It had been peaceful....weirdly so seeing he was kind of kidnapped?
Either way he had slept quite well, hours had passed as he took advantage of the happenings by catching up on his missing sleep.
Avery hadn't helped, so this break was nice.
"How long are you going to stay like that?''
Altough it seemed he wasn't the only one that found it's way in the lair.
''You do know Avery won't be happy right?''
Valeriana was close to Avery but even she could be wrong, there was no way Avery would be that pissed off by him merely helping with the mission.
As they had intended.
It was the whole reason why he was brought along.
"That would be foolish.
I'm doing just as intended, helping you lot with your mission.''
"Should I take the you lot as discrimination for humans?''
He hadn't once opened his eyes, merely continuing to somewhat sleep through her voice until Aethelstan realised it just wasn't meant to be.
'Not at all, let's just go and explore.''
''Your not taking this seriously.''
''Since your here why did you not bother to bring Avery with you?''
A spark lit her eyes as the door openend with a literal small bang.
"Just wanted to spend some one on one time.''
''And you think Avery would be happy with that?''
They had moved away from the room, a replication of himself lying there as a glammer pulled over him.
Mist blue eyes instead of silver and dark black hair, smaller, human.
Unrecognisable.
''Not really, he was quite persistent about you, he will be more than annoyed knowing we are here and he isn't.''
''He'll figure it out.''
''You give him a lot of credit.''
''Hm, he has the talent and power, it's just the how he doesn't seem to care about.
I suppose you helped with that?"
''Just a bit---''Crossing into a diferent part of the cave, they came across the place where the dealings happened.
Huge space, decorated at it's finest, in the middle a raised platform where several things were happening.
People moved things around, dragged different species onto it and more.
Tied by invincible chains, a slave marked branded upon them, unable to do anything as they awaited their cruel reality.
Magical, stronger, transcending time and space, that was the slave mark.
It was something so derailed, even Aethelstan wasn't sure if it should have existed already.
Taking the mask offered, he put it on, it was just as detailed.
Black covered with gold that in the middle switched their positions, making it a gold background with black detailing.
Venturig further, following Valeriana, it was clear she knew where she was and where she was going.
''Have you been here before?''
''Yes.'' She didn't even deny, a crazed flame lighting her eyes as she continued to speak.''I made this mission at least slight up, I was just so curious to meet you.''
Her finger snapped right at him, the long nails treathening towards his heart.
''The one who stole his heart.''
Scoffing, he ventured further. ''I did no such thing.''
''Denial, how typical. I wonder what made him so obsessed?
You don't believe me?''
''It's merely a fase, humans tend to have those.''
.
.
.
There was something in the silence that made him still.
.
.
.
".....Who says his human?....''
The words dimmed the atmosphere around him, quietened the cheers as the victims where put on display.
He was pulled forward, his steps sounding far away before a serious silence pulled over, his only concentration was on her voice that sounded.
''You know what the handy thing is about memories?''
He waited...there were many things...memories...the thing that made a person.
''No.''
With a finger on her lip and wink on her face, she answered her own question.
''They can be changed."
Horror and all kinds of things filled him, the very essence taken away as Avery's everything was crafted.
Both seated, the crowd filling up the other seats, they watched as most cheered when the presentation started.
Because this was all it was for them.
A show for goods.
''Good morning and welcome.''
Cheers erupted, the speaker was well known with a broad grin on her face, eager to start with her newest display.
"I hope you had a splendid night and are ready for an even more perfect morning with ,hopefully for you, a new toy at your side.''
Wistles and leering from both women and men filled the room, leaving him unable to hide the disgust.
''Mind your expression.''
And he did. ''What did you mean with you made this up?''
"Ah, nothing big. The issue has been here for quite a while but we never bothered to look at it. Just some measly beasts as if it mattered.''
''I see where he gets it from.''
"Exactly.''
Once more she didn't even deny it
"And here we have it, the first of the day.''
It had never been so quiet as the first was harshly shoved down next to the presentater, her hand lifting his chin ever so slowly, the crowd in awe as his teared expression was made obvious.
''Have you ever seen something so divine?
Not only does his tears becomes pearls, he's even capable of entertaining you on land and water.
Give it up for a mermen of the sea!!"
Their pleasure in the other's pain deafened both Aethelstan and Valeriana, it was a slight relief that the cave still stood.
''If I could, he wouldn't even be here for you to see. But unfortanetly for me and fortunatly for you, he was worth more than a measly's presentator's pay.
Let's see how much you all are willing to pay for such a fine specimen and let me check ,if maybe, I could have bought him after all.''
Bids where placed, the crowd not once losing their happiness as the mermen failed around, water splashed on him the moment the presentator ended her speech.
Showcasing that true to her words, the boy was a mermen, capable of transforming.
In the end the mermen ended up in the hands of a somewhat energetic young child, no more than twenty, who jumped when a chain became visible in her hand.
Intertwined with her hand and wrist before glimmering out of existence, etching itself on her skin. There when she needed it.
That was the first.
Then the second...fourth...seven...young or old it didn't matter.
"Are we just going to sit and watch?"
"It's worse for them than it is for you.''
''...Are you stretching time till Avery comes?''
''Yeesss.
He will be soo mad, I wonder what he will do consumed with anger.''
''He told me you vied for his attention, I did not think it was that serieous."
"Just wait till you see him murder, it's so hooot~''
Sighing, their attention was pulled back when his slugged figure of a replica appeared after an equally enthousiastic speech and break.
Aethelstan, himself couldn't be bothered with the crowd cheer and immediate placed bids. Such uproar his twin caused, an elf clearly in high demands.
He wasn't exactly flattered.
Not bothered at being sold himself, he looked at the young werewolf, sold of for a piece of gold as if that could ever amount to his worth.
Discreetly he sent a shimmer of his magic to the boys way, feeling up the slave mark and understanding the way it worked. Hopefully to disengage it.
''Look...look they're selling you!!''
He mumbled, forcing his concentration to stay on the mark.'' Don't sound too excited.''
''How can I not...Avery will be furious!!"
"So you keep saying...''BOOOOMM''
The ground shook as Aethelstan hastily casted shields upon shields all around them, the cave wall above them held on for a moment before desintegrating and shattering all around.
Huge blocks falling as Avery appeared fire burning brightly around him enhanced by the sun, eyes a frightening dark shade of purple
Hands full with keeping up the shields and removing the mark, he only watched as Avery turned, saw the replica and burned.
His shields shattered upon the sudden force, seconds later Avery stood clenching the neck of the presentator.
He didn't know wether to be touched, a purple ring had surrounded his weak replica and teleported him behind Avery. Covering him with a purple ring of fire.
In reality he wouldn't be all that pleased as it would hurt and he wasn't sure Avery realised that but it was the thought that counted.
Valeriana looked at him with a told you so, wich he ignored upon feeling the mark vanish.
The boy felt the restraint leaving him, turned slowly and understood the finger upon his lips.
Swiftly making use of the situation, he slipped away, running towards his freedom.
''Any last words?"
With great difficulty he began undoing the mark upon the others, attention divided as he made his way forward.
"That's quite enough."
Avery turned, furious at the sudden disruption, his veins popping from the force he used on the presenter's neck.
His eyes flickered towards the veins before he could stop himself, a small second of appreciation later he gathered his bearingas Avery opened his mouth.
"Change back."
With a demand ofcourse.
Snapping his fingers, he undid the hammer and his fake self.
Upon returning to himself, Avery threw the presentator away like a used doll, uncaring of the crunch that sounded.
Nobody else had spoken, scared for their lives as the fire still burned.
Except for Valeriana, she looked as if Christmas came early.
Even going so far as to whistle when Avery appeared inches away from him, once more no boundaries.
"You did it on purpose.
Do you not take me serious when I told you to stay?"
Now Aethelstan was getting pissed, the chuckling behing him did not help.
Wasn't she interested in him?
Shaking away his overwhelming frustration, he didn't like it when his feelings could be seen through the flicker of silver in his eyes.
"It was more efficient this way."
He was like a murderous kitten when he tuned his head. "Efficient?
Won't it be more efficient if I kill them all."
Whatever proudness Avery had felt when he didn't murder all those in the tavern had vanished upon seeing the elf in his weakened state.
No partners of his, could be seen that vulnerable by anyone but him!
They must all die!
With hair in front of his eyes, he very much looked like a deranged psychopath.
Fire burning wildly around him, the only one save was Aethelstan, as Avery wouldn't hurt him and Valeriana. Who protected herself with a circle of water around her.
"Can you stop going for killing, it's not always the answer."
"But it makes things so much easier, beside I would do it for you."
Avery saw his dislike as he questioned.
"I would kill for you, it makes her happy so why not you?"
Aethelstan spoke without really thinking, it was obvious who her was and she clearly would be over the moon if Avery killed for her out of love or anything like that.
"Everyone can kill, wether accidental or on purpose.
No one like that will ever be a lover of mine.
Killing is easy but knowing ones likes and dislikes is something far bigger.
Their favorite colour, their hopes and dreams.
A love defined by blood is not a love worth fighting for."
For a small, very small moment it looked like Avery understood the words he said but those foolish thoughts quickly washed down the drain when he heard the following words.
"So I just need to know everything about you?
I can do that."
Oh shit, he had invited trouble and Avery liked it as their surrounding burned like his life soon would.
If Avery had been troublesome before, he would be even more so now.
The other kept staring as if he was the only one he could see, no doubt the case, unbothered with anyone else even Valeriana as her chuckles had dwindled upon hearing Avery speak and drawing her own thoughts from the conversation as she watched the stare off between Avery and Aethelstan. Surrounded with the sparks of fire around them, no place for her in between.
A determination rose inside her, the elf was trying to make him good.
Two can play this game, all his effort for the good he believed Avery had, was only half of what she had in store for them.
Well she would show just how evil Avery could be!