Hidden Truths

I stand still, allowing him to reach up and gently touch my forehead. His dark eyes actually look concerned and angry as he lightly touches me. My grandfather always told me that a person's true heart can be seen through someone's eyes, but I've never been good at telling if those emotions are real or not.

So tell me, grandfather, where should I go? To the left where nothing's right? Or to the right where nothing's left? As if sensing my mood, his dark eyes flicker down to my eyes, silently staring into my soul.

_______

Bolin looks into her eyes, realizing he was seeing a rare glimpse of the real her. The fire in her eyes spoke of stories that she'd never tell but he was okay with that. He'd sit and accompany her in silence if she allowed him.

Her walls were higher than any kingdom walls, but he would spare no effort in climbing them. He didn't mind the thorns that lined those very walls either. He would take it all if it meant she would let him in.

He would do anything if it was for her.

______

When I see the silent vow in Bolin's dark eyes, I find myself faltering. Fear of a different kind claws at my heart as I reach up and lightly grab his hand that was still touching my face. I blink several times, looking away as I clear my voice and say, "I took care of the others. We need to hurry and collect the Artifact before more of these things are created.

Bolin looks mildly impressed before looking at me in shock and asking, "And you're absorbing the very Artifacts that created these things? How is that safe?" I give him a small smile as I say, "Magic works in magical ways. Absorbing the Artifact won't cause me to turn into those things. It's reacting to your world and the ley lines here, remember? I need to collect them all as quickly as possible."

Bolin looks as if he wants to argue but he bites his tongue as I turn and walk away. His dark eyes watch me silently for a moment before looking back to the street with deep eyes. Those deep eyes hide a million unspoken things.

He turns and follows after me. When I find the Artifact, I sigh. I'm starting to think they find the creepiest places to plant themselves. This time it was a graveyard. As I make my way over, passing all the graves, I come to a stop.

They were empty! Every single one was empty! My eyes flash when I think back to the creatures.

They came back to life with the help of the Artifact!? Those weren't normal zombies... they were zombies on steroids. It has to be the ley lines, nothing else makes sense. No matter how powerful an Artifact is, it couldn't produce these things. Could the ley line also be affecting me and my magic? I walk over to the large grave with black roots coming out of it and slowly come to a stop.

I lift my hand, calling the Artifact to me. Just like before, it seems to put up a fight before flying at me at the speed of light. I grit my teeth and spin away when the shard hits my palm. I silently stand there, waiting for the pain to subside as Weimin and all his men show up.

My hand bleeds as it slowly heals back. I ignore Weimin as I turn, unleashing the black flames. They swallow the roots, killing them instantly. As soon as I know they're dead, I call the flames back and start walking away.

I really don't have the energy to deal with Weimin and his self-righteous hero act. Hell, I don't have the energy to do anything but put one foot in front of the other. I use my magic to burn away my blood once more as I walk back through the eerie but empty graveyard.

The first drops of rain fall as I silently walk past Weimin. The roots break down, floating away like black snow, leaving Weimin and his men in shock.

"What the hell was that?"

"What the hell was she!?"

"Shouldn't we report this to his majesty?"

I walk straight to Bolin, not caring about anything else at the moment. I was exhausted. I just want to head back, take a bath and go to sleep. As if sensing that, Bolin doesn't say a word as he pulls me to his chest.

His strong arms hold me close as I finally let my guard down. I know that when I'm with him, I at least don't have to worry about my safety.

Dark shadows burst from him, swallowing us whole.

Weimin and his men don't say anything this time. They had actually arrived earlier. They were here when the two women started fighting in the street. Weimin told them to hold, wanting to wait for backup so that he could grab the goddess but what they ended up seeing had all of them second-guessing everything.

So was so powerful!!

The power she has was unreal! They had never seen anything like that before! Those powerful floating, glowing things would appear out of nowhere with just a thought from her! Those people didn't stand a chance against her! She wasn't a Cultivator, but she was clearly just as powerful, if not more so!

And Bolin just sat back and watched with a smirk! At first, they were all cursing him and his devilish character but when they saw how she handled them all... they felt like idiots. When all of them were busy watching in awe, they saw what happened to the creatures next.

They were left shaking in fear, unable to understand what or where those creatures came from. It was terrifying! And yes, she insisted on fighting them! Even when Bolin tried to talk her out of it. When they think back to the scene, they all shudder.

Did they say goddess? More like a goddess of death and destruction!! It was too terrifying!! They all glance over at their leader but he was still staring at the same spot. His face was pale and even though it was now pouring, he didn't seem to even notice.

His thoughts were all over the place. His hands lightly shake as his heart races. Truly a goddess! With that power... she could be unstoppable! His dark eyes suddenly come back to life as he starts coming up with a plan.

If she was his, and on his side, no one and nothing could stand in his way. He could easily crush the demon race, wiping them out completely for good! With her, she could kill every vile person in this world.

His eyes blaze with a desire that even his followers found unnerving. They felt in their hearts that nothing good would come from instigating that woman but even without her, Bolin was still extremely dangerous.

Did their leader really think he stood a chance against Bolin AND her!? They shake their heads, refusing to even think about it.

Weimin turns to his men and says, "Find the other woman who was fighting the goddess." The others were surprised but knowing she wasn't as powerful as the goddess of death, they bow and quickly disperse.