The Bride of the Serpent is Silent

The snake's scales shining in a more sinister opulence within the dim light of the temple than they had done during their encounter at the lake. His appearance was daunting now that he was returned to his rightful domain in the Other Realm. The god of Xilian Lake, no longer needing to hide or conceal himself from his bride. The last of his long coils slithered out from under the screen as Shui Long displayed the full extent of his impressive figure before the seemingly petrified Jing Li.

Her heart, pounding as rapidly as a frightened rabbit that had been cornered by a predator. The deity thought he saw the suggestion of a dew forming over the makeup on her brow as he loomed over her. His forked tongue flicking at the air intrigued by the woman's sweet scent that was mixed in amidst the incense, he addressed her, "Stand." The firm command although lacking severity, inspiring a subtle flinch from his timid bride. Jing Li's gaze did not waver from his as she placed herself back into her feet. 

Jing Li's legs trembling, the vague quivering motion shook the ornaments on her head as she stood. The metal decorations that had been arranged within the locks of her dark hair, continuing to make a vague tickling like a dozen tiny bells. The sound produced a solemn frown from Shui Long's thin lips. Reviewing the terror, he instilled in her discontentedly, he inquired, "Will you not run or beg me for your life, human?" Experience, teaching him that Shui Long's snake form was only capable of inciting feelings of either fear or reverence in humans. He hoped that his estimations of Jing Li's character had been accurate as he tried to interpret her feelings.

Uncertain if it was panic or the general acceptance of her fate, which prevented her from moving. Shui Long began to wind his body around her slowly. Coiling loosely so as not to alarm the woman but meticulous enough to impede her should she attempt to escape him. Shui Long was to discover even as his steady encroachment was to become more evident, it was still not to provoke any further movement from his bride. Only the shiver possessing her body as his cold scales grew ever closer to her soft skin detected by his sharp vision. The god of Xilian Lake did not seem to think this behavior peculiar of most helpless creatures which discovered themselves in his midst.

However, he knew that there was something special about the woman that stood before him. The other brides sent to appease him by the village either running from the estate or groveling for their pathetic lives prior to this moment. There had been none determined enough to see the ceremony through the end, until now. The other women offered to him, not selected by Shui Long himself. He had been surprised that it had taken the village so long to send him the young woman they had considered to be the most expendable amongst them. Her presence there like pearls before swine. Shui Long had desired from the people of Luwei Cun to cast Jing Li back into the water so that he might claim her.

Fascinated by the curious girl bestowed with beauty and kindness from birth, long before the village had been affected by the blight. Shui Long did not consider her lack of words to be a detriment to her remarkable personality. Watching the eb and flow of Jing Li's emotions play across her face during his brief visits to the Mortal Realm, he had come to know her delight and dismay over time. The woman growing more splendid each day that she passed the waters of the Xilian, Shui Long knew that would need to create the circumstances of their meeting before long. However, those who recognized her value, keeping her carefully tucked away, the water god's methods became more devious.

Whilst not choosing the conditions for Jing Li's sacrifice, Shui Long had admittedly helped to the process along in recent days. Manipulating the simple people of the village in order to deprive them of their treasure. Shui Long could not summon feelings of guilt, while looking upon the woman that stood so placidly within his grasp now. His contentment only lessened by the possibility that Jing Li might reject him as all of the other human women had done before her. Shui Long proceeded to tighten the loops of his body around her Jing Li as he remarked, "Who knew they were so foolish as to listen to my demands."

The musing, spoken aloud although he did not expect her to reply. The serpent god did not observe any tears or sobs emitted from beneath the veil as he continued, "Humans really are so selfish. Sacrificing each other just to save themselves." The woman's alluring blue eyes, peering up in clear indication that she was listening to the monologue of his thoughts but not comfortable in expressing her opinion on the matter. Shui Long could nearly taste the scent of her skin tingling on the end of his tongue as he asked, "Do you not begrudge them?" Jing Li's round eyes widening and head shaking in profuse denial that she held such ugly feelings as resentment. 

A slight smirk tickled the edges of the serpent's mouth to observe this reaction from her. Believing his earlier assumption about the woman's kindness to be correct. Shui Long was not stunned to think 

that Jing Li was too gentle to blame anyone but herself for her fate. However, aware that he had played a hand in tipping the scales in his favor, the water god decided not to dwell on the topic for very long. Choosing to occupy himself with teasing his prey instead, Shui Long held Jing Li within his coils as he inquired, "You intend to redeem your village for falling out of my favor then?" The woman's body close enough for him to feel her tremble in his grasp, she averted her gaze from the serpent.

Made shy by the implied presumptuousness of the question, Jing Li nodded a ginger confirmation. Her meek response, suggesting that she considered herself unable to accomplish the feat that was asked of her. Shui Long knew that the woman was more than capable of redeeming her village but still continued in his playful torment of her. 

"I suppose I could take pity on them." Shui Long said. Purposefully leaving a pause as though he was considering his proposal, he then added, "However, you should know that in order to do that I must consume a human's essence." 

The woman's rapid pulse felt beating fervently against his scales as she listened to his words seriously. Jing Li only took a moment of thought before reaching a decision. The mesmerizing blue of her irises hidden from the god as she squeezed her eyelids closed in anticipation of the swift death that was to follow. Jing Li signaled an acceptance of this proposal with a decisive tilt of her chin. The woman's feeble frame appearing small in the rings that Shui Long's body had formed around her. She did not look back towards him or struggle in his grip whilst patiently awaiting her demise.

However, seeing how his bride had prepared for him to strike, Shui Long chose to refrain for the time being. His thin lips cracked with his amusement; the serpent unraveled his coils from around the woman. Satisfied that he would have more time to enjoy Jing Li now that she was to remain with him in the Other Realm, Shui Long chuckled. Shifting into a form that she might find more agreeable. There was still a mischievous curve upon his lips as he leaned in to whisper in her ear, "Fortunately, there is more than one way to consume a human woman." 

Her cheeks taking on a rosy color after perceiving the meaning of his joke, Jing Li pried open her eyelids. Her lashes fluttering behind the veil as she peered at the handsome man in front of her in bewilderment. The woman seemed to comprehend that he and the snake were one in the same from his severe gaze and luminous white hair after a few seconds. There was a sigh that escaped from her tense chest, before Jing Li's knees grew weak and buckled beneath her.

Shui Long, supporting her with an arm wrapped securely around her waist. Fearing that she might risk injury, he pulled Jing Li to him. Flopping against his chest shakily, the water god felt the abnormality of her body temperature seep through his robes before hearing the strenuous sound of her breathing. The air leaving her in uneven puffs of air, Jing Li managed to stand for a while with Shui Long's aid. However, eventually succumbed to the terrible fever, which she had fallen victim. Easing Jing Li onto the ground slowly as she collapsed in his arms. Shui Long ridding her of the decorations that adorned her hair. 

Jing Li's pale face could be seen clearly now without the veil. The woman feeling fragile now as Shui Long scooped her up from the floor of the temple, the god's forehead creased with his annoyance. Frustrated that the members of his staff had ignored the obvious signs of her illness and at himself for not having noticing it sooner, Shui Long stormed from the temple. The massive doors swinging open at the command of his will, they were to reveal a group of curious servants. Shui Long's personal attendant amongst the crowd, he fixed the man squarely in his gaze.

"What is the condition of the Lotus Pavilion at present?" the god said. His urgency and agitation, resulting in the question being hissed harshly towards the man servant. The man glanced confoundedly between his Master and the woman that was carried in his arms as he stuttered a reply, "I-it is passable at best, my Lord. But-" Any objections the attendant had to offer at this time going unheard. The god of Xilian Lake did not entertain them as he was to instead dismiss the man with a curt demand, "See that there is a doctor present upon arrival."

The attendant fumbling over his words once more as he wished to point out the impossibility of his master's unreasonable request. He decided to concede to the god's command once met with a severe glower from Shui Long. Admitting his defeat for the time being, the man servant bowed before departing from their company. The attendant, scuttling off to find a doctor that could treat a human woman on such short notice. The maids still remaining in the courtyard were made to accompany Shui Long to the Lotus Pavilion.

The residence, not the largest or most luxurious of the households available to his courtesans on the estate. It was, nevertheless, the closest accommodation to his own quarters. Usually reserved for the most favored among his consorts, there had not been a woman to merit this position in his household thus far. Acknowledging that it was still too premature to bestow Jing Li his overt favoritism, it did not inconvenience Shui Long in any way should she choose to take a liking to the residence. However, concerning himself only with her illness at the moment. The water god did not really deliberate the decision much further as he brought Jing Li into the pavilion.

The furniture covered with large white cloths to prevent dust from diminishing their fabrics, it was clear that its immediate use had not been expected. The maids quickly setting about in correcting this, they supplied the bed with fresh sheets and opening the windows to ventilate the room. Once made, Shui Long laid the unresponsive Jing Li down on the bed. His eyes narrowed on the skin glistening with her sweat Shui Long brushed away the strands of dark hair that clung to her brow as he placed a pillow beneath her head. The maids then rushing over to intervene, they began peeling the swathes of fabric from the woman's body. 

Only leaving what was necessary to cover her, the doctor arriving shortly thereafter. A man that appeared to at least possess the experience of his years, his beard and topknot were vaguely disarranged as he entered the room. The physician, panting as he presented himself along with the god's attendant, Shan Yu. He did not delay in his examination of the patient despite his breathlessness. Assessing her conditions thoroughly, the doctor pronounced that Shui Long's new bride was affected by the human afflictions of exhaustion due to tremendous amounts of stress and acute starvation over a long period of time. 

The doctor, assigning the youngest maid in the pavilion with the task of applying Jing Li's head with cold compresses in order to reduce the fever. He prescribed a course of fever reducers and sleep to help Jing Li recover from her illness. However, the physician proclaiming that there was not much else for him to do other than wait and hope that the new bride recuperated her health with the proper care. The diagnosis did nothing to placate the water god's bitter vexation in the days to follow.