Gilded (36 page)

My bones rattle from the power of his words. I bow my head. “Haemosu kidnapped the souls of my ancestors. I killed him and then released their souls.” Palk nods, but his face is impassive, and I wonder if he already knew all this. I add, “I believe we have something you may want.”

“Indeed you do,” Palk says, smiling.

The orb resting in my lap begins to change. The blackness fades, and it starts to glow a deep blue.

“Where did you find this, Daughter of Korea?” Palk says.

“In the tomb where Haemosu kept my ancestors’ souls,” I
say, and then rest my head against the seat, worn-out just from speaking. “Do you believe it really is one of the heavenly artifacts?”

“Indeed,” Palk says. “It is one of the six Orbs of Life that sparked life into the Korean people. The Azure Dragon’s artifact. But you know all this already, do you not?”

“So this is where Haemosu got his power,” Grandfather says.

Palk rubs his beard. “I believe he used it to harness the power of the souls of your ancestors. But he would not have been able to do this alone. He must have been working with someone else. I will speak with the Others about this.”

“Others?” I say.

“The other immortals,” Grandfather whispers into my ear.

“This must go back to the Heavenly Chest, then, for safekeeping.” I move to give him the orb, but my muscles shake from its weight, and I collapse on the golden bench.

“Here,” Marc says, lifting the orb, “let me help.”

Above us a star explodes, showering a cloud of crystal particles over us. They splatter across my weathered cheeks like aloe, and I savor the coolness as it coats my skin. It’s so perfect and so magical that I almost wonder if I’ve already died and I’m on my way to the heavens.

A gold chest emerges from the cloud, suspended by a plum-colored cord, and descends along with the sparkling raindrops. It settles in the empty space at Palk’s feet. Palk opens the chest to reveal two other orbs—one amber and the other a jade color—resting in silk, egg-shaped holders.

The orb floats out of Marc’s hand and settles into the chest.
My heart dances just seeing it back with the others, as if somehow I’ve been a part of making things right.

“There are still three missing,” Grandfather says.

“So there are,” Palk says. With a flick of his wrist the lid closes and the cord lifts the chest into the darkness until another star sucks it inside. “The Others will continue to be vigilant in the quest to return all the artifacts.” He nods toward Grandfather and Marc. “As will the Guardians of Shinshi.”

I close my eyes. I’m tired of quests and monsters and darkness. All I can focus on is the need to rest. To sleep forever. To join my ancestors.

“A brave one, you are, Jae Hwa,” Palk says. I start. He knows my name?

Palk smiles down at me. “I have been watching you, expecting you for many centuries. Haemosu’s land needs a new ruler now to restore its beauty and grace. You seem worthy of the task.”

My head reels.
He wants me to rule a land in the Spirit World.
Has he lost his mind and forgotten that I’m human? Or that I’m dying right before his eyes? “I don’t belong there. Those lands hold nothing but nightmares for me.”

“It is true,” Palk says. “Haemosu’s land has withered to waste. This will be your task. To right the wrong, just as you have done.”

“You said you’ve been waiting for me, but all I’ve been waiting for is a normal life.” I think about sleepovers and shopping with Michelle and Lily. Or finally going to the coffee shop or to the museum or on a real date with Marc. That is what I want.

“Besides, it’s too late for that,” I say, my breath coming out heavy. “I’m dying.”

“Have we not been with you every step of the way, Jae Hwa? I empowered you as you fought the monster, helped you to draw in the strength of the land; and I sent Haechi to help you. You will never be the same, Jae Hwa. You and the Spirit World are forever connected. Intertwined.”

As he speaks that word my whole body trembles. He’s right. But I’ve been through so much suffering and pain, while he did nothing. “It wasn’t easy,” I say. “It was awful. How could you allow these horrible things to happen to my family? We’ve been suffering for centuries, and you’ve just let it happen! And look at Komo. She’s here, but she hasn’t even woken up yet. She may never wake up.”

He glances at Komo. “She will return to us when she is ready.” Then he focuses on me. “Would you wish for me always to interfere? Remove all suffering? Growth and strength come through suffering. Without suffering, humankind would be no better than children. Is this what you want?”

I press my lips together. He obviously knows me better than I thought, because I hate being told what to do.

“You are not a child anymore, are you?” Palk’s face softens. “With choices come sorrows. Through your bravery, you defeated Haemosu and returned one of the orbs to Korea. Now you are dying.”

I think back to all the times I had wanted to give up. I had felt so insignificant and small. I sure hadn’t felt brave or special. I lay my head on the back of the chariot, feeling my eyelids droop.

“Jae!” Marc says, shaking my arms. “Stay with me. Don’t you dare give up now!”

“I love you,” I whisper.

“But bravery can only accomplish so much,” Palk says, apparently oblivious to Marc’s panic. “It was your sacrifice for the ones you loved that helped you succeed. That was the difference between you and the others before you. And because of this, I am giving you a gift.”

Palk holds out his palm, and resting in it is what looks like a persimmon-colored tennis ball, the surface swirling with bands of cream. Palk blows against it, melting it into a liquid that streams out toward me and pours over my whole body, thick and honey scented. It seeps into my skin and rushes through my bloodstream. My heart quickens. My muscles stretch. My skin glows. My vision clears.

I’m alive.

“Dad!” I yell, and race across the train station platform toward him, my dress billowing out around me.

Dad’s head whips around at my voice, and he breaks into a sprint. We meet midway, hugging each other.

“I was so worried about you, Jae,” he says, squeezing me tight. “If I had lost you, I’m not sure I could have kept going.”

“I know,” I say. “It’s over now. It won’t happen again.”

Just having him here, safe, calms me, knowing I was able to keep Haemosu from hurting him. I hug him tighter.

“Hey, girl.” Michelle steps out from behind him, biting her lips, forehead wrinkled. “You really need to answer your phone. You drove me insane with worry.”

Then she wraps me in a hug, squeezing so tight I found it hard to breathe.

“Your dad told me about the police and the arrest and the terrorist attack,” Michelle says. “I nearly died when I found out. I shouldn’t have assumed.”

“It’s okay.” I squeeze her hands, wishing I could tell her what really happened. “I should’ve explained it to you.”

“But why are you wearing that dress?” Dad’s brow furrows as he takes in my unusual attire.

“Yeah,” Michelle laughs. “Didn’t see that coming.”

“It’s my latest disguise,” I say, grinning. It feels so good to smile. To see Dad and Michelle alive, safe.

Dad rubs his forehead. I want to tell him everything, but I know I can’t. I wonder if there will ever be a day when he actually believes in the truth.

Grandfather and Marc join us, and Dad’s eyes grow hard. When we arrived back in Korea early this morning, the first thing we did was carry Komo to the hospital in Kyongju. The diagnosis was vague. She’s in a coma, but apparently nothing is wrong with her. Then we called Dad on our train ride back to Seoul to meet us at Seoul Station. I think Dad blames Grandfather for it. Like it’s a replay of twenty-six years ago.

“And Eun?” Dad looks between Grandfather and me. “Any news?”

“The doctors do not have any answers yet.” Grandfather’s shoulders are hunched, and his face seems to have more wrinkles than I remember. “I am having her transferred to a hospital in Seoul when the doctors feel she’s well enough to travel. She will return to us when she is ready.”

Grandfather’s repeating Palk’s words, but there isn’t any conviction in them. I want to reach out to him and give him the same motivational talk he gave me back on the beach, but the pain of our experience still burns fresh in my mind, as I’m sure it does in his.

Dad’s eyes fall on Marc. “Thank you, young man, for what you’ve done. But I haven’t changed my mind about Jae being with you.”

“After everything?” I ask.

“Your parents called me, insane with worry,” Dad says to Marc. “Did you know that? They had no idea what happened to you. They thought you were going to be gone for the night and be back the next day.”

Marc’s face turns about as red as my dress. “They know now.” He holds up his phone. “I called them an hour ago.”

All these words seem to slide right over Dad as he turns back to Grandfather. “I can’t forgive you for what you’ve done. Getting these two kids involved in your schemes could have gotten them killed.”

“You are right.” Grandfather takes a deep breath. “I take full responsibility.”

“Dad. Please,” I say. “We’re safe. And together. If it wasn’t for Grandfather and Marc, I wouldn’t be here.” I pull out the other half of Sun’s necklace. “Sun wanted you to have this.”

Dad’s eyes widen as I drop the necklace into his hand.

“Eotteohke!
Where—where did you get this?”

“She wanted you to know that she’s okay now,” I say.

He withdraws the other half of the necklace from his pocket and matches the two broken pieces like a puzzle. Now I can read her full name in Hangul:

LEE SUN

Tears fill his eyes. He glances over at Grandfather, who nods once. “Sun has found peace,” Grandfather says, “and Jae Hwa is safe.”

Dad presses his lips together. I sense he wants to thank Grandfather, but maybe he’s not ready yet. I can’t blame him. After all, he’s a fighter like me. Haemosu might be dead, but he’s left his mark on all of us.

“I should go,” Marc says. “My parents are waiting for me outside.”

“Wait.” I grab his elbow and look at Dad. “Can we have a moment? Please, Dad?”

Dad nods. “Say your good-byes.” He and Grandfather and Michelle head over and wait by the taxi stand. I take Marc’s hands in mine and press them against my heart.

“I’ll never forget what you did for me.” I bite back tears. What is up with me and crying lately? “You saved my life.”

“Actually, I think it was you who started the whole saving-lives trend.” His voice is teasing, but his eyes stare into mine. “Maybe we should start a new trend.”

“Yeah,” I say as he cups my face between his hands. “I’d like that.”

Our lips meet, and for the first time I don’t worry about Haemosu’s jealousy or some monster’s attack. It’s just the two of us.

When we step back, I’m breathless. I could get lost in his kisses.

Behind him, I notice something odd about the bulletin on the wall. It seems to shimmer, and for a moment I think I see Haemosu’s palace. Haechi stands at the gate, his fur blowing in the wind. He nods once.

Forget not,
the wind whispers around me.
You are intertwined with the Spirit World forever.

“You okay?” Marc glances at where I’m staring.

I blink, and the wall is back to its normal self. Did that just happen? I bite my lip. I’d told Palk no, hadn’t I? He’ll find someone else to rule Haemosu’s land; I’m sure of it. I just need to let my connection to the Spirit World slowly fade away.

“I’m fine.” I force a smile. After all, if Marc didn’t notice anything, I had to hope his sight had been cured. “You’ll call me, right?”

“Absolutely. See you at school, Fighter Girl,” Marc says. “That’s if they let us back in.”

Thinking about school makes my heart dance. I’m going to be normal again. Not some paranoid girl always looking over her shoulder.

Normal.
A wonderful word.

I blow Marc a kiss and watch him saunter away, his hair all wild, hands in his pockets. I already miss him.

When I exit the station, I spot Michelle, Dad, and Grandfather at the curb. Seeing the three of them standing there safe and unharmed makes every agony I faced over the last two weeks worth it.

“I’m trying to convince your dad to un-ground you so we can finally do our movie date,” Michelle says as I join them.

“I know I’m grounded for the next dynasty, Dad,” I say. “But what if we do a movie date in our living room? I’m sure there’s something we could rent online.”

“You sure know how to get your way.” Dad shakes his head, grinning. “How about we order in some
japchae
, too? You owe me a dinner date, remember?”

My skirts tangle around my legs, and I’m getting plenty of attention from pedestrians thanks to the wedding dress.

But I don’t care. In this moment, the itchy, cumbersome dress doesn’t bother me. I lift my face to the sky and let the sun caress my skin. I can taste the first hint of spring in the air.

The first taste of freedom. And home.