Rowan observed KSJ from down the street.
It was as close as he was permitted without touching one of Nico's meticulous wards, which were in fact potent and apparent if he came too close. A touch of his power would be enough to penetrate the invisible boundary, but he would not waste precious energy on lower-tier power moves. He made statements, not appearances.
At the very top of that tower the angels most likely huddled around one another for warmth and safety like the cowards they were.
His princes, too afraid to embrace their calling to something greater. Something darker. Powerful.
Nevertheless, he would be reunited with his Council again when the Blood Moon rose. They would become his soldiers, and at last, he would secure every corner of heaven and hell and the realms in between.
He could not completely blame Aelith for her shortcomings. She borrowed another body. Those powers were not hers, and it would take quite some time before she learned the ropes. However, he did wonder why she kept them alive for so long.
Yet another mess he would have to clean up.
:::
Returning to work was strange.
Grey swept through the halls of KSJ with a stack of files in hand and a smile, which grew as more and more employees wished her a good morning or stopped to greet her completely. The elevators, the finance department, the engineering department. There was not a room where someone didn't notice her entrance, and if that didn't warrant a great start to her day then she didn't know what did. Of course, not every employee went out of their way to be warm. A few just stared. But, she considered that their form of welcome.
In the lobby, pale sunlight doused the high ceilings and modern interior with a touch of autumn. Even the air seemed to smell like cinnamon and fallen leaves. Grey dropped her stack of papers off at the receptionist desk and grinned at Rin.
"You're back!" Her coworker shouted and jogged in her tall shoes to nearly tackle Grey where she stood. They hugged, Rin's laughter and bouncy hair so contagious that she couldn't help but think of Hoseok. He was sunshine, and Rin was a rainbow. "My goodness, you're back!"
Grey asked, "How have you been?"
Rin shrugged lazily. "Overworked, but the salary makes up for it. I've planned a trip around the Caribbean for New Year's. A cruise!"
"That's wonderful. When do you leave?"
"The day after," she gushed. "Can't wait to finally start over again."
Grey agreed, patting her on the back. Hobi would be gone by then. So would she.
Rin gasped. "But enough about me, did you read this month's Vogue release? I really think you're going to want to see it."
"Why? I'm not really into fashion magazines."
"You don't need to read the articles. Look at what's in between."
The phone rang from behind the desk. Rin rushed to answer it. "She's right here," she said into the call. "Sure, Jin. I'll send her up immediately." She put the phone back onto the hook.
"Jin wants you to get back to his office as soon as possible."
Grey raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
Rin awkwardly rubbed the back of her neck, her pearls moving from the motion. "He said it was urgent, and I think I understand why. Just prepare yourself, alright?"
Prepare for what?
Grey waved goodbye before darting towards the elevators. The 40th floor was a longer ride upwards than usual. As she arrived, she smoothed down her hair and straightened her tucked shirt. She knocked on his office door twice before letting herself in.
The room was almost pitch black. The open windows that provided most light were covered with drapes, his desk lamp being the only source of warmth. Fixated on whatever lied on his desk, Jin didn't bother to look at her for a good minute. Jungkook was the one to lock gazes with her and then turn away.
"You asked for me?"
That broke Jin's trance. He leaned back in his seat, rubbing the bridge of his nose. With one hand, he flipped the magazine and pushed it closer to the edge of his desk.
"Explain this," he ordered.
Grey inched closer slowly, trying to understand the black and white photographs that dominated both open pages. Her attention was naturally drawn to the woman. She was being held possessively around the waist and with her neck craned to the side, her eyes screamed desire. She was the image of scorned innocence in black lace, and her wild hair added a certain mystery to her identity. Like she could not be contained or domesticated, and the man that held her loved every inch of her freedom.
It was a great picture. That's what she first thought.
Then, she actually looked at it.
The curls, the wide eyes, the familiar lingerie. Jimin's lips brushing her shoulder.
"Oh shit," Grey said.
"My reaction exactly," Jin echoed. "You know, my favorite hobby was looking outside of these windows. Now, I can't enjoy my view as much as I would like to." He moved from his chair to throw the curtains back. She squinted through the sunlight, her vision clearing to reveal a billboard. In that photo, her chin tilted so far upward that her neck nearly formed a straight line. Jimin glanced sidelong at the camera, his bottom lip pressing against the hollow of her collarbone. Celia's logo was grand and lingering towards the side.
"Shit," she repeated.
Jin crossed his arms. "Is that all you have to say?"
"There's a perfectly good explanation," she began.
"I would hope. Is this what you do in your spare time? Your application didn't say that you modeled."
"Jin, I took the place of the female lead because she couldn't show. I promise I don't model."
Jin scoffed, rolling his eyes. "Did you enjoy yourself?"
She opened her mouth to answer when he interrupted, "Your eyes are closed in pleasure, I know you enjoyed yourself!"
Jungkook couldn't take his eyes off the magazine spread. Every now and then, his head would slowly shake and he'd turn the page to look at the other photos. All of them were blistering in content.
"Jin, please calm down. They're just pictures."
Jin scowled. "I refuse to look at that every morning. I've already called the right people, and this will be moved to another location by the end of the week."
"Are you jealous?"
Both Jungkook and Jin stared at her.
"J-jealous?" Jin blinked.
"You are," Grey smiled. "You're jealous."
The CEO's eyes darted from Jungkook to Grey. "No one's jealous. I've been blind sighted!"
She couldn't help but giggle. Jin frowned, the earrings in his ear swaying as he crossed his arms. "Leave me alone," he said.
"I'm sorry you had to find out this way. I didn't think the photos would actually surface any time soon," said Grey.
Jin said, "I should cut his cute little small hands off for touching you that way."
Jungkook laughed, Grey shook her head. "No, you shouldn't do that."
"I think you look good, Grey," Jungkook admitted. "It's sexy."
She reddened while thanking him. "I didn't know what I was doing."
Jungkook said, "You're a natural. As for Jimin, he looked handsome too but I've seen better photos of him."
Was that Jungkook's form of shade? Grey pretended like she never heard it for the sake of keeping peace.
The doors blew open. Grey jumped just as high as Jin. Jungkook tensed, and relaxed as Taehyung marched through the doors with a magazine underneath his nose. His deep blue eyes spelled out amusement and wonder, his deeper voice reaching a higher pitch as he asked, "Did you guys see this?"
"Did I?" Jin pointed to the obnoxious billboard.
Taehyung's smirk fell a bit as he noticed Grey for the first time. "You looked really nice."
Grey mumbled her thanks and sighed. "Can we please talk about something else?"
"You're right. We have an entire month to go back to it whenever we want," Jungkook teased.
Taehyung flipped the pages, whipping back and forth between photos. "Are there any of just you?"
"I took some, but they probably didn't make the issue."
"I would like to have one," Taehyung said.
"Sure. I'll see what I can do." That probably meant asking Jimin later. If she found the courage to speak with him.
Jin glowered at Taehyung. "Are you trying to fuel your fantasies?"
Grey resisted the urge to squirm. They were having this conversation. Right here, in front of her.
"No, hyung. In these photos with Jimin she's glowing like we've never seen before. Her expression jumps off the page right at you. She commands attention as well as some of my favorite paintings. By herself, that unique freedom is probably extremely apparent. I have a fine eye for art. She is art."
High, high praise, Tae. Way too high.
Grey's head was going to implode if she heard one more compliment or if her cheeks got any warmer.
"I see," Jin said, retreating into his own thoughts.
Jungkook said, "That explanation makes sense, but we can't speak for every member's intentions."
"Keep Joon away from these," Jin snapped. "His mind is always running and I highly doubt every one of those thoughts are clean."
Grey almost choked. Someone else entered the office.
"Why is everyone huddled in here?" Namjoon inquired, leaning against the doorframe. Taehyung slammed the magazine shut and put it behind his back, Jin rushed to close the room's blinds.
"No reason," Jin said.
Joon rolled his eyes. "This is about the billboard, isn't it?"
Jin tried again. "What billboard?"
"Come on now," Joon said.
Jin shoved his hands into his pockets. "Why do you always know everything? How?"
"The 41st floor has windows too, Jin."
Jungkook and Taehyung stifled a laugh. Grey could not hold hers back even as Jin glared daggers.
Joon studied Grey. "First, the pictures are stunning. Second, do you realize this spread is a direct insult to Vanity? You might as well have given her the middle finger in person."
No, she did not realize that. Grey swallowed, the rest of the room figuring out what Namjoon so graciously pointed out. She had posed with one of the seven men Vanity clearly told her to never see again. Not only was she next to Jimin, but she allowed him to touch her as though he loved her. As though the intimacy between them was fearless.
"I'll start expecting the attack," Grey said.
Joon held up a finger. "Not without a few basic combat lessons. Which will start tomorrow morning with me and Yoongi in the training room at dawn. Unless, you've changed your mind about trying to tag along on the mission?"
"I never changed my mind," she corrected.
"Then get some good food and sleep in today. You'll need it from this moment on."
Grey chuckled dryly. "Maybe this makes everything easier. If you have trouble getting the book, just call me and I'll walk outside. That'll steal her attention."
Namjoon shrugged. "The plan is to make you something other than bait. A runner would be a better name for it."
"She may or may not pass this test. But, if anything happens to her due to improper planning, you will answer to me," Jin barked.
"Relax," Joon cooed, his grin plastered to her in a way that made her feel oddly at ease. "I want her just as much as the rest of us."
"I think you're missing a few words," Jungkook said.
"Excuse me." Joon stepped away from the threshold. "I want her, alive and well."
The group watched the smartest member stalk away aimlessly. When he was gone, and when the others recovered from his slick verbal attack, Jin gestured to Grey's purse located on his office couch.
"That thing has been vibrating all day," he said.
She walked over to her bag and grabbed her phone from a pocket.
Fourteen missed calls from Amelia. Not a good sign.
Grey said, "I need to make a call."
Jin made a definitive hmph sound, messing around with papers on his desk. "Calling Jimin?"
She rolled her eyes, still appreciative of the fact that he bothered to be jealous. Kim Seokjin, CEO and established billionaire, secret prince and protector of two realms cared about who she spent time with.
"Maybe," she chimed, shrugging.
His bitter smile made her giggle as she escaped the room and dialed Amelia. In her own office, Rin had color-coated Grey's permanent markers and stacked her files in alphabetical order. A nice form of order to observe before listening to chaos. Because when Amelia answered, she went in for the kill.
"Is this Grey or her assistant? Should I call at a later time? Perhaps when she comes back from lunch in Paris with her new man that was groping her on our magazine's center spread?"
Grey groaned, laughing. "I stumble into a variety of circumstances these days."
"You don't just fall into being Seoul's Vixen for the entire month of September."
"You'd be surprised."
Amelia clicked her tongue. "I wouldn't if you deigned to share your adventures with your supposed best friend."
Nervously, Grey fidgeted with the top of her swivel chair, using the feel of fabric rubbing against her fingertips to ground her to the office. "It was a mistake."
"We need to meet. Today."
"I can't, Amelia."
"You can't?"
"No," Grey muttered, trying not to visibly look as bad as she felt while employees flitted by her office door.
"I can. Tell me what time would be best for me to stop by."
Grey warned, "No. Do not."
"I'm not listening to you. You're at KSJ, aren't you? I'll be there at 5:00pm, when your work day ends."
Grey hissed, "Stay where you are."
"Are you ashamed of me or something?"
She said, "No, that's stupid. I'm ashamed of me. I'll come to your apartment now, okay?"
"I'm already here so if you don't show--,"
"I'll be there." Grey hung up. Probably not the best move since she was in the wrong, but she couldn't handle the anxiety. Amelia was already a force to reckon with and she'd already been upset with Grey for so long now. Her best friend was so hard to detach from, and she still meant every bit of that affirmation that pertained to not seeing her again. It was too dangerous and even though Amelia was too stubborn to realize that, Grey would see that for them both.
From here, getting to Amelia's would take fifteen minutes. Knowing her best friend, she'd be timing Grey's every move from the time that call ended to the moment she arrived. With that in mind, she charged back to Jin's office.
The magazines had been tossed in a pile on Jin's office, a copy from each of them. Her boss probably planned on burning them or putting them in the shredder before the day ended.
She asked, "Who's watching over me right now?"
"Me," Jin said.
"Grab your coat," Grey ordered. "We're going on a field trip."
:::
Jin paid for a bouquet of sunflowers of red roses, then handed them to Grey. A few people passing by swooned at the gesture, giving Grey timid smiles as they wandered away. She ignored them, taking the flowers and power-walking ahead while Jin checked his watch.
The petals smelled like perfume and fresh rain. Grey loved the scent, but she still said, "Did you have to stop and buy these? We're going to be late."
"I'm visiting your friend's house, I wanted to bring a gift." He stared at the ground as he walked, a shy smile illuminating his features as he caught up to her. They were almost there, and the hostility in the air grew the closer she came to the apartment.
When they arrived, an older woman walking her tiny dog beamed from the sidewalk. The little furball yapped at the same time she spoke. "Beautiful couple! Beautiful!"
"Thank you," Jin said, waving at her as she maneuvered around them.
The elderly lady still did not relent. "Is there marriage in your future? Children?"
Grey focused harder on pressing the correct code into the lock since that comment made her forget the series of numbers completely. She tried again, this time saying the order aloud but also listening to his response.
"Perhaps one day!"
The gate opened, Grey and Jin slipping through the crack. Grey said, "Why tell her that?"
He said, "I wanted to make her happy."
She took off in the direction of Amelia's door. "Did you ever want a family?"
"I have one," he said. "But besides them, I wouldn't have minded additions."
"A bunch of little Jins running around? We'd have more trouble on our hands than a curse."
He chuckled. "If anyone could handle them, it would have been us."
Her heart warmed, an odd sensation that mixed irresponsibly with the dread that came from nearing Amelia. "Please, don't say things like that," Grey said.
"Have I upset you?"
She shook her head, stopping in front of the right room. "We'll never be normal, Jin."
She knocked, taking a deep breath. Which apology would she use this time? How would she explain Jin? What would be her next excuse for not returning calls or texts?
"I don't want to be normal with you," Jin said.
Tiny razor blades nipped Grey's ankle. On the floor, Luca meowed and circled her legs. "I'm here as back-up," she whispered.
Her mind blanked as the door swung open from the inside. Amelia evenly examined Grey, then her head tilted to the side so that she could drink in Grey's boss. He extended the flowers into the space between them, his reserved smile so pure that Grey almost put her hand on his shoulder. Little did Amelia know this goofball had a hand in saving her life. She slowly took the flowers, bringing them to her nose with a small grin.
He bowed politely. "Kim Seokjin. It is very nice to meet you."
"Amelia," she stated. With a pointed look at Grey, she told them both, "Come on in."
Luca leapt over the threshold first, her claws tearing at the delicate carpet. Jin put his hand on the small of Grey's back and nudged her inside.
Amelia asked, "Would you like any water? Anything to drink?"
"No, thank you," Jin answered. "Your place is really nice."
"Thank you." Amelia fell into the armchair, watching Grey and Jin place themselves on the couch. Luca bound into Grey's lap, her green eyes plastered to the window. Amelia crossed one leg over the other and leaned into her satin cushions. "You're such a gentleman. I'll be honest, I wasn't expecting an extra visitor."
Jin glanced at Grey sidelong. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to intrude."
"No, it's alright. You could probably give me answers too. For example, I know Grey works for you, but how did you two become such good friends?"
Luca squirmed as Grey's hands bunched her fur instead of continued to pet it. Jin said, "Grey spends a lot of time with me since she's my assistant. We have a lot in common."
"You two are handsome together. Like a really solid power couple."
Grey prepared a retort, but Jin's phone vibrated in his pocket. He fished it out and checked the caller ID, frowning at the name. He said, "I'm sorry, I have to take this. It was great meeting you."
Amelia let him stand and get halfway across the room before speaking up. "The pleasure is mine."
The front door closed behind him. Luca shimmied off Grey's lap and into his vacant seat. Her best friend looked at the flowers, then at Grey.
"You brought Kim Seokjin into my house?"
"He insisted on coming," she lied. "I should have warned you."
Amelia shrugged. "I'm surprised reporters and golddiggers alike aren't swarming this area. I mean, I understand why the latter would be absent. He seems like he's taken."
"He's not," Grey countered. "There's nothing going on there."
"I hope not. I'd hate for my girlfriend to be basically naked with a guy just as hot as me on an international fashion platform."
Grey sighed through her nostrils. "I'm not going to fight you about the spread."
"This is your last time to be honest with me. I need answers."
This was it. Grey had to finish it. So, she said, "Why do you care so much?"
Amelia's jaw hit the carpet. "Someone has to care about this relationship. You don't care at all!"
"Maybe I don't."
Grey's voice was low. She couldn't shout at the other girl, not when she didn't deserve it.
"Excuse me?"
"Amelia, I've grown up. Maybe we needed to be hip to hip when I was fourteen and lashing out, but I'm twenty-one. My business is mine, and you aren't entitled to that. My mother is gone. I don't need a second one."
Amelia sat paralyzed, her casual swagger shifting into something strained, fragile.
Grey continued, "People come and go in seasons. You served yours by helping me get over the incident and I've served mine by listening to you all day. I don't care to do that anymore."
After a loaded silence, Amelia nodded. Her best friend scoffed, probably thinking about those words over and over again. "Whatever new friends you have, I hope they're able to pick up the pieces of you when you get hurt again for trusting them, because they don't care. They won't help you. Get out of my apartment."
Grey stood from her spot, Luca anxiously looking from girl to girl and stumbling to her feet.
"I don't know who you think you are, but remember everything you said when you need me again. Which is soon. You always get weird when your parents' memorial is coming up, but I didn't see this coming."
Her parents' memorial.
It totally slipped Grey's mind.
Amelia slammed her fist onto the armrest. "Get out!"
Grey rushed for the door, closing it behind her with speed yet diligence. Luca would not stop staring at her, and it took all the power left in Grey not to face that earnest understanding in her eyes. Jin was by another door in the hallway, hanging up his phone call as soon as he noticed she'd left.
Grey wiped furious tears, blood rushing to her temples. She'd done it, and she tried to remind herself why. This happened for her wellbeing, her peace of mind, her white scar. Amelia would never be touched by a semblance of this twisted world again and while it relieved her, it cracked her armor.
"What happened?" Jin's cold hands wiped underneath her lashes, then grabbed her shoulders. "What's the matter?"
"Take me back," she told him. "Take me back."
:::
A few hours passed and Amelia sat in the same chair, in the same position. Of all things that she had tried to be for Grey; a shoulder to lean on, arms to embrace her, a heart when she needed one--this was how she was repaid? Being called a replacement mother? Her blood boiled, the encounter refusing to be forgotten.
Turning twenty-one did not give anyone license to be a shitty friend. It did not imply that being intimate, sharing secrets with one another fizzled out like a flat soda. It did not suggest that with a new year came a new clique that suddenly adopted a still-healing individual for all that person was worth. Turning twenty-one meant nothing.
It was a bullshit excuse, and Amelia sniffed through it from a mile away. Something was wrong; not only to make Grey use rhetoric, but also to show symptoms of a problem repeatedly. Why is it that she could never see her friend? Why did all of their communication drop off a cliff after a day? Why was Grey pushing her away?
More importantly, who influenced her to be so reserved?
There was one reason, and it showed up on her doorstep. Amelia surged to her coat hanger and snatched a fuzzy jacket before charging into cool evening. Her long, dark hair blew back with the whipping wind, and she stepped over puddles in her flat shoes to get to her destination. Fifteen minutes later, she came to shining glass doors crowded with employees filtering out for the day.
The reception lobby for KSJ was magnificent, just as she predicted. There was no guarantee Grey would be haunting these halls. But if she wasn't, then it meant she stayed at another new place that Seokjin bought her, because she was not at her old apartment. Three visits and no answer on that door was enough to convey the message that Grey had in fact advanced.
"Excuse me, Miss?"
Some smiling toffee-haired model strut to Amelia, her perfectly sculpted eyebrows raised in concern. If it weren't for the vintage pearls, Amelia would have classified her as the average corporate robot; nevertheless, it was still difficult to categorize her since she looked like the type to gasp at butterflies or giggle when people blew bubbles.
"Do you have an appointment with Mr. Kim?"
A receptionist, huh? Amelia squared her shoulders and said, "No. Screw him."
The woman inhaled a sharp breath, eyes widening like she'd seen a dog get hit by a car. "May I ask why you're here?"
"What's your name?"
"Rin," she said warily.
"Okay, Rin." Amelia dug into her coat pockets, grateful she threw on her work jacket. When she found what she'd been searching for, she whipped out a small, white card with her credentials. "My name is Amelia. This is my business card with my cell number and work address. Can you do me a favor?"
"Miss Amelia, if you don't have business here--,"
Amelia shoved the card into her hands. "Do you know Grey?"
"Mr. Kim's assistant?"
"More like his prisoner," Amelia corrected, "That's her. I need you to watch her these next few days. If her behavior changes or if she's acting weird, give me a call."
Rin put the card in a pocket at her hip. "Are you a friend of hers?"
Amelia clenched her jaw. "Her only friend. Don't tell her we met, either."
Bewildered Rin stalked back to her post at the desk while Amelia ducked out of the skyscraper. The place was gorgeous, but stuffy. Outside was so much better. The sounds of traffic and friendly chatter encompassed her lonely frame, and as she stood at a curb awaiting the signal to walk across the street, the argument she'd had finally pierced her defensive shields. She'd wait to get home before crying.
A woman sidled next to her, popping her gum obnoxiously while cars whizzed through the intersection. The pretty lady turned the pages of a magazine in her hand, and in an effort to distract herself from seeing Grey's photos again, Amelia gazed at her nail color.
"Red Never Tasted So Sweet," she said.
The woman stopped chewing her gum to say, "Hmm?"
"Your nail color," Amelia said. "It's cute."
As the gorgeous lady thanked her, Amelia corresponded the color of her nails to the color of her hair and lips. A risky fashion combo for any female. It should have been impossible, really. But, on her, it sent a message.
I can do whatever I want, it said.
"You look like you had a hard day," the woman said.
"Tough day at work," Amelia lied, checking the traffic signals to find that they still had not changed. This was a long light, and she really didn't want to have much of a conversation.
"No, this is personal. This was a struggle with another person."
What the hell?
Amelia ignored her, tapping a rhythm against her leg to busy herself.
"You know, it's okay to feel resentment every once in a while. Forgiveness gets tiring."
Don't pay attention to her.
"If people took a page out of my book, they wouldn't spend so many days being upset because they'd take action. I like taking action, and I feel like you like taking action too."
Amelia pressed the button on the pole to cross the street again.
"Grey has pissed me off more than once. You aren't the only one that's been openly disrespected by her."
The mention of her friend's name made Amelia observe this woman. Specifically, her golden eyes, radiating overt bloodlust onto a crowded, public street. They had a way of selecting prey, and fooling that prey into believing she and her meal were the only individuals left in the world. Claws raked against the inside of Amelia's skull, a shiver zipping down her spine while those talons probed and prodded and poked through her head. And while they worked, as Amelia tried to shake that sickly feeling from within, they lodged into her soul so deeply that they created grooves.
"Amelia, you mean a lot to Grey, so you mean a lot to me." the woman said. "Causing her pain for her disobedience is not enough. As the light leaves her carcass, I want to see it first seeping from her broken spirit. I don't have that effect. So, if I can't kill her, you will."
:::
(A/N) Compassionate reader,
Thank you for tuning in to this week's episode! The next few chapters will be about this length because we're nearing Part Two's Finale. It went by fast, didn't it? There are still a few weeks, at least four or five, so we've still got a bit of time.
Next release: 8/28 or 8/29 (August 28th or 29th)Â Â We can celebrate the new album's release in the next A/N!
Also, another thanks for being patient on updates. Remember when I used to be able to hand out two chapters in a week? Lol, good times. But seriously, it's really cool to know that you still read even when the schedule is hectic.
R.I.P. Amelia
With love,
M