37 Do You Understand?

Just outside of Metropolis, there was a small farming village. In the past, the people who lived here made their living from supplying goods to the old South Market, but as the place fell into decline in recent years, depriving them of their way of life, the village population was also on the decline as the younger generations sought greener pastures, leaving behind only the older folks who found it hard to move, both physically and sentimentally.

It was a little after eight in the night, but in this little village the residents had long gone to bed, so it was a quite startling when the boisterous roar of a car engine filled the air, causing the old folks to jump out of their beds and come out to see.

What they saw was a black car zooming down the dirt road at a frightening speed, looking as though it had no intentions of stopping, but as it came upon the large stone steps leading towards the old temple shrine, the tires screeched as the back of the car swung around, raising dust and dirt before coming to a complete stop.

Full of concern, yet fearful, the group of elderlies gathered around a distance away from the vehicle and only looked on while murmuring among themselves when door of the right side of the car opened and the crisp laughter of a woman rang through the night.

"You should see the look on your face."

Then the door on the left side opened and a man wearing a white dress shirt and grey pants with expensive looking shoes stepped down, a look of deep disapproval etched into his handsome features that were like the work of gods as he looked over the car's roof to whoever was on the other side.

"It's not funny."

Archer's heart was still racing and his shirt was sticking to his body from the cold sweat that broke out on him earlier.

He hadn't wanted her to drive because he could see that 'Ruby' was drunk, but the woman kept on insisting that she wasn't drunk and refused to let him drive, shoving him into the passenger seat and shutting the door, so he could only let her drive. But, he hadn't expected this crazy, street driving. He could only thank god that they were coming to the outskirts and not somewhere inside the city, she would have certainly caused an accident or gotten charged. He didn't even know what they were here for.

"It's a little bit funny." When those smiling golden eyes full of mischief peeked out from the other side of the car to look at him, Archer felt whatever anger he had magically melt away and he could only sigh.

"Can you at least tell me why we're here?"

"Oh look, the locals came out to greet us. Hello!"

She wasn't listening.

"Sorry for the disturbance!" Archer called out while waving at the group of elderly people in their sleep wear.

Seeing that it was a couple of good looking young people, these older generation obviously 'understood' and after waving back in good nature, turned to return to their homes. It was nice to be young.

Archer sighed in relief that the old folks didn't take them to task for making so much noise at this hour of the night and turned back to the wild little woman across the roof only to see two black objects flying towards him.

"Here, hold these."

Short of smacking him in his face, when Archer caught the two items and looked at them, he saw that they were a pair of high heels. He arched his brow then looked up when he heard the car door close only to see 'Ruby' running ahead of him, bare foot, up the large stairs to the temple.

"You're still standing there?" She called over her shoulder, her smile taunting, but she didn't slow down.

Seeing that he would be left behind if he didn't move soon, Archer could only shake his head and closed the car door before chasing after her with the shoes in his hands.

"How did you learn to drive like that?" He asked between pants as he took the stairs two at a time to catch up with the teasing little cat that was far ahead of him.

"I was friends with a professional racer in my last life."

That wasn't a lie, but Archer took it as a joke none the less and when they finally made it to the top of the stairs he stopped and bent over on his knees to catch his breath. But when he looked up again, it was to see the fleeting shadow of the one out of the two of them who knew where they were going, disappearing into the trees beyond the temple building.

"Goddamit! Ruby!" He called out and chased after her.

Sprinting into the trees, Archer couldn't see a trace of the woman anywhere, but he kept running; running and searching and calling out her name, but he got no replies.

"Damn!" Did he lose her? Or was that crazy drunk the one who was lost?

Standing in place and looking around and around, Archer suddenly heard a twig snap behind him and when he turned around, it was to see a figure crouched low behind him, bright golden eyes shining in the moonlight that spilled through the spaces in the trees.

Slowly, a smile bloomed on those red, rose petal like lips and she chuckled naughtily. "I got caught."

"Ruby..." Archer felt helpless. How can she play around at a time like this?

Isabel laughed at 'Sage's' expression that reminded her of Davina when other woman would say 'what am I going to do with you' then she lunged forward and grabbed the man's hand, pulling him along in the direction she wanted him to go and soon, at the end of the trail they were walking on, light could be seen.

"Why is there light all the way out here?" Archer was curious and he wanted to go forward to see, but he felt a tugging on his hand that brought him to a stop.

"Wait, wait. If you go just like that, then it wouldn't be a surprise anymore."

Archer looked down at Isabel whose cheeks were flushed red, an obvious sign of her drunken state, big golden eyes watery and bright under the moonlight.

She wanted to surprise him? It really made him wonder what was up there.

"Close your eyes."

"Why?" This little cat was unpredictable; he wouldn't listen to what she said so easily.

"Just trust me."

She pulled on his arm like a pleading child and Archer smiled while raising his hand to tuck away a stray strand of hair from her face.

"Only for tonight?"

"Only for tonight."

No longer asking, Archer did as he was told and closed his eyes.

Seeing him close his eyes, Isabel then waved her hands in front of his eyes to make sure he wasn't peaking then she held his hand and started leading him forward as she spoke.

"Imagine that you're a king ruling over an entire kingdom; by your side there are the nobles of your kingdom, the commoners and the other branches of the royal family. For generations, your royal bloodline has built the kingdom into what it is and now, its in your hands."

Archer didn't know what she was getting at, but imagining what she was saying wasn't hard; he was the CEO of Reign Enterprises that his predecessors had built from the ground up for generations. There were the board members around him, the employees and the other branches of the Ryan family, he felt that he fit the role perfectly.

"Now imagine that one day, another kingdom invades; fearing for their lives, the commoners refuse to fight, wanting to protect their interests, the nobles don't resist and since they don't hold any power in the first place, the other members of the royal family all flee and leave you to face the enemy alone, looting the castle on the way out."

Archer felt as if a bucket of ice cold water had been dumped on his head, but he could still vividly imagine what she was saying. If after all these years, Reign was to fall to another competitor he could see those greedy, selfish bastards not trying to help him and even turning to help the invading force instead in hopes of gaining a higher position in the new establishment and the branch families stealing assets and running away.

He could envision it all so clearly and if it were to happen tomorrow he wouldn't be surprised at their actions. The thought was disheartening to say the least, but what was her point? Why did 'Ruby' bring him out here?

Suddenly, Archer felt two small palms fall on his chest and he instinctively came to a halt.

"Now, when you open your eyes, I want you to think of everything that you see in front of you as that kingdom, everything that you have built and could lose then think of if there is anything that could possibly mean more to you. When those forces invade, what will you choose My King?"

'Ruby's' words made him shudder and Archer's heart was racing in his chest as he slowly opened his eyes.

What he saw before him was a wide stretch of land, reaching for miles, and although they weren't far from the city, perhaps it was the angle they were viewing it from but the lights seemed to be miles away, twinkling beautifully like fireflies in the night. The endless starry sky and the glowing crescent moon, it was like a dream.

This was his kingdom and if it were to be invaded...

"Is there anything you would unhesitatingly risk losing all of this to protect?"

Glancing over, Archer's eyes couldn't help but widen.

Under the soft moon glow, the woman was sitting at the top of a metal guard rail, her face tilted slightly to the sky as her dark hair billowed behind her in the wind and her golden eyes were like brilliantly shining suns in the dark.

At that moment, Archer felt as though he had found something that he would willing trade even his very life for.

Seeing the man staring at her without blinking, Isabel blinked her eyes and tilted her head. "What?"

"You..." Archer ran his hands through his hair and walked over, placing his hands on either side of her on the rail, his chin coming down to rest on her shoulder. "You really are drunk, aren't you?"

He had fallen for this woman hook, line and sinker.

"You're the one whose drunk!" Isabel slapped his chest as she was trapped against him. "I'll have you know, I have very good alcohol tolerance."

That may have been true once, but Isabel had forgotten, she was no longer the experienced drinker from the future, the body she had now was fresh and new to alcohol, she had been drunk since her second class of 'Poison Kiss' tonight.

If it wasn't for the unique quality of most of the signature drinks at Kiss of Death in the sense that they were composed to not have that head muddling effect liquor usually had and no hang over no matter how much you drank, she would have been a bumbling mess since long ago.

"Yes, yes. You're the world drinking champion, is that fine?"

"Don't humor me, 'Sage'. Do you understand why I brought you here?"

"I understand, I understand." Archer laughed as Isabel pushed against his forehead with her index finger. "But it would be ungentlemanly of me not to humor the lady."

He was feeling very grateful to 'Ruby' right now, she had made him realize a lot of things from this short trip and he felt as though the world had gotten a lot simpler.

"Alright, alright." He held her wrist and brought it down. "It's getting late, you should get home, no? Let's go back."

Isabel sighed then she thought of her babies and nodded. "Mmm. We should go."

Archer was about to step back and allow her to stand when 'Ruby' suddenly wrapped her arms around his neck.

"I'm too tired to walk. Carry me back."

Archer stared down at those golden eyes that were now very close to his face and his heart he cursed this little vixen. Did she have no self-awareness at all?!

Pressing down his complaints in his chest, Archer picked her up off the rail, one arm looping around her waist while the other swept her up behind her knees and 'Ruby' very naturally and quite comfortably rested her head against his chest.

"How strong." She said in a fake gruff voice while poking at his chest, causing Archer's muscles to quiver, but he didn't show it in his expression and looked down at the infuriating woman in his arms, his voice low and husky.

"How can this king protect what's important to him if he's not strong."

Isabel looked up at him then, her eyes wide and innocent, but her words could make a man spit blood.

"Don't let it go to your head."

Archer didn't know whether to laugh or cry at that moment.

A chilly night wind blew and Isabel who had already settled down in Archer's arms couldn't help but shiver and seeing that, Archer no longer stood still and moved his legs to head back in the direction that they came and when they once again arrived at the car at the bottom on the temple stairs, he was stunned to see that this incredulous little cat... had actually fallen asleep!

ON another note....

Back at the Kiss of Death, a certain bartender was crying without tears as he cleared the counter of the glasses left behind by a certain couple of beautiful people.

"They didn't even pay before they left ah!"

Thankfully that guy was a regular, he would just add it on his tab, hopefully the boss wouldn't blame him and he wouldn't lose his job; boss was scary when he got angry, even though he was usually so cute.

All beautiful people were evil ah!