Chapter 90: Secrets, Monsters

Solomon doesn’t react when Jiaoying grabs his heart and pulls it out of his chest.

On only the second instance, he feels as though he’s grown a bit too used to the sensation. It causes him no discomfort.

Fury raised his heart like a sacred treasure. Her eyes become slightly glossy as her lips open, her breath escaping in shallow, excited gusts.

She bites into Solomon’s heart, and the blood gushes past her chin onto her chest.

The young knight’s eyes widen as he watches her wounds heal.

Her arm snaps back into place, and the holes all across her body gradually begin to close.

She finishes the last of Solomon’s heart and leans back in a stupor.

Her eyes are hazy. Thoughtful.

When she speaks again, her voice is so low that Solomon can barely hear her.

“…So that is where I have seen you from. How interesting… the hands of fate spin a most humorous yarn.”

Suddenly, Fury gasps deeply, and a choking sound escapes her throat.

Solomon, back healed, sits up abruptly and attempts to grab her by the shoulders.

“Jiaoying!”

Fury throws her head back rather abruptly.

A current of dark blue steam rushes past her lips.

As it leaves her, Fury’s powerful form gradually shrinks into a more diminutive one.

Jiaoying brings her hands to her head and lets out a deeply agitated hiss.

“No, no, you bitch..! I told you to stay quiet..!”

The tattoo on Jiaoying’s neck glows in response. A sizzling sound emanates from her flesh, making her wince.

“Be calm, Jiaoying. It is over.”

Solomon’s voice brings Jiaoying out of her confusion.

When she opens her eyes and looks at him, emotion quickly fills her as it all sets in.

Once again, the taste of blood fills her mouth, and her mind aches.

“…Fuck.”

Slowly, Jiaoying crawls off Solomon’s lap.

She stands for only a moment before she stumbles backward until her back hits a stone wall.

Solomon rises and tries to get to her. “Jiao-”

“Don’t.” Jioying speaks through gritted teeth. “You… You need to get away from me.”

At the moment, Solomon doesn’t approach her further, but he seems as though he is considering how to try again.

“…I am in no discomfort.” He taps his chest. “Heart’s already grown back, too.”

Jiaoying looks as if she wants to tell him that it doesn’t matter, but she cannot open her mouth.

Instead, her body slumps to the ground, and she lowers her head, going silent.

Solomon does not speak either.

After a while, he shuffles over to Jiaoying’s side, leaving a considerable distance between them.

For the next hour, they sit there in complete silence. The darkness of the underground space is the only thing around to witness their awkwardness.

Solomon is almost surprised when Jiaoying finally speaks again. Her voice is hollow. Soulless.

“…I have kids. Adopted, but… they’re mine.”

Solomon blinks abruptly, glad the darkness doesn’t allow her to see the surprise on his face.

“…I haven’t seen my daughter or my son in several years now. The last time we were together… my son and I were arguing, and my daughter was…between us. Trying to keep the peace.

My ex-husband was out, and the argument was getting more intense… I couldn’t… she was just in my head, screaming to let her out, and when I wouldn’t let her, she beat against my brain until…”

Muddled, choked sobs escapeJiaoying’s mouth in the darkness.

Solomon instinctively reaches for her hand, but she pulls away quietly.

“…When my ex came home, I was still holding them… my son, h-his arm, it was broken, but my daughter, she… s-she couldn’t move her legs, and-”

“Jiaoying, you don’t have to keep going with-”

Jiaoying snaps suddenly and grabs Solomon by his neck. “I am a monster, Solomon! I need you to understand that!”

Solomon can see her in the light. She is more distraught than he has ever seen her.

Her eyes are bloodshot and full of tears. Though she is speaking loudly, her voice holds no strength.

Jiaoying is more than just a grieving woman. She is embarrassed.

“You need to leave me alone..! Stop coming around me, stop flirting with me, and stop-”

Solomon grabs Jiaoying by her face and kisses her.

The knight commander clenches her fist against his chest, but she doesn’t pull away.

Eventually, she hugs him back, and her tears change into a more gentle stream.

For the moment, she leaves all of her weariness in the hands of another.

–

Solomon can see a bit of light beaming down through the hole they’d fallen through.

The early hours of the morning are fast approaching. He finally remembers that he is not yet out of danger. Even more pressing, he has people that he needs to check on.

“We… should probably get out of here.”

Jiaoying slowly gets dressed in the dim lighting.

Solomon watches her back for a while, unable to take his eyes away from her.

As Jiaoying pulls her skirt back on, she finally addresses the elephant in the room. “So… Your sister, huh?”

“Not my sister.”

“Whatever she is… she’s pretty powerful. I haven’t been thumped like that in a decade.”

Solomon’s jaw sets in place when he remembers Gorgon. Steam rolls off his uncovered muscles.

“…I’ll kill her.”

Jiaoying looks back with a subtle look of amusement on her face.

“…Getting angry on my behalf? Thanks, but no need.” Jiaoying bends down and picks up her cloak, only to realize it has gotten wet in light of their activities. “Ugh…”

“I feel there is every need. I won’t be able to sleep peacefully at night until I see her dead.”

Solomon’s skin crackles. It darkens like coal while openings spread along his skin. Magma seems to flow through him, illuminating the cavern and warming the air.

Jiaoying almost believes that she can see him growing.

“…You can’t take on that woman. You may not be able to die, but she can-”

“I. Said…”

Solomon steps towards Jiaoying. The heat of his flesh nearly singes the hairs on her skin.

“She will die.”

His voice is firm and unmoving, his eyes pools of fire.

Jiaoying’s face warms, though not from the heat.

Her chest feels tight, and as light as a feather all at the same time.

“…So you liken yourself to my avenger then?”

Slowly, Jiaoying raises a hand to his face and touches his cheek. She barely seems to notice the immense heat.

“I… don’t think I mind that at all.”

Solomon’s eyes only soften slightly. His skin barely cools.

Jiaoying suddenly drops her gaze.

“Oh, and… what I told you about my-”

Suddenly, the duo hears a familiar voice come from above ground.

“Guys, come over here, something is glowing!”

Solomon immediately snaps out of his transformation; barely noticing that he has even changed in the first place.

“Aww, it went away! Do you think my mighty aura caused it to run off??”

Solomon smiles in relief.

’Nila..!’

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