It seemed like not everyone was agreeing to Aerith's declaration. Hmm...
'Some people are just so hard headed!' Aerith thought irritably. This matter could've just ended well without anyone being hurt or worst, dying, if they could just let their pride simmer down and let her have her very own sister and niece.
"I have enough means to pay for what I want to bid on. So if there's still any takers, I can always outbid them." Aerith told the host.
The host quirked his brow, his greed suddenly shining in his eyes after hearing that Aerith have 'enough wealth' to outbid anyone who bid against her. That means, this bidding could possibly go much higher than he expected, as long as someone would bid against her.
Aerith narrowed her eyes at the host. It seemed some people are getting greedy. Even Fenris, who was monitoring the whole ordeal, was raising his brow. The tension was suddenly high.
It seemed the auction house was full of greedy beings.
The host who was presiding the bidding was hesitant now to end this bidding. They knew this mother and child Fae would give them such high profits.
Aerith narrowed her eyes at the host.
The host ignored her stare, and said instead, "Any other takers?"
"He dares!" Aerith hissed. Her hands clenching. "What's the news with Ravi and Sybille." Aerith asked. They might need that other option. She didn't mind, she just thought this could be taken cared of without any trouble.
Alric just got off his smarthphone. It was enchanted so it could take the pressure from the powers of different beings. And they made it so that they could contact each other even from across the dimensions.
"Ravi said they already eliminated some of the guards." Alric informed her.
"Remind them to loot the place out. Don't forget my dragon egglings." Aerith reminded her cousin.
"What else do you want?" Alric asked.
"Everything." Aerith stated.
Since they refused to play fair and nice to her, then she wouldn't either.
She thought while watching the host of the bidding urging others to bid more, when she just offered and bid such large amount of wealth they brought with them, but he got greedy and now, she'll take everything from them.
"Any more takers?" the host asked for the final time.
Aerith was annoyed. Why is the host not finishing the bidding yet when no one else was going against her bid. Was he aiming for more gold? How greedy! All she wanted was to get her sister and niece back, and for them to go back home safe and sound.
"I'll bid for 1, 000, 000, 000 gold." The witch said. Since this was the last item for bidding then she would go all out. That was what on the witch's mind, afterall, one Fae has a lot of benefits for her to get, what more of two!
Aerith gritted her teeth. One billion gold! The witch negated their bid! Unless something would happen, like killing her if she didn't stop going against Aerith.
Aerith clenched her teeth when she heard her niece cried, and her sister couldn't even sooth her properly because they were both tied up with thick magical iron chains!
Normal iron doesn't affect Elven's like them, but a magical one does. And magical Iron was very rare. It could only be attained by harvesting it from a dragon's horn. It was literally putting someone's life on the line before they could get a dragon's horn. And not just any dragon, it must be a dragon from the silver dragon clan, and they were very rare and their own fortress from another dimension was really hard to find and enter.
"Be patient, Aerith." Alric warned her. Since she was ready to really do some serious damage.
Aerith looked across from her. She was trying to fight it but she could feel that Lycan was so focused on her and she could feel the pull from him.
Fenris was looking at her with concern in his eyes and a promise.
Aerith frowned. "What?" she asked in confusion.
"Whatever you will do, I'll help you." Fenris vowed.
"Then thank you. Just don't get in my way." Aerith said and inclined her head in acceptance. At this point, all the help and allies that she could get was welcome.
"Any other bidders?" the hosts said again. "Going once... going twice... " he started to raise his gavel for the conclusion of the current and last bidding.
Aerith was about to bid higher, but suddenly -
- 'BOOM!'
The whole place shook as the loud explosion erupted from inside the auction house.
Crumbles of stones started to fall, some walls started to crack, some beings started screaming and scrambling around and out of the way. The host and staff was yelling to them not to panic.
It was all chaos. And Aerith was grinning like the cheshire cat. It was time!
She stood from the railings, looked at the stage, and then vanished from the railings and the next thing she was already standing next to the host. Her dagger on his throat. Kira appeared next to her to watch her back, while Alric appeared next to her sister and niece, making sure they have no serious injuries.
Elven or Fae like them could do a small distance teleportation as long as they could see and picture where they would appear next. If they teleport into an unfamiliar location, and ended up halfway out and halfway in, then they would be trap and die. They have powers and long lived, but they were not invincible. Everyone could be killed and die, unless the being was a true immortal, which was very very rare, like 0.5 chance out of 10. If there was a true immortal, then that would be the creator of all beings and the creator hadn't been seen by anyone, so it remained a legend. So, even immortals like them needed to be careful, strong and vigilant to protect themselves.
"Where is the key for the chains?" Aerith demanded to the host.
Kira was starting to fight all those guards and staff who tried to save the host and take the two chained Fae.
"The key was not with me." The host said.
"You liar." Aerith hissed. She was an Elven, and a Princess at that, that means she could detect liars since Elven doesn't lie, but that doesn't mean they couldn't go around their words with technicality. So Elven or Fae beings could deceived another being without actually lying.
The host's eyes widened. "You're an elven, too!" he exclaimed. He realized this when she could tell when he lied.
"Ding! Ding! Ding! You got it right!" Aerith announced with a chuckle.
"I thought you were all killed in a massacre? That was what the news from years ago told us. That was why bidding on a Fae brings us a high price because your kind are so rare now." Tha host told her.
"Well, obviously we survived. Now hand me the key!"
"Why would I. You would kill me whether I do what you demand or not." The host said with a shrug.
Aerith narrowed her eyes. "But it's up to my mood whether I make your demise easier or so much full of pain and agony. I promise. And it's still fresh in my mind how you refused to just let me win the bidding, afterall, I'm only taking who's ours. You're the one who stole them."
The host trembled after seeing and reading the crazy murder in Aerith's eyes. "We didn't steal them from you. They were sold by the vampire pirates clan. As long as we got the goods, we didn't care where or how they get it."
"Vampire pirates. Hmm... " Aerith looked thoughtful. That's another clue for her. But for now...
"The key?" Aerith demanded, for the third time. "Or are you stalling time for back-ups to come? Well, forget about it, I have others of my kind with me waiting outside these hall. And the Lycan promised me his alliance, and some of my people are the reason why there was an explosion. And yes, out of spite for giving me a hard time, we'll be looting all your items on the lists." She grinned.
If her question was to be repeated another time again, well, she won't ask nicely for the fourth time.
And the host seemed to understand that. He raised his left hand, and from the glow of his palm, a silver key appeared.
"Thank you!" Aerith took the key and threw it to Alric, who easily caught it and started freeing her sister and niece from their bindings.
"It didn't burn you!" the host asked incredulously. That was what he was hoping for.
Aerith rolled her eyes. "Do you believe that myth? Ugh! Seriously! Iron doesn't weaken us, it was just a bitch to remove when it comes to magical chains, and everyone has a hard time with a magical chain or rope, not just us!" she said before swinging her dagger and it sliced the host's neck cleanly. The host fell down on the ground, dead. Blood was gushing out of his throat.
Aerith smiled at her sister when she turned to Ellie who was already free from her chains and calming Avery who was also free but still crying. Aerith raised her two daggers towards her sister. "Can you fight or we should protect you from the guards until we get away from this place?"
"Give me the daggers! I have so much anger to appease." Ellie demanded.
Aerith grinned. She was right, her sister wasn't broken. That was great!
While little Avery was already being held and carried by Alric.
"Go ahead of us Alric, bring Avery to safety." Aerith told her cousin.
Alric nodded without fighting, he knew what his mission was and he won't renege from it out of heroic pride.
When Alric started making his way out of the auction house, Aerith and the others fought the oncoming guards to clear a path for him and Avery.
Ravi and Sybille finally showed up again. They were covered in blood and sooth. A magical pouch the size of a small sack was on their backs. Probably the loots!
She was still grinning, thinking about the success of this rescue when she heard Fenris' voice.
"Aerith, behind you!"
She turned to look behind her and her eyes widened...