Cress froze. She met her own wide-eyed gaze in the mirror. “Yes?”
“Mistress’s ship detected. Expected arrival in twenty-two seconds.”
“No, no, no, not today,” she hissed.
Releasing her wet strands of hair, she rushed out into the main room. For once, her few belongings weren’t strewn across the floor and tabletops, because they were all packed neatly inside a pulled-out drawer that sat on top of her bed. Dresses, socks, and undergarments neatly folded alongside hair combs and barrettes and what food packs she still had from Sybil’s last visit. She’d even nestled her favorite pillow and blanket on top.
All evidence that she was running away.
“Oh stars.” She swept forward and grabbed the drawer with both hands, pulling it off the bed. She tore out the blanket and pillow and tossed them onto the mattress, before dragging the heavy drawer over to the desk she’d taken it from.
00:14, 00:13, 00:12, sang Little Cress as she wrestled the drawer back into place. It wouldn’t shut.
Cress squatted beside it, eyeing the rails to either side of the drawer. It took seven more seconds of harried finagling before she managed to slam the drawer shut. Sweat, or water from her still-wet hair, dripped down the back of her neck.
Tugging out a lock of hair that had gotten caught in the drawer, she hastily straightened the bed as well as she could.
“Mistress has arrived. She is requesting an extension of the docking clamp.”
“I’m getting there,” Cress responded, darting toward the boarding ramp screen and entering the code. She turned back to the room as the clamp extended outside her walls, as Sybil’s ship attached, as oxygen filled the space.
The opera singer was still there, and Mistress would be annoyed at Cress’s waste of time, but at least it wasn’t—
She gasped, her eyes landing on the one screen that stood out from the rest, and the single bright green message on a field of black.
FROM USER: MECHANIC. ETA 68 MINUTES.
She heard Sybil’s steps approaching as she launched herself across the room. She shut down the screen just as the satellite door whistled open.
Heart in her throat, Cress spun around and smiled.
Sybil met her gaze from the doorway. She was already glaring, but Cress thought her eyes narrowed even more in that moment between seeing Cress and noting her brilliant grin.
“Mistress! What a surprise. I just got out of the shower. Was just … listening to some … opera.” She gulped, her mouth suddenly dry.
Sybil’s eyes darkened and she cast them around the room, at the screens still quietly transmitting the opera singer engrossed in her song. Sybil sneered. “Earthen music.”
Cress chewed on her lower lip. She knew there were musicians and plays and all sorts of entertainments for the Lunar court, but they were rarely recorded, and Cress didn’t have access to them. Lunars generally disliked having their true appearances transmitted for all the galaxy to see. They much preferred live performances where they could alter the audience’s perception of their skills.
“All screens, mute,” she murmured, trying to stop shaking.
In the wake of silence, Sybil stepped inside, allowing the door to shut behind her.
Cress gestured to the familiar metal box Sybil carried. “I don’t believe I’m in need of any supplies, Mistress. Is it time for another blood sample already?” she asked, knowing it wasn’t.
Sybil set the box on the bed, sparing a distasteful glance for the rumpled blankets. “I have a new assignment for you, Crescent. I trust you noticed that one of our primary feeds from New Beijing Palace was disabled last week.”
Cress willed herself to look natural. Collected and unworried. “Yes—the recorder from the emperor’s office.”
“Her Majesty found it to be one of the more lucrative feeds we’ve placed on Earth. She wants another programmed and installed immediately.” She opened the box, revealing a collection of chips and recording devices. “As before, the signal should be untraceable. We don’t want it drawing any attention to itself.”
Cress nodded, perhaps too enthusiastically. “Of course, Mistress. It won’t take long. I can have it finished tomorrow, I’m sure. Will it be disguised in a light fixture, like the last one?”
“No, we risked too much by brainwashing the maintenance attendant before. Make it so that it can be more easily hidden. Able to embed on a wall hanging, perhaps. One of the other thaumaturges will likely handle the installation themselves during our upcoming visit.”
Cress’s head was still bobbing. “Yes, yes, of course. No problem.”
Sybil scowled. Perhaps Cress was being too agreeable. She stopped nodding, but it was difficult to focus as a clock ticked in her head. If Cinder and the others spotted the Lunar podship attached to her satellite, they would think Cress had led them into a trap.
But Mistress Sybil never stayed long. Surely she would be well gone before the hour was up. Surely.
“Is there anything else, Mistress?”
“Have you anything to report on the other Earthen feeds?”
Cress strained to think about any news she may have heard in the past few days. Her skills in cyber espionage went beyond research and hacking into Earthen feeds and databases, or programming spy equipment to be strategically installed in various homes and offices of high-ranking officials. It was also one of her responsibilities to monitor those feeds and report anything interesting back to Sybil and Her Majesty.
It was the most voyeuristic part of her job, which she hated. But at least if Sybil was asking her about it now, it meant that she and the queen hadn’t had time lately to monitor the feeds themselves.
“Everyone’s focused on the wedding,” Cress said. “Lots of talk of travel arrangements and scheduling diplomatic meetings while so many representatives are together in New Beijing.” She hesitated before continuing, “A lot of the Earthens are questioning Emperor Kaito’s decision to enter into the alliance and whether or not it will really signal an end to the attacks. The European Federation recently placed a large order from a weapons manufacturer. It seems they’re preparing for war. I … I could find the specifics of that order if you want.”
“Don’t waste your time. We know what they’re capable of. Anything else?”
Cress searched her memory. She considered telling Mistress Sybil that one UK representative, a Mr. Bristol something, was trying to make a political statement by rejecting his invitation to the royal wedding, but she determined that his decision might still change. Knowing Her Majesty, she would want to set the man up as an example, and Cress didn’t want to think what she would do to him. Or his family.
“No, Mistress. That’s all.”
“And what about the cyborg? Any progress there?”
She had told the lie so many times, it was effortless on her tongue. “I’m sorry, Mistress. I haven’t found anything new.”
“Do you suppose, Crescent, that her ability to go without detection is due to a similar technique we use to disguise our ships?”
Cress pulled her damp hair away from her neck. “Perhaps. I understand she’s a talented mechanic. Her skills may include software jamming.”
“And if that’s the case, would you be able to detect it?”
Cress opened her mouth, but hesitated. She most likely could, but telling Sybil that would be a mistake. She would only wonder why Cress hadn’t thought of doing it sooner. “I-I don’t think so, Mistress, but I’ll try. I’ll see what I can find.”
“See that you do. I’m sick of making excuses for you.”
Cress tried to look regretful, but her fingers were tingling with relief. Sybil always said some variation of this line when she was preparing to leave. “Of course, Mistress. Thank you for bringing me this new work, Mistress.”
A chime sang through the room.
Cress recoiled, but instantly attempted to morph her expression into nonchalance. Just another chime. Just another non-suspicious alert for one of Cress’s non-s
uspicious hobbies. Sybil had no reason to question it.
But Sybil’s attention had swerved to the single black screen that had awoken with the alert.
A new message had appeared.
MESSAGE RECEIVED FROM MECHANIC: ETA 41 MINUTES. NEED FINAL COORDINATES.
The satellite tilted beneath Cress—but, no, it was her own balance leaving her.
“What is this?” Sybil said, nearing the screen.
“It’s—it’s a game. I’ve been playing it with the computer.” Her voice squeaked. Her face was warming, cooled only where her damp hair clung to her cheeks.
There was a long silence.
Cress tried to feign indifference. “Just a silly game, imagining the computer is a real person … you know how my imagination can be, when I get lonely. Sometimes it’s nice to have someone to talk to, even if they’re not—”
Sybil grabbed Cress’s jaw, shoving her against a window that overlooked the blue planet.
“Is it her?” Sybil hissed. “Have you been lying to me?”
Cress couldn’t speak, her tongue heavy with terror, as if she were pinned by a glamour. But this was not magic. This was only a woman strong enough and angry enough to tear Cress’s arms from their sockets, to break her skull against the corner of the desk.
“You had better not even think to lie to me, Crescent. How long have you been communicating with her?”
Her lips trembled. “S-since yesterday,” she half sobbed. “I was trying to earn her trust. I thought if I could get close enough, I could tell you and—”
A slap sent the world spinning and Cress hit the floor. Her cheek burned and her brain took a moment to stop rattling inside her skull.
“You hoped she was going to rescue you,” said Sybil.
“No. No, Mistress.”
“After all I’ve done for you. Saved your life when your parents meant to have you slaughtered.”
“I know, Mistress. I was going to bring her to you, Mistress. I was trying to help.”
“I even allowed you net access to watch those disgusting Earthen feeds, and this is how you repay me?” Sybil eyed the screen, where the message still lingered. “But at least you’ve finally done something useful.”
Cress shuddered. Her brain began to cloud with the instinctual need to run, to escape. She shoved herself off the floor, but tripped on her hair and landed hard against the closed doors. Her fingers sought out the keypad, punching in the command. The doors zipped open. She did not wait to see Sybil’s reaction. “Close door!”
Cress flew down the corridor, lungs burning. She couldn’t breathe. She was hyperventilating. She had to get out.
Another door loomed before her, an identical switch beside it. She barreled into it. “Open!”
It did.
She stumbled forward and her abdomen smacked into a railing. She grunted from the collision, bracing herself before she could topple over it and straight into the cockpit.
She stood, panting and staring wide-eyed at the interior of a small podship. Lights and flashing panels and screens glowed all around her. The windows formed a wall of glass separating her from a sea of stars.
And there was a man.
His hair was the color of golden straw and his body strong and broad in his royal uniform. He looked like he could be threatening, but at that moment he seemed only astonished.
He raised himself from the pilot seat. They gawked at each other as Cress struggled to find words amid her tumbling thoughts.
Sybil did not come alone. Sybil had a pilot that brought her here.
Another human being knew that Cress existed.
No—another Lunar knew that Cress existed.
“Help me,” she tried to whisper, gulping when the words couldn’t form. “Please. Please help me.”
He shut his mouth. Cress’s hands twitched on the bar. “Please?” Her voice broke.
The man flexed his fingers and she thought—was it only her imagination?—his eyes seemed to soften. To sympathize.
Or to calculate.
His hand shifted toward the controls. The command to shut the door? To disengage from the satellite? To fly her far away from this prison?
“I don’t suppose you killed her?” he said.
The words seemed like they came from a different language altogether. He said them emotionlessly—a simple question. Expecting a simple answer.
Killed her? Killed her?
Before she could form a response, the guard’s eyes sped past her.
Sybil grabbed a fistful of Cress’s hair and yanked her back toward the corridor. Cress screamed and collapsed onto the ground.
“Jacin, we are about to have company,” said Sybil, ignoring Cress’s sobs. “Separate yourself from this satellite, but stay close enough to have good visual without drawing suspicion. When an Earthen ship draws close, they will likely release one podship—wait until the pilot has boarded this satellite and then rejoin us using the opposite entry hatch. I will ensure the clamp is pre-extended.”
Cress trembled, nonsense words falling from her in hopeless pleas.
The man’s sympathy and astonishment were gone, vanished as if they’d never been there. Perhaps they never had.
He jerked his head in a nod. No question. No thought to disobey.
Though Cress screamed and kicked, Sybil managed to drag her all the way back to the satellite’s main room, tossing her like a bag of broken android parts on the floor.
The door shut behind them, dividing her from the exit, from her freedom, and with its familiar clang she knew.
She would never be free. Sybil was going to kill her, as she was going to kill Linh Cinder and Carswell Thorne.
When Cress pushed back her mess of hair, a sob shook her to the bones.
Sybil was smiling.
“I suppose I should thank you. Linh Cinder is going to come to me, and our queen will be so pleased.” Bending down, Sybil grasped Cress’s chin in a claw-like grip. “Unfortunately, I don’t think you’ll survive long enough to receive your reward.”
Nine
Cinder groaned, the impact of her most recent landing still reverberating through her spine. The cargo bay’s ceiling spun and wobbled in her vision. “Was that necessary?”
Wolf and Scarlet appeared above her.
“I’m sorry,” said Wolf. “I thought you had control. Are you all right?”
“Frustrated and sore, but, yes, I’m fine.” She forced herself to take Wolf’s outstretched hand. He and Scarlet both helped her to her feet. “You’re right. I lost focus. I felt your energy snap out of my hold, like a rubber band.” That was moments before Wolf completed the maneuver she’d managed to halt for six whole seconds—grasping her arm and tossing her over his shoulder. She rubbed her hip. “I need a moment.”
“Maybe you should call it quits for the day,” said Scarlet. “We’re almost to the satellite.”
Iko chimed in. “Estimated time of arrival is nine minutes, thirty-four seconds. Which, by my estimation, is enough time for Cinder to be defeated and embarrassed in seven more brawls.”
Cinder glared up at the ceiling. “Also just enough time to disconnect your audio device.”
“Since we have a few minutes,” said Scarlet, “maybe we should talk about how to handle this girl. If she’s been stuck on a satellite for seven years, with no one to talk to but a Lunar thaumaturge, she might be … socially awkward. I think we should all make an effort to be extra welcoming and supportive and … try not to terrify her.”
A laugh came from the cockpit and Thorne appeared in the doorway, strapping a gun holster around his waist. “You’re asking the cyborg fugitive and the wild animal to be the welcoming committee? That’s adorable.”
Scarlet planted her hands on her hips. “I’m saying we should be aware of what she’s been through and try to be sensitive to that. This may not be an easy transition for her.”
Thorne shrugged. “The Rampion is going to be like a five-star hotel after living on that satellite. S
he’ll adjust.”
“I’ll be nice to her!” said Iko. “I can take her net-shopping and she can help me pick out my future designer wardrobe. Look, I found this custom escort shop that has the best accessories, and some discounted models. What would you think of me with orange hair?” The netscreen on the wall switched to an escort-droid sale listing. The image of a model was slowly rotating, showing off the android’s perfect proportions, peachy skin, and royalty-approved posture. She had purple irises and cropped tangerine hair and a tattoo of an old-fashioned carousel that rotated around her ankle.
Cinder squeezed an eye shut. “Iko, what does this have to do with the satellite girl?”
“I was getting to that.” The screen scrolled through a menu, landing on hair accessories, and dozens of icons clustered together showing everything from dreadlocked wigs to cat-ear headbands to rhinestone-encrusted barrettes. “Just think how much potential she has with hair like that!”
“You see?” said Thorne, nudging Scarlet in the shoulder. “Iko and the imprisoned, socially awkward satellite girl, best friends forever. Now, what I’m worried about is how we’re going to be dividing the reward money when this is all over. Because this ship is starting to feel awfully crowded and I’m not sure I’m happy with all of you cutting into my profits.”
“What reward money?” asked Scarlet.
“The reward Cinder’s going to pay us out of the Lunar treasury once she’s queen.”
Cinder rolled her eyes. “I should have guessed.”
“And that’s just the beginning. By the end of this escapade, the whole world will see us as heroes. Imagine the fame and fortune, the sponsorship opportunities, the marketing requests, net-dramatization rights. I think we should discuss the profit division sooner rather than later, because I’m considering a 60-10-10-10-10 split right now.”
“Am I the fourth ten percent?” said Iko. “Or is that the satellite girl? Because if it’s the satellite girl, I’m going on strike.”
“Can we discuss this imaginary money later?” said Cinder.
“Like, maybe when there’s actual money to discuss?” suggested Scarlet. “Besides, don’t you still have to prepare the podship?”