Solstice Souls Book 2: Black Fire, White Flame

Growing Pains

(This chapter was written, as all WY POV chapters are, by edzooc8r. Enjoy!)

Wei Ying POV

They follow the young threesome as the children weave their way between stalls and houses. The girl holds her brother's hand so as not to lose him to the swelling late day crowd. But it's the way the young man keeps a protective arm around her back, his touch there but light, that draws his full attention.

They're not that much younger than he and Lan Zhan are. But just because they're young doesn't mean their love isn't real. So Wei Ying decides his next move and pulls his jade with him.

They scurry around a row of shops and place themselves right in the path of the children.

"Ready?"

Lan Zhan nods but looks nervously back at him.

"Just follow my lead. Think of it as a warm up to your dance lessons." Wei Ying says with an off-center grin.

In his most dramatic voice, he shouts, "Oh my love! What if they say no? I want to marry you but my parents think you're the enemy! How are we ever going to convince them?"

He clutches Lan Zhan's robes and even musters up a few tears followed by sniffles.

Lan Zhan pauses for half a breath and says dryly, "We will talk to them. Make them understand."

"What if they don't listen? What if they say we can't ever see each other? I can't live without you, my love!"

Wei Ying's tears fall faster, his sobs heavy with heartbreak.  Lan Zhan pulls a handkerchief from inside his robe and hands it to him. Wei Ying swears there's a tiny fairy seamstress inside his jade's sleeves who keeps weaving the soft white squares.

Lan Zhan's eyes soften. "Does not matter. We will elope. I only want Wei Ying."

"But they'll be so angry with us!" Wei Ying shrieks. "I'll never be able to go home again!"

Out of the corner of his eye, Wei Ying sees the trio moving closer. Their steps are hesitant yet they don't stop. He cuddles into Lan Zhan's embrace, impressed that his jade fell into his role so easily. This man in his arms holds more mysteries than the unexplored world. And Wei Ying can't wait to explore every aspect of his handsome fiance's talents.

Right on cue, the girl approaches them and says, "Xian-gege, your family doesn't like the one you've chosen, either?"

Wei Ying lifts his head and wipes his tears. "No. They don't understand how much I love him. They think I could do better but I don't want anyone else."

She smiles sadly. "My parents are the same. They say he doesn't have a strong enough core. I don't get what a core has to do with a person's heart, though."

Lan Zhan looks at her and then Wei Ying. "Nothing. It has nothing to do with your heart. A core doesn't make you strong. Your heart does. It gives you the strength to do the things that need to be done. Without a strong heart, we would never have the courage to stand up for ourselves and take our own path."

Wei Ying blushes slightly at the intense love sparkling in those golden eyes staring at him. He wants to kiss Lan Zhan into tomorrow. But first, they need to fix this little problem.

"My name is A-Feng." the young boy says. "And this is A-Qing and her brother, A-Ping."

"It's a pleasure to meet you." Lan Zhan says formally with a bow.

Wei Ying offers them a seat in the grass under a large pine tree. "So, your parents don't like A-Feng, correct?"

A-Qing shakes her head as she gives her little brother a piece of bread. "No. That's why we ran away."