"This is Ms. Seo. She um... She is worried about you & Elijah." I held Elijah as I took in what my mother just said. "Why would you be worried about us ? Do you know us ?" Ms. Seo smiled as she pointed at me, "해원아, 기분이 어때요? 약이 도움이 됐어요?" (How are you feeling, Haewon ah ? Did the pills help ?) 

I ignored this. I still wanted to know why she was here. Why she was worried about my brother & I ? "Answer me. Why are you here ? How do you know us, Ms. Seo ?" She simply sighed as she directed her eyes to my father' grave. "Your father was once my husband, Haewon ah. I only want to help take care of you & Elijah..."

I let Elijah down as I looked to my mother once more. "오! 그래서 이게 불쌍해요? 악의는 없지만, 엘리야와 나는 당신의 연민이 필요하지 않아요." (Oh ! So this is pity ? No offense, but Elijah and I do not need your pity.) My mother quickly apologized for me and Ms. Seo offered a simple smile. "Don't apologize for her. Haewon is entitled to be a bit upset. Would you fill her in while I take Elijah inside ?" 

Soon it was just my mother & I. "Haewon ah... Your father had kept his life a secret from me. Ms. Seo is his ex-wife & a vampire. You & Elijah would thrive under her care." I scoffed as I paced, "우리를 버리는 거예요, 엄마? 엘리야는? 이 가족은 어떤가요?" (Are you abandoning us, Mom ? What about Elijah ? What about this family ?) My mother fondly looked at my father' grave once more. Just how long had she been thinking about this ? "I can't even properly take care of either of you since we lost your father. You also sacrifice everything for Elijah when that burden doesn't fall on your shoulders, Haewon ah."

"You already packed for us, didn't you ? Is that why you wanted me out of the house today ?" My mother nodded. I couldn't believe this. No answer was given. Not that she had anything she could say that would make this hurt any less. 

I held onto Elijah in the car while Ms. Seo was saying her goodbyes to our mother. Elijah had cried himself to sleep once he understood we'd never come back here again. Not that I blame him. The ride was eerie & completely silent. The tension could only be cut by breathing from everyone but Ms. Seo. 

Before long we reach Ms. Seo' place. It was spacious & beautiful. Surprisingly there were already rooms set up for me & Elijah. I laid Elijah in his bed before I met Ms. Seo in the kitchen. "No need to be tense, Haewon ah. No other vampires live in my house, only my human staff." I would've said something if she hadn't suddenly remembered something else, "아! 그리고 혜수라고 불러주세요. 알겠어요?" (Oh ! And please call me Hye-Su. Okay ?)

"How did you know ? I've never told anyone...", I asked as I thought back to when she gave me the blood pills at the restaurant I met my friends at. "You're father & I might not have worked out, but he did love you. He talked about you & Elijah all of the time. He asked me to watch over you in the event your mother is unfit..."

"Why don't you live with other vampires ? I know you aren't ashamed of what you are, Hye-Su." I was being harsh & trying to pry. However, the way she spoke of my father had me thinking he planned everything out. Planned his death...

"맞아요, 해원아. 나는 내 자신이 부끄럽지 않아요. 내 동족과 함께 살지 않는 것에 대해서요? 당신 아버지와 결혼한 지 3년이 지났을 때 말고는 다른 흡혈귀들과 함께 산 적이 없어요." (You are right, Haewon ah. I am not ashamed of what I am. As for not living with my kind ? I never have lived with other vampires besides when I was married to your father for three years.) Nothing much was said before I was told to head to bed. 

Just had my father been hiding from us ?