Apollo & Luna

Phantasmagoria

In the wee hours of the morning, it began to pour back in Seoul, a strange weather during the season. The wind howled outside as if incensed, as rain spattered across the land.

In one of the rich districts in the heart of the city, a huge mansion stood, looming over the smaller properties surrounding it.

In one of the rooms on the second story, a young man in his early twenties sat in the shadows behind the huge oak table in his study. He sat facing the transom where he watched the muted downpour as he brooded – his dark aura, a contrast to his usually laid back attitude when he’s out in public. In his hand rested a glass of pale, amber liquid, the drink forgotten for quite some time based on the sweat on the crystal container.

Lightning flashed outside, illuminating his aristocratic face, with his tall nose, porcelain white skin, phoenix eyes and thin lips, framed by his wavy jet-black hair. Unmoving, he was more of a sculpture than flesh.

Thunder roared and his brows moved closer together in a frown. Judging from the clock at the far side of the room, it was already half past four in the morning, and yet, his cousin had not yet come home. It was uncanny for Yann not to come home and check on Hana whenever he’s in the country, and without a word at that. It was so out of character that the young man, Jonghun, found it to be suspicious, thus he’d been restless since the night before.

The last time he saw his cousin was during the opening ceremony the other night for their resort.  He attended with his father and cousin, but after that, he had seen neither hide nor hair of the missing man.

“Where the hell are you Big Brother?” he asked the empty room just as a cold sensation assailed his heart and he stood up in alarm.

“Hana!” he cried as he ran towards the door after placing the glass haphazardly on the table.

“Hana!” He called out his cousin’s name as he reached the room at the end of the hallway and pushed open its door.

The dim light on the far side of the room illuminated the huge bed standing on the opposite. Shadows from trees outside the closed windows played on the bed, but he could still see the lone figure there clearly.

A fragile looking young woman with longish silky dark golden hair sat on the bed, her body visibly trembling surrounded by her white pillows. Her hands covered her face, and when Jonghun called her name once more, the young woman raised her head and the other’s eyes widened.

“Hana!” Jonghun called in panic as soon as he saw blood staining the other’s nose down to her mouth and the front of her shirt.

With practiced speed, he crossed the room, grabbed a box of tissue from the bedside table and quickly catered to the young woman who had clung onto him as soon as he approached.

“Hunnie…” Hana whispered Jonghun’s nickname in a panic, her limbs cold and shaking.

The blood which continued to flow from her nose stained Jonghun’s own clothes when he hugged her, but the other didn’t mind.

Jonghun whispered soft words against her ear as he brushed her hair, trying with all his might to calm her down.

“Shhhh… I’m here. Everything’s going to be okay,” he soothed as he rocked the two of them gently. “Did you have a nightmare?” he asked softly and Hana’s hold on him tightened, her small frame tensed once more.

“Hunnie, I saw him! I saw my brother. He’s terribly hurt. Hunnie, Brother Yann’s terribly hurt!” Hana cried just as she coughed, and more blood came out from her nose and mouth.

“Hunnie, those bad men got him so I asked for help! I asked for help but my brother was bloody! He was on the ground. Hunnie, he was on the ground!”

Hana sounded so terrified, and Jonghun couldn’t help the fear spreading deep within him as well. It didn’t matter if another person told him something like this. But since it’s Hana, it was a totally different story.

“Hana, calm down,” Jonghun ordered softly as he wiped the girl’s nose.

He was terribly worried, noting the amount of blood and the new bruise on the other’s arm. Hana had a special condition they called ‘hemophilia’, which made her bleed and have bruises all over her body. It was already a rare event for males to have such a disease, much more for females. Hana was very unfortunate to be one. Her case was mild, and yet, it was somewhat progressing throughout the years.

“But Brother Yann – “ Hana sputtered wildly.

Jonghun placed a finger against her lips to prevent her from speaking. There was no point in agitating the girl further. Her fragile body would only suffer.  

“I will take care of Big Brother Yann.”  

“You believe me?” Hana asked with hope shining in her pair of eyes and Jonghun nodded.

“Of course,” the latter answered. “I believe you.”

If anything, Hana had another ‘special condition.’ She was born with the ‘sight’, the ability to foresee the past, present and the future. Others jotted her dreams as nightmares, but to Jonghun and his family who understood, her dreams were a gift – visions only powerful members of their clan possessed. Then again…

Looking at Hana’s body made Jonghun’s frown return. Each time she used her ability, her body paid the price.

Normally, hemophiliacs, those with a mild case such as Hana’s, have life expectancy only ten years shorter than an average person if treated. But because of her gift, Hana’s body’s a lot weaker than it should be, and the damage of the disease on her body was increasing. She might die.

He had already been fond of her long before Choi Junki took her and Yann in their family to live. Ten years ago, Jonghun had made it his mission to protect her. He loved her. That was why he had moved heaven and earth to find someone who could link his senses to Hana, so he could channel some of his energy towards her. With this, he would always know what’s going on with the younger woman. He would be forever close to his precious person and would do everything for her.

With all the gentleness in him, Jonghun changed Hana’s clothes, pillows and the sheets of her bed. “Go back to sleep,” he ordered softly as he pushed her back on the bed and tucked her in.

“Hunnie, find my brother,” Hanna implored huskily just as her lashes began to shut.

“I will,” Jonghun replied with his promise, and as soon as he noticed that she was already asleep, he raised his hand and snapped his fingers.

The shadows from the trees on the bed shifted suddenly, the black silhouette forming irregular shapes as it melded into one pool of black as it retreated to the far side of the room.

Soon, the shadow shifted again. Only this time, there were ripples on its surface, just as three figures rose from it the same way people rose from a pool.

“My Lord,” the figure in the middle called as the three of them bowed. All three were clad in black fitting clothes, their faces covered.

Jonghun had his back on them, but he didn’t bother facing his minions. His eyes were focused only on the sleeping form beneath the blanket, his ears alert to the steady rhythm of Hana’s breathing.

 “You heard her. Go find brother…”