Star Crossed In Time

I flinch as Bai Lei pulls the covers over me, tucking me under the warm blankets. "I swear, I'm going to start chaining you to me..." Bai Lei says releasing a wave of warm, soothing energy out of his gentle hands. I give him a strained smile and say "That might be a good idea."

His face remains serious as he says "I woke up when I suddenly felt you gone, what happened?" I frown as I say "Honestly, I'm not entirely sure but I think he brought me there. I have no idea how though... he doesn't like being upfront with information." 

Bai Lei grits his teeth and says "He's evil and dangerous. When I showed up, I thought he was trying to kill you so I hit him with a lightning bolt. I'm sorry..." I give him a tired smile and say "For what? I really think you saved me... I feel like he was trying to do something else but I couldn't stop him. No matter how hard I tried..." 

I chuckle and say "Besides, you didn't hit me, just nearly caused me to go deaf." My chuckle quickly disappears when a stabbing pain hits me in the side. Bai Lei grits his teeth even harder as he says "He can't be trusted... He's evil and extremely powerful. Why did he bring you there?" 

I close my eyes to try and ease my headache as I say "His name is Hundun, master of chaos or something like that and he said that 'he' summoned him and his brother. His brother is Swiwang, master of death and decease... he's the one killing all the people in the Lower Realms. Hundun was going to bring me to... Eli. He was strong enough and definitely capable but somehow, he decided to switch teams."

Bai Lei sits silently as I continue "He thrives on chaos and power so when I made him an offer, he was tempted and took the deal." I say growing tired. Bai Lei narrows his eyes and asks "What did you offer him?" 

"Blood. He wanted my soul but I quickly turned him down. He then asked for my love, whatever that means, but I turned that down too. I told him, take it or leave it... he took it but then... I felt like he was trying to do more than what I agreed to. You're right with what you said earlier, he can't be trusted." 

"I was able to avoid being taken to Eli and possibly gained a strong weapon but time will tell if this was a mistake or not... He loves chaos... he may have joined us... just to screw with us..." I say slowly drifting to sleep.

~~~~~~

Bai Lei watches Nova drift off into a peaceful sleep and seriously considers tying her to himself. Eli... the bastard she used to date. His dark eyebrows draw together in confusion though. Even if this guy managed to grow incredibly strong... how could he summon two powerful demons?  

It just doesn't make sense... Nova is extremely powerful and yet she almost couldn't handle making the contract with the demon. "Ren" he calls out in a low voice. Ren appears behind him and instantly bows but his eyes are locked on Nova's sleeping form. Was she okay? "Here," Ren says with a soft but stern voice. 

Bai Lei keeps his eyes on Nova as he says "Find everything you can on this man Eli but if you do manage to find him, don't make yourself known. Come back immediately and let me know... I want to deal with him personally."

"Understood," Ren says before quickly disappearing. Bai Lei leans over and gently pushes Nova's silver hair back as his mind continues to wander. He may be overthinking things but something about this entire thing isn't sitting right with him. 

~~~~~~

I slowly wake up to someone gently running their fingers through my hair and when I open my eyes, I see Bai Lei silently watching me. I go to sit up but he just pushes me back down and says "You only slept for an hour, take it easy. How are you feeling?" 

"Other than being a little sore, I'm fine," I say pushing his hand back and sitting up. He frowns at me but still helps me sit up as I ask "Does anyone else know I went missing?" Bai Lei shakes his head and says "No, as soon as you disappeared, I went looking for you."

I nod my head as he says "You said something earlier about him liking chaos... Are you able to control him?" I give him a weary smile as I say "Time will only tell..." Bai Lei stares at me silently before asking "Are you scared of that man... Eli?" 

I freeze and once again feel that old familiar fear threatening to choke me. I quickly look away from Bai Lei but I wasn't fast enough, he saw it. He saw my fear, my shame, and a glimpse of the girl I used to be. Weak, scared and very alone.

Before I realize it, he is on the bed and pulling me into his lap. I try to pull away and say that I'm fine but he won't have any of it. He pulls my head against his shoulder and says "It's okay, I've got you and I will NEVER let that bastard hurt you again. That, I promise you." 

Again, I push against his chest and awkwardly smile at him as I say "I told you that I'm fine, okay? It's no big deal." Bai Lei tightens his hold on me and stares at me with dark red eyes. We sit in silence for almost a solid minute before he says "Take the mask off when you speak to me, little star. It's okay to be scared, especially in front of me."

My eyes sting as my 'mask' begins to crack. I sniff and slowly lower my head on his shoulder as I say "Then just let me lean on you for a while." He begins stroking my back, in that all too familiar way, as I slowly beat down my old fears. 

Eli was a monster before... I'm terrified to see what's he's become now. I shake myself away from those thoughts as I try to focus. So he was now sending people after me... I need to be more careful. I was literally taken out of my bed in the middle of the night... somehow, it just adds to my pre-existing fear. 

Hundun said that he was sent to collect me... who else would be coming? No, I won't be scared anymore. I was not the same person I was then and now I have a family, I have Bai Lei. And just like today, he'll come for me. No matter what. 

Let them come, just like Zhen had told me before, Fear is a reaction. Courage is a choice. Well, I'm choosing to be courageous, even though I'm scared of the monster who still haunts my dreams from time to time.