Ellen and I both froze when we heard the knock. I considered ignoring whoever was at the door to continue kissing Ellen. However, they chose that moment to speak up.

“Darian,” Sidra said, her voice muffled, “I know you’re awake. May I come in?”

At that, Ellen and I both slumped in disappointment. If it had been anyone else, we could have ignored them. However, Sidra was my eldest sister and the acting head of our family while Mother was in seclusion. Since Ellen’s family served mine, Ellen couldn’t disregard her either. In short, the two of us had to halt our activities.

Ellen sighed and schooled her face into a polite mask, before she got off of me and walked over to the door. She opened it and Sidra stepped inside.

“Greetings, Young Mistress Sidra.” Ellen said, giving her a polite bow.

Sidra looked between the two of us and raised an eyebrow. Given my current state, flushed and disheveled, it was clear that something happened before she arrived.

“Am I interrupting you two?” Sidra asked in a sardonic tone.

“No, Young Mistress Sidra.” Ellen answered, speaking in a polite tone.

Sidra studied her for a moment.

“Hmm, I can’t remember the last time I saw you this upset.” She said. “I must have arrived at an inopportune moment. Well, inopportune for you two.” She glanced at me. “Let me tell you a little secret about Ellen and her family. The more distant and polite they act towards you, the angrier they are with you. Keep that in mind for the future.”

I narrowed my eyes at her.

“What do you want, Big Sis Sidra?” I asked in a displeased tone.

Ellen wasn’t the only one upset with my oldest sister. Sidra gave me a flat look.

“Would you like to try that again?” she asked, a warning in her voice.

A chill ran down my spine as I realized that I just acted disrespectful towards my eldest sister. My sister, who was also a Nascent Soul cultivator.

“I apologize, Big Sis Sidra.” I said in a contrite tone. “I meant, greetings.”

Sidra nodded.

“Better.” She said. “I’m here for two reasons. The first is to talk with you about your duel with Martial Nephew Byron.”

Oh. As soon as Ellen started telling me the story of how we first met, I had completely forgotten about that. I resisted the urge to sigh. Of course Big Sis Sidra was here about the duel. I braced myself for a lecture, and a potential punishment.

“Good job.” Sidra said. “I heard about what happened, and I have to say that I’m proud of you, Darian. You defeated someone with a higher cultivation base than you. While I am unhappy that you injured yourself in doing so, I am pleased with the results.”

I blinked at her in surprise.

“You’re not here to punish me?” I asked.

Sidra snorted.

“Why would I do that?” She asked.

“I picked a fight with Cultivator Byron.” I asked. “Isn’t he a descendant of Uncle Jericho? Doesn’t that make him a young master?”

Sidra gave me an amused smile.

“And?” She asked. “What does that have to do with anything? Have you forgotten whose son you are? Picking fights is normal for our family. In fact, I’m surprised that you haven’t gotten into more fights.” She shrugged. “Besides, from what I heard, Martial Nephew Byron challenged you. He has only himself to blame for his current circumstances.” She pulled a jade bottle out of her storage ring and tossed it at me. “Speaking of which, here are your winnings.”

I caught the bottle and opened it. The moment I did, a strong medicinal smell filled the room and I felt my cultivation rise by a small amount. The bottle held a single pill, one that contained far more qi than any other pill I had ever seen before.

“A Foundation Breakthrough Pill.” I said, still staring into the bottle.

If I took it now, I knew that I would experience a rapid rise in my cultivation. However, that would be a waste. It would be better to wait until I was ready to break through to the Foundation Establishment realm.

“Yes.” Sidra said, sounding pleased. “I planned on making you go through a trial by fire in order to earn one, but you managed to procure one all on your own. I’m impressed. So much so, that I feel like rewarding you. Tell me, Darian. What do you want?”

I closed the bottle and placed it in my storage ring, before looking back up at my sister.

“You’re rewarding me for getting a Foundation Breakthrough Pill on my own?” I asked. “That feels like cheating somehow.”

Sidra stared at me for several long seconds, before she sighed.

“Darian, since you are the baby of the family, the others and I want to spoil you rotten.” She said. “We can’t, since it goes against family tradition as well as Flame Fiend Hall’s philosophy, but the urge to spoil you remains. So, when you do something meritorious and we decide to reward you for it, just accept. It’s part of how we show our love for you.”

“Oh,” I said, my cheeks heating up, “Um, can I have some time to think about it then? I’m not sure what to ask for.”

Sidra smiled and nodded.

“Of course.” She said. Her smile faded away and a cold expression took its place. She was no longer a caring older sister. Instead, she was the acting head of our family. “Now then, time for the second reason I’m here.” She gestured to Ellen, who had been standing off to the side, not saying a word, this entire time. “I’m sending Ellen away on a long-term mission.”

I stared at her in shock and dismay.

“You can’t do that, Big Sis!” I said, almost shouting.

“Why, Young Mistress Sidra?” Ellen asked at the same time.

Sidra narrowed her eyes at the both of us.

“You two know why.” She said. “I’m neither blind nor deaf. Did you really think I was unaware of what was going on between you two?”

“Nothing happened between us!” I exclaimed.

“Nothing happened yet.” Sidra said. “I’m here to separate you two before something does happen, at least for a time.”

I clenched my good hand into a fist and glared at Sidra.

“You can’t do that,” I said, “Ellen is my servant.”

Ellen walked over and stood by my side.

“Yes, Young Mistress Sidra.” She said, dropping the polite mask. “I obey Young Master Darian and Young Master Darian alone. You don’t have the authority to dismiss me from his service.”

Sidra scoffed.

“As the acting head of the family, I do in fact have that authority.” She said. “Even if I didn’t, I have enough power to force the issue.” She held up a hand, forestalling any more protests from us. “Before you two continue, let me tell you that this is a temporary arrangement.”

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

I clenched my jaw so hard that my teeth hurt. I wanted to rage against the injustice of it all, but I knew that it wouldn’t do me any good. So, I swallowed my anger.

“What do you mean, temporary?” I asked.

“I’m sending Ellen off to one of the Dawn and Dusk Sect’s branch offices,” Sidra said, “For a period of no less than five years.”

I gaped at her.

“Five years?” I asked. “That’s-”

“Just enough time for you to consider your actions before you do something irrevocable,” Sidra said, interrupting me. “You’re young and impressionable, Darian. Easily influenced. Five years should be long enough for you to think about what you really want in life.” She gave Ellen a cold look. “This is for your benefit as well. My sisters and I managed to keep this from your family, but they’re starting to get suspicious. Sending you away from Darian should ease their suspicions.”

I looked over at Ellen, who grimaced.

“Would Ellen’s family be that opposed to us being together?” I asked.

Sidra nodded.

“After Mother saved them, Ellen’s family swore to serve ours.” She said. “They consider it inappropriate and dishonorable for a servant to covet her master. If they realized that Ellen had designs on you, they would do everything in their power to prevent that from happening.” She gave me a hard look. “Including imprisoning Ellen if necessary.”

A shiver of fear ran down my spine.

“Is this true?” I asked Ellen.

She hesitated, before nodding.

“Even so,” she said, “I was willing to take that risk, Darian. I even had a plan in mind.”

“I’m sure you did,” Sidra said in a biting tone, “However, while you were willing to take that risk, I wasn’t. Thus, I’m intervening before it’s too late.”

I clenched my jaw.

“Is there nothing we can do?” I asked. “Is there no way for us to be together?”

I wanted to be with Ellen, but the risks of doing so were too high. Neither of us were powerful enough to go against either of our family’s wishes.

“Be patient.” Sidra said, in a consoling tone. “I know it might not seem like it, but I am not opposed to your relationship. I just think that you’re being too hasty about it. So, here is my proposal. If you go along with my plan without causing a fuss, when the five years are over, I’ll do everything in my power to aid you.” She gave us both a hard look. “However, I will only do so when the five years are up and only if you accept my proposal here and now.”

I snorted.

“That isn’t much of a choice.” I said. “You’re going to send Ellen away either way.”

“Yes, but at least this way, you two have a chance of being together.” Sidra’s expression softened. “Consider this a test of your resolve, and a way to temper your will. Either you two are right and your feelings for each other are genuine, or you’ll realize that this was nothing more than a passing fancy.”

I glared at Sidra.

“Must you treat me like a child?” I asked.

“Darian, I’m over six hundred years old,” Sidra said in a dry tone, “Anyone under a century is a child to me. You’re no exception.”

“What if we don’t accept your proposal?” Ellen asked, narrowing her eyes at Sidra. “What then?”

Sidra bared her teeth at Ellen in a smile. Her expression reminded me of a beast staring down its prey.

“Then I will do everything in my power to keep you two apart.” She said, an edge to her voice.

Ellen clenched her jaw.

“So we either do as you say, or forfeit our chance to be together.” she said.

“Yes,” Sidra said, “I thought that was obvious.”

I let out a bitter chuckle.

“I’m beginning to see why Astra dislikes it when you meddle in her personal life.” I said. “I never realized that you were so overbearing about it.”

Sidra shrugged.

“I do what I must for the sake of our family.” She said. “You need to grow up a bit more before you're ready to commit yourself to a life partner.” She held up a finger. “And no, before you try anything clever, you can’t use the reward I owe you to try and circumvent my conditions.”

My face fell. That had been my plan, yet Sidra saw through it right away. Damn it. At the moment, Sidra felt like an insurmountable wall. No matter how I saw it, I couldn’t beat her.

“Where am I going?” Ellen asked, sounding defeated. “And when do I leave?”

I looked at her.

“We might as well accept the inevitable and do as she says.” She said, giving me a sad smile. “Neither one of us is strong enough to oppose Young Mistress Sidra.”

“The Dawn and Dusk Sect’s branch office in East Mesa City.” Sidra said. “And you leave tomorrow morning.”

“Tomorrow morning?” I asked. “That’s too soon!”

Sidra gave me a flat look.

“Be grateful that I’m giving you two that much,” she said. “I could have had her leave immediately.” She nodded. “Now then, I’ll give you two some time alone.”

As Sidra turned to leave the room, anger and despair threatened to consume me. The last time I felt this powerless and helpless was back on Mt. Wind Dance. I hated it then, and I hated it now. Deep in my heart, I vowed to become strong so I never had to feel like this again.

“Oh,” Sidra said, pausing in the doorway, “As the vice hall master of Flame Fiend Hall, it is well within my authority to assign missions to disciples or appoint them to certain posts. Darian, if you reach Foundation Establishment in both your qi refining and your physical refining before the five years are up, I will assign you to East Mesa City so you two can be reunited early.” She grinned. “Consider that an incentive to focus on your cultivation.”

With that, my sister left, closing the door behind her. Ellen and I stared at the door for several minutes, neither one of us saying a word. I felt crushing despair. Just when Ellen and I had finally decided to be together, Sidra came in and dashed all of our hopes. It just wasn’t fair.

“Ellen…” I started to say, but she silenced me with a finger to my lips.

“We don’t have much time together, Darian,” she said, “Let us not waste any of it.”

I removed her finger from my lips.

“Aren’t you upset?” I asked. “We won’t see each other for five years after tonight. And who knows how long that will take me to break through to Foundation Establishment?”

Ellen smiled.

“Of course I’m upset.” She said. “However, in the grand scheme of things, five years isn’t that long, though it may not seem like it to you because of how young you are.” She shrugged. “I already waited ten years for you. What’s five more?”

Seeing her act so calm about our impending separation made me feel like a child for my outburst. It was as if I were throwing a tantrum over something trivial.

“Perhaps Young Mistress Sidra is right.” Ellen continued. “Maybe we were rushing into things.” She grimaced. “I know my family. If we tried to stay together, they would separate us by any means necessary. That’s just how they are. With Young Mistress Sidra’s support, we wouldn’t have to worry about that.”

I sighed.

“We could always try the plan you had in mind.” I said. “The one you mentioned earlier.”

Ellen stiffened at that.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” She said. “Not anymore. Young Mistress Sidra may very well kill me if we tried.”

I gave her a questioning look.

“Besides, I don’t think you’re ready to become a father just yet.” She said.

My eyes widened as I stared at her. Oh. So that had been her plan. If we slept together and Ellen bore my child, our families would have no choice but to let us get married. However, that plan came with drawbacks of its own, assuming my sisters stood by and let it happen. With that in mind, it was better to just wait and gain Sidra’s approval first.

“Now then,” Ellen said, crawling onto the bed and straddling my lap once more. “I leave in the morning. Let us make use of what little time we have together.” She stared at me, her yellow eyes seemed to fill my entire world. “I’m going to make sure that your feelings for me don’t fade, even after five years apart. After I’m done with you, it’ll be impossible for you to forget me.”

I felt a thrill of anticipation run down my spine.

“I thought you said I wasn’t ready to become a father yet.” I said.

Ellen grinned.

“Sleeping together and conceiving a child are two separate matters,” she said. “I have some elixirs with me to prevent pregnancy.” She caressed my cheek with the back of her hand. “However, if you want, we can save bedroom activities for later and just hold each other tonight. I’ll leave the final decision to you.”

I swallowed as I stared at her.

“I want-…” I paused and took a deep breath. “I want my first time to be with you.”

That way, even if I ended up sleeping with other women in the future, my first would always be Ellen.

“Excellent.” She said, before kissing me on the lips. After a few moments, she pulled back. “Just relax and let me handle everything, Darian.”

Before I could even respond, Ellen opened her mouth and revealed a pair of wicked looking fangs. She bit down, her fangs piercing the side of my neck. I felt a brief burst of sharp pain, before it faded away.

“Don’t worry,” Ellen said. “That was just a mild paralytic. It’ll prevent you from moving, but you’ll still be able to feel everything.

I realized that she was telling the truth when I tried to move, but couldn’t. However, my skin remained as sensitive as before. I gave her a questioning look, or tried to. The paralysis from her poison extended to my face it seemed.

“We wouldn’t want you to move around too much and agitate your wounds,” Ellen said, answering my unspoken question. “Besides, I like having you all helpless and at my mercy like this.” She gave me a smile and ground her body against mine. “From what I can tell, you feel the same way.”

She was right. A certain part of my anatomy made my feelings on the matter quite clear.

“You like it, don’t you?” Ellen asked, kissing my neck. Her fangs scraped against my skin. “Being taken while unable to fight back? Don’t worry. By the time I’m done, you’ll feel me in your bones.”

If it hadn’t been for the paralysis, I would have told her to shut up and do it already, instead of just talking about it. As if she read my mind, Ellen kissed me again and proceeded to disrobe the both of us.

That night, I experienced both heaven and hell. Pain and pleasure mixed together, until I couldn’t distinguish between the two. I learned what it meant to hunger for someone, to truly hunger for them. And I knew that no matter how much I indulged myself, I would never be completely satisfied.