Call of the Night

Part 9

I firmly clutch my shawl in my chest as I slide the door open where Lin Shao stood right outside the door, blocking me and there is barely any space between us. His blue eyes is not the same as it used to be when he was my companion and my friend. Now his eyes are as cold as frozen as the air that night.

"Where are you going?" he spoke.

"Out" I replied nonchalantly, dismissing his curiosity.

"Royal concubine, the king forbids you from wondering off on your own"

"Come with me then" I said, not meeting his gaze and instead watches Xin Wei in the distance bobbing his heads at me. Xin Wei seem to understand the heavy atmosphere in the air.

"To where?" Lin Shao asks.

"Take me to the emperor chamber"

"What?" Lin Shao questioned in disbelief.

"You heard me, Take me to the emperor's chamber" I said again, this time with more authority.

Lin Shao faltered a little but eventually looked convinced "As you wish"

Not another word then he turns, expecting me to follow.

When we arrive in front of a huge and heavy door, Lin Shao pulls it open. Inside was dark and hard to see. I slip in between the slightly open door. Lin Shao was ready to follow behind me but I stopped him.

"Leave us" I said.

Lin Shao was hesitant to obey. A slight pain emerged in my chest as I come to realize Lin Shao was no longer my friend. In his eyes I saw distrust as if he never knew me before, the same way I don't know him now.

"Yes, royal concubine" he bows then he was on his way.

I slowly close the door. My palm pressed on its cold and wooden texture. All the torches in the room was out and the only source of light was the moon illuminating from the starry sky, praising the creature that sleeps ever so soundly in its soft bed.

I walk soundlessly towards the creature. It was beautiful and breathtaking. The silver thin strands that hang loosely on its head glows to reflect the light. Even the shadow of his long silver lashes made a contour of his strong jawline. The bridge of his nose is well defined as well as his pinkish and swollen lips. He was more beautiful than any Gods combined.

I was so enticed by his beautiful feature that I didn't realize that my hand moved on its own to move a loose hair that hang on his face. His eyes twitched and open slightly. His lips moved to whisper words that I cannot comprehend. I lean in closer to have a clearer understanding.

"Kuan Tian" he whispers then his lips curved into an innocent smile and his red luminous eyes shows so much affection.

Eyes that I'm too familiar with. The same eyes that swoop me off my feet many times. Xi Guangs eyes. The eyes that only saw me and never wondered away from me. The thought of the similarities left me breathless. My knees hit the stone floor, my hand supported me from beneath.

"Xi Guang" I say under my breath. Tears ran down my cheeks.

Every memory of Xi Guang ran wild in my head. My memory was not vivid. They are flashes of me and Xi Guang but what pains me most was.....

.....In my memory Xi Guangs face was a blur....

.....I couldn't see him

No... It's not that I couldn't see him...

...I couldn't.... I couldn't remember him..

My head was throbbing in pain. It hurts to recall my memories.

Ka-thunk.... an object fell in front of me from the top of a crest.

It was the mirror that the emperor was holding before, when I first entered his room. Two dragons was engraved on it and there was a red gem on top, glossing. Its tempting me to look closer.

I picked it up then examine the back closely. The design was the same infront except for the reflecting glass. I pointed it towards me and expected to see myself but instead a horrific creature appeared that made me drop the mirror.

It was not me. It was a woman as pale as a snow. Her eyes were pitch black, even the part that should be white is black. Her lips was purple. She looks like a dead corps. The image made me tremble in fear. 

I picked up the mirror again to have a better look but this time it was gone. The woman is gone. Not just the woman. Even I'm gone. I was nowhere to be found in my own reflection.

I look through carefully and closely, wondering if I'm just looking at it wrong. There's nothing. Not even a shadow. It's just the whole room.

"What are you doing?" a soft yet cold voice spoke. The emperor now stood behind me.

When I turn with the mirror at hand, his expression was unreadable. He just watch my hand yielding the mirror.

"I... I'm..... so... sorry... This dropped and I picked it up" I held out the mirror towards him. 

His slender hand extended towards the mirror but instead of taking the mirror, his fingers wrapped around mine.

"This is the mirror of truth. It will show you who you really are and what you seek in your heart" his fingers traces mine "sometimes not only would it show your true self and what you want, it would also show what you should know even though you never knew" 

Still holding my hand and the mirror he walked behind me. I could feel his breath in my ears. His hands then guided mine to raise the mirror towards us. This time another woman appeared she stood behind me where the emperor should be in. She was a beautiful human and my reflection also appeared like normal.

"My mother gave this mirror to me in order to differentiate those I can keep by my side" there was sadness in his eyes. "She was the only human in the world of demons. She did not come in her own intention but for her people's wish for a sacrifice. Her only weapon in order to get by was this mirror. With this mirror she was able to see through my father and owned his favor. But she was not able to receive everyone's favor especially the queen's because when I was conceived I was seen as a threat to the throne" his head leaned on my shoulder. 

"But you weren't the first child" I heard sympathy in my own voice.

"It's true I wasn't but it does not mean I couldn't be king" his voice was able to mustered strength as he lifted his head and retreat from me. 

This time I feel as if I was being pulled by current which draws me towards him. The feeling of wanting to be as close as possible. The need to know his existence in my every being.  A thirst that cannot be quenched. I reach out desperately towards him as if he'd disappear in the thin air. As if knew my desperation he welcome me in his embrace.

"My name is Tai Rong" he whispered in my left ear "Call me by that name when we are alone"

"Tai Rong" I sigh.

He gently lifts my chin and inch his lips close to mine. His lips was warm and sweet. It starts with a peck and he eventually answers to my hunger.  We were both lonely souls that wanted fulfillment.

In just one hand he lifted me and the other hand kept my head in place. The creak of the bed underneath me as I landed in the soft surface sounded tantalizing. His kisses eventually found itself on my collar bone  while leaving a sweet pain. This time he uses one of his hand to remove the thin clothes between as and other traces my every being.

I want him yet I don't.

It's like something inside screams to escape while the other me screams another man which is tearing me apart.