Chapter 76 The Betrayal in being too late*

It was too quiet. But Aegin was past the front gates before he realised it. There was just something about it. Maybe it was that there was a biting cold in the air despite it being only Autumn. Maybe it was the lack of life surrounding the place, though Jerrica had never been all that lively to begin with. Or maybe, just maybe, it was the solemness that filled the eyes of every individual he snuck past. They all seemed to know that something unspeakable had happened, and they never ever wanted to witness anything like it again.

Aegin hid in the shadowed corner of one of the tunnels as the girl who'd been beside Rassa's cell strode up to a waiting Zaroth.

"Took you long enough," said Zaroth.

The young woman, whose countenance bore an arrogance and confidence that had not been there when Aegin had seen her previously, simply shrugged and gave a seductive smile, "Couldn't be sure that once was enough. Besides, he might be only sixteen, but a body like that deserves to be enjoyed".

Zaroth rolled his eyes, "Spare me your stories. I care about the result, not the process".

The young woman grinned, "I would be surprised if I'm not pregnant".

Aegin narrowed his eyes in disgust as she passed a nearby guard the anthrite mask that was usually on Rassa, then Aegin waited as they left. He wanted to deny what he'd just heard, but it was an undeniable truth.

Rassa had been raped. Thoroughly. For a woman, it was not often seen as unlawful seeing as they were of a lesser status. But for a man to be raped? It was the ultimate condemning action for their social status and manhood. It was irreversible. But social status was hardly what Aegin cared about at the moment. He'd seen women who had been raped before, usually by those that called themselves 'Noble'. They did not cope well with it.

Aegin stood in the darkness for a while, before he finally gained the courage to move forward. He had to see. Just to be sure, he had to see it.

It was just as bad as when he'd found his friend as nothing more than a corpse. Perhaps worse.

He was still chained to the floor and the walls, only his mask had been removed. He'd lowered himself to his knees, but it seemed that that was all the movement he'd been allowed. The torch was burning down to it's last flame, but Aegin could still see clearly enough. The eyes, as Aegin had learned over the years, told you everything you needed to know about a person. Their feelings, their desires, their truths and lies. But these eyes, Rassa's eyes...they had changed. It made Aegin wish he'd never learned how to read them as he watched, unable to draw his eyes away. Rassa's eyes had always been dark, but inconceivably, they were now glazed and pale, staring into nothing. Lost in something that Aegin couldn't even hope to fathom. Aegin gripped the bars to keep himself from falling at the devastating sight.

He stared, but Rassa didn't move. Didn't even acknowledge his presence. He hadn't cried, but that look of blankness…it was worse than tears. Worse than any wailing and crying. Finally, Aegin could take it no longer, and his voice cracked in the darkness.

"R-Rassa?"

Aegin swallowed to clear his dried-out throat. Rassa didn't move.

"Rassa, can you hear me?"

Again, no response. Aegin slid down to squat so that he was somewhat level with his friend.

"Rassa, please".

The Vampire's eyes snapped up, but Aegin found no solace in his gaze. No reassurance that he was okay. There was nothing but a deep pain, and an inconceivable rage. Rassa had never looked at him like that before, and Aegin released the bars in surprise.

"R...Rassa?"

The Vampire tilted it's head to the side, its gaze predatory as its eyes narrowed.

"You're too late".

Aegin couldn't help the gasp that left his lips at that dark, emotionless tone. He said nothing, just waited in the darkness for Rassa to continue. To say something.

"That is why you came this time isn't it? You finally asked questions...you just asked them too late".

"I'm sorry, Rassa I-"

"Sorry?" Rassa chuckled, "It's not your fault. At least, that's what my head keeps telling me".

His mocking smile dropped, and his face went back to that expressionless distance as his gaze turned back to the floor, "But another part tells me that by being late, you betrayed every form of trust I had in you. I think you humans call that part a heart".

Aegin felt the tears roll down his cheeks, and wiped at them as he stood. He'd never really been close with anyone, at least, that was what he'd thought. But seeing Rassa like this, it made him realise just how much he'd come to value Rassa over all others. It wasn't just loyalty. Somehow, without them even knowing it, Aegin had come to consider Rassa as a friend. One that he would not just abandon, "I'm going to get you out. I-"

"Don't bother," Rassa interjected, "You've been of no use to me so far, what use would you be now?"

Aegin frowned, "I promised you, didn't I?"

"You promised to kill me once I got out. Or was it not to kill me? Why was that again? Because I was a good judge of character?" Rassa snapped, "See where that got me with you".

Aegin knew it was the pain talking, but it still hurt. It hurt to see the only friend he'd ever made treat him like some accessory to his darkest hour.

"So you'd rather stay in here?" Aegin asked.

Rassa tugged at his chains, and the sound of clinking metal ran through the quiet halls, "Just go, Aegin".

"What?" asked Aegin, frowning.

"Leave," Rassa said, "I don't want to see you ever again. If I do...you'll meet the same fate as everyone else who has betrayed and used me".

Aegin stood still, ready to challenge that broken tone that Rassa had adopted. If this was what friendship was, what it truly was, it was not something Aegin wished to abandon, "No".

"LEAVE!" Rassa screamed out.

It was so sudden and so terrifying that Aegin took a few steps back from the bars. He frowned. What kind of Assassin was he? He was pathetic. Allowing a chained man to scare him like that. Aegin turned away. Even if he had no desire to abandon Rassa, there was nothing he could do now. Not in this moment. He didn't have the skills nor the power to break his friend out, and it appeared that even if he made the effort, Rassa was not in the right frame of mind to leave.

"You'll see me again," Aegin promised, "And next time, I won't leave even when you scream at me".

Then the shadow of Aegin disappeared once more.

Rassa could only feel rage. Only pain. He had no consideration for Aegin, or anybody else. There was only one thing he desired now. So much so that he didn't even bother counting the days anymore. He just fed, and fought them off with fangs whenever they tried to do what they had to him again. They never let him out of the chains anymore, not when he'd become the embodiment of all their nightmares.