The mecha towered twenty three meters, shimmering a brilliant sapphire blue. From shoulder to shoulder it stretched eight meters, with a tall and slender figure. It’s shoulder plates were three affixed layers; the topmost was the largest with spikes which rose skyward, the middle layer was smooth and slightly smaller than the first, and the third layer retracted into the joint.
It’s texture was markedly different from average mechas. It was as though it was carved from a single piece of true sapphire, a work of art. As the armor tapered towards it’s edges the color became a metallic purple. As lightning flashed in the sky above, the light from the blasts reflected magnificently off of the armor. In the instant it’s chest plate closed, it emitted a burst of intense violet light. It grew until it was as a ball of violet lightning rising in to the sky, vanishing in to the forest of arcing bolts above.
“That… that was…”
The golden mecha had already steadied itself where it had been left in the air. The blond-haired, green-eyed woman in the cockpit filled with a shock that was difficult to describe.
“Thor. That was Thor. I actually met Thor. Thor… Zeus? Was that Zeus? I actually… actually told Zeus that the stronger his discipline, the more he’d bow to my mecha? The Zeus who, by virtue of his Discipline alone, bested thirteen top-grade customized mechas!”
The stars shimmered in her eyes, as though she’d already forgotten all about the abduction.
She hovered stupefied for a long while, then again began to mutter to herself. “Why didn’t he take me away?”
ζ
Thor had risen with stunning speed, the upper atmosphere rolling past it like water off a duck’s back. In minutes it was floating in the vast, quiet expanse of space.
No radar in operation was capable of locating Thor. The special composition of it’s armor was legendary in the world of Mecha-Pilots.
The cabin within Thor was somewhat larger than average, but was a little cramped accommodating two people.
Zeus withdrew the mask, revealing his long and handsome face. Only in this moment, he found it impossible to retain his traditional calm.
In this moment he wasn’t Zeus. He was Lan Jue.
He hugged his arms tightly around the woman in his embrace, as though afraid she would vanish.
“Jin Yu, we’re finally together again. Why… why didn’t you come looking for me? You’re my Hera!”
“I’m so hot.” Locked in his tight embrace, abducted, this was the first thing Zhou Qianlin thought to say.
“Huh?” Lan Jue paused, lifting a hand to press against her forehead.
Zhou Qianlin’s forehead was burning up, and her eyes had shut. Her brows were furrowed, and her body trembled slightly.
She had a fever?
Lan Jue’s face grew somber, noticing the red flesh of her neck. She was sick, and those people wanted her to suffer through a marriage?
Lifting his head, Lan Jue muttered, “Thor, take us home.”
“Affirmative, returning home.” The gentle, dignified voice reverberated through the cockpit. Thor began to transform, to wings extending from it’s back. Then, like a bolt of lightning, it shot in to the darkness of the universe.
ζ
Zeus’ Jewelry Store.
Ke’er was bored to tears, listlessly laying atop the bar.
Xiuxiu sat to the side, idly sipping the cup of warm water in her hands.
The jewelry shop rarely had visitors, a common reality on Skyfire Avenue. But even if there were only one or two customers, it was usually sufficient to keep the shop running.
“Hey Xiuxiu, where’d the boss go? Didn’t see him yesterday, still not here today.” Ke’er cantered her head towards Xiuxiu and whined.
Xiuxiu laughed. “The boss is a very important man. You think he’d just vanish? Don’t be such a nosy little thing!”
Ke’er giggled. “Me? Don’t tell me you aren’t curious what he’s doing. You came so early this morning, without waiting for me to come help. You even cleaned his house!”
Xiuxiu’s face grew red, as though she’d smeared it with rouge, adding even more charm to her classical beauty.
Just then, the earth shook beneath Zeus’ Jewelry Store.
The girls exchanged glances. “Speak of the devil,” Ke’er exclaimed. “The boss must be back, I’ll go check.”
As she said this, she skipped towards the VIP lounge.
As she pushed to open the door, however, she was surprised to find it wouldn’t budge.
“Xiuxiu, Ke’er, I’m a little tired. I’m going to rest for a while,” Lan Jue’s voice crackled through the speaker by the door.
“Eh?” Ke’er stood confused by the door, while Xiuxiu also drew near.
Ke’er turned to look at Xiuxiu. “The boss doesn’t sound quite right. Maybe he snuck a woman in, and is afraid we’d find out…”
Xiuxiu lifted her hand and rapped against Ke’er’s head in agitation. “What are you saying. In three years, have you even once…” She trailed off, a dismal look in her eyes. “I-If he really did bring a woman back, then I’m happy for him.”
Ke’er closed her mouth, and said nothing more.
ζ
Lan Jue carefully laid Zhou Qianlin atop his bed. Even in her state, she was still breathtakingly beautiful.
His brows furrowed in thought. Not half an hour since he discovered her illness and her temperature had already risen sharply. He’d used Thor’s onboard diagnostics to run a scan, but discovered no sickness or poison. It was a drug, one that could trigger desire in the victim.
Why? Why today, as a bride, would she need this sort of drug? Judging by the progress of her reaction, it was meant to last until the wedding had concluded.
Those wretches! Was this wedding forced by the Austins? They DARE to force this drug on my Hera.
A thin hand softly rested atop his own, it’s heat and soft touch drawing him from his rage.
Zhou Qianlin’s body had grown red, and her body began to writhe.
It was a fierce, powerful drug.
Leaning down, he gently took her up in his arms. He felt the heat radiating from her, could smell the familiar scent of her body.
Softly he whispered in her ear. “My Hera. In this life, you are destined to be my bride, and mine alone. Let me be your antidote.”
She lay against his wide, sturdy chest, the kind that made people feel safe.
Her lily-white, gem encrusted dress; her exquisite tiara; her dazzling tecnicolor veil. All had been cast beside the sofa.
He gently stroked her hair, which had already begun to unravel. Three years of suffering, poured out in a day. Despite her illness, he shut his eyes in relief.
He didn’t see her brows furrow, or her bite her lip, but the shift in muscle was felt beneath his fingertips. “What is it, Jinyu. Why knit your brow?”
“Do you know who I am? Who’s here to cure you?” Lan Jue’s deep voice asked. “It doesn’t matter who it was, they’ll pay for what they did to you.”
“Do you really know me?” Zhou Qianlin quavering voice asked.
“Huh?” Lan Jue turned her over in his arms, looking in to her eyes.
Zhou Qianlin lifted her head to regard him, looking at him in earnest. It felt as though his face had been branded in to her mind.
“Of course I know who you are. You’re my wife. My Hera. My Jinyu. Zhou Jinyu.”
She shook her head. “I-I’m not Zhou Jinyu. I’m Zhou Qianlin.”
“Wha-“ Lan Jue started, moving to sit by her side and looking at her closely. No, it was definitely Hera! Black hair, blue eyes… How could she not know who she was? Even her scent, exactly as it was before.
“Beloved… Is it, amnesia?” Lan Jue asked with uncertainty.
Zhou Qianlin drew the covers closer, saying quietly, “Can I ask you something?”
“Anything,” Lan Jue replied.
Zhou Qianlin’s eyes shone as she looked at him. “You said this Jinyu is your wife… then… you’ve had relations before?”
“Of course! You really don’t know?” Lan Jue was unconvinced.
Zhou Qianlin nodded her head, then moved the comforter to the side. She pulled them from Lan Jue’s body.
Zhou Qianlin’s fair features grew red, and she turned her face to avoid looking at him. Her hand slipped from beneath the sheets and pointed. “Well, then look at this.”
A sense of trepidation filled Lan Jue’s heart. When he dropped his head to look, he was nearly petrified.
There, he saw a fresh smear of red.
It was quiet, quiet as the grave.
After a moment Lan Jue spoke, his voice strange. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were…”
This time, it was Zhou Qianlin who was speechless.
Her body trembled, her lip quivered, her teeth clenched. It was as though she were afraid a curse would burst forth from her lips.
After some time her mood stabilized. She hissed coldly through gritted teeth:
“This was my first time!”
Lan Jue was dumbstruck. How could this be? He shook his head. No… this can’t be true. His heart sunk to the pit of his stomach.
First time? What did she mean the first time? It meant… she wasn’t Hera.
My Hera, my Jinyu. She still hasn’t returned to me. Lan Jue felt as though he’d been run through with a sword. The pain in his heart stole his breath.
Watching Lan Jue’s face drain of color, she too was dazed. The room sank in to a suffocating quiet.
Lan Jue’s pained voice arose as he spoke to himself. “Three years. Three years. Why would God play such a cruel trick on me? Why give me hope? Don’t you understand… the more you hope, the more crushing when it’s gone. My Hera… still hasn’t returned.”
“So what you’re saying is, what you just did to me wasn’t intentional.” Zhou Qianlin’s cold voice interrupted.
“Huh?” Her words snapped Lan Jue awake. Seeing here, this woman an exact replica of his Hera, somehow eased the suffering in his heart.
Yes! She wasn’t Hera, but she and her…
And, it had been her first time.
Further, the unification of the Eastern and Western Alliance leaders through this marriage.
Most important was that she knew who she was. Even if she didn’t know, her family certainly would. In his arrogance he’d let slip his name, sharing with her father regardless of the situation that his name was Zeus.
What to do?
Lan Jue felt his heart thumping in his chest. In all his life, he’d never encountered such an awkward situation.
But it was done. Other than facing it, what else could he do?
“W-well, Zhou Qianlin, you’d been poisoned. Were suffering from it’s effect. So, I was forced… against my will to…”
Zhou Qianlin glared at him, saying not a word.
Lan Jue was incapable of alleviating the situation. He knew of only one solution for the current problem.
The dead don’t talk.
Kill her, and the problem would be gone!
And yet, could he do it?
Zhou Qianlin uttered, “I have an older sister… I think her name is Zhou Jinyu. She disappeared when I was young. Where did you meet her?”
Lan Jue stared at her. “An older sister?” She was Jinyu’s younger sister, but Jinyu had told him she was an orphan!
A younger sister separated for that long?
He didn’t know what to think.
Even if he could do it, silencing her wouldn’t actually solve everything.
Zhou Qianlin shot him another cold glance. “You just said I’d be poisoned. That’s why you did that to me?”
“Yes, yes!” Lan Jue nodded emphatically.
Zhou Qianlin’s expression changed, and she sat up abruptly. With eyes wide she glared at Lan Jue and yelled, “Have you never heard of places called HOSPITALS on this planet? What sort of poison could a modern hospital not cure? You could have sent me to the hospital. If I’m poisoned how does sleeping with me fix anything?
“I…” Lan Jue stared at her dumbly, dropping his head after a moment. Not knowing whether to laugh or cry, he muttered, “I thought you were someone else.”
Zhou Qialin’s expression was pained, possibly due to the pain in her body.
“Put your clothes on. I don’t want to look at your hideous self. I’m afraid I’ll get a stye.” She shook her head violently for him to leave.
Lan Jue scrambled to his feet, quickly pulling on his clothes. As he did, his eyes fell upon the wedding dress crumbled atop the sofa. “It was probably your fiancé who poisoned you. To go so far as to poison your own new wife… this sort of scumbag, you’re better off not marrying him.”
Zhou Qianlin shot him a glare. “How do you know it was him? Before then, he had never even touched me. Scumbag? YOU’RE the scumbag! And even if he was, at least he didn’t break the law. You? You destroyed my wedding, and defiled my body. You tell me, what are we going to do about that?”
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