by K.N. Lee
The Lake of Tears awaited, and Mei was unsure of herself and what was to come.
They stood before the frozen lake, set between miles upon miles of dark green pines.
Her escape from the war being waged on her newfound home had been the most frightening experience she’d ever had, but now she awaited what Rohan had called her birthright.
The red lantern had led her away from her home, and to this very moment.
“Time to use your gift,” Rohan said from the edge of the lake behind her. “Speak to the lake. Call upon the hidden spirit, and it will come.”
The Lake of Tears seemed to have waited for her arrival. As she stepped upon the ice, fear rose in her throat that she might crash into the frigid water. She and Rohan had taken the canoe down the river and crossed the plains to make it to this place.
She breathed deeply, and relaxed. “No, I’m not afraid,” she whispered.
Dark spots met white frost and created a picturesque mural beneath her feet.
The ice groaned and creaked beneath her, though she walked lightly and paid extra care to each step of her leather boots.
Vibrations ran along the lake, and sang to her a magical song that always made the hairs stand on the back of her neck. The sounds of echoes and high-pitched melodies, mixed with low groans, and created a symphony of magic.
The lights in the sky were out on this fateful night, and her heart raced with excitement.
Tonight might be the one she’d been waiting for. The moon was full, the glowing lights danced across the sky, and the frozen lake sang its mystical song.
The groans of the lake transformed into high pitched tones that resonated within her bones. She closed her eyes, embracing the sensation, and focused on her own magic within.
“I am here,” she said, hoping the hidden spirit would hear her and heed her call. “If you hear me, please reveal yourself.”
There was no reply, only the eerie song of the lake.
Mei opened her eyes, and peered down at the glow that the green and purple lights of the sky cast onto the icy surface below.
“I was guided to come here.”
Please don’t deny me.
Again, silence.
Disappointed, she lowered herself to the cold surface of the lake, and set her red lantern before her. There was enough light coming from the moon and colorful lights above her to shine upon all that stood beneath, but the thick forests on either side were pitch black once deep within.
She wanted to look back and shout at Rohan that nothing was happening, but feared the lake collapsing beneath her feet.
“I’ve lost so much,” she whispered, uncaring that tears now trailed down her cheeks. “Please show me that it meant something.”
She waited for a reply, and when none came, she sighed and closed her eyes once more.
A faint whistling sound caught her attention.
She breathed in the crisp air, and opened her eyes. Her voice caught in her throat.
Two large glowing eyes looked back at her from what was a thick white fog that rose from the ice.
To her surprise, her first response wasn’t fear. As the creature’s head was revealed, she realized that she was standing face to face with a dragon.
“Easy, friend,” she said, reaching for her lantern as calmly as possible. She had a way with animals, but never encountered a real dragon before.
As it revealed more and more of itself, more tears fell as she recalled playing with Lian and Shu and threatening to awaken a real dragon.
It was massive, with radiant golden scales, jade eyes, and wings that were pulled back.
“Wait,” the dragon said.
She froze. The dragon hadn’t moved its mouth, yet it had spoken. She was sure of it.
Or, she was going mad.
I’m out on the frozen lake in the dead of winter, expecting a dragon to connect with me.
“Did you speak?”
The dragon closed its eyes, and did something that left her breathless.
It reached for her with its large claws.
Mei fell onto her bottom, and there was a cracking sound beneath her.
“Stay still,” he said, and remained on all fours. “The Shadow Clans heard your call, and they are coming for you.”
She had no intention on moving. Wide-eyed, she stared at him, and continued to hold her breath.
When he reached for her, she nearly yelped. Yet, when he lowered his head to touch her forehead, a ripple of energy ignited between them. Bright light blinded her and filled her entire body, lighting her up until she glowed as bright as the sun.
A loud crack sent her heart into the pit of her stomach, and terror gripped her throat.
Oh dear.
Her brows furrowed with worry. Despite her fear of moving another inch, she began to speak. Her words never had a chance to come.
He ripped her from the ground and threw her into the air so forcefully that her scream was caught in her throat.
The cracking of the lake beneath her boomed in her ears.
All reason was lost to her as she flailed and soared up toward the clouds so fast that she hadn’t even thought of a spell to save herself. It wasn’t until she was caught by the talons of the dragon that her scream was released.
It echoed throughout the valley, and the mountain ranges she now flew toward.
“Easy now,” the dragon said, calmly. “I’ve got you.”
Her heart thumped inside of her chest and she wailed.
“What is happening?” Mei shouted, with exasperation.
The dragon tossed her onto its back and she fought to catch her breath.
Mei was now certain this was all a dream.
“You called for me, did you not?”
Her eyes widened. No. It couldn’t be. She gripped the back of his neck and held on for her life.
Where was Rohan?
“Well, here I am,” he said, and flew her toward the glittering silver mountains. “I am Fuzanlong.”
She held on tighter, and squeezed her eyes closed.
“Now, prepare yourself. We are entering the Unseen.”
Chapter 19
From the top of the frozen mountain, Mei watched the dark clouds roll in from the west.
Often, she dreamed she was at the top of Mount Eerie, gazing toward the Golden Sea, and imagining what life was like in the western lands. She longed to cross the sea and see the places she’d only dreamed of.
But, as she climbed to her favorite spot, another vision awaited.
Something was coming, and she knew it was more than just rain and thunder. There was a dark mass hovering in the distance.
Warnings sparked within her gut.
There was a heaviness to the air that made her skin tighten. She couldn’t tell if it was from dread, or the sudden chill in the air.
A golden dragon flew across the sky, circled, and shifted its direction toward her. She stared in awe as it landed on the cliff beside her. It’s massive body towered over her as its claws rested on the cliff, and it tucked its radiant, luminescent golden wings back.
Oh yes. She remembered now. Rohan had taken her to claim her birthright, and this was it.
Somehow, that felt so long ago.
Then, she saw someone standing in the mists, and she tried to sit up and get a better look.
He slowly turned to face her, and her eyes widened at what she saw. Like Rohan, he had a look that was entirely different from anyone she’d seen in Beijing.
With golden hair, bright fair skin, and eyes the color of the sky, he stirred something within her that broke her heart.
There was a familiarity to him despite never seeing him in her entire life.
“Who are you?” Mei asked, and gasped as golden light surrounded the two of them.
He gave her a mischievous smile, one that made her cheeks blush as he looked her up and down. Then, he gaze a slight bow of his head.
“Dimitri Timchenko, Imperial Prince of the Russian Empire.
“Dimitri,” she repeated, gazing upon his handsome face. Every feature seemed to be perfectly sculpted, and symmetrical.
“And, who are you, Beautiful?”
The reddening of her cheeks deepened at being called beautiful.
“Zhou Mei,” she said, and tucked a fallen lock of hair behind her ear. “Just Zhou Mei.”
If only I had a title.
“Oh, titles are overrated. I’ve never used mine. I’m pretty much an orphan despite it all,” Dimitri said.
She frowned. “I didn’t say that aloud, did I?”
He grinned. “No, you didn’t,” he said. “It’s called telepathy. I can read thoughts, and you can read mine.”
Now, that was unsettling. Did he know she found him attractive, and a bit dangerous?
“Don’t worry, I don’t go poking my head in places where I don’t belong,” he said, which would have been reassuring if she hadn’t just wondered that internally. “There are rules and laws about that sort of thing. Though, not everyone plays by the rules.”
“Do you play by the rules?”
He didn’t respond, but his grin widened.
She didn’t know how to respond, so she changed the subject.
“Where are we?” she asked. “The dragon brought me here. How did you get here?”
He sat beside her, legs dangling over the edge as mists wrapped around them both from the frothy white fog below.
“I have a dragon too,” he said, and pointed to the white dragon that slept at the bottom of the waterfall, just tucked behind its flow of water. “But, I think there’s more to our story, don’t you think?”
“There has to be,” she said, and found herself looking for Rohan.
“Oh, your guide—the Master,” Dimitri said, clearly reading her thoughts again. “He’s waiting for us to have our little chat, then he’ll wake you up.”
“Oh,” she said, and frowned. “You seem to know a lot about these things. How is that?”
“I’ve been training all of my life. What have you been doing?”
Her mouth twisted. “Normal human stuff.”
He chuckled. “I’m sure there’s some value there. Being human can be hard at times, but there are lessons there that have to be learned.”
“I suppose.”
“Do you know why Tarth’Ral has declared war on the mortal world?”
She followed his gaze back to the unsettling sight over the cliff. In the horizon was darkness and cities ablaze.
“No,” she said, shuddering. “Is this happening now? Or is it the future?”
“It is a possible future—one that we can change.”
She prayed that she had the power to stop the devastation they now witnessed. “How do we do that, Dimitri?”
“We’ll once we are together in the mortal realm, we will get right on that, won’t we?”
She ran her hands through her hair, trying to grasp all that she learned since the day the Matchmaker had come to her aunt’s house.
Either way, she was relieved that there was hope.
“That’s amazing,” she said. “I’m ready.”
He clasped a hand on her leg, and her body stiffened.
“Me too,” he said.
Her throat went dry. She stared at his hand on her leg, and slowly turned her gaze to meet his. Within his eyes—deep within them—she saw a baby wrapped in cloths and blankets, in a basis, all alone in the middle of the woods.
For a second, she could swear she head it crying.
Mei jumped to her feet.
“What was that?” She spun around. Something wasn’t right.
He stood and faced her. “What? Did you see something?”
She nodded. “Yeah, a baby.”
“Well, don’t look away. Whatever you’re seeing is an important message. It’s what we are here for,” he said and grabbed her by the forearms.
He pulled her closer and electricity ran between the two of them, and her entire body responded in a way that was unlike anything she’d ever experienced.
Chills ran up her spine as she watched the scene unfold. A cloaked figure approached, and picked up the baby.
“No,” Mei said, recognizing that cloak. Tears ran down her cheeks as her suspicions were confirmed.
The cloaked figure turned and faced her, in the reflection of Dimitri’s icy eyes.
It was her mother.
Mei inhaled sharply. “It cannot be.”
He released her, and blinked away the vision.
“I saw it too,” he said, and raked a hand through his long golden hair. “I think that was you in the vision. The baby.”
She wiped her cheeks.
“Who was the woman?”
Numb, Mei lowered her hands to her sides and stared off into the distance. “The woman I thought was my mother.”
“This is why the spirits have been coming to me in my dreams,” he said, putting the pieces together. “Because we are connected somehow.”
He paced and then stopped abruptly. “You’re going to have to unlock that mystery on your own, Mei. You’re about to be awakened.”
Fuzanlong turned his back toward her. “Climb on.”
For a moment, she stood there, unable to move or breathe. There was still so much to process, and she didn’t want to leave Dimitri. Somehow, being near him felt more like home than she’d ever felt.
Wind blew at her again. It was so forceful that it nearly pushed her backwards.
“Come, Mei. It’s time for you to wake up. We’ve lingered long enough.”
She stiffened, and took another glance around. “What?”
“We’re in the Spirit World. Let me take you back to the land of the living.”
Mei inhaled a deep breath. Yes, the world seemed fuzzier than normal, darker, as if she was behind a film of sorts.
“I won’t let anything happen to you,” Fuzanlong reassured her, and somehow she trusted him.
With a nod, she mustered her courage and climbed upon the dragon’s back. She held on tightly as he ascended into the puffy clouds above.
While they flew into thick clouds, she closed her eyes and willed her fear away.
One fact haunted her now that she knew the truth.
No one would save the world the way she’d hoped.
It was now up to her—and the handsome prince of Russia.
Chapter 20
Panic filled Mei’s veins as she opened her eyes. Fog hovered within her head, all light and shadows. She tried to move, but her body wouldn’t allow her.
Frozen, trapped, her mind knew that she was awake—the world felt too real—but she couldn’t move a muscle.
She tried to relax. This tended to happen every now and again, but that didn’t make it any less horrifying.
All she could think was what she would do if a predator came for her and she couldn’t move. She’d be forced to watch the creature pull her flesh from her bones, helpless against it.
Help, she cried out, though her mouth wouldn’t move.
Help!
Then, she saw him again. The young man with the golden hair. He stood there, but she couldn’t reach him.
Then Rohan appeared, towering over her distressed, immobile body, and placed a hand on her forehead.
“Awaken,” he said.
With a jolt, she sprang upward with a guttural cry that vibrated along the mountain range. Her heart raced, thumping in her chest with such force that she clung to the front of her shirt, half expecting it to burst through.
Covered in a sheen of sweat, she looked to Rohan. “That was frightening. Not the dream, but the waking up.”
He settled beside her, nodding. “Paralysis can be that way, but it is essentially just a delayed response of your body catching up with your spirit.”
She frowned. “I didn’t know that’s what that was.”
“It fades once you practice Dream Walks.”
She wiped her forehead, and pulled her hair back, tying it into a bun at her n
ape. “There’s much that I need to learn,” she said. “Teach me Rohan. Teach me everything I need to know.”
“I will,” he said with a nod. “First, tell me what you saw.”
She closed her eyes, and worked at pulling details from her dreams back to the forefront of her mind. Then, she remembered what she’d seen in the Dream Walk. The woman and man she thought were her parents had taken her in as a baby despite the danger.
Her eyes stung as she forced away tears.
They’d raised her as their own, and she never noticed any difference.
“My mother and father weren’t really my parents,” she said in a heartbroken whisper.
“They were not. But, that doesn’t take away any of the love you shared, or the connection you still share through the red lantern.”
“My family needs me,” Mei said. She avoided looking at Rohan, as tears came despite her best efforts. “Back in Beijing. If the Shadow Lord is coming, they will need me to protect them.”
Memories of what she’d witnessed marching upon the peaceful lands of China sent a shiver throughout her body.
“The Shadow Lord has sent the undead to destroy us.”
Rohan didn’t reply. He simply glanced at the rising sun, and then sighed.
“Listen, Mei,” he began.
His tone sparked worry within her. When he gave her a sidelong glance, she feared the words that would follow.
“Your ancestors didn’t send you to me to turn back around to the place you fled,” he said. “They sent you away to protect you from her. There is no going backward. Li hunts you as we speak. Forward is the only correct path.”
She looked down at the space between them, and shook her head.
“The Matchmaker is the Shadow Lord’s greatest weapon, until you came along. He wants you, and he sent her to claim you for him. The beast wasn’t going to kill you. It was going to carry you back to Tarth’Ral.”
Her jaw dropped and her chest rose and fell as she tried to control her breath. Anxiety and fear bubbled in her gut. She couldn’t imagine standing face to face with the Shadow Lord, much lest be one of his dark agents of death.
Chills raced up her spine.
Her eyes widened.
“And, what of the young man from the Dream Walk? Who was he?”
