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Rumi stumbled down the steps leading from the stage, gripping onto the rail tightly. Mira and Zoey… how did they know? How did they find out about her patterns? And why did they expose her? What happened? Did Jinu tell them? No, he wouldn’t. He’s not like that. Is he?
And if he did, why were they acting so… weird? Zoey and Mira would never act like that towards Rumi. Right? They wouldn’t. No, of course not.
But… that was them. It was undeniably them. Unless somehow a demon took their form? But then why weren’t they there?
She was starting to regret not telling Mira and Zoey about her marks. Because if telling Jinu, a demon and someone she’d only met once, made her voice get better, wouldn’t it help even more if she told them? And if she’d told them… this could’ve been prevented.
Rumi reached the bottom of the staircase, still holding tightly to the railing. She pushed herself off the railing, tripping on her feet and catching herself.
Breathing heavily, she turns the corner and-
Zoey and Mira.
Are standing there.
They all stand there for a moment, staring at each other.
”How are you here? You- you were just on stage. That wasn’t you? Oh. Oh, thank goodness.” Rumi steps closer to them, relief flooding through her. They step away, horrified.
Why are they so…?
Rumi looks down at her hands. Her marks are glowing.
”No.. no. No, no.” She shakily covers her arms, as if she could block them somehow. But they already saw. And she knew that.
”How… do you have patterns?” Zoey asked cautiously.
Rumi’s voice cracked with unshed tears. “They were supposed to be gone… you were never supposed to see.”
Mira stared, her voice wavering. “You were hiding this from us?”
Rumi knew they must feel betrayed, but… she couldn’t tell them. Celine told her not to tell them. Not to-
“This whole time?” Mira looked disgusted.
“No- I- I have a plan to erase them. Jinu was supposed to- I- he was-“
Zoey cut her off. “Jinu? You’re working with him?”
”No! No, no! I was using him. To fix all this. To fix me.” But Rumi knew they didn’t believe that. Heck, she didn’t even believe it herself. But not for the same reason as them.
She would never be “fixed.”
“So- so we could all do our duty! So we could be strong! Together!” Rumi tried to fix what she said. She knew it sounded wrong.
Zoey seemed like she could hardly look at her. “How could we do our duty together if we can’t tell your lies from your truths, Rumi?”
Mira looked at the ground, her voice betraying her emotions. “I knew it. I knew it was too good to be true.”
”Mira, no! Didn’t you see? See the gold? We’re so close!” There was no way she could fix this, was there?
Rumi stepped towards them, wanting to hold their hands, but they stepped away from her. That told her enough.
”No… don’t leave… don’t leave!” They couldn’t leave her. They couldn’t. Her only true family her whole life, and… was Celine right?
”I can still fix it!” The sheer power of her voice weakened the honmoon, sending pink shockwaves across the land.
Mira and Zoey stared at it as it traveled, then back at Rumi. They weren’t going to-
Mira raised her glaive first, pointing it at Rumi cautiously. Zoey hesitated.
Maybe she could… “Zoey, please…”
Zoey raised two of her daggers, obviously holding back tears, from her expression.
Rumi considered running. Considered finding Jinu, confronting him. But she couldn’t. She fell to her knees. If anyone were to kill her, she’d rather it be by the hands of those she trusts the most.
They didn’t understand. But how could they? They didn’t grow up hiding marks, feeling shame just for existing. She was so close. So close to finally feeling normal.
Rumi just sobbed. Maybe she should’ve run. But what would that do? It would only make it worse.
She could hear Mira and Zoey step back again, whispering amongst themselves.
”Maybe we should… hear her out…?” Zoey suggested.
”No. She’s a demon.” Mira sounded set on it.
”I know, but… she’s still… our Rumi.” Zoey sighed.
They must not know she could hear them over her own sobs. But she could hear everything. Everything.
Mira was right. It would be better if she was gone.
That thought prompted her next move, Rumi grabbing the blade of Mira’s glaive, still sobbing.
”Do it.” She said between breaths.
”I don’t deserve to live, anyway. I was born a mistake.”
Mira looked at her with pure horror. Zoey looked like she was going to throw up.
”Rumi… what do you mean by that.” Mira hesitated to speak.
She didn’t answer. Not because she didn’t want to, but because she couldn’t find the words. How could she describe what she meant? Her father was a demon, and the only person to take care of her was ashamed of her very being.
”Just do it. I was never supposed to be born. I’m… I’m not helping anyone by being here.” Rumi was so close to just doing it herself.
”Rumi… why would you think that…” Zoey asked, breathing heavily.
”Zoey… I’m- don’t you get it? My father was a demon. I’m not supposed to be alive. My mother, a hunter, had me with a demon. Just do what Celine should’ve done ages ago. Just kill me. Please…”
Mira lowered her glaive, letting it disappear into the honmoon. “Rumi…”
”Please…”
Rumi squeezed her eyes shut. Why wouldn’t they just kill her? She was part demon. It was their duty as hunters. Why…
Two pairs of arms wrapped around Rumi, holding her tight.
”Rumi, why didn’t you tell us before?” Zoey whispered, basically straight into her ear.
She didn’t want to answer, didn’t want to put the blame on one person, because it was partly her fault. But she couldn’t stay quiet, no.
”I… Celine told me to keep them hidden my whole life. It’s… she said after the honmoon was sealed, they would disappear but… I should’ve told you sooner. I’m stupid and a coward and I shouldn’t have-“
They both embraced her tightly as she continued to cry.
Rumi lifted her hand to summon her sword, but Mira grabbed her hand tightly.
“You’re not leaving us.” Mira said sternly, not letting go of Rumi’s hand.
Rumi sniffed, wrenching her hand free from Mira and wiping her tears. “We still need to defeat the Saha Boys…”
”I guess that can’t really wait, can it?” Zoey muttered.
”No, but we’re resuming this conversation later. Come on Rumi, let’s get those boys.” Mira stood, helping the girls get to their feet.
Maybe, just maybe, it would finally be okay.