1 Black Tiger 01

Darkness. The night is forever mine. No stars nor light could be seen but it is a safe veil for me to wear. But a horrifying urge to wish has plagued my being. Wishing is not my right as a slave. Wishing was what gave me this darkness that will forever follow me to death. It has been the reason that has kept me breathing in this courtyard. It is what has brought me to this place. The mist blew warmth onto my face as I knelt before the wet edge of the pool. I reached down to where I laid the towel and dip it into the water I had filled. I raised it to where I knew he would usually sit comfortably. The flesh was soft yet firm. I caressed the scars that marred his back. They littered his skin deeply which told of the horrors he went through as a child of war. His back was wide and filled with boundless strength and power restraint within his taut muscles which flex under his skin whenever he moved. Every touch of my cool finger tips to the heat of his back paints the terrifying magnificence of this man before me. Every moment spent in this room gathers more fire to my burning desire to see the harsh overbearing beauty this man. Every time I washed his back. I curse my blindness.

"My Lord, Emperor has begun the investigation. What should be done?" The man who usually comes to report to him asked after reciting a long-winded account of what was currently happening. I pretended I did not hear anything. I was a wall. A beam. A mute retarded servant. I dared not breath or make a sound.

"Hmm. Remind Minister Gou what should be done. All remain on duty." His deep voice resounded in the vast space of the bathing room like that of a dragon. It held power which send a shiver down my spine and numb the tips of fingers and toes as they curled at the sensation. Dark and deep.

I wondered if he was as dark and dangerous as his name.

Black Tiger.

That was his name. Whispered in fear.

What followed his steps were dangers from his enemies in the shadows.

"Sir" The sound of the panel closing behind indicated the man's exit. A brooding silence shrouded him, and I was left to admire his powerful body. I was lost again in seeing what he was like with every touch that seems unintentional on my part, but I was jolted to attention at the heavy sigh that escaped him. I put down the towel on the low stand on the right side. It was more of a stair step that descended from the little raise of the pool's edge that the Lord liked to rest his elbows on. I rose carefully on the last step I had knelt on, with my bare feet I began to tentatively get closer to his hair. I knew where everything was but the amount of water that splashed on the smooth stone steps I knew from experience I would fall and cause trouble for Master. With practice, I sat down much closer to his back that radiated heat that seems to invade my cold one. I unwound his untamed hair. Placing his glazed high-quality hairpin to the left side. I sank my skinny almost skeleton-like fingers into his thick hair to soothe his scalp with light scratches. I love this moment. Since I could hear the satisfied sounds that left him. He was like a placated bear. The noises from his lips were endearing. They burrowed into my heart like worms eating away my rotten heart. Reverberating in my ears like the death toll. I allowed a moment of rebellion to slip a smile on my face. I knew I won't get in trouble since I have always kept my head low. I ran my fingers through his hair one last time before reaching down where I had always placed the comb on the right of him and dip it in the water I raised the wet comb and softly comb his hair. I made sure that his hair was washed like this. To make it smooth and glossy. Though I have not seen what glossy looks like. I know what it feels like. I never wanted this to be over. So, I slowed down my pace.

The sound of the panel opening again jolted me out of my foolish thoughts. I reverently put down his hair and the comb and with a bowed head, I expertly step down the three steps to stand to the side as I feel the air move with the new arrival.

"Sire, Vice-Captain Lei is in the antechamber waiting for you."