Aether Beasts

Chapter 187

"Join the what?"

Misty held back her shock, but some of it was definitely clear in her voice. She had only just met this woman, and they had hardly spoken for five minutes, and she wanted Misty to join the red ribbons, whatever the hell that meant.

Vita nodded. "Oh, yes you don't know us."

She took a step back and bowed dramatically. "I am Vita of the Red Ribbons, a sisterhood of blood. We are a group of vampires who have come together."

"And you're called the Red Ribbons, why?" Misty had noticed the red ribbons on Vita's clothes but it couldn't just be because of that, could it?

"Many reasons," Vita answered. "One of which is these ribbons. They look quite beautiful, don't you think?"

Misty nodded. She had to admit, that the woman's dress did at the very least look very stylish, if less practical.

"So, what do say, want to join?"

"Vita we just met," Misty said. "And as you said I'm young, and well I have friends and someone I love very much. I would not do something like this without speaking to them first and if it meant leaving them, then I don't think I could."

"We would take care of you," Vita said. "We would be more than friends, we would be sisters, and this lover of yours, he is a man?"

Misty noted the annoyance and dismal in Vita's tone as she spoke the word, man.

"He is," Misty confirmed.

"Well then it's better that you leave him," Vita said as though it was a normal thing to say. "You won't need him if you join the sisterhood."

"He and I are bonded," Misty said, cold creeping into her voice. "And I already have a sisterhood."

Sandra and Zirani were like sisters to her, and even though she and the dark-haired arcanist's start had been rocky, now they were as close as could be. Sandra was someone Misty liked and enjoyed being around and spending time with. Like a sister, she had always wanted.

"Then cut it," Vita said. "And trust me, we would make better sisters than whomever you speak of."

Misty stared at Vita and tried to judge if she was being serious. She spoke in such a nonchalant and cauls tone about breaking bonds and dismissing her lover and sister, that Misty felt her inner beast lock its attention on Vita, and she felt anger rise.

"I will never break my bond with him," Misty said slowly, her hand flexing. "And you speak so casually, yet now nothing of my sister or me. We only met five minutes ago and you expect me to join you just like that? After you insult my lover who is one of the reasons I'm still alive and my friend. You can't be serious."

Vita seemed to realize her mistake, or at least that her efforts hadn't worked, and raised a hand. "You're right I overstepped. I was simply trying to… explain just how well you'd be if you were to join. Of course, you'd have to be vetted and we'd have to speak to my sisters, but you seem the perfect type to join us."

A look of disdain appeared on Vita's face. "And let's be honest, this male you speak of isn't worthy of you. I'm guessing he's human?"

"He is, but that doesn't matter," Misty said to which Vita laughed. "I bet he sees you as a monster or just cares for your looks."

Misty shook her head. "Once again you act as though you know anything about me or those I care for. Guesses, that's all they are, and if you think they're going to cause doubt then you are mistaken. I'm bonded to him remember, so I know how he feels."

Honestly, it wasn't just the words, but the clear fanatism in them, that perturbed Misty. Vita spoke so casually about it, and with such confidence. There was no lie or fakeness in her tone, which was worse than if there had been. It meant she believed everything she said, and if her sisters were anything like her then Misty doubted she would ever want to join.

'A group of fanatic men-hating vampires.' She laughed inwardly. 'Sounds ridiculous, and certainly not for me.'

"Bonds can always be manipulated," Vita said with a smile. "At the very least give me and my sisters a chance. If you don't care for it then you can walk away, we do not force things upon people, only suggest what we think is best for them."

Misty calmed herself and took a slow deep breath as she thought about Vita's words. She didn't want to make a decision now, but at the very least, the vampire had been kind to her, even if she had also been a bit perturbing and presumptuous, and Misty would be lying if she said she wasn't interested in meeting other vampires. Who knew maybe not all of them were like Vita.

"I'll think about it Vita," Misty said sincerely. "I truly will. Thank you for answering my questions."

"No problem." Vita smiled warmly. "You can find me in the area with the tall back building and the small dome next to it."

Misty nodded and bid the women farewell before heading back to Shana and Rall who looked relieved to see that nothing had happened.

"The fearless beauty hath returned from thy perilous ordeal," Rall announced. "Come rest in my arms."

"Oh shut it, Rall," Shana said as she walked over to Misty. 'You ok?"

"I'm fine, Shana," Misty said to the dryad. "All we did was talk. She was a bit… odd, but not mean or violent. She was actually kind of kind, at least to me."

"So they can be kind," Rall noted. "Or at least to other female vampires."

"I think they don't like men, or at least she doesn't," Misty explained.

"Ah, now things make more sense," Rall said. "I heard them talking about a sisterhood when I first tried to approach. The insults also make more sense now."

"What did you talk about?" Shana asked.

"Not much," Misty replied. "I introduced myself and then she asked if I wanted to join the red ribbons."

"She did?" Shana seemed shocked. "What did you say?"

"I said I'd think about it," Misty replied. "Though I really have no intention of joining them."

"Then why not just reject them then?" Rall asked.

"Because she is the first other vampire I've met," Misty explained. "And I do want to meet the others. I mean, maybe there not all like her, and even if I don't join, maybe I can learn some things."

"Smart and beautiful." Rall sighed. "Are you sure we cannot be?"

Misty ignored him and turned to Shana, but her words were cut off as something within her caught her attention.

'That's not good.'

Misty felt anger through her bond with Aiden, enough anger that it had caught her attention. She immediately focused on the bond and tried to figure out what had happened. She had left him with Garth and Venn, but there was no way he'd gotten into a fight with them so what had happened?

"I need to go," Misty said. She gave Shana a quick hug and thanked her for her help, and when Rall held out his hands, Misty only gave him a flat look and a wave before leaving.

As she made her way to Aeverie's buuilding where she felt Aiden was, she thought about Vita, and the possibility of taking her up on her offer, not of joining, but of meeting the others. She did need to learn more about vampires, and while Zirani could teach her, she wasn't a vampire herself and had said that there would come a time when Misty would need to actually speak and train with proper vampires.

Yes, that time might not be now, but there wouldn't be any harm in learning or making some connections. Her father had taught her that making connections was an important part of many jobs from the arcane to mercantile work to other more common businesses. This would be just like that, and if it didn't work out, then it didn't work out, and at least she had tried. That was one of the few things she remembered of her dad from before he had become so cold. She had never blamed him, not after everything he had gone through to save their mother only for it to be too little, too late.

The disease had ravaged her body, and she had gone silent mere hours after he had purchased a so-called cure that had been bought for what many in West Vale would consider a small fortune. Too little, too late.

'I shouldn't think of that anymore.'

As she drew closer to the building, she spotted a figure in a dark robe which she recognized as being from the Umbrin Clan, mainly because of the crest she had seen on Sandra's necklace. The man had an angry look on his face and he glanced at her, pausing for a moment before he shook her head, muttered something, and stormed away.

Misty couldn't be sure, but she had a feeling, that he was part of the reason Aiden was angry.

She made her way to the building and entered, ready to help him in any way she could, just as he had done for her so many times before.