Ethereal Lives: A Romantic Sci-Fi Novel

Chapter 33

It was hard to tell if the ship's occupants had settled down for the night. The cells were in constant silence with the exception of the guards who walked by on schedule.

"That's the last day check." Calis's voice sounded awfully loud in their quiet part of the ship.

Sitting up, Ariane glanced over at the other woman. "Are you sure?"

She nodded. "The lights will turn off soon."

As if they heard her, the lights dimmed, sending their section of the ship into darkness. Ariane stayed motionless for a moment, allowing her eyes to adjust to the low light. "When does the next check take place?"

"Not until the middle of the night."

Climbing from the bed, she put her pillow under the covers in an attempt to make a sleeping form. It was an old trick that probably wouldn't work, but she could try. "Do what I'm doing."

Calis observed her then copied the motions on her own bed while Ariane worked on her cell door. She struggled with the lock this time, nerves making her hand shake. When it finally clicked open, she breathed a sigh of relief. After exiting the cell, she closed the door once more and relocked it as fast as she could. If the night guard decided to check the sleeping forms in the beds, unlocking the door could give them more precious moments to escape.

Moving to Calis's cell, she working on her lock as the other woman stood waiting impatiently hoping from one foot to another.

"Are you sure this will work?"

Ariane paused to gaze levelly at the other woman. "No, but I have to try. You don't have to come if you don't want to."

Calis looked at her bed before standing up straighter. "I'm coming."

"Can't you just go glittery and slip through the bars?" Ariane said as she struggled with the lock.

Calis shook her head. "I've tried before, but my natural form won't condense enough to get through."

Moments later, the lock clicked, and Calis joined her.

"Which way?" Ariane asked as soon as the cell was locked again.

Calis immediately walked in the direction the guard had gone. Moving silently behind her, Ariane began feeling a bit of unease. Could she really trust this woman? Unfortunately, she had no choice. With no idea where the escape pods were, following Calis seemed to be her best course of action.

"Are you alright?"

The question caught her off guard, making her aware she wasn't paying nearly enough attention to her surroundings. "Of course, why?"

Calis's gaze dropped to her stomach where her hand rested. She removed it swiftly.

"You keep touching your stomach. I thought perhaps you were ill."

"I'm fine."

Calis stared down at her, obviously unsatisfied with her answer and crossed her arms over her chest.

Ariane nibbled her bottom lip while Calis stared at her. She needed help to get off this ship. She couldn't just wander around aimlessly looking for the pods. There was too much risk of being caught. Realising she didn't have much choice, she rested her hand protectively on her stomach once more. "I'm pregnant."

The confusion on the other woman's face told her she didn't understand. Remembering what Sek had called it, she tried again. "I'm reproducing."

The confusion was replaced by shock. "I don't understand, I thought you said you were mated to an Ethereal."