Dancing With The Devil

champagne problems.

"I'm going to kill that girl if it's the last thing I do!" I flipped into a fit of rage.

"What do we do?!" Mom cried out.

"I'll call Minseok and work something out" Dad suggested, taking Mom in his arms.

"No... we're going to the gala. We do what she wants or she'll kill Geongmin"

"She wouldn't do that. I know her" Taehyung defended.

"Yes, she would! You know the last thing she said before she hung up?... Geongmin and her head will part ways!" I didn't mean to shout but my temper had flared at the thought of someone being so malefic. Tae stepped back, shocked at my rage.

"How long ago has Geongmin been taken?" Jin asked.

"Probably days now" I responded. He shook his head disappointedly. "Why?" I asked.

"Well I spoke to Emrie at the hospital. Both Kook and I did. She seemed so... normal and herself. I didn't think she'd have such a card up her sleeve."

"Well, she's Emrie Fey. What did we expect?" Mom prompted.

"Ok guys. Everything will be fine. We'll go to the gala, play whatever game she wants to play, and get Geongmin back" Dad attempted to mediate the situation.

"That's the thing though. Emrie is very good at playing whatever game this is. She made the rules and she knows the loopholes"

"We'll go to the gala. Keep to ourselves. Scope out the situation and if necessary, we take Geongmin and make a break for it" Dad continued.

"Surrounded by everyone who has pledged allegiance to the Fey family?" I challenged him.

"Joon-ah, what do you suggest we do then? Because if we don't even go, we'll 100% not get her back"

"I'm just saying that I don't think either way is gonna end well"

"Well you know this Emrie better than I do and you're the leader but we're gonna have to go either way" Dad concluded. He was right. We do have to go. But he's wrong because I don't know Emrie better than he does. Everyone thinks they might know her but no one really does. She always has some card up her sleeve, always a step ahead of everyone, always moves in silence. She was very good at a game I never signed up for.

"Boys, since this is a family affair, I'm not going to force you guys to come. But I do encourage you to join us for backup" I announced.

"Don't worry hyung, we'll be there. Together" Jimin spoke up for the group.

———————-

"When was the last time you've seen or spoken to Minseok?"

"Oh, man... it's been years" Dad pondered. He lit cigars for the both of us, propping his slippered feet on the wooden bench. After dinner, the boys and their dates had gone back to our house and Mom went inside to knit like she usually did when she was upset.

"What was he like?"

"Talking to Minseok is like talking to a brick wall. Anything you'd say would go unheard. He made sure he was the only man speaking"

"Do you think this gala is going to end badly?"

"I really hope not. I hope 15 years in prison fixed him even just a little bit. I think I'm a little more worried about the girl"

"Emrie... yeah me too"

"I knew her only as a little kid"

"Yeah?"