Underworld

The Underworld has Eight Levels each ruled by different Guardians. Yet they all answer to the Empress and her mate the Deity of the Underworld. He gave her the Underworld as their mating gift. The fifth level is ruled by the Guardian Hollow and like his name except for the souls trapped here this plane of existence is completely hollow. Unlike the eighth-level, there is no light or flowers, rivers, fruits just darkness.

The souls that end up in the fifth level belong to vile creatures that should have never existed. I made sure Jonathan's soul ended up here after what Camilla said. Let him remain eternally trapped never to be reborn.

The scent of honeysuckle fills the fifth level announcing her arrival, "What is it with you and that girl constantly crossing into the Underworld?" the Empress asks tourmaline eyes swirl as if stars were dancing in them the only sign of her heritage.

I don't kneel this time I know she hates it when I was a child, I found her garden. Filled with cypress trees, spider lilies, roses, and lavender fields and trees of various fruits a replica of the eighth-level. Built by the first Dark King as a gift to the first Shadow Queen.

When the Empress appeared, I kneel and she yanked me up by the back of my neck. The way a mother wolf picks up her pup. "Never kneel its degrading," she had said setting me down, "I can't stand it when people do that." Since that day the only times I kneel are at her temple.

"What girl?" I ask.

The Empress clicks her tongue eyes shining brighter, "the one your deceiving."

"Camilla?"

"Is that the name she's using now," she taps her chin, "I suppose that's fair after all you told her your name is Zheng.

"I'm almost insulted," the Deity of the Underworld says landing on the Empress's shoulder in the form of a crow. His eyes no longer brown but rather what the Empress once described as honey green with flecks of gold.

"He gets named after you but is too ashamed to use your name," the Empress says mockingly.

The crow ruffles his feathers before fly of her shoulder and circling my head, "you're not worthy to be called Fie."

"Why are you here?" the Empress asks.

"I'm not here to discuss my worthiness," I say, "I'm here for a soul."

"No," they say as one, "he is already receiving punishment. You will not have a hand in this."

"What was the point in training me if you won't let me try out what I've learned?"

"This is your fault," the Empress says vanishing from sight.

"Remember time moves differently here," the Deity says before a path opens up before me.

"Thank you," I say heading down the path, "what did… there's no use finishing my question Deity Fie is gone.

###

The little assassin paces back and forth. Fie has been gone for three days now and while I should have gone with him. He insisted I watch over the girl.

"I told you he'll be back soon," I say, and watch with amusement as she fumes.

"That bastard when he gets back, I'm going to kick his ass," he throws her throwing knife at the wall for the hundredth time.

Before leaving Fie placed a barrier over the manor Luna found for us nothing gets in nothing gets out. When the little assassin learned of this, she carved his face onto the wall and started using it as target practice. Needless to say, the original carving can barely be made out as it's now distorted.

"What is she doing?" Fie asks as he winnows in.

The little assassin spins around fire in her eyes and throws the remaining knife at him. "How dare you, you pompous jerk."

Fie smacks it away and points at himself and she loses it, "who else would I be talking to. You imprisoned us and left you fucken prick," within seconds she crossed the small space and has her sword at his throat.

"She doesn't like being thrown in a cage," one of the wolves says. I think his name is Jing, "none of us do," he starts sneezing uncontrollably. Before Luna comes over and hands him a medicine pellet.

"You have allergies," she says, "that's why you're always sneezing."

He looks at it with distrust considering what he just went through I can't blame him.

"Just take it," Luna says shoving it into his mouth and walking away.

"It's not a cage, the manor has four floors with plenty of room for you to dwell in," Fie says.

"Wrong answer," I say, patting him on the back, "as far as she's concern."

Fie glares at me as I walk away.

###

"Where were you?" I growl and Zheng just laughs. Bright blood starts to drip, from where my sword is pressed.

"So annoying," he says pulling the sword out of my hand and pulling me towards him, "did you miss me." Jing slowly walks out of the sun-room traitor.

I growl at him, "Why would I miss you?" I place a hand over his chest in an attempt to push him away which is when I notice his heartbeat is missing, "you went to the Underworld."

Zheng's eyes betray nothing as he lets me go, "I don't know what you're talking about," he walks over to the wall where I've been throwing daggers and shooting arrows for three days four if you count today. He runs his fingers over the lines and pulls the knife I threw earlier free, "Is this supposed to be me?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," I say, and walk towards the sliding door when I open it, I find I can step outside. Icy wind greets me calming my nerves. Why would he go to the Underworld? And why lie about it?

There's movement behind me and when I turn, I find a Qilin looking at me. My eyes go wide as I rush over, and hold out a hand. He looks me over before placing his dragon head under my hand.

"You're so cute," I squeal as just as Zheng walks out.

"What are you doing?" he asks.

"What does it look like," I say, running my hands down his horse-like body, "you're so scaly."

"I let you touch me and you insult me," the Qilin says, "typical."

I pull my hand away and take a step back, "you can talk."

"Of course," he says, "why wouldn't I?"

"That, I don't know."

The Qilin huffs before looking towards Zheng, "I've been looking for you."

"Whatever it is it can wait," Zheng says.

He seems annoyed so I ask, "what do you, need Zheng for?"

Qilin gives me an odd look and says, "I don't know who that is, I need the Prince to come home."

Zheng laughs and wraps an arm around my shoulder, "Oh, little Qilin you're such a jokester," he says, "I'll give Prince Fie your message."

Qilin looks at me then Zheng and mutters, "Master has lost his mind," before leaving.

Zheng looks down at me his playful facade back, "we should go inside and see what Luna's prepared."

"Why are you touching me?" I break free and head towards the woods. If I have to spend another day listening to BaiBai cry over her dead brothers I might just rip my ears off.

"Where are you going?" Zheng asks, catching up to me.

"That doesn't concern you," I say, following the sound of the river.

"I saved you."

"I never asked you to," I say, stepping over a fallen branch.

"Why did you pretend to be the Princess?"

"What's it to ya?"

The river is actually a cascade of shimmering blue water. I stop when I spot a kelpie stepping out. My hand shoots out pulling Zheng back. He looks down at me then towards the cascade where the kelpie stands looking straight at us. Zheng's blade appears in his hand within seconds. The kelpie rushes forward onyx hooves trampling over fallen branches. I let go of Zheng and step between them. Zheng growls but the kelpie comes to a screeching stop.

"No," Zheng says but I ignore him and walk over to the kelpie.

"How did you find me?" I ask. Nightmare shaves his mane splashing me with water.

"I followed you when you left that cursed place," he says, "I tried to get into your new home," that's when I notice his right hoof is injured.

I turn to Zheng, "Fix him."

"What?"

"Your barrier hurt Nightmare so fix it."

"You know him?" Zheng sheaths his blade and walks over, "how?"

"That's not important," I say, "just heal his hoof."

Zheng looks over Nightmare before placing his hand over his right hoof. Once done he steps back and Nightmare does a little dance.

"To correct you that's not my new home," I say, "we need to go back to Master."

"Really," Nightmare asks.

"Really," I say, "I just need to get something from the manor, will you wait for me here?"

"As long as you promise to return this time."

"I will," I run a hand over his onyx mane, "wait here."

Nightmare nods as I walk back to the manor. Zheng hurries after me.

"Kelpie can be dangerous."

"I'm an assassin," I say, "we go hand in hand, besides Nightmare grew up with me. He was the first friend I made when I went to learn in the Realm of Assassins."

"Who is your Master?"

"Why?"

"I might know her or him."

"Probably," I say as we enter the manor, he follows me up the stairs to the second floor. He tries to enter the room I have been occupying, but I stop him slamming the door in his face.

"Camilla," he calls through the closed door. I ignore him and change into my riding clothes.

When I open the door, I find he is gone. Good, I don't want to talk to him. The moment I try to step through, I find I'm trapped.

"Fucken bastard if I ever see you again, I will kill you!" I shout slamming my fist against the invisible barrier. What to do what to do? That's right I haven't cleaned my sword.

I slam the vanity chair against the mirror then knock over a lantern and kick the door a few times for good measure. Let him think his won, I toss a vase against the window glass and porcelain shattering then I call my sword to me Zheng's dried blood is still on it. I pick up my bow and bring my sword down cutting through wood and the remaining glass.

There's a pulsing then a snap the barrier becomes visible for a few seconds. I strike it again and again until finally, a gap opens. Before it can close, I jump out the window landing atop Nightmare.

"I didn't trust that man," he says galloping away from the manor. Zheng's outraged cursing reaches me as Nightmare winnows us away.