Aether Beasts

[Once again thank you a ton for the super gift DaoisthjHmRD, your continued support is very much appreciated. The special announcement draws closer and I can't wait till I finally reveal it. Until then I hope you all continue to enjoy this novel. Once again, Thank you <3]

I was awoken by Zirani's voice speaking softly into my mind. "Aiden, one of Aeverie's watchers just spotted a few vampires clustered around the alchemist's vehicle talking. It's faint and he can't get close enough, is Sandra awake?"

I held back a yawn and turned to the naked form beside me. Sandra had a gentle smile on her face and her nudeness was covered by the blanket we had draped over ourselves even though we hadn't needed to. It felt wrong to wake her when she looked so at peace, but she would be angry later if I didn't so I slowly placed a hand against her cheek, and did the same Zirani had just done to me.

"Sandra, time to get up. We've need of you."

Her eyes slowly blinked open and she stared at me for several seconds, before my words must have registered. Then darkness surrounded her in an odd technique that took a few seconds to unravel.

Sandra smiled as the darkness faded to reveal that she was now fully dressed. "Ashala taught me that, very handy, now who am I trailing?"

"Not trailing, spying," I told her what Zirani had told me, and for her to take care of. If she was caught then things could turn ugly even if they would most likely not kill someone of her status. Other things also came to mind. If the vampires and this alchemist were responsible for the coming danger that meant they had access to horror aether and another form of energy. Sandra and Zirani had been affected once before without me noticing immediately so who was to say it couldn't happen again. It was an unpleasant thought, and I felt Sandra's hand grasp one of my own.

I looked down and met her emerald orbs.

"I'll be careful," she said. "I promise and remember, you're just a call away."

"Maybe I should come with," I began but Sandra shook her head. "You are not nearly stealthy enough, and if I do get caught I have a few excuses which most definitely would not work for you."

I sighed. "Fine, but promise you won't push too far or risk too much. This is just spying."

She smiled. "I promise, now it's time I go. Every minute I spend here, they could be saying something we could use."

With that I let her go, and she left the vehicle, though not before wrapping herself in a shroud of darkness, far more intricate than any I'd ever seen her use before. It was sort of like my layered armor, though its purpose was for stealth, not protection. Even so, I saw that it could withstand many blows before being destroyed and was also using her gravity aether, though it was in a simple way, that would help lighten her steps and movements. I imagined her gravity affinity allowed for much more maneuverability when it came to stealth as she could easily cling to roofs, walls, and other things she would have had a more difficult time with before.

"She's headed over there now," I sent to Zirani.

"Good, I'm assuming you warned her against the dangers?"

"I did," I replied. "Now it's just up to her."

_____

Sandra's shroud covered her completely by the time she had left the Umbrin clan area and she was glad to note that not one of the clan guards was able to spot her. She had spent a lot of time on this technique and in many ways, it was her most complex ability, a complex and intricate weave of patterns all designed to connect and work together to give her not only incredible invisibility but also to make other techniques, such as she shadow step, easier, and it had a number of smaller effects that alone weren't worth much, but together gave her a significant boost.

Her steps didn't disturb the sands one bit, and she made no sounds as she moved through the camp like a ghost, unseen and unheard by any guards from any group, though she did take care when coming across any detection enchantments, though she was lucky in that regard as most of them were located nearer the edge or outside of the perimeter, and even the vampires only had a few surrounding their area. She guessed it was because they didn't want to arouse suspicion. After all why else would you use so many if you didn't have something to hide. It certainly wouldn't be for protection as the vampires were least likely to lose anyone when beasts attacked. Not only did they have vampire constitutions and regeneration, but they were all essentially trained mercenaries who'd probably undertaken tasks such as this.

They had the greatest chance of coming out of this with the least casualties should a stronger or larger group of beasts attack.

That thought made her think back to the attack that had occurred early and the lack of synergy and coordination the Umbrin clan had shown. Thank the heavens she'd been there or a few would have died. They were many young members and all were part of different families and so only answered to their representatives, at least until they have chosen her to lead them, and she had taken that place. Even so, it had taken all her effort and not a small amount of anger to get them in line. Many had hidden and run, which could not stand when all the other groups had fought. She had heard from Zirani that even the weakest of the dryads from the green court had fought. It made her ashamed and angry but determined to change it. She would speak to the representatives and set some rules and things in place come the morning.

For now, she shook the thought away and focused back on her current task. She was at the edge of the Red Ribbons area now and needed to get past the enchantments, which only took a few minutes. She could have broken them or tripped them falsely but she didn't need or want to attract attention even if she could be away and into the area by the time they came to check it out. Instead, she found a gap and silent floated through. She could have also shadow stepped but didn't want to risk triggering any enchantments by using a burst-like technique such as shadow step, though now as she passed through, she could she didn't have to worry. The only wards they had were on the edge of their area and the vehicles.

As she spotted the vampire clustered around what she assumed was the alchemist's vehicle, she took a deep breath and slowly, taking each step with care, moved closer. She stopped once she was at the vehicle realty next to the alchemist's and then strained her ears.

"If we try it and we're caught then what?" A voice hissed.

"I've told you, he said it has to be done tomorrow or we might not get a chance at all," another voice, higher in tone, replied.

"First he says in a few days, not tomorrow. How do we know he's not lying."

"Because I have just as much to risk," a male voice said, and Sandra peaked around the corner of the hiding spot to see a robed figure standing in front of the vehicle's side door. "You agreed to listen to my instructions in this, and I'm telling you, it must be done tomorrow. I've picked out a sigh and have everything prepared."

"And if we fail?" The first voice asked.

"Then we fail," the alchemist replied. "Now if we're done here, I'm going to triple-check everything's ready. Tell Juveria not to worry. I have been waiting for this for a long time."

The alchemists moved back into the vehicle after that and the two female vampires moved away after a brief exchange of words, leaving Sandra alone. She waited a few minutes before retracing her steps and making her way back to the gap.

She took just as much care as she floated through, though she nearly triggered an enchantment. Her technique was good, but she needed to speak to Zirani about her finally teaching them how to camouflage their techniques and how to pass certain wards undetected.

Once she was out of the Red Ribbons area she was able to relax, but she didn't drop her technique until she had made it all the way back to the Umbrin clan area, and her personal vehicle which had originally belonged to Kai. He had given it to her and was now staying with his brother. Sandra wasnt sure if she believed that, but for now Kai seemed to be taking a hands-off approach. She would need to speak to him eventually.

She entered the vehicle and found Aiden pacing with a worried look on his face. It made her chest feel warm, his worry for her. Her technique hid her but with their bond, he knew she was there. His head snapped up and when she dispersed the technique to reveal herself, he sighed and quickly moved to embrace her.

She smiled as she returned the hug. She could indulge for just a few minutes before they got down to business.