Jian Wei and Mei Ling were being watched closely now. A gathering was called beneath the curtained lanterns of the Eastern guest quarters, just the disciples, sitting in a tight circle. Mei Ling spoke first.
" They think it was us."
Jian Wei's jaw tensed. " It wasn't"
" Doesn't matter," Yue Chen yue said quietly. " Someone wants it to look like it was ."
"No," Said Li Liu,voice sharper than usual. " We stay. We finish the mission and find out who or what it was ."
Everyone nodded, agreeing with her .
Elsewhere in the chamber where Bai Lu remained. The silence pressed on her shoulders like wet silk. She could still hear echoes of Mei ling's laugh... Jian Wei's voice...the way he looked at Mei Ling like she was the only star in a dark sky. It made her sick.
Quietly,she slipped outside,past the pavilion,past the lanterns and into the forest. She moved like she was being pulled ,by anger ,by longing ,by something deeper. The trees thickened. The air cooled. Then , a voice from the shadows.
" Still wandering like a lost lamb , sister?"
Bai Lu turned sharply. " Who__"
A figure stepped from behind a twisted pine tree,her eyes glowing faintly. Long white robe,hair like ink. Bai Qi.
"You're not going to pretend you don't recognize me ,are you?"
" I don't," Bai Lu whispered, though her voice shook.
Bai Qi stepped closer,head tilted like a cat toying with a Sparrow. " You like him." She said softly. " That Jian Wei boy . You want him, don't you?"
Bai Lu' s silence was answer enough.
"But she keeps getting in your way. Mei Ling. Always laughing, always so...nice," Bai Qi's mouth twisted in disgust.
Bai Lu looked. " He doesn't see me "
" He will," Bai Qi replied. " You just have to stop Pretending. "
" Pretending?."
" That you're like them," she hissed . " You're not. You're not mortal. You are not weak. You're not clean ."
Bai Lu flinched.
"You have power " Bai Qi said . " Blood - deep. You were born with it . You can make him love you."
"No," Bai Qi breathed. " Not like that."
Bai Qi leaned closer,eyes flickering gold. " You don't have to kill anyone. Not yet. But the fight is only beginning, Lu Jiejie. When it gets real...when the fire starts to rise... you'll remember who you are. "
She turned, melting back into the shadows. And just before she vanished. " Stop Pretending to be what you're not. " Then she was gone. And Bai Lu stood alone. The forest was quiet again but her heart wasn't.