They caught Nelvira, but not before Aeros had his chest slashed open and was crucioed. He was now standing in a stark white room with his shirt off, and a healer dabbing at his cut with a healing solution. He gritted his teeth as he felt the cut closing up itself; the process of quick healing always hurt. He frowned as Helga stood up straight and smiled her always cheerful smile. "Thank you, I think." He said, shaking his head as he got his shirt off the bed and pulled it over his head. He hated getting hurt while on the chase, but he always got himself healed back to perfect health, and always by the same woman. A woman who was in lust with him.
"Um, Aeros," Helga said tentatively, her tanned cheeks turning a bit pink. "I should examine the rest of you, make sure you're not hurt an further."
"I'm not sleeping with you, Helga."
Helga frowned and threw the bottle of potion she was holding onto the cot beside them, ignoring the dark blue liquid that quickly spread of the surface of it. "Damn it, Aeros, why won't you just give me a chance?! I liked you back when I went to school with you and your sisters, and you liked me then."
Aeros paused as he opened the door, staring at his hand as it started to tremble on the door handle. "That's changed. I love someone else."
"Then why aren't you with her?" Helga demanded, her blue eyes angry and her hands on her hips.
He frowned and closed his eyes briefly before responding. "Because I @#%$ up and hurt her." He shook his head as he walked out. "I'll see you later."
He made his way quickly up the corridor, taking a left into an even longer hallway, before knocking on a large iron plated door on his right. It took a moment before the door swung open, and Aeros stepped inside. Casimire Nelvira sat in a chair at the back of the room, his arms chained up behind him and his legs chained to the legs of the chair. Aeros felt the sneer on his lips before it was even there, but he quickly wiped it off his face as he saw Scarlett and Elviorith standing on the left side, talking with McKinnon and another high official, named Orville Albion. He walked over and crossed his arms over his chest, staying quiet for the moment and only listening.
"There's nothing else in the basement, Sir. I checked this morning to make sure," Vior was saying, looking back and forth between Albion and McKinnon. "We gave you everything we had."
"No more documents? Not even a piece of jewelry or clothing that might be harmful?" Albion asked, a frown on his face.
"None." Scarlett said coldly, and as she spoke her golden eyes flashed to Aeros. His eyes were focused on the vivid red pendant that hung from her neck and glowed.
"Ms. Ravenscraft, may I see your necklace for a moment?" Aeros said suddenly, startling McKinnon and Albion. Scarlett hesitantly unclasped it and handed it over, and looked at Vior, who's face had gone pale. The pendant was hot against his fingers, as though it were telling him that he shouldn't be holding it. Aeros scowled and held it out to Albion. "I think this should be inspected, made sure there isn't anything more to it than an odd gleam." Albion nodded and was out the door, heading down the hallway.
"You can't take that!" Scarlett cried, her eyes wide as she watched Albion leave. "It's special to me!"
"Why?" McKinnon, his eyes narrowing.
Scarlett stuttered a moment, before setting her face straight and setting her shoulders back. "I've had it since I was 12. If it wasn't harmless, I would have told you. You've got to trust that."
"We will trust that, after our people inspect it." Mckinnon said, then held a hand out to Vior for a handshake. "We'll let you know." And he then walked over to the guards that were beside Casmire.
Aeros smiled a bit at Vior and Scarlett now, and they returned the warm gesture. "Thank you both for all the information," he said. "We wouldn't have done it without you. I just hope this doesn't ruin your relationships with the good members of your families."
"We've got each other," Scarlett said quietly. "Elviorith is family enough for me."
Vior grinned and put his arm around Scarlett's shoulders, and shook his head slowly. "Now, sis, don't get all emotional on me. I know you love me, but you don't need to announce to everyone else." Scarlett laughed lightly, a bit of joy finally showing on her face.
Aeros grinned and shook his head, and clapped a hand to Vior's back. "I'll see you guys later. I'm heading home." They said quick good byes, and he walked quickly over to McKinnon. "Listen, I'm going to head home and rest up. I'll be in early in the morning to file a report, alright?"
McKinnon nodded, hardly looking at Aeros. "Rest up good tonight. Strength's crucial." Aeros nodded and was out the door, wanting to get home as fast as he could.