Page 43 of Vicious Spirits

Junu’s eyes went dark and flat for a moment before he pasted on that megawatt smile again, a hint of mocking to add flavor. “And let me guess. You’ve convinced yourself that I’m the third and that you’re going to save me from my demons.”

“Well, you’re half right,” Somin said, not letting him get to her. “I do think you’re the third. But I’m still trying to decide if you deserve to be saved. Maybe it’s all your fault.”

The flash of indignation was the reward she’d been looking for, but it was followed so closely by a hint of something raw that ate into her fleeting victory.

“What if I asked you?” His voice was smooth as velvet, but there was a strange, serious undertone.

“What?” Somin asked, unsure if she’d heard right.

“What if I asked you to save me?” he said, his eyes so intense they seemed to bore into hers. “Would you consider it then?”

“You can’t be serious,” she breathed, uncertain of where to tread here.

Then the tension broke as Junu gave a wide, reckless grin. “You know me too well.”

Before Somin could reply, the doorbell chimed. Junu started for the foyer, but Somin stopped him. “He can’t know I was here.”

“Stay back here and wait until we leave,” Junu said.

“You won’t tell him what we talked about?” Somin asked, worry creasing her brow.

“I gave you my word,” Junu said. “No matter how foolish I think the request is.”

The doorbell chimed again and again with impatience.

“I’m trusting you,” Somin said, trying to search out any seeds of doubt on his face. But it was placid, unreadable.

“And I’m sure that it’s killing you to do so. Now, if you don’twant Jihoon to know about your little visit, then wait here and stay quiet.”

Somin nodded as Junu walked to the front door.

“Ah, Ahn Jihoon, why am I not surprised to see you?” Junu said as he opened the door, and for a moment Somin thought the dokkaebi was going to give her up.

“I’m coming with you,” Jihoon said.

“I figured as much,” Junu replied. “Well, come on, we’re wasting time just standing here.”

“You’re not going to argue with me?” Jihoon asked.

Somin almost cursed. Junu was being too obvious.

“Well, I could argue, and then we’d waste about twenty minutes going back and forth about the pros and cons of you coming along. Like this is Miyoung’s life and she told you explicitly not to get involved. Or how it would be easier for me to move quickly if I were alone. Or how you have no idea how dangerous this place can be.”

“Those all sound like cons,” Jihoon said.

“Well, I guess youaresmarter than I gave you credit for. Come on, then. We’ve already wasted three minutes with this non-argument.”

Somin heard the shuffling of feet, and then the door closed with a chime of notes. And she was left alone, worrying whether she’d made a mistake letting Jihoon go with Junu.

19

MIYOUNG WAS BACKby the maehwa tree. The large X scarring the bark like a morbid mark on a treasure map. Mist hung so heavy she could barely see a meter in front of her. But she knew Yena was there. She could feel it.

“Mother, what is all this? Is this just a dream or are you really here?”

Yena moved out of the mist. Her face was blank; there was no way to read any emotion from it, but Miyoung still convinced herself she saw anger there.

“Do you really want the answer to that?” Yena said, this time a spark of something in her eyes.

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