Xian's POV

After having somewhat convinced Jun to seek my mother's help, I feel relieved. I called Qing only to be told that she was busy and couldn't come to the phone. I am about to make an excuse: anything to get me inside when the phone gets handed to Hua. He seems more than delighted to hear my voice and offers to send his car to pick me up. He doesn't even ask why I had suddenly called and wanted to come over.

I bid farewell to a teary-eyed Jun who only agrees to let me go when I remind him that Hua needed me and wouldn't think of harming me. I ask him not to step out to see me off, for Hua had generously offered to send his Merc to come to fetch me.

Upon arriving at the Zhu estate, a sprawling mansion surrounded by lush green gardens with vibrant oriental flora that could fascinate Jun welcomes me. A young man dressed in grey escorts me to the living area where Hua is already waiting for me.
I pull a face, "I was expecting Qing." I state when he asks what had displeased me so early on. He laughs and asks me to make myself comfortable before whispering something to the elderly man standing next to him in a grey attire I had seen on many young men and women on my way in.

As soon as the elderly man leaves, Hua smiles at me fondly. He takes the empty seat next to me. His eyes linger over the nap of my neck for a second before he asks, "So, what brings you here at this odd hour?"

"I needed to get out. I didn't think Qing would mind having me over." I reply vaguely and start looking around the enormous room while observing Hua from the corner of my eyes.

"Do I scare you?" The king of the underworld asks, and I almost chuckle. "Depends." I shrug, picking up the latest issue of vogue from the coffee table and flipping through its pages.

"Depends on what?" He enquires, leaning in, and the fragrance of sandalwood washes over me.

'Hei Chi knows who you are. Act accordingly.' I recall Jun's words
After I had told him what I was planning to do (to infiltrate Hua's home), he had done some digging.

Over the years, he had found and acquainted himself with those who had a direct link to heaven. These individuals, who Jun referred to as Seers or Mouths of Heaven, usually never exposed themselves. Preferring to live a quiet life, they were generally looked upon as madmen if they ever tried to preach what they had seen or heard.

About ten years ago, Jun had found one such seer; his sense had led him to her. She was a Caucasian woman in her sixties who went by the name of Siara. Jun had then released her from the mental asylum where her kin had left her after she had started speaking in Inbian: the language of heaven.

After conceding to let me enter the lion's cave, so to speak, Jun had paid her a visit with me. As soon as she had laid her eyes on me, she had gone berserk. However, after Jun had reassured her that I was his charge, Siara had calmed down. Taking my hands in hers, she had revealed things that were beyond our imagination.

'This boy doesn't have the mark of the underworld. Though his blood is tainted, he was created to rule heaven.' The woman had said and revealed that though she couldn't tell which side would win, I would be the deciding factor. 'The side he pledges to will win.' She had stated. Then hesitantly, she had asked if Jun knew any other fallen archangels like himself. When Jun had shaken his head and asked her why she had asked that, she had dropped the bomb on us, 'The boy's mother is an archangel, and his father was a fallen.'

After that, the woman had gone silent and refused to answer any related questions.

Changing the subject, Jun had asked her about Hei Chi and if he could control me, and the woman had spoken again, but not before having a small seizure.

'The king of the underworld is in the mortal realm. He is looking for this child.' She had spoken in a daze, her eyes rolled back in her head. 'The child is connected to him. They can sense each other.' She had announced and continued to give us insight into Hei Chi's weakened mind.

Jun had been surprised, to say the least, 'How can you tap into his mind? However weak, Hei Chi is from the underworld. You are connected to heaven.' His guards had gone up; fearing that our ally was compromised, he had doubted her allegiance and promptly gotten us thrown out.

The touchy woman had refused to entertain us after that.

'I will make peace with her somehow.' Jun had reassured me before sending me home.

I square my shoulders and mirror Hua's action. With only an inch or so of space between our faces, I breathe deeply, "Which perfume is this? Did you lend some to Jun?" I ask, deliberately bringing up my angel.

"I may have." He replies vaguely. His eyes travel to my chest, "Does Mr. Wang know you are here?"

"No, he passed out a couple of hours ago and didn't come to yet." I lie and gaze at the place the elderly man had disappeared.

"Aren't you worried?"

"About Jun?"

Hua nods.

"No. Jun is an ass. After what he pulled..." I snap my mouth shut and go back to the vogue that had been resting in my hand.

"What did he do?" Hua presses on. The fragrance of cinnamon intensifies, almost making me dizzy.

This was my cue.

"He jumped me!" I bite out, "That old geezer tried to assault me. He thinks I want him to fuck me! How ridiculous is that!?" I throw my arms up as if in disbelief. "I am his charge! I am straight!" I huff, thinking about how Hei Chi had manipulated Jun's body. I can feel my cheek grow warm and can hear my heart pick up speed. "I punched him, and he fainted, bloody bastard." I end my rant when I feel the fragrance ebb away. I shake my head as if clearing my head. My head throbs like I had banged it on the wall repeatedly. Must be the after-effects of the fragrance, I conclude and stand up. "I think I should leave," I announce and sway on the spot, fringing weakness; all the while, I watch Hua from the corner of my eyes.

A hint of uncertainty flickers on his face. It's a blink and miss. But it was there, and I had caught it. As I pretend to lose my bearings and let my body go, Hua appears by my side and breaks the fall. I collapse on top of him.

With my head cushioned on his chest, I can hear his racing heart; the warmth from his fingers bleeds through my shirt. He runs hotter than me, I realize. A moment later, I am being lifted up and carried upstairs.
Moments later, he puts me down on the bed. The mattress next to me dips.

Hua is sitting next to me, I reckon, and continue my act. The room is warm. The heat would have caused Jun discomfort, but it makes me feel right at home. I try my best to push the sleep- threatening to swallow me whole- at bay. A multitude of scenarios run through my mind.

Maybe he wants to finish what he started.

Maybe he wants to gift me to his sister or whoever was possessing Qing at the moment.

Maybe he has seen through my act and wants to torture me.

However, before I can guess my fate, Hua's warm, almost hot palm lands on my forehead, and I feel myself fall deeper into nothingness; my mind empties, taking my thoughts with it.

"Sleep, my prince, you have nothing to worry about; now that you are home, I will take care of you." I hear Hua whisper a second before his lips replace his palm, and I lose touch with consciousness entirely and fall into the dark abyss that is sleep.

*****

Wherever my mind had drifted off to, it was cold. Very cold. I could feel the chill in my bones to the point that it hurt, but somehow I didn't want to leave. It reminded me of Jun.

"Xian," A voice drifted over to me; heartbreakingly sad, it was like the weight of the world was resting on his shoulders: one wrong move could either end his existence or tear his heart into a million pieces.

I turned around and there, standing in a field of snow, I found Jun smiling at me. I dashed towards him and almost jumped in his open arms. His wings swayed forward and wrapped around us, cutting the icy draft that was threatening to freeze me.

I nuzzled his neck and kissed his jaw while he stood still, letting me do what I wanted, but when I looked into his eyes, I could see redness line its edges.

Had he been crying?

He caressed my cheek before bringing our lips together. They slide over each other as if reacquainting before seeking permission to do more. Crushing our bodies together, I parted my lips, accepting his inquisitive tongue that made itself home, teasing, exploring, and tasting every corner it could reach. Jun's arms, like smooth, cold chains, encircled my waist.

Sooner than I would have liked, I felt the need to come up for air. I leaned away, "Slow down, Jun." I whispered when unexpectedly, his hand crawled under my shirt and wandered over my heart.

"I love you. I will always love you. Nothing will ever change that." He confessed; it made my heart sink.
Why did it sound like a goodbye?

"Jun, what do you mean?" I demanded; anxiety swept across my being. I grabbed his forearms.

I won't let him go!

Like ice on fire, his hands sent a wave of pleasure through me as he mapped my body before paying attention to all my sweet spots. My knees knocked and gave way, but he held me up like always.

"Remember, always do what feels right. Listen to your heart. It will always lead you to me." He booped my nose with his pointer finger, an act that filled me with nostalgia.

His words cemented my worst fears. "Are you leaving me, Jun?" I asked, holding on to him as if my life depended on it.

He shook his head, and his wings dissolved, exposing me to the chill instantly. "Just for a little while, my prince." He replied. Then, ruffling my hair and kissing my forehead, he guided me to a rip in the fabric of nature, and smiling fondly, pushed me over its threshold.

*****

When I come to, I find myself in unfamiliar surroundings. It occurs to me then that I am at Hua's. A low groan leaves my chest as I try to sit up. My limbs feel like lead.

What's wrong with me?

"Easy now, Xian." I hear Hua's now familiar, silky smooth voice; my body complies without my permission.

Had he done something to me while I was asleep? Did he drug me?

I try to recall the moments before sleep had taken me; I draw a blank. I glance to my right and find Hua perched on an easy chair, smiling at me fondly.

"Yesterday was rough on you, I guess. You fell unconscious in the middle of our talks."

How long have I been here?

"You have been out for hours. It's almost noon, now." He answers, glancing at the clock on the wall. "I will let Qing know that you are awake." He walks over to the bed, "She has been worried sick." He reaches for my forehead in a seemingly unconscious move.

I shrink and lean away instinctively. Hua's hand stills and falls to his side aimlessly.

I catch the redness at the corner of his eyes, eyes that are gazing at me intently. There is something familiar about it. The look. I had been a recipient of it more often than I can remember.

It's worry...and longing.

But why would Hei Chi look at me like that?

The two coal-colored Phoenix eyes linger on my face before their owner turns away as if guarding...hiding something precious. His hand rises to his cheek and falls. "Qing!" He calls and looks over his shoulder, "Xian is awake. I am going to be busy. He is in your hands."

'Coming!' I hear Qing yell.

Hua moves towards the door, but before he steps out, he throws a fleeting glance at me, "You are welcome to stay here as long as you would like. Do you want me to report Mr. YiJun to the authorities on your behalf?"

"No! It is not necessary. Moreover, I could tell there was something wrong with him. I am not...." it strikes me that my tone had gotten defensive, and I snap my mouth shut. I take a deep breath, "What would you do if you were in my place?"

"You are not, what?" He presses instead of answering me, and when I don't answer, he guesses, "Are you saying that you are not his type?"
I nod slowly. "Where are you going?" I ask, not wanting to elaborate, and he doesn't push.

"I am meeting with a client. Truth be told, I was looking forward to meeting Mr. Wang today, but after what you have told me, I don't think I would have let him go without hurting him. Alas, he called up late last night and postponed our meeting. He told me that there was a family emergency." He says sincerely, and before I can ask more, he adds, "Don't worry, I did not tell him that you spent the night here." He directs a toothy grin at me, "Rest well, my..." he smiles awkwardly, "My guest."

With that, Hua leaves, and just as I try to sit up, Qing enters, looking a little tired but otherwise fine. "HI," She waves from the threshold and stands there smiling at me till I gesture her to enter.

She takes the chair that, until recently, held her brother. "My brother told me not to bother you. I tend to get a little overbearing when I like someone." Color rises to her cheeks; her eyes dip, and she covers her face between her palms, "I am sorry. I keep embarrassing myself like this. Trust me, this is not me. I am generally not..." She lets the sentence hang and worries her lower lip, "Are you hungry? I am so stupid. You must be. What would you like?"

I blink. 'Was this Qing or the one possessing her soul?' I wonder and ask for a bowl of porridge. She nods and helps me lie down (I don't need it, but she is unstoppable), and then she leaves me to my devices.

Both Hua and Qing were not acting like how they had done the last time we had met them. There was a softness in Hua's eyes that seemed genuine; Qing, on the other hand, was acting as if her life depended on how she treated me.

I close my eyes and try to recall what I had lost: my memories from the night before. The furthest I get is when I had pretended to lose consciousness.

What had happened after?

{Note:- What do you think will happen next?
Was Xian's dream really a dream?

That's it for this update.
I am feeling much better than I did earlier and hopefully will recover fully within the next few days.

Please ⭐Vote⭐ to support this update if you have enjoyed it.}