Chapter 6 of My Poisonous Kiss.
Enjoy!
Let your mind start a journey to a strange new world
Leave all thoughts of the life you knew before
Let your soul take you where you long to be
Only then… can you belong… to me…
-Music of the Night, The Phantom of the Opera
His fingers slowly slid over her bed in sensual grace. He breathed in all the aromas that the room had to offer, but there was only one scent that he wanted. The scent that clung to her clothes, hair… and skin with a passionate lover's caress.
His fingers left her bed and went over to her mirror. He touched all the things she touched. Going painstakingly slow over every one of her items to savor the sensation that would be gone all too quickly. Way too quickly for his personal tastes.
It was no matter, however. He would soon be caressing her instead of these mundane things.
He found what he was looking for and picked it up with renewed vigor. He searched this new item until he found what he wanted. He picked it out and dealt with the item like it was fragile glass. He breathed in the smell that her room held one more time before turning and beginning to leave.
However, something stopped him. He turned to look and see something popping out from underneath her pillow.
He slowly made his way over to her bed and reached under the pillow to pull out the delicate fabric. He looked at it for a minute, analyzing all of its properties, before pulling it up to his nose and slowly, but deeply, took a breath of it.
He let out a ragged breath and tried to gain control of himself, failing in that endeavor. He thought about putting the fabric back, but thought against it.
He tucked the fabric away into one of his numerous hidden pockets, a smile on his face. This was another message to his prey.
Her eyes that never could be determined for any specific color, were bright and she blinked once before looking in another direction. Her steps had a light bounce in them as she followed her master and also another pair of master and maid. She was at the back of the group, as was her preference.
Her arms swayed slightly by her sides as she walked in almost a carefree manner and joyous abundance. Something a regular maid would never do.
But she was no regular maid.
A small smile had blossomed on her face as she walked, humming a lullaby as she did. She closed her eyes briefly as she breathed in the sweet moment, ever the perfect picture of serenity and peace.
However, as time has so rightly shown since the beginning of creation, nothing lasts forever.
The group came to an intersection of corridors, and the first three kept walking straight, intent on getting to their destination.
She, however, stopped in her tracks when she reached the middle of the intersection as a familiar smell reached her senses. She raised her nose high and took in a deep breath with curious intention.
The first emotions to cross her face was recognition at the smell, then fear at what the smell clung to. She was no longer the carefree walker of just a minute ago.
Her eyes closed again and she took a deep breath and found her center. She slowly let her senses branch out to find what they may, although she was dreading the possible outcome.
She heard a soft sound: the sound of cloth moving. Her eyes shot open and her head whirled to face the corridor to her left, the only corridor at the intersection that was unlit.
And she doubted that circumstance was coincidental.
She narrowed her eyes and searched the darkened hallway to see what secrets of destruction it held. What passionately protected being it kept within its encompassing darkness.
Her eyes widened as she noticed a movement in the darkness. It was brief and almost imperceptible, and probably wouldn't have been noticed by anyone else. But she noticed it.
Her eyes narrowed and she turned and took one step in the direction of the darkness.
Movement occurred again, making her stop to look. She focused herself and peered harder into the darkness.
She sighed in relief at what she saw. It was a banner, swaying every so often due to a draft in the basement. Not some monster or killer waiting to bring about her demise.
She suddenly whirled back around when she felt a presence behind her. She turned and looked into her sister's eyes and face that were so much like her own. Her sister looked at her questioningly, but did not directly ask what was obvious.
The girl looked at their masters who kept walking, not noticing that both their maids were not following.
She looked at her sister and smiled sheepishly with a shrug before skipping forward and, grabbing her sister's hand, made way to follow the two generals.
Ignoring the feeling that the movement in the darkness was not entirely due to a banner.
She had a hand raised to his abdomen, her green eyes glowing. He reached out a hand and she leaned in…
Then later in the forest, he had her in his arms and the moon peeked out from the clouds. It was almost if the moon had wanted him to see her face…
Then in the hallway not too long ago. He leaned in to smell her scent, one that stirred his senses to no end. And she, being a vixen, ran her nails down his abdomen, making him loose all sanity…
"I think we were right, Sun Ce. The sisters are indeed in danger." Zhou Yu said to Ce as guards carried the new bodies out of the closet.
Both men were in the closet, as were a horde of guards and generals. At his sworn brother's prolonged silence, Zhou Yu looked at Sun Ce with an eyebrow raised. Sun Ce was beside him leaning against a wall with one leg propped on it. His arms were crossed, but one arm lead up to a hand that Ce was using to pinch the bridge of his lip with. His naturally spirited eyes were closed.
"Is something wrong, Ce?" Zhou Yu dared to ask.
"Nah." Ce said as he opened his eyes and kicked off the wall. "Just thinking. I think you're right but we can't protect them at all times. Especially not with Pop and now Quan and Ning watching my every move. And since you're close to me, they're watching you too."
Zhou Yu flicked his gaze to the outer hall but couldn't see either of the sisters due to the other primary maids blocking his view.
"I had noticed their eyes on me a few times. Others I had felt. I do not mind the curiosity. If I were them, I would probably do the same." Zhou Yu admitted.
"Ce!" Sun Jian called to him. "What do you make of this mark in the blood?"
Sun Ce walked forward and knelt beside the mark. "When I had examined it earlier, I had noticed that it was a recent mark. After the guards had been killed."
"Hmm, yes." Jian said as he knelt next to his son. "The blood has just recently begun to set."
"Exactly." Ce nodded. He felt eyes on him and looked up to see Quan giving him a look. One he couldn't fathom, but if he had to bet, he would guess it had to deal with him knowing the blood was recent, but not knowing which way Selene went.
Even though he really did know.
Sun Jian rose up and looked at Zhou Yu. "Do you think this attack was done by the same assassin that came after Sun Ce?"
Zhou Yu looked thoughtful for a minute before shaking his head. "No, my lord. Several factors do not add up."
"Such as?" Sun Jian inquired as he circled the room, analyzing everything.
"The assassin after Sun Ce was a woman. A woman, who by Ce's description, could not lift one of the guard bodies. I think the one who did this was a man. As the maid last night had attested to.
"Also," Zhou Yu said as he began to pace. "The woman assassin was fond of daggers. It was lodged in one of the guards' throat. The weapon used here was clearly a long sword. The woman of Ce's description could not wield such a sword as much as was clearly shown without extreme fatigue."
Sun Jian sighed. "I see your point."
"Pop," Sun Ce said as he stood up. "I think you should post generals here instead of regular guards and also at the room the maid is in. We need someone with experience guarding these rooms."
"I agree." Sun Jian nodded. "Huang Gai!"
Sun Ce made his way back over to Zhou Yu and stood beside him.
"Your brother was looking at you again, Ce."
Sun Ce snorted. "Yeah. I noticed."
"Do you still intend to keep him at a distance?" Zhou Yu asked him. He turned to his sworn brother with his eyebrow raised. "That was your intention, was it not? To keep them all at a distance while you sorted you problems with Selene out?"
"You gotta better idea?" Ce said with a little bit of irritation in his voice.
Zhou Yu shrugged. "I'm just wondering if it is your family you should keep at a distance, or Selene."
Sun Ce looked down as he digested this last suggestion from his sworn brother and strategist. He then shook his head.
"If what we thought about them is right, Zhou Yu, she potentially gave her life for mine. You and I both agreed that we did not like the thought of them dying to protect us. So how can we distance ourselves and protect them also?"
Sun Ce turned to look at Zhou Yu. "And you did know that you would need to distance yourself from your primary maid, too? They are watching both of us."
Zhou Yu sighed. "I was aware of that."
"Alright, now that we are on the same page, tell me. How do we distance ourselves from our maids but protect them also?" Ce asked.
Zhou Yu just stood silently by Ce, watching Sun Jian bark orders.
Sun Ce sighed. "Yeah, I was scared you were going to say that."
Zhou Yu turned to him with a raised eyebrow. "Well, there is another thing we need to consider."
Ce breathed out a sarcastic laugh. "There always is. What is it?"
"This could all be fake. Aurora injured her hand to gain my trust. And Selene is out to seduce you and get information out of you."
"Impossible." Ce replied immediately.
Zhou Yu raised his eyebrow again. "How so?"
"She could have done it already. Last night, or in the hallway before that." Ce looked at Yu. "We needed distance for more than one reason, buddy."
"It makes sense of a lot of things. Like why she didn't kill you that night." Yu suggested.
Sun Ce was silent for a long moment. Finally, he let out a long breath. "Then I'll beat her at her own game. I think it's about time I started fighting fire with fire, eh, Zhou Yu?"
"What do you mean?" Zhou Yu looked at his sworn brother, confused.
Sun Ce smiled a dark, cryptic smile. "I mean she's not the only one who can charm and seduce. She's not the only one who can play with velvet. The basement is the perfect atmosphere, don't you think? It's dark, enchanting, seductive in it's simplistic make up."
He looked away from Zhou Yu with a new fire in his eyes. "If it's a seduction she wants, then a seduction she shall have." he promised.
Zhou Yu shook his head. "I don't like it, Ce. Playing with this fire will eventually get yourself burned. It's a miracle it hasn't already. You should distance yourself instead. To lose Quan's suspicion and not draw any more attention."
Sun Ce shook his head once. "I can't do that, Yu. You see, this morning, in the hallway, she did something. She challenged me." He looked at Yu. "I can't just ignore a challenge, can I?"
Zhou Yu just let out a long breath but didn't say anything.
Sun Ce smiled and looked at Yu. "What? Nothing more to say, oh great strategist?"
"What do you want me to say?" Yu asked, exasperated. "I ask you to distance yourself, and you wish to get closer. I tell you to sleep with a spear, and you sleep with your maid. If you don't mind, I'll save my breath and watch as all hell breaks loose."
Sun Ce laughed. "So what about you? What are you going to do?"
Zhou Yu remained silent.
Not because he didn't want to voice his choices to his sworn brother. Or not because he didn't trust Ce. He trusted him completely.
No, he remained silent because, as he watched Sun Jian approach them, he didn't know what he was going to do with the maid who was beginning to turn his very existence upside down.
"Jeez, how long does it take to look at a room?" Xiao Qiao huffed as she paced in front of the bench that Da Qiao was sitting on while they were waiting with the other stay maids for the generals to get through examining the closet.
"If it was us, sis, we would have been done by now!" Xiao said, and when she didn't get any answer from Da, she stopped her pacing right in front of her sister. She placed both hands on her hips and huffed down at Da.
"Instead of sitting there like some expressionless statue, you could talk, ya know?"
Da Qiao's eyes flicked up to her sister's glowing ones. With surprising patience, she replied. "I am busy at the current moment, Aurora, trying to decode the message the assassin has left us." Her lips turned up into what could be called a mini snarl. "With all this following around and everything, it is the only thing I can do."
Xiao deflated. "Oh. Yeah. Sorry. How far did you get?"
Humor shown in Da's eyes. "Not far with your ranting, I'm afraid."
Xiao deflated even more and blushed. "Oh…"
Da Qiao smiled at her younger sister. She leaned in to get Xiao's attention. "We are on a joint assignment, Xiao. If you want, you can pull up that bench," she motioned to the one across the hall, "and you and I can figure it out together."
Xiao's eyes met Da's again and she smiled. "Okay!" Xiao turned and pulled the bench up to Da.
The rest of the maids were crowding around the opening of the hallway, trying to obey not crossing the threshold but also trying to see the activity in the closet. Xiao and Da, however, were set apart in the back of the crowd so they could talk freely without being overheard.
"So what do you have?" Xiao asked as she sat across Da and started to swing one of her legs.
Da glanced at the movement but didn't get onto Xiao for it. "Like I said, not much." she sighed.
"Give me what you do have." Xiao implored.
"Alright. Well, there was two guards-"
"Two of us." Xiao interrupted smoothly.
Da nodded. "Correct. What I'm having trouble with, is the cut marks. They were meant to make an impression. A massacre. Very gruesome and very distinct in him doing so. It was a message."
"Of what?" Xiao asked.
"I think of foreboding. An ill omen."
"An ill omen to whom? Us? Or someone else?" Xiao really didn't know if she wanted to know what Da was thinking on the subject anymore.
Da sighed. "That's where I'm stuck. He did attack you."
"But he's killed more Wu people." Xiao pointed out. "He said my guild name though. I wonder if he knows yours…" Xiao said in a thoughtful tone.
Da sighed and sat back in the bench. She then sighed again and looked away with an eye roll.
"What?" Xiao asked.
"The headmistress is approaching."
Xiao turned and, sure enough, the headmistress was indeed coming. "Oh, what does she want now? I swear I'm going to take her and-""
"Ladies! The corridors need to be lit. Everyone on the left of this hallway, get the left corridor. Everyone on the right, get the right corridor. Come on! Let's move, move, move!"
Xiao grumbled, causing Da to laugh. Da squeezed Xiao's uninjured hand. "Stay safe. Wear the shadows."
"Yeah, yeah." Xiao said as she grumbled and did as she was told.
She turned and waved bye to Da before disappearing around the corridor.
She turned to see the headmistress looking at her, and she just humped and held her head high while walking down the corridor to help light the blazers.
What was that headmistress's deal anyways? So what if she was Zhou Yu's head maid at one point. He was bound to get a replacement eventually. And why was the headmistress so jealous of that fact.
The answer was obvious. The headmistress had a crush on Zhou Yu. Xiao Qiao could certainly understand why. As the headmistress had pointed out the day of Xiao's arrival, Zhou Yu was a man with charms.
Charms that were dangerous to women's hearts everywhere.
But, Xiao thought as she lit a blazer, Zhou Yu didn't use his poetry charms on the headmistress…did he?
Xiao Qiao pondered this new thought. No. There was no way he did. She was unique, right? He only recited poetry like last night to her. In that manner. And the rose? Was she the only one he gave those to? What about the almost kiss? Did he kiss other girls on a regular basis?
Xiao Qiao suddenly stopped her movements. Could… could she be jealous?
Xiao Qiao shook her head and resumed lighting blazers. No. There was no way she could be jealous. She didn't care for him that way…
Did she?
Xiao Qiao suddenly jumped back when she was about to light a blazer as a movement from the shadows caught her eye. She stared at the darkness for a long moment, trying to see the movement again. What she saw made her breath catch.
She saw a shadowy figure run and disappear around a corner. She narrowed her eyes, knowing exactly who it was, and looked at the maids down the hall. She didn't see anyone watching so she turned and ran in the direction of the shadow, not caring if it was a trap or not. She had a score to settle.
She turned and saw it disappear down another corner, and she gave chase. She turned the corner and there, standing at the end of the lit hallway, was the assassin who tortured her that morning.
Da Qiao was walking back with her group, her thoughts troubled. Despite how confident she tried to seem around Xiao, she was anything but.
When she had accepted the contract to kill Sun Ce, she had thought it was going to be a quick and easy mission. One that wouldn't take much effort.
How wrong she had been.
She had every intention on killing him that night. That's why she scaled the castle walls, climbed onto his balcony, picked his lock, and entered his room.
But during that one moment of eye contact, everything had changed. And now, she was stuck in this mess with only herself to blame for the way things were. Because she refrained from completing her contract, refrained to take Sun Ce's life that very fateful night, she was stuck in this state of affairs.
To make matters worse, Xiao Qiao was also involved in the sheer pandemonium. And for that, Da could never forgive herself.
She had tried to decode the other assassin's message but wasn't getting anywhere in that endeavor. However, it wasn't because of Xiao's ranting as she had claimed, it was because her thoughts seemed to be centered around that arrogant, infuriating Prince.
Which was another reason why she was mad at him.
But that moment last night, that moment when he had comforted her, made her feel more safe than she had ever felt in her short life, she felt grateful to him. He had been there in her time of need, and in return, she was going to take the most precious thing from him.
His life.
Da Qiao came back with the rest of her group, arms wrapped around her waist in a comforting gesture, just as the generals emerged. Several of the maids joined their masters.
She saw Sun Ce and Zhou Yu walk out, following Sun Jian who was saying something to Ce. Sun Ce held his hand up and shook his head before voicing his disagreement.
Da Qiao stared at him. Everything about him spoke of his destiny to rule. His personality, his looks, the goodness of his heart that shined through everything. He would one day be the best ruler in the world.
But if she had her way, he, nor his people, would ever see one moment of that greatness. That thought made her stomach churn.
She could've made her way over there and joined Sun Ce then, but decided to wait for Xiao.
Da looked over as the group from the left corridor came back, and she expected to see Xiao. However, when the whole group had returned, Xiao was nowhere to be seen.
Da Qiao's eyes widened in shock and she quickly looked at Zhou Yu and Sun Ce, who were talking with Sun Jian. She slowly turned and walked silently away from the horde of people, and down the corridor Xiao was supposed to be.
Her sister was no where to be seen.
She stopped her silent walking and broke into a quick jog and ran to find Xiao.
If that assassin was behind this…
She couldn't finish that thought. She only ran faster.
"Sun Ce, I really think we should double your personal guard," Sun Jian said for the hundredth time.
Sun Ce did the usual reaction and shook his head. "I'm not taking it, Pop. I already told you this. The assassin would think I was scared and he or she had the upper hand. I ain't givin him that kind of credit."
Sun Jian shook his head, exasperated. "Ce, look-"
Sun Ce raised his hand. "No, Pop. The guard didn't matter the first time, and it's not going to matter a second time. If anything this closet should show you that guards obviously do not slow this assassin down."
As soon as Ce had said that, he looked of into the crowd of maids and guards and generals, piqued that Selene had not joined his side yet.
Sun Jian let out a sigh and looked at Zhou Yu, who had watched the exchange without saying anything, pleadingly.
Zhou Yu shook his head with an apologetic smile. "He has a point, my-"
"Where's my maid?" Sun Ce said as he looked over the sea of people.
"What?" Sun Jian said, the question catching him off guard.
"My maid, Selene. She isn't here." Ce said with obvious curiosity and maybe worry if Sun Jian was seeing right.
"Aurora isn't either." Zhou Yu said then looked at Sun Jian's questioning face. "My maid." he explained.
"Headmistress!" Sun Jian yelled out for her.
"Yes, my lord?" She came at once with a low bow.
"Where are my son and my strategist's maids?" He asked quickly.
The headmistress blinked at the question. "I just sent them to light the blazers in the surrounding hallways." She said, causing Zhou Yu and Sun Ce to visibly relax.
"But they should be back by now." She remarked as she looked at the crowd, causing Ce and Yu to tense up again. "I sent Aurora down that corridor," she gestured to one, "and Selene to that one. And both groups are back."
One of the headmistress's hands went to her mouth and she faced the lords again. "Now that I think about it, my lord, I recall seeing Selene come back, but not Aurora. Perhaps Selene-"
Zhou Yu shot passed the headmistress, running in the direction she had pointed that Aurora had went down.
"-went to see about her sister." She finished breathlessly.
"Shit!" Sun Ce cursed before running after Zhou Yu.
Sun Jian yelled at the surrounding generals and guards. "Spread out and search for the missing maids! Leave nothing unturned!"
He then turned and shared a look with Sun Quan.
"We meet again, Deceiving Rose." he said to her.
Xiao's eye narrowed with anger. "I owe you for this morning."
The assassin looked like he was going to say something, but Xiao didn't give him a chance. She charged.
She ran down the corridor at him and swung with her uninjured hand. The assassin looked uninterested, and simply ducked before trying to reach for her other hand. Xiao spun and grabbed his neck and kicked his feet out from underneath him before sending him crashing to the floor again.
She spun out of his reach, but he wasn't aiming for her. He got up slowly, seething that she had made him hit ground yet again. Before Xiao could react, he pounced.
He came at her with full force. It took everything Xiao had to keep blocking his moves.
He was so quick!
She kept dodging and knocking his blows at her off balance but she panicked when her back hit the wall behind her. She kept trying her best to dodge his blows, but his elbow struck out when she had dodged his hand, and hit her in her chest.
She slammed against the wall and the air flew out of her. With her momentarily stunned, the assassin saw an opportunity and took it.
He pulled on her wrist and kneed her stomach before throwing her onto the floor.
Xiao took several deep breaths to try to get the air back into her system and she tried to get up. She only got onto her knees when the assassin grabbed her injured hand hard.
Xiao gritted her teeth, and tried her hardest not to gasp or cry out. She felt the assassin lean in towards her ear, and through gritted teeth of his own, he said one chilling word.
"Scream."
And he squeezed her hand.
Finally, a short chapter. Well, shorter than the last. I honestly had a different ending but I didn't like it. Not one bit. So I did some major rewriting and switching things up and finally got this. At least I'm updating faster! Feel free to drop a review on the way out.
And a lil note to WhisperMyGoodnight, No, you don't need to reread the other story. I think it's obvious that My Poisonous Kiss has officially caught, and held, my interest lately haha!
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