Star Crossed In Time - Chapter 199

“Oh, I know you’re name, I want to know, What. You. Are.” He says placing his hands behind his back. I’ve seen his brother in action… I know just how powerful these two can be so I need to be careful. This time I hum as I turn and start slowly walking around the outer part of the rotating mirrored floor.

“I guess you could say that I am a star that took a fall and ended up in this world before getting lost in another. I then fell again, only this time… I’m here to stay.” I say carefully watching him as I sneak glances at the surrounding mirrors.

He doesn’t have a reflection… And somehow, he’s always facing me, no matter where I move. Was he not really here or was this all part of his powers as chaos himself? It doesn’t matter. The more I try to make sense of things here, the worse it’ll get for me.

He cocks his head to the side and ponders out loud saying “A star… that should be impossible.” I nod my head and come to a stop saying “And yet… here I am. I exist when I shouldn’t.” He’s silent for several seconds before chuckling.

“You exist when you shouldn’t… much more interesting than him.” He says tapping the chin of his white mask. “Him… you’ve mentioned him before. Who is he and why does he want me?” I ask watching him move closer.

“He claims that you are his woman… that you ran away to this world. He’s summoned my brother and I to help collect you.” He says coming to a stop before me. My heart nearly comes to a stop as an old fear threatens to crawl up my throat and choke me.

He stands before me, looking down at me as he cocks his head to the side asking “Are you his woman?” I push the old familiar fear back down as I slowly say “No” The man continues to watch me as he says “But you are someone’s woman.”

I nod my head and say “Yes, that’s right. How did he summon you two?” He chuckles and says “I never give away anything for free but I’ve already given you many… what can you offer in return?” This time I cock my head to the side as I look up to him saying “You’ve asked me questions as well, a clear give and take.”

His chuckle deepens as he says “I think I actually like you… Offer me something interesting enough and I might just tell you everything.” An insane idea suddenly comes to mind as I say “A contract with me.”

He silently watches me before lifting out his hand saying “Join me for a dance and I will consider your offer.” I try my best to internally calm my nerves as I take his offered hand saying “I don’t really know how to dance.” The second my hand touches his, his reflection can be seen in all the mirrors.

He looks down at our connected hands before slowly looking back up to me. Interesting. The music suddenly changes to a sad, dark tune as he pulls me closer, placing his other hand on my waist while saying “I’m beginning to think you may have more to offer me…”

I’m waiting for us to start moving but we just remain standing like this in the middle of the rotating mirrored floor as the sad, dark music box song plays its haunting melody. “If I make a contract with you… It will be just me, not my brother.” He says, watching me closely.

I nod and say “No offence, but I don’t really care for your brother.” He chuckles deep and says “Indeed… neither do I. What will you offer for this contract?” My heart races as I ask “What do you want? If it’s something I can agree to, I will accept.”

“Your soul.” He says in a low voice making my heart shiver. I slowly shake my head and say “Not for sale, something else.” He remains still and because of the mask, I can’t tell what he’s thinking but he suddenly says “Something of importance then.”

Why does it feel like I’m making a deal with a demon? I suddenly realize that we look like the little figures in a jewellery box. The haunting music and the way we spin in slow motion, looking as if we’re dancing but yet, never actually moving.

“I’ll offer you my blood, take it or leave it,” I say looking up to his white mask. His hands tighten on me, almost painfully as he says “Do you realize that I could take you to him right now? Offer you to him on a silver plater… and help him imprison you. Why don’t you offer me your love…”

I knew deep in my bones that he speaks the truth but I force a calm as I say “But you’d get the short end of the stick by staying with him. I have so much more to offer and you know that to be true. You’re after my power, right? But you can’t just take it… it has to be offered.” He loosens his grip and chuckles again as he says “Pretty and smart… Fine, I accept.”

He suddenly reaches up and cups the back of my neck, pain, unlike anything I’ve ever felt before shoots down my spine, nearly bringing me to my knees. He says something in a language I’ve never heard before as the pain continues to grow even more.

I want to scream, to push him away or even pass out but it was like I was being held, unable to move in any way as the searing pain on the back of my neck starts to spread down my spine, inch by agonizing inch.

His chanting echos around the room in an eerie way as it seems to get louder and louder. The white mask on his face begins to crack before completely snapping in half! The mask falls off, revealing a strikingly handsome face with eerie white eyes and solid black pupils. Long blood-red hair falls past his waist and begins to sway in the wind spinning around us.

The pain continues to crawl down my spine as his eerie white eyes stare into mine, still speaking in that strange language as the house around us begins to crumble. The mirrors around us begin breaking and shattering as the candles above begin falling.

I feel my eyes beginning to glow as I reach up and grab his wrist, digging my nails into his very human-like flesh. Black blood comes rushing out of the spots where my nails continue to dig into him out of desperation. His white eyes begin to glow as he strains to keep chanting.

If I wasn’t mistaken, he was struggling as well. Even though the entire house was falling down all around us, not a single thing hit us. My silver hair starts to float as my skin begins to glow. Hundun’s voice becomes strained as his red hair begins to float as well.

The pain is too much! I feel like my mind is trying to break but I grit my teeth and fight to hold on as the pain reaches a new high. What the hell was happening!? Suddenly, a lightning bolt crashes down on both of us, sending us both flying back in opposite directions with an ear-piercing crack of thunder.

I land on cold, wet mud as I struggle to breathe. Cold rain falls down on me and hits my flushed cheeks, feeling like ice. I look up at the dark sky and watch as lightning flashes across it, followed by a loud thundering roll.

Suddenly, red glowing eyes look down at me with worry and fear as Bai Lei reaches out for me. My relief has me tearing up at the sight of him but they instantly mix with the rain as they fall down the sides of my face.

He’s saying something but I can’t hear… hell, it’s only now that I realize I can’t hear anything at all! As if understanding, Bai Lei reaches out and gently touches both my ears. Warm energy is felt like a soft caress before I’m suddenly able to hear the falling rain.

Bai Lei’s fear is visible in his glowing red eyes as he looks me over but when I see Hundun standing over Bai Lei from behind with a murderous look, I quickly say “Don’t touch him!” Hundun’s eerie white eyes with his black pupils turn to look at me before sneering at me with disapproval.

Bai Lei quickly turns around and throws his fists out but Hundun catches it with a grunt. A powerful blast has everything around us flying back, including the rain. He was powerful indeed… Hundun sneers again and says “A deity? Annoying… I will not touch you or my contractor.”

Bai Lei’s face is a hard mask as he glares at Hundun but after a few seconds he turns around and scroops up my limp body. Everything hurts… I bite my lip to keep from crying out as Bai Lei holds me close. “You nearly killed us both, Deity! You’re lucky she told me not to touch you or I’d have already killed you.” Hundun says with a low threat.

Bai Lei grits his teeth and turns to say “Touch my woman again and I will kill you, contract or not.” Hundun’s white eyes flash with anger as Bai Lei turns away and starts walking. The cold rain seeps through my clothes making it feel like the chill was seeping into my bones.

Suddenly, the rain is gone and we’re back in our familiar room. Another wave of energy has my red, wet dress replaced by a dry white gown. He always knew me the best… Even my hair was dry as he gently lays me down on the large bed with a worried look.