An angry nasal woman's voice snarls and I hear a meaty strike followed by a squeal. I know the voice of the crying girl. Who are these other voices? Why are there so many strangers?
Opening my eyes, I struggle up. My belly is uncomfortable. It won't allow me to move properly. When had it become so big? Swollen? Have I been sick?
Outside, I hear more strikes and more crying. I have to save her. The crying girl. Even though I don't know her name. No one should make her cry.
Without thinking, I rise. I feel heavy. Weighed to the ground. But now is not the time to ponder this. The crying girl is mine. No one is allowed to hurt her.
A crowd of women stand over the kneeling figure on the floor. Her hands flutter and shake when she touches her swollen red cheeks. An older, sneering woman raises her hand, while some of the other girls jeer at the crying girl on the floor.
Somehow I get there in time for the hand to strike me, although with my stumbling, I am worried I would not be fast enough. I fall over, onto the crying girl, but shelter her with my body. Mine. My girl. No one is allowed to hurt her.
There are multiple gasps and silence falls. The courtyard floor is not as smooth and even as it looks from standing, but that is not what should hold my notice now. What is important is the crying girl and getting rid of these rude strangers. The crying girl helps me to at least sit so that I am not crushing her beneath my belly, and I glare at these people who have disrupted my peace.
"My Lady Consort," the older woman drops to her knees and bows. The other girls follow suit. "My Lady, I..."
"She, I know. You all, I do not," I say, struggling for breath, cutting her off. "Anyone who hurts her is not my friend. I do not like you. I do not want you here. Get out."
The women all freeze and look to the older woman. She raises her head and then seems to shrug her fear aside. In its place, an ugly cloak of arrogance can be seen.
"Consort Lin," the older woman begins, reaching for me with an obsequious expression. Her touch is like poison. It makes me shudder with all its hidden desires and intentions.
"Don't touch me," I say, voice shaking and allowing the crying girl to help me sit onto a stool she has brought over. It's all I can manage for now. "You are hungry for power. No sense of honour or loyalty. You and all of you are not welcome here." I point my trembling finger at all the strangers, gesturing them toward the courtyard door. "Out. Get out!"
I shriek the last words at them, but they remain, shifting on the spot. Uncertain. Unsure. Afraid. Defiant. Their sullen faces express their reluctance to listen to me.
"Send them out," I nudge the crying girl, trying not to gasp at the sharp pain in my swollen belly. Something is wrong. But I have to get rid of these poisonous snakes first. "Stop crying. You are mine. No one is allowed to hurt you. Send them out. Now."
"Allow me to escort you out," the crying girl wipes her eyes and straightens her posture, gathering her dignity about her. She gestures at the same direction as I had pointed. Gracefully, with a practiced arm. She reminds me of a fluttering bird, returning to its nest. "This way, please."
The girls all look to the older woman, who looks at me with a glimmer of concern.
"Out," I tell the old woman. "Get out now."
"The Emperor sent us here," she says. "We cannot…"
"Then tell the Emperor I don't want you here," I snap. "I don't care. Get out."
She leaves, but tension rides in her shoulders. The other girls follow her. One trails behind, looking at me with great worry. Fear. Not for herself. For me. She has noticed my hand on my belly.
I look at my crying girl and then at the lagging girl that reminds me of a branch of swaying blossoms. She is not like the others. I point to her and look at my crying girl with a question.
"Her? She's safe. She should stay," the crying girl wipes her eyes when I point, wincing when she brushes her cheek.
"Then she stays," I say, nodding for her to continue seeing the other women out. Standing, I want to return to my room before the sharp tummy pains worsen.
The girl of swaying blossoms is at my side in a moment and holds me up as I begin to sag. The darkness bends beneath me and I am like a drop of water, hovering on a leaf tip. About to fall. Pain stabs me in the the stomach again. Wrenching at my insides in a way I've never known.
"My Lady Consort," the girl begins and then stops. Her voice cuts out.
I close my eyes and she begins screaming for help.
I fall. Like a drop of water into the dark, I fall. I fall into a pool of...
Red.
The whole world is red.