Star Crossed In Time - Chapter 182

Bolin walks in to find the old man stroking his long white bread, lost in deep thought. He sighs and comes to a stop, bowing as he says “My Lord, it’s been five years. The lower Realms will be wiped out if that devil doesn’t stop.”

The old man looks up with a frown before saying “I tried going there two years ago but that devil almost killed me. If you want to risk your life, then be my guest. Sigh… All this over that woman from another world.”

Bolin grits his teeth as he says “I will give it a try…” He turns and disappears before appearing in front of the Celestial Night gates. He looks around and tries to ease his nerves. He steps forward as the gates open, revealing the inner grounds.

He ignores everything and walks up to the large dark palace. It was nothing like his Celestial Heavenly Realm… everything here was dark, like nighttime. Whereas in his Realm, it was always bright like daytime. Like Yin and Yang. Everything needed a balance, even the higher Realms.

A dark mist appears before him, quickly turning into an older man as he bows and says “What can I do for you Heavenly deity?” Bolin clears his throat as he says “I’m here to speak with the Celestial Dark Lord.” The man bows again and says “Follow me please.”

The older servant leads him into the palace and into a large room with a large dark pool of water in the middle. As he looks down at the water, he’s surprised to find it looking like a night sky, filled with millions of stars but when his eyes land on the man sleeping in it, he nearly chokes.

Why had he not seen him when he first walked in!? Bai Lei keeps his eyes closed as he silently leans against the edge before asking “What is someone from the Heavenly council doing here?” Bolin shivers at the man’s calm voice and frowns when he sees something white floating around on top of the dark water. Was that a squirrel!?

Bolin takes a calming breath before bowing in respect and saying “My name is Bolin, my Lord. I’m sorry to disturb your peace but I have a distressing issue I must speak to you about.” Bai Lei slowly opens his red eyes and says “And that is…”

Bolin nervously licks his lips as he says “The lower Realms are crying for help. You… you’re drowning them, my Lord. They plead with us to stop the rains, surely you’ve heard them crying. It’s been five years…” Bai Lei watches Bolin with cold eyes before giving him an equally cold smile.

“I will listen to their cries to stop the rain, do not worry. Someone would be upset if I killed innocent people.” He says before slowly closing his eyes and leaning his head back. Bolin was slightly confused but he bows and says “I thank you, my Lord.”

Seeing that he was being ignored, he looks to the floating squirrel one last time before turning around and leaving. As soon as he walks out of the dark palace, he disappears. When he reappears, he’s met with the sight of the old man leaning over the golden bowl, watching everything with white eyes.

As if sensing him, the old man clears his eyes and swipes his hand over the bowl while saying “I don’t know how you did it, but it worked. The rain has stopped and the people are giving thanks.” Bolin nods his head with a frown while saying “I actually didn’t do anything. It seemed as if he was already planning to stop the rain.”

The old man nods his head with a grave look on his face. “He has always kept to himself but he’s never been this… dark. He’s always been a scary bastard but now… sigh.” The old man waves his hand and says “Never mind… it’s all because of that woman.”

Bolin frowns and says “Lady Mei never said anything about the woman dying.” The old man sighs and says “She never said anything about the Dark Lord meeting her either. His involvement has thrown everything off. Why did he have to choose then to go play down in the lower realms?”

Bolin thinks back to the Dark Lord with a growing sense of unease. He looks up and says “Something doesn’t feel right.” The old man frowns at him as he asks “In what way?” Bolin slowly shakes his head with his dark eyebrows drawn together as he says “He seemed too willing to stop the rain… like… like he had other plans.”

The old man grits his teeth and says “For now, we wait. Let’s see what he plans to do. It’s like he’s punishing the whole lower Realm for her death. We cannot start a war with him over this so let’s just sit back and watch.” Bolin nods his head in agreement and quickly leaves.

~~~~~~~~

For the next five years, not a single drop of rain fell. Scorching heat and dried up lands were met with more deaths and famines as they all believe that the gods had truly given up on them. In a way, they had. The only thing that kept them from all dying were the wells and ocean waters but even they were nearly dried up.

No one knows who started the legends but a story tells of a deity falling in love with a fallen star. She landed in the lower realms and was treated poorly. Not only was she hunted but also hurt. The Under Realm’s King took a liking to her and stole her from the deity.

The deity came to reclaim the woman he loved but she had already sacrificed herself to save the entire land from the evil King. The deity was furious and cursed the Under Realm and anyone from it but his fury was far from over. Angry over everyone’s ungratefulness, he unleashed his anger upon the entire Lower Realm.

His mourning lasted for five years when the land saw nothing but rain, but the following years showed how he was still punishing everyone for her death. The legend had become so popular, books and plays were written about it. No one in the Lower Realms has not heard of it and soon, they all came together to build a large statue of the woman and what they thought she’d look like. All they knew was that the woman had silver hair, just like starlight.

They wished to appease the deity’s anger and in a way, it did. Natural wells began popping up around the statue so every town and kingdom began building the statue of the woman in hopes of earning mercy.

~~~~~~~

100 years later- Time moves differently within the space.

Ripples are suddenly seen in a calm pond before the body of a beautiful woman slowly comes to the surface. A peaceful face is seen sleeping in the middle of the pond with silver hair fanned out all around her in the water. Her breathing is even and steady, showing her in a deep, peaceful sleep.

Her dark eyebrows draw together as she slowly starts to wake and when she opens her eyes, they showed the color of the purest jade.

I look up at the bright sunless sky with confusion but when I try to move, I get a mouthful of water. I quickly realize I’m in the pond and swim to the water’s edge. Everything comes flooding back to me as I walk out of the water.

I look around in confusion before touching my chest. “I’m still alive?” I murmur out loud but when my eyes land on the peach tree, my stomach lets out a loud rumble. I quickly walk over and pull a peach off. I go to take a bite but suddenly stop.

I look at the water and decide to wash it off. I lean over and begin washing the peach but when I see my reflection I freeze. Tears well up in my eyes when I see my normal green eyes looking back at me. I no longer had the creepy black eyes!

Wait… I’m not hurting… and I’m hungry… I don’t feel any of the dark power I did before! Was I somehow healed!? Oh no… was I dead? My stomach growls, interrupting my external panic. Wait… can you be hungry while dead? I lift the clean peach and bite into it.

Juice explodes in my mouth and drips down my chin as I struggle to keep it all in my mouth. I eat about three peaches before stretching and looking around with a ‘what’s next’ look. This was my space and I’d somehow got in here, now I need to find a way out.

I rip the long red dress that Jiang gave me and begin pacing. Okay, so when I came here… I was begging to be anywhere other than in that… cell? With Ted. That’s right… why was he in a cell? I shake my head and go back to focusing on getting out.

I sit and close my eyes, willing myself out but nothing happens. I have no idea how long I’ve been here trying since it never gets dark here but it’s been a while. I’ve almost eaten the entire tree of peaches!!

Bored, I take the pits of the peaches and begin planting them while I try to figure out how to leave. When done, I walk over to the water and wash my hands. I lean back and lay down to look up at the sky but it was boring. No sun, no clouds… nothing!

My irritation grows as I yell “Let me out!!” Suddenly, I’m falling. I hit my back and head on a cold metal floor as I let out a curse. I grab my head but I couldn’t be happier! I made it! I sit up and look around the somewhat familiar cell and stop when I see the game cube. Hahaha! YES!