Doctor Demon

Hobin yawned widely as he entered his apartment. He turned on the lights and slumped on his chair before reaching out into his pocket to take out the brooch. It was sparkling under the light, its many beads shining brightly. He turned it over absentmindedly, not sure what to feel.

The day Taehee died, she was wearing this brooch. It was the last gift her mother had given her and Hobin was feeling disturbed. How did this end up in the possession of the Brethren?Â

There was a knock on the door. He looked up to see Jina entering the apartment. She sighed at his state. Junho had told her about the brooch and she came to check up on Hobin.

"Are you alright?" she asked, sitting on a chair next to him.

"I'm not," he muttered. "You were right. The demon from the Brethren is sending me a message. I'm sure it's the Cleaver. It's his way of goading at me."

"Miyoo said that the demon looked like a bird," Jina stated. She took out a piece of paper and showed it to him. A large red eagle-like bird was drawn on it only with a crooked beak and sharp wings. The drawing looked as if it was drawn by a child.

"Miyoo drew this for me," Jina explained. "It's not accurate but probably what the demon looked like from her perspective."

"Maggie is three headed, right?" Hobin asked her. Jina nodded.

"Then it's possible that some demons have the shape of animals," he added. "Like this one is an eagle'¦"

He stared at the drawing and then at the brooch. It was confusing as hell but they must get to the bottom of this mystery.Â

"Everything dates back to the Lord of all Demons and his love for one human," he gritted. "His obsession started all of this."

"He loved her," Jina reasoned. "And they gave birth to you! Not only in the past but also in this lifetime, they're your parents. I'm sure the Demon Lord is trying to make things right-"

"He left his so-called lover and ran away!" Hobin claimed. For a long time, he had been suppressing his disdain for the creature which abandoned his mother to her fate, not once but twice. Whatever his reasons were to leave her, Hobin doubted the Demon Lord truly loved his mother. If what Maggie said was right, his mother was probably a toy for the Demon King, a time pass.Â

"Why isn't he stopping the Brethren himself?" Hobin went on. "Where is he? What's his motive? Why is he hiding?"

Jina bit her lip. She did not know how to answer him.

"Sometimes, I wish that he'd never met my mother," he whispered. "She would've been alive and I would have been a normal person!"

"We wouldn't have met then."

He looked at Jina who had spoken up. "If you were normal, we wouldn't have met," she pointed out. "You wouldn't have become a good doctor nor would you have had an amazing mother and brother like Aunt Doyoung and Siwan. I know your real mom would have been alive but you had a better life with the Kang's. They love you and you love them."

She reached out to pat his palm, smiling warmly.Â

"You're way better off with Siwan and Aunt Doyoung," she said. Her words acted like a calming balm on him and he sighed in content.

"You really know how to calm me down," he said. Jina smiled widely then recalled something.

"You and my dad met in front of the twins' condo, right?" she asked. "What did the two of you talk about?"

"Nothing, really," he shrugged. "Your dad threatened me not to get you pregnant before marriage."

Jina frowned. "He didn't tell you to break up with me because you're a demon and all that?" She laughed.

"He did. I charmed him into accepting our relationship."

"How?"

"That's a secret between your dad and me," Hobin winked. Jina pouted but grinned. She got up and walked over to his side, sitting on his lap. Hobin held her tight, letting her rest on his chest.Â

"You must be very stressed," she mumbled. "With the arrival of the Cleaver and Taehee's brooch. On top of that, the mystery of the demon inside you. Aren't you tired?"

"I am," he admitted. "But all my tiredness goes away when you're around. Which is why you're the only antidote to all my problems."

Jina purred in his embrace, snuggling close to him. He was playing with her hair, lazily enjoying her warmth. Then an idea came to his head.

"You still didn't fulfil your promise," he recalled.

"What promise?"

"The promise you made to make me go to the party with you," he reminded her. "Don't tell me that you have no intention of making it true! It was the only thing that got me through the past few days."

He sighed loudly, making Jina blush hard. That promise? Was it still valid?

"I-It's too bold!" She exclaimed, going red in the face.

"So the mighty Hwang Jina will break a promise?"

Hobin smirked at her like the demon he was. "Remember this, Tinkerbell. Breaking a deal with a demon is impossible."

"I didn't sign any contract!" Jina claimed.

"If you're in love with me, then you're in a lifelong contract. Don't tell me you're scared?"

Jina scoffed. She was embarrassed but he was pushing her buttons. Scared? Her? Never!

"Fine," she replied in a haughty tone. "I'll fulfil my promise. But I must warn you, you won't be able to handle it!"

Suddenly, he leaned forward and kissed her hard on the lips. Jina moaned, kissing him back. His hands were rubbing her back, making her butterflies flutter in her stomach.

"Bring it on, Tinkerbell," he whispered against her lips. Jina slowly backed off.

"Wait here," she giggled and got off his lap. She ran out of the apartment while Hobin waited for her. Was she seriously going to fulfil that promise?Â

"This is interesting," he said, unbuttoning his shirt.