“She does have her softer side.” Hyun-jo smiled. “There are just certain things she will not tolerate. Now, Jong-in-a, we will go see your mother and sister.”
“I don’t see how that’s going to do any good. He has forbidden them to speak with me.”
“We will not know unless we try. Your sister called to warn you, and in that, there is hope. Sometimes people within a situation they feel is beyond their control need only be shown the way to take back control,” Hyun-jo said. “Sometimes they need someone to help them take that step.”
“Do you honestly think she will leave him after all this time?” Jong-in said. “For me? She hasn’t left him yet. She didn’t even stand up to him when he kicked me out of the house.”
“She was a woman in love with a Kitsune,” Hyun-jo said. “He was taken from her too quickly, with no chance to say goodbye. For many humans it may take years to recover from the loss. Some never recover. How long after your father’s passing did he approach her?”
“I don’t know,” Jong-in said. “I remember Oesamchon ending the mourning period on the one hundredth day, and the feast they had. It seemed… wrong to me, as if Abeoji had not been properly grieved for. Eomeonim, she never really recovered. And he just sort of took over.”
“Was he familiar with your family?”
“Yes, I guess so. I’d seen him around a few times,” Jong-in said. “Usually when Oesamchon came to visit. They were friends from his university days. I know Abeoji didn’t care for him much.”
“Kitsune are very good at sensing the true nature of a person,” Hyun-jo said.
“Is that why you fell in love with Soon-joon-nim?” Jong-in asked, his head cocked to the side in his curiosity.
Hyun-jo nodded. “I had encountered several outsiders before I met Soon-joon. I could tell they were not good men, and I made my exit as quickly as possible, losing them in the forest so as not to lead them to our village. Soon-joon was different. First, he didn’t chase me. He let me come to him, showing patience. Second, our conversations were long and varied, showing his intelligence and compassion for many things. Thirdly, I could tell from his aura and his armor that he was a warrior, but not vicious or cruel. And fourth, well, you have seen the man himself.”
“He is sexy as hell.”
“That he is. The beauty of his face is matched by the beauty of his soul, and that is why I fell in love with Soon-joon,” Hyun-jo said.
“Do you honestly think we’ll be able to help Eomeoni and my sister get away from him? Do you think she even wants to leave?” Jong-in asked. He had never understood what his mother saw in his stepfather, never understood why she allowed him to treat her and her children the way he did, as if he owned them all. “I just don’t understand how she could let him do those things.”
“It is difficult to understand the mind of another, let alone for a child to understand the mind of an adult,” Hyun-jo said. “Once we have resolved this issue, then you may talk to her, as an adult to his parent, but you must also listen to what she has to say without judging.”
“I don’t know if I’ll be able to do that. I felt as if she betrayed me, not once, but twice.” Jong-in looked out the window and tensed. “We’re here.”
Hyun-jo
JONG-IN RUBBED his hands against his thighs and Hyun-jo couldn’t help his smile. For all his usual calm appearance, little gestures gave away Jong-in’s true feelings. His leg bounced as the limousine stopped in front of a medium-sized gate.
“Jong-in-a,” Hyun-jo said drawing his attention. “Everything will be fine.”
“I haven’t seen them in a year and a half.” Jong-in said, continuing to stare out the window.
“Well, that ends right now,” Jin-woo said as he wrapped an arm around Jong-in’s shoulders.
Hyun-jo nodded as Jong-in took a deep breath. “Shall we?”
Without waiting for a response from either of them, he got out. After straightening his suit, Hyun-jo stepped aside to let Jong-in out. He turned his attention to the gate as it opened. The young girl who exited could only be Jong-in’s sister. The two of them could have been twins. Her eyes went wide and flashed lavender for the briefest of moments as he spotted her brother. She shot a nervous glance through the gate before she rushed forward and pounced on Jong-in.
“Oppa!” she cried. “I’m so happy to see you, see that you’re okay, but you shouldn’t be here.”
Jong-in held her, his eyes closed, tears on his cheeks. “Yeong dongsaeng, is he here?”
She nodded.
“Jong-in-a, put your sister in the limo,” Hyun-jo said. “I will get your mother.”
“No,” Jong-in said as he released Yeong-hui. “I’m not going to wait in the limo.”
“Very well.”
“I’ll sit with your sister,” Jin-woo said. “You go get your mom.”
“What’s going on, oppa?” Yeong-hui asked. “Who are these people?”
“Friends, and I’ll explain after we get Eomeoni.”
“Okay, but I expect all the details,” she said.
Hyun-jo waited while Jong-in hugged his sister again before nudging her toward the open limo door. She got in, and then Jon-woo followed before Shin-bai closed the door.
“Do you wish me to accompany you?” Shin-bai asked.
“I don’t think that will be necessary,” Hyun-jo said as Jong-in turned to face him. “Are you ready?”
Jong-in nodded. “As I’ll ever be.”
“Then lead the way.”
Hyun-jo was proud of him. Once Jong-in had made up his mind, he didn’t hesitate. He waked through the gate into a small, rather barren courtyard. Hyun-jo followed. He didn’t like the feel of the place. It held an aura of oppression and fear and violence. He was hard-pressed to keep his fangs from emerging. Hate filled the air with heaviness. If Jong-in’s mother and sister weren’t being beaten, they were, at the very least, being emotionally abused. With the scent assaulting his nose, Hyun-jo was certain a spirit was involved.
“Jong-in-a, my son, what are you doing here?” the beautiful woman who turned to look at them said in a fearful voice. Petite, with thick black hair twisted up and pinned behind her head, she could only be Jong-ins mother. “You must go before he sees you.”
“Not without you,” Jong-in said. “Yeong dongsaeng is already in the car.”
“He will not let me leave, and he will hurt you. You must go.” She tried to push him toward the gate.
“Why do you stay with Kang-dae-ssi?” Jong-in said angrily.
“If I stay he will not hurt my babies,” she said. “I must keep you safe.”
“No, Eomeoni, I must keep you safe,” Jong-in said.
“Jong-in—”
“Yeong-ja!” a deep chilling voice called from inside the house. Hyun-jo stepped closer to Jong-in and his mother. There was something off about that voice. It set his hackles rising. Jong-in pushed his mother behind him as a man came storming into the courtyard.
“You!” Kang-dae snarled. “What are you doing here? I forbade you to ever set foot in this house again!”
“I came for my family,” Jong-in said. “I won’t let you cage them anymore.”
“She is mine!”
Hyun-jo moved, slipping past Jong-in to catch Kang-dae’s wrist as he made to strike Jong-in. The minute he made contact, Hyun-jo’s suspicions were confirmed. He could feel the spirit writhing inside Kang-dae.
“Jong-in-a, take your mother to the car,” he said, never taking his eyes from Kang-dae. The man had yet to look at him. When he heard no movement, Hyun-jo gave a push of qi to nudge Jong-in. Even young as he was, he would feel it.
“Eomeoni, let’s go.”
“Are you sure?” she asked.
“You know what I’ll do!” Kang-dae growled.
“Jong-in-a, go,” Hyun-jo said. “Now.”
Finally, he heard them leave and the gate close. “Now, Onryo, it’s just you and me, and we’re going to have a chat.”
Kang-dae’s
eyes grew wide. “Gumiho.”
“Yes,” Hyun-jo hissed as he dropped his glamour.
“I will kill him! I will kill them all! She was mine! She is mine!” Kang-dae screamed until Hyun-jo wrapped his hand around his throat and dug his claws in.
“That’s exactly what you won’t do,” Hyun-jo said. “She is Fox-touched and you should never have laid a hand on her or her kits.”
“Kill me, kill him,” Kang-dae said, only it was no longer his voice, but the voice of the spirit inside.
Slowly, Hyun-jo smiled. “You assume I care whether this body lives or dies. I assure you I do not.”
“You don’t scare me.”
“You stink of fear.” Hyun-jo snorted.
“I deserve to be married. She should never have left me.”
“Your petty desires are of no interest to me.” Hyun-jo gave Kang-dae a little shake. “I can sense this man’s spirit has withered away under your control. You have until the new moon to set his business in order and then depart this realm. If you do not do this, I will hunt you down.”
“You can’t exorcise me if he let me in of his own freewill,” Kang-dae said with another eerie high-pitched giggle.
“Oh, little spirit, you are very much mistaken,” Hyun-jo said, letting his fire fill his eyes for the spirit to see. “And if I discover you had anything whatsoever to do with the Fox’s death, you will beg to be released from this world, and I will savor your screams.”
Ki-tae
KI-TAE, HANYIN, and Cheongul arrived at BL Entertainment headquarters to find a huge crowd waiting for them. On one side were those who supported them, signs declaring their loyalty and their love. On the other were those who felt betrayed, who were offended by their apparent lies, and who wanted them to stop immediately. The third group watched with ravening eyes, praying for some sort of conflict between the two groups, cameras and microphones at the ready.
“Why do they have to act like hungry vultures circling overhead?” Ki-tae muttered as he watched the reporters.
“For these types, it’s their nature,” Cheongul said. “No one gets out until Shin-bai hyung and his team are in position. Standard pattern from here to the door.”
“We know the drill, Cheongul,” HanYin said. “I just wish it wasn’t even more necessary now.”
“I know, HanYin.” Cheongul sighed. “I wish the same.”
“Min-su-ya is already inside?” Ki-tae asked.
“Yes. She went in with Halmeonim earlier this morning,” Cheongul said. “Abeoji and Hyun-jo-nim are in the front car with Jin-woo-ya and Jong-in-a.”
“I wish we could have ridden in the same car,” Ki-tae complained. “I don’t like having him so far away.”
“Abeoji and Hyun-jo-nim will keep them safe,” HanYin said, resting a hand on his shoulder.
“I know, but I still don’t like it,” Ki-tae said.
Before he could say more, there was a knock on the window, Shin-bai’s signal that they were in position. The door opened, and Ki-tae stepped out into the sunlight. The black fabric of his suit immediately pulled in the heat, and he took comfort as that warmth started to chase away the chill he’d felt ever since Jin-woo got into the other car. He stepped forward several paces so his brothers could get out of the vehicle.
From the left, something came flying at his head. Before he could respond, Shin-bai snapped out his arm and caught the projectile. The crowd gasped. Shin-bai turned his eyes toward the crowd. He simply dropped the rock out of their path without a word. Then he moved them forward. Each of the six other team members were either Shifters or Vampires. They had the abilities needed to protect Bam Kiseu from any threat, and they had been trained to handle humans as well. They knew their job. They were the elite team and only ever assigned to Bam Kiseu.
Ki-tae looked over to where the other car stood. Everyone was already out, and he searched out Jin-woo. When he caught his eye, Ki-tae gave him a gentle smile. While he wanted to rush over to him, Ki-tae waited until they reached the door. At that point he couldn’t resist. He reached out and took Jin-woo’s hand, pulling him to his side. They walked into the building together.
The walk to the conference room was probably the longest walk over the shortest distance he’d ever taken. Jin-woo was correct the other night: Bam Kiseu had never been the target of such rumors before, and it was disconcerting, to say the least. It wasn’t that he couldn’t handle the situation. He’d been through much worse. It was the idea that people could consider such a private thing to be something they had a say in.
When they took their seats at the front table, the room was packed with not only reporters, but fans and protestors alike. It was surprisingly composed, unlike the atmosphere outside. Were these a different group of people? No, he recognized some of the faces from outside. Perhaps the feel of the building had changed them. Every BLE employee they ran into expressed their support and their displeasure at the rumormongers and haters. Now those who were there to persecute them were on enemy territory, and they were feeling the sting of that threat.
ChenBao nodded to Soon-joon. He rose and took to the podium.
“Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. I welcome you here today as we address recent events. As many of you know, I am Park Soon-joon, manager of Bam Kiseu. To my left is Lyang ChenBao-nim, owner and president of BL Entertainment, and my personal assistant, Rhim Hyun-jo hubae. To my right are the members of Bam Kiseu: Cheongul-a, HanYin-a, and Ki-tae-ya. Cheong Jin-woo dongsaeng, Bak Jong-in dongsaeng, and Yi Min-su dongsaeng, our interns from Jeonjin University.”
“Why is Miss Yi present? It seems out of place for an intern not involved to be present.”
“Questions and answers will be at the end of the conference,” Soon-joon said with a smile. “I respectfully ask that you hold them until that time.”
“You’re avoiding the question.” The reporter smirked. “What? Did she get knocked up by one of the band members?”
Min-su laughed, drawing attention to herself. She looked to Soon-joon, and he nodded. “I am here, sir, because Cheong Jin-woo-ya and Bak Jong-in-a are my best friends, as are all of the people at this table. I am here to show them my support, as any proper friend does. It is poor manners indeed to insinuate otherwise.”
Ki-tae smiled. Min-su was in protective but professional mode. It reminded him of Hyun-jo. He wondered if all Shifters were like that.
“My apologies,” the reporter said, looking a little less smug. Min-su simply nodded, neither accepting nor rejecting his apology.
“As I said, there will be a question-and-answer session afterward,” Soon-joon said. “For now I will turn over the podium to Huijang-nim.”
“Thank you, Soon-joon-nim,” ChenBao said as she rose gracefully and he took his seat. “Good morning, ladies and gentlemen of the press and fans of our Bam Kiseu. We appreciate you taking the time out of your day to be present. As many of you are aware, during the Bam Kiseu spring concert at Eumak Nabi Theater, a lighting truss crashed to the stage. It struck our dear HanYin, who, thankfully, did not suffer any major injuries. The resulting shrapnel from the breaking lights did, however, injure several fans. BL Entertainment has already been in contact with the hospital and will cover all medical expenses of the injured fans. All of those who had purchased tickets to the concert will be able to turn their receipts in for a free entry to Bam Kiseu’s next show. We know you work hard, and you attend our shows to unwind. We are most sorry this time was interrupted in such a horrible fashion. We will open the floor to your questions now.”
“Any idea what caused the truss to fall? Was it faulty?” one reporter asked.
“It saddens me to say this was a deliberate attack upon Bam Kiseu. The truss was sabotaged by person or persons unknown,” ChenBao said. “We are working closely with both the venue and the authorities to identify the perpetrator and bring them to justice.”
“Fan-cam footage shows HanYin dongsaeng shoving Ki-tae dongsaeng out of the way of the truss. Do you believe Ki-tae dongsaen
g was the intended target?” another asked. It was a relief they were focusing on the attack, but Ki-tae knew it wouldn’t be long before the more personal questions began.
“We believe that is a distinct possibility,” she said.
“Could this be an attack by an antifan?”
“Also a distinct possibility,” ChenBao said. “If we consider this was a deliberate attack on Ki-tae dongsaeng only, an antifan is someone who has an irrational hatred for a particular idol and will go to great lengths to harm that idol.”
“Or is it possible this attack is a direct result of the video that went viral the same day? The video showing explicit relations between Ki-tae dongsaeng and a man?” the first reporter demanded.
“The level of planning and the timing indicates the two incidents could only be related if the culprit behind them both was the same individual. The video was released during the concert. That would not be enough time for an individual to see the video, get into the venue, learn the choreography well enough to know when Ki-tae dongsaeng would be at that section of the stage, and then remove the bolts to the truss,” Hyun-jo answered at ChenBao’s nod. “We are either dealing with one mentally unstable and cunning individual, or two individuals, possibly both deranged. Either is unacceptable.”
Ki-tae watched the reporter. His eyes were calculating as he looked at everyone at the front table. He didn’t like how the guy focused in on Jin-woo and smiled. “And you’re sure it has nothing to do with the rumors that Ki-tae dongsaeng is gay? Isn’t the other person in the video, in fact, sitting next to Ki-tae dongsaeng, Cheong Jin-woo dongsaeng? How will BL Entertainment address that issue?”
“There is no issue to address,” ChenBao said.
“No issue? One of your star idols is gay.”
“And? Does his sexual orientation affect his ability to sing? Does it make him incapable of dancing? Does it prevent him from writing the truly compelling lyrics or engineering the distinct sounds Bam Kiseu is known for? In truth it is a nonfactor to all of those things.” ChenBao smiled. She glanced at Ki-tae and nodded. He straightened in his seat. Then he pulled his hand from beneath the table, firmly entwined with Jin-woo’s.
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