CHAPTER EIGHT ‘The brown eyed’

It was a calm day. The trees danced slowly to the wind's soft rock and the waters calmly moved forth and back in response to earth's restitution. 

Just when Violet took a step towards the lake filled with newly bloomed lotus flowers, she heard a soft melody played by the lute.

The melody was slow at first then it fastened, to a more urgent pitch. Two steps closer to the lake, Violet felt like she was in a dream so she crouched in front of the lake and smiled with her fingers playing with the waters in the lake.

The melody continued at a more aggressive pace, filling Violet's head with even more absurd thoughts such as unicorns, pretty dances, cookies, sweets. She didn't even realize when she gazed at her reflection and fell into the lake. 

Then her body started sinking into the lake without her knowledge. She was really far away from her body.. one could tell by the distant smile on her face.

Suddenly the music from the lute stopped playing. It barely took a minute for Violet to realize what was going on. She held her breath and swarm above the shore tiredly.

When she reached, she stared down at the bubbling water around her and tried to recall how she entered the water. Right at that moment, she saw a hall that looked exactly like lotus hall. She was surprised. It wasn't there the previous night. So she swarm towards it. Her hands dipping in and out of the soft milky feeling waters. When she reached the other side, she got out of the water and unconsciously smiled at how alike the hall looked like except nothing was written in front of this hall.

She was about to take a step to the building when she realized it was inappropriate so she stopped. It'd be best to go back to the lotus lake building and stay low. It would be a disaster if this was the manor of the leader of Star Clan.

So she did what a normal person would do, she jumped back into the lake filled with lotus flowers and started swimming.. 

But she halted when she felt something under the water. Could it be a frog?

A wet blonde long hair emerged from the water making Violet's heart skip a beat. A dead person's head—

Her thoughts quickly quietened when a fair blonde boy's heard emerged from the lake. He looked pretty alive but his gray eyes were staring off into the distance as though he wasn't aware a person was in the lake with him.

“You can never be so sure.” Violet voiced out and leaned forward to touch the boy's neck. But he dodged, catching Violet off guard.

So he was alive.

“Oh I'm sorry. I didn't know someone was here. I'll get going then.” Violet started to leave but a voice stopped her.

“Stop.” 

Violet paused. Suddenly feeling the urge to listen to the commanding tone. Then she remembered.. magic. After realizing that magic was being used, she was able to gain control over herself.

She turned to face the cocky man who stood on the ground as though he owned it. Her eyes widened as their eyes met.

The man recognized her.. and she recognized him too.

He was the scholar that paid for the tunics she bought back at Star town.

However she held her head up, for the first time, believing in Poison's ability to mask her real identity.

The blonde ascended from the lake, stark naked, and in front of Violet making her look everywhere but him nervously.

The man holding a book in his left hand and a robe in the right smirked and handed the robe to the blonde as he descended from the lake. The blonde took the robe and wrapped it around his body, then he leaned closer to his friend and whispered something, making his friend smirk deepen. Then the blonde walked back into the building leaving the two alone to talk.

“Aren't you cold?” The brown-eyed said, the smirk he had on earlier replaced with a killer look.

“I'll swim back to my residence.” Said Violet, keeping her head up.

“You're not Lady Musa. I've seen you before, Violet.”

Her breath hitched in her throat.

“I played a song of hypnotism to put you in a trance and make you reveal your true self.” He continued, “If I report this to my father, what will happen to you?”

“Who's your father?” Violet asked.

The brown-eyed looked taken aback, “The leader of Star Clan but.. why are asking that? Shouldn't you be more concerned about what will happen to you when I report you to my father?”

“That's why I asked who your father is and since you've told me, I feel scared and intimidated.” 

“Eh— why don't you show it then?”

“I-i'm freezing.”

“Get out of the water then.” The brown-eyed rolled his eyes and looked away to his side.

With gritted teeth, Violet swam out of the water and stood in front of the brown-eyed while shivering.

“As you already know.. I'm not the real Saintess of Lagsu and I know you're—”

“—Did you kill the Saintess of Lagsu?”

Violet paused, if she said no.. the real Saintess of Lagsu identity would be exposed and that would break the promise she made to the Saintess so she inhaled deeply, “Yes.”

The brown eyed smiled but the smile didn't reach his eyes. 

“But I plead.. for a few days for me and my bodyguard to live.”

“Poison? Your bodyguard?” 

Violet inhaled, her body getting used to the cold, “How do you know him?”

“Didn't my father ask for help from a certain killer association?”

Violet eyes widened, “You know—”

“—All I know is, you infiltrated into Star rock and should be killed for attempting to harm the leader's precious son. That's all I need to say and you and your dear bodyguard neck will rot at the tiger's cave.”

“What do I have to do to protect him?”

The brown-eyed smirked, “Lick my feet.”

“As long as you keep your promise.” She said.

The man's brown eyes mirrored Violet's appearance then he took a step back, his eyes staring into the distance. “Lick my feet!”

She knelt on the ground and crawled towards the brown-eyed shoes, held, and stuck her tongue out. Licking his already shiny boots, this continued until the man had enough. He kicked her off and said, “Be here at exactly 6am tommorow morning if you don't want to be exposed.”

“Is my disguise still apparent?”

“Apparent?” he said.

“Is my disguise still clear? Visible to the eye of others?”

The brown eyed cleared his throat, “Just pray you don't bump into my father or the chief. Once you do, you and your bodyguard will be exposed and thrown into the tiger's cave.”

“Help me so I don't encounter them.”

“Why should I? You're a nobody.”

Violet eyes glimmered, “You're right but your father is the leader of star clan and he invited me and my colleague to attempt sabotage on the chief of star clan in order to strengthen his own power. Even if I get thrown into the tiger's cave, the chief of star clan will suspect your father and guard against him.”

“You have a slick tongue.” He smiled, a step towards Violet so he was smouldering over her, “However, it's not enough.”

“You're right. But you should keep in mind that the people of Lagsu know only one Saintess. If I am killed here, they'll doubt star clan whether or not I'm the real Saintess. It wouldn't be good for star clan if there's such a rumour about killing Lagsu precious saintess.”

His brown eyes glinted and he lifted a finger in front of Violet in attempt to try and caress her cheek but she caught his finger in her mouth and bit hard on it. Their eyes locked, both staring hard into each other's soul.

He chuckled, “Don't forget. Star Clan knows manipulation spells too.”

Violet loosened her teeth around the man's finger in her mouth, “There's no female in star clan, the spell will be obvious once in use.”

The brown-eyed pulled his finger back, “I'll let you live for now. Just follow all of my orders. For example, be here 5am.”

“Understood.”

***

By the time Poison arrived Lotus lake hall, pretty women were happily sweeping the surroundings.

His eyes widened as he saw how beautiful the women looked when they arched their backs, giving him the opportunity to see their beautiful breasts and bum. He suddenly felt a pool of desire in his stomach.

Just when he was about to approach the women, he remembered that he was in Star rock. Meaning, if he did anything stupid, he could easily be found out. He had to find a way to leave his mark on Star rock before fleeing. And it had to be done soon.

“Hi!” Poison wasn't surprised when Violet suddenly popped up in front of him. She had always been an energectic girl.

Even though her words sounded calm, he could feel the burst of energy through her.

“What?” he said feigning disinterest.

“Hmm.. let's go talk in my room.”

He shrugged but followed behind her to her room.

“What are you so excited about?” he asked once they were in her room.

Violet cleared her throat, “I am not excited about anything.”

Poison smirked, “Really?”

“I can hear how fast her heart is beating. It's obvious she's excited about something.” he thought.

“Yes.” Violet said, “I just wanted to tell you that you can leave, unharmed.”

Poison face fell.

“I'll just tell anyone who asks about you that I sent you to fetch me an important scroll from Lagsu. Use that opportunity to escape, okay?”

After seeing the dumbfounded reaction on Poison's face, she smiled, “Isn't that a brilliant idea?”

Poison didn't respond.

“I'll take it that you agree. Okay.. that's what I wanted to tell you. You should get going then.” Violet said before going to sit on her bed.

Right when she starts tucking herself to sleep, Poison asked, “What about you?”

“I've had dinner. Ask the maids to make your food, I'm sleepy.” She yawned and closed her eyes as her head landed on the silky pillowcase.