"Jessica-sshi" started Minho as he settled down on the sofa, putting down the files on the coffee table facing Yuri and Jessica.
"And you must be Yuri-sshi i suppose" smiled Minho as he stretched out his arms for a handshake.

"Neh"
"Kwon Yuri imnida" replied Yuri as she returned the handshake.

"Since Krystal's in the room, there's something i think you two"
"As her guardian should know"
"Krystal came from a really broken family"
"Once, when she was younger, her family was really complete"
"Like having a really loving parents and with siblings that hit off well together"
"But ever since when she was 7, her parents started having communication troubles"
"Which led to quarrels, fights and eventually divorce"

"Oh.."

"After her parents divorced, Krystal's dad left the house"
"While her mum drowned herself in alcohol"

"Then..?"

"Well, it isnt that nice to say.."
"How should i put it.."
"Hmm.."
"Krystal's mum actually mistreated her really badly as in both physically and mentally"

"Im sorry to hear that" apologised Jessica sadly

"How is she now then?" asked Yuri

"She's basically fine"
"But because its your first time as foster parents"
"I hope you all understand, sometimes these kids would have a sudden outburst"
"So if Krystal has a sudden outburst, please do understand her a little"
"She's still searching for a place of belonging in her heart"
"Which explains her coldness towards you two" explained Minho as he passed Yuri and Jessica a file
"And here's her records and everything"
"I got to go, please do call me if you need any help" smiled Minho as he got up from his seat and bowed a little to Jessica and Yuri.

"Thanks Minho-sshi" replied Jessica as she stood up and led Minho out of the house

After Minho drove off, Jessica went back into the living room to join Yuri who was browsing through Krystal's file.

"So how was it Yul?" asked Jessica as she gave Yuri a backhug with her head against Yuri's back.

"How's what?"
"Why are you so sweet all of the sudden?" asked Yuri suspiciously as she closed the file and turned to Jessica.

"You read Krystal's file didnt you?"

"Yup i read it"
"I mean, i've got nothing to really say about it Sica.." sighed Yuri a little as she gave Jessica a peck on her forehead
"All I can say is, i was glad your dad werent as mean as her parents"

"Awww~"
"Thats so sweet of you Yul" giggled Jessica cutely
"Shall we go out for dinner, like with Krystal?"
"Have some bonding time?"

"Oh, right"
"We have yet gotten our dinner"
"Okay then"
"But how do we go?"
"Our cars are all 2 seaters"

"Ops" chuckled Jessica
"Guess we'll take the public transport"
"I'll hire a chaffeur or something tomorrow" smiled Jessica as she headed up to Krystal's room.

Krystal's side

"Yes Lord"
"Im in their house already"

"..."

"Yes, i'll do what you say"

...

*KNOCK KNOCK*

"Krystal~"
"Come on out, we'll be going for dinner" called Jessica

"..."
"..."
"..."

"Krystal!"
"Lets go for dinner, i'll buy you whatevery you wanna eat!" shouted Jessica again.

Seconds later, Krystal flung open the door and rolled her eyes at Jessica.

"Noisy" grumbled Krystal under her breath as she followed Jessica behind and down the stairs.

"Krystal, im sorry we didnt have a bigger car"
"We've got only two 2-seater car"
"We'll have to take the public transport out together" explained Jessica guiltily as she held onto Yuri's hands sweetly.

Krystal rolled her eyes and mumbled "so rich yet with only two 2-seaters car..".

"But i promise we'll get a car tomorrow"
"And i'll get a chaffeur to bring you to and fro school" said Jessica quickly

"Yup, we'll do that"
"But Krystal, we dont like you to roll your eyes at us, alright?"

"..."

"Forget it"
"Its alright Yul"
"This will need to take some time"
"Lets just go for dinner" said Jessica as she gave Yuri's hands a light squeeze
"Now, where do you wanna eat Krystal?"
"Is Japanese cuisine fine with you?" asked Jessica sweetly

"..."

"Alright, guess Japanese cuisine it is" said Jessica as she avoided the awkward silence, being ignored by Krystal while Yuri just kept quiet, didnt want to blow things up.

At the Japanese restaurant, Jessica ordered a whole table of sushi for the 3 of them.
Jessica wanted to take this chance to bond with Krystal.

"Hey Krystal" started Jessica as she picked up a piece of fresh salmon belly and put it on Krystal's plate.
"You know, you can call us unnie" smiled Jessica awkwardly

"Wow Sica"
"Now its unfair" said Yuri with a slight pout

"Why?"

"Because why is it that Krystal has a salmon from you whilst i dont?"

"Thats because you have me to yourself!"
"Why would you need a salmon and dont want me?" laughed Jessica cutely

SeungLee's side

"Lord, i've heard that Jessica had set up a foster home"
"Do you want me to work from there?"

"No" answered the unknown voice coldly.
"I've already assigned Krystal to be there"
"You just have to focus on the potion"
"Krystal will cooperate with the two of you"

"Yes Lord"

"How did the potion go?"
"You know, you're left with 3 weeks"

"Yes Lord"
"Regarding the potion, i've got a new discovery"
"The blood sample haemuni took back last week from Jessica"
"It seems like the only missing component to the special potion is the blood from the particular person who will be taking it"
"Only then will the potion work" explained SeungLee

"Are you sure?!" boomed the voice

SeungLee was a little taken aback but the abrupt booming of voice but still managed to remain composed.

"Yes Lord"
"I am sure"
"Only then will the potion work"

"Good job"

"But Lord, may i ask you a question?" asked SeungLee timidly, not even daring to look up from the ground.

"..."
"Ask!"

"Why is it that you want Jessica to be the person?"

"Why?!"
"Thats because she's an extraordinary person"
"I've observed her ever since young"
"She can put up with a lot of pain, went through a lot of hardship but still living"
"So i believe this potion will work, and it will help me conquer the underworld with such a strong helper like her" explained the mysterious voice.

"Yes Lord"
"Understood"
"So may i know when do you want to get this started so that i can get it prepared?"

"I'll get it as soon as possible"
"You wont need to know"
"Just get ready" instructed the mysterious voice coldly

"Yes Lord"

Just then, a knock on SeungLee's dark underground lab was heard.

"Come in"

The door opened.

"So how was the discussion with Lord?"

"Well, when did it ever seemed like a discussion?" replied SeungLee as he rolled his eyes

"Im just trying to phrase it nicely"
"So how was it?"
"Is everything going as per planned?"

"I guess so"
"Lord says if the potion succeeds on that Jessica"
"Jessica will be the strongest among us and can help Lord on Lord's ambition on conquering the underworld forces"
"I just dont understand" exasperated SeungLee as he fall back onto his armchair
"Why must it be that weak woman?"
"Cant I do the job for Lord?"
"Does Lord think that im weaker than that woman?!" shouted SeungLee as his eyes glowed in bright orange colour.

"SeungLee"
"Calm down" said haemuni as she tried to calm SeungLee down.

She knew it wasnt going to do anything good if SeungLee were to really burst out.
Things would really go out of hand.

"You have to learn to control your anger SeungLee"
"We dont want you going out to the public and showing your true self"
"It will bring us lots of trouble as well as to Lord"
"By then, we both will be screwed"
"Im sure you dont want it, right?"

"..."

"I know how you're feeling inside"
"Its like you worked so hard for Lord"
"Yet Lord wants someone else to do the most important mission at the end instead"
"I understand"
"But you cant disobey Lord or you'll be dead"

"I am dead" replied SeungLee sacarstically
"Dont you know?"
"Im just a plain living dead now"
"How i wished Lord didnt save me"
"I'll rather just die there that night"

"Why?"
"You would rather be abused to death by your parents and not work for Lord?"

"Whats the point of working for Lord when im just a living dead?"
"Whats the point when i have the warmth of any human being when my every single cells are dead?!" exploded SeungLee once again, but with pain in his eyes.
"You dont understand at all!"
"You're still a human being afterall!"

"SeungLee.."
"Calm down, i dont have anything else to say"
"But, i'll just leave you alone first" said haemuni as she exited SeungLee's lab, leaving SeungLee in painful tears.

SeungLee's POV

Appa, omma, why didnt you,
why didnt you just kill me fast enough before i got into Lord's hands?

Or why did you even start to abuse me that i've landed in Lord's hands?

End of SeungLee's POV

SeungLee was once a young boy, leading a peaceful and happy life till the age of 6 when he started getting scolded by his parents for nothing, followed by getting beaten up.
Soon, things turned for the worst.
At the verge of giving up, lying motionlessly on the floor that fateful night,
SeungLee was saved by Lord.
Lord brought SeungLee back to the clan's headquarters, and injected something into SeungLee's heart.
Which brought SeungLee back to life, and to the current state that he is right now.

Lord is someone who holds the ambition of conquering the underworld.
But with Lord's current forces, and the people Lord has now is nothing.
Lord need someone strong, to be able to fulfil Lord's dream.

In order to gain trust, Lord picked on the kids who had been abused, abandoned and etc.
Lord made the poor innocent kids believed herself, and made the kids work for her.
Which that doesnt leave Krystal out.

Krystal's side

"Yes Lord"
"I will do that"

"Make sure you do it without any hiccups"
"Or you will face the consequences"

Krystal's POV

Sigh.
Why am I doing all these?
What am i actually getting myself in?

End of Krystal's POV

"Krystal, its me"
"Sica unnie" called Jessica
"Can you please open the door?"

"What?" snapped Krystal impatiently as she flung the door open

"You know Krystal"
"Can we have a little talk?" smiled Jessica weakly as she held on Krystal's hands and brought her over the the bed and sat down.
"Its like this.."
"I know its your first day here"
"And i can barely understand what you've gone through in the past"
"Because mine werent half as bad as yours.."
"I mean my past"
"So i wont really claim i understand how you feel inside"

"..."

"But i've got this small request alright?"
"Can you at least, try to change your attitude towards us?"
"Yuri and I?"
"Yuri is someone i love dearly, really"
"And you're someone i really want to care about"
"Both of you, are someone important"
"I dont wish to be sandwiched between the both of you.."
"You understand what im trying to say?"

Krystal just turned her head away from Jessica, leaving Jessica helplessly.
With a soft sigh, Jessica turned to leave.

"And oh, Krystal"
"I've applied a school for you this afternoon before you came"
"Everything's ready"
"Your textbooks, uniform, bag and shoes"
"Tomorrow, at 7am the chaffeur will pick you up"
"Please dont miss your first day of school" informed Jessica before she closed the door with a sigh and shook her head slightly.

"This is gonna be hard.." whispered Jessica to herself as she returned to her study room with the stacks of work on the table.

While working her butts off, Jessica didnt notice that the time has already gone that fast.
It was already 3am in the morning, everything was quiet out there.
Just then, a knock on the door was heard and the door opened slowly.

"Sica?"
"Why are you still working?"
"You said you'll be having another meeting later at 8am"

"Why are you awake Yul?" yawned Jessica tiredly

"Well, i found out that my partner wasnt beside me"
"So decided to come out and take a look"
"Walked past the study room and saw a beam of light seeping through the gap of the door between the floor" replied Yuri as she walked over to the tired Jessica
"I remembered your dad said it is okay to rest and not work if its too much Sica"
"Why not take a break?"
"The work is taking a toll on you.."
"And now with Krystal.." sighed Yuri worriedly as she brushed Jessica's fringe aside.

"Hey Yul"
"Dont get so worried" smiled Jessica as she held onto Yuri's soft wrist.
"I'll be just fine"
"Dont, dont pick on Krystal"
"I can see she's a nice girl"
"She's just on the wrong direction and thats why we are here to guide her Yul"
"Plus, i've enrolled her for school and she'll be starting today"

"Im worried about you Sica.."
"You're a heart transplant receiver"
"Although you're fine now, im not sure if you overwork yourself"
"What kind of side effects will kick in.."

"Hey dont worry Yul"
"I'll always let you know if im not feeling well alright?"
"For now, im really okay"
"Go back to sleep Yul, you have training tomorrow morning" said Jessica sweetly as she pushed Yuri out of the room.

"Nope" stopped Yuri
"Unless you go with me" smirked Yuri with an 'L' shaped handsign below her chin.

"Alright" sighed Jessica
"I'll accompany you then.."
 
Jessica then switched off the lights and went back to their bedroom.
Lying on the bed with Yuri, Jessica soon fell asleep but woke up 3 hours later to the alarm beside her bed.

"Hmm.."
"Why.. are you.. up.. again..?" asked Yuri drowsily as she felt the movement beside her

"Oh Yul?"
"Nothing, just get back to sleep alright?" smiled Jessica tiredly as she pulled the covers over Yuri and went out of the room

Walking up to Krystal's room, Jessica knocked lightly.

"Krystal, are you awake?"

The door just flung open.

"Oh morning Krystal" smiled Jessica
"Looks like you're awake"
"Go and wash up, dinner will be ready in 30 minutes" said Jessica before she left the room and went to the kitchen to prepare breakfast for Krystal.

Since it was really early, the part time maids YulSic hired were not here yet.
Thus, Jessica had to prepare breakfast for Krystal.
Jessica wanted to help Krystal to have a sense of belonging, to feel that she's being loved.
So Jessica decided to prepare everything for Krystal by her own or with Yuri.
After preparing the breakfast, Jessica went up the Krystal's room to tell her breakfast's ready before waking Yuri up.

"Hey Yul" called Jessica sweetly
"Breakfast's ready~"
"Wake up~"

"Hmm..?" said Yuri as she glanced over to the clock beside her with one eyes opened and the other closed.
"Its only 6.30am ah Sica.." yawned Yuri tiredly

"I know"
"But Krystal's attending school today"
"You know, we should accompany her for breakfast"
"Plus, dont you wish to try my cooking?" asked Jessica disappointedly

"Argh"
"Alright alright im up" surrendered Yuri as she sat up on her bed with messy hair and a grumpy look.
"I'll be down in 5"

"Good" smiled Jessica as she patted Yuri's head before heading down to the dining room.

At the dining room, the three of them was dining quietly.
It was really awkward because they werent close and neither party took the initiaitive to speak up except for Jessica.

"Oh right"
"Krystal, here's your allowance for the week" smiled Jessica as she casually fished out two 50,000 won bills to Krystal.

Which in turn, Krystal just grabbed it rudely and rolled her eyes.
Yuri just simply couldnt stand it anymore.

"YAH!"
"KRYSTAL!"
"Who do you think you are?!"
"Rolling your eyes at Sica early in the morning?!"
"I cant understand your past but at least shouldnt you be nice to someone who's constantly nice to you despite your poor attitude?!" scolded Yuri angrily

"What?!"
"I didnt ask any of you to take me in, did i?"
"If you're unhappy with me, i'll leave!" rebutted Krystal back as she glared at Yuri

At the very one moment, Yuri saw the orange glow in Krystal's eyes.
But its just for the very one moment.
Right after Yuri blinked her eyes, the glow was gone.

"FINE JUST LEAVE!" exasperated Yuri as she stormed back into her room while Krystal really picked up her bag and stormed out of the mansion.

"No wait Krystal!" shouted Jessica but Krystal didnt even bother to look back

Instead of chasing after Krystal, Jessica went up to Yuri.

"Yul, why did you do this..?"
"You know she's probably still not in the mood"
"She's trying to adapt to the new environment and surrounding" said Jessica as she placed her hands over Yuri's shoulders

"Sica, why not you just give up on the foster home idea?" sighed Yuri
"I dont like Krystal glaring, rolling her eyes at you"
"Its simply so rude"

"I cant.."
"Krystal looked like shes really hurt inside"
"I wanna help her, open her up by giving her love Yul.." said Jessica as she looked out of the window to see thunder and lightnings flashing through the sky.
"Its going to rain soon Yul.."
"I think i'll go look for Krystal, you stay home and catch up on your sleep alright?"
"Dont think about what happened just now Yul" added Jessica as she gave Yuri a kiss on her lips before grabbing her white Porsche keys and an umbrella.

*PS: How was this chapter?
Is it clearer for you guys what the Lord wants?
I'll be slowly revealing stuff, you know rushing the story will make it look ugly.
And, the storyline WILL be related to the story title.
Its just that it has yet gotten into the main point yet but is slowly getting in!
Comments & subscribers please! <3

-illusion's off-