AETHER BEASTS

Chapter 169

We burst into the warehouse, and the scene that greeted us somehow made me even angrier than before. Disgust and anger wared within me as my eyes immediately locked onto the large cages full of women, most looking to be in a lethargic state while others looked delirious. From the young to the old, and what looked to be from all facets of life. I saw a woman in dirty farmer garb while another wore a dress that once must have looked quite beautiful. The worst I saw were the ones who had been bloodied and beaten, bruises marking parts of their bodies, and in a separate cage, there lay a few women whose clothes looked ripped.

Shouts and calls of alarm sounded as the guards and workers turned their gazes to us. I was before the first in a matter of seconds, and with a quick swipe of a thorn scythe, I disemboweled him, leaving him to die a slow death as he attempted to push his guts back into his body.

The others were engaged in their own fights, though fights would have been an overstatement. None of the people in the warehouse stood a chance as darkness, death, and cold uncaring nature rained down upon them.

There were more than we had expected, but that didn't really matter.

Sandra raised a hand, and half a dozen floated into the air before she slammed them back down. The sickening crunch and crack of bones splintering was heard alongside their screams.

Misty was tearing through them like a scythe to wheat, and a putrid-looking smoke trailed her, rotting and decaying anything it touched. It was a horrid sight to watch men essentially melt, but I held no pity for these people.

Zirani was inspecting the cages while half a dozen roots tore apart anyone who got too close. She seemed to be getting a look at the women's conditions. From how she was stood and the relaxed posture, it was clear she thought of our enemies more as pests than true adversaries, not that I disagreed.

None were above the second level, and even if they had been, it wouldn't have helped. Not against us.

I sidestepped a wave of water and then pointed a finger at its creator. A thin beam of solar energy shot out and pierced his head. Instead of just leaving a hole, his head popped like a balloon. I really needed to get a hang of using just the right amount of solar aether. It always seemed like I was using too much.

Eventually, the workers and guards realized just how outmatched they were and many attempted to flee or surrender.

We ignored most, but kept three alive, for questioning. It felt somewhat wrong to be killing those who surrendered but one look at cages wiped that feeling away. These people had attacked and raided who knew how many communities. I doubt they had cared when those people had surrendered.

"I think that's the last of them," Misty said as she snapped the neck of a worker who had been playing dead.

"Then let's get on with the questioning," I replied, turning to Zirani. "You ok?"

"I'm going to search the area." Zirani turned to Misty. "Help me out?'

"Sure."

As Misty and Zirani began a thorough search of the building, Sandra walked over to me as I stood in front of the three kneeling prisoners. All three looked shocked, scared, and terrified, even if two were trying to put on a brave face.

"I'm going to make this simple," I said. "You're all going to die."

The youngest of them opened his mouth, probably to beg or plead, but I raised a hand, and he flinched, shutting up. "If you cooperate then I'll make sure your death is painless, but if you don't then trust me, we can keep you alive in torment for a very long time. You wanna know how it feels to be melted, how about rot, or maybe having roots tear you apart inside out or a hundred different poisons."

They shook their heads and I smiled. "Good, so let's begin. What is this place and who runs it?"

"It's where we bring the girls and get them cleaned and sorted before…"

"Before what?"

"Before we hand them over to the Dilun family," The oldest of the three said, spitting to one side.

He met my gaze and I raised a single eyebrow. He lowered it, and I turned back to the first who had spoken.

"And I'm guessing this family is the one who sells them?"

He nodded. "Yeah, he hands them out to friends, but mostly to the three brothels."

"Three, that's how many there are?" I asked. "So two more to take down."

The one in the middle gasped. "You, it was you lot who took down the brothel at the forgotten market."

"We did." I nodded. "I—"

"Aiden we found them." I was interrupted by Misty's voice and turned to see her and Zirani walking down the upper floor with a stack of papers in each of their hands.

"What are those?" Sandra asked.

"All the information we need," Zirani said. She glanced over at the three, then with a quick swipe of her hand, three roots shot up and cleanly decapitated them. I blinked but then shrugged. I had promised them a quick death, and she had probably been listening in.

"These show everything," Misty explained. "From sale agreements to documents and the number of imports from the names and who was sold were to… those who couldn't make the journey. A sad mercy."

Everyone was silent for a moment before Sandra spoke up. "So we have new targets?"

"Not quite," Zirani answered. "We're going to wait for the expedition to arrive, and if there are no representatives from my court then we strike, but we'll only have a week. That's how long the expeditions will stay."

With the information in the hand, Zirani and I began ferrying all of the women from the cages into the spatial tree where we were greeted by Sofia and a few others who helped the women. They were scared and frightened, but apart from those who had been in the separate cages, they were a lot more together than most of the working girls

"I think you might need to increase this space if you plan on bringing any more here," Sofia said to Zirani. "There's still space, but I don't think the girls would like it being cramped. Some of us had to live in… small spaces

"There hopefully won't be any need to," Zirani said. "We have things under control and if luck is on our side then we will be able to provide you more help."

Sofia nodded gratefully. "Thank you, for everything. Some of us… Well just thank you."

Zirani smiled. "I understand."

After we were done and made sure Sofia had everything she needed, the four of us made our way to the warehouse and back to our hotel. Zirani moved back into her core. Once we made it back to our suite Sandra and Misty headed off to take a bath and I promised I would join them but first, I wanted to talk to Zirani.

"Zirani what's going to happen if the people from the green court do arrive?" I asked. "Won't they be quite shocked?"

She grimaced. "Oh I have no doubt of that, but I can handle things. Don't worry about any harm. The biggest problems we will face will be in the court itself and my mother alongside the other influential members of the courts. It is their judgment I'm worried about."

"She's not going to tear you from me is she?"

Zirani shook her head. "I told you before, that the moment she sees your second core she won't, but it's the others that will then be a problem. We will solve each problem as they come. In a way, I will be sad to return to my lands. I've always hated the court politics and constant bickering."

It was worrisome, especially since I didn't think I would really be suited for such things. There was also the problem of what would happen to Misty and Sandra. Sandra would mostly be taken in by her family but what of her hidden enemy? And what of Misty, would she be allowed in the green court. There was no way Zirani could hide her since she would not be the strongest there. The lands beyond the scar were the goal, and just like the plains, would have their own challenges for me to face.

The bathing room was full of steam as I entered and undressed. It obscured my vision but could make out the shapes of two lovely ladies relaxing in the water. I smiled and slowly made my way closer. Their heads turned in my direction and made my way in between Sandra and Misty, laying down and letting out a relaxed sigh as the warm water soothed my body.

"You two look as beautiful as ever," I commented.

felt Sandra's finger trail up my abdomen to my chest. "As do you."

A hand slowly moved down to my lower region and I smiled as the room began to heat up in a more metaphorical sense.