6 Powers of the Dragon

Jin An opened her eyes, her breathing speeding up as she surveils her surroundings. The sun shone through the paper covering the windows. She looked to the door, her hands covering her heart, beating furiously inside her chest.

The feeling attacking her should be one of fear and burden, but it wasn't. She had awoken mid-teleportation, feeling warm, and protected. She bit her lip gently, giggling softly into her pillow.

Jin An lay in the bed, looking around her. She wasn't used to the furnishings being so fancy. In her home, she lived day to day with the money she made selling flowers, so what she owned is shabby and worn. She had never been bothered by the state of her home, but seeing the room of the manor, she felt like nobility.

Slowly, she crept from the bed. Her head ached a little, trying to remember what happened. The three men had approached her as she was finishing up for the day. Her mouth hung open remembering she had struck the man in the face with flowers.

"Oh. That's why I have been brought here?" she frantically looked around for an escape.

Dashing to the door, she swung the doors wide. The man she had hit, stood just off the steps in the courtyard. He tilted and turned his head, hearing an audible gasp from someone.  Seeing Jin An up and moving, he headed in her direction.

She dropped to her knees, crying out. "My Lord, I swear. I meant no harm. Please I beg you, don't sell me off." she trembled.

Ao Shun took a step closer. He knelt to her, his hand reaching out. Instinctively, she thought he would strike her for begging, but his hand gently touched her head.

"I would never sell you. Your mine now."

Misunderstanding his meaning, she bowed her head to him. I guess she had it coming; striking a Lord was a death sentence in some places, so she should appreciate just being made a servant.

She bowed lower, his hand left hovering in mid-air. "I understand. I will do as you ask, my Lord."

Ao Shun was confused at her subservient demeanor. It slightly annoyed him, but he held in the frustration, just to keep her by his side. His brow twitched at the forced restraint.

"Rise. This is your room. If you need anything, just ask." She nodded her head in acknowledgment.

The dragon turned to leave. Without an order, Jin An doesn't know what to do, so she grabbed at his flowing sleeve.

"My Lord, what shall I do first? I've never been a servant. It will take time for me to adjust. Please be patient." He looked at her hand then her face, staring at her, his brow lifted in confused amusement.

"Do you cook?" She nodded. He pointed out, past the courtyard.

"The kitchen is that way. We will eat in the Hall." She bowed in understanding, shifted backwards a few steps, then proceeded to the kitchen.

As she walked away, he realized what happened. "This is awkward."

Jin An meandered to the kitchen, sighing heavily. Many different thoughts were processing through her head all at once, "What sort of man was her new Lord? Where was her cart? Why did she have to be a servant? Was she safe now or would she die a servant? What does she cook for a man?"

She looked up at the flowering trees along the side of the path to the kitchen. Smiling, she raised her hand in the air as a sign of determination and self-motivation.

"It's ok, Jin An. You will be ok."

Entering the kitchen. she started searching for things to cook for her new master.

Huxian stood in the main hall looking at his surroundings. Langshen snuck through the doors, jumping on Huxian's back.

"He outdid himself this time. I am worried about him though." The fox wriggled, attempting to unhinge the wolf from his shoulders.

"Off." Langshen jumped off, sitting down in one of the chairs.

"I walked around the property. Very large, 6 buildings in all. It seems this place was once owned by a family that lost favor with the Emperor in the last dynasty."

Huxian sat beside his friend. "Abandoned places sometimes stay that way for years, until someone buys the place. Ao Shun can easily make a title that shows he owns the property. But if the owners come back, he will have problems." Langshen shook his head. "They won't. They are all dead."

Ao Shun walked into the hall. "Who's dead?"

He sat in the center seat at the head of the hall. "Langshen said the last owners were. They fell from favor with the last Emperor and have never been back. You may need to create a document that says you own the place.

Ao Shun nodded, waved his hand, and instantly held a property deed, signed by the late Emperor. "Done."

The friends laughed just as Jin An walked in, carrying a tray of food. She stopped suddenly, noticing the other men in the room.

The plates shifted on the tray. Her eyes widened in terror, as a plate of bamboo shoots slid from its spot. She attempted to catch the plate while holding the, still full, tray steady. As if in slow motion, the tray tipped, the plates began slipping over the side and the bamboo fell to the floor.

Fear gripped Jin An as she helplessly watched the scene unfold in front of her. Her hands flew, trying to save the food from a dirty death. Instantaneously, Ao Shun stood before her. Plates and bowls of food were frozen in place.

Rice hovered in the air. Prawns and vegetables hung inches from the plates they had occupied seconds before. Thinking she had lost her mind, Jin An's eyes grow wide, her mouth hung open, and her hands dropped to her sides.

Her mind raced, "What was happening? She heard him when he said he was a dragon god, but did she really believe that story? There was no way, was there? Could he really be...?" She stared at him, her heart began to race in pace with her thoughts.