Chapter Twenty-Four Sunny
Chapter Twenty-Four
Sunny
The Queen of Water and I walk side by side in silence, while Gang Sanggung follows close behind.
The Amheuk’s oppressive presence above the dome weighs heavier on us by the minute.
And news of the chaos erupting throughout the Kingdom of Water—riots, stampedes, looting, and even disturbing rumors of planned suicides—dog our every step.
My chest pounds with two sets of heartbeats. At least, it feels that way. My Yeoiju is . . . reacting to the Amheuk. But I can’t tell if it wants out or wants to hide deeper inside me. I envy people with inner compasses that always show them their true north.
I have no idea where to go—Go to Ethan. Or what to do—Be with Ethan. I rub my tired eyes. I obviously know what I want. Ethan, Ethan, Ethan. But with the whole realm at stake, what I want doesn’t matter.
So . . . what? I should just go out there and throw down with the Amheuk?
Only fools pick fights they know they can’t win. But I did defeat Daeseong. Are you crying for me, daughter? My empty stomach heaves, his dying words haunting me. How ironic is it that the only hope against the eternal darkness is the daughter of the dark mudang?
I can’t change the past—and I can’t change who I am. But I can look forward and try to do better. I have to do better so I might be worthy of Ethan. What if I can never be worthy of him? I ignore the scared little voice inside me. I know down to my bones that my place is at his side.
I will find my way back to you, Ethan.
But I have no idea what trying to do better looks like at the moment. I shake my head and pull my shoulders back. I’ll figure it out. I’ve always been good at improvising. For now, I’ll focus on putting one foot in front of another.
Panicked subjects stop the queen so often that we don’t arrive at her inner chambers until late afternoon. Her jimil, though, is lovely, from the serene courtyard to the quiet hallways of the hanok.
Sliding latticed doors open up to a large rectangular room, adorned with exquisitely crafted wooden furniture. Plenty of hanji-pasted windows let in the soft, muted sunlight, adding to the warm ambience of the queen’s chambers. And I glimpse a sleeping alcove tucked away in the back.
The silk room divider standing against the back wall snags my attention. It is beautiful. Not as beautiful as the one in the guest room at the Sunset Pavilion, but a close second. I walk to the room divider and run my fingers over the lily pads embroidered on it.
“When this is all over, I’m so getting one of these,” I murmur.
The Queen of Water steps next to me and gives me a sidelong glance. “I did not peg you for someone who collects pretty things.”
“I’m not.” I drop my hand to my side. I don’t understand my minor obsession with room dividers either. “At least, I wasn’t.”
My breath catches in my throat. Home. I want a beautiful room divider in my home. Not just a place I sleep in—with my figurative foot out the door—but a place I call home. A place we call home.
If Ethan doesn’t want me after I tell him that I . . . that I’m . . . If he doesn’t want me after I tell him everything, then he’ll have to make me let him go. I will fight for his love.
I can’t go to him in the Kingdom of Mountains, but I’ll find a way for us to be together. I won’t run from the only thing I’ve ever wanted.
Suddenly, I miss Ethan so much that I can’t breathe. I dig the heel of my palm against the ache in my chest, taking in shallow sips of air. I steal an anxious glance at the queen, hoping she doesn’t notice I’m this close to falling apart.
“I . . . I am afraid he won’t answer,” the Queen of Water says in a wavering whisper. Maybe she is just as close to falling apart.
“What?” I tilt my head, tucking my hair behind my ear so I can hear her better.
“What if I call Taeyoung and he doesn’t answer?” She bites down on her bottom lip.
“Isn’t not knowing worse, though?” I reach out and squeeze her hand. She seems to care deeply for the King of Underworld.
“You’re right.” With a firm nod, she heads toward the sleeping alcove. “Come with me.”
With a sleeping mat, a low dresser, and an armoire, the small, tidy space feels cozy and inviting. But the nerves coming off the queen like buzzing bees, as she wrings her hands in the middle of the alcove, shatter any semblance of serenity.
“So where do you hide your phone?” I ask glibly to distract her.
“I told you it’s not a phone,” she chides, and I tuck my chin to hide my smile. Then she pulls open the armoire, revealing a full-length mirror attached to one door. “It’s a mirror.”
“You’re going to call him on a mirror?” I don’t know why I’m even surprised. It could’ve been a shiny stockpot, for all I knew. I will never understand this realm.
“You have moon shifted before, have you not?” She waits expectantly for my confirmation, and I nod. “So you must know that water has the power to open up pathways.”
“Even without the moon?” I actually don’t understand how any of it works. I just chalked it up as fancy high magic and left it at that.
“Water is the true conduit,” she explains. “The moon merely amplifies its powers.”
“That’s interesting and all.” I purse my lips. “But what does any of that have to do with calling the King of Underworld on your armoire mirror?”
With a mischievous smile, the Queen of Water waves her hand at the mirror, and it . . . ripples.
“This is a mirror of water.” She flutters her fingers over the mirror, not quite touching it, but the surface undulates in response. “Water I created from my own gi and infused with my own magic.”
I still don’t get it, but I roll with it. “Can you call anyone you want on the magic mirror?”
“No.” She sighs wistfully. “You can only reach the person connected to you by the threads of fate.”
“A-are you connected to the King of Underworld in . . . that way?” My voice wavers. “Do you and the king share a love destined by the heavens?”
Ethan believes we are bound by the threads of fate. But I’m afraid that same fate might force him to sever the thread that binds us with his own hands.
“That is neither here nor now.” The queen smooths her hands down her turquoise royal gown. So, that’s a yes. “Shall we see if he answers?”
She arranges her expression into a serene mask, but her pulse flutters at her throat as she faces the mirror. I step back to give her space, but curiosity and . . . something else keep me from moving too far away.
“Taeyoung.” Her hand hovers over the mirror. “It’s Bora.”
Nothing happens.
“It’s me, Bora.” A tremor weaves into her voice. “Answer me. Please, Taeyoung.”
The mirror ripples and churns—glowing in pearlescent hues—then like a sheet pulled taut, the mirror stills with a ringing snap.
“Bora,” the King of Underworld rasps from the other side, reaching an unsteady hand toward the mirror.
“Don’t,” the queen cries. “Remember, Taeyoung. You can’t touch the mirror. Or else our connection will be lost until the next moonrise.”
He swallows thickly and drops his arm.
“A-are you all right?” Her voice cracks on the last word. “The Amheuk . . . It reached the Kingdom of Water . . .”
“That is faster than I anticipated. Its strength must be fully restored. Are you okay? The dome is holding, right?” At the queen’s nod, he sags, pushing his hair off his forehead. “We are also safe. For now. I moved the Kingdom of Underworld into purgatory.”
“Thank gods,” the queen breathes. “I suspected—”
“Purgatory?” I squawk, then clap a hand over my mouth.
“Don’t worry. He can’t hear you.” She glances over her shoulder with a wan smile.
“Can’t hear who?” The king squints past the queen’s shoulder. “Who’s with you?”
“It’s Sunny. I heard you helped her get to the Kingdom of Water,” the queen answers, turning back to the mirror. “She’s very persuasive. General Dokgo is preparing to deploy our troops to the Kingdom of Mountains.”
“Good. I’m glad to hear that.” He clears his throat. “I-I’m glad to hear your voice.”
“Me too.” A sob escapes past her lips. “I thought . . . I couldn’t . . . What if you were gone?”
“Bora.” His voice deepens into a husky rumble. “You would have known if I was gone.”
“Yes, I-I would have felt the threads of fate break.” She nods rapidly, then covers another sob with her hand. “I’ve been so foolish, Taeyoung.”
He stays silent, but his intense gaze bores into the queen.
“The Code of the Realm cannot dictate our love.” She wipes away her tears and draws her shoulders back. “My crown does not rule my heart. If we survive this, I will leave the throne, if it means I can be with you.”
“When we survive, I will do the same for you,” he vows. “I love you, Bora.”
“I love you too.” The Queen of Water presses a palm over her heart, then takes a half step toward the mirror. “Taeyoung, I will appeal to the Queen of Sky to allow my people to receive asylum there. You should do the same for your people. You can’t remain in purgatory for long.”
“I will.” The surface of the water shivers. And the king’s eyes turn desperate as they dart over the queen’s face.
“We don’t have much time,” she chokes out.
“I will see you soon, my love.” He holds up a palm.
“And I you,” she whispers, hovering her palm over his.
“I’m so sorry, Your Majesty.” I hate to do this, but I interrupt their heartfelt moment anyway.
I can’t pass up even the slimmest chance of seeing Ethan’s face . . . of hearing his voice. I might not get another chance.
“Can you ask the king to relay a message to my friend, Captain Seo?” I speak in a rush. “If she and the generals haven’t left for the Kingdom of Mountains yet.”
“Of course,” the queen says graciously, wiping the corners of her eyes with a delicate finger.
“I need her to tell the King of Mountains to listen for me in the mirrors.” I can’t hide my desperation. “Please.”
“Taeyoung.” When the mirror shivers again, she speaks so fast that her words tumble over each other. “Sunny has a message for Captain Seo. Ask her to tell the King of Mountains to listen for Sunny in the mirrors.”
The King of Underworld moves his mouth, but no sound comes through. Then ripples spread across the surface of the mirror, severing the connection. The queen remains with her back turned toward me, her shoulders shaking gently. But with a sniff, she straightens to her full height and faces me.
“Is the King of Mountains your fated love?” she asks, a considering look in her gaze.
“I . . . I don’t know . . .” I trail off and stare at my toes. “But I want to find out. More than anything, I want to see him. I miss him so much.”
“Wouldn’t you rather return to the Kingdom of Mountains with my troops?” She cocks her head to the side.
“I can’t.” Stupid tears fill my eyes, and I raise my left palm. “I was foolish enough to make a blood oath never to return to the Kingdom of Mountains. Not my finest moment.”
The queen’s eyes widen, but she leaves it at that. “You are welcome to use my mirror, but . . . the magic will not be restored until the next moonrise.”
She and I both know the mirror and the rest of the Kingdom of Water might be gone by then. No. I won’t let that happen. Not until I talk to Ethan. Even if it is to tell him that I love him for the last time.
“I will hold off the Amheuk with my bare hands if I have to.” My nails dig into the soft flesh of my palms.
Wait for me, Ethan.