"To Aiden!"
The sound of a toast tore through the room as the guests raised their glasses in praise.
Sitting at one of the big roundtables at Vin's Parlor, Aiden was surrounded by a bunch of affluent guests all praising his musical skills.
"Haha, you're twist was phenomenal Aiden!"
"Your skill with the violin is commendable!"
"Where did you learn to play like so?"
The questions just came pouring in and Aiden was forced to answer everyone, although he did this, he was vague about what he revealed about himself keeping his cool throughout.
The large table in front of them was filled with all kinds of normal alcohol, wine, and whiskey.
To prevent accidents, the drinks meant for Contractors were being held by nearby waiters ready to serve at a moment's notice.
"So Aiden? You said you just passed the recent selections, but you don't have the aura of most new Contractor's." A voice sounded out, looking towards the source of that voice, Aiden's gaze fell upon Alexander Sterling whose polished demeanor and sharp features spoke volumes of his status. Clad in an impeccably tailored suit, he exuded an air of authority that left an indelible impression.
He was one of the more authoritative figures in the room, being the CEO of an investment company called Sterling Enterprises.
He wasn't the only affluent guest in the room though, among them were:
Mid-thirties, Mrs. Isabella Vanderbilt, Philanthropist, and Art Collector: Sitting opposite Mr. Sterling, Isabella Vanderbilt captured Aiden's attention with her radiant smile and elegant presence. Her gown, adorned with intricate embroidery, hinted at a passion for the arts that resonated with her reputation as a philanthropist.
Late twenties, Lady Arabella Fairchild, Socialite and Patron of the Arts: As Aiden's gaze swept across the table, it was Lady Arabella Fairchild who captivated his attention next. Her ensemble, a masterpiece of haute couture, spoke of her status as a patron of the arts, while her graceful movements and charming demeanor added an air of sophistication to the gathering.
Late forties, Baron Maximilian von Richter, International Diplomat: Beside Lady Fairchild sat Baron Maximilian von Richter, whose diplomatic charm and striking attire caught Aiden's eye. His tailored suit and easy smile hinted at a wealth of experience garnered from his international endeavors, leaving Aiden intrigued by the enigmatic diplomat.
Mid-fifties, Ms. Gabrielle Beaumont, Fashion Designer Extraordinaire: Across from the Baron, Gabrielle Beaumont epitomized style and creativity, her vibrant personality and innovative designs drawing admiration from all those present. Clad in an outfit that spoke of her impeccable taste, she lit up the room with her vivacious presence.
Early twenties, Sir William Harrington, Esteemed Author and Literary Critic: Adjacent to Gabrielle sat Sir William Harrington, whose scholarly air and thoughtful expression immediately marked him as a man of letters. His tweed jacket and spectacles hinted at a passion for literature that resonated with the protagonist, leaving them eager to engage in conversation with the esteemed author.
Late thirties, Countess Sophia von Hohenberg, Celebrated Opera Singer: Countess von Hohenberg's regal poise and melodious voice captured Aiden's attention as she enraptured the audience with her performance earlier in the evening, Aiden and Medusa weren't the only guests who performed. Clad in a gown that shimmered with opulent elegance, she infused the gathering with an air of sophistication and culture.
Early fifties, Jonathan Sinclair, Investment Magnate, and Venture Capitalist: Sitting beside the Countess, Jonathan Sinclair exuded confidence and success, his tailored suit and expensive watch hinting at his affluent lifestyle. His astute business acumen and magnetic charm drew the protagonist's interest, leaving them intrigued by the man behind the investment magnate.
These people were the cream of the crop, powerful figures in their respective domains, but the thing Aiden found the most inspiring about them was the fact that they were human, they had achieved their current success in a world ruled by Contractors.
Although Aiden admired them he still didn't think the path they chose was right, although they were rich and powerful that only applied within the shelters.
These people weren't qualified to speak in the matters of true Contractor's, and even though they had the wealth to travel between barriers the situation there was the same as well.
Aiden didn't understand how illusive the world of contractors was to these people until he found out that they barely had any knowledge of the Silence, even the knowledge they had of the Silence's dynamics was wrong and scrambled in some ways.
These kinds of people would pay millions for even the lowest level lost items as long as they had paranormal value.
"Come on Aiden have another drink," a familiar voice suddenly sounded out, it was Medusa, her voice like a male predator, feeding an innocent girl drinks.
She poured Aiden a glass of whiskey, mixed with at least three drops of essence from barrier flowers, enough to make a Contractor at his level drunk, the problem was, Aiden wasn't a Contractor.
"Shh!"
A sound could be heard as Medusa flicked her finger sending the glass sliding across the roundtable to Aiden's position.
Medusa and Aiden weren't the only Contractors on the table.
"Isn't that too much for tonight?" Blackout who also sat on the table thought to himself with a frown.
Meanwhile, Skytio and Nightdancer glanced at each other before shaking their heads, anyone who caught Medusa's attention was bound to have it though.
Seeing the glass in front of him, Aiden made no effort to pick it up, instead, he stared straight into Medusa's eyes without saying anything.
As if she could read his thoughts, Medusa rolled her eyes and brought out an orange tag from her handbag.
"Whoosh!"
With a subtle flick of her finger, she sent it flying in his direction, but Aiden wasn't startled by this, instead, he caught it with relative ease.
"Glup!"
The sound of a swallow could be heard as Aiden gulped down the contents of the glace without even flinching.
"You are immune to the substance!" Landon's voice notified.
Now that he'd achieved what he came for, Aiden suddenly stood up surprising the guests around him.
"You're leaving?" William asked in surprise, and he wasn't the only one who was surprised, everyone else didn't expect him to leave as well.
Seeing the look on everyone's faces, Aiden rubbed his temples, faking an uncomfortable expression before saying. "I've had like eighteen glasses now, it's starting to-"
Aiden suddenly paused as he spotted Medusa, twirling a knife between her fingers, this surprised him as he could have sworn he didn't see her move.
Before anyone could notice anything the knife suddenly disappeared between her palms, Aiden didn't know if it was a sleight of hand or one of her abilities and he didn't want to find out.
Without a word, Aiden sat down again confusing the people who sat at the table. "I think I'll stay for a while," he said with a forced smile while thinking of a way to escape.
The guests on the other hand didn't mind Aiden's sudden change in decision, they just assumed that he was drunk and unsure.
The hours rolled on and before long it was almost time for the party to come to a close.
As the guest nodded and wished their farewells, Aiden stood up and said. "I have to go to the bathroom."
And with that he walked away, leaving most of the people at his table in an odd state. "Why did he announce it like that?" Lady Arabella asked.
At the sound of her voice, Medusa who seemed to be in deep thought suddenly narrowed her eyes and stood up.
"Where are you going?" Skytio's voice sounded out, her expression one of curiosity at the abrupt nature of Medusa's rise.
Turning to Skytio with a blank look in her eyes, Medusa pressed her lips together, her head tilted as she said. "I'm heading to the men's."
Saying this she moved quickly, almost jogging to a door at the side of the main dining hall, this door led to a long hall, and after passing through some more doors Medusa arrived at the men's bathroom.
With a flick of her wrist, she pushed the door open, revealing the bathroom inside.
"Empty!"
She thought as she balled her fist, her expression as though something important had been taken away from her.
Calming herself, Medusa thought. "You can run away, but you can't hide black kitty, nothing I own runs away."
Meanwhile back at the main dining area, sitting at a table by the corner was an ordinary-looking man, he looked like the average boring rich guy.
As soon as he spotted Aiden moving, he spoke into his watch. "He's out, Medusa didn't follow."
-------------
(Outside Vin's Parlor)
The wheels had been set in motion, but Aiden didn't care about any of this, instead, he was happily getting into his car, his lips curled up as he thought to himself. "I finally bested that psycho."
"Bam!"
A small sound could be heard as he shut the door, starting the engine with a gracious purr.
"Vroom!"
Another purr sounded out as Aiden drove off, but as soon as he got on the street he suddenly felt something familiar.
Looking out the window, he noticed a few bikes, by now Aiden was aware of their presence, and the bikers knew that, so why were they still patiently following him instead of taking action?
"Landon, show me the book of Souls," Aiden's voice sounded out his tone calm.
As he said this, Aiden slowed down, parking at the side of the street, and at that moment a floating book appeared in front of him, it read:
Name: Aiden
Race: Human (Mutated)
Level: Second Gate (0%)
Attributes:
• Strength: 1
• Speed: 6
• Stamina: 10
• Agility: 13
• Consciousness: 2
Soul Energy: 2 (100%)
Temporary Points: (Stealth: 2) (Berserker Rage: 2) (Illusion: 1)
Innate Skills:
• Semi Immortality
• Soulless
• Soul Body
• Soul Gaze: Second Gate
• Soul Armor: Second Gate (4%)(Cooldown: None)
• Unknown
• Unknown
• Soul Control: Second Gate
• Soul Grace
• Infect: 1/2
• Soul Command
• Soul Storage 0/50
• Enthrallment Glow/Commander's Radiance
Skills:
• Dagger Mastery: Advanced
• Blade Mastery: Advanced
• Crafting: Beginner
• Adaptive Combat: Mastered
• Rock Mastery: Mastered
Looking at his abilities, Aiden noticed that his soul energy had increased by one point, but other than that, everything was pretty much the same.
"What do you plan to do?" Aiden heard Landon's voice ask in his head, its tone probing.
Hearing Landon's tone, Aiden smirked and said. "Before sunrise, my strength would have increased substantially."
"Cha!"
With a flick of his wrist, he opened the car door, but as soon as he got out.
"Bam!"
A small thud could be heard as someone bumped into him.
Raising a brow, Aiden looked down and noticed a woman with messy brown hair and dark orbs.
He had noticed this woman from the corner of his eyes but figured that she'd make way for him, who knew she'd just continue walking forward.
"Sorry, I wasn't paying attention," the woman's voice sounded out, her tone hurried and apologetic.
Hearing this voice, Aiden raised a brow as he thought. "I know that voice."
Quickly looking down, Aiden noticed that it was a familiar face, one he'd just met actually, it was Maya the receptionist at Vin's Parlor.
Maya also seemed to have noticed Aiden as well, and as soon as she registered his face she shook. "It's you!" Her voice sounded out once again her expression startled.
As much as Aiden wanted to stay and chat he didn't have time, looking into the distance, he noticed that the eight bikers had also parked their vehicles.
At this moment they were walking towards his direction, their faces obscured by the helmets they wore.
Their aura was intimidating, and as they marched on the street, the pedestrians instinctively gave way.
Using his energy eyes, Aiden noticed that all of them were emitting dark mist exposing their identities as Contractors, this discovery made Aiden furrow his brows.
Meanwhile, Maya who just finished reeling in from the shock noticed Aiden's furrowed brows, his expression made her pale as she thought to herself. "He's gonna report me, I'm going to get fired."
Most might think she was overreacting, but she had seen far too many cases like this, cases of colleges getting fired because they displeased some important guest.
As Maya thought of this, Aiden who didn't want to get into a fight in the middle of the street moved towards the nearest alley but Maya wasn't having it.
She held onto Aiden's coat stopping him in his tracks, feeling the resistance behind him, Aiden looked back and noticed that Maya had grabbed him.
If Aiden forcefully freed himself, he could end up hurting the lady, so he used his words instead. "Let go," Aiden said, his voice like a low growl.
Hearing Aiden's tone, Maya hurriedly said. "Please hear me out Mr. Aiden," her tone pleading.
As she begged Aiden for reasons that confused him, the unknown bikers had reached them.
The one with the communication watch acted first, taking off his riding gloves, and stuffing them in his pockets.
In one smooth motion, he hit his hands together, and Aiden's eyes caught sight of a subtle spark like a surge of electricity.
Aiden acted fast, with swift movements he grabbed Maya by the waist, pulling her into his embrace and leaping back.
"Whoosh!"
"Zzzzzz!"
The sound of the air tearing with an electrical sizzle shocked the nearby pedestrians who backed off to avoid the sparks of bluish electrical bolts that flew through the air.
The unknown biker had swung his fist, sending bolts of electricity everywhere.
"A paranormal Contract?" Aiden thought as he lifted Maya like a princess.
"Ahh!"
Maya who was still reeling in from the shock of being attacked yelped as Aiden picked her up, the scent of his cologne washing through her nostrils.
Seeing Maya's state, Aiden's voice sounded out. "You're so jumpy, breath Maya."
"Bam!"
"Bam!"
The sound of multiple thuds sounded out as the rest of the bikers rushed up to Aiden, the intent of their movement clear.
Seeing this, Aiden didn't wait, and with superhuman speed dashed into the nearest alleyway with Maya in his embrace.