Exploits in the Ether

Elorae allowed her body to move into the twilight space where shadows danced and light came in muted, beige shades. Everything here, like everywhere else, was soft and dulled. Unlike everywhere else, this far out from the centre, from the hub of daily life, reality became a lot more hazy. It was far more difficult to keep the ether at bay, to hold things in a solid state. The ground, the air, the forest around her, all of it moved freely from a state of being to a state of unbeing, steady and rhythmic waves of existence.

Vaelith was waiting. It had been a long time, and his summoning had not been welcome. But, as he was highly positioned in the Regulators, she had **** but to attend. It didn't matter their history, what mattered was his power.

He had, of course, chosen to meet this far on purpose. Away from curious minds and seeking eyes. But more than that, Vaelith would have known the effect the ether would have on him around Elorae. She could see it as he she approached him. Evidence of his exploits. All around him, flicking in and out of vision, pieces of his lovers, every one including her, the more recent the more vibrant. There, just for a moment, her own hair flicked in and out of existence, tickling his shoulders. On his chest she could see sizable breasts, just for a second, but far more vividly than her own vision, in a top that she recognized belonging to Ziantha, her best friend. Momentarily his eyes vanished, replaced by the eyes of Taevra, her own sister. It went on and on, each conquest a slap to her face, each chosen for their proximity to Elorae.

She clenched her teeth, her fingers curling into fists at her sides as bile rose in her throat.

“Vaelith,” she greeted, her voice carefully even.

“Elorae.” He inclined his head. His expression cold, calculating. Then he allowed himself to smile, slow and deliberate, making her insides coil with dread.

"An informal chat between old friends,” he said, his words brushing over her like sandpaper, deceptively soft but abrasive beneath. “You know, Elorae, I’ve been thinking a lot about infractions lately.”

Her breath caught. “Infractions?”

He tilted his head. “Yes. Recently, an acquaintance, someone I held quite dear, thought she could push the boundaries. An idea of hers went rogue, reaching things that should not have been touched," he stepped close to her, the feeling of his breath on her ear as he dropped to a whisper, "Do you know what happened? Unraveled, spread across the ether. We could be breathing her right now," he paused to take a deep breath, "Tragic.”

“That’s unfortunate.”

“Unfortunate, indeed. But rules, being rules, must be followed, I'm sure you would agree,” Vaelith stepped back and locked eyes with her, studying.

She made no response.

“I know you do. You have always been so compliant," he said, his tone dangerous, "That’s why I find myself so conflicted.”

Elorae took a step back. Perhaps this meeting was a bad mistake. Maybe she could still run. “Conflicted about what?”

“Another case has appeared. A serious one," he said, rubbing his hands together as if cold, "I'm the only one who has noticed, and I have the ability to keep it that way, especially since this one is quite close to my heart," again Elorae's hair appeared overlaid in the ether, then vanished.

Her breath caught, she took another step backward, “If you think...”

Like lightening, Vaelith reached out and took Elorae by the shoulders. His touch burned—an anchor of realness in a shifting sea of half-formed existence.

“Shh.” His grip tight, his eyes deadly serious, “Nobody is here to expose you, Elorae. At least, not yet. But…” a predatory smile appeared on his lips. “There will be a price.”

"Listen, Vaelith," she began to plead, "It was a mistake, a misunderstanding. I'm sure that nothing will..."

"Yes, nothing will..." His smile widened, a slow, mocking curve, “I think I would prefer that as well. Nothing. Nothing at all. Until, of course, I want something. I have been thinking, of late, how useful it would be to have a beautiful, creative, and courageous idea generator at my beck and call. There are things that could and should be put into balance.”

She wrenched free of his grip, “You disgust me.”

He chuckled, a deep sound that resonated with contempt. “If you would prefer for me to follow procedure and open an inquiry...”

“No!" the word came as a shout before she realized she had spoken, "You win. I'll do what you say. What do you need?"

“For now? Nothing," he turned away and began to walk into the ether, "But soon, something. We will speak again, Elorae. And when we do, the world will change."