Surrendering Isn't an Option

-Part 3-

"What is most important to you in life?" asked the King.

I refused to look at him, and I didn't want to answer, but the words were out of my mouth before I could stop them.

"Freedom!" I blurted out, voice echoing terribly. I bit down on my lips in punishment, but now that I had answered honestly I felt like I shouldn't have to care anymore about all my secrecy and hate.

The King paused for a bit and studied my before scratching down 'freedom' on his page.

"And who is most important to you?"

I grinded my teeth on my lips and thought. I knew the answer to that, there was no denying it, especially because of how much I missed them. Thinking about it made my heart melt a little, and my mind feel cold and scared and lonely, and unnerved.

"If I tell you who will you hurt them?" I asked, voice hushed so quietly, even with the extra echos, it would not reach ears beyond the heavy doors.

"No." whispered the King.

We sat in silence for a second as i pondered what he said and if he was lying.

"Daeshim."

A kind of lonely anthem played silently, and tears welled up in my burning eyes. I buried my face in my knees and convinced myself that Daeshim had kept himself out of trouble, and was taking care of the Jane too.

I was grateful the King didn't say anything about my moment of weakness as the stupid Lark would have.

After I soaked up my moment of fear the King carried on with his next question.

"What are your views on killing?"

At this I smiled to myself, recovering the sinister humor and feelings I usually kept surfaced.

"It's practically part of my normal life. It doesn't matter to me, at least not for now. Maybe during the Attachment I'm gonna cry my eyes out, who knows?"

"Alright, your weapon of choice?"

"Not sure, but i think a knife would be helpful." I answered, trying to relax a little more and keep a normal composure.

"Marvelous, what you want most at the moment."

"Your head."

The King looked at me amused.

"You know, I received a similar threat earlier today, what were the words?" he mused, moving a few papers from his desk until he found the correct sheet. "Ah, here it is. 'To blow your head off'. I really have such lovely conversations. Right, next question, brat. Ah, your sexual orientation."

Again with the questions. It was like he wanted to set up a dating website.

"Why?" I asked impatiently, twiddling my thumbs together in irritation.

"See there is more than one reason to my questions, and to the Attachment. I trust you not spread any false rumors." He replied, leaning back in his chair, and focusing on me, inviting me to answer anytime.

"That's what you say...."I mumbled to myself, "whatever, i guess I'm straight. There wasn't enough dating opportunities where I was to know for sure. What's next?"

"One word to describe yourself?"

"One word? Mmm.....how about cold." I answered, looking back into his eyes. We both had an unmelting ice-block in our eyes and hearts, towards each other's species, but most of all, between each other.

I didn't and don't want to know how long we spent seizing each other up and trying to wordlessly express how much we wanted each other dead. I guess I looked like a dirty prison rat, with ugly expressions and cold, scavenging hearts, and the King looked like a cruel and high lord, uncaring, and ruthless.

"Very well," said the King finally, "then on to the next question: do you abide by any hobbies?"

Now this really threw me out- the most normal conversation question of all time- in a discussion about a kid who is going to die in around a day! I was so taken aback, i stuttered and fell silent to think.

"I like to mess with people i guess," I answered truthfully, because it was so very true of me. I especially liked screwing with Neuros, but i felt that the king would chuck me into the mouth of a monster if I answered in a sarcastic and sadistic tone.

"Right then. The conversation has been, enlightening, but I'm afraid to say you'll have to go. I'm sure patient Luka will be getting impatient now. A guard should be awaiting your departure from my office. He will take you down the elevators back to your quarters. Go."

I wearily arose from my seat, my bottom aching slightly, and walked over to those heavy double doors. I found a surprisingly small handle that hurt my hand (it was designed for the Neuros, who only have a thumb and three fingers) and pulled the door open. Exiting the room i saw a guard to my rights, tall, fit looking, young, and an electric blue color, as opposed to the translucent sky blue of the other neuros's scales.

Nearing him, I saw the whole wall (not very large, only about ten feet across) slide to my left in a hissing sound and stay stationary there. I stepped into the new room behind where the wall used to stand and the guard followed me in. This was the elevator, small, white and blue, with sixteen red buttons next to the door lined up vertically. The wall, or door, shut itself as soon as the guard stood still by my side, and in a thin glass segment in the wall, a green light shot up, telling me we were sinking down at a reasonable pace.

The guard shifted awkwardly and eventually asked, "How did the meeting go?"

"We had a cheerful conversation and ate a cake together in friendship."I replied sarcastically.

"I can relate." said the guard shortly, staring deathly at the walls. I guess that perhaps he didn't like the king that much but wasn't allowed to say it.

Especially in the capitol I though, eyeing what looked like a security camera, hanging above our heads.

"You don't like him either." I inferred outloud, slightly intrigued by his misalignment with the rest of the Neuros's cold behavior.

"I- That's not what I said!" stuttered the guard, his face turning a deep blue, and I saw his eyes flicker up to the camera in what looked like fear.

"I'm teasing you idiot." I said, covering up his dislike of the king. The elevator slowed and came to a smooth stop. A second later the door hissed open and I was in the first room of the capitol, that really long one with the table. I stepped out and the guard did too, guiding me to my room, even though I already knew the way. Through the door to my hallway and to my room we went. The guard stopped short outside my room, and I entered to find a dish on the dresser. A watery and yellow stew sat in an elegant white bowl, with two slices of bread and a sort of buttery looking spread beside it. A fork, spoon, and knife accompanied each of these foods, which were laid on a small tray.

"Sleep well, Corruption, and take courage, tomorrow will be tiresome in the morning, and lazy in the later day." said the Guard, bidding me farewell, and shutting the door.

"Yeah, because today was peachy." I muttered under my breath.

The door was closed with a clack and I was left to ponder on my own about the questions asked, particularly about the second and eighth questions. The kind of people I like? Sexual orientation?

The obvious answer was that he was weird, but there was probably something more to it than that. Perhaps it had to do with the Attachment starting earlier than usual. I picked up the spoon off the tray and gingerly dipped it into the stew. Drawing it out i saw a hunk of...something...It was brown-orange and little stringy looking, surrounded by a puddle of he yellow murky water.

I ate. The stew wasn't as disgusting as it looked, and in fact, was probably better than anything I'd ever eaten in prison, though it still lacked a lot of taste. Luckily the butter-like spread was sweet (I like sweet food though I can't get my hands on it often) and went well with the bread, which was soft and fluffy.

I went to bed, confused about the question and slightly tense for the next day.

But eventually I shut my eyes and feel to sleep in the lonely feeling room.