Aether Beasts

Chapter 231

[Once again thank you a ton for the super gift DaoisthjHmRD, your continued support is very much appreciated and I will not forget it. I want you guys to know I read all of your comments and that your support has helped me a ton and soon, in a month or so, I should have a special announcement to make that I think will make everyone happy<3]

Kai took another pull from the bottle as he leaned his back against the wall. After taking the jungle queen and her friends to his brother, he had waited for about five minutes before leaving as that's how long it had taken for him to desire to be away from everyone.

Now he was sitting in his personal building, an expensive bottle of drink in his hand. One that he had been saving for himself and his brother when they won. He snorted to himself and took another pull. The sweet taste of the wine was exquisite but somehow less than it should have been. He supposed it was because it did not represent the sweet taste of victory as it should, but the more bitter taste of defeat.

For the past hour Kai had been replaying the fight in his head, and each he couldn't help but wonder at the skill and power, Aiden had shone. Pate had been impressive and several times Kai had expected the fight to end swiftly in his favor, but the jungle queen's bonded always had an answer. It had been even more shocking when he had first sensed the mutated aether. How exactly Aiden had got himself a mutation relic in the plains was mysterious. Even worse, it had been a spatial relic.

The gods might have favored him slightly, but it was clear now that if they existed, they adored Aiden.

He felt the urge to cry when he thought about having to tell his family. How disappointed they would be. All their life they'd tried to maintain their freedom and not bow to any other families or groups, and now he was the one who'd broken it. Their family would be nothing more than a stepping stone for Sandra, and with the way, he had acted, who knew what she might do to them.

So close. Everything he'd ever wanted in life had been so damn close, and just like that, it was gone. Such chances didn't come twice and he'd blown it. He'd risked and gambled everything on one fight, and they'd lost.

Despite everything however and the dark future ahead, Kai didn't blame Pate. It wasn't his brother's fault. Kai had been the one to accept the deal and terms. His brother had fought well and proven his skill, but he'd lost. Kai couldn't imagine how Pate must ve feeling since he had never really lost like this before. Sure he'd lost fights, but never against those at his levels or even some slightly above.

Kai knew from experience that the first loss was usually the worst, especially when you were on a winning streak and Pate had been on one for years, for all his life.

'Not anymore. All thanks to my gamble.'

Just as he was close to finishing the bottle, Kai heard the sound of his door opening and turned to see Ashala walk in. The door closed shut behind her as she gazed over the room, noting the smashed and broken furniture before her eyes finally settled on him.

Kai glanced at her before lowering his head back down. He couldn't stand the pity in her gaze. It made his blood boil for some reason, but he was in no mood to argue or fight.

"Leave me be," he muttered. "I'm in no mood to talk."

"Is that any way to talk to a peer?" she asked, picking up a chair and setting it in front of him before taking a seat.

Kai snorted. "Do you still see us as peers? Who knows what I'll become soon enough."

"She doesn't seem the type to punish you or make you suffer for the hell of it," Ashala said. "Thought I could be wrong. In any case, what good will drinking yourself to sleep tonight do?"

"Exactly what you just said," Kai replied, finishing of the bottle. "It will make me sleep."

Heavens knew he wasnt going to be able to sleep without it. Ashala didn't reply to his words at first and when he looked up to meet her eyes, he saw that the pity had been replaced with anger.

"Is that truly what you're going to do?" Ashala asked, scoffing. "You're not dead Kai, and who knows this could be a good thing for you."

Kai held back a bellow of laughter, instead, he just chuckled mirthlessly. "You know as well as I do that this is usually never a good thing."

"Yes, but usually, but this is in no way usual," Ashala replied. "If you prove yourself to her she might favor your family. It's happened before. She is still a direct link to the main family, and now that tricks and other such things have failed, why don't you try the honest approach, hmm? What's the worst thing that could happen, you die? You already seem it. How about you go out trying, rather than in a pit of despair that you got yourself in."

Kai didn't respond, not even when she stood and headed for the door.

"There is still a chance for us," Ashala whispered so quietly he had to strain to hear it. Then she was gone and Kai was once again left along with his thoughts and an empty bottle.

He glanced down at the bottle in his hands and got to his feet. He thought about her words, and he knew she was trying to make him feel better and give him hope. Out of everything she had said, it had been the last words that kept replaying in his head.

'There is still a chance for us. Is there or is she just saying that?'

Sighing, he let the bottle from his hands. The room was a mess and before he did anything he needed to clean up, and take a shower. He felt filthy for some reason, even though he knew he wasn't.

'A cold shower, that's what I need.'

_____

Max's fist impacted against the stone wall of the warehouse he had first met Pate in, and a spread web of cracks appeared around the impact point. He pulled back and struck again and again until the stone had crumbled and he could see outside.

"That idiot!"

Max had never felt so pissed and yet so afraid before. After the fight had ended, and he had realized what had happened, it had taken a lot to suppress the emotions that had wanted to burst forth. Anger at that damn parasite for somehow getting killed, at that kid for beating him, and at whatever god had cursed him with a streak of bad luck.

First the twin horn. Years of work wasted, and now this?

"How did he die?" Kiggs asked for the fifth time.

Max spun on him. "How should I know! It was only the second parasite I've ever dealt with personally. I don't know shit about them. You probably know more than me."

Max didn't know all of the details about the parasite but he had guessed that the parasite in Pate had been placed there years ago and had been growing at a fast rate. Now it was gone, wiped away and all those years of growth gone. Those he worked for hated failure and what was worse was that anyone considered expendable was usually killed or worse after any major failure.

Max had spent the past few hours wondering if that was about to happen to him. Technically he hadn't failed, but he also knew that since the parasite was dead, some of the blame would go to him.

He shuddered in fear as he thought about meeting one of them again. He worked alongside and below people like him. Humans, vampires, and other known races, people taken in and trained. Then there was them. Those like the parasites and Kiggs. The Inhumans, the abominations, and all other messed up things he'd heard of and seen over the years.

"What do we do?' Kiggs asked, his voice not matching his current form. Max had figured out Kiggs let his voice slip when he was nervous, and he had reason to be nervous. Kiggs was expendable and anyone above him could on a whim have him replaced or fed to another of his kind.

"Gods damn it all. This is bad. We've got one of them coming personally, and we still don't know what mental state Pate is in."

"You are correct this is bad," A sonorous and cold voice said.

Max froze as did Kiggs. Both turned to face the figure shrouded in a cloak of pale white flesh. Both dropped to their knees and lowed their heads. Max kept his breathing as steady s he could, but it felt like his ear would burst from his chest.

'Please gods don't let this be my end.'

"It is not your end," the voice said and Max's eyes widened.

"Yes, I can read your thoughts," the things said softly. "Now, you will explain everything clearly and we shall go on from there. If I deem this your fault then you will be punished according. If not, then you be given another task. One that will decide if you are worth keeping as an agent. As for you."

Max heard a squeak and cry before there was squishing sound.

"You will do as a snack."

Max felt some relief that he would potentially make it out of this, but it was short-lived as the thig spoke once more.

"Don't relax just yet," It said. "You've still yet to explain and the longer you continue to make me wait, the more likely your demise."

Max nodded and began speaking.