Well, it’s strange enough to wake up in a kingdom I didn’t know existed, and then look out the window to see whales flying beside it.

Yes, whales. I see whales flying near my window. Not to mention, I already have experience riding one, and I do not recall that ending happily.

The fresh morning breeze flips the thin curtains covering the bed I was sleeping in a while ago.

I hug the puffy pillow and look out the window.

Yesterday was an exhausting day for me; it was too much. Namjoon suggests that I take a rest, as he sees me getting drowsy in the middle of his explanation about the history of Hwa. Eventually, he decides it’s best to save that part for another day.

All the clan leaders and I spend the night at Kim’s residence.

I must have fallen asleep as soon as I hit the pillow. Hearing the wailing of the purple Bora whale is what wakes me up this morning.

The small whale that was flying a second ago has disappeared, but its low wailing echoes in the silence. I quietly listen until it fades away into the distance.

The wind that hugs me gives me a chill. I crawl inside my bedsheets.

“Oh man, these are so soft. What are they made of? Feathers?” I tightly hug the pillow even more and yawn.

“It’s still dawn.”

The morning sun rays are not clearly visible yet, but the light yellow streams pouring through my window brush my skin with a fresh good morning greeting, making me realize that it’s going to be a big day for me today.

I quickly get ready and walk out of my room to the hallway.

Kim’s residence is bigger than any house you can imagine. The gigantic walls are covered with beautiful paintings and intricate architecture. The roof, about three meters above my head, radiates light from the crystals attached to it.

“This is spectacular,” I say to myself in awe.

“I see you are enjoying yourself,” a deep raspy voice says.

I flinch at the sound and turn to see the source, but to my surprise, there is no one behind me.

“Who’s there?” I start to panic but try to cover up my fright.

Next, I hear a low growl followed by a dark chuckle.

My heart pounds with fear.

Who the hell is messing with me? It’s creeping me out.

“Ha ha, very funny. Show yourself right now or I’m going to kick your balls!”

But the chuckle continues, with no answer yet. Is one of them messing around with me? If so, I can think of only one among them.

“Jungkook? Is that you?”

The chuckle becomes more menacing and louder. I gulp and step back, colliding with the wall.

“Long live her majesty, long live Queen Seonghwa,” the chuckle turns into a deadly screech.

I cover my ears with my hands out of fear. I suddenly spot two red glowing eyes behind a golden statue. They are hidden in the shadow of the statue.

The eyes keep staring at me as if they want to pierce my soul.

“Long live your highness.”

Black smoke starts gliding towards the darkness where the creature is. It grows wider and wider. The more the smoke gathers, the more I see the creature’s eyes glowing. Even though I can’t see its face, I feel its deadly smirk.

I feel a touch on my shoulder.

I scream in horror at the sudden sensation. As I try to run, I trip over my own legs and fall, hitting my bottom hard on the ground. I try to escape, dragging myself along the floor.

“Whoa, whoa, it’s me, dummy. You’re overreacting,” a familiar voice says.

“Jungkook?”

His tall and well-built figure, clad in neat robes, steps out from the darkness. But he comes from the opposite side of where that creature was. I glance back at the spot where the dreadful thing was, but to my surprise, it has disappeared. Not even a clue of it.

I widen my eyes, seeing that everything is perfectly normal—no red eyes, no black smoke, nothing.

"Are you alright? You look freaked out," Jungkook grabs my hand and lifts me from the ground.

"It wasn’t you?"

"What wasn’t me?" He looks puzzled.

"That voice, that laugh… behind the statue," I try to explain, but I miserably fail.

He peeks over my shoulder and looks at the spot I pointed to. He scrutinizes carefully, but sure enough, there is no one there except us.

"I see nothing."

"I swear there was something there. It laughed at me and mocked me."

"I mean, who wouldn’t?" Jungkook tries to suppress his laugh. I glare at him, but he seems unbothered by it.

"You think it’s funny?"

"Which one? You crawling on the ground or having auditory hallucinations?" This time he doesn’t even try to hide his laugh.

I swear to God, what’s this man’s problem? I should kick his balls instead.

"I’m sorry, but no offense, you looked hilarious when you screamed and crawled on the floor."

I glare at him, clenching my jaws together.

"You know, I’m done talking to you. You’re such a big jerk. You first scare me to death, and then you come and mock me. Seriously, what’s your problem?" I spit my words at him with boiling anger. All I see is mockery drawn on his face.

Well, yesterday I thought we would be on good terms after they recognized me as an innocent person, but hell no, he still chooses to be an enemy.

I turn on my heels and start walking away from him.

"Hey, I’m not done talking yet," he suddenly grabs me by the wrist and pulls me towards him, making me hit his chest.

My eyes widen at his sudden action. Our faces are so close that they almost touch. I look into his eyes, shimmering like dangling waves in the ocean.

I feel it again.

That feeling, that déjà vu feeling. I feel that weird tingling on my shoulder where my birthmark is.

Those eyes, why are they so familiar?

"Why do I feel like this when I’m closer to you?" Jungkook whispers in a low voice.

He suddenly inches his face towards me. I hold my breath as he gets closer. He gazes into my eyes as if he wants to read something from me. His deep blue, glowing eyes twinkle as he gazes deeply at me.

He lets go of me as he wakes up from the daze.

"That was weird," he mumbles and then looks at me.

I am still dumbfounded from what happened a second ago.

"I’m sorry for the sudden ambush. I had to know," he says in an apologetic tone.

"Had to know what?" I ask curiously.

He looks at me again.

"Well, it’s..." I can tell he’s hesitant to say something. But just as it looks like he’s about to speak, another male voice interrupts us.

"Oh, there you are. I was looking for you. Both of you are here," it’s Hoseok.

Jungkook swallows his words and remains silent. He pretends nothing happened.

"Hoseok hyung,"

"Jungkook, Y/n, you both should be in the grand hall. Namjoon is gathering everyone there."

"Sure, let’s go." Jungkook takes the lead, but I stop again to look at where the creature I saw was standing.

"Y/n, you okay, hun?" Hoseok asks with concern. Even though he was reluctant to talk to me at first, after we got to know each other, he shows his affectionate side to me.

"I’m fine. Just… the thought of that creature bothers me."

"What creature?" He asks and looks at the statue. Jungkook stops walking and catches up with us as he sees Hoseok is more interested in listening to my story.

"There was this black smoke and red glowing eyes. And it laughed and said, 'Long live your highness—'"

"It said what?!" Both Jungkook and Hoseok ask at the same time, startled.

"Yeah, it said something like, 'Long live your highness,' 'Long live Seonghwa,' something like that."

Jungkook and Hoseok look at each other, and I just know that something is not right.

"Why didn’t you tell me before? I could have caught it," Jungkook says, biting his lower lip and grabbing his hair.

I snicker.

"Are you freaking serious right now? You’re the one who didn’t listen to me!" I start throwing a fit.

"Yeah, because you could have been more specific when you told me someone was mocking and laughing at you!" He yells back at me.

There we go again.

"If only your stupid ass could listen to me for a second rather than just mocking me—"

"You could have gotten straight to the point—"

"That’s enough, you two," Hoseok cuts us off. His words make us silent.

"What’s gone is gone now. We must inform Namjoon and the others."

Hoseok looks worried. So does Jungkook. He definitely looks guilty for ignoring what I was trying to say. Serves him right.

"What is it, Hoseok?"

"Grimlorns—evil spirits known as bad omens. They are spies from the dark side," he sighs and looks at me and then Jungkook.

"We have to act fast. We should warn others"

The three of us walk up the stairs to the grand hall of the Kims. It is a gigantic room with a stone table in the center. In the ceiling, I see the sky, the night sky with all the zodiac signs. It looks more like a shared space. All the walls are divided into twelve sections, each with its own zodiac sign carved into the wall.

The stone table, situated in the center of an elevated stage-like part, has seven seats for each demigod.

"Namjoon, we have a problem," Hoseok quickly walks up to the table. He promptly explains everything to the others. Both Jungkook and I walk up there; I stand right next to him.

"Oh, this is bad, alright," Taehyung says in his deep voice. He’s always covering his head with a hoodie, which kind of suits his mysterious appearance.

"Things are getting worse day by day," Seokjin says, immersed in deep thought. Everyone in the room looks troubled.

Jungkook clenches his jaws.

"It’s my fault this happened. I’ll find it," he says.

"No, it’s not your fault, Jungkook. It’s no one’s fault, and even if you had seen it before it escaped, you couldn’t have handled it alone. You can’t fight it alone."

Jungkook doesn’t dare to talk back to Namjoon, but I can see his body clenching.

"We have to search the city for any more incidents."

Namjoon looks at the rest of the clan leaders.

"Yoongi and Jimin, you two come with me to check the city thoroughly. We have to check conditions in other areas beyond the main city, including the small village near the Forest of Death." Yoongi and Jimin quietly nod.

"We’ll prepare the clans." They both leave with permission.

"Seokjin and Hoseok, secure the castle. We have to put the guards up in the city."

"On it," they both agree.

"Jungkook, I want you to take care of her and train her. Do you remember what I told you last night, Y/n?" Namjoon looks at me.

"Yeah," I nervously nod.

"Good. You have to find what’s within you." He looks up at Jungkook.

"Be careful and be quick. Take Taehyung with you to help." Jungkook nods.

"I understand, Namjoon hyung. I’ll do my best."

"I know you will," he smiles and gives a little squeeze to Jungkook’s shoulder.

Guess I’m stuck with Jeon Jungkook, the pain in the ass, and Kim Taehyung, the weird guy in the hood, for the next few hours.

Oh, God, save me.

Hope y'all liked the chapter, see ya in the next one bye