Disclaimer: All Jade Empire characters are the property of their rightful owners, not me.
To Save You
Chapter Two: Sacrifice
All the time Radiant Jen Zi had spent within the walls of the Lotus Assassin fortress; her heart had pounded wildly like a war drum. She was afraid she and Silk Fox would be recognized, or do something that might trigger the alarms and set hordes of assassins on them.
Together, the two women followed Lotus Master Gang deep into the inner chambers.
They certainly didn't look like Lotus Assassins. While assassins had bald, or close to bald, heads, skin the color of an ill sailor, with dark rings around their cold eyes, and various scars from passed battles, Jen Zi and Lian had vibrant completions. Jen Zi's cheeks had a naturally pink blush, and her large brown eyes sparkled with life. She was considered a Lotus Acolyte, but did not wear the signature robes or spend time forgetting her life. She was far too superior to the other acolytes for that. Instead, she wore a thin pink vest over a blue sleeveless top and skirt. She wore dark gloves on her hands that stopped at her knuckles, and wore boots that matched her attire. Her short black hair was tied back in a messy bun and tied with two soft pink ribbons.
Silk Fox, on the other hand, blended in quite well. Rather than the golden yellow dresses she was accustomed to wearing as a princess, she was clan in tight black leather that complimented her body rather well. Her black hair was done up in a simple bun and her dark eyes were all that were visible behind her black veil. Lian preferred her Silk Fox guise, that way she was able to avoid the unwanted attention royalty brought.
Gang led them into a small chamber where clay golems lined the wall and one much large jade golem stood idle, awaiting the shard heart that Jen Zi held in her hand.
A couple Lotus Assassins, wearing masks similar to that their leader, Death's Hand, wore, stood by the door, awaiting their arrival.
They spoke with Gang, and took the shard from her, inserting it into the jade golem.
The golem awakened and took a couple lumbering steps forward. It spotted the assassins and swung its dual axes, slicing the head off one and slicing cleanly down the middle of the other, blood raining down upon Jen Zi and the others.
As the golem began to spasm, corrupting every clay golem it was linked to, Gang, Jen Zi and Silk Fox scurried out of its way, lest they be slaughtered as well.
After some time of playing cat and mouse with the mad creation, the jade golem paused, twitching wildly once more before collapsing into a mangled heap on the floor. Just as it fell, the rear door to the chamber slid open, and a woman entered. She was dressed in far more elegant robes than the other assassins. It was a dark orange, with gold flowers sewn across the shirt, and her hair was styled to look like a lotus blossom itself. Her face was covered in a white mask with blood red lips.
"What happened?" Grand Inquisitor Jia demanded, "Who has corrupted the jade golem? It was link to a legion of warriors that now run mad!" She set her gaze upon Jen Zi. "You!"
Gang bowed to her and apologized, "I'm sorry Grand Inquisitor; it was my new acolyte. There must have been some kind of mistake."
"You fool! Can't you see you have been tricked?" She removed the mask, revealing the pale, old face that had not seen the light of day in years. "I've heard of you. You are a bold one. Hidden right under our noses just like your master."
"I am a weapon of vengeance," Jen Zi replied, "I seek the head of Death's Hand!"
Jia seemed amused, "I see. Well, then the two of you have something in common, he seeks your head as well. I shall inform him you are here. Kill this impudent fool!"
At once, Gang turned on her and Silk Fox. But the pitiful assassin was no match for her. Jen Zi used Tempest to paralyze him, and finishing up with Dire Flame, she unleashed a fire breathing dragon and immolated Gang until he was nothing more than a pile of ashes, his screams of agony still rebounding off the smooth stone walls.
She stepped over the ashes and dashed down the corridor she saw Jia flee through.
You must know, that when this all started, Jen Zi was quite a kind girl. Living in Two Rivers, it was not hard to grow up a sweet child, caring for everyone. She become quite close to her friends and to her master. But after the bandit attack that changed the course of her life forever, Jen Zi was slowly succumbing to the darkness within her soul. Death's Hand had taken everything from here, and she was determined to even the score.
Slowly caring for no one but herself, she often persuaded others to do wrong, and took the easy way to continue with her mission, such as the time she chose to kill the Fox Spirit instead of fighting the Mother, leader of the cannibals.
Jen Zi walked along the dark path of the Closed Fist, and her friends were beginning to worry.
Following Jia out to a dead end room, she saw the Grand Inquisitor gazing at something embedded in a large stone monument that sat in front of a waterfall.
Turning, Jia walked slowly down the steps. "You are strong, but you see, you underestimate us. Our strength lies in preparation. There are many jade golems you have not corrupted. True, you have weakened us, but it is not a mortal wound. Death's Hand is on his way, and you will be my gift to him."
Jia's attempt to slay Jen Zi failed. The assassin made short work of Silk Fox, grabbing the princess by the collar and throwing her into the chamber door. Jen Zi, fueled by her lust for vengeance and anger, moved like lightning, dodging Jia's attacks, and eventually caught her staff, Golden Star, around Jia's legs, causing her to fall and crack her head against the floor. She leapt onto her, pinning her down with her knees, and slipped on her Leaping Tiger claws. Without a moment's hesitation, she drove her fist through Jia's throat, the claws puncturing arteries and slicing soft tissue.
She gazed up with wide eyes at the young woman who had defeated her so easily, seeing the fire raging in her eyes, choked on her own blood and died, her head lolling to the side and blood flowing slowly from her lips.
Pulling the claw from Jia's throat, Jen Zi wiped the blood off in her skirt and got up, putting them away.
She turned, not even giving a thought to Silk Fox, who was now staggering to her feet, and headed up the stairs to the monument Jia had stood before moments earlier.
She saw the final fragment of the Dragon Amulet stuck in the stone and removed it carefully, adding it to the pieces she's already recovered.
Sagacious Zu, who had made various appearances while Jen Zi traveled through the fortress, appeared out of a secret passage. He watched her, leaning against a large column, feeling a surge of pride to see she had both found what she needed and weakened the Lotus Assassins' forces.
But his heart fell deep into his stomach when he saw the silhouette behind the waterfall.
Jen Zi had not noticed him, for her back was turned, but Death's Hand, silently creeping around the monument, slid his swords from their sheaths.
The Lotus Assassin leader was dresses in robes similar to those a normal assassin wore, through his looked fit more for someone of royal standings. His boots and gloves were trimmed in red and gold, as were the flaps of his robes. The chest of his armor and sheet of black cloth that hung between his knees were decorated in gold dragons and red ribbons hung from beneath his shoulder blade plates and his waist. But the grandest part of his wardrobe was the blood red mask sculpted in a gruesome, sadistic expression with eyes and a mouth as dark as black holes, mounted of a helmet of black and gold.
His grip upon the smaller of the two swords tightened, and holding it with the blade down, held it aiming at Jen Zi's back, right in line with her heart. Before he had the chance to bring it down through her body, Zu cried out, "Behind you!"
She whirled, her eyes going wide when she saw him standing above her. She was frozen in place, time itself stopping.
They stared at one another for a moment which seemed to last forever, Death's Hand feeling the horrid presence of his alter ego tugging at his soul.
"You cannot harm her!" Kin exclaimed. Death's Hand tried to shake him out of his mind, but Kin was persistent.
Instead of simply killing her where she stood, he pulled his hand back and struck her with such force she went flying down the stairs, landing hard on her back.
She scrambled to her feet and Zu raced to her aid. He shoved her along, while Death's Hand bounded down the stairs, taking them two at a time.
He took out his staff, which was deadly with the pointed blades protruding from the ends. He tried to swing it at Death's Hand's head, but the assassin ducked. As Zu attempted a second time, he grabbed the staff in mid-swing and yanked from Zu's grasp, tossing it aside carelessly.
Advancing upon Zu, he swung his swords, but the former Lotus Assassin was quick himself and seemed always one step ahead, as if he had already seen this battle before it began and planned his strategy. Death's Hand's rage increased as he constantly found his sword stuck in the stone columns Zu managed to trick him into hitting.
Fed up, he finally took the smaller sword and drove it deep within Zu's abdomen, until only the hilt remained. Zu bit back the white hot pain and stared Death's Hand in the eyes. He wanted to die with some honor.
"You knew you couldn't defeat me," Death's Hand said, confused at why he would face him knowing death was inevitable.
"I know…I just needed…a little more time." Suddenly realizing the trap he had fallen into, Death's Hand shot his attention upwards, seeing the roof come crumbling down upon them.
Jen Zi cried out and tried to help Zu, but Silk Fox grabbed her and dragged her away from the unstable room. She struggled from her hold and finally jabbed her elbow against Lian's chest, knocking the wind out of her and forcing her to let her go.
"Why'd you pull me away!" she demanded.
Once she could speak again she replied, "It was too dangerous. Zu is dead! You can't help him. He wouldn't have wanted you to save him. He sacrificed himself for you, can't you see that?"
Jen Zi was fuming with anger and sadness.
"We have to get out of here before we're crushed as well. But we'd better be careful, who knows what this incident had shaken loose."
Together they made their way out of the crumbling fortress, fighting Lotus Assassins along the way, the Watcher as well, and dashed out of the unfinished tomb just as the fortress collapsed in on itself, burying everyone inside.
Once back at the flyer, Silk Fox reported what they'd seen to everyone. Jen Zi, however, sat in a corner, not wanting to see or talk to anyone. She was distressed but could not produce any tears.
Dawn Star walked over, offering a shoulder to cry on. But Jen Zi simply snapped at her harshly. "Just leave me alone!"
Taken aback, Dawn Star nodded and turned away without another word. She feared for her friend's safety and sanity. She prayed she wasn't allowing her need for revenge to turn her into another tyrant. There were enough of those in the world as it was.
Jen Zi stared straight ahead but saw nothing. Her mind was so focused on what had happened to Zu and also, what had transpired between herself and Death's Hand. She was certain she'd seen him hesitate before knocking her down the stares. And she sensed inner conflict within him. Perhaps there was more to him then what met the eye.
She shook her head. She didn't care if he was really a child trapped in that suit of armor; he was evil and had taken too much from her. Even if Death's Hand was dead, she's find a way to have her revenge, if she had to rip out the Emperor's heart with her own bare hands, she'd get revenge…