Chapter 53 Rui
Rui
A sound grew in Rui’s throat, a wail so sorrowful her world shook.
Blue flames raged out of her hands, illuminating the far end of the tunnel. One of the Hybrids was trailing the rest of the
group, and she could still see the violet blades protruding from his spine.
He did this. He killed Zizi.
Lips pulled back in a snarl, Rui flung her hand out.
Fire slammed into the Hybrid, engulfing him quickly. His screams echoed in the semidarkness.
But something else was happening.
The flames.
They were flowing out of her like running water, swirling in the air, blue tendrils undulating toward Zizi’s prone body.
Stunned, Rui could only stare as the fire grazed him and disappeared. His body didn’t burn. But there was no movement, no
rise and fall of his chest, only stillness.
Slowly, the fire dampened to a trickle, then vanished from her hands completely.
Every muscle in her body shrieked in agony. But her only thought was Zizi. He looked so peaceful, like he was fast asleep.
He couldn’t be gone. He couldn’t.
The pain in her heart was infinite.
She lashed out at Ten. “He did exactly as you asked—why didn’t you stop that Hybrid from killing him?”
“Everything is going according to plan, Rui,” Ten replied.
“Did you forget? Each condition of our deal must be fulfilled accordingly. The Hybrids and I have our own agreement. What just happened is the conclusion of that deal. Our deal is only just beginning to move forward. I have brought you your mother’s murderer.
” He gestured at Feng, who was still catatonic.
“That is one condition. Soon you will have the rest of what you desire, and so will I. Like I said, I am a god of my word.”
“You’re not making any sense!” Rui screamed. “I haven’t found Four, I haven’t found the vessel, I—”
“Oh, but you have, Rui.”
“What?” She collapsed on her knees, shocked and confused.
“You are quite right that Nikai realized who the vessel containing Four’s power is. And fortunately, so did I,” said Ten. “Four could have found a magical item or relic—but
he decided to use a human with a suitably powerful spirit core. One who could hide his power, mask it, and keep it safe inside them. Whether it was
fate or a fool’s luck, Four chanced upon a child who could do that on the same night he stole a powerful artifact from my
realm. And you, Rui,” Ten said, stooping to cup her chin, “you are that child.”
Rui pushed his hand away, recoiling. Ten was lying. This was impossible.
“Believe me,” said Ten, standing again. “I had my doubts. How could it possibly work? How could such a human vessel exist?
But the spiritual energy transfer between you and the other human boy triggered my interest. And when I met you, I felt a
trace of my brother’s power. You have been touched by death, just not in the way you thought. Of course, the trace could have been there because he saved your mother’s
life and yours. But when the Hybrids told me one of their brethren was killed by blue flames that came from you . . . that is when I knew. After you lost your earthly magic, that power from the depths of Hell became unstable, and it began
to escape.”
Rui heard every single one of his words, but none of them made sense. Everything felt like a terribly made-up joke, and she was the punch line.
“Eighteen years ago, the First King followed a sign from the fates and sought to save your life,” Ten continued.
“Four took advantage of the situation. He saw in you a living vessel, someone he could use to fulfill his goal. It is the only reason why he let your mother live that night. It was a selfish reason, and it is Four’s selfishness that has caused chaos in both our realms.”
“But what does all this have to do with Zizi?” Rui choked out. “Why did he have to die?”
Ten smiled. “The boy is not dead.”
What? Was Ten telling the truth? Her heart stuttered and flailed. She fell upon Zizi’s body, checking for signs of life. He was
still warm, but she couldn’t find a proper pulse, just a disturbing feeling of something under his skin.
“What did you do to him?”
“Not me, Rui,” Ten replied. “You.”
“I don’t—I don’t understand.”
Ten came closer. “When did the blue fire first appear?”
“We were ambushed by some Hybrids. Zizi was badly hurt—”
“How did you save him?”
“I . . . I used my sword, drove the flames into him to get to Aloysius.”
“And when else did the blue fire appear?”
Tonight, when I thought he was dead.
Unbidden, an image from last night flashed in Rui’s head: Zizi holding her in the infirmary, the blue flames never harming
him.
Seven’s thin voice whispered in her ear, There should have been a pattern. But maybe you fail to see it.
The blue flames . . . she couldn’t summon them at any other time.
They had only appeared when Zizi was in danger.
Although he wasn’t in danger when they appeared the night before, he’d been close to her, intimate.
And the flames had taken a different form.
They didn’t rage out of control, seeking to devour what had
hurt him.
“Finally starting to use this?” Ten said, tapping his head lightly.
“I see you are making connections. The power from the underworld recognizes its master, and it seeks to protect him. It is inevitable that the two of you are drawn to each other. Whatever you think this boy feels for you, it is a lie. You were merely a host, a convenient coincidence.”
Haven’t you ever felt like that? Like you’re searching for someone out there who’s just right for you—someone who completes you.
When I saw you that night, I knew.
Rui clutched her face. “I don’t believe you. I don’t.”
“It does not matter what you believe, Rui. The truth still stands. How did you meet?” Ten quirked his head. “Didn’t this boy
save you? Just as the power in you seeks to protect its master, the vessel must be protected too. That scar you left on Feng—it
was the blue fire that protected you that night.”
Rui didn’t remember that. She’d fallen unconscious right after her mother died. She only remembered a bright light. Was it
the blue fire? She couldn’t be sure. There wasn’t a coherent thought going through her mind, just a constant stream of anguish.
“I feel almost sorry for you, Rui,” Ten said, but he showed no sign of sympathy. “It must be devastating to know you were
used this way, to have thought the boy’s feelings toward you were true.”
Did Zizi know? Had he been pretending all this while? Befriending her and keeping her close because she was the vessel . . .
He’d told her he was an orphan, that he didn’t remember much of his childhood . . . Was it all a lie?
A gasp came from behind.
Rui turned to the boy lying on the tracks, covered in his own blood.
Zizi drew a shuddering breath and opened his eyes.
They were no longer a pale blue, but dark like the deepest night.
“Behold,” said Ten, overcome by sudden emotion, “the Fourth King of Hell has arrived.”