Skin, Wings, Fangs, Scales

CHAPTER V: Phantoms

“Drink.”

Moon Byul offered Yongsun a goblet filled with red liquid.

Sensing that it was blood, Yongsun's eyes glowed red. Her fangs sharpened as her instincts urged her to consume it. But, “No,” she scowled.

Moon Byul sighed and placed the goblet down on the floor. “The world will continue existing, Yongsun. Whether you like it or not, the same goes for you.”

Yongsun hugged her knees in the darkened corner. Once Moon Byul closed the door, all the faint light had gone as well. Like hope that had left with Yoon-do. There was no point in living with him gone. Love had died wth him.

Sunlight embraced the city of Seoul with warmth. For the first time, Yongsun found the view from her office enthralling. A pang of regret hit her as she trailed the glass wall with her fingers. She should not have drank that blood. If she contained her thirst back then, she would not be suffering in the present.

She had made the same mistake twice now. Her first in the past, when Yoon-do planned to have children, only for him to die. Why did she repeat history after almost eighty years? It was foolish of her to even begin to assume that a fox like Moon Byul would want children. To the gumiho, she was another mere toy she had grown bored of.

A certain thought crossed Yongsun's mind. With her current situation, she had the chance to do something otherwise deadly. Picking up her blazer, she marched out of her office. On her way, she came across her secretary.

“Miss Oh, reschedule all my meetings meant for this afternoon. Set them for tomorrow.”

The secretary's eyes widened, but she was quick to give a nod and reply, “Yes, Miss Kim. And if they ask where you are?”

“Tell them I went to visit a significant place .”

Yongsun then walked away with a solemn face.

“Have you engaged in intercourse with Sorin during this period of her being a dawnborn?”

Such peculiar question made Moon Byul stop reading. Eyes narrowed and mouth agape, she glanced up.

“Sorry, what?”

“Answer the question, Yul,” Irene demanded .

“I can't. It's difficult to tell,” Moon Byul retorted.

Irene crossed her arms and asked in a sharp tone, “When was the last time you fornicated?”

Moon Byul looked away, her human ears turning red. “About a week ago or so.. "

“Has Sorin slept or eaten human food?”

“I have no idea,” Moon Byul stated. An unfortunate fact, among all other things. She used to know everything about Yongsun. Until she became a.. what Irene said, dawnborn.

“Try better, Yul. You are her lover.”

Moon Byul stared down at the page below her. “Not anymore, Joohyun,” she sighed.

Ripe silence embedded the room with untold considerations. Moon Byul and Yongsun's possible faults laid heavy calculations in Irene's head. By morning glory, she would never have to experience anything of that sort in abruptness. It was wise of her to cast those spells on Seulgi.

“The bullet that almost killed you,” Irene redirected the conversation.

“What about it?” A great hunger for answers filled Moon Byul's voice.

“Did you not take the time to examine it? I'm certain you've picked up the distinct smell.”

“There was something.. Although I couldn't quite pinpoint..” Moon Byul tried to recall every scent she had encountered in over a millennia of existence.