Across the precipice the winds swept, cutting clear across the plains to the North, and through the shifting sands of the Moraki to where even the glass desert couldn't stand in their way as a rare storm thundered over the horizon. At the center, the lightning fluttered like the glow of a beating heart while dark clouds surged and hung heavy, rife with rain.
Rains meant flooding, and flooding meant death- something she no longer had to fear, but even still, something electrified through her body, a thrill that swept up her spine and tingled through her veins as it ended in a tickle at the tips of her fingers. Her painted red lips curled up into a rightward grin- all too subtle on her perfect, porcelain white skin.
Against the glass of the Seraj Isa, Jai'un- fallen princess of the T'orin; stood proud with a sweeping cape the color of blood sailing and tossing to the air as it caught the wild winds like a sail. Gold, filagree armor clung to her body- the only thing protecting her against the weather that threatened to come. Her red eyes danced along with her clothing, wildy, stunning- beautiful as dark black hair was joining in the fray- for her hair had never once been cut in her life; as her people knew the length of her hair signified the honor of herself - and her people.
But even now, as she had become a Princess of the Glass Desert, (rather than the former princess of T'orin as she had been before); she still stood tall and proud as she ever was- the only thing about her changing was her crude attire, that hung to every proud curve of her body- and the mask that hide the hideous scares on her face. And once before her eyes had been so green it put the grass to shame- here, now as she stood- they were a flaming, bright red color- like blood.
Poised with one hip out, she studied the horizon that she had taken such an interest to- though storms were rare here in the glass desert where she now lived, it was not the storm that caught her interest-
but the bright glowing vision she could see of a human heart. And the one who possessed it had such a richness to him, such power, such purity that she found herself touching herself on the golden heart that was part of the decorative design of her armor (though this heart was nearly hidden beneath the scrolling designs there in) as her lips opened hungrily. She could feel the heart beat even from here, even as the man was so many thousands of miles away.
He still had to finish crossing the plains, then the desert- then to the Seraj Isa, - and each of those elements were perilous in their own right. She licked her lips as the winds stroked them dry.
No.. this one of a heart far purer than the son had to come back with her alive.
The owner of the heart that lingered those many thousand miles across the sheer glass desert was somber beneath the sun. An eagle's cry shrieked overhead as he wandered across the endless expanse, aimless, alone but not lonely.
The eagle shrieked again, and Jun'tao looked up, though he could not see his bird. The cloth that covered where his eyes had been certainly prevented him from doing so. And even without it he couldn't have seen the eagle that swirled overhead. His eyes were gone and all that remained were closed lids, covering hollow holes.
"What is it?" he cried out, but the eagle only came swooping down and landed on his shoulder. He could feel the heart of the animal beating in rhythm with his own as all creatures did when in tune with their masters. But now it felt different and Jun'tao stiffened in alarm.
She was never a fully a patient woman when her prey was so near, though her game of cat and mouse with those of hearts could last for days, this one in particular drew her forward and from the Seraj Isa she moved and outwards through the desert, seeming unphased by it's merciless hit and the gritting winds rife with sands. No, it did not matter what the world through at her, Jai'un was here for one thing-
ANd the beating of the heart was like a beacon, a guide, and she'd be near to him within the day. That was one nice thing about being nearly demon. The ability to move more swiftly was definitely a perk. But she had no idea his 'scout' had seen her, nor that he was blind, nor that it was the man she had given up her life for to protect, her one true, unreachable love.
It was then that Jun'tao felt it as the bird passed on what it had seen into him. His heart raced exponentially and what flashed before his vision made his mouth open in a cry of alarm. Instinctively he reached for the sword that hung on his hip and he unsheathed it. For he felt the presence through his eagle the soul of a demon, and it was quickly closing in on him.
By the time Jai'un reached Jun'tao's side, the storm had come to fruition and thunder rumbled openly in it's belly of clouds in the throbbing world above. Lighting struck and cut across the clouds, and where there once was long blades of grass stretching endlessly before him- now stood a figure of beauty and fright.
As lighting struck again, it revealed her form- gold filigree armor barely covering her as long black hair fluttered in the winds. And the red clothe of her skirts matched the glowing redness of her eyes that pierced across the short distance between them like glass.
Ah.. there he was- one of heart, and she practically purred for it as she stood there, a silent figure in his wake. The skies threatened to open up to rain at a moment's notice- just like her body remained coolly poised, as if she could strike out at the blind man before her.
And as if to quell any doubt (or to implant some more) the painted lipped woman spoke.
"Are you a stranger to these lands?" she asked, her voice rich and enticing.
It was almost a shame really, that all her beauty and detailed regalia were wasted on him. Jun'tao saw nothing but the blackness before his mind's eye, that and the intense heat that came with the presence of a demon. His heart was pounding in a steady desperation. Jun'tao's grip on his blade was resolute and once the woman had closed the distance, the bird had flown from his shoulders and hovered over them.
In the quickness of a second, his blade flashed against the spark of a lightning strike, and it slammed down on her. He pressed the assault with devastating elegance, though he could not see. All the better could he hear, smell, feel and taste, for sight was an ever encumbering thing.
With a dancer's like grace, she evaded the blade with a few quick steps, and he'd be able to hear her laughing for it.
"So quick to battle," she purred, her voice now coming from behind him as she hungrily saw the heart beating within him. Like with all heartless, she could see, feel, taste his essence of purity, love and determination and it was enough to make her nearly drool. Being distracted, she reached a hand out as if to sink those finger nails into his back side- desiring to grip onto that heart resting so deep within him.
And just as quick as she, Jun'tao was swift to whirl around and slashed his blade down toward her hand before kneeling down low and swiping his leg out in a circular motion determined to take her legs out from underneath her.
In a swirl and twirl of evasion, she barely slipped past his blade and danced over his sweeping feet- though the lengthy blood colored skirts tore by his blade- and then, became entangled around his legs as they swept beneath her. Though as the sweeping motion of his heel drew the cloth along with it, she found herself jerked to the ground swiftly from her entangled predicament as the wind was knocked out of her and she- was now staring up at the raging clouds above.
And she could of laughed, but instead, there was a flash of lighting-
It began to rain.
Though rain was rare even the desert of shining glass and when the rainstorm came, it came down in a fury. A torrent shot across where they were standing and momentarily distracted Jun'tao from pressing the assault as he was immediately coated in a sheet of rain. But after that second of distraction, he lunged at her all the same, leaping high and holding his sword up high, ready to be thrust down on her.
Thankfully only one of them was blind and the heartless princess saw the attack coming. In a flutter of red fabric, she rolled away, then kicked at the blade as it came down towards where she had once been. Had she not been so quick, he would have easily skewered her. Thankfully, she was swift- an ability aided by her new curse, as she rolled back to her feet and drew out a pair of tessen and swiped swiftly at his arms.
The eagle took it's eyes from the storm, crying out as it rode on the wind and Jun'tao could see clearly now the assault of the enemy as it came from him. Jun'tao back away, parried and blocked the series of blades that came at him. His wrist danced with an eager familiarity, twisting through the points and steel until he whirled the blade around him and struck out from her side.
The blades from her fans struck off and were parried from his blade, and she twirled around to recover from his assault, barely managing to dance aside from his blade as it cut through more of her long, flying skirts as she moved away, almost laughing as her body moved dangerously close to his so that it caressed his in the winds of whispers as she passed by-
and in doing so, was finding herself reaching for his back again with hungered fingers.
It was then that Jun'tao's leg struck out and thrusted at her when she was within range, smashing toward her belly and then promptly threw himself opposite her direction, rolling into a crouch. "What do you want!?" he growled. "Get away demon! There are more hearts you can desire elsewhere. I have no use for your foul get..."
The kick struck true and and landed but with a painful grace and elegance as her long skirts fluttered like a river in her wake. Then peering over at the man, she let out a laugh, that tickled the air in it's chime like quality.
"Oh, but what other heart shall I desire if not for yours?" she purred. "It's so pure and vibrant. Even I could smell it from so far away. Like a beacon in this world of dust."
"Get away, witch!" he growled. "Get away before I slice your own heart. My heart is reserved for another. A woman nobler, more beautiful than you could ever know. And when I die...when we meet again, it will be hers."
"Oh, but those hearts taste the best," she purred and reached out to touch him with her wicked finger nails. "And to think, you'd waste it until after death. Let me take it now, taste it now- and help you get to her faster."
"Beast woman!" Jun'tao growled suddenly and slashed his weapon down at her hand.
Jai'un gave a gasp, and felt the stinging bite of his blade gash into her shoulder as she leaped away, skirts fluttering behind her as she did so. Narrowing her gaze, she rested a hand over her wound and growled back at him.
"I guess you will not make this easy on me." And she chuckled curtly through closed lips. "Good." Because that was never any fun. Wasting no more time, she spun around, arms graceful like a dancer as she snapped her tessens out to full width and cut and slashed towards him in a rhythmic fashion, aiming for any spot she might be able to land a slash to draw blood.
Despite his greater hearing, the sounds of swishing blades was difficult to parry. He gave ground, stepping back as she advanced until he felt steel seeping into his arm and he cried out. His feet stumbled backward and he fell hard against the glassy ground.
And she wasted no time slamming a foot against his throat and chuckling through closed lips.
"So easily fallen- and here I thought you wouldn't give up your heart so easily."
"No matter what you steal from my body. GAH!" he choked. "You will never have my heart." Jun'tao grit his teeth and sliced his blade up along her leg.
Jai'un hissed and tumbled away, red skirts fluttering behind her as she glanced down at her bleeding leg. Thankfully she was a demon, and the wound was already sealing shut.
Jun'tao could feel the siphoning of his energy as her wounds healed and he staggered backwards, hitting the ground hard, and dropping his blade. He panted hard, staring up at the darkness that was eternally his vision and knew this was the end.
Seeing him fall was most perplexing, but she didn't miss a beat. In a breath of wind, she was over top of him her shadow caressing his form as she bent over with a smile.
"Has our play really come to an end?" she purred. "Not that I'd mind. What master wants, master gets- and the King shall have your heart."
"You can devour my body, but my heart will never be yours," Jun'tao breathed, his voice coming out in a whisper. "It will belong only to Jai'un.... Forever."
Her hand was reaching out, ready to strike like a snake. Oh, he was so pure she could melt. The sensation coming off him was making her so hungry- and by the King's good grace, she hoped bringing this pure of a heart home would earn her the right to finally eat one. Though the second her finger nails touched his skin, she drew her hand back as if she had been burned.
"Jai'un!?"
How the hell did he know that name?
He expected death to come. In fact he was more than ready and when he felt her cold hand suddenly retract from him, he stiffened. "Jai'un! My lady and liege!" he cried out suddenly and pulled a knife out from his sleeve and rolled her over, pinning her to the ground with a strong body and clasping the blade tightly to her throat. "And don't you dare say her name you fiend! You are not worth the spit of those breaths!"
Her mind was a whirl. Who was this man? This one who talked to her so, and made her feel so... so uncertain. Where she was always cool and confident in her hunt of men and hearts- here, she found herself panicked, and if she had possessed a heart, it would be racing. But she had no idea what he went on about, but one thing was clear- and that she was not about to obey some human.
"I will say it whenever I like," she growled. "For how else is my King to know me?"
"And how should he know you?" he growled back and sunk the blade against her throat deep enough to break skin.
Jai'un glared up at him defiantly.
"As Jai'un- his thief of hearts."
"YOU LIE!" Jun'tao howled! "Jai'un was taken by the enemy at the sacrifice of her own people. Those she cared about most! What do you care about, fiend!? You the Whore of the Heartless, whoever you really are and you'll die a demon's death!" And Jun'tao stiffened his hand to slash across her throat.
The strike was true, and a hand instinctively went to her throat, catching the fake darkness that fell as she was gasping on words before she felt the healing powers of the darkness within her begin to mend. But she was in a state of panic for other reasons- for mortal blades could not simply kill her-
No, she was in a frenzy now because of something else-
and a hand shot out and slammed into his chest, with a force of a whirl wind to knock him off of her- buying her enough time so that her throat could fully heal as she coughed-
and when she was free, she only laughed, a dark, musical noise that filled the winds between them.
Jun'tao rolled away, clutching his chest, and he landed close to his blade. He picked it up abruptly and took it tightly in his hand before suddenly turning tail and running in the opposite direction.
Jai'un's eyes glowed as she watched him run, and used her powers to gracefully float across the sands and glass before stopping in front of his path with a smirk. It was only here she cocked her head to one side to observe...
"You... can not see me, can you, human fighter?"
[Of course he can see you through the blindfold, you dumb girl! 8D It's not like he's so obviously blind]
When he felt her presence suddenly in front of him, Jun'tao easily turned another direction. flanking her and continuing to run.
Watching him run made her laugh, and the predatory instincts of the heartless kicked in, and she wasted no time charging after him.
"Oh, so it seems we'll make a game of this?" she said through a laugh, barely using any effort at all to keep up with him. "But why run away? It seems you are in love with my name so much," she purred. "Perhaps we ought to have a chat? Talk this over... heart to heart."
ANd it was here she caught up to him, wicked fingernails stroking and reaching towards his spine,a d creeper ever closer towards the direction of his heart.
A shrill cry pierced the air and down swooped the eagle from the sky and came down hard on Jai'un's face, pooping on her promptly before taking off again. Jun'tao abruptly turned around and grabbed her hands in both of his before he twisted them around her own body, using her arms to vise herself to him, and he slammed her back against his chest.
THe feces to the face startled her, and the prissy princess part of her gasped as she drew back- (though for once in her life, she was thankful for the golden mask she wore...) and it was enough of a surprised motion that Jun'tao could get the upper hand- and soon she found her body being forced up against his as she growled.
"What are you going to do now, warrior? You can't kill me..." she purred darkly, testing his grip but seeing how it was pretty secure, she changed a glance back to him, studying the clothe strip over his eyes.
Jun'tao didn't answer and instead lifted her clear off the ground and vaulted off his hip. He twisted just enough to get the downward momentum he needed to sufficiently bodyslam her into the rain slicked ground.
Jai'un let out a cry of pain the moment she was slammed into the ground-a nd lay there for several moments, stunned. But after a moment, she found herself laughing, even as she was bleeding, for her wounds were beginning to heal again already. Ahh.. the perks of being a demon.
"DO you not understand what I've told you?" she chuckled as she lay there, the storms still raging on above their heads. "You can not kill me. I am a heartless. We live forever."
"Good, then I can spend eternity kicking your ass," Jun'tao growled as he grabbed her by the back of the neck and pressed her face hard into the ground, but the water had made his hand slip and he instead grabbed her face, her cheek, and her mask. An angry growl escaped him and he snatched the mask from her face, ripping it off with savage fury.
Finding his hands on her mask, she gave a shrill cry as he yanked it from her-a nd with a power that seemed to come from no where, she shoved him clean off of her and cowered away, covering her face with her hand.
"My mask!" Her hands trembled as waters gushed down her body, and were pooling by her feet- the grounds here quickly taking to flood. "Give my back my mask!" she demanded.
Jun'tao scrabled back after her again and rolled over her, pulling her arms away from her face, and in doing so, felt along the contours of her face. Something in him suddenly froze and Jun'tao backed away, scrambling backwards and if he had eyes he'd stare at her still.
Feeling his hands across her face, she gasped and reared back, almost hissing like a cat as she scrambled in the flooding waters. And seeing his expression, she scowled and reached for a weapon.
"I said return to me my mask," she demanded, coldly. "Or I won't hesitate to kill you."
Jun'tao was far too stunned to say anything further, to react to her and he stayed there on the ground, rain pelting on him.
Seeing his inaction, she wasted no time snapping out her fan blades and sweeping in like a dancer- hoping to cut, aiming to kill.
Jun'tao cried out when the blades cut through the tunic of his shirt and he only then awoke from his state of shock. "It...it can't be!" he managed to breathe, holding back his screams.
A sharp kick to his gut, then a pounce like a lion had the poor general down in the gushing flood water in seconds. He'd feel another hard kick from her shoe to his throat before the quiet sharpness of her blade was pointed down directly at his face.
"What can't be?" she chuckled, seemingly amused by his speechlesslness.
Jun'tao offered pitiful resistance in the face of her assault, but the dregs of his shock still rendered him largely drunk with speechlessness. "..." he said nothing, for what could he say. "Nothing. If you aim to kill me, just get it over with,"
"Oh, but you should know better than that.."s he purred, a free hand caressing his face as her body leaned into his. The waters were rising fast, and would soon be up to his lips as the storm raged on. "You must realize that it would be even more rewarding if you were to just... give it to me. Taking it would be far too easy." And the idea excited her to think how she could please her master with a solid heart, not one stolen, but given away!
The way she touched his face sent familair chills down his spine and Jun'tao's breath hitched underneath her touch... "There is no easy way...not for the likes of us," He whispered. "I will give it to you...if you grant me one wish... Let me kiss you... What could it hurt?"
The grins he wore was quite smug, and also darker than the shadows.
"A kiss?" She chuckled through closed lips. "Is that a promise?"
"Something like that," Jun'tao breathed and reached up to touch her face once more. The familiarity of it's contours struck him, but he wouldn't let his expression show it. Instead he leaned in, his lips just a breath from hers.
As the man drew closer, she let her powers begin to grow, collecting from within as her red eyes emitted a blood colored glow. It thrilled her all over, this display- this willingness to accept his fate- and even from the outside she could sense the man's desperation, the loneliness, the restraint...
and if it were familiar to her in that moment at all, she didn't show it as she leaned into his hand, allowing him to touch her anywhere but the flesh that was hidden behind her mask, ignoring any other feelings that might have been growing within her- for the hunger was all consuming, and she felt her mouth begin to salivate at the prospect of her very first pure heart- one she would not have to rip clean out of his flesh.
Jun'tao could feel himself being drained and his breath shuddered as a result. His hands grew tense along her face but he did his best not to show it. Instead he felt her breath, the heat of it and let that lead him as he suddenly lunged forth and smashed his lips against hers. His lips immediately stung on contact, but he forced himself to remember his feelings, the emotions that once anchored him to the forsaken earth.
Jai'un's finger tips had been drawing across his back, not enough to draw blood,but were digging in deep enough to draw a line. She had been preparing herself for the inevitable strike- a strike, she'd find...
that just would not come. For the moment their lips met, it was as if all the worlds collided. The power, the force, the feeling, the natural draw...
Heart or no heart, Jai'un felt the intensity of a thousand suns through his lips nad found herself melting, whimpering beneath him as she clung to him, desiring more of this affection as she kissed him back, blindly groping at a feeling she could not explain.
Alrrrady he could feel himself weakening further into emptiness, the void of a hollow heart when at last he kissed her. But he did not relent and his lips waxed a growing intensity that hungered for that memory of the woman who's body had been possessed. He held her tighter, fiercely as he could despite his waning strength and he sought of her an intangible thing. Perhaps something that no longer even existed.
It was only as her fingers moved across his body, lips meeting to his again and again that through a whimper, she began to remember. Though the memories were foggy, the truth behind what she was feeling was not- for despite not having a heart, not all of her memories, not all of her quirks of what made her her could be erased. And when she opened her eyes again, tears were flowing beneath the mask.
"Jun'tao..."s he whispered, finally pulling her lips away from him. "Why is it that you only find the strength to kiss me now- when I am dead to this world?"
His cheeks were wet with her tears and through then, he wished he could open his eyes, wished he could see her face again. But all he could sense her through was touch, taste, smell and despite his waning strength, it reinvigorated him all over. He was breathless and his body was in steadily draining agony as she pulled away at last. He was deathly pale and his face was clammy, riddled with beads of sweat.
"You're not dead...not to me, as long as your name clings to my lips... But I would give you my heart again and again if only I could see your face one last time. Already...I feel that I'm dying. It's too late."
"Dying?" She held a hand to her lips. "But how? I have not taken your heart!"
She could not have comprehended the enigma that was happening here. Being she was a heartless, and he a man wanting to give this woman freely his heart, out of love, not pride or privilege, that her empty vessel naturally was pulling at his life force. Not because it wished to kill him, but because his life force so naturally wished to save hers... to bring her back from a destiny she had chosen in order to keep him and her people free.
His strength wavered and he trembled in her arms. His body weakened significantly and he suddenly fainted, growing limp in her embrace.
If the sudden collapse of this man, so familiar to her, wasn't enough to send the heartless princess into a panic, the rushing waters all around them were. If she wanted him to die, he could easily do so by drowning, but that means his heart would be extinguished- and though he had offered her up his heart willingly, something else inside her was screaming for help-a nd before she knew what she was doing, she was picking up his body and dancing up and over the rushing waters that gushed through and over top of the glass desert. It was too dangerous here. They needed to find higher grounds, so she took his limp body to the high peaks of the plateaus that lined the boarder of the Seraj Isa. ANd to the North, there was an endless sea of sands. And to the south- the glass desert, that sparkled wickedly as the waters writhed upon it's surface while the storm still raged on.
BUt whatever beauty was here was last, as she turned her eyes away from the stormy scene to peer down at the faint, pale life for that was General Jun'tao.
And she crouched over top of him, studying the familiarity of his face but not quite connecting the how or whys about it.
Even the water that doused his face, wet the cloth that was tightened across his eyes, Jun'tao did not stir. He heard the shrill cry of an eagle somewhere, likely his familiar finding shelter amidst the crystalline landscape of the glass desert. The whole world as muted to him, for his strength was nearly gone completely, and only faint sounds of being moved registered in his hearing.
Only when he felt the piercing eyes of a curious gaze did he stir, if only slightly. Jun'tao groaned and reached for his head, rubbing his temples lightly and shaking his head.
Seeing he was awake, Jai'un gasped and found the strength to place a blade to his throat.
"You need to explain yourself, and explain yourself now," she told him. "Tell me... why you kissed me- and why it.... made me feel so strangely back there, in the storm."
He had to be keeping something from her. Was he some sort of sorcerer?
Despite his returning strength coming back awfully slow, there was no mistaking the feel of cold steel against his throat. He felt it brush against his adam's apple and he froze.
"I cannot know," he said with a frown. "I...I thought you were lost to me....Perhaps you still are."
"What do you mean lost to you?!" she growled, her grip on her blade tightening as she demanded this.
"GONE!" Jun'tao spat, trying to wiggle his way out from underneath the blade. "You are gone... You left to sacrifice yourself to the Heartless...and everything you tried to save, died anyway! And I will die too. And it was all for nothing."
"What?" she made a face. "Such a tale is pathetic. And if that is so, why are you even here?"
The question caught him and Jun'tao felt as if his own tongue had been cut out. He hesitated and shook his head. "I don't know. I have nothing left to fight for. I don't know why I came out here. There's nothing but emptiness, and rain. Best you just get it over with I suppose."
Jai'un studied him in silence. The aching in his heart, oh how she could see it, sense it, feel it, taste it- all but take it from him. For some, strange twisted reason, she could not obey him now. Not after that kiss. Leaning over him, she studied the clothe over his eyes then down his body and back to his face again.
"One so handsome... he possesses quite the powerful lips. Perhaps if you... kiss me again. I shall make your death swift and painless."
It was not just fear that coursed through him. But also the gradual realization that all they had sacrificed, all they fought for was for nothing. And that would be his sentence for his failure, to be killed by the very soul who had given herself for her people. If he had eyes surely they would be wet with tears, of that failure that guilt. But all Jun'tao had now was his humiliation.
Her proposition only made him disgusted further, not only of himself, but of what she'd become in turn. "What would that prove?" he snapped. "Just kill me already."
"Because," she said, pensively. "The kiss you gave.... was unlike those that other men could give. It.... I don't know how to explain it, but if you've ever drank a heart, perhaps you would." Though she herself, had not yet tasted the sweet blood of man, she could still smell it, and it was just as intoxicating as the kiss she was so desiring. And if she could get her kicks without stealing the heart... there was no harm in that now was there?
Jun'tao scowled in disgust, it coiled in his belly and he couldnt've retched right here in front of her if he had the strength to do so. He stilled under the remembered blade however, his body hard with that remembered rage and he shook his head fiercely. "Just kill me! I will do nothing so brazen and low again. I am shamed to have done it at all."
Something about his refusal struck a cord in her- just like the kiss had done. ANd those fears, those doubts on his emotions from all of those years of never knowing, worried that he did not like her because of how she looked.. because of her seat of power.....
So at his refusal, her own demeanor changed.She pulled away from him, but kept her weapon in hand. "I am not here to kill," she hissed. "But to steal your heart. But I see it worthless. Perhaps my judgement was wrong." As were her memories...
He would admit nothing to her. Not to this shadow of a woman he had loved. Loved still. But she was not her and there were no reason to believe otherwise. "It wouldn't be the first time a foul Heartless tried to steal it from me!" Jun'tao snapped just before he rolled to his knees, opposite her and felt for his legs underneath him. It felt strange to have his strength sapped from him and even stranger to feel it return and he stumbled more than once as he tried to rise and run. "Away, fiend. You've wasted my time long enough. If you'll not kill me or take my heart, then you're nothing more than the weakling all your kind are."
Where human words would normally never touch a demon so, this one touched her very soul. Eyes sparkled over with tears- tears she long forgotten she was even able to produce as the night air tossed about her hair and clothing as she dropped her knife and moved away from him.
Something was happening, something was different. Why was she aching so? She felt ill. She felt pained, and before she knew it, tears were streaming down her face as she ran off into the night.
Jun'tao could not have seen the tears nor had he heard the sobs over the howling of wind. He simply heard the dropping of the knife and he immediately leapt to his feet, and bolted out in the opposite direction.
The glass was slick as she ran, and she found her feet meeting with water and down she went, o her back and down a large dune until she splashed into the water gathering below. For a moment, the water consumed her, weighed her down, but when her wits returned, she swam towards the surface and once she broke for air, she gasped and gulped what she could before finding herself suddenly sobbing.
What was wrong with her? How could she be so affected by a man's words? By his kiss? What was this sorcery? But she was too emotional to do much else in the moment, but thankfully- the rains had let up, even if hte winds still howled fiercely around her.
Jun'tao had run far from where she had pulled him from the waters. He didn't know what that was all about, but he had been determined to get away, lest the ruse truly work and capture him as she intended. What a prize he would make, to be sure? The General of the last human kingdom to make a true stand against the Heartless.
Jun'tao gave pause though, wondering for the brevity of the moment if he had been wrong. No, it was preposterous, he wasn't wrong. That wasn't his Princess, not any longer. There would be no point in going back, no point in entertaining the thought. So when he crested the cliffside, the eagle hovering above showing him the way, he knew it was a notion best left forgotten. And that he should treasure his luck while he still had it.
While Jai'un was making her escape... it seemed... others had already found him, sensed him, sniffed him out. Dark eyes cut his way, narrowing upon him as she watched a hoard of black shadow demons move like locust. Well... she was wondering when they'd show up. They always did prefer to hunt at night.
Perched upon a high rising glass dune, she watched from afar... waiting, breathing, aiming to see just what will happen when the man is confronted of those not affected by... her disease.
The cry of his eagle pierced through the air. Jun'tao stopped short, seeing, feeling himself being surrounded with dark energy, and he felt a sudden stab of fear. He heard their cries, their high-pitched shreiks and he stood strong, unsheathing his blade as he felt them begein to close in on him.
Like a hoard of lotus, and some of the demons, just as small, began to swarm up around him like a wave from an ocean, and soon the crash came and they were upon him like vicious insects hungering for a bite.
He swiped though them with his blade, but soon he was overwhelmed and fell back against the tide despite all he tried to do.
Jai'un continued to watch, but despite this humans best efforts, the black shadow demons were too much. And just like the tears, something compelled her to move forward, fan blades snapping open as she tore through the heartless like they were paper.
Jun'tao screamed despite himself and his body was covered in bites and cuts and his clothing as shredded and torn. As the tide stemmed, Jun'tao lay still on the ground, bleeding and trembling.
His scream of pain was all she needed to.drive the fury of her blades into each shadow creature that came for him, andas the wave of them pulled back against her attack, she panicked to.see the man bleeding on the glass. She hesitated only briefly before fetching him up into her arms like a bride, and leaping off to find some sort of sanctuary, even as she felt the hunger for his heart pull her near, the other feelings for him still won over... Even though she herself was heartless and lacking, some of those feelings still remained from her.life from before.
Jun'tao twitched and trembled here and there with the pain of his wounds but he refused to pass out, as he did last time and blood dribbled from his neck, shoulders, arms, hands, legs and torso. He whimpered occasionally, but still clung to the blade in his hands.
She carried him.far, much farther than she would have liked and did not stop until the pair were nestled within a cave in the center of a series of plateaus. It was calmer here, and less likely of a place to attract more heartless... Atleast for now. She gingerly set Jun'Tao down before frowning as she looked the man over. What was she thinking to help him? Her king would be upset over such a choice. Was her human side daring to taint her? This she could not know.
Jun'tao felt himself being laid down, gently, perhaps too gently for the arms that held him. He brought his blade up against his chest, though he was too weak and stunned to raise it. "What...why did you do that!?" he spat.
Jai'un did not answer him, simply observing him in silence. Truthfully, she did not know what to say, and left the silence to rply for her.
Jun'tao had taken what strength he could to shift himself into an upright position. Dropping his blade beside him. His wounds mostly were on his front and his back was largely unexposed. He shifted himself upright in order to remove the tattered tunic that he felt grating on his bleeding wounds.
"Do you need help with that?"s he found herself asking, a surprise notion, even to herself.
He gave her a guarded expression. But to be honest with himself, he could barely pull the cloth over his shoulders. So all he gave her was a small, curt nod, and bowed his head, so she could pull the tunic off of him.
Jai'un moved forward, taking the tunic and removing it from him, but her hands, now cold, gently graced over the warmth of his skin, and the sensation sent a tingling throughout her body, and caused her to gasp and pause in mid- tunic pull, before her mind came back to her and she focused on the task at hand, and slipped the tunic off the rest of his way. With his shirt removed, her eyes studied his body, and the blood and wounds he sustained with a frown.
"They would have killed you,"s he spoke, reaching out to ghost her hand over one of the larger gashes, and in doing so, studying the scars that also dotted his skin. This man was familiar with battle, that was for sure.
Jun'tao flinched at the sensation of her hand, but he did not resist it as the shirt was pulled from him. He was grateful for the removal of such an obstacle and he leaned back against the stone wall of the cave and winced only slightly at his wounds opening up again. "Why didn't you let them?" he asked with some exhaustion. "They were Heartless."
"Yes, heartless, that much is certain, but they were also beasts. Your heart.." she said, looking him over. "It's worth more to my king. It would be wasted on those... of the lesser dark. They are mindless, crazed. They would have tore you apart. My King.. he would have at least had the decency to take it and let you die quick."
"A quick death..." Jun'tao scoffed lightly and shookd his head. "So now you spared me only to kill me later. May as well have left me there. I would have taken the suffering."
Jai'iun sneered. "And waste your heart on them? They are not worthy."
"Better them than to be taken to the tyrant that destroyed my kingdom!" Jun'tao spat savagely.
"And if you had your way, what do you think you could even do to my King? You've seen it yourself. Whatever it is you're after, clearly he's already taken it for himself."
Jun'tao would have glared at her if he had eyes. So he settled for a bandaged-eyed scowl instead and did not suffer to respond to her further on the matter. Instead he ran a hand along his wounded belly and did his best to control his breathing. "Then leave me to my suffering then, fiend," he sighed. "You did what little good even your kind might be capable of. You can come and collect your heart when I'm dead. Which will be soon if you're lucky."
"But it is not that simple," she seemed to purr, admiring the way he lay there, bleeding. "I told you I'd like for you to give me your heart, willingly. Are you still up for the donation? It would relieve you of all of this suffering, and you would not have to worry any longer about your lost princess, or your fallen kingdom."
Jun'tao stiffened at her words and he clung to his mid-section even in his exhaustion. "After all she had given up. The least I could give her is my own suffering," he growled. "So no! I do not give it willingly!"
Jai'un pouted.
"But earlier you were so willing." And she let a few fingers gently move across his bare chest. "And it looks as if that really hurts."
"Don't touch me!" Jun'tao said, recoiling in disgust. His jerking motion had cost him the balance he had and he fell hard on his side, opening up the bites iin his side that had clotted. "I'll suffer well enough on my own without you touching me! You could not rely on the seriousness of my offer in that moment of distress. I didn't realize what I was doing, not in temporary insanity. So now I recant it. And rightly so. It's my heart! And it could never be yours."
Jai'un, though tempted to want to keep touching him, peered back at the man. Though as she peered at him in silence, his constant refusal dug into her far deeper than she could have expected. So instead of saying anything, she grew quiet as she studied him.
"So there is nothing I could offer you for you to give up your heart? You said you once cared for this woman who's body I posses.. and now that it is.... mine, perhaps... I could, allow you to fulfill what you believe you have lost? After all, a woman can offer a man much."
"And myself be tainted of all that you really are?" Jun'tao said quietly, measuredly. He frowned deeply. "That woman ...she's gone. Like evrything else I served. You have nothing I could possibly desire. Go find another man whose heart you intend to seduce and wrench his heart away."
"But yours appeals to me. Other men's do not. And,.." here she smirked, and perhaps it might be indicated in her words, for her was not able to see her. "There are no other men around."
Jun'tao sniffed and reached a finger up to touch a spot of blood that dripped from his lips, and he tasted his blood before spat off to the side. "With your nose, I'm sure you could sniff another one more suitable to your needs withing a few miles."
"Hrmm... I don't think you realize how this works," she practically purred. "Those with such... purity, truth... they are hard to come by. Sure, I could steal anyone's heart, but it would taste like ash compared to yours. And those.... of my... status, do not simply eat any heart."
Though she herself, unfortunately wasn't allowed to eat any at all. Her King had said there'd be a time for it. Perhaps this one would be it.
Jun'tao shook his head, scowling once more. "Then if it's ash you must eat, then so be it!" he growled again. "My heart is not yours. It could never be! It belonged to her...and only her...." He hadn't realized it, but his lower lip was quivering. Thank the gods his eyes had been plucked out. The last thing he needed was to cry in front of this demon.
Jai'un stiffened, but tried to push back any of this peculiar feeling bubbling forth.
"But she is gone.... you said it yourself. What is it worth to you now? ANd would it not be fitting... to give it to the shell of what she once was? It is... after all, what she desires." She told him, daring to step forward and affectionately stroke his cheek.
His hand moved swiftly, pushing hers away and recoiling his head. "You're nothing more than a facade. The shell as exactly you have described! If she cannot have it, then there is no one else worthy of it to give. So I will keep it until my dying breath!"
"But she is here,"she said, reaching out to take his hand. "She who once had a beating heart for you.." And she placed his hand upon her chest. "For her namesake, you would not even give her shell your heart? The one being left who has any connection to who she had once been?"
"You're not her!" he howled, pushing her away as if her very touch felt like lava upon his chest. "Nothing you can say or do will convince me there's even a fragment of her left. You're an echo, albeit a deceptively good one. But nothing more. Just an echo."
"And can not an echo comfort? To remind you of all that you have lost when it is so clear and evident you are in mourning?" she asked, raising fingers to brush away some hair from his face.
Jun'tao's lips continued to scowl, but underneath it all, his lip quivered and he clung strongly to his pride. "Must you continue to mock her memory?" he said, his voice sharp but soft. "Leave me alone. You act in futility."
"It is only futile if you let it become futile.." she said, fingers still gently caressing his face...
Which stirred up memories from the past... in the rain... in the fall...
When things had been so cold. They had both expressed their concerns winter might come earlier- and almost shared something else.
"Before we had feared for a winter that did not come."
But then even at that memory, she frowned.
Where had such a thought come from? And why was she recalling something so detailed on a life that was once lived through her heart, now stolen? And just as she had in the rain, back when she still had her heart, she withdrew her fingers tentatively and peered into his sightless face.
And it was here she recalled... when they had met and she- she still had her heart...
He was not blind. WHat had happened?
And why did she care?
This time Jun'tao did not let his expression betray him and his face only hardened at the mention of the memory and the quivering in his lip ceased. He said nothing, turning his face from her direction, where he'd been listening to her voice and felt his stomach grow sick at thee thought of such a creature as she was now brung up such an intimate memory.
Jai'un withdrew her hand and found herself staring at him in silence.
"Humans so fickle... like the weather," she said, almost growling as she turned away from him. "Perhaps that will be your down fall, just as it was with the princess."
"Good," was all he managed to say and he dropped his head in that moment and held the trembling of his own body.
It was only then she noted the trembling. Her brow furrowed as she studied him.
"Is that why you shake so?"
"Nothing," he said curtly, sourly. It was the only way he could hold back the bleeding and the trembling shock that racked him him as the bites and claw marks throbbed painfully. That and maybe she'd take the hint and go away.
The heartless woman continued to study him.
"That did not answer my question," she mused. "Or are you trying to use a demon's method against one of their own?" She was clever, and not so easily deceived, even if she was perhaps, tackling this the wrong way.
Jun'tao stayed on his silence and refused to even face her. His arms remained around his midesection where most of the bites had done their worst, but thankfully, at least, the blood was slowing under pressure.
"You know, those wounds could go away. All you have to do is allow me to help," she said, daring to step a little closer.
Jun'tao cling to himself tighter still even in the face of her offer and turned on his hips from his sitting position to scoot as far away from her as he could.
"You know heartless do not need to sleep. I could sit here and watch you suffer in silence."
And though part of her was tickled over the idea, she still wanted that heart...
but apart of her still wanted something else.
"What if we made a deal? I could heal you. Mortal wounds mean nothing to someone who is... immortal." At least not immortal in the way this human was.
"Just go away," Jun'tao managed to say, keeping his head turned away from her. "I don't want or need anything from you!"
"Yes, but what a waste of your heart, to let it wither away and rot. It had been so strong before. Why let the light die? You could... just pretend, that for a little bit, this woman's body I have is that of the one you lost. Would it not help heal your wounds? To think you could have her one final time before you were killed?"
"Please...must you my dignity and crush my pride? The only things I have left in the wake of the loss of everything else... Leave me to my suffering in peace," he said somberly and buried his head in his hands.
"If you wanted to suffer in peace, you should not have come here. Especially alone. What a fool's errand. What did you think to accomplish? You knew her heart was taken, she gave it away. What did you expect to find?"
"How self-centered your breed is, to think I'd go looking for her, or for you for that. I would have been content to remain alone if you hadn't shown up," he mumbled.
"Then why else have you come to this place?" she mused, amusement evident in her voice.
"I wouldn't tell you, even if they were my last spoken words."
"Then you'll take secrets to your grave. It's only a matter of time before that hoard of heartless finds you again."
"Good. At least I'll be in better company," Jun'tao snapped. "Go back to your precious king. Leave me alone."
But Jai'un could not let it drop. Something compelled her to want to torment this man, even far beyond the predator that she had become. The kiss he had given to her...
he could not realize it was awakening the fragments of her being that had all been but lost when her heart was taken from her...
and despite it having been consumed, it was still there, rotting somewhere, probably in the bowels of her king...
Or rather, how could she know that even in whatever state it were... that it was still reaching out to her now, yearning to be reunited with the heart that she could see fluttering so brightly within Jun'tao's chest.
It was for this reason alone, his kiss had been a dangerous one, and Jun'tao would have surely been dead were it not for whatever reservations were left, kept her killing instincts at bay.
"I could not go empty handed,"s he reminded. "I was made this way to be a hunter. Once a heart is taken, the vessel of the body remains, and when it is my time, he will let me fully join him. ANd i wish to do so by offering him a heart such as yours. I can not fail now."
"Why would you want to join him?" Jun'taossaid flatly. "Why would want to be his slave? His useless servant, forever to be crushed underneath his heels at a whim."
"Slave?" she made a face. "What slavery when I have a choice?" Though so far, if she were to consider it, she hadn't truly had any. In fact, if it had beenup to her lost mind, she would have become a full fledged heartless by now, and had been falling into the pits of thoughtless carnage along with them. "My king promises power. My King promises eternity. So much more than any other mortal life could offer."
"Empty promises of a hollow shell," Jun'tao murmured. "I'm sure he would hew of his own arm to..deliver those promises. I'm sure you're more than satisfied."
"Satisfied?" She chuckled. "Hardly. I have been promised much, but I must earn it."
Jun'tao offered her a smile, if a mocking one at that. "I'm sure you will in the fullness of time and dance in the destruction your race will cause, and the ashes of all you leave behind. But you'll just have to do it without help from me."
"But you've already promised me," she reminded. "And though you wish to seek to take back your words, I still upheld my part of the bargain... and have been more than fair in my patience of receiving it. Though, if you are so adamant about keeping it,.... perhaps we should strike a bargain? And perhaps I would consider waiting for my due payment until later."
"I told you I recanted my offer. I will strike no deals, no bargains, and give no quarter. What part of that can't you understand? Why can't you grant my small wish and leave me be, demon instead of trying once more to get me to surrender myself to you? My heart is MINE to keep, not yours, it will never be yours. I'm as adamant in keeping it as you are in taking it and nothing will change my mind!" he snapped.
"Well then.. I want that kiss back," she told him lightly, almost playfully. "You asked for a kiss and I had it given. If there is no way you can take it back.... then... I have no choice but to take what is rightfully mine by force. It is only fair.. you humans even said so. It is stated in your laws, in your religions."
Jun'tao whirled on her, his expression in a state of momentary shock. But suddenly, he reared his head back and spat at her savagely. "There's your kiss! It was horrible anyway!"
Delicately, she lifted up a finger to wipe the spittle from her cheek away.
"Such a temper. No wonder this princess gave up her heart." And with a frown, she added, "And that hardly counts as a kiss. Besides, I said you'd have to find a way to take back the kiss, not spit on me like a camel."
"It will suffice for the purposes in expressing what I feel toward you." Jun'tao had enough of this and with what strength he could muster and what stability of the blade his sword afforded him, he pushed himself to stand, after snatching his tunic from the ground and proceeded to move past her in exiting the cave.
Jai'un simply watched him and asked after his disappearing form, "And where will you go? You can not see." ANd the idea made her laugh, cruelly so, but she was past the point of niceties and she moved to stand, following after him, her body making not a sound as she moved.
Jun'tao would not give her the grace of an answer. He was tired of her gruelling presence of her mocking, of the fallacy of her identity. He wandered far from that cave, despite his lack of eyesight, guided at least by the eyes that soared above him. He found his way down a cliffside, slowly but surely.
Down at the bottom, she was already waiting for him, smiling the second his boots touched the ground.
"Took you long enough, and look.." she said with a playful pout, and placed her hand against his bare chest. "Your heart.. it beats so fast.."
Jun'tao walked around her as if she were little than a bump in the ground.
And that's when she playfully put her foot out to trip him- a gesture only the real Jai'un would do.
Jun'tao fell and fell hard, his entire face gashed along the side from his fall and his palms were scraped red as he skid along the ground.
"You're suppose to watch where you step," said the coy demon as she simply stepped away.
Jun'tao spat out his blood from where his teeth had gashed his lips and he knelt, taking the bandage from his eyes to assess the damage. He took a cloth from his belt and dabbed his face.
And quiet as a bird, she remained perched beside him, simply observing.
Jun'tao's hands paused before they returned the bandage from around his eyes. His fingers gently graced the empty sockets where his eyes had been plucked out, the scar of a knife that had bad healed along his temple and ran along the bridge of his nose. There was no use lingering on the memory and he returned the bandage, knotting it on the back of his head.
Jai'un stared in morbid fascination to see a man without his eyes and gave a curious tilt of her head.
"What happened to them?" For his eyes were obviously taken.
Jun'tao paused for a second, remembering her presence. "I cut them out of me. The demons in my eyes," he shrugged.
Jai'un made a face, for even she was appalled.
"Demons? In your eyes?"
At first, she wondered if he was mad, or had her King found some other means to torment humans? Her King was a creative one, after all.
"The matter's done. What's it to you?" he said with another shrug, pulling some hair over the end of the bandage before climbing wearily to his feet.
"I'm just curious how or why you'd think a demon would affect your eyes," she said, following after.
[I DON'T KNOW, JAI'UN, ASK YOUR WRITER WHY SHE HAD THE GENERAL CUT HIS EYES OUT!]
Jun'tao turned to her. "If they possessed my vision, then how could not all I see be tainted and fouled? In turn, mt body would probably follow soon after my eyes."
OOC: LOL
:P I'd hope his creator would also know why he cut his own character's eyes out 8D
Jai'un would not know so :P
can't break that writer/ character barrier, unfortunately!
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Thinking it over, it made sense.
"They tainted your eyes so you were afraid it would taint the rest of you?" How silly in the same sense. "That must have hurt,"s he quipped. "Though you'd think you'd like seeing the world in the light of a demon. It would certainly make seducing you all the more easier."
[Actually Your reason for him having cut his own eyes out still doesn't make sense to me so I just winged it! Oh well.]
"And how can you be so sure of that?" he asked.
OOC: I think the idea was when the heartless came in, a female one enchanted him, but just his eyes, in hopes to seduce him and retrieve his heart, but he was able to see past it and broke the curse or whatever, by cutting is eyes out to rid himself of his sight that was playing games on him. He was supposed to do that in honor of Jai'un, so he could keep himself, and his heart, for her in memory of her sacrifice. But maybe we can play it off this same demon tried to toy wth him that Jai'un is still alive and that's why he's here now? I dunno I can't recall what we discussed 8D
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"Because, if you had demon sights, you'd lust for the demons you'd see. Though perhaps you were smarter than that."
"I wish that were so. I'm more inclined toward the opposite," Jun'tao replied grimly. "Cutting out my eyes doesn't exactly strike me as the smartest thing I'd ever done. But it was my only option at the time."
"So you hate demons that badly?" she asked softly, the frown evident in her words.
"After all they did to me, my kingdom, my Princess, my men, no I love them," Jun'tao said with savage venom. "I loathe the very thought of them."
"So then it was revenge that drew you here?" she asked, with a curious title of her head.
Jun'tao stiffened as she said that notion. "So what if I did!" he growled.
"But you are but one man against many? How could you possibly think to win against my king?"
"A man may have done much," Jun'tao said after a moment. " I guess I don't have to worry about that now."
"So what will you do now?"
OOC: Such short posts :T
"Die. What else is there to do?" he said with a firm-lipped frown.
"Such weak sayings from such a strong heart." She peered at the light she could see within him, glowing where his heart was before looking up into his face. It was so tempting to want to reach out and just... take it. It was hers after all. And he was just going to waste it... but something kept her back,a nd it was hard to tell if it was the trickery patience of the demon, or something else.
"It is hard to believe you'd find little worth in yourself. Was it not your love your princess had given herself up for? But yet you hesitate now as she is before you, for I am Jai'un, just what is left with her when her heart was taken. I am by all means, her one hundred percent, though I carry... certain proficiencies only those who lack a heart can do. Though I think my king likes me this way. He says i bring up lost memories."
ANd here she pause to regard Jun'tao.
"Do I bring up any lost memories to you?"
Jun'tao's scratched expression was thoughtful for a moment and he frowned. "Only sorrowful ones. But it is unwise to dwell on the past. Because the truth is, the cold hard truth is that you're not Jai'un, no matter how you speak, or act. You're a sad substitute to who she was, the woman I knew. And I have only pity for you that you could possibly believe otherwise. Though any memories that are inspired are sad ones, they are not regrets. I am a man that takes the world as it is, not how I like it to be."
"If that was the case, you would not have come here at all!" she laughed. "You knew your princess gave up her heart. What did you expect to find? Except to do?"
"I didn't come here looking for you!" Jun'tao snapped. "After you had given up, there was no hope to have. Why should anyone else fight? No. I came here to kill your king. To at least have a taste of revenge. Even if I should fail."
"My king?" The Princess laughed at such an idea. "And you aim to do this all by yourself?"
Jun'tao nodded his head resolutely. "Now get out of my way, Deciever," he snarled and moved away from her.
Jai'un grinned and simply followed after him, silently and coy.
Jun'tao grumbled and shook his head. "Is there a reason you keep following me?" he asked.
"I'm just protecting my investment!" She told him playfully.
Jun'tao stopped and made himself still. "And how exactly am I an investment? You're just going to wait until I keel over and then you'll take my heart?"
"Of course not. I have to obtain it while you're still alive."
"This is going no where," Jun'tao said flatly. "You stalk me for my heart but I will not give it!" His hands flashed like tendrils of lightning as they reached for his sword, yanking it from his sheath and turning it over in his hands until it was point just underneath his chest, deep into his ribs. He tried with all his might to plunge the blade deep into his heart. The shock stilled him for the breadth of a moment and his knees loosened and he fell to the ground. Blood dripped from his lips before his body slumped over to the side.
It happened so fast she could not stop him, but to see the sword plunge into him she let out a scream.
"Jun'toa! Nooooo!" And threw herself at him, pulling the sword from the wound and holding him close, a hand upon him as she watched him tremble and bleed in pain.
He could feel the blood spilling outward in unnatural places and his shoulders trembled with the shock of that blow. He mourned that death did not come quicker, that he'd missed his heart, felt it numbly and that he would slowly, and painfully bleed out into the rest of his body. He coughed and blood sputtered out from his lips.
They say demons don't cry. And it was truth, but the heartless were a unique breed of demons all together, some saying even descendants or corruptions of their human counter parts. But wtih Jai'un... she was of a much different stock, but even to her she should have been surprised when hot, salty tears fell from her eyes and began to drip over his chest, tears mixing wtih his warm blood.
"Oh, Jun'tao," she wept. "I can't loose you. No! Please don't die on me! Not after all I've give up!"
And through her grief, she had no idea that her own powers were at play, for as the tears mixed with his blood, the wound began to knit together, and though the healing process was not as quick as her own, it was working rapidly none the less.
"I'm so sorry." She said, finding what little strength of herself left to wrap her arms around him and hold him close.
[Unicorn tears! 8D]
Soon his trembling would give way to a stilled body. His mind was in a black place, swirling in an abyss. He heard voices, many of them, all echoing the same thing. He felt his pain slowly subsided. The aching in his ribs throbbed numbly and the bleeding stopped. He was thankful at last, that death came. Or so he thought.
OOC: Lion-i-corn tears 8D
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Seeing his body still, Jai'un thought the worst, and as the pain over came her, so did her sobs. It was odd to think her body was still able to produce those tears, but even in her grief, the vision of his heart she could see began to glimmer. Her eyes went wide as she pulled her face away from where she had been crying over him.
"Jun...Jun'tao!?"
His breathing was soft and shallow, coming in small puffs and bursts. Jun'tao's head tilted slightly, moving in small increments from where she held him. He didn't respond to her name as the blood that had seeped into unusual places was trying to flow back to their origin. His heart beat beat once, twice, until the glimmer turned into a small drumming inside his chest.
"At last...we can be together," the words spilled from his lips in a whisper.
[PONY OR CONSEQUENCES!]
(http://srudut.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/17.jpg)
OOC: And now onto the actual post 8D
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At his words, Jai'un moved, finger tips brushing feather light over his lips.
"Jun... Jun'tao!?" her eyes wavered, trying to read him, trying to see if he was still with her, though even she knew he was barely alive. But was he conscious? Did he know she was there, with him? Holding his hand now and squeezing it?
[And Santa was never heard from again.]
"It hurts," his lips murmured gently, the words imperceptible. "Everything hurts."
OOC: Oh God. I think I've said those exact words before.
About everything hurting T_T
oh hospitals >_<
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"Shh... just rest," she whispered, combing a hand through his dark hair. "Just lay here. Let your body heal." For as she held him, she could feel his heart growing stronger by the moment. And whatever fluke this was, she was not going to take it for granted. His life had been saved... by the Gods, he was alive!
But at what costs?
Jun'tao trecognized the voice that spoke to him now and his lips trembled with sorrow and sadness. For he knew it was not the woman he knew and loved so well. And that he did not really die. And every second made his body heal more and more. "Why?" he murmured. "Why can't you let me die?"
"Because.." she whispered, tears falling from her eyes. "I remember..."
Jun'tao licked his lips gently, tasting of his own blood. "What do you rememeber?"
As she held him, she felt herself trembling.
"The night in the orchard. I remember it clealry. It was the first time in a long time I let anyone look upon my face." ANd here, she lifted her hands up and cupped it over her golden mask before, shifting it a moment within her grasp the removing it slowly. Though he was blind, the scar she had that once had been there remained, and she had been lucky it got the side of her face and not all of it, for it could have marred more than just her beauty.
"For before then, I was always afraid of what people would say... to see a princess with a scar on her face." For even as lovely as she was in heart, she still believe in vanity, and that uncertainty crippled her more than anyone could have ever known.
Jun'tao did remember, though the memory seemed a thousand years ago and a thousand miles away. For that brief time, he also felt as if this imposter was the real Jai'un, and what a comfort that would have been. "Jai'un was always beautiful, inside...and out," he murmured.
"Y-yes," she said, softly sobbing. "It's why she... it's why I... fell in love with you."
"That was a long time go," Jun'tao said, feeling empty and bitter. "You don't have to worry about that anymore. Because she's dead. At least the best parts of her at any rate. And all that's left behind is a hollow, sad shell."
"But you're still alive.." she whispered. "And that's all I... " she hesitated, before correcting herself, finding her mind conflicted over the wording, conflicted over these feelings. "That's all she wanted." To have given his life away, would have meant to have her sacrifice go in vain.
"But to what end?" Jun'to replied. "I'm alive and then what? All is lost! Everything is gone. Her sacrifice was for nothing. Everything she gave herself up to protect is being smashed to pieves by the very king she sought to appease! He took her sacrifice as the first of many. She left us as sheep to the slaughter, left to be slain by an enemy we cannot fight, we cannot kill. And you take from me the only peace I could find at last. She wants me to live....FOR WHAT?!"
Jai'un cringed at his statement, and felt the distant feelings of guilt chill her belly.
"I... I didn't know it would be this way," she told him numbly, softly.
Jun'tao felt the redness in his face dissipate some and he found the strength to sit up. He wiped the blood from his lips and turned to face Jai'un...even her shade, as it were.
"None of us did," he admitted in a softer tone. "But we had hope. We couldn't have known that the King wouldn't have stopped. We had to try something, I suppose. ...If only she didn't, at least if we were to die, we might've still had a chance. Even if in the end we died together."
"Still had a chance?" And internally, the chance she was perceiving had dual meaning. But she presumed to think else on the matter. "You mean defeat the Heartless King?"
Jun'tao frowned, looking somber. And he nodded slowly. "I think many of my men lost faith when the Princess gave herself up. Some did not see it as an act of selflessness, to hopefully abate the coming storm. Some saw it as cowardice. Some say it was a sign of things to come. Some saw it as her surrender...and was to be followed by theirs."
Jai'un's lips fell open, quivering slightly at such a revelation.
"Then perhaps it was all in vain," she spoke quietly, realizing the same depressed reality as he.
"That is why I am out here... Aimless, I wander because I have no direction...no desire to continue such a futile fight. Even if I killed your King...I imagine only another just as cruel would take his place."
"It... it is said he has a queen. I have only seen her but once, a woman sealed completely in glass. He.... it almost seems as if she is his weakness." And she turned from him, peering at the ground with a frown. "I do not know why I tell you, but it could be through his Queen he could fall." She shook her head. "I do not think he has an heir. The other heartless are just shadows and would disappear when he does. But I..." and here she paused to consider what she was.
"I do not know what would become of me. He.... will not let me eat anyone's heart."
And she wondered if it was that lack of consumption that has lead her to this moment of doubt, and where fragments of what memories and emotions she had left were coming forth. But she couldn't say.
"I suppose if you killed him, maybe I wouldbe free."
Free to die? Free to roam? Free to roam next? S he had no idea.
"Maybe. But you went to him willingly. I doubt even in death he'd let you go so easily," Jun'tao muttered dubiously. He found strength enough to stand and staggered only a little as he did so. He paused suddenly when he heard the sound of breaking glass and the cracking of the ground just underneath them.
Jai'un's eyes went wide at the sound of the crack. And her hand shot out, gripping onto his wrist.
"The glass-"
But before she got a chance to warn him, it was too late. The glass broke away beneath them, turning into a shower of glittering sharp pieces as the pair became swallowed into the darkened world below.
And it was cold as they fell, noticeably so against the warm, sun filled world above them. And as she fell, her clothing and long hair fluttered wildly about-
and then they hit the world several miles below, landing in a pile of dark, inky black sands. Jai'un lay there, the pain hitting her, but subsiding fast. The one perk about not having a heart. Then once she recovered from the fall, she pushed herself to her knees and winced as she felt the sharp bite of glass and rock into her palms.
And it was almost impossibly dark down here, but as her eyes adjusted, she saw him and called out, "Jun'tao!?"
And her voice echoed into the thorny glass world that littered all around them.
Black sands were everywhere, as were tall and broad sharp spears of glass that jutted up from the dark sands and pointed like wicked teeth towards the world above. Peering up at the ceiling of glass overtop of them, she blinked at how it distorted their world. It was a beautiful thing, this glass place, and for a moment, she was in awe at how the glass sounded, almost like chimes all around them- her voice still echoing as it began to gradually fade off towards the east.
The sound rattled the glass and bounced off of walls until it reached Jun'tao. He was shaken by the echo and stirred. He'd hurt his shoulders, his back aching in pain from where landed hard on the sands. He was as human as he ever was and the pain only reminded him further of it. He tried to sit up, only to cry out when his back snapped back into place and his shoulders felt misplaced.
"Jun'tao!" The princess rushed to his side, sensing his pain and looking him over. "Are you alright?" she asked, studying him with some reservation, though a part of her wanted to touch him, another part of her held back.
"My arms," he groaned. "I think my shoulders are out of placed. It...hurts."
Jai'un stepped behind him, examining his right shoulder. It was out of place, she could see as much, but she got distracted by the blinding light of his heart, and found herself suddenly lusting for it, yearning to reach out and simply snatch it. A hand crept forward, her eyes solely upon the heart, but before she touched him, her fingers curled back.
"It's dislocated." And she peered over towards his clothe covered eyes.
"If you wish, I can help you push it back into place. But it will not feel any nicer than it is now, and will be sore for days when it's re-set. But it's better than going through the bones being misaligned."
"If you could...please," Jun'tao said and braced himself. "Just make it fast."
Jai'un gave a nod and moved up behind him, staring at the heart another moment before lifting her hands and resting the palms against him, then, after a moment when he grew more accustomed to her touch, she moved swiftly, pressing into the bone as it snapped into place with a crunch. Releasing her hold on him, she stepped to the side and peered at him.
"Does that feel better?"
Jun'tao screamed despite himself and landed awkwardly on his other dislocated arm and seethed into a whimpering moan.
Jai'un cringed at his reaction. Though she supposed humans dealt with pain far differently than a demon did. She hesitated only for but a moment before crouching down beside him.
"Are you alright?" She wondered if she hadn't broke him more from that sort of howl.
It took more effort than he had in him, pushing himself up with his good arm and he shook his head. "Pull the other," he muttered. "Just get it over with."
While whatever human side was left in her was emotionally bound to this man, the heartless part of her was apathetic. So at his command, she wasted no time, but obeyed.
Thankfully he didn't scream this time. But nearly passed out from the pain. He regained some consciousness and forced himself to sit up once more and held onto a piece of glass to pull him to his feet.
"Do you need help walking? We shouldn't linger here..." For down beneath the glass surface...
It was the demon's domain. And though they were no where near the Heartless City, she could still feel them writhing in the distance shadows as she peered away from him and into the pitch black.
Jun'tao turned to Jai'un and staggered for a moment before feeling eyes within those shadows peering back at him eagerly. "A guide," he muttered. "Lead me out of here."
"Lead you out?" And here the demon laughed. "We just fell miles beneath the surface of the Seraj Isa." She gave a shake of her head. "Finding a way out of here.... Is well, more difficult than you can know. It is much easier to fall down than to go back up."
"Then what help do you think you could provide me?" Jun'tao asked pointed.
"Are you upset I am not perfect, General?" she said, giving a curious tilt of her head. "I am a heartless, I can only do so much with the powers given to me by my King. But I can't simply whisk us out of here."
Peering around, she studied the glass in the darkness, her vision more acute than a humans, but she was still partially blind. There was no light down here after all, and what little did filter down simply made it all the more difficult to see.
"The heartless Kingdom... I sense is to the East. But it is quite a long distance to trek. To the West I sense something, but I'm not sure what, but if we go to the Heartless Kingdom, there are indefinite means to get back to the surface world. Other wise, we remain beneath here searching blindly in the dark. I know you're blind, but in a place like this... so am I"
Jun'tao shook his head and shrugged. "Then what do you suggest? Do we head toward your kingdom then? So you can steal my heart and deliver it to your king? Why would you help me?" he asked levelly. "Your loyalties are to him, not to me. So I ask you, what do you have that assures me I can even trust you? If only for the moment."
It was here, Jai'un frowned.
"I don't know. I don't think I have anything. You really have no reason to trust me," though she spoke it honestly. "And I can't promise I won't fall prey to my desires. You're lucky. It seems whatever hunger I have for that heart of yours has subsided. Or I wouldn't have bothered to fix that shoulder." In fact if anything, when fixing the shoulder, she could have stolen that heart then...
And her frown deepened when she realized she had missed out.
Jun'tao was thoughtful in the darkness, his frown deep. He weighed his options and nodded soon enough. "Perhaps I am a fool to consider it. But I seem to have no other option. If you lead me to your king and to my death, I wouldn't know it anyhow, save for the tearing apart of my body and I'd be none the wiser. If you lead me to the surface, I'll die in the glass desert all the same. I suppose at least with the latter, I'd have some dignity. But that's not doing anyone any good here. I accept your aid then. Do what you will."
"First thing is we should figure out where we are. To find some sort of landmark. Even down in this formless world, there are things I'm sure we can use," And she began to look around, and peered back up at the surface, noticing an odd moving dot.
"It seems your friend is confused as to where you have gone..." Of course she meant his bird companion.
Jun'tap whistled loudly then and it shook the glass and reverberated upward toward the circling dot above. After a few minutes there was an answering shriek and Jun't tao smiled before looking at Jai'un. And that smile faded just as quickly. "We are twenty miles east of the Jav'ithrr Plateau. He will be all right on his own."
Jai'un smirked.
"You've got a smart bird. It seems as if he might be able to help us. That is, until we travel under where the glass ceiling becomes too thick. Then he won't be able to see or hear us at all. Some places it can be over a mile thick."
Jun't gave an exasperated sigh. "I see what he sees. No matter the distance, or what is between us," he said with a nod. "But I cannot let him see what I see...because I can't see at all. If that's all, then let us go."
With a nod, Jai'un stepped forward, but then recalling he could no see, she offered out her hand and lightly let her fingers touch his.
"We ought to hold hands. So we at least do not get lost from one another. It is pitch black in here, and even I can barely see."
He gasped. Though the sound was so light it was barely a whsiper. He felt a familiar spark and he retracted at first before succumbing to reason and slipped his fingers into her. They felt strange. The same yet...somehow colder to the touch and he frowned at the thought. "Lead on," he said simply.
Jai'un gave a small smile, not that he could see it as she instinctively squeezed his hand before guiding him onward. She knew they'd have only so much time before the shadowed beasts would find them here. And so against her better judgement, they went west, away from her 'home' and into the unknown.
Jun'tao cringed at the sudden pull she took on his hand, but said nothing of it. He stumbled here and there trying to keep up with her and grunted in displeasure.
"Come on. You keep tripping over your own two feet like a porcupine," she said, a phrasing only Jai'un would know andsay to him, teasing him when became clumsy. "Do I need to slow down?"
"You should delineate the path, warn me if there is something to step over, that would help," he muttered, annoyed. "And porcupines do not trip."
She smirked and stepped over a slick protrusion of glass, and when his foot found it and he began to fall, she caught him suddenly with a smirk.
"Warn you ... Like now?" She asked, playfully as she helped guide him.to his feet, finding herself lingering near to him as the temptation that drew her towards him, the light of his heart, was beginning to awaken this close to him.
He still hurt his shin on the glass, but at least he didn't smash his face. Still he frowned when he found her close to him and nudged her shoulder. "Lead on then," he said.
With a graceful nod, she moved onward, pulling him along gently, like an eager child would to it's parent, and occasionally she'd whisper back, "Watch your step." Or she'd pause to help weave him through a particularly difficult area to step, and this had been going on for well over an hour, of cautious walking,a nd uncertain footing on a mixture of black sands and glass, when something caught her eyes, a faint crack in the glass ceiling above them where rays of light glint down through a foggy dust before them and the outline of a building could be seen.
It was evidently man made, for the radical curves and spirals of glass were seen in shadows on all sides of it, but it remained a figure cutting out from all of the rest and Jai'un paused to take it all in, not realizing Jun'tao could not see the same structure on the horizon as she.
Jun'tao did not see it. Nor would his eyes ever lay on any such thing again. But he did see it from his bird's eyeview above and he paused when she did. The tower was crumbling, dilapidated and worn-down, having fallen into disrepair. Perhaps it was beyond repair.
"What is that place?" he asked, the structure above them unfamiliar.
"I don't know," she breathed. "It looks like some sort of ruins. Like a temple or something. Or at least that's what it seems it was."
Jun'tao turned his head up as if he could look at the structure the way she did. His expression remained thoughtful and he tilted his head. "Could we go there? You speak as if the glass is thinner here. Perhaps there is a passage upward?" he suggested.
Jai'un gave a nod.
"It would be worth looking into." And she peered over her shoulder, believing she had seen a shadow move, but there was nothing. She shrugged it off and took Jun'tao by the hand again.
"Watch your step," and she began to guide him through the debris while her neck craned up in awe at the sight before her.
"It's beautiful. A shame you can not see it. But what is let of the building shows whomever had constructed it took care."
Though he could see it from above, he was curious as to what it looked like from her perspective. "What does it look like?" he asked. "Describe it to me. Please."
"Some of the details look like olive branches wrapped around thick columns. I think this structure was made out of marble. Or limestone.. something definitely white." And she paused to tilt her head curiously at some of the ruins on the ground. "And there were great statues here once. This one... looks like a man." And she paused a moment thoughtfull y and took his hand and guided him to squat lowly with her.
"Feel this. You can see they put a lot of great care into the details of the face."
Jun'tao was silent in her explanation, but it was a thoughtful silence that rendered him contemplative. "Oh, yes," he murmured. "They must have taken great pains to study the person this must have been based on. To get everything right."
"Perhaps a king or God, I wonder,"s he mused, peering over his shoulder at the statue, then up towards another. "And this one here. It's of a woman, and she has.. what looks like, wings."
He gave a snort. "What looks like," he repeated. Bug the amusement vanished quickly. He felt along the wings, as they were, paying careful attention to every groove as he saw them and mapped them out in his head, They were beautiful bird-like wings and it reminded him of his eagle. Of what was once. - "Jai'un's eagle," he murmured, his words light.
Jai'un smirked.
"Was I an eagle once? Or are you talking about your bird. Come, these are no wings of a bird. Did you not feel the breast of the woman it attached to?" she asked through a smirk. "But come, we should not linger here. We need to find a way out of here and soon."
Jun'tao frowned, head downcast for a moment before he nodded and moved on with her, not lingering on much of what she said. For the moment thier communication was peaceful, but he reminded himself she was still a demon and nothing more.
"There's a doorway here, but there's heavy debris in front of it. I think we could enter the ruins if we were to crawl around it. Shall we try?" she asked, peering over at him curiously.
There were eyes all around them. Jun'tao could feel it and it made the hair stand on the back of neck. "Yes," he whispered and leaned into her. He could feel the shadows drawing closer when there was a sudden shriek. "Hurry!" he said loudly.
Her eyes darted to the darkness, before she took Jun'tao's hand and moved to crawl, belly to the ground as her body scraped against the gritty floor.
"Keep low and just keep moving!" She called back to him, but when it became too difficult to hold his hand, she called back to him, "Hold onto my skirts! The path grows narrow here!"
Jun'tao snatched onto her skirts as he crawled behind her. His body moved powerfully and hurriedly and he was nearly on top of her.
He was practically ontop of her by the time they reached the end, and she was scrambling to make head way when suddenly the ground dropped down a step and she gasped, taking Jun'tao down with her, he landing ontop.
He felt pain jab his midsection and he found himself on her ass. He pushed himself off, the tunnel tall enough for them to stand and he pulled her to her feet.
"We're... we're inside," she murmured, eyes lifting to the ruins all around them. It was nearly impossible to see, but a few stream of foggy light cut down through the glass ceiling and managed to light the way, but a few steps in had her wavering, and something washing through her as she grabbed onto her head
"I... I think these might be hallow ground. We... we should be quick here. I can feel my presence not being wanted, burning lightly at my skin, pounding deep inside my head..."
She cringed at it.
"Come, move quick." She tried to shake it off, offering him back a hand. "I think I see an opening this way."
"Hallowed ground," he murmured to himself. Yes, she would not be welcome here, he reminded himself. "Should we hurry?" he asked solemnly. "Perhaps this place has something worth finding."
Jai'un groaned.
"Whatever is to be found can be sought another day. I'd rather be done and out of this place quick."
The shadows retreated as soon as they had reached that hallowed ground, or so she had stated. Jun'tao felt calmer here, safer for the time being and he walked slowly toward a warmthe he felt lurking toward a glowing glass corridor, wandering down it, his hand sliding on smooth glass.
"I don't see any staircases in here," Jai'un said after a time, growling as she was becoming increasingly more irritable the longer she was in there. "We might have to find a way to climb to the roof top to see if the glass ceiling can be reached."
"Perhaps it is of no use then. I am only curious. I have not felt hallowed ground in these areas. It is easy to assume that all of the Seraj Isa is a place of evil, or hopelessness. Usually it is one or the other. What could possibly have blessed this place?" The question was a rhetorical one, as he stepped back and felt a fading warmth drift away from his body.
It made him feel cold and empty as he stepped away, almost hollow. "Perhaps we can go then."
"N-No," she said through an irritated sigh. "We are already here. We should at least see what can be done. I see some fallen columns in the back. Perhaps we can find something useful there."
"You do? Take me to them. I cannot see what you do, obviously," he said, half-deflated, his lips set into a frown. As they walked back, light he could not see danced through the glass, playing through fractures and cracks as it might through rippling water and his feet stopped suddenly when he hit something hard on the ground.
"What is that?" he asked, wary of his footing.
Jai'un spun around and her brows fixated on the darkness. But a faint, blue ray of light filtered through the cracks in the ceiling over head, and just beside Jun'tao's foot lay a chest, in laid in rusted gold and wood sculptures all along the front of it and was half stuck in some of the debris. Bending over, she brushed her hands over the top of it, revealing a lock.
"It looks as if you hit some sort of a chest. Though.." she frowned a bit. "It seems as if it's locked."
"Of course it's locked," Jun'tao replied with exasperation. He leaned down himself, feeling the lock with his hands, thumbs along the rusted lock, feeling the opening and the three slotted key that would go within them. "Do you have a pin of some kind?" he asked.
Jai'un reached up into her hair and loosened one of her jeweled hair pins.
"I do," she spoke, and peered down at the lock itself. "Can't say I ever tried this before." Considering a princess, or demon, had no reasons for picking locks.
"There you things you learn as a soldier that wouldn't always be acceptable as a general," Jun'tao commented idly, taking the pin feelingly. He reached back to the lock and stuck the pin inside, listening to the ancient rusted tumblers. They stuck here and there but Jun'tao managed to click the last of them into place and the bolt opened with a snap. "There." He handed back her pin before opening up the chest, though he did so with some hesitation.
She supposed it did not matter that he was blind, for after she replaced her hair pin into place and peered down at the chest after he opened it, she made a face and noise of disappointment.
"All of that trouble for an empty box..." she muttered. "Perhaps we were not meant to be treasure seekers," she quipped.
Jun'tao gave a disappointed sigh but nodded to her estimation. He supposed not every locked box contained an item of some sort, that even locked boxes are not always locked for a reason. "Oh well," he said with a resolute nod. "Let us waste no more time then."
"Shall we just leave the box here?" she inquired, lifting her red eyes to peer at his face. She studied the clothe over his eyes, and found herself reaching out a hand to gently touch it.
"Does it hurt? Not to have eyes?"
Jun'tao tense, sensing motion before him and his hand flew out to grip her wrist. His hand clasped it tightly, sternly before loosening it gently as he answered. "Not really. I remember what it was like to have them. To be able to see. It is an advantage in some ways and a hindrance in many others. It makes the need for lighting rather moot, but if I do not know my own way, I easily falter as you've observed." He let her wrist go. "What's done is done. They can't just grow back."
Jai'un tensed the moment he grabbed her hand, and also frowned along with it. Though she supposed if she were missing her eyes, she would not be found of someone touching the scar.
"I would not presume they could," she said, and moved to rub at her now freed wrist.
"I suppose you miss it?" she inquired. "Your sight. I should believe that I would were I in your predicament."
[I'm sure he does miss it. But somebody who shall remain nameless wanted him to be bliiiiind! D:]
"Hmm," Jun'tao replied with a soft grumble and shrugged. "Perhaps. Though I fail to understand the point in prattling on about the matter. It is done. And do we, or do we not, have time to waste? I'm sure you miss being human after all. But what does it matter dwelling on regrets. Lead on."
"Miss being human?" Such a question was enough to stop her in her tracks.
Jun'tao gave a sniff and shrugged. "You were human once. Beautiful once too. But that was a time long past" he muttered.
"You make it sound as if you miss me being human," she murmured.
"How long have I... changed?"
"Miss you...being...human?" he asked, turning his head to her, confused. "Perhaps. You were better then. I wished you kissed me when it mattered. I wished you let me hold you when we could. But like I said, it doesn't matter now."
The former princess went quiet- flashes of emotions within her head. She found herself unable to shake out a thought, though when she shook her head, she found herself asking him, "Why?"
And she found her throat going dry. "Why hadn't we..... before?"
Jun'tao paused and shook his head. "I do not know," he answered. "I think perhaps you did not want to ruin yourself."
"Ruin myself?" The former princess chuckled, but the hollowness wasn't entirely lost in the tone. "Yet here we stand, and you seem so repulsed at how truly ruined I've become."
And briefly, she moved away from him, so he'd have to stand there, alone in the dark.
Though for him? She supposed every moment now was one in the dark.
But was he always alone?
Jun'tao furrowed his brow. "What difference does it make now then?" he asked sharply. "One cannot travel back on the weight of regrets and attempt to undo them. No matter how much we might wish to. We are stuck with our decisions, no matter how we feel about them."
Jai'un went quiet
Perhaps too quiet for too long.
"So I was a regret," she murmured, her voice almost like that of a whisper, or ghost.
"And I am too," he said with a shrug. His face was drawn however, a deep frown set in and his voice an echo of the mastery it once had. "But that was an eternity ago. Don't dwell on it. Please." His voice softened, sad but controlled.
"Men, it seems, do foolish things for regrets," she told him simply, back to him as she pretended not to look at him. Her eyes were too busy studying the ruins in the dark, that was, until an audible click was heard. The princess whirled around, her eyes widening at the sight of a stair case revealed.
"Don't remind me," he murmured. He didn't want to think anymore of it lest they get even more off track than they already were. They still had a ways to go, or so he estimated, not seeing the stairs she saw. But he had sensed her pause and waited patiently behind her.
Jai'un's breath returned once the rumbling of the secret passage ceased, and it seemed no harm was to come from it. Even still, she crept towards it lightly and examined the entrance with interest.
"These steps go down."
Ironically, they were already inside the bowels of the Seraj Isa. What else could traveling even deeper into her depths prove? It seemed this pair was going to find out. But without bothering to help him, she delicately began to descend, and the only noise he'd hear was from the very faint noises of each step she took.
Jun'tao listened to her walking away from him, and he reached out feelingly for her, finding emptiness. He stepped forward, finding nothing and suddenly misstepping and tumbling on the way down.
It was only when the man began to fall did the princess catch him. He'd feel the peculiar, luke-warmth of her body, and the luke warmth of her breath as she chuckled.
"Careful where you step," she told him, helping to keep him right on his feet.
Jun'tao grunted a thanks and righted himself, holding onto the chamber wall. "Of course. I didn't think of that," he said blandly. "Do you know where we are going?"
Though she smirked and he could not see it, perhaps he could hear it in her words.
"Of course not. I grope through here as blindly as you." And she moved away from him, giving him one light tug to let him know it was time to move on- and deeper they went into the rabbit hole with each step.
Jun'tao followed her, blindly as it was and shook his head. "Not nearly as blind, but I understand the comparison," he said and felt along the wall. He smelled the air and moisture struck his nostrils. "I smell water. The air is much cooler down here."
"Yes, it seems miles below the valley of glass life can stir." And as they continued to descend, the smile grew stronger. But as they reached the bottom,s he had to pause, for it was the darkest here and she could not see.
"If we continue onward, I will be as blind as you."
She turned to him, her hand still touching his, though lightly.
"Shall we continue?"
It did not matter to her if she got lost, for she believed she could not die-a nd that her King, the man who ruled the heartless, would easily rescue her if this plan should go awry.
Jun'tao flinched, the feeling of her touch unusual but necessary. "The thought of water is nice. Perhaps we can find a lighted path. I'm thirsty."
"Very well." And she moved onward, not confirming his grip, and nearly losing it, as she strolled forward, groping and slowly moving in the dark.
Jun'tao reached out for her hand by instinct as he did not know the way and continued following closely behind her.
And instinctively, she squeezed his hand back. They eventually made it to a room, still blanketed in darkness, but there was the obvious sound of trickling water somewhere. So Jai'un decided to head for it when she slipped on some slick moss on the rock floor.
At the sensation of tugging on his hand, Jun'tao immediately tensed and pulled Jai'un up from her fall, pulling her up against him.
As she was pulled against him her breath caught in her throat as she paused, slightly dizzy and also tensing at the warmth of his body.
"Be sure to watch your step," she whispered. "The floor grows quite slick here."
Jun'tao felt a front of energy so close to him at Jai'un's proximity and he feld his breath until she spoke. "I will be careful," he nodded in understanding and proceeded through carefully, still holding her hand.
Their steps were tentative when at last the trickly sounds of a stream moving alongside them and Jun'tao found a rock to sit down on. His feet were tired and he was thankful for the place rest.
"The ground seems okay here," he said. "The water feels nice doesn't it?"
Jai'un had grown quiet since they had both taken a seat. The sound of the water was like music to her ears. And it was cool, perhaps almost a bit too cold, but due to her lack of a heart, the fact the temperature was so dramatic meant she could actually feel it as she let her fingers grace across the moving waters.
"Yes," she said softly and grew quiet again.
Jun'tao listened where the water was, thankful for it's cooling mist. He reached down and carefully removed his shirt and trousers and boots before carefully moving into the water. He would savor every moment in the water while he could and there was nothing like taking a cooling bath after wandering the vastness above.
Jai'un still remained quiet, though listened carefully-f or she was as blind as he. She heard him removing his clothing, and paused a moment to trace a finger over her own clothed fresh, yearning to do the same. And after a moment's hesitation, she did the same, removing her dress in silence and setting it carelessly aside.
She only wore the gold mask that hide her scarred face before delicately slipping into the water, and enjoying the feeling to actually feel something as she waded until she was nearly waist deep in it.
Jun'tao heard the movement of water from Jai'un's submerging and he turned to her. He said nothing, hoping she would stay in her space and he would stay in his. He cupped water and dunked it over his head, matting his hair and sticking it to his face and neck.
For one becoming so enamored in the sensations of the water, she could hardly be contained to her space. So it didn't take long that'd he'd start to feel the ripples of moving water from her body lap at his, as she began to feel around, slowly, like a panther, stalk her way and feel the cold sweet waters on her flesh. It didn't take long before she eventually bumped into him, their backs colliding with a soft bump.
Jun'tao grunted with the interruption of his meditation. "Sorry," he said and moved out of her way.
Jai'un instinctively put her arms around her chest, but seeing how it was silly to do so, she bit her lower lip sheepishly, but the heat from her blush was still there. She paused a moment, however, and tried to gauge where he was, and then waded away from him-
but soon growing bored of it, she purposely bumped into him again.
He staggered forward again and held himself against a jutting stone. "Sorry," he said again and tried to maneuver around her, only to hit her hip with his groin.
She tried to keep her laugh in, and did so very well in fact, ...
that was, until his groin hit her hip as she gasped and- instincts kicked in as she slapped his shoulder and scolded, "Jun'tao!"
Jun'tao staggered backward. "What!?" he replied. "I didn't do anything."
Jai'un felt her cheeks turn scarlet.
"You've touched me!"
And she knew exactly what did!
Jun'tao scowled and splashed water her way. "Well, it was just a bump, so don't be so dramatic," he spat back. "Sorry."
Jai'un grew quiet in her anger, but not entirely because of what occured. She was mad at herself for suddenly acting prude. If anything, she should be trying to seduce him. So she went quiet as.she tried to think of a plan. She could always throw herself at him... Where would he escape to if he wanted? It hardly seemed as if he could get away... Yet for some reason, she still hestitated.
Jun'tao sighed, his momentary temper cooling with the water as he knelt down and ducked his head down in it, sitting at the bottom and holding his breath.
Holding her breath, she listened to him move about within the waters until she new he was close again. This time, she moved carefully, with only an ounce of hesitation as she held her breath. And then this time, when their bodies met, her arms gently moved around his, and for the moment, all she could think of was how wonderful this felt as she released a shivering sigh against his neck and whispered,
"I'm sorry, Jun'tao." ANd he'd be able to feel the cold of the metal from her mask as she leaned her cheek against him and breathed in his scent.
Jun'tao gasped silently when she put her arms around him. He stiffened at first and felt alarmed. Something about the situation felt unnatural and yet... His arms gradually relaxed, uncertain of what to do with them as they slowly wound around her and held her lightly.
"For what?" he asked.
"I don't know," she breathed the words against him, eye lashes so close they tickled his skin. "Perhaps for never doing this."
And she turned her head gradually, gently, and found her lips to his.
It was easy to become lost in the idea of intimacy and Jun'tao almost gave in. Almost. He did not actively resist her, nor did he respond in kind. He was too stunned by it all to think clearly. This was Jai'un was it not? No, he told himself. It wasn't her. That part of her died long ago and this was just a hollow vessel with a pretty face.
He pulled his head back an inch when she tried to kiss him and instead merely held hers between his hands. His lips trembled though she could not see him and he not her. His hand slowly slipped the mask up from her face, pushing it away and letting his hands linger, feeling the contours of that familiar face.
She almost whimpered when she was denied that kiss. So much did she ache for it, not knowingly, that she felt herself not fighting back when he went to remove her mask. The scars on her face were evident now as his fingers graced across the surface. She leaned in towards his fingers, and found her lips lightly kissing the tips as they moved by.
The shape of her face made his stomach jolt up and he did his best to contain himself. The scars... "What happened to your face?" he asked.
Jai'un winced and turned away, cowering away from him as she cringed.
"I... I did this to myself," she told him angrily, embarassedly, keeping her back to him.
Jun'tao scowled at her and frowned deeply. "I suppose that's as good an explanation as any," he muttered sarcastically. "At least you were in your right of mind."
He felt up to where his eyes had been and shuddered. "Why would you do that to yourself?"
Jai'un remained quiet and fumbled until she found her mask, which, ironically, was still in Jun'tao's hand. She moved to take it from him and replied, "So he'd want me less."
But she didn't have to explain herself, so why say anymore than that?
"Ah," he murmured in understanding, the venom gone from his tone. "I'm...sorry you had to do that. It was something you felt was necessary."
Remaining quiet, the fallen princess fixed the mask back over her marred face, but not before giving a feel of her disfigured flesh first as she frowned.
"You were always beautiful. Even with a scar, you still will be," Jun'tao murmured.
"It doesn't matter now. What's done is done," she told him coldly. "And I am not that beauty." Even if she still wished it to be. "You yourself have spoken to me in repulsion. Perhaps now my heart has become as ugly as those scars." Or the lack of one...
"If you see it so. then it is so," Jun'tao said solemnly and nodded. He stepped out of the water feelingly, scraping water off and putting his clothes back on. He felt heavy, saddened by it all, but wondering what good it would do to dwell on it. She was right. It was in the past.
Jai'un went quiet, just letting his words sink into her slowly, like a knife. And where as he left the water, she still remained, her arms slowly closing around herself as she ignored the shivers, ignored the pain.
"Perhaps we should head back. This way is a trap of darkness."
Jun'tao stood beside the edge of the pool and nodded. "Yes we should." He offered her his hand to help her out of the water, though he knew she likely would get out herself. When she was out, he bowed his head and awaited her to lead the way.
Naturally, she could get out herself, but in the darkness, she found her hands groping over his and she paused, hesitating before she felt herself accepting that hand as he pulled her from the waters, waters gushing down her form in streams. She stood there for a moment, hand still in his as she listened to the beating of her own heart in her ears, the faint blush on her cheeks before she moved forward to lightly touch his body, finger tips moving up his skin before she touched him softly on the lips and moved forward, as if to kiss him, but hesitated just before him- only a breath away.
Jun'tao froze when she touched him and his breath involuntarily. It was cool to the touch and when they reached his face, he reached his own hands to them, holding their backs to his palm and gently pried them off. He held her hands for a second, as if ready to drop them down to her sides, but he waited a moment before taking her palm to his lips, kissing it softly.
She too, had her breath involuntarily catch in her throat, and she found herself holding it as lips met to her skin. And her skin tickled all over in a crawling sensation down her arm and across her body, filling where her heart should have been with a vague and familiar sensation that made her eyes glisten and the vacated place in her heart wish it could flutter.
Her fingers curled, pressing lightly into his lips, before she mimicked him, drawing his hand to her lips now and did the same. And it felt so nice to feel something warm against her cool body-
to feel something other than the muted sensations she was forced to live with- day in and day out.
Her touch sent tingle down his arm. Jun'tao gasped and breathed against her palm further. His lips grew curious, feeling the coolness of her hand as he kissed her pulse.
But when he'd kiss her pulse where her pulse ought to have been, it was barely there- or perhaps not even there at all, and if anything, it was a shadow or ghosted existence of what it once was. But without blood flowing through her veins any longer, she still felt a subtle surge of heat tingle through her blood as she released a soft breath, her eyes hanging low, as she hoped and prayed he'd kiss her flesh some more.
He did kiss her once more, further down her arm, remembering the sensation of her touch, but never having had the chance to kiss her. It remained a choice beyond his courage. He stopped after a moment, pulling his lips away and coming to his senses, releasing her hand. "I'm sorry," he murmured softly.
She felt a fluttering, like a butterfly inside each time he kissed. A hand went to her chest, and her words were almost ignorant of her. The sensation, whatever this feeling was was strong, trying to break through whatever was muffling it from her lack of a heart- and without thinking, she suddenly grabbed his wrist, a hand smoothing up his chest, neck, to his cheek then-
His lips. Those soft, warm lips.
She licked her own, eyes glittering in the darkness.
"Jun'tao... my general.."s he whispered, before sealing her lips unto his.
Jun'tao whimpered at the kiss, the full force of her lips hitting him like a tsunami wall. His knees nearly buckled but he caught himself just in time and murmured against her something unintelligible. He kissed her back, for the briefest of seconds before pulling away, holding a hand over his mouth and staggering backwards.
"But...this isn't real...is it?" he asked, his voice wavering, body trembling. "This....this isn't how it should have been..." His voice cracked and he began to sob, though he tried his hardest to contain himself.
Jun'tao wasn't the only one who was overwhelmed by it all. When he pulled away, she too, placed a hand over her lips and felt a moment of dizziness nearly become her. But she sobered, only briefly as she heard him sob- and was surprised when she too, suddenly had wet eyes and cheeks from tears.
"I... I don't know," she spoke, shame and confusion evident in her voice, which had suddenly become meek and quiet.
He had no tears, but his sorrow was no less evident. He had wanted this, when they embraced and it was a sensation he never thought he would feel and when at last he did, he didn't know what came over him. And then he heard her tone and knew she felt it too.
He moved closer to her and felt blindly for her hands. Gripping them tightly he shook his head. "I'm sorry. I just... Why didn't we make love when we had the chance? Why did you stop yourself? Didn't you love me?"
She felt the hollow pit of shame and guilt clench at her stomach. Words were numbed on her lips, def in her mind, and all she could do was tremble as her hands stroked across his lips.
"I didn't know we could," she croaked.
She had been a princess after all- she was to marry a man of royal blood. And Jun'tao- though she loved him, the Gods knew she did, was merely a general...
Just another man.
But a man she loved all the same. Even now, with her heart gone, she could feel it, the emotions tied into her, feeling stll repressed, but still very much a part of her very being.
Jun'tao moved his hands, gently, feelingly slipping them around her waist. "You knew...you knew your feelings. ..." He waited a moment and leaned in, taking her lips against his, softly at first, then deeper.
Jai'un whimpered, even through the kisses.
"I... I did..." she whispered, kissing him softly, tenderly back. "And somehow I know it now."
Jun'tao shivered, feeling the sensation of her tears, running along their lips and falling onto his tongue as he gently slipped it between hers. "I wanted you so...I just didn't know if you wanted me..."
She couldn't believe this. After all of these years of denying it...
and here, here this man was supposed to be prey... so close to her she could steal his heart...
But all that was happening was he was stealing hers.
"I've messed up," she whispered between kisses, finding more tears hotly trailing down her face. "I wasn't meant to have you, Jun'tao. We.. we could never wed."
"Weddings be damned!" Jun'tao whsipered harshly. "I only wanted you. What difference does it make if we were married or not?" His kiss grew hungered as he leaned into her and pulling her body against his, her skin wet as it was clinging to his clothes.
Jai'un whimpered as she was brought closer to him, but her breath was snuffed out by a kiss.
"Oh, Jun'tao."
And as they kissed and were pressed so closely together, she could feel it, taste it and nearly purred. Oh, his heart! His beating heart! How she envied him for possessing his still! For it made him free and proud and she, growing momentarily envious as her hands wrapped around him, and she- quite by mistake, or so she hoped, in the after math, it was a mistake, her fingers began to slip inside his back, reaching into his body, seeking that pulsing, beating source of life.
It was only when she realized what she was about to do did she gaspand tear herself away from him, stumbling as she groped her way back and leaned against a wall.
Jun'tao grew suddenly alarmed when he felt her icy touch. He pulled away when she did, panting, heart pounding out of his chest and he suddenly felt very ashamed. And angry at himself for being so weak. "Get dressed. Let's keep moving," he said lowly.
Tears pricked at her eyes. She could not believe what just happened, and too ashamed, she did not move at first, before blindly trying to grope for her clothing while tears streamed down her eyes.
Jun'tao felt his cheeks burn with shame and anger and disgust, all those old feelings returning again. He forced himself to give some distance between them, but considered her in patient silence.
Finally dressed, she moved closer to him, being sure to make noise so he knew she was coming, and when she gingerly touched his arm, she gave it a light squeeze.
"Let's keep moving then."
But before he could get anywhere, she found herself tightening her grip upon his wrist.
"Wait.."
At her abrupt pause, Jun'tao grew tense and his free hand reached for the hilt of his sword at the uncertainty of her intent. "What?" he said softly, but his entire body was rigid.
"I wanted to apologize. My... It seems my heartless instincts won over. Your heart it.... There is something very attractive about it. It would be wise for you to keep your distance. Lest I try that again."
"Likewise," Jun'tao said matter of factly. "It was a moment of weakness. It won't happen again." His voice was assured and he motioned for her to continue walking alike they had been before.
Jai'un bristled at his words, but nodded, despite the fact he could not see it, as she moved forward, groping around to find the path once more in the dark.
Jun'tao did not loosen his grip on her nor broke from it when she lead the way, following close behind.
"You know," she began to speak, after a time of silence lingering between the pair in the cool, darkness. "It was foolish for us to come here." What did they honestly hope to find?
"Agreed but that is why we are leaving is it not? I would like to reach the surface again," Jun'tao muttered.
She smirked, though it would be lost to him in the darkness, but perhaps evident in her voice.
"Then you shouldn't have come. Did no one warn you how dangerous the glass desert is?"
"Yes. It's a conversation we've had before in the futility of my journey. But it doesn't change that I'm here now."
"No, I suppose it would not." And as she continued to grope her way through the darkness, she gave a sigh.
"You know... if I allow my powers to come out, I could easily see through this darkness."
She didn't know why she restrained.. Perhaps for the same reasons on just what happened-
that if she tapped into that darkness planted within her, then she might try to steal the man's beating heart again.
It was a lot more difficult to curb her cravings when she was basking in the powers of darkness.
"Let's just find our way out the normal, human way," Jun'tao said impatiently. "You learn to live with the darkness. The light is just a fleeting memory."
Jai'un grew silent for a time before telling him, "Then give me your hand. I'll see that we get out quick."
Jun'tao hesitated for the longest time before his hand reached out to hers. His grip was light, tentative.
She gave a gentle squeeze back, she- being the less hesitant of the two before she began to guide Jun'tao along with her-
But they had only made it around a few bends when she stopped and felt a chill creep up her spine. A breath caught in her throat before she whispered,
"They're here."
At those words, Jun'tao stiffened immediately and he gripped her hand in a vicegrip. "Betrayer!" he hissed and reached for his sword with his free hand. "I knew it!"
Jai'un whirled towards Jun'tao.
"I did not! It was only a matter of time before they'd sniff you out! You... you and your pure heart!" she told him through her teeth. "I can sense how they seek to devour you, every drop of that hot blood that pumps in and out from heart to veins..."
She then turned away from him, gritting her teeth as she tried to hold back her own desires for it, fighting with the fragments of her former self, and the demon winning within.
Jun'tao stumbled in the dark in his desperation. His heart was beating wildly, in a panic unknown to him and his blade flashed in what little reflective light there was. The crystalline ceiling danced in darkness and between glittered shade, shadows moved and twisted and screeched.
Jun'tao spun here, feeling nails claw at his back. And he cried out and swung wildly, hoping to hit something, anything, to carve a way toward escape.
The heartless, formless in shape- and ever hungry, mindlessly clawed their way forward, seeking the one with the heart and growing closer with each passing breath. She felt them upon her as well, though because she was one of them- they paid her no heed- so it did not make it that much of a bother to grab and pull and toss the nightmarish elements aside.
"Jun'tao, keep running! I'll try to keep the beasts back!"
He ran because his own instincts told him to run, and her voice was void on his ears. He slashed at empty shadows, using his ears to guide him and ran onward to the slope that rose higher and higher to a tower door. Jun'tao felt blindly, stupidly, desperately as he felt shadows claw at his flesh and when he reached the door, he kicked it open and slammed it shut from the otherside.
The door closed behind him in an echo, the sounds of the shadows muffled from within. But he was alone now, the door seeming to keep back the nightmares...
and the heartless princess.
The walls were glass and they glittered in flaming blue. The ethereal light here that played on the walls did nothing for him. He was always trapped in darkness. But he could feel their warm and he used their candle racks to help guide him up the stairs.
By the time he made it to the top of the winding staircase, the closed door began to pound and pound with the weight of a thousand shadows-
all of them eager and hungry for him.
Jun'tao hated that the sudden pounding against the door made him jump in fear. He hurried up the stairs and found level ground. Though he couldn't see it, he sensed he was walking into a vast space and he felt a draft hit him. He walked into a large, broad chamber with a carved glass floor, reflective all around like some sort of hall of mirrors.
"Why have you come into my domain?" a woman's voice said, deep and sultry.
Jun'tao's breath hitched as he wandered into the center of the dais. "Who are you?" he asked.
The shadow beasts moved a lot quicker than she, and it took her some time to make it to the door, and she used their language to ward them off. But they still hoovered nearby, making it impossible for her to join Jun'tao now. She could only pray he was able to get out of here before the beasts began to seep through the walls and move in for the kill....
There was a presence here that seemed darker, heavier and the air suffocated him. Jun'tao shivered, but it was a soft arousing shiver that coursed down his spine.
"Who are you?" he repeated, holding onto his blade.
"A curious question, posed by an invader to my sanctuary. I can sense you are not like the others. Your heart beats still, with an enticing desperation," the woman's voice echoed. She laughed, and the echo stilled Jun'tao.
A violet mist billowed out and around him, flowing up into his nostrils and he felt dizzy all of a sudden.
"Tell me your name," she asked.
Jun'tao shook his head, trying to keep his wits about him. He couldn't linger here, he had to get away. Something told him he had to escape, and yet his body was lulled into complacency. "J-Jun'tao," he murmured, nearly stumbling.
But someone caught him, and plucked him from his feet and carried him away.
"Do not worry, Jun'tao. You are safe in my arms," the woman's voice echoed again, the mist drifting off with his body.
The princess grit her teeth. There was no way she could hold off the shadow beasts. They were hungry- and there was fresh meat. And for it, they were rabid. Knowing her position at the door was now futile, she found her own way around it, groping in the dark and feeling for Jun'tao's energy. She soon found herself scaling the walls above where he was, and the sound of a woman's voice, though faint, carried up to where she was and sent a chill down her spine.
It was then she looked down and saw the general, and for a moment, she wasn't sure what was going on, but sensing the other spirit here she found herself gasping as she dropped down from the ceiling and had her blade at the ready.
"Release your hold on him," she warned. "Or the consequences will reach well past your grave, spirit."
The woman echoed a bone chilling laugh and Jun'tao was taken into the darkness. A loud metal clang hitting the ground indicated that he'd dropped his sword. "Another pawn come to play? I would welcome the company, but my quota is satisfied for the moment. Run along, now child. Jun'tao is not available to come out and PLAY!"
The last word was shouted in anger and a rush of black wind came out at Jai'un, slamming into her like a hurricane, attempting to launch her toward the wall.
She felt the rush of power but stood her.ground. But when.the winds were over,she growled.
"I am born of the King of the heartless. Your petty attempts will halt me not!" And with a cry, she rushed off into the darkness.
There was laughter, chilling laughter, that made Jun'tao shake with fear and agony. Something tight was wrapped around his body, something cold and sickly wet and he shivered against them. They felt like arms, but were hardened like spikes. "Release me!" he howled as they slowly crushed him.
The demon that captured him was powerful, even stronger than the shadows that lingered outside the tower door and it was slowly suffocating him to death.
Drawing out her weapons, she blessed her tessens and snapped them open, moving in fast and close and swift.
Jun'tao was carried far away, drifting off into the sweet aroma of sensual dreams, his mind overrun with images of a masked woman, their bodies intertwined and he was helpless, vulnerable.
But the darkness congealed around him suddenly, suffocating him, choking him and he began to scream and he fought against his bindings in utter futility.
"You stupid bitch! You'll never learn!" growled the woman's voice as spiked tendrils shot out at Jai'un.
Her tessen struck and snuffed the spike out with a hiss.
"I am a heartless," she said with a chuckle. "We live for one thing."
"Oh yes, I know of your meager kind. You fight for scraps and fear the light. And inside of you, you hunger for the heart of this mortal man... Why so eager? You will not ever have him. I have felt his heart...it burns for another. Hmmm, pity. The strong ones are always taken," the voice called out and Jun'tao's cries of agony were heard loudly out from the darkness.
"You don't think he can be claimed by me?" her chuckle echoed through the dark. "That burning you feel..... Would you like me to show it to you?" And in a flash of dark, and of burning light, she tore after the woman without reserve, channeling into a power long forgotten- one that only her heart could contain. But since it already belonged to another, not the physical one, but the spirit of her heart, something happened just then that mixed the light and darkness as the woman struck out- not just from desire and need...
But something more.
And through the darkness, the blade she struck was not the creature's own manifestation, but that of Jun'tao. His blindfold had been torn away and the empty sockets of his eyes glowed an unearthly glow and he snarled at her, possessed of another nature. He struck out at her, as if he could see all he needed to and attacked with intent to kill.
The powerful clank of the sword from the General took her aback, but what really disturbed her was to finally see he was sightless- and not only that...
His eyes were completely gone, with swollen, hardened sockets revealed, and eerily illuminated. So when he struck out again, she was not ready for it, and she felt his blade sink heavily into her shoulder- and it was then she cried out in pain.
But her cries did not move him. Jun'tao raised advanced upon her, raising his blade and saw nothing more than a creature to be slain by him. His expression was stony, all but the ethereal glow of his eyes. They were evil, possessed with hatred as the blade came up once more, aiming down toward her head.
She barely evaded his swing as she ducked and tumbled behind him. He was a general, built for war. And she? She had only her mere dance steps to carry her away. But she couldnt believe what he turned into, and with a cry of anguish, she called out to the demoness, "Release him! He is not yours to command!"
"And I suppose he is yours?" Her laugh was cold and cruel. "He was pitifully easy to pry open. And now he will kill you."
Jun'tao growled in frustration when she moved away and he leapt toward her in growing rage. He swung his blade at her again, feinting right and spinning round to cut left.
Jai'un swore. What a wicked creature. And this, coming from a heartless! Snarling, she was about to cut into her with a few sharp words when Jun'tao came out her. She was only able to evade another cut when she tried to melt into the shadows-
but tapping into that power while... trying to tap into another, left her crying out in pain as she stumbled to the ground, making her wonder, 'What the hell was that!?'
The cry only made Jun'tao pause for the briefest second and he watched and waited, seeing his prey scurry away into darkness. She was one with the darkness, that he knew and finding her now would be much more difficult. But he was dogged and blade hungry for blood. "Come out, wherever you are. You'll be saving yourself a lot of pain," he said, his voice changed, heavier, darker, and fucking pissed.
She never has to fully use any of her real heartless powers around him. Why bother? Blending with shadows was pointless when the man could not see. But now, she could at.least.grope her way away from him, all the while the strange pain continued to intensify.
[He can see her magically with the possession thing (:]
Jun'tao found a shape moving through the darkness and rushed at it. He swung his sword outward, seeing red.
She was quick to use her tessen, but the metal fan was no match for his blade, as it was knocked cleaned from her hand while his blade moved forward and struck her face. The sound of the metal scraping her mask made her cringe, even with some of her muted senses after becoming a heartles, but still she was able to evade him, barely.
"Run away little fly. Run as fast as you can," the haunting voice echoed outward.
Jun'tao growled and reached forward, grabbing air. His boot stepped on one of her tessen and he paused, reaching out and picking it up. He paused a moment, feeling along it. "Jai-un," he muttered and gripped it hard. "Jai-un!"
His voice echoed, bouncing off the walls, loud and pained.
Gritting her teeth, she continued to move away from him, and the more distance she put between them, that strange pain ebbed away. Strange how that sensation out weighed the pain of her arm.
Needles jabbed through his mind, and he growled in pain, holding his head as he fought for control. His body was suddenly on fire, scorching where his eyes should be. He felt a foreign presence and he panted hard, exasperated as he fought against those tendrils of darkness that wrapped around him. "Leave me! LEAVE ME!" he howled, his voice hoarse as he repeated the mantra over and over again. "I BANISH YOU!"
He fought the spirit's hold over him, shadows dancing all around him. Tendrils of shadow reached for his limbs but he cut at them, slashing through where he felt movement. With every appendage severed, the woman's voice howled in pain, as she tried to overcome him. He turned and ducked and unfurled Jai'un's tessen, slashing through one and another with his sword.
Despite wanting to run away like a dog with it's tail between its leg, she began to recover quickly and at the howl of his voice, she paused, heart beating in her ears. She knew she should keep going, to get out of here to recover, but to hear that strain in his voice, and what she believed she heard earlier when he cried out her name, made her swear as she turned around, and began to head back towards the fight.
A gold dagger, tucked between her breasts was removed, and when she was close enough, she struck out at those gnarling tendrils that dared to take Jun'Tao again.
The darkness kept closing in on them as Jun'tao cut and slashed and the demoness howled and screamed in fury. Jun'tao suddenly felt another body at his back and just when he was about to cut her down, he stopped suddenly, feeling a familiar presence. "Jai'un?" he breathed.
She tensed before replying, "Who else would it be?" Even after losing her heart, she felt the need to preserve the promise to always have his back.
Jun'tao said nothing, only turned when he felt a blast of air beside him. The sword in his one hand slashed through one tendril and the tessen cut another just beside her head. The woman at last screamed in pain and the shadows were no more. Jun'tao paused before Jai'un, then he suddenly fell on his knees. "You came for me..."
Sighing with relief that the moment was over, she turned to him before even realizing she was replying.
"I made a vow."
Remember? For she didn't entirely, but it seemed some part of her still did.
Jun'tao only realized then that his eye covering was gone. He gasped and covered his eye sockets from her. "Don't look at me... It is my shame to bear."
"Why wouldnt I look? It's been a while since I've seen your whole face."
Jun'tao shook his head, reaching blindly on the ground for the covering and when he thought he found it, he gripped it tightly in his hand. It was dusty and he cleaned it gingerly.
"Because I'd prefer you remember me as I was, not as an invalid. I suppose that is too late now..."
"Yes..." she told him simply, softly as she studied his face. "That's true." And she found herself crossing the distance between them, and helped him, gently, to fasten and adjust his blind fold in place.
"You know.... despite, not having a heart.... it's strange. But when I'm around you........ things that were once shrouded in darkness start to appear. Like.... your face. Though I've seen the proof of what has happened to you..... somehow... I still remember your eyes.. their color... and the way you always smiled at me."
She drew her hand away from him, still studying his face.
"But that's all I can remember, and anything else falls back to shadows."
"Your memories are still fuddled," he said gently. "I never smiled. I'm your General. Generals cannot lead their men with smiles."
"You weren't leading men," she told him with a smirk. "You were leading me."
"Well, it's clear I led you nowhere of particular with smiles," he sighed gently and turned the tessen over in hand, giving it back to her.
"You sure you don't want to keep it?" she asked, playfully. "The fan blade... as a memory?" For surely she knew they'd part paths again. And he had come all the way here for her, after all. Pity he was too late. And despite the darkness fighting to suffocate the purity of her vacant heart....
It seemed some of it still remained.
"What for?" he asked, curious. "I have my blade. And it belongs to you."
"I didn't say as a weapon."
"What could it be used for then?" he asked. "You should keep it. I have no use for it."
"Ever the efficient one. Maybe you should hold onto it until you realize what I mean?" She smirked. "But come, if you feel well enough we ought to get out of here. The glass desert.... It is not safe ."
Jun'tao knew what she meant, but he wasn't ready to admit it. Not yet. He still couldn't trust her...the woman he knew was gone and this was not it. These weapons were foreign to him and symbolic of all that had changed, everything lost to him and he felt it grow heavy and drop from his hands.
"Leaving, yes. That's a good idea," Jun'tao said, leaving the tessen behind.
Not bothering to fetch the abandoned weapon, for she had them as a pair, one could suffice... She took his hand without so much as a word, and began to lead him out.
Jun'tao kept pace with her, simply holding on as she led the way. He didn't ask where they were going. They still had to get out from beneath the Glass Desert didn't they? Where else was there to go, but up?
And up they went, stair cases spiraling endlessly skyward. But it was some time later when they were finally released from the stone tower they had entered, and the cold air of the bowels of the Seraj Isa touched their skin. Instinctively, she gave his hand a squeeze as she stepped out onto the roof top terrace, and began to look up at the glass ceiling above them.
It seemed the sun was beginning to rise up there, and it's colors danced across the wavering shapes of the glass dunes. But as she saw from this vantage point, they were still just a bit too far away from the glass dunes to reach them.
And this made her frown.
"What? Something is wrong?" he asked and tugged on her arm.
Her neck still craned, she simply replied, "The glass desert is still so far away..."
"Did we take a wrong step?" he asked and wished he could see what she saw. He moved along the terrace, stepping near a precipice and nearly losing his footing.
I twas then she grabbed onto him, yanking him back.
"Do not be foolish," she hissed.
"And you almost did." She released her rough hold on him and sighed. "No, we made no wrong step, but my calculations were wrong. This..... did not lead us high enough to the glass desert ceiling above."
"Then do you offer a solution to our current predicament?" Jun'tao countered, justifiably irritated. "Or do we have to go back down?"
Sighing with irritation herself, she looked over at Jun'tao.
"We'll have to fly up."
"And where are my wings?" he pressed.
At such a remark,s he smirked.
"Who said anything about wings?"
"I cannot fly. Moreover I do not fly!" he growled. "This is a fool's errand and I will be trapped down here for eternity!"
"With an attitude like that, yes... you will," she agreed, though her tone was pleasant as she seemed to mock him. But she gave him a playful look.
"You seem to be unfamiliar with the heartless curse..." she went on. "Here, in a world of darkness, it is our own. And with it, we control everything."
And her eyes began to smolder as she began to channel the shadows. It would take a lot of force, a lot of power to do it, but they had a long ways to go towards the glass-
and well, part of her seemed to want to impress him- even if the powers she possessed were dark.
"That's because most of my experience with them involves cutting them open. To little avail as I'm sure you've discovered," he said with a great deal of resignation. But he suddenly felt the air begin to congeal around them and he gasped, holding his breath. "What...what's happening!?"
Jai'un smirked as they both were soon 'floating' in the dark.
"Just a bit of heartless magic,"s he told him with a teasing tone. "Do you need me to hold your hand? But don't look down if you're not a fan of heights. You might feint and it'll put me in an... interesting predicament,"s he seemed to purr, her body and eyes darkening as they continued to rise, further and further up in the sky.
Jun'tao felt the rush and it startled him. He ignored the comment about 'looking' down, but that did nothing to abate his panic. His arms swung around Jai'un in that instant and he clung to her. "Just get me out of here," he half-gowled, squeezing her hard against him.
Jai'un smirked. Both entities enjoyed this as she simply chuckled and continued to ascend with him up, up up towards the glass sky. But as they did so, something echoed through the dark sand valley below, and it sent a chill to her bones.
His arms around her as they were, Jun'tao felt the chill too and he stilled. "What was that?" he asked, but something told him he didn't want to know the answer. "Just get me out of here, Jai'un. Please."
Jai'un shifted her hold on the man as she gave a more impatient, "I am." It wasn't like she could just whisk him away so quickly- no...
She was not the King. Her powers were no where near that.
"Though if we don't hurry, I'm afraid we might have a dragon to contend with." And not the friendly kind!
He could feel the ground shaking, somewhere beneath them. He heard a growl and felt the air grow increasingly suffocating. He squeezed her hard and did not say anything further. But apart of him felt fear begin to grow from the pit of his stomach. He didn't care for that. But until they could escape, there was no helping it.
As much as she tried to will them to move any faster, she felt it having a toll on her body, and she grunted at the effort-
But she wouldn't have to struggle for long, for out of the gloom came the massive jaws of a great skeletal beast- with skin, taunt and ash in color, and it's bone- rigid and jutting from it's skin-
and the beast was massive, and fast- for by the time Jai'un realized it was as close as it was- it was too late- and it's massive jaws chomped down over top of them- trapping the pair into it's large, whale sized mouth.
And that was the end of the General.
Or so he wished.
Jun'tao gasped for air. He was already shrouded in darkness, that was nothing new. But the panic of uncertainty was quickly setting in.
Jai'un remained frozen, holding her breath, which she released when she realized they were both still alive. Quickly, she looked for some source of weakness she could exploit so the beast would open it's mouth, allowing for a quick escape, but before she had a chance- she felt it's warm tongue surge around them as they were both pushed down and through it's throat.
The pair eventually fell into the beast's belly, and were covered in slick slime on their way down. Jai'un had landed in some unsavory belly liquid and groaned as she wiped at the slime that covered her face. But the first thing she did might have surprised her darker half, as she turned to look for Jun'tao.
"Are you okay?" she called over to him. "It seems we're in the beast's belly." She gave a snort. "At least he was kind enough to eat us whole."
"I'm not okay," Jun'tao said plainly. "I'm bleeding I think. Or maybe that's just the bile we are currently sitting in." He sighed, impatient at all this nonsense. "Maybe we ought to just let him eat us. At least then somebody will be getting something out of this ordeal. Better him than the heartless king."
She couldn't help but smirk.
"Oh, what a romantic notion for us to die here like this. Here, let me clean your face off. If we're going to die, might as well get this beast's bile boogers off of your face," she teased.
"Why must you joke?" he asked, irritably. "Maybe you will not die, hand of the Heartless, but I am a mortal man. I will die, whether here, or at the edge of a blade. Preferably the latter, but few have the luxury of choosing the outcome."
He pulled away and cleaned his face himself.
Jai'un gave a roll of her eyes. "I might be spawned from the Great King of the Heartless, but it does not mean I am completely immune to death. Or..." and she couldn't help herself as she bit back a smile and added, "Bile Boogers."
She bet the pair of them looked positively horrendous. Too bad her fellow 'prisoner' couldn't see!
Jun'tao clawed at the gunk that clung to his face and body and limbs and reached out blindly for anything solid. He found only Jai'un and he gripped her arms, sturdily. He reached up and pushed her hair away from her face, whipping slime down from it. "I'm not going to wait around to be digested. We need to get out of here, and before I go on stating the obvious, I'm going to ask this only once. Do you have a plan to escape?"
"Well, since you've been so gracious enough to ask, I think we only have a few options if we want to live. We either cut our way through or...." And here she paused as she admired his face before adding, "or make the beast spit us out."
"Then we have to climb back up it's throat. I cannot see and do not know my way around the innards of a dragon. What do you propose to be the best plan? I like the cutting part myself. But with this bile surrounding us, I don't my blade could puncture the skin."
"It's long throat would be a good place to start. Though there would be bones to contend with. But perhaps around its Adams apple we might find some point of weakness? Though I suggest we start soon before it digests us."
Jun'tao's grip on her arm hardened. "Then tell me where to stab and I'll open the way. Upwards we climb. Lead me on."
She gave a nod and gesture with the arm he held and moved forward, sloshing through the stomach contents like a swamp. Moving was tricky, since she had a hard time getting her footing and had to lead the blind General behind her, but they encountered no more problems than just that when they approached the throat.
"You'll have to hold onto me tightly as we climb. It won't be stable in it'd neck. You feel that pulsing? It's flying, beating its wings. No doubt its neck will move greatly as it turns and flies about."
He nodded, resolutely. He could suck up his disgust for the time being. It wasn't like he hadn't sloshed through the blood of a battlefield after watching his soldiers get slaughtered, walked among the dead and felt himself become one of them. That was before he'd cut his sight, and had come to terms with fighting a war that could not be won. All that awaited them was delayed destruction.
Jun'tao tried not to focus on these thoughts, instead wrapping his arms around Jai'un as they climbed up the throat of the dragon. It's motions were startling raucous, but he stuck out his feet, using them to stabilize himself and hopefully get out of this damned beast all that much more quickly.
She used the juts of it's bones to help herself climb the long neck of the dragon like a ladder. But it was difficult work, and she was sweating through the slime as she continued pressing onward, but she was barely half way when the dragon made a sudden turn and with a gasp, she felt her hands give way as she slid almost back down to the bottom as she swore.
"Spirits be damned!" she said, laughing sadly at their state. "You'd think this might be easier." And with a growl, she began her climb again.
Jun'tao yelped when Jai'un lost her footing. But he stuck his feet out hard, snapping them hard over the bones of the dragon's throat, and held her against him before she started to climb again. "Be careful," he grumbled.
She laughed irritably.
"You think I'm not?"
"Just keep climbing. We can argue about who's doing what later," Jun'tao said. The slime was growing increasingly intolerable, but Jun'tao supported her climbing with his own footing, hitching his feet down into notches between bones. That was when he felt a lump and he squeezed Jai'un. "We have reached the knob in it's throat," he said.
"I know!" She said, almost growling as she grunted and pulled herself onward. "But this beast has one hell of a long neck!"
"So exactly how many throat-knobs does it have!? Just get me there and I'll stab the crap out of it!" Jun'tao was just about ready to let himself be digested. If to get away from this excruciatingly slow climb.
Jai'un didn't even justify that with an answer, but after a few more climbs up the bone 'rungs' - she saw exactly what they were looking for.
"Jun'tao!" she shouted, excitedly. "I see it! I see the throat knot!" And hastily she began to climb towards it, and he'd be able to sense a slight change in the beast's neck pattern- but at the same time,t he beast made a sudden, jarring turn again. With a gasp, Jai'un held on tight. She was NOT about to fall down that long neck again!
Jun'tao, however, unable to see where they were going, where they were, or had any sense of direction at all, gripped onto Jai'un for dear life. One arm wrapped around her waist, the other grabbed onto his sword hilt. He wasn't going to wait. He pulled the blade as far as he could in the narrow cavern of the throat and turned it over, stabbing it into the slimy skin.
Jai'un gasped as his blade cut past her head and into the beast's skin. The beast shrieked, its breath howling around them like a mighty wind as his head began to jerk about. And that meant one thing... It was at least working. Digging her fingers into get a better grip, she shouted ,"Jun'Tao! Keep holding me and striking fast!"
Jun'tao was stabbing blindly, literally. He could have just as easily stabbed her as he pulled out the sword and jammed it again into the flesh of the dragon's throat. He heard the cries, felt the tremors, even felt a warm substance seeping down his hand that he could only know as blood, but his arm was relentless.
Hot blood covered them both, but when a tendril of light and wind struck attheir faces, her eyes lit up.
"Can you feel that, Jun'Tao? Like the freeing breeze in the well when we were younger..."
Jun'tao didn't know what was happening. The cold air stunned him and Jun'tao just clung to Jai'un. For all he knew they were falling to their deaths. Well, his death.
She cursed and the dragon continued its fury.
"Why did you stop? You've cut through the beast! Just a few more strikes and we can fit through!"
Jun'tao growled and wished he could have stabbed Jai'un and the wound would have stayed closed. He shifted behind her and jammed the blade into the untampered skin, holding the blade in position and pulling it from side to side.
"Yes, like that! It's working!"
"Shut. Up," he muttered, continuing to tear the hole into the side of the dragon's neck until it was large enough for even his own shoulders to crawl through.
Jai'un grunted.
"Oh? And here I thought you needed my help!" She snapped. "Just hurry on through. The hole is big enough for you to crawl out of now."
And it was then that the cries of the dragon ceased and it crashed hard onto the ground, a pile of rubble and dust billowing up in its wake.
Sensing the fall, she braced herself for the rough landing, but being as she was on the bottom, she took the brunt of the fall. But even as the pain coursed through her, she managed to give a smile as she groaned, "Gods.. the beast ... It's dead."
But Jun'tao was unconscious, possibly even dead. There were few ways to tell other than the fact that he wasn't breathing.
When Jun'tao didn't respond, Jai'un sat up.
"Jun'tao?"
She gave him a light shake- but sensing his heart was no longer there- her eyes went wide.
"Ju- Ju... Jun'tao!" she shrieked, giving him another shake as her mind froze in a panic.
[Because shaking an unconscious person is totally the first thing EMTs do. XD]
Jun'tao still didn't respond. He didn't breathe, nor did he respond to her vigorous shaking. The fall had taken a lot out of him, if there was still anything left.
What could she do? What could be done? Had the fall killed him? The very idea crushed what soul was left of her as her eyes burned with an unfamiliar wetness as she began to shake him again, shrieking his name.
He heard her voice calling out to him and he whimpered at the shrieking. That familiar burn, that rage of life. He twitched in her hold, and slowly his strength came to him. Jun'tao groaned softly, voice creaky, weak and he turned his head slowly to face her. His face was scratched and bruised and his lip was cut from their landing.
"Stop. Shaking. Me," was all he could say.
She couldn't help herself and threw her arms around him.
"Blessed be our maker," she said between sobs, for the moment, having lost the heartless will as whatever was left of the real Jai'un melted forward- or so it would seem. For she was so close, she should be craving the heart that beat within him, but instead, something else was bubbling inside her and overrode that desire as she clung to him, fierce.
Jun'tao grunted when she threw herself at him, his body still sore. "Jai'un," he murmured. He found strength enough to hold her to him and he kissed her cheek. "I'm alive. Though, your hold is very strong."
"Damn you, my hold is strong!" She said through tears. "Maker's name, how this makes me feel...."
"Damn me? Why me? We plummeted down rapidly. Though I wonder. Are we still beneath the surface?" he asked.
Through the whole ordeal she had forgotten the whole reason they had been traveling up, and whens he pulled away to look around, she saw nothing but the dark sands stretching on for miles beneath the glass desert as she frowned.
"N...no," she said, her voice wavering. "We are still below."
At that news, Jun'tao sighed and sat up. A sharp pain pinched his side and he put a hand down to grip it. Thankfully he felt no blood. "What do you see? Any path laid out?" he asked.
"Path?" her laughter was hollow as it echoed. "No, no path."
Nothing here was familiar. It was all black sand.
"Then what is it that surrounds us?" he asked, grunting as he tried to stand.
She gave a small, hollow smile as she told him.
"Dark sands. We're surrounded by a sea of dark sands."
"Great," he groaned and nearly stumbled into her, clutching his side. He straightened, his bones cracking. "I'm afraid my sense of direction is just as useless underground. Who would've thought?" And he just started to walk, in no direction in particular. Well, more like hobbling.
Jai'un helped support him, but after he was already stable, he was off and walking again. Jai'un reached for his arm.
"Wait! Where are you going?"
"If I knew, I'd tell you," Jun'tao said, but he paused his motions. "I cannot see my path, but I cannot stay here. I must move on, somewhere, anywhere."
"Where do you wish to go?"
"To the surface. Out of this darkness. Back to my people," he said with a sigh, shaking his head.
"Then I shall help you get there. Though I can not go all of the way, the least I can do is help you return so that you can protect them where I have failed."
At that Jun'tao paused and gripped her by the hand. "Why do you say that?" he asked. "What do you mean?"
Jai'un was also confused by what he asked. She moved to pull her hand away.
"I am a heartless. What more is there to say? I've done enough damage there already."
"Then why did you leave in the first place?" he growled, letting her go and taking a step back. "What did you think you could achieve? By appeasing the Heartless King, you doomed us all! Now my people have no hope! No one to lead them, no beacon to guide them, to give them a symbol to rally behind... When you left us, Jai'un, to pause our destruction, you only guaranteed it. The Heartless will never stop. No matter how many men we throw at them. Jai'un, why did you do this to us?"
His head dropped into his hands. "I came here to find some reason... some understanding as to why you left. Why you left us to die... How could you?" He pressed his hands to his forehead, wishing he had eyes to cry with. He was so angry, angry with her, with himself, with the world. He stepped away from her in his rage. "No, you still have plenty damage left to do."
Was this guilt? Remorse? The feeling was strange and she didn't like it as she stared at him in silence, gritting her teeth.
What was her goals here? Even in this state...
Why bother to help him? In the end, she'd just want to eat his heart...
He wiped his face clean, sniffing and shaking his head. "I am sorry, Princess. But I've overstayed my welcome. I never should have come," he said. He turned around and stalked away, wanting to be anywhere else but here. His heart, whatever remained would never survive if he stayed longer. Sentimentality would destroy him.
It was then her hand shot out, taking his as she gave it a light squeeze.
"Y.. yes, you probably should go." And she turned her head to him, studying his form. "But I am glad you came.. It.... it has helped me to remember... at least to remember some good, and not all the bad. I thought for sure my memories were just dreams. But to see you... to be with you....... It is a little comfort in my own Hell. My people.... they deserve a better ruler. Please.. help them find that where I have failed."
And she paused, feeling his heart beat through his hand and all but tasting it. It was then she let go, fearful the hunger for it would return, because for once since she had been turned, she found her old self breaking through. And she had to wonder... why?
Jun'tao kept this back to her. "They love you, still. As I once did." It was all he had strength to say before walking through the sands.
"I'm sorry..." Was all she whispered after him, her eyes to the sands as she simply let him go.
Jun'tao wandered onward, through the darkness, feeling somewhere, somehow the warmth of light. The glass reflected and refracted light, bending where it glared along the glass. When he found his way up toward the surface, he heard the familiar shriek of his eagle in the sky, he smiled at last, turning his face up toward the sun.
Upon Jun'tao's return, he was treated like a hero, the entire kingdom delighted to see he had survived. He had been blind, after all, and since the loss of their princess...
They had little to hop for. But even though he came back empty handed, they still saw it as a good sign-
At least he survived- meaning.. maybe the rest of them could, to?
But it begged a lot of questions, but before Jun'tao could even address the crowd, the elder Zhen-mha approached and furrowed his brow. He saw no princess and was greatly uneased.
"Please.. you must be tired from your journey. Come, to my chambers. Let us discuss what you have seen."
"I assure you I have not seen anything," Jun'tao replied to the older man. He wanted to laugh, but his expression was vacant. There was no laughter left in him, not even sorrow. What could he tell his people? How did one exactly deliver the news of inevitable demise to the people that would suffer it?
He growled quietly, musing the thought and moved toward the familiar chair that resided in the corner, plopping down gently, as he waited the Elder to address him. "Speak," he commanded.
Zhen Zhen studied him astutely. It was strange to have the General asking to be questioned. And Zhen Zhen could only presume the worst.
"Do I really need to ask? It seems the story is evident on your face. And also evident in the lack of our princess at your side. Now, tell me, or shall I seek a guess? You could not even find her?" Which was a bit of a laugh. He had gone out to look for her, but he was blind, and freshly so.
"But do go on and report what you have seen. Perhaps whomever goes out after you will have better luck."
"No," Jun'tao said swiftly. "We stay out of the desert. It is as I suspected. The princess is lost to us, and all that remains is death in that horrid place. The heartless are everywhere."
"Then you have seen her? Princess Jai'un?" the man asked, perking up.
"I cannot see anything!" Jun'tao exploded suddenly and hurled a vase at Zhen's head. "Can't you understand that I am not fit to lead our people! And even if I do, we will all die.... That's all that awaits us."
Zhen-zhen evaded the vase, but it shattered beside him. He frowned as he observed Jun'tao in such a state.
"General... please, I do not mean it in a literal sense. And our leader... this conversation is about the princess. You have not yet told me if you have encountered her," he went on, cautious with his wording.
"No, I did not encounter the princess," Jun'tao said flatly. "Does that satisfy you?"
The man paled a moment before lowering his head.
"Very well. DO you have anything else to report?"
"The Heartless gather in hordes. There is no saying when or how, but they will descend upon us," he said with a shake of his head. "We are doomed."
The man went quiet, digesting over this foreboding news. And although they all feared it might happen, to hear it from the general....
"Are you certain nothing happened when you were out? Nothing else to report?"
Although the General had not been acting like himself since the princess had surrendered herself, this only aided in the older man's suspicions something else was wrong. After all, the man removed his own eyes to spite those bloody heartless. He was so blood thirsty then for revenge, to bring Jai'un back...
What had happened that turned that man into this?
"They swarm like bees on honey. And sting with hating fury. I fell down into the dark and deep. Surrounded. I was pulled out by a heartless dragon that wanted to swallow me whole. But I cut it's belly and escaped."
Jun'tao's voice was despondent, empty, draining of life. "And I found my way back. What more is there to tell?"
"Well, if you had not seen the princess then there is still hope. We could send out our best men. See if they might have any luck..."
"Did you not listen to me old man? What part of what I said remained incomprehensible?" Jun'tao asked, an edge in his tone. "We stay out of the Glass Desert. We keep our men here, at home. If I couldn't find her...no one could."
The old man hesitated.
"You have had a long journey. Come, rest now. We shall talk no more of this topic until later."
Jun'tao sighed and rubbed his face in his hands. "What will you tell that crowd out there? That I failed?"
"No," he shook his head. "Not that you failed. Hope is.. a fickle thing. It's quite frail, but it's also a powerful force. It's kept us alive this long. Surely there is a reason for you coming back empty handed this time. After all, we have yet to exhaust all of our options, Jun'tao and the elder council.. we've come up with something. Something that might help bring our princess back and free her from the clutches of that evil King."
"She was a fool. Leave her where she chose to lie. She can't helps us after she abandoned us. She wanted to be fodder for the Heartless. I say let them have her," Jun'tao said, embittered.
The man was surprised at just how stubborn and bitter Jun'tao had become. He thought the man was crazy once he lost his eye sight, and even wanted to go off on this hunt alone. But now? For now, he'd drop the idea as he pursed his lips in thought.
"Very well. This discussion can be done another day. After all... there are things to consider and weigh. And perhaps... " the man went on with a sigh. "Perhaps you are right."
Though it pained him greatly even to say it, though inwardly he prayed that idea was wrong.
Jun'tao sat up in his seat. "What will you tell them?" he found himself asking. "They're waiting for an answer. I'm a General, not a politician..."
"We tell them what we can. That the princess has not been found, and will hold a gathering in order to discuss what we wish to have done. Many believe she is our hope, and her sacrifice was not in vein. And they wish to rescue her.... You should know this. You had once been one of those believers."
And if not,.. some believed he wanted to be more.
"You want us to deceive our people? You want me to lie to them and give them a false hope, when we should be bracing ourselves for our utter destruction?" He was incredulous and he shook his head with worry. "I don't even know if I can say such a thing. I may have believed once... But going into that desert had opened my eyes to reality. Yours should follow likewise."
The man went quiet and digested this. Again, he considered this bit of knowledge to be true and after a time, he released a long sigh.
"Then should we address the people to warn them another battle is to come?"
Jun'tao stood then and walked over to the older man, putting a hand on his shoulder. "We prepare for the end. The bitter end."
The man stared at Jun'tao for a long while before nodding.
"Very well." And he turned towards the window to where he could look out at the rebuilding kingdom they all called their home. "But perhaps.. tomorrow would be better. At least, to allow one more night of hope."
[Not sure if you like it, but Jai'un should totally like visit him in the middle of the night]
Jun'tao felt those words wash over him and he remained silent all the while he thought of Jai'un and all she had built. This was her kingdom after all and he wondered if the Jai'un he knew back then would laugh if she knew she would be the one to destroy it.
OOC: Omg, I was actually considering that XD
BRAIN TWINS
And one more night of that hope was giving, as a pair of red eyes stared at it in humbled curiosity. From the shadows and this hour, her kind reigned supreme, but to see the world like this... something almost tangible and real from a dream she felt she once had...
Memories? Perhaps they were memories of that former life the blind man was associated with, and like her human half that still lingered within her, she began to stalk the castle walls.
[Brain twins 8D]
Jun'tao retired to bed early that night. But sleep did not come easy for the general as he tossed and turned in his bed.
She hung back like a shadow, moving along the walls like a spider, or silent bird. It wasn't until she saw a light on in a room on the eastern wall that drew her attention that way. After all, those that were sleeping were boring. But when she reached the lit room, she saw it was but one candle that was lit, and nearly relinquished of it's wax. But it wasn't the dancing flame of the dying candle that caught her attention-
But the familiar form laying on the bed.
His body perspired steadily, the sheets clinging to his body. Jun'tao had never been a heavy sleeper, and when he woke up suddenly, he opened his eyes to little more than shadow, the flickering candle flame having been snuffed as if by movement.
Whether it was by fate or the workings of the woman now cast in shadow, it could not be said, but as the smoke hung in the air between them, her red eyes never once left his form.
Jun'tao sighed through his nose and laid back down. How silly of him. It wasn't like he had eyes to see anyway, he thought and could still picture the room in his mind as it had once been. "Stupid, stupid," he whispered to himself.
The hidden princess cocked her head to one side, and dared to take a step near him. She was curious to what he was mumbling about and soon found herself paused just at the foot of his bed.
Jun'tao felt something bump against the foot of his bed. He sat up again, slower this time. He didn't ask who it was, but his grip on the dagger beneath the sheets at his side tightened around the hilt.
Jai'un smirked, amused.
"Do you really think a dagger will hurt me, General?"
"Why are you here?" he asked, pulling the blade out and holding it against his chest.
And she simply stepped nearer to it, the blade pressing against her gold armor.
"To see."
[He is holding it against his own chest]
Jun'tao flinched. "To see what?" He sat back on his bed, smelling her, her scent settling with the motion of her hair.
"If the promise was kept."
[Promise? D: ]
Jun'tao stiffened. He was confused, unsure what she meant, but for her to come here did not bode well.
She noticed his tension.
"A promise.. from the Heartless King," she reminded. "My sacrifice.... for my kingdom's freedom."
"Well, you were a fool and you were his instrument of destruction. You were the only thing that gave us hope. And now you're one of them. Your effort was in vain." And Jun'tao dropped his head.
Jai'un held her breath. What did he mean?
"The kingdom... is it?"
Was it destroyed? Did she destroy it!?
"Not yet. But it's only a matter of time. Do you think we could stand long without you? You were out leader...How could you abandon us?" But in truth Jun'tao did not want to hear whatever lame excuse she had. He was at a loss. And all he could do was lie down in resignation.
She was relieved, but on what else he said , it made her grow quiet.
"What more do you want, Princess?"
"Right now.. the kingdom is okay?" she asked, carefully, quietly. Than the heartless king had kept his promise. But by the way Jun'tao spoke... It was as if at any moment, it would fall.
"That is what I said." He nodded to her, though for some reason he could feel her closer than before. "They will come however. In due time."
"How can you be so sure?" she countered, voice growing bolder. "The kingdom has yet to fall.... and the Heartless King and I-" But at that,s he stopped in midsentence before closing her lips. "I have yet to hear him speak of conquering the kingdom now that I am at his side," she added, softer, with a hint of shame in her voice.
"So...you came here to tell me that while the King you've become the concubine of has yet to attack, that somehow his word is as good as gold? No. He has removed you as a threat! Crippled us by removing the only symbol that kept us believing, and now he may strike at any moment. That is what you have done. It is inevitable. You have eyes, yet you are the one who is blind."
Such a statement was like a slap to the face. The masked woman cringed at it a she approached him. And though he had no eyes himself, surely he'd feel the weight and heat behind her glare.
"Do not mock my sacrifice!" she hissed. "It is for you, for these people, that I have given myself over to those without hearts! And you... you with your bitter retorts, are you not happy for those who now live? You have no proof the King will come to claim this. And so far, his word has been kept!"
[Why is she masked? He can't see her anyway]
Juntao scowled at her and he might've been persuaded to grow even more angry, but all he could was hiss in laughter. He shook his head. "Here I am, arguing with a specter," he chuckled. "I am the fool. What does it even matter to you now? You're his ghost now. And this conversation is futile. I suppose, even in the end we are both consumed endless hunger of the Heartless."
OOC: She always wears it, ever since she got her face scarred. Regardless of where she is.
Jai'un glared at him.
"It is only as futile as you make it. I'd ask if you are blind, but it seems you are on both accounts, for I see no demise, just a kingdom on the verge of recovery." Or so she hoped, how desperately she hoped.
"I suppose you would see that," he whispered. He frowned and swallowed hard on a dry throat. "Now you've seen your lovely work. Go back to your home now, your lover awaits you."
At the mention of her lover, Jai'un bristled.
"You choose odd words for my master."
Jun'tao scoffed. "They're one and the same," he sniffed.
"And it seems heartless men and kings think the same way," she growled. She looked to his knife. "So you point that thing at yourself? Is it because you know you are a fool?"
"What do you care?" he mumbled. "How I hold my knife is no one's choice but my own. It is mine."
"Yet you'd waste it on a moment like this." Her gaze hardened. "Have you changed so much since I've gone, Jun'tao?" Finding that, surprisingly, as she remained here, in her home land, she began to recall more and more of her life she had left.
Jun'tao sat up suddenly and he threw the knife in her direction, though he could hear it clatter uselessly to the ground. "What does it matter, beast? You're just here to steal my heart."
She could have evaded the throw, but something kept her cemented in place as she glared at him. The dagger was useless on her armor anyway.
"At one time yes, I wanted to steal your heart.." she went on, expression hardening as her red eyes glimmered. "But now I see its potency has been soured. It is no good to me like this." And she paused to consider...
"I suppose it's no longer got a reason to beat as proudly as it once had."
"If I was proud, then that has proved me all the more a fool. Especially to have let you go..." His tone was solemn and he buried his face in his hands.
At such a revelation, she felt something sting at her heart- or at least where it once was. And she grew silent, and felt the change in the air between them.
"There was no choice."
Had she not surrendered herself...
She would have had to surrender the entire kingdom. And to her, even if the King of the heartless did not keep his end of the bargain, at least, she hoped- and prayed, it would have bought time for her people to recuperate after the attack and either be ready for the next one or...
Find a way to ward off those without hearts.
"There is always a choice. And you took the easy way out," Jun'tao whispered. He breathed hotly into his hands. "If we would have fallen, at least we would have had our princess with us... Instead you took the coward's route. But I am as ashamed of myself... I should have went to you then... But I was the coward."
Jai'un felt numb at such a reaction. He wanted to go with her? He called himself a coward.
Thinking back to that day, she recalled flashes of her own thoughts and felt her lips tremble.
"You're right," she whispered. "I was a coward." And as she lifted her gaze over to Jun'tao, who now appeared hunched over, as if weeping, she frowned to see his own gaze was lost- forever.
"And I was selfish," she added. "I wanted to protect my kingdom.... but in the end, I realized I had truly wanted to protect you. It is why I burned my face, in hopes my King would stop looking at me. His gaze.. the want in it... the way it got soft and his subtle smile.... It... it.." and her voice broke, eyes threatening with tears. "It reminded me of you. And so I burned my face so he would not want to gaze upon it, in hopes that the memory of what I once was.... perhaps would remain a memory, just for you."
Little did she know Jun'tao had suffered a similar fate- for as she was being taken away, heartless demons tries to sneak in and make off with what hearts they could before they were called off by their king upon his return. Jun'tao was not spared, as numerous heartless women tried to seduce him, luring him in with memorizing gazes and scandalous promises.
But they hadn't realized the man was steadfast, and the second he realized something had been wrong.....
He took his own eyes and cut them out, and the heartless seductresses had a mad man who killed them off since their powers no longer could affect him.
And the heartless King had known about that, and withdrew the remainder of his heartless that still prowled. The fact some were killed after their surrender....
He wanted to use that against the princess; but as her time beneath the King's power grew, even he realized there was something powerful in the woman's heart- for though her heart had not been destroyed, it felt as if she still possessed just a fragment of it-
and he could only deduce it was out of love- an enigma to his kind, but something the King had once fallen prey to. And he had used that power over Jai'un and won her body. And because when she realized her mistake and felt shame, it was then he realized the power of her heart-
And instead of gorging on it like he promised...
He simply kept it where it was and watched...
Even now, being so far away from her heart....
It was beating stronger now in Jun'tao's presence, and aching for the times lost and the times to come.
Jun'tao scoffed out a laugh as she said that. He could no longer weep, but that did not mean he did not feel sorrow. "Well memories are all I have now. I cannot even wield a blade properly. I believe I can see and I see is darkness. It is cold and empty, like my future. I am not fit to lead this army. We will fall even if the heartless never come.."
He gripped his head and undid the knot that kept the holes of his eyes sockets covered. "I am empty."
She tensed upon seeing the gruesome scars where there used to be eyes, and she recalled the way they had once looked.. and once looked at her. Tears were uncommon for her, at least in this state, and even perhaps, before- when she was once proud. Now, to see those she tried to protect in such a state made her quiver, and she found herself passing the distance between them and gently, tenderly, stroking the skin just beneath the hollows of scars.
He flinched at her touch, but he did not push it away. In fact he leaned in to her touch, a hand reaching to grab her wrist and pull it up to his cheek. And his lips kissed along her palm, down toward her wrist. How he had regretted that they had never made love, had never wed, royalty be damned.
He had his regrets, and knew they were futile. But they remained nevertheless... Her touch only returned what memories remained.
His kisses sent a chill deep into her bones, and a stirring in her heart cavity that ached. And soon her face was getting wet behind her mask, as she continued to touch his face with hesitant, like touches that only grew more bolder at his own charge.
"I'm sorry." she found herself whispering, as she lowered her head in shame.
She should never have loved him, should never have given up...
But it seemed all parts of her life were damned.
"Perhaps it was all you could do..." he whispered those words to her and continued to kiss along her palm. He knew he shouldn't, and perhaps hoped he would come to his senses. But he didn't think then and his free hand reached for her body, crawling up her body and gripping at her breast. Fingers clawed at the cloth there, desperation growing.
Jai'un felt her body aching, an empty thumping, a yearning to breath. As his hands hungered for hers, she blindly guided him to it, helping him, with only guiding gestures, to where the clasps of her armor were. And once those were unlocked, the gold plates began to fall off with light clatters to the ground. Thoughs he wore little beneath it, all that really remained was the simple dress beneath, and the gold mask that hid her own scars.
When there was a clatter to the ground, Jun'tao gasped and reached for her body, her dress falling away in a cascade of cloth on his bed. He felt his blood run hot and his arms coaxed her toward him, his lips kissing up along her belly.
To feel such need, such desire from him after so long, hurt. To think they had not once kissed or touched, let alone made love. It was the silence that was killing, and she knew not that, even if this could never be, the fact he was alive made her sacrifice okay. But even as she felt his touch, she shivered. She wouldn't feel like she used to, and she could only pray he would love her as she had been. But still, she felt undeserving of his touch, and was too timid to try to work at his clothes.
Luckily she didn't have to, as he was already without a shirt and his pants were easy to slip off. He continued to kiss along her body, the memories flooding through his mind. She by new, and yet somehow the same as he had hoped. He pulled her into his lap, to straddle his hips loosely as he kissed down to her sex, tongue lapping at her clit.
To be touched and tasted so by the lover she could never profess, never have set her body on fire. Heart or not, her natural draw to this man filled her with heat and pumped her with nothing short of love. Sure, desire culled the heat, but her love made it explode, and soon she was gasping softly, and moaning light for his attentions made her so vulnerable, and his touch- potent.
To hear her moans only encouraged him to explore her body, the one that should have belonged to him. For now it was and his tongue tasted of her folds, lapping at them as he leaned his body's over hers. Her heat was intoxicating and he breathed hotly against her sex. She was so soft and tasted so sweet he only wanted to please her more.
To be so exposed and so open to him had her sex heating and growing slick. His tongue would be able to taste it, especially as her sex pulsated, eager and hungry for more.
All she had to do was ask, and she would receive. Yet no words need be exchanged between them. He crawled over her, deepening his tastes of her sex, lapping deeply against the slickness of her folds that his tongue slipped easily inside of her, meanwhile his thumb reached up along her hip and felt for her breasts, gripping them possessively, rolling his thumb and index finger over her nipple.
She could barely breath, it felt so good. And even though she knew it was a sin, she wanted nothing more in the world than this, than him.
"By the Gods, Jun'tao.." she moaned, eyes fluttering closed. Her hand braced on his shoulder, and soon her fingernails were digging into his flesh.
He continued to taste her, to lap at her until her body trembled and sent her straight to the heavens. And when she did he pulled her back into his lap where he coaxed her over the bulge that tented beneath the blanket that covered his legs. "Jai'un tonight you are mine." He breathed against her neck, his hips undulating against hers.
She had no idea how to speak, or breath. Ecstasy had seized her and put her in a frenzied heat. And the moment she was over his lap, her fingers reached for the blanket, aiming to pull it away.
"You can't claim me if this is in the way.."s he told him, moving to kiss at his chest, then neck.
He loved the tension, that feeling of making love even through the complication of cloth. It was the anticipation that drove him and when she slipped the sheet from his lap, his erection exposed before her.
She couldn't believe what she was seeing. Sure, she had fantasized what it would be like to see him, to see all of him... and memories of their past flooded her mind. She loved the way he smiled, the way he had teased her, flirted with her and almost kissed her beneath the trees...
The years of tension were too much, and her body ached so. And she leaned forward, straddling over his cock as her lips sealed hungrily to his, and soon her slick sex was lapping against it's length, and she, moaning through his lips.
Not even at entry yet, to feel himself sliding against her folds made him quiver and moan against her lips, her kiss met with full force. He had loved her for so long, and tonight she would be his, no matter what promises she made to the Heartless king. Damn him, damn him for all of this, for ruining their kingdom, stealing their princess... All of this was put behind him, if just for one night.
To feel her folds simply running against him sent Jun'tao on edge, he tensed and held himself hard against her, nails biting into the flesh of her back. He kissed her, tongue seeking hers, deeply and possessively.
Maybe it was the madness she craved, or the growing spirit of love broiling inside his chest. And even as that feral hunger began to grow, the fire of need won above all else as her slick sex continued to roll over his as lips and tongues became one. And somehow through the kissing, she managed to beg, "Make love to me... Gods, Jun'tao, please make love to me."
For all she knew, this moment could end at any second, and she had so desperately wanted him, wanted this for as long as she could remember.
She did not have to beg the question. He would claim her. All night if he could. But in the back of his mind he knew the shadows were against him and time was short. All they had was tonight. He whispered inaudible words, said in both love and anger as he held her to him and at last, with a sharp jerk, slipped inside her.
He gasped a moment before her lips and slowly moved his hips upward.
Despite being soiled by another, she was tight and hot for him. And to feel him inside her, finally being able to have her, made her whimper out a moan as her sex spasmed around his thrusts.
"My princess," he whimpered, shuddering against her and he kissed her hotly, devouring of her lips as their bodies moved in unison. He couldn't say waiting for this had been justifiable. If anything it only made her want her more, to think there was so much foolishness that kept them apart.
He hands ran down along her body, trying to remember her body, her form, what had been robbed of his vision. And his hands felt that tender flesh of her lower back, pressing her down onto him in increasing rhythm.
She loved the way his hands felt against her skin. And though she was unnaturally cool to the touch, it seemed he was able to ignite a fire so deep she felt it radiate from her soul. And at his words, she whimpered, "my general."
He could not explore as he wished. Sitting suddenly felt very inhibiting, so when he rolled over, coaxing Jai'un on her back, he moved his body over hers. The moonlight that came in through the open windows would cascade over his face, to the scars and the empty eye sockets therein, creating haunted hollows.
And he only wished he could see her own face again.
It was hard not to cringe, not to feel pity for the man over top of her. And while he moved over her, claiming her with all the rights of a man, she cupped his face affectionately, and kissed him, and kissed him hard, closing her eyes and pretending it was a time long before this misery had began, a time when she wished she had been foolish and ignored the rules and laws of her land- if only for just one night like this.
To be whole again... and to feel the heavy beating he elicited from her own heart. Only now, the pounding of her heart remained as a faded echo of a time long past. And much like his lost eyes, she desperately wished not to carry such a loss, or scar.
Jun'tao returned that kiss, with all the fire of a man claiming what was and had always been his to claim. "I love you, Jai'un. My life, my lady. I never should have let you go," he murmured, hips moving slow along her walls until she was positively trembling.
And tremble she did, her body soon aching and coated in a soft, cool sweat. Funny how she thought she'd never have to perspire again. Losing her heart... she had lost a lot of what once made her human...
But in a moment like this, to connect with something so potent, so powerful from her past...
It was hard for her to remember she had no heart, she had no future here- for it felt too right, too good to be anything but.
And at his confession, she whimpered.
"No.. I was a fool. I just wanted to protect everyone...."
Her eyes sparkled with tears behind her mask.
"Oh, Jun'tao...." she panted. "I love you. I wish for you to be my life, my breath... and my heart."
For she could feel it through the roll of his hips how he needed her, craved for her, and cared.
"Oh, Jun'tao..."
There was enough love in the moment for them both, and she could have sworn she felt her heart beating again as her loins pooled with pleasure.
The night was young, and there was no reason to end it so soon, not when somewhere deep in the back of Jun'tao's mind he knew that after this Jai'un would be gone, and the end would soon begin. So he put himself in every motion, undulating his hips so slowly he was nearly driven mad, and he coaxed her into another position, moving behind her. And navigating only by touch and sound.
There was something about being guided by touch that made the moment more exhilarating. And when coaxed, she obeyed, closing her eyes and using her own sense of touch to guide the experience, while her hips moved in tune with his, and enjoying his sex move and thrust deep within.
Jun'tao could see only with his hands, with what sensations she inspired in his body. He moved through her so smoothly, without resistance or hesitation between them. He kept her hips sealed to his, moving so slowly so every sensation could last and he might revel in it.
"Jai'un...my love... You feel like living fire," he whispered, pushing deeper inside of her.
She whimpered softly at his words, trembling as she moved to kiss him. It was agony, pure agony, but she reveled in it all. And to feel him buried so deep within her only stoked those fires all the more. Her hips moved ever so slightly, breath hitching as he was drawing her ever closer to her peak.
It probably would have been difficult for her to kiss him at the angle they were now stuck in. He stayed behind her and moved with great vigor. Losing his vision only caused every sensory perception to become more intense, to compensate for what he lacked, and ever stroke, every motion of sliding through her, within her, without her, made him tremble with ecstasy.
She felt just as he imagined, so snugly around him as if she were a second skin, one they had meant to share. Jun'tao panted hard, hoping to prolong the peak that was rising in him. He didn't want this to end. Not yet.
The sensation was enough to drive her mad, and the hunger of her true self was soon coming into war with her heartless shell. She could sense the burning desire, the maddening love he felt for her as their bodies united, and she felt her finger nails turn into claws as they gripped onto whatever she could before her.
What she wouldn't give to feast on that heart, to feel it pulsing in her hand as it was fresh and warm from the life just stolen. And to let the dying flesh melt between her lips as she bit into it, and gobbled it down whole.
Jun'tao continued to roll his hips along hers as he staked his claim, and feeling his body shudder and finally release. The moment drained him, much more than it should have, and he rolled off her, panting hard. Heart beating a thousand miles a minute - ripe for the taking.
To feel him claim her was more than she could bare, as wicked finger nails sunk into his flesh as she gripped him tight, and gripped him hard. She bucked back, and froze in mid action as her sex tightened and soon was spasming as she screamed out her triumphant of ecstasy.
But in the maddening moment, she lost herself completely until him, and the darker part of her dare break through, and he'd be able to feel Jai'un's cold hands dig in and through his skin with unseen magic, and was moving quickly to grab his rapidly beating heart.
"General! GENERAL!"
The lieutenant burst in through the room quickly without ceremony just as Jai'un was about to take Jun'tao's heart. "General, come quickly! A shadow has been seen around the palace grounds!"
Jun'tao was in a half-daze, raising his head, naked upon the bed, and turned his head in the lieutenant's direction. But there had been no other sudden alarm in his voice. Such as what might be there had he seen Jai'un present over Jun'tao.
"Jai'un?" he whispered.
At the voice, her hand retracted and she was soon holding it at the wrist, as if she'd been burned. But when she realized her identity had been compromised, she rolled off the bed and reached for her weapon and pointed it right at Jun'Tao's throat.
"Leave this place and raise no alarm, or he dies."
The lieutenant had not seen the shadow that held the blade against the general's throat. Jun'tao froze, hating that he actually felt threatened. And that Jai'un had duped him into being vulnerable once again. The lieutenant looked to his commander for direction, not daring to move until ordered.
"Do it," Jun'tao said, nodding, the motion making the blade stick harder against his throat.
But the lieutenant remained glued to the ground. He could not believe his eyes, but with a rigid bow, he left, closing the door behind him. And when he turned down the hall and another saw his expression...
"What's wrong, Yun'khun? You look like you've seen a ghost."
The man only gaped.
"I.. I think I have..."
The second they were alone, the knife dropped from her trembling hand as she drew away from Jun'tao, her eyes wild as she looked down at the hand that tried was used to threaten Jun'tao... and nearly killed him.
"Jai...Jai'un?" he whispered in the dark. He could not see and reached out blindly, but soon felt only the dagger at his feet, as he swung his legs over the side of the bed. "Ow." He plucked it up, holding it gingerly in his hands.
She kept herself pressed back into the shadows. Too afraid to move, too afraid to breath.
All Jun'tao could do was lie back and go to sleep.
Jai'un held her breath. She had no idea what to make of this. Was Jun'tao dead? But his breathing confirmed other wise, and she hadn't stolen his heart. She looked down to her hand. Though she tried to...
She grimaced at the idea and looked back to his lying form. Perhaps it was best she leave now. He could at least have that moment as a dream. A good memory.
She obviously still had no control over who or what she was. And while it seemed her former self was winning over, she had to leave, and fast so she made her way tot he door, pausing first to listen to ensure no one was outside, ready to ambush her.
[Why didn't she just go out the same way she came in?]
Jun'tao closed his eyes, feeling his one warm bed grow cold. And he knew it hadn't been a dream. And yet somehow it felt fleeting, as if it never happened it all. "You would leave me so quickly?" he said aloud suddenly, unsure if she was still even there. "Back to your King, I imagine?"
Jai'un froze. So he was awake.
Keeping her back to him, she smiled sadly and replied, "It's not safe if I stay."
For you... or I.
OOC: Whoops? XD maybe she wanted to go out that way to see more of her castle? :P no idea >_>
"Very true. You come here to wound your former love, then leave. That is a dangerous pattern, ghoul. But I'm sure you knew that. I'm sure it was your plan all along."
She stiffened at his words. But it was true. All of it.
"And I'm sure you knew what you were dealing with."
It wasn't like he hadn't already knew what she had become. But she couldn't deny it was nice...
at least for the moment, that she could be... something else.
Jun'tao nodded in the dark. "I did. It felt real. For whatever it was worth...thank you."
And at such words, Jai'un tensed, and made no reply.
At that Jun'tao got up from the bed, touching the bed to navigate around it and walked out of the doors that led to the balcony.
She hesitated, before finding herself following him, but she remained silent for a few moments before saying, "Your men will be after me soon. I shouldn't linger."
"Then go," came Jun'tao's only reply.
She wanted to. All aspects within her were screaming. But she didn't move.
Jun'tao remained positioned as if staring into the sky, and he took in a deep breath of night air.
And some part of her won over, as she gently placed her hand over his.
"What are you doing?"
"Touching you," she said gently, but at his questioning her behavior, she felt that part begin to slip away as she frowned. But still, she kept her hand over his.
His tone was neither damning nor accusing, and he felt that her touch was cold and a part of it frightened him. "Why?" he asked gently.
"Because I felt compelled to. The.. relationship we had... once had... It confuses me."
And he wasn't the only one unnerved by the difference in their touch.
"I was told I'd forget most of my past... yet it still clings to me, even when I think its faded. Like a nightmare, in the day."
"Maybe a part of you still wants what you lost," he said softly and found his hand turning in her grasp, so they were palm to palm.
"It would seem that way," her voice continued, quietly. "Or else the intimacy we had just shared..... I..."
She struggled over the right words.
Jun'tao did not interrupt her, and waited for her to finish that thought. Meanwhile, his fingers threaded into hers, closing around them tightly.
The echo of a heart beat could be felt, but it was more of a heated ache, than anything. Such a powerful force coerced her into squeezing his hand back, just to feel the solidarity it offered.
"My King he... he said I could never feel. That feelings were evil. But I.."
She looked up to his face, looking and reading across the clothe that covered his sightless eyes.
"But this? This... I wonder... the ache I feel, the burn.... If that is part of what it means to feel."
She was not the only one manipulated into believing that emotions were a fallacy, a weakness to be scorned. Jun'tao was not entirely sure he believed in either side of the equation. There were some places emotion had no bearing, and others where cold calculation was inhumane. But the loss of his sight had taught him life was thoroughly unforgiving. Could he afford to live with regret?
"What did your heart used to tell you?"
She paused, and tried to recall it, but shook her head.
"I... I do not know. The memories, they're foggy."
"Fight to find them."
"Fight?" The very idea confused her. How does one one fight a memory? Or to search for something? They were not tangible, and felt... lucid... or surreal.
"Then do nothing," Jun'tao amended, frustrated.
"But.." She frowned, equally frustrated. "I don't understand. How can one doe battle with memories?"
"I don't know." His tone was confused and somewhat angry. "I've never lost my memories. I've never lost who I was." He dropped his head and gripped the balcony. "But you have; You have purpose away from here. No matter what, you are still his..."
She felt her anger heat within her at such an idea, but could she deny it? Was he not right? And that part made her blood burn. She grit her teeth and grew quiet.
"I do not like being owned..." she told him through a soft growl.
"There is nothing more to be done. What is done is done," he murmured gently. He knew his sorrow could not help him, no matter how much it still hurt. He had to focus on what remained of the kingdom he served. And to defend all that would soon become ash.
The way he spoke it... it made something inside of her break. She felt her lips trembling, even if subtly as the very idea felt like despair.
"What.." she began, voice hesitant and low. "What if things can be... undone?"
At that Jun'tao laughed, scoffing at her incredulity. "And you are only now considering this? That your entire plan would potentially have permanent consequences?"
"Don't you lecture me," she snapped. "It was become his slave or let my people die. And if I had a choice, I'd do it again, knowing I'm at least salvaging one day for them of peace."
"And what is that one day of peace even worth? Bah, peace. Peace is for old men and fools," Jun'tao said with bitter venom. "Of which I am. But I am not dead yet. I will know peace then. One day of peace.... Now is no time for humor."
There was a brief moment of silence before Jai'un spoke, her hand moving so that her fingers lay over top of his.
"I do not speak with humorous intents," she told him, softly.
"The intent and the outcome do not always reflect one another," he said pointedly, and his hand grew tense beneath hers.
She too, grew rigid. But softened after a moment.
"For what it's worth... I'm sorry. I never intended for this to happen."
But then again, who ever imagined being conquered? And by such beasts?
It wasn't worth much, Jun'tao discovered, but he didn't say anything.
His silence hurt her more than she liked to admit, and as it continued, it felt like a knife twisting inside her heart-
Or where her heart had once been. But as she studied him, she lifted a hand to trace over the outline of his jaw.
"There must be something that can be done.... Even without my heart... I can see the devil in the work."
Jun'tao hated that he could not cry to express the sorrow he felt. He turned to her and wrapped his arms suddenly around her.
And naturally, she wrapped her own arms around him in reply.
"I'm a fool," she breathed against him, and hugged him tighter. "A damn, bloody fool. But I.. I couldn't just let my kingdom fall... I couldn't stand to think of all who would be slaughtered.... But for what? It feels like the King only wants to use me against that of which I wished to protect..."
She grit her teeth, and grew quiet, and simply listened to the beat of his heart.
Jun'tao had no worda to console her. For she heard everything he thought of what happened. What good would it so to mourn the past? It always came back to haunt you regardless.
"Jun'tao.... do you think that me... that my memories, the ones that are returning to me.... It seems odd but... I wonder if they are connected to you. I've... never felt this way around anyone else. It's confusing, but yet I yearn for it, and it makes me crave you on so many levels."
He had no answers for her. And he could only feel a solemn heaviness at the reminder that this was no longer the woman he loved. But a hollow shell. And silence followed.
"Jun'tao?"
"What am I supposed to say?" He whispered into her ear. His sigh was shuddered, trying to keep himself from sobbing.
She turned to him and felt her cheek press to his. It was nice. It was warm.
"Jai'un is this just a dream? One I will wake up from very soon?" he whispered again, neither pulling away or leaning against her.
"No, for those without hearts do not dream." she studied his face. "This...." she spoke softer. "Is just a moment."
"Then I am dead inside," he mouthed and pulled away from her.
"Go, Jai'un. Leave. Please."
"Then shall this moment end, too?" she asked quietly, still hesitant to leave.
"What do you think?" he murmured, genuinely interested in an alternative. He felt lost and empty inside, as empty as her body. Where she stirred with old passions, it only made him sorrowful at the loss of his. He had loved her, once. Something about her felt different than he had hoped, different than he remembered. It hurt to have her leave, but what other option was there?
"I don't want it to end. Something compells me... Draws me towards you. And I.. I sense something strange... Tingling, cold... Knotted at the idea to leave."
Jun'tao felt empty and with drew his hand from hers. He sighed softly, trying to keep his own sorry at bay. The cool air that touched his cheek was soothing, considering his face was burning up.
"Can you tell me about who Jai'un once was?"
"Can you not remember that?" he muttered, turning his head up in her direction. "Does not memory come?"
"Some...." she told him in earnest. "Sometimes nothing, sometimes just a small flicker. And sometimes I can see so much that I feel..... Like her. Or what must be her because I don't feel."
Jun'tao turned his head long enough to appear as if he were looking at her. "She was beautiful," he whispered, as if he could see her ghost in front of him. "Both inside and out."
"Can you still see it? Even without your eyes? Do you still know those memories so well they might seem... Real?"
"I wish," came that soft sigh. "I feel as though everyday they are fading."
"I too feel something similar. Like something familiar but also strange that's always intangible."
He was almost glad they were gone or fading. The memories were too much to bear. "I am...tired," he sighed.
Jai'un nodded.
"Then rest. I shall take my leave as you sleep."
He didn't say anything, and just stared at the ground. Or would, had he had eyes.
"Please... You'll rest easier if you lay down."
"Can you kiss me?" he found himself asking. "One last time."
At such a request, she froze. She studied him in the dark for a quiet moment before reaching a hand out to ghost across the skin of his cheeks.
"What color were your eyes? I want to know so I can imagine what they look like. Then I will kiss you. And we can say our goodbyes."
"Amber-brown," he answered.
A soft hand moved to caress the fabric over his eyes, gently touching the skin before moving down to cup his cheek. She looked to where his eyes should have been and told him softly, "I bet those eyes were warm and inviting."
She could almost see it, and found herself lost in the vision so complete. And suddenly, she felt her eyes and cheeks grow wet.
Jun'tao reached for her hand, holding them to his face. His other hand reached up for her face and when he felt the tears there he leaned in, seeking her mouth and kissing her hungrily and deep.
The kiss stole her breath away, and after a moment of being stunned, her own hands clung to her as she kissed him back, just as savage and just as full of need. It seemed instincts were kicking in, flashes of memories- of a smile, a serious expression, and longing...
She could feel the longing within them both, and it was enough to break her from whatever spell she might have been under as her lips moved from his and hungrily kissed down his neck.
A deep breath sucked in sharply between his teeth, a breath that hitched and proved difficult to recover. Jun'tao desperately wished he could see once more, just to look at her in a moment like this. He kissed her neck, craning his head enough to suck deeply on her flesh. "Oh gods, it's been too long," he whispered. "Too long in this dreadful nightmare."
Gasping, she craned her neck, giving him better access to her skin. His kisses made her shiver as her hands moved to smooth down his back. And at his words, she whimpered his name.
His tongue lapped at her neck, his breath splaying across her cool skin, his hands roving over her form. Those familiar curves coming back to him once again. "When you leave, will it be forever?" he wondered, turning his head to kiss at the other side of her neck.
"If that is what you wish," came her husky reply. She released a hot, trembling breath while her hands smoothed down his body. "But part of me is... Afraid."
"I don't know what I wish," he moaned breathlessly. "I just know I want you." He kissed her again, his hand finding hers and placing it on his groin, letting her feel him.
He didn't have to guide her hand so she could feel his need through his pants, for his kisses and heavy breaths told her that. But to have him take her by the hand and him confessing such wants made her whimper as her hand cupped over the bulge and massaged it lightly.
"Maybe I'll come back," she spoke through a low breath, lips moving to nibble at his ear and breath at his neck. "Just for you." And she moved to slip her hand into his pants, and gasped softly at the feel of his warm, hard cock within her grip.
Gods. Her hands were so snug around him, he thought he was about to burst. "Jai'un why did we never make love when we have the chance," he huffed, letting out a slow steady breath. He leaned his head against her, kissing gingerly at her neck and throat, until he reached down fo her collarbone and sucked at her flesh.
She whimpered, hand gripping tighter.
"I.. I don't know, but let's make up for all that foolishness now."
"I concur, my princess," he whimpered in turn and moved her hand slowly along his cock. The pants that had been put on only moments ago were slipped down and shuffled past his knees. "Let's waste no more time."
She smirked at his demands. She wasn't hoping to. She took the lead, pushing him back once his pants were gone and removed her own stubborn clothing as she aligned her body to his. And the moment the tip of his member pressed against her entry, she shivered and let her sex gobble his up.
She was still slick from the first time they made love, and her body was hot as a furnace. And she could feel how hard he was as she slowly took him in, inch by creeping inch, within the hot depths of her body. And he'd be able to feel her sex tremble as he moved within her, then tighten around him the moment he was in all the way, as her hot breath splayed across his chest and fingernails dug into his skin, before she began to roll her hips with need.
Jun'tao moaned deeply, loudly at the slow and deliberate method with which she let him enter her. Hands gripped her sides, gasping and holding her by the waist, and pushing his hips up to meet hers. Gods, she was driving him crazy, each stroke so slow and deep.
"Jai'un," he whimpered, throwing his head back, working in his hips to the rhythm she'd set.
The moment his hips tried to take control, her own hands moved to hold his down as she growled through a moan, "N-no, don't move." And she looked at him with low lids and hungered eyes as she continued to move over him, savoring each movement and her eyes never once leaving his.
Jun'tao stilled, moaning out a haggard breath. "Please. Just let me," he whispered and moved his hips up again in an attempt to move with her.
"No.." she whispered huskily, keeping her hands to his hips to still him as she moved, tight and slow, along his length which evidently was causing her tremendous sensations of unimaginable pleasure as her eyes hung half lidded and her lips fell open with silent want of breaths.
He resigned himself to letting her ride him as she pleased, for what could it hurt. The muscles of her sex nursing on his member only made him gasp and tremble, as much as he wanted to thrust upward.
"By the heartless..."s he whispered, body aching and moving over his. "I wish I hadn't been so foolish, I wish this could all stay real," she whimpered through a deep throated moan as she hitched up her hips, then slowly she let him slide back into her tight, wet sex.
She fit over him like a glove, snug to the tip and he could feel himself filling her up completely. "Jai'un, for this moment it is real," he hissed, breath hitching.
She panted and continued to glide along his length at a painfully slow pace. Her breathing grew huskier and huskier as she clung to him.
"Then we.... we are lovers?" she asked, her sex pulsating lightly at the question.
Did he still love her? Gods knew the answer was yes. And as their bodies moved, well as she moved, it felt as if they were made for one another. "We are," he felt himself shudder and finally pushed his hips up again, bouncing her as slow and deliberately as she teased him.
She nearly came at such a revelation, and when he began to move inside her, it stole her breath away as she clung to him and closed her eyes tight.
Slowly he turned them to their sides, hiking her leg up on his hip and allowing him wider, easier access to move as he pleased. JJun'tao panted hard, holding the back of her knee, rolling his hips as deep as he could go.
And her moans intensified, feeling him reach deep within her at a new angle, at a new depth. And her heart would have been hammering within her chest had she been able to keep it, but she'd be content to just be his in that moment of bliss, in that moment of sin....
But the moment was broken as there was a sharp rap on the door.
"General Jun'tao! We heard there was an intruder!" And as the door swung open, the hallway light spilled across their joined form as Jai'un gasped and clung against Jun'tao. And at the sight of the pair, the soldiers eyes all lit up in disbelief.
"GENERAL JUN'TAO!" And the words came out in a panic as they men advanced upon them, fully believing this wicked woman had seduced the general, and was going to kill him and all the rest.
Jun'tao froze at the sound of his men and he immediately pulled Jai'un against him, hiding her face. "What? No! Begone from us! There is no attack. You interrupt a moment of passion with me and a whore. I'll have you all court-martialed for this!"
And the men all froze in position, unsure what to make of this. But the young man who saw Jai'un from earlier hesitated for only a moment before muttering, "But.. but I saw.. her. I saw the princess in your room."
And the men continued to stare at Jun'tao.
"General... then you will not complain when you let us see the face of your whore."
For if it was the princess..s he needed to be slain at once. Maybe even Jun'tao too, for if what they were witnessing were real...
She may have already corrupted him like all of the other heartless they heard she commanded.
Jai'un grit her teeth, still clinging to Jun'tao, finding herself torn between her old self, and her new one.
"So that you might harass her and torment her? I think not," he growled and sat up, turning over to face the guards that were closest to him. "You will forgive this act of human indiscretion. I am as mortal as any man here. But I am also your commander. And you obey my word. Is that understood?"
They looked between each other before peering across to Jun'tao. "Yes, General."
"Then you leave here now and try to forget what you thought you saw. Now!"
Still they stood there before the man in front filed out, still unsure, but not one to further question the order of a superior. When the room was vacant, and the door sealed behind him, Jun'tao sighed and buried his head in his hands.
When Jun'tao moved away, Jai'un was left alone in the dark corner, stunned. She had no idea what to make of what just happened. Jun'tao just protected her, when all of this time he had tried to see her gone. And she didn't understand why her eyes were wet, but she felt compelled to approach him, and so she did, and came from behind, wrapping her arms around him and just holding him so that their long, black hair cascaded down Jun'tao's shoulder together.
Jun'tao sat back down on the bed and would have been staring at the door had he eyes. He sighed gently, until he felt those arms around him. He didn't freeze as he expected to do so. He knew she was no longer the woman he once knew. She was changed, but he soon relaxed against her, letting out a slow steady breath.
"Thank you," she whispered against his shoulder. "I know you did not do it for me.. but for her. But still... it, .... Thank you. I don't think I ever met a being who could or would defend one such as me."
"They couldn't kill you even if they tried," he smirked, but it was half-hearted.
Her smile was a ghost of his own.
"That's because I've already killed myself."
A gentle hand touched his shoulder, but she didn't dare get any closer to him than that.
"I should go..."
Jun'tao nodded, agreeing. "Be careful."
Though he couldn't see it, he'd know she was gone. It was like the cool breeze returned to the room. But even as she made her leave, she couldn't help but give one final look goodbye before slipping into the shadows.
[Thread ending soon I'm guessing?]
Jun'tao did not sleep well the rest of that night, tossing and turning and plagued with terrible nightmares. Armies tearing down the walls of this city, of people torn apart by shadows. The end was nigh, and was there any way to stop it?
But her attempt was thwarted. They had been waiting for her. THough they obeyed their general, the man knew what he had seen. And he wasn't the only one that reported seeing their princess. And the second she was spotted making her escape, the men were upon her. And before she could react, the trap was triggered, and she found herself suddenly airborn as she was scooped up inside a net.
Dangling from the tree, she felt her heart race- or the ehcoes of whatever remained. Something was sure drumming, and soon she saw a line of torches heading her way. And the closer they got, she began to recognize some of their faces.
"I can't believe it." One man said.
"So it is true... she's still alive..." But hwen that man went to draw near her, an elder man gave him a whack.
"Fool, this is no longer our princess. Can you not see how she has changed?"
It took them some time to see it, but the red glow of her eyes was not easy to ignore.
"But now that we've seen it for ourselves... we must do the right thing." The man frowned as he observed his princess.
"We must kill her so the heartless king can not use her as his vessel any longer."
And from there she was dragged off to the dungeons below the palace via a servant's entrance. The older man and a lieutenant went ahead of them to make sure that no one else was about them as they dragged her through the bowels of what had once been her palace.
She had tried to escape, but when her body began to seek the darkness, she felt something jolt within her blood. The wince and attempt at magic was noticed by a soldier, and she was subdued by a magic charm- one that burned her as she struggled within the netting.
Being dragged down and thrown into the dungeon of her own castle had her reeling, and as she lay there, half beaten and sore, wtiht he charm still burning her about her neck, she found a smirk cracking across her lips, and silently she laughed, while her eyes sparkled with a fresh set of sharp tears.
The captain emerged. And he stood before the sobbing form of what had once been his princess.
"What do you want, thing?" he asked with hissing venom. "Why are you here?"
From the cell, she stared back- eyes like an animals, wild as a tiger's. But she said nothing, simply stared at he man and raised her chin as arrogantly as she could within her bindings.
"You know why I've come," came her voice out like a soft rumble of thunder. She coughed. Was that blood?
No...
Had she not given that up so long ago? Inwardly she cursed, body trembling.
And at that that a prod was shoved through the bars, striking her flesh with a magical spark. And it was seared hard against her flesh, retracting again, just as quickly as it appeared.
She let out a cry of pain when struck, and attempted to lurch forward with her hands like claws.
Another prod came with another and jabbed her hard into submission until all that remained of her was a pile of wilted flesh. They retracted and stood back at the creature that took the form of their princess, and each one spat with disgust.