In a dimly lit room, Mr. Joseon sat across from a hooded figure, a spread of tarot cards laid out on the table between them. Joseon offered a thin smile as the mysterious creature flipped a card. Joseon leaned in to study the image, and his companion immediately began to explain its significance.
"The Grim Reaper—the Death card," the creature rasped. "It is a sign of major life changes. It represents the end of a cycle, the beginning of something new, or a time of rebirth."
"And what does that mean for me?" Joseon asked.
"It means you might lose this battle, but a major shift is coming to your life. However, as long as the foxes and the Sigbinan are alive, you will never succeed in your plan," the creature warned.
"Can you show me how to kill the pests in my way?"
The mysterious creature smiled and slowly pulled back his hood. Recognizing the face beneath, Joseon breathed the man's name.
"Kassius?"
"Why don't you try me?" Kassius replied. "I've been hiding in this place for over fifteen years, and I'm ready to face our enemies—especially my former teacher, Calista. She is the reason my parents were punished."
"But we don't know where she is," Joseon countered.
"I've seen her in a vision," Kassius said, his eyes narrowing. "I saw her at the mall with the Nogitsune. It looks like she is preparing her pet for this war, but I feel no fear. All I want is to reclaim my clan's sacred book—the one that belonged to my parents. Once I have that book, we can open the portal to the underworld."
Joseon took a long, deep breath before replying.
"If you must find that woman and reclaim the sacred book, then do it—but you must be careful," Joseon warned, his voice low. "The new witch leader is roaming the city. To ensure your safety, find my granddaughter, Jin Ae; she can help you move freely through the streets."
Kassius stood up slowly, his eyes locked on Joseon's as he began to shed his clothes. Dropping them to the floor, he reached out and took Joseon's hand in his.
"Now that your wife is gone, we are free again," Kassius murmured. "Touch me. This body is all yours, my love."
Joseon rose from his seat, drawn to him. He pressed a firm kiss against Kassius's lips while his hands began to wander freely over the younger man's skin. He started at Kassius's chest, feeling the heat and the steady rhythm of his heart.
Kassius grew bold in return, his hands reaching down to stroke Joseon through his clothes, teasing him until he began to harden. Joseon let out a low moan at the touch. Without breaking the tension, Kassius sank to his knees. He took Joseon into his hands, marveling at how he reacted to every touch, before leaning in to flick his tongue against the tip.
"Ooh... I'm going insane because of you... K-Kassius!" Joseon gasped.
He watched, breathless, as Kassius took him into his mouth. The sensation intensified as Kassius pushed deeper, his throat tight and warm. Joseon gripped Kassius's shoulders, his head tilting back in a daze of pleasure.
"Aaahh! You're so good!"
Meanwhile, Calista and Nana Amelia were busy preparing dinner when a sudden, unnatural chill swept through the kitchen. Before they could speak, Nana Esther's voice rang out from the living room, sharp with alarm.
When they hurried into the room, Calista's heart hammered against her ribs. There, suspended in mid-air, was the sacred book of the Babaylan. It hovered precariously as glowing words and names drifted from its pages like embers.
"Kassius?" Nana Esther whispered, her eyes tracking the letters forming in the air.
"I expected him to emerge from his hideout eventually," Calista said, her voice tight with unease. "It looks like today is the day he begins his search for this book."
Esther and Amelia exchanged a confused, worried glance.
"What do you mean?" Nana Amelia asked.
"And who is this Kassius?" Nana Esther added, looking toward Calista for answers.
Calista took a deep, steadying breath before she finally spoke.
On the other side of the city, Jin Ae began her punishment of Miss Hidalgo. The woman was paralyzed with terror; the man who had supposedly come to buy her car had suddenly transformed into a woman she recognized all too well.
"Miss Mendez?" Miss Hidalgo gasped.
"Did you miss me?" Jin Ae asked, slowly pulling off her wig to reveal her true face.
"I'm sorry! I was trying to find the money to pay you back," Miss Hidalgo pleaded, her voice trembling.
"Oh, I'm not interested in the money anymore. I'm interested in your soul," Jin Ae replied. Her eyes bled into a deep, glowing red. She flashed a predatory smile as Miss Hidalgo shrank back.
"You look like... like hell," Miss Hidalgo whispered.
"Exactly. And you're going there if your answers are wrong. Are you ready?" With a flick of her wrist, the world around them dissolved. The city vanished, replaced by the dark, suffocating canopy of a forest.
"Please don't kill me! I'm begging you, Miss Mendez!" Miss Hidalgo fell to her knees, pressing her palms together in desperate prayer.
Jin Ae only smiled. "Do you know the Ten Commandments?"
"Yes! Yes, I'm a churchgoer! I go to church every Sunday!"
"How charming. But did you think attending church meant you were saved? That isn't how this works." Jin Ae waved her hand again. The air shimmered, revealing a vision of Miss Hidalgo's past. They watched as she falsely accused a coworker—a janitor—of a crime he didn't commit. They watched him get fired, spiral into depression, and eventually take his own life.
"Do you remember this?" Jin Ae asked.
"That was... Mang Kulas," Miss Hidalgo stammered.
"So you do recognize him. Good. Now, let's look at the next scene. I'm sure you'll love this one." Another wave of Jin Ae's hand transported them across the street from Miss Hidalgo's old apartment. They watched a younger Miss Hidalgo seducing a neighbor's husband out of pure jealousy. They saw her record the act, send it to the wife, and trigger a tragedy: the wife's suicide and the husband's fatal, drunken car crash.
"That was my neighbors... Antonette and Andy," Miss Hidalgo choked out.
"I'm so lucky," Jin Ae mused. "In just one person, I've found violations of the eighth, ninth, and tenth commandments. Once I kill you, I'll only need the blood of three more sinners."
"Who are you? Why are you doing this?" Miss Hidalgo screamed, her fear turning into a frantic rage. "I checked your records! There is no 'Anne Mendez' at the Civil Registration Office. Who the hell are you!" She pulled a hidden gun and pointed it shakily at Jin Ae.
"I am Helga," Jin Ae declared, a jagged dagger appearing in her hand as if from thin air. "The demon who will drag your soul into the deepest pits of Hell."
She stepped closer, the blade gleaming. "Let us begin, Mercedes Hidalgo. You are a fraudster who destroyed lives without a second thought. Do you feel any guilt? Do you ever wonder what it would feel like to be in their shoes? Are you ready to accept their revenge?"
"No! I didn't do anything!" Miss Hidalgo cried. "That was just their life story. Whatever happened to them was already written in their book of fate!"
Jin Ae's smile widened, turning manic. "Then can you guess what is written in your life story? The one you say is already decided?"
Before Miss Hidalgo could pull the trigger, Jin Ae lunged. She stabbed the woman repeatedly, laughing hysterically as warm blood splattered across her face, her eyes wild with dark joy.
Meanwhile, Ethan and his companions remained in Santa Barbara, lending their strength to Mang Jose and Raven following the tragic death of the last nun at the Sister of Light church.
"We will have our revenge on that woman," Raven declared, her voice trembling with fury. "She has to pay for what she did to my aunt!"
She turned to leave, but her grandfather's firm hand on her shoulder stopped her.
"You must stay calm, my grandchild," Mang Jose urged. "We cannot get justice for my sister if Lochia senses our moves. We have to be strategic; we need a plan."
"Your Lolo is right, Raven. I keep telling you: stay focused," Kaito added, stepping forward. "You don't have to carry this weight alone. We are going to help you. Am I right, Ethan?"
Ethan nodded solemnly. "Yes. We're in this together. We won't rest until we have a plan that works."
Feeling the support of her friends, Raven finally took a breath and nodded in agreement. Seeing her relax slightly, Akihiko immediately moved toward the kitchen.
"You need some tea. Just wait here, I'll bring it," Akihiko said softly.
As he left, Jasmine and Catherine watched Raven, their faces etched with concern for the young woman's deep grief. They knew the road ahead would be dangerous, but for now, they stood as her shield.
TO BE CONTINUED...