-Knock Knock-
"Enter."
"Young Miss, I brought over the Fourth Prince."
"Set him on the bed, there's a desk at the other side of the room, sit there and tie the cloth over your eyes." Shinah instructed from the dark.
"Young Miss?"
"Do as I say or take your last pay and leave."
"Yes, Young Miss." Ya Ling pulls out the chair and tied the cloth around her eyes. She sits with her back straight hands folded nervously in her lap.
"Ya Ling there's a couple items on the desk, don't ask any questions just grab the item you'd chose to defend yourself with."
Ya Ling fumbles with the items on the desk, between the whip, small axe, butterfly sword, and bow ..she hesitates before choosing the sword.
"Nice choice, put the sword on the floor."
Ya Ling places the sword on the floor and Shinah grabs it.. Ya Ling hears the sword being dragged against the floor and swiped against something several times. The scent of blood pollutes the air.
"Young Miss are you okay? I smell blood!"
"Don't pull off your blindfold....Ya Ling I've heard that you work under someone else's orders... think before you speak for it might be the last words you ever say... who do you work for?"
"Young Miss! I work under his Majesty's orders and no one else's... my job is to care and serve you even at the cost of my life!"
"You work under my fathers orders? That doesn't sound right.."
"Young Miss it's true! I would never betray the King. I follow only his majesty's orders!"
"I don't believe that's true. Just now did the king send for you?"
"I ... don't understand. You .. you sent A Knight for me to bring your Fourth Brother?"
"Yes I did, and you like a fool ...not only brought the young prince to his death you've even colluded with a young master to kidnap the princess." Ya Ling felt a chill down her spine at the change in the child's voice. She felt the sword clatter towards her feet. She jumped up pulling off the blindfold.
A young boy with golden eyes and cold features stared at her bewildered expression.
Ya Ling looks around the room for the fourth prince, the bed was covered in blood and pieces of the blanket she carried the fourth prince in.
Ya Ling fell to her knees and shook with fear. "What ... what have you done! You monster! I'll avenge the young master and miss." She grabs the bloody sword on the floor and attacks the boy.
Ya Ling was fourteen this year, was at Spirit Apprentice Level Seven and had a powerful Panda as her spirit beast.
She attacked Shinah unrestrained and fiercely. They nearly destroyed the room while waging war against each other.
Ya Ling knew she wasn't going to win so in a last attempt she decided to self detonate. "I know this doesn't erase my sins for not protecting the Young Princess and Prince but I'll take you to hell with me."
Shinah noticed her agitated state and immediately appeared behind her pressing her pressure points.
Ya Ling fell to the floor in a sorry state. Tears fell endlessly from her face. "You deserve death! You coward, even in death I'll never stop till your burning in hell with me!" Ya Ling looks at Shinah with hatred if she could she'd tear her flesh and spill her blood she would!
"That's enough Ya Ling, you've passed. Little Kumo is with Emel. I'll give you a moment to collect your emotions before I release your pressure points."
"Young Miss ... where's the Princes and Princess. Let me see them!"
"Emel..."
Emel glares at Ya Ling as he walks through the door carrying a little bun who was sleeping soundly in his arms.
"The Princess where ... is she okay?"
"Yes, I'm sorry for going to the extreme for this test Ya Ling. But this is a necessary test to prove yourself and loyalty. Emel... leave us."
Shinah changes her appearance back into her female form, shocking the hell out of Ya Ling.
"Ya Ling, if you accept I want you to follow me, there are very few I could trust with my life and you just proved to be one. With the potential I hold, there will be countless attempts on my life. So understand I don't want to surround myself with useless people I have no faith in, so think about it before you chose to follow me... but if you do you'll no longer follow under my fathers orders but mine and mine alone. I'll provide and care for you like a sister, all I ask for in return is that you never betray me and be honest when it comes to my matters, even if someone threatens you with a loved one come to me and I'll protect you and everything that matters to you. But betray me ...Mmm...
You can chose to decline this opportunity with no repercussions and remain a household maid, but I promise if you chose to follow me, you'll never lack opportunities for immense growth and power. I'll give you two days to decide, if you chose to follow me... keep the sword. You'll understand when the time arrives. That's all you can have the rest of the day off."
Shinah adjusted her appearance again and walked out the room.. stopping to take the little bun away from Emel.