Sold?

I walked down the stairs to the underground holding cell.

I really had no idea what reaction I would get from him when I disturb him between his interrogation but I had to go to him.

He had been in there for three hours now.

I had to stop him.

I knew he was doing all this because he was frustrated. Because he was sad and devastated and I believe he was blaming himself because he wasn't here to protect Huang-fei himself.

In order to hide all those emotions he went down to the cell but his men don't know that, his servants don't know, even the people closest to him are scared.

Just as the stairs ended I arrived at an iron door, it was open.

The area had dim lighting but I guess that was a given. It wasn't a place that was used often.

I took a deep breath in order to prepare myself, then went through the door. There was a small corridor that led to a wooden door.

The scene gave me a sense of false hope.

Like it was built to trap someone in and even if that person managed to knock down the wooden door, the sense of relief and happiness he will get will be washed out immediately when he will encounter the thick iron one.

It was like a cruel little joke.

I placed my hand on the wooden door and opened it. Light came streaming out along with an odd smell.

I walked in and saw the heart dropping scene.

The room was about the size of a master bedroom. The walls were thick with no window for ventilation, perhaps that was the reason as to why it had an odd disturbing smell.

It was mostly empty with some handcuffs attached to the wall, one with which the captured assassin was tied to.

He was in a pretty bad shape, his entire being was exhausted while his fingers were bleeding. A closer look showed that he no longer had any nails left.

A piece of his skin had been carved out from his chest while there was a branding sign in the exact centre of his stomach, on both of his thighs and forehead.

Arius sat on a chair in front of him, the table with equipment right beside him.

Lee stood quietly in a corner. He never spoke much unless he needed to but there was no sign of disturbance on his face even after standing there and seeing all the torture.

As I walked towards him Arius spoke with his eyes on the assassin.

"I didn't think you'd ever come here." He sat arms crossed with one leg over the other. A pair of white gloves stained with blood still on his hands.

"Are you done?" I didn't get very close. I had no intention of seeing the suffering man. I know he's an enemy who killed a dear comrade, still I couldn't bear to get any closer.

"I can't really say I'm done here." He clicked his tongue with his eyes still on the man, "He didn't answer much, after all they're trained not to but I got that one answer that will lead to all the others."

"That means you're done!"

He shook his head, "But I'm not done with him."

"Arius. Come with me. It's important."

"..."

"You can leave him here, do whatever you want later but right now I need you to come with me." This was very important. All his men and all the people in the house were awake because of him.

They all were tired but the fear of him was greater.

Everyone respected him but they all should know that he is not a monster.

He finally looked back at me and I pleaded him with my eyes. He sighed and got up, "Take care of the mess Lee. I'll come back later."

"Yes."

Then he followed me out.

I didn't take him to the lounge or to meet anyone, I didn't even speak to him.

He didn't ask me what I was doing. Maybe he was too tired to ask or maybe he just didn't feel like it.

Only when we reached his room he asked the question.

"Why did you bring me here?" He was exhausted.

I sat on his bed and patted the place next to me, "Sit."

"I don't have time for th-"

"Sit." I cut his words, "You do have time for this." I was more stern with my words. I had to make him do this. If I didn't who would?

Huang-fei was no longer here...

He reluctantly came and sat next to me, just as he did I opened my arms and pulled him in a hug.

"Azalea what are you-??"

"Hush!" I stroked his head gently and continuously, "It's okay." I felt him tense up, "It's okay." I repeated the comforting words and he tried getting out of my embrace but I didn't let him.

"Azalea don't do this." He knew what I was up to, "Please." He begged.

"Everything will be alright." I had no intention of swaying.

"Please." He begged me again, "I can't do this." His voice was weaker than before.

"You can. You're human too." I kept stroking his hair, "You did good, so it's okay now."

He shook his head lightly, "Not me. Not in my place."

"Shhh." I held him tighter, "You will listen to me, won't you?"

"..."

"It's only me here, no one else but us. You trust me, don't you?"

"..." After a pause he gave me a weak nod and I smiled.

It warmed me that he trusted me enough to listen to me, "Just this once." I told him,.

He shook his head again but I felt that this time his resolve was breaking.

I wonder how long had it been since the last time he ever made himself vulnerable.

"It's okay." I repeated the consolation, "Just this once. Let it all out. You can cry."

Just as I said those words I felt him grip my shirt from my back..

I felt his body tremble as his voice quivered when he spoke, "Can you sing for me?" He was at the ending point.

"Yes." I didn't stop my hands from comforting him while I started singing.

I sang him a lullaby.

From muffled cries that he desperately tried to suppress they became cries of agony and I made sure my voice was loud enough to cover them all.

So that no one would listen to him cry just as he wanted.

Out of all the time I had known him this was his most humane moment.

He had believed all his life that he could not show weakness, that it was not meant for someone like him.

That he had to wear a fake mask everywhere he went.

But he's human too and like every human, he has a breaking point.

I felt his pain as he cried in my embrace.

I felt his weakness as he clung onto me so desperately.

I felt him break.

I felt the trembles and I felt the helplessness he was going through.

Afterall death was something no one could fight.

It was the ultimate end.

I just kept my arms around him, hugging him for support.

I didn't say anything to him anymore. I just stayed there, singing as loud as I could, glad that he let out his emotions.

I don't know how long he had things buried inside of him.

I don't know of the pain he takes in with a smile on his face.

I don't know if he'll ever cry like this again.

But I knew he was breaking very bad on the inside because he cried till the time his own mind pushed him to sleep.