Page 84

Shaman Kim ducked behind the first line of trees. It seemeda faulty strategy: The thick trunks did little to hide the woman, and Nara’s bright hanbok was like a beacon among the gray trees.

Yena grinned as she homed in on her prey.

Shaman Kim pulled a bujeok out of her sleeve. The red hanja glowed as the woman muttered desperate words.

Yena leapt at the same moment Shaman Kim slapped the bujeok against a tree trunk. Yena was shoved back as if by an invisible wall. Falling through the air to land with a heavythud.

“Mother!” Miyoung ran to her side.

“You will not touch my kin again,” Shaman Kim decreed from behind the safety of her talisman. “Come, Nara.”

As they fled, Yena shoved Miyoung away in a rage. “You fool! Look what you’ve done!”

Miyoung opened her mouth to apologize, but stopped at the sound of shuffling to their left. Jihoon stood in the middle of the clearing, now cradling the yeowu guseul delicately.

“Give that back!” Yena leapt up.

Miyoung scrambled after her.

Yena’s legs were longer than Miyoung’s. Her muscles were quicker. But Miyoung had the strength of fear. She tackled her mother to the ground.

They rolled through dead leaves and grass.

“You will kill him or I will,” Yena growled, yanking free easily, as Miyoung had only one good hand. She grabbed Miyoung by the shoulders.

“I can’t.” Miyoung grimaced as her mother’s nails dug into her flesh, drawing blood.

“I told you not to talk to the shamans and you did. I told you not to use Taoist magic and you did. When will you realize thateverything I do is for you?” Yena’s eyes became wide white orbs, her nostrils flaring.

“Mother, please!” Miyoung begged, tears springing to her eyes. How could she explain that despite all of her mistakes, Jihoon wasn’t one? But she couldn’t find the words and only whispered again in a dying croak, “Please.”

Yena let out a grunt of disgust and pushed Miyoung away.

She charged at Jihoon, claws outstretched.

He didn’t move, eyes wide with horror.

Miyoung wanted to yell at him to run. Though it would do no good.

As Yena reached him, Miyoung buried her face in her hands. This she could not bear to see.

Yena let out a howl that ripped through the forest.

Miyoung jerked upright.

Her mother lay on the ground, spine curved in agony. A yellow bujeok stuck to her skin. One meant to chase away demons and evil.

Jihoon stood above her, his left hand still held out.

Miyoung didn’t have time to wonder where he’d gotten the bujeok as she watched her mother writhe with pain, her hands fisted so tight they couldn’t peel off the debilitating talisman.

Miyoung didn’t hesitate. She grabbed Jihoon’s arm and ran.

32

JIHOON TOOK MIYOUNGback to his apartment.

She should have declined. She wanted to keep running until the city and all her problems were far behind. But she was too tired.