As she looked outside one of the windows from the crystal palace, Pamella wondered how did

day already had turned night. If they were inside a cave, then how was it possible to be any sunlight

change and even stars and moons up in the night's sky inside it.  The others were locked up Heaven knows where, and here she was looking out and sighing from a building like a princess in distress. By orders of the "Queen" she had been taken into one of the palace's rooms by three female fish, made to take a bath in some perfumed water and made dressed into new elegant and expensive looking light-colored attire. One good thing about all of it was that she wasn't going to die of suffocation in the clothe she was made to wear; they were quite refreshing, especially in the cold temperatures of the cave. Most probably, during the day, they would feel pleasant as well. On the other hand, the bad things that came out of it all were, now they were trapped in Shuizuán Kingdom, all locked up in some way or another, they had no plan on how to get the golden turtle charm from the "Queen", and she now had to marry or at least play fiancé with a giant Turtle man.

Although, that turtle shell is really shiny. How much would it cost if I trade it for some money..?

-          What are you thinking about, my dear? You seemed entranced by the night...

A pair of arms encircled Pamella and even if warm with life, they made her shiver in discomfort.

-          Nothing... I was... Just admiring how the day and night time changed in here. How does it... work exactly?

She needs to evade any suspicions, and make the man pleased with her. The more she gets his approval, the more she could manipulate his thoughts and make him do what she wants, as well as get the charm from his neck.

-          The Day and the Night here are nonexistent.

Pamella,

-          Then... Are they illusions?

The man chuckled and answered with a tone of enjoyment.

What's so funny...? Not that I am stupid or anything, but it isn't a sin to be ignorant.

-          No. They are not illusions. The Day here is provided by a ball of fire, found deep inside the cave. The light and warmth from it escape from holes on the rocks and make life here possible.

Pamella raised her eyes to peak a glance at the man who she had tried to evade having eye contact with.

-          Do you know the source of that fire ball, or how it looks like your Highness?

Looking directly into the man's glistening almond shaped eyes made her feel a little bashful but that even didn't make her loose track of her real intentions.

-          I do. Every day I must go sing to it so it would go to sleep and let the night spirits wander without getting blinded during their routinely night floats. Those lights which you see in the cave's "sky" are not stars but spirits.

In front of the window, one of the flaming spheres passed, flashing its light, not as much but still enough to make Pamella squint her eyes a little. She asked,

-          Why don't they have a form, like other spirits I've seen? Shouldn't they be like humans or animal like?

The "Queen" moved a strand of hair that had been blown by the wind that came from the outside. Before Pamella moved her head away from his touch, she thought about it twice and forcefully petrified herself and forced another smile. The whole day, after Xián Leng and the rest were taken away she had been forcing fake smiles on her face, clenching her jaw, so not to curse all the while. Her mouth and cheeks already hurt and her worry for them grew by the minute.

How long would it take for us to get out of here? I hope that Quanzong guy is fond of patience because he is gonna' need a lot...

The "Queen" continued.

-          They don't remember how they used to look like, or what they did for a living when they were alive. So, instead of losing their time in finding a form, they decide to wander the Earth as spheres of light. Either way, they are all dead, so what else can they do.

Pamella looked down. Sadness in her eyes.

-          It is sad to not remember how once one looked like or did. Is as if their existence is no longer to be valued. It must be an awful lonely "life"...

Noticing her change in expression, the "Queen" tried his best to lighten up the mood. Even if just a little. He knew she had been putting up smiles for him he entire day and acting as if everything was okay with her, but he knew she wasn't. Of course, knowing her feelings didn't mean he would take them into consideration.

-          It is somehow sad, but even those who live forget those who had once. Their presence in the life of others rests in the thin border of being forgotten and substituted by other things that might result on not being even true to reality; they just end up being made up memories.

Pamella had to agree on the fact that the man was a very instructed intellectual. Even if he was a tyrant, she couldn't find herself not interested in the rest of the things he had to say; his company was becoming less sufferable and more pleasant. She internally slapped at herself for having such thoughts and loosing her way just because of the guy's charms. Digging more into what it meant to be forgotten and forget one's self, she wondered then, why Xián Leng had a human form if he didn't remember most of his past.

But, then again, he does remember who he is and how he looks like before being a demented psychopathic demon.

The "Queen" spoke again tightening his embrace in what supposedly had to be a reassuring gesture.

-          Tomorrow... Tomorrow, I'll give you a stroll around the area, so you feel more at "home".

Pamella restrained herself from laughing from exasperation.

Trust me your Highness, I have been feeling far, very FAR from home, since my arrival into this maddening world. Do you actually think I'll feel more at home now, than ever?

The "Queen",

-          You'll get to know more about my fields of you yan huo yao, the excavation grounds, and more of the things I've told you about. Maybe I'd even show you Shan Yao, the fire ball I mentioned to you!

Pamella, unintentionally, exclaimed all hyped up and grinning excitedly.

-          Really! That'll be awesome!

Noticing she was again losing herself she cleared her throat and turned her head to look elsewhere. 

The "Queen" chuckled at the sight of her blushing face. He thought he really had made a good choice of a wife. Even if in a man's body, her expressions made her outer self, look adorable.

-          Also, if you promise to keep on showing me that beautiful expression on your face, then... I'll consider on letting you visit those poor petty things you call "friends".

Things were going well from Pamella's perspective. She had thought the man was a heartless bastard, but he came out to be nice. She commented,

-          What do you know~ You resulted on being a friendly dude after all!

She patted the "Queens" shoulder but soon retracted her hand as she remembered the rules in the World and time she was in; it was disrespectful of her to do such a thing so she asked for forgiveness only for her face to be lifted and find itself just a few inches away from the other man. If she had thought fast enough, like she normally does, then she could have evaded the worst to happen, but this time around she had to admit defeat and deal with it.

Her personal space was soon again invaded by the man's whole and a pair of soft, well moistened lips hovered over hers; still not touching but their presence evident. Breath tingling, and in her case, soul about to burst out of her mouth.

He... is... too... close... I can't break free from his awfully strong bear hug. Goddammit! I hope he is not doing what I think he is about to..?!

Her thoughts were interrupted by their lips clashing rather forcefully and a pair of hands sliding their way along the spine of her back, landing and squeezing a place which automatically made Pamella's brain short circuit. Red eyes flashed and something near to anger boiled inside her.

The kiss only took place for about ten seconds before, her knee met the "Queens" lower region in a hard impact that made his skin go from blue to white and then again. He loosened his grip on her and fell to his knees, falling continuously, sideways unto the floor. A pair of zhuru servants came rushing to their aid; more his aid than Pamella's, but she as well shocked at what she did unintentionally, rushed to his side alarmed.

-          I am sorry your Highness! Please forgive me! I didn't mean for... Uh... I mean... Oh Heavens! Are your balls alright, your Highness?! I am terribly sorry!

Even if he was impressed at Pamella's strength and accurate aim, he could only voice out, before losing consciousness.

-          My... my... what?

Pamella,

What happened? I was feeling shocked but not angry now. Suddenly, something, or someone else's anger took control and went for the fatal blow... This could only mean one thing...

Somewhere not even the author knows about, our heroes, especially one in particular, were pissed.

*CLANK* *THONK*

Iron bars resonated as they got hit mercilessly by a pair of fists.

Hei Bao,

-          Xián Leng, why don't you sit down and cool down. You're Qi flares are making this place unbearably hot. What's gotten into you?

Xián Leng's eyes and body muscles relaxed as he sat next to DuZhi, who left his space as followed and went to sit on the floor away from the sizzling "ignorant that he is a demon" man.

Xián Leng,

-          Nothing...That ass!

Jiti,

-          CAW! Who's ass?

DuZhi, throwing some straw strands from the floor at the bird.

-          Not WHO'S ass but THAT ass, you stupid bird brain!

Jiti, rolling his eyes,

-          I am a bird, so that's no surprise is it?

Xián Leng lost in his thoughts.

I can't believe that guy kissed her!

Kissed her...

I couldn't even...

Only one thing was hovering on his mind all the while.

I have to get out of here.

[you yan huo yao]- Gun powder in Chinese.