Author Note: Just in time for Valentines day, though I do believe this story started around hallowe'en. Such are things. Same notes as before: BPRD and affiliates are not mine. Story has been rated for creepiness, never been to China, if you see an inaccuracy tel me and I'll fix it. If you don't like what you are reading, click the little box with the "x" in it at the upper right corner of the screen.

Cinderella

Huang stood metres away from Hellboy, her lonely eyes pleading with him to come closer. He remained in one place, watching. The two maidens at Huangs' side stepped away as she fell toward him. Hellboy caught her slight and delicate body in his powerful arms. She looked up at him, her lips slightly parted.

"I have waited for you, my love. It has been a long time since you walked down the river. My sisters and I thought you had died, as Liam and his army followed you."

Huang snuggled into his rough and battle-damaged leather duster and stone hand as if it were the softest silk, whispering "I love you" into the right hand of doom with every breath.

Hellboy held the girl, who appeared to be only 16, while imagining the ancient tapestry's story. The girl then reached into one of his belts pockets and removed the small packet he'd recieved from the singing woman.

"You have brought them, dearest Feng. The matchmaker, she allowed us our love."

Huang held the unopened packet in her covered hands, stifled tears gently falling from her large dark eyes onto her painted face. She opened the packet to reveal two small, delicate and pointed shoes embroidered with herons, flowers and nightingales. Hellboy stared at the shoes and their blood stained and foul-smelling interior. Hung eagerly picked them up and held them out to Hellboy.

Hellboy carried Huang to a stone bench, setting her upon the warmed stone.

"I am not your Feng, Huang. Feng is not here."

"You must be Feng, for you come bearing my shoes." The girl pleaded, her eyes reddening.

"Feng is not coming." Hellboy stated coldly, ignoring the small shoes held before him.

"You are Feng. I am your lotus, the one you loved dearly."

Hellboy stared at the girl, who would be in tears had she suffered them to fall. She was staring at her dress, at her feet, and no longer at him.

"We will find him for you." He regretted the empty promise before the words passed his lips. There was only one way they would be together again.

Hellboy stood, leaving Huang and her two servants near the bench. He moved toward the appletree, staring through it's branches for the guardian. The tree was empty; no protector dwelled in it's branches. He returned his yellow eyes to the three beautiful damsels.

"Would you care to join us for a meal, Feng?" One of Huangs servants spoke softly. "They are bitter, yet have allowed us to await your return. Feng, dearest Feng. What have you done with my son?"

Hellboy leaned his stone hand against the twisted and deformed tree, groaning his displeasure under his breath.

Hellboy stood under a giant horse sculpture, leaning against it's proud chest and arched neck. He turned his head to look at the rest of the horse, a docked tail arched over it's sloping stone back. Hellboy stepped away from the horse and looked into it's glowing white eyes. Figures moved in their watery depths, a battle, fighting and death by drowning. The eyes revealed the screams of tormented souls voluntarily silenced of their own pain.

Hellboys' memory flashed back to Tao who, just after sunset, had refused to pass a horse similar to this one. In the distance he could hear the plop of Tao throwing apples into the stream.

The pond was dark, the same ducks and lilies floating on it's surface. At a distance, Hellboy could see the three women sitting at the waters' edge, their feet below the surface. He watched them for several minutes as they fixed their hair, arranged their silk gowns and waited calmly, as if posing for an oilpainting or tapestry. Huang gently bent forward and scooped up the water in her hands, drinking slowly. Her companions scooped up the red apples, nibbling their red skins.

Hellboy pulled a canteen from his belt and walked toward the maidens. The women sat straight when they saw him, resting their hands on their lap and pulling their feet under their long dresses. Huang looked at him pleadingly. Her companions lowered their eyes.

"Please, Feng." Pleaded Huang. "Join us for a meal."