I've returned once more! After a long hiatus due to major, major life changes I've come back to writing and bring you the next chapter of Imbroglio! I'll be doing my best to start releasing chapters for both Imbroglio and Illusion back on schedule, but since I am still in the middle of said major life changes, I unfortunately can not promise this for now. Either way though, I still intend to keep my promise to you guys to finish both stories til their end!
Special thanks to everyone who pestered, pushed, and reminded me to keep writing even during my chaotic life. You're the reason I do what I do!
Since Lovely Consort had now returned, the wait for the group's arrival was excruciating. I ran the plan that Prince had explained in my head over and over again, trying to make sense of it, yet finding none.
"Don't you have a shield spell?" Prince had asked me after our initial conversation.
"Yes," I answered, "it reflects any projectile attack away from the selected area or wearer, and back to the caster."
"Perfect! I want you to use it on Lovely Consort as soon as possible."
"On Lovely Consort?" I asked, completely bewildered by Prince's request.
"You'll see, trust me." He replied reassuringly, "We're almost there now, so be ready."
I had asked what he was planning, but I was met with silence from the other line. Worse yet, Lovely Consort had arrived shortly after the end of the conversation with Prince, leaving me to predict where Lovely Consort would be located by the time Prince executed his plan. It's not like I can cast it on her without her seeing the status effect, I had reminded myself, while I listened to the sound of her movements within the room.
I finally decided to cast the barrier to the right of me upon the sound of wood scrapping against the stone flooring and Lovely Consort's excited muttering. "Wait 'til they see me!" She mumbled to herself in anticipation, "Prince and Yi Min will be furious to see a pretty girl tied up so brutishly!"
Other indistinct sounds accompanied her monologue, until finally she exclaimed, "Oh! I guess this wouldn't work out too well if the kid still looked like a hostage, would it?"
No matter how tempting it was to ruin her fun by revealing myself at that time, I maintained my comatose appearance as she undid my blindfold and rope. I just hope whatever Prince has planned actually works...
Not long after, the loud groan of the main doors could be heard, signalling their arrival. With the hasty whisper of a spell, Lovely Consort released me from the poison's effect. I opened my eyes cautiously, wary of what scene I would be greeted with.
In front of me stood a group of ten or so, only four of the faces which I recognized. While Ugly Wolf and Prince maintained their typical composure, and Western Wind paled as his sight focused on Lovely Consort, it was Feng Wen's that was the most unnerving for me.
With a harrowing glare, the rest of his face was void of emotion. His piercing stare jotted between Lovely Consort and I, before settling on me. I had no choice but to return his gaze, frightened that any other action would ruin my chances of returning to his good graces.
"Lovely Consort? Is it really you?" Western Wind asked in disbelief, his eyes still transfixed on her.
Lovely Consort seemed shocked, "I— Uh—"
"What is the meaning of this!?" Pretty Princess exclaimed. "Why are you tied up and not the kid?"
"W-What are you talking about?" Lovely Consort stuttered before quickly regaining her composure, "You and Zhi Sano are the ones who kidnapped me!"
"Kidnapped you!?" Pretty Princess shouted indignantly. Her fist shook with rage as she clenched her wand, a clue to Prince's plan. Oh I see now. If Pretty Princess attacks her, it'll repel back at her!
"Are you really that dumb of a bitch to have forgotten your own captive, already!?" Lovely Consort hissed, before she turned to Western Wind with a pitiful whine, "Babe! Don't think I forgot about you after all these years! When Second Life rebooted to be Life 2.0, I only got on this game to find you again, dear!"
Western Wind seemed conflicted, "R-Really? B-But what abou—"
"What are you, stupid!?" Pretty Princess interrupted, pointing an accusing finger at me, "That whore and Lei Qiang were the ones who wanted to get close to this useless idiot of a kid in the first pl—" Her words were cut short by the sudden crack of her tibia snapping.
Prince was in shock, "Feng—!"
"Don't you dare ever speak of him in such a manner." Feng Wen said coolly as he looked down on Pretty Princess, who had fallen from his bone-shattering leg sweep. He turned his attention to Lovely Consort, drawing his sword ominously as he approached her, "And you..."
No one, not even the guards, risked even a breath as Feng Wen stood in front of the thief. Lovely Consort shook with fear as he lifted her jaw with the point of his blade, "Y-Yes...?" She whimpered helplessly.
"You disgust me." His tone was callous. "To go so low as to sell your soul to devils such as Lei Qiang and his spineless heir, you're no less a murderer and a coward than them."
No. Please. This isn't him, this can't be him. I thought in a panic— Feng Wen's words were so cruel for a man who I knew to be so good-natured and caring. He gripped her face in a manner similar to how Lovely Consort had done to mine earlier, his left metal gauntlet slowly crushing her jaw as he prepared his sword with his right. Without a thought, I shouted, "Feng Wen! Stop!"
Feng Wen froze, a split second of silence passing before he let go of her. He turned his head, showing his pained expression, "Hong Peng?"
"Let her be. She isn't worth our time, she never was." I replied with a soft smile.
My words seemed to bring some comfort, yet Feng Wen still looked troubled. He absently dropped his sword, cautiously starting his way towards me, "Hong Peng..."
Feng Wen had barely taken two steps before Pretty Princess' voice rang out, "Dilong's Wrath!" The stones in the wall began to crack and pop out as torrents of water spewed out, quickly taking the shape of dragons. The water dragons raced through the air towards Feng Wen, only to ricochet off the spell I had laid down earlier in that area, sending the dragons back towards Pretty Princess. An explosion of water flooded that part of the room, sending Pretty Princess and everyone behind her flying into the wall.
I pushed my now-soaked hair from my eyes "It just had to involve dragons," I grumbled.
"You!" Lovely Consort bellowed. I didn't have time to turn my head before I was pulled off my chair and into Feng Wen's firm grip. I looked back to see a throwing dagger embedded in the top of the chair, right where my neck had been a moment before. "This is all your fault! If you hadn't had your little change of heart, I would have had Lei Qiang and Gui to myself!"
I couldn't help but scoff at such a bold claim, "Do you really think a bastard like him would only be fooling around with you? I assure you, you're only one of a dozen of women if not more in his routine."
"You know nothing about him!" She screamed, my words obviously touching a nerve as she attempted to throw another dagger at us. As I expected, even with me in tow, he effortlessly dodged the attack with his high dexterity. "You think you know his plans? That his only targets are Yi Min and Prince?" she said menacingly, causing Feng Wen's hold to tighten.
She smiled. "Oh no, he wants their families. He wants your family." Her smile turned into a grin, "He knows about your mother, and your baby brother. You think they're safe from him? No one is. Not you, not him, not even me! But that's okay, you know why?" She reached for the sheath on her hip, pulling out a dagger much larger and threatening than the others. "Because I'll just kill both of you here, then I'll find you in real life and kill you there too! Then he'll be so happy with me, maybe he will let me be his wife!" Her hand began to shake with excitement as she began to inch towards us, "What a wonderful fate—"
She suddenly stopped walking, confusion on her face as she looked down to see a sword driven into her back and through her rib cage. On the other end was Western Wind, his breath ragged with emotion as he said, "The only fate you have, you psychotic bitch, is one in hell!" With a roar, he drove the sword further into her back, until it was evident that only the hilt remained.
Not a moment later, Lovely Consort disappeared in a ray of light. I looked over to where the rest of the group had been, only to see that Prince and Ugly Wolf remained. "Where did everyone else go?" I asked.
"Well, while you two were busy playing around with that crazy woman, we cleaned house of who remained from that gigantic water spell." Prince replied calmly.
"Prince, does that mean you routinely kick people off the tower when you're cleaning your house?" Ugly Wolf joked.
Prince smirked. "I've been tempted a couple of times with Gui and my idiot brother."
Well, it seems like the worst is over now. Seeing as there wouldn't be anymore fighting, I began to break away from Feng Wen, only to be met with resistance. "Uh, Feng Wen? The battle is over, you can let go now—"
"Are you going to leave again?" He asked severely.
I was unsure of what to say, especially with the audience we had. "Feng Wen, we can talk about this later. You can let go now," I replied reassuringly, attempting to escape again - only for his grip to tighten. Does he not realize the severity of the situation we just found out we are in?
"No, I want an answer now." He replied, his tone fragile.
"Feng Wen, this really isn't the time for this," I said sternly, continuing to struggle against his grip. "There are more important things we need to take care of—"
"Stop pushing me away, Hong Peng!" He yelled, bringing me to a standstill. Up to this point I had not dared to look at his face, but I was forced to see that pained expression again as he fell to his knees, wrapping his arms around my neck. "Don't push me away again..."
I really am the worst, the guilt twisting my insides once more. I put my arms around him to comfort him, I can't win. Either I continue to endanger him, or I hurt him. I let out a sigh, "I don't deserve such a loyal companion as you, Feng Wen. And because of that, it seems I have no choice now but to do everything in my power to protect you."
"Hong Peng..." He trailed off, lifting his head enough for me to see the relief on his face. He looked at me for a moment before he touched the dried blood on my face, "She hurt you earlier, didn't she?"
"Ah, don't worry about it." I said reassuringly, followed by a sad smile, "It didn't hurt as badly as I hurt you, I'm sure."
Feng Wen gave a small laugh, "Are you sure they didn't get you drunk too? I think you might be confusing me for a pretty girl with those kind of words!"
That's the Feng Wen I know. I couldn't hide my grin, "Me? What about you!? You were—"
"Okay, okay!" Western Wind shouted in annoyance, "How about after ya' two get a room, ya' can help Prince claim his city back?"
"Always one to ruin a heartwarming moment, Western Wind," Prince remarked dryly. "but he does make a good point." Prince began to walk past us and towards the crystal in the center of the room, "we need to get this done and then start preparing for tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?" Feng Wen asked.
Prince nodded solemnly and turned to look at me, "Yes. Tomorrow we are moving the Jun family into protective custody."