Chapter Thirty-Seven

SHE LAY ON HER BACK, LISTENING TO THE STEADY TAPPING OF her metal fingers against the white resin floor of her white resin prison cell. Of all the thoughts that should have been taking up her mind, a single moment seemed captured in her thoughts, stuck on endless repeat.

Market day, the humid air, the smell of Chang Sachas sweet rolls permeating the city square. Before any of this had happenedbefore Peony had gotten sick, before Levana had come to Earth, before Kai had asked her to the ball. She was just a mechanic, and he was the prince with all the charms she pretended to be immune to. And he was there, before her, while she tottered on a single foot and tried to calm her rapidly beating heart. How she could barely meet his gaze. How he leaned forward, forced her to see him, smiled.

There.

That moment. That smile.

Again and again and again.

Cinder sighed and changed the tempo of her tapping fingers.

The net was rife with vids from the ball. She had watched exactly 4.2 seconds of the footage via her netlinkher in her dirty ball gown tumbling down the stepsbefore shutting it off. The footage made her look like a madwoman. Surely, every human on Earth would bid her good riddance when Queen Levana claimed her and took her back to Luna. For her trial.

She heard the guards footsteps, muffled, on the other side of the cell door. Everything around her was white, including the brilliantly bleached cotton jumpsuit theyd put her in when shed been forced to discard Peonys destroyed gown and the bits of silk glove that hadnt already been melted or ripped away. They hadnt yet bothered to turn out the eye-straining lights either, leaving her restless and exhausted. She was beginning to wonder if it would be a relief when the queen came for her, if maybe she would at least be allowed a moments sleep.

And shed only been there for fourteen hours, thirty-three minutes, and sixteen seconds. Seventeen seconds. Eighteen.

The door clunked, startling her. She squinted at the tiny window that had opened up in the door, seeing the shadow of a mans head on the iron gate. The back of his head. None of the guards would look at her.

You have a visitor.

She propped herself up on her elbows. The emperor?

The guard snorted. Yeah, right. His shadow disappeared from the grate.

Kindly open the door if you would, said a familiar voice in a familiar accent. I must speak with her in private.

Cinder climbed to her one foot, leaning against the glass-smooth wall.

Shes under top security, said the guard. I cant let you go in. You must speak with her through the grate.

Dont be ridiculous. Do I look like a threat to security?

Cinder hopped to the window and bounced on her toes. It was Dr. Erland, holding a pale linen bag. He still wore his lab coat, with the tiny silver spectacles on his nose and wool hat on his head. Though he had to crane his head back to meet the guards eye, his stance was undaunted.

I am the leading scientist of the royal letumosis research team, said Dr. Erland, and this girl is my prime test subject. I require blood samples from her before she leaves the planet. He whipped a syringe out of the bag. The guard staggered back in surprise before folding his arms over his chest.

I have my orders, sir. Youll have to obtain an official release from the emperor to be allowed entrance.

Dr. Erland let his shoulders slump and tucked the syringe back into the bag. All right. If thats protocol, I understand. But instead of turning away, he fiddled with the cuffs of his sleeves, his expression momentarily darkening, before he flashed another grin at the guard. There, you see? he said, his voice sending an odd ripple down Cinders spine. The doctor continued, the cadence of his words as soothing as a song. I have obtained the necessary release from the emperor. He swooped his hands toward the cell door. You may open the door.

Cinder blinked as if to clear cobwebs from her mind. It seemed Dr. Erland meant to get himself arrested as well, but then the guard turned toward her with a dazed expression and swiped his ID before the scanner. The door opened.

Cinder stumbled back, catching herself on the wall.

Thank you kindly, said the doctor, entering the cell without turning his back on the guard. Ill ask that you give us a bit of privacy. I wont be but a minute.

The guard shut the door without argument. His footsteps echoed off down the corridor.

Dr. Erland turned around and snatched a breath when his bright blue eyes fell on Cinder. His lips parted momentarily before he turned his head away and squeezed his eyes shut. When he opened them again, the look of amazement had softened over his features. If there were ever any doubt, it is gone now. It may do you good to practice controlling your glamour.

Cinder pressed a hand against her cheek. Im not doing anything.

The doctor cleared his throat uncomfortably. Dont worry. Youll get the hang of it. He cast his gaze around the cell. Quite the predicament youve gotten yourself into, isnt it?

Cinder lifted her finger toward the door. You have to teach me that trick.

It would be an honor, Miss Linh. Its really quite simple. Focus your thoughts, twist your subjects thoughts toward you, and clearly state your intent. Internally, of course.

Cinder frowned. It didnt sound simple at all.

The doctor waved away the look. Dont worry. Youll find it comes quite naturally when you need it, but we havent time for lessons. I must be quick before anyones suspicions are raised.

My suspicions are raised.

He ignored her, his gaze sweeping down Cinders formthe white jumper, bulky and loose over her slender frame, the metal hand dinged and scratched from her fall, the multicolored wires that dangled from the cuffed pant leg.

Youve lost your foot.

Yeah, I noticed. Hows Kai?

What? Arent you going to ask how I am?

You look fine, she said. Better than usual, actually. It was truethe fluorescent light of the cell took ten years off his features. Or more likely, she realized, it was the lingering effects from using his Lunar gift on the guard. But how is he?

Confused, I think. The doctor shrugged. I do believe he was a bit smitten with you. To find out you were, wellit was a lot to take in, Im sure.

Cinder ran a frustrated hand through her hair, tangled from fourteen hours of nervously bunching it up in her fists. Levana forced him to choose. Either marry her or hand me over. Otherwise she said she would declare war based on some law about harboring Lunars.

It seems he made the right decision. He will be a fine ruler.

Thats not the point. Levana wont be satisfied with his decision for long.

Of course not. Nor would she have let you live for long had he chosen the marriage. She very much wants you dead, more than you realize. Which is why she must believe that Kai has done everything in his power to keep you confined and is willing to give you over to her as soon as she returns to the moonwhich wont be long now, I think. Otherwise there could be some horrible consequences for himand the Commonwealth.

Cinder squinted at him. It seems to me like he is doing everything he can to keep me confined.

Indeed. He twiddled his thumbs. That complicates matters, doesnt it?

What do you?

Why dont we sit? You cannot be comfortable standing on one foot like that. Dr. Erland sank down onto the cells single cot. Cinder slid down the wall opposite him.

How is your hand?

Fine. She flexed her metal fingers. The joint on my pinky is busted, but it could be worse. Oh, and hey She gestured at her temple. No hole in my head. Im still happy about that.

Yes, Ive heard how the queen attacked you. It was your cyborg programming that saved you, wasnt it?

Cinder shrugged. I guess so. I received some message about bioelectrical manipulation, right before IId never gotten that message before, not even around your glamour.

It was the first time a Lunar had made you do something, other than simply believe or feel something. And it seems your programming worked just as it was meant toanother impressive decision by your surgeon, or perhaps it was Linh Garans prototype that did it. Either way, Levana must have been caught quite off guard. Although I suspect the fireworks display you put on may not have endeared you to many Earthens.

I didnt know how to control it. I didnt know what was happening. She pulled her knees up to her chest. Its probably a good thing Im in here. Theres nowhere out there I would fit in, not after that. She gestured to some nonexistent place beyond the white walls. Good thing Levanas going to put me out of my misery.

Is she, Miss Linh? Thats a shame. I was hoping you would have inherited more gumption from our people.

Sorry. I seem to have lost my gumption when my foot fell off during a live netfeed.

The doctor wrinkled his nose at her. You worry so much about such silly things.

Silly?

Dr. Erland smirked. I came down here for a very important reason, you know, and we havent got all day.

Right. Cinder grumbled as she rolled up her sleeve and extended her arm toward him. Take as much blood as you want. I wont be needing it.

Dr. Erland patted her elbow. That was a ruse. I am not here for blood samples. There will be Lunars in Africa to test if I need them.

Cinder let her arm sink back into her lap. Africa?

Yes, I am going to Africa.

When?

In about three minutes. There is much work to be done, and it will be difficult to complete it in a jail cell, so Ive decided to go to where the first cases of letumosis were documented, in a small town east of the Sahara Desert. He spun his fingers through the air, as if gesturing at an invisible map. I hope to find some carrier hosts and convince them to become a part of my research.

Cinder unrolled her sleeve. So why are you here?

To invite you to join me there. When its convenient, of course.

Cinder scowled. Gee, thanks, Doc. Ill check my calendar to see when Ill be available again.

I hope you will, Miss Linh. Here, I have a gift for you. Two gifts, in fact. Dr. Erland reached into the bag and pulled out a metal hand and a metal foot, both gleaming beneath the bright lights. Cinders eyebrows shot up.

State of the art, said Dr. Erland. Fully accessorized. Plated with 100 percent titanium. And look! Like a child with a new toy, he fidgeted with the hands fingers, revealing a hidden flashlight, a stiletto knife, a projectile gun, a screwdriver, and a universal connector cable. Its a pillar of usefulness. The tranquilizer darts are stored in here. He opened a compartment on the palm, revealing a dozen skinny darts. Once your wiring synchronizes, you should be able to load it with a simple thought.

Thatsfantastic. Now when Im on the chopping block, I can at least take a few bystanders down with me.

Exactly! He chuckled. Cinder frowned, irritated, but Dr. Erland was too busy ogling the prostheses to notice. I had them made especially for you. I used your body scan to make sure I had the right dimensions. If Id had more time, I could have done a skin graft, but we cant have everything, I suppose.

Cinder took the parts when he handed them to her, inspecting their craftsmanship with trepidation.

Dont let the guard see those, or I really will be in trouble, he said.

Thanks. I sure am excited to wear them for the last two days of my life.

With a sly grin, Dr. Erland cast his gaze around the small cell. Funny, isnt it? So much advancement, so much technology. But even the most complicated security systems arent designed with Lunar cyborgs in mind. I guess its a good thing there arent many of you around, or we might have a reputation for jailbreaks.

What? Are you crazy? Cinder said, voice dropping to a harsh whisper. Are you suggesting that I should try to escape?

In fact, I am a little bit crazy these days. Dr. Erland scratched at his lined cheek. Cant be helped. All that bioelectricity with nowhere to go, nothing to do. He sighed whimsically. But no, Miss Linh, I am not suggesting you should try to escape. I am saying you must escape. And you must do it soon. Your chances for survival will drop drastically once Levana comes for you.

Cinder leaned back against the wall, sensing the start of a headache. Look, I appreciate that you care about me, I really do. But even if I could find a way out of here, do you realize how livid Levana would be? You yourself said there will be horrible consequences if she doesnt get what she wants. I am not worth starting a war over.

His eyes brightened behind the spectacles. He looked young for a moment, almost giddy. Actually, you are.

She cocked her head, squinting at him. Maybe he really was mad.

I tried to tell you when you were in my office last week, but you had to run off to see your sisterah, and I am sorry about your sister, by the way.