The magic vanished and yet as always in life his unsettled feelings stayed.
So familair, too familair...not hers and yet it was?
''One more thing where is your soulmate?''
"Why do you wanna know?"
Frown appeared on her face, displeased that he didn't hand out what she wanted to know.
"He was supposed to stay within a certain distance of you however I haven't seen blue strands anywhere.''
Mildly his thoughts shifted, she had just arrived and yet already knew of the void space that was Aethelstan.
Besides that how did she even know of the arrangement between his godmother, Queen of the vampire kingdom, and the human kingdom?
One that wasn't followed as it should have been, otherwise Aethelstan would have been provided a place close around him.
Meaning she got her information elsewhere or had a hand in the joining of Aethelstan.
Wich led to another factor, if Aethelstan had joined not for him nor for the bond, than was the reason Dawn was forced to join also not because of him?
Sure he cleared the mission and recieved what he wished for but could it be....no impossible he was thinking to much into it.
''Don't you dare come close to him!'' Shoot, he snapped.
Horrendous chuckles left her before she shimmered in a green glow out of existence.
''.....''
It's not that bad,... maybe she will mistake him snapping for nervousness and in turn mistake it for a sign that Aethelstan is close.
''....''
Wich isn't the case as Avery took him, also showing that him taking an interest in Aethelstan hadn't been planned....then again just about everyone took an interest in Aethelstan.
Aigoo
"...Are you going to keep ignoring me?"
''Yes."
"You child---who was here?"
He's quick but so was he, not even flinching at his sudden arrival instead he answered like a bitter child would.
"Who would even come here? Haven't you noticed, everyone is busy ignoring me.''
"...either way, the students are coming in so stay here.
I placed a bottomless bag with bottles for the coming month, I have to leave.
If I hear of you misbehaving, I will kill you.''
Adrian didn't deign the other an answer, watching Deamon dissapear before scowling, how could he help the fact that his dearest daddy had appointed him as babysitter.
\--
''You called me."
"Elf, how nice that you could join us.''
Aethelstan hadn't really had any choice in the matter, he couldn't even peacefully adjust to the new day. The maid had stood there as soon as the sun began flashing through the clouds, clothes in hands as she respectfully waited, while enlightening him that Avery had called for him.
"And who may you be?"
It wasn't even directed at Avery and yet nonetheless he answered, pulling back Aethelstan's attention with a smirk.
Slightly dissapointed by the lack of reaction, Avery presented his female companion, they where obviously close seeing as the other was playing with his hair.
''This is Valeriana, she will be joining us on our mission and quide us with the information she has."
"Pleasure, I'm Aethelstan.''
''Ooh I know who you are alright, Avery is downright fascinated with you.'' Already Aethelstan disliked her, probably more than Avery, her golden kissed skin made her stand out as if she was the sole focus in the world.
Her hair an ashen grey, a colour that was not her, a touch of magic lingering around her. Invincible but after centuries one just knew.
''You're girlfriend?''
Avery snorted, the woman frowning but he didn't seem to notice the slight hurt in her eyes. ''No need to worry, i'm as free as can be.''
The hint was clear but was quickly deflected,''What did you call me for?" Much to the dejection of Avery, who now matched Valeriana's previous face except worse.
Valeriana in turn, skipped a little in joy, eyes sparkling at the situation unfolding.
"...right let's just start seeing as you are incapable of being annything but stoic.'' It was a clear jab at the elf, even Valeriana stilled, feeling the tension rapidly rising.
It didn't help Avery's sharp decline in mood that Aethelstan didn't even bother giving anything, wether it was an answer or a facial expression.
Avery almost felt himself snapping, asking wether he needed to pay to see even a fraction of emotion on that blank face but withheld himself.
As untoucheable as the elf had been acting, Avery still smiled at the memory of the other bowing, he could just as easily find...no make up another reason.
And the elf would be left with no choice but to do what he wants, said elf must have noticed something, an exterior sign of the rush of power he felt inside him.
Instead of acknowledging just how well the elf could read him, he snapped his finger, red whisps quickly surrounding them and the mansion was no more.
Neither was the high markmenschip of the walls, it all detoirated in a shoddy town that reeked of shoddy deals, with a circulare movement of his fingers his flames lifted Aethelstan's hood until it covered his head completely.
Who wisphered with a trace of annoyance ''Ofcourse your element is fire.'' It wasn't the first time Avery used magic around him but the reliance on fire made it clear that was his main element.
"As yours is ice."
If the other was surprised that Avery knew, he didn't show.
From just an iced bath, Aethelstan realised it wasn't only him that was gouging for information.
Although the reason we're complete opposites of each other, just like them.
''Tension guys, tension.
We haven't even done anything and the tension is already palpable."
For just a second it looked like Avery was going to lose control, snap at the women but reeled it in, weirdly as he even snapped at Amari, the person in charge of the portals.
In control of his way home back then.
"Right, mission's first.
There have been mentions of a group terorising different races. Reports have stated various young werewolves, centaurs and even some merfolk being captured and held here, waiting to be sold.
Now what better way to enter their mids than with an alluring elf as my slave?.''
A thunderstorm practically made up Aethelstan's eyes at Avery's words, clearly spoken on purpose.
"Seriously, again?"
Neither had time to still their glaring matches as white mist suddenly rose around them.
The sounds of leaves crunching filled the silence but none of them had moved.
Rattling snakes could be heard in various direction and yet there had been no trees, just plain fields around them with nowhere to hide.
Eerily ringing bells sounded as the wind picked up, tension had vanished as snow before the sun, replaced by rigid stances and cautious eyes.
Black shadows seemed to swim around them, swinging from one to the other, nothing consistent yet a pattern somewhere inbetween.
"Avery.''
It was in an unuasel soft voice that he answered. ''I'm here, it's their defense mechanism, the only ones that ever entered where accompanied by an other race. "
"Unlike Avery's attitude, you were pretty much necesarry to even start this mission.''
Not that anyone saw but Aethelstan did infact twirl his eyes, before the three of them descended towards silence, waiting until whatever mechanism had activated stilled aswell.
It didn't take that long, shadows emerging around them, rising high, to then open, very much like a flower would.
Leaving them free to explore the town around them, a town that they had watched from afar yet where now standing in the middle of.
Countless people going about their day, moving , not even minding the sudden appearance of three strangers.
Aethelstan wasn't the only who noticed the way eyes strayed to him more, quicker, as soon as the owners deemed the other two normal in the way humans are.
Avery's hand clenched around his arm, grip so thight it was made very clear that he would not let go until he deemed it safe enough. A thing he didn't mind saying aloud aswell.
''Don't bother using your voice, I'll keep my hands upon you, until I think it isn't needed.''
It was one way to convey he was atleast slighlty worried but it also conveyed who had the upper hand in this situation. Avery's taunting words about him being his slave would not just be words in those people who make it their whole living.
And atleast one of those has eyes on all who enter their trading paradise.
They did not know what race he was, Avery having placed a slight charm on the hood but they already knew he wasn't human.
And if Avery's closeness was anything to go by, they were crafty.