The Reflection Of True Love

The Witch & The Mirror

The garden and surroundings were tranquil and Jangmi was in her kitchen when she saw the flash of a small vampire hurtling down her garden path. She certainly wasn't expecting a visitor today and immediately answered the door when there was an intense knocking on the wood.

"Yumi... have you found another animal?" the kind witch asks.

"Oh... no, no... I must speak with you... it's really important." Yumi expresses, using her hands to reinforce the sincerity.

Jangmi opens the door wide and stands to the side, "Okay, okay... come in and sit down."

Yumi enters the kitchen and they go through to the cosy room with the open fire. The little girl hoists herself into one of the two big chairs and waits for Jangmi to sit down before she starts talking.

The little vampire feels harassed, anxious but excited at the prospect of solving a mystery. "Are you busy? Am I disturbing you?"

Jangmi shakes her head, "I'm not busy. What has happened in order for you to come here in such a hurry?"

"The man in the house castle... Jungkook... the one that wears the mask and cloak that everyone says is grumpy and mean... he isn't!"

The kind witch smiles and nods her head once, "He isn't what?"

"He isn't grumpy or mean and he isn't ugly. He told me about the witch that cursed him and his man left him all alone and now he thinks he needs to wear the mask but he doesn't."

"He doesn't what?"

"He doesn't need to wear the mask because he is so pretty... really pretty but he thinks he's ugly because of the curse and what the witch said." Yumi isn't sure she's remembering everything correctly as it all feels like it happened in a blur.

"Yumi, what is it that you would like my help with?" She has an idea but didn't want to put words into the little girl's mouth.

"You must know the story about the man in the house castle? You've been alive for centuries too and the wars. I think he was the one who started the war."

"Did he tell you that?"

"No. He told me about his revenge killing because his brother was killed and then he killed the man that killed his brother which upset the witch. Do you know the story? The truth version? Not that I'm saying he lied but I think he missed things out."

Jangmi chuckles and grins at the astute awareness of the little girl sitting in the chair swinging her feet. "I can tell you what I know?"

Yumi nods her head enthusiastically, "Yes, yes!"

The witch smooths down the black apron with its celestial print and shuffles in the chair to get comfortable. She takes a deep breath, filling her lungs, preparing herself to tell a story that she's not spoken about or heard anyone else talk of for quite some time.

"I was around when it happened, it was an event that divided our people and caused the biggest divide between us and the vampires. Everyone knew Jongho. He was a good man but a little too unruly given that he was part of such a prestigious family. He was very spirited but his promiscuous nature got him into trouble a lot. I don't think he meant any harm to his family, he was just lively. Jongho didn't want to settle down, unlike his brother, Jungkook, who lived with his partner and was often seen out and about together..."

Yumi listened intently and had questions buzzing around her mind. She needed to interrupt:

"It was okay to be two men together? Vampires allowed that? Did witches think it was okay? You had a wife?"