Book 2: Chpt 17: The One I’ve longed for
Chapter 17 The One I’ve Longed for 1
An Jieun
Is someone playing a gayageum? I open my eyes and look around and I’m in a dark forest, how did I get here? I feel drawn to the sound of the slow plucking of the silk strings. My feet are moving on their own to somewhere yet unknown. The forest feels vaguely familiar. As my body moves forward with the melody of the strings my mother’s Hanko comes into view. The music is coming from the inner courtyard. I enter the house, it’s strange, it’s like it was when Mother was alive.
I’m quickly standing in front of the door to the inner courtyard and the music stops and a voice I’ve never heard but longed for shakes me to my core. “Jieun, come and sit with me. I’ve called for you, my daughter.”
I slid the door open and there she was. I’ve had similar dreams all my life, but this feels so real. I sat at her feet as I have so many times but, her eyes were looking me up and down like she had never
seen me before.
“I see my daughter has grown into a great beauty as a Gumiho should.” Her hand under my chin feels warm and firm but her skin is so soft. “Jieun, you are not dreaming, so please stop looking at
me with those sad eyes.”
“What?” How could this be anything but a dream?
“This is the first time I have been able to come to you, it might be the only chance we ever get.” She held my face in her hands. “You have my eyes.” She smiled and it finally felt real. In my dreams, mother never smiled, she was always stoic.
“Umma.” A word I’ve never been able to say came from my tongue so easily. It’s been waiting so long for it to come out. “Umma, how are you here, what is this?”
“Jieun, we don’t have much time. The easiest way to explain it is that I have entered your dream from the heavenly realm.” She stood up and I did the same. I needed to be close.
“Why now, how?” I took Mother’s hand as we walked.
“You had too much hate in your heart. You still do, but enough was released that I could come through.” She squeezed my hand.
“How could I not have hate build up in my heart?” My head dropped just recalling all that I had been through.
“There’s no reason to revisit that now. I’m here to see you and to remind you of your duty as a
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Book 2: Chpt 17: The One I’ve longed for
deity.” Her head turns and she looks at me with her sharp copper eyes.
“What do you mean my duty as a deity? I want to live as you and the other Gumiho have lived for thousands of years.” Mother opened a door, and the room was much bigger than it seemed on the outside. The walls were lined with books and scrolls and a large mural that I had never seen before was on the wall behind the table.
“You know we have a purpose. Gumiho thousands of years ago used to collaborate with humans and even bring them books written by the supreme gods to help them.” As she spoke the mural changed as if to illustrate what she was saying. “As time went on the human race began to change and the gods made things worse by inciting war between clans.” The mural changed to a bloody battle, it felt like no one was victorious. “These battles went on and on until one day the supreme gods had enough and forced all the gods to ascend to the heavenly realm and they made a blood oath to not directly interfere with the humans again.” The scene changed again to a mass of gods looking down on Earth from the clouds. “They had hoped this would stop the wars and fighting but it never has. We the Gumiho are the protection gods of the forest and nature we were left behind on earth for
that reason.” The mural showed the Gumiho walking into the forest and the other gods of the heavenly realm watching them. “So, when humans become greedy and take too much from the
forest, we eliminate the threat no more, no less. The supernaturals were created by the gods as their
own races but because of the laws of causality they stay in check, but this is not the same for humans.” The mural flashed through all the different supernatural races. “You already know about
the witches they have distorted the natural laws and taken the law of causality hostage. They are the
natural world’s biggest threat, therefor they are your biggest threat.” 1
“I already know they will try to kill me if they find me.” I let out a sigh and began to look around the
study.
“They don’t just want to kill you they want to use you to take over the heavenly realm and rule the world as its new gods.” Mother’s voice echoes through the study.
“Then why don’t the gods stop granting them power? That should be simple.” I turn to see the
seriousness in her eyes.
“They cannot if the conditions are met, and the proper gift or sacrifice is given the gods and goddess of magic are powerless but to grant the caster their claim. The laws of causality are written in the blood of the gods and cannot be destroyed. Just like your name. Once I spoke it you could never be called by any other. You are my An Jieun. It was my will as lowly of a goddess I am I still had that power.” Mother reached out to me and stroked my head like I was a child. I did not mind, I had always wanted someone to comfort me like that.
“Why me?” When I asked this mother’s eyes became sad.
“You are both a goddess and a supernatural being. You have more strength and are more capable than you know but you and your wolf need to unite as one. One cannot dominate over the other.” Mother leads me out of the study and back to the covered porch of the inner courtyard.
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Book 2: Chpt 17: The One I’ve longed for
“Easier said than done. She’s acting like a love–sick puppy right now.” I look out to the courtyard and it’s just as she kept it from the memories she passed on.
“Yes, this mate issue.” She gave me a slight smile and a sigh. “Gameunjang Aegi is even at a loss for what’s to come. She has seen three endings. Only in one do you live out your life happily and ascend to the heavenly realm. The others you die in the next two years and your goddess sprite is destroyed forever. That’s all she has told me. What I can guess is there is a reason you were fated to James Ashwood. An Jieun, he is not your father.” She takes both my hands in hers.
“How can I trust a wolf?” I looked her dead in the eyes.
“An Jieun, you have three paths. Two will lead to your doom and one to your heavenly ascension and the restoration of natural order. You are the only one who can make those choices. You have five thousand years of knowledge. Don’t let what your father did completely destroy you. You are more than he ever will be.” I could see that my mother was scared that I was going to be destroyed and I
was too.
“So, I just forgive him and act like it never happened? He locked me up my whole life, feeding me only enough to keep me alive. The only reason he didn’t beat me or kill me was because you cursed him.” I could feel the hate filling me back up.
“No, my daughter you need to rise above him. Be better than him and move forward. He’s a greedy coward, you are smart and courageous. I cannot stay any longer.” I feel her grip on my hands
weaken.
“Umma, wait don’t go yet.” No this is my fault, I let myself be taken by my hate.
“If I can, I will come to you again. Be wise my daughter.” She leans in and kisses my forehead and
she’s gone.
“Umma, Umma.” Everything goes black and I am jolted awake.
“What is it? Are you Ok? What happened?” James springs up from the floor, a blanket goes flying and in a second, he’s in a fighting formation facing the door.
I take a deep breath. “What are you doing?”
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Renea Adams
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James is showing her more love and respect than she has ever been shown before and she doesn’t know what to do.
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