My Author Notes are at the bottom, so read the chapter, then them!
Enjoy!!!
___
It was day. Xiao's favorite time. The sun shined brightly as it always did in the early morning light. A slight breeze came through the carriage window and blew her bangs that she couldn't get into a maid bun across her face. She smiled at it and turned in her seat to meet her sister's warm eyes.
"Is it pretty? The Wu castle?" She asked before turning back to the window to catch the sun's rays on her face.
"Oh yes, very pretty, and very big." Da answered with a smile to her sister.
"Hmm. It sounds lovely. Do they have a garden?" Xiao asked with her eyes closed.
"I would assume so." Da said.
Xiao's smile never wavered, but her eyes opened, and once again, Da saw them glow the only way they could during the day. "I'm glad that we are working together, Da. It seems forever since we worked together."
Da's smile broadened. "What was our last joined assignment?"
Xiao closed her eyes. "The Henrietta family. We were given orders to kill them all, but there were so many at one place we had to work together."
Da laughed. "I remember that!"
"We couldn't have picked a better time! They had a family lock-in, and we pick pocketed the key from the owner. Remember when your bow got jammed? And you were just about to shoot the fat one too!"
"Then you had to come behind him and stick him with your dagger!"
"Or the time we were running from the Transylvania Royal Castle, and I got stuck in the tree?"
They were both laughing now. "I don't know how we got past those guards!"
"And Papa nearly killed us when we got home!"
Da spoke between giggles, "Or when we had to sneak into a cave and kill the group's leader without being seen, and my fire orb went off and it wasn't the orb that we thought we would get caught for, but out laughter?"
Xiao laughed. "That's because it exploded near your butt and it looked like you pooted on the flammable potions!"
There was a few minutes of laughter and mindful reminiscing when they subdued to giggles then eventually to a catching of breath.
Xiao wiped a tear from her eye. "I wonder what the prince is like, don't you Da?"
Da's heart did a little flip and the memories of the night before came flooding back to her: the arrow, the scaling of the castle, the guards, the castle itself, and the prince. She didn't even know his name, and he occupied her thoughts every day.
"I don't know, Xiao." She answered, angered at her mental confession of the man. "What about the strategist?"
"Pssht! Please! What's there to know? He's probably some old guy with a beard as long as our hair! Oh, God! I'm probably going to have to give him a sponge bath!"
Da giggled.
"And what if he tries to give me a lesson during that?" Xiao put a hand up to her mouth in wonder. "What then?" She looked at Da hopefully. "Can I have some of that poison?"
Da smiled. "No, silly! Just think about all the ways to make a chocolate pudding when, and if he gives you those lectures."
"But then I'll get hungry."
"Then eat afterwards."
Xiao was about to say something, but the Qiao's carriage driver, Duffy, leaned and tapped the door.
"You girls ready?" He asked in the front.
Da and Xiao got serious and nodded to each other. "Yes." Da called.
"Good, because if I'm right, we have ten minutes before we reach the castle gates. Get ready! And do you girls know your names and what your doing?"
"Yeah!" Xiao called. "Do I look like a maid?"
Da smiled and looked at her sister's attire. The girls had dressed in a deep red, the way Da remembered the servants wearing, and put their hair up in buns at the sides of their heads to indicate that they work for nobility. Xiao's beauty though made it hard to believe that the girl was just a maid and not a goddess. "As good of a maid like a beautiful lady can get!" Da answered.
"Aw! Da!" Xiao gave her sister a hug.
"Promise me you won't get into trouble."
Xiao rolled her eyes, "I promise."
Da smiled, "Or trees."
They both erupted into giggles.
"Are you giggle ladies done in there? We're close. Take a look." Duffy spoke.
As soon as she did, Xiao gasped at the mighty thing which would be an insult to call a castle. It's rumors of being beautiful, didn't seem to do it quite justice. Even the gates surrounding the outer perimeter were gorgeous.
"What?" Da asked as she moved out of the shadows that she had stayed in while journeying, and looked to see the castle she had conquered the night before.
"Da! You didn't tell me that it was that beautiful!" Xiao complained, still in awe.
"Once you run from the guards here, it's not." Da rolled her eyes.
Xiao sat back. "To tell you the truth, I'm not looking forward to this whole maid thing. I don't think that I'll be good at it."
"You'll do fine. We adjusted to being clam openers at that company."
Xiao rolled her eyes. "That's different."
"How so?"
"Because then we didn't have to give old, hairy strategist SPONGE baths!"
Da couldn't help it, she giggled.
"Oh, shut up!" Xiao waved her hand.
Duffy's deep voice entered the carriage once again. "We're entering the city gates."
Da and Xiao both looked out the carriage window and watched as the city guards came to the carriage, spoke to Duffy, looked at Da and Xiao and let the gates open. The city was marvelous! There were merchants and kids running around, and also relics of the Wu kingdom that ranged from flags to paintings of the royal family.
They soon approached the second gate, the one that separated the castle from the city and Xiao looked at it in wonder.
"How did you ever climb that huge wall?" she turned and asked her sister.
Da signed. Her muscles still ached from scaling it. "It wasn't easy, I will admit."
Xiao whistled. "I'll say."
"Just some more maids that the lord had imported." Duffy said to the guard.
The guard looked at Xiao and Da as they pretended to look at the gigantic palace, but were focusing on the guardsmen. They got waved in, and the girls smiled at the guards as they went by. One of the guards smiled back when the other one winked.
"Making friends early?" Duffy asked them.
Da smiled, "It doesn't hurt to have allies."
Duffy's booming laughter brought a smile to both of the girls' faces. "We're approaching another gate. How in the world did you get by all these gates?"
"The first one was easy. I acted like a citizen. The other two were harder." Da answered.
"Ooh! I can't wait to see the inside!" Xiao said as she clapped her hands.
Da smiled and turned her attention back to the window. The last gate let them in without interrogation. The carriage was brought up to the front door, and then was brought around to the back.
This was it. Da smiled at Xiao. "Ready, Aurora?" Da asked her by her fake name.
"Only if you are, Selene." Xiao smiled back. The carriage door was opened and Xiao stepped out…
___
Sun Ce and Zhou Yu walked down the corridors to the door they were looked for: the training grounds.
Zhou Yu took in his friend's expression. "You haven't trained in awhile. Is that why you're so quiet?"
"No! It's because of all those damn questions that Mom and Pop are asking me. Did I see her? Did I-"
"Her?" Yu interrupted. "It was a female."
"Yup. And Shang won't let me forget it."
Yu smiled. That was about like the tomboy princess. "Do you want to tell me what happened that night? You and I have been so busy that we hardly get a moment's rest, much less talk." They sat on a bench on the training grounds and started to pull off the unnecessary clothing.
"I really can't tell. I woke up because I felt a breeze on my behind, and I saw her standing over me, but she didn't have a dagger or nuttin'. And something happened, Yu." Ce stopped peeling off clothing and looked at his friend.
Yu's eyebrows knitted together. "What so you mean?"
"Her eyes, they glowed, at night. And she did something to me. Like, I've never wanted…a-a woman so much in my life. If the guards didn't open that door when they did, I'm afraid at what they might've seen."
Yu was silent for a moment. "Hmm. That's interesting."
"Yeah." Ce said as he continued pulling off his boots. "I just don't understand it."
"Have you talked with Sun Jian about this?"
"And say what? 'Hi, Pop! You know? That assassin? Yeah, I've had desires for her, and I want your advise.'" Ce laughed. "Do you realize how many times I would get bashed over the head with a sword if I said that?"
Yu smiled. "I meant about how to control manly cravings, not get a woman."
"He would want to know the girl. You never have any of these cravings?"
"Not to where I'd take a woman I didn't know to bed, no, but yes, I think that every man does, he just keeps it to himself."
"Yeah, I know what you mean." Ce got up and stretched. "But there was something different."
"What happened in the forest? I heard that there was a… collision."
"I ran after her, and we kinda tussled in the forest."
"Oh, a real way to when her heart."
Ce glared at him. "She won by hitting my groin area."
"Ow. Did you get a good look at her?"
"Enough to where I could identify her in a line up."
Yu was stretching now. "That's good."
"Not really. Her face haunts me. Let's get to training I need to work out."
___
"Now, seeing as you're new, the maids will report to the headmaster, me, at ten o'clock at night, and then go to bed and wake up at five."
Da rolled her eyes at the "Headmaster" and made funny faces at the back of her head and made Xiao giggle. The headmaster turned around and stared at the girls before narrowing her eyes at Da.
"Your services will go to Lord Sun Ce, the Lord's oldest son. You make his bed when he wakes, make his bath when he stinks, and make sure that his room is as tidy as his teeth! All of the maids fond over him, but don't stay in there while he's taking a bath. Lady Sun does not approve, and neither does he.
"Your services," she indicated Xiao with a flick of her hand. "will go to Lord Zhou Yu, also a man with charms. Again, I repeat that you must not stay in there while he bathes. Lady Sun disapproves of that behavior."
The headmaster turned and started down the corridor again. "Lord Sun Ce's quarters are located near the kitchen. He's the only one who resides there, being the one who eats a lot. Lord Zhou Yu is on the West wing, near Lord Sun Ce's but down a different tower. They meet up a lot, so don't be surprised if you two run into each other." the headmaster looked over her shoulder slightly, then stopped to ask a maid something.
"I don't see why she needs to turn around to look at us, she obviously has eyes on the back of her horns!" Xiao whispered to her sister.
Da smiled and nudged her sister before the headmaster came back to them with two maids following her. "This is Mei Mei and Ty Lee. Mei Mei works for Lord Sun Ce and Ty Lee works for Lord Zhou Yu. They meet up a lot, and right now, the lords are in the training arena. The girls went to get towels for them, so I will escort you back to the training grounds," she looked at Ty Lee and Mei Mei, "and show you where the grounds are and introduce you to the lords."
Da and Xiao nodded and the five of them were off.
Ty Lee and Mei Mei joined Da and Xiao.
Ty Lee spoke to Xiao. "Hello. Like she said, I'm Ty Lee, and this is my sister, Mei Mei." she indicated the both of them and they smiled.
Xiao smiled back. "I'm Aurora and this is my sister, Selene." Xiao pointed to Da.
Mei Mei gasped. "Like the dawn goddess and the moon goddess? That's so cool!"
Da smiled, "Thank you. Is working here OK?"
Mei Mei nodded. "Very much so! Mainly because there's never a dull moment. Did you know that just the other night, some assassin tried to kill Lord Ce?"
Xiao put a hand over her mouth, mainly to hide her grin and dramatic effect. "Why, that's just awful!"
Ty Lee nodded, "And it was a woman, too!"
Xiao rolled her eyes. "I bet she was ugly."
Da glared at her.
Mei Mei turned to the headmaster's back and turned back to Da. "Have you seen Lord Tong?"
Da looked confused, "Lord Tong?"
Ty Lee rolled her eyes as soon as Mei Mei made a gasp of disbelief, "You're going to have to excuse my sister. She has the biggest crush on Ling Tong."
Mei Mei glared at her sister. "Not as bad as you on Lord Gan Ning!"
"He's all man though." Ty Lee said with wistful eyes.
Da didn't get Mei Mei. She had seen Sun Ce, and she didn't think that any other man could hold up to the God. Then again, she hadn't seen the others.
The headmaster turned around. "This is the training grounds." She indicated a door, or more like an open doorway. "I will introduce you while the lords are on a break." the headmaster went through the doorway, and the girls followed.
"This is it, sis." Xiao leaned in and whispered to Da.
Da nodded, and tried to pick out the prince from all of the sparring people. She was so focused on finding him, she hadn't noticed that they had stopped until the headmaster said her fake name.
"This, Prince Ce, is Selene, your new maid, and this, Great Strategist, is your new maid, Aurora. Both sisters."
Da kept her eyes down and bowed with Xiao.
Sun Ce looked up from rubbing his neck and locked onto the woman who would be his new maid. One glance and he knew.
Zhou Yu looked at his new maid and he had to stifle a gasp. She was gorgeous. Her eyes glowed in a way that a artist would've had a heart attack if he saw them, if he saw her. She was like a goddess and she looked out of place in the maid's outfit that she wore. Her hair had a color shade that he was sure wasn't discovered by artists yet. Her skin was silky and looked soft. When she smiled, her lips looked like rose petals, caressed by her white teeth that sparkled almost as much as her eyes.
Although her eyes were staring intently into his, she was keenly aware of everything that was going around her, and the fact that he was staring. He repressed a shiver and looked away.
He looked at Sun Ce, and saw the weirdest look on his face. He was staring at his new maid to, and she him, with a fiery intensity that Yu had to look away.
Xiao looked at Yu. He was nothing like she pictured him. He was hot! He totally pulled off the whole bookworm thingy. He was like a hot strategist. He was only half dressed, so she saw his abs and was impressed. It wasn't everyday she saw such magnificence as a man. His hair was pulled into a ponytail, and in his hand, he held a wicked spear, much like the prince. He glistened in the sun from his sweat of hard work, and Xiao wanted to take the towel from Ty Lee and wipe him off, just so she could touch him.
She smiled and he took her in for a minute before signing and looking away to the prince. Xiao followed suit and looked at Da.
Oh, my goodness! -Da thought as she looked Ce from his toes to his head.- He's only half dressed! She wasn't expecting this. His abs were uncovered and she looked at them briefly before the memory came flashing back. One look into his eyes and she knew that he knew.
Zhou Yu spoke, "Aurora is it?"
Xiao nodded and smiled.
"What an odd name."
Mei Mei bowed and handed Ce a towel before explaining. "Aurora is the name of the Dawn goddess, while Selene is the name of the Moon goddess, my lord."
Sun Ce couldn't help it, he smiled. "That fits you, Selene."
As soon as her name left his lips, it made Da blush. He had said it so seductively. "Selene…"
Ce turned to Yu who was toweling dry. It was a hot day today. "Let's get training, and welcome to the kingdom." He told them. "I won't make you work hard." He looked at Da in the eyes for a minute before turning away and grabbed Yu.
As soon as they were a safe distance and the girls left Ce spoke. "That's her."
Yu wiped his face, again. "Who?" He said shakily.
Ce took in his friends expression. "Are you okay?"
"I will be."
"What's wrong? Tired?"
"No, she just caught me off guard."
Ce looked confused. "That maid?"
Yu nodded.
"Oh. Manly cravings?"
"No! Just caught off guard." He signed. "What were you saying? Something about your maid?"
"Oh, right. That's her."
"Who?"
"The assassin."
Yu looked up sharply to his friend. "The assassin?" He asked in a whisper. Ce nodded. "Do you want to tell Jian?"
"Naw. I'll deal with this."
"Now, Ce." Yu warned. "Don't let cravings come in the way of better judgment."
Ce looked at his friend and smiled. "I know what I'm doing."
"Ce…"
"I've got it, okay?" Ce smiled.
"Sleep with a spear."
___
Yu entered his room that night while the maids prepared his bath and bed.
She wasn't hard to pick out. She was making his bed, and humming some lullaby. He strode to her, ignoring the other maids.
"Hello." His voice rang out.
She turned to him. "Oh, hi!" She smiled. "Is the bed to your liking, my lord?" She gestured toward the bed. She had that awarness around her again. She was on him, but aware of everthing else.
He had to smile. She had this nice aura around her to where you had to smile. He glanced at the bed and was impressed by the work she had done. He nodded. "Very impressive, Miss?"- he raised his brows- "Aurora."
She nodded. "I'm not married, yet, and just Aurora."
"My apologies. Are you planned to be soon?"
She smiled and shook her head. "No."
"And what about your sister, Selene?"
"What about her?" She cocked her head.
"Is she married?"
She giggled. "No."
He smiled again. "Where are you from."
"South of here. Towards Wei territory." She lied. It was in Wei territory.
"And what of your father?"
Xiao had to think quickly. "He-"
"I'm sorry, my lord." the headmaster appeared from out of nowhere. "Is she bothering you?"
Yu smiled at the woman, and Xiao saw the headmaster blush. Eww! Gross!
"No, actually, we were having a pleasant conversation."
The headmaster blinked. "Oh…"
"I should be going, my lord, your bath will get cold." Xiao skipped past him and out of the room. The headmaster bowed and followed promptly.
Yu stared at the door for a second before shaking his head and walking to his bathing chamber. She was different.
___
Sun Ce came in to his room and dropped his spear to the floor of the door. He walked to his bath chamber and saw Selene and another maid preparing his bath. She was pouring the water and the other was folding his towels.
He came forward and smiled at the folding one. "That's enough, your dismissed." She bowed and left.
As soon as she was out the door, Ce folded his arms as Selene poured another bucket from the rack above the fire. She did it in a way that a poet would have to think hard about writing to catch all of her poise. She was graceful, and yet, she never made a sound. Even the water, which she poured, was quiet. She was bent over the tub to pour, and her maid's outfit stretched down, revealing some of her breast. Ce tried, unsuccessfully, not to look, but stole a glance before turning away.
"What's your real name?" he asked.
With her muscles protesting the work that she was doing, Da mentally cursed at the fact that Mei Mei had left, and put the bucket down in the corner for the morning maids before answering. "Selene." she bowed.
He rolled his eyes. "Your real one."
She faked confusion. "My lord?"
Her eyes glowed. They didn't during the day, only at night it seemed, hmmm. He started to pace about the room, "Why didn't you kill me that night, Selene? You would've gotten away with it. Did you poison my bath water?"
"Pardon?" She kept a confused face.
"Why didn't you kill me that night?"
"What night?"
"That night!" he said exasperated.
"My lord?"
"You're the assassin!"
"Assassin?"
Ce took in her expression. Was he right? Was she the one?
"My lord," her voice seemed to sing. "I need to be going. The headmistress will be angry at me." She walked past him and he stared after her. Then her scent hit him. A womanly scent that made him yearn for her.
"It was you." he whispered.
She turned. "My lord?"
"Nothing." He shook his head.
She went thru the door and heard him say, "I'll prove it." She walked down the hallway to the maid's quarters that she conviently shared with Xiao.
"Lord Zhou Yu's nice." Xiao smiled as she put a pillow case on her pillow.
Da smiled as she covered her bed in sheets, "Really? I would imagine so. Sparks were flying between you two in the training grounds."
"Us? The air was burning with you and the prince!"
"Because he knows we are enemies."
"Hmm. Well, I guess that's good for him. He knows his doom's coming." Xiao laid in her bed.
"I guess." Da laid in her's.
"Ya know," Xiao propped herself on an elbow. "the difference between now, and this morning, is that I wouldn't mind giving Zhou Yu a sponge bath."
Da laughed and blew out the candel that was on the table between the two beds, and settled in.
"G'night, Selene." Xiao called.
"Good night, Aurora." Da smiled.
"I'll prove it." his voice rang in her head.
"Not before I kill you first." She whispered…
___
Hey guys! First off, I want to officially thank everyone so far who's reviewed. You guys are the best!
So how's the story? You guys know I crave your opinions! I'll try to get Are You Jealous Yet? Updated as soon as I can! I actually have some of it done, and a whole bunch more to write! I'm trying to keep this one as far out there as I can! I don't want some ordinary story, so I'm doing this, and I like it!
Xiao's personality is one that I think is better, it has her playfulness, but also some sense, for crying out loud! And there is going to be more Yu/Xiao, don't worry.
Tell me how it's going!
ShadowingPassion9532