Star Crossed In Time - Chapter 187

“Bai Lei?” Zhen says causing me to freeze. I slowly look up and instantly lock onto familiar red eyes. My heart leaps with joy but also a little fear. Will he blame me for what I did before? It’s been ten years for him… does he still love me?

Before my brain could come up with more things to question, Bai Lei suddenly appears before me and has me wrapped in his familiar tight embrace. He holds me so tight, it’s hard to breathe but I don’t say anything. If anything, I nuzzle up against his solid chest and close my eyes.

I was so worried about how I would find him… and yet, here he is. He found me. The other three back off and walk to the other side of the courtyard to give us space but Bai Lei still hasn’t moved. Every time I try to step back, he pulls me closer and tightens his grip.

After a few more minutes, I try to think of something to say. I have to keep reminding myself that even though it only feels like a few days for me, it’s been ten long years for him. “It’s hard to breathe,” I say with a small smile.

He loosens his hold a bit but still doesn’t let go as he slowly asks “What happened to you? Where have you been?” I relax into his arms as I softly say “When I went back, I nearly killed Ted so I tried to think of what to do. I thought, any place but here, and suddenly, I found myself in my space.”

“The puddle is now a pond so I slowly crawled over to it. To be honest, I thought I was going to die. Everything went dark but when I woke up, I was in the middle of the pond and completely fine. When I came out, it had already been ten years. I have no idea how or why… I’m just now getting back. I came back as soon as possible… I’m sorry for taking so long.”

He slowly releases me and runs his hands all over me as he looks me over with worry. I give him a knowing smile but he doesn’t stop until he’s made sure that I’m completely fine. “You, you are never allowed to leave my sight again. Never again.” He says pulling me back into a tight hug.

I chuckle and say “That’s impossible and you know it. Where is everyone? Why have you all left?” He keeps me tucked against his side as he says “They’re in our new home. I will take you to see them.” Suddenly, everyone turns when we hear “Grandpa! I can’t find anything to eat. I think it’s time to leave.”

I smile when I see MingMing come to a sudden stop with a look of shock. Zhen waves her over as he says “It’s fine now, come here.” Guozhi kicks the dirt on the ground as Ted stares at MingMing with large eyes. She slowly walks over and gives him a questioning look but Zhen just waves her off and lifts his head over to us.

I lift my hand and wave at her, causing her to come running. “Liling!! You’re back! I knew you were alive!! Gramps and I refused to believe that you died!” She tries to give me a hug but settles on holding my hand when Bai Lei refuses to let me go.

I squeeze her hand and say “I was so worried about you. You were gone for so long, I was starting to think something happened to you.” MingMing giggles and swings my arm back and forth saying “I was just looking for family but… I didn’t find anyone.”

I give her a warm smile as I say “You’ve got us.” She smiles and nods her head before finally looking up to Bai Lei. She freezes as fear flashes in her large dark eyes. “D..d..d..deity.” She quickly releases my hand and bows.

I frown at her and look up to Bai Lei in confusion but he just says “It’s fine. Zhen, are you and your Granddaughter coming with us?” Zhen walks over, slightly bowing to Bai Lei as he says “That’s what I would like.” Bai Lei nods then slowly looks over to Guozhi.

Guozhi stiffens a little as he says “I… I want to come.” Bai Lei stares at him for several long seconds before saying “Then let’s go.” Guozhi releases his breathe with a look of relief and quickly comes over. Just as I’m about to ask him ‘where we’re going’, a bright light has me squinting my eyes.

When the bright light fades, we stand before large, golden gates. I look around in confusion but what really has me confused, is the sky. Wasn’t it day time just now? Why is it suddenly night time? A dark mist quickly appears before us and comes to life as an older man, bowing to us.

Bai Lei scoops me up in his arms as he says “Take care of them.” The older man says “Certainly, my Lord.” I look at them in confusion before looking to Bai Lei. MingMing smiles at me and waves as Bai Lei carries me to a dark looking palace.

“Where is this?” I ask looking at the huge palace with awe. He holds me close as he says “Home” I look back to him in confusion before everything disappears again. Suddenly, we’re in a large room with a large dark pool in the middle.

I look back at him with confusion. He’s acting strange… why is he only answering me with one or two words. I feel a wave of magic and suck in when I realize we’re both naked! I try to cover myself but he doesn’t seem to care as he keeps walking.

He steps into the water and down a few steps. Warm water washes over my back before covering me completely. He slowly sits down and finally releases my legs. He pulls me back into his arms in a tight embrace and slowly strokes my head.

It’s not my imagination… he’s acting strange. Was it because he thought I died? “Are you okay?” I ask trying to pull away. He just tightens his arms and says “I am now” This time he lets me pull back a little as his eyes roam over my face.

I reach up and gently touch his cheek as I say “I’m sorry for scaring you. I’m here now and I’m not going anywhere.” He places his larger hand over mine and closes his eyes. When he opens his eyes again he softly says “You saved everyone but yourself…”

“You’re not allowed to be a hero anymore, little star.” He says with heartbreak lingering in his dark red eyes. I lean forward and pull his face to me, placing a soft kiss on his forehead as I say “I’ll be your hero then. Yours alone.”

He closes his eyes as a single tear falls, breaking my heart. Tears of my own threaten to fall as I say “No more tears, okay? I’m here, I’m safe.” When he opens his eyes again, the look nearly takes my breath away.

If I ever doubted this man’s love for me… never again. The raw emotion of love and pain cuts through me like a hot iron. Forever branding itself on my very soul. I pull him close and wrap my arms around him, grateful to have found him. My home, my future, and my everything.

He wraps his arms around me and for a while, neither one of us moves or says a word. Just being together like this, it was more than words could ever express as our souls bask in the presence of each other.

My eyes grow heavy after a while but when my eyes land on the water, my head snaps up. The water looks black! But within the dark water, thousands of tiny stars drift silently. I lower my right hand and gently place it in the water before slowly cupping my hand and lifting it.

The water is clear! It was no longer black and it didn’t have the tiny stars! I lower my hand back into the water and watch as the water in my hand turns black again with the tiny stars. Bai Lei watches with a warm smile and reaches out with his hand.

He does the same but when he lifts his hand, the water remains dark with the tiny stars! I look back to him with excitement and ask “How?” His chuckle is low as he says “The night sky and everything in it belongs to me. Give me your hands.”

I turn and sit between his legs, with my back facing him and lift my hands. His arms stretch out around me as he gently brings both my hands together in the water. He places his hands under mine as he slowly lifts them.

I watch with wonder when the water in my hands stay dark with hundreds of tiny stars. His hands stay under mine, holding everything in them as I watch everything with awe. “Are the stories true then? Are you really a deity?” I ask softly looking at the large dark pool of stars.

He leans down and rests his chin on my bare shoulder as he says “I am” I pause slightly before saying “So you can save the lower realm with rain?” He slightly chuckles and says “I could” I turn and lean back to look at him asking “Can you? Everything is dying.”

His red eyes watch me with warmth as he says “If that’s what you want, then I’ll make it rain again.” I nod my head with a smile as he cups the dark water and pours it over my hair. I close my eyes as the dark water falls over me in warm rivers.

I go to wipe my eyes but he grabs my hands and says “keep your eyes closed” I frown but do as he says. He lifts my legs and leans me back into the dark warm water, surprising me. I hold my breath as the warm water washes over me and I hold onto him but when he doesn’t let me back up, I start to panic.