My Husband: The Devil

Finally

"Who's here?", Dohyun says, confused. "I don't know", I say. "Just, someone I know is here, I can feel it." I take off in the direction where the presence was coming from. "Ree-Ha, come back!" Dohyun says and runs after me. But I was too determined to find out where that presence was coming from and who it was. I keep running with Dohyun chasing close behind me. I stop and Dohyun rams into my back. He huffs and puffs and gets up. "You are...really fast...for a girl", he pants and stares at me. "What is it?" Then he looks in the direction I was staring at. "Whoa." It was a prison, I think. It was made entirely of ice. Which I thought was weird since I found nothing made of ice down here in hell. I stared at the sign at the entrance. It read, "ΑΙΘΟΥΣΑ ΕΙΔΙΚΑ ΠΡΟΒΛΗΜΑΤΑ" When I looked closer and concentrated I could see that it read, "HALL OF SPECIAL TROUBLEMAKERS." He must be in there. I was about to go in but Dohyun grabs my shoulder. 

"Whoa, Ree-Ha, we've gone far enough", he says. "We don't know what's in there, it could be dangerous." "No it isn't, it's a prison for special troublemakers", I say. "How do you know that?", Dohyun asks. I point to the sign. Dohyun squints at it. "You can read Greek?", he asks. I look at the sign. "Yeah, I guess I can", I say. "You're your father's daughter all right", Dohyun says. "He knew Korean, English, and Greek. You inherited that from him." Wow, I knew three languages. Cool. "I just need to go in there. Someone I know is in there", I tell Dohyun. "Okay", he reluctantly agrees. "But if you're going in, I'm coming with you." I enter and the first thing that hits me is how cold it is. I pull my cloak closer to me and I pass many prison cells made of ice, all of them empty. "Huh, for a hall of troublemakers, there really isn't any", I say. "I don't think there is anyone here, we should go", Dohyun says, shivering. "Dohyun chill out", I say. "How could I not", he says grumpily, and buttons up a coat. "I'm sure he's in here somewhere", I say.

I walk around some more and I felt a chill of cold air. A pair of large doors opened. I smile excitedly. "This must be it!", I say. I walk through the doors, and I was amazed at how big the room was. There was an ice crystal chandelier at the very top of the ceiling. The tables and chairs and everything was entirely made of ice. But nothing stood out to me than an ice cage with an ice chain hanging from the ceiling. Inside was a man, with long hair, and a long beard, and wore rags. His arms and legs were chained together. He was lying down in the middle of the cage, with his back facing us. I started to go closer but Dohyun stops me again. "Ree-Ha I don't like this", he says, genuine fear in his eyes. "As long as you stay behind me, we should be all right", I say. "I'm a demon too, and I'm sure I have magic in me." I walked to the cage and I knocked on the bars. The man got up and turned slowly towards me. "Who are you?", he said in a low, raspy voice. "My name is Joo Ree-Ha", I say. "Who are you?" The man's eyes widened. "Ree-Ha?", he repeated. "Did you say your name was Ree-Ha?" I nodded. "Yes. Who are you?", I say. 

The man crawls close to my face and tears start falling from his eyes. "Ree-Ha, is it really you?", he says, starting to sob. "Yes sir, what's the matter?", I say, a little surprised. The man starts to cry, and reaches out, and touches my face. "Ree-Ha, it's me. It's Dad", he says.

Dad.

Dad?!

"Dad?", I say, staring directly in his eyes. I tried to remember the very last time I saw him. His kind brown eyes, his handsome face, his dark hair. I looked at this man, and I could tell it was him. "Daddy", I say, and I put my arms around him through the cage. Tears are now streaming down my face too. For so long, I had always hoped I'd see my father again, I wanted to believe he was alive, and he is. I can see Dohyun staring proudly behind us, I think he has tears in his eyes too. "Dohyun, my father is alive!", I say. "Dohyun?", my father said. "Dohyun is one of my most loyal servants. Dohyun, is that you?" Dohyun steps forward and bows. "Yes master, it's me", he says. "Oh, I can't believe it!", Dad says, turning to me. "For twelve or thirteen years, I'd always hoped I'd see you again....." His voice trails off. "What are you doing here?", he asks seriously. "I was kidnapped", I say. "By Kim Taehyung, one the kings of this dimension. He is going to make me his bride." "Oh no", my father breathes. "Ree-Ha, you're in terrible danger. You need to get back to him before he realizes you're here." I shook my head. "No, I can't leave you here now that I know you're alive. I'm going to get you out of here." I start to reach for one of the torches in the room, but he stops me. "Ree-Ha, it won't do you any good. This ice can't be melted by fire. It can only be melted by the magic of a demon, and I got my magic taken away long ago."

I think for a moment. "Then I'll do it. I have magic in me don't I?" My father nods. "Yes, but you've never used it before. How did you find out about it?" "My maid, Kathleen, told me everything. I learned that you were punished for marrying mom because she was a mortal, and after you had me, well, that did it." Dad sighs. "I'm sorry. Your mother and I intended to tell you the truth once you were older than five, but I never got the chance. And I guess your mother never told you because she didn't want you to get taken away either." I nod. "That's exactly what Kathleen said." I look up at him. "But don't worry. I have a plan. I'm not going to get married to Taehyung because I'm going to poison him with that Death Potion in one of your books I found. And once he's dead I'll take you, and Kathleen and Dohyun, and we'll all get out of here." My father smiles kind of sadly. "You're a brave girl dear, you get that from me. I'll be rooting for you all the way." I hug my dad once again. "Now, you must go", he said. "Go, now."

I decided to listen to him this time and followed Dohyun out of the ice cave and out of Asphodel. "Get back to the castle. I am going back to my master", Dohyun says. "Okay my friend, be careful", I say, and I put my arms around him. I run to the castle entrance and close the doors behind me. I can see Kathleen sitting in a chair with a worried expression on her face. When she looks up and sees me, her worry melted away. "Ree-Ha, you're alright!", she says and throws her arms around me. "I was so worried! You took so long and I was so afraid something bad happened to you! I was afraid His Majesty would find out you were gone!" "Hey Kathleen, I'm okay", I say. "Besides, I have a story to tell you that you just wouldn't believe! But in the morning. Here's the grape. Put it with the other items." I give her the grape. "Oh, I can't believe we might actually make it out of here alive", Kathleen says. "Until tomorrow your Highness", she says, bowing and rushing off. I sigh and watch her go. I look into the distance at my father's prison in Asphodel. 

Don't worry Dad, I've lost you once. I am not going to lose you again.