Page 133 of Reflections of Peonies
He didn’t seem to take offense. “Your combat skills. Your bodyguard taught you the fundamentals. I may have awakened the memory and strength, but you executed the techniques yourself. Yet you allowed them to believe the actions were mine. You were not in danger of dying.”
My face flooded with heat, and I pressed my hands against my cheeks. It was true—no one had figured it out, not even after seeing the video.
I felt so guilty.
“I-I’m not very good at it,” I stammered, glancing at the ground. “It’s been a long time. I hadn’t had a real lesson since before—”
“It’s enough,” Mu responded. “There’s the potential for something more. Just like Spring.”
I glanced at him. “Pardon?”
“Mu,” he replied, holding out his hand. In it was a dead daffodil. But as I watched, it regained its yellow color and returned to life. “Wood.Us. We’re the representative of Spring. Rebirth, flexibility, strength, and life. It’s not in your nature to be dormant and allow your past to dictate your future.”
“I’m not dormant.” How offensive. “And I’ve moved on withmy life. I’mfine. It’s everyone else who seems to have a problem. Not me.”
“You’re okay?” Mu opened his hand, dropping the flower. It disappeared before it hit the ground. “Is that why Shui is rummaging around in your head?”
“He’swhat?” I covered my mouth, but it wasn’t enough to prevent my squeaky outburst. “What if he sees something secret? You’re in my head too, right?” I glared at him. How could he allow this? “Go smite him. Get him out.”
“He hasn’t seen anything besides what you’d share if you could, but currently cannot communicate.” Mu tilted his head, studying me. “Don’t worry, I’ve locked away our deepest thoughts. Besides, he won’t search anymore. He’s gotten what he needed.”
What did Julianneed? I was going to throttle him.
“Which was what?” I growled. “Why am I here?”
“That’s the question. Whyareyou here if you’ve moved on?” Mu asked. “Avoiding the problem isn’t healing, and it causes the issue to fester in your mind and poison your soul. Before you can truly move on, you must confront your past.”
The bravado seeped from me, and I stepped back. What was he saying? “I can’t…”
“Take it one day at a time.” He waved his hand, and the ground faded from beneath my feet. However, instead of falling, this time, I floated in place. “Confrontation of the current issue is a good place to begin.”
The scene shifted.I found myself in a circular stone room; its only exit was a small window to my right. A glance outside revealed no safe way down, only the threat of a deadly fall fromthe tower.
Jumping was pointless; I doubted I’d float this time.
“My subconscious is trying to kill me…” I fell to my knees in front of the low window, and from this position, I could see the happy-looking sky above my prison.
Stupid Mu. Why would he trap me here? I hated him. Perhaps there was a way to purge him from my soul.
A shiver shot up my spine as the air shifted, like an intrusion pressing against the stillness. I hesitated and looked toward the window.
What had changed?
I pushed myself up, leaning out to see the tower’s base.
“Julian?” I blinked down at him. What was this? Were we still in my head? Was he?
That sounded weird.
“Why are you up there?” he asked—I could barely see him from here, but something about this space made it easier to hear.
“I’m stargazing,” I said, narrowing my eyes. I hadn’t forgotten that he’d jumped into my memories. Lord only knew what he’d seen. It was too humiliating to face him, and anger still burned in me. “Seemed like a good idea at the time.”
Julian looked at the cloudless sky before finally returning his gaze to me. “Darling…” He sounded unsure. “That’s not the real sky. Secondly… Well, it’s daytime.”
“I know that!” My face heated, and I ducked under the edge of the window. I began to count my breaths as I pressed my cheek against the cold stone.
I couldn’t face him.
