The Bride of the Serpent is Silent

His bride, falling silent in Shui Long's arms whilst she was carried from the room. There was only the sound of the water god's long purposeful steps to be heard advancing down the hall as they departed from the curious gazes of his subordinates. The couple's slow withdrawal, undoubtedly allowing for the birth of the rumors that were to eventually circulate regarding the odd circumstances of the First Consort's sudden dismal. Shui Long regarded no one else as they quitted the flamboyant corridors of the Orchid Pavilion.

The mere concept of Jing Li's name being enshrined with that of his scheming consort in the future mutterings of the servants which inhabited his estate, subsequently reigniting some of the god's agitation. His vexation was provoked further by the realization that Jing Li's first words to him were in defense of the conniving and odious creature that had previously occupied his residence. Considering Lu Qi to be completely undeserving of Jing Li's pity, or the lenient banishment that had been bestowed upon her as a result of his bride's command; Shui Long felt a twinge of contempt stir the smoldering embers of his barely suppressed vexation as the couple continued their overtly regimented progress through the covered walkways of the estate. 

The reawakening of this ire within him, nearly strong enough to convince Shui Long to stop in the middle of the path they were traversing along the edge of a dusty building of archives. The water god's steps slowed as he considered turning back in order to carry out the sentence, which he had originally intended for the Consort. However, the recollection of Jing Li's command, still sending a mild tingle of subtle sedation through every fiber of his being, Shui Long found that he resisted this urge. Placating himself instead with musings of how he might dissuade all of those who had borne witness to his bride's unexpected outburst of ever telling of the divine heavenliness of this occurrence. 

The water god's pace again recovered the same vigor as before as he trod the maze of walkways and alleys back to the Lotus Pavilion. The journey, giving them both time to reflect upon the consequences of her interference in the affairs of Orchid Pavilion. Jing Li began to droop more pronouncedly onto the god's chest as they neared the doors of the Lotus Pavilion. Evidently perturbed that his broodiness was to signal a bad omen for what was to come, the woman in his arms shrunk once they had crossed over the threshold of the entryway. 

Glancing down at the lovely creature that had curled against his chest in a futile attempt to hide herself from his gaze. Shui Long merely produced a wry smirk as they passed into the security of her chambers. Unwilling to grant her the kindness of removing Jing Li from his regard any time soon. Shui Long finally permitted her the small grace of descending from the imposition of his rigid embrace, by placing her down upon the bed where he had previously left her to recover from the harrowing trials of the Diyu. 

Releasing her from his arms, Shui Long stood back to observe the woman who now sat uncomfortably on the edge of the silken sheets. Considering the soft curve of his bride's pale face and the pleasing slopes of her body for a time, the god could distinguish no clear evidence in Jing Li's outer shell to suggest that she had changed. However, recalling how she had dissipated his anger with only a few words, Shui Long knew that Jing Li was not the same as before. 

His bride's posture, beginning to bend under the pressure of his scrutiny. The water god extended the long length of an index finger towards her. Hooking this digit under her chin, Shui Long pried Jing Li's eyes away from the polished floorboards at her feet. Unfurling the graceful arch of his bride's spine, until her gaze confronted the mixture of intrigue and agitation that was currently swirling menacingly within the water god's golden irises. Jing Li remained very still as the god leaned in closer to her. 

"Since when were you able to speak?" he asked. The firm tenor of the god's voice provoking a little shiver from the creature that he had cornered upon the broad mattress. Shui Long narrowed his eyes on the subtle flutter of a blue vein, which twitched anxiously in Jing Li's thin neck as he added, "Have you been deceiving me?" The accusation, arousing an urgent response, Jing Li sat a little prouder on the bed as she responded, "No! I-" The earnest haste of her speech, dwindling dramatically after its initially eager response. Shui Long watched as Jing Li's wide eyes searched the ceiling for an explanation of how she had come to miraculously possess words. 

However, impatient and burdened with the desire to hear the enchanting voice of his bride once more, the water god pressed in closer to the mysterious creature. Hardly permitting even a breath of air to pass between them, Shui Long inquired, "Do you seriously expect me to believe that it is due to the grace of some miracle, that you are now cured of your muteness?" The question, prompting his bride to shake her head adamantly in the familiar way she had done before. The water god bolstered himself against the edge of the mattress as he listened to Jing Li gradually attempt an explanation. 

"I think I may have always possessed words." she began slowly, "But it was not until I washed up on the Far Shore that I had a voice." Although plausible that the near death experience had awakened some ability that had long since been dormant inside of her; it was the facts that were omitted from this feeble explanation that provoked Shui Long to persist in his inquisition. Pressing his palms down into the mattress on either side of her, Jing Li shrank back onto the sheets as he asked, "Why am I only hearing of this discovery now?" 

Unable to evade the god who now hovered over her, Jing Li replied, "I didn't think I could." Unclear whether it was the doubt in her abilities that prevented his bride from sharing this knowledge with him prior to their encounter in the Orchid Pavilion or her complete mistrust in him; Shui Long was offended nonetheless. The god's beastly form, still lurking dangerously close to the surface of his dark irises as he grew more determined to uncover all of his bride's secrets. Shui Long's fingers submerged themselves further within the layers of the soft coverings on the bed as he spoke again. 

"And your power?" He said, "Is that felt just by me?" The blue orbs of Jing Li's eyes doing their best not to waver when confronted by his gaze, she replied slowly, "It is not only you." The rise and fall of Jing Li's breasts, becoming almost undetectable as she feared that even this slight motion might further provoke Shui Long's rage. The god considered their shallow movements for a moment, before continuing, "Then I am not the first being you have used this power on?" Lying beneath his shadow on the bed, Jing Li answered, "The first time was an accident." The words, seeming to pour out of her more readily now, she added, "I promise, I wasn't aware of its existence before the Diyu." 

Although this confession did little to satisfy him, Shui Long knew he was capable of forgiving Jing Li of any deceit, even if she did not ask for it. However, still affected by the mesmerising serenity of the power she held over him, there was a light which played within the golden hues of the god's irises as he bent over the woman mixed in amongst the sheets. 

"Let me feel it again." He said. This request, instilling a trepidation within Jing Li, which left her unable to speak. Her eyes widened and her beguiling lips hung for several moments, before Shui Long extended a hand towards Jing Li's neck. 

His cold palm, covering the thin blue vein in her neck. The water god strummed over its frantic rhythm with his thumb gently as he beseeched her again, "Let me realise your power once more." The ardor of Shui Long's request communicated clearly through the persuasiveness of his soft tone this time. It was still not enough to dispel the uncertainty from the pools of Jing Li's blue irises as a command formed on her lips. 

"Lower your hand." She said. 

Although lacking the conviction that she had possessed in the Orchid Pavilion, Shui Long was surprised to still feel the will of this serene instruction guide his hand from her neck. Skimming the graceful arch of her collarbone, Shui Long's fingers offered no resistance as they found their way beneath the neckline of his bride's carelessly fastened robe. 

His palm, coming to settle in the amenable warmth found between the two soft mounds on her chest. Shui Long felt a hint of mirth tug at the edge of his rigid lips as he identified a pronounced blush spread across Jing Li's pale cheeks. Evidently embarrassed by the unintentional result of her command, his bride's mouth continued to hang slightly agape as the water god endeavored to tease her further. Playing with their supple forms until he felt their points harden between his cold fingers. Shui Long processed to provoke a deeper shade of red from Jing Li's cheeks with the nimble movements of hand. 

Pinching at the small tips that had been aroused from the sumptuous slopes of Jing Li's chest, he said, "What would you have me do now?" This question, requiring less persuasion than his previous request, Jing Li replied, "Move your hand lower." Following the command that was delivered on the soft sighs of his bride, Shui Long's palm parted from her chest. Journeying beyond the sanctuary of the valley that was tucked safely amidst her hills. The god's hand glided along the flat plains of his bride's smooth torso, until it came to the place where her limbs parted ways. 

The crevice hidden beneath the fabric of her robe, Shui Long uncovered the gap, which laid between Jing Li's legs with each gradual advancement that was made by his hand along her outer thigh. Looping around the edge of the fissure with his fingers, until he came across the hidden bump within its ridge. The god pressed against the nodule with his thumb, whilst the other digits of his hand explored the more hidden depths of his bride more freely. His careful probing, eventually coaxing an enraptured moan from Jing Li; this was soon to be followed by another delicate command. 

"Kiss me." she said. The demand, which fluttered from her luscious lips as softly as the fall of cherry blossoms in spring, happily obliged by Shui Long. The god descended to arrest Jing Li's mouth in a passionate embrace.Their lips and tongues, becoming entangled with one another as they sank deeper into the bed. Shui Long savored the sweetness of his bride's command, before desire made him wander once more over the hills and valleys of her body. 

Retracing the path that had been traveled by his hand previously, the god strayed from his bride's lips to feel once more the sensation of the pulse that thrummed excitedly in her slender neck. Kissing the blue vein that laid beneath the surface of her skin softly, as though happy to note its vigor. The god thanked the pulse on her neck with a myriad of kisses before rediscovering the peaks of Jing Li's chest. Pecking at the mounds, which were now moistened by her sweat. Shui Long explored the summits of her breasts with his tongue. 

The rediscovery of their gentle slopes by his mouth, eliciting a tremble from the woman beneath him. Shui Long was encouraged to delve further into the mysteries of her terrain. Sinking onto his knees beside the bed, the god plunged deeper. Emerging himself in her landscape, Jing Li willfully parted her legs as Shui Long gravitated towards her nexus. The caress of his lips and tongue, working their way attentively over the slit contained between Jing Li's thighs. Shui Long heard the chorus of only a few suppressed moans, mount into enraptured cries of ecstasy. His ears filled with the sweet calls of his bride, the god held her thighs firmly apart as he persisted to suck at the sensitive part of her folds. 

Jing Li's back, arching from the bed, the water god finally heard her pant, "Please- " Stopping for a moment to acknowledge the plea, Shui Long peered up at the woman lying breathlessly on the bed. However, the image of Jing Li's lustrous hair strewn about her on the silken sheets and the way that her loose fitting robes now clung desperately to her body, providing little motivation for Shui Long to relent. He began to relieve himself of several layers of clothing as he responded, "You'll face the consequences of your words now, Jing Li."