Chapter 45
2184words
"What is happening?" he asked one of the ladies.
"The Saintess will be getting married tomorrow. The Lotus palace had given gifts to everyone in the city. It is a joyous event," she replied.
"Okay, thank you."
Upon hearing that he rode out of the city and towards the mountain, if she wanted to stop the wedding, why did she chase him away like that? What was she really thinking?
Whatever her answer was, he didn't mind because he knew one thing for sure, Valery really wanted to marry him and that's all that mattered. When he arrived at the entrance the guards welcomed him warmly and let him pass. When he arrived, he rushed to the Golden hall where Valery lives.
She was not ether but her wedding robe was hanged in there. It looked magnificent. He had not seen it since when he left the robes were still not yet finished. The robe had a very long tail depicting the carefree phoenix on the back.
He wanted her to be like that care free phoenix and live a life without any worries. Besides her robe his was hanged there, it had a lively dragon at the back. The phoenix and the dragon always complimented each other very well.
He was about to leave her room when Nora walked in with a smile.
"It's a good thing to see that you are back," she said.
"I'm glad that I did too. Where is she?" he asked her.
"At her favorite place, you will find her there," she told him without finishing all the clues and left the room.
He knew that Nora wanted him to go and personally find her. So, he left the palace and went to one place he thought of. When he arrived, he saw her standing there looking at the golden lotus.
She turned around and faced him. She wasn't smiling at all, so he didn't know whether to approach or not but he was a man so he took a step towards her and she loosened her face and smiled at him.
Upon seeing her smile, he was overwhelmed by joy that he walked faster and embraced her in his arms. She giggled as he carried her off her feet. He had never heard her giggle before and it sounded beautiful.
He put her down on the ground and looked deep into her eyes. He didn't care what happened to those that were found to be spies when he left. Whoever they were, they deserved what came to them. If you betray your master then judgment would really come for you.
"You look more beautiful than the last time I saw you," he said brushing his fingertip on her bottom lip.
"You look more handsome too. Did you sort things out with your family?" she asked after complimenting him.
"I did and thank you for giving me a chance like that," he told her.
"I'm glad that things worked out for you. So, are you back for good now?"
"Yes, I am and did you know that I will come back?"
"Yes, you are mine and you promised to never leave me. If you hadn't come back by tonight, I was going to come for you," she said with a smile.
"Then I should have waited a little," he joked with her.
"Don't," he shut her up with a kiss.
He had wanted to do that for a long time and he couldn't believe that he was now. When tomorrow comes, the whole world will know that Valery was his wife and he was hers. He would make sure that pain will be gone; he will make sure to make her happy for the rest of their lives.
He opened her eyes and saw something fascinating. She was glowing everywhere that he broke the kiss and looked at her. She noticed what was happening and she circled around.
It was all gold around her. She was happy and her magic was showing too. He looked at the golden lotus that was closed when he arrived and saw it blooming. If he were to tell anyone about this, he would be made a fool. He carried his woman and scooped her up while she continued to giggle.
Seeing how she was glowing and how the golden lotus was blooming on its own, he knew that the legend of the golden lotus will not be coming to an end but continuing.
EPILOGUE
TWENTY YEARS LATER
Qara looked at her daughter who looked so deep into the story that the Left Guardian Nora, the woman who was by her side from day one was telling.
When her mother trained her for five years, she left her with Nora, her husband Daren and other teachers that had been hired to make sure she was properly trained in order to become the next Lotus palace mistress.
She didn't know at first that she would be sitting on such a high seat before but thanks to her adopted godmother she was now the mistress. She got married to the High priest, another position that her mother opened in order for the palace to run smoothly.
She loved her husband and she was glad to have someone who shared her opinions like her. Her mother left the mountain for a secluded place with her husband the grand prince. Their love had been told over and over among the commoners.
Everyone wanted their ideal love to be like theirs and she respected that. She just hoped that her own love and her daughter's will weather the entire storm and become strong just like her mother's and her father.
****
Valery slid in the blankets and slept next to her lover and her husband. They had been married for two decades and they still looked like they were in their twenties.
She was happy living the kind of life her husband had wished for the two of them. They were away from any pugilistic world affairs. They lived their lives freely without any interference from anyone.
They built their home in a valley, a place where no one would bother to come. To the rest of the world it was called the Death Valley. It was a place one would never return once they fell but because she was born special and her husband attracted her specialness and became like her, they could live freely there without any disruption from anyone.
They had everything they needed but above all they have each other. In her life she had managed to make others happy which was a huge attainment. She bred her daughter Qara well enough for her to manage her palace while she enjoys her time with her husband.
She even has a granddaughter whom she named after her mother Wanda. Nora got married to the man she loved and they both stayed at the mountain. A lot of happy things happened even when there were some sad ones.
The emperor died and his son the crown prince took over the reins. Xavier's mother became the Imperial Grand Consort Dowager, the most powerful woman in the whole nation.
She never left her ways but at least she never bothered her after their last encounter. Her husband attracted her curse by marrying her. Because he was bonded with the golden lotus last time, he was now just like her.
She got her own happiness in the end. She was given a man that will live with her for the rest of her cursed life. They will live and die together.
Xavier looked at his wife who seemed to be thinking very hard at least it wasn't so bad. He leaned in closer and kissed her lips softly. She closed her eyes and he continued. He really loved being intimate with her.
Even after being married for two decades, he still felt like a teenager and his love for Valery kept getting stronger by the day. He wrapped his arm around her and deepened the kiss. She returned his kiss and he smiled. His wife knew what he wanted and so did he.
What his wife wanted right now, he knew it and he was going to give to it her. Whenever and wherever she needed it, he would give it to her because he not only owes his life to her but he found profound happiness and much more with her.
Just like what he promised many decades ago, he was going to keep on continuing loving her, protecting her but above all he was going to make sure the legend of the golden lotus that has affected her life and his life continues.
He was grateful for that curse, because if it wasn't for it then he would have never met such a wonderful and lovely woman he now calls his. Valery was his woman, his Saintess, his Mistress, his woman and above all his golden lotus.
As if she was hearing all his thoughts as they made love, she began to glow the way she always does whenever she was extremely happy. He broke the kiss and gazed deep into her eyes and whispered, "I love you."
She gazed at him and whispered back, "I love you too," before she locked her lips with his for another dazzling kiss.
THE END.
THE LEGEND OF THE VIPER
PROLOGUE
There were so many ways one could celebrate their twenty first birthday but never had she ever thought it would be this way. Dressed in a black beautiful and exquisite robe with the huge vicious viper on the back, she walked slowly and confident down the aisle as she went to her throne.
The hall was crowded with her followers, children to the hilt; all wearing their specific colors. Behind her the Oracle followed her. The only sound that was present was that of the drums being played. She finally arrived and stood there.
The two leaders among the Oracle stepped forward and everyone began to cite a verse she had seen and read from the ancient books. She didn't really understand why they had to go to all the trouble.
The whole thing took an hour before she was handed what was more precious. They handed her the box; from what she had heard, the box had been closed for five centuries. She opened the box and there the beauty lies.
So many precious jewels, she was born and raised in a wealthy family but this was too much. A lot of people would kill for this. One of the priestesses helped her to put on the headdress which was shaped like viper, a golden chain with a viper pendant, a bracelet, an anklet and finally the ring.
From what she was taught over the past six months she heard how powerful everything on her was. Anything could be used as a weapon but it also came with a price. A price she already paid and was still paying.
Everyone cheered and showed their appreciation before she sat on that high chair with two vipers carved as armrests. However, the ceremony wasn't done yet; she wondered just how long this was going to take because she had a party to attend too.
If she didn't show up then it was going to be a very huge problem. She might be now all powerful but her father scares her a lot.
"Viper, the ceremony has come to an end. Is there something you want to say to your children?" the lead priestess asked.
Viper stood up and looked at her children. She never thought she could just wake up and found herself with so many children. It was going to be very difficult to remember all of them.
"I'm new to all of this but I want you to know just how much I appreciate being part of the family. I hope that you will remain as loyal as you were even before I came.
I'm young and some of you may not like it but we all don't have a choice which brings me to my next statement; I hope you will never cross me or do anything that can harm my family because I can assure you one thing.
I am a very vengeful person but I can also be a loving and caring person. It's late and tonight I need all of you to return to your families and be together. Tomorrow we start the real deal," she said and began to descend the stairs going towards the aisle.
She was leaving and couldn't wait to. As much as this was exciting and all, she needed some huge rest especially after everything she had gone through.
"Viper, where do you want to go next?" the lead priest asked.
"I'm going home John and you all should too," she said and smiled.
What will be waiting for her ahead? She didn't know and surely didn't care.
