Secret

The greatest curse of all was loving. She couldn't help but feel hatred slipping into her gaze. He would always be with her. She feigned a smile when he looked at her. In her heart of hearts there would always be that slight hatred. She could never recover her innocent naivety.

She would always smile when he kissed her cheek after dinner. He always complimented the sky or the breeze. That was a lie. He searched for any excuse to leave. She always played her part. He must have thought of her as idiotic. She almost thought of herself that way. He needed to train; she knew that.

She watched the rooftops with a deadly fixation. He would sometimes be careless. She saw him practising his wǔshù. She didn't know whether she hated him more for doing so or for his lack of training. Her eyes would narrow as she glared and small wrinkles of distaste would crease her forehead.

That was his secret. He had many secrets. Everyone had a secret or a few hundred. She was different. Her existence knew of only secret. She harboured only one lie. She remembered.

He looked at her and saw Golden Sparrow. He loved her but loved Golden Sparrow more. He only wanted one person. That person was dead. He chose her lookalike. That was not the reason for the hatred in her heart. Neither was her secret the reason for her hatred.

She should never have died. Her life as Golden Sparrow was meant to lead her to him. As a child she knew of her past. She knew that her parents would die and she would exact vengeance on the Jade Emperor. She allowed it to occur without warning them. They were her loved ones, he was her reason.

She should not have died in that lifetime. Jason was meant to protect her. He was meant to kill the Jade Emperor whilst preserving her life. He was only a means to an end. Her life was supposed to lead her to her fated one. Jason let her die and she hasn't found him since.

!

The door slammed. "Are you alright?"

She glared as Jason held her fingers. He inspected the blood. There was no glass in her wounds. She would be fine, he smiled. The moment his eyes met hers she smiled. It was a lie. Her smile was false but her heart did flutter. The lie vanished and knew a brief moment of truth.

"I'm fine," she reassured. "Don't worry about me. I was careless so I'll rest."

His selfless kindness faded slightly. "I don't want to leave you,"

She shakes her head. "I'll go upstairs and sleep. Go on one of your walks. I know how it refreshes you. Don't make me fuss over you. I can't sleep when I'm fussing,"

He chuckled. "You're right. I don't want to keep you awake,"

She nodded, her eyes smiling. In the shadows of her mind she screamed for the madness to end. What if her fated one passed by in search of her? Would he walk away if he thought she was happy? She couldn't bear to lose him again. She flinched as warmth descended onto her cheek.

"I love you. Take care of yourself," he closed the door; his grin was the last she saw of him.

Blood spread across the tiles. The glass crunched beneath her knees. The blood ran between her fingers and into her eyes. She wailed her anguish quietly.

Redemption didn't exist for the truly evil.

Author's Note: To preserve oneself for the true one that is fated is true and enduring. I very much enjoyed writing this piece and I hope that you enjoyed reading it. Thank you for taking the time to read my work. I apologise if it wasn't satisfactory.

Part of the Revival Collection.