Accursed Beauty

Malz, I do have this story at fanfiction.net, but I highly doubt I'll be able to keep the torture scenes long and clean, so I thought I'd bypass that with the story at ff.net and post my long gory torture thing here.

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Zhang He turned to ride back to the camp, formulating a story about how the ‘prisoners’ escaped. He was so deep in thought that he didn’t see the arrows flying through the air, before they hit their mark with perfect accuracy.

The horse whinnied and reared, the arrows in its side penetrating deep into the animal, piercing its lungs and heart.

Zhang He swiftly lifted his feet onto his horse’s saddle and pushed off, somersaulted and landed on his feet next to his dead horse, now lying on its side, blood soaking the ground. He looked around, trying to see who had shot at him.

“If I was trying to kill you, you would be dead now.” The voice was deep, and even, talking flippantly.

“I don’t doubt that. Why did you kill my horse?” Zhang He turned to the tall figure approaching him, flanked on each side by archers. He noticed how the figure tried his best to be intimidating, and it was working, a little. Zhang He noted that the man had a long, well maintained beard.

“To stop you running from me.” Came the deep voiced response, speaking matter-of-factly.

“And why would I do that? I’ve only got someone who’s supposed to be on my side trying to kill me!” Zhang He was talking shrilly, slightly scared, very peeved.

“I was not trying to kill you, merely your horse.” Zhang He and the murderer of his horse were now only a few feet apart.

The tension was almost unbearable. The archers were fidgeting nervously, shifting from foot to foot; ready to pump Zhang He full of arrows if so much as a hair fell out of place.

“What do you want, Guan Yu?”

“I have a proposition for you. I am currently searching for my brothers, Liu Bei and Zhang Fei. I have seen them tonight.”

“Really, well good for you, go join them and raise an army!”

“Zhang He, your sarcasm is beginning to irritate me.” Guan Yu’s normally calm appearance had gone and in its place was a look of irritation.

“And you speech is boring JustJust get to the point, I’m very tired.”

“I want you to help me kill Cao Cao.” Guan Yu stated simply.

“WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?” Zhang He was shocked. He was being asked to betray his new lord. Who did Guan Yu think he was, ambushing him and asking him to kill his new master? He was having enough trouble trying to dispatch the old one.

“I want you to help me-”

“I know what you said!!!” Zhang He’s face had paled, and he looked petrified and shocked at the same time. His voice had also gone up a few octaves, and it was shrill. “How could you ask me to do that?!?!?!?!?!? Assassinate a leader? If he finds out about this he’ll kill you. That precious beard of yours will be chopped of, as will your head. What the hell are you thinking??”

“Will you help me?”

“Do I have a choice?” Zhang He was quickly analysing the situation. He was being asked to help kill his new lord by a guy with a huge beard and a load of archers.

“There is always a choice, Zhang He. Help me kill Cao Cao or die right here.”

Zhang He was still a little pale. He had almost totally recovered from the shock of being asked to assassinate another ruler.

“How many archers have you got around here?” Zhang He was stalling for time while he thought.

“Enough to have you turned into a quiver if you try anything.” Guan Yu smirked.

Zhang He smiled. “You kill my horse, ask me to help you, and threaten to kill me if I refuse. You know you and Cao Cao have more in common than you think.” Zhang He’s sarcasm and dry humour was nearl fam famous as his beauty.

“I am nothing like Cao Cao!!! He is a vicious despot who cares only for himself.” Guan Yu was shaking with rage. He was clenching and unclenching his fists. The archers looked pale and shaken.

Guan Yu’s sudden outburst surprised Zhang He, but in spite of his fear he smiled. He had found this man’s weakness. He may be able to use that to his advantage someday.

“And you are different how?” Zhang He asked. “Power corrupts, Guan Yu. If you were in Cao Cao’s position, you would no doubt become as greedy as he is.”

“I would do what’s best for my people and the people of China.”

“Cao Cao is doing what’s best for China. He is fighting to unite China under one flag.”

Then the penny dropped. “Your cheap mind games will not work with me, Zhang He. Help me kill Cao Cao or die right here next to your horse.”

Zhang He looked over at the carcass of his horse. Flies were already beginning to swarm over the animal. He wrinkled his nose at the sight. He didn’t want to end up like his horse, not if he cohelphelp it anyway.

“Fine, I’ll help you, seeing as I don’t want to die just yet.” Zhang He turned and started to walk away. “At least Cao Cao had the decency to give me a new horse.”

“The exercise will do you good. We wouldn’t want to see your beauty marred by fat, would we?” Guan Yu laughed as Zhang He walked into the darkness.

‘If this is what I’m going to have to put up with I may kill myself!’ Zhang He thought.

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Darkness. All around was pitch black. Deep voiced cries and shrill screaming tear through the dark night air. The sounds of burning, cries of pain and screams of agony are the only sounds to be heard. In the darkness, a girl cries for her mother. She screams for her parents as she pulls her sister close, to protect her, to keep her safe in this huge, cold, cruel unforgiving world. She is holding the only thing she has left. And even that is slowly slipping through her fingers, and this girl fears that soon she will be crying for a sister, as well as the parents she may never see again…

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“NO! Stay with me!” Zhen Ji stood and ran to the bedside of the now-awake Da Qiao. She enveloped Da in a huge hug, only to be pushed away.

“Xiao!! Xiao!! Xiao!!!!” Was all the feverous Qiao could shout. Over and over and over again. The older Qiao didn’t seem to recognise where she was or who was with her. Her only concern was her little sister.

Zhen Ji picked up her flute and began to play a soft, gentle tune, enough to calm tigers and stop lions in their tracks.

Yet it did little to soothe Da Qiao, who was trembling. There was a sound at the door, and Zhen Ji stopped playing her flute, and the young Qiao ran to her sister, followed by Tong Xia.

“I think we should leave them for a while.” Zhen Ji said before walking o
O
Once they were out in the field, Zhen Ji sat on a little boulder, and Tong Xia sat on the grass by her feet, facing her.

“How did thing go with the Wei forces?” Zhen Ji asked.

Tong Xia took a deep breath, and then sighed. “Well, they will help. Although, Cao Pi is going to make advances. I-”

“WHAT!?!?!” Zhen Ji stood in shock. She gave her friend a look that bordered on disgust and anger. “I hope you don’t mean what I think you mean.

“I am afraid I do. Bu-”

Tong Xia was cut off for a second time by anrageraged Zhen Ji. “You have got to be joking. Cao Pi is going to be lusting after me?? Can he not take a hint? I have fought him once. Do I really need to fight him a second time?” Zhen Ji was utterly disgusted with what she was hearing. And angry. She had had enough of men using her.

“Do you not think you’re over reacting just a little?” Tong Xia was also standing now, unsure of what to do to calm her friend down. She had never seen her quite so worked up over anything. Not even after that first night with Yuan Xi. Not even after he… well, that wasn’t talked about.

“Tong Xia, I have fought hard for my freedom. I will not, EVER give it up unless I want to. I’m tired of letting stupid greedy men using me, and treating me like some object to hang on their arm and look pretty. That is why we’re fighting Yuan Xi in the first place, or has that slipped your memory?” Zhen Ji knew she was being a little harsh, but really, after all she went through with men, she wasn’t going to have her freedom stripped from her without a decent fight. She was going to make Yuan Xi pay dearly.

And anyway, Tong Xia was used to Zhen Ji’s rough attitude. I mean, that’s how the whole bodyguard-master relationship worked. But they were always there to support each other, and that’s what made their friendship so undeniably special. And nothing said or done could change that. She understood, and didn’t take it personally. At least, Zhen opedoped she didn’t.

Zhen Ji walked into the tent and emerged a few seconds later with a letter. “Take this to Yuan Xi immediately.”

Tong Xia took the letter and walked off to the stables to get her horse.

“I heard shouting, is anything wrong?” Zhen Ji turned to see the flushed face of Xiao Qiao.

“Everything is fine. How is Da?”

“She’s resting.”

“Do you think she’ll be strong enough to take part in battle tomorrow?”

“She will be ready.” The younger Qiao promised solemnly. ‘She’s stronger than she looks. She won’t let this slow her down. If she’s needed, she’ll be there.’ Xiao thought to herself. ‘Besides, she’ll have to be won’t she? You’ve already sent Tong Xia to Yuan Xi. I just hope you know exactly what you’re doing.’

“Good.” Zhen Ji walked to the end of the field, so she could see the Yuan fortress in the distance.

“It has begun. You’d better be ready for me Yuan Xi, because I will attack viciously, and I intend to win.”