Chapter 13: To Love an Awakened Being

He Fei Castle

Convulsing, Zhou Tai slammed to the ground, veins bulging from his sweat-drenched face. He could feel the Yoki he had overused mutating his face, warping it into something almost reptilian. Razor-sharp teeth had burst from his lips, deforming his countenance into a new genus of Awakened Being. How could this be!he thought desperately, his pounding chest about to explode. All I wanted to do was to protect her. He tried to kill her… I had no choice. I did not know it was this easy to lose control. The world was flashing before him, and he could make out, just barely, the corpses of his men, and the body of Rigardo. But despite the carnage that surrounded him, he could feel nothing, nothing except exquisite gratification.

I had no idea it felt this wonderful…

Although he hated himself for it, the only sensation that passed through every fibre in his being was joy, delicious joy. His loins were aflame, his body trembling in violent, sexual lust. It was as if all the women in the world could not satisfy this arousal. Was this what Cynthia had meant? This insidious, passionate stirring… Oh, to give in, just for a moment! It would be like surrendering to the arms of a cruel, sadistic lover. He knew he would lose everything, his dignity, his body, and his life… yet he craved nothing more than capitulation to this splendid consciousness.

Where is your discipline? What happened to your training? What are you becoming?

He looked to his side, at the benevolent, beautiful, crying lady who had saved his life, and to his horror, he could not stop himself from snarling bestially, baring his sharpened teeth, and licking his jowls with a long, serpentine tongue. He wanted nothing more than to tear off her clothes, force apart her legs, to choke her into submission while he raped her senseless. He wanted to hear her scream while he tore into her fragile body and devoured her bowels and viscera. It would be a pleasure unto death… to fuck her, bash her head against the ground until it was nothing more than broken bone and cartilage, and then fuck her again.

"Cyn… thia…" he croaked, his hoarse voice beseeching. "…Kill… me…"

She put a hand to her mouth, shaking her head in desperate denial.

His heart panicked. Did she think that he could still smother and subdue this rising Yoki? The only choice left was death! He looked pleadingly at her, his yellow, fiendish eyes glaring into her distraught irises. I cannot suppress this… any longer. "End… my life… as is… needed."

"No," she whimpered, lifting her sword from the ground. "Tai, no."

His demonic face, in a most peculiar way, smiled. His yellow orbs shone with regret. "The… honour… was… mine."

She stared at his hunched form. Weeping softly, she dropped her sword again. It thumped onto the ground. She could not do it. It was so different. How could she have ever thought of beheading him? She barely had the heart to kill Awakened Beings; how could she bear to slay this handsome, gentle man, who had become a half-Yoma through her own blunder?

"Cynthia… I beg of you…"

If she didn't do something now… thanks to his already formidable power, his Awakening would render him an invincible monster. He would destroy his own friends, his men. He would ravage his nation, slaughtering his people and devouring their innards. Such a tragedy had to be prevented – she owed it to him!

But the pleasure that was coursing through his veins… it was undoubtedly overpowering, and she could not blame him for being unable to resist it. But what could possibly defeat such satisfying pleasure? She bit her lip. There was only one thing she could think of that could just bring more meaning to him than Awakening itself. Perhaps it would draw him away from the agony and delight of the moment. It was a wild gamble. But there was nothing left to lose.

Amidst the surviving throng of soldiers and in plain sight of Zhang Liao and Xu Huang, Cynthia threw herself at Zhou Tai and planted a long, hard, passionate kiss on his lips. Clasping him to her, she pushed herself against him harder as he flailed wildly, his aura of Yoki incinerating the grass and vegetation around them. He was frothing at the mouth, and his eyes were bloodshot, even whilst flooded with that sickly, yellow colour. Inside the churning swirl of power, she wrapped her arms around his shoulders, her face against his. "Look at me, Tai!" she cried, as she felt his sharp teeth cutting into her lips and tongue. "Look at me." He shuddered uncontrollably – a pathetic sight, had she not protectively shielded his helpless body from his men. Another eddying geyser of energy enveloped them, and she silently prayed that she had managed to divert his pleasure from that of Awakening… to that of her kiss. She winced as warm blood spurted from her mouth, but she didn't care. The wet, angry sting was nothing compared to the grief she would feel in being forced to slay him. "Please, focus on me," she beseeched breathlessly. "Don't lose yourself in this. You've got to pull yourself away, back to our world!"

The choice she had made was a vain and arrogant idea, a fancy that she had entertained ever since he embraced her by the river that night… when he had begged her for help.

"Stay with me! I know you can! I'm here, and I'm not leaving you."

She did not even know if he reciprocated that fantasy. If he didn't… she did not know how else to save him.

"You've gone through too much because of me. For that, I'm not going to turn my back on you. I'm not going to fail you. I'm not going to end your life, because there's always a second chance!"

Her eyes were strong. "I'll bring you back, or die trying!"

She blushed feverishly as she continued to kiss him amidst the shocked cries and whispers of the Wu troops, but it didn't matter now. She didn't care about Zhang Liao or Xu Huang's scandalized expressions. She could do nothing but hope, as the atmosphere around them developed into an even more intense maelstrom. If he could just feel her touch, her sincerity for just a moment… then perhaps, just perhaps, the desire of Awakening would fade away. He would embrace her, instead of the fiendish destiny that had been unjustly thrust upon him.

At last, he responded amidst the shriek of his own aura. He stopped shaking ever so slightly, and no longer was his voice a thunderous howl.

At last… hope.

He moaned, the swirling of Yoki around him fading. His body seemed to relax, and his teeth slowly but surely retreated to their human size. He groaned again, his scarred, yellow eyes fluttering in uncertainty, fear, and… acknowledgement. His hands seemed to still – and they slowly moved to return her adoring cuddle.

"Cyn… thi… a…" he whispered, his voice tormented with guilt and self-reproach.

"Oh, Tai," she whispered, kissing him again, her eyes encouraging as he remained unable to rise, the weight of his black armour too much for his weakened body. She repeated his name, hugging him tighter, refusing to release him. An implosion radiated from their bodies, sweeping up the grass and trees around them, and sending several Wu survivors falling back. A pillar of kaleidoscopic light shot into the heavens as Zhou Tai steadied himself. Still on her knees, Cynthia did not let go until the energy around them had dissipated entirely, dispersing into the heavy, thick air. She gazed at him lovingly, watching him regain his breath, patiently waiting for the bulging veins to recede back into his face… and for his eyes to return to their handsome silver.

After several nerve-racking moments, his breathing finally normalized. His vaguely reptilian features reverted to their human form. The aura around them dissipated, vanishing into the air completely. Nothing remained, except she and he, holding one another in a loving embrace and surrounded by the soldiers of Wu.

He could not speak; only stare at her in disbelief. He had returned.

He lowered his helmed head in quiet shame. He could not meet the gaze of his men. He could not meet the gaze of the Claymore who pressed her head against his breastplate. "What… have I become?" he murmured, disgrace in his quiet voice. His secret had been revealed for all to see.

"It's okay, Tai," said Cynthia breathlessly. Despite her acute embarrassment at having kissed him in front of his men and two of Wei's greatest leaders, she could not help smiling in joy as she stole another one from his thin lips. "It's okay. You haven't left us. And I promise… you never will."

Not with me here.

Slightly dazed, Zhang Liao stepped forward, pointing a halberd at Zhou Tai. "I'm not too sure exactly what happened," he said cautiously, "but your soldiers lie scattered; your body exhausted, and your foreign lady heavily wounded. You are in no capacity to challenge He Fei Castle any longer. I'm sure you realize the limitation of your current position.

"Yet our victory against this Rigardo could not have been achieved without you. For that, I offer you an ultimatum: withdraw your army and leave, and I will not take advantage of your weakened state. Refuse, and I will have no choice but to cut you down in an ignoble manner that would degrade us both as warriors."

Cynthia gently helped Zhou Tai up. Her voice was clear and lucid as she faced Zhang Liao. "I believe I speak for General Zhou when I accept your offer," she said, with notable decorum. "We thank you for your timely assistance and will retreat accordingly."

The Wei commander nodded. "You have proven yourself an intelligent and noble fighter." A ghost of a smile flittered across his face. "Would that you were fighting for us."

She looked at Zhou Tai hopefully. "I trust I said the right thing?" she asked meekly. He nodded, giving a small, affirming smile. His words were grateful, exhausted, and final.

"Withdraw for now."

*

Zhang Liao and Xu Huang ensured that the entire Wu Army was no longer visible from He Fei Castle's battlements before daring to relax their vigilance. Still, they were overawed by Cao Cao's plan of defence. "It was an excellent strategy," said Xu Huang, as he stemmed the flow of blood from his chest wound with a cloth. "His Excellency's boldness and cunning are truly superhuman."

"To abandon the city and lure Rigardo inside, and to have him engage the Wu forces… killing two birds with one stone," agreed Zhang Liao. "Now I understand why our Lord did not wish us to engage unless the Wu Army was disadvantaged. If they were foolish enough to push onward into the castle, we would have easily torn through them. Now, it seems we won't need to." He could not help nodding. "His Excellency has won two battles without endangering any of our men."

"King Cao Cao is truly longsighted," praised Xu Huang, sitting down on a cask that lay behind the fort. "Sun Quan's arrogance has led him to this trap. Wu's offensive strength has been crippled anew. How can they possibly stop us now?"

"Indeed," said Zhang Liao. "Wu and Shu resemble the bothersome weeds that crop up in His Excellency's garden." He stroked his thin moustache. "Yet… just what are these creatures' intentions? These Awakened Beings," he mused.

"And that Wu commander… Zhou Tai," muttered Xu Huang. "He was extremely powerful – perhaps even more powerful than our leonine foe. It is clear that he shares similar abilities to these foreign invaders. How could that be possible?" He closed his eyes briefly. That man's eyes had been filled with hate, and it seemed natural that only the kiss of a woman could have expunged that darkness. "I am beginning to wonder if we should not petition our Lord to launch a systematic expedition against our inhuman aggressors. I have an inkling that they pose a far greater threat than Wu or Shu could ever offer."

Zhang Liao nodded. "I am even beginning to question whether we should be fighting our rival states at all."

*

Two days later

They had returned home to Jiangdong, their gruelling battle over at last. Cynthia's severe wounds had more or less healed, and while Zhou Tai's Yoki was not as potent as hers, he now felt strong enough to walk without her support. It was just as well. The polite but heavy silence from his men was becoming terribly awkward. But to Cynthia, it felt wonderful returning to the military barracks by the Yangtze River. If anything, it was for only one reason: to hide in Zhou Tai's quarters all day long. Her armour lay carelessly discarded on top of his in the corner of the tent, and she slept dreamlessly on his bed, having playfully kicked him out of his own divan. He relented with little resistance, smiling in amusement as he sat by her slumbering body, stroking with loving gratitude her blonde, fair hair. Something had changed between them after his brush with Awakening. Things between them felt somehow… smoother, far less formal than it had been beforehand. And frankly, it felt fantastic.

After almost an hour of admiring her in silence, he dipped down, his lips brushing at her forehead. She had given him their first kiss, and now he wished to repay her tenfold. Their King had summoned them for a hearing of recent events. It was a daunting prospect, but there was no benefit in avoiding the edict. Zhou Tai was profoundly and rightly ashamed. He was a fool to believe he could keep the disgraceful secret of his Yoma blood for long.

At his summoning touch, the eyes of the woman on his bed reluctantly fluttered open. "Oh," she mumbled. "Is it time already?" He nodded. She sighed, her cosy voice tickling his desire. "Oh, alright." She turned on her back, smiling up at him. Only a thin blanket and her underwear separated her soft body from his hands.

You were so strong, she thought, as he shyly offered her another kiss, their lips uniting again. You were so brave to have been able to stop yourself. I played a small part, really. It was your discipline that helped you to see past the power and pleasure of Awakening. It helped you to see me.

To touch her was to touch a goddess. It was you who pulled me away from my terrible mistake. For that, I cannot thank you enough.

He was too shy to say it, but his heart sang nevertheless.

My sweet nightingale.

*

They kneeled together in the Wu Court, avoiding the young gaze of their youthful and muscular master, Sun Quan. "Is this true, General Zhou?" he asked tersely. "That you accepted the flesh of a Yoma after the Battle at the Red Cliffs?"

Zhou Tai bowed his head. "It is true, my Lord."

"No," defended Cynthia anxiously. "It wasn't his decision. It was the only thing we could do to save his life. Your general was lethally wounded. It was a risk we decided to take."

Sun Quan shook his ponytailed head. "Yoma blood… and Awakening…" He shook his head in disbelief. "Why… why did you not tell me, old friend?"

"I deserve nothing less than the harshest punishment, my Lord. I killed my own men in my frenzy. I would have become a living nightmare were it not for Lady Cynthia. The failure of this expedition is mine alone to bear."

"Please, haven't I made it clear that it wasn't his choice?" cried Cynthia, ignoring the disapproving whispers of the civil servants. She had already explained their predicament several times and was prepared to explain more. "He pulled through – isn't that what matters? He toppled an Awakened Being through his newfound strength. He managed to revert back – "

Sun Quan held up a hand. "General Zhou… has been a long-time friend. He has saved me many times from the ill will of enemies. He was my bodyguard and I promoted him to the General of Valour for a very good reason. I won't cast him away. Never." He gave an uneasy smile. "But still… this is a considerable gamble. And having heard my scouts' report…" he grimaced. "It seems we've suffered many more casualties than I expected." Even as Cynthia breathed a sigh of relief and Zhou Tai closed his eyes in gratitude, the King of Wu sat back, his expression uncertain. He rubbed his forehead. "First the Yoma, and now, this disaster at He Fei… is there no way to bring an end to this war, once and for all?"

At his troubled words, a young man with tanned skin and a youthful face stepped forward. His countenance was that of a scholar, a young prodigy who seemed destined for great things. "May I speak, my Lord?"

Sun Quan smiled. "Please, Master Lu Xun."

"I would suggest that we focus a substantial portion of our efforts against the Yoma that desecrated our victory at Chi Bi. For that purpose, the assistance of Lady Cynthia is not enough. I have taken the liberty of recruiting another warrior into the Wu Kingdom, one who is of high standing amongst her peers. She is a most qualified candidate – according to her own testimony, she once Awakened, but managed to revert back to her human state. I believe her experience and knowledge will be of immense benefit to General Zhou, who will certainly need all the help he can get.

"Apparently, she is her Organization's Number Nine. They call her the mistress of the Drill Sword – Jean."