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Trinity pauses, her hands stilling on her meager possessions. For a moment, raw indecision flashes across her features. Her gaze sweeps over the assembled women—some barely more than children—and I see the weight of responsibility settle on her shoulders.
"I have to," she finally says, her voice soft but firm. "But you should be getting better arrangements soon."
A murmur runs through the group—disbelief, fear, perhaps a sliver of hope.
"With him?" An older woman glances at me, suspicion etched in the lines around her mouth.
Trinity nods, straightening her spine. "Yes. He's... different."
I almost smile at her hesitation. Different. Not good, not kind—just different. At least she's honest.
"But what about Drez'kor?" someone whispers. "He'll be furious when he discovers you're gone."
Trinity's eyes flash at the mention of the captain, her body tensing. I recall the scene in the garden—his hands on her waist, her carefully blank expression. Something possessive and dangerous stirs in my chest.
"Drez'kor won't be a problem," I interject, my voice carrying through the cramped cell. Every human eye turns to me, wary and uncertain. "And conditions here will improve. The human queen will see to that." Or I'll try to make sure she does.
Trinity nods as she looks at her companions, clasping Mira's hands in hers. "He's right. Things are already changing. You'll be safer now."
But I notice how her fingers tremble slightly, how her smile doesn't quite reach her eyes. She wants to believe what she's telling them, but years of cruelty and broken promises have taught her better.
"We need to go," I say quietly, aware that every moment we linger increases the risk of discovery. Not that I can't slaughter everyone to get her out, but it would complicate my future endeavors on the island. "Now."
Trinity nods, gathering her bundle to her chest. She embraces each woman quickly, whispering something in their ears. When she reaches Mira, the youngest of the group, she presses the small book into the girl's hands.
"Keep this safe for me," she murmurs, and the girl nods solemnly, clutching the book to her chest.
"Will we ever see you again?" Mira asks, tears tracking down her dirty cheeks.
Trinity hesitates, glancing up at me before answering. "I don't know," she admits. "But you'll be alright. You're stronger than you think."
The parting is quick after that. Trinity steps from the cell, her shoulders squared, chin high. But I catch the way her breath hitches, the dampness in her eyes that she blinks away before anyone can notice.
The guard locks the cell behind us, and I place my hand at Trinity's back again, guiding her away. She walks stiffly, not looking back though I can feel how desperately she wants to.
"You did what you could for them," I say quietly as we climb the stairs away from the dungeons.
Trinity's jaw tightens. "It wasn't enough."
"It was more than anyone else did."
She glances up at me, anger and grief warring in her expression. "That's a pretty low bar, demon."
We emerge from the dungeons without incident, no one stopping us or questioning why I'm escorting a human woman away from the premises. Trinity seems increasingly agitated by this, her steps quickening as we near the edge of Asmodeus's property.
"I can't believe no one's trying to stop us," she whispers, casting furtive glances over her shoulder. "It can't be this easy."
"It isn't easy," I correct her. "It's who I am. No one here wants to challenge me."
She studies me with those shrewd green eyes. "You must be very frightening."
"I am."
A small, humorless smile touches her lips. "And yet here I am, walking into the night with you. What does that make me?"
"Practical," I answer honestly. "And brave."
The journey to my estate on Aerasak is swift but silent. Trinity spends most of it staring out the window of the transport vessel, her fingers absently tracing patterns on the glass. The tension in her shoulders never quite leaves, even as we put Galmoleth far behind us.