CHAPTER 15

THE VASE

Minho placed Sulli on her bed in the mansion.

“Take a rest now.” Said Minho placing a small container on Sulli’s bedside table. “And eat this once you feel hungry. Insung put some medicine on this porridge…it will help you gain strength faster.”

Sulli nodded.

Minho went to the window.

“I’ll be back tomorrow.” Said Minho before jumping away.

Sulli closed her eyes…

Why does it feel like…a dream…

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Minho noticed the light in one of the room downstairs still open. He went to its window to check it and saw Sulli’s Uncle almost turning the entire room upside down.

Minho heard Sulli and her Uncle’s conversation earlier… He said he’s looking for something…

“It has got to be here…I just saw it the other day…” said the old man. “It can’t be missing…no…it can’t….”

Minho opened the window of the office and entered it making the old man gasp.

“Who are you?” asked the old man ready to call on the guards.

The old man looked at Minho up and down and saw his sword.

“I am not an assassin I assure you. And I am no thief as well.” Said Minho

“Yes…you aren’t…because you’re a demon hunter.” Said the Uncle

Minho’s eyes narrowed. The old man is aware of hunters.

“Then there is nothing for me to fear isn’t it?” asked the Uncle

“I am not here because I am hunting. I am here because I have questions.” Said Minho

The Uncle suddenly stopped searching and sat on a chair.

“There is no demon in this house.” Said the Uncle “You can leave now.” 

“There IS a demon in this house.” Said Minho “Unlike other hunters, I can smell sleeping demon blood. And I know Sulli has it.”

The old man stood up.

“Who are you…how do you know Sulli? And…what do you plan to do with her…” fear is apparent on the old man’s face.

“She’s safe for now.” Said Minho “But we can’t be sure until when.”

“Is she…being hunted?” asked the Uncle

“Once her blood awakens…the hunt will start.” Said Minho

“No…poor Sulli…I tried…so hard to keep her from the demon world…I tried…but the girl is constantly being pulled to that world…she collect all those antiques…and I know that’s dangerous…antiques sometimes act as demon traps….” Said the Uncle making Minho raise his brow

“Like an old Antique vase?” asked Minho

“You…have the vase?!” asked the Uncle

This human knows more than a normal human should…

“What do you know of demons, hunters…demon traps…of Sulli?” Said Minho

The Uncle closed his eyes thinking.

“If you’re worried about Sulli, you’d tell me everything you know.” Said Minho “Because I am trying to help her.”

The Uncle opened his eyes. “Why would a Hunter help a demon?”

So the Uncle also does not know Sulli has Hunter blood?

“I am a hunter who does not kill each and every demon I am faced with.” Said Minho “I choose my prey.”

“Ahh…right…I heard there were hunters who had principle.” Said the Uncle

Even that information? The Uncle knows?

“How did you know so much about the demon world?” asked Minho

“Because I once fell in love with a Demon.” Said the Uncle “And Sulli…is her daughter.”

“A Demon woman.” Said Minho

“She was a friend …we were very very close… I fell in love with her even when she was already a demon from the start…for some reason…she did not see me as food. We often talk when she’s in her calmer state…But when her demon blood attacks, she changed…a lot…but my love for her never changed.” Said the Uncle. “I learned everything I know about Demons and hunters from her.”

“I did not see my friend for a long time at some point…I thought I lost her…I got married…had a daughter….One day…a Demon hunter arrived here…carrying a baby in his arms…he said the child was my first love’s child. He said my first love has died…and asked him to take the child to me. My first love, entrusted her daughter to me…because she knows I will love the baby like my own.” Said the Uncle

“But…we were attacked by demons almost every day then. That demon hunter stayed and protected us. However…the demons arriving are getting stronger each time… they wanted the child…something about the child pulls them to her...some of them said she’s a good meal…”

“But then the last demon which arrived….that last demon has no intention to feed on the baby…” said the Uncle

“She said she needs the baby for her clan. The demon hunter who was here could not kill that last demon…it was strong…so he made a way to trap that demon so that it would stop bothering us. It was trapped in that vase.” Said the Uncle “However, before the demon could be trapped…she made sure she can escape in the future… a curse.”

“And what is it?” asked Minho

“That upon The baby’s demon blood awakening…the vase will break the seal…and she will be free…to take the child with her to the clan.” Said the Uncle “That is why I kept the vase close… I can’t let it go missing…because it’s going to be after Sulli…”

Minho closed his eyes.

“I think I know where the vase is…and it hasn’t broken yet…” said Minho

“Where is it?” asked the Uncle

“In the hands of a strong demon hunter.” Said Minho “But he’s unaware of what the curse is. I need to warn him about it.”

“I guess it’s better this way… if the demon of that vase comes out…I wouldn’t be able to fight it and protect Sulli…” said the Uncle

“What does Sulli know about her parents?” asked Minho

“That they died…when she was still a baby.” Said the Uncle “That her mother…was my sister.”

Minho nodded.

Sulli grew up in a