Chapter 77

Akirexer calmly sat in commander Ronitte's office. She had her legs crossed as she watched the commander read a letter she gave her. Akirexer zipped up her blue hoodie and pulled out a thread that was sticking out of her ripped jeans. To her relief, it didn't ruin the ripped pattern. On her feet were white converse.

Britney sat right next to Akirexer. She too had a hoodie on but unlike Akirexer, she chose to wear a short brown flared dress with black ankle boots that matched her black hoodie.

Britney looked so uninterested in what was happening around her. She tapped on her phone as she silently chewed her gum. Akirexer chose to ignore Britney's indifference and wait for commander Ronitte to give a go ahead.

"This has queen Sharaina's signature on it. It looks official enough." Commander Ronitte cheerfully said to Akirexer and Britney.

Britney took her eyes off her phone and watched commander Ronitte pick up her landline.

"Please send in vice commander Nebbz." She politely requested of her secretary.

In a few minutes, vice commander Nebbz got into the office. He stood tall at a height of 5'11. His skin was dark and smooth. He had a neatly cut beard and long curly hair that was balled up into an Afro. His eyes were hidden behind dark sunglasses.

Commander Ronitte leaned against her chair and casually swung it from side to side.

"Escort these two ladies to cell 88." She ordered him.

"Yes ma'am." Vice commander Nebbz obeyed.

He led Akirexer and Britney to an elevator gestured for them to go in. Akirexer and Britney said nothing as the elevator took them deep underground. It felt like it went on forever. When they finally arrived, they almost couldn't believe it.

Nebbz walked on with Akirexer and Britney right behind him. He led them across a good number of hallways that were heavily guarded. The guards they came across bowed in respect to Nebbz. They turned to a hallway filled with prison cells. The prisoners hurled sexual slurs at Akirexer and Britney as they walked.

'Hey baby, why don't you come over here and let me tap that ass?'

'You look like you could use some dick.'

'Ever been ass fucked before sweet thing?'

'I like the one in the dress. I wanna put a baby inside her.'

Britney got angry at the last slur and Akirexer shook her head at her. Britney continued to walk angrily whereas Akirexer blocked all the taunts. Nebbz who was clearly unfazed by what was happening continued to lead Akirexer and Britney in silence. They walked on until they came to a 10 foot steel door with a muscular bald guard standing guard. He firmly held his spear up and maintained a serious look on his face.

"They are here to see prisoner 88 under the permission of her highness, Queen Sharaina." Nebbz handed the guard the official letter.

The guard turned and forced his spear into the key hole that was shaped like a skull. The gate opened immediately with a swish sound. Nebbz led Akirexer and Britney inside. Their eyes set upon Escabitha who was sitting on a sofa and eating an apple. Her hands and feet were bound in chains. Escabitha wore a long grey dress and white socks on her feet.

Escabitha's prison cell was big and wide. It had a single bed, a table with two chairs, a sofa and a door leading to a bathroom. A good number of novels were lying on the little carpet next to her bed. Around the whole room were surveillance cameras.

Escabitha gasped in excitement when she saw her sisters. Akirexer gave her a faint smile while Britney rolled her eyes in disgust. Vice commander Nebbz gestured for the two to get closer to Escabitha.

"This is as far as I go. I am to observe you from here. Don't try anything stupid for I have commands to strike you down if you do anything suspicious." Nebbz sternly said to Akirexer and Britney.

Escabitha got up from her chair and ran to Akirexer and Britney but her chains bound her from getting closer. Escabitha smiled brightly at her sisters and waved her hand at them.

"It's so nice to see you two. I thought you weren't going to visit me at all." Escabitha pouted.

"That was the plan." Britney sneered. "If it were up to me, you would have rotted in here alone for all eternity."

Escabitha looked blankly at Britney. She expected an answer like that from her but she wasn't sure about Akirexer.

"What about you?" She asked Akirexer. "Is that how you feel too?"

Akirexer didn't respond.

"The fact that you are still alive pisses me off." Britney clenched her fist.

Akirexer shot a chilling glare at Britney and she was immediately silenced. She knew that when Akirexer gave her that look, she had no choice but to shut up. To keep talking was suicidal.

Akirexer relaxed her face and turned back to Escabitha. "How are you doing?" She asked.

"I am fine. They take care to feed me at least three times a day. I have a warm bed and I'm kept away from the darkas gods. I am the only human in this dungeon apparently." Escabitha happily said. "I am really happy to see you both. Weird huh?"

"I'm glad you're okay." Akirexer quietly said.

"How is the little one?" Escabitha asked Britney and Britney scowled.

"He is okay." Akirexer quickly answered instead before Britney said anything.

"I have something for him." Escabitha went over to her bed.

She pulled out something from underneath her pillow and went over to Britney. Escabitha tucked her lips and held out a tiny blue cotton jersey to Britney. Britney was shocked by the sincere look in Escabitha's eyes.

"I knitted it two months ago. I didn't think that you were going to come here so I just kept it under my pillow. At least now, the owner will be able to have it."

Britney was stunned by Escabitha's words. She glanced over to Akirexer and she gave her the 'go ahead' nod. Britney reluctantly took the jersey and Escabitha smiled at her with her hands behind her back. Britney walked out of the cell in a haste.

"She is still angry with you." Akirexer voiced her thoughts.

"I know that she is. I'm surprised that you aren't." Escabitha remarked.

"Not everything you see is always what it seems. I am still furious with you Escabitha. What you did to us can never be undone. Every time I think about the shit you put us through, I feel like killing you." Akirexer confessed.

"If this is so, why have you taken the trouble to visit me?" Escabitha asked Akirexer.

"It is the right thing to do."

Akirexer turned and walked away. She halted when she got to the steel door. With her back still turned, she said, "I will come and visit you again next month. I can't promise you that Britney will come along again."

Akirexer left and Nebbz had the guard close the door behind them. Escabitha sank into her sofa and hugged herself. She was alone again but this time she didn't feel lonely. She smiled at the new feeling.

"So this is what it means to be truly accepted?" She asked herself.

***

Akirexer found Britney waiting for her outside the base. She was looking at the jersey. The sound of Akirexer approaching her did not make her take her eyes off the jersey. She thought about the honest look Escabitha had and she felt perplexed. Akirexer put her hand over Britney's shoulder and her thoughts were interrupted.

"Are you thinking about having him wear it?" Akirexer asked Britney.

"I am still trying to understand why she went through all the trouble to knit this." Britney softly replied.

"She loves him." Akirexer quickly answered and Britney shrugged her off her shoulders.

"You're kidding right? Escabitha isn't capable of loving anyone."

"I still think she does Britney." Akirexer insisted.

"Have you forgotten that she kidnapped him?" Britney held her waist and sternly looked at Akirexer.

Akirexer waved her finger in the air. "One of her vampires took Alex to her." She corrected Britney.

"Yeah so? She planned on killing little Alex that's why she had him kidnapped." Britney argued.

"Think about it Britney. If Escabitha wanted to kill Alex, she would have the moment she set her eyes on him. Remember it took a day for you to get to the Kremis dimension. You gave her more than enough time to kill Alex but she didn't." Akirexer pointed out and Britney faced away in irritation.

"When she confronted us, she demanded that Alex be returned to her and she referred to him as her baby." Akirexer stressed.

"What are you trying to say Whitney." Britney rolled her eyes and folded her hands.

"The way I see it, she was desperate for a fresh start. She wanted a new family. Little Alex was the best person to fulfill her desire of being loved and accepted. You and I reminded her of how mother loved us and rejected her so that's why she wanted us dead. But with Alex, it was going to be a new beginning."

"You seem to have her figured out." Britney smirked and unfolded her hands.

Akirexer playfully bumped Britney's hand. "Well I can't say I have but I'm almost a hundred percent sure about this."

"I just can't forgive her Whitney. Please don't force me to." Britney frowned.

"It's okay. Forgetting everything isn't easy. I mean even I am having a hard time forgiving her." Akirexer smiled at Britney and Britney bumped her hand playfully.

"When are you and Alex leaving for Brazil?" Akirexer changed the subject.

"Tomorrow morning. Alex just finalized his new job there." Britney answered. Akirexer could hear the happiness in her voice.

"So, it's official that you will be living with Queen Sharaina are the royal castle?" Britney asked Akirexer.

Akirexer sighed. "Yes it's official. The woman prefers that I live with her. I swear she acts like she is my mother sometimes." Akirexer complained.

Britney laughed at her pout and poked Akirexer's cheek. "Well she kinda is like your mother." She teased.

"Speaking of her, I must return to Dark Star. She is addressing the public today. Wadose will kill me if I am late."

Britney laughed. "Oh yes you better hurry."

Akirexer opened a portal and paused. She turned to Britney. "Did you ever think that all three of us would be in our mother's country of origin under these circumstances?"

"Never in a million years. Do you think we can trace our family here?" Britney chuckled.

"It will be difficult. There are a lot of people with Phiri for a last name. Mother was Doreen Phiri. It's a pity she never introduced us to her family." Akirexer sighed.

"Maybe Alex will be able to help us search." Britney hopefully suggested. "By the way, how are things going with vice commander Quix?" Britney waved her eyebrows up and down.

Akirexer gave her a tight lipped shy smile and faced away. Britney shrieked and forced Akirexer to face her. Akirexer saw the excitement in Britney's eyes and giggled.

"Come on tell me." Britney held Akirexer's hands and shook her.

"Well we have gone out on a few dates. So far so good." Akirexer blurted.

"I'm really hoping it works out between you two. I like Quix." Britney giggled playfully.

"You're only saying that because he is hot." Akirexer narrowed her eyes and Britney.

"Psssh... me?" Britney tried to deny it but Akirexer folder her hands and smirked at her. "Okay yes!" Britney confessed. "Don't tell Alex though." She laughed.

"Alright I won't." Akirexer winked at her. "Come on, let me drop you off and head back to Dark Star."