Chapter 17: I Am Your Only Sanctuary
Horus!
The name, though not particularly unusual in this world, resonated with a strange power, a sense of ancient majesty.
It was a name befitting such a mysterious and enigmatic figure.
Candice, utterly captivated by the name Qin Chu had casually borrowed from Egyptian mythology, swallowed nervously. “Great Horus,” she began, her voice barely a whisper, “I have one final question…”
Qin Chu shrugged, his expression indulgent. “I’m in a generous mood.”
Candice, her heart leaping with hope, seized the opportunity.
This powerful being, despite his initial coldness, seemed approachable, at least when his mood was favorable. He had effortlessly exposed her deepest secret, yet he treated her with a casual indifference, as if she were of little consequence.
And then there was his uncanny knowledge of Benson’s movements, his awareness of the Seventh Prince’s hiding place…
And that terrifying vision she had glimpsed when his anger flared, the world painted red with blood, the stench of death filling her nostrils…
She was increasingly convinced that he was an ancient being, his true power masked by his youthful appearance.
She had to tread carefully. Such beings were often capricious, their moods shifting unpredictably.
She clasped her hands together, her voice trembling slightly. “Great Horus,” she began, “I have no desire to pry into your… conflict with the Hero Squad. It is my honor to assist you, to fulfill any task you deem beneath your… notice.”
“If you have any further requests, Great Horus, I am at your service.”
She wanted to make her intentions clear, to appease him, to avoid incurring his wrath.
“However,” she continued, her voice gaining a hint of desperation, “there is one question that plagues me. How do you know so much about my past? It’s as if… as if you witnessed it all firsthand…”
It wasn’t just witnessing. It felt as if he had been watching her, every step of the way, for twenty-one years. That was the truly terrifying part.
She needed answers.
Qin Chu chuckled. “You told me,” he said, his voice laced with amusement.
“What?” Candice gasped, her eyes widening in disbelief. “That’s… that’s impossible! This is the first time we’ve met!”
Qin Chu’s smile widened, his expression enigmatic. “Some truths,” he said, his voice taking on a cryptic tone, “are revealed without words.”
Candice stared at him, utterly bewildered.
Was he speaking in riddles?
She mentally rolled her eyes, hoping he hadn’t noticed her irreverence.
She glanced up, her gaze meeting his. He was watching her, a knowing smile playing on his lips.
She flinched, her heart skipping a beat.
He had heard her thoughts.
She quickly banished any further irreverent musings, hoping he would forgive her transgression.
Fortunately, Great Horus seemed to be in a forgiving mood.
He leaned forward, his voice low and resonant.
“My eyes…” he began, his gaze piercing hers, “can see through time.”
“When I looked at you, I saw your heart, your past, your future…”
Candice’s brow furrowed. That was… a bold claim. What kind of eyes could see through time, could unravel the secrets of a person’s past and future?
Qin Chu, ignoring her skepticism, continued. “You’ve endured much, Candice. You project an image of strength, of maturity. But it’s a facade. Deep down, you’re still a child, longing for…”
He paused, his gaze locking onto hers, as if peering into her soul.
“Acceptance,” he finished, his voice soft yet firm.
“From anyone. Humans, Demons… it doesn’t matter. You just want to belong, to find a place where you are welcomed, where you are loved.”
“That is your weakness, Candice. The Demons despise you for your human blood. The humans fear you for your Demon heritage.”
“You live among them, enjoying their world, yet terrified of exposure. You know the truth, yet you refuse to face it.”
Her lips trembled, her face draining of all color.
“You struggle to justify your actions, clinging to the hope of acceptance from both sides. But your indecision, your weakness, will be your undoing. Fence-sitters never fare well in times of war.”
“Deep down, you know the Demons will never truly accept you. You are a tool to them, nothing more. Once you outlive your usefulness, they will discard you.”
“And the humans… even if you betray the Demons, offer them your knowledge, your loyalty… once they have what they want, they will kill you too.”
He was right.
Qin Chu didn’t possess the ability to see through time. He had learned of Candice’s past from her own lips.
Four years from now, driven to despair, she would confess her true identity to the human leaders, hoping for redemption.
They would grant her a temporary reprieve, extracting every bit of information she possessed before handing her over to the Hero Squad, who would execute her for her “tainted” blood.
Her eyes, filled with a mixture of fear and despair, met his.
He had stripped away her illusions, forcing her to confront the bleak reality of her situation.
“What… what am I supposed to do?” she whispered, her voice trembling, tears welling up in her eyes.
“It’s simple,” Qin Chu said, his voice calm and reassuring. “You don’t need the Demons’ acceptance. You don’t need the humans’ acceptance. You only need one person to accept you.”
“Who?”
“Me.”
Candice stared at him, her mind reeling. “You… you accept me?” she asked, her voice barely a whisper.
“Of course,” Qin Chu replied, his smile widening. “To me, all beings are equal.”
“Demons, humans, birds, beasts, fish, insects… they are all merely different expressions of life, all equally worthy of respect.”
“I am your sanctuary, Candice.”
His words, spoken with a quiet intensity, sent shivers down her spine.
Abandoned by her father, used by her mother, rejected by both humans and Demons… she had believed she had no place in this world. But this man, this mysterious and powerful being, offered her acceptance, a safe haven from the storm.
A warmth, unfamiliar and comforting, spread through her chest.
She wanted to believe him, to cling to his words, to find solace in his presence.
But then he spoke again, his voice taking on a colder, more calculating tone.
“But I require a token of your loyalty.”
“A token?” she asked, her brow furrowing.
“A Demon is approaching,” he said, his gaze fixed on her, his eyes gleaming with a strange light.
“Kill him. Prove to me that you have severed your ties with the Demonfolk.”
He would make her his.
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