Demon and Human As One
After the chase through the bamboo forest, Xian and Suzhen get to know each other a bit more...
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Later that night, the revelation of Suzhen's parentage unearthed memories previously buried within Xuan's subconscious as he slept. He tossed and turned as his eyes moved rapidly beneath closed lids. His heart beat faster and faster as he broke into a cold sweat. Adrenaline coursed through his veins as fear and heartbreak took over his heart and mind. He suddenly rose up into a seated position with a loud scream of terror and sadness that echoed off the cave walls, waking Suzhen in the process. Xuan panted hard as he curled up into a seated fetal position, wrapping his arms around his legs and staring blankly at the ground. Suzhen laid a hand on his shoulder, causing him to jump.
“Xuan," said Suzhen soothingly. “What's the matter." Xuan looked at the demon as he slowly calmed down. Surely she deserved to know, right? She was basically the opposite of what he knew about demons. He let out a heavy sigh as he wiped his brow and placed a hand on her's, enjoying the comforting warmth it had.
“Alright," he said. “I'll tell you.
“When I was just a child, my village lay right in The Dragon Emperor's warpath. His army of terracotta soldiers and demons raided and pillaged without mercy, with Xiangliu himself at the lead. He took the form of a giant, golden, nine-headed python, almost gleeful in the destruction and death he caused. My parents tried to hide me to keep me safe. But while I was hidden, they… they were killed by Xiangliu, swallowed whole, right before my eyes. When I finally emerged from my hiding place, there were only a few survivors, and even they were badly wounded. Since that day I've vowed to kill every demon I came across," Xian laid a hand on Suzhen's shoulder and looked into her eyes with a tender expression. “But then I met you." Suzhen smiled warmly as tears ran down her face.
“I'm sorry for what my father did to you," said Suzhen. “Is there anything I can do to apologize?"
“For what?" asked Xian.
“I may have run away, but he's still my father. His blood is mine. No matter how much I try to escape him, he's still a part of me. I'm still like him." Suzhen looked away from Xian, a look of deep sadness disfiguring her beautiful face.
(Beating In The Rain by Hans Zimmer)
Xian's heart raced as he looked upon the pitiful sight. Not once in his life did he think a demon of all things could be so… moving. Sure, he'd faced demons that begged for their lives before, but they had killed humans. Suzhen didn't exactly seem the type to even harm a human. Besides, she saved him twice now. An unexplainable feeling took hold of Xian's heart as he wiped away the tears from her face.
“You're nothing like your father." said Xian soothingly as Suzhen looked at him with a face of shock that slowly turned to one of happiness.
“Thank you, Xian." said Suzhen with a smile that only caused Xian's heart to beat faster and cause that unexplainable feeling to spread further throughout his body, like the heat of a hot bath on a cold day.
“You're… kind, brave, and beautiful," said Xian, getting a little closer to her as he stroked the long, white locks of her hair. “Qualities I'm sure your father does not possess."
“Thanks again," chuckled Suzhen, closing the distance herself. “Wait, you think I'm beautiful?" Xian's eyes widened in shock as he blushed deeply.
“Well… actually, I-" he started before Suzhen suddenly kissed him on the lips. Xian's mind raced as he struggled to process the last few seconds. In all his years, his heart had never beat so hard so fast. The same could be said for Suzhen, as she herself was feeling a strange new feeling inside her heart that spread throughout her body.
Suzhen once again planted her lips onto Xian's, and this time, she didn't pull away. Xian closed his eyes and leaned into the kiss, embracing Suzhen's slender form as the demon did the same to his fit one. Hands rubbed against leather armor and silken robes respectively, which soon made their way off their bodies and to the cavern floor. Eyes closed, tongues danced, bodies intertwined, and hearts beat as one…
***
Suzhen woke the next morning and smiled at a sleeping Xian. She smiled at how she made her feel last night, the way no one had ever done before. The warmth that consumed her was almost unbearable, in a good way. He may have despised demons, but she found it nice that there was some potential for change in him. But her heart soon sank as she remembered something: her father.
“Xian," she said, putting on her robe and nudging the human's shoulder to rouse him. “Xian, wake up."
“Morning, Suzhen," yawned Xian as he rose and stretched. He looked at his newfound demon lover with tenderness in his gaze, and made a move to kiss her, but she put up a hand to block him. “Is something the matter?"
“Actually, yes," said Suzhen gravely. Something about her tone quickly put a damper on Xian's content mood. “My father."
“Right. He's going to try and invade the Temple of Tianlong tonight, isn't he?"
“Yes," said Suzhen as she rose to her feet and transformed into her cobra form. “Which is why I'm going to stop him alone."
“Hey, you're taking me with you," protested Xian, putting his clothes and gear on. “Not only am I a professional demon hunter, I can finally repay him for what he did."
“Xian, you don't understand. I'm sorry, and I don't doubt your abilities, but you stand no chance against him. I'm going alone and that's final."
She turned to slither away without another word, but froze as Xian spoke and drew his sword.
“Suzhen," he said in a grave tone of his own. “I'm saying I'm coming with you and that's final. We're bonded now. Demon and human as one. I deserve to fight him as much as you do." Suzhen sighed and turned to him, those giant, blue slit-pupiled eyes boring into Xian's soul.
“Are you sure?" asked Suzhen in a low voice that nearly caused Xian to waver.
“Yes." said Xian, looking into the giant serpent's eyes with his own, a fire starting within them. Suzhen closed her eyes and let out a deep sigh that blew like a gust of wind on Xian's face. She prayed that Xian couldn't sense the fear in her heart, chilling her mind and soul.
“Very well," she said, lowering her head and allowing Xian to hop on. “The Temple is in the mountains to the north. It'll take all day to get there. Then, the eclipse will begin."