CHAPTER THREE: Heaven's Judgement
1410 Words
Chapter Three: Heaven's Judgement
The fire vanished.
One moment, golden flames filled the room.
The next, there was nothing.
Lin Yue collapsed.
The immortal caught her before she hit the ground.
"Lin Yue!"
Her eyes remained closed.
He carried her to the bed and placed her down carefully.
For the first time since entering the room, the immortal looked worried.
He placed two fingers against her wrist.
Her pulse was steady.
But something strange was moving through her body.
Golden energy.
Powerful.
Ancient.
The immortal pulled his hand away.
"What are you?"
Lin Yue slowly opened her eyes.
She stared at the stranger standing beside her.
Then everything returned to her.
The fire.
The demon.
Her mother.
Lin Yue immediately sat up.
"Tell me the truth."
The immortal looked at her.
"About what?"
"About me."
He said nothing.
Lin Yue's voice became firmer.
"About my mother."
His expression changed.
"You knew her."
"I met her once."
"When?"
"Sixteen years ago."
Lin Yue froze.
"On the night I was born?"
The immortal nodded.
"Why were you there?"
"Because of your father."
Lin Yue's heart began to pound.
"You know my father?"
"I knew him."
"Who was he?"
The immortal turned away.
"Someone who should have lived a very different life."
"That's not an answer."
"You don't need to know everything."
"Yes, I do!"
Lin Yue stood.
She suddenly felt dizzy but refused to sit down.
"My mother is dead. My home is destroyed. A demon came looking for me, and you told me I'm a Phoenix. Now you're saying you knew my father."
She stepped closer.
"Tell me the truth."
The immortal looked at her.
"Your father was an immortal."
Lin Yue stared at him.
"What?"
"An immortal."
She shook her head.
"That's impossible."
"Is it?"
"My father was a mortal."
"Who told you that?"
Lin Yue stopped.
Her mother.
She had never actually told Lin Yue anything about her father.
She had always avoided the subject.
"Why didn't my mother tell me?"
"She wanted to protect you."
"From what?"
"From everyone."
Lin Yue frowned.
"What does my father have to do with me being a Phoenix?"
The immortal's expression became serious.
"Your father carried the Phoenix bloodline."
Lin Yue touched her forehead.
"The Phoenix Seal."
"Yes."
"Then why was I born human?"
The immortal stared at her.
"Because the Phoenix doesn't always reincarnate as a Phoenix."
Lin Yue didn't understand.
"Explain."
"Your soul carries the power. Your body was born mortal."
"Then what am I?"
"Something between two worlds."
Lin Yue stepped backward.
She didn't like the answer.
She didn't like any of this.
"I don't believe you."
"You will."
"When?"
"When the seal fully awakens."
Lin Yue remembered the golden fire.
"What happens then?"
The immortal's eyes darkened.
"You will become the most powerful being in the three realms."
Lin Yue's heart skipped.
"The three realms?"
"The mortal realm. The immortal realm. The demon realm."
She stared at him.
"Why would anyone want my power?"
"Demons want to control it."
"And immortals?"
"Some want to control you."
Lin Yue's expression hardened.
"And the heavens?"
The immortal was silent.
"What about the heavens?"
"They fear you."
"Why?"
He looked toward the window.
"Because the last Phoenix destroyed an immortal kingdom."
Lin Yue's eyes widened.
"Why?"
"Someone she loved was killed."
The immortal's voice became quieter.
"She lost control of her power. Her flames spread through the heavens."
"What happened to her?"
"The Heavenly Emperor killed her."
Lin Yue stared at her hands.
"Do you think I'll become like her?"
"I don't know."
"That's not reassuring."
"I wasn't trying to reassure you."
Lin Yue almost laughed.
Almost.
Then a howl echoed through the forest.
Both of them turned toward the window.
The immortal immediately reached for his sword.
"What was that?"
"Stay here."
"Why?"
"Because I said so."
Lin Yue frowned.
"You're starting to sound like my mother."
The immortal stopped.
Something changed in his expression.
Lin Yue noticed.
"I'm sorry," he said.
She looked away.
The immortal walked toward the door.
"Wait."
He turned.
"What's your name?"
He hesitated.
"Shen Mo."
"Shen Mo."
"Why?"
"Nothing."
She studied him.
"You're an immortal, but you have a name."
"Immortals have names."
"I wasn't sure."
He almost smiled.
"Stay inside."
Then he left.
Lin Yue waited.
One minute.
Two.
Five.
Still nothing.
She walked toward the window.
The village was strangely quiet.
Too quiet.
Lin Yue remembered the Shadow Beast from the night before.
She couldn't sit there and do nothing.
She opened the door.
---
The moment Lin Yue stepped outside, cold wind rushed past her.
"Shen Mo?"
No answer.
She walked into the forest.
"Shen Mo!"
A branch snapped.
Lin Yue froze.
Something moved between the trees.
"Who's there?"
A dark creature suddenly jumped toward her.
Lin Yue screamed and raised her arms.
Golden flames burst from her hands.
The creature flew backward.
Lin Yue stared at her hands.
"I did that?"
The creature rose.
It attacked again.
Lin Yue turned and ran.
She didn't know where she was going.
The creature followed.
Lin Yue tripped over a tree root.
The creature jumped.
Suddenly—
SHING!
A silver sword cut through the air.
The creature was thrown away.
Shen Mo stood between Lin Yue and the beast.
"Didn't I tell you to stay inside?"
Lin Yue stared at him.
"You're welcome."
Shen Mo glanced at her.
"That's my line."
The creature roared.
Shen Mo raised his sword.
"Stay behind me."
The battle began.
Shen Mo moved with incredible speed.
His sword flashed through the darkness as he fought the creature.
But the beast was strong.
It struck him across the chest.
"Shen Mo!"
The creature attacked again.
Something inside Lin Yue suddenly awakened.
"No!"
Golden flames erupted from her body.
Shen Mo turned.
"Lin Yue!"
Her eyes were glowing gold.
The Phoenix Seal appeared on her forehead.
The creature stopped.
It fell backward.
Then it slowly lowered itself to the ground.
It was afraid.
Lin Yue stared.
"Why is it afraid of me?"
Shen Mo rushed toward her.
"Control yourself!"
"I can't!"
"Close your eyes!"
"I can't!"
"Look at me!"
Lin Yue's eyes met his.
"You're not a monster."
Her breathing slowed.
"Listen to me. You're still yourself."
The flames began to disappear.
Lin Yue collapsed.
Shen Mo caught her.
When she opened her eyes again, she immediately stepped away.
"I..."
"Are you hurt?"
"No."
Shen Mo looked toward the forest.
The creature was gone.
"What was that?"
"A Shadow Beast."
"A demon?"
"A servant of the demon realm."
Lin Yue's heart sank.
"Was it sent for me?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
Shen Mo looked at her.
"Because of the Phoenix."
Lin Yue stared into the darkness.
"Then the demon is still looking for me."
"Yes."
"Why does everyone want this power?"
Shen Mo hesitated.
"Because the Phoenix can do something no immortal or demon can."
"What?"
"Bring back the dead."
Lin Yue froze.
Her heart began to race.
"My mother."
"Lin Yue—"
"If I have that power, I can bring her back."
"You don't understand."
"Then explain!"
"The Phoenix's power has a price."
"What price?"
Shen Mo's expression became serious.
"Life."
Lin Yue stared at him.
"For someone to return..."
He paused.
"Another life must be given."
Her face went pale.
"No."
"That's the price."
"Then I'll find another way."
"There may not be one."
"There has to be."
Shen Mo looked at her.
He had expected fear.
Instead, he saw determination.
Lin Yue turned toward the village.
"Take me back."
"Why?"
"I need to find my mother."
"She's dead."
"I don't believe you."
"Lin Yue."
"I don't believe anyone anymore."
She walked away.
Shen Mo followed.
Neither noticed the figure watching them from the darkness.
A man stood beneath the trees.
His eyes glowed red.
The demon smiled.
"She's awakening faster than expected."
A shadow appeared behind him.
"The immortal has found her."
The demon's smile disappeared.
"Then we have no time."
He looked toward the village.
"Tell the others."
"Tonight, we begin the hunt."
Far above the mortal realm, an ancient bell began to ring.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Shen Mo suddenly stopped.
Lin Yue turned.
"What is it?"
He stared at the sky.
His expression had completely changed.
"The Heavenly Court knows."
"Knows what?"
Shen Mo slowly drew his sword.
"That the Phoenix has awakened."
Lin Yue's heart pounded.
"And what happens now?"
Shen Mo looked at her.
His voice was quiet.
"Now, everyone comes for you."
- Writer
