Reincarnated into a Snow Griffin-Chapter 73

I don’t know what I expected next, but most definitely wasn’t that the cultivators guards would come to us to apologize for the inconvenience, and for some reason allow us, or rather, insisted for us to stay at one of the secluded exclusive cabinets on the side where we could privately have a clear view of the whole place.

And something tells me there is more to having us here than simple chivalry...especially when Ethan did not seem pleased by it, only coming over as to avoid making a scene for nothing, and such reaction makes me stare at Ethan’s face, wanting to discover the mischievous plans of his who got us to come here in the first place.

"If you keep staring that much I’ll think you want me to act up beauty." I cannot help but jolt my glance away out of reflex from being caught staring, ignoring his chuckle and not bothering answering his teasing, trying to focus on where the light shone at the stage and not at the smirking devil beside me, who now took pleasure at paying me back and staring me down, face rested on his hand supported by the railing and eyes glued on my hidden face.

His gaze, constant and deep, affects me as much as I wished it wouldn’t, and I have to use all my will power to keep my breath even and my gaze away from his face, and not confront him in any way.

This devil is always testing my self control to its limits.

Underneath us the stage is taken by a group of dancers, from woman to petite men who dressed with long puffy transparent sleeves that did little to cover the skin underneath, jewels even on their toes that glinted against the lights as they moved around barefoot, and veils flustering with their moves as they crossed the wooden floor with the grace of a peacock, their moves smooth and fast when needed, in pace with the music that came in waves, flute and cord instruments to drums and chanting.

Even though there is a spectacular of fluttering cloth and enchanting magic used for the purpose of entertainment, Ethan’s gaze never drifts down, and at the moment I feel a slight vibration and flinch he is quick to react too.

"Don’t worry, is only the ship moving." He says, always so amused by any reaction I give out that isn’t my cold uninterested one.

"Moving? Where?" I knew this was a ship before going in, but did not think we would be actually moving.

"To the true auction house, where they keep the goods stocked, safe and sound in the air with barriers surrounding the place." So it would be much harder to steal something and escape is what he is saying.

I’m starting to get worried, for even though I had not used up my money thus far something tells me this will be completely out of my league... and not getting Lily back is not an option.

Stealing from the auction house seems harder than I thought at first... but is turning out to be that my only choice may be to steal from the one who buys her, however that can be very tricky too...

"Hey, what are you so worried about? Is rare to see you this nervous." I would never understand how Ethan, of all people, could tell my feelings apart when not only I did not change my demeanor and face, but wore a veil over it all.

"I need to get one of the items on that list."

"... Need you say?" He says, looking me over for a while then casually saying: "Alright, then you will have it." He nods and sits back on his chair, making my frown deepen.

"I did not ask for your money."

"And I did not ask your permission beauty. Is only natural for me to want to pamper you, that’s all." He says, making me glare at him, but not too hard since... since that may be the only reasonable option available, and I would not allow pride to keep me from saving one of my friends.

But owning him is not a good idea, not that I believed he would do me harm, but there are other ways of asking for his money back.

Wanting to give him a solid no and yet torn apart by needing to save her, I decide that silence is the best option... for now.

Not being cut off right out of the bat he is actually shocked by my reaction, but before he can celebrate like the kid he is I glare back at him, making him raise his hands in defeat and chuckle the awkwardness away.

"Ah, we have arrived." He says and not a moment later I can feel the rumbling of machines moving and the engines of something much bigger approaching and for the first even Ethan looks down towards the stage as the dancers finish their last move, ending on the floor with one leg extended, face looking down and arms up with transparent cloth dropping in between, making an arch on top of their heads, all positioned as if they were presenting something.

And they were.

In the next second the back of the stage simply opens up, the bronze gears that I thought were mere decoration twisting and turning, revealing an opening at the back that, so high up, brought a cold biting wind right up inside the theater, but being completely worthy as it opens up to the high up sky, bringing the sound of bustling engines at full blast on our ears and wild rustling clothing, we had an extremely impressive view.

"It is impressive the first time isn’t it?" The devil beside me says bitterly, now laying back on his sit with his arms crossed, a rare serious expression on his face that would make me double look at him if not for the impressive view up ahead. "He always liked to show off, that guy." He mumbles under his breath.

In front of us unfolds a massive, huge and impressive balloon ship with a Phoenix crest visible everywhere and even one at the front where a maiden would be on a regular ship had the mythical bird’s form carved, claws and beak perpetually stretched, and as long as a serpent its feathers are sculptured twisting and turning along the ship, adding liveness to such detailed entailed creature, almost making me believe it could set everyone ablaze.

More than one of our smaller ships approach this giant in the sky, and this time around I do realize Ethan’s distress as he looks them over and say:

"Something is wrong... why there are so many ships?"