Fresh Embers of Love

Chapter 52

QingWa Sheng-Da sat up quickly, pushing the covers back and leaping down from the bunk. He hurriedly pushed his pillow into a vertical line on the mattress, and then covered it with his blankets. The soldier on duty had just gone in to the bathroom to take a leak. He estimated that he had about two minutes to sneak out of the barracks.

He closed the door behind him softly, hugging the side of the wall, clinging to the shadows, as he slowly edged to the corner of the building. He peered around the corner, waiting for the right moment. The sentry turned the far corner, moving out of his view. He morphed into his frog form, and then flicked his tongue up to the ventilation pipe on the barracks roof, using it to pull him up to the roof soundlessly.

Once he was on the roof, he crouched down on all fours, casting a spell of invisibility, creeping to the far side. He could see the sentries moving in their fixed routes below him. Getting to the palace was just a matter of timing. He had snuck out of his room in the palace many times before. Tonight he was sneaking in.

He leapfrogged from one roof to another, using his powerful hind legs to jump, making his way over. The sentries stationed under the Princess' window had their backs turned to it, facing outwards to look for threats. Sheng placed his jump to land on the wall on the other side, using the sticky pads on his hands and feet to cling to the wall, and slowly crept around to the window.

The window had been left open a crack, the Princess was expecting him. He peeked inside, making sure that she was alone, before he pushed the window open wider, and stealthily crawled over the sill, using his key to part the forcefield.

He landed soundlessly by the bed, and stood up, morphing back into his man shape, releasing the invisibility spell. Nuwa was sleeping in his bed, she must have grown tired waiting for him. He hesitated, wondering if he should wake her. Maybe she needed sleep more?

The water of the lake above filtered the moonlight that poured in through the open window. The shadows cast by the movement of the current caressed her pale white face, accentuating the sharpness of her delicate features.

Sheng sighed longingly. She was so beautiful! Much too beautiful for an ugly Demon Bullfrog. What was he thinking, coming here? A Dragon would never settle for someone like him. He turned back towards the window.

Still, she had asked him to come here. He stopped short, thinking. She wanted something from him. He knew that he would give her anything in his power, just to see her smile. He turned back to the bed. This decision was agonizing.

Sheng reached into his pocket, and pulled out one of the coins that he had a habit of picking up from the bottom of Dongting Lake. He liked to suck on these when he was in the Heavenly Realm, because they tasted like the lake water, and reminded him of home. Tonight, he would use one to determine his fate, trusting to luck.

He flipped the coin off of his thumbnail. If it landed Yin side up, he would leave her alone. If it landed Yang side up, he would wake her. The coin spun through the air, and then began to fall.

He put his hand underneath it to catch it, but missed his mark, the moving shadows confusing his depth perception. The coin landed on the bed, hitting the Princess's foot which was under the covers. She stirred, and opened her eyes slowly.

"Sheng-Da, you came" she said sleepily.

Her lips curved upwards, and he felt his chest compress at the beauty of her smile. He knelt on the floor by her side.

"Princess, do you really want me here?" he asked in a whisper.

She nodded, stretching.

"I'm sorry I fell asleep" she laughed quietly.