The Red String

The Spaces Between Us

The stench of blood seems to taint the Valley and it clings to Zhou Zishu's nostrils and tongue the moment his feet set down on the dusty ground. The memories flood in like a sharp blade but instead of allowing them to cut him, he fashions them into a weapon and surges forward.

A witch stands with his back to Zhou Zishu, and his neck snaps like a twig in Zhou Zishu's hands. The crack rings out like lightning in the magic singed air and another witch whirls around to face him, blue already skipping over his fingers.

Wen Kexing is already next to him with teeth bared.

His soulmate ducks under the crackling ball sent his way, and kicks out while reaching for the witch's arms. Blood soaks anew into Wen Kexing's clothes as he rips the arms from their sockets and flings them onto the ground callously. Screams fill the air but they quickly taper off into choked gurgles.

In the center of the Valley, a purple orb swallows up two figures and the sight makes Zhou Zishu grit his teeth. He feels Wen Kexing see it too, the two forms within embracing and closing out the world and its ensuing violence.

Zhou Zishu doesn't stop to watch, his sword already out and shearing through flesh and bone. A white-hot stream of light shoots past him and incinerates three witches to ashes. His heart races and he leans back to avoid the blow slung his way and when he arcs down, he sees Chengling with his hands out and appearing as though he has reached into the sky and plucked the sun down. His expression is one of calm determination but Zhou Zishu can see a reigned in anger behind those dark eyes. It makes a strain of pride pull at his lips and then he's pulled back into the fight.

They all have an objective and the residents of Four Seasons Manor crash into the melee, some with claws and teeth, and others sharp steel that is soon covered with blood. Screams swirl and rise in the air, creating a symphony with which they fight to.

And they fight. They fight like their lives depend on it, like everything will right itself if they can just make it to the crackling lavender dome in the middle of the Valley.

Sweat and blood drips into Zhou Zishu's eyes and Wen Kexing backs toward him, pivoting his body so they stand face to face. Though his eyes are hard, a savage smile overtakes his face as he sweetly reaches out and wipes the blood from Zhou Zishu's eyes. "You look beautiful, A Shu." It's such a silly time to say such things, but the break in the fight seems to widen around them and he's grinning back. He knows blood coats his teeth, he can taste it, but he sees Wen Kexing glance down and his eyes heat.

It's not the time. It's really not the time, but there's something in this silence that makes him surge forward and seal their lips into a kiss. Maybe it's the fact that they're together, or maybe that he doesn't know what will happen, but he breathes hotly into Wen Kexing's mouth and inhales the returned growl. He soaks it in like he is trying to renew his spirit and he feels his soul grow teeth and grin into the abyss.

They'll get through this. He feels it down to his bones, believes it more than he's believed anything in his entire life.

They both jolt as Wen Kexing spins them out of reach of a witch attacking, and then they reluctantly part when Wen Kexing lashes out to catch the witch by his throat. The witch gasps and gurgles until Zhou Zishu's eyes narrow and his hands dart out to snap the witch's neck. The male crumples to the dirt and they turn in unison to jump back into the fight.

Fu Meng stands quietly at the outskirts of the fight, her eyes staring off into space but glowing like two beacons in the night. Qian Qiao has her back pressed to her lover's and her hands rest loosely at her side. Her beautiful face is calm as she watches blood spill and shouts ring, but she doesn't move to aid. Her time has not come yet, and her debt must be filled at a later time.