by Cyci Cade
She gathered her belongings and stepped back, a foot or so from the edge keeping eye contact with her predator, praying that the lioness be afraid of water and then she ran, faster than her legs were able to carry her. To face a dragon was more dangerous than to face a lioness. A lioness provided a fast death, while a dragon, he killed slowly, caused a lot of pain and then left its prey agonizing until death.
She needed to find a shelter urgently, soon other animals as dangerous as lions might track her. When she couldn´t run anymore, Kate walked. She tried to gain distance enough from her predator. It was dusk, soon it would be night and she was lost in the middle of the forest with a lioness on her heels.
In a glade in the middle of the woods, Kate saw a man fallen on the ground. She hesitated for a moment; it could be a trap. Kate spun to change direction, but she couldn´t resist her curiosity and approached him, he seemed almost dead. She kicked the man slightly. He didn´t move. She crouched near him and turned his body to see his face.
“Liu!” she exclaimed and at the same moment she heard a roar. “Damned lioness, it tracked me.” She tried to drag the man, but he was too heavy for her. The lioness´ roar increased. “Liu, wake up!” she commanded and tapped his face in vain. She was able to hear the lioness´ increase in pace, it was too late, Liu was crippled and she, unable to move and leave him alone. The desperation built in her gut, spread through her body and her hands started to shake.
Chapter 16
Samantha
Samantha swept up around the mansion cursing Mary, for she had left her doing that job alone. Her arms barely supported the weight of the broom after hours under the scalding sun. She leaned against the wall and gasped; she was tired, thirsty and tried to figure out a way to finish the task when she saw that the dragon slept in the middle of the trees. Following her impulse, Sam left the broom behind and stepped toward the beast. First, the dragon raised its eyebrows and then its head. It seemed surprised seeing Samantha so close.
“Hi. Do you remember me?” Stupid question, how could that creature remember her after so many years?
“You are a beautiful girl, Samantha, but you shouldn´t come here.” The dragon looked to the sides, showing concern regarding her presence in a forbidden place.
The beast was more worried than her; the beast really cared about her. Maybe because she knew what Mr. Jin Quan was capable of doing, or Mary, the evil woman. She thought that animals didn´t have that kind of feeling. The dragon was a very special creature because she never saw another animal able to talk.
“How do you know my name?” Sam didn´t pay attention to the dragon´s warning and sat down.
“I know the girls´ names. I´m not glad with this duty, but I have no choice.” The dragon puffed, releasing smoke from its nostrils.
Samantha waved her hand to dissipate the smoke. “Why are you so sad? Why do you care about us?” Samantha leaned against a trunk as if she had all time in the world to chat with the dragon.
“I am a mother, and I know how painful it is to lose a child. Those families in the village don´t deserve this fate.” Its tail fanned, showing anxiety and discomfort.
An animal with a guilty conscience, that was new to her. “Why don´t you put an ending to this story? There was another dragon here, once, a long time ago, I saw two dragons. I suppose you are stronger than Jin Quan, that disgusting man,” Samantha spat. She knew very well the face to express disapproval, the same face when you licked a lemon, closed the eyes, wrinkled the nose, and turned the lips down.
The dragon interrupted her with another question, “Did you see him?”
“I saw him once, when I cleaned his office.” She closed her eyes thinking about his hands on her and sensing the discomfort which, until that moment, Samantha had not been able to describe. It was repulsive, intriguing, and roused unexplained feelings.
The dragon’s features changed, it appeared that it had licked a lemon too. “Stay away from that man; he is dangerous, untrustworthy.” The beast raised its head a little more. “Mary is looking for you, hurry and go back to your station.” It touched its nose on her body and shoved her.
Quick as a shot, Samantha got up and returned to her job. What did that mean woman want? Samantha felt exposed; the world seemed to close in. Had Mary seen her talking to the dragon? Impossible. The beast was hidden in the woods, and she had hidden behind the tree.
The shouts became perfectly audible. The old, mean, despicable woman was furious. “Didn´t you hear my call?” Mary grabbed her arm and shook her violently.
“I didn´t, I was sweeping…” Samantha tried to explain, but Mary neither paid attention to her words nor heard her explanations, better saying lies.
“I don´t want your flimsy excuses.” Mary continued to shout and attack her. “Where is your mind? Mr. Jin Quan summoned you hours ago. Useless, what have you done? Mr. Jin Quan is furious and don’t you think I´ll defend you because I won´t, to tell the truth, I hope he gives you a big punishment. You don´t do anything right…” She kept insulting and dragging Sam to the office of the monster; the monster with sticky and uncontrollable hands, the one Samantha tried to avoid the most. Her prayers weren´t heard.
“I need to finish my job.” Sam tried to set her arm free from Mary´s hand, but the woman tightened her grip with an extraordinary force.
What did that man want with her? Sam´s heart jumped as fast as an animal´s heart cornered and about to be eaten by the predator. She was able to count the terrible stories about Jin Quan. Nobody liked to work in his private room, but they didn´t say why, probably fearing reprimand.
As they approached Jin Quan´s office, Mary´s hand shook, got so wet with sweat, it was disgusting. The woman was very nervous, Sam had never seen her so scared, something serious happened and Samantha might not like what she could face in that office. Perhaps Sam´s end. Had he discovered the stealing food episode? Had he seen her talk with the beast? Or was he granting her with a day off? Almost certainly, the first or the second alternative, probably both, but not the third one.
Mary knocked twice and entered pulling Samantha after her. Jin Quan turned to look at them. Mary opened her mouth; before she said something he ordered, “Let us alone.”
Mary obeyed without any question or hesitation. The woman seemed desperate to leave that place as well Sam. Mary shut the door and locked Samantha in the monster´s cage. Now her heart pounded in her throat, and it was as if her heart would jump out of her mouth at any moment. She lingered near the door and held her breath, she had the strange sensation that if she stayed static he wouldn´t notice her presence, even though his eyes fixed on her.
Jin Quan smiled, got up and walked around her; his penetrating eyes measured the girl, and she was afraid to think of what he had in his mind. The prospect killed her, she realized that he had intentions regarding her, she didn´t know if they were good or bad. Considering the stories about him and the warnings she heard, Samantha concluded that he had bad intentions.
“I feel that you have good energy, strong, powerful.” He stopped in front of her. “I like strong people, mainly strong women but, until now, I haven´t found a woman powerful enough to be my consort.”
Samantha nodded, only just able to imagine where that conversation would stop and what consort meant. It could have another meaning because what she thought was improbable or she was delirious and misheard his words. Maybe she didn´t think clearly; maybe she stopped thinking minutes ago when Mary said that Jin Quan had summoned her and he was furious.
He cupped her hands in his and continued, “You know, some people say that opposites attracted. I disagree; you can be attracted to someone equal.” He gazed at her; his penetrating eyes appeared to invade her mind and discover everything about her.
Samantha´s heart thumped faster, she believed it was impossible; her cold and sweaty hands cradled in his.
He said more. “I feel your power, it is moved by anger. You want revenge, and it makes you stronger. I shiver feeling h
ow dangerous you are, and I like it. It is exciting.” He kissed her hands and moved his eyes to her lips, maybe considering a wild kiss or something else.
His finger trailed her arm, shoulder, collarbone, and ended at her neck. Samantha dodged, released her hands and created space. “Let me see if I understand.” I can speak. I can still manage a sentence! “Are you proposing to me? Are you saying that you want me as your wife?” She felt ridiculous asking that, but she had to; those were the only words that crossed her mind.
Jin Quan laughed. Samantha laughed too trying to find her lost dignity. Of course, he wouldn´t marry her, that powerful man only wanted her in his bed for a night or two. All that staging was part of some kind of seduction ritual that he used to seduce a girl.
“You are very smart and understood each word. I couldn´t have chosen better.” He wasn´t able to hide his excitement; his face transformed yet Samantha was still unable to decipher it.
What? She waited for a dirty proposal like you have sex with me and you´d have some advantages, but no, he truly asked her hand in marriage. Dread grew inside her while she paced back and forth in his office, in his cage. Was she really considering his arguments, his proposal? Yes she was.
“What am I supposed to do?” Another stupid question; she knew very well what she´d have to do.
“You´ll be my wife, take care of the palace, be my Empress when I become Emperor, and give me an heir. You know, each great man in the world has a beautiful, strong, great woman as his wife.” He moved nearby, untied her braid, and toyed with her hair.
Samantha swallowed dry and asked, “Can I be responsible for the women, I mean, can I give orders to them and select their jobs, including Mary?”
“Yes. As a good housewife you can take care of the housekeeping tasks.” He seemed happy with Samantha´s interest and closed the gap between them; were her words a signal to go forward? She didn´t agree with this yet, did she?
His aroma flooded her nostrils, and it was intoxicating. Samantha smiled. She thought how Mary would pay for everything she had done to her and the other girls, but a red alert signal sounded in her head when she remembered the dragon´s warning, stay away from Jin Quan. She just ignored that thought.
“I will be your wife.” She accepted his proposal without thinking about it. She just saw a passport to a better life in front of her, and it didn´t matter if she had to marry the monster, as they named him, including herself minutes ago.
Jin Quan grinned. His big hands possessed her and explored her back tugging her closer. He lifted her chin; his lips reached the line of her jaw, first he trailed her neck and then he experienced her lips, pressing her against his sturdy body.
In the beginning it was repulsive to Samantha and she had the urge to push him away, but when he crushed his lips against hers and the kisses deepened, she felt something different. A new feeling grew fast, strong, powerful, and indescribable. At that moment she wanted that man, she desired him, his power, his energy, and his love.
She responded to his fondness with enthusiasm. She dared to touch and explore that well-built chest. Samantha tiptoed and her hands intertwined on the nape of his neck. It was so good, perfect, and totally wrong. She remembered the dragon´s warnings; that man was dangerous and here she was altogether surrendered to his caresses; too late.
His lips left hers reluctantly. “I´ll let Mary know that you are her boss.” He pressed his lips briefly on her cheek, his hands wandered up and down her back. “She will prepare a room close to mine for you while I arrange the wedding.” He continued to kiss her neck.
“It sounds good to me. I can´t wait.” She turned her face to meet his lips again and forget everything while she melted, wrapped in his arms, feeling his body´s warmth.
A wave of heat swirled around her when she left Jin Quan´s office and her fiancé. She walked along the corridor, sensing her lips moving and forming a smile. At last, life was generous with her. Samantha´s suffering days had ended. Soon she´d be Mrs. Jin Quan and everybody would bow in front of her.
She was grateful, it was much better than the third alternative; to marry Jin Quan was infinitely better than one day off work. And she had thought to flee from his presence; why was everybody afraid of him? He was so gentle, kind, hot, full of passion, and… she was a lucky girl.
Chapter 17
Liu
Liu used clean water to refresh his wounds while he thought about a way to recover his situation with Kate. If she didn´t come back to the lake, he´d have to go to the village. How could he explain who he was to those people? Obviously, they wouldn´t allow him to speak with Kate. More likely, they would be waiting for him with axes in their hands. For sure, they´d chop him in small parts the moment he opened his mouth to confirm his situation as Jin Quan´s prisoner.
“Liu.” A man´s voice broke his thoughts. It didn´t matter because he hadn´t reached any solution to his problem.
He twisted and saw Fu Chow stood near him. Liu got up and bowed. “Master, I am glad to see you.” Liu walked to Fu Chow and hugged him. It was very nice to see his master after centuries. That man was like a father to him. “How did you find me?” Why wasn´t he surprised with his master´s presence in that land? Inwardly, he knew there were inexplicable things in life; this was one of those so he let it go.
Fu Chow scrutinized him; he still had the same tender yet demanding glance. “You are hurt; let me treat your lesions. What happened?” Fu Chow sat down, opened the bag, picked medicines, and signaled Liu to sit next to him.
Liu obeyed. While Fu Chow rubbed the medicine on his wounds, he spoke of what had caused those injures. “Jin Quan tortured me. He wants the eyes!” Liu yelled when Fu Chow touched the deeper scars. “You didn´t answer, how did you find me?” he asked through gritted teeth.
“I´ll answer with another question, what happened that allowed you to change into human shape?” Fu Chow gazed at him and lifted an eyebrow. His eyes wouldn’t leave Liu´s face while he didn´t hear the answer.
“I saw a girl in the lake; she had an enormous bleeding cut on her shoulder. I didn´t think anything, just followed my instincts and swam to her. When she detected my presence, she hit me with an arrow. This action made me more curious about her and then I approached. She was scared; I touched her shoulder trying to heal it and show that I wouldn´t hurt her.” Liu sighed. “After that encounter I got a brown spot on my nose…” He pointed to his spot “And she got a scar in a dragon form on her shoulder.”
Fu Chow nodded thoughtfully and reached a conclusion. “When you touched each other you must have exchanged blood, it left marks on your bodies and in your souls. You are connected by blood for the rest of your lives.”
It was serious, although Liu recognized their strong connection; he had never thought it from this perspective. He laughed, got up, and kicked the leaves on the ground. “Tell her that because she discovered that I am a dragon and abandoned me.” He finished the story in a gloomy tone.
“You do not understand. Something bigger than your relationship occurred, Wei was affected too.” Fu Chow’s eyes gleamed. Liu never saw his master so excited before.
“You were with him.” Liu spat. He had wondered where his brother was for years, and in the end forgot about him. It was very easy to forget a brother when you hate him.
“He is your brother, and I came here to rescue you. The Great Dragon showed me where you were, and you don´t have idea how many times Wei faced death to protect and bring me to you,” Fu Chow chided him.
“Great! Now I owe him a favor.” Liu laughed sarcastically and threw his hands up.
“Let´s go.” Fu Chow waved his hand. “I left Wei hidden in the forest alone. We cannot stay here. It´s too dangerous.”
“Before we leave, I need to pick my mom up.” Liu crossed his arms; a signal that he wouldn´t go anywhere without her.
“Is she here?” Fu Chow inquired; he seemed surprised.
Liu changed to his dragon form. “Come on, I´ll take you
to her.”
Fu Chow mounted, held on to Liu´s scales and the dragon ascended, flying around the mountain toward his cave. Their departure was good news, but his heart was sad. Kate would remain in Dragon´s Valley, and he didn´t know when they might meet again or if they ever would again. He couldn´t say goodbye; he couldn’t say how much he loved her; he couldn’t beg Kate to forgive and wait for him.
After a short trip around the mountain, Liu landed behind the cave and crouched. Fu Chow dismounted him, Liu called his mother. Fu Chow waited for her on the ground looking around with wide-open eyes as if he expected to encounter Jin Quan at any moment.
The ground shook as his mother paced toward them.
“Your Majesty.” Fu Chow bowed when Xuan appeared in front of them.
Xuan stopped when she saw Fu Chow stood beside Liu. She lowered her head; her voice failed. “Fu Chow, where are my husband and son?” Xuan angled her head near him and stayed face to face with him.
“I don´t know the whereabouts of Emperor Shun. Wei is hidden in the boundary.” He examined the dragon just a little because it was disrespectful to gaze at the Empress. Fu Chow considered the situation for a minute or two and asked, “Are you able to change too?”
“No, only Liu is.” Xuan fixed her eyes on a distant point as she lifted her head.
Fu Chow nodded solemnly. “Wei was also affected. The dragon has offered an opportunity to repair the mistakes, but we need to leave now.”
“I cannot leave with you. I must remain here.” She moved to Liu.
“No! I won´t leave you here!” Liu got up and protested, “Jin Quan will torture you!”
“It is necessary for now; it will only be for a short time. I am certain that you´ll fix everything and release your father and me.” She turned to Fu Chow. “Tell Wei that I love him.” Xuan stared at Liu. “I love you both.”
“I love you, Mom. I´ll come back for you and all those girls as soon as possible.” Liu rubbed his nose on his mother´s face. “Can I ask you a gift?” he mumbled.