I’m in the center of the fight with a small group of soldiers around me. They veer off, one by one, to engage in combat with the men who rushed to protect our main target, the Jīn Long general. I make short work of the soldiers who get in my way. I fight with batons because even though they can kill if necessary, they are also perfect for knocking a man unconscious. It renders them unable to fight while allowing me the opportunity to reach my prey. The general will get no mercy from me. He’s killed too many of our people and his own, and he reaps the benefits for his loyalty to Wang. His family will not be saved either, because they too support Wang’s views on what the future should be like. Views that would see the Yi Shu wiped out.
I place my batons back into the holder on my back, and pulling out my sword, I jump forward into an elaborate attacking stance and engage in deadly combat with the man I’ve been desperate to get my hands on for a long while.
The battle is hard. He’s a skilled fighter, but so am I. I’ve been training for this moment. No, I’ve been training for the moment when I kill Wang, but his general will do for now. Focusing solely on the fight at hand, I block out the other skirmishes going on around me. My team is well-trained and can look after themselves. A flash of concern for Zhàn goes through me, but I temper it down with the knowledge he’s one of the best fighters in the company.
Pushing harder and harder, I back Wang’s general into a small courtyard at the center of the training complex he and his men had been preparing to attack. This is a smaller facility than the main training base, but it still holds more than a hundred of our men. Men who are now fighting alongside me, using the element of surprise to overcome these would-be attackers.
Shen really did choose to protect his family by giving us the truth. They are now safe within our walls, sheltered and mourning their loss but happy in the knowledge they’ll have a new life away from the oppression of the Jīn. In their eyes, he died a hero saving his family. They know we killed him, but they understand our traditions and rules. They accept that he had to die. It doesn’t always make what we do any easier, though.
The general comes for me again and again, looking for any advantage over me. Returning to his leader with evidence of my death will probably be the only thing that can save him after this fuck up. In spite of this man's loyalty, Wang will be baying for his blood. I don’t intend to lose my life or any part of my body, though. I like it just the way it is.
“Blond demon, it’s your time to die.” The general pulls another sword from a dead man at his feet and surges forward, pushing me backward.
I fight my hardest, trying to press back, but it’s not possible with two weapons against one.
Fuck.
I’m desperately trying to think of a plan when a sword soars through the air, passing between the general and I. Both our eyes go wide when it embeds in the courtyard wall nearest to us. The sword is swiftly followed by the flying body of Zhàn as he goes to retrieve his weapon, and in doing so, he pushes the general back from me, and I’m able to collect myself. Zhàn and I both step up to the general. The number of swords has evened out with two on each side, but now there are two of us against one. We fight fast, moving quickly with athletic kicks and flicks, our bodies leaping high when needed, and using the walls to bounce off in attack. I’ve always laughed at the films that depict fighting like ours, the old fashion Chinese ones, but no longer will I chuckle, because the spirit of the gods has taken over us, and we fight like demons possessed with the power of magic. The general realizes he’s losing the battle, and in desperation, he jumps back and throws his sword directly at me. I bend backward in a superhuman effort and watch as it glide inches over my body before I crash to the ground, needing a moment to gather my breath.
Zhàn is still full of energy and presses forward against the general once more. The older man smirks at him in the same way I did when I first met Zhàn. He doubts the ability of our new warrior. I take my time getting to my feet, watching as the smile is quickly wiped off the general’s face.
Zhàn is as swift as a wild animal after its prey. He flies through the air, bringing his sword down on the general’s hand and severing it straight through the bone. The general shouts out in shock, and Zhàn stills for a moment, his eyes focused on the general.
“Death befalls the devil. This is my message to Wang—he is next.”
Zhàn lifts his sword, and I watch in amazement as he slices it straight through the general’s neck, cutting his head off with one clean blow.
Zhàn then turns to me as the body drops to the ground behind him. His eyes are dark, and my body hums with the thrill of what I’ve just witnessed. He bows to me as I stride over to within inches of his body.
“Who are you?” I question.
Why does this small boy have a power over me I can’t control? I don’t understand it.
Zhàn shuts his eyes and turns his head away.
“Later,” he replies.
He then bends down, and picking up the general’s bloody head, he hands it to me and walks away, leaving me thoroughly confused.
I knew the second I saw the look in Jaxon’s eyes after I killed the Jīn Long general I couldn’t lie to him any longer about who I am. Something is happening between us. I feel it every time he’s near me. My body is on fire for him, and I can’t allow him to think I’m a boy any longer. I can see him struggling with his feelings toward me, and it’s not fair to him.
We return the general’s head to Gaozu and the body to Wang before I send Jaxon a note asking him to meet me near my home. I’ve been waiting for him for about ten minutes now and fear he won’t show when he emerges from the shadows. In spite of his tuft of blond hair, he’s still able to merge into the darkness.
“Zhàn, what are we doing here?”
“I need to show you something.” I start to walk off, but Jaxon grabs my arm and pulls me back toward him.
“Is this something to do with whatever spell you’re weaving over me?”
I nod.
“Okay.” He lets go of me and follows me as I sneak through the streets.
When we reach my home, I seek out the window to the basement, and kneeling in front of it, I urge Jaxon to do the same. We both look inside.
My father’s sitting in a chair in the room, a soft light illuminates both him and the sword he’s holding, which is the one I used for my training. I’ve not seen him for a few weeks, and he looks tired. I can’t help but wonder if he’s managing to get any sleeping or if he’s being kept awake, fearing for my life. Hopefully, I’ll be able to get a message to him soon, so I can ease all my families fears.
“Is he your father?” Jaxon questions, and I nod as confirmation.
We both watch on as my father stands and prepares to do a few movements with the sword. He can’t complete them because his leg gives way, and he tumbles to the floor. I jolt forward, wanting to help lift him up, but I know I can’t reveal I’m here. Jaxon looks between me and him, recollection on his face as he takes another look at my father.
“I remember him. The day of the draft.”
I get to my feet. Not wanting to have to witness my father falling again, I start walking away from the building. Jaxon follows, and catching up with me in a few strides, he grabs my arm again. Pulling me around to face him.