Aerith and the others appeared in an abandoned alley. They arrived in Kazaria. Nobody saw or noticed them due to the people being busy selling or buying stuff. Loud noises could be heard from sellers on the sidewalk.
When they left the alley, the two groups of warriors seperated on their way. Five of them went to position themselves on top of the high walls hidden to others sight to monitor everything that was happening on the ground, it would give them an advantage if the other group ever needs back-up.
Aerith's group consisted of Alric, Ravi, Sybille and Kira. They were making their way to where the auction would take place. They brought golds and diamonds just in case they have to join the auction or pay someone to get Ellie and Avery out. And if all else fails, their weapons are all ready to bring chaos and death. They would never loose another elven again.
Aerith was looking around as she walked. She brought one of her hand up to tugged on her hood more securely to hide her features.
It was when she was about to follow Sybille who was turning left on the street to where the auction house was located when she ended up crashing onto someone who just walked out on one of the stores just as she was passing by.
The tall stranger, who was obviously build on solid muscle stopped Aerith's momentum from bouncing back and falling on her butt with one of his strong arms encircling Aerith's waist and the other was holding on to her shoulder. He was looking at her with concern and a frown, curiosity in his eyes as he tried peeking under her hood.
Aerith turned her hooded face away slightly, and she prevented herself from meeting the stranger's eyes. She didn't want him to see or read something in her eyes. She feared that her thoughts was so obviously written on her expression. Like their plan on bringing chaos to this place if they can't get Ellie and Avery back in peace.
"Did you hurt yourself?" the man with a low baritone and commanding voice asked her with concern.
Aerith shook her head. "No, I'm fine. Thank you for saving me from the possible embarrassment a second ago." She said in gratitude.
"You're welcome. It's not everyday that I get to save a little lady on the street." The stranger said with a hint of teasing.
Aerith raised her brow. 'Little? Just because he was so tall...' her thoughts protested.
Someone, maybe the stranger's companion, snorted from behind them.
"Again, thank you, I must go now." Aerith started to leave as she stepped away from the stranger's one-arm embraced on her waist.
"Wait! What's your name?" the stranger asked. He seemed reluctant to see her go just like that.
Aerith frowned as she looked back at the stranger. Their eyes met for the first time and Aerith felt like she had been sucker punched. She could feel the pull towards this handsome stranger. Yes, he was handsome, she just realized that now that she was looking directly at his face, hopefully he couldn't see her face clearly from the depths of her hood. The stranger has dark unruly hair, dark penetrating eyes with arrogant brows, high cheekbones, straight nose and firm lips with a hint of a smile.
Aerith repressed herself from raising her hand and touching this stranger's face. She was mesmerized by him. Why? But she had no time for this. She have a mission to accomplish.
Just at the right moment, Kira came back and called her. "Aerith, what's taking you so long? Let's go! The others are waiting for you." Kira tugged her other arm. Aerith let her. It broke her mysterious connection with the handsome stranger. Without looking back, Aerith started walking away.
"Aerith, my name is Fenris!" the handsome stranger - Fenris - told her in a loud voice, so that she would hear him.
Aerith raised her hand in salute and waved without stopping or looking back at Fenris.
Fenris watched her go until he could no longer see her the moment she rounded a corner.
"Aerith... such a pretty name. I bet she's as pretty as her name. I barely saw her face with those huge hood of hers. But I saw her eyes, bright green like glowing emeralds." Fenris told his companion and one of his trusted men and best friend, his right hand man, Connor.
"With the way you look at her and sang praises about her, you act as if you're bewitched." Connor teased him as he shook his head.
"She can bewitched me. I think she did. She now occupies my mind, and I want to see her again." Fenris agreed with Connor.
Connor grimaced. "Wait until Randell and the others heard what you're spewing."
"Y'all are just going to be jealous of me since I met her first."
"You barely even saw her face!" Connor shook his head like his friend was hopeless.
"Not clearly, but I know she's beautiful. And it doesn't matter if she's beautiful or plain looking, she has the prettiest eyes I've ever seen, and what I felt when I held her and when our eyes met, I will never feel that kind of feelings to any woman again." Fenris declared. "That's why I must see her again and find out who she is and where she lives."
"We'll have someone do that." Connor didn't argue or tease Fenris anymore. "If she is really your soulmate, then my felicitation to you, my friend. I wish you a prosperous and happy mated life. But before that, you must court the girl and make her agree to be your mate." Connor reminded Fenris.
"Thank you, and of course, once I learn more about her, I'll let her know my intentions."
"Are you going to tell your mother and father?"
"Yes, once they're back from their sojourn." Fenris told Connor.
Fenris' parents got more free time to themselves the moment Fenris became the Alpha King and his father stepped down from the throne and the position of leading their pack. That was why his parents were always away on a journey and enjoying their time together for a long period of time whenever they were away, rather than staying at the Ironside Pack and their Palace.
"What ever will Ruby do once she heard about you finding your soul mate?" Connor reminded him, his voice teasing.
Ruby was a beta lycan that was part of the Ironside pack. She was also one of their female combatants who could fight like one of them. She would take no shit from anyone. And she was eyeing Fenris for a long time. She was also ambitious about stepping higher on the pack ranks. And what's higher than being an Alpha King's Luna Queen.
Fenris sighed. "Well, she better put her sights on someone else," then he looked at Connor. "Maybe on you, you're an alpha too and my second in command." Fenris said with a grin as he teased Connor.
Connor narrowed his eyes. "You really thought about that? I still love my life the way it is, thank you very much." He muttered.
Fenris laughed at him.
-
"What kept you behind?" Alric asked Aerith when she and Kira made it to them. They were already near the entrance of the auction house located at the end of the street.
"I literally ran into a stranger and he helped me to not fall on the ground. I was busy thinking about our plan that I didn't notice right away that we'll be in each other's way. He was suddenly there." Aerith explained.
"And he's a handsome stranger, too." Kira teased with a smile.
"None of that matters now. Let's do this." Aerith cut off whatever teasings and questions she would get from them. They have more pressing matters that needed to be done, they have no time for teasings right now.
They all looked at each other solemnly and seriously, nodded in unison and entered the auction house. Each of them paid the entrance fee of ten diamonds each person.
"That is practically robbery!" Kira muttered in protests after they got in the auction house after paying the sum of fifty diamonds the size of a walnut each in total.
"Calm. The diamonds are nothing compared to what our real aim here." Ravi told Kira.
"Besides, we could grow and pick diamonds on our diamond trees anytime." Sybille added and reasoned out.
"It's the people who we gave it to whom I'm protesting," Kira pointed out with a huff, but she didn't push the issue.
Their party was led to one of the VIP section on the second floor, sectioned apart from others to give them privacy. They were given a hologram to see the list of the things being auctioned, and a jade button they will need to push if they wish to bid. The organizers also left them a bucket of bottled wine and glasses and a platter of cheeses, fruits, and chocolates.
Kira opened the sealed wine, smelled it just in case it was tampered before pouring them in glasses and gave each glass to the others, then she grabbed the chocolates to munch on.
"What? Might as well eat them all, we paid a lot to get here. Those diamonds could bought us a mansion and cars back in the human world." Kira pointed out when she saw Ravi looking at her.
Ravi didn't say anything.
'Good for him.' Kira thought.
While Aerith didn't bother with the foods or the arguing, she was busy scrolling through the hologram for her sister and niece. And finally, almost at the end of the lists, she found their three dimensional photos.
There, finally.
"They looked dirty and starved, but other than that it seemed no harm has come to them." Sybille pointed out.
"Where's Branon? Did they kill Ellie's lifebound?" Kira asked since Brannon was not on the lists.
"I have no idea." Aerith was confused too.
Ravi suddenly stood from his perch. "We don't all need to be here, I'll go case the place and see if those routes we saw on the architectural design are all clear. I might as well clean up some vermins here."
"I'll go with you." Sybille declared as she stood from where she sat. "In case you need back up."
Ravi inclined his head in agreement.
"Be careful and vigilant." Aerith reminded them.
Ravi and Sybille nodded before the left.
Now, all they have to do is wait.