I was huddled in a corner of a dark room, thinking. When Chase had kissed me, I was suddenly stuck with an ominous feeling. As if something was going to happen, to destroy our bond.

"Eva." Chase walked into the room and pulled me to my feet. My body felt sore from the previous battle.

"What is it?" I asked.

He led me out of the room. "There's something I want to show you."

A few moments of silence passed as I followed him. Finally, he said "Do you remember the Lao Mang Lon soup I drank?"

"Yes," I answered immediately. Of course.

"Would you trade your soul for eternal youth and power?" he asked.

"No." My answer was firm. He turned and stared at me. "Of what use is immortality, if you spend you life alone? In fact, any life can be considered an eternity if you were always alone."

His gaze softened – barely. I was starting to think he glared all the time. "Let me rephrase it then. Would you trade your soul to spend an eternity with me?"

"Yes," I answered immediately.

Chase smiled, and for the first time I realized that we were in one of the blue pavilions where "Xi Shi" had kissed him. He led me to the front of a large rack of shelves. The shelves had identical wine gourds, each on embossed with a red dragon. He took two and handed one to me. I uncorked it and sniffed its contents, recognizing the pungent smoky smell.

"Lao Mang Lon soup," Chase said, rather unnecessarily. Once again, that ominous feeling gripped me and I shook slightly.

"Chase," I murmured and kissed him. "I'll never leave you… Ever…"

"And I you," he answered, responding to my motions. I closed my eyes and laid on his shoulder, inhaling deeply the heady scent that clung to him.

When we finally drew apart, I raised the gourd almost in a salute. Chase raised his.

"To eternity." His eyes seemed to burn with a golden flame. "No one can tear us apart."

And everything took on a red haze. I noticed with a sense of detachment, the thing blade that protruded out of my chest, just below my heart.

"I will not allow you to create another monster!" a familiar hated voice declared from behind us.

Guan. He must have been watching us in the shadows, then thrown his spear at me at the right moment. I heard the scrapping of running feet over rough stone and knew he was running away, like the coward he was.

Then the pain hit me and I doubled over. If Chase hadn't been holding me, I would have landed face first on the ground. My chest heaved as I took in harsh, ragged breaths. This was the worst injury I had ever sustained, and I knew I was going to die.

Damnit! Why didn't I sense him? I thought, but without the vehemence I would usually have. I just didn't have the strength anymore.

Beware of love Eva My mentor's voice came to me like a half-remembered dream. It makes you vulnerable and useless. It is nothing but weakness and blindness, and it leads only to pain and defeat.

That was true, all of it. But he hadn't told me how good it felt as well.

"Eva!" Chase shook me, his voice just a husky whisper, but one filled with urgency. "Don't close your eyes, you're going to be fine." As he said that, he stroked the hair that had fallen on my face. His face swam into my bloodied vision.

"I'm going to die," I said simply. A chill began to descend on my body.

"No!" he roared. "Not when I've just got you back! You are not dying!" He whirled around. "The Lao Mang Lon soup! Stay with me Eva!" He sounded almost hysterical. I smiled at the thought.

"I'm just glad," I smiled. "You could know the read me before I died."

And suddenly, I was transported to a black pit, his cries echoing in my ears.

I shivered. It is so cold here.