What always awoke Lotus was the screams from the bridge. Lotus pressed her head deeper into the bed, but she knew that it would not help. The blood-curdling cries seeped into every crevice of her body, and no barrier, mental or physical, would be able to stop the misery that was occurring just out of view. Her room was large, miserable, and cold. The tinted windows helped hide her existence from the city, but every so often Lotus would look out to the city, hoping that someone would see her soul trapped above. But more often than not, the clouds obscured the towers, making them near invisible high up in the Sky City.  Lotus got out of bed, and went over to a desk, where the clothes were already set for her. A deep red gown, embroidered with golden silk of patterns of animals and spirits from an age long gone.  A golden flower pin in a black wig lay right beside. But first, she had to place on her make-up.

Her skin was pale, with the slightest tint of aquamarine from her blood. She had no scales, and unlike many other Jahren whose eyes were rectangular, hers were mirror disks, that sparkled like opals. They were empty, as the tears had given were dried in her oasis of misery. Her horns were dark, and without them, Lotus was a walking ghost. 

She placed the white make-up on, to hide her wrinkles underneath her eyes, and face, and the bruises in various stages of healing that were placed all over her slightly plump body. Even though she was alone, she made sure that her breath did not echo in the room. She knew better than most of who was always listening. 

Through the hallways, and the curved arches, Lotus tiptoed, to the throne hall. It was a giant space, with the few skylights allowing the light from the blue sun, to shine and illuminate the floor and the weaving pattern of tiles. The waterfall chandeliers created wavelike patterns of light on the walls. It was beautiful, but it was all a distraction from the true centerpiece of the room. On the throne, wearing a black dress, and a crown and cape adorned with gold and jewelry that glitttered like the stars, and an ivory mask with painted eyes, was Havana Lu.

Sitting above a crowd of worshippers beneath her. The worshippers were from all walks of life, those who were brave enough to cross the bridge. The Havana had Her hands raised to capture the crimson rays of the Red pyramid at her fingertips. She led the day’s prayer, her words echoing throughout the hall and projected in Sky City. She spoke the ancient language of the planet, far back when it still had ocean waves on its surface. She rose her voice, to pray to the goddess to look down upon them with mercy, for all were just mortals. The goddess of the sea was alive only through her. As she finished the prayer, the worshipers stood up in unison and left the Tower to their days duty. 

 Beautiful, stunning, were often words that came out of her subject’s mouths when they saw their leader. The Havana held herself to a standard only fit for royalty and gods. Imperfection was erased, and what was left was an only pure devotion to her duties of being the Sedan of the Sector and the Havana of the spiritual world.  But Lotus knew better to be entranced by such superficiality.

“You are late.” Havana Lu’s voice was soft, but firm. Her gloved fingers tapped against the arm of the chair. Although the Havana hid her emotion from her voice, the tense way that she sat told Lotus that her Havana was furious. Something was off today, and Lotus did not want to be on the receiving end of her anger. 

“Yes Havana.”’

“Nothing stopped you from arriving here on time.”

“Yes, Havana.”

“That would mean that you came here late on purpose.”

The Havana turned to face Lotus. Despite sitting on her throne, the Havana still towered over her. The gaze from the painted eyes staring right down at her, ever ready to cast down both judgment and punishment. Lotus clenched her jaw. She avoided the Havana’s empty gaze. The Havana leaned close. Lotus flinched, as the Havana whispered, 

“You will not be late tomorrow.”

The doors to the throne room opened. The Havana sat up, her fingers continued to tap upon the chair. Escorted by the palace guards, was a rich Jahren, no taller than Lotus. He wore long white robes, and charcoal glass and carved shell sown into the edges and outer layers. He had thick green scales and his horns were hidden underneath a hat. A smirk was plastered on his face, seemingly pleased to be in the court of the Sector 7 leader. Lotus noticed the small crest on his chest. He was the official of commerce and trade for Sector 7. His bow was exaggerated, and his voice filled the vast room. 

“My Havana, how pleased am I to be invited to be in your presence. I have brought a gift for you.”

The official waved in several servants with boxes ajar. Within glinted crystals of different colors. Normally, the Havana would lean forward to see what types they were, but this time, she was still leaned back, a hand upon the temple of her mask, unamused.

“Official Murko, what of the gift that you were supposed to bring to me today?”
The official shifted uncomfortably, but his smile was still wide on his face.

“A slight miscommunication and technical issues came about with the craft. It will arrive in a few days.”

“That is not what I heard, official Murko. Rather, what I heard was that there are rogue pirates roaming on the edge of this sector. Not only that, but the distress beacon was activated, and the escort ships you had hired, failed to arrive and protect the transport.”

“Might I ask who told you this?” The official's voice wavered, but was still filled with optimism. Lotus slunk back slightly behind the throne chair. Questioning the Havana was bold, but perhaps the official ignorance would save him. 

“Sector 6. The same ones who used their ships to protect the shipment.” The Havana replied. 

“You can't trust what they say, my Havana. Those Lonas do not know what they do. Lies come easy to them, as truths do, why, look at the Golden Arch.”

“Then when can I expect my product?” 

“In three days time.”

“Good. Then you will stay here in the capital, to confirm that it will arrive. Mistress Lotus will show you around the grounds, after all I assume this is your first time here, Official?”

“Yes it is, Havana.”

“Then I hope you enjoy your stay.”

The Havana stood and bowed towards the official, signaling the end of the meeting. The Havana turned to Lotus, her posture far more relaxed than it was before. Perhaps the official's words had settled whatever had worried her. But Lotus had her doubts, as the official’s nervous aura was far too thick to ignore. 

“Lotus, be kind and show the gentleman around.”

Lotus nodded, and scurried over to the official. The official none the wiser smiled at the presence of Lotus. As the two entered the elevator. Lotus felt the official’s eyes on her body. His attempt at subtlety was quite obvious to Lotus. Lotus knew the perverted minds of officials were all the same, and this official was no different from the others. However, at the very least he was not trying to touch her, but that expectation was already buried underground. 

“Where are you from?” The official asked.

“Sky City.” Lotus lied. 

“Sky City is quite an interesting place. A floating city in the clouds. There is none like it. I am from the Moon Jhana’i.  Less bright as it is here. Your eyes remind me of home, of my wife. Very Enchanting.”

The elevators took their time opening. Lotus felt her face run cold, as she led the official through the halls. His footsteps echoed the halls, while hers was the light as the air she breathed. Despite the Official’s attempt at starting small talk, Lotus ignored it. Any voice in the Tower would be trapped for all eternity, and she did not want hers to be among them. But the official was persistent, trying to pry knowledge from her.

“How did you and Havana meet? Did you meet in Sky City or perhaps in another place? How long have you been living at the Silver Tower?”

His questions were far too personal. If he did not stay quiet, then she feared what would come in the evening. Lotus kept her voice barely above a whisper, “Sir, I would implore you to stay silent.”

“What do you mean?” The Official asked, “Is there an issue with how I speak?”

“You wish to know knowledge that is not yours to gain.”

“All knowledge is good knowledge, is it not?”

“Sir, that may be true, but have you seen the bridge? Those are filled with those who seek knowledge just like yourself, but have failed to seek or give it in the proper way.”

“Those are criminals. Not knowledge seekers like me.” 

“Sir, I have met them. And oddly, they had said the same as you before they died.”

The Official clasped his hands together and started to rub them. He looked around the hallways, to see if there was anyone else with them. But they were alone. Her words finally reached through his dense skull. Lotus could only hope that he would retain them.

Lotus opened the door to his room. It was bare just like hers, but on the bed was a red flower and note. The Official went over and read the small note and smiled. 

“She is inviting me for dinner! Do you think I could invite my family here? I have yet to bring them over.”

Lotus did not return the smile. Her mouth was too dry to answer the official, and all she could do was shake her head. Of course he would be invited to one of her infamous dinners. The Havana knew the official had lied, and he was none the wiser, holding his own death in his hands. She could imagine his wife and children realizing that the moment he would not return to them. Their tears and cries of agony fall helplessly underneath the feet of the Havana, unable to break the icy shell of her soul. Had her own parents cried for her when she did not return home? Down, living in the waste sea, suffocating in the toxic fog that clogged the air every morning. Her mother cooking scraps of waste from the flying city, while her father scrounge for gems hidden in the garbage to sell to the one-handed seller near the shuttle. Lotus did not know, but she worried about her younger brother. He was not with the right friends when she had left. He was a menace to the local community with the band of ruffians, but she loved him  wll the same. She could only hope to see him once more.

“You need to leave.” Lotus’s words barely passed her lips.

“What?” 

“You need to go now. Take your family, take yourself and leave.” 

She could hear her voice echo down the hallways. She winced, her bruises and the pain from the nights before all yelled at her to stay quiet. The official put down the note, contemplating the words of Lotus. But Lotus did not want to be present to see the official’s decision. Lotus left the room, and escaped down the hall. Her heart pounding in her chest. She rested her head on the elevator’s wall and closed her eyes. If only she could fall through the floor and into the void below. 

The elevator doors opened to not her room, but to the figure of the Havana. Her regal figure filling the elevator with her presence. Lotus melded her back to the wall.  The Havana’s fingers gently lifted Lotus’s face up to meet with hers.

“My little flower, obviously you have yet to learn much.”

Lotus braced, her fingers were bloodless as she gripped her dress. When the Havana grip loosened, Lotus turned away from her, her eyes facing the wall. Havana Lu seemed to not care, as her faithful mistress followed behind to her destination. A dark red room, with a skylight, showing the Red Pyramid floating above, slowly rotating, and pulsating as if it were alive. The beacon of progress. The room's walls glowed red, with small grooves on the floor circling around the centerpiece altar. Several blades, and wires were organized near the altar, neat and orderly on a table nearby. In front of it all was the official Murko, his hands bound behind his back. His fearful gaze diminished as soon as he noticed the Havana. 

“My Havana, some guards bound me and took me here. There seems to be some sort of mistake.” 

“It is evident that you seem to be in quite a predicament, you must have listenend to Lotus. My mistress loves to talk. However, her beauty overshadows her intelligence. Come over to me official. Let’s play a little game. I will test your knowledge, and if you answer right I will release you from your binds. If you answer wrong, I wont. Are you willing to play?”

The official approached the Havana near the altar. Lotus knew that this was no game, despite the Havana’s honeyed words. The apprehension, on the official’s face, made it clear that he too was rightfully suspicious. Havana Lu raised her hand towards the Red Pyramid in the sky.  

“The Red Pyramid, the centerpiece of our Sector. The device that allows navigation in the darkest corner of the System. Do you know what it runs on?”

“From my understanding, it is run by our power source, electricity.”

“To run a portion to the entirety of the System? That is not enough, official.  No amount of electricity from the entire sector can run the machine. It needs more. After all, if it can’t run, then you can’t do your job.”

“It does not run on electricity?” The officials' pitch rose. 

“No Official Murko, it does not. But it does run and substance far more powerful, but highly volatile. For hundreds of years, this Sector had to use less ‘desirable’ substitutes. Until I found the perfect replacement. It could have the Red Pyramid run for thousands of cycles without maintenance. Can you guess what that was?”

“I don’t-”

“You don’t know? Now Official, I thought you were smarter than this. Making baseless assumption seems to be your only trait. In your commerce ship, that you graciously left behind, was the replacement. But since you came here yourself, it seems you and your family will be a sufficient substitute, for now.”

The official did not have enough time to process her words before he felt the slam of his back on the altar. His bones cracked, and his spine broken. He tried to scream, but his mouth was sealed shut. He tried to see, but his eyes no longer worked. The walls around glowed a crimson hue, from the power of the Red Pyramid outside. The Havana selected her tool, and dug it into the flesh of the official. 

Lotus averted her eyes to not see the Havana work. Her shoes soaked in the blue blood as it pooled around her. She had caused the officials death, and she did not know if she could bear witness to his family’s death as well. 

“Father, mother, I'm sorry.” She muttered under her breath. “Brother, please forgive me.”

The Havana was taking her time, jabbing the wires into the official’s flesh. The delight she took in her work was unmeasurable. The struggling official’s resistance slowed as his spirit was drained until he lay on the slab motionless. Once she was finished, she laid her tools in the orderly position they were once in. She passed the suffering official on the altar, and headed straight to her secondary entertainment. 

Lotus looked down as the Havana bent over her like the crescent moon.  The Havana’s fingers played with the pins in her wig.

“How long will it take you to learn little flower? That you can never win at your games.”

The Havanas fingers brushed past Lotus’s eyes and lips, to her shoulder. With one stroke, a sleeve fell down and then another. The cold air bit Lotus’s sensitive skin, as she stood exposed. She could not move as the terror set in. But the Havana stopped, she leaned down towards Lotus, and the poor Jahren could no longer avoid the empty gaze of the Havana’s mask.

“You want to meet your family do you?”

Lotus could not reply, as no answer would ever satisfy the Havana’s inquisition. If she said yes, the Havana would accuse her of treachery. If she said no, the Havana would accuse her of lying.

“I didn't mean to, I will do whatever you ask.” Lotus could only say. 

“Clearly not, since you inspired disloyalty in my own official. I will let you meet your family, just for one day. Perhaps you will realize how lucky you are to be here.”

Lotus did not have time to process the kindness bestowed by her Havana, as her body was pushed towards the wall, and the hands of the Havana began to grasp. She did not want this life, she never desired it. But she knew her opposition would fall on deaf ears.