Hidden King

Chapter 23 Research

HongJoong

         In the morning the four of us head out to the town where all the disappearances happen. I tell Yeosang about all the things that have been happening in the area, and he starts looking it up, narrowing it down through the books he keeps on his tablet.

         "So you said it lures men in, usually cheaters, or those who were unfaithful. There has been a drought recently, and they have heard, and some have glimpsed women in the forest with white gowns. That's everything, right?" he asks as he looks. I nod and he seems a bit confused but looks up at us.

         "What do you think it is?" Wooyoung asks from behind us. Yunho sitting next to him.

         "As far as I can tell it could be a couple things, but it seems most likely to be Samovila, or in reality more that one so Samovili. They are siren-like beings who lure in men, or women who are unfaithful with their songs. The only things that can cancel them out are their sisters the Samodiva, who sing a song to cancel out the others, or if you as a group sing in return. Though some speculate if you cut off their hair, or destroy their dress they will lose their powers, or kill them. The last part is debated between cultures, but it depends on the hair color." Yeosang explains.

         "What do you mean it depends on the hair color? That seems weird." Yunho asks from beside Wooyoung.

         "It seems that if the hair is a golden color then you cut the hair, but if the hair is red or brown you destroy the white dress. You can keep the dress to control them, hide the dress to remove their powers, or destroy the dress to kill them." he says, looking through his book. We are confused, but take his word for it. Things have been getting a lot stranger with these new creatures coming and going so quickly.

:@:

Yeosang

         Once we get into town we ask people about what they had been seeing and hearing up to this point. Some talking about a blonde woman, a few about a brunette, and a couple talking about a black haired woman. After what feels like a day's worth of talking we sit around, sharing information.

         "I'm not sure what we are going to do if they have black hair, none of the stories talked about that." I say, sighing and looking at Yunho. A waitress comes to us and gives us our food while we sit at the diner. We thank her and smile as she leaves us to eat..

         "Well, we will try everything until something tells us otherwise. For now though, what are we going to do?" HongJoong asks me.

         "Well it seems like we should see where this thing is, and find out what it's weakness will be. We need to find ear plugs or use earbuds as we search through the forest." I tell them, picking up my chicken to eat.

         "Yeah, and when we are done searching why don't we come back and rest up?" Wooyoungie suggests. I agree and we eat silently.

         "So... how long have you and San been together?" Yunho asks, causing all of us to choke on our food.

         "Yunho! What the hell?" I ask and HongJoong seems to be on the same page.

         "What? Everyone has been guessing... plus Mingi and I have something of a bet on this." Yunho says as he takes a bite of his pork belly.

          "You guys are betting on us? About what?!?!" Wooyoungie almost yells. I calm him and HongJoong sighs.

         "They were betting on when you two got together, and how far you two have gone..." he explains, cringing about the last part. I had only learned about this before we got back to eat. Yunho and I had met up, which is when he asked me about it.

         "And what were you two betting on?" Wooyoungie asks, sounding annoyed, but also kinda interested in what Yunho might say.

         "I said you two have been together since we filmed for Say My Name, and that you two are pretty innocent so probably not more than kissing. Min on the other hand seems to see you two as being together since you met and are pretty freaky when nobody is around." he explains, but his face seems to show that he knows more than he's letting on.

:@:

Wooyoung

         I am shocked that Yunho and Mingi would think of San and I in that way, but I look at Yeosangie, who just shrugs. He sighs and looks at Yunho, then HongJoong hyung.

         "What about you hyung? How long do you think they've been together? Or do you think they are together at all?" Yeosangie asks, and HongJoong goes silent for a moment in thought.

         "I mean, both of them were kinda distant at first, but around the time we went to L.A. they got a lot closer, so I'd say maybe some time around then?" he says and I can't help but stare in shock. Yeosangie covers my mouth so I close it, then looks back at our hyung.

         "So you think since L.A. okay, well as far as I know... they aren't together." he says, causing hyung and Yunho to stare at me. I go back to eating and sigh.

         Wow, everyone thinks we should've been together way before now. Well at least when I talk to San about this we can tell everyone we are together, but until we are both okay with telling everyone, I am not saying. I think as I eat. Yeosangie just shakes his head and we finish eating.

         "So... you two really aren't together?" Yunho asks and I brush off the question, looking at Yeosangie.

         "Oh, we should get going, we don't want it to be dark by time we get to the area." he says and we pay for our food, leaving and heading to the forest. We have everything in our bags, ready to go when 

AN/ sorry for not uploading in a while, I've been kinda all over the place recently, and writing has been hard... Sorry, but I will try to upload more