing if he was decent or not. Stars, I missed #Nainsi!

Once I dressed I made my way to visit my father, managing somehow to get my security detail to wait at the entrance to the medical wing, using the argument that the Lunars weren’t permitted access to this wing anyway. But my father was sleeping, the Med Droid informed me that he had a hard night and they sedated him so that he might rest.

I stood there alone for a few moments and watched the rise and fall of his chest as he breathed. But I wanted to get out of here before #KonnTorin came to sit his daily vigil at his Sovereign’s side. Not that I didn’t like my father’s - and soon to be 𝓶𝔂 advisor - on the contrary… The only man I admired more was my father, the Emperor himself. But, so far I had succeeded in keeping away from the diplomat since a discussion with him and my father revealed that the rumours were indeed true; and the infamous #LunarQueen was after my hand in marriage.

After the visit to the medical wing, I made my way to the servants’ wing to visit the widowed mother and child I had provided with a job to save her from homelessness. Again, the same argument bade my security detail to remain at the entrance to the wing. I had only planned a quick visit as I knew what I needed to do to get my reliable android assistant back. After a brief stop at Tam Jasmine’s new apartment, I was plotting my escape.

I swiped my ID chip over the scanner at the door of Zhao Hiro’s apartment. Being the Prince didn’t allow me access to the staffs' private residences. Hiro’s mother had added my ID when I was a small boy and Hiro, and I would spend hours ditching lessons and diplomats here.

Again, I raided his closet and pulled a hooded sweatshirt from its drawer and draped it over my arm until I was off the grounds. I made my way into the grounds using the staff elevators. Again… No one gave this any consideration, my presence here was frequent. And any wary glances I got soon faded with a charming or respectful dip of my chin.

I walked so slowly through the grounds it was frustrating. I was trying to give out leisurely-spoiled-Prince vibes, Prince-in-a-great-hurry vibes attracted too much attention. I heard them, before I saw them as I turned to the west side of the palace. #SybilMira and her entourage; I took a steadying breath. I couldn’t pass them without addressing them. It would cause a scandal.

“Good morning Mira-dàren.” I greeted her with a smile, ignoring her stone-faced, golden-haired guard.

“My dear Prince Kaito, how often must I tell you to call me Sybil.” She purred and I could have sworn I tasted the velvety honey tones in her voice. Damn Lunar witchery! She gave a small bow.

“One more time.” I smiled, I knew being greeted like a Commonwealth citizen irritated her to no end. "As always. I apologise I really must be going. I have an engagement I can’t miss.” I slipped past her. “I’ll be sure to join you for dinner this evening.” I said as I walked away and continued towards the engineering wing. Where I intended to retrieve #Nainsi and bring her to the one person who was my last hope at retrieving both my android; and the vital information contained on her hard drive.

֍ Cinder ֍

Stepping out of my room, my damp hair pulled up into a ponytail, I tugged on my gloves before hitching my backpack with today’s 𝘌𝘹𝘵𝘳𝘢 work hidden inside over my shoulder.

‘Good Morning Cinder!’ The too excited voice of #Iko came from up the hall as she rolled out of the kitchen, holding something wrapped in paper for me. ‘I know you will say that you don’t have time, so I packed you some steamed buns to eat on your way to the market.’

I smiled at her as she motioned for me to turn, opening my backpack to place it within. “Thanks Iko, I’ll remember to eat them later.” I heard the murmurings coming from the living room and my back stiffened. “Are they both up already?” I asked looking back over my shoulder at the sunlight breaking through the door into the dark hallway.

‘They are, talking about fabrics and dress styles for the ball if you can believe it. Our Emperor is dying and these two…’ She trailed off after seeing me flinch at her statement about #EmperorRikan. ‘Sorry!’ Her voice chimed. ‘You should go in there and see which fabric Adri is picking for you.’

I shook my head. “She isn’t picking anything for me, and you know that as well as I do.”

#Iko rolled back turning me to face her. ‘You don’t know that, anyway she said if you fix the hover then you know… She will make you a dress.’ I patted #Iko’s arm where she was holding onto me. We both knew my stepmother better than this. However, #Iko always hoped for the best.

“Thanks for reminding me that I need to look at the hover, I need to get the parts ordered for it.” I turned to leave, hoping to make it out the door.

‘Cinder! CINDER! Is That you?’ The clipped and irritated voice of my stepmother #LihnAdri came from the living room, and I dropped my head. The front door so close, I was so close!

“No, It’s the crown prince.” Okay I should have known better then to antagonise her. But… Yeah.

‘So funny for the morning. Come Here Right now!’ She ordered me back into the apartment.

‘See…’ #Iko chimed pushing me towards the living room. ‘She is getting you a dress.’ I knew better but hearing the joy in #Iko’s voice set something fluttering in me. Could it really be the case?

Stepping into the light of the Living room, I found both #Pearl and #Adri hunched over their port screens. #Adri tapped a few times on her screen, before smiling and setting it down. ‘Uhm.. there you are.’ Her eyes moved over me, and I knew she disliked the way I dressed. One... because she’d told me repeatedly. and Two... The way she was looking at me right now left nothing to the imagination.

“Here I am.. Did you need something?” I asked my arms crossed over my chest. This seems to irritate her somewhat.

‘You know you are my property, and this attitude of yours is uncalled for. If I call you and make you stand there all day, you say Yes Ma’am. Understood?’

That word was her power ‘𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙩𝙮’. And it made me clench my fists. Most everyone in the Earthen Union disregarded cyborgs. They saw cyborgs as inferior compared to any humans ( Even those who have caused harm to others). Most of them believe that cyborgs are similar to androids, which meant they do not have feelings and do not know what love is. This fact had fed into the fear and a New Law was created to deem cyborgs could not be trusted, and they would be the 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙩𝙮 of whomever took responsibility for them. I was not seen as a member of this family in #Adri and #Pearl’s eyes. I was their ‘𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙩𝙮’.

“And I would be happy to stand here all day with the fans on, rather than at the hot market making the univs to pay for all this.” I didn’t stumble, as I pointed around the room. I heard #Iko giggle behind me and #Adri’s eyes darted to the door. I groaned wishing #Iko hadn’t done that. Causing myself a fight with #Adri was one thing, but to be the reason for her to pick on #Iko was another.

‘Don’t you have work to do Iko? If not, I would be happy to rip you apart and sell you for scrap. Because let’s face it. No one would want you as you are!’

𝚆𝙰𝚁𝙽𝙸𝙽𝙶 – 𝙴𝚕𝚎𝚟𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝙻𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚕𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝙰𝚍𝚛𝚎𝚗𝚊𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚎.

The warning message flashed over my display and I calmed myself down, because the one thing I did know about my stepmother is, some day if we pushed her too far, she would come through on her threat. “Did you need me? I’m going to be late opening the booth if I don’t get walking now. Unless you will pay for a hover to take me?” I knew there was no way she would pay for me to ride to the market.

‘Uhmm. I saw an order for parts that I don’t believe are urgently needed so I cancelled it. I need the univs for Pearl and Peony’s dresses for the ball.’

My eyes widened and a fire ball of anger started to build within me. “How am I meant to fix things, and make the univs if I don’t have the parts I need to do my work?” I was trying so hard to keep my voice down. But this was too much.

‘You will find a way.’ she said, and with a flick of her hand I was dismissed.

֍ Kaito ֍

Slipping into the Tech Labs was just another of my usual habits. Part of my job in my father’s court was to keep current on the research taking place in the Palace and building connections with the men and women that were striving for progress through scientific and technological advancements.

But today I was only interested in the mechanical sector. ‘Your Highness.’ The head engineer gave me a small bow, which I returned. ‘I’m sorry… but we haven’t made any progress with your android. Are you sure you wouldn’t reconsider an upgraded model? We have made great strides with the escort lines, with programming organisational and personal assistant programs, we could even program in defensive skills. It won’t be as effective as the Guard-Droid 3.0. But it’s less conspicuous.’

I rubbed the back of my neck and I shook my head. “No, the net feeds would have a field day if I started walking around with an escort-droid.”

‘There are male models too.’ He offered, but his hidden smirk said he knew that wouldn’t make a difference to the tabloids. ‘And of course, their programming wouldn’t be that of and escort-droid.’

“I really just want #Nainsi back.” I admitted. It was a silly attachment… and so, so much more. I needed the research she had been doing for me. “I have one last hope… Do you mind if I take her with me?”

He agreed, of course, and went to retrieve the familiar android. I made a swift but polite exit and made it to the west gates of the palace. I knew calling a hover would alert them too soon the fact that I was leaving without my security detail. So, I walked the old-style cobblestoned street. You would never tell by looking; that beneath this old-world road, lay maglev tracking.

I shrugged into the borrowed hoodie and smiled. The thoughts of seeing Cinder again brought the expression to my face; even with the heavy burden that slowly lowered onto my shoulders.

֍ Cinder ֍

I was two and half hours late to open the booth, and when I rolled up the shutters, I could hear the tutting and the grim comments that came from the vendors around me. There was an unwritten rule with the marketplace to be sure that all our shutters were up no later than 8 am. This would mean that each business could play a part in sharing the customers needs. The basic science to which was ‘If a customer is coming to the market to buy some silk, seeing the hardware booth open, they are more likely to remember they need parts in their house, or seeing the noodle booth open they may decide to buy some for dinner, and so on. All the businesses helped to feed customers to others, making it so that people kept coming back here to the main market and not go to others.

I had always been the first in the Market with my shutters up and ready to work, ever since I had talked #LihnAdri into paying for the rent here. The location meant the foot traffic, added in with my reputation of fixing just about anything would bring in more customers and it would pay for itself. Which it had and then some.

But today, the one day I was late was unacceptable by the sounds of it. “Oh please, give me a break.” I hadn’t the time or the patients to deal with their comments.

The shutters up I pushed in the two boxes of parts I had managed to salvage this morning from the Taihang District junkyard. Giving the boy who worked there a few upgrades in the past to his droids as well as fixing his broken or damaged portscreen had made me a friend. Whenever something new came in, he would drop me a message to come and look. Today’s timing had been sent to me by the Stars!

With #LihnAdri cancelling my orders I knew that I would be tight pushed to complete the work I had agreed to do, and that was unacceptable by me. It was my hard work and my dedication ( as well as my cyborg hard frame, and net access ) that had made my name known in the New Beijing Market square. And yes, I knew I had plans to leave soon, to never come back, however I was not going to go back on my word once I had agreed to fix something for a customer.

I stood behind the table with the sheet pulled over it, cutting out the visibility to the bottom half of my body to stretch my limbs. Every part of my body hurt from the bending pulling and pushing to free the parts from the scrap people had dumped in the junkyard. But I knew I still had a whole day’s work left to do, just in less time.

I had only sat myself down on the stool lifting my cyborg foot over my knee to rub at the top edge where it connected to my human stump just above my ankle, when I heard my name being shouted in excitement. ‘Cinder…. CINDER….. CINDER!!!!’ #Iko came rolling down toward my booth, waving a foot with wires hanging from it in the air. Until she remembered that nobody here but #ChangSacha knew what I really was.

#Iko hid the foot in her chest compartment and slowed down. But it was too late. #ChangSacha’s eyes had caught sight of her, and her eyes narrowed looking over the square towards me. “What is your problem?” I muttered to myself, and as if she had heard me, she looked down her nose and then turned away giving her customers her full attention.

‘Look what I got! I wasn’t sure why, but I was out in the area doing some shopping for #LihnAdri for the ball and the festival. And I thought to myself. Iko… You should go and see the merchant.. See if he has any more work for Cinder… See…’ She rattled on and on about why and how she had been spending her time this morning while I’d been at the junkyard.

“Iko… Stop… Get to the point…” I lifted the cloth from the table letting her into the booth, she opened her hatch and took out the foot. It was beautiful and perfect. It was my dream come true.

‘Oh... Sorry, yes… So, he said he was happy with the work you were doing for him. And that he had faith that we would complete the rest. I also paid him the 600 univs that we owed him, and he said we could have the foot!’ Her voice was low so that those around us couldn’t hear, and yet the excitement was still palpable from her.

“IKO! No! 600 Univs! Adri will Offer me up to the cyborg draft and sell you for Parts!” my mind was a buzz. Yes, I was happy to see and have the foot. But… “STARS!” If #LihnAdri found out, there would be no saving us.

‘Please Cinder, she is spending so much of the univs you are earning, she won’t even notice it right now. Here.’ She took my human hand and placed the foot on it. ‘Just take a moment and enjoy it. This is the first thing we have ever bought for you. Cinder you really need a new foot, you’re always hurting. It’s not fair. The Stars can’t be mad at us for doing this.’

My eyes on the foot, and I took in all she had said. And Yes, I knew she had manage to make a decent point, however… “Thank you Iko, Thank you!”

She rolled to the back of the booth, taking out the small tool box that I kept hidden, it had been a gift for my birthday. One that I couldn’t explain to anyone if they found it and questioned me. The tools were the best and the most expensive I’d ever laid my eyes on.

‘Will you tell me again how you came about such a gift from the crown Prince of New Beijing?’ She loved to hear the tail of how @RoyallyBound had shown up at the booth one day, and how a friendship that was the thing of dreams for most girls in New Beijing had come to pass.

֍ Kaito ֍

It was a hot, muggy morning and I felt the sweat dripping down the back of my neck already. With the hood pulled up to hide my too-recognisable face, I got a few stares, but I wasn’t sure if they were because I was wearing this ridiculous get up in this cruel heat, or because they recognised me.

The market was already thrumming with life and the smell of food. The further I moved into the square the more tightly packed the booths became and the more those smells became mingled with unwashed and sweaty bodies. But I found myself scanning the rows and rows of booths and stalls looking for that girl. But a few more stray stares from the people around me and I realised my darting gaze, searching each set of brown eyes was drawing too much attention. Again, I fixed my eyes on the ground. The last thing I need right now was a mob of fans gathering around me.

The smell of sticky buns in the air told me that I was close. I considered buying a box to bring to her. Though, I quickly weighed the idea and decided the chances of the baker recognising me and posting it to her net profile were too high. And seeing Cinder was… well, I needed this, not just because she was the best chance at retrieving the Data from #Nainsi… being around her was easy… soothing. Everything that home wasn’t… everything the palace wasn’t, right now.

So… I stepped up to the small booth and plonked the Android onto the cloth-covered table. “Is the finest mechanic in New Beijing free to take on a new repair?” I smiled. Because here… I could smile. I could breathe.

֍ Cinder ֍

“Stars! It’s not coming out of place.” I wasn’t talking to #Iko however she was keeping close by, so close that she was on top of me. “Iko, I love you but if you don’t give me some room.” I said through my teeth gritted together.

‘Sorry, is there something I can do to help?’ she asked, and her voice had gone up a few octaves.

“No... I’m sorry Iko, I’m just a little…” as I pushed on the rusted screw on my old too small foot once again it popped out and rolled on the ground and under the table. “Got It!” I exclaimed, slowly inching the foot off. Careful as I worked not to damage any of the connections.

‘YAY!’ #Iko rolled around the small booth, bumping into the shelves behind her.

“Okay, okay. Slow down before you cause some damage.” Telling her to head out into the market. “Why don’t you go and find some oil for me? I will need to make sure this baby is well looked after.” I didn’t need it, however it would give her something to do, and would give me time to finish off what I was doing in peace. I knew she was excited and happy, she and #Peony were the only two who knew how much pain I was in everyday because of the fact that I’d out grown my foot.

She rolled out from behind the booth and set the small wrapped up buns she had given me this morning on the table. ‘Don’t forget to eat. I won’t be long.’ I didn’t have time to eat, but I told her I would in a moment.

If I were to tell myself the truth, I was excited too. But I didn’t believe in showing it until I was certain that the foot was connected, and it was working. I threw the old foot on the table behind me, I never wanted to see that thing ever again in my life.

I operated methodically, working my way around the connections one by one. A few of the wires that were attached to my limb were in need of replacing, it had been years since I had been able to work on myself other than the maintenance on the parts I had. But with a new foot that now was the right size. It was going to make my life so much better.

I pushed the new foot into place and it just glided in. The connection slipped in easily, When I moved to reach for the screw driver a voice from behind made me jump out of my skin. Covering my foot with a rag from the side I whirled around to face the outside of the booth, blinking as my retina display took in the person before me in and within 5 seconds the data started to scroll before me.

𝙿𝚁𝙸𝙽𝙲𝙴 𝙺𝙰𝙸𝚃𝙾, 𝙲𝚁𝙾𝚆𝙽 𝙿𝚁𝙸𝙽𝙲𝙴 𝙾𝙵 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙴𝙰𝚂𝚃𝙴𝚁𝙽 𝙲𝙾𝙼𝙼𝙾𝙽𝚆𝙴𝙰𝙻𝚃𝙷.

𝙸𝙳 𝙽𝚄𝙼𝙱𝙴𝚁: #𝟶𝟶𝟾𝟸𝟽𝟷𝟿𝟶𝟻𝟽

𝙱𝙾𝚁𝙽 𝟽 𝙰𝙿𝚁𝙸𝙻 𝟷𝟶𝟾 𝚃.𝙴.

𝙵𝙵 𝟾𝟾,𝟿𝟾𝟽 𝙼𝙴𝙳𝙸𝙰 𝙷𝙸𝚃𝚂, 𝚁𝙴𝚅𝙴𝚁𝚂𝙴 𝙲𝙷𝙾𝚁𝙾𝙽

𝙿𝙾𝚂𝚃𝙴𝙳 𝟶𝟷 𝙰𝙿𝙸𝚁𝙻 𝟷𝟸𝟼 𝚃.𝙴; 𝙿𝚁𝙴𝚂𝚂 𝙼𝙴𝙴𝚃𝙸𝙽𝙶 𝙷𝙾𝚂𝚃𝙴𝙳 𝙱𝚈 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙲𝚁𝙾𝚆𝙽 𝙿𝚁𝙸𝙽𝙲𝙴 𝙺𝙰𝙸 𝙾𝙽…

I disconnected the net feed so that the text would stop scrolling. Dropping my eyes in the hopes that nothing in my gaze would tell him what I was. Could he see the green light of the text when it was on display? Would he even be looking at my eyes that closely? Of Course Not! Why would he?

I really needed to update my platform to stop doing that each time he came before me. But then again, he was the Crown Prince! Of course, when his face was identified people would want to know he was amongst them.

“Prin…. Um… Kai!” I glanced around the square and then back at him. “What are you doing here?” Seeing that he had placed a droid on the table, but still. He has said something before he had scared the living Stars out of me. I shifted hiding my foot still resting on my knee under the table.

“Repairs? Doesn’t the palace have a team for that?” My eyes darted around again. And then over him “And Stars! What are you wearing?” His black hair was covered by the hood over his head in this heat.

֍ Kaito ֍

I chuckled at the young mechanic when she startled. "Why so jumpy Lihn-Mei... " I leaned over the cloth-covered table. "Are you hiding contraband back there?" I rubbed the back of my sweaty neck… Damn this heat!

“Um… Yeah, we do. But they’ve been working on her for a week. They can’t figure out what caused her to shut down. She gets regular maintenance and cleaning, but she was fine one second and then found in the residential wing; in a hallway…” I held my hand towards #Nainsi. “Like this.”

I tugged on the hood again. Stars! It was hot! All I could do was hope that the sweat I felt rolling down my back wasn’t seeping through the fabric. “I’m in disguise, obviously.” I teased with a smile. “Unless you want your stall swamped by screaming fans?”

I planted my hands on the cloth-covered table again and leaned forward, meeting those strange eyes of hers. I gave her my most charming smile… the real one. Not the one I used on courtiers and in interviews.

“So do you think you could fix her?” I asked her. “I mean… your skills are legendary.”

֍ Cinder ֍

“Cinder!” I corrected him right away and then lowered my voice. My eyes darting over to the booths on either side of me. The last thing I needed was for any of the customers or the merchants to find out who was here stood before me. “Contraband?” my eyes shifted before they settled back on him. “If I had anything, do you really think I would share that information with you?”

As he leant over the table, I found myself leaning back on the stool, keeping the distance between us. What would he see if he came too close to someone like me? His eyes were looking for something, or was my mind imagining things? The voice in my head telling me it was all in my head.

“Do you really believe that by pulling a hood over your head, no one can tell you, are you?” However, as I said the words, I knew it was working. Nobody here was giving him a second glance in the market square. And there was that smile of his, the one all the girls swooned over. And yet, it felt and look different from the one I see him sharing with me right now.

“Really? A week? Aren’t they all meant to be the best of the best up there?” I asked, turning my attention to the droid. Pulling it towards myself, I gave it a once over. Turning on my net feed downloading the specs for it. “This is a Tutor android? And an old model at that. A Tutor 8.6. Why do you even want it fixed? Can’t you just click your fingers and request a new one?” When you think of the crown prince. State of the art comes to mind. Not old droids that should have been put to rest by now. Even if she looked new, and well maintained.

“Can I fix her? Is that a trick question? Of course, I can act all shy and lie and tell you that she cannot be fixed by me. But we know that’s a lie.”

Pointing up at his smile. "That doesn't work on me."

֍ Kaito ֍

I dipped my chin in apology. "I'm sorry, Cinder." I corrected and kept that smile etched into my features. "Probably not." I teased her about the contraband comment. "Because I might make you share."

I glanced around the market place, no one was paying us any attention. "You'd be surprised." I answered her question. "People expect to see the swaggering Prince they see on their net feeds and delivering speeches or at public appearances... surrounded by security and my entourage. But Prince Kaito and Kai are very different people. On my own… I'm just Kai." I shrugged.

"They are good at what they do... but like you said she's an older model and they are more concerned with creating the new than preserving the old. #Nainsi has been my tutor, my friend... my assistant. I don't want to replace her; she's the only member of the staff that doesn't let me get away with..." I snapped my fingers in the way she indicated I might do when I wanted something. But I beamed at her when she said she could fix her.

"See! That is exactly what I need, that lack of false modesty. Nothing but confidence." I leaned in again and whispered. "But if it’s at all possible I really, really need the data on her hard drive. She's been doing some really important research for me."

֍ Cinder ֍

It felt so wrong hearing the apologies from the lips of the Crown Prince. I had to fight the urge within me to tell him he wasn’t expected to say or feel that way. At the end of the day, I was his subject, and he someday would become my Emperor. However as per the agreement the two of us had struck, I was to treat him like I did others. Which wasn’t easy for me. I followed the rules, ( okay sure I found minor loop holes, but mostly I did. )

“I wouldn’t share anything but some steamed buns with you. I do not wish to be arrested and taken away thank you very much.” My stomach gurgled at the mention of the buns, and I glanced to my breakfast which I’d been too distracted to eat yet.

Pushing those thoughts to the side, when my eyes glided back to Kai’s face, I burst out laughing, covering my mouth to stop as people startled to see what had caused my outburst. Because as 𝒦𝒶𝒾 stood here before my booth, 𝒫𝓇𝒾𝓃𝒸𝑒 𝒦𝒶𝒾𝓉𝑜 stood tall on the Net Screen in the middle of the market square. And those who would have bowed to the prince were standing a few feet away from him without even knowing it. Lowering my voice this time, as a couple of women were still giving me a stern expression.

“It is because no one in their right mind would expect to see a Prince wanting to blend in with the common people Kai. Which now that I think about it, is exactly what we should expect of you. Especially considering how the Empress had been with her people.” My sarcasm melting away towards the end of my comment at the thought of his mother.

“Nainsi…” I said her name as he spoke about her and what she meant to him. Me of all people could understand why he was here, and the meaning of wanting to keep her and take care of her. At the end of the day there was nothing I wouldn’t do for #Iko. And I could tell, everything he was saying was true. “Nainsi has information you need?” I frowned because that meant that a hard reboot wouldn’t be an option. “And let me guess… there is no backup? If she is maintained, then the Palace team must have the data backed up for you?”

Reaching out I found my screwdriver, turning it in my hand, I used the handle to hit the back of the droid. Sometimes the jolt to the drives shook something in place and they would come to life. I pushed the power button and still nothing happened. “Hmm…”

֍ Kaito ֍

I chuckled and straightened up a little. "What good is it being a friend of the Prince if he couldn't pull some strings for you?" But she was far too independent to allow me to bail her out if she ever found herself in hot water. But she didn't seem the type to skirt the law anyway.

My brow furrowed when she started laughing... and after taking a moment to appreciate what a beautiful sound it was and how it made her face light up… even though, it didn't seem to reach her eyes. "I'm standing right behind myself, aren't I?" I asked with amusement in my tone.

I chuckled again. "Yes, Mother never was the well-behaved courtly lady that was expected of her." I smiled again, this time the smile was for my benefit alone. "She walked her own path, and while she used her status to help where she could; she also liked to leave it behind and be among her people."

I shook my head... How could I explain what kind of data #Nainsi was storing that was paramount and yet too sensitive to back up. "No backup... It was... delicate information. She was the only one trusted with it." She was going to think I was crazy, talking about my android like she was a person... but to me... she was.

It wasn’t that I was deprived of friends when I was growing up… between the formal 𝕡𝕣𝕠𝕡𝕖𝕣 friendships with the children of Court families and government officials. (Not all of which were as boring as that sounded.) I was not without friends with a more… relaxed view of my status. Most of this was due to Mother’s closeness with her Ladies and many of the staff. But #Nainsi… she was omnipresent… Many of the court member’s children had married and moved on already or returned to their family estates when their parents retired. The staff children had either found employment or been lucky enough to go to a real college and start an independent life. #Nainsi would always stay by my side.

“I must sound foolish…” I laughed a little awkwardly. It was a strange sensation for me… to feel awkward, even despite the sweat rolling down my back.”

֍ Cinder ֍

My mind turned inwards towards solutioning the issue at hand. I started to read the downloaded specs trying to understand #Nainsi, to gather more information on the model, error codes and their meanings.

“Sorry to burst your bubble there, however good friends wouldn’t ask you to use or abuse your stature, and reputation to save them from a mistake they have made. If I ever get myself caught doing something I shouldn’t, I fully intend to confess and take whatever punishment is bestowed upon me.” There was a reason I always tried to follow the rules, the greatest reason being the laws of this world were not the same for humans and Cyborgs. And I had no planned to have myself drafted anytime soon.

“You know you are.” I glanced up at him again and then to the Netscreen. “And you have a horde of teenage girls under the net screens about to faint, if you want to head over and rescue anyone who takes your fancy.”

I saw that he had lost himself in thoughts, assuming it had been his mother, by the small private smile he kept to himself. However, it had been a giveaway, so I got back to work again. Biting on the corners of my lips I struggled to undo the mains screw.

“You do not sound foolish at all, I know how…” I stopped to think, because I knew when I spoke of #Iko people thought me eccentric for treating her like a human, but she really was. And she was my only friend other than #Peony. “…It’s just that I comprehend how attached some of us become. My best friend is called Iko, and I don’t know what I would do without her.” Okay now listening back on what I said, I knew that it really sounded despondent!

“Anyway…” I coughed pointing to the dulled-out screw. “You really need to have a conversation with your team at the palace, they should be replacing Nainsi’s screws when they become so worn out like this.” Finally, I managed to get #Nainsi’s back mains panel open. Taking the screw in my hand and holding it up for Kai’s examination.

The sensitive information comment wasn’t a lie, he never had lied to me in all the time he’d been sneaking to the market square. Something told me he didn’t even lie to his guards to come here.

֍ Kaito ֍

I smiled at her... she was all work and no play sometimes. I tilted my head and wondered... What was Cinder like outside of this little workshop of hers? What was she like out of these heavy work gloves and cargo pants? Although the smudge of grease just above her eyebrow, I liked... I rubbed the back of my neck as it grew hotter. There was something to be said about a young woman that worked alone... at her age, supporting her family... outranking every other mechanic in the ratings; in this huge city that headlined technological advances around the globe.

To say that it was appealing would be a gross injustice. And that little stain on her brow was a single, identifying feature of all of these traits, and one I would be sorry to see wiped away.

"I only really have one of those... I could use another. If I were to offer you the position, would you accept it? Even if the only perk is my sparkling company?" I said, a little smug and a lot playful.

I laughed softly... mostly because I didn't want to draw any attention by giving into the full laugh that wanted to break free. "I'm really not the White Horse kind of Prince." I teased.

I used the opportunity to lean in close, but I didn't examine the screw she held out to me, I used the chance to examine those strange, unreadable brown eyes... the way her cheeks didn't flush in the slightest when I was near. She was completely immune to my charm. And it was what kept me coming back here; there was no posturing, no false civility, no blatant flattery... When we spoke, she asked to know things that were common knowledge, like she read nothing about me on the net feeds... or things that others thought inconsequential... but were intrinsically linked to the real me. the contrast of the two baffled me.

"Maybe I should just bring her here for her services... The palace engineers are more interested in creating the new, not preserving the old. And you, Lihn Cinder, are one of the few people I have met that holds the two with equal value.

֍ Cinder ֍

It never ceases to amaze me how for a guy with it all, Kai was actually so down and simple just like the rest of his subjects. Other than the fact that he was on screens that were larger than life, He had every news outlet following his every move, every teenage boy wanted to be him, and every teenage girl wanted to be 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 him… He was really no different to any other young boy in New Beijing. ( Not that I knew many boys. Really who had the time for friends? )

My mind was now in midst of troubleshooting, however I jarred back a little from Kai when I notice him move closer to me. I knew he had to if he was to examine the screw, however that voice within me told me to be careful. Telling me not to let him come any closer in case he noticed something in my retinas. However, was it too late? His deep dark brown eyes were looking at me as though he had seen something. Something that he couldn’t understand.

Taking his hand, I placed the screw in his palm and moved back away from him. What was he looking at? Was there something on my face? Using my gloved hand, I wiped at my forehead, and then looked away to change the direction of his thoughts. Fully aware that if he had seen something, anything that he wasn’t sure of, it would open this friendship up to more questions. However, I was the one left lost for words.

I waited for my Optobionics to flash an orange light, it always flickered in the corner of my vision when someone lies. And this had to be a lie or a joke. “Did you just offer me a job? And as payment offer me your company?” Raising my brow at how it sounded on my lips. “I didn’t go to any higher education, or fancy schools like your team up there in the palace.” Pointing the screwdriver up towards the hill that the Palace sat on top. “And even I can tell that’s a really bad offer to accept.” Smiling as I got back to work “And there is no way, I could work for you.”

Fighting the urge to laugh with him as I spoke. “Not if you aren’t the knight on a white horse kind of a Prince.” Leaning in to whisper the last part. “It would be heart breaking for these girls to learn. Even if I much prefer to do the saving than being the one who is saved.”

Leaning back on the stool, I rubbed my chin. Why was #Nainsi not responding? “Uhmm? Oh… yeah… Sure…” I didn’t look up at him as I spoke now, my brow furrowed in concentration. “If we don’t maintain the old things, how would we learn to appreciate them and the new? They both have their rightful place in our world. And you know… New isn’t always better.” #Iko for me, and #Nainsi for Kai were the perfect examples.

Right on cue, my port pinged on the table, but the message feed straight to my retina display. The green text scrolled past.

𝙵𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝙸𝚔𝚘: 𝙳𝚘 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚐𝚎𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚎𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚋𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚔𝚏𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝙲𝚒𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚛!

My lips curled up into a smile, and my eyes rolled. She knew me too well.

֍ Kaito ֍

My smile stayed truly fixed on my features, that swipe of her gloved hand only streaked the grease smudge across her otherwise perfect skin. Even in this stifling heat, there wasn't a hint of a flush over her cheeks... then again, she wasn't the one bundled up in a stolen hoodie. The longer I spent wearing #Hiro's clothes in her presence the less inclined I was to return it. But I would make up for it... perhaps replace it with one emblazoned with one of those twentieth-century American superheroes he was obsessed with.

She didn't like being close to people and she was so young... had she really been shown such little kindness that she'd react in this way? Or perhaps it was my status as a royal... the crazy tradition for staying three steps behind your sovereign. Perhaps I could change that in time? I heard #KonnTorin’s voice beginning a lecture about the old ways and honouring traditions. And my father reminding me that, the people will happily stand behind a kind and fair ruler... the Emperor is the guide and the people push him forward, trusting that he would steer them down a righteous path.

I picked up the screw she placed in my hand and rolled it between my fingers... but now I paid attention and saw what she was saying. The cross mark on its head was almost worn down to a circle. "We could call it... freelance contract." I smiled and cocked my head to one side. "And no... I will pay you for each job... just think of my sparkling company as a... perk." I gave another light laugh.

"There are many ways to learn, Cinder. Do you think anyone ever taught me to write speeches?" I smiled... my speeches were always well received. "I used to watch my father's speeches over and over... Begging the stars I could be as good, eloquent... as confident and steadfast as he was; someday." My smile grew smaller but still happy... more contemplative now. "I started writing speech after speech and delivering them to my Father and his closest advisers. He never told me that he had a whole team of speechwriters until I was much older. No tutor taught me."

I was laughing again at her comment about breaking the girls’ hearts. "I have been told I break hearts on a daily basis... but I can assure you that it was never deliberate. Besides they are still too young to tell heartbreak apart from a simple longing." I knew not all of my fans were too young, but most would turn and run at what it would truly mean to become mine… Who among them would believe themselves my equal? What kind of man would I be to settle for someone who believed they were a lesser person than I; because I was born to the Emperor? And his fierce barely noble wife that rose to be so loved that the title Empress was too small to describe her? Then she confirmed my words. "See... I may not be older and wiser... but we are old souls. We see things that can be saved not things to be discarded.”

The quirked a well-groomed brow when she rolled her eyes. “What?” I smiled setting the screw on the cloth covered table. “Was that too corny?”

֍ Cinder ֍

“Freelance contract?” I perked up at hearing that, my exit plan from here needed some external funding. However, that would mean me needing an account for the univs to be paid into. Which I didn’t have. I was seen as Property not as a person in the eyes of the law. A law that Kai and his family had put into place.

My eyes shifted down again, as I’d not let myself dwell too long on that fact. I kept telling myself that Kai was different. However, did I really believe this? Because if I did, why hadn’t I told him about who / what I really was? Why hadn’t I taken off my glove and let him see my hand? Or why had I pushed myself so deep into the table set between us so that there was no way for him to see my foot, that still sat uncovered behind the cloth over the table?

“Sounds like you have it all planned out.” I said in a meek voice, only because I was distracted by my thoughts, as well as the mains panel in the back of #Nainsi. “However, don’t let my younger sister Peony hear you say that. I think she’s been in love with you since she knew the meaning of the word.” The words slipped out without me thinking. And I dropped the driver and rubbed the back of my neck. “Maybe… Let’s not tell her that I told you this, if you ever do come across her, huh?” And here I was asking him to keep a secret.

My hands stopped and I glanced up at the prince who stood before me, and afore of me he transformed into a young boy. Not a crown prince who would one day soon become the next Emperor, but a boy who looked up to his father.

I lowered my voice, because I didn’t want anyone close by to hear what I was about to say. “How is your father doing?” I made a point to say Father, because to us he was the emperor, but to Kai…

The reports on the news were always so clinical, fact filled on the blue fever. But they forgot that this boy here, the one they loved as their prince was also a son. “Don’t feel like you have to answer that. But… you know… if you wanted to talk…” He was smiling and laughing. But being someone who lost her family and didn’t even remember what they looked like… I could understand why he would be hiding himself behind the mirrors of his role.

“I’m sorry.” I shook my head. “I don’t have the right to ask that question.” It was clear by the fact that he never spoke about what was happening in the palace, that maybe he didn’t want to talk about it. And I was being foolish by asking him such personal questions.

“Forget I asked.” I muttered going back to work again.

֍ Kaito ֍

I smiled at her and nodded once. “Why not?” I had been teasing… mostly. But then she seemed to withdraw into herself, and I wondered if I had drifted into that cocky Prince routine. It was never intentional… or at least it rarely was. Though, on occasion, I did forget he the words of a Prince whether or not they were a command… could be viewed as one. I knew that this wasn’t always a reflection on me… it was just the weight I bore… and one I often let slip when I felt comfortable enough with someone. I needed to remember that just because I was at ease… most people…

My subjects…

Not a term I like… were rarely, if ever at ease around me. Except for #Hiro… although #KonnTorin always struck fear in his heart.

I pinched my thumb and forefinger and drew them across my lips. “My lips are sealed.” I said when she mentioned her sister. “Perhaps you could introduce us at the Peace Festival Ball?” I quirked a brow. A wild unruly twist of damp hair loosen itself from my hood and fell over my eyes in a way I could only hope was, devil-may-care-ish. Dipping my toe in the waters couldn’t hurt at all… right?

At the mention of my father, I tried not to let my shoulders slump… As much as I hated the word. Cinder was a subject of the crown and as such… she was deserving of the same protections as the rest of the citizens of the Commonwealth. Father would want me to ensure every citizen felt secure that their country remained strong, even in the face of impossible odds.

“Don’t apologise. Everyone in the Commonwealth deserves to know how their Emperor is fairing.” I chewed on the inside of my lip and then looked back at her. “He’s staying strong, putting the Crowns affairs in order for the transition while he still can. And he’s being kept comfortable. He’s… confident… that… well…” I stopped, not because any of it was untrue. Just that saying he was confident that I could rule well seemed far too boastful a thing to say, while my father lay dying. I swallowed the lump that rose in my throat. He would have wanted me to.

“I spent my whole life preparing for this… I… he has no doubts I can do this. He has taught me everything he possibly can.” All true. I believed it and before he became ill; I believed I could do it too. But when someday could suddenly be tomorrow… doubts crept in. Father would want the people to be assured that their Emperor would be up to the task.

֍ Cinder ֍

“I will make certain she comes to say Hi to you at the ball. As long as you make sure your personal guards don’t cart her off. The last thing she would need is to be known as the girl who was arrested for reaching for the Crown Prince, at the 126th Eastern Commonwealth Ball. That would turn the celebrations into a nightmare.”

Something told me that I had to come clean with #Peony soon. If she found out from someone else that Prince Kaito had been a frequent visitor at the market and to our booth, and that I hadn’t told her. She would be upset and disappointed with me. Kai had been her dream for as long as I could remember.

“I… that’s…” I bit down on my lips and shook my head, listening to Kai. It hadn’t been what I meant. He had stepped right into the princes role and was saying what the news and the palace had been sharing. But as his friend I hadn’t wanted to hear that.

But then again, is that not what I had just been telling myself? that I hadn’t the right to ask him such things. “I didn’t ask as the Emperor or the Princes subject. As your subject I know what the Commonwealth is told daily and on the hour.” I pointed up to the Net Screen behind him, where at a height there was a tall standing image of Kai’s father and our Emperor. With the next update report starting.

“I asked as Kai’s friend. I asked how my friend and his father were doing. However, I am glad that the emperor is doing well, and that the prince is too.”

Biting on my lip, I couldn’t stop myself from speaking. “As a prince you are taught and trained for what the future will hold. But as a son? Can anyone really be prepared for that day to come?” Was I just being too emotional? It was unlike me to even ask. I wasn’t even used to being seen, let alone being someone who asked and said such things.

Turning my stool, I reached out for a power tester on the shelf to my side. #Nainsi didn’t seem to have any charge in her. Which for a well-maintained droid, was unexpected.

֍ Kaito ֍

I had to laugh at the implication that her little sister may be carted off by security. "Oh no, the ball is one of the times I am expected to interact with the people. My security detail gives me a wide berth, and they surely wouldn't apprehend a child."

I could hear her sincerity; it washed over me, cooling my sweat-dampened skin. I took a breath and planted my hands on the cloth-covered table, bracing the weight of the entire Commonwealth that rested on my eighteen-year-old shoulders. "From one friend to another...." I paused. "He... His soul is heavy; he fears that he is leaving me with no weapons to fight the plague that's claiming too many lives." I swallowed the lump that swelled in my throat. "But then..." A ghost of a smile played on my lips. "His burden lifts when he thinks of my mother’s awaiting embrace. And jests at the wallop he'll receive for leaving me so young to the duties I will have to take."

I laughed at that, and the heavy load that had been bearing down on me for days now... eased. The thickness in my throat. I didn't know what it was about Lihn Cinder that let me so easily bear my soul to her. I watched her work delicately on my boyhood companion.

"However." I started, turning to a brighter subject. "Why do you say you would have Peony introduce herself? Do you expect to be swept away by a suitor?" I lifted a brow. "Or many?" I couldn’t deny the sting of jealousy that I truly had no right to claim. All I could do was hope that my words were enough to express that I longed for the chance to see more of her.

֍ Cinder ֍

I turned the volume down on my hearing, the reporter on the screen with a well-maintained grave expression had been giving the same report all morning, and to that the feed scrolling over my vision that I had to disconnect from. There hadn’t been any changes, which had to be a good thing.

The power tester was reading zero voltage, making me frown and scratch my temple. My gaze flowed from the droid to Kai as I lent in once again. My mouth would have dropped open, but I was sitting here in too much shock. He was telling me… Sharing something that should remained private. Tossing out all the thoughts and uncertainties swimming in my mind.

“I’m sure it can’t be easy on him knowing that—” I shook my head, because I didn’t want to say what the world, I was sure had been telling him too.

“The palace medical scientists will work this out.” The words were a whisper, I hoped and wished any divine entities out there, would be listening to our conversation and would take it upon themselves to work it out. And really soon.

I fisted my hands around my tools, I wanted to reach out to him however, something told me that right now Kai needed to speak. He didn’t seem to be the kind of person who took sympathy, but more so it was the look on his face as he spoke which had me shifting towards him. It was the sincere relief all over him, the way his shoulders lifted a little once he was done. The language of his body was speaking volumes louder than his well-mannered self.

“Excuse me?” My mouth dropped open now and I was blinking at him. “Me? To be swept away by a suitor? By many suitors?” I had to repeat his questions. Had he seen me? “Oh yeah… I have a list I’m working down. You know there are lines in front of this booth every evening to take me to dinner, or to hale me a hover.”

How I wished the last one had been real. After a day working hard here at the market, the last thing I looked forward to was never the long walk to the eighteenth floor of the Phoenix Tower.

“I mean you know I’m all wit and charm Kai.” I had to scoff a laugh as I returned my attention to his #Nainsi.

“I’m not going to the ball.” I finally told him. I had other ideas for that night, not that Linh Adri would allow it.

֍ Kaito ֍

I dropped my eyes again; I knew that the researchers would find a cure… or maybe a vaccine. They were dedicated... But I also knew that it wouldn't happen before my father succumbed to the disease.

"They will." I nodded. "I have no doubts, but as a nation and for myself as a son... we have to accept that it won't be on time to save him. But that doesn't mean I've lost hope, and I will support their efforts as tirelessly as my father did." I sounded like a politician again… but it was true.

I cringed a little too though. There was a part of that research that hung over me like a dark cloud. The cyborg draft... how my father had been roped into agreeing to this programme still eluded me. But then... who was I to question a man as great as my father... to question the entire cabinet?

I could see her leaning closer… that little crack in her all-business façade made me feel more secure about the crack in my royal one… Though I knew the crack always remained with me.

Her sarcasm was clear, but I leaned into the pretence. “I don’t doubt it for a second, Li—“ I stopped myself.

“Cinder. So, if I were to add a hover to that line waiting for you every evening; would you choose mine?” I smiled, charmingly of course… but genuine.

I was stunned at her declaration that she wasn’t attending the ball.

“Really?”

But then it dawned on me that she didn’t have an escort... not that she needed one, but if she hadn’t been planning on attending then she wouldn’t have someone lined up to accompany her; which meant that a little gentle nudging might convince her to allow me the honour.

“Not even at the request of a Prince?” I tilted my head. “I would be honoured if you would reconsider and allow me to escort you. You could save me from a dreaded evening of mingling with politicians and the likes. So really, you would be rescuing me.”

֍ Cinder ֍

And there it lay before us, the true facts of the matter, an insight on the boy before me who would become the next Emperor. A role that even being son would over shadow. However, I hoped with all my heart that when the day came, we wouldn’t lose this playful boy in the mix. He stood a little straighter, the Prince of New Beijing winning out as he stated that a vaccine would be found. And with it my eyes flicked back up to the tally and the name of today’s cyborg draft. The name of another cyborg life which would be lost in the hopes to find the answers that hadn’t been found yet.

Clearing my throat, I attempted to push the thoughts of how I could wake up tomorrow with my name flashing on the scroll at the bottom of the Netscreen. And how when that happened Prince Kaito would want nothing to do with me.

When I heard the start of ‘Lihn’ coming from his lips I arched my brow at him. Because we had been through this part. “If you have a hover waiting for me at the end of the day, there best be some steamed buns, hot and ready to be eaten. It’s the only way you can bump up the list.”

Joking with him at a time when others would give him nothing more than a sombre look seemed like something a friend should do. ( Even if this friendship lived on borrowed time and lies. )

The driver in my hand would have fallen if my cyborg grip wasn’t so determined to get into the mains panel of his droid. And some part of me knew that I must have miss heard. Even with my perfect hearing, it was the only way. Why in the Stars would Kai ask me to go to the Ball with him?

“Really Kai? Funny. You had me there for a moment.” I laughed and scoffed all at the same time, pushing some loose strands of hair out of my eyes. “Escorted by the Prince…” still laughing a little bit. “Rescuing you from all your admirers. And all the pretty girls who will want your attention all night long.” He was funny, I had to give him points for it.

֍ Kaito ֍

She was looking at me in a way that I had never seen before... and I don't mean like the girls from my fan clubs. I mean like she could see the weight on my shoulders, not just my imminent ascension to the throne. That weight of being born the greatest Emperor and Empress in known history, rulers that waged peace as fervently as the rulers in eras past waged war and conquest.

I laughed softly. She had a way of peppering these heavy conversations with lighter, happier moments, but she still spoke as though she were beneath me. An unfortunate side effect of my status... though a rarely seen one. But still more preferable than clamouring for my attention. "But you see that is the problem, isn't it." I smiled a genuine smile once more, not a dutiful one. "All the pretty girls." I stressed the words. "When I crave the attention of only one."

My portscreen chimed in my pocket and I ignored it. That was the dream... one epic love like the one my parents shared, but my status seemed to want to steal that chance from me... "There is still sometime before the ball... perhaps I still have time to convince you?" it sounded like a question, though that wasn't how I had intended it. My fingers twitched to sweep the stray hair from her eyes, but I restrained myself.

My portscreen bleated rudely once more. "Pardon me." I slipped it from my pocket, messages from #Hiro lit up the screen.

[HS on the move!!!] ( Our code for Head of security. )

An uninspired one, but we were young at the time. Then,

[Not the best time for teenage rebellion Kaito. Come home.]

I sighed heavily and glanced back at Cinder. "I fear I've caused somewhat of a commotion back home."

֍ Cinder ֍

Rubbing the side of my temples I didn’t have it in me to understand if Kaito was indeed humouring me. Still my mind hadn’t the time to understand why this would be something he would want. He was the Prince of our Commonwealth, and he wasn’t shy of dates.

Before I could answer him, I saw the flash in his pocket and then a split second later the sound. He continued to speak with me, however the port-screen in his pocket flashed and sounded again.

He stepped away to look at his messages. And yet the smile he shared with me, why did it make me want to react in ways I always laughed at other girls for? It was so tender and welcoming. And it made me stab the driver into my palm.

“Stars.” I muttered trying not to react, of course when it came to injury I always somehow managed to hurt my human side of the body, the one which couldn’t be replaced by parts.

Shaking my hand, I glanced up at him upon his return.

“Oh…” a frown set into the creases between my eyebrows.

“Please tell me you didn’t tie your guards up, and leave them undressed in your room to get away? And now… we’ll know they have been found!”

Smiling up at him. “Kai, I’m sorry if you have to go is it okay for me to keep Nainsi? I have work I need to do; however, I promise to work on her next and get her back to you soon.”

He was the prince after all, I couldn’t expect him to stand in the market square speaking with me all day.

֍ Kaito ֍

I watched her rub another grease spot onto the side of her face and smiled... It was strange how such a small thing made someone so much more attractive. Not that the smudge made her prettier... but it was her utter unawareness. Most people and not just girls... were so preoccupied with looking their best, especially in the company of royalty. But Cinder... she was just so happy, eager even, to be her authentic self and she did it effortlessly.

I flinched when she hurt herself. "Really? Trying to wound yourself to avoid coming to the Ball with me? Okay, message received... I'll try again tomorrow." I grinned, fully aware I sounded like a stalker.

I chuckled at her version of events, but I shook my head. "No... I snuck out through the staff wing. Security doesn’t go into the private quarters so it’s an easy dupe." Then I grinned. "But I will keep your plan in mind for next time."

I hadn’t expected her to fix it on the spot… But I felt that if I did have all day to stand here and watch her work; she would get it done. Unless, of course, I was successful in distracting her… because I would certainly try to.

"Of course, you can hold onto her, I wouldn't trust anyone else outside the palace with her." I smiled. I knew my attachment to the Droid was illogical... but in many other ways, it was perfectly logical too. For some reason, I felt like Cinder... of all people, understood that on the same level as I did.

I took a reluctant step back but then I remembered something. "Should I pay you now... or do you want to send the bill to the palace when you’re done?"

֍ Cinder ֍

“Tomorrow? You aren’t going to try again later tonight? Are you slacking in your charm Kaito?” my lips curled up into a small smile, hiding my hand under the fabric over the table between us. “This is not me trying to get out of anything. It’s just how things go.”

“Stars Kai!” I wanted to give him a mother of all eyerolls, however it wasn’t something I could do. Once again reminding myself of the correct protocols when it comes to talking with someone from the Palace. And fine, I knew Kai liked the lack of formalities, but still.

“Please don’t act on my ideas, I’m talented with machines. However, when it comes to people.” I shook my head. “No way close as brilliant there. So, you continue being the kind hearted Prince you are, and let’s not make your guards annoyed at the way you keep slipping them.”

Even if we both knew by now, that his guards must always know where he is. And they were giving him the elution of freedom.

I tapped the shoulder of #Nainsi. “I promise to take good care of her. And I will message you if I find time before the festival to take a look at her.” I told him, so he would know I wouldn’t allow anything to happen to his droid.

Shaking my head once again, I waved him off. “You don’t have to worry about payments. I’m sure the Palace would take care of it when I drop her off.” And then a thought occurred to me. Would he even have access to Univs ( money )? I mean what would he even need to purchase? But I kept that thought to myself as he started to back away.

֍ Kaito ֍

I glanced at my bare wrist as though I were checking a watch… “I mean… the day is still young… so you never know. I was trying to play it cool… but you never let a thing slide, do you?” I didn’t hide the smile that told her to keep that up... I liked it. Maybe a little too much.

“Don’t worry about the guards; they are used to me by now. I either grew up with them or they watched me grow up.” I laughed. “They know how to deal with my wild ways.” I quirked a brow.

“See how you make me sound like the perfect date and yet you still decline? My father says ‘A woman’s mystique is her prerogative, Kaito. It's not for us menfolk to question.’… So being kind-hearted as I am I shall let that go.” I grinned as though I hadn’t just done the exact opposite of what I had said.

I gave Cinder an appreciative nod and a genuine smile. “I know she’s in good hands.” I took a breath. It was harder than it should be to walk away from this woman. “Think about my invitation. You never know if you might change your mind.” I gave a dramatic bow that I immediately regretted. My cheeks even hotter than they already were in this disgustingly hot hoodie.

As I walked away, I glanced back frequently as my thumbs moved swiftly over my portscreen. I replied to #Hiro and hailed a hover to meet me just outside the bustling market. When I was well on my way, I booked a hovercar to take Cinder wherever she wanted to go after the market closed. Making sure the bill would be charged to me no matter how long Cinder stayed after closing. There was no way that a woman like her left early or even on time. I even sent an instruction to my favourite restaurant; to place a box of six steamed buns into the hover. I had instructed it to stop outside at a present time before it continued to the market. A message to play on the screen if she accepted the ride, reading:

“You promised that the steamed buns would put me at the front of your suitor's list? Was that a binding contract?”

I grinned and stepped out of the hover, the guards at the gates rolled their eyes as they waved me through. I headed right to the medical wing.

֍ Cinder ֍

After I saw Kai was out of sight, I let out a deep low and long groan. What were we doing? What was I doing? This thing with the prince up until now had been a friendship of misfits. A Prince and a Mechanic… No… a Cyborg… A cyborg whose name could be drawn in the draft any day now if we were to take into account the number of those who had been picked from New Beijing in the recent weeks.

I lay my head over the table, aware of the looks I had been given when Kai had taken that bow of his. People in the marker turning to see who the boy was and more so, who was he bowing to. Only when they were sure I was a no one, did they all go about their business. However, it didn’t stop me from banging my forehead onto the table.

“Such a fool… Why didn’t I just tell him No! That there was no changing my mind?” Because if I were being honest, in my life Kai was the first friend I had other than #Peony and #Iko. He was the first person to show me some form of respect. And I knew… I knew that would change the moment he found out what I was.

‘Why are you trying to kill yourself?’ The song like voice had me sitting up like a shot.

“What… Huh…. No…. Me…. No…. I….” I couldn’t bring my words together to form a sentence. Closing my eyes, I counted to five and then tried again. “Peony, what are you doing here?” My eyes darted to where I last saw Kai before he turned the corner.

‘I told her you wanted to show her something.’ #Iko rolled up from behind my little stepsister. And then she lifted the cloth over the table so that the two of them could come into the booth. ‘Your new foot?’ #Iko continued when she registered the confusion on my face.

‘No…. You got it? Show Me!’ #Peony was clapping and jumping up and down as soon as she was inside of the booth. ‘Please. Show me.’ She cried out, so I turned in the stool and pushed out my bare foot. It had been hidden under the fabric up until now. ‘Oh… Cinder… it’s perfect.’

#Peony grabbed my hand to pull me up into a big hug, then the two of them started to dance and hum a song they both had been dancing to for practice at home. All the while she giggled and #Iko swooned over all the things we could do now that it wouldn’t hurt me to walk.

I smiled listening to the two of them, and when they weren’t watching my eyes drifted out to the market square. Thinking of the new friend, with new intentions on his mind. And how it made me smile, even when I knew it shouldn’t.

֍ Kaito ֍

As expected, my security was at the main entrance of the palace, waiting for me; along with my new hulking Guard Droid 3.0. The moment I stepped into the room adjacent to Father’s isolation unit I could see that he was exhausted.

“Well, well.” He forced a smile. “There’s my little hellion.” I smiled and took the seat next to the window.

“This new security droid is a little overkill… Can you blame me for ditching it?” I asked wryly.

“Kaito… You are going to be a ruler very soon. A big part of that is accepting that if you want to serve our people you must be protected from those that may harm you. You are the voice of the people now.” I could hear the shaking in his voice, and how hard he struggled to keep his voice steady.

I didn’t respond… there really wasn’t anything I could say. We both knew that he was right. “Was it at least worth it?” And the Emperor was my dad once again. I beamed a smile.

“Oh, it was.” I could perfectly recall Cinder’s grease smeared face and those unusual, unreadable eyes. “I met the girl I’m going to marry one day.”

“Sounds like a familiar story… Have you told her that?” He asked, colour seemed to have returned to his ashen face again.

“I have a feeling that would have gone down as well with her as it did when you said it to Mother.” I chuckled. “I can’t even get her to agree to go to the ball with me.”

“I like the sound of her already.” Dad (only in moments like this he was Dad and not Father) said.

“Of course, you do!” I huffed in mock irritation. “She’s giving me a hard time. You would be thrilled.” I paused and pressed my lips together. “But I think you would like her.”

“Do I get to at least know her name?” He raised a brow.

“So, you can look her up and comm her step-mother about an arrangement? Not a hope old man!” We both laughed but the mirth was cut short when he took a fit of coughing.

That seemed not to be subsiding… he turned away from me and two med droids rushed in. I stood, pressing my hands to the glass. I was that little boy again my face pressed to the glass, only it was my mother behind it and my father’s strong hands steering me out of the room. They were no strong hands to…

Before the thought could finish forming, small, hard-worked hands landed on my shoulders. My fathers hunched from continued the rocking but someone had flipped the switch so I could no longer hear his retching. A med droid lifted a small cup filled with a milky liquid to my father’s lips. The scent of chicken noodle soup had filled the room and a familiar female voice spoke softly.

“Come along, sweet boy. The emperor is well-tended.” I spied the reason she’d come… to bring father his favourite soup which sat on the table to the side of the viewing window.

I allowed Zhao-Darin to lead me from the room, truly feeling like a child again. When the door clicked shut behind us, #Hiro’s mother wrapped me in an embrace, while my security team pretended, they weren’t here.

֍ Cinder ֍

They both stood there motionless.

“Would one of you please say something?” I didn’t dare step forward to reach out. I stood as still as the nights air in summer. It was stifling in the booth with the crowds walking past not giving us a second glance.

“Pea? Iko?” Without warning, Iko shut down. All systems reboot without me asking for it to take place.

“Stars I—” My words cut short when in the next blink #Peony dropped into the chair behind her. For a moment I wasn’t even sure if #Peony was breathing, as I rushed over to the both of them, I let my cyborg senses check the pulse rate and respiratory functions of my step sister as I popped the panel on the back of #Iko.

My step sister was still alive, just fainted. And before I could check the system diagnose #Iko was in reboot.

“Stars!” I rubbed my face, then lightly touched my human hand on #Peony’s cheek. “Hey, come back to me.” What was I thinking? What was wrong with me?

‘Cinder?’ Her soft angelic voice whispered before she punched me in my human arm. ‘Prince Kaito was here? Has been coming here for a while… and you never thought to tell me? You know I am in love with him! He will marry me some day… He just… well… he just doesn’t know it yet.’

Stepping back, I rubbed the spot where she hit me. “It’s safe to say you are fine.” I huffed.

‘How could you Cinder?’ This time it was #Iko who was back, and all powered up. ‘You know that I am in love with Prince Kaito… and that—’ Throwing my hands up in the air I finished it off for her.

“And that he just doesn’t know it yet?” she was rolling back and forward in the small space, each time she rolled forward, her treads hit my human foot. Today they both had good aim.

“I promised him I wouldn’t let his secret out. I couldn’t tell anyone.” Part truth, and part lie. The full truth was that I liked having time with him. that we could talk, joke and just be Cinder and Kai without any onlookers.

‘Start from the beginning again. And tell us Everything! And this time leave Nothing out. I want to know it all ’ #Peony demanded.

‘I want to know if his hair is really as soft as it looks on the Netscreen.’ #Iko added.

I had already told them the full story. It was why the two of them had bugged out. When #Iko had caught me staring out into the distance, she knew something was off. So, I had no choice but to come clean with them, it had always been hard for me to keep anything from these two.

I parted my lips to speak, but before I could, from the far side of the market square, screams boomed, people started to run, and all hell broke lose.

֍ Kaito ֍

I wasn't sure how long I'd slept in that sweaty hoodie... but a quick rapping on the door jolted me awake. I was on the Zhao's couch, and I heard the shuffling of feet and Zhao-darin shushing whoever was at the door. Then hushed whispers were exchanged, followed by much louder shooing. I pushed myself into a sitting position, pushing the hood back and dragging my hands through my matted hair. Then it came back to me... I had sat here for who knows how long talking to #Hiro about anything and everything other than my becoming Emperor or my father’s illness. I told him all about Cinder too.

"Mom... What's going on?" #Hiro asked when his mother came back up along the narrow hallway. Her expression was grim.

"Kaito… darling." She said; all seriousness and pity, and none of her usual formality. "There's a press officer waiting for you outside the staff wing."

Both #Hiro and I leapt to our feet. "Father?" I blurted out before I could rationalise that he was still in stage two.

"No. The emperor still lives. There's been an outbreak."

I was rushing through the corridors, and ten people were speaking to me all at once and all I could think about was Cinder. A woman had been handed a death sentence and I was only thinking of her. That wasn't what a ruler did. That was what a boy did.

"We have prepared a statement."

"Quarantine protocol has been followed to the letter."

"Your Highness, the market should be shut down to take all appropriate measures."

Then it hit me. The market. I was at the market... I would have passed dozens of people on the way in... I had taken a hovercar that could have been used by who knows how many people in the last few hours. "Stop!!" I yelled at them all. Several people jumped back; one young press office intern looked like she may cry. "Send for a med droid. I was at the market today." Now they all took steps backwards. "I need to be tested for the virus before we can go any further."

֍ Cinder ֍

‘Cinder?’ the terrified and shaky voice whispered my name. ‘We’ve been hiding here for so long. It’s getting hotter, and I... I can’t breathe.’ #Peony had been crying, but I pushed the damp rag to her mouth and nose.

“Shh... Don’t talk. Let me think.” I didn’t want her to fall sick. Also, I didn’t want us all to spend the night dealing with Quarantine protocols. “Okay.” I pushed the shutters up at the front of the booth as I lay on the ground for the fourth time. I was waiting for the guards to clear away.

‘They are setting fire to the market?’ #Iko told us, and I could see and feel the flames getting hotter.

“Let’s go, move quietly and quickly. Out of the booth and down the side alley, we can be out of here without being seen.” I told them both.

‘But what if we are sick now too?’ #Peony asked now tears flowing down her cheeks.

I cupped her face. “Be brave little flower. We are not sick. You are Not Sick. Now come on, let’s go.” Guiding her out under the tight gap before I reached back to the table and picked up #Nainsi. I had given Kai my word that I would fix her. And now with the outbreak, who knew when I would be let back into my booth again. So, the droid was coming with us.

The three of us moved low and kept out of sight. We stayed in the shadows until we knew we were clear of the guards before blowing out a deep breath. “That was close.” I closed my eyes leaning into a wall before I heard a hover coming to a stop in front of me.

Had we gotten caught? Were they going to take us for not following the strict Quarantine protocol after an outbreak?

‘Linh Cinder? This hover has been booked for you by Prince Kaito, Crown Prince of the Eastern Commonwealth. ID Number: #0082719057.’

“You must have the wrong booking.” I told it, but the door to the hover opened and it was empty, but a big box sat on the first seat. There had to be a mistake?

‘Cinder I can hear footsteps, let’s just take it or we will get caught.’ #Peony tugged at my hand and then climbed in with #Iko following closely behind. I handed over #Nainsi before getting in myself with the door closing behind us.

#Iko opened the box to find six steamed buns which were still warm, then the screen came to life with a message playing out.

“You promised that the steamed buns would put me at the front of your suitor's list? Was that a binding contract?”

‘Stars!’ #Peony and I both said at the same time; however, I was sure for very different reasons.

I was rolling up my step sisters sleeves, checking her over before doing the same to me. The hover hadn’t started moving, and then I remembered that I’d not given it a destination. “Okay, we are both clean, I think we are okay.” I told her but she was already biting into a bun.

‘All this stress makes a girl hungry.’ She said with a mouthful. And I now allowed myself to smile. It had been a close call.

Telling the hover to take us to the Taihang District. “It’s too early to go home just yet, I don’t want to explain to Adri why you were here.” Pointing back to the market. “I need to find some parts at the junk yard. And the hover means no long walk there.” Making a note that I would have to find a way to pay Kai back for this. I wasn’t going to accept such a gift from him.

‘I don’t want to have to fight with mom, not after eating such good buns, you should try one.’ Seeing her less scared, more relaxed after the tears in her eyes gave me a sense of ease too. However, when my gaze fell to her hands on the box, I saw them trembling.

Placing my human hand over hers on the box I said. “You enjoy them, your Prince charming sent them.” Even if I could feel the fear still lingering in her body and on her face. “We are okay. If we stayed for the guards, they would have kept us most of the night. And I have so much work I need to do. We don’t have the luxury to sit around all evening, we need to spend the time making univs.”

#Iko didn’t protest, she pointed to the screen and said one word. ‘Explain!’

֍ Kaito ֍

While we waited for the med droid my entourage left me in relative peace. The doom and gloom on all of their faces was plain. No doubt they were contemplating the fate of the Commonwealth if the heir-apparent died before siring an heir.

I couldn't think about it... it was too much. It would leave us too weak. There were too many threats... the plague... the Lunar Queen. The Commonwealth couldn't be left without a protector. Instead, I used the fleeting moments of still to write a comm to Cinder.

A simple [ Please tell me you’re, okay?]

That I sent just as the soft whirring of threads on the thick carpet approached. I knew she didn’t owe me an answer… but there was the tightness in my chest not knowing if Cinder had been caught up in it all, or worse… her name could be on that list.

I didn't wince as the needle pricked the tender flesh on the inside of my elbow and I stood confidently as my sample disappeared inside the machine. This was my job now, to appear... no to be fearless, to face any challenge with confidence and determination. While on the inside my heart swell at the thought of being reunited with my father even if it was just for a few hours… maybe even a whole day. To hold his hand as he slipped away, a goodbye that few people were given the chance of in the middle of this pandemic. To follow him into the next world a few days later.

But no. I wouldn't let it show. I wouldn't let it happen. I refused to let this disease take me. I would stand by my people until I could put an end to this crisis. When this virus was wiped from our planet then I would gladly surrender to whatever fate. But not before then.

"Letumomsis Virus not detected." The soothing too-human voice of the palace issue med-droid trilled. The staff all eased immediately, and the new intern did indeed sob now. We were moving again and all the new information that had been pinged to the staff came at me in wave after wave.

I entered my suite and closed the door before any of the staff could follow me. I couldn't meet the cabinet and address the city in this sweaty hoody. The stylists had already laid out clothing. There was no time, so I approved their choices and made my way to my bathroom to shower faster than I ever had in my life. As I dressed the stylists returned and again for expedience, I allowed them to dry and style my hair. I hated that they had a point about not addressing a city in a panic, looking like I had rushed to address them.

#KonnTorin was waiting in my living room the moment I was ready. This man must have the staff sending him real-time updates; he always appeared at exactly the right time. "The press officers have written an address for you. Although..." he added before I could even raise a brow. "I know that you would prefer to speak for yourself, so I have listed the facts of the day just for reference." He handed me a tablet.

I quickly perused the bullet-pointed list and he both stepped out into the hall. The security and press officers had clearly been subdued upon #KonnTorin's arrival. We made our way, yet again, to the front steps of the Palace to meet the reporters. This was a much more informal affair; no rows of chairs were laid out or banners hung.

On the walk, I had memorised the list, so I handed the tablet to the intern with the streaky makeup and watery eyes, who had begun shaking now as she saw the cameras and drones ready to capture the impromptu speech I was about to give. I was fitted with the same headset the security and staff wore and I tapped on hers. "Your job will be to stay inside and monitor the net feeds. If anything, relevant comes up..." I tapped my earpiece. "You let me know." She nodded and her shoulders sagged with relief.

"Of course, Your Highness." she nodded. I stood taller when I smiled at her. Then I stood tall too and stepped out to the podium and the awaiting media.

֍ Cinder ֍

‘That is all? 𝓣𝓗𝓐𝓣 𝓘𝓢 𝓐𝓛𝓛? Oh, I am so not happy with you.’ #Iko chided me.

Telling them of my friendship with the boy they only saw as the prince hadn’t been the same in their points of view. #Iko said that he was smitten by me, whereas #Peony out right told me, I was blind to the fact he wanted more than to be friends. Which up until today I wouldn’t have believed. Sure, Kai and I had our back and forth, there had been joking, however never once had I forgotten two facts. 1. That Kai was the next emperor in line and our royal prince. And 2. That I was less than. I wasn’t seen as a person, as a human. I knew in my heart of heart, that if Kaito knew what I really was, our friendship would come to an end. And still I had enjoyed our time together.

“I can’t believe this is what you want to concentrate on right now. You both saw how there was an outbreak in the market square right? People will die, and the market will be closed. It means there is no way we will be allowed back there for a while.” Trying to change the topic, which wasn’t as easy as it normally would be.

#Peony looked thoughtful until my eyes came to catch hers. ‘Oh no you are not changing subjects on us. I’m mad at you too. It’s just that I’m so hungry and Iko is doing such a marvellous deal with it, that I feel it rude to interrupt her right now.’ #Peony waved the bun around as she spoke.

Just for saying what she had, I stole the half-eaten bun in her hand and bit into it myself. However, the joy of eating had been replaced by nerves and fear. We had come so close, and now sat in a hover I had the time to contemplate the steps and actions I had to take to keep those I loved safe. And now that they were both our of the hands of danger, there was still a sensation in the pits of my dread of what could have been.

As the hover dropped us off outside the gates of the Taihang District junk yard, my portscreen told me I had a message and then my retina display have the green text scrolling past my vision. The comms was from Kaito, and that’s when I understood the feeling growing inside of me. Kai was in the market today! He was there to see me… and to ask for my help with his droid… How hadn’t I thought of that fact until now? I knew things had been hectic for me. However, I was a terrible friend!

I started to pull a reply together. [ I am fine, the outbreak was on the other side of the square. How are you? Are you okay? Are you safe? ] But as I wrote it, I knew I couldn’t send it. It was a message from someone who cared. And by now the one thing I grew to understand, is that I couldn’t / shouldn’t care for him. I deleted it and started another as we disembarked the hover. [ All fine here. Are you okay? ] However, this time before I could send it the Netscreens all around us came to life with images from the market square early in the day. The reports giving out the details of what happened and then I was frozen at seeing where and who the outbreak of Letumosis had infected.

‘Isn’t that Chang Sacha?’ #Peony asked in a whisper as the images show her face on the big Netscreen. Large, boil-like patches in shades of blue appeared on the skin, the tell-tale sign of her being infected by Letumosis. Then on her arms we could see the patches of red, rimmed with a bruise-like splotch of bluish purple. The sound of her cries to her son #Sunto to stay away from her, made me look away as #Iko rolled next to us and #Peony held my hand tightly as she cried watching.

The reports said that five people had been impacted by coming in contact with #ChangSacha, and that the prince was about to speak. I closed my eyes and deleted my reply to Kai. He was safe, if he was about to speak it meant he was well and not infected by the blue fever. He had come so close to it too, and it was because of me. It was best if I didn’t contact him. It was best for him that he never saw me again.

“Come on, we need to get those parts before the junk yard closes.” I told them.

‘Cinder, no. I want to watch Prince Kaito.’ #Peony and #Iko remained before the Netscreens as I started into the heart of the yard, I had work I had to do, I had to get out of this city even more now than before. If the Palace find out that the prince came this close to the plague, it wouldn’t be long until they up the draft numbers to find a cure.

֍ Kaito ֍

I waited for the obligatory flashing and chattering to stop; then I placed my hands on the podium. "Today is a sad day for New Beijing. I know that many of you may be wondering why... today a member of the royal family is addressing you regarding the new letumosis cases." I paused and let my gaze drift across the gathered reporters.

"I know that most of you will have seen the footage of the bakery that had to be burned to the ground today in the market square. Many of you may not be aware however, that this was the fourth known infection of the virus in a string of sixteen cases; within a ten-kilometre radius of the market square."

I began listing the names, my eyes never looking away from the cameras and crews... my hands in plain view, letting my people know, I had remembered their names. I had a feeling this was a list of names that I would never forget. My father had delivered several such speeches during the darkest days in this city.

"Bao Akiko, 24. Ryu Thein, 14. Mao Haruko, 58. Chang Sacha, 35..." The list wore on and my soul sank with each name I had memorised. As I reached the last one the intern's small voice came across my earpiece and with a sigh and heart heavier than I could bear. "Two more cases have just been traced to the marketplace outbreak. Toshi Lei Ling, 19 and her 16-day old son... Toshi Kaito."

There was a collective gasp. This wasn't the first baby that had likely been named for me. Given that the infant’s mother was my age, I had little doubt this was the case this time.

"This day is one of the darkest days that we have seen in this city in many months. The Palace medical researchers are working tirelessly to find any solution to cure or halt the spread of this indiscriminate disease. Temporary testing facilities are being set up in key points surrounding the marketplace; all those that wish to be tested may attend. But I urge you all; please don't attend without scheduling a visit. If you experience any symptoms, please isolate yourself and call for immediate medical assistance." I paused for a long moment.

"We must never lose hope, we must protect our citizens by following the directions of the medical experts and the Med Droids designed for the purpose of stemming this spread. Do not lose faith, our strength and determination will deliver us from the clutches of this dark period in our history. Stay safe, stay well... stay strong."

I stepped away from the podium as the press all clamoured to have questions answered; I left the head press officer to field those and deliver instructions regarding the testing centres and proper protocol for those with symptoms. And to deliver the news about the closure of the market for a few days.

As soon as I was inside and out of sight a much dishevelled #Hiro was waiting for me. "Shit... Kai... a baby? You think..." He trailed off and my curt nod told him that yes... I had made the same assumptions; I saw a shiver run down my friend's spine. But I didn't acknowledge it as I checked my comms, no response.

I sighed, heavily. She didn't owe me an answer I knew that and yet... my stomach was roiling. I briefly entertained tracking the hover I had sent, at least to see if she had accepted the ride... but I promptly shut the app. That was a step too far, I couldn't violate her privacy like that.

"Her name wasn't on the list." I repeated as I walked towards the elevators.

'No.' #Hiro squeezes my shoulder. 'She wasn't on the list. She's fine, Kai.'

֍ Cinder ֍

The night was warm like any other making my clothes stick whenever I stood still for a moment too long. I craved the touch of cooling water on my skin, anything to wash away the fear of what we had escaped from the market place. I had left #Peony and #Iko watching the news unfold outside the junk yard, because I wasn’t sure I could watch and hear Kai on the screen without giving into the urge to reply to him.

“It’s for the best.” I told myself.

There was a rush of wind, I made the mistake of hoping it would cool me, however I found the warm air stifling as I worked. Behind me lay a box full of parts, and I was in search for more so that I could dismantle them from their battered and destroyed homes.

I kept my head down. There was little to no light in this far corner, which was why I always made my way here first. People liked to stay in the front, where the lights from the Netscreens and the street gave them visibility, where there seemed to be a little resemblance of order. They didn’t like to dig for what they wanted, unlike me. Who had no choice but to make my booth work from a majority of parts coming from here, fixed up and cleared to work better than when they were new.

I could hear the reporters on the Netscreens talking about what was happening as they waited for the prince to speak, making me tune the sound out.

“It’s for the best.” I muttered to myself once again.

The more I attempted to stay clear of Kai, the more I was drawn to learn what it was he was about to share.

“It’s not like I am going to see him again.” I muttered, then found myself turning the news feed on so that I could watch and listen as I worked. The images began to play on my retina display and soon I saw Kai stood there, finding the mask of his role plastered on his face was chilling. All at once he was the Kai I knew and was my friend and then not.

I found an old, disassembled droid as I dug into the heaped metal before me, my hands going to work on what little was left that was worth salvaging as the people fell silent in front of their Prince, and then Kai spoke.

I could see the heaviness in his eyes, the way he focused on the lens of the cameras, and yet there was an offset to his shoulders that others would miss. Even I would have if he hadn’t been stood at my booth for hours on end.

He positioned himself so not to hide, as he addressed his people. Did they understand that behind the clothes he wore, and the title he was born to, was a nineteen-year-old boy too? I closed my eyes, but the images and the sound did not stop as he started to name the victims.

Bao Akiko, age 24.

Ryu Thein, age 14.

Mao Haruko, age 58.

Chang Sacha, age 35….

I was surprised for an instant; I hadn’t known Chang Sacha’s age. All I knew was that she understood I was a cyborg and for that reason alone she despised me. However, right now. In this gut-wrenching moment, all of that seemed full of despondency. Who could at a time like this hold on to such notions to their hearts.

As my mind reeled, Kai kept speaking. Two supplementary names were added, and the world felt like it had come to a standstill.

Toshi Lei Ling, aged 19, and her son Toshi Kaito only sixteen days old.

“Stars!”

My hands dropped the driver I had been holding, and I gasped. The baby was the first of his kind. Until now, no infant had been taken ill by the blue plague. I shook my head. This couldn’t be happening. But it was. The weight of Toshi Kaito’s name, would be one no earthen would forget. The dreams his mother would have had for the boy. The fact that she clearly named the child after the Prince, who now shared with us the reason for the baby’s death… Some part of me understood the gravity of this information would certainly drag Kai down as well as the rest of New Beijing.

I terminate the feed after Kaito stepped out of the view of the cameras, the rest we had heard time and time again.

“Stars…” I still couldn’t process the information. A comm came in from #Peony drawing me back from my thoughts.

To Cinder : Where are you?

I replied right away.

To Gōngzhǔ (Princess) Peony : Far western side of the yard.

It wasn’t long before I could hear #Peony and #Iko’s voices with the trends of #Iko on the gravel as they made their way to me.

‘Please tell me you saw and heard that.’ #Peony asked the moment she saw me, and I nodded my head in answer. ‘So, you know we have to go and sooner rather than later.’ There was an edge to her voice now as she worked her fingers.

“What do you mean? To the testing centres?” I asked.

‘Cinders… No… did you not hear what the prince said?’ She looked flustered, her eyes darting to Iko and then me aga. ‘Cinder!’ she huffed before repeating the part she wanted to bring my attention to.

‘𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝒫𝒶𝓁𝒶𝒸𝑒 𝓂𝑒𝒹𝒾𝒸𝒶𝓁 𝓇𝑒𝓈𝑒𝒶𝓇𝒸𝒽𝑒𝓇𝓈 𝒶𝓇𝑒 𝓌𝑜𝓇𝓀𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓉𝒾𝓇𝑒𝓁𝑒𝓈𝓈𝓁𝓎 𝓉𝑜 𝒻𝒾𝓃𝒹 𝒶𝓃𝓎 𝓈𝑜𝓁𝓊𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃 𝓉𝑜 𝒸𝓊𝓇𝑒 𝑜𝓇 𝒽𝒶𝓁𝓉 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓈𝓅𝓇𝑒𝒶𝒹 𝑜𝒻 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝒾𝓃𝒹𝒾𝓈𝒸𝓇𝒾𝓂𝒾𝓃𝒶𝓉𝑒 𝒹𝒾𝓈𝑒𝒶𝓈𝑒.’

‘The Palace medical researchers are working tirelessly to find any solution to cure or halt the spread of this indiscriminate disease.’ Her eyes never once leaving me as she waited for the univ to drop.

‘Cinder… If the Palace is going to work harder… That means the Cyborg draft could be doubled or tripled. And if they up the amount of univs they are offering the families… I’m not sure even I could stop mom. Not that I have any power in the matter.’

“Stars!” My body felt like it was hit with a high-speed hover.

֍ Kaito ֍

As I walked back through the palace, I heard the hushed whispers... My blood boiled that they were all about how the child was named for me and not about the fact that a baby... a new born baby, had died. This disease was evolving before our  eyes and all they cared about was the headlines. As I proceeded closer to the wing that the royal family lived in, where the staff were older, trusted, and loyal employees, staff that knew how father and I were dedicated to the people… the  whispers grew more and more sympathetic. There were hushed whispers about the baby and his mother, the fourteen-year-old girl and some of the others.

#Hiro remained at my heel, waiting for the privacy of my chambers for us to speak freely. But  before we could even reach my corridor the unthinkable happened. #SybilMira and her entourage intercepted us. Her attendants and security bowed (The latter not too low, as surely assassins lay in wait behind gossamer drapes) #Sybil merely dipped her chin.

My father's words replayed in my head. ‘She is not royal; we do not bow.’

"Mira-mei." I forced a smile. "To what do I owe this unexpected pleasure?"

"Come now, Kaito -" She started to tell me again not to address her so formally.

‘Your Royal Highness.’ #Hiro corrected in a diplomatic tone the even #KonnTorin would have been proud of... had he (a commoner) not just corrected the Head Thaumaturge of Luna. I didn't flinch. I just nodded, my head angling to the side and my gaze fixed in a way that showed her I would be addressed in no other way.

I longed to be Kaito... Kai. But not to her.

‘Your Royal Highness.’ She amended but her gaze was fixed on #Hiro. I spared a glance and saw his eyes had glossed over. What the hell was she doing to him? ‘We were just retiring for the evening and your newscast was brought to our attention. It was a rather... stirring speech.’

#Hiro began to slowly drift forward. Stars!! What was this witch playing at!? ‘I wished to express my condolences at the loss of your namesake... that was surely a startling discovery.’ There was glee in her eyes, I could swear to it.

"Many died today... more than those mentioned in my speech. The tragedy here is not in a name it is in the loss of children, parents and loved ones." I said as plainly as I could.

‘There are no cameras here Your Highness... you need not stand on ceremony.’ She taunted. ‘Save the…’ She paused  dramatically. ‘Arousing… speeches for your adoring public.’ That word had my guards bristling.

"I find if one has nothing important to say it’s often wise to remain silent." I smiled smugly; #KonnTorin's words slid easily off my tongue.

Then in a flurry of movements that were impossible to track #Hiro was on his knees clutching at #Sybil's white coat as he gazed longingly at the woman. ‘You are so beautiful!’ He wailed; before the last syllable left his lips #Mira's white-haired guard had a blade angle at his throat and a pure rage lit up his normally dull greyish eyes, his teeth bared like an animal.

֍ Cinder ֍

“We are done.” I threw the last of the parts into the now full to the brim box, standing up to stretch myself free from the knots in my human muscles.

‘Finally, those steamed buns hit the spot. But now I need something more to eat.’ #Peony was on her feet.

While I worked, she and #Iko had been spending the time talking about and dissecting Kai’s speech. They spoke about young Toshi Kaito and the pain the loss of a baby would have on our generation, how the death of a baby would be on the minds of everyone as we all tried to heal and move forward. However, I wasn’t certain how we would be able to move forward from such a thing.

We started to walk out from the junk yard, silence all around us, with only the sound of our footsteps being heard. It was so late that even the Netscreens had been powered down for the night. I could feel just how lost and deflated the three of us were feeling. Today had taken a toll on us as well as the rest of the Eastern Commonwealth

‘Hey Cinder…. Cinders…’ #Iko’s high pitched voice hurt my ears as I turned the volume down. ‘Didn’t you say you needed some kind of a belt for the hover Adri wants fixed?’ Now she had my undivided attention.

“A magbelt?” I asked glancing over my shoulder towards where she rolled herself off into the dark again.

‘Here… this banged up hover at the end here, I think it has one.’ She turned on her bring blue light to highlight what she was speaking of.

‘No, not now. come on Cinder, we have been here for hours.’ However, it was too late. I was already making my way towards the spot determined to have the Linh family hover fixed before the week of the ball.

֍  ֍  ֍  ֍

Two further hours had passed with the dampened down excitement. The hover hadn’t been a hover at all. It had been a twenty second century vehicle called a car. I had to banter my way into dragging it out of the junk yard and letting #Peony works her magic on the guard. She told him how it was a heap of crap, and how he could do with the space for something that could make him money. Finally, the man had agreed just to get the three of us out of his hair, he even agreed to help move it with a tow to my work space as it was on his way home, and we were the ones keeping him from his dinner.

Now stood in the underground space we pulled a cover over the old car so that it was out of sight just in case #LinhAdri ever came down here ( not that it would happen ).

‘Now can we go home to eat?’ #Peony wined stomping her feet, however she was smiling. This find was a break through. It was a sign that things were starting to move in the right direction for us and our plan to leave New Beijing.

“Come on.” I nudged her shoulder. “When the market reopens, I will buy you a box of cakes okay.” She made me pinkie promise this fact and asked #Iko to witness it too.

When we stood on the street, the light from above showing our smiles, our hair stuck to our foreheads, and oil marks over our clothes and faces. #Iko was talking a mile a minute as to where we would go first when we all left. And how there was no holding us back now.  

“Hey Peony, you look like me.” I smiled pointing to my cheek. “You have an oil mark here.” Wiping the back of my glove over my forehead.

‘Oh… No! Mom will be so mad, look at my clothes.’ However, even though we should have been worried, this wasn’t taking away from the fact that we were one more step closer to our get out of jail plan. ‘Is it gone?’ she asked wiping her own hand on the mark.

“No, you are missing it.” I took a few steps closer to her and stopped.

‘What?’ she asked, her eyes searching mine.

“No!” my voice cracked at what I saw on my young stepsisters face.

‘Cinder, you are scaring me. what is it.’ She moved closer, until my hand shot up to stop her. And then realisation hit her. ‘No… No... It cannot be! I don’t want to die! I don’t want to!!!’ But it was. On her cheek where only hours ago there was nothing, now there was a round boil like patch. Red rimmed with a bruise-like splotch of bluish purple.

“Peony…” I heaved  “I…” I went to step closer to her, but this time she was the one to jump out of my reach.

Shaking her head, with tears rolling down her eyes. #Iko tried to move closer too, but she wouldn’t let us. ‘Stop… Please… Stop Cinder… There is nothing you can do. Iko call for a med droid. ’

“NO! They will take you away… Peony… NO!” I cried out.

‘What is going on here?’ The harsh voice of #LinhAdri came from behind us. I wasn’t sure how long she had been standing there, anger and venom coating her voice. ‘What time do you call this? You were meant to be home hours ago Peony… Cinder… You cannot keep her out….’ Her voice trailed off and her eyes were wide when she saw her youngest daughters face.

‘Please mom, stay away…’ #Peony sobbed.

I wanted to cry, everything in my body was pushing me to break down. The pressure was building up behind my eyes but there were no tears. I cursed the day I had been given a second life, because with it a part of my human self-had been killed, and now I couldn’t even cry for the ones I loved.

‘NO!!!! MY BABY! NO…. No… NO….’ #LinhAdri reached out her hand crying.

I took another step closer towards #Peony and she moved until her back was up against the wall. Her voice cracked into a deep waling sob. ‘Cinder, you need to go, you need to take mom too… Get away from me… I… I… I cannot take you down with me.’

The sound of a med droid approaching shocked us all out of shock, we all turned to look at the hover coming closer and closer. ‘Please mom…. Go! Get a way from me before they take you too.’

#LinhAdri fell to the ground, refusing to leave, and I did not move.

“We are not leaving you to face this alone.”

End of Chapter

Cinder: Cress, you're white. You can do anything.