The Inconceivable Flame: A Fallen Angel's Disguise

Ru almost choked on air as his words had struck her like lightning. ’His life? For a lifetime?’ Those words sounded so bloody wrong but they felt so bloody right. Even her hand trembled and she had to clutch her knee to hide her trembling.

Those were simple but yet mind-boggling words for her. She had lived between men, grew up like one herself. But she never thought such words could have any effect on her. Surprisingly, they did! Her mind was in shambles.

Before she could get her composure back, she heard his voice again, "I can tell that she means a lot to you. And you might mean a lot more to her. But I don’t plan on backing off without a fight."

’Hold on! What?’ She couldn’t tell what he was saying. ’Does he think Alev is in love with Rong? But that would mean I’m in love with myself!’ She really wanted to laugh at this irony.

"Wha-What are we fighting for?" Ru stuttered probably for the very first time in her life.

"Fight for her love." Xiao Zhi Ren answered calmly this time.

Ru closed her eyes as her lips curled into a self-mocking smile. She rubbed her forehead and asked, "Why? Why do you want to fight for her sake? She hides behind a disguise. She can only bring chaos with herself. She’s a battle in herself."

"But she’s also a battle worth fighting for." He said with a beautiful smile gracing his handsome face.

’Bloody son of a bachelor!!!!’ She had the urge to laugh at his face but just couldn’t bring herself to do so. Her mind wasn’t listening to her while her heart felt like it was awoken ever so gently and now, it was stirring her emotions.

"Your battle isn’t with me. It’s with her own self. She’s the one hiding behind the facade of darkness. How can an angel like you wish to choose a demon like her?" She was trying to persuade him to give up. Because the look in his eyes was scaring her. The warmth she felt from him wasn’t shallow anymore, the sincerity and love in his eyes wasn’t a lie anymore. But she so badly wanted it all to be just a big fat lie!

"She’s the bittersweet mystery of the night

She’s my angel who lost her light

With demons hiding in her mind

and dreams she’s scared to see

under the moonlight

Fallen bloodsoaked from the sky

she’s my last wisps of golden grace

Her body might be cut

Her soul might be broken

Her wings might be torn

And her halo might be crooked

But for me...

She will always be a fallen angel

Hiding behind her disguise."

His voice brought a sudden pain to emerge in her heart as if someone was tearing her heart apart. The pain shifted to her head as some voices resurfaced in her mind.

["You think I’m beautiful?" She could recognize her own voice.

"Just like an angel." The other masculine voice answered.

"An angel? Ha! I’m more like a devil that too with my tattered wings." She could hear the sarcasm in her own voice.

"If your wings are shedding feather, I’m here to collect them. If your wings are torn apart, I’m here as your needle and thread to put them back together."

"Why?" She asked incredulously.

"Because even if you fall, you will still be my angel. After all, fallen angels are still angels just painted in shadows."]

The memory seemed foreign but it felt like hers. When did it happen? And with whom? She didn’t know.

"She’s a demon craving chaos... You’re the angel looking for solace..." The words left her mouth before she could even stop them. It was on impulse but Xiao Zhi Ren could tell it was the reality.

"You should leave now, Mr. Xiao." Ru suddenly said as if being in close space with him will ignite the flame that had scorched with her soul long ago.

Xiao Zhi Ren naturally didn’t make any comment. He had said whatever he had to say. He didn’t want to hide his love. If he wasn’t scared of losing Ru, he wouldn’t even hide it from her as well.

"It was nice meeting you, Mr. Knight." With that Xiao Zhi Ren extended his hand towards her and after a moment of hesitation, Ru shook his hand. But the touch of her cold hands made Xiao Zhi Ren frown in confusion.

While walking out, his mind was wondering about the touch that felt too familiar. Was he missing Ru so much that he was imagining her everywhere now? Turning his head back to see the empty corridor with only bodyguards keeping watch, he wondered, ’But was it really a mistake?’