Chapter 173 - Lifeline

Give me a lifeline Bai Lei... give me something to hold onto and trust. Just give me something... I place my head on my knees and close my eyes. Tears drop from my face as I try to calm myself. Do I just accept this? 

I don't know how much time passed until I heard Chyou scream. I slowly lift my head, my tears are long gone, and give her a small smile. "My lady! Are you okay? Have you been hurt?" I shake my head and say "I'm fine Chyou, I just want to be alone please." 

She looks around the room in worry and even looks like she wants to argue but when she looks back at me, she slowly nods her head and walks away. The sun was no longer out, bathing everything in the silver moonlight as the snow slowly falls. Cold air blows into the large room, swaying the long curtains.

I reach into my space and pull out a glass vial. I look down at it and watch with a somber look as the pale moonlight dances across the glass. Do I want to go back? I close my hand around the vial and with just a thought, the glass vial was back in my space.

No, I don't want to go back. What Bai Lei has done hurt me but I still had Zhen and little Bun. Maybe there really is something I don't understand... I push my raging emotions to the side as I try to think about it from a logical standpoint. 

For as long as I've known Bai Lei, even though it's not that long, he's never done anything to hurt me. Not intentionally anyway. I lay back onto the cold floor and stretch my arms and legs out as I stare at the dark ceiling above me. 

Was this his way of trying to protect me? But from what? My anger tries to surface again but I quickly beat it back down as I say "Patience... have patience so see what you can't see." My voice is but a whisper in the dark room. This might be just as hard on him... I close my eyes and say "Don't let me down, Bai Lei..."

I feel a surge of darkness in the room making me shudder but when I hear a deep voice say "What is my Queen doing laying on the floor like this in a dark, cold room?" I freeze, instantly recognizing the voice.

I slowly sit up and look at the King from the Under Realm. He looks around the room before his eyes land on me. His attractive but creepy face breaks out into a smile as he says "You've become even more beautiful since the last time I saw you. It's about time to come back, enough playing. I think I've been patient enough."

Was this for the best? No one else was around to get hurt. If I fallow him back, I can kill him freely without injuring anyone in the process. If Bai Lei or Ren were here... they would fight to the death to stop him. He slowly walks over to me and lifts a hand out to me. It's covered in those familiar blood-red markings.

I reach up and slowly clasp his large warm hand. His smile turns seductive as he pulls me to my feet and into his chest. I let him do it but as his hands wrap around my waist, his face frowns as he says "You are awfully cold my Queen." I give him a weak smile as I mumble "You have no idea..." 

Suddenly, there's a loud crash as a teapot and cups are dropped onto the floor. I look over to find Chyou trembling in fear as she watches me in the King's arms. I give her a blank look before turning back to the man and saying "Let's go." I don't want him to hurt her... 

The man lifts his arm out to Chyou and instantly, I recognize the dark energy. He was going to kill Chyou! I reach out and gently grab his arm, causing him to slowly turn to me in question. "I want to leave here." His solid black eyes watch me closely before saying "Kiss me then and we'll go." 

Chyou stands frozen in the same spot as she watches everything with horror. I release his arm and gently touch his face. I stand on my tiptoes and even though he watches me with suspicion, he lowers his head. I lightly brush my lips over his and wait. 

When he doesn't move, I close my eyes and press my lips to his, finally getting him to lower his hand. He wraps both hands around my waist as he shifts us away.

Chyou falls to her knees as tears begin to fall. "M.. my lady... My Lady!!!!" She screams drawing attention from the guards outside. She remains frozen on the ground until strong hands grab her arms and shake her. She looks up to find bright glowing red eyes glaring at her, demanding an answer. Ren paces back and forth with a worried look, biting his nails until they bleed.

"My... my lady was t t taken... she was taken by the King of the Under Realm... no no no, she left with him.... she left with him to save me... he was going to kill me... she.. she.." Chyou breaks down and starts crying so hard, she struggles to breathe.

Bai Lei releases Chyou and stumbles back with an unreadable look on his face. He races into the room and looks at everything trashed with an overwhelming feeling. Everything seems to slow down as he falls to his knees in the middle of the room, clutching his chest.

"He... he demanded a kiss... she.. she... my poor lady!!" Chyou cries even harder as she starts hyperventilating. Bai Lei struggles to breathe as Chyou's words sink in. He should have never let her out of his sight... he slams his fists onto the ground, instantly shattering the floor beneath him. 

His eyes blaze red as he clenches his teeth in anger. Why!? Why does it feel like he's constantly fighting against the gods when it comes to her!? "Why!? Have I not done everything you've asked of me!? She's mine! She belongs to me!!" Lightning suddenly crawls across the sky as an ominous feeling fills the air.

The guards including Ren, quickly back away from the room as they all look up to the sky with fear. Lightning in the middle of winter!? What in the world was happening!? Bai Lei's power becomes so strong and volatile, everyone is forced further back. 

Suddenly, a large lightning bolt comes crashing down and hits Bai Lei, blinding everyone present. A powerful blast knocks them all back as another lightning bolt crashes into Bai Lei. Ren grits his teeth and holds his chest in pain as he tries to see what's happening.  

The house suddenly goes up in flames, causing Ren to run over in fear. "Master!" Another lightning bolt hits and with it comes another wave of energy, knocking Ren back several feet. Ren lands on his back and struggles to breathe as the snow around them starts mixing with the ashes from the burning house. It feels as if the waves of power become stronger after each lightning bolt! 

Ren struggles for a long time before he's able to breathe and move again. When he finally does move, he turns to look at the burning house before him with a mix of shock and horror. He struggles to his feet and stumbles over to the burning building and falls to his knees.

He watches the building burn with tears running down his face. Snow and ash fall to the ground as a heavy silence falls on everyone present. Lady Xue runs over, barely dressed and screams out for Bai Lei. Her servants grab her and hold her back as the guards try their best to hold her back.

Everything is muted and in slow motion for Ren though... he can't even hear Lady Xue's screams as he continues to watch the burning building with disbelief. The sky lets out a mighty roll of thunder, shaking the ground everyone stands on as the snow continues to fall.