Souls of Seoul: The Rise and Fall | OT7

12.

The mood inside the house shifts the instant you step through the door. You're met with looks of concern.

"Is everything okay?" you ask, slowing to a stop just inside the kitchen. Hobi steps in behind you, shutting the backdoor.

Namjoon glances between the two of you. "We were about to come out and check on the both of you. We felt," he pauses, his brows knitting together, "well, we're not sure what we felt because we could feel something one minute, and then it was like someone snuffed out a candle the next."

The laugh that escapes Hobi immediately brings color to your cheeks. "Do you want to tell them or do you want me to, aein?"

You narrow your eyes over your shoulder at him. "Not funny."

"Tell us what?" JK asks from where he's helping Yoongi and Jin prep dinner in the kitchen.

It's not like they wouldn't find out eventually anyway, right? The next time it happens someone is bound to find out...at least, you hope there is a next time. You squash that line of thought before you can entertain it any further. There will be a next time.

"Let's just say everyone doesn't have to worry about unexpected surprises anymore." You shrug like it's no big deal and you hope they understand what you mean without further explanation.

"Unexpected surprises?" Taehyung questions before it registers. "Wait...oh." A slow smile spreads across his face.

Everyone else exchanges looks and mirroring smiles. "So, what you're saying is Hobi isn't slacking in the training department." Jin winks at you making you go an even deeper shade of scarlet.

Despite the heat in your cheeks, you plaster on your sweetest smile, batting your lashes at him. "Maybe you can be my next target and we'll test out how good his lesson really was."

Jin fumbles the eggs in his hands, one slipping out and splattering wetly on the floor. Namjoon whistles, amused by how easily you fall into banter with everyone. Just how a family should be.

The atmosphere in the kitchen goes soft, like the scene from a timeless movie. There is laughter, smiles, and easy conversation. You find yourself encased by Taehyung's arms, his nose occasionally nuzzling into your hair.

Perri and Lucian are still down in the vault with the others, Des helping them set up a sterile area to be used for casting the enchantments. Perri also wanted time to talk to Des, curious about the young man's newfound vigor and subtle glow she can see along his skin. It's a revelation that made you all raise an eyebrow at him. He had simply shrugged, still not certain what exactly Ivar had given him down in the lab or the combined effects of it and the saengmyeong Sai had given him. The fact Perri can see something, though, makes you even more intrigued for her to try to show you how to see it, too.

Taehyung had confirmed with Philip that the hidden quaerenti would be arriving first thing in the morning. It finally feels like things are slowing down, giving you all a moment to just be. If only just for a few hours. Or so you think.

Your phone, on the counter in front of where you're perched in Tae's lap on a barstool, starts to vibrate. You tap the screen and see it's an unknown number calling. It's tempting to ignore the call, but given what happened earlier, you don't want to miss the chance your mom might have gotten a new phone and just forgot to tell you.

Murmuring an apology to Tae you grab up your phone and slip from his lap to take a few steps over into the dining room. The noise from the kitchen still carries, but it's not so loud you can't hear the frantic voice on the other end as you bring the device to your ear.

"Hello? Hello?" It's a muffled male voice.

"Umm, hi?"

There is a sigh of relief. "I need to see you."