Chapter 6

                As Gwi shuttled through the woods, he abruptly stopped in his tracks. It seemed like he just saw a familiar shadow flash before him. He made nothing of it and continued on his return to the stone home.

“Like you, as a guardian vampire, I can smell the special scent that you emit. No matter where you go, I can easily find you.”

“When time comes, we would explode this stone home.”

Hye Ryeong was still replaying Kim Sung Yeol’s words, when he came back.

“What you’re lost in thought about?” Gwen squinted, stooped to an even level and looked at Hye Ryeong.

“What is that?”

“I went to your house to retrieve these for you.” Gwi threw the baggage to Hye Ryeong.

“Why did you bring these back?” Her hand trembled as she touched the dress she used favored the most.

“I remember you were most beautiful when you wore that dress. Go try it on to see if it still fits.”

                “It’s my own dress. How would it not fit?” Even though this was how Hye Ryeong replied, she still went to change into it.

                Deep plum jeogori, dark blue chima, and emerald sash – she looked like she did before marrying into the palace. 

“There’re also the shoes.” Gwi said as he held up the printed satin embroidered shoes.

Hye Ryeong retrieved the shoes, and thoughtfully said to Gwi, “When I was changing clothes before, I noticed that the white jade that you handed to me is gone. Most likely, I dropped it in the cave. Could you…help me retrieve it?”

Gwi looked at Hye Ryeong deeply, and after a while, in a deep voice said, “Sure. I’ll go.”

***

                It was already past midnight. Gwi was galloping under the moonlight. If that shadow was really Kim Sung Yeol, he was very aware of the meaning behind Hye Ryeong having him specially head for the cave. However, without any hesitance, like always, he has never denied any of her requests.

                On the other side, as planned, the first explosion on the stone home began. The stone home began to shake.

                “How come she’s still not out?” Hao Jen asked Kim Sung Yeol with uneasiness.

                “I’m heading in to take a look. You all prepare yourselves.” Kim Sung Yeol ordered.

                 In the home was only Hye Ryeong.

                “Where’s Gwi?”

                Hye Ryeong laughed coldly, not replying.

                “You’ve set him free?” Kim Sung Yeol didn’t understand.

                “Yes.”

                “Then why did you stay back?”

                “You said, because I’m a guardian vampire, you could without effort find our hiding place. However if I’m no longer by his side, you all would never find him again.” Hye Ryeong clutched onto the suet-like creamy white jade, calmly and determined.

            “Even if you treat him this way, he could understand your true feelings? He doesn’t have any sanity. You should be more aware than me.”

            “How would he not have a heart? It has been humans manipulating him and betraying him. Human’s greed