just know Adonis and Otis got scheduled to watch Cass this week. Putting all three of you on her would be too suspicious. They were only okay with Otis and Adonis because they're twins, and they honestly can't tell you guys apart anyway," he explained.
I frowned and looked at Dominick. He didn't seem visibly upset, but a shift in the air told me he didn't like the news.
"Cool," was all he said, while Otis and Adonis nodded.
Tristana looked tired, which caught my attention.
"Tristana?" I asked, drawing her attention to me. "You okay?"
"I've never stayed this long as a girl," she noted. "I'm tired. I think you guys should go ahead. I'm gonna cuddle." She yawned and rubbed her eyes.
"Lucky," Adonis and Otis muttered.
"You guys make it seem like he's staying behind on purpose." Dominick was at least grinning now. "Let's go."
Each of them came to hug me, Dominick embracing me the longest and placing a kiss on my cheek. He leaned in and whispered, "We'll get time together. Promise. Just dream of me."
"Okay," I replied and gave him a tiny smile.
Otis and Adonis gave me one last long look before following Dominick out of my cell, and then following Omarion, who gave me a glance before he walked away.
"So much for goodbye from Stubborn Butt," I huffed.
Tristana sat on my bed and crawled to the other side. She was already tucking herself in, her eyes barely staying open.
"Do you like Omarion?"
I burst out laughing, sounding like a lunatic. "There's no way I like-like him."
Tristana's half-open eyes stared at me for a long minute.
"Why do I have a feeling that's not true?"
"I don't like him, Tristan."
"Tristana." She emphasized the A, but it was weaker than usual as her eyes finally lost the battle to stay open. "I'll figure it out...later."
"There's nothing to figure out," I huffed.
"Come here." She tapped the mattress lazily. "I want...cuddles."
"You can barely move."
"Cuddles."
"You're going to fall asleep anyway."
"Cud...dles."
I sighed, knowing she'd fight until she started sleep-talking about cuddling. "Fine."
I laid down and snuggled right into her arms.
"Your boobs are too big."
"Jelly Cassy."
"Cass," I corrected, but relaxed. "Don't abandon me, okay?"
The thought of the entire situation was already fighting its way into my mind, flooding me with negativity regarding the near future.
Most importantly, making me feel like a boring, weak human with powers I can't summon or control unless I'm about to perish.
"Never," she whispered and hugged me. "You're....ours."
Her breathing slowed then, and I knew for sure she was finally asleep.
I didn't bother trying to sleep.
The conversation we had merely played on repeat, and I knew I'd have to get out of this place as soon as I could.
Or I may truly lose everything I love.
Blend In And Lustful Dreaming
"You're going to be back in the morning, right?"
I was trying not to fall asleep, feeling exhausted after a hefty day.
Today we'd been given mine work, something I never would have thought prisoners would do in this day and age.
It was, of course, even deeper into the tunnels of this zero-sunlight prison, and each of us had been given the tools, helmets, and attire for the exerting activity.
I had some amazing stamina, but five hours of work with guards watching and ordering us to work faster as though we were on some type of time limit was far too much for me.
Tristan, or in this case, Tristana, was struggling by the final hour, which only proved how crazy this was. Apparently this was something that would happen once a month, unless a group of prisoners did something bizarre and pissed off those in charge.
When that happened, the whole prison suffered. At least those like us did, who didn't have the power to avoid these things. I'd seen Ivy during the first hour and we'd exchanged a quick hello, but she was gone within the third hour.
Alisha was nowhere in sight, and from the familiar prisoners I could recall from the cafeteria, it looked as though there were only Level Ones and Twos.
The mining exercise involved both men and women, giving me an opportunity to see some of the male prisoners. Some looked like average humans you'd see on the street, while others looked like the stereotypical criminals you'd see in movies.
Massive bodies, piercings in random places, and tattoos all over — some with immense detail and some that looked as though they got them within these very walls.
I was happy Tristana was with me so none of these guys tried to talk to me. I wasn't sure if it