Chapter 7
Grace didn’t move. She didn’t even scream. Her fight, flight, or freeze response was hard set to deer-in-headlights mode.
“Watch out!” Strong hands pushed her out of the way as a flash of light blinded her. She went down hard, scraping her hand on the concrete sidewalk just as she heard the squeal of tires.
When she sat up, she expected blood and gore and an accident so horrific, she’d have nightmares for weeks.
Instead, she saw Chuck Wilson’s car sitting haphazard on the side of the road. Front wheels popped over the curb beside her house.
And that mystery boy still stood in the middle of the road, not a scratch on him.
Chuck flung himself out of the driver’s seat, letting loose with a tirade of curses.
“What the hell! My car better not have a scratch on it!”
The mystery boy shook his head. “Everyone speaks so disrespectfully here.”
“Are you freaking joking?” Chuck lunged at the boy, and Grace barely jumped up in time to wedge herself between them.
“He’s probably just still in shock after the almost accident,” Grace said. “Why don’t you check your car. Do you need me to call someone?”
“Like the cops? This wasn’t my fault. It was your boyfriend’s for standing in the middle of the goddamn road.” Chuck shoved his face into hers.
Instinctively Grace pushed him away.
“What the hell!” Chuck glared down at where her scraped palm had smeared blood on his shirt.
Grace’s retreat was stopped by a hand on her back. Warm and steady.
“You have no right to speak to her like that. She could’ve been hurt because of you.” Mystery boy’s voice was clear and calm. Immediately taking control—a skill Grace envied.
Chuck’s scowl dropped into open-mouthed bewilderment.
As someone used to getting his way, he seemed confused by the other boy’s refusal to back down.
“You just better hope I don’t find anything wrong with my car.
And whatever flashlight or thing you used to blind me was probably illegal.
You’re lucky I’m not reporting you for it. ”
Chuck slammed back into his car, backing it up with an angry rev of the engine before peeling away so fast, he left tire tracks in the asphalt.
Grace turned to the boy, noticing he wasn’t holding anything. But Grace remembered that flash of light too.
The boy looked down at her. “You’re bleeding.”
He grabbed her scraped hand, concern wrinkling his brow. His long fingers wrapped around her wrist made goose bumps rise over her skin.
“It’s just a scratch.” Grace pulled her hand away. “What about you? Are you hurt? Didn’t you see how fast he was going? How could you jump in front of a car?”
“I’m not hurt. I did see. I didn’t jump, I stepped.” He sounded almost amused as he answered each question in order. As if she were not a rambling ball of awkward.
“Jumped or stepped, you could have gotten hurt. Why did you do that?”
“Because he was about to hit you. I don’t want you to get hurt,” he said calmly. And her racing heart stumbled between beats.
No, you can’t forget this boy followed you home. Do not fall into the trap of thinking beautiful people can’t be axe murderers.
“Well, if you’re not hurt, then I’m going inside.” Grace retreated toward her driveway.
“Wait.” The boy touched her shoulder, and she twisted out of his hold, lifting her fists in defense.
“Is this about the webtoon?” she blurted out.
“Webtoon?” Confusion spread over his beautiful face, a line digging in between his brows. “No. Every time I try to go home, I end up where you are. It must mean something.”
“I think it means you’re bad with directions,” Grace quipped.
“No, I think it must mean this is how I get home.” His gaze was unblinking.
But this time Grace had better control over her reaction. She stood her ground, refusing to become flustered. “Great, if you know how, then go home.”
“You don’t seem to understand,” the boy said, frustration clear in his voice now. “I’ve tried. I can’t. I think you are the one who has to help me get home.”
“I don’t have to do anything.” She should just leave now, stop talking to him. It was giving him more time to do whatever nefarious thing he came here to do.
He just watched her quietly, quirking a brow in expectation. Like he knew she’d be the first to cave.
And he was right.
“Fine.” She gave in. “Give me your address, I’ll call you an Uber.”
The cost would be worth it if it got this guy off her front lawn.
“Uber?”
“Or Lyft. I don’t care what car service you want,” Grace said, waiting impatiently for him to give her the address.
“A car service won’t be able to reach my home.”
“I don’t have time for this game. What do you want from me? And I’m not driving you myself,” she added quickly. “I don’t even know you.”
He laughed, though Grace wasn’t sure what was so funny. “Unless your car is pulled by a celestial creature, I doubt it could reach my home.”
“Celestial creature?” Now Grace was worried that maybe this guy needed more than a ride home. Maybe he needed a psych eval.
“Yes, like the dragons that pull Oryonggeo.”
“Excuse me?” Grace was regretting engaging this guy in conversation at all.
“As it seems the humans of this era need to be reminded of who I am, let me formally introduce myself. I’m the celestial prince.” He paused, watching her closely for a spark of recognition. But Grace only stared back blankly until he continued.
“Bringer of day?”
Another pause as Grace just lifted her brows.
“Son of Cheonjiwang?” He sounded utterly agitated at this point.
And the confusing puzzle pieces clicked into place. Grace knew exactly where she’d heard all of this. Sitting in her halmeoni’s living room, listening to old legends and myths.
“I’m Haemosu,” he said, looking supremely pissed off that he had to say it aloud, “god of the sun.”
Oh no, Grace thought. He wasn’t just here because he looked like a character from her webtoon. He was here because he thought he was a character from her webtoon.
Her eyes scanned him, and she realized the clothes he wore, the ones Grace thought were oddly formal, weren’t just any outfit. It was a recreation of the high school uniform Grace drew for her characters. And there, over the left breast pocket, a name was stitched in Hangul: ???. Haemosu.
“I see.” And without another word, Grace turned on her heel, making for the house, her quick jog turning into a sprint until she was safely inside, slamming the door behind her.
Sun God
Main Character Sheet
Name: Haemosu
Age: 17 Mortal Age (Actual Age Unknown)
Occupation: sun god
Height: 5’ 11.5” (181 cm)
Hair: Black
Eyes: Golden brown
Family: Cheonjiwang, also known as Sang-je & Heavenly Emperor (father)
Powers: Harnessing the sun’s power, shape-shifting, transmogrification, strength, speed.
Known for:
God of the sun
Appears as a beautiful youth, driving Oryonggeo, a chariot pulled bdragons
Wielder of the sword Yonggwanggeom, “dragon light”
Advisor and mediator to humans during the day
Defeated Habaek in a battle to win the hand of the water god’s daughter, Yuhwa