B1 — 13. A Turbulent Reunion
Slowing her pace as they neared the elevator, Rachel’s chest tightened, the air in her lungs feeling heavier with every step; she had to laugh at herself for being more nervous about meeting her parents than jumping into an alien world to fight unknown monsters.
Her mind drifted in other directions to keep her ears from going completely stiff as they entered the elevator, remaining as relaxed as possible since Scarlet looked nervous enough for them both with her fidgeting fingers; Rachel didn’t miss the black-haired girl checking herself to make sure nothing was out of place.
She was thankful Mateo didn’t ask her any questions while continuing to receive updates and listen to radio chatter regarding the movements of various military bodies around them to maintain situational awareness.
His men were more focused on the crowds, as well; they may have looked somewhat friendly and disinterested in the people they passed, but their wandering gazes took in everything as a potential threat.
Of course, when they all carried powerful military armaments, it was no surprise that their guard was up, considering one mistake could have a kid running by and snatching a real grenade as a joke—the prankster influencers earlier didn’t help the mood.
On the other hand, she was learning a wealth of information from the disgruntled hospital staff and gangsters occupying the cafeteria when it came to the hood queen; her thoughts shifted to a conversation two nurses were having in private on the second floor while taking a short break.
“Can she be any more of a bitch?! Who charges people for healing things when she can literally do it with a wave of her hand?”
“Exactly. Does she expect insurance to pop up and toss cash in her face? Did you hear what Greg said?”
“What—was it about the college athlete that wanted his leg healed?”
“Yeah, apparently she can cure tendon damage, which is… yeah, a miracle—but when he said he didn’t have any cash on him, she said she accepts Cash Me and other payment apps. Like, really? You could change so many people’s lives, but it’s still all about the money.”
Rachel suppressed a hum, drawing in her lips while her eyes subconsciously drifted in the unicorn’s direction; their complaints were only half right, which was interesting; the Mexican gangster had her own system, and the more she learned, the more Rachel could see paths opening up.
Zoe had been the one to get her on the idea that it was never a bad idea to have, as she put it, a pocket healer. Honestly, she mainly wanted the benefits of pushing herself to the limits without the consequences; endless workouts and fights with someone that could restore her in a second to continue the grind.
Flexing her fingers, Rachel’s head tilted a bit to bring her arm into her peripheral vision; perhaps if she worked out enough, she could get some more bulk in certain areas. Time would tell, but that would come when the seed she’d planted in the wolf boy brought her fruit.
Anthony was still talking to his fiancé, and, naturally, after the obvious questions and answers, the young woman had zeroed in on how Anthony talked about his time with Rachel; strangely, her cadence was more geared toward curiosity than jealousy or being defensive.
It was funny to hear Anthony stumble around his words on how to describe her because Amelia was ruthless when honing in on specific phrases or expressions her man made when going through their short time together after The Oscillation, which helped lighten Rachel’s pounding heart.
Watching the number slowly change as they rose, Rachel puffed out a long breath of air, hearing reports of Selvaria having to return to the ocean to refuel on seawater after showing off too much to her mother; they’d make their way to the hospital once she’d lazed about in the waves for a time.
So many pieces on the board, and General Dallas is taking note of every action I take… The fact he’s personally sending people and taking time out of his busy schedule to sink resources into the Mythickin and Legendkin of Miami, combined with the comment made by the Legend of Saint Barbara, means something big is happening behind the scenes, and we’re being screened to be a part of it.
The door opened, and Rachel pushed ahead, turning left to reach the rooms they’d been given by the hospital, away from the general public; her parents had only been told she was en route to meet them, not when she’d arrive, leaving her mother anxious and pacing.
I can’t tell Mom everything, and Mateo has more than likely been told to keep a very close watch on what I say and do; I have to be careful with how I proceed, and the horrible developments happening in Miami Beach could become a factor moving forward…
The goddesses’ intentions were still a mystery, and General Dallas’ objective intrigued her, but the Scarlet Hand’s agenda was clear as day—they wanted a fight—and she’d never been one to back down from a challenge.
She grimaced at the thought that it was really only a combination of unlikely events that had drawn the general’s eye in the first place. If any number of those things fell apart, so could her connection to this bigger game.
After her transformation, Rachel didn’t quite know what she wanted to do with her life, but, at the very least, going down this path would provide her with some measure of control, and that was everything to her. She just had to make her parents understand her decisions.
Just before turning down the hallway that would lead to a dead-end, where the four rooms had been given to them, she looked up at Mateo with a sad smile. “I figure you’ve been told to see what actions I take, so I might as well ask up front… What can I tell my parents, and what is considered off-limits by the military?”
Scarlet’s fingers tightened against her elbow while glancing between them, each of Mateo’s men spreading a little to keep an eye on blind spots as the officer studied her.
“Hmm. So far as I’ve been told, only detailed information on the Scarlet Hand, Scarlet herself, and the subject regarding your… divine sponsor are to be handled sensitively—as with the specifics as to who you’re in contact with.”
In other words, only give them the needed information on Scarlet and the cult, and don’t mention anything about the general or gods. Got it.
Placing a hand against her breast, she streamed out the last bit of stress she could before nodding and taking them around the corner; Scarlet remained partly behind her, not wanting to draw attention to herself, but her mother totally snatched her the moment they locked eyes.
Will she even recogn—
“Sung! W-Why did this…”
Rachel almost tripped onto her face as her mother lurched forward, tears coming on with the emotion filling her breast upon seeing the look in her mom’s muddy-brown irises.
Time slowed in Rachel’s quickening brain as she examined every inch of her mother’s appearance; everything she spotted only reinforced the heat rising up her throat, making Rachel’s thumping heart go wild.
It was the bags under her mom’s eyes and slightly smudged makeup. Her light-blue button-up shirt opened up more than normal, with its sleeves rolled back to the elbows, displaying agitated fingernail marks from the pressure she’d more than likely been bottling up inside.
Needles poked at Rachel’s arms when spotting the mismatched socks she wore, only just visible between her tight, black pants and white running shoes; it told her that the woman had thrown on whatever she found to rush to her, but it was her hair that made her choke up—messy, dark locks, half in an attempted braid, meaning she was getting ready for bed—and her only jewelry was her wedding ring.
“Mom, I…”
Her world spun as her mother latched onto her, making Rachel’s tongue catch in her throat at the Korean words she repeated.
“It’s my fault! It’s all my fault—look what I’ve done to you—why did I send you a-away?! It was too soon! It’s all my fault! I should have been there!”
“Mom, no…” Sniffing in her own emotions, liquid falling down her cheeks, Rachel pulled her in tighter. “No, Mom—it’s not your fault! What are you talking about?”
“I’m so sorry, Sung-Hyo—I’m so sorry!”
World blurry, she looked up to see her father’s forced smile, brushing away a few tears himself while moving to support her mother and pull her away.
“Come now, Chan-hee… See? Our daughter has… gone through some changes, but she’s here.”
Her mother refused to let go, crying into her bust, and, swallowing her own emotions, Rachel nudged her head to one of the rooms that had been given to their parents to sleep in, which they’d refused until seeing her.
“It’s okay, Mom… It’s okay…”
Her dad opened the door, moving in to kiss her forehead and giving a reassuring smile before closing it to allow them privacy; she was shocked her dad had cried at all—it was the first time she’d seen tears fall from his eyes or so much emotion on his face—but it touched her heart to see how much they cared for her.
Guiding her mom to the cushioned bench that allowed one to overlook the parking lot through the private room, she sat, forcing her mom to sit next to her as she continued to blame herself and babble unintelligibly; it took several minutes to get her to calm down, Rachel somewhat panicking at how fast her mother’s heart was beating.
“Mom… you’re exhausted—you need to sleep… I’m worried about you…”
Keeping a shockingly firm iron grip on her hand, her mother used the other to brush away the snot and tears, hiccuping a few times while trying to reign herself in. “I t-thought I might lose you… So many things could have happened, a-and I wasn’t here to p-protect you… I’m a failure! Y-You—t-the military… I failed you…”
“Mom… no. You’re going to make me cry again…” Leaning in to kiss her forehead, she held her against her chest for another few minutes, breathing out the heat in her lungs. “I’m okay. I’m okay, Mom.”
After another fit of emotion, her mother began to calm down enough to just hold her and breathe; it took nearly ten minutes for her to actually be able to draw back to study her red and puffy face.
“You’re… a Lunar Hare Mythickin? The soldiers told us you’d changed a-and what to expect.” She almost started crying again while fixating on her ears, showing a melancholy smile. “Do… do you remember when I used to dress you up as a hare during Halloween because you liked my stories about the Limpid Jade Hare and Pure Onyx Rabbit? You loved my Korean shamanism tales as a little girl…”
Rachel’s eyes widened, having totally forgotten about those earlier years, likely due to suppressing them after the car accident, but her mother’s stories regarding the Korean hare of misfortune surfaced like a thunderbolt that went from the tip of her ears to her tail.
“You… did tell me a lot about those bedtime stories… About Seonangsin, the Korean patron deity of war, boundaries, and village protection… Her constant fight against the mischievous hare—that’s…” Rachel trailed off, deep in thought.
Mind turning, she considered the Korean fairy tales of her childhood, involving many of the religious figures her mother grew up in with her parents’ believers of the shamanistic roots of their culture; her grandparents died shortly after she’d married her father, so she’d never met them. It couldn’t be a coincidence that she’d become a lunar hare, could it?
Her mother pulled around her braid to play with the tail end, clearly looking for anything to do with her hands to distract her. “Hehe. You used to play with… with your cousin all the time—you’d be the Limpid Jade Hare as she took on the role of the hare’s lucky brother… I still have videos of—mmgm…”
Muscles tightening up, Rachel knew it was hard for her mother to talk about her little cousin Seo by name and how interconnected their lives had been before the accident. Kissing her head, Rachel reached over to hold her mother for a time until her quakes passed again, no doubt reliving the car crash.
“It’s okay, Mom. I’m here for you…”
“Aww. You’re so sweet… like Samgong—karma will bring us back together,” she whispered, saying a prayer with closed eyes. “Everything will be okay in the end—I have to believe everything will be okay in the end…”
Stroking her mother’s head, Rachel had to wonder if her father had legally changed his American name to Sam when they married as almost a joke, considering her mom was so fixated on the Korean shamanistic figure.
“Do you want me to tell you everything I can about what happened to me?”
“Is it too hard—I don’t want to put more stress on you,” her mother whimpered, looking up at her with big, brown eyes, full of tears. “You’ve already been through too much…”
“Mom…”
Knowing she was mainly talking about the accident they’d been a part of that had significantly changed both their lives, Rachel had to curse fate for doing this to her mother; the moment she let go a little, allowing her dad to push her into becoming more independent, this had to hit.
Her mother was traumatized enough, and now that she had this first taste of freedom away from home, Rachel was practically jumping as high as she could go to see what influence she could have on the world. It compounded in her chest; Rachel didn’t want to hurt her mom further, but she also couldn’t back away from her current trajectory. She had to muddle her way through this sticky situation.
Knowing what would help her mother, Rachel hummed thoughtfully to draw her mind away from its spiral. “You know how I used to joke about you being the incarnation of Jowangsin?”
“Rachel…” she mumbled with a light glare, knowing she’d said it more as a negative than a positive, but the fact she was calling her by her American name said she was calming down. “Yes, I’m strict in the kitchen, and I did put up Jowangsin’s rules on the wall, but it is a place that is sacred… where the family gathers to celebrate what life gives us…”
“I know… I think I get it now,” she whispered, pulling her in again; in a way, it was part of her mother learning to cope with Seo’s death, but she recalled her always being a bit of a hardass when it came to the kitchen, or as she put it, her space. “You know what I’d love tomorrow—or whenever you get up?”
“Hmm?”
“Some home cooking,” she grinned, making her mother smile. “You always did make the best food—hands down—and you always tailored it to whatever diet I was on.”
“That’s what mothers are supposed to do,” she said, swallowing the lump in her throat and brushing away her tears. “Alright… How bad is it if you have military special forces following you around everywhere—do we need to get our lawyer involved? We will not give in without a fight!”
“Haha! No, Mom. It’s not like that… yet, at least.” Seeing the fire light in her mother’s eyes gave her strength. “Here, let me explain—wait, do you need some water?”
Her mother’s out-of-place black hair weaved with her head motions. “No. I’m ready whenever you are. I’m just happy I can hold you again…”
The hard part over, Rachel started from the beginning; yet, unlike with the military men she’d had practice discussing her journey, her mom was quite interruptive and became abrasive and defensive about the strangest things that threw her for a loop, such as being open with the military regarding her transformation.
Over the following hour, Rachel was stunned by her mother’s rebounding vigor as she honed in on so many little details, pressing her for clarification in areas like a prosecutor going for the throat; ultimately, everything led back to the same fear—being used by the military.
“You’re not telling me everything,” her mother grumbled, aiming her displeasure more at the door and soldiers outside than Rachel herself.
“Eh-heh, how can you tell?” she asked, forcing a smile. “I’m being as open as I can… You’re really not that—I don’t know… upset I killed goblins?”
Her mother’s puffy face had settled over the last hour, showing a rather dull expression. “They’re terrible monsters intent on doing people harm—no… but…”
A lump dropped down Rachel’s throat at the look in her mother’s terrifying eyes. “What I am pissed about is you putting yourself in danger against those aliens when it is the military’s job to protect you—not the other way around! Haaa. You’ve always been headstrong and combative, but you’re not a soldier, Sung… You’re a citizen and still a teenager.”
Fiddling with her fingers and looking away, Rachel shrugged, feeling more intimidated by the minute with her mother’s hounding gaze on her. “I’m… figuring out what I want to do, Mom. We both know the world is going to change from this.”
“Our world doesn’t need to change,” her mother insisted, white hands taking Rachel’s in a firm grip, yet her eyes were as steady as she’d ever seen them. “You can still do your martial arts competition stuff, attend college… have a normal life. All that changed is you have cute ears and a tail now—oh, which reminds me, we need to do more shopping—a complete wardrobe change. There are some small stores that should be open on the way back home—”
“Mom!” Rachel pulled away to cross her arms, mouth tight while looking away. “No—I-I can’t go home. I told you, it’s not just my appearance that changed… I don’t think I want to, mmgh…”
“Want to what?” her mother asked, worry and fear entering her vulnerable voice, making Rachel scratch her left ear.
“I don’t… think I want to continue with college, Mom—haaa, believe me, I know it’s not easy to hear—hah, it’s not easy for me to admit to you, Mom… I’m sure Dad will be pissed, but… I need to figure things out. Mom… please.”
She looked up to see her mother’s bottom lip trembling, her world seemingly falling apart. “Sung… I can’t have you g-getting hurt. If you go down this path, you’ll… I can’t protect you. I know you may h-have felt some kind of way when going on that quest, b-but…”
Unable to finish her sentence, Rachel knew they’d already said everything that needed to be said and scooted closer to hug her weeping mother; eventually, she managed to move them to the bed, laying with her mom to comfort her through the realization she wouldn’t be hopping in the car and returning home to put all this business behind them.
The rays of the sun began peaking through the window when her mother had cried herself to sleep; Rachel sat there, watching her for a while, until her father lightly tapped on the door, peeking inside. Once spotting them cuddled up together on the cramped bed, he smiled and entered, closing the door behind him.
“How’s your mother?”
Rachel sighed. “Not doing well… Can you close the blinds, Dad?”
“Sure.”
He calmly went to the window and locked out the rising sun before changing the armchair’s position to sit beside the bed. “I appreciate the care you’ve given to your mother, Sung… I expect you’re exhausted, as well, given what your new friend told me.”
Taking off his glasses to clean them, her father loosened his tie now that he wasn’t in public and unfastened the top button of his dress shirt; he’d already left his suit coat out front.
“Heh. I’m surprised you’ve been so patient with Scarlet, given your usual temperament.”
“Haha. Thanks, Dad,” she whispered, trying not to wake or disturb her mother. “I’ve seen a lot of things I was blind to recently… I think Seo’s death messed me up more than I liked to admit; I pushed people away because of it… It’s probably why I’ve been so critical of Alexa, as much as I hate to admit it.”
Her father replaced his spectacles, a thoughtful frown now touching his thin eyes. “I can’t imagine this experience has been easy on you, nor the stress of whatever you shared with your mother; I’m sure I’ll get quite the tinted vision from her version, but it’s nice to see you starting to mature into a young woman. Give me the cliff notes so I can relieve you of your mother and rest my own restless heart for some sleep.”
That’s Dad… no BS and straight to the point.
She told him about her decision to follow through with whatever was happening with the military, despite the dangers and her mother’s feelings; he listened without interruption, scribbling down a few things on his phone like in a business meeting.
“Hmm. So, your mother is terrified you’ll be drawn into some shady government project and senses you’ve grown restless with ordinary life after your recent experiences? It’s a real concern, and you know how delicate your mother is… to the point of convincing your brother and sister-in-law to stay in the house as they save up for their own, just so Nam would remain close.”
Her father leaned back and crossed his legs, compassionate eyes on his sleeping wife, still holding onto Rachel as she slept. “You’re her baby girl that she has to protect, which I think contributed to your teenage angst and frustrations at times that exhibited in some of your more… feisty behaviors.”
Rachel streamed out a long puff of air. “Hehe. I should have known I wasn’t hiding much from you with the fighting, which is why you got me into martial arts early so that I didn’t turn it on my peers… Well played, Dad. I do think it’s a bit more with Mom, though.”
“I’m listening.”
“Mmgm.” Brushing her mother’s bangs out of her face and settling into a more comfortable position beside her, Rachel sighed. “Mom wants our family to grow—she sees Alexa, despite all her flaws, as her own daughter, while I’m… scared, Dad. I don’t want to let people in and be hurt—if they die, I guess… I’m trying to reconcile with all these flaws I’ve started to see in myself, and they only keep growing.”
“Sung…” her father whispered, getting up to walk around the bed and give her a gentle hug from her lying position. “I understand you also have a need for perfection… I’m the cause of that, to some degree, since I’ve always been hard on Nam and you to succeed in life, but something your grandfather often reminds me of is that sprouts need room to grow… You are talented and disciplined, so growth will come in time. Be patient with yourself.”
Rachel’s thoughts returned to her internal battle against the version of Scarlet that had battled the toad aliens and how outclassed she was, putting a bitter taste in her mouth.
“I have to get stronger, Dad… You and Mom are in danger because of the cult I’ve let up into our lives.”
Her father gave her a critical stare, fingers folding in his lap. “You were hard on your mother for blaming herself for your transformation; don’t make the same mistake as her, Sung. You are not alone in dealing with this cult. Also, from what you’ve expressed, it is your very existence that offends these people; there is nothing to feel blame for as it is they that have a problem with you that has initiated this conflict, not the other way around.”
“Huu-haaa. I suppose so,” she grumbled, running a hand down her face while staring up at the ceiling. “So, what did you think about Scarlet? I heard you two talking for some time outside.”
Expression lifting a tad at the subject change, her father chuckled. “Adorably awkward and self-critical that promotes one to want to protect her. Is it too much to think you see a piece of your cousin in her?”
Rachel worked around her jaw, pondering the thought rather than simply reacting to the inquiry; her father wasn’t the joking type, which meant he saw something that put him on that train of thought, and he was far more candid when speaking about such topics as opposed to her tentative mother.
“I don’t know… I suppose she’s growing on me, which is more than I can say about most people. To me, Scarlet trusts too easily—then again, her mental state and devastated life play a role in that… Still, I’d be super sus if the roles were reversed, but maybe that’s just my paranoia and distrust for people in general talking…
“Eh-haaa… maybe I can see myself trying to open up a little. Not to be harsh, Dad, I primarily worked so hard to keep her around because she’s useful and I have this gut feeling I should, but… there is a bit more to it than that, now that it’s on my mind.”
“In any case—she thinks the world of you,” her father said, stifling a yawn. “I’ve raised you to be your own woman, and, while I’m not pleased with this particular route you’re deciding to pursue, I won’t be so hasty to judge it. You’re an intelligent young woman… when you want to be,” he added while rubbing his temple. “So, pursue this, and I will support your mother through the hard times, but be smart, not prideful… If you need help, I’m here for you as your father.”
Unable to express the relief that fell away from her shoulders at her stalwart father’s words, Rachel could only tuck her bottom lip under and nod.
Not soon after, he began to make her mother more comfortable on the bed, removing her shoes and taking Rachel’s place to slide in as her new body pillow; she snicked at her dad as he removed his tie, saying as a little girl she thought he wore a suit to bed, which got a laugh from him on her way out.
Thanks, Dad…
Quietly closing the door, Rachel waved at Scarlet, seemingly having trouble staying awake, which she assumed was more about her blood intake than actually needing sleep; still, the girl was refusing more blood, wanting to maintain a good sleep cycle in conjunction with her.
The vamp girl rose to her feet as she exited. “Everything okay?”
Rachel yawned and scratched her neck; some of the morning rays had slid through to drop her Lunar Pool down to forty-five percent, and she felt it in her muscles. Fortunately, her previous actions with the wolf boy had paid off, which meant she could sink her hook into the curious unicorn before bed.
“Mostly. I’m sure my mom will want to properly meet you when she’s rested.” Glancing at the room across from them that housed quite a few of the green beret company, including Mateo, who had retired for the day, she made a note of the soldiers who had replaced them. “I know you’ll want to come with me, Scarlet, but I need to go meet the unicorn alone. I’ll be right back to get ready for bed.”
She directed her focus to the company’s current OIC. “Is that alright, Sergeant Murray? If I need someone to follow me to the cafeteria, that’s fine, but I have to meet her alone to not cause any kind of commotion. She’s… touchy toward the military, government, and law enforcement in general.”
Murray pursed his lips, looking between his men and Scarlet’s slumping shoulders, likely wanting to release her own tension in regard to the girl’s conversation with her father.
“Roy, tag along.”
“Sir.”
Rachel was surprised to see the tall and muscular green beret was now in civilian clothes from the donations downstairs; he took off his gun and put his hands in his pockets to follow her down, putting on a smile.
“Gotta blend in and get a grasp on the situation without intimidating people,” he explained at her lifted eyebrow. “Don’t worry, Scarlet, we’ll be back. Actually, how long will it take, Rachel?”
The man was genuine in his casual wave at the vampire girl, showing how much rapport they’d built with the special forces in their short time knowing each other; they didn’t want the vespertine reaper to feel excluded or an outcast.
“It’ll be quick. I left the bait; now, I need to hook her before letting the line go for a bit,” she explained with a grin and wink. “It’s all in the mystery!”
Scarlet giggled. “You really are amazing… I’ll be here… being lazy and useless,” she groaned and continued before anyone could say otherwise. “I know, I know… you’re not useless or lazy. Ugh…”
“Mmmm.” Rachel tilted her head to the side with her ears. “Useless and lazy are strong words. You’ve done plenty already and kept me company through the boring bits. Thanks for being a friend!”
“Aww… You’re too good!” Scarlet huffed with a smile. “Your dad was really sweet, but I guess we can talk about that later. Good luck.”
Walking backward, Rachel added a sly smirk while pointing at her. “Don’t think I don’t know you’ll be watching me the whole time with those ruby eyes, Ms. Peeping Jill.”
“Haha. Peeping Jill? I like that. I get bored, too, and I’m exercising my abilities like you said!”
“Touché,” she snickered, walking around the corner with Roy. “Be right back.”
The man shot a small look down at her as their passing caught the attention of many nurses.
“What?”
“Either you’re getting better at masking your intent, or you’re growing more fond of Scarlet; it’s sweet to see you take her under your wing like a big sister. She needs a good role model to show her there’s a way forward.”
“I guess,” she hummed.
Projecting how things would go in the future, Rachel’s mind centered on her mother’s mannerisms and desires; if things continued, her mother would no doubt begin to fuss over Scarlet, seeing her as someone who needed a mother figure in her life.
All her mother ever wanted was to be a mom, and even that wasn’t totally fulfilling as she branched out to the community youth projects in their city as they grew. Her mom was well-respected among the soccer mom, youth educational, and community center circles for a reason.
We really are a proactive family… Dad and Nam are deep in business and financing, Mom in homemaking and community with me in martial arts, fitness, and schooling. It’s not hard to see why Alexa would feel so overwhelmed by our active lifestyle. Scarlet keeps mentioning how intimidating my work ethic is… I need to be more mindful that it doesn’t come naturally to some people.
Refocusing as they made it to the elevator, she reflected on what her mother said earlier regarding her shamanistic beliefs and the stories she’d told her growing up; it was the reason she knew the differences between hares and rabbits, but she’d utterly ghosted that point in her life due to the trauma to make the proper connection.
The Limpid Jade Hare and Misfortune… It can’t be a coincidence that my mother is a semi-practicing Korean shaman, telling me stories about her beliefs and deities and then I turn into a lunar hare. If goddesses are real… does that mean Korean figures like Sungmo, Haesik, Pali Kongju, Magu, and… Dalsun became the personification of the moon when she and her brother escaped the hungry tiger that ate their mother before they climbed to heaven…
Rachel’s mind froze as they passed a waiting room beside the elevator, and all sound died with the world coming to a complete standstill; her focus was drawn to what sat on the ground in front of the steel box —a slowly spinning egg, dyed shiny orange, pink, and white.
“Roy…” The man was midstep, petrified like all the other staff in the area, making Rachel hiss. “Shit.”
Glancing around cautiously, she stood in the silence for a time; not a thing twitched besides the egg, yet she had the distinct feeling of being watched just outside of her peripheral vision with her enhanced senses.
“Moongmor?” she hesitantly guessed, recalling the goddess’ words about someone by the name being sent by Eostre, the goddess related to easter and spring; it couldn’t be a coincidence that the season was coming up and this deity’s sudden activity. “What is this about?”
When no answer came, she carefully went to the rotating item, bent down, and grabbed it.
A vision of a tiny, fairy-like girl, no more than ten centimeters tall, flashed across her mind; she was trapped inside a fish tank with cuts and bruises, weeping within a fake rock. It was immediately followed by a pretty, violet-eyed woman, irises alight with flames and wearing a sadistic smile while holding a little girl by the throat.
The beautiful, autumn-haired goddess’ earthy, feminine voice whispered in her ear, giving Rachel the obscured view of the woman—a rabbit on her shoulder, its fur the same colors as the egg she touched. The heavenly figure looked almost frightened, focusing on something down the hall from where Rachel had come, yet her gaze swiftly snapped to her, speaking in haste.
“You… must find Fiona before it is too late—convince Tom Dallas to test your abilities in the field. Please, Rachel, beware of the woman named Relica; she has support beyond the mortal realms… Use discretion in how Scarlet meets her, or it could doom us all…”
She blinked as the world continued, leaving her momentarily stunned by the rush of sound that hit her brain; Roy glanced to his left and then at her, crouching at the elevator.
“When did you—huh?”
Damn goddesses! she internally snarled, slowly rising to her feet, fingers closing to empty air where the egg had been. Why do they always have to be so minimalist?! I guess they’re limited in some sense, too, if this Relica woman is getting help from her own gods…
“Ugh… It’s nothing. Let’s go.”
Pressing the elevator, she glared at her warped reflection in the steel. I’ll have to bring it up to General… I guess his first name is Tom. I wonder what he’ll think about me revealing that bit of info. It does give credence to my supernatural connection to these beings… They say so much with so little! Dammit. At least give me a timescale to work with if it’s time sensitive!
B1 — 13. A Turbulent Reunion
Slowing her pace as they neared the elevator, Rachel’s chest tightened, the air in her lungs feeling heavier with every step; she had to laugh at herself for being more nervous about meeting her parents than jumping into an alien world to fight unknown monsters.
Her mind drifted in other directions to keep her ears from going completely stiff as they entered the elevator, remaining as relaxed as possible since Scarlet looked nervous enough for them both with her fidgeting fingers; Rachel didn’t miss the black-haired girl checking herself to make sure nothing was out of place.
She was thankful Mateo didn’t ask her any questions while continuing to receive updates and listen to radio chatter regarding the movements of various military bodies around them to maintain situational awareness.
His men were more focused on the crowds, as well; they may have looked somewhat friendly and disinterested in the people they passed, but their wandering gazes took in everything as a potential threat.
Of course, when they all carried powerful military armaments, it was no surprise that their guard was up, considering one mistake could have a kid running by and snatching a real grenade as a joke—the prankster influencers earlier didn’t help the mood.
On the other hand, she was learning a wealth of information from the disgruntled hospital staff and gangsters occupying the cafeteria when it came to the hood queen; her thoughts shifted to a conversation two nurses were having in private on the second floor while taking a short break.
“Can she be any more of a bitch?! Who charges people for healing things when she can literally do it with a wave of her hand?”
“Exactly. Does she expect insurance to pop up and toss cash in her face? Did you hear what Greg said?”
“What—was it about the college athlete that wanted his leg healed?”
“Yeah, apparently she can cure tendon damage, which is… yeah, a miracle—but when he said he didn’t have any cash on him, she said she accepts Cash Me and other payment apps. Like, really? You could change so many people’s lives, but it’s still all about the money.”
Rachel suppressed a hum, drawing in her lips while her eyes subconsciously drifted in the unicorn’s direction; their complaints were only half right, which was interesting; the Mexican gangster had her own system, and the more she learned, the more Rachel could see paths opening up.
Zoe had been the one to get her on the idea that it was never a bad idea to have, as she put it, a pocket healer. Honestly, she mainly wanted the benefits of pushing herself to the limits without the consequences; endless workouts and fights with someone that could restore her in a second to continue the grind.
Flexing her fingers, Rachel’s head tilted a bit to bring her arm into her peripheral vision; perhaps if she worked out enough, she could get some more bulk in certain areas. Time would tell, but that would come when the seed she’d planted in the wolf boy brought her fruit.
Anthony was still talking to his fiancé, and, naturally, after the obvious questions and answers, the young woman had zeroed in on how Anthony talked about his time with Rachel; strangely, her cadence was more geared toward curiosity than jealousy or being defensive.
It was funny to hear Anthony stumble around his words on how to describe her because Amelia was ruthless when honing in on specific phrases or expressions her man made when going through their short time together after The Oscillation, which helped lighten Rachel’s pounding heart.
Watching the number slowly change as they rose, Rachel puffed out a long breath of air, hearing reports of Selvaria having to return to the ocean to refuel on seawater after showing off too much to her mother; they’d make their way to the hospital once she’d lazed about in the waves for a time.
So many pieces on the board, and General Dallas is taking note of every action I take… The fact he’s personally sending people and taking time out of his busy schedule to sink resources into the Mythickin and Legendkin of Miami, combined with the comment made by the Legend of Saint Barbara, means something big is happening behind the scenes, and we’re being screened to be a part of it.
The door opened, and Rachel pushed ahead, turning left to reach the rooms they’d been given by the hospital, away from the general public; her parents had only been told she was en route to meet them, not when she’d arrive, leaving her mother anxious and pacing.
I can’t tell Mom everything, and Mateo has more than likely been told to keep a very close watch on what I say and do; I have to be careful with how I proceed, and the horrible developments happening in Miami Beach could become a factor moving forward…
The goddesses’ intentions were still a mystery, and General Dallas’ objective intrigued her, but the Scarlet Hand’s agenda was clear as day—they wanted a fight—and she’d never been one to back down from a challenge.
She grimaced at the thought that it was really only a combination of unlikely events that had drawn the general’s eye in the first place. If any number of those things fell apart, so could her connection to this bigger game.
After her transformation, Rachel didn’t quite know what she wanted to do with her life, but, at the very least, going down this path would provide her with some measure of control, and that was everything to her. She just had to make her parents understand her decisions.
Just before turning down the hallway that would lead to a dead-end, where the four rooms had been given to them, she looked up at Mateo with a sad smile. “I figure you’ve been told to see what actions I take, so I might as well ask up front… What can I tell my parents, and what is considered off-limits by the military?”
Scarlet’s fingers tightened against her elbow while glancing between them, each of Mateo’s men spreading a little to keep an eye on blind spots as the officer studied her.
“Hmm. So far as I’ve been told, only detailed information on the Scarlet Hand, Scarlet herself, and the subject regarding your… divine sponsor are to be handled sensitively—as with the specifics as to who you’re in contact with.”
In other words, only give them the needed information on Scarlet and the cult, and don’t mention anything about the general or gods. Got it.
Placing a hand against her breast, she streamed out the last bit of stress she could before nodding and taking them around the corner; Scarlet remained partly behind her, not wanting to draw attention to herself, but her mother totally snatched her the moment they locked eyes.
Will she even recogn—
“Sung! W-Why did this…”
Rachel almost tripped onto her face as her mother lurched forward, tears coming on with the emotion filling her breast upon seeing the look in her mom’s muddy-brown irises.
Time slowed in Rachel’s quickening brain as she examined every inch of her mother’s appearance; everything she spotted only reinforced the heat rising up her throat, making Rachel’s thumping heart go wild.
It was the bags under her mom’s eyes and slightly smudged makeup. Her light-blue button-up shirt opened up more than normal, with its sleeves rolled back to the elbows, displaying agitated fingernail marks from the pressure she’d more than likely been bottling up inside.
Needles poked at Rachel’s arms when spotting the mismatched socks she wore, only just visible between her tight, black pants and white running shoes; it told her that the woman had thrown on whatever she found to rush to her, but it was her hair that made her choke up—messy, dark locks, half in an attempted braid, meaning she was getting ready for bed—and her only jewelry was her wedding ring.
“Mom, I…”
Her world spun as her mother latched onto her, making Rachel’s tongue catch in her throat at the Korean words she repeated.
“It’s my fault! It’s all my fault—look what I’ve done to you—why did I send you a-away?! It was too soon! It’s all my fault! I should have been there!”
“Mom, no…” Sniffing in her own emotions, liquid falling down her cheeks, Rachel pulled her in tighter. “No, Mom—it’s not your fault! What are you talking about?”
“I’m so sorry, Sung-Hyo—I’m so sorry!”
World blurry, she looked up to see her father’s forced smile, brushing away a few tears himself while moving to support her mother and pull her away.
“Come now, Chan-hee… See? Our daughter has… gone through some changes, but she’s here.”
Her mother refused to let go, crying into her bust, and, swallowing her own emotions, Rachel nudged her head to one of the rooms that had been given to their parents to sleep in, which they’d refused until seeing her.
“It’s okay, Mom… It’s okay…”
Her dad opened the door, moving in to kiss her forehead and giving a reassuring smile before closing it to allow them privacy; she was shocked her dad had cried at all—it was the first time she’d seen tears fall from his eyes or so much emotion on his face—but it touched her heart to see how much they cared for her.
Guiding her mom to the cushioned bench that allowed one to overlook the parking lot through the private room, she sat, forcing her mom to sit next to her as she continued to blame herself and babble unintelligibly; it took several minutes to get her to calm down, Rachel somewhat panicking at how fast her mother’s heart was beating.
“Mom… you’re exhausted—you need to sleep… I’m worried about you…”
Keeping a shockingly firm iron grip on her hand, her mother used the other to brush away the snot and tears, hiccuping a few times while trying to reign herself in. “I t-thought I might lose you… So many things could have happened, a-and I wasn’t here to p-protect you… I’m a failure! Y-You—t-the military… I failed you…”
“Mom… no. You’re going to make me cry again…” Leaning in to kiss her forehead, she held her against her chest for another few minutes, breathing out the heat in her lungs. “I’m okay. I’m okay, Mom.”
After another fit of emotion, her mother began to calm down enough to just hold her and breathe; it took nearly ten minutes for her to actually be able to draw back to study her red and puffy face.
“You’re… a Lunar Hare Mythickin? The soldiers told us you’d changed a-and what to expect.” She almost started crying again while fixating on her ears, showing a melancholy smile. “Do… do you remember when I used to dress you up as a hare during Halloween because you liked my stories about the Limpid Jade Hare and Pure Onyx Rabbit? You loved my Korean shamanism tales as a little girl…”
Rachel’s eyes widened, having totally forgotten about those earlier years, likely due to suppressing them after the car accident, but her mother’s stories regarding the Korean hare of misfortune surfaced like a thunderbolt that went from the tip of her ears to her tail.
“You… did tell me a lot about those bedtime stories… About Seonangsin, the Korean patron deity of war, boundaries, and village protection… Her constant fight against the mischievous hare—that’s…” Rachel trailed off, deep in thought.
Mind turning, she considered the Korean fairy tales of her childhood, involving many of the religious figures her mother grew up in with her parents’ believers of the shamanistic roots of their culture; her grandparents died shortly after she’d married her father, so she’d never met them. It couldn’t be a coincidence that she’d become a lunar hare, could it?
Her mother pulled around her braid to play with the tail end, clearly looking for anything to do with her hands to distract her. “Hehe. You used to play with… with your cousin all the time—you’d be the Limpid Jade Hare as she took on the role of the hare’s lucky brother… I still have videos of—mmgm…”
Muscles tightening up, Rachel knew it was hard for her mother to talk about her little cousin Seo by name and how interconnected their lives had been before the accident. Kissing her head, Rachel reached over to hold her mother for a time until her quakes passed again, no doubt reliving the car crash.
“It’s okay, Mom. I’m here for you…”
“Aww. You’re so sweet… like Samgong—karma will bring us back together,” she whispered, saying a prayer with closed eyes. “Everything will be okay in the end—I have to believe everything will be okay in the end…”
Stroking her mother’s head, Rachel had to wonder if her father had legally changed his American name to Sam when they married as almost a joke, considering her mom was so fixated on the Korean shamanistic figure.
“Do you want me to tell you everything I can about what happened to me?”
“Is it too hard—I don’t want to put more stress on you,” her mother whimpered, looking up at her with big, brown eyes, full of tears. “You’ve already been through too much…”
“Mom…”
Knowing she was mainly talking about the accident they’d been a part of that had significantly changed both their lives, Rachel had to curse fate for doing this to her mother; the moment she let go a little, allowing her dad to push her into becoming more independent, this had to hit.
Her mother was traumatized enough, and now that she had this first taste of freedom away from home, Rachel was practically jumping as high as she could go to see what influence she could have on the world. It compounded in her chest; Rachel didn’t want to hurt her mom further, but she also couldn’t back away from her current trajectory. She had to muddle her way through this sticky situation.
Knowing what would help her mother, Rachel hummed thoughtfully to draw her mind away from its spiral. “You know how I used to joke about you being the incarnation of Jowangsin?”
“Rachel…” she mumbled with a light glare, knowing she’d said it more as a negative than a positive, but the fact she was calling her by her American name said she was calming down. “Yes, I’m strict in the kitchen, and I did put up Jowangsin’s rules on the wall, but it is a place that is sacred… where the family gathers to celebrate what life gives us…”
“I know… I think I get it now,” she whispered, pulling her in again; in a way, it was part of her mother learning to cope with Seo’s death, but she recalled her always being a bit of a hardass when it came to the kitchen, or as she put it, her space. “You know what I’d love tomorrow—or whenever you get up?”
“Hmm?”
“Some home cooking,” she grinned, making her mother smile. “You always did make the best food—hands down—and you always tailored it to whatever diet I was on.”
“That’s what mothers are supposed to do,” she said, swallowing the lump in her throat and brushing away her tears. “Alright… How bad is it if you have military special forces following you around everywhere—do we need to get our lawyer involved? We will not give in without a fight!”
“Haha! No, Mom. It’s not like that… yet, at least.” Seeing the fire light in her mother’s eyes gave her strength. “Here, let me explain—wait, do you need some water?”
Her mother’s out-of-place black hair weaved with her head motions. “No. I’m ready whenever you are. I’m just happy I can hold you again…”
The hard part over, Rachel started from the beginning; yet, unlike with the military men she’d had practice discussing her journey, her mom was quite interruptive and became abrasive and defensive about the strangest things that threw her for a loop, such as being open with the military regarding her transformation.
Over the following hour, Rachel was stunned by her mother’s rebounding vigor as she honed in on so many little details, pressing her for clarification in areas like a prosecutor going for the throat; ultimately, everything led back to the same fear—being used by the military.
“You’re not telling me everything,” her mother grumbled, aiming her displeasure more at the door and soldiers outside than Rachel herself.
“Eh-heh, how can you tell?” she asked, forcing a smile. “I’m being as open as I can… You’re really not that—I don’t know… upset I killed goblins?”
Her mother’s puffy face had settled over the last hour, showing a rather dull expression. “They’re terrible monsters intent on doing people harm—no… but…”
A lump dropped down Rachel’s throat at the look in her mother’s terrifying eyes. “What I am pissed about is you putting yourself in danger against those aliens when it is the military’s job to protect you—not the other way around! Haaa. You’ve always been headstrong and combative, but you’re not a soldier, Sung… You’re a citizen and still a teenager.”
Fiddling with her fingers and looking away, Rachel shrugged, feeling more intimidated by the minute with her mother’s hounding gaze on her. “I’m… figuring out what I want to do, Mom. We both know the world is going to change from this.”
“Our world doesn’t need to change,” her mother insisted, white hands taking Rachel’s in a firm grip, yet her eyes were as steady as she’d ever seen them. “You can still do your martial arts competition stuff, attend college… have a normal life. All that changed is you have cute ears and a tail now—oh, which reminds me, we need to do more shopping—a complete wardrobe change. There are some small stores that should be open on the way back home—”
“Mom!” Rachel pulled away to cross her arms, mouth tight while looking away. “No—I-I can’t go home. I told you, it’s not just my appearance that changed… I don’t think I want to, mmgh…”
“Want to what?” her mother asked, worry and fear entering her vulnerable voice, making Rachel scratch her left ear.
“I don’t… think I want to continue with college, Mom—haaa, believe me, I know it’s not easy to hear—hah, it’s not easy for me to admit to you, Mom… I’m sure Dad will be pissed, but… I need to figure things out. Mom… please.”
She looked up to see her mother’s bottom lip trembling, her world seemingly falling apart. “Sung… I can’t have you g-getting hurt. If you go down this path, you’ll… I can’t protect you. I know you may h-have felt some kind of way when going on that quest, b-but…”
Unable to finish her sentence, Rachel knew they’d already said everything that needed to be said and scooted closer to hug her weeping mother; eventually, she managed to move them to the bed, laying with her mom to comfort her through the realization she wouldn’t be hopping in the car and returning home to put all this business behind them.
The rays of the sun began peaking through the window when her mother had cried herself to sleep; Rachel sat there, watching her for a while, until her father lightly tapped on the door, peeking inside. Once spotting them cuddled up together on the cramped bed, he smiled and entered, closing the door behind him.
“How’s your mother?”
Rachel sighed. “Not doing well… Can you close the blinds, Dad?”
“Sure.”
He calmly went to the window and locked out the rising sun before changing the armchair’s position to sit beside the bed. “I appreciate the care you’ve given to your mother, Sung… I expect you’re exhausted, as well, given what your new friend told me.”
Taking off his glasses to clean them, her father loosened his tie now that he wasn’t in public and unfastened the top button of his dress shirt; he’d already left his suit coat out front.
“Heh. I’m surprised you’ve been so patient with Scarlet, given your usual temperament.”
“Haha. Thanks, Dad,” she whispered, trying not to wake or disturb her mother. “I’ve seen a lot of things I was blind to recently… I think Seo’s death messed me up more than I liked to admit; I pushed people away because of it… It’s probably why I’ve been so critical of Alexa, as much as I hate to admit it.”
Her father replaced his spectacles, a thoughtful frown now touching his thin eyes. “I can’t imagine this experience has been easy on you, nor the stress of whatever you shared with your mother; I’m sure I’ll get quite the tinted vision from her version, but it’s nice to see you starting to mature into a young woman. Give me the cliff notes so I can relieve you of your mother and rest my own restless heart for some sleep.”
That’s Dad… no BS and straight to the point.
She told him about her decision to follow through with whatever was happening with the military, despite the dangers and her mother’s feelings; he listened without interruption, scribbling down a few things on his phone like in a business meeting.
“Hmm. So, your mother is terrified you’ll be drawn into some shady government project and senses you’ve grown restless with ordinary life after your recent experiences? It’s a real concern, and you know how delicate your mother is… to the point of convincing your brother and sister-in-law to stay in the house as they save up for their own, just so Nam would remain close.”
Her father leaned back and crossed his legs, compassionate eyes on his sleeping wife, still holding onto Rachel as she slept. “You’re her baby girl that she has to protect, which I think contributed to your teenage angst and frustrations at times that exhibited in some of your more… feisty behaviors.”
Rachel streamed out a long puff of air. “Hehe. I should have known I wasn’t hiding much from you with the fighting, which is why you got me into martial arts early so that I didn’t turn it on my peers… Well played, Dad. I do think it’s a bit more with Mom, though.”
“I’m listening.”
“Mmgm.” Brushing her mother’s bangs out of her face and settling into a more comfortable position beside her, Rachel sighed. “Mom wants our family to grow—she sees Alexa, despite all her flaws, as her own daughter, while I’m… scared, Dad. I don’t want to let people in and be hurt—if they die, I guess… I’m trying to reconcile with all these flaws I’ve started to see in myself, and they only keep growing.”
“Sung…” her father whispered, getting up to walk around the bed and give her a gentle hug from her lying position. “I understand you also have a need for perfection… I’m the cause of that, to some degree, since I’ve always been hard on Nam and you to succeed in life, but something your grandfather often reminds me of is that sprouts need room to grow… You are talented and disciplined, so growth will come in time. Be patient with yourself.”
Rachel’s thoughts returned to her internal battle against the version of Scarlet that had battled the toad aliens and how outclassed she was, putting a bitter taste in her mouth.
“I have to get stronger, Dad… You and Mom are in danger because of the cult I’ve let up into our lives.”
Her father gave her a critical stare, fingers folding in his lap. “You were hard on your mother for blaming herself for your transformation; don’t make the same mistake as her, Sung. You are not alone in dealing with this cult. Also, from what you’ve expressed, it is your very existence that offends these people; there is nothing to feel blame for as it is they that have a problem with you that has initiated this conflict, not the other way around.”
“Huu-haaa. I suppose so,” she grumbled, running a hand down her face while staring up at the ceiling. “So, what did you think about Scarlet? I heard you two talking for some time outside.”
Expression lifting a tad at the subject change, her father chuckled. “Adorably awkward and self-critical that promotes one to want to protect her. Is it too much to think you see a piece of your cousin in her?”
Rachel worked around her jaw, pondering the thought rather than simply reacting to the inquiry; her father wasn’t the joking type, which meant he saw something that put him on that train of thought, and he was far more candid when speaking about such topics as opposed to her tentative mother.
“I don’t know… I suppose she’s growing on me, which is more than I can say about most people. To me, Scarlet trusts too easily—then again, her mental state and devastated life play a role in that… Still, I’d be super sus if the roles were reversed, but maybe that’s just my paranoia and distrust for people in general talking…
“Eh-haaa… maybe I can see myself trying to open up a little. Not to be harsh, Dad, I primarily worked so hard to keep her around because she’s useful and I have this gut feeling I should, but… there is a bit more to it than that, now that it’s on my mind.”
“In any case—she thinks the world of you,” her father said, stifling a yawn. “I’ve raised you to be your own woman, and, while I’m not pleased with this particular route you’re deciding to pursue, I won’t be so hasty to judge it. You’re an intelligent young woman… when you want to be,” he added while rubbing his temple. “So, pursue this, and I will support your mother through the hard times, but be smart, not prideful… If you need help, I’m here for you as your father.”
Unable to express the relief that fell away from her shoulders at her stalwart father’s words, Rachel could only tuck her bottom lip under and nod.
Not soon after, he began to make her mother more comfortable on the bed, removing her shoes and taking Rachel’s place to slide in as her new body pillow; she snicked at her dad as he removed his tie, saying as a little girl she thought he wore a suit to bed, which got a laugh from him on her way out.
Thanks, Dad…
Quietly closing the door, Rachel waved at Scarlet, seemingly having trouble staying awake, which she assumed was more about her blood intake than actually needing sleep; still, the girl was refusing more blood, wanting to maintain a good sleep cycle in conjunction with her.
The vamp girl rose to her feet as she exited. “Everything okay?”
Rachel yawned and scratched her neck; some of the morning rays had slid through to drop her Lunar Pool down to forty-five percent, and she felt it in her muscles. Fortunately, her previous actions with the wolf boy had paid off, which meant she could sink her hook into the curious unicorn before bed.
“Mostly. I’m sure my mom will want to properly meet you when she’s rested.” Glancing at the room across from them that housed quite a few of the green beret company, including Mateo, who had retired for the day, she made a note of the soldiers who had replaced them. “I know you’ll want to come with me, Scarlet, but I need to go meet the unicorn alone. I’ll be right back to get ready for bed.”
She directed her focus to the company’s current OIC. “Is that alright, Sergeant Murray? If I need someone to follow me to the cafeteria, that’s fine, but I have to meet her alone to not cause any kind of commotion. She’s… touchy toward the military, government, and law enforcement in general.”
Murray pursed his lips, looking between his men and Scarlet’s slumping shoulders, likely wanting to release her own tension in regard to the girl’s conversation with her father.
“Roy, tag along.”
“Sir.”
Rachel was surprised to see the tall and muscular green beret was now in civilian clothes from the donations downstairs; he took off his gun and put his hands in his pockets to follow her down, putting on a smile.
“Gotta blend in and get a grasp on the situation without intimidating people,” he explained at her lifted eyebrow. “Don’t worry, Scarlet, we’ll be back. Actually, how long will it take, Rachel?”
The man was genuine in his casual wave at the vampire girl, showing how much rapport they’d built with the special forces in their short time knowing each other; they didn’t want the vespertine reaper to feel excluded or an outcast.
“It’ll be quick. I left the bait; now, I need to hook her before letting the line go for a bit,” she explained with a grin and wink. “It’s all in the mystery!”
Scarlet giggled. “You really are amazing… I’ll be here… being lazy and useless,” she groaned and continued before anyone could say otherwise. “I know, I know… you’re not useless or lazy. Ugh…”
“Mmmm.” Rachel tilted her head to the side with her ears. “Useless and lazy are strong words. You’ve done plenty already and kept me company through the boring bits. Thanks for being a friend!”
“Aww… You’re too good!” Scarlet huffed with a smile. “Your dad was really sweet, but I guess we can talk about that later. Good luck.”
Walking backward, Rachel added a sly smirk while pointing at her. “Don’t think I don’t know you’ll be watching me the whole time with those ruby eyes, Ms. Peeping Jill.”
“Haha. Peeping Jill? I like that. I get bored, too, and I’m exercising my abilities like you said!”
“Touché,” she snickered, walking around the corner with Roy. “Be right back.”
The man shot a small look down at her as their passing caught the attention of many nurses.
“What?”
“Either you’re getting better at masking your intent, or you’re growing more fond of Scarlet; it’s sweet to see you take her under your wing like a big sister. She needs a good role model to show her there’s a way forward.”
“I guess,” she hummed.
Projecting how things would go in the future, Rachel’s mind centered on her mother’s mannerisms and desires; if things continued, her mother would no doubt begin to fuss over Scarlet, seeing her as someone who needed a mother figure in her life.
All her mother ever wanted was to be a mom, and even that wasn’t totally fulfilling as she branched out to the community youth projects in their city as they grew. Her mom was well-respected among the soccer mom, youth educational, and community center circles for a reason.
We really are a proactive family… Dad and Nam are deep in business and financing, Mom in homemaking and community with me in martial arts, fitness, and schooling. It’s not hard to see why Alexa would feel so overwhelmed by our active lifestyle. Scarlet keeps mentioning how intimidating my work ethic is… I need to be more mindful that it doesn’t come naturally to some people.
Refocusing as they made it to the elevator, she reflected on what her mother said earlier regarding her shamanistic beliefs and the stories she’d told her growing up; it was the reason she knew the differences between hares and rabbits, but she’d utterly ghosted that point in her life due to the trauma to make the proper connection.
The Limpid Jade Hare and Misfortune… It can’t be a coincidence that my mother is a semi-practicing Korean shaman, telling me stories about her beliefs and deities and then I turn into a lunar hare. If goddesses are real… does that mean Korean figures like Sungmo, Haesik, Pali Kongju, Magu, and… Dalsun became the personification of the moon when she and her brother escaped the hungry tiger that ate their mother before they climbed to heaven…
Rachel’s mind froze as they passed a waiting room beside the elevator, and all sound died with the world coming to a complete standstill; her focus was drawn to what sat on the ground in front of the steel box —a slowly spinning egg, dyed shiny orange, pink, and white.
“Roy…” The man was midstep, petrified like all the other staff in the area, making Rachel hiss. “Shit.”
Glancing around cautiously, she stood in the silence for a time; not a thing twitched besides the egg, yet she had the distinct feeling of being watched just outside of her peripheral vision with her enhanced senses.
“Moongmor?” she hesitantly guessed, recalling the goddess’ words about someone by the name being sent by Eostre, the goddess related to easter and spring; it couldn’t be a coincidence that the season was coming up and this deity’s sudden activity. “What is this about?”
When no answer came, she carefully went to the rotating item, bent down, and grabbed it.
A vision of a tiny, fairy-like girl, no more than ten centimeters tall, flashed across her mind; she was trapped inside a fish tank with cuts and bruises, weeping within a fake rock. It was immediately followed by a pretty, violet-eyed woman, irises alight with flames and wearing a sadistic smile while holding a little girl by the throat.
The beautiful, autumn-haired goddess’ earthy, feminine voice whispered in her ear, giving Rachel the obscured view of the woman—a rabbit on her shoulder, its fur the same colors as the egg she touched. The heavenly figure looked almost frightened, focusing on something down the hall from where Rachel had come, yet her gaze swiftly snapped to her, speaking in haste.
“You… must find Fiona before it is too late—convince Tom Dallas to test your abilities in the field. Please, Rachel, beware of the woman named Relica; she has support beyond the mortal realms… Use discretion in how Scarlet meets her, or it could doom us all…”
She blinked as the world continued, leaving her momentarily stunned by the rush of sound that hit her brain; Roy glanced to his left and then at her, crouching at the elevator.
“When did you—huh?”
Damn goddesses! she internally snarled, slowly rising to her feet, fingers closing to empty air where the egg had been. Why do they always have to be so minimalist?! I guess they’re limited in some sense, too, if this Relica woman is getting help from her own gods…
“Ugh… It’s nothing. Let’s go.”
Pressing the elevator, she glared at her warped reflection in the steel. I’ll have to bring it up to General… I guess his first name is Tom. I wonder what he’ll think about me revealing that bit of info. It does give credence to my supernatural connection to these beings… They say so much with so little! Dammit. At least give me a timescale to work with if it’s time sensitive!
