A/N: Hey, hey! I updated! Hope it's ohkay. I'm not Korean, nor do I know everything about Korean mythology, but I'm an avid fan of al that is mythology and I hope I do it justice! Well, I won't keep you long. Here we go!:
"Tell me now!" Lokesh yelled, his eyes furious. Kelsey screamed as a thin silver ornamental rod was driven under her nail, wedging deep into her nail bed. Guttural shrieks bubbled up from within as the sharp pain in her right hand intensified. Her pinky throbbed as he released his hold on the rod and let it keep its place there. "Tell me, dear Kelsey. I will stop hurting you if you tell me where their home is located and where they keep the amulet," he promised, voice coming off as sickly sweet.
It was tempting. Oh how it was a tempting offer. Just the thought of the pain stopping nearly made her tell him she'd thrown the amulet over board with Fanindra. How close she would tell him the exact address of the boys' home. And how close she would have betrayed them. "Kiss... my... ass," she hissed, eyes narrowing in spite. "I'll never... tell you a... thing!"
Lokesh's expression darkened as he motioned for a guard to hand over another rod. This one had a butterfly made of what looked to be crystal at its end. A thin chain dangled from it, holding a tiny tinkling silver bell. 'At least it's pretty,' Kelsey mused bitterly and darkly. 'I wonder if I die... will it still be in my finger?'
Her captor and torturer shoved the rod into her middle fingers nail and she threw her head back, hitting it harshly on the ground, screeching. Her legs flailed, but couldn't move far because of the restraints and her left hand slammed against the concrete floor in her attempt to escape. It pulsated and immediately she knew she'd ruined whatever work J did on it. "Be a good girl and smile at the camera," Lokesh demanded as he released the rod. "Your tigers are on their way to save you. Give them the most pathetic face you can muster. Let them relish at your pain. Tell them to hurry and come for you."
Kelsey refused, but he grabbed her chin, forcing her to look at the camera. Vaguely, she felt something warm and thick trickle out the back of her head, sliding down her neck. Wearily she grinned, flashing red stained teeth from the blood gliding over her bitten tongue. She cleared her voice, wincing as she did so and said, "Don't come for me. I will never forgive you two if you come for me. Ren, Kishan." Lokesh slid another rod into her index finger and she howled, blood dribbling down her chin and onto her chest. This one had a miniscule glass tiger. It was white and had black stripes. Her dull brown eyes looked over it in wonderment and a small smile formed on her lips. "I love you Ren," she sighed, closing her eyes. "I'm sorry." Another rod slipped into her ring finger and she cried out, choking on the invadence of blood in her throat. "I'm... sorry."
Kishan and Ren breathed in sharply at the sight of yet another rod shoved under Kelsey's nails. "Fuck," Kishan growled, eyes murderess at the sight. Ren snarled at Lokesh as he grasped his loves chin and forced her to look into the camera. She smiled fakely, blood coated thick on her usually white teeth and she said, "Don't come for me. I will never forgive you two if you coe for me. Ren, Kishan."
Lokesh drove a rod into her index finger and she screamed, chest heaving in exertion. Blood dripped down out of her mouth, smearing across the cement and the already dirtied shirt she was clad in. Her eyes caught the decoration at the end of the rod and she quieted, serenity touching her tense features.
The brothers leaned closer to the screen and saw it was some kind of white and black animal made of glass. They couldn't distinguish what it was, but it must've been something she adored since her screams were cut short. "I love you Ren," she sighed, closing her eyes. "I'm sorry." Another rod pushed into her ring finger and she choked after an abrupt gasp. She began coughing and spitting at the blood in her windpipe. "I'm... sorry."
The video cut out and Ren slammed his fist into the nearest tree. "It's all my fault!" he shouted. Kishan sat quietly, his hands in his lap, phone limply held. His hand tightened around it as Ren hit the defenseless tree again. "Why isn't she telling us to come get her? Why isn't she telling him what he wants?" Ren lost it, taking on his tiger form and roaring in fury and anguish. He shook as he roared again, and Kishan threw his phone, cracking its delicate glass screen.
"Damn it Ren! Shut the fuck up!" he ordered sharply, gold eyes dangerous. The tiger snarled, circling his brother with the threat of pouncing. "We have to go get her. Now!"
Obsidian fur replaced his bronze skin and the pair watched each other, baring their fangs. They growled before taking off into the forest, seeming to put aside tensions and focus on the task at hand. Kishan was vaguely worried about his phone, but remembered Ren still had his in the pack on his back. No more angry, petty bouts. They would tread carefully and use their anger positively. No more mistakes.
An Asian girl with a pale face entered quietly, her foot steps making little to no sounds as she made her way to a broken Kelsey. Her short black hair was feathery, just brushing the tops of her shoulders and covered her right eye. Her left eye was the same mossy green color as J's, and immediately Kelsey knew she was his sister.
The girl was short, extremely short compared to J, and looked like a more feminine version of him. No matter, she was exceedingly pretty. "Kelsey?" she whispered. She even sounded a bit the same as him.
Kelsey groaned in response as J's twin kneeled beside her and brushed aside the hair covering Kelsey's face. "You're... You're J's sister?"
"J?" she asked, confused. Then she realized and smiled. "Yes, I'm his sister. I'm Jae Hwa."
"Jae... Hwa," Kelsey sighed and nodded. "Sorry... I'm a bit... incoherent."
"You seem coherent enough to use extensive vocabulary," she giggled. Kelsey let out a raspy laugh then winced.
Jae Hwa quit laughing, and immediately apologized. "I'm sorry. Jung-keun says I'm a clueless babbler. I shouldn't be laughing in this type of situation." She helped her sit up. "How are you feeling?"
"Like I was stabbed... by a porcupine," Kelsey admitted, lifting her right hand up weakly to reveal the rods sticking out of her fingers still. Jae Hwa made a move to help remove them, but the wounded girl pulled her hand away. "Lokesh commanded that the guards... to leave them in. I don't want you... to get caught."
Jae Hwa looked her over sadly and nodded quietly. "You must be in a lot of pain."
"I am," Kelsey sighed and J's sister lifted a bottle of water for her to drink. She drunk greedily, taking as much as she could and coughed when she took too much in. Jae Hwa pulled the bottle away and rubbed Kelsey's back. When she calmed, Kelsey asked, "Who's watching the surveillance?"
"Ju-yung, my older brother," Jae Hwa answered. "I wanted to meet you."
"Me?" she murmured. "Why does J need... my help?" Jae Hwa gave a sheepish look. "Actually... All three of us need your help."
"All three of you?" Kelsey asked, eyes widening.
"My family was cursed long ago," she said, eyes downcast. "Haemosu, our sun deity in Korea, is... upset with us. Long ago, my ancestor was a loyal servant of Haemosu. He was a warrior with an extremely high ranking and one of the most trusted in the palace. One day, he had vanished and with him, the five headed dragon that pulled Haemosu's chariot; a rare dragon that was a part of the sun deity's prized possessions. My ancestor was caught stealing the dragon with the assistance of his son, a dragon charmer, and was cursed, which in turn cursed his entire family line. And that means Ju-yung, Jung-keun and myself must become an amur leopard for 12 hours per day; the same amount of time it took for Haemosu to capture the theif."
Kelsey frowned. "I'm sorry... but how does this connect... to me? I may have experience with... cats but I don't see how I am able to... help you."
"Kelsey, you are the revered chosen daughter of Durga. The goddess that has chosen you is an acquaintance with Haemosu," Jae Hwa explained patiently.
"They're friends?"
"In simple terms, yes."
"And you want me to speak... with Durga to help you?"
"Yes." Kelsey was quiet a while, her thoughts tumbling around in her head. She would help them. Of course she would! The fact that Haemosu cursed a whole family for a mistake their ancestors made was wrong! But... she had other responsibilities. Other things she had to be sure to finish before beginning a new task. Then again, it seemed more as if they wanted her to speak with Durga. Other than the connection with Durga, she saw no other ties with Haemosu, and thus she wouldn't have to do much more really.
'What's one teensy chat with a goddess? They are helping me now and it's the least I can do,' she thought with pursed lips. 'Well, if I stay alive long enough to speak to Durga again.'
"You don't have to decide now," Jae Hwa said quickly and nervously. "I understand you have to help two other people, but when Anik said-"
"Wait," Kelsey ordered, eyes narrowing. "Anik? As in... As in Anik Kadam?"
The cursed girl blinked once. Twice. Then answered, "Yes. Why?"
Tears began to blur Kelsey's vision at the name. "Mr. Kadam," she cried softly.
"What's wrong? Are you all right? Did I do something?" Jae Hwa panicked, looking to the camera for advice from her older brother with no prevail.
"When I was captured," Kelsey sobbed quietly, "he and Nilima were... taken from us. Disappeared. I don't know... if they're okay or if they're hurt. Or..." she trailed off, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"I'm sorry Kelsey. I-" A sharp knock sounded from her awaiting twin brother, Jung-keun, and Jae Hwa jumped, laying the crying girl down softly. "I have to go. Guards are coming this way for a check up. I'm sorry, so sorry," she whispered and quickly left the room.
A/N: Hey, I updated in a somewhat timely manner. Proud of me, right? Right? No? Well, that's ohkay... I guess. I'm doing this all from my new Asus tablet since my 17th birthday was on Friday the 13th (Awesome? I know right?). I got it as a gift since my family is tired of me hogging the computer all the time. (I blame Fanfiction).
Anywho, you all know the drill! Review with comments, questions or etc. Tell me how I'm doing, neh? I love to hear from ya'll! Ja ne!
-KiriKatana