Star Crossed In Time - Chapter 212

Mogui quickly looks to my hand before looking back to me with nervousness in his white eyes. The first real emotion I’ve seen since knowing him. He licks his lips and says “I will tell you after we put it away safely.”

I pull my hand back and place the warm pearl against my ċhėst, making them both reach out to me as I say “No, it’s time for you to start telling me the truth. I’ve let you two pull me around long enough. I want to know what I just risked my life for.”

Mogui lifts both hands as he says “Fine, just hold onto it carefully and don’t drop it.” He motions for me to seat and because I’m so tired, I silently walk over to the seat and sit down without any complaints.

Hundun watches my hand holding the pearl closely as Mogui says “It’s a long story but I will try to make it short. You see, in my family, my mother and father gave birth to three boys and one girl. My two brothers and I were all born healthy and strong but our sister was the youngest and also female.”

“She was always much smaller than us but she had more fire in her than all three of us combined. She was so full of life and adventurous but one day… we noticed her going missing every day for several hours. My brothers and I were worried so we followed her one day.”

Hundun clenches his fists and looks down at the floor as Mogui looks into the fire, lost in the past memories as he continues “We found her with a Deity from the Southern Sea… they looked like they were in love… we didn’t know how to feel about it but we kept hidden and decided to just keep a guard on her to make sure she’s safe.”

“We never… we never expected the Deity to try and force himself on her. She showed back up, bloody and bruised. The guard was killed by the Deity but at least he allowed her a chance to escape but the damage had already been done…”

“We went and killed the Deity for what he did to our little sister but everything didn’t end until two days later… When we heard the screams from the servants, we raced over to find the Deity from the Northern Sea. He had killed all the servants and placed a curse on our sister!”

“One that would be impossible to break… until you. You see, no one but my family and a few male servants and soldiers can survive here but the only one who can go through the tunnels, resist the sirens, see it, and survive, is female. No female other than my sister and mother were able to survive down here, until you.”

“We couldn’t tell you about it because of the curse, the curse makes everything so much harder… damn near impossible. We can finally tell you everything you’ve done already but we can’t tell you… We need you to bring it… we need you to place it somewhere safe.” Mogui says with a strained face.

I quickly realize they really can’t speak about it… Not until I actually do it. I sigh and deflate on myself as I say “Now I want to kick everyone’s ȧss, including this Deity from the Northern Sea… Let’s just get this over with.”

Mogui and Hundun both blink at me with surprised expressions before Mogui says “You’re really willing to help us? Even after everything?” I tiredly nod my head and say “I would do anything for my family and those I care about too, let’s go.”

Hundun gives me a large relieved smile as Mogui gives me a serious look of gratitude, both saying “This way” I push up and hold the pearl against my ċhėst as I silently follow behind them. Everything shifts and when I take my next step, I’m standing in a large room with a large bed in the middle.

Laying in the middle of the large, white bed is a small but beautiful figure. Her bright red hair was spread out around on her pillow. Mogui and Hundun look to their little sister with tender gazes as I silently walk over.

Mogui’s voice is soft but tight as he says “Please… give it back to her.” It was then that I realized I was holding her soul. Her body was still alive and breathing but it was just an empty shell. I look down at the glowing pearl with awe and fear.

What if I had dropped it!? Or lost it? I shudder at the thought and quickly shake my head as I walk over to the bed. Because the bed is so big and she’s currently in the middle, I hike up my dress and crawl up onto the bed.

I carefully crawl over to her and look down at her flawless face. I worry about what to do next but when I feel the pulsing in the pearl increase, I suddenly know what to do. I place the pearl over her heart and gently release it.

Suddenly, a super blinding light takes over everything as I’m forced to close my eyes. When I open them again, I see color creeping back into her beautiful, pale face. I look over to Mogui and Hundun saying “I think it worked.”

Mogui and Hundon both have tears in their eyes as they nod at me before looking back to their little sister. Don’t get me wrong, I thought about them lying to me and wanting me to release a deadly, evil chick but holding that pearl, feeling the soul within it… I knew she wasn’t evil.

I turn to crawl back off the bed but my whole world suddenly spins and quickly turns dark. I vaguely hear Mogui and Hundun shout something but I’m just too tired to fight against the comfortable darkness currently pulling at me. Just let me take a nap…

I’ll get up and then kick them both in the balls before going back to Bai Lei but after a quick nap. I fight to stay awake but I’m no match against the waves of exhaustion… I’m sorry Bai Lei, mom, Zhen, and everyone else. Just give me fifteen minutes…

~~~~~~

They were so happy to have Ai back and even filled her in on what Nova did for her. Ai has since taken a serious liking to Nova and has stayed by her side every single day, taking care of her and keeping her healthy.

Hundun begins pacing the room with a look of concern as Mogui clenches his jaw in fear. The Night Deity, Bai Lei, and his people have been searching the Realms, high and low for her and the only reason he hasn’t found them and killed them all yet was because of Mogui’s mark on her.

“Why isn’t she waking up!?” Hundun asks with a nervous twitch but Mogui just shakes his head saying “I know as much as you do…” Hundun suddenly comes to a stop and asks “Do you think it has anything to do with the curse that was on Ai?”

Mogui quickly turns around to glare at Hundun as he quickly says “NEVER repeat those words! This has nothing to do with the curse… I just think she’s extremely tired.” Ai purses her pretty lips at her brothers before turning back to Nova.

She picks up a comb and gently starts brushing Nova’s long, silver hair. It’s something she’s fallen in love with and makes sure to keep it nice for her. She looks down at Nova’s flawless face and wonders again what kind of person she is to be so kind and selfless.

Hundun had told her the stories of when they went down to save her and even though Nova had every reason to hate him and kill him, she still saved him several times. Had she fallen in love with Hundun? Maybe she could have Nova as a sister in law!

She quickly shakes her head and tries to think clearly. Maybe she’s just a kind person… she does seem to have this other man named Bai Lei searching for her but he was a Deity. Deities are dangerous… they lie and hurt those they claim to love.

She gets done brushing Nova’s hair and gently tucks it behind her ear as she bites her lip with determination. She doesn’t want to see Nova hurt and used like her… she wants to protect this kind woman… “Please wake up soon, we’re all worried about you,” Ai says softly surprising both her brothers.

Hundun and Mogui turn and share a look with each other. She better wake up soon or the Deity will end up tearing the Realms apart looking for her!