I want to refuse at first, but it dies in my throat the longer he stays like that. Then, against my better judgment, I take a step closer, and then another.
There's no one to help me climb on the Beast. Ching's magic, and very likely the healer's magic and whatever the Beast had been doing to me earlier, have assured my legs work as well as anything else, but the process itself is difficult even taking into account one arm. Even when the Beast lowers himself, the carp scales on his body are slipperier than I thought. They're cool and wet to the touch, but also soft and sleek like fish skin instead of hard rock like I expected.
Eventually, I manage to get myself on, sitting with both legs on either side of his long neck and atop the muscles of his forelegs. He's not really a warm body what with being able to breathe fire, but he's not cold-as-ice as Fei Yi an actual snake spirit was.
The Beast seems to sense when I've settled myself, because not lot after, he's pushed us into the air. My good arm instinctively wraps itself around his neck, trying to find purchase. My other arm just presses in tight, trying to balance myself out.
The Beast doesn't lumber or jerk about in the air even with my weight. Like he had before, he slithers into the air, as if the fog itself in the night is the surface of a lake. Seamless and smooth, the Beast feels like a creature meant for the skies, now rumbling with no thunder.
Before I can stop myself, I've cast a look down below. We're going higher and higher to the point that the east courtyard is barely visible through the fog. The cobblestone path is still visible, with several lanterns moving--likely being carried by servants--along them. And, before they're completely covered by the fog, I can see them: erratically shaped and formed black-and-blue blobs that seem smeared into the darkness, trying to reach for the paths.
Fear immobilizes me. What if they come and grab me while I'm-?
The Beast's rumbling voice breaks the silence. "I rule over this domain. None shall touch you this high up without my permission."
I hold on tighter, fearful that I'll fall if I let go, even though he cuts through the air smoothly as a sharp knife cuts meat.
Eventually, the Beast's long body descends swimming in curves down to the earth. All of a sudden, I'm grabbing onto him, mind whirling.
A gaping heat of fire rushes at us. He's going to burn us with fire somewhere-!
I'm going to be burned alive again. I can't breathe. Am I here? Dizzy, my lungs aren't taking in air. I feel faint. Am I going to die? My heart pounds too fast. I can't control it. I'm shaking. I can't breathe. I can't breathe. I can't breathe. It feels like something's clenched around my throat. I'm going to throw up.
I'm going to die.
A cool mist sweeps itself across my skin. The Beast's words are soft: "You will not burn."
My hands clench tighter around his scales, cooler to the touch. I press my cheek wordlessly to it, because I fear even saying anything, I will fall. I can't breathe.
I...
Suddenly, I can.
Winded, I press my face to his scales, trying to catch my breath. Trying to shake off the trembles.
All four limbs touch down almost gracefully. The Beast moves upon the ground as smoothly as he does above, before he settles down into a crouch.
Eventually, I can raise my head to see where we are.
Dead quiet, the garden around the rock is overgrown and untended. The pond is quiet and clear, without bird nor fish along its shores. It's large as far as I can see, with no servants or bustle tending to affairs.
As I cast my gaze up to the pavilion, I come to realize that the air is too still. "Where are we?"
The Beast lowers his head and his haunches. After a moment, I realize it's my cue to get off. My hand still on the smooth scales of the back of his long neck, I bring one leg along with the other, and climb down slowly.
My footsteps on the ground are soundless. It's eerie, as if everything in this place asides from us is dead, or silenced.
"We are at the south-west courtyard. A direction attributed to a strong energy of love and relationships." When I look back to him, the Beast's yellow eyes gaze up at the pavilion unblinkingly. I follow his gaze up to realize that at the topmost floor, the light of a fire burns within. The Beast's fire. "Of marriage."
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