The Purple Eyes | Kim Seungmin

47

"Welcome to my home, please make yourselves comfortable." Ms Ryu bowed with a kind smile. The group of five looked around the lavish place, unable to contain their surprise.

They didn't know Kimikos family had this kind of money.

"Now, if you three don't mind.. I'd like to talk to the girls alone. We will just sit on the balcony with some tea, so feel free to watch over the whole interaction from a distance if you feel more comfortable that way."

Motioning towards two very large doors, two fancily dressed butlers pulled them open. Revealing a gorgeous view of the lake and a table for tea, the sisters followed close behind the woman.

Upon taking a seat, a butler poured three fresh glasses of hibiscus tea.

"Now, I know my daughters note wasn't anything informing of who she was, so I was hoping I could explain a bit more."

Airi frowned, grabbing Miyus hand from beneath the table. "I am sorry, we don't exactly know what you mean."

Ms Ryu sighed. Reaching into the neckline of her shirt, she grabbed the gold chain and slowly revealed it. The sisters stared with wide eyes, going back to Airis necklace just to confirm they were looking at the same thing.

"How-" Miyu started.

"I come from a long line of hunters. People who were so ruthless in their minds that they thought anyone more special than a human wasn't deserving of life. You see, I wasn't about that life."

Once again confused, neither sister had yet to touch their tea.

"Yes, hunters that hunt beings such as you five."

"How did-" Airi started, holding onto her mothers necklace with a death grip. "What do you know about us?"

"As I said, I come from a long line of hunters. I know humans when I see them, and I know that not a single one is with me today. Don't worry, I have no ill will towards any of you. In fact.. I just want to know what happened to my daughter." She smiled, almost finishing her own cup.

She seemed so nonchalant from the moment the sisters met her and.. it caught them off guard. Usually when a mother goes through a loss of a child..

She continued. "I raised my girl to love everyone. I've heard of all of her friends and stories of the amazing creatures she has met... so this really did seem out of the blue. I guess I always prepared for it because the world isn't such a kind place.."

Airi shook her head. "Kimiko was an amazing friend. If we answer your questions.. can you answer some of ours?"

"Of course hun, being human is all about sharing information." She brightly smiled.

Taking a deep breath, the sisters hold on one another tightened as Miyu started. "Sujin, Moon, Majo... and Oni. Those three have been after us for some time now.."

Ms Ryu put up a hand to stop her. "Sujin. I think I have heard her name before. Kimi met her a few years back."

Airi continued the story. "Oni.. is Akari. She realized later that our partners weren't human and flipped out over our safety. Her twin Yukari is still unaware of everything.. Majo, Sujin, and Moon took your daughter from us.. I don't think she knew Sujin and Moon were targeting us until it was too late."

The woman nodded with a deep breath. "I will take a look into those three. Majo is also quite the dangerous one, am I wrong?"

They both shook their heads. "He and Oni/Akari were both working as hunters. That is how he got involved."

"Now." She huffed, slightly stretching in her chair. The wind was blowing perfectly, giving the perfect temperature. "What would you girls like to know?"

Airi pointed towards her neck while still holding her own jewelry. "What does this pendant mean?"

Reaching into her pocket, she pulled out what looked like a crinkled up picture. She looked at it with a loving smile before finally speaking. "The Stars of Light. The pendant represented a large pact of protection."

"Did you know our mother? Her name was Asumi.."

Looking towards her older sister, she felt Ms Ryus eyes. "I did know her. In fact, your mother and father were the ones who created The Stars of Light. I later got Asumis warning signal.. but I was in no position to keep myself safe let alone her two girls. I am sorry."

"So.. you were one of the three that got her signal?"

It was Miyus turn to frown at the younger. "signal?"

She nodded. "I was. It was myself, Ahmya, and one another that I don't know the identity of. It turns out that individual is the one that saved you two."

"Who is Ahmya?" Miyu asked for the both of them.

She only shrugged. "Someone your mother had me meet once. I don't know how they are connected or where she is today."

"The third person to get the signal was Byeol." Airi blurted. Her sister stayed silent, trying to keep up with everything.

"I know that now." She set down the picture sliding it towards them. "There is me.. your parents.. Ahmya.. and even Byeol. The day I met her I thought she looked familiar. We never talked so.."

Not expecting such a thing to exist, they couldn't help but stare. The memories Miyu had as well as the dreams they both experienced matched with the faces in the photo, making it all the more real.

Byeol really was in the back of the picture. It had at least fifty faces in the small five inches of paper, but each face held a bright smile; and each had a shining necklace to match one another.

"I am sure if you have any other questions about the organization then byeol should have your answers." Reaching forward, Ms Ryu grabbed Miyus hand. "I don't want to make the same mistake twice. If I can help with anything, please let me know."

"Actually." Airi took a deep breath, looking at the others worrying from a distance. "Majo keeps finding us. We keep moving but we just keep putting more people in harms way."

"Say no more." She stood, motioning the two to do the same. Making sure to hug the both of them. "Here, keep the picture. I have had it for long enough."

Joining as a group once more, Byeol shared an unsure glance with the human.

"No more running around, lets take you guys to a better location, yeah?"

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