Red Strings (Xiao x Reader)

Chapter 1 - The Weakness

"Love is the weakness of human beings." —Cassandra Clare

He stood tall in his bird form, peering down at the relatively smaller fox sitting before him, her dual tails twitching in the light breeze. His amber eyes narrowed every so slightly as he tilted his head in confusion and skepticism.
"What...are you?" He was the first to break the silence, his voice tinged with curiosity despite his best efforts to disguise it. The fox blinked at him with her piercing eyes.
"A fox, who was gifted by the Huxian (狐仙；fox god) and gained sentience." Her voice was crisp and cut through the air like a shard of ice, yet there was no hostility to it. He shifted his wings slightly as his gaze dropped questioningly to her dual tails.
"Oh, you don't know?" This time, the fox's voice was filled with a melodic amusement as she flicked her tails. "When a fox begins their training to become an adeptus, they will gain an extra tail for each century of training they perform. Such is the case for seven additional tails."
"So I've heard," the bird replied. "This Huxian you mentioned, I am familiar with him. He is one of the elders amongst the adepti. Although, he never seems to have surpassed eight tails despite being well over two millennia in age."
The fox let out a chuckle this time, but said nothing else.
"Well then. Good luck with your training. You'll gain a human form after the eighth tail, correct? I would love to see you then." Birds could not smile, but his eyes glimmered with anticipation.
"I will for sure seek you out when the time comes. Where do you usually reside?"
"No need. Simply speak my name when you wish to see me: —"

"—Alatus."
His head jerked up to meet the ruthless red eyes glaring down at him with distaste. The man before him stepped closer, long white hair streaked with red billowing out behind him, eight snow coloured tails waving with the breeze. His robe, the same colour as his hair and tails, was stained with the crimson of another's blood. His fox-like ears twitched every now and then, aware of his surroundings despite his gaze never leaving the figure kneeling at his feet. Behind him, a second figure stood with her back pressed against the cold stone wall of the cave, her hands clasped in front of her chest, her lips trembling as tears threatened to escape. She also had the same fox-like features as the man before her, but with her smaller frame and visible bleeding cuts across her face, the contrast between the two was evident.

"Alatus, time to make a choice." The Huxian leaned down, gripping the teal haired boy by the chin and tilting his head slightly to survey him. "It's you or her. Did you know I waited 700 years for her to reach 8 tails and take a human form so I could lure you here?" His ear twitched in the direction of the shaking girl behind him.
"You...I thought you-" Alatus was cut off by the icy laughter from the Huxian.
"Oh, you think I was a pure, peaceful being? Well you're wrong. This soul of mine has blackened many centuries ago. I have tried to achieve absolute immortality and magic in a humane way, but alas, it is simply impossible. But there is one way." He let go and turned his back upon Alatus in one swift action.
"To devour the hearts of 10000 mortals...yes. That's it. That, is what will allow me to achieve absolute power." His eyes lingered on the quivering girl for a moment before turning back to the kneeling boy before him.
"But why should I dirty my own hands like that? Why should I waste my time clawing through the bodies of mere mortals? What I need is somebody to serve as my bloodhound."
"She can serve as your bloodhound!" Alatus jabbed a finger at the girl, his face contorted with rage. He had waited almost a millennia for this moment, even changed into his own human form to greet her, and yet he had been fooled into a situation like this?
"Well, yes, she could be," the Huxian waved a hand dismissively, his ears twitching, signalling his hidden impatience. "But it would be a lot more fun with you, would it not? After all, I know of your little ability to devour people's nightmares. Wouldn't it be wonderful to instead devour a mortal's dreams?" His lips twisted into a cruel smirk as he said this, his crimson eyes gleaming with madness under the dim candlelight.

His head suddenly snapped to the girl who has yet to move from her spot.
"Bring her in, (Y/N)." His tone was neither threatening nor commanding, almost gentle and soothing. Alatus watched as (Y/N) quickly turned and disappeared into the shadows of the cave unlit by candles.
I suppose foxes can see better in the dark. Alatus clenched his jaw. He should hate her. Hate her for fooling him like this. Hate her for putting him where he is right now. He should leave her to suffer at the hands of the Huxian, performing sinful acts in his place. And yet, there was something about the way she looked all those centuries ago at the first meeting that made her seem so...pure. As if she was genuinely determined to ascend to adeptalhood. Even just now, that look in her eyes as she obeyed her master. It was fear beyond another's comprehension. Nobody, not even a fox, could put on such a deceiving act. And he didn't want her to fall prey to the darkness that has enveloped the Huxian's heart, for her to walk the same path as her corrupted master.

(Y/N) returned several minutes later, bringing with her another woman, slightly taller than she was. Alatus felt his heart skip a beat as he took in the woman's simple clothing and braided hair. She must be a mortal.
"Well then, Alatus. Let me show you just the kind of future you would be leaving this little fox to if you decide to leave right now." The Huxian's voice was laced with mockery as he turned to survey the blindfolded woman before settling his gaze on (Y/N). "Do it." His voice was no longer teasing or mocking, carrying with it authority and demand. (Y/N) didn't need telling twice under her master's cruel glare. In one swift movement, she had taken off one of her gloves, revealing a set of long, perfectly sharpened nails resembling claws, before plunging it into the mortal woman's chest and pulling out her heart. The woman was dead before she had the time to scream, to process what was happening to her, before her body hit the ground. (Y/N) stood above the corpse, her breathing heavy, her wide eyes not leaving the gaping, bloody hole in the woman's chest. The hand that clutched the heart shook slightly, but she contained herself as she finally turned and fell to one knee before the Huxian, holding up the heart as if in offering. Alatus watched in horror as the robed man took the heart, still beating, and swallowed it whole, licking his lips in satisfaction.
"Tastes like honey." A cruel shine flashed across his eyes. No shame. No fear. No regret. Only ambition. He swiped his tongue across his teeth.
"One down, nine thousand, nine hundred and ninety nine to go." He smirked and turned his head to peer down at Alatus. "Tell me, Alatus, what state do you think this poor little fox's mind will be in by the time she's done?" Alatus's gaze dropped from the Huxian to the girl kneeling on the uneven stone floor, her hands still raised towards her master as blood dripped from her fingers. He could've sworn he saw a single tear slip down her face.
"You're no Huxian, you know? You're nothing more than a Huyao (狐妖；fox demon) with that corrupted heart of yours," he spat, glaring back up at the foxian man.
"Maybe I am, but what matters in the end is that I'm the current fox god, and I will become the greatest one to have walked this land. So, what do you say, Alatus? Will you join me and spare my little disciple from the fate I have set out for her?" Alatus hesitated, his throat suddenly felt tight as he stared at the body of the mortal woman still lying on the floor. Nine thousand, nine hundred and ninety nine more...

"I'll do it."