14 Althea's Rage

I do know how I am scared,

Around you, but you cared.

It was as if I am in despair,

To get out, even if I am impaired.

***

THE YEAR 1904, a century away from the present time.

Althea gritted her teeth as she mumbled, "I was cursed for being unfortunate, but you are in front of me, explaining how you had been lonely with your life without even knowing what I had been through my life."

Qing Long stared up at her with puzzled eyes. Althea just huffed some air through her mouth annoyingly and stated, "Let me tell you something about your legend, or your curse, or whatever it is. But Qing Long, or should I call you the way you are entitled with, should I? You are King Wang Qing Long, am I right?"

Qing Long didn't move an inch from his place as he waited for Althea to continue what she was trying to convey. She sighed sarcastically and muttered, "Alright. I will call you by your title, King Wang Qing Long. Ever since I became an orphan, every night my grandmother always talked about you."

She gritted her teeth, as she remembered her grandmother, alone in the room, praying into something, praising King Wang Qing Long, the one in front of her. It crossed her mind so vividly that Althea didn't know if she should continue. Althea knuckled her fists as she continued, "My grandmother always said that King Wang Qing Long was being mistreated. The folklore and everything around you, she wanted to oppose all of that. But in the present time, it was prohibited to even say your name."

Althea said that while pointing her finger slightly towards him. Qing Long's face was free of any emotions and no one can disturb him from it. Althea breathed in loathing on the side as the image of her grandmother glancing at the clouds, saying Qing Long's name, while a heavy truck accidentally smashed her body to death came on replaying on Althea's head. She controlled the fear rising in her veins as she turned to Qing Long once again.

"It was forbidden folklore no one talked about on the country, but me, as a nobody, used your legend to win over the audience of a writing competition I badly wanted to. It was my grandmother's dream, for me to become an author, but...," Althea could not continue as the tears welled up in her eyes. She looked up with a sad face towards the one who caused her fortunes to be cursed too.

"Your legend came in my way. Your curse also sided with my fortunes, and that's why I wanted to steer clear of any evidence that will lead to you, King Wang Qing Long," Althea didn't know why she was bursting out all of this. This man, it was just a few hours after she met him, and yet, she knew that it was the one on the curse. Althea never had a chance to rant these things around at the present time, but she knew that if she wanted to go back, this would be the perfect time to let all of her feelings out.

If it was a dream, then it will be good to just wake up and not feel the coldness she experienced down by the waters.

"I never wanted to know the Legend of the Cursed Dragon, it's just that... my grandmother always cherished every single of it, and I don't know why," Althea said as she sobbed and remembered how her grandmother died. Wang Qing Long's face turned into a soft one as he remembered someone who cried the same as Althea.

"It was Ai Xi," Qing Long whispered in the air as he sighed and closed his eyes. Althea heard her grandmother's name and she shot up her eyes open. She slowly looked up from hiding her face underneath her elbows and sniffed. Althea knuckled on her fists as Qing Long was surprised that he had said it.

"You said... Ai Xi?" Althea asked, couldn't believe that she heard it. Qing Long just shook his head as he cleared his throat and stood up from the rock. Althea grabbed a hold of his wrists and dragged him forcefully, facing him into her. Qing Long was surprised by her touch but Althea was as strong as a rock. He widened his eyes as Althea searched through his gazes.

"I heard my grandmother's name through your lips. What she got to do with you?" Althea hissed furiously while she swiftly grabbed the rock on the front of her feet. She raised her hand while holding the rock and Qing Long controlled himself from smiling.

"Ai Xi, she's my best friend. The one who... made my empire running without a Queen. She was... been dead a long time ago, so you must have... heard wrong through my lips," Qing Long said while Althea still tugged on his silky robes. Althea's prying eyes made Qing Long stared into the depths of its azure shade and they were both gazing into each other for a long time. He cleared his throat as Qing Long raised another hand slowly and put it above Althea's.

Althea was still clenching her jaw, and she was surprised when she felt a touch from Qing Long. It was warm, like milk that had been poured through a small cup, and she immediately retrieved her wrist. She hid it behind her back and glared at Qing Long.

"I think you need some time to rest, it was nightfall---"

"I don't want to leave here unless you will say who is Ai Xi," Althea quickly rebutted with her stern face. Qing Long sighed as he licked his lips and looked into her eyes. He puffed his cheeks as he was unsure if he would say it or not.

"You will not understand every single thing I will explain---"

"Just tell me why the hell do you know my grandmother's name!" Althea shouted as she put her hands on the sides of her head. Qing Long halted as he was astonished why Althea raised her voice. She huffed some air as she shook her head and yelled, "I don't even know where I am yet you are saying my grandmother's name! It was something I could not even understand. So please, just answer me!"

"You would not understand---" Qing Long was cut off when Althea brushed her wooden shoes on the ground and turned her heel around. Her hair flowed on her shoulders as she was holding the huge rock and threatened to the man that he must not follow her. Qing Long opened his mouth slightly as he raised his hand and Althea shot her eyes open wide.

"Don't follow me or I'll kill you," Althea muttered in a menacing voice as she stepped swiftly down by the steep stairs of the mountains. Qing Long knuckled his fists and immediately followed Althea while clasping the sheath of the Jian on his hips.