by Cyci Cade
“Too late. Soon, I´m going to marry him and I´ll be happy with my husband and kids. I´ll be able to help the girls and offer a better life to them.” She revealed her plans; maybe it helped the animal understand her reasons.
“Do you think he will allow it?” The beast tried to put a doubt in her mind.
“I am positive.” She kicked the ground. “Besides, you have no right to interfere in my life. You took me from my house and brought me here.” Her index finger waved in the dragon´s face.
The dragon lowered its eyes and bent its head to the side. She hurt the beast´s feelings; it wasn´t her purpose, but she wouldn´t apologize.
“I must go,” she babbled.
“I´ll be here if you need me.” The dragon looked at her, sighed, and entered the cave.
Sam spun on her heels and took the same way back thinking of their conversation. The weirdest thing was she became more curious than worried. Why was the beast concerned about her? Why did her wedding bother it so much? It was just an animal, wasn´t it? Her reasoning said to heed the dragon´s warning while her heart thumped fast and chose Jin Quan. She didn´t take long thinking about that. She made her decision when he kissed her in a very pleasurable and unforgettable way. At that time, it was enough. End of story.
Chapter 37
Wei
Wei´s body shivered; a cold and bad sensation enveloped him. None of them spoke, they just watched Liu´s desperation. For an instant, he thought his brother would handle the sword and stab his heart to stop the pain.
Wei tottered back and forth and begged. “Great Dragon forgives me. I am not worthy of blessing, but I don´t ask for me, I beg for Kate and Liu. She deserves to live; Liu deserves his love. He found the peach of immortality; he is a virtuous man. Please, I beg you, bring Kate back. I promise that I won´t flirt with her anymore. If one day she decides that she loves me, I´ll be waiting for her, today I don’t deserve her, Liu does.”
He approached his brother, knelt beside him, and laid a hand on Liu´s shoulder. “Have faith, brother, she will survive, she will resist, she is strong.”
Maybe Liu´s faith was stronger than his because, facing that scene, Wei could not see any possible future for any of them; however, his brother always got what he wanted, why should it be different this time? Liu wanted Kate alive, so he would get it.
Liu wrapped his arm around Wei´s neck, hid his red, wet, swollen face on Wei´s shoulder, and continued to cry. Wei never saw his brother crying before. Wei tapped Liu´s back like their father did when they fought or got hurt. He wished he could say some wise words, those words people use to say to soothe others in distress. Some ideas crossed his mind, but if he opened his mouth he´d lose control and cry like his brother.
He had never thought that one day he´d be moved by Liu´s pain, though they shared the same sorrow. He was able to describe in detail each feeling that Liu had, and the scene was the most peculiar: two men… brothers… hugged… crying for the same woman. Who would believe it? There were so many unsolved problems between them, but Wei didn´t have the right to admit his love for Kate openly. It´d be disrespectful with Liu. He could just suffer in silence, swallow his tears, and soothe his brother.
The General swirled around them, came close, and observed them with gloomy features. “I´m sorry for the girl. I wish I could save her. You have both proved that you are honorable men and noble dragons.” He rubbed his beard and considered a little. “The dragon´s eye is on that shelf. You can take it and leave.” He identified the shelf using his dagger to point it out.
Wei stood up. He wanted to say a lot of insults to that evil man. Actually, he tried, though no sound came out from his mouth. He shuffled across the room to the shelf and there was the eye waiting to be collected. A big green stone with a dragon´s eye shape shone among all the vases.
“It is time to go back home.” Wei stretched his arm, gulped, held the stone carefully and pulled it; however, the stone didn´t move an inch. It seemed glued to the shelf. He forced it to the sides, back and forward and remembered Fu Chow´s warning: ‘One of you will be capable of taking the eye.’
“Liu, it is your eye. I cannot move it.” He stepped aside and made room for Liu to approach.
His brother laid Kate on the floor, wiped away the tears, got up, and hobbled to Wei. Liu´s trembling hand hesitated; he panted and picked the stone. An inner light lit the jewel and revealed all parts of the eye. It had gained life.
Wei expected that something amazing would happen like an earthquake, fireworks, the columns of the Palace crack or those immortals would burn until they became ashes and vanish, which might be great. But nothing spectacular occurred, just a shy green light. They got the first eye, but paid a high price for it and Wei wondered if it was worth it.
Liu nodded to Wei, waited for his agreement, put the eye in his pocket and glared at the General. Wei knew that his brother wanted revenge; Liu could explode at any moment.
He touched Liu´s shoulder and guided him away. “It isn´t worth it, you will only feel worse.”
Wei didn´t actually believe in that theory. He always believed in the power of the blade to solve problems, if badly wounded, even more so. For a reason that he didn´t understand at that moment he thought that it was the right thing to do.
Approaching Kate, Liu bent over her and snuggled her in his arms. Wei gathered their weapons and went after Liu without looking back. They left the Palace, immortals and beasts behind. As soon as they crossed through the main gate it was sealed. All the immortals remained inside the building and the Kaiming appeared standing up in front of the gates ignoring their presence as if nothing had occurred as if they didn´t exist. The Palace of Jade now closed to visitors, sealed once more.
Liu carried Kate all the way. They reached the chain link bridge in less than one hour of hiking. Wei imagined they´d have problems crossing it due to the damage caused, the damage he caused to the bridge trying to escape from Kaiming. His mouth dropped open. Restored to its original condition, it was exactly as it was when they arrived. However, Liu seemed not to notice the bridge and carried on forward. Wei thought it might be better to let it go, another time they could talk about that mystery among others. Liu only stopped when they reached the bridge´s edge where they had hidden their bags.
“I look at her and think that she is in a deep sleep and can wake up at anytime.” Liu sat down holding her on his lap; he stroked her face. Wei didn´t recognize Liu´s features; he didn´t know if his brother accepted that fate or worked on a way to cheat destiny.
Wei gathered their bags, unzipped his and handed Liu a bottle of water. “Do you want to set up camp here? You must be tired.” Wei picked another bottle.
Liu sipped the water. “No, we have to walk until sunset; here isn´t a safe place.” He tipped the bottle delicately in Kate´s mouth to wet her lips.
After a few short minutes of rest Wei offered a hand and helped his brother to stand up. He put the bags on his shoulders and led them down the mountain overwhelmed with grief. For how long would Kate resist? Who or what would help her if the elixir of immortality wouldn´t? Wei couldn´t just accept that she was gone. It was a real curse, a real punishment; probably he deserved it, but Kate didn´t.
At dusk they set up camp. Wei used Kate´s bow and arrow to hunt since he couldn´t turn into dragon in the mountain. He prepared their meal, and for a strange reason Liu asked him to sleep in the tent with them. Maybe Liu feared the worst outcome. For the first time Liu wanted Wei nearby.
Kate was pale as if all the blood had drained from her body. Her face´s color contrasted with the purple around her eyes; the cracked lips revealed how serious her condition was. “Did you check the wound? It can be infected.”
“Actually no; you are right.” Liu unzipped Kate´s coat, lifted the wool sweater and T-shirt; the wound had gone, there was a little thin pink line in its place. “I cannot understand; if the wound is healed, why does she not recover?”
Wei considered L
iu´s words. Something was wrong because she looked awful. “Probably she needs more time.” He gave a lame excuse. What else could he say, she´d be fine, she´d die? Or none of the previous alternatives?
Liu hiccupped, forlornly wrapping his arms around Kate to keep her warm. Wei lay down beside her and squirmed all night without getting a wink of sleep. Kate remained motionless. That was the longest night of his life.
The next days were the same, they traveled during the day, rested at night and Liu took care of Kate while Wei hunted, set up and broke down camp. Liu was physical and mentally exhausted; several times Wei offered his help to carry Kate, but Liu refused. To add to their woes, an avalanche of bad things happened, literarily, at the halfway stage of their journey home, an avalanche crashed down toward them.
Suddenly a large mass of snow slid down the mountain, made them run and look for a shelter near the rocks. Wei held Liu´s arm to help him move his legs in the deep snow. Right away they found a good place.
Liu rested Kate against the rock. Wei dropped the bags on the ground; he panted, unzipped a bag and pulled out a tent. He lent a hand to Liu to put down the quilts; the chilly air burned his lungs; however, he couldn´t stop, he needed to protect them from the wind and snow or they´d freeze. Wei dug the pole in the middle of the front, the Main Guy Line on each side and he tied the roof covering the entrance.
They stayed trapped there for the rest of the day and all night. The gust of wind shook the roof several times and snow overran their space. Wei and Liu had to bury the Main Guy Line all the time and when they weren´t keeping the shelter safe, they all hugged with Kate to keep themselves alive.
The wind´s loud whistle, mixed with the avalanche´s sound seemed like a waterfall after floods. It was terrifying and gave the impression that they were in the middle of it sliding down the mountain. If the world ever ended one day, that would be the sound.
The sun shone the next morning. Wei opened what remained of the temporary roof and noticed how the snow drifts would make their hike more difficult.
“We should leave.” Wei darted to help Liu to carry Kate.
He left the destroyed tent behind; they couldn´t waste time. They slogged down the mountain. Their legs sank almost up to the knees in the snow; the cold air burned their face. Wei´s skin looked ablaze, burned by the chilly air and the sunlight.
They covered a few miles then it was dusk once more. Wei set up camp near the rocks. As Liu skipped dinner, he didn´t need to hunt. Liu just took a cup of tea and left Wei alone, watching the logs crackling while he ate his and his brother’s meal. They had trudged along the trail and if they didn´t arrive at the bottom to be able to fly back home, they´d miss the Chinese New Year, the date to return the eye to the dragon´s statue and the last chance to look for a cure for Kate. Wei needed to find a way to move faster.
“Wei. Come here now!” Liu exclaimed from inside the tent, breaking Wei´s thoughts.
Wei threw the meat on the fire and darted to meet his brother expecting the worst. Mixed feelings crossed him, it was impossible to think clearly.
Liu´s face lit up with happiness. “She is waking.”
Wei sighed in relief, knelt beside Kate, and held her hand. “Kate, can you hear me?”
She babbled a few words. As Wei couldn´t understand her, he hurried to prepare a dried vegetable soup that Fu Chow had put in his bag to strengthen and warm her. In a few minutes, he returned with a bowl filled with soup. Liu glided his arm underneath her back and sat her up. He leaned Kate against his chest while Wei fed her.
They spent all night taking turns to keep an eye on Kate, feed her, and rest. She mumbled many things; a great part of them made no sense, and then she rolled to the sides constantly in an agitated sleep. That tent was too small for two men and a girl. At morning, her cheeks had a healthy color and Kate spoke her first words since the fateful accident.
“Thank you.” She tapped their hands. “I feel better now.”
“We´ll wait for your recovery to restart our journey.” Liu put his coat underneath her head to cushion it.
“No! We should go now or we won´t arrive on time for New Year!” Wei objected; someone had to think clearly and be practical.
“Her life is more important. She cannot travel, she is still weak.” Liu disagreed as usual. His brother gritted his teeth, a signal that he´d keep his decision.
“Did you get the eye?” Kate interrupted the argument.
“Yes.” Wei crouched next to her. “I know that you need some rest, but there isn´t time. If we delay, our sacrifice will have been in vain.”
Kate nodded and stared at Liu. “He´s right. We must leave now; this is just part of our trial. We are being tested. You are being tested. Our mission hasn´t finished yet. If we stop now, we´ll fail. When I was hit in the Palace…”
Wei cut her off; his mind was miles ahead. “If we walk for some hours I think I can morph and fly.”
“She cannot fly.” Liu narrowed his eyes.
“We leave our bags and I carry you both,” Wei snorted.
Liu grimaced, scrutinized Kate for a moment and decided, “Fine, we´ll be there sooner and she´ll receive proper aid.”
Wei didn´t waste time breaking camp, just grabbed the bags with their weapons, food and water. Liu wrapped Kate in a quilt and carried her. They spent half a day before arriving at Kunlun´s Mountain base where they ate and rested for an hour. Kate tried to say something several times; he really wanted to know what she had to divulge, it seemed important, but it was imperative to check all steps of their trip back.
Wei handed Kate the last bottle of water. She thanked him and sipped it; her appearance revealed how these days were harsh to her. A mix of fear and disappointment had stolen her eyes´ gleam.
When they reached an agreement, Wei put their weapons in one bag and morphed. He blinked to adapt his eyes to the brightness; his eyes were sensitive. Liu bound Kate on Wei´s back, shouldered the bag, mounted behind her putting his arms around her and held on tightly to Wei´s scales. The blue dragon fluttered his wings slowly to take off. With a strong jolt he ascended.
“Be careful!” Liu bawled.
“Sorry.” Wei flapped his wings to go through the gust of air and darted as a bullet.
“What is happening? Don´t you know how to fly?” Liu clutched Wei´s scales.
“Sorry.”
Wei´s strength had increased. He could carry any movement out easily. Might it be the eye´s effects? Or had he stayed in that human weak vulnerable form for so long that he forgot how the dragon side was? He didn´t know. The truth was, he missed his dragon side and he didn´t know how it´d be when they accomplished all tasks, broke the curse, and lost the dragon´s powers.
Chapter 38
Kate
Liu´s arms tightened around Kate´s side. Even wearing lots of clothes she had a good sensation feeling his arms around her and his body against hers. In the darkest moments, she thought that she wouldn´t survive. A void possessed her mind right at the moment the arrow hit; darkness surrounded her, but just for a few minutes. She wasn´t sure if she´d survive; seeing Liu´s and Wei´s agony she was almost certain about the outcome, she´d die, or maybe she died and returned; she didn´t know.
Kate wanted to explain that it was a test to them, but time passed and she had doubts about it, maybe she should leave for the mission to be successful. Fortunately, they understood what they had to do or just followed their instincts, who knew? It didn´t matter now, the important thing was that it had worked. She´d give them details about her experience when they landed; it was vital, urgent, and crucial for their next task because she didn´t want to face death again.
She touched Liu´s hands, squeezed them and leaned her head back to nestle on Liu´s shoulder.
He kissed her cheek; his lips grazed her ear when he muttered. “I missed you. I almost freaked out seeing you unconscious. My life would have no reason, and I considered a battle against the immortal General to put an end to my ex
istence. I prefer to die instead of living without you.” He crushed her against him. “I love you, please, don´t argue with me anymore. I cannot bear this burden.”
Kate swallowed the tears. She felt so guilty. She was so nasty, vindictive, and jealous. She was fighting for nothing. She attacked him because of her fears; he didn´t give her reasons for her bad temper, he just wanted to protect her.
Her lips quivered and she stammered, “I am so sorry. I love you. When I noticed that we could die and I saw all the effort you made to save me…”
“We have arrived.” He cut her off again.
Kate narrowed and widened her eyes trying to see something in the darkness. “How do you know?”
“I am a dragon. I have superpowers,” he replied full of pride; for the first time she recognized happiness in his voice.
They were back alive, victorious. Round one done. They had fought beasts and immortals; fallen and climbed the abyss; survived an avalanche and many other things and there they were arriving home on time to accomplish their mission. Home, sweet home. It sounded ridiculous, but was true, it was how she felt.
Wei landed in front of the main entrance. Mr. Fu Chow appeared at the door as if he knew that they were arriving, or as if had he been waiting there for all those days. He spread his arms and dashed to them all with a big smile on his face. “Thanks God, you came back.”
“Take her.” Liu slid Kate to Fu Chow’s hands and leaped from Wei´s back; Wei immediately returned to his human shape.
Fu Chow hugged her, tapped the princes´ shoulder and led them into the palace. “Did you get the eye?”
Liu took the eye out of his pocket and showed it. Kate was mesmerized in front of its beauty; the green jewelry shimmered. Kate lowered her head and shielded her eyes with a hand. She blinked some times and glimpsed at them.