Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The melody was a siren’s song, one Zoey would happily drown for. It infected her mind, blocking out the voice that yelled she was ‘too much and not enough.’ A beacon of light in the endless abyss that had swallowed her heart. She craved it like a starving woman would a feast, even as a part of her screamed that this was wrong.

Somewhere, she knew Mira was in the same position. Zoey had seen her as they entered the stadium within Namsan Tower, but they had quickly separated. It was a relief— even the thought of her former bandmate was a dagger to Zoey’s heart. She’d thought she belonged with them, Mira and Rumi both. What an idiot she had been.

This— the performance drawing her in like a moth to a flame— was all that mattered now. What had she been thinking, trying to take down the Saja Boys? Heh, Takedown, like the song she had poured her heart into only for Rumi to despise.

Because she was a demon.

She had lied to them.

Zoey stamped the thought out. It was easy with the words washing over her. Really, the Saja Boys deserved this victory. They were so beautiful, so heavenly. How could Zoey not want to give them all they desired? As they leaned down from the stage, hands sweeping over the fanatic crowd, Zoey found herself craving their touch. She had to get to them, had to prove her devotion.

So when they suddenly appeared further back— closer to the monstrous pink flame that would have made Zoey’s hunter instincts scream had they not withered away— her feet began to move in that direction without conscious input. She hardly noticed her surroundings, paying no heed to the throngs of fans walking alongside her. Her eyes were locked onto the Saja Boys, who had begun to levitate at the climax of their song.

“Gimme your desire! Once we set the world on fire!”

Step. Step. Step. The flames were getting ever closer, the heat threatening to sear Zoey’s skin. Still, she didn’t stop her march forward. She would be baptized in the fire and freed from this existence of constantly trying to prove herself. Of pretending she was actually someone important, someone others could rely on.

“Nar hwanholae chwihae, you can’t look away. No one is coming to save you!”

A flash of regret struck her at the image of Rumi, tears in her eyes and pleading for Zoey not to leave her. And what had Zoey done? She had raised her shin-kal at the woman she’d learned to rely on. The one she’d…

“Now we’re running wild. You’re down on your knees, I’mma be your idol!”

This is what I deserve.

It should have been her final thought. Yet before she could take those final steps toward oblivion, a chorus rose from the hallway leading into the stadium. Stopping in place, Zoey started to turn, moving like she was underwater and had heard the splash of a life preserver.

“We are Hunters, voices strong.”

That voice. Zoey hardly noticed her eyes widening, suddenly needing to see the approaching figure. Thankfully, the crowd parted for the woman with each step, giving Zoey the chance to watch as she approached.

“Slaying demons with our song.”

Rumi didn’t look much different than when Zoey had last seen her. She was wearing only her undershirt and shorts from their performance of Golden, and every exposed inch of skin was littered with demon patterns. They shone with a harsh pink light, as though a physical manifestation of their owner’s anguish. One of her eyes was the brown Zoey remembered, but the other had been overtaken by a bright yellow hue. Neither gleamed with the spark Zoey always loved to see on their leader. It was like she was already a corpse being puppeted by Gwi-Ma.

“Fix the world and make it right. When darkness finally meets the light.”

By now, a path was open for Rumi, letting her face the massive flame Gwi-Ma used as his physical form. He was a mountain compared to her, ready and willing to swallow her like a bug. First, though, he chose to relish in his victory.

“You come here like this?” Gwi-Ma taunted, flames jumping with each word. “You think you can fix the world? You can’t even fix yourself.”

“I can’t.” Even Rumi’s voice sounded dead. Zoey couldn’t recognize any trace of the woman who had practically been bouncing off the walls for their release of Golden just a few weeks prior.

“And now everyone finally sees you for what you really are.”

My light. That was the immediate thought to come to Zoey, but she’d given Rumi no reason to think that way.

“They do.”

“And the Honmoon is gone.”

Zoey couldn’t bring herself to react to the proclamation. The haze over her thoughts was too great, insisting she turn back toward the fire and finish what she’d started. Rumi’s presence here meant nothing. Zoey was still alone.

Except Rumi— brave, stupid Rumi, looked ready to face Gwi-Ma all by herself. “It is,” she acknowledged, eyes hardening. “So what?”

Everything froze. Zoey swore she could hear a pin drop as even Gwi-Ma seemed caught off guard by her statement. “Oh?”

Rumi tread forward, not a single soul moving to halt her advance. “Demons are free now. But you, Gwi-Ma, are not fit to rule us. I will be taking that spot from you.”

At that moment, a part of Zoey’s mind broke, refusing to comprehend what she was hearing. Rumi as a Demon Lord? Even if she had patterns, Zoey’s sweet, lovable friend would never go that far.

Then again, what does she have to lose? You abandoned her. Pushed her to the edge. Now she has nothing left. Zoey couldn’t distinguish the feeling from all the others raging in her chest. She could sense her mind sinking under Gwi-Ma’s spell once more, powerless to resist.

That was, until Gwi-Ma laughed.

It was an awful, booming sound, reverberating through the area like a plague. With each passing millisecond, it spread further, more and more of Gwi-Ma’s thralls taking up the mantle. It was doubtful they even knew what they were laughing over, the hypnotized audience simply doing what made them feel good.

Only a few people stayed silent. Jinu was one, the sole Saja Boy who looked unamused by the entire situation. Rumi, of course, was another, letting the jeers slide off her with the same stoicism she’d shown since arriving. Zoey hoped Mira was a third— The thought of her friend becoming so hateful was too painful to imagine.

Zoey was the last. Instead, the laughter had the opposite effect on her as everyone else, jolting her from Gwi-Ma’s control with a horrified gasp. She nearly fell to her knees due to the overwhelming clarity shrieking that she’d made a terrible mistake. Because this was an all too familiar scene to Zoey— standing alone while crowds of people delighted in her torment. 

Memories flooded her mind— of having notebooks filled with song lyrics torn up in middle school, of being shoved in a locker and left there for over an hour until a janitor took pity on her, of being shunned at every corner. Moments of her childhood that haunted Zoey to this day. And now Rumi was going through the same, but worse, because the first two people to cast her aside like garbage had been those she entrusted with her life.

Oh God, Rumi!

A rampaging need overtook Zoey then. She had to reach her friend, no matter what. But the moment she tried to scramble forward, strong arms held her back. Zoey cried out and twisted her limbs, struggling to escape with every ounce of might. She turned and saw her captors were other members of the crowd, a faraway look in their eyes as they held Zoey down. She couldn’t break free from their grips, not unless she summoned her shin-kal and attacked.

It was the only thing that could stop her in that moment, as every fiber of Zoey’s being resisted at the thought of harming an innocent. She could only watch the scene before her, a fact which would bring her great shame for the remainder of her mortal life.

Rumi was still moving, getting closer and closer to the Demon King. She had no weapon but her nails sharpened into claws that could tear even the toughest of creatures apart. A wall of flames though? Rumi stood no chance. Zoey screamed her name, terrified at losing a piece of her soul.

And Rumi… sang. Lyrics flowed from her lips, being casted on with a whole new meaning as they changed to reflect Rumi’s true feelings. Zoey could only wonder how she hadn’t recognized the truth sooner.

“Waited so long to break these walls down,

To wake up, and feel like me. 

But these patterns have broken the past now, 

Revealed these demons that they all see.”

Zoey’s eyes widened as Rumi’s claws began to grow brighter with each line sung. They emanated a pulsating, magenta light, just like the tears in the Honmoon.

What… What was Rumi doing?

“No more lying, 

Now I’m fighting, 

Like I’m born to be!”

The final word echoed with demonic energy, making Zoey instinctively stiffen. She wasn’t the only one nervous either, as Gwi-Ma finally showed a hint of fear with his next order.

“Kill her now!”

Rumi was no longer singing, but whatever she’d done with the scattered remnants of the Honmoon remained. The magenta of her claws seemed to glare at all angles, staring into Zoey with a palpable anger even from so far away. She doubted even their weapons crafted from the Honmoon could stand up to that power.

With Gwi-Ma’s order, the Saja Boys descended on Rumi. The sight tore Zoey’s heart from her chest— her struggles intensifying ten-fold as terror wracked her body. Distantly, she could hear her screams being echoed by a voice she knew better than her own. Mira was conscious too, and from the sound of it, she was also held down yet desperate as Zoey to protect their girl. It didn’t matter that Rumi claimed she’d steal Gwi-Ma’s power. She was still Rumi , and they had to get to her.

While they fought to escape, Rumi met the Saja Boys head on. She weaved under a joint attack from Abby and Romance, claws swiping at both their chests to make the demons stumble back. Though her back was exposed to a lunge from Mystery, that didn’t matter as she vanished in a puff of smoke, reappearing above the boy to dropkick his head. He was knocked to the ground, leaving him prone for Rumi’s claws to cut through his throat.

Before she could do so, Baby was there, kicking her in the guts with enough force that Zoey could see spit fly from her mouth. The sight made her own guts churn in agony, yet Rumi kept moving. Clawed fingers wrapped around Baby’s outstretched leg, yanking him off his feet with a yelp as his back struck the ground.

Abby and Romance had recovered by then, the former stabbing at Rumi’s stomach. She barely managed to weave away in time, claws grazing her side and drawing blood. Tears flooded Zoey’s eyes at the steady flow of red coming from her best friend. She’d never been religious, but at that moment, she prayed to every higher power she could imagine for Rumi to make it through this in one piece.

Energy continued to pulse through Rumi’s claws, and despite her panic Zoey caught the wariness in how the Saja Boys approached her. Jinu wasn’t even attacking, while the rest kept a close eye on Rumi’s right hand. When she jabbed at the still downed Mystery with them, he rolled away with a frenzy that parted his hair, letting Zoey see his wide, fearful eyes. Whatever Rumi had done clearly gave her an advantage, even outnumbered four to one.

That was proven as she spun toward Romance. The demon leaned back to avoid her slash, but it didn’t matter. A sharp light flew from Rumi’s fingers, cutting straight through his throat. With that simple motion, the first of the Saja Boys had been killed, fading away in a brilliant luster.

The others froze up at the loss of their comrade, and that proved to be their downfall. Rumi moved like a woman possessed, one hand tearing through Baby’s heart while the other shot off more of that warped power straight into Abby’s stupidly hot abs. They didn’t even have time to scream before vanishing back into the Demon Realm.

Since Jinu still hadn’t moved, Mystery was the only one left. In desperation, he pulled upon whatever twisted source of energy demons had to manifest a great sword in his hands. He clutched the weapon with a white-knuckled grip and swung at Rumi with a scream.

Rumi flew forward in a single, smooth motion. Claws flashed upward and sent the sword flying from Mystery’s grasp, leaving him no time to react before she cut right through his chest. He disappeared with horror etched on his features.

Four Saja Boys were dead, and Rumi had hardly broken a sweat. Zoey could only stare with her jaw agape, her brain refusing to form a single coherent thought.

Even so, the battle wasn’t over. Not when Jinu finally walked forward, making his way to Rumi with a pace that didn’t match the urgency of the situation. He lifted the brim of his ridiculously wide hat, locking eyes with Zoey’s girl.

“What do you think you’re doing?” he asked in a flat tone. “You won’t be able to defeat Gwi-Ma, no matter what you try.”

At that, Rumi laughed, the first sign of emotion she’d displayed since arriving. Yet it sounded nothing like the soft chortles Zoey tried to draw from her on a daily basis. Cruelty was woven into each breath, oppressive in how it spread to every corner of the arena.

“Wasn’t it you who said us demons can only live with our pain and misery?” Rumi challenged, making Jinu flinch. “The torture I’ve felt far exceeds anything Gwi-Ma can throw at me. I will destroy him, whether I have to cut through you or not. So will you get in my way, or will you step aside so I can annihilate those voices you hate so much?”

“She is a fool!” Gwi-Ma yelled. At the same time, the patterns on Jinu’s skin lit up while his face twisted in agony. “You can never escape your past, Jinu. Only I have the power to make you forget. Side with her, and you’ll suffer for all eternity!”

A million emotions flashed through Jinu’s face, each more complicated than the last. The silence only lasted a few seconds, but to Zoey it felt like an eternity. She’d never seen Jinu like this— gasping for air like a drowning man, quivering eyes darting between the Demon Lord and his opponent, hands trembling with a feeling Zoey couldn’t name. Jinu looked like his very soul was being torn in two, unable to reach cohesion.

That was until he closed the remainder of the distance between him and Rumi, standing by her side and dipping his chin in acknowledgement. “Finish what you came here for.”

“You’ll pay for this! Both of you will be immolated in my flames over the course of centuries!” Those very flames lashed out, flying toward the duo in waves of destructive heat that had Zoey shrieking Rumi’s name once more.

Rumi didn’t move. She faced the inferno head on, hand snapping up to catch the flames between jagged fingers. The flash of her claws grew so great Zoey had no choice but to look away. Even so, she heard the scream. Rumi yelled like her entire being was fighting back, her distress washed away by the roar of Gwi-Ma’s fury. Except those flames grew quieter and quieter, their heat slowly withering with each passing second. Zoey forced herself to look into the searing light to see what was happening.

She had just enough time to see that light had encompassed every inch of Gwi-Ma’s form. He bellowed in rage, but it was too late for him to retreat. The light was smothering him— snuffing out his flames bit by bit. Zoey felt a whirlwind of emotions course through her as the final wisps comprising the Demon Lord sunk into Rumi’s brilliance, that light retreating back toward her claws before dimming entirely.

Not a second later, multiple members of the crowd jolted as patterns flashed on their skin. They weren’t new, Zoey realized. Those people had been demons from the start, disguised as humans to watch their leader’s success, now shouting in surprise as a sudden force drew them to their knees.

When Rumi spoke, it was with that same booming voice that had convinced Zoey to draw her weapon on the girl. It echoed all around them, commanding in its very presence. “We demons have no right to the mortal realm. It’s time we took responsibility for our sins.”

That was the only warning the demons got before they were pulled beneath the ground itself, banished back into the Demon Realm by no more than a single woman’s will. In the same instant, the people holding onto Zoey relinquished their grips. She didn’t hesitate, sprinting toward Rumi with a voice entirely separate from demons screaming that if she failed to reach the girl, she would lose her forever.

“RUMI!” Zoey shrieked the name like it could tether its owner to this world. She stood like a goddess at the center of the stage. It was just her and Jinu there, their patterns shining pink in a clear sign they would be pulled under too. The idea alone was enough to lodge Zoey’s heart in her throat. She couldn’t leave them. She couldn’t!

Zoey’s prayers fell on deaf ears. It didn’t matter how much she wanted to make things right, she was too late. Across the stage, similar emotions made their way across Mira’s face as she too moved in vain to grasp the woman who meant the world to her— who meant the world to them both. As for Rumi herself, she looked back and forth between the girls with an anguished smile.

“I’m sorry.” Rumi’s whisper barely reached Zoey’s ears. “For everything.”

And that was it. She and Jinu fell into a world Zoey and Mira couldn’t reach, leaving not a single trace of their presence behind. She was gone.

No. She can’t be. There has to be some way to save her!

Despair warred with a desperate, fleeting hope in her heart. The clash left Zoey paralyzed, the roar in her ears drowning out the confused mutterings of a crowd slowly recovering from their daze. Her eyes were locked onto the spot where Rumi had just been, so close yet so far.

Then, finally, Zoey lifted her head, gaze locking onto Mira’s own. A single question resonated between them, not needing to be spoken aloud to pierce their hearts.

What are we going to do now?

Chapter Text

Mira’s fists pounded against the door with enough strength to nearly throw it off its hinges. She didn’t care. Celine should consider herself lucky Mira hadn’t gone straight to breaking it down.

It didn’t take long for the woman herself to open the door, standing on the other side with stress lines creasing her forehead and dried tears on her cheeks. It was the most vulnerable Mira had ever seen her, and she would have felt some semblance of pity had her heart not been burning with rage.

After Rumi’s disappearance, she and Zoey had rushed backstage to avoid the panicking fans who couldn’t remember how they had gotten to the tower in the first place. They’d taken a few minutes to break down, clutching each other while tears flooded from their eyes. They couldn’t speak, could barely even move through the crushing despair. In other circumstances, they might have sat there and wallowed for hours.

Except they couldn’t. Rumi was gone, and it was all their fault. They’d been the ones to push her away. Mira had raised her weapon first, a shame that dragged her down with each step and twisted her stomach into a pretzel. She had to make this right, whatever that entailed. Zoey clearly felt the same way. Once their tears had dried, they agreed to begin their search. That started by getting more information about Rumi from the woman who knew her best.

Celine’s eyes widened for a brief moment upon seeing them before she schooled her features. “What happened, girls?” she asked. “Where’s Rumi?”

Mira couldn’t speak past the lump that formed in her throat. The coil of guilt grew tight around her, making it difficult to breathe. How the hell were they supposed to explain everything? Mira herself still didn’t entirely understand what had happened. Her whole world had been flipped upside down from the moment she’d seen Bobby being dragged backstage, and nothing had been right since.

Thankfully, she wasn’t alone. Zoey responded for her after audibly swallowing. “Rumi… Rumi’s in the Demon Realm. She went willingly, dragging all the demons down with her.”

A myriad of emotions flashed through Celine’s face. “I… see.” She stepped aside for them. “Come in. I’m sure you have questions for me, and I need to hear the full story.”

Questions? That alone confirmed Mira’s suspicion. Celine knew, likely had known for as long as Rumi had patterns. She’d kept it from them too— Told them how all demons were evil and needed to be eradicated when Rumi was right there. Mira dug her nails into her palms to keep from lashing out already. Later. She could scream and rage all she wanted once Rumi was back safe.

Celine’s estate had once felt like home— more than the manor Mira had grown up in. This was where she’d first been allowed to be herself without judgement, free to express her opinions and interests and not be punished for them. She had gained true friends and was guided by an adult figure who actually seemed to give a damn about her charges.

Mira never imagined the house could feel so desolate. The wooden floorboards creaked under her feet, and a chill blew in from an open window. The only active source of light was a deskside lamp in the living room. Celine had likely been sitting on the plush chair beside it with only her thoughts as company. She led them there once they took their shoes off, sitting back down and gesturing for them to take the couch across from her.

As soon as they were seated, Mira asked the question that was burning in her mind. “How long?”

She didn’t need to elaborate. Celine knew what she meant, obvious by the way she stiffened and refused to meet her eyes. In a rare display of patience, Mira waited for her to muster up an answer, eyes narrowed and searching for any sign that the words she’d come up with were bullshit.

“Since she was born.” Celine spoke in a single, exhausted breath. “Mi-yeong made a mistake. She fell in love with a demon.”

“How?” Zoey breathed, her hand gripping Mira’s like a lifeline. Celine, however, shook her head.

“It doesn’t matter. Regardless, it wasn’t long before Mi-yeong was pregnant with her child. I begged her to terminate the pregnancy, but—”

“You what!?” Mira jumped to her feet with a snarl, seconds away from lunging across the table and attacking Celine. The thought of Rumi— their beautiful leader with a heart too big for her own good— never getting the chance to live made her want to cry and scream all at once.

A hand tugged on Mira’s wrist, drawing her attention to Zoey. The girl was looking at her with concern, though hints of anger also crept through. She likely felt the same as Mira, but was able to hold it in better.

Seeing that, Mira sighed and sat back down. Still, she held her glare on Celine, demanding answers. If she tried to slip around it, Mira swore she’d—

“I understand how you feel.” Celine’s words halted Mira’s thoughts in their tracks. “But you have to realize this was unprecedented. We had no idea what birthing a halfbreed would do to Mi-yeong. She could have died in childbirth, or the baby could have been stillborn. There were so many risks, some we probably didn’t know ourselves. I was only trying to protect my friend.”

“That’s just an excuse and you know it,” Mira spat. Her respect for Celine was already falling off a steep cliff, and she had a feeling it would get far worse before this story was over.

Celine dipped her head in acknowledgement. “Perhaps. Either way, Mi-yeong wouldn’t listen. She went through with the pregnancy. Fortunately, the baby was born without complications… but that didn’t mean we were safe. Gwi-Ma caught wind of one of his own having a child with a Hunter and was furious. He sent his legion after us, breaking into our home and attacking all in sight with intent to kill. Rumi’s parents both died in the attack, while I barely escaped with the newborn child on Mi-yeong’s insistence.”

She spoke matter-of-factly, as though telling the story as an outsider. Yet Mira saw the distant look in her eyes and the firm line of her mouth. Those were tells she recognized on Rumi as trying to emotionally distance herself from a conversation. Now Mira knew where she’d picked up that habit.

After all, Celine was the one always telling us our faults and fears must never be seen.

“Back then, Rumi’s patterns were small,” Celine continued. “She was able to wear shorter sleeves for most of her childhood, and I did my best to raise her like a normal girl. But the patterns… they continued to spread, crawling down her arms like a cancer. We had no choice but to hide them.”

There it was. Mira couldn’t stop herself from shouting the moment she heard Celine’s confirmation. “So you told her to lie to us!? You let us train with Rumi, live with her, with no idea what she really was!?”

“I had to protect her!” Celine insisted. “You are Hunters. Revealing the truth would have put her at risk!”

“Because you taught us to kill all demons on sight!” The thought was Mira’s, but Zoey was the one who had spoken. There were tears in her eyes and her hands were trembling as she yelled. “You set us up to assume the worst!”

They hadn’t known. There were no cases of a demon and a human having a child that they knew of. What were they supposed to think when they saw Rumi covered in those wretched patterns? The betrayal had left no room to give her the benefit of the doubt. And because of that they… they…

“We drew our weapons on her.” Mira’s voice was so flat she hardly recognized it. “We confirmed her worst fears.”

“So you understand,” Celine said. “There was no other choice.”

At that, Mira’s head snapped back up, eyes boring a hole through the woman’s skull. “If she hadn’t kept it a secret for so long, we would have understood!

Celine didn’t even flinch, watching Mira’s reaction with a look of pity that made her want to hit something. “This goes beyond you three. Think of the Honmoon. We hide our faults and fears to protect it, and now that they’ve been revealed, it’s fallen apart! So tell me, Mira, what happened?”

A disbelieving laugh escaped her. “You wanna know what happened?” Mira started to pace back and forth, running a hand through her hair in frustration. “The Saja Boys sent demons to expose Rumi’s patterns on-stage, and because we had no clue what was happening, we pushed her away! Then she came back— showed up at Namsan Tower like she didn’t have every right to watch the world burn. She took on Gwi-Ma herself and won. 

“And you know how she did it? She sang. Used the same powers we’ve honed for years, but instead of drawing on everyone’s hopes, she amplified her own shame. It’s all she knows now! It was so strong she was able to destroy Gwi-Ma and take his powers! Congratulations, Celine. Your teachings drove Rumi to become the new Demon Lord!”

It was like she’d set off a bomb in the room. Celine turned sheet-white, bringing a hand to her mouth in horror while the other clutched the armrest of her chair. Her breaths came out as erratic gasps, face flushing from a lack of oxygen. All signs of a panic attack, yet nothing Mira could respond to. She was rooted to the floor at the sight of her once always composed mentor.

“No no no,” Celine mumbled. “This can’t be happening. I didn’t want to fulfill her request. I couldn’t break my promise. And now… oh, gods, what have I done?”

“Request?” Zoey echoed with an audible frown. Mira was back to not speaking, her throat locked up once more as her brain worked overtime to decipher Celine’s words. In the end, she needn’t have bothered, as the ex-Hunter continued her rambles.

“Yes, her wish to die.” Celine hardly remembered the two of them were there anymore. If she had, she would see the way they both froze with sharp intakes of breath. “She came to me, just a few hours ago, begging for death. She was so afraid of destroying the Honmoon, and…”

Mira could barely hear Celine over the ringing in her ears. She envied Zoey for still being seated, since she thought she might collapse at any moment. Yet Celine kept talking, each word more damning than the last.

“I refused!” Celine’s voice raised in pitch. “I was a fool bound by sentimentality! Her parting words were a decree to see the Honmoon collapse, and now she’s become the manifestation of all we fight against. If she’s really gone down this path… become a Demon Lord … then I can’t hold back any longer. Rumi must be put down—”

CRACK. Mira hadn’t noticed herself approaching Celine until her fist was buried in the woman’s face, nose crumpling beneath her knuckles. Her hand stung from the impact, but that pain was nothing compared to how her heart had shattered into a million pieces. She drew on that agony, warping every bit of it into a burning rage.

“WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU!?” Mira took sick satisfaction in how Celine recoiled from her screams. “RUMI IS PRACTICALLY YOUR DAUGHTER, HOW COULD YOU EVEN THINK ABOUT JUST… KILLING HER!?”

Speaking it out loud was nearly enough to make Mira hit her again. Instead, she leaned inches away from the woman’s face and growled her next words. “I thought Rumi was cruel to lie to us. And it is still partly her fault. But you… you twisted her mind from the moment she was born. The way you talk about her… No wonder she was so afraid, if she grew up hearing that! She might have patterns, but you’re more of a demon than she could ever be.”

Saying that, Mira stepped back. They didn’t need any more from Celine, and she wanted the bitch out of her sight as soon as possible.

“Come on, Zoey.” Saying that, Mira turned away from the woman who had given her a home when she needed one most. “There’s nothing left for us here.”

She strode out of the room, knowing in her heart that Zoey would follow. Sure enough, she heard the rapid footsteps of one of her soulmates rushing to catch up. Together, they strode out of the house and into the cold night.

Their other soulmate was waiting for them.

Chapter Text

Mira wasn’t about to regret giving Celine a piece of her mind, but she knew they would be wandering blind without her. As far as she knew, there were no recorded instances of Hunters delving into the Demon Realm. How the hell were she and Zoey supposed to pull it off?

She knew Zoey was just as lost. The younger girl had been silent since they left the building, biting her lip in a perpetual frown. Above them, the first signs of dawn began to creep over the horizon. The night had seemed neverending, but time pressed on regardless of what they were going through. Humanity would continue their daily lives, unaware of the sacrifice Rumi made for them all. That seemed far too unfair for Mira’s tastes.

They were technically still on the estate, having to cut through the woods to get back to Mira’s car. For her part, she couldn’t wait to be as far away from any reminders of the woman who had failed them so thoroughly as soon as possible.

At least, that was the plan, but they’d barely taken a few steps before a flash of blue made her instinctively summon her gok-do and whirl in that direction. She felt a sharp tug in her gut at the motion, the weapon forced to come from her own soul rather than the Honmoon. In its current state, it was too weak to give them the support they’d relied on for years. Still, Zoey followed her motion, all six shin-kal ready to defend against the unseen threat.

Then she saw what had caught Mira’s attention in the first place.

“KITTY!” Zoey’s shin-kal were dismissed while the girl herself sprang forward. Ignoring Mira’s protests, she crashed into the blue tiger standing between the trees and buried her face in its shoulder. Mira felt her heart race as she feared having to save Zoey from being mauled.

Though upon second glance, it didn’t seem all that dangerous. In fact, Mira heard a purr emanate from the tiger after Zoey started cuddling. It tilted its head, freakishly large eyes closing as it rubbed its face against Zoey’s. The sight struck a chord in Mira’s heart, enough for her to lower her weapon. Even then, she didn’t dismiss it, not entirely willing to let her guard down around what had to be a demon.

Not that she’d seen any demon like this before. The tiger was acting like an overgrown house cat. If this was a trick to gain their trust, it was working far too well for her liking.

As though in agreement with her thoughts, something squawked above Mira’s head and nearly flew into her hair. She ducked at the last second, swiping the bird away and inadvertently toward the tiger. Given how it settled on the other demon’s head, they were likely companions of some kind. That was especially clear when all six eyes narrowed in exasperation at the tiger’s continued insistence on scritches— which Zoey was all too happy to provide.

Alright, enough was enough. “Zoey!” Mira shouted. “Back up, we don’t know what those things are.”

“Come on, Mira, they seem harmless!” Zoey leaned back a bit to peer at the bird, smiling all the while. “Aww, look at his little hat.”

Mira sighed, but couldn’t stop a smile from creeping onto her own lips. Regardless of her concerns, it was a relief to see Zoey find some happiness in their current circumstances. She finally dismissed her gok-do, leaning down to be on eye level with the creatures.

“What are you? Did Rumi send you?”

It was a long-shot, but desperate times and all that. From the way Zoey perked up, she felt the same. The tiger simply stared at them with that blank look for a few seconds, but at a chirp from the bird, it gently extracted itself from Zoey and started walking back into the woods.

“Wait!” Zoey called. The two girls exchanged a glance before running after the strange animals. No way were they about to lose their only possible lead into Rumi’s whereabouts.

As it turned out, they didn’t have to go far. Mira quickly recognized where they were being led, even if she’d only been here once before. Rumi had taken them shortly after they’d formed HUNTR/X. When they crested over the hill, she saw it— the grave of Mi-yeong Ryu.

“Rumi’s mom?” Zoey asked. Mira turned and saw her frowning. “Why did they bring us here?”

The tiger stopped right in front of the grave, dipping its head as though giving its respects. Then, below its feet, a blue ripple appeared, drawing twin gasps from Mira and Zoey. Before she knew it, they were sprinting forward to catch up with their guides.

“The Honmoon,” Mira breathed. “How can they access it? It’s supposed to be gone.”

“That’s our way in!” Zoey blurted. “Come on!”

Mira nodded. She knew the two of them were a mess. They were still in their costumes from the Idol Awards, and those few hours felt like they’d been weeks. Exhaustion pulled at them with each step, their bodies shouting that they were in no condition to go diving into the Demon Realm.

They didn’t care. How could they even think about rest when Rumi was suffering? She had tried to kill herself that very night, through having her own adoptive mother strike her down no less. No, Mira wouldn’t stop until she was safe and back in their arms. If that meant putting her life in the paws and talons of these strange creatures, so be it. She didn’t even need to ask Zoey to know the sentiment was shared between them.

As they approached the ripple in the Honmoon, it seemed to expand, giving them space to step in. It hummed with satisfaction at their touch, urging the two Hunters to seek out its third chosen. The wails of pain Mira had felt from it all night were subdued, and though its remaining presence was a grain of sand in the ocean, the warmth it provided was the same as always. Like it was promising to protect them no matter where they went or how little of it remained.

Thanks to that warmth, Mira felt no fear as she began to sink into the blue tide. The tiger had already delved below, and the bird gave one final chirp that Mira swore was filled with urgency before dipping down as well. That left Mira and Zoey alone to descend into a world that hated their very existence.

A hand took Mira’s and squeezed, making her turn toward her partner. Zoey’s smile eased an ache in her chest and let her breathe easy despite the uncertainty that lay ahead. More than that, her next words brought Mira some much needed hope that had been absent since the Golden performance.

“Whatever happens,” Zoey said, “we face it together.”

Right. They were never alone, not when they had a bond stronger than fate itself connecting them.

Mira was determined to remind Rumi of that fact.

For all the confidence she tried passing onto Mira, Zoey knew she felt none of it herself.

The sight of Rumi— patterns burning, agony etched onto her face, pulling herself and every demon into the depths to suffer for all eternity— hadn’t left her mind since they left Namsan Tower. No matter how hard she tried to convince herself otherwise, the overwhelming weight of failure hung over her head, whispering condemnations on how she’d abandoned the girl she loved.

She had to block that voice out. For all the pain she felt, she knew Mira had it worse. The older girl’s regrets were an unspoken barrier between them, and Zoey had no clue how to push through them. All she could do was inject some much needed positivity into the situation. That was what she was best at— A skill honed from years of practice.

As they reached the other side of the Honmoon, feet landing in the Demon Realm, she found it much harder to keep up the facade. The tiger and magpie were gone, leaving Zoey and Mira to navigate this hellscape all on their own. Worse, it was so dark Zoey could barely see her own hand in front of her face. From what she could tell, they were in some sort of cave, jagged stones surrounding them at all angles.

A chill shot through her, making her shiver and rub her arms. Wasn’t hell supposed to be hot in some cultures? It felt like a mid-winter day down here, her costume not nearly enough to fight back the frigid, still air. She could only hope it would be a bit warmer outside this cave.

To that end, she began the process of summoning her shin-kal. Except multiple seconds passed with no results. There was no familiar gleam of her weapons, no responsive tug from the Honmoon as it obeyed her wishes. From the frustrated grunt beside her, Mira was having the same issue. It was the exact problem they’d encountered earlier, but now their bodies were too worn out to make up the difference. They couldn’t summon their weapons. At least, not easily.

But we need them to get out! Come on, Honmoon, work with us here!

It was like heaving with her very soul, exhausting Zoey faster than a marathon sprint would have. Still, it worked, six gleaming knives forming between her fingers. Mira’s gok-do appeared as well, and between the two of them, they were finally able to see what was ahead.

“That took way too much effort,” Mira gasped. “The Honmoon is already practically non-existent in our realm. Down here, it’s…”

“Empty,” Zoey finished. “It can’t help us. We’re on our own…”

Through the shine of her knives, Zoey could see Mira’s mouth press into a firm line. “Then we press on ourselves. We don’t need to fight Rumi, just talk to her. We’ll apologize and… convince her to come back with us.”

The plan was far from perfect, but it was the best they were gonna get. But first, they had to get outside. With a silent nod exchanged between them, they began walking down the tunnel, only able to hope they were heading in the right direction. All the while, they didn’t speak a word, never knowing when a demon might be waiting around the corner.

Zoey wasn’t sure how much time passed in that oppressive silence. She could feel herself growing more jittery with each second, eyes darting to the walls and knives shaking in her hands. When she finally glimpsed a light at the end of the tunnel, she nearly cried in relief. There was an exit. They weren’t trapped. She couldn’t help herself, her racing heart pushing her to sprint that way. Mira trailed right behind her, ready to face the Demon Realm proper.

They really shouldn’t have let their guards down.

A screeching from above was the only warning Zoey was given, but it was enough. She flung all her shin-kal upward on instinct, each finding purchase in patterned skin. The first wave of demons that had tried to ambush them crashed into the ground, clutching the wounds in pain.

There were far more than six of them though. Looking up, Zoey saw a certifiable wave of demons standing on a small cliff looming over the cave she’d come from, glaring at her beneath the backdrop of an overcast sky. More were dropping down, and one managed to slash its claws across her arm. Zoey had to bite her lip to keep from screaming.

Mira swung at the attacker and those who followed, but she was only one girl, and the assault wasn’t slowing down. Zoey barely managed to push her away from the swing of a greatsword by a giant of a demon. He didn’t seem to mind missing his target, shifting his attention to Zoey instead.

Come on, shin-kal, don’t fail me now! With a concentrated shout, Zoey managed to summon the weapons into her hands, tossing them at the behemoth just in time for him to stumble back, sword barely missing her chest. Before he could recover, she leapt onto the massive blade, sprinting across its surface to reach the demon’s neck and plunge one of her knives through his skull. He dropped like a puppet without strings, leaving no blood yet also remaining in one piece. Did they not evaporate into mist if they were killed in the Demon Realm? Would they still come back, or had she just snuffed out a life for good?

There wasn’t time for such thoughts. Mira had swept aside another crowd of demons, but one had landed on her back, knocking the girl to her knees. Before she could recover, claws dug into her wrist, and she dropped her gok-do with a scream.

“MIRA!” Zoey moved in a flash, shin-kals obeying her will without any exertion this time. Each met its mark, clearing a small amount of space around her partner and giving her a chance to breathe. Yet even that meant little in the face of the hoard bearing down on them. Zoey had just enough time to reach Mira before they were surrounded once more, each guarding the other’s back.

It didn’t matter. There were too many demons. Any minute now they would be overwhelmed through sheer numbers.

“This isn’t fair,” Zoey grumbled. “How are we supposed to fight demons on their own turf?”

She was surprised to hear Mira chuckle. “Easy. If we had Rumi with us, this would be a cakewalk.”

Mira was right. Rumi was the one who covered their blindspots. She was the one who threw herself into danger without hesitation to keep the two of them safe. Her voice always rang out with conviction, swathes of demons falling from every sweep of her sain-geom. 

They were unstoppable when singing together. But all their songs were three-part harmonies, and just like they couldn’t sing without Rumi, they had no hope of fighting without her either. Though they threw out a flurry of attacks, battling with reckless abandon they had never been forced to rely on in the past, Zoey could see the tide getting ever closer. 

Until, finally, it pulled them under. Demons dogpiled Zoey and Mira, yanking their weapons from their hands and driving the girls to their knees. Even then, Zoey tried elbows and kicks to keep them back, but it wasn’t enough. Some large demons soon had her arms locked behind her back and her legs pinned together. Next to her, Mira was in the same boat, shouting expletives as she fought to escape her captors’ grasp.

The demons weren’t killing them, but taking them prisoner. Why? They had never held back before, and Zoey could tell from their leers that they still hated the Hunters. But they didn’t attack any further, didn’t go for a finishing blow. Something— or rather— someone was holding them back.

That became obvious when the crowd of demons parted, letting a familiar figure step through. Wearing a black jeogori jacket with a sejodae sash and a gat, golden eyes slit into pupils as he observed them, Jinu looked the same as ever. Though the look in those eyes was different, a light missing in them that had been there before. He tried to smile when he saw their gazes, but the effort was weak, failing to convince anyone.

“You really came here.” His voice was somber when he spoke. “You should have stayed in your realm. Your presence down here will only hurt her.”

There was no question on who he was referring to, and Zoey bristled at his assumption. Mira went further, lobbing a spit at him that missed by a few inches. “Fuck you!” she yelled. “What have you demons done to Rumi?”

Jinu just sighed and rolled his eyes like he was dealing with a couple of children. “Rumi is the one in charge here. She’s isolated herself to where Gwi-Ma once ruled over us, putting all her attention toward keeping demons away from the surface.” He snorted then, as though he’d told some joke. “Still much better than when we had Gwi-Ma. At least she doesn’t actively play our worst memories on repeat.”

“And the other demons are just… going along with this?” Zoey asked. “Even when you were so close to escaping the Demon Realm?”

“Oh some have tried to get revenge,” Jinu said, the words nearly making Zoey’s heart stop. “Even with her attention focused on keeping us trapped, they can’t threaten her. Trust me, she’s in total control.”

He sounded… proud of her? Zoey couldn’t stop the question that escaped her lips. “How do you feel about that? You seemed hellbent on destroying the Honmoon before.”

At that, Jinu could no longer meet their eyes. “I choose to serve her. The deal she’s given us is far better than we can hope. A chance at peace down here. No more fighting to prove ourselves, no more wallowing in our misery. Even if it’s not true freedom, it’s a kindness we don’t deserve.

“But you being here complicates things. Who knows how Rumi will feel when she sees you?”

They both froze, but Mira was the first to find her voice. “You’re taking us to her?”

Jinu shrugged. “Queen’s orders.” He turned to the demons holding them. “Bring them to Rumi’s throne. I’ll be right behind you.”

That was all he said before the demons carted them off like a sack of fruit. Zoey wanted to continue struggling, but if they were going to bring her to Rumi…

Well, even as a prisoner, Zoey would take any chance to see her again.

Chapter Text

The darkness was an oppressive veil, surrounding them from all sides and smothering any hope they might have felt. Zoey had wished the center of the Demon Realm would have more color— more warmth— than the cavern they had entered from, but the open space only solidified how desolate this world truly was. There was nothing but flat, red stone for miles, the only notable landmark being the platform where Gwi-Ma had once resided. No homes, no environments to explore— just a vast emptiness to suck up all their joy.

Above them, the sky was darker than the stormiest days on Earth, though Zoey suspected this place never received fresh rain. Back in Burbank, on the rare occasion it rained, she’d loved to run outside and feel the water pelt her face. It had felt like all her problems were being washed away, the pain from her bullies’ taunts and her parents’ fights sliding off with each drop. It was the absence of that option now that made her realize how trapped demons really were down here.

Even so, she couldn’t stop moving. A pair of demons had iron-clad grips on her arms, marching her toward the massive stone staircase. It was going to be a bitch to climb, especially when every muscle in her body was crying for rest. Only the knowledge of who was waiting for them at the top kept Zoey moving forward.

To her surprise, the demons let go of her and Mira once they reached the foot of the stairs. Her immediate instinct was to reach for her shin-kal, but before she could try, a sword was pointed to the back of her neck, freezing her in place.

“Climb,” the demon wielding the weapon growled. “And don’t try anything funny.”

What other choice did they have? Zoey exchanged a glance with Mira, sharing a thousand words through that one look. They were in agreement— For now, they would play along, but they were both willing to fight their way out of here with Rumi if it came down to that. Zoey silently prayed it wouldn’t.

At least their demon guards let them ascend alone. Whether that was confidence in Rumi or some kind of power play, Zoey couldn’t say. There had to be thousands of them down below, about to listen to every word of what should have been a private conversation. There was so much Zoey wanted to tell their oldest, so many apologies she had to give. An audience was only going to make that more difficult.

Still, she kept walking. One foot in front of the other, step after step. The silence that had swept over the entire realm was broken only by the clacks of her and Mira’s shoes on the stone floor. It could have gone on for years, and Zoey suspected no one would interrupt.

In reality, it only took about a minute before they reached the top of the staircase. And when they did, all thoughts of being exhausted, imprisoned by demons, and trapped in a barren wasteland flew from her mind. None of that mattered at the sight of the girl she’d been missing from the moment she ran away in tears. Zoey recognized her immediately, which made it all the more painful when the changes registered.

Rumi sat on a black throne with pink cushions, one elbow resting on the armrest so she could lean her cheek against her closed fist. Her other clawed hand was at her lap, curled in a sign of anxiety Zoey doubted anyone but her and Mira would recognize. She was careful not to tear at her new outfit— A black hanbok with a gold rim around her waist and purple lines creeping down her arms (like patterns, Zoey couldn’t help but note) and silver flats. Zoey’s eyes caught on Rumi’s vivid hair, the usually braided strands left free to wave wildly behind her.

This was Rumi, but it wasn’t. Her features had turned demonic— both eyes a piercing amber, skin a light purple that still managed to contrast with her sickly-looking patterns, and fangs poking from her lips when she reflexively smiled at their approach. There was even a pair of magenta horns no longer than Mira’s index fingers jutting from her forehead. This wasn’t the shy and personable leader Zoey remembered.

No. That kind of thinking is what got you into this mess. She’s still Rumi. She has to be.

Now if only Zoey could get her throat to work. She’d rehearsed 73 different apologies to say once they found Rumi, but they were lodged in her chest while her suddenly dry mouth struggled to make a sound. She glanced at Mira for help, but the other girl was simply staring at their leader with wide eyes and jaw agape.

In the end, it was Rumi who broke the silence with a question that stabbed through Zoey’s heart and twisted for good measure.

“Am I really that hideous?” Though there was no echo to Rumi’s voice, it was deep enough to nearly be more rumble than words. Her tone was flat, making it impossible to read her emotions, especially when they were so used to Rumi wearing her heart on her sleeve. Even with her secrets, a twitch of her eyes had always been enough for Zoey and Mira to tell if she was frustrated, about to cry, or just plain tired. Now, her despondent words were the only sign of her mood they had.

“No!” Zoey blurted, desperate to dispel whatever self-defeating notion Rumi had in that overworked brain of hers. “God no, Rumi. You look…”

“Hot,” Mira supplied, making Zoey’s face burn red. Rumi’s cheeks didn’t even show a sign of pink.

“Thank you,” Rumi said, the slightest upward curve of her lip the only sign she’d heard them. It barely lasted for a millisecond before she sighed. “What are you two doing here?”

The accusation stung, but Zoey didn’t even get a chance to try and explain herself before Mira was stepping forward with a characteristic scowl. “What are we doing here?” she echoed with a tone that made Zoey wince. “What are you doing, Rumi!? Trapping every demon in the Demon Realm by yourself? That’s not how we do things!”

Finally, emotion shone in Rumi’s eyes, though the burning flames within made Zoey wish she’d return to that stoic neutrality. “I wasn’t aware there was a ‘we’ anymore. You made your thoughts clear when you saw my patterns.”

Zoey wanted to go back in time and shake her past self’s shoulders. She wanted to scream in her face until she understood that Rumi deserved to be loved unconditionally, regardless of any secrets she kept from them. That they had the right to feel betrayed, but never to threaten Rumi. Because what else could pointing their weapons— the same ones used to slay countless demons— entail? At the time, she’d just wanted Rumi out of sight so she could think . She’d needed time to calm down and consider what came next. But of course Rumi wouldn’t see it that way. And now… Did Rumi hate them? Zoey didn’t think she’d be able to handle it if she hated them.

“We’re sorry, Rumi!” Without a second thought, she dropped to the floor and bowed, forehead pressing against the frigid stone. She could hear Mira’s sharp gasp and the mutterings of demons below. None of it mattered. Only Rumi’s forgiveness would at that moment.

“I know we messed up,” Zoey continued. “We never should have drawn our weapons. You’re not… you’re not just a demon. You’re Rumi. Our missing piece. We need you in our lives… and I want to believe you need us too.”

When she dared to look up, Zoey caught the way Rumi’s eyes glistened. Blinking the tears away before they could finish forming, the half-demon kneeled down and took Zoey’s arms with a gentleness that felt foreign to them all, slowly lifting her back to her feet.

“You don’t have to apologize, Zoey,” Rumi murmured. “You were right to be defensive. I betrayed you. I hid my monstrous self from the day you met me. The mistake was mine, for thinking I could ever be a Hunter.”

Oh.

Oh.

It wasn’t them Rumi hated. It was herself. They had scorned her for hiding and she had taken every word to heart, believing herself to be an unlovable demon. Whatever they said next wouldn’t undo their accusations— nor what Rumi now believed to be their true thoughts. That sort of pain couldn’t be erased in a single conversation.

Still, Zoey had to try.

“No, Rumi,” she whispered. “You were always a Hunter— the best of us.”

“She’s right,” Mira said, her face a reflection of Zoey’s misery. “Yeah, I’m still pissed you kept this a secret for so long, but not once did I doubt your dedication to the Honmoon. You cared more about making it gold than any of us. Hell, you practically worked yourself into a coma to see it through.”

A bitter chuckle crawled from Rumi’s lips. “I wanted to see the Honmoon destroyed, by the end of everything. It was built up on lies and shame, and deserved to crumble. I don’t even regret it.”

“If that’s true, I feel the same way.” If there were any words from Mira that could halt Rumi in her tracks, it was those. It left the older girl staring at Mira like she’d grown a second head. No doubt she’d been telling herself that her satisfaction at the Honmoon’s destruction was proof of her demonic soul.

Well screw that. Zoey chipped in the moment she understood. “Same here. No more hiding, right? If we’d finished off a seal meant to suppress things that make us uncomfortable after claiming that, I’d have never forgiven myself.”

“You… You guys seriously…” Rumi sputtered, trying to make sense of the declarations that went against all they’d been taught.

“We’re not gonna force you to fix the Honmoon, Rumi.” Mira reached out as though to grasp the other girl’s shoulder, only to draw back at the last second in hesitation. “But this? You can’t seriously be planning to stay down here for all eternity, keeping an entire army at bay by yourself. It’s ridiculous.”

At that, Rumi schooled her features, no longer looking directly at either of them. Instead, her gaze roamed the ocean of demons below, mouth set in a firm line. “Is it?”

Shuddering at the echo in Rumi’s voice, Zoey could only watch as an ember sprung up behind her throne. The familiar violet flames were no larger than a bonfire at first, but with a sweep of the Demon Queen’s arms, they swelled into a great inferno the size of a football field— illuminating Rumi in a harsh glow. Zoey shied back from both the light and heat, already sweating buckets.

“This is the power I now bear.” Rumi wasn’t just addressing them, but every being residing in this realm. It was then Zoey realized how formally she’d been speaking this whole time. “My strength is greater than that of Gwi-Ma in his prime. If I desire the two realms to remain separate, then that’s what they shall be. Demons and humans are better off without each other.”

Oh fuck no. Zoey wasn’t going to let that happen, not when it meant losing Rumi forever. “Rumi—” she began.

“Then kill us.” The insane proclamation from Mira turned Zoey’s words to ash in her mouth. “Because we’re human, and we’re not going anywhere without you. We’ll come back time and time again until you get it through your thick skull that you’re not alone in this!” Her voice grew louder with each heated blow. “You can sit on that fancy chair and have the Saja Boys feed you grapes for all I care. That doesn’t change the fact that you’re the same girl who likes to eat kimbap in a single bite and cried for an hour when Zoey showed us Bambi! As long as we’re breathing, we’ll keep trying to save her!”

If any of the demons at the foot of the altar dared to climb to their level, they would notice the way Rumi’s balled up fists trembled, how her spine was stiff as a rod, and the fact her gaze was rooted to the floor. Zoey wanted nothing more than to pull her into a crushing embrace, but before she could, Rumi recovered her composure enough to speak— thankfully in a normal tone. Though her words crushed any lingering hope in Zoey’s chest.

“That girl is dead. All that’s left is the demon.”

“You’re lying.” Zoey stepped forward, refusing to look away any longer. Her eyes locked onto Rumi’s amber pupils with a challenge echoing through them. “You’re telling yourself that so it doesn’t hurt so much, but the truth is that you don’t want any of this. You know there’s a better way, and deep down, a part of you is screaming for it.”

Silence. It lingered in the space between them, fragile and dangerous, for seconds that felt like hours. Then, Rumi spoke, draining all the fight Zoey had left in her with a single sentence.

“How can you be certain,” she asked, “when you can’t tell my lies from my truths?”

Breath failed her. Thought failed her. Rumi could have shot her in the gut and it would have hurt less. Not because the words were harsh, but because they were true. Zoey’s world had been flipped upside down, and all her assumptions had been thrown out the window. She still believed Rumi was good at heart— It was painfully obvious with every word Rumi said. Yet her suffering— the desires she kept locked away— those Zoey couldn’t claim to know.

She wanted to. She wanted to so badly it felt like her heart was crying. Still, that didn’t change the fact their bond had fractured, and until it was repaired she would never be able to understand.

Rumi grimaced at both their faces before turning away with a sigh. “We’ll talk more later. For now, let Jinu escort you to the cells we keep under the altar. Your needs and comforts will be met, but I can’t let Hunters roam freely in my realm.”

Saying that, Rumi returned to her throne, though she didn’t sit right away. Back facing them, she gripped the chair’s armrest with enough force to turn her knuckles white. Two words escaped her in a delicate whisper. “I’m sorry.”

Zoey and Mira didn’t resist as they were taken away.

Chapter Text

When Rumi had said Zoey and Mira’s comforts would be met, it turned out she meant their cell would be almost as nice as some of the hotel rooms they slept in during their tours.

Mira hated it.

Every luxury was a reminder of what Rumi wouldn’t accept for herself. A bed with ridiculously soft sheets, a small book shelf stacked with their favorite novels, a lamp that somehow managed to push back the oppressive darkness of the Demon Realm— There was even a goddamn bathroom with working plumbing! If it weren't for the bars at the front of the main room, Mira would swear they were staying at someone's apartment. She could only wonder how the hell Rumi had put all this together.

Her mind produced the image of Rumi ordering demons up to the surface for furniture shopping and couldn't stop a snort from escaping her. The noise drew the attention of Zoey, who looked up at her with a squint.

They were both in bed at the back corner furthest from the bars, having lied down together after a much-needed shower. Rumi had also given them simple sweatshirts and pants to put on— which Mira was all too grateful for after so many hours stuck in that damn costume. Neither of them had moved to the couch by the cell door. After all that had happened, they needed to be as close as possible.

Zoey was still giving Mira a questioning look, so she forced a smile and took the younger girl’s hand, intertwining their fingers. “Just imagining how Rumi set this up for us. You think she had to micromanage a bunch of demons while they arranged the furniture?”

The giggle her words drew from Zoey was a balm over Mira’s heart. If she were alone, Mira knew she would have given up ages ago. It was Zoey’s bright-eyed optimism that kept her going beyond all odds. That had always been the case, from the day Celine had first picked them up in her van to bring to the estate.

And I threw that all away. I abandoned Zoey to Gwi-Ma’s manipulations.

Pain flashed across Mira’s face, which Zoey was quick to notice. “Mira?” she asked. “What’s wrong?”

Fuck, Mira was already crying. What was wrong with her? Why couldn’t she keep it together? She squeezed Zoey’s hand tighter, dipping her head in shame. “Zoey, I… I’m so sorry. I left you.”

The reminder drew a full body flinch from Zoey. That was all Mira needed to confirm the pain she’d caused, guilt sinking like a stone in her chest. Yet before she could drown alongside it, a soft hand reached out and brushed the tears from her cheeks.

“I don’t blame you,” Zoey whispered. “Gwi-Ma got to us both. He got to everyone. Everyone except…”

“Rumi,” Mira finished. “She was the only one strong enough to resist him. She came back , even after we pushed her away. Fuck, Zoey, we… How can we make up for what we did?”

“I don’t know.” Now Zoey was crying, shoulders shaking with repressed sobs. “We pointed our weapons at her! Our best friend! She probably spent years terrified of that exact scenario!”

Mira could picture it far too easily— All those hours Rumi spent locked in her room, likely huddling in bed, paralyzed by the fear of her friends one day putting her down like any other monster they’d been trained to kill. A world where they could coexist after the reveal of Rumi’s patterns wasn’t one their leader could envision. Yet she had still pleaded— cried in agony for them not to leave. They should have dropped their weapons and rushed to embrace her then and there.

“We can’t take it back.” The admission was like a dagger in Mira’s chest, but she forced herself to keep speaking. “Even if we make things right with Rumi, she won’t forget what happened for the rest of her life.” 

She took a deep breath, a thousand thoughts racing through her mind. Her gaze lowered to meet Zoey’s, staring from next to her on the bed. They were close enough to hold one another, and at that moment Mira gave into the impulse and wrapped an arm around her maknae. Zoey instinctively leaned into the touch with a relieved sigh that helped Mira find her next words.

“My mom used to tell me that family can’t help but hurt each other…” Mira caught the way Zoey’s eyes widened. She rarely opened up about her family unless pressed, her line in Golden being one of the few times she even alluded to them. Everyone knew her as the black sheep, and she wore that title like a badge of honor to hide the truth— the pain that came with being an outcast. Of failing to meet every expectation set for you.

Zoey was staying quiet, giving Mira time to formulate her thoughts. Mira wished she had the same level of patience as her bandmates, that she wasn’t the one always clashing heads with them and causing friction in the group. A problem child even now.

“I believed her for a long time.” Mira continued. “But then I met you guys and… I realized it doesn’t have to be that way. Then we hurt each other anyways, with all the fights leading up to the Idol Awards and everything that happened after. Rumi hid her patterns the entire time we knew her, and that stings. Even knowing why, I can’t let that go. Except the pain I caused her is worse , because I left her alone. She was so fucking scared and I… we made her want to die, Zoey!”

Sobs poured from her throat, a heavy lump blocking out any other words she might have said. None were needed, as Zoey understood what she needed. Wrapping one arm around her shoulder, she used the other hand to press their foreheads together. Mira could feel Zoey’s warm breath on her cheek, each exhale an anchor to steady her in the turbulence of her heart.

It took a few minutes, but Mira eventually managed to control her breathing and blink away her tears. She could see Zoey’s own face was damp from crying. The two of them were complete messes, and Mira couldn’t help but think about how composed Rumi had looked on that throne.

An act. You know her better than that, Mira. Don’t let her fool you into thinking she isn’t suffering.

“What am I doing?” Mira whispered. “Feeling sorry for myself won’t accomplish anything.”

Zoey nodded, wiping her own tears away. “Y-Yeah. We came here to help Rumi. We can’t give up just because we failed once! I’m not going to doubt her again, no matter what.”

“Me neither.” Mira rose from the bed, offering a hand to Zoey. By now they’d been awake for over 24 hours. Their conversation with Rumi about playing Golden instead of Takedown had been a full day that felt like a lifetime ago. Even so, the idea of sleeping didn’t cross her mind. She could only rest when Rumi understood how much they cared for her.

With that thought running through her head, Mira didn’t stop at pulling Zoey to her feet. She tugged the shorter girl into her arms, wrapping her in a bone-crushing hug. Zoey squeaked in surprise but returned the embrace without question. Mira hoped that meant she was equally ready to face her feelings.

“I love you, Zoey.” Mira spoke the words before she could second guess herself. With their proximity, she was able to hear how Zoey’s breath hitched and feel her muscles tense. “You and Rumi both. Whatever happens next, I won’t hide from that anymore.”

“No more hiding?” Zoey giggled nervously, a flush burning past her neck. “Sorry, sorry. You know I tend to ramble when I’m nervous. I…” She swallowed audibly. “I love you guys too. I just… never thought I could say it.”

A tide of relief swept through Mira, but she stood against it so she could give the first half of her heart a reassuring smile. “Those were Celine’s lessons, and we’re not gonna listen to her anymore. Screw Celine. Hell, screw the Honmoon. I’ll do whatever it takes for the three of us to be together.”

“Me too,” Zoey said, and that was all Mira needed to hear. She leaned forward and met Zoey’s lips with her own. Their hold softened into something less crushing, no longer needing that tightness to affirm their presence to each other. That and so much more were being said already. It was a vow to stick together, and on Mira’s part, a promise to never leave her girls again. She kept it short, knowing the moment wouldn’t be right until they had their third by their side. Still, when they parted, Mira knew her smile was as blinding as Zoey’s.

“I know what we have to do.” Mira turned toward their cell door. Whatever the glowing red stone comprising it was, Mira doubted their weapons would be able to cut through it. The lock looked incredibly simple though, and Mira had no doubt she could pick it with one of Zoey’s shin-kal. She took a step forward to do as much, but paused at the hand holding her wrist.

“Mira…” Zoey bit her lip, searching for the words to say what was on her mind. “Do you believe what your mom said? About family?”

Mira didn’t even need to think. “No.” She turned her hand over to give Zoey’s a squeeze. “She was wrong. Family doesn’t hurt each other.

“We share our pain and stick together through our worst days."

Jinu had made too many mistakes in his long life to count. For so long, he had felt like he was drowning in them, chains wrapped around his limbs and dragging him to the bottom of the abyss. With Gwi-Ma’s voice finally extinguished, he should be allowed to breathe. Those regrets shouldn’t haunt him any longer.

That was impossible when the results of his most devastating mistake stood before him.

Rumi looked ethereal. Where Gwi-Ma was all malice and flames, she was melancholy incarnate. She sat on her throne like she was presenting for an interview, not a single strand of hair out of place. Yet when he looked into her eyes, Jinu couldn’t see a single glimpse of the light they’d shared singing that duet on a rooftop. What if we heal what’s broken? That had been her plea.

Now she was more broken than ever, all because of Jinu’s scheme. And the worst part was, he wasn’t sure he would change anything. Gwi-Ma had been vanquished. He wouldn’t harm Jinu or any other demon ever again. That freedom should be worth the sacrifice… right?

“You’re staring.” Rumi’s flat observation nearly had Jinu jump out of his skin. How the hell was she able to jumpscare him when he literally had his eyes on her?

He looked away and forced his hands not to twitch. “Sorry.”

“Don’t be,” Rumi said. “What’s on your mind, Jinu?”

It was a wonder she still trusted him after all he’d done. At the very least, Jinu wouldn’t betray that trust again. “I’m worried for you,” he admitted. “You aren’t yourself.”

Rather than get offended, Rumi simply chuckled. “Everyone seems to be thinking that.” She leaned forward, looking genuinely curious. “Should I be the same, after everything that’s happened?”

“Of course not.” Jinu held his hands in front of him as though he could ward away the thought. “You’ve done good, Rumi. You destroyed Gwi-Ma. You gave us demons a chance to build a real society down here— one not ruled by shame and fear.”

To prove his point, he waved his arm toward the sight in the distance. At the edge of the horizon, they could see demons working tirelessly to erect proper buildings. Simple little shacks, but it would be the first time any of them had a real place to call home. He could only imagine the communities that would blossom from there.

“They could hardly stand to look at me.” Despite the aura of control Rumi tried to put on for the other demons, she had no qualms with getting up and pacing when it was just her and Jinu on the platform. “Even though they said they’d let the Honmoon fall for me, they still don’t understand why I made that choice.”

Was she looking for a response? Jinu wasn’t sure, but he supplied one anyway. “You’ve chosen to embrace your demon half. They still see you as the Hunter they knew all those years.”

“Exactly.” Rumi nodded but didn’t slow down. At this rate she’d burn a hole into the stone beneath her feet. “They think everything can go back to normal, but I don’t want it to! Normal meant covering up, living in silent pain while putting on a smile for people who’d hate what I am.”

“Do they, though?” Jinu asked. “Hate you, I mean.”

At that, Rumi froze, a dozen different emotions cycling through her face. She bit her lip to choke back her initial response, and Jinu couldn’t help but wonder if he’d made a mistake. A part of him, carrying scars from Gwi-Ma’s reign, braced itself in case she lashed out.

In the end, she deflated like a balloon and sat back on the chair, rubbing one palm against her forehead. “I don’t know anymore,” she mumbled. “I used to understand them so well. All their ticks, their favorite hobbies, their feelings… We were all like that with each other, except I kept the biggest secret possible from them. And now… it’s like we’re back to square one, relearning who we are all over again.”

You should let them, Jinu wanted to say. They’ll learn to love the new you as well. They probably do already.

He held himself back. He could see the weight on Rumi’s shoulders, the exhaustion that could have dragged her down to this realm all on its own. She had freed Jinu from his pain, and in the process taken so much onto herself. Jinu doubted he would be able to understand her torment if given another 400 years.

All he could do was serve.

“So what will you do?” he asked. “Thousands of demons are relying on you to bring an end to centuries of torment. Can you handle that pressure with these past attachments holding you back?”

Rumi snapped her head up to glare at him, literal fire in her eyes making Jinu swallow on instinct. “At least I’m not planning to erase those memories like a coward,” she spat, and ouch. Jinu definitely deserved that one, but that didn’t make it sting any less.

I’d better shut up before I piss her off any more. He prepared himself to stand in awkward silence by her side, but only seconds passed before they heard footsteps rapidly approaching. Jinu spun toward the source, a demon who had been turned in his 60s, looking like any other aging Korean man except for the patterns covering his skin.

“Y-Your Majesty!” he blurted. “The prisoners have escaped their cells and are on their way here!”

Rumi’s face flashed with shock and fear. It was only for a millisecond, far too quickly for most people to notice anything before she schooled her features. Jinu only caught it because of his training in the Emperor’s Palace before the marks consumed him, followed by 400 years of manipulating people into getting what he wanted. Seeing that, he couldn’t help but wonder if there were people who could save Rumi after all.

“Jinu,” she snapped. “Stop them. Make sure they’re unharmed and returned to their cell, and get a stronger lock for it.” She looked away and mumbled to herself then. “I should’ve remembered Mira knows how to lockpick…”

All Jinu could do was bow and hurry toward the dungeon. He’d sworn not to betray Rumi again and had meant every word. He wouldn’t hold back, even if it meant dying for her. Though he hoped it wouldn’t come to that, not when the Demon Realm was finally about to change.

Any doubts he had about Rumi’s intentions had been cast away. How could it not be, after what he’d heard?

There was no way Rumi actually forgot a single detail about her friends.

Chapter Text

Mira’s gok-do was lighter than a feather in her hands, cutting through waves of demons like a hot knife through butter. It was a far cry from the herculean effort it had taken just to summon the weapon earlier, and she had to wonder what had changed. Had her newfound determination reached the scattered fragments of the Honmoon? Was her soul strengthened by the realization of what it would take to save Rumi?

Either way, she wouldn’t complain. The moment Mira had gotten the door open, demons had poured into the narrow hallway outside their cell to keep her and Zoey from escaping. That was their mistake, as the two Hunters excelled in tight spaces. Standing back to back, they were able to strike down the rush of opponents without taking a scratch. Mira’s only concern was that they didn’t fade into smoke afterward. Instead, the demons fell to the ground, unconscious but slowly having their wounds repaired.

They must be immortal in this realm. Given long enough to heal, they’d get right back up and drag Mira and Zoey down by their ankles. They’d have to get out of this space before that happened.

“Zoey!” Mira called out. “Switch to my side and make a push forward. I’ve got your back!”

Her friend (girlfriend?) didn’t question Mira’s command, twirling around and throwing half her shin-kal over Mira’s shoulders to dig into the nearest enemies. Zoey was literally on top of them a moment later, wrapping herself around a demon’s head and leaning back to slice through two of his companions with a knife in each hand. Her final weapon dug into her ride’s spine a moment later, and she pushed herself off the fallen foe to continue her assault.

Confirming Zoey had the situation under control, Mira turned to the demons the younger girl had been fighting before. They tried to lunge forward and sink their claws into Zoey’s unexposed back, but a sweep of Mira’s blade forced them to lean away. She pushed forward with two quick jabs to take out just as many demons, then swept horizontally to catch three more.

A high note escaped Mira as she slammed her gok-do into the ground. Bright blue lines shot out from the attack, catching the demons and dragging them out of the room. It was a far cry from sealing them where they wouldn’t be a threat, but the confirmation they could still reach the Honmoon had a wide grin stretching Mira’s face. Gwi-Ma might have destroyed the old system, but they could always make a new one.

Not without Rumi though. With one side of the room clear, Mira began sprinting that way, yelling for Zoey to follow her. Dozens of shapeless demons skittered across the floor to catch up to them, but they didn’t have to go far. It only took a few seconds for Mira to reach the exit, kicking the door open and running out into the exposed, frigid air.

The dungeon had been placed under the altar where Rumi’s throne sat, and as they came out of the stone structure, Mira could see the massive platform loom over them. Even with their enhanced capabilities, they’d need to go around to reach the stairs if they wanted to get back up to her.

Except before they could begin to run that way, they were blocked by a single figure. Though a far cry from the hoard they had just burst through, Mira knew he was far more dangerous than all of them combined. What surprised Mira further was how the door into the dungeon slammed shut the moment she and Zoey were through, blocking off all the other demons. It was just them… and Jinu.

A day ago, Mira would have leapt forward without hesitation. Now, she held her gok-do in front of her defensively, watching Jinu with narrowed eyes. Next to her, she could see Zoey gripping her shin-kal with enough force to turn her knuckles white.

They didn’t have time for a standoff, so Mira spoke first. “Not gonna let your friends out?” She gestured to the locked, reinforced door behind them. That had to have been Jinu’s work somehow, given the utter lack of surprise on the boy’s face.

He shrugged. “Figured they’d just get in my way. Don’t suppose you two will turn around and walk back to your cell?”

“Not a chance!” Zoey spat. “We’re going to save Rumi!”

“From what, exactly?” Claws sprouted from Jinu’s fingertips as he glared at them. “Her demon side? This realm? Are you going to force her to hide again?”

Oh how dare he? Mira stepped forward, her voice a growl. “From her guilt! We just want her to stop feeling like she has to carry the whole world on her shoulders!”

Her words were met with silence. Jinu seemed to be dissecting Mira with his stare, his eyes piercing her with enough force to make her shiver. Just as she was about to give up and attack, the glare dropped from his face like it had never been there in the first place, replaced by an easygoing smile.

“Good answer,” he said. “Honestly, I hope you pull it off.”

What? Was it really that easy? After all the torment he’d put them through, Mira couldn’t imagine Jinu stepping aside now.

Sure enough, he sighed a second later. “Unfortunately, Rumi ordered me to stop you, and I’m not one to disobey my liege. You’re gonna have to find another way to help her once I’m done kicking your asses.”

Zoey scoffed. “Oh please. Even with all the Saja Boys by your side, you guys always had to run away from us like cowards. What makes you think you can win all on your own?”

It was an echo of Mira’s thoughts. Jinu, however, didn’t seem concerned. He fell into a defensive posture not unlike her own, claws raised in front of him in preparation. “That was in the human realm. Down here, things are different. Let me show you how.”

That was the only warning they got before Jinu’s posture became more offensive. The boy darted forward in an instant, one clawed hand knocking Mira’s gok-do aside while the other swung for her face. He was blindingly fast. If she were on her own, Mira would have had no chance of dodging in time.

Thankfully, she was never alone. A shink-kal grazed across Jinu’s claws, knocking them off balance just enough for Mira to duck out of the way. All the while, a song rose from her chest.

“We’re shattering the silence,

We’re rising, defiant,

Shouting in the quiet,

You’re not alone!”

She and Zoey sang together. They knew a third piece of their harmony was missing, but with any luck, their words would reach her ears. That thought was all they needed to press forward. Mira recovered enough to slash at Jinu’s shoulder, drawing a cut that made him hiss in pain. Zoey tried to follow up with jabs of her knife-wielding fists, but he knocked her wrist aside with his own and stabbed into her other arm.

Even so, they didn’t slow down. Zoey dismissed her weapons only to resummon them in her uninjured hand, tossing a volley at Jinu that made him leap back into Mira’s range. It was a familiar move between the two of them, and Mira didn’t even have to think while following up. Her gok-do caught Jinu’s shins before he even noticed the threat, nearly driving him to the ground.

“We listened to the demons,

We let them get between us,

But none of us are out here on our own!”

Jinu moved like a machine, spinning around despite his injuries and drawing a cut across Mira’s forehead that briefly blinded her with blood. She crashed to the floor a moment later as he kicked her legs out from under her, prone to his next strike.

Zoey was there in an instant, rushing at the demon with a flurry of attacks that forced him on the backfoot. She moved with such frantic energy that Jinu had no chance to retaliate at first, blocking her blades with his hardened claws.

That gave Mira the time she needed to recover. She wiped the blood from her face with her sleeve, dirtying the white fabric. Then, in an act mastered from years of unexpected battles, she tore off part of the other sleeve and tied it around her head. The makeshift bandana soaked up the blood for now, letting her fight unobstructed.

“So we were cowards,

So we were liars,

So we’re not heroes,

We’re still survivors!”

Jinu wasn’t slowing down, and Zoey had gotten multiple cuts in the time it had taken Mira to bandage her forehead. Desperate to pull her partner out of the fire, Mira hurled her weapon forward, cutting a hole right through Jinu’s side. He was lucky to twist away at the last second and avoid being run through instead. Even so, it made his movements sloppy, and that was all they needed.

“The dreamers, the fighters,

No lying, I’m tired,

But dive in the fire and I’ll be right here by your side!”

The two Hunters moved as one. They were partners in a complex dance and Jinu was the stage prop centering them. Their weapons swung in his direction repeatedly, only frantic maneuvers and demon-level speed keeping him from being overwhelmed entirely. Yet that could only take him so far. Mira’s final strike was the most simple of all, a downward stab that caught his shirt and pinned it to the floor. Before he could rip his way free, Jinu found one of Zoey’s knives pressed against his neck. He had lost.

He didn’t seem too upset about that though. Stuck on his back, left at their mercy, Jinu laughed. Mira’s blood boiled at the sound. What the hell did he find so amusing about all this?

“You win,” he said after calming down. “Go pull Rumi out of her stubborn head.”

“We were going to do that anyway!” Mira snapped. She would have said more, but Zoey’s hand on her arm halted Mira in her tracks. She frowned and turned toward Zoey, who was scanning Jinu’s face.

“You wanted us to win,” she asked, “didn’t you?”

Jinu lifted his hands like he’d been caught stealing extra snacks. “Guilty. I didn’t hold back, but I don’t mind this outcome. Let me just ask you this. Do you love Rumi?”

“Of course!” The response came from both of them at once.

“All of her?” Jinu asked.

At that, they paused. Not because there was any doubt toward their feelings, but because they knew it would mean nothing unless they truly considered it. If they were going to accept Rumi’s demon half— love it like her human side— they had to acknowledge all that entailed.

Even so, they didn’t need to think for long. “Of course,” Mira said. “We fucked up when we first found out, but I’ve had enough time to think. I don’t just love Rumi despite her demon parts. I love her more because of them.”

“Me too.” Zoey smiled and looked up toward the altar where Rumi was waiting for them. “We’ll do anything to stay by her side. And we’ll prove it— right now.”

Jinu nodded, accepting their answer. “Then you’d better not keep her waiting.”

That was all they needed to hear. Zoey and Mira sprinted to the front of the altar, reaching the bottom of that massive staircase once more. This time they had no escort, though demons were starting to gather at the commotion and watched them ascend with wide eyes. The Hunters paid them no mind. There was only one demon who mattered in their eyes.

“We broke into a million pieces and we can’t go back,

But now we’re seeing all the beauty in the broken glass,

The scars are part of me,

Darkness and harmony,

Your voice without the lies, show us what it sounds like!”

The melody sprung from Mira’s heart with each step. She strode forward with all the confidence she’d lacked earlier, singing a message that resonated throughout the entire Demon Realm. Her voice blended with Zoey’s own, becoming a single will desperate to reach their leader. As one, they summoned their weapons to their hands, letting them serve as beacons of hope in this desolate world.

It didn’t take long for the demons to gather. The whole realm seemed to be listening, appearing around the altar in puffs of smoke and looking up at them with gaping jaws. Glancing back at them, Mira swore she saw faint, iridescent lights shining in their chests. It was nearly enough to break her stride until Zoey tugged her hand forward. She flashed the maknae a gracious smile and continued to climb, eyes glistening with unshed tears as they grew ever closer to their missing piece.

“Why did we cover up the colors stuck inside our head?

Get up and let the jagged edges meet the light instead,

Show me what’s underneath,

I’ll find your harmony,

Fearless and undefined, this is what it sounds like!”

Finally, they saw her. As Zoey and Mira crossed the final step, Rumi sat before them with tears in her eyes that she was furiously trying to blink away. Mira knew she had heard every word. That was clear from the way her hands trembled, clawed nails digging into the palms of her hands. At that moment, Mira wanted nothing more than to run forward and take care of the exhausted woman in front of her.

She couldn’t. Not until Rumi knew how they truly felt.

“Rumi.” Mira stepped forward. Her gok-do was lowered at her side, the lack of threat made clear. Yet she saw how Rumi’s eyes tracked the gleaming blade, muscles tensing as though preparing for a threat. “Are you sure this is what you want? To stay down here as the new Demon Lord?”

For her part, Rumi didn’t hesitate, eyes snapping up to meet Mira’s own. “It is. Is your new plan to drag me back by force?”

“I see.” Ignoring Rumi’s question, Mira turned to Zoey. The resolution in the younger girl’s eyes was the same as her own. They had made their decision, now it was time to act.

Their weapons evaporated into the Honmoon as together, the two Hunters fell to their knees and bowed. Mira heard Rumi squeak above them at the gesture and couldn’t keep a small smile from her face. Everything was about to change.

“Rumi,” Zoey began. “As the new lord of demons, please grant our request.

“We want to make a contract,” Mira continued. “Take our souls, turn us into demons, and in exchange…

“Let us stay by your side for the rest of eternity.”

Chapter Text

Though Mira claimed to be the best among them when it came to reading people, Zoey knew no one understood her girls like herself. She had over a dozen notebooks dedicated to each of them— documenting their habits, likes and dislikes, and even nervous tics they weren’t aware of. So when Rumi stared at her and Mira with sheer terror following their proclamation, Zoey wasn’t surprised. Getting her to accept their choice was going to be harder than any battle they’d faced before. That was fine. For her, they would go through hell itself.

“Please Rumi.” Zoey looked up, still on her knees but eyes drilling into Rumi’s own. The gold didn’t look so bad on her. “Don’t make us live without you. We can’t do that— neither of us.”

“She’s right.” Mira said from the same position next to Zoey. “If you want to give up your past so goddamn bad, then it’s only fair we do the same.”

“No.” The reply sounded like it had to be pulled from Rumi’s throat with tweezers. She stumbled back with wide eyes, nearly collapsing onto her throne only to bend over and catch herself on the armrest. “No no no no no. You can’t.”

“Yes we can.” Mira rose as she spoke, and Zoey was quick to follow. The duo took a cautious step toward their missing piece. “We trust you, Rumi. I’m sorry we ever made you think otherwise… but I know you’ll make life better for the demons down here. Giving up humanity to stay with you? It isn’t even a question. We’ll do it a million times over if we must.”

There was really nothing Zoey could say to top that, so instead she tried reaching a hand toward the trembling girl before them. She wasn’t prepared for Rumi to lash out, the blunted edges of her claws smacking Zoey’s hand away. Even in panic, she kept her demonic features in check to avoid hurting them. Yet she couldn’t stop the way Zoey’s chest felt like it had been stabbed at the gutted look on Rumi’s face.

“Stop!” The Demon Queen hissed. The word reverberated around them, making the air itself vibrate. “This is foolish! You have no idea what you’re doing and I won’t entertain it. Just go—”

She cut herself off with a sharp gasp as Zoey leapt forward, catching Rumi in a vice-like embrace. “I won’t!” she yelled. “I’m never leaving you again, Rumi, no matter what you say!”

A firm pair of arms soon enveloped them both. “Me neither,” Mira said. “Give it up, Rumi. You can’t change our minds and you know it.”

“You can’t…” Rumi’s sobs tore into Zoey’s heart. “YOU CAN’T DO THIS!”

Her voice was a weapon in itself, the force of it throwing the girls off their leader. Zoey stumbled back, head swimming from the shockwaves still traveling through the air. It didn’t stop with Rumi’s words either. The girl continued to scream, the Demon Realm itself responding to her anguish. Zoey could only watch in horror as the cloudy sky turned pitch black, broken up only by jagged pink lines cutting through the clouds. The altar they stood on split with a crack, nearly making Zoey plummet to the stone floor dozens of feet below as the structure ripped in half. She was only saved by Mira reacting quickly enough to grab her arm and pull her to solid ground.

Except the cracks didn’t stop. More and more, spreading through the entire Demon Realm with Rumi as the epicenter. Demons scattered with screams of horror as the ground came apart, letting magenta infernos rise from the depths.

“Rumi’s power,” Zoey realized with a gasp. “She can’t control it yet!”

That was all she needed to know, rushing forward to provide as much comfort as she could. She nearly got burned for her efforts as a wall of flames surrounded Rumi from all sides, blocking her off from the entire world. Alone as always.

“Damn it, Rumi!” Mira yelled from the other side of the flames. Zoey barely made out the plea over the roar coming from that same inferno. “Let us help you!”

Zoey doubted she could even hear them. Rumi had been conditioned to keep them at arms-length for years. To her, there was no threat greater than being vulnerable.

There was only one option. Mira seemed to realize it the same moment as Zoey, the two of them locking eyes across the blazing barrier. A million words passed between them in that glance, but only three mattered.

Anything for her.

Together, they dove into the flames.

Zoey had expected pain. She’d expected the fire to slice through her skin and boil her alive. Instead, the moment that heat enveloped her, Zoey was blinded by a white flash that seemed to surround her entire body. Even when the intense light faded, all she could see was a white void for miles. She was falling through that void, heading further and further into an endless abyss.

No, not just her. Mira too. The other girl was right by her side, like they were skydiving together out of one of their private jets. It certainly felt that way, the wind in this space buffeting them so greatly Zoey had to cover her face with one arm. Her other hand grasped Mira’s own, the two of them locking eyes to provide reassurance.

There was no time to question what had happened, what this place was, or what they were supposed to do now. Not with the voice that rose from the emptiness, invading their eardrums and digging into their brains.

“Maybe they’ll understand.” Rumi. Soft, tentative.

“No, Rumi.” Celine, hard and firm as always. “Nothing can change until your patterns are gone.”

An ache entered Zoey’s heart that didn’t belong to her. It was like someone had scooped the organ from her chest and left an empty cavity in its place. A deep longing stole her breath away, begging Zoey to reach out and reclaim her joy while the rest of her fought against her very soul.

This is Rumi’s… Suddenly, she understood. Rumi was exposing her deepest self to them.

As though to confirm Zoey's suspicions, that piercing feeling transformed into words spoken in Rumi’s true voice echoing through the depths. “I was never allowed happiness.” There was no anger in her voice, no resentment for the cards life had dealt her. Only bitter resignation. “All I could do was hide from the world. Live every day beneath a suffocating mask.”

There was no sign of Rumi in this world of white, but Zoey knew their vows would reach her. “You don’t have to hide from us, Rumi.” She whispered the promise, letting the wind carry it to their girl.

“You never did,” Mira added. “Your true self is beautiful, and we love you more than ever.”

The effect of their words was clear. A scene began to form in the space around them. Dark corridors, blue lighting. A single man standing in solidarity while a frenzied girl grabbed his wrist in desperation.

“I left them!” Jinu shouted, eyes flashing gold in agony. “That’s right, I lied to you.” The scene shuttered, skipping ahead like a film being fast forwarded. Zoey barely noticed, too focused on the horror suddenly etched on past-Rumi’s face.

“You’re a demon, just like me,” Jinu was saying. “All we get to do is live with our pain, our misery. That’s all we deserve.” The phantoms faded, yet the darkness beneath the stage lingered.

“Everyone betrayed me in a single night.” This time, Rumi failed to fully mask her pain with a flat tone. “Now I have nothing left.”

Guilt stabbed through Zoey’s chest, knowing full well what scene Rumi was neglecting to show them. Still, if she thought that would stop them, she was dead wrong.

“Never again,” Zoey swore. “We’ll trust you implicitly from now on. If something like that happens, we’ll let you explain yourself before making accusations.”

“As long as I live, I’ll make sure you never have to stare down another Hunter’s blade.” A thousand regrets stormed through Mira’s declaration, yet none could strike down her firm belief. “I’d cast mine aside for eternity if that’s what it takes.”

They were getting through to her. The environment shattered like glass, each shard reflecting a different moment in Rumi’s life. Countless memories— both good and bad— forming a kaleidoscope of grief. Zoey saw all the times Celine reaffirmed Rumi’s need to hide, every moment she and Mira tried to drag her to the bathhouse or some other activity that Rumi shied away from in fear, every difficult exchange between her and Jinu as the half-demon began to slowly accept her patterns. Finally, Zoey could truly say she understood her leader.

“I can never escape my shame.” Rumi was clinging to the last shreds of her worldview, insistent on pushing them away until the end. “I’ll always… be alone.”

That was enough. Zoey took a deep breath, ready to shout the conviction in her heart. “We won’t let you…”

One hand clinging to Mira’s, Zoey lowered her other arm, stretching out her hand for an unseen figure to take. Mira copied the action, and together they sealed their vow.

“BE ALONE!”

Once again, the duo was surrounded by a gleaming light. But this time, that light came from within their chests— a pale glow trailing down their arms and emerging through their outstretched palms.

They let that light go, entrusting it to the woman who held the fates of two worlds in her grasp.

My faults and fears must never be seen.

Nothing can change until my patterns are gone.

Letting me live was a mistake.

All I can do… is protect the world from my sins.

Each reprimand fell to her girls’ love. A part of Rumi had known, from the moment she’d instinctively thrown them into that mirage, that nothing would change their devotion to her. She could fight them for a thousand years and they would still come back for her. Their final proclamation smashed through her crumbling defense, and the wall of flames she had surrounded herself with were whisked away in an instant. They were replaced by her partners’ presence, their souls willingly flowing from their hands and into Rumi.

The mutations in Mira and Zoey were instant. Their skin turned a sickly purple, dark patterns crawling across every inch. Fangs protruded from their mouths, and each had a unique set of horns. Zoey’s were smaller stubs while Mira’s were long and curved, both looking stunning despite the horror Rumi should have felt. Their nails had elongated into sharp claws, yet their hands looked as soft as she remembered from the times they’d drag her along somewhere or gently brush a hair out of her face.

The entire realm had gone still. Rumi’s panic was no longer sending the entire land into a spiral— the cracks in the ground having closed and the sky returning to its normal overcast state. Only the altar where Gwi-Ma had once reigned remained broken, jagged lines cutting through the entire structure. Rumi hardly noticed. Her eyes were locked onto the two most important people in her life.

Their hands clasped hers, and all felt right in the world.

“Why?” Rumi whispered, not yet able to accept her failure. “You’ve doomed yourselves to an eternity lived in shame.”

Both shook their heads, yet Zoey was the one to speak. “An eternity spent with you. I can’t think of anything better.”

“We love you, Rumi,” Mira said. “All we’ve ever wanted was for you to let us in.”

Let them in. As if it was that easy.

Then again… Why couldn’t it be? They’d quite literally gone to hell and back for her— Gave up their souls and became their sworn enemy just to remain by Rumi’s side. They knew every secret, every mistake, and still they remained. All that held Rumi back was an outdated belief she had already thrown away the moment she’d usurped Gwi-Ma’s title.

Memories flashed through Rumi’s head. The day she’d first met the girls— a part of her soul clicking into place as the Honmoon rippled with satisfaction, saying these are the girls who will stay with you for life. Celebrating together at a 5-star resort after their first Idol Award victory— singing drunken karaoke and putting videos about their success up on the TV to cheer over. Finding a new reason to love them each day, until she swore the emotions would burst from her chest. 

In all those moments, they had given Rumi reasons to keep going beyond her farfetched dream. Now, she understood with startling clarity— she wasn’t willing to say goodbye.

“I love you guys too.” The words escaped Rumi between sobs as she flung herself forward to hold her missing pieces in her arms. They returned the embrace with equal fervor, all three girls bubbling and clinging to each other like the world would end otherwise. At one point, Mira and Zoey both separately pulled Rumi into a kiss, and that moment was simultaneously a blur and would be carved into her mind for life.

Rumi’s mistakes didn’t matter anymore. They slid off her back like muck on a rainy day. There would be far more to take care of, including finding the best way to keep demons from hurting humanity while improving life in this realm. That could all wait though. All that mattered now was the three of them. Together.

Partners across two lives.

Chapter Text

HUNTRI/X RETURNS AFTER MONTH-LONG ABSENCE. It was a bold yet simple headline, more than enough to let their fans know they were back. Rumi skimmed the article itself before scrolling to the comments, smiling at the outpour of love being sent their way. She wondered which accounts belonged to their long-term supporters and which were recently created by demons who had connected to their music.

The past month had been met with rapid changes. Following Zoey and Mira’s display of fidelity, the former Hunters found a new way to protect the Honmoon. It turned out Mira had seen some demons reacting to their music as though they had souls, and before long they’d learned their connection with the veil allowed them to give those souls back to their rightful owners. Those demons could pass through the barrier and walk on the surface without consequence, so long as they didn’t commit any acts that would enrage their queen.

The Demon Rehabilitation Program, as Zoey liked to call it, had kicked off in full force then. Those who responded to their songs with comfort instead of rage were tested, given a chance to live in the human realm for a few days to prove they could resist their base impulses. Every week, those who had succeeded were gathered to attend a group concert where their souls were returned, free to move between worlds at will.

It was far from a perfect system, but it was a massive improvement to the confinement they had faced for generations. Those seeking the control Gwi-Ma had once held faced swift opposition as well, making the Demon Realm more peaceful than ever. That, alongside the Saja Boys heading the construction of proper settlements, was making their home more hospitable by the day.

Their old fans were waiting though, and none of the girls wanted to disappoint those who had supported them for so many years. After the first week, they had contacted Bobby and told him everything. With his help, HUNTR/X had rebranded, incorporating their demonic voices into heavier tracks. The first EP had released just yesterday, and the world was eating it up. Face Your Demons was already trending globally and didn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon.

Hence, they were all on the surface for official idol business. Bobby was waiting for them at the fanciest restaurant in town, claiming he’d treat them to dinner while they all discussed further plans. In truth, Rumi was already planning to pay for the meal. Increasing their manager’s pay to 5% wasn’t quite enough to satisfy her after all he’d done for them.

They all wore human disguises, looking every part the relatively-normal girls they had a month ago. They’d also grabbed some old outfits from their penthouse to blend in— Zoey’s being an ankle-length black dress and Mira’s a tan suit that both had Rumi staring. For her part, she’d styled her hair back into a braid and found a knee-length skirt of the same shade, wearing that alongside a black jacket.

Inconspicuous? Certainly not, but they deserved to have fun dressing up every once in a while. It was nice to get away from the regal air they had to put on in the Demon Realm. Down there, Rumi was Queen and the others her consorts. Up here, they could be ordinary young women. It helped that she trusted Jinu to keep the place from burning down while they were gone.

“Texting a crush?” The teasing voice beside her drew Rumi from her phone, looking up to see Mira smirking at her. “I thought we were the only girls for you.”

More than used to her teasing by now, Rumi simply rolled her eyes. “Some of us like to stay up to date with what the fans are sayi—HEY!”

The shout came as her phone was plucked from her hand, tucked neatly into Mira’s pocket. “Eyes up front before you bump into someone, darling. Bobby will tell us all that stuff anyway.”

“Yeah, but we should still keep an eye out ourselves,” Rumi grumbled, though she wasn’t really complaining. Not when each of her girls took one of her hands and walked beside her down the sidewalk. They were taking the quieter streets in town to avoid recognition, though as Mira had pointed out, they weren’t entirely empty. The late-night, overcast sky above likely played a large role in concealing them.

Even then, they couldn’t avoid being spotted forever. Zoey was opening her mouth to join in Mira’s teasing when a voice called out to them, freezing Rumi in her tracks.

“Rumi!?” Countless memories assailed Rumi’s mind at the intrusion. How many times had she heard that voice say her name in the middle of scolding her?

No, Rumi.

You have to hide, Rumi.

Our faults and fears must never be seen, Rumi.

There was no running now. Though as she turned toward the woman who had forced her true self to remain locked in her heart, Rumi realized this was a confrontation she didn’t want to avoid. Not when she still flinched every time they passed a billboard with her patterns on display. If she was going to move on, she had to do this.

Knowing that, she forced her expression to remain blank as she stared down Celine. The woman was as put together as ever, though the bags under her eyes gave her true exhaustion away. Her hair was brushed back, and she wore a gray blouse and pants. She was also looking at Rumi like she was a ghost.

“Hello, Celine.” Rumi managed to make the words sound cordial. “It’s been awhile.”

“Rumi, what…?” Celine trailed off as she got a proper look at them all. Mainly, at the patterns flagrantly on display. While Zoey and Mira could conceal their own patterns with their disguises if they wished, both had chosen to keep them on display in solidarity with Rumi, who could no longer keep hers hidden after they spread to her face. Their rebranding included the “tattoos” as part of the demon-themed marketing. No doubt Celine had seen it all in the days leading up to their comeback, but having confirmation stand right before her was entirely different.

“What have you girls done?” she gasped, face contorting in horror. Her hand fell to her hip as though to draw an unseen weapon, but her connection to the Honmoon had faded long ago. Even if it hadn’t, their new Honmoon wouldn’t accept her anyway.

Zoey was the first to respond with an eyeroll. “We found Rumi. No thanks to you.”

“That is not what I meant.” Celine stomped forward and wow, was she always so… unthreatening? How had she ever seemed larger than life to a young Rumi? She considered lifting a hand to stop the woman in her tracks, but Mira beat her to it, meeting Celine halfway and acting as a barrier between her and Rumi.

“You’re not getting any closer.” The threat emerged as a literal growl. “I don’t trust you anywhere near Rumi after what you said.”

Rumi had never seen Celine with her jaw agape like this. It was almost bewildering. “Mira, Zoey, have you gone mad!?” she blurted. “What on Earth would possess you to give up your souls? And you, Rumi, what are you doing!? After all I’ve taught you, how can you become the next Gwi-Ma!?”

Both Zoey and Mira began to yell their retorts, but stopped when Rumi held out her hands. Stepping forward, she tugged a reluctant Mira back so there were no barriers between her and Celine. Their eyes locked, and Rumi saw the poorly hidden terror within Celine’s gaze.

“They became demons for my sake,” Rumi said, voice unwavering. “To ensure I’m never alone and that I don’t stray from my path.”

Celine shook her head with a grimace. “You’ve already strayed, don’t you see? I can’t protect you from the consequences of your actions, Rumi. In time a new generation of Hunters will arise and—”

“You’re wrong,” Rumi interrupted Celine for the first time in her life. “The Honmoon listens to us. It trusts us.”

The control Celine had tried to maintain fell apart at those words. She looked moments away from being sick, and her trembling knees could barely hold her weight.

“You can’t!” Celine begged. “Rumi, I know you’re better than this! You won’t let demons have free reign of this world—”

“Of course she won’t!” Zoey was fuming, pinning Celine in place with her glare. “We have a system to make sure the bad demons stay locked up—”

“ALL DEMONS ARE BAD!” Celine screamed. It was enough to attract the attention of passerbys, especially as some noticed Rumi and Mira’s distinctive hair and began to murmur about it.

“Privacy’s about to run out,” Mira noted. “Might as well leave anyway. After all, if ‘all demons are bad,’ you have no reason to even be speaking with us.” Though she spoke casually, Rumi caught the venom lacing Mira’s tone. Celine did as well, tears trailing down her face. This time when she spoke, it was in a whisper.

“All I’ve ever wanted was to help you girls. To make you the best generation of Hunters this world has ever seen.”

Mira’s response was immediate. “Your intentions don't mean shit in the face of your actions. You made Rumi lie to us. You’re so convinced she’ll destroy the world when she’d never be that type of person. Talking to you is a waste of time.”

“You taught us that our bond is the most important factor in our success,” Zoey added. “But now you don’t trust it to guide us. What reason would we ever have to listen to what you say?”

It was time to wrap this up. In the end, there was only one thing Rumi wanted to say to Celine. She reached out, ignoring the woman’s flinch to put a hand on her shoulder.

“Thank you for raising me.” For all her failures, Rumi would always be grateful for Celine’s protection in those first 2 decades of her life. “I’ll never forget all you taught me— both the good and the bad. You’re the reason I became a Hunter, the one who drove me to Zoey and Mira. For that, I owe you.

“But I can’t forgive how you hurt me. Your disgust was so engraved in my mind, I decided I had to die and was sure you would be the one to do it.” She took a deep breath, forcing her tumultuous emotions to remain inside. “This is my second chance at life, and I won’t spend it living in shame. Not the shame Gwi-Ma tried to force on me, and not the shame you taught me to feel since birth. There’s no place for it in the new world I plan to create.”

Her hand trailed downward, taking Celine’s and giving it a soft squeeze before letting go. “If you ever learn to let go of your hatred, maybe we can speak again. Until then… This is goodbye, Celine. I hope you have a wonderful life.”

There were tears in her own eyes now, though that was nothing compared to the stream pouring down Celine’s face. Perhaps it was foolish, but Rumi wanted to hope her aunt really would change someday. She deserved a chance to appreciate the fruits of her efforts.

For now, they had a future to get back to. Sharing a look with her girls, Rumi took their hands and focused. A moment later, the trio vanished in a puff of smoke, reappearing far closer to the restaurant where Bobby was likely already seated.

She moved to head in, but two hands on her shoulder stopped her in place. Rumi turned her head to give the others a smile, answering their unspoken question.

“I’m okay. She doesn’t have any control of my life anymore. I used to do everything I could to earn her love… but now I have all the love I could ever ask for.”

Rumi’s girls smiled— Zoey going as far as to wrap her in a quick hug. “We love you, Rumi. So much.”

Mira joined the embrace a moment later. “What she said.”

Rumi couldn’t help but chuckle, her arms rising to wrap around her partners. “I love you too. Now come on, we don’t want to keep Bobby waiting.”

As they entered the building, Rumi couldn’t stop herself from smiling. They’d gone through hell and come out stronger. Nothing would break them apart again, not for the rest of time.

With them by her side, Rumi felt she could finally accept all of who she was.