Element Restraint

Chapter 22: Acantha

"Where were you last night?" Valence asks me. I fight off a yawn and turn to him with tired eyes. When we left the brig, Amora talked to me till late about what we had to do tonight.

We have to get weapons, a boat, the keys to Erik's chains and cell, and the rem0te to the Musgravite chip in his neck.

I tossed and turned after we established that I am going to have to sneak Erik out of his cell. Rawr is going to be sneaking a boat out on the water, Amora and Galen are going to be snagging weapons, food, and whatever else we need, and well Paxon will probably still be reading.

"I was with Rawr until late." I lie to Valence. He puts his arm around me and pulls me closer on the bench.

"You should tell him to not keep you out so late." He says.

"I do not think that is an option when it comes to my brother." I chuckle.

I lay my head on him and fight the temptation to close my eyes. I look up and see the bags under his eyes as well.

"I guess you did not sleep well either?" I say. I slide my hand on his cheek.

"I was at Caz's cabin late last night," he says, stirring his bowl of food.

I recall what Amora was saying about Valence yesterday.

"Someone tells me that you are a legend around here," I say with a smile.

"If legend is what you call it." He laughs. "Who told you that?"

"The girl you were scared of in the cockpit." I chuckle.

"Valence Garmund doesn't get scared." he pokes me making a laugh escape my lips.

"But it does make me wonder, how does someone so young possess such talent?"

"I guess I am just a very quick learner."

"You are so humble."

Valence laughs a little.

"Amora told me that you joined the rebellion kind of young," I say. I study him for a reaction.

"Yes. I felt the war needed to end so I joined and was able to catch up on things very quickly."

"Well Amora had said"

"Amora said a lot, didn't she?" Valence snaps. "What else did she say?"

I lean off of him and look him in the eye.

"I just want to know your past better. Know you better."

"Well too bad." He sneers storming out of the mess hall.

I get up and chase after him. I jump over people's legs and dive under trays of food being carried.

"Valence!" I call when we are on the deck. He stops and turns around furious.

"What Acantha?"

"Why am I not allowed to know?" I ask. I am not angry, but confused. He has never acted this way before to me.

"Because that is my private information. What makes you think you have the right to it?" He spits.

"Because I am your girlfriend," I reply. "We should have a form of trust."

"A form of trust." he fumes.

"Yes! I have told you everything there is to know about me. But I think as time goes on, I realize I know almost nothing about you."

"So you want everything out in the open then?" He yells to me. "Then where did you go last night Acantha?"

I pause. I open my mouth to speak, but no words come out.