Vicious Spirits - Kat Cho Page 0,44

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.

“I don’t know.” If Junu was telling the truth, then was her mother haunting her? Miyoung knew enough about gwishin to know that they were a shadow of their living selves. And the longer they lingered in the mortal realm, the more they lost parts of their humanity. But maybe . . . since Yena hadn’t been truly human to begin with . . . maybe she was different?

“Something else worries you, Daughter. Tell me.” Yena reached out to run her fingers over Miyoung’s cheek; they were cold as ice.

“My bead,” she said. “Do you know where it is?”

“It is your life and you’ve rejected it,” Yena said, her eyes fierce and accusing.

“It’s not the life I wanted,” Miyoung said.

“So you reject the life I fought for? The life I died for?” Yena’s voice rose, her teeth clenched in barely contained rage.

“No, I’m sorry. I’m sorry,” Miyoung said quickly.

Yena settled, a small smile playing across her features. Such a sudden change that Miyoung’s heart still raced. “My daughter. Tell me what worries you.”

Miyoung frowned, confusion pricking at her anxiety. “I—I don’t know.”

“Tell me,” Yena said, her eyes narrowing in anger.

“Junu,” Miyoung said quickly. “I don’t know if I can trust him, but it feels like he’s the only one who can help me right now.”

“Those boys don’t know what awaits them.”

The words sent a shiver down Miyoung’s spine. “What do you mean?”

“He’ll come against one that he can’t deny.”

“You’re making no sense, Mother.”

“They’re approaching an enemy that has been waiting for her chance.”

“If you know what’s going to happen, then tell me!” Miyoung’s chest tightened, and she couldn’t draw a full breath.

“I don’t know the future.”

“Please just tell me what the danger is.” Miyoung frantically reached out to her mother, but her hand went right through air. Where her mother’s arm had previously been was wisps and vapors. She began to fade into nothingness, like pollen on the wind.

“No, Mother! I need an answer,” Miyoung insisted.

But Yena floated away, sifting into the air as she had the night she died in Miyoung’s arms.

“Mother!” Miyoung jerked awake, lashing out at a weight pushing her down before she realized they were hands. And they were attached to a worried Somin.

“Bad dream?” Somin asked, sitting on the edge of the bed.

“I’m fine,” Miyoung said. “Where’s Jihoon?”

Somin was silent too long. And Yena’s words still haunted her. Those boys don’t know what awaits them . . . They’re approaching an enemy that has been waiting for her chance.

“‘They’re approaching,’” Miyoung whispered to herself.

“What?” Somin asked.

“Jihoon went with Junu, didn’t he?”

“Yes, and before you say anything, I tried to talk him out of it.”

“You should have tried harder.” Miyoung fought back a mix of anger and fear.

“You know how stubborn Jihoon can be.”

“And I know he almost died because of me once already. I’m not risking him like that again.”

“He’s not going to die. Junu will take care of him.”

Miyoung eyed Somin, looking for a mocking tone, but didn’t find it. “You seem to have changed your tune when it comes to Junu. Why’s that?”

“Because I have to trust him. It’s the only option I can see right now.”

“Well, right now, I need to be alone,” Miyoung said. “And then I think I should go back to Junu’s to wait for them.”

“I’ll go with you.”

Miyoung wanted to say no, but she knew none of this was really Somin’s fault. “Fine, just give me a little time to get ready.”

“Okay,” Somin said, worry clear in her voice, even as she abided by Miyoung’s request.

Alone now, Miyoung listened to the quiet room. There was nothing. Just the sound of her ragged breathing.

How could Yena have known? What were these dreams? Junu had said Miyoung was connected to the ghost realm. Could that mean that Yena was truly visiting her?

“Mother?” Miyoung said aloud. “Are you here?”

She waited, not sure whether she wanted a reply or not.

But none came.

20

JUNU HAD SAT through tense