Negotiations had been made, though it was difficult. Jack managed to convince his parents to let Jiayi stay, but only if they got to meet her and talk with her. Thus why he was now braving the wretchedly hot sunlight to make his way to the temple. When she had told him that she would stay there, he instantly became worried. The possibility of her leaving him for the side of good was always on his mind. It was only made worse by the thought of Raimundo being near her. With her staying at the temple, it gave him more opportunities to be alone with her.
Arriving at the temple, he first spotted Kimiko and Clay. Glaring, his shoulders hunched and sweat making his eyeliner run, he stopped in front of them. "Where's my girlfriend?"
Kimiko raised an eyebrow. "Didn't you guys break up?"
Already irked by the hot weather, Jack scowled. "No! Why would we break up?! I just had to talk to my mom about her living there and-!"
"Raimundo said you broke up," Clay interrupted.
The redhead sighed in exasperation. "Of course. Well where is she?"
"I don't know. They went to deliver some medicine to that one village a while ago and haven't come back yet." Kimiko met his frantic gaze with a calm one. "What? Are you worried? She's over a thousand years old. You've seen her fight Chase Young; she can take care of herself."
"I know that! I just don't like her being alone with him!" Jack drew his phone from his pocket and attempted to call Jiayi. There was no answer. His heart began to race, imagining all sorts of horrible scenarios.
"Are you really that insecure? He just wanted to help her. I think." Now Kimiko frowned. Her eyes shifted to Clay for a moment and saw a flicker of worry that mirrored her own. "Alright. Maybe I can track her with my phone. I mean, I found her that time she went to the Land of Nowhere, right? How hard can it be to…?" Her frown deepened, gaze fixed upon her phone's screen. "Where do you think she might have gone?"
Shift P.O.V
Both immortals were bruised and bleeding, one more so than the other. Jiayi clutched her bleeding side, torn open by his claws, her amber eyes narrowed into a glare. The two had gone back and forth between beast forms and human forms. She had done some damage to him as well, but he was healing faster than her. But it's more than that. It isn't just his fast healing that's making this match uneven. The young woman swayed her hips side to side, not taking her gaze off of him. "Chase…I wonder. Just how long do you think you can keep this up?"
There was blood running down the side of his face from a deep claw mark. With a smirk, he licked his lips. "I can keep going until you submit."
Ignoring the intense pain that wracked her body, she snorted. "Hm? So we're back to that, are we? Just as I originally thought."
"If that's what it takes to make you join me."
Her amusement faded as he rushed her, forcing her to dodge a strike aimed at her head. Alright. So now I know what's making him so much fiercer. He's determined. Great. I can be determined too! She wanted to shift into her tiger form again, but knew it was simply not possible. Chase had left large slashes across her chest and back. If she changed forms now, it would tear the wounds further. She would need to wait until they were healed before she could even attempt it.
"Just concede defeat and we can end this fight. We can begin our reign."
"I've said it before and I'll say it again. Even if I did want to rule the world, it would never be with you. At your side or otherwise." She jumped back when he suddenly appeared before her, sending her backing into a wall. The girl cringed as he lifted a hand, knowing that if he struck now that there was no dodging it. An energy blast at this proximity would knock me out. I'm pretty sure that means conceding defeat, if I can't stand on my own.
Seeing her cower gave him no pleasure. Chase did, however, enjoy feeling her shiver beneath his fingertips as he caressed the side of her face. "How much longer do you intend to fight it? Do you really think that you can beat me?"
Jiayi hated that he made her feel weak. Simply touching the side of her face made her quiver and color rushed to her cheeks. "Y-you know I'm just bait, don't you?"
He leaned down to her ear, his teeth closing sharply on it for a moment and feeling her body tense. "Bait for what exactly?"
"H-Hannibal Roy Bean. He…made me this way to use me…to control you," she weakly explained. His body pressed against hers and she bit her lip to suppress a whimper. I haven't had Lao Mang Lone soup in a while. Is that why he's affecting me this way? Weaker evil…subconsciously fearing a stronger evil, maybe? Jiayi felt his free hand at the hem of her skirt, tracing up the back of her thigh lightly. "Don't-!"
"Do you think I care about such trivial things?" Chase drew back enough to meet her gaze. Evil flickered in their amber depths and it seemed to fuel his need for her. Lifting Jiayi's pale face toward his, he smirked. "I should probably thank him. I couldn't ask for a better woman to spend eternity with."
When his lips met hers, she felt her pulse quicken. Pale fingers dug into his long, black hair and he pressed tighter against her. Jiayi could feel his growl through the kiss and it sent a pleasant shiver throughout her body. Why though?! Why does it get like this? I want to tear him apart for everything he's done, but then I also…want to…Her teeth caught his lower lip and bit gently. As much as she wanted to hate him, as much as she wanted to kill him, she could feel herself growing wet. Her eyes snapped open when he thrust his hips against hers, meeting his stare. Within his eyes was a lust so fierce that it made her tremble with fear.
Chase pulled away and glared down at the girl. Though neither had conceded defeat, he was fairly certain that he had won this battle. Her wounds were healing before his eyes and he could feel his own injuries mending themselves. "You will join me," he finally stated. His fingertips ran along her thigh for a moment before pulling her leg up to wrap it around his waist. "Once you have joined me, there will be no stopping us. We will be the ultimate evil. Now tell me what I want to hear."
She could feel her strength fading. Not just from the way he stared her down, but from the wounds and the internal battle of fighting back the evil in her veins. It was spiking throughout their fight and it took all of her willpower to not let it consume her. Even if I'm injured. Even if I'm dying, torn into a million pieces. I can't let the evil take over me! I can't let him win! With a clawed hand, she swung at his face.
He stepped back in an almost casual manner. For a brief instant, there was disappointment in his eyes. It was quickly replaced with amusement when she pursued him. As much as he might have enjoyed hearing her say it then and there, this was much better. The longer they fought, the more meaning her words would hold to him. "How does it feel to pursue someone?" he taunted. When her eyes narrowed upon Chase, he smirked. "Oh, that's right. I almost forgot. You spent most of your mortal life pursuing him, didn't you? What did it feel like to pursue someone you could never have?"
"Why don't you tell me?" Jiayi lunged forward and struck him square in the chest with an energy blast. She saw his face contort into a scowl as he skidded back and into a wall, hard enough to shake the room. His armor was unmarked, but she could tell by the flicker of pain in his eyes that she had hurt him. "Wow. That looked painful. What's it like? Is it worse or the about the same as rejection?"
"Why don't you tell me?" Chase appeared behind her and struck her between her shoulder blades. Her body was sent flying forward, but she twisted and skidded to a stop before she could hit the wall. He was soon upon her again, gripping her wrists and pinning them above her head with one hand. "If I hit you in the chest from this proximity-"
"Do it! I dare you! Spend all of your strength on something so stupid! You seem to forget that I'm not alone, you arrogant cretin!" Her hips swayed as he leaned down to the side of her neck, nipping gently at her pale skin. Why is he doing that?! This is a fight! Does he really think that this is going to make me join him?
The immortal man closed his eyes and let his hips thrust against hers. No matter how close he got to her, it never seemed to be enough. "You're going to break eventually and when that happens, I intend to reclaim what belongs to me."
"You think that you can break me?"
"I know that I can break you. There are so many ways that I could do it. You're just lucky that I chose this one."
Jiayi felt an immense pain in her lower abdomen and it took her a moment to realize that his knee was firmly planted in her stomach. "Ngh!" She gritted her teeth against the pain and bit back a yelp as his left fist drove into her chest. The actions were repeated, over and over. The pain grew with each hit and as Jiayi felt consciousness begin to slip away, her hands were released. She slid to the floor, blood running from the corner of her mouth.
He crouched in front of her, a hand gripping her chin to force her to meet his gaze. "What do you say to my offer now?"
She glared up at him and winced when he leaned down to lick blood from the edge of her lips. "I will never join you." Locks of her long, dark blue hair fell to cover her left eye and gave her a menacing, feral appearance.
"Let me put this in simple terms." His hold on her chin tightened. "I could destroy everything that you care about. I could destroy that pathetic insect that you seem to love, your previous little hero, and all of the monks. I could even destroy Guan if I truly wanted to. If that is what it will take to finally break you, then so be it. We can live together for eternity with their blood on your hands."
As much as it pained her, Jiayi knew that she would not be able to fight him again and again at this level. Worse yet was the panic that she felt at the thought of losing everything that she loved. Everyone that mattered in her life could be taken from her in a second by this man. A growl began at the back of her throat. A growl of anger and frustration. Guan. He was a martyr for so long, watching over me. Keeping me from returning to evil. I'm going to be betraying him if I agree to join Chase Young. But…it's my turn to be a martyr. I'll sacrifice my sanity. My happiness. To protect everyone. If I'm close to him, I can at least keep him from hurting those that I love. Her shoulders drooped as she looked into his eyes. "Fine. I'll join you."
"You don't know how glad I am to hear you say that." There was definitely joy in his gaze, but it was nearly overshadowed by something else. "What else do you have to say?"
She gritted her teeth and released a low snarl at the back of her throat. "I will not say it."
"I can wait then." Chase released her and stood, turning toward the room's only door. "Now what will we do about your little hero? Do you suppose he wants to join us?"
"Don't…don't try to convert him! Just-!"
"Is that what you thought I meant?" He gave her a cruel, impious look over his shoulder. "You don't need to worry about that. Besides, I won't have to do a thing to convert him to the Heylin side. Seeing that you have joined me will be all the prompting that he will need."
Jiayi pushed herself to stand, glowering at his smirk. "He's stronger than that."
"You think it's about whether he's strong or weak?" Chase turned to her fully, wearing a dark yet amused expression. "I suppose you also think that he brought you here just to help you. You think he has your best interest at heart? Everything that he does is for his own benefit. But isn't that how everyone is?"
"You don't know that! You couldn't possibly know another person's true motives!"
His eyes narrowed down upon her and he took a step closer. Immediately, Jiayi stepped back. "Is that any way to speak to-?"
"Sorry." As much as she hated to apologize for her words, as much as she hated lowering her gaze in submission, she hated even more the thought of him hurting her friends. They can't come here then. If they come here and I have to fight them…I could never forgive myself if that happened. Very slowly, with much internal hatred building, she lifted a hand and caressed the side of his face. The young woman leaned up to his ear and, blushing, whispered, "So tell me. How can I make it up to you?"
The man's hands found her hips and he pulled her body tight against his own. "I think I would prefer to hear you beg."
Jiayi wanted to slap him with a clawed paw, but stopped herself. The girl's evilness was spiking again and it seemed to fuel her inadvertent seduction. Wait. Why should it be inadvertent? If I can distract him with something, it will buy Raimundo enough time to escape. She moved her hips side to side, meeting his gaze and wearing an evil half-smile. "Chase. Please, tell me what you would like. There must be something I can do to make up for being bad."
Seeing her blush while speaking these words pleased him immensely. "I can think of a few things." The immortal man looked her up and down, taking in the state of her wounds. They were healing, but very slowly. "First, I believe we both need to eat."
Shift P.O.V
It made his skin crawl. The man had to know that Raimundo was there. He was hiding quite well, but he knew that the boy was there. Why else would he be making such a show of holding Jiayi close to his side? The monk saw the spark of evil in Jiayi's eyes, stronger than ever as she quietly flirted with the villain. If Chase were not there, he was sure that he would feel differently. After all, he truly did find her more attractive when her was acting wicked.
He knew where they were going. The thought of Chase finding the cans of soup missing made Raimundo grin evilly. At the same time, he now had to wonder what he would do with them. There were many options open to him. Watching the two continue down the hallway, he saw her hips swaying. It was nearly entrancing. When she turned her head, eyes meeting his, the boy's heart skipped a beat. The girl half-grinned and then shifted her gaze back to Chase.
What is she doing? Is she trying to stall him? But I got the soup. Why is she walking with him? Raimundo cautiously moved to a new hiding place, following them down the corridor. The more he watched, the sicker he felt. Jealousy started to bubble up and soon he realized that she was not simply stalling Chase. She was toying with him purposefully in front of Raimundo. The evil was quickly starting to take over.