Page 97 of King Foretold
The best way I can help them is to stop Daeseong and maybe not die in the process. Even if I can’t return to the Kingdom of Mountains, I’ll find a way to help them. My stomach roiling with sudden nerves, I hurriedly pile all the dishes onto the serving tray and push it in front of an unoccupied computer. The PC bang employee clears away the empty dishes with an annoyed glance my way.
I read everything I find on Santorini with no particular focus. I hope my intuition will soon point me in the right direction. The islandis beautiful, unforgettable, breathtaking, and many other evocative adjectives. I feel like I know every inch of Santorini, when the hair on the back of my neck stands on end.
This article is from two days ago. The Minoan archaeological site near the village of Akrotiri, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Santorini, has been closed with vague claims of structural instability.Gods.The kidnapped humans are there. I can feel it in my bones. Why there of all places?
I don’t want to be responsible for the destruction of a prehistoric settlement dating back to around 4500 B.C. Human history has value. The history of all beings has value and is worth preserving. But what about the lives of a thousand human beings? Doesn’t even a single life have more value than the preservation of the past? I fucking don’t know. I’m not a philosopher or a scholar. I’m just ... lost.
I know I have to think and plan, but I’m so tired. My soul is weary from the unending fear and worry of the last several months since Ethan found me at Roxy’s Diner. In a way, I want to run headlong into this battle with the dark mudang—a nemesis who refuses to stay dead—just so it can all ... end.
But I don’t want itallto end. Not really. I want to end this nightmare so I canbegin. I want a future with Ethan. I want to show him how much he means to me. I want to love him with everything in me.
I want to nurture the friendships I came by unwittingly but can’t imagine losing. They are the family I chose, the family of my heart. I am not alone. Not anymore. I can’t forget that. I can’t forget what I’m fighting for—whoI’m fighting for.
You’re tired? Well tough. Take a fucking nap.
Wow, that is the best pep talk I’ve ever given myself. I set the alarm on my PC and slide down in the plush gamer chair. I cross my arms and tuck my chin to my chest. When I wake up, I’ll go end that motherfucker once and for all. And make sure he stays dead this time.
Chapter Twenty-Five
After my surprisingly restorative nap, I settle my bill at the PC bang and retrace my steps to the small mountain. The medicinal spring near the bottom should get a good reflection of the moon. I’ll shift from there.
I reach the mountain sooner than I wanted and stop in front of the seonangdang at its base. The tall, broad tree is decorated with strips of blue, red, yellow, white, and black fabric, which flutter in the breezeless night. Its life force, strong and wise, brushes against me.
“Hello, old friend.” I put my hand on its trunk. The Seonangshin doesn’t really reside in this tree, but nature is powerful and good in its own right. “Wish me luck.”
With one last pat on its warm bark, I walk to the spring nearby. I stare blankly at the moon reflected on the surface of the water. Minutes pass by, and I shake my head to pull myself together. I summon my hwando and my sword belt, which I’d hidden in the woods earlier, and buckle the leather strap low and tight on my waist.
Picturing the famous Red Beach near Akrotiri, I step into the spring. My next step falls on crimson sand, surrounded by red-and-black volcanic cliffs. The Red Beach is stunning in the moonlight, and I inhale shakily, awed by its beauty.
My throat tightens and my eyes water, but I don’t chide myself for being grateful for this moment. I let my gaze linger on the beautifulbeach, hoping to come back with Ethan someday. I don’t bite my head off for that sentimental thought either. As much as I hate to admit it, this is who I am now.
With one last glance at the Red Beach, I walk toward the cliffs that lead into the village. The night here hasn’t reached its zenith yet, and I find the path to Akrotiri easily enough. But I could’ve missed the actual archaeological site if I hadn’t done my research.
The ancient buried city is hidden from view with a bioclimatic roof, covered with earth to blend into the landscape. There are, of course, signs along the way, but I don’t have the patience to read those even on the best of days. And today isn’t exactly my best day.
The stark, dusty landscape is eerily quiet as I approach the ancient site. It screams,It’s a trap, you idiot!But I focus on the underground city and search for the soft, steady flow of human gi. I stumble back with a gasp when I locate the faint trickle of their life forces. They’re really here. All one thousand kidnapped humans.
Crouching low to the ground, I head for the entrance to Akrotiri. Two security guards stand between the ancient city and any would-be trespassers. I could easily sneak past them—the Jaenanpa already did with a thousand human captives—but they are two more humans in danger tonight. I knew I had a good reason for keeping the acupuncture needles on me.
I call on my gumiho’s speed and pierce their pressure points with the needles. It’s a little tricky getting past their uniforms, but I can’t complain. It’s a thousand times easier than paralyzing a powerful shinbiin king, even with his chest bare.
I move so quickly the security guards freeze with their bored expressions intact, and I carry them across the street to settle them beneath a sturdy tree. I slide their eyes closed and remove the needles from their torsos. They’ll wake up tomorrow morning without a scratch on them, wondering what the hell happened. Unless the worlds end tonight. Then no one will ever wake up again.
On that cheerful note, I return to break into Akrotiri. I descend into the buried city and immediately clap a hand over my mouth and nose. The faintest trace of doksacho poisons the air beneath. The Jaenanpa is microdosing the humans with their signature poison to hold them captive, unconscious but alive.
Holding my breath, I tread soundlessly across the suspended walkway and find the first group of humans lying in the ancient ruins. I throw one over each shoulder and spirit them out to the open air. I lower them onto the ground and feel for their pulses. They’re weak but steady. I get to my feet and stare down at them, grabbing my head with both hands. So I have to do this 499 more times? It’s going to be a long night.
I transport captive after captive, knowing that Daeseong will arrive at any minute. My heart pounds against my rib cage from both exertion and dread. He must be watching, toying with me. But it doesn’t matter. I have to save every life I can.
I stumble as I lay two more humans on the ground. I stretch my back with a groan, then wipe a forearm across my damp forehead. Growling in frustration, I tug off my leather jacket and throw it down next to them. How many of them did I get out? Fifty? Sixty?
“It is like watching an insect shrivel under a magnifying glass. Disturbing yet fascinating,” an insidious voice says from behind me, close enough to make me jump.
But when I spin around, I find Daeseong standing yards away. As before, he looks like a Joseon-era scholar in his forties, but the pleasant, distinguished air about him is nowhere to be found. Instead, he exudes undisguised menace and chaos. My hand creeps slowly toward the hilt of my hwando.
“Yet, I find I cannot look away,” he continues. “Alas, the Amheuk is not a patient master.”
“What do you want with these humans?” I’m stalling, and Daeseong probably knows it. “Do you need to perform another blood sacrifice to release the Amheuk from its prison beyond the abyss?”
