The guards throw me into the filthy dungeon, where straw is scattered across the floor. Of course, it has electrified bars. It's the same cell as last time. I'm not surprised they sealed my power this time, given I accidentally hurt many guards previously. Fair enough. They begin to taunt me. I spit out the silk gag and silence them with the same look my master usually gives me. They clamp their mouths shut and slowly back away, leaving me in peace.
I bury my head in my hands, whispering the chant to unlock anything. The chains around me fall off. What if I leave now, sleep somewhere comfortable, and return in the morning? No one has to know.
I creep to the bars and whisper the same chant into the lock. A click echoes, and the door creaks open.
The tunnel is empty, the guards are out of view. There is not a soul in sight.
I am about to step out of the cell. The door suddenly slams shut. I instinctively jump back. I'm in no mood to be electrocuted. This did not happen last time. I scan the area to see if anyone is hiding in the shadows.
A gust of wind whips my hair. Long Fei appears on the other side of the bars. I'm in worse trouble now. How did he know? He glares at me, his nostrils flaring. He is one terrifying immortal. The air around him shifts, and the prison bars spark with electricity.
Now I'm sweating again, my hands trembling as I back away from the bars. "I'm sorry, Master. I'll behave. I swear by the sea I won't leave without permission."
With a flick of his wrist, I am flung back against the wall. Air tendrils wrap tightly around my chest and legs. The silk gag finds its way back into my mouth.
He lets out a breath and shakes his head. "It's time you learn patience. I was going to plead your case, but given that you haven't learned your lesson and show no remorse, perhaps I'll let you sit here and reflect on your actions."
Then he vanishes, and swirling dust settles on the ground. The bars spark again.
I thought I had been patient. I waited a full hour before making a move. Now I'm stuck in a filthy cell, chained up by a power I no longer have. The water drip echoes endlessly, reminding me of the elemental power I've lost. This is one way of torture. The only real crime I committed was getting caught.
Where did it all go wrong? I thought it was the perfect crime, no blood, no foul play. I only stole maybe a hundred falling stars... at most. I thought I'd mastered the art of cosmic theft. But I can't control the sky. Perhaps I didn't pace myself, didn't let the stars respawn, if that's even a thing. Then they stopped appearing, and the thunder started. Did I mess with the balance of the heavens? Probably. I didn't mean to. But when you're drowning in debt, desperate times call for desperate measures.
This is starting to feel like that time I accidentally made a mountain disappear, only this time it wasn't an accident. Maybe the pop-up exchange stores turning into stardust was a sign after all. I think I'm in serious trouble. I don't think my master can get me out of this. This was the first time he dragged me through the celestial highway. How embarrassing. I wonder if he was setting an example for other immortals. He is a stickler for rules, after all.
I had every intention of returning! I just hadn't had the chance to break out of prison yet, so it's not considered a prison break. It's not that I was running away. I was finding a more comfortable space to rest. This cell reeks. I was going to come back. I didn't want heads to roll for no reason.Besides, I had told the Crown Prince it was for him. So technically, I'm not actually stealing, am I? I'm just converting the falling stars into something useful to pay off my debt to him. That's allowed, right?
Hours pass with no visitors. The echo of dripping water becomes a cacophony, and the damp stench of the cell is suffocating. I might go insane from boredom. I wonder if his brother will visit me and help me out. Come on, Long Yan. Come to my rescue.
The torch on the wall flickers. Yes, that must be Long Yan's cue. But he doesn't magically appear. When I hear footsteps, my heart skips a beat as the guards arrive to take their posts. My stomach grumbles, and I mumble through the gag. "So I don't even get any food?"
The guards exchange glances and then shrug, ignoring me. Last time, Long Yan brought me food and even gave me a chance to escape. How come he's not coming this time? A flicker of flame appears in front of me, and it shifts into a message: "I'm not allowed to visit you this time."
The fire message could only have come from Long Yan. It seems like I made a colossal error this time if he couldn't magically appear for a quick visit. He must have thought I still had my powers because the fire message dropped to the floor, and the straws caught on fire. My eyes widen and I start to scream, but the gag muffled it.
I try to spit out the gag, my mouth dry and raw, desperate to break free from the choking restraints, but the air tendrils only tighten further, restricting my every movement. The more I fight, the more it constricts, like a hungry boa constrictor. The smoke thickens, stinging my eyes and making it harder to breathe through the gag. The world blackens as I pass out.
***
I come to, surprised that I'm still in the dirty cell, the stench of burnt hay. Water spilled across the floor, pooling everywhere. I thought my master would have saved me. The gag is no longer in my mouth, and I am no longer bound by air tendrils.
He came and left me here to rot?! I rush to the bars, but they zap me, sending me stumbling back. For Ocean's sake!