Please Illuminate the Dark Path of My Soul

Chapter 2

CHAPTER 2

I feel something grab my arm, and it yanks me, the shock making me gasp inaudibly, and as I open my eyes, I see a tall man, his features masculine, he has slender fingers, dark hair, perfectly trimmed, and beautiful blue eyes.

"You." He speaks in a low and deep voice, making me shiver a bit. "Let's make a deal." His grip tightens on me, hurting me, but I can handle more than that. It's as if he realizes my discomfort that he loosens it, and puts me back on the ground. "I apologize. Want the deal or do you want me to kill you on the spot?" I imagine my body miserably tossed in the ground like a rotten apple, surrounded by a ruby red.

"I don't want to die yet," I say, the most calm-like I could fake. "What's the deal?" My voice cracks a little, and it's embarrassing. His eyes look down on me, they narrow, he looks cold, as if he were a trained dog trying not to bite. His cold eyes look gentle, and yet, knowing that those very same eyes had the murderous aura is scary.

"You'll live with me until you are 18, since that is when human souls are best. At age 18, you will be cleaned, and I will devour your soul, such delicacy is not found in any sort of place and time. You are known as a cuisine for us, dark monsters, and that is why you should not be wasted,"

"I-"

"If you accept, everyone will be spared. Your kind of soul is equal to 20,000 adult ones, surely you don't want me killing 20,000 for the satisfaction of just you? Will you sacrifice yourself to save others, or will you live with the guilt?"

He is good at psychology, isn't he? "I'll live with you. I prefer dying than 20,000. But.. Can I make a request?"

"You can."

"Can I be taken out quickly and painlessly?"

"Whatever you wish, since that is our priority, as we, dark monsters." He holds out a hand, and I take it. He leads me out of the classroom, where I see bodies covered in blood, some are still alive, just painted in that color, and terrified as they see the clean man without a single drop of anything strolling while holding the hand of a high schooler.

"What's your name?" I manage to say.

"Xiu Yan." Xiu Yan are the characters for elegant swallow. It does fit his perfect features, although his big body is nothing like a swallow's. He does seem elegant too.

"Xiu Yan." I repeat. The name sounds graceful, beautiful even. How many times can I verbalize the name? Am I even allowed to?

He stops, and looks down at me, "Yours?"

"Hua Ling."

Xiu Yan continues walking, and then stops before a door again. "Beautiful name."

He opens it, and I embrace myself for any impact. Behind that door, there is usually another classroom, but what type of magic do these dark creatures of evil do? I don't know. There is nothing. Not a single sound, well, except birds chirping. It sounds peaceful. I open my eyes, and find a green scenery with a big house in the middle of nowhere. It's a big mansion, it's gorgeous. I grip the bigger hand tighter which is holding mine, and step into the portal.

Xiu Yan motions to the house too. It seems like he doesn't mind me holding his hand this tight. Can he feel pain? "You.. you don't mind me touching you like this, right?"

"Of course not, in fact, I need it. We, dark creatures, are cold-blooded monsters. Heat from a human is essential." He gently grabs my arm, and locks it with his.

It's intimidating, and yet charming in a way.

He leans his head back, closes his eyes, and grins, revealing two white fangs. "What do you think about it?"

I stare up at him. He smells good. "It's beaut-" I feel myself close my eyes and fall. I lose consciousness. Although I cannot move or talk, I can feel and hear. Xiu Yan holds me, preventing the fall. "Hua Ling!" He says.

Then, I wake up. I don't know what happened after. I reach to the ceiling. I feel better now. I turn to the side, and see Xiu Yan sleeping beside me, even asleep he looks like an angel. Even though- he's the quite opposite. He's handsome. I put my hand on the side of his face. "Why would you be here with me?" I whisper. Beneath the covers, I hold his hand. He was right, he is cold.

He opens his eyes, and says, "Warmth.." then leans closer to me, putting his head on my shoulder.

It startles me, and I let go of his hand. I turn to the other side, and after about twenty minutes, I go downstairs quietly. Am I stupid? I don't know this place at all, what if he lives alone? What am I going to do downstairs?

I finally find the kitchen and see a woman about 30 years old cooking something. "Hello," I say, gently.

"Good morning, Hua Ling. I have been informed by Master Xiu Yan that you are his future meal, is that right? You are quite a beautiful young lady, it's such a waste. But oh well, orders are orders."

"Thank you. Hey, um.. I don't mind staying here, but wouldn't it be better if I lived my life and then when I'm 18 you guys pick me up?"

"No, no. There are tons of dangerous things that could kill you. You know, such as murder, poisoning, and so much more. Here, we'll make sure you don't die in any other way other than getting eaten by Master Xiu Yan."

"Okay. Well, what are you cooking for breakfast?" I ask, changing the subject.

"Eggs, bacon, sausages and hash browns. For lunch it will be greek salad, and dinner will be steak. You're not vegan or vegetarian, right?"

"Oh, no. It all sounds so good!"

Footsteps are shortly after heard coming from the stairs. "Smells good," a deep voice says, assuming Xiu Yan is the only man here, it's him.

"I can call you 'Xiu Yan' right? I don't need to say 'Master' or 'Lord'.. Right?" I sit down on the table and stare up at him.

He comes closer and says in a deep voice, "Just call me whatever you like, I don't care."

"So, Xiu Yan. You can eat human food? What about souls?" It's scary imagining Xiu Yan bring in a dead human, set it on the table and eat it like an animal.

"It's fine as long as I eat one every two weeks," He sits down on the other side of the table, facing me.

I stare at his handsome face while eating my hash brown. "The hash brown tastes so good," I turn to the woman. "By the way, what's your name?"

"Well, my name is Min Jing," Min is the character for clever and Jing for quiet/calm. It suits her well.

"It sounds both mature and innocent at the same time, don't you think, Xiu Yan?"

He's about to open his mouth when suddenly both the house and ground shake dramatically. It startles Min Jing and I, and we hold on to the nearest object. However, Xiu Yan does not seem affected by this. He stands up right, and looks through the window, when his eyes give off a worried look. "Xiu Yan! What is happening?!"

"They're here. They know you are here," he says as he transforms into his Hēi'àn form. I suppose by "they" it means other Hēi'àns.

"They want to kill me?!" I manage to yell out.

He says nothing, but after a few seconds, he carries me bride style and leads me through the house to this special room upstairs. There is salt before the door, and it seems he cannot go through. "This is a special room, it protects humans from creatures like us, and I'm afraid I cannot go with you since I am one of those dark creatures. Min Jing! Stay with her!" he looks at me one last time before turning away.

Min Jing takes my hand and leads me inside. "Will Xiu Yan be alright?"

She frowns a little, "I hope so," she says as she closes the door.