The next morning, as Xiaochuan's muscles screamed with every step, his mind blurred messily between the Emperor's dark eyes and his mother's desperate hopes. He was on edge, he wouldn't lie.
His heart has been beating loudly for the past few hours, and he's been looking at his surroundings wearily. He felt like a criminal.
He stood near the back of the hall with the seven other omegas he had practiced with the day before. During practice, Xiaochuan's eyes kept drifting toward Yuanli's group of six. They were practicing center-stage formations, their movements sharp, erotic and commanding, while his own group seemed to be merely doing any unique moves.
As he went back to sit at a side. Part of him was relieved, maybe if his hair was hidden under a hood, the Emperor would never find him. He would be just another anonymous dancer in a sea of blue. He would be safe.
Was that a blessing or a curse?
Because the other part of him, the part that remembered the way the Emperor had looked at him, not with disgust, but with a pained, desperate hunger. It felt a strange, it was a treacherous pull.
Cause if his mother was right… if the Emperor was looking for him because of a fated spark, then hiding meant staying in poverty forever.
Xiaochuan was torn between the instinct to survive and the desperate need to be saved.
——————
The atmosphere at the backstage room they rented for The Moon's Lament festival was chaotic and lively as people moved in hurried steps back and fourth. About three other dance groups were in here as well, all doing their own thing, everyone was on their own sides of the hall.
Xiaochuan stood in the corner, at their group's side of the hall, clutching the dark silk hood he was supposed to wear tonight in his hands. He looked at the main dancers, Yuanli and her group, who were draped in shimmering azure silks embroidered with silver thread that caught every flicker of the artificial lights lined in the hall. They looked like celestial beings, radiant and untouchable.
Then, he looked down at his own outfit. It was a dull, midnight blue, made of sturdy cotton rather than flowing silk. He and the other six back up dancers were meant to be the dark sky that allowed the stars to shine. The shadows
"Ten minutes!" Feiying's voice barked through the room.
Xiaochuan looked at the hood one last time and sighed. Might as well just accept his fate and get on with it.
Whatever will be, will be.
He thought, his heart thumping against his ribs like the drums outside. He didn't have the courage to defy Feiying, needless to say he didn't have any other choice. It was either he wore the hood or not perform.
Just as he finished putting the hood on, Feiying walked back in again, throttling towards them. "Line up! Now! We're next after the team that's currently performing." Feiying commanded.
Xiaochuan didn't have time to overthink. He pulled the hood on tighter and adjusted it's tie, tucking every strand of pink away, and followed the line of Shadows out toward the grand stage.
———
The stage was a massive circular platform of white marble, suspended over a reflecting pool that mirrored the full, glowing moon above.
Xiaochuan instinctively looked up ahead. And sitting on the highest throne, draped in gold and black, was Emperor Xiao Chengyuan. Just seeing him alone sent a jolt of sparks down his spine, the suddenly remembered the way he'd been held in his arms few days ago and he felt heat rushing to his face.
Suddenly their eyes met and he immediately looked away, a shiver shot down his spine and he took a deep breath to ground himself. He shook his head and focused on the dance that was just about to start, though he couldn't shake off the heavy feeling of eyes glued to his skin.
The crowd started cheering as the main dancers took their formation and waited for the music to begin.
Of course, their dancing dresses was enough to make everyone excited and anticipating.
When the music finally began, the six main dancers glided further onto the center of the stage, their silver-threaded silks flashing like lightning. Xiaochuan and the other six Shadows emerged from the sides, moving in a low, crawling formation. They were the rolling mist, the dark clouds moving around the 'moons' in the center.
Under the beautiful moonlight and artificial torches that illuminated the area. Xiaochuan moved with grace, even in his cheap cotton robes, his body remembered the tunes better than anyone. He was fluid, and silent.
He couldn't deny, that being under the moonlight and under the gaze of The Emperor, even he didn't recognize him, was an intense kind of feeling. He could feel eyes on him, but one stood out, he could literally feel the charge on his skin.
And while he danced as the shadow of the moon. He could only hope that his hopes and prayers would align in his favor.
——
High above, the Emperor's eyes scanned the stage intensively. All night, his eyes had been glued to the stage hoping to see that particular omega that has been on his mind a bit too frequently.
His men has been searching for the omega for the past few days and they still haven't found him. His blood boiled in immense anger as he tried to keep his emotions at bay.
Chengyuan knew he was obsessed and he couldn't figure out why. How an Omega he's only seen twice and touched for a few seconds managed to fill his every senses to the point where he can't even think of anything else but him.
He hoped to find him tonight, but he hasn't seen anyone familiar so far. He'd seen a pink haired omega earlier. But the omega was not the one he was looking for. The unnecessary loudness of the music and the crowd was starting to irritate him. His jaw tightened and he sighed, leaning back in his throne, Yiran noticed immediately.
"Are you getting bored?" He asked.
"I think I'll just leave early." Chengyuan grumbled and stood up, just as another dance team was announced.
He glanced back at the stage as the members took their position and his dark gaze immediate locked on to one particular Omega.
His hair was covered and his face was half shielded. He couldn't help but be drawn to the omega, which made him wonder if he was the one Chengyuan was looking for. Then they made brief eye contact and the omega looked away instantly.
The music started and his gaze remained locked on the Omega. As odd as it might seem, Chengyuan always recognized what belonged to him. Which was quite weird because the Omega did not belong to him….yet.
He wanted that hood off.
———
Xiaochuan controlled his breathing as he twisted his waist to the tune of the song. His skin charged constantly with the feel of the Emperor's eyes on him. He knew the emperor was looking at him, and it made him the most nervous he's ever been his entire life.
When the dance finally reached its crescendo. The Shadows were supposed to spin in a tight circle around the main dancers, then drop to their knees in a bow.
As Xiaochuan spun, the wind from his own momentum caught the edge of his hood. That was when it happened.
It wasn't his fault. Really.
The silk was just cheap, and the tie string had become loose from his movements. Because, in the middle of a high leap, the hood snagged on his shoulder and tore away and his bright pink hair spilled out, glowing like a forbidden flower under the moonlight.
Xiaochuan would have tried to pull the hood back on immediately. But the wind was not on his side, his hood didn't only tear away. The wind took that specific time to blow harshly and carry the light weight hood away, leaving his hair exposed and his face bare.
'No.' The word rang in his head like an alarm. The formation faltered for a split second as the other dancers gasped and Xiaochuan's heart stopped.
On the throne, the Emperor's obsidian eyes locked onto the small, pink-haired figure in the back row. With the veil gone, the wind carried the omega's scent through the air.
Wild plum blossoms.
Xiaochuan, who was still frozen in his pose on one knee, looked up slowly. Across the sea of nobles and guards, his eyes met the Emperor's.
A slow, devilish smirk spread across his face, it was a look of dark triumph.
Found you. My beautiful Omega.
Chengyuan's smirk deepened, his eyes never once leaving Xiaochuan's trembling form. The satisfaction humming in his blood was intoxicating.
Xiaochuan felt the weight of that gaze like a physical brand on his skin. His legs felt like lead, and his exposed skin tinged with sparks as no doubt, the Emperor's eyes were following his every move, but the automatic movement of the dance in his system pushed him forward.
He finished the final movements in a blur of terror, his movements shaky and his breath hitching. Then he moved forward to form a straight horizontal line with the others and they gave a deep bow, paying respect to the king and Emperor.
The moment the music died, he didn't wait for the applause, he didn't even care that Emperor Xiao and King county Zhou were on seat, he turned and ran back toward the hall, breaking the line first, his heart was screaming at him to run and he didn't know why.
High above, Chengyuan watched the spot where the pink haired Omega had disappeared. Then he looked at the guards, who were already looking at him. His eyes set on one in particular.
"You know what to do. Find him." Chengyuan commanded. "If he arrives with so much as a single scratch on his skin, I will have your head on a pike before the moon sets. And if you fail to find him again, I will personally tear you to pieces myself."
The guard bowed and hurried away.
Chengyuan looked back at the stage that was now empty, picking up his refilled wine cup. He swirled the dark liquid, watching the reflection of the moon ripple in the red depths. For the first time in years, the crushing boredom of the crown felt light.
Run all you want, little moon.
He thought to himself, his eyes darkening with a possessive heat.
Tonight, I will make you mine.