CHAPTER THREE

Ebony was marching around the room uncomfortably. She knew this had to be said, but she was anxious as to the others' reactions. She knew that Amber and Jay hated her anyway – Amber, ever since Bray had been on the scene; Jay, because she had broken his heart, once upon a time when he still loved her. Now, like Bray had before him, he had latched onto Amber, and followed her around like a lost puppy dog. Love, he called it; pathetic is what Ebony thought!

There was a knock on the door. She knew who it was, and she greeted him warmly. He hadn't felt such emotion for a long time, and certainly never expected to be feeling like that about Ebony. She had really seemed to change her life around, and despite his earlier feelings, he was surprised by the new Ebony – this was a major turnaround from the girl he once knew.

"So, Ebs, what's on the agenda for today? Gonna terrorise another sector, and hold lots of people prisoners, huh?" he asked playfully.

In mock shock, "I thought you knew me better than that, hun! I really am trying to change my life around!"

"Why? Are you trying to prove something to me or you?" he questioned.

Then a guard tapped at the door to her room. Changing back to work mode, she told him to enter.

"Well, Domino, what's the problem? I told you not to disturb me unless it was important!" Ebony barked at him.

"Yes, my lady, but I just thought you'd like to know that the leaders of the mallrats and the leaders of the demon dogs have arrived!" Domino replied, quivering at the sight of his mistress so annoyed with him.

"Domino, you go and tell them that I'll be there as soon as I can. And you", she said, turning to her visitor, "you really need to have a bath! No offence, but you really reek!" Ebony laughed.

With that, Domino left the room.

"Cheers, Ebs! I always knew I could rely on you to flatter someone!" he joked. "But wait a sec; didn't he just say that the mallrats are here? I mean what about…?"

"I'm sorry hun, but she's not interested! How many times to I have to tell you? She's moved on, and she even said to me that she never wants to speak to or about you ever again!" Ebony lied.

"Oh…!" he replied, drooping his head. "But after everything we went through together…are you sure she knows that I'm still alive?"

"Are you accusing me of lying to you? I promise, she said…" Ebony tailed off.

"I guess I just miss her!" he said. "Anyway," he responded, much more cheerfully, "I'm off to have that bath, since even my friends think I stink!"

"See you later!"

"Later!"

He left the room, and Ebony's smile dropped as she began to think about how she'd just lied to him. She loved him so much, and Amber had nothing on her! She had so much to offer him, in comparison to that 'Miss Prissy', as she had come to think of her love rival.

Domino knocked on the door again.

"Didn't I just tell you to go and have a bath!?" she said bashfully, as she opened the door, only to be greeted by her guard and not the person she'd hoped to see.

"Excuse me, my lady, but the leaders are all getting restless. What should I say to them?"

"Nothing at all", Ebony sighed heavily. "I'm coming right now!"

Ebony shook away the images she had formed in her mind of the two of them in her hot tub together, and forced herself to think of the announcement she had to make. This would not be pleasant at all, if she knew anything about the other tribal leaders, and she prided herself on being very knowledgeable of them all. But soon, it would be just her and Bray, and then the real fireworks would start!