Chapter 27: Precious Time

Past midnight, the Empress' ship is now quiet, as most of its residents are now asleep in their homes.

Within the guard barracks. Where the prison cells are. Inside the last cell, Raine is still held.

She is seen pacing within the confined space. Her fingers stiff as she struggles to close them into fists.

Looking down at her own palms, she stops. Wide-eyed, gritting her teeth, her hands shake as she tries to close them.

Her hands begin to emit dark-blue flames, with her eyes reflecting its glow. Shutting her eyes, she clutches her hands into fists, only for the flames to spew between her fingers.

Her eyes open, and watches as the flames fade away into nothing. Taking a deep breathe, she exhales.

Raine opens her hands, and lowers them to her side. Turning her attention towards the energy field, she steps in front of it.

Standing inches from it, she stares through, watching the other prisoners across her in their own cells. Two of which, are in her view, with one having a young man sitting on his bed, and slouched over. The cell next to him, has a young woman, standing behind the energy field of her own cell. The woman's stare burning through, calmly watching Raine.

Raine narrows her gaze, looking at the woman eye to eye. She can only wonder what she has done to be held prisoner, both the woman, and the man.

The young woman waves slowly at her. Raine raises her chin slightly.

"I see what you do!" The young woman said, followed by a chuckle.

Raine frowns at her words. Slowly turning away, with her gaze still on her, she steps away from the field, and sits on the edge of her bed.

Gazing at her reflection from the mirror ahead of her, she looks down at her lap. She opens her hand, her eyes narrow as transparent dark-blue flames sprouts forth from her palm.

She gently closes her hand into a fist as the flames shrink inward, and fades away.

-

On the roof of one of the buildings, Aven's ship rests. Alecia leans her back against it, arm-crossed, with Aven standing beside her.

Aven stays quiet for a while as he types on his device, with the screen reflection its light on his face.

"You sure you want to stay up here?" Aven said, his tone calm as he continues to type on his device.

"Do you really want to keep your sister waiting?"

Alecia turns her attention to him for a moment, and looks ahead once more.

"She'll be fine." She said, with a calm quiet tone n her voice.

"Besides... It is nice here."

"Thanks for your help, by the way." said she, looking at him with a smile.

"Even though your sister told me to help." He said, turning to her; her smile fading.

"I'm glad I helped you either way."

Alecia smiles at his words, only for it to fade as she stares ahead once more at the glittering buildings ahead.

Aven stares at her for a moment, only for him to continue typing on his device.

"Leah is planning to go to Epra." Aven said, still keeping his gaze on his device as he continues to type.

She looks at him, puzzled.

"Really?" She gazes down for a moment, and back at him.

"When was this now?"

"She called me earlier." He said, not raising to look at her.

"Back at Clay's place."

She shakes her head slightly, her eyes narrowed.

"I can't remember you being on a call with her?" She said, averting her eyes in thought, trying to recall it.

Aven looks up at her.

"You were too busy talking to Clay at the time." He said, looking down at the screen.

"Oh..." She said, chuckling.

"That makes sense." She moves a few strands of hair around her ear.

She looks at him, her smile fading.

"Why does she want to go to Epra?" She asked.

"Does she realise what kind of place it is?"

"This isn't the first time she went there." He said, placing the device in his pocket.

"She suspects the ship that invaded, came from there."

"And you're letting her go?" She asked, frowning.

"Yes." He said, calmly staring ahead.

"Is she going alone or what?" She asked, stepping in front of him with her arms neatly crossed.

"I'm not sure." He said, averting his eyes for a moment, and looks at her again.

"But, maybe she will take a friend with."

"Did she discuss this with my sister at all?" She asked, slightly tilting her head at him.

"She has to." He said, narrowing his eyes at her.

"We can't do anything without her say so."

Her eyes narrows slightly. Thinking about her sister, reminding herself that she is the empress.

Recalling her early memories, decades ago. When her mother past away, she decided to go on her own, away from her sister. When she first met Aven, she became his pupil, and him, her tutor.

So many things she has learnt from him, he has taught her how to defend herself, and how to fight when needed. Only a few years older than her, she still looked up to him, and still does, even to this day.

"You're okay?" Aven's voice breaks her thoughts away, only for her to look at him.

"Sorry." She said, looking away quickly.

"I just got lost in my thoughts."

Aven slightly nods with a smile.

"Want to go now?" He asked, taking a side step to his ship.

"Not just yet." She said, staring ahead still, only for her to turn to him.

"Let's just stay here for a bit longer." she looks ahead once more.

Aven looks around himself, and at the distance ahead.

"Alright." He said, letting out a sigh.

"But, we need to go soon, Alecia."

He walks around his ship, while she watches him with a slight frown, only to look ahead of herself once more.

She gazes down for a moment as her thoughts go to Leah. Why does she have to go Epra? Such a place, has vile people from all manner of species. Aven mentioned that Leah's been there before.

She looks over her shoulder at him through the windscreen. Has things changed so much? She has missed so many things during her absence. An all new world to her.

Looking ahead of herself, she takes the sleeve out from her pocket, and opens it to look at the last syringe. Her eyes narrow as she looks at it

One syringe has already been used, how long would it take to use the last? Only time will tell. It terrifies her to think that her days may be numbered.

She shakes her head, forgetting the thought as quickly as it came. Closing the sleeve, she places it back in her pocket.

"Ready to go now?" Aven said, from the open window of his ship.

Alecia smiles slightly. She walks around the ship, and climbs in.

"You know that it's late, correct?" Aven said, looking at her with a sternful gaze, his hand nearing the small dials.

"Then what do you want to do until dawn?" She asked, her face calm, and collected.

Aven looks away for a moment, with a thoughtful gaze. He looks at her once more.

"I'm tired." He said, powering up the ship.

"So I think we should both get some rest."

The ship slowly ascends from the roof f the building, dust fleeing out from its belly, only for it to accelerate forth, departing from the area.