Bab 17: Chapter 17: Lies, part 1.

They stood side by side, marveling at the fading light. At the glorious orange hue of the sky, at the soft warmth, the memory of the day which had passed, caressing their skin.

Wei Caihong let out a sigh. He was still cursed, but now, as the fresh air filled his lungs, he found hope in his heart.

"Now that I haven't seen it in a long time, I know to cherish it all the more," the noble said as Nikola went to sit by him.

"Penemue would have painted a picture worthy of an art gallery," Nikola could almost imagine it, purple and golden hues on a canvas. Lazy clouds drifting by and the roofs of the surrounding buildings reaching to the sky.

"Is he an artist? I thought he was a scholar," Wei Caihong's voice was gentle, but there was slight irritation buried in it.

Nikola chose to ignore it.

"Everything that has to do with pen and paper is his domain. He is also a skilled dancer. He taught me how to dance. Every time I would lean over with a candle and pretend to hold someone, I'd imagine him. Although we danced with thin metal torches, not candles," he finished wistfully.

Soon we will be together. All three of us.

Nikola thought, as he took a gentle hold of Wei Caihong's hand.

"I wish you'd imagine me instead," Wei Caihong was stubbornly not looking at Nikola.

The former emperor's smile turned into a teasing grin.

"I don't need to imagine you. You are right here. I can dance with you instead," Nikola whispered. Wei Caihong turned to him with a mischievous look in his eyes. Nikola waved a finger at him. "Truly dance, not make love."

"Oh?" the vampire was dangerously close, hands reaching out to hold Nikola's waist. "Is that what we do? Love making?"

Nikola ducked his head. He had walked in this trap, might as well dig his grave too.

"Maybe it wasn't in the beginning but as of late…"

Two fingers lifted Nikola's chin so that green eyes could stare into deep brown ones. Nikola could see the slight red tint to the eyes.

Red like raspberries.

"In the beginning, I wanted to use you. To usurp your power. I thought that you'll transfer your immortality to me and then perish. I thought you deserved it too. For you were a thousand years old and had done despicable things. For how else could you have finished taking over the world two hundred years ago?"

Nikola blinked. He knew all that already. Why was Wei Caihong telling him this?

"But when I saw you dancing, I wanted to have you first. I begged Azazel to allow me to wait, so you won't die, but he reassured me that you won't," the fingers moved Nikola's chin towards Wei Caihong's face.

"I was so happy. I imagined myself ruling the entire China with all of its kingdoms with you, my beautiful Emerald, by my side. Then I heard Penemue for the first time. I lied when I told you I had his blessings. And I lied when I told you he wanted to avoid talking to you."

Nikola slapped Wei Caihong, but the fingers remained under his chin. Nikola raised his hand to slap him again, but Wei Caihong gripped it with his free hand.

"He constantly screams at me. Azazel is the one who blocks him from talking to you. He wanted you vulnerable. Please, forgive me."

The noble whispered the last part. Hoping that he won't get punished for being honest. Hoping that he meant something to the person whom he had fallen in love with.

"Forgive? To Hell with you! You made me cheat on my lover! You…"

Nikola began screaming. He did not care who was passing by what they would think. He wanted to tear Wei Caihong a new one. To bathe in the noble's blood!

"A'numau."

Wei Caihong said, and then he leaned over, kissing Nikola. Nikola knew what this word meant.

Obey.

Simple, and yet effective. How many times had the angels, bar Penemue, used it on him?

Too many to count. This reeked of Azazel, but Nikola was not helpless. He had long since learned the trick to counter this word.

He bit down on his cheek until there was blood. One cannot be willing to obey even an angel's order when in pain. And Wei Caihong was no angel.

Pushing himself away, he summoned ropes which wrapped around Wei Caihong, and then he went inside. He picked a nasty curved blade he had made on a whim, jagged edges and so sharp it could cut through bone.

Blade in hand, he went outside only to see Wei Caihong free of the ropes and looking calmly up at him.

"Azazel had been teaching me. He says that you can teach me the tamer things, but you would never teach me how to defend myself from you."

Nikola huffed and gripped the handle of the blade tighter. If this ended up as hand-to-hand combat, he liked his chances. He was the student of Azazel, a veteran of hundreds of battles.

Wei Caihong was a magistrate. Hardly a man one could imagine as a warrior.

"I told you the truth because I love you," Wei Caihong said, standing up. The skies were crimson behind him, as if he could bathe the world in blood.

Nikola took a step back, blade raised high.

"What do you know of love? You are what? Twenty? This is a mere obsession on your part!" He yelled; his eyes narrowed.

Wei Caihong bowed his head. His next words, poison upon his tongue:

"I'll even share you. But I wanted no lies to remain between us."

Nikola was having none of it. His voice came in a lower pitch, yet he refused to forgive.

"You didn't want for Penemue to expose you for the lying little shit you are, you mean?"

Nikola's back hit the wall. Why was he backing away? Why wasn't he digging his blade in Wei Caihong's neck? He just needed to behead him, and then he would be free of Azazel's influence!

"You need my blood now," the noble said, as he pressed himself to the blade, unconcerned when it broke his skin. "Penemue will understand and won't brake us apart."

"He will smite you!" Nikola's trusted the blade in, fire blazing in his eyes. Wei Caihong winced slightly. A hand rested over Nikola's as the former emperor twisted the blade inside his own flesh.

"Do you wish to speak with him?" Wei Caihong offered. His defeat hurting him more than the blade in his flesh.

Nikola could already imagine how angry Penemue would be at him falling for such a simple trick. He shook his head. Nikola was no stranger to Penemue's anger. It came like a summer storm. Went away just as quickly.

Provided one could weather through the storm, they could bathe in Penemue's goodwill next. In his forgiveness. A honey-like nectar which the angel rarely gifted him with.

Nikola was lost. Had been lost for years.

His only guiding light was Penemue. He did not care if Penemue was going to scorch him to the bone first.

Nikola nodded, taking out the blade from Wei Caihong's flesh with one swift pull.

Blood dripping down his fingers.