Check Mate

Trayrock, Present Time

Aislen floated on her back, gazing up at a sky that twinkled with stars. None of the formations were familiar, but that did not concern her. She suspected she was seeing the sky from a totally different point of view. She was, after all, floating in aether. It was body warm, and silky against her skin, without being wet.

Being suspended in it in such a way was incredibly soothing. She reasoned that was because she had entered the aether in a relaxed state, her body comfortably exhausted from a busy day and night followed by sex, and snuggled safely in bed between Talen and Rhett, with Heath and Cameron on the edges.

She could float there until morning, she thought dreamily stroking her hands through its silky strands, blissfully content. But the question did remain: why had she entered the aether at all?

Reluctantly, she sat up - if sitting were an accurate description as there was no surface in the aether against which to sit. And yet she did not sink. The aet