CHAPTER 34: 34. A WOMAN FROM A DARK

AT THE SAME TIME

MEI SHEN’S POINT OF VIEW:

The throbbing in my skull sharpened, turning into a searing, twisting pain that made it hard to focus. My hands gripped the fabric of my robe as my vision blurred at the edges. It felt like something was trying to claw its way into my mind or out of it.

"Ah-" I gasped softly, biting back a cry.

The cup I held slipped from my fingers and shattered on the floor. Huan stirred in his sleep, mumbling faintly, but I couldn’t move to soothe him. My chest felt tight, and every sound in the room seemed amplified: the crackle of the lantern flames, the rustle of leaves outside, even the faint hum of Zeyrith’s presence.

"Little star..." Zeyrith’s voice was uncharacteristically sharp now. "That’s not just a headache. Something or someone is pushing through. You need to hold on."

The system’s voice overlapped, urgent and clipped.

"Warning: neural overload detected. Stabilization required. Initiating protective measures, error. External interference detected. Unknown signature."The system said.

The pain flared again, blinding, like a white hot blade slicing through my thoughts. My knees buckled.

"No, wait-" I gasped out, but my words were slurred.

The room spun wildly, lantern light streaking across my vision in dizzying trails. Zeyrith’s voice grew louder, edged with frustration.

"Stay with me, Mei Shen! Don’t you dare fade yet. I’ve waited too long for this."Zeyrith shouted.

But it was too late. Darkness swept over me in a suffocating wave. The last thing I felt was a pair of strong arms catching me before I hit the floor, and the faint sound of Lianwei’s panicked voice calling my name, over and over, as if willing me to come back.

It was quiet. Not the kind of peaceful quiet you get at night, but the deep, echoing silence that feels heavy like being underwater, far below the surface where no sound can reach you. I floated, or maybe I was just... there. Weightless. Numb. Then a faint sound stirred, soft as a sigh. A woman’s voice, warm and gentle, like silk brushing over my raw edges.

"Stay with me... please."A woman whispered.

The words curled around me, tugging at the edges of my awareness.

"Who...?" My voice was weak, barely a whisper. I wasn’t even sure if I had spoken out loud or only thought it.

"Don’t leave yet. I’ve waited so long for you. You don’t have to be alone anymore."She whispered.

Something in her tone cracked, like she was holding back tears. It wasn’t Zeyrith. It wasn’t the system either. This voice carried a deep ache, a longing that resonated through my very bones.

"I... don’t understand." My mind felt sluggish, like I was trying to wade through thick fog.

"You will. Just... please fight. I can’t reach you if you let go now."She muttered.

The voice came closer, wrapping me in a cocoon of warmth. It smelled faintly like flowers, roses, maybe. My chest tightened painfully at the familiarity.

"You’ve always deserved a mother’s love. Let me be that for you."She muttered.

The fog trembled, and suddenly images flickered across my mind, half formed memories that weren’t mine. A woman with long, flowing hair is standing in this same palace garden. Laughing. Singing. Holding out her hands.

"Rosalie...?" I whispered the name, leaving my lips before I even knew I was thinking it.

"Yes, little one. I couldn’t stay before, but this time... I will. Just stay."Rosalie whispered.

Something warm pressed against my cheek, a phantom touch, tender, comforting. But then another voice cut through, sharp and foreign, dripping with amusement.

"Oh? And here I thought she was mine to claim."Another voice whispered.

The comforting warmth wavered as icy fingers of malice crept in. The air turned heavy, suffocating.

’"She is not yours to take." Rosalie’s voice snapped, fierce now. "Go back to the shadows where you belong."

"Tch. So protective. Let’s see how long you can hold me off."A voice said.

The headache flared again, searing pain cracking across my skull. I screamed, clutching at my head though I wasn’t sure if I even had hands here.

"Stay with me, Mei Shen!" Rosalie shouted. "I’m not letting them win. Not this time."

The warmth surged again, like a shield pushing the darkness back. But the other voice only laughed, retreating slowly.

"Fine, fine. But I’ll be back, little star. After all... broken toys like you are my specialty."A voice laughed.

The shadows slithered away, and for a moment, there was only Rosalie’s soft humming, wrapping around me like a lullaby.

"You’re safe now. Just rest. I’ll be here when you wake."Rosalie whispered.

And as the pain ebbed slightly, I felt myself sinking into a deeper layer of unconsciousness, but this time, it wasn’t cold or lonely. It felt like... home.

AT EXACT MOMENT

EMPEROR LIANWEI POINT OF VIEW:

The sound of something fragile shattering pulled me from my thoughts.

"Mei Shen?" I said sharply, bolting upright in my chair.

She was sitting up in bed moments ago, Huan curled asleep at her side, her eyes soft and distant like she was finally feeling safe again. But now her fingers clawed at the sheets, knuckles white, as her body began to tremble. A low, pained sound slipped from her throat.

"Mei Shen!"I shouted.

I was at her side in an instant, catching her as her body seized with another wave of pain. Her skin was clammy, her breath ragged, and her beautiful face twisted in agony.

"Talk to me, please. What’s wrong?" My voice cracked.

No answer. Just a soft whimper as her head rolled weakly toward my chest. Panic coiled in my gut, sharp and suffocating. I cupped her face, trying to ground her.

"It’s alright I’m here. I’m not going anywhere." My heart hammered wildly as I pressed my forehead to hers.

She felt so hot, yet her hands were ice cold. Huan stirred in his sleep beside us, but I couldn’t bring myself to wake him. He didn’t need to see this.

"Mei Shen, please..."I whispered.

"Oh dear... so dramatic for a little migraine, hm?" The voice cut through the room like a blade dipped in honey. Cold. Mocking. I froze.

"Zeyrith?" I growled. "What’s happening to her?"

"Oh no, not me, my prince." The air shimmered faintly, and the presence of something vast pressed down on my shoulders.

"Who are you?!" I demanded, shielding Mei Shen instinctively as the light flickered overhead.

"Someone with a vested interest in our little star here." The voice was male now deep and smooth, with an edge of amusement. "She’s... special. Surely you’ve noticed? Her soul doesn’t belong to your world. Not entirely, just a little like you."

My blood ran cold.

"You’re saying she’s-"I started.

"A traveler. Like Rosalie before her."He said.

"Rosalie?" I choked out, my thoughts spinning back to what my mother and grandmother had said earlier. She was here once too.

"Ah, you’re catching up quickly for a mortal." The voice chuckled. "Rosalie fought to stay. Your little Mei Shen... she’s fighting too. But something’s trying to tear her away."

I looked down at her, her face pale and twisted in pain, tears slipping from her closed eyes.

"What’s hurting her? Tell me!"I shouted.

"Two forces." Zeyrith’s voice gentler than before replaced the mocking one, cutting through my panic. "One trying to anchor her here. Another trying to pull her back to her world or worse."

"Worse?"I asked.

"The void between worlds doesn’t take kindly to stray souls."God expalained.

"Then how do I stop it? How do I help her?" My grip on Mei Shen tightened as if I could will her pain into myself.

"Anchor her. Give her every reason to stay. Your bond is her tether. Remind her of it."He said.

"She already knows." I whispered fiercely, brushing damp strands of hair from her face. "But I’ll remind her a thousand times if I have to."

"Good. Then be quick about it, little prince. Or she’ll slip through your fingers before dawn."He said.

The presence faded, but the air stayed heavy. Mei Shen let out another pained moan, and I pressed my lips to her temple.

"I’m not letting you go." I whispered against her skin, my voice breaking. "Not now. Not ever.

"Mommy?"Huan muttered.

I pulled him gently closer with one arm, cradling both of them now.

"I promise." I said again, more to myself than anyone else. "You’ll never be alone. Not here. Not with us."