CHAPTER TWO: The Demon's Mark
1786 Words
Chapter Two: The Demon’s Mark
Lin Yue woke to the sound of rain.
Soft.
Gentle.
Almost peaceful.
For a moment, she forgot everything.
Then she opened her eyes.
The ceiling above her was unfamiliar.
Lin Yue immediately sat up.
Pain shot through her body.
She gasped and grabbed her head.
The last thing she remembered was her mother lying on the floor.
The stranger.
The dark flames.
And the golden light that had exploded from her body.
Lin Yue's heart began to race.
"Mother..."
She tried to stand.
Her legs gave way.
She fell back onto the bed.
The door opened.
Lin Yue looked up.
A young man stepped inside.
He was dressed in simple gray robes, his dark hair tied neatly behind his head.
It was Chen Wei.
The moment he saw her awake, relief crossed his face.
"You're alive."
Lin Yue stared at him.
"Where is my mother?"
Chen Wei froze.
His silence was enough.
Lin Yue's heart sank.
"Chen Wei."
He looked away.
"Where is she?"
"Lin Yue..."
"Where is my mother?"
Her voice cracked.
Chen Wei slowly walked toward her.
"Your house..."
"Tell me!"
He stopped.
"There was no one left when we found you."
Lin Yue stared at him.
The room seemed to spin.
"No."
"I'm sorry."
"No."
She pushed herself off the bed.
"I need to go home."
"Lin Yue—"
"I need to see her."
Chen Wei grabbed her arm.
She immediately pulled away.
"Don't touch me!"
He stepped back.
Lin Yue's breathing became uneven.
"She's alive."
"Lin Yue—"
"She has to be."
She rushed toward the door.
Chen Wei blocked her.
"Move."
"You can't go outside."
"Move!"
"Lin Yue, listen to me!"
"I said move!"
Golden light suddenly flashed across Lin Yue's eyes.
Chen Wei froze.
For one terrifying second, the air around her trembled.
Then the light disappeared.
Lin Yue stared at her hands.
Her breathing stopped.
She remembered.
The flames.
The golden light.
The stranger.
She slowly looked at Chen Wei.
"What happened to me?"
He didn't answer.
"Chen Wei."
His expression was complicated.
"I don't know."
"You're lying."
"I'm not."
"Then why are you looking at me like that?"
Chen Wei swallowed.
"Because..."
He hesitated.
"Because when we found you, you were surrounded by fire."
Lin Yue's face went pale.
"What kind of fire?"
"Golden."
Her heart stopped.
"Did it hurt anyone?"
Chen Wei shook his head.
"No."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
Lin Yue looked away.
"But your house..."
He lowered his voice.
"It was destroyed."
Lin Yue closed her eyes.
She remembered her mother's voice.
Whatever you hear, don't open the door.
She had promised.
And still, she had failed.
Tears slipped down her cheeks.
Chen Wei looked helpless.
He had never seen Lin Yue cry.
Not when she fell from trees.
Not when she broke her arm.
Not even when the village children mocked her for being strange.
But now, she looked completely broken.
"Lin Yue..."
"Leave me alone."
Chen Wei remained silent.
"Please."
He slowly walked out.
The door closed behind him.
Lin Yue sat on the bed.
Alone.
She pressed her palms against her face.
Then she felt something.
A strange burning sensation.
Between her eyebrows.
Lin Yue touched the spot.
Her fingers came away with nothing.
She rushed toward a bronze mirror hanging on the wall.
Her reflection stared back.
Her face was pale.
Her eyes were swollen from crying.
But something was different.
The golden mark was gone.
Lin Yue frowned.
She touched her forehead again.
Nothing.
Then—
A voice whispered behind her.
"You finally woke up."
Lin Yue froze.
She turned.
No one was there.
Her heart pounded.
"Who are you?"
Silence.
Then the voice came again.
"The question is... who are you?"
Lin Yue stepped backward.
"Show yourself!"
A dark shadow appeared in the corner of the room.
It slowly took shape.
A man stood there.
His face was young.
Far too young.
He had long black hair and eyes as dark as the night sky.
Unlike the stranger from the previous night, there was nothing monstrous about him.
He looked human.
Almost.
Lin Yue stared.
"Who are you?"
The man smiled.
"That's what everyone asks."
"Answer me."
"You wouldn't believe me."
"Try."
He stepped closer.
Lin Yue immediately moved backward.
The man stopped.
"You're afraid."
"Of you?"
His smile widened.
"No."
He tilted his head.
"You're afraid of yourself."
Lin Yue's hands clenched.
"What happened to my mother?"
The man's expression changed.
"Ah."
He looked almost amused.
"So that's what you want to know."
"Answer me!"
"She's dead."
Lin Yue stopped breathing.
The room became silent.
"No."
"Yes."
"You're lying."
"Why would I?"
Lin Yue's eyes filled with tears.
"Because you want to hurt me."
"Perhaps."
The man stepped closer.
"But that doesn't make it a lie."
Lin Yue suddenly felt anger replacing her grief.
"Get out."
The man raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
"Get out!"
She pointed toward the door.
"Now!"
The man's eyes darkened.
"You don't give orders to me."
"Then I'll make you leave."
Golden light began gathering around Lin Yue's fingers.
The man stared at it.
For the first time, he looked genuinely surprised.
"Interesting."
Lin Yue noticed.
"What?"
He looked at her hand.
"You're already awakening."
"Awakening what?"
He didn't answer.
Lin Yue's anger grew.
"What am I?"
The man looked directly into her eyes.
"A mistake."
The golden flames disappeared.
Lin Yue froze.
"What?"
"Your mother made a mistake the night you were born."
"Don't talk about my mother."
"She knew what you were."
"You don't know anything about her!"
The man smiled.
"I know more than you think."
Lin Yue lunged forward.
But before she could reach him, a powerful force pushed her backward.
She hit the bed.
The man appeared beside her.
He leaned closer.
"You want to know the truth?"
Lin Yue stared at him.
"Yes."
"Then ask yourself why your mother never told you about your father."
Lin Yue's blood ran cold.
"How do you know about him?"
The man smiled.
"Because I knew him."
"Who is he?"
"Someone who should have died long ago."
Lin Yue felt a strange chill.
"Is he alive?"
The man didn't answer.
"Tell me!"
He reached toward her forehead.
Lin Yue slapped his hand away.
"Don't touch me."
The man's expression suddenly became cold.
"Do you know what is inside you?"
Lin Yue shook her head.
"Then you should be careful."
"Why?"
"Because the thing inside you is not human."
A sharp pain exploded in Lin Yue's head.
She screamed.
The golden mark appeared again.
This time, it was brighter.
The room shook.
The man stepped back.
"Stop!"
Lin Yue fell to her knees.
Images flashed through her mind.
A burning sky.
A massive golden bird flying through clouds.
A woman crying.
A man standing beneath a blood-red moon.
Then—
A baby.
Herself.
Someone was holding her.
A man.
Lin Yue couldn't see his face.
But she heard his voice.
"When the phoenix awakens, the heavens will burn."
Lin Yue screamed.
The vision disappeared.
She collapsed.
The man stared at her.
His face had lost all amusement.
"You saw him."
Lin Yue struggled to breathe.
"Who?"
"Your father."
Lin Yue looked up.
"What did you say?"
The man stepped toward her.
"Your father."
"Who is he?"
Before he could answer—
BOOM!
The door exploded open.
A sword flew through the air.
The mysterious man moved instantly.
The sword struck the wall.
Lin Yue stared.
A figure stood in the doorway.
A young man dressed in white robes.
A silver sword hung at his side.
His expression was cold.
His eyes immediately found Lin Yue.
Then they moved to the stranger.
The room became dangerously quiet.
The stranger smiled.
"An immortal."
Lin Yue's eyes widened.
The white-robed man raised his sword.
"Leave."
The stranger laughed.
"You came sooner than expected."
"I won't warn you twice."
"Of course."
The stranger glanced at Lin Yue.
Then he disappeared.
Lin Yue stared at the empty space.
"Where did he go?"
The immortal lowered his sword.
"Who was he?"
The man ignored her.
Lin Yue stepped closer.
"I asked you a question."
"You shouldn't be here."
"What?"
"You're in danger."
"Everyone keeps saying that!"
Her voice broke.
"My mother is dead. My home is destroyed. A demon appeared in my room, and now you're telling me I'm in danger?"
The immortal's eyes narrowed.
"Demon?"
Lin Yue froze.
"That's what he was?"
The immortal looked toward the window.
"He wasn't supposed to find you yet."
"Who?"
He looked back at her.
"The demon."
Lin Yue's heart pounded.
"What does he want?"
"You."
"Why?"
The immortal didn't answer.
Lin Yue's patience disappeared.
"Everyone knows something except me!"
She pointed toward the door.
"My mother knew."
"That demon knows."
"And now you know!"
Her voice echoed through the room.
"Tell me what is happening to me!"
The immortal stared at her.
For a long moment, he said nothing.
Then his gaze moved to her forehead.
The golden mark had disappeared again.
But he had seen it.
His expression changed.
"You have the Phoenix Seal."
Lin Yue frowned.
"The what?"
"The mark you were born with."
She touched her forehead.
"Why is it important?"
The immortal's voice became quiet.
"Because no mortal has carried that seal for a thousand years."
Lin Yue's heart stopped.
"What are you saying?"
He stepped closer.
"You are not an ordinary mortal."
"Then what am I?"
The immortal looked into her eyes.
"You are the last Phoenix."
Lin Yue stared at him.
The words made no sense.
"Phoenixes are legends."
"Not to immortals."
"Then why can't I remember anything?"
"Because you haven't awakened."
"Awakened?"
The immortal nodded.
"And when you do..."
He looked toward the dark sky.
"...every realm will come looking for you."
Lin Yue felt a cold shiver.
"Why?"
The immortal's expression darkened.
"Because your power can change the balance between the heavens and the demon realm."
Lin Yue stared at him.
"And what happens if I refuse?"
For the first time, something like pity appeared in his eyes.
"You don't get to refuse destiny."
Outside, thunder shook the mountain.
The immortal turned toward the window.
Lin Yue followed his gaze.
Far away, beyond the mountains, a column of black smoke rose into the sky.
The immortal's hand tightened around his sword.
"The demon has returned."
Lin Yue felt the mark on her forehead burn.
She cried out.
The immortal immediately turned.
"Lin Yue!"
Golden fire erupted from her body.
The flames rose higher.
Higher.
Until the entire room was filled with light.
The immortal stared.
And somewhere deep within the darkness, the demon smiled.
Because the Phoenix had finally awakened.
And he was coming for her.
- Writer
