Chapter 235 - The Test of Trust (2/2)

Aegin frowned, ”What are you trying to say? That she's like Rassa? He was pretty sure that was impossible”.

”No, I mean,” Ebony sighed, struggling to find the words, ”I mean there are other things out that like Rassa, but not like Rassa. Darker powers that...well they seem to have a fair amount of influence on Herguard if what she was saying was true”.

”So she told you a story, you believed it, and now you think she should be our ally?” asked Aegin, ”Ebony, I don't mean to sound negative, but are you sure this place hasn't knocked a screw loose?”

Ebony frowned, offended by even the thought of it, ”Look, I know I didn't handle the latest development in our already shitty situation all that well, but I hardly think that's grounds for you to accuse me of insanity just because I found an ally in somebody unlikely”.

”Unlikely?” asked Aegin, then lowering his voice to a hiss when he heard movement outside the cell, ”Ebony, she's just as nameless as the Slave Master, they're two peas in a pod on this island. If we let one know about our plans, the other will too”.

”We're going to need an ally, Aegin, you and the Reapers are strong but you're not strong enough to fight off an entire Island worth of low lives without a little help, let alone get off the Island,” Ebony reasoned, ”She's a way that we can achieve both. Likely the only way we can achieve both and still come out the other side alive”.

”So she's got a way to deal with the poison spears?” asked Aegin.

”I didn't propose the escape plan to her,” Ebony scoffed, ”I just got the vibe that she really would rather be anywhere else given the chance”.

”Oh, excuse me,” Aegin held up his hands in mock surrender, ”Let's lay our entire plan on the fact that you got a halfway decent 'vibe' from the woman who made sure you were brushed up on your 'how to please the clients' course”.

Ebony flinched at the jab. Aegin, who had been glaring at her in contempt for her plan, frowned as if regretting what he'd said, ”I...”

Ebony waved him off, ”Sorry for thinking to contribute to our escape plan seeing as I'm the only one that can move around this place relatively freely”.

Aegin moved towards her and despite how she fought to keep him away from her he hugged her close to him, ”I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like that...I just don't feel comfortable trusting outsiders. Not here. Not in a place that's done its damned best to make itself a game of survival and turn us all against one another. I didn't mean to turn against you. I'm sorry”.

Ebony sucked in a breath as she let him hold her, then she closed her eyes to gather herself before pulling away.

”I don't trust her, Aegin,” Ebony said, ”Not like I trust you. Never like I trust you. But I do trust that she wants off this Island just as much as we do, if not more. We trust her enough to get us off this Island, after that we can go our separate ways and we'll never have to worry about her again”.

Aegin turned away, seeming to contemplate it before finally nodding, ”If the plan you can come up with isn't suicidal, then fine. The only way I think we can get out of here is if we're in the Arena when we break out. Being down here in the underground, the tunnels are too confusing for those of us who have only been to four or five rooms the entire time we've been here. We need to be above ground when we fight our way out. And I really don't think we'll get off the Island any other way”.

Ebony nodded, ”I'll see what she can come up with”.