The Fall of Gods (A Welcome to the Underworld Novel, Book 2)
Page 2
Yoori flinched at the bout of cold that encased her once her haven of warmth was ruthlessly taken away. She inwardly groaned. She was still feeling so lazy. She decided to look for an excuse to stay in bed longer.
“But my hands are still filled with – wait a second!” She stopped her sentence midway when she observed that there were no more splinters in her hand.
She gasped, sitting up.
She gaped at her hand and then at Tae Hyun. He was gazing at her expectantly. It was gut instinct on her part, but she knew the disappearance of the splinters and Tae Hyun coincided together.
“Did you get rid of the splinters?” She didn’t wait for him to answer. She already knew it was him. “How on earth did you do it without me knowing?”
She was impressed, very impressed and simultaneously intrigued.
Anticipating his answer to be a thought-provoking one, Yoori found herself disappointed when all he did was smile slyly and said, “Magic.”
She grimaced at his nonsensical answer. “Oh, so you’re an illusionist now?”
He shrugged with a smile, his impatience exuding out of him like the warm rays spilling into the bedroom. “Yes and if you keep stalling, the next things I’ll make disappear are your clothes. And trust me, if those disappear, you can bet your pretty little butt that I’m not letting you leave this bed. Now go get ready before I decide to bond with you in our bedroom instead.”
When all Yoori did was stare at him to challenge his bluff, Tae Hyun suddenly made a move to grab her. Albeit all he did was lower his propped up leg and dropped his hand closer to her, it was enough to scare Yoori off the bed.
“Okay, okay!” she shouted, running into the bathroom. “I’ll get ready!”
“20 minutes! If you’re not ready by then, I’m coming in to help you move along!” he added, suppressing his laughter when he heard Yoori yelp in fear at his threat.
■ ■ ■
“Are we there yet?” Yoori asked for the umpteenth time. She finished the statement with a prolonged yawn.
For the past couple of hours since they had been in the car, much to Tae Hyun’s continual insistence, Yoori had been sleeping. At first she combated that proposition, feeling guilty that she would be able to rest while Tae Hyun would be bored while driving alone. But when he hurled a warm, lavender throw blanket in her direction, her guilt was history. With the sound of the wind gliding itself along the surface of Tae Hyun’s black Mercedes convertible as her lullaby, Yoori conked out without a moment’s notice.
As she tried to readjust her sleeping position against the leather recliner, she felt cool air against her cheeks. The draft of cold wind was a gentle one. It was the kind where you could smell the fresh air and the misty water. The sensation was a pleasant one for Yoori. It felt like she was being pleasantly tickled into waking up. Unable to keep her eyes closed, Yoori lifted her eyelids to see that Tae Hyun had lowered the roof of the car down. It was apparently his subtle way of awakening her.
“We’re here, Sleeping Beauty,” Tae Hyun announced, smiling at her once she was fully awake.
He laughed when he noticed that Yoori was still blinking her drowsiness away.
Yoori frowned. She knew right away he couldn’t be laughing at anyone but her. Was it her fault that she couldn’t properly open her sluggish eyes after a long sleep?
Jerk-face, she sourly muttered in her head.
She rubbed her eyes to wake up more fully. Yoori’s vision gradually adjusted to the scenic world around her. She wrapped the blanket tighter around her body and gawked at the glory of Mother Nature’s handiwork.
She was lost in awe.
The road that they were driving on was a windy and deserted one. Constructed tactically in the heart of the mountains, it did well to blend itself within the sanctity of the nature around it. Gold leaves danced around the car as magnificent trees stood in the acres of green field beside the road.
Yoori suspected then that Tae Hyun had woken her up because he didn’t want her to miss the breathtaking view. The curve of a thankful smile took form on her lips. If it was Tae Hyun’s mission to bring some warmth into her life by helping her forget about the shadows of the Underworld, then he more than succeeded.
She couldn’t be more happy and distracted.
Yoori gasped in amazement when the contours of the road turned into a straight and narrow pathway. Her astonished eyes reflected a majestic lake that glistened in the wake of the late afternoon sun. The sun hovered beautifully above it, the touch of its golden rays gracing over the surface of the water.
Yoori raised her brows in curiosity when she heard soft quacking sounds in the distance. She took her awestruck eyes off the lake and directed her attention to the side of the road.
“Look!” She giggled, moving closer to Tae Hyun’s seat. She was unable to hide her enthusiasm. She pointed at a family of five waddling ducks, which consisted of a mother and four ducklings that were trailing along their slow moving car. “Aw! How cute!”
Tae Hyun laughed disbelievingly, thoroughly surprised by her cheerful demeanor.
“I guess we’re not shooting ducks this weekend,” he observed lightheartedly. He continued to drive down the narrow pathway of the road. A soft smile graced his countenance when he took a quick look around. He, too, was amazed with the world around them.
“Isn’t it amazing here?” he said with a sigh of relief. His short black hair ruffled against the wind. He took in a deep breath. “Ah…” he exhaled slowly, following it up with a relaxed smile
Yoori nodded, lost in the scenic view of Tae Hyun being enveloped in the light of the sunset instead of the town she was being driven through. She already felt more at peace.
Catching herself before she grew lost in a stupor, she said, “It’s hard to believe that winter began last night.” She sighed, inhaling another lungful of fresh air. “The weather is so perfect here.”
She stared up at the near horizon. Its magnificent gold and orange hues enveloped the vast lake and acres of land beside it.
“You know why the weather is perfect right now?” Tae Hyun asked playfully, the glow of the sunset’s rays resting over the exposed area of his chest. He had left a few buttons undone on his white-sleeved shirt, and it seemed to Yoori that the sun was trying to trick her into blatantly staring at it.
She made sure her eyes were firmly glued onto his face instead of the slightly unclothed part of his body when she happily answered, “Because we’re here!”
Tae Hyun chuckled, shrugging as he drove. “Well, I was actually going to say because I’m here, but sure, I suppose you can include yourself and get the credit too.”
She wasn’t sure if he was joking but she decided to play along anyway.
“Oh how considerate of you, my dear crime lord boss,” Yoori voiced sweetly, placing a dramatic hand over her heart. She laughed again before taking another survey of the scenery. “Honestly though, it’s beautiful here. We should have more company retreats like this.”
Tae Hyun laughed. The tentative look in his eyes gave the impression that he wanted to see how this trial basis with Yoori went before promising to come again. “Let’s see how this one goes before we get ahead of ourselves.”
They soon found themselves driving down a windy path that eventually led them into the depths of a secluded lake house community. All the lake house properties were laid far enough away from each other to give the owners a sense of privacy.
As countless glimpses of magnificent looking lake houses greeted her, Yoori couldn’t help but widen her eyes and stare in absolute awe when they finally reached their destination—Tae Hyun’s lake house.
It was hidden in the furthest end of the street. The tall trees that lingered around it not only complimented the wooden structure of the house, but also shrouded the house from immediate view. Golden autumn leaves layered its roof and covered its gargantuan lawn. Even the attached glass lamps that hung from the various corners of its exterior made the house appear more whims
ical. In this moment, Tae Hyun’s two-story lake house couldn’t have appeared more picturesque for Yoori. She loved how it just stood out in the presence of the setting sun.
“This. Is. Gorgeous,” Yoori emphasized, limping through the dark brown oak doors that led into the spacious lake house. Her body was still sore from her initiation but the pain was tolerable, most likely due to the fact that she was distracted with the exquisiteness of the lake house.
Unlike the modern affluence that Tae Hyun’s apartment contained, the interior decoration within the lake house was simple yet beautiful. It had a large living room and kitchen that were both lined with various black furniture and appliances. There was a section of the house that had glass windows for walls. A flight of glass stairs was present in the furthest right hand corner of the house, leading up to the second floor.
No longer able to hold her excitement in, Yoori gasped and threw her black suitcase to the floor. She rushed over to the massive floor-to-ceiling windows that displayed the view of the gorgeous lake. Outside the window stood a wooden, half moon balcony that had circular lanterns hanging from the wooden railing as decorations.
She smiled absently at the flocks of ducks and geese gliding across the lake. The lake’s glistening surface now twinkled with dashes of pink, orange, and gold from the setting sun. The whole atmosphere made her feel like she was luxuriating in the splendor of a picturesque dream.
“How could you ever leave this place?” Yoori asked when Tae Hyun stood beside her.
He was also enjoying the beauty of the tranquil world before him.
“I ask myself that every time I come out here,” he replied quietly, returning his gaze to her. “Anyway, let’s go get some food.” He casually intertwined his fingers with hers, promptly pulling her with him. “There’s a park nearby. If we’re lucky, we might actually have some fun there.”
Yoori nodded, allowing herself to get swept away by Tae Hyun.
The peaceful world around them was probably what set them both at ease, but at that moment, Yoori knew she was going to have an unforgettable weekend with Tae Hyun.
“Are you willing to disappear?”
02: To Find Paris
“So what made you bring me here?” Yoori asked while they walked side by side.
The peaceful night’s sky hung above them, displaying a view of the moon and the twinkling stars. An assortment of statues, water fountains, and rose gardens occupied the park, giving entertainment to Yoori’s eyes. She happily feasted on her second corndog and explored the area with Tae Hyun.
The park was livelier than Yoori had anticipated. It was late at night but there were still people roaming about. Though it was mainly filled with couples walking hand in hand, it was still relatively lively. There was a certain air of peace that came with the companionable silence. All the couples were lost in their own little worlds and Tae Hyun and Yoori were no exception.
“I told you,” he said softly. “I figured you could use a break from Seoul.” He took one final bite of his corndog and shrugged. “And I guess I figured I could use a break from Seoul too.”
Though his voice was casual, Yoori deduced that there was more to his answer – a more specific reason as to why he brought her here. She knew what it was; she’d be a fool if she couldn’t figure it out by now.
“You knew I cried last night, huh?” Her voice was low with shame. She was upset with herself for being unable to do a better job of hiding her weakness. Yoori rarely cried. To date, she only remembered crying twice in her life after her amnesia. Once after her family’s death and once after she accepted the possibility that she was An Soo Jin, an infamous Underworld crime lord who died 3 years prior, the exact same time Yoori woke up with amnesia. She always had reservations about crying in front of people, and would only ever allow herself to do it when she was sure no one else was around her. She was fairly certain that she forced herself to stop crying when she fell asleep. She must’ve continued to involuntarily cry in her sleep. The thought of Tae Hyun walking in and seeing the tears flow down her cheeks made her cringe. She truly hated it when people saw her cry.
Though Tae Hyun didn’t verbally answer her question, Yoori intuitively knew that she was right. The way his eyes became gentler when he gazed at hers more than gave away the truth.
“I’m sorry that you had to go through all of that,” he finally uttered, his eyes staring at the endless brick pathway ahead. His voice was no longer nonchalant. It teemed with guilt and regret.
“You know it wasn’t your fault, right?” She peered up at his profile. “What happened wasn’t your fault. I didn’t cry because of the violence from the initiation. I was just…” She paused to find the right words. “I was just going through some internal struggles.”
Again, he didn’t say anything. He seemed lost in his own thoughts.
After a minute or two, as a gust of wind drifted past them, he finally turned to her and proudly said, “I yelled at them for you.”
His voice was optimistic. It was clear he hoped that hearing this would make her feel better. He didn’t seem to believe that she would cry about anything else other than the violence from the initiation.
Yoori laughed wryly. She didn’t feel compelled to keep convincing him that her tears were due to her own issues (like the fact that there was a big possibility she was a monster she didn’t want to become). However, she had to admit that she did feel better when a mental image of Tae Hyun screaming at the three Advisors popped into her head. She didn’t doubt that he did it. Tae Hyun’s temper always had a way of getting the better of him, even under unfavorable circumstances.
“I’m sure you did. What was their reaction?”
“Same political suck up shit,” he answered after a sigh. “They congratulated me for picking such a strong and beautiful girlfriend.”
Yoori nodded. Of course the Advisors were quick to suck up to Tae Hyun after the initiation.
“They also said that I should watch out for you.”
Tires screeched in Yoori’s mind.
“Excuse me?” she sputtered, even though she had already heard him clearly.
“They said that I shouldn’t trust you,” he repeated. His eyes were unreadable when they gazed at her. “They emphasized that if I did, it would be the biggest mistake of my life.”
“What?” she practically shouted. Bewilderment blared within her. “Why the hell would they say that?” Soon after she asked, she knew it had everything to do with An Soo Jin. The audacity of them infuriated her. How dare they say such things? The nerve of those old bastards.
“Because they’re the Advisors,” he voiced jadedly. He wasn’t the least bit surprised with how the Advisors operated. “It is in their nature to give advice, no matter how ridiculous it sounds.” He smirked. “It is also in Ju Won’s nature to pit people against each other. Rival crime lords, siblings, fathers and sons—even boyfriends and girlfriends.”
“He does like to do that, doesn’t he?” Yoori asked resentfully. She recalled the “pearl of wisdom” he gave her about Tae Hyun and Lee Ji Hoon, the reigning King of Skulls, An Soo Jin’s boyfriend and Yoori’s current suitor. Ju Won shared how ruthless they were and that they would do anything to obtain the Underworld throne. He essentially told her that she shouldn’t be afraid of being as ruthless as they were when it came to getting what she wanted. She also recalled the way he always set Tae Hyun and Ji Hoon against each other. Ju Won was truly a master manipulator.
“He enjoys being entertained,” Tae Hyun provided, casually grabbing Yoori’s hand. He led her off the brick pathway and onto a grassy area.
As the gentle wind rustled the leaves around them, Yoori replayed the events of the prior night in her mind. She wrinkled her brows when she was reminded of something significant
“So what did you and Ji Hoon do during my initiation?” Yoori inquired. She was curious as to what could’ve taken place on the other side of the door while she was getting her ass whooped in the meeting room.
“Talked about someone whose name rhymes with ‘Oogly,’” Tae Hyun answered with a smile.
Yoori stopped in her tracks and glared at Tae Hyun. She was not amused with the unexpected teasing.
Tae Hyun laughed heartily and wrapped his hand around her waist. He easily pulled her along with him when they neared the end of the dock.
“I told him that you’re my girlfriend,” he shared, his expression smug. “That no matter what he says, what he does, and what he schemes, you’ll always be my girlfriend and I’ll always have your heart.”
Yoori gaped at him owl-eyed. “Why would you say that?” she exclaimed incredulously, “None of that is true!”
“I like to say what’s on my mind,” Tae Hyun replied, sounding unapologetic. He was distracted after they reached the end of the dock.
He bent his knees and situated himself on the wooden foundation with his legs crossed. He placed his corndog stick beside him. Once he was settled, he gazed expectantly at Yoori. His brown eyes somehow appeared more captivating under the stars.
Following his lead, she took her oversized white purse off her shoulder and bent her knees to sit beside him. Her jeans and the hem of her white faux fur jacket made contact with the wooden structure. She placed her corndog stick down and laid her purse on the floor. Seconds later, she proudly pulled out the lavender blanket Tae Hyun gave her.
“Plus, how do you know it’s not true?” Tae Hyun continued to counteract. As he said this, he flicked a small pile of pebbles away from her jeans and into the lake. The pebbles made a soft splash in the water, its ripples causing the reflection of the moon to flicker for a couple of seconds. “I was the one that said it. Not you.”
“Because I know you were only saying it to piss Ji Hoon off,” Yoori replied swiftly, unfolding the blanket. “You can be deviously competitive like that.”