She felt a shiver run down her spine as she peered into the cell. The creature within it was a thing of nightmares. Its body was a mass of dark, velvety flesh, like a black rose in full bloom. The skin seemed to ripple and undulate, as if it were alive.
It's eyes like polished crystals stared back at her, unblinking and cold. The face was a masterpiece of twisted beauty, with features that seemed to shift and flow like molten wax. It's mouth was a cruel, red slash, curled into a perpetual smirk.
"We've been waiting for you... so long... so very long. Goddess Nu Wan... "
Nu Wan's eyes shook as she backed away from the cell, how the hell did it know she was the goddess reincarnation.
The whispers grew louder, until they were almost deafening. She felt herself being drawn into the creature's gaze, as if it were pulling her closer with an invisible rope.
Suddenly, the creature spoke, its voice like a rusty gate creaking open.
"Ah, little one... I've been waiting... for you....why do you run?... "
The words sent a chill down her spine, as the darkness closed in around her like a shroud. Nu Wan tried to step back, but her feet seemed rooted to the spot.
She felt herself being drawn into its dark, velvety world, where the whispers would become a ceaseless scream in her mind.
And then, everything went black.
When she opened her eyes , she was lying on a cold, damp stone floor. The air was thick with the scent of mold and decay, and the darkness seemed to press in around her like a physical presence.
She sat up, her head spinning. The room was dimly lit, the only light coming from a faint, flickering torch in the corner. The walls were made of rough-hewn stone, and the air was cold and damp.
As she looked around, she saw that she was in a small, cramped cell. The walls were lined with rusty iron bars, and the door was made of thick, sturdy wood.
She stumbled to her feet, her mind racing. How did she get here?
And then, she saw it. The creature from the Velvet Cage was standing in the corner of the cell, its eyes fixed on her.
"Welcome, little one... " it said, its voice like a rusty gate creaking open. " You're going to be here... for a while... "
Nu Wan tried to speak, but her voice was hoarse and barely audible. The creature seemed to be enjoying her fear, its eyes glinting with a malevolent light.
As she looked around the cell, she saw that it was filled with strange, twisted objects. There were ancient tomes bound in black leather, their pages yellowed and crackling with age. There were strange, glowing orbs that seemed to pulse with an otherworldly energy.
And in the center of the cell, there was a large, stone pedestal. On top of the pedestal was a small, delicate box made of polished silver.
The creature's eyes seemed to be fixed on the box, and she felt a sudden, inexplicable sense of dread.
"What's in the box? " she whispered,
The creature's smile grew wider, its eyes glinting with malevolence.
"Ah, little one... " it said. " You'll find out soon enough... "
The creature's claw hovered over her forehead, its cold, scaly skin making her shiver. But as it touched her, she felt a sudden rush of images, like a floodgate had been opened in her mind.
She saw herself as a goddess, kind and caring, with a warm smile and gentle eyes. She saw the world through her eyes, full of beauty and wonder. Nu Wan saw the people she had helped, the lives she had touched, and the love she had shared.
But then, the vision shifted. She saw Ling Xiaoting, his eyes blazing with anger and hatred. She saw herself, helpless and defenseless, as he wrapped his claws around her throat and squeezed.
She felt the pressure building, the air being crushed from her lungs. She could the blood vessels bursting in her eyes, the veins popping out of her skin. She could hear her own screams, muffled and choked, as she struggled to breathe.
The pain was intense, a burning fire that consumed her entire body. She felt her life slipping away and her vision fading to black.
Nu Wan held her own throat in despair, it felt too real! Too real!
And then, in a flash, she saw a glimpse of the future. She saw herself, cradling Ling Xiaoting's lifeless body in her arms, her face twisted in a mixture of grief and horror. She saw the fear and despair in her own eyes, the tears streaming down her face.
The vision was fleeting, a mere glimpse of what was to come. It vanished as quickly as it appeared, leaving her with more questions than answers.
The vision faded, and Nu Wan was left gasping for breath, her heart racing with terror. She felt a sense of dread, of foreboding, that lingered long after the vision was gone.
"Tell me..what did you see?"
The creature laughed as it retrieved its claw.
Nu Wan hands shook as she looked at the creature with dread.
"I want to leave....get me out of here...get me out!!"
She screamed loudly and covered her ears, the whispers in her head getting louder and louder.
"No one..will save you, no one can help you...you're stuck here with me child!!"
Nu Wan eyes widened with realization, she had made a mistake, she had made a terrible mistake.
She agreed, she will be his bride as long as she didn't have to suffer this kind of torment everyday. She would to anything.
"Ling Xiaoting...help me..please.."
A cold gust of wind blew past and a warm hand land on her cheeks.
"As you wish darling.."
Nu Wan immediately grabbed his shirt, her expression looking a bit deranged.
"I'll be your bride, I'll be whatever you want me to be. But I beg you please don't put me in here again!"