A promise in the night
When Hua Qiangu returned, the boys had already prepared dinner. They'd put their disagreements apart and tried their best to surprise the demoness. She was indeed impressed by their efforts, but she had so many worries on her mind.
The short journey in the town hadn't helped much. She was still miserable and lonely. Much as she tried, she couldn't get Bai Zihua out of her mind. But she couldn't deny that the little accident in the morning offered her a bit of comfort.
She spent her day looking for new dresses and nice jewels, but she ended up helping a sick woman get better and a paralyzed kid walk again. She helped an old lady carry her heavy bags with vegetables to her house and she offered her dresses and jewels to a young woman she met in her short journey. At the end of the day she returned without nothing, but a much lighted heart.
She intended to keep her fasade and threw some cold remarks to the boy, but she changed her mind. They'd given their best and it wasn't their fault she was so unhappy.
"How was your day, Your Highness?" Tom greeted her in his most polite tone. "The dinner is ready if you want to try it."
Hua Qiangu smiled. He'd never seen her smiling or laughing. It was feeble and it lingered only for a moment, but it was a small victory for him.
She wasn't hungry even if she hadn't eaten well for a very long time. She used to love food. Memories from the time she ate radishes with Dong Fang came back to her.
"Do you miss your home?" She asked Tom out of the blue. "You seem quite young. You must have a family. Friends. People who wait for you out there."
His face darkened. He had none of it. He used to have lots of followers, but he missed none of them. He had never called someone a friend. In fact, he had the slightest idea how it was like to have someone to care for you. He had never allowed himself to yearn for such things. There was nothing he missed from his former life. Maybe his popularity, but he hadn't thought about it all day. Even if he lied that everything he'd done was to raise his rank, the truth was that he, and he was sure Zhu Ran, too, had done it to make Hua Qiangu feel better.
"I have nothing to miss there. It's just a place like any other place."
"I don't know how to send you back there, but if you want to stay here you can. Though, there are some rules you must obey."
"Of course" Tom muttered, unhappy. But he was cunning and bright. He would find a way to improve his situation. "What do I have to do?" Deep down he hoped she'd noticed his potential and would offer him an important position or something similar.
"Just stay here. Do whatever you want. I don't care as long as you don't cause any harm to my people or cause any conflict with the other sects. And do not stay in my way...Again."
"You would have been dead if he hadn't dared to go against your orders." Zhu Ran declared. He'd been listening quietly, afraid not to get on her nerves when he finally decided to interfere. He knew she wasn't dangerous, but he preferred to stay away from any conflict with her. After all, she had enough reasons to want him punished. He didn't want to give her any more. What actually made him vulnerable in front of her wasn't his inferior powers or the fear of death and punishment, but the fact she could read him like a book. She knew his fears and even if she'd never forced him to do anything, it made him feel exposed.
"Don't expect me to be grateful for your saving my life. Don't do it again. None of you."
"What do you think about the food?" Zhu Ran tactfully tried to change the topic. He knew as well as Tom that it wouldn't be the only time they would stay in her way. They knew also that she wouldn't cause any harm against them no matter how many times they would get on her nerves. But they stood quiet. She had accepted to sit with them at the table and eat. It was enough for a day.
The food was quite delicious considering Tom had never cooked before.
"Who are you?" Tom asked her out of the blue. "I mean...I don't know anything about you and.. I'm curious. I can't understand how someone as beautiful and powerful as you will want to put an end to her life."
"It's a very long story I don't have the energy to tell you now. I might tell you one day. You, too, seem to have an interesting story as well."
"I doubt it's something worth your time, My Lady." He tried to avoid it. He'd never told his story to anyone.
"That's up for me to decide. Zhu Ran, what do you think?"
"If the Senior Demon God wants it…" Zhu Ran uttered ceremoniously. Tom swore he would have his revenge, eventually. Ha Qiangu noticed them and tried not to burst into laughter. She had a strong feeling Tom's story wouldn't be a cheerful one and so she prepared for whatever he might tell them.
"There isn't much to tell." Tom started. "I am an orphan. My mother died while giving birth to me. My father...he abandoned us. He died, too, eventually. I was different due to my magic and at 11 years old I started to study at a magic school. I was noticed due to my ambition. I intended to find a job and leave that orphanage. That's all" He ended the story.
"My mother died while giving birth to me and because of that people thought I was cursed. I had no friends for most of my life." Hua Qiangu said. "You don't seem to have loved the place you grew up in. What do you call it? Orphanage? Were they mean to you?"
"They thought I was a freak and preferred other kids. They always got better toys while…" He stopped. She'd managed to make him tell more than he'd intended.
"You didn't like the toys they gave you, did you? What was your favorite toy?"
"I don't remember…"
"I bet you do… you must have tried to get it, am I wrong?" Her voice was smooth and calm, even if Tom knew she'd understood what he'd done, what type of person he was. He continued to be.
"Well, I kill it. That boy kept boosting around with his rabbit and I...killed it." He instantly looked her in the eye expecting her to criticise him or disapprove of him."
"The kids were mean, too, weren't they? I once tried to kill some people. I was furious. My father died because of their stupid beliefs, but….I realized I only end leaving another girl orphan. It wouldn't have made me feel better. " The demoness confessed. "What about the school? What was it like?"
"Fine." It felt so strange to tell someone all those things. He wanted to add more, but at the same time he feared it would make him vulnerable.
"When I became a disciple at Mount Chang Liu, it was very difficult for me." Hua Qiangu admitted. "I was too innocent. Not everybody used to like me. Some of the professors were very exigent, but I kind of miss that time. There were professors you didn't like, right?"
"Everybody thought I was a wonderful child, but he...he read me like a book. He knew I was a thief...and cruel. He never liked me."
"Nobody is going to judge you here. We are all criminals according to them." Hua Qiangu gave her best to comfort him. She had no intention to judge him, anyway. Yet she wasn't going to allow him to go on that dark path, either. What he'd done in the past couldn't be undone, but the present and the future had to be different. Better.
"The one who wanted to kill you, isn't it? He thought you were a murderer."
"Nor only him." She answered, her eyes on him. "All of them thought the same. Just because I dare to feel and care."
"But I really am a murderer. I killed...a girl, my father, my grandfather….I don't regret it, though. I…."
"Does it make you feel happy? Killing your family, I mean." Hua Qiangu inquiered, her voice still patient and calm. SHe promised to help him and she was going to keep that promise no matter what she was going to find on the way.
"It made me feel nothing. I...was furious. I...They deserve it." These deeds had been his most prideful moments of his life and yet, in front of her, in front of a demon, he didn't feel any pride when speaking about them. "I don't want to waste your time, My Lady, with my story. We better.."
"Fine. I won't force you to tell me more. Anyway, it's already late and you need to get some sleep. I'll deal with the dishes."
"But, Senior…" Zhu Ran started. "That's our duty. You are the leader."
"Let me be an ordinary girl once more. Just once."
"Yes, Senior Demon God." He bowed. "Tom" Zhu Ran called his name, Tom was absent. He left as if in a dream. Everything he said and did that night was so blurry and so not like him.