3 The Story of Dragons

Ao Shun walked in holding plates of food. Looking to the bed, he expected the girl to be there. Panic rose, seeing it empty. Tilting his head, he listened. Ragged breathing sounded from behind the curtains. He smirks and set the food on the table.

He moved silently to the edge of the curtain and whispered, "Why are you hiding from a god?"

 Silence. Jin An closed her eyes tightly, sucking in a breath.

"I brought you food. You're too skinny. Come eat."

The dragon sat at the table, pouring himself a cup of wine.

Behind the curtain, Jin An run out of air, gasping. Sniffing the air; the smell of freshly cooked meat started to override her fear. Her stomach growled. Biting her lip, she peeked around the curtain, her eyes landing on the food. Subconsciously licking her lips, she stepped from her hiding place.

The dragon ignored her, even turning his body away from her. He realized she was scared, but the need to fill her stomach would override the fear. He listened to the sounds behind him, a satisfied smirk on his face, as small, quiet footsteps neared the table.

Jin An reached for the plate of meat, her eyes never leaving the back of the man. Once she had a hold of the plate, she stepped backwards, placing distance between them. Her eyes bore holes into him, he was the one she had struck in the face with the flowers.

Lifting a bite to her lips, she stopped, thinking, “Would he get revenge by poisoning me?” She stretched, placing the plate back on the table. Wringing her hands, she looked between the man and the food. She chewed on her lip. Her stomach growled loudly. A soft whimper escaped her pursed lips.

"I did not poison the food. Eat."

He stretched his hand back, grabbing a piece of meat from the plate. Shoving it in his mouth, he watched her from the side. He shifted position again, to give her privacy and make her more comfortable.

Her stomach growled again, her hand quickly covering it, a frown on her face. Stepping forward, she sat down. Pulling the plate closer, she started eating, her eyes watching the man beside her, thinking to herself, “If die, I will die full.” The dragon waited patiently for her to eat her fill.

Outside on the empty street, Langshen and Huxian wandered around, the streets void of life.

"I didn't think he would find his bride so soon. I've got a bad feeling about all this."

 Langshen agreed, stopping and looking at the fox.

"We can't be involved, or we'll suffer along with him. He's our friend, but this is his trial. We should return home, letting fate take its course."

Huxian groaned. "Our poor friend. Let's take him this medicine and make up an excuse to leave soon."

Jin An shoved the empty plate away, a satisfied sigh escaping. She smiled, rubbing her full belly. It had been a while since she'd eaten so much. She had been enjoying the food so much, she forgot about the silent man sitting just a few feet away.

"What's your name?" The deep voice broke her out of her food coma and back into reality.

She remembered she was in a room with a strange man. Wringing her hands together, she dared to look at him.

"Um…Jin An. Please, I'm sorry for hitting you with the flowers. Can you please let me go?"

She jumped, falling off her chair, as he stood and turned towards her. She swallowed, eyes wide, her flight response building as he loomed over her.

He looked her over. She was pretty in a human way. Her dark eyes quivered in terror. Her hair hung in a pair of dark braids, most of it having escaped from its bindings. The color in her skin had perked up after eating, a slight pink tone flushing her cheeks.

"Did you know you have a dragon birthmark?"

Kneeling to her level, his hand reached towards her neck.

Confused and scared, she backed away, stood, and shook her head.

"Dragon birthmark? I don't have a birthmark."

 Shaking her head, she gave him a fake smile. "I should go home. My father will be worried."

She shifted backwards, away from him, towards the door. Her need to escape multiplying as he took a step closer.

Suddenly, he stood behind her. His hand held a braid, gently. His fingers massaged the soft chestnut locks. She hadn't seen him move and wrapped her arms around herself protectively.

"Please. Let me go." Her eyes stared at the window across from her, a sudden thought popping in her head, “I could jump.”

She shivered; the temperature in the room dropping rapidly. Foggy breaths slipped from her lips as her breathing increased.

Tears well in the corner of her eyes. She forced them closed, a tear sliding down her cheek, turning into a ice crystal and falling to the floor. As the dragon spoke, the mist from his breath caressed her ear, making her shiver again.

"Do you know the story of the dragon's bride?"

Her head shakes slowly, his fingers flicking the end of her braid between them. He stepped closer to her back, his hand grasping at her hip, pulling her back towards him. Pushing her braid off her neck, he trailed a finger against the pale skin of her slender neck. His eyes roam over the birthmark, his tongue wetting his lips.

"When the Yellow Emperor ruled, he wished for the dragons to reign beside him and give him the power he needed to grow the country. At the end of his reign, the dragons ascended as Immortal beings and have been in the Heavenly Realm ever since."

Jin An stood as still as she could. Cold fingers caressed the nape of her neck. She fought the chills, unable to stop the quivering of her limbs and the hitches in her breaths. She shivered as goosebumps ran up and down her spine. Beautiful crystals formed in the wash bowl, as the temperature in the room plummeted.

Biting down on her lip, frightened moans slipped from her mouth. As his cold breath fondled her neck, he smiled wickedly, sensing her discomfort.

He continued his story. "After thousands of years, the Emperor decided the dragons should marry and gave each of us a bride. but finding our bride is a trial. Our brides are mortals, reborn every human life cycle. We don't like mortals, so most of us, do not care to look for her."

Jin An grimaced, scoffing softly, "Good. Let me go."

Ao Shun chuckles at her sudden moment of bravery. A large, cold hand wraps itself around her throat from behind. He held her gently but renewed her fear. Her bravery evaporated and more tears, sitting at the edge of her eyes, slid down her pink cheeks. Freezing on her cheeks, she shivers, not the chill of the room, but from her fear of death.

With the back of her neck exposed, the birthmark shimmered between a pale blue and purply- silver. The moonlight streaming through the cracks, sprinkled a silver glow. Reflected off the frozen crystals, prisms scattered throughout the room.

Ao Shun smirked. His eyes flashed silver, watching the birthmark react to his presence. As he ran his finger across it, it shimmers brighter. Jin An involuntarily moaned, reacting to his touch and their shared fate. Her eyes clenched shut, her hands closing around the material of her hanfu. Her breathing sped up. Her heart throbbed.

Leaning close to her ear, his raspy voice teased the small hairs. "I found you. I am Ao Shun. Dragon God of the Ocean. And you are my bride... Jin An."

He leaned closer, lightly brushing his lips across the birthmark.

Jin An's legs grew weak, her knees buckling. The dragon wrapped his arms around her, catching her as she collapsed. Lifting her into his arms, the door opened, a surprised fox and wolf stare at the scene before them. Their faces contort uncomfortably at the sight of the dragon holding a mortal. The room quickly started to thaw, drops of water sounding in the shocked silence of the three friends.

Ao Shun growled, shocked at being caught "red-handed". Langshen started laughing, his hands waving in the air animatedly.

Huxian looked concerned. "What happened? Why is she unconscious and in your arms? "

The dragon laid her on the bed covering her, tucking the blanket to warm her cold body. He faced his friends.

With an extremely serious tone, he responded, "I think I just had an emotion. How do I make it stop?"

The wolf fell onto a chair, his hands clenching his stomach, laughing uncontrollably. Huxian smacked his shoulder, making Langshen laugh harder. The dragon's eyes flare at his friend. He was truly confused and pouted, plopping onto the chair across from the wolf. Laying his head in his hands on the table, Ao shun groaned.

Ao Shun looked through his fingers at the girl. Growling in frustration, he stood, knocking the chair over. He stormed out of the room, leaving his two friends perplexed, staring at the door closing.

They look at each other, Langshen having finally stopped laughing. "I think this is going to be hard for him." Huxian nodded in agreement.