CHAPTER 7: BROKEN HEART

Diane heads towards Sage's class as the bell went off, Sage walked out with Ruby, Diane spots them from afar

"Yo!" Diane smiled getting everyone's attention as Ruby raised a brow

"Doesn't she know how beautiful she looks walking around like that?"

"It seems she doesn't" Sage replied as Diane ran towards them

" Yo! "

" Hi, I have skulls to crack so maybe I'll see you later? ". Ruby said walking away as Diane watched her leave

" Skulls.... "

" She's in the wrestling team"

" Oh.. crack some for me!!! " Diane waved as Ruby signalled an ok sign

" Why did you come here? " Sage asked as Diane pouted

" Can't I come to see you? "

" How many guys have you shown that face to?"

" My face? The whole school has seen it?"

" I see" Sage replied with a dark smile as Diane shrugged it off

" Sage I think something is wrong"

"What? It's finally your time? "

" No not yet I still have a few fights left in me, I meant someone is catching up to me"

" Bobby finally remembers? No, if it's him you'd go straight to the point, his friends? " Sage asked as Diane nodded making Sage sigh

" This is the end result of being too friendly"

"Help me out would ya?" Diane asked as she suddenly froze

" What?" Sage asked as Diane communicated with her eyes

" He's here"

"Follow me" Sage replied as they walked out of the building. The girls finally stopped at a pawn shop as Diane turned to Sage who hinted at a sign outside the shop

*"Old historical artifacts"*

Diane smirked as they walked into the shop together. Minutes later they walked out with Diane smiling brightly

"I knew this would get me all the attention I needed, you know for someone who hates attention, you sure do know how to get one" Diane praised as Sage smirked then they walked away together.

Robbie walked out approaching the shop

"Welcome mister, what do you need? We have all replicated old artifacts here"

" Replicated?"

"Yes, but it is of the best quality, extremely similar to the real deal "

"The ladies who just came in..."

"Oh those are my customers, they are the best buyers I have"

"Really?"

"Hmn, let me reign you in on a secret...girls fancy this kind of stuff for attraction, especially the shinning gold's around"

" Attraction? Can't they go to a jewelry store to get gold?"

" Of course they can! But thus isn't just any gold, if they wear this won't you guys be curious if they came from a wealthy family or are royalties? It's like a family heirloom, only it's cheaper!" The man giggled to himself as Robbie frowned

" The tall girl with short hair, does she fancy these things?"

" Ah? No, she just brings the one with longer hair here to pick up her favourite stuffs and pays for her"

" I see...here for your information " Robbie said as he brought out a fat wad of cash, the owner's eyes twinkled at it as he quickly stuffs it in his clothes

" Thank you mister, you are too kind, too too kind, hey, pick anything you want, anything at all " He praised excitedly

" No need" Robbie replied walking out as he smiled

" Who knew lying could bring so much reward?!" He exclaimed

*Earlier*

Sage walked in with Diane as they walked around

"This should do right?" She asked as Diane nodded

"Mister..." Sage called out as the owner rushed to them

" What do you want to buy young miss, I have the best old artifacts in town"

"We are not here to buy something, but for cooperation"

"Cooperation? What is that? Can I eat it? Will it feed me?"

"More than you think"

" Then I'm in"

"Good, immediately we leave, a guy will walk in and ask you a few questions, answer correctly and you will be rewarded handsomely"

" That's all? I'm in!"

" Good here's a head start" Sage said as she dropped a ward of cash walking out

*Flash back ends*

"I'm so lucky today!!" The man squealed like a little girl

POV: Diane

" Do you think it would work?"

"If I can't work that guy's mind I don't know who can"

"You know him?"

"I recognized you at first glance didn't I?"

"First glance?"

"Yeah, but I wasn't sure so I pretended not to, till I saw your tattoo that is"

"That explains why we were always in sync"

"Yh"

"Wait, you know me before now? How?"

"Are you kidding who doesn't know an underlying for the underworld, we're so cool."

" You know about the underworld...which makes me wonder, what does your parent do?"

"They are little bosses in their jurisdictions, head of gangs under the former Underworld ruler"

"Why do you keep using the word former?"

"Because he isn't anymore, at least till he returns"

"What do you mean?"

" You didn't know? The king disappeared 10 years ago and left no trace, the underworld and military has been hunting him down ever since his last break out"

" Break out? Like a war?"

" Yeah"

" Sage I need you to tell me everything that happened"

" Sure" - Sage said as they jumped into a building halfway done and under construction.

-" 10 years ago, the underworld king suddenly announced his retirement, giving a reason so unbelievable, he said he now has a stable family and wanted to live a good life"

"Good life?" Diane repeated

" Yeah, that sounded odd to us as well, but he seemed to mean it and he promised to leave us in capable hands, of course not everyone would agree with his decision right? An informer told him his family would be slaughtered that very night, and also passed on news to his wife about the underworld, apparently he kept it a secret from her because he didn't want to involve her in the dirty money and blood that are in the business, he took some clean money he saved and strated a life with her till she caught up on his secret.

That night was his last night as the underworld king, he gave it all up for love and that cost him dearly, he was ambushed and seriously injured, my dad, Robbie's dad and The Lu's are his best friends, so they offered to help naturally.

If his wife had put aside their difference and allowed him to explain things would have been different, but she acted impulsively dashing off with the 1st young master of their family. Rumour has it the Lu's were on their way to help the king and explain to the queen, but we're caught up in a drastic accident, in it, Master Lu died leaving Madam Lu and Grandpa Lu to take over with the twins, they still tried looking for the King or at least young master Lu's betrothed little wife but the Long's were never heard from again.

*Diane: That's because we changed our name to the Lans. Dad, you were dying that day .. why didn't you tell mom, why didn't you tell me, you said you trusted me to help you out, why didn't you tell me you were in trouble? And I was out transferring my silver core to a guy who doesn't even recognizes me anymore. Was I so stupid?"*

Diane asked as Sage continued

" So I'm guessing you must be from the underworld too, did your dad work with king?" Sage asked as Diane suddenly had vertigo and fainted

"Hey!" Sage called out as Diane whispered in thought

"Dad, I'm sorry I was weak and useless" She said passing out completely.

Sage carried Diane back to the hostel as her temperature shot up again, she quickly tries to bring down her temperature as Diane seemed to be having a nightmare.

POV: Diane

I opened my eyes to the darkness as a deafening noise kept ringing in my ear. My spiritual space seemed colder than usual, or was it me? This empty thought, the darkness, the deafening silence and guilt seemed to be eating me up.

*Is this the end? What I wouldn't give for some candies...* I muttered in thought, just as I thought I was done for, I felt a warmth like I has never before

"Someone seems to be transferring their Qi to me from the outside world, whoever it is, why does it feel so familiar?" Diane asked as she quickly sat down shutting down her 5 senses and regulating the new energy surging in her body

"It seems he or she can't control the energy transfer, I will have to give back the energy, something would definitely go wrong..."- Diane muttered as she felt a strong force weakening from outside

" That's my cue" Diane said as she opened her eyes, she froze at the sight of Sage before snapping out of the shock.

She reverses the energy transfer also giving Sage some of her energy too.

"Thank you Sage" Diane whispered in tears, creating an illusion of power in her meridians, then she fell back to sleep

Sage opened her eyes as she checks on Diane, then heaves a sigh of relief.

"Seems like it worked .. but..." Sage murmured as she frowned

" Why don't I feel the after effect also why do i feel like I gained more power? " Sage said as she checks her cultivation level

" I broke through?!" She exclaimed as Diane woke up

"Yo!"

"You're awake!"

"Yeah what happened?"

"You passed out again and I transferred Qi to you"

"Guess you really know my identity now don't you?"

"Yeah, you are one of us, an underworld underlings, but... What clan do you belong to? And why do you imitate the Phoenix tattoo? "

"*Diane: She thinks I'm from a lower rank clan? That's favorable...I guess"*

" The Crane clan" Diane replied as Sage smirked

" I see, the Crane clan, no wonder you are so secretive, your clan is almost extinct yet you all copy the Phoenix tattoo, brave" Sage said as Diane smiled

*Diane: My tattoo..."-* Diane repeated as she checks her wrist secretly

*"- It seems my dragon blood is back, which means sister's spell has exhausted, that explains my hair going back to its original color after the accident, who the hell is capable of causing all these mess! "* Diane asked angrily in thought as she squeezed the blanket almost ripping it. Sage held her hand as she looked up to her

"It's okay, I guess you don't remember much about your clan, I'll keep this a secret for you, you can trust me ok?" Sage said as Diane nodded

*"Diane: But why? Why would you do that? You didn't even know who I am"* Diane asked as an undetectable silver whisp of her spiritual power flew out of her forehead into Sage's

*"Diane: This should keep you safe anytime you are in danger"*

Diane muttered as Sage fell asleep, she got out of the lower bunk placing Sage gently before ascending to the top bunk.

*"I guess it's my job now to find out who betrayed the King, for heaven's sake this job is getting too messed up for me, First I have to figure out how to keep my silver moon hidden in Bobby, then I have to secretly investigate the traitor who made us end up like this, I can't contact dad without my silver core, Young master Lu is my betroth so he can manage the force of my moon, perfect but....here's the mystery what really happened 10 years ago? "* Diane muttered as she felt dizzy and slept off.

In the evening, she heard noises coming from outside the hostel

" They're back I guess" She muttered as she fainted. The girls walked in

"Woah, seems they arrived earlier" Astrid said as Ruby frowned at Sage's shocking rise in spiritual power and Diane's fading energy

"They did wake up late today, did Sage catch the flu from Diane? " Harley asked as Astrid checked Sage's temperature, waking her up in the process

"What are you doing?"

"Ahhh!" Astrid screamed as Sage cleaned her ear

"Why are you screaming?!"

"You startled me!"- Astrid replied with a scoff

" 39.4 degrees, You officially have a fever" Astrid said as she brought the 2nd thermometer to Diane's mouth

"GUYS!!" Astrid screamed alarming everyone

"DUDE!" Harley scolded as Astrid showed the readings to the girls

"107 fahrenheit.... 41.7 degrees celsius?!" They shouted as Diane breathing became slower and faint. Sage quickly carried her on her back.

"Get her papers I'll take her to the hospital" Sage ordered as she ran out of the hostel. Astrid grabbed Diane papers as the rest packed some of her clothes.

The girls ran out as they carried Diane and Sage out if the hostel. It was nightfall so they would be no cars around to pick them up till the next morning.

Strangely a car and a motorcycle appeared on the street as Harley quickly stopped them

"Help!" Harley called out

"Wait... 'Ruby cuts in as she frowned at the convenience but couldn't raise it up due to the situation.

" Please help us, we're going to the hospital" Astrid said in panic as Ruby tried to make out the faces of the riders but they had black masks on.

"Sure" They replied in unison as the girls smiled in relief leaving only Ruby with a frown on. The guy on the motorcycle turned to her

"She seems more critical, leave her to me I'll get there in time" He said grabbing Diane's swiftly, her hand slips away from Ruby's as she could only watch the guy take Diane away

"What's up? " Harley noticed Ruby's unusual expression

"I've got a bad feeling about this" Ruby replied as they boarded the car speeding off.

The girls arrived at the hospital minutes later as they quickly admitted Sage. Ruby walked back to the nurses

"Is there a patient with a temperature of 105 fahrenheit here?"

"105?! No, we haven't checked in such patient" The nurse replied as Ruby clenched her fist angrily.

"Damn it!" She cursed as Harley ran towards her

"What's wrong? Where's Diane?"

"Not here"

"What do you mean not here?!"

"We've been conned, stay here and inform me when Sage awakens I'll be back" Ruby replied zooming off with the car.

The motorcycle took a sharp turn into an abandoned forest then brought Diane down. He uses dark mystical arts to search through Diane's body

"No core?! Isn't she a cultivator? Why does she give off the energy of a normal human?"

The sound of bushes rustling got the kidnapper's attention. He turned to Diane who opened her eyes smiling

"Heyya" She said as the assailant gritted his teeth

"Damn it! I've been conned!" He muttered pushing Diane away as she hit her head on a rock bleeding profusely, she faints

The assailant then ran away. Ruby arrived seeing Diane in a pool of blood as she quickly carried her to the car driving back to the hospital.

"DOCTOR!!" Ruby called out as they immediately received Diane in a stretcher into the ICU

The girls stared at the scene in shock as Ruby was drenched in blood.

Hours later, the doctor who took care of Sage walked out

"Your friend is alright" He said but no one seemed happy like they should have been.

Minutes later the doctors for Diane walked out as they rushed him

"How's she?"

"She's fine, just a little deep cuts that's all"

" Little cut? I am drenched by her blood!" Ruby exclaimed

" Yeah, the blood vessels were cut but no major damages were taken in, she'll be just fine"

" What about her fever?" Harley asked

" Taken care of" The doctor replied with a smile but was sweating which was unusual, he quickly excused himself, as Ruby caught up to his lie frowning

The doctor entered Diane's ward

" I've told them"

" Good"

" Why though, without a proper operation she would die!" The doctor argued

" Exactly what I want! Get out!"The voice ordered as the doctor bowed and walked out. The intruder used his Qi to search her body

" Her power and spiritual core is gone? Damn it! Who beat me to it?" He muttered as he hits her wrist angrily

"Fine then, you think you can outplay me..." He said injecting a substance into Diane's body

"Phmn, trying to get your core and your strength back? You can only dream of it, the day you do so would be your last" The assailant said as he jumped off the window.

Diane's body became covered with black veins spreading through her body

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