Chapter Three: The Empress and the Stranger

The palace lanterns flickered to life, their gracefully curved, lotus-shaped flames illuminating the night with a warm, ethereal glow. Shadows stretched and danced across the intricate jade pillars of the throne hall, creating a tapestry of light and dark. The air was thick with an electric hum, infused with protective wards that swirled like whispers around them, empowered by the Kitsune Queen’s shimmering foxfire and the primal echoes of the Werewolf Queen’s growls, which resonated like distant thunder.

At Lián Xuě’s right hand, the Vampire Queen stood as a silent sentinel, her presence as steadfast as stone, her piercing gaze sweeping the hall with a vigilant intensity. Closer still was Selene, her form trembling slightly as residual energy from the forbidden rite coursed through her—an invisible shiver of power that hinted at danger and desire. The ambiance was both awe-inspiring and foreboding, a delicate balance of magic and menace that enveloped them all in its embrace.

Lián Xuě sat gracefully upon the ornate lotus throne, her spine as straight as the tallest bamboo, exuding an air of serene authority. The rich silk of her robes shimmered softly, each thread imbued with vibrant strands of qi that danced like fireflies, illuminating her with a spectral glow. Before her court, she appeared an unyielding fortress — the Empress Eternal, impervious and dignified, even in the face of a demon’s malevolent claws. Her calm demeanor belied the tempest within, every inch of her presence a testament to her strength and unshakeable resolve.

Inside, she was anything but composed. David’s voice echoed in her mind, filled with a palpable sense of wonder. This… this can't be real. Is that a throne, grand and imposing, sitting regally in the center of the room? Are those—

Her hand trembled slightly against the intricately carved armrest, the delicate patterns feeling both familiar and foreign beneath her fingertips. A flicker of irritation sparked within her, momentarily disrupting the tranquil facade that she had maintained.

They can’t hear me, can they? His voice trembled with disbelief, tinged with a rising panic. Wait—are those horns curving elegantly from her head? No… that’s a crown, glistening like molten gold. And the women surrounding you—holy hell, they’re not… human.

“Silence,” Lián Xuě murmured under her breath, the word slipping through the air like a fragile whisper, nearly drowned out by the gentle rustle of luxurious silk cascading around her.

The Vampire Queen surveyed her with a piercing gaze, her expression a mix of curiosity and apprehension. “Empress?” she inquired, her voice dripping with an understated tension.

Lián Xuě raised her chin, a silent declaration of strength. Her voice, steady and resolute, cut through the air with purpose. “The wound is… contained. Nothing more,” she declared, each word carefully chosen, as if to mask the deeper turmoil brewing beneath her composed facade.

Selene dipped into a deep bow, her brow furrowing with a flicker of anxiety as her eyes darted upward. “Contained, yes. But not healed. He will stir,” she murmured, her voice tinged with a mixture of concern and urgency.

Lián Xuě felt his heart falter, a sudden jolt racing through his veins. He? David echoed in his mind, disbelief tinging his thoughts. That’s me, isn’t it? They’re talking about me. A chill ran down his spine as the weight of realization settled in; they know I’m here.

Her fingers clenched tightly around the ornate armrest of the throne, the cool wood pressing against her skin like a reminder of her burdens. She inhaled deeply, steadying her racing heart. “The people must not know,” she declared, her voice a low, trembling whisper that seemed to slice through the tension in the air. “If word spreads that the Lotus Empress bleeds, the very fabric of our realm will shatter.” She looked around, locking eyes with each member of her council. “You will all hold this secret.”

The Werewolf Queen, fierce and resolute, slammed her fist against her chest in a vow, raw determination etched into her features. The Kitsune, ethereal with her shimmering tails, bowed gracefully, each plume folding into a solemn fan of shimmering silk, a poignant testament to her allegiance. Even the Vampire Queen, cloaked in shadows, inclined her head ever so slightly; her silence was a weighty mixture of agreement and heavy judgment, echoing the unspoken consequences of this clandestine pact.

Selene’s lips parted, poised on the brink of utterance, but the weight of Lián Xuě’s piercing gaze held her words captive in the air.

Within the tumult of David’s mind, thoughts spiraled like shards of glass, each one sharp with bewilderment. You’re their queen, a regal figure draped in authority. They’re bowing to you, their reverence palpable. And I’m trapped—within the elegant silhouette of a ruler? A goddess, perhaps? I don’t understand—each realization tangled in a web of uncertainty.

Lián Xuě’s voice sliced through him like a blade, whispering cold and sharp, though the world around them remained blissfully unaware. “You will not speak. You will not stir. You are a shadow, nothing more.”

But he felt a flicker of defiance igniting within him, a tender yet fierce resistance. “I can’t be nothing,” he murmured softly, his words trembling with conviction as they broke the silence. “I’m here. I’m alive.” A warmth blossomed in his chest, wrapping around him like a stubborn embrace. “And whether you want it or not… you’re not alone anymore.”

Her heart tightened painfully, a sudden throb of emotion breaking through her usual immortal calm. In that fleeting moment, vulnerability flashed across her features, as if a veil had been drawn back to reveal deep-seated fears. The Lotus Empress, once a formidable figure who had defiantly turned her back on the celestial realm, now stood acutely aware that she had acquired not just a mere wound, but an unyielding intruder whose presence echoed with insistent demands, refusing to be stifled or ignored.

The throne hall buzzed with a symphony of murmurs as ministers filed in, their expressions a blend of anxiety and determination as they prepared to deliver their reports. Shadows danced across the high, vaulted ceilings, a testament to the flickering torchlight that barely penetrated the tense atmosphere. The recent demon incursion had struck fear into the heart of the kingdom, sending ripples of uncertainty through the very fabric of their society. Every warding circle, once thought impervious, was now being tested against dark forces, while frontier temples stood reinforced with additional wards and guardians, their stone walls echoing with the prayers of the faithful.

Amidst the chaos, Lián Xuě sat with impeccable poise, her countenance a portrait of serene authority. Her dark robes flowed elegantly around her, accentuating her commanding presence. Each measured response she offered was laced with wisdom, as she listened intently, her gaze unwavering. It was as if she embodied the very essence of strength, a beacon of calm in the storm that threatened to engulf them all.

Yet within the depths of her mind, a tempest swirled—a dialogue resonating in silence, accessible only to her.

David’s voice cut through the confusion like a jagged knife, filled with a bewildering urgency. “You need to explain this to me. Please, I’m lost. One moment, I was behind the wheel, the hum of the road beneath me; then came the blinding headlights, and suddenly… nothing. Now I find myself trapped within your thoughts, like a restless specter haunting the corridors of your consciousness. What is happening to me? To us?”

Lián Xuě held her lips in a tranquil silence, as her thoughts surged inward like a flowing river. You died, she mused, in a harsh world that is not of this realm—one dominated by steel and whirring wheels, where shadows danced on the edges of a mechanical landscape. It was Selene — the seductive and powerful Succubus Queen — who reached across the thin, fragile veils of existence to summon you here. She tethered your essence to mine, intertwining our fates to mend the frayed tapestry of my soul when the demon's malevolent strike threatened to unravel me completely. Without you, I would have been lost, an empty echo in the vast emptiness.

The air hung heavy with an unsettling silence, a stark contrast to the chaos of what had just transpired. Then, breaking the tension, a surprised laugh escaped my lips, tinged with disbelief. “So… let me get this straight,” I began, trying to wrap my mind around the unfathomable reality before me. “I died in a car crash, and now I’m somehow entwined with the soul of a magic empress?”

Her gaze sharpened, the corners of her mouth tightening just slightly as she reacted to my words. “I am not merely a magic empress,” she replied, her voice smooth yet commanding, like the rustle of silk in an autumn breeze. “I am Lián Xuě — the Lotus Empress, a title that carries the weight of centuries. I have ruled longer than your world has dared to name its centuries. I am immortal.”

Her presence was regal, imbued with a sense of timelessness that left me both awed and astonished.

Right, David muttered, his voice trembling with a mix of disbelief and awe that hung thick in the air. And I’m… what? A parasite gnawing away at its host? A stowaway clinging to the edges of a vast, unknowable abyss? Or should I be grateful that I’m even alive at all, however tenuously?

Her hands curled tightly around the ornate arms of the throne, knuckles whitening as they gripped the carved wood with unyielding resolve. You are not alive, she declared, her tone sharp as glass. You are a mere fragment, stitched into the very fabric of my being. Your existence now hinges entirely on mine; my pulse is your lifeline. When I fall, when the weight of my world shatters, you will plummet with me into the void.

For a fleeting moment, silence enveloped him, hanging in the air like the calm before a storm. Then, when he spoke again, his voice was softer, yet imbued with a newfound steadiness. “So, I’m not really me anymore. I’m… part of you.”

Lián Xuě released a slow, measured breath, the motion subtle and unnoticed by the attentive ministers surrounding them. “Yes,” she affirmed, her gaze steady.

“Then perhaps you should cease treating me like I’m nothing,” he replied, a hint of resolve threading through his words.

The words pierced her heart more profoundly than she had anticipated. For centuries, she had glided above mortals, her presence commanding awe from generals and kings who bowed before her, their heads lowered in reverence. She had been the object of ardor for immortals, and the source of trepidation for demons, her name whispered with both veneration and fear in the shadows. Yet, here stood a boy, barely into manhood — a soul torn from a realm unknown — who dared to address her with the simplicity of a mere woman. His gaze held an unflinching sincerity, stripping away the gilded layers of her grandeur, and in that moment, she felt the weight of her own humanity come crashing down around her.

And even more troubling was the way she sensed the undeniable authenticity in his words, as if each syllable resonated deep within her, stirring emotions she had long tried to suppress.

Lián Xuě’s court stretched into an endless expanse of time, the steady hum of ministers delivering their reports echoing through the grand halls. Foxfire lanterns flickered softly, their flames dancing like ethereal butterflies against the intricately carved vaulted ceiling, casting an enchanting play of light and shadow over the polished jade tiles. To all who beheld her, she appeared utterly serene, embodying the very essence of grace and authority as the revered Lotus Empress, her presence commanding yet gentle, like a tranquil pond reflecting the morning sun.

Inside, she felt like she was coming apart at the seams, her thoughts a tangled mess. "All right," David said, his voice now steady and unwavering, a contrast to the turmoil within her. "So I’m not truly alive. I’m woven into the fabric of you. Fine. But you can’t just throw around the term ‘immortal empress’ and expect me to remain silent. What was that creature that attacked you? Why did it target your soul so relentlessly?"

Lián Xuě’s piercing gaze remained unwavering, locked onto the jittery minister nervously discussing the necessary repairs for the wards. A demon, an ancient being born from the very chaos of creation, far older than the most enduring dynasties. Unlike mere mortals, it craved not flesh, but the very essence of life itself. To strike at my soul was to unsettle the very foundation upon which this kingdom is built, a catastrophic blow that could unravel everything I hold dear.

And Selene — that captivating woman who drew me into this place — what exactly is her role or significance?

Lián Xuě’s fingers curled with a touch of tension around the ornate arms of the throne, her graceful form exuding an air of regality. As the Succubus Queen, she commanded an allure both captivating and dangerous. She stood among my four formidable companions, each embodying their own unique brand of immortality — a vampire, shrouded in mystery; a werewolf, wild and untamed; a kitsune, playful yet cunning; and herself, the bewitching succubus. Together, we reigned over our realm, bound by power and an unbreakable love.

David's laughter emerged as a deep, incredulous rumble, reverberating through the dimly lit room. "So, you've got a court of monster-queens backing you up," he said, shaking his head in disbelief. "A vampire with a thirst for blood, a wolf with eyes like burning coals, a cunning fox spirit weaving illusions, and… oh yeah, the one who yanked me across dimensions like a plaything. You do realize how utterly insane that sounds, right? I mean, it's like something straight out of a comic book—a swirling chaos of fantastical absurdity."

Her voice echoed in his mind, cutting through his thoughts like a blade of polished steel. This is not your world, it warned with a chilling clarity. Do not pass judgment on what you cannot comprehend, for the depths of this realm are beyond your understanding.

But David pressed harder, his determination shining in his eyes, unwilling to accept silence as an answer. “Then help me understand,” he urged, his voice steady yet tinged with a sense of urgency. “Why did you choose to remain here when you could have fled… to the heights of the Immortal Realm?”

Though he lacked the precise vocabulary to articulate the shimmering realm beyond, she could sense the profound significance behind his question—the weight of longing and the allure of a world unmarred by their current reality.

A faint, traitorous tremor fluttered in her heart, a whisper of vulnerability she had long kept at bay. For centuries, no soul had dared to confront her so openly—neither her ministers shrouded in their solemnity, nor her fellow queens draped in the elegance of their titles, nor even the heavens above that cast their judgment in silence. The very air seemed to pulse with the weight of the moment, as if the universe held its breath, waiting for her response.

“I chose,” she murmured, her voice delicate as a whispering breeze, so faint that the ministers barely perceived it as more than a sigh. But within her heart, those words resonated with the profound weight of countless memories. The Immortal Plane beckoned me, a realm of endless possibility and timeless splendor. Yet, to leave this world would mean forsaking the very people I hold dear. I could not bring myself to do that. So I resolutely turned my back on the allure of eternity.

An expansive silence enveloped them, stretching like an unbroken horizon. Finally, David’s voice broke through, quieter now, imbued with a reverence that matched the silence. “That’s… monumental. You sacrificed forever just to protect them.”

His profound sense of wonder seeped through the connection binding them, sending ripples of unease through her composure that she was reluctant to acknowledge.

“And now you’ve got me trapped inside you,” he said after a lengthy pause, a hint of regret in his voice. Here I am, just a twenty-one-year-old computer science student, overwhelmed by the pressures of finals while trying to keep my girlfriend smiling. Not quite the unexpected ally you were hoping for, is it?

Lián Xuě’s gaze sharpened, each flicker of her emerald eyes reflecting a tempest of emotions, yet within the confines of her chest, her heart stumbled, caught in a web of disbelief. This was not the revelation she had anticipated—far from it.

As she sat regal upon her ornate throne, encircled by an assembly of her court, a profound sensation washed over her—a whisper of his essence threaded through her very being, relentless and palpable, a reminder of humanity’s fragile yet vibrant pulse. It was a sensation that breathed life into the stillness of the grand hall, wrapping around her like a shroud, both comforting and terrifying.

The ministers knelt deeply, their voices a monotonous hum, droning on about the intricacies of border wards and the sacred offerings to the temple. Lián Xuě sat regal upon her ornate throne, her flowing white robes shimmering ethereally in the soft, flickering glow of the foxfire. To the assembled crowd, she embodied tranquility personified, a serene figure that radiated calmness. Yet, deep within her, David’s voice surged like an insistent tide, refusing to be silenced.

I don’t understand. You relinquished the very essence of heaven itself for these people, yet do they even grasp the weight of your sacrifice? Do they have the faintest inkling of what you surrendered for their sake?

Her jaw tightened, a storm brewing in her eyes. It is not for them to know, she replied with quiet conviction. This burden is mine to bear, not theirs.

Yeah, well, he muttered, his voice laced with frustration. Bearing this heavy load alone doesn’t seem to be working anymore.

A fleeting flicker — the slightest quiver — danced behind her eyes, a subtle spark that would have slipped past the notice of anyone else. Yet, to the sharp and discerning vision of the Vampire Queen, it stood out like a beacon in the night.

She leaned in, her presence enveloping the space with an intoxicating mix of allure and danger. Her crimson gaze narrowed, gleaming like rubies beneath the dim light, while her voice, as soft as the finest silk, carried an undercurrent of steel. “You are distracted, Xuě,” she murmured, each word dripping with a predatory elegance that left no room for denial.

Lián Xuě’s breath caught in her throat, a momentary hitch that betrayed the centuries of composure she had painstakingly cultivated. The weight of her history pressed down upon her like an ancient mantle, compelling her to straighten her spine and smooth the tension from her features. “No.” Her voice resonated through the hall, crisp and unwavering, slicing through the murmurs like a sharpened blade. It held the gravity of a decree, an unyielding affirmation. “I am listening.”

The Vampire Queen's lips curled into the barest hint of a smile, a delicate and enigmatic gesture, yet her eyes sparkled with a glint that hinted at something far more dangerous than mere amusement. "Then forgive me," she said, her voice smooth as silk, yet laced with an edge of intrigue. "I believed I detected... a crack."

Lián Xuě’s fingers curled tightly against the polished armrest, her knuckles whitening with tension. A sense of unease swirled in the air as David leaned in closer, his voice barely above a whisper, trembling with anxiety. “She knows. She can sense something’s not right.”

In response, her thought sliced through their bond with the sharpness of a blade, cold and commanding. “Be silent.”

And for the duration of the session, he remained resolute. Yet, as the last of the ministers slipped away and the grand throne hall succumbed to an enveloping silence, her hand quivered against the intricately carved lotus that adorned her throne.

The Vampire Queen’s words lingered like a haunting melody in the still air—she was undeniably correct.

There lay a crack.

And, for the first time in centuries, it was not a fracture in her very soul, but rather in the carefully crafted mask she wore so flawlessly.