Beast, Blood, & Soul

Epilogue

As we stepped into the sunlight, exiting the cave, it was to see my parents, Da-Eun Park, and the Kim Foundation waiting for us.  At first, everyone stood frozen as they marveled at the very human appearance of my men, but once the shock wore off, they rushed in to help.

Jungkook and Hobi were helping Ceren and Brendan hobble up the stairs and into the light.  We had found them in the ante-chamber behind the curtain, passed out, and roughed up.  They were disoriented and sore, but Yoongi said they were fine otherwise.  They were handed over to Foundation paramedics to get a thorough checkup. 

Another set of medical personnel was directed by Namjoon to go in with a body bag to retrieve Marcus.  I felt bad about Marcus. He like the rest of us just wanted to connect with someone. He didn't deserve what happened to him.

Jimin and Taehyung took Da-Eun away for a private conversation.  I watched from a distance as she nodded and started to cry.  Jimin took her in his arms and Taehyung wrapped them both in his. They comforted her while she cried for her loss.  I don't know if there will ever be a way to make things right by her over what the witch did.

After I got checked out by a paramedic, I was pulled into the arms of my parents.  I held them tight. I loved them so much and I would never be able to thank them enough for raising me as they did.  Yoongi had said that my DNA matched theirs in this form so I should keep the real story to myself.  I agreed, they didn't need the heartache of knowing their real child never recovered from her difficult birth.  I vowed that I would love them twice as much on her behalf.

Jin and Daniel were talking about burying the cave and sealing it permanently.  As a place where major magic took place, it needed to be protected and never allowed to be used again.

When everyone was checked out and the area cleaned up, we retired to the cabin to talk over everything that had happened.

I sat on the couch, sandwiched between my parents, who had not let me go since they pulled me into their arms that afternoon.  A few of my husbands' pouted at this, but I reminded them that I wasn't going anywhere after my parents went home.

Yoongi was grilling outside, joined by several members of the Foundation who helped us clean up afterward.  Everyone was amazed at the normal appearance of the members of Bangtan. They were still all gorgeous as can be, but the brown eyes and lack of fangs were going to take some getting used to. 

"You know, I'm going to really miss the owl,"  Brendan told Hobi. they were sitting on another sectional. Brendan had Ceren sitting on his lap. He hadn't let her go since we left the cave.

"I won't, I was poisonous and dangerous to everyone," Hobi said. "What feels weird is that I'm no longer immortal. I can't quite process that we're human again."  

"We're going to grow old now," Jimin remarked.

"That will be novel,"  Namjoon replied.

"I don't know, 500 years we've escaped our bodies getting older, serious injury and illness. We're vulnerable now and I have to wonder how long it will take us to get used to it,"   Yoongi joins in as he brings in a plate of burger patties for everyone. 

Everyone gets up to make themselves a burger and I have to smile that at no time does Bangtan have to separate themselves so they don't poison anyone.  Food is shared, nobody is self-conscious and there is no separation. 

Finally, they can live normal lives.  Mortal ones, but still normal.

As we ate, talk turned to the events in the cave and we shared with them what happened.

"So if making a choice was the key, why did you have to even face her in the cave? Why not just make a choice and be done with it?" My dad asked.

"We had nothing to make a choice about," Namjoon explained.  "When the curse started, she was the only thing we were bonded to.  She was the only pull.  The only desire.  We rejected that pull, but instead of forcing a confrontation, we ignored it.  We refused to make the choice at all."