Play with me

-Are you alright? Hyunjin asked Felix who seemed a bit down.

-Yeah... What did you ask the Fates?

-I asked them if we will find the box, Hyunjin lied.

It was safer for Felix to be clueless about it for the moment.

-And?

-We will, he smiled.

-That's a relief. I can't help but think I'm the one dragging everyone down. You guys always protect me. I'm useless.

-Only if you knew, kid, Hyunjin mumbled.

-What?

-Nothing. It's natural for us to protect you. You're our friend... But that's not what bothers you, isn't it? Is it Changbin?

-He's very...

-Intense?

-Confusing, Felix confessed. One moment he kisses me then he complains about me being his husband and then breaks his thread with his soulmate. I don't understand. He acts like he hates me now. I wanna know what did I do.

-Then ask him. He'll open up to you.

-Can you... Can you feel love? You're son of Aphrodite, right? Can you see it?

-I can.

-Is it... Is it there? Felix asked shyly.

-Felix, I know I haven't asked you yet and I would like a clear answer. Do you have feelings for Changbin?

-I...

Suddenly something interrupted their conversation.

A song played at the piano filled the morbid silence.

-What's that? Hyunjin put his arm around Felix's shoulder to protect him.

-Cover your ears! Changbin warned them.

-What? Why?

-Do it!

Hyunjin didn't question it further and obeyed after he made sure Felix did as well.

They walked forward and, behind a hill, they saw a little girl playing at the paino in the middle of a swamp.

She had a white dress on with mud on the bottom of it and a white bow tied on her pitch black hair.

When she noticed them, she stopped playing and skipped towards them.

-It's not fun if you cover your ears, she pouted.

-What is a little girl like her doing here? Hyunjin asked.

-That's what I wanna know too, Changbin replied skeptical. The song you just played... You wanted to kill us. Why?

-Papa said I can only play with the dead, she leaned back and forth like a bored kid. I needed new puppets.

-Papa? Who's that?

-Yuqi! Where did you go? a familiar voice startled everyone.

-Big brother! she ran back to Jisung and hugged his legs as she couldn't reach higher.

-Jisung? What in the name of Zeus are you doing here? Hyunjin widened his eyes.

-Me? What are YOU doing here? And to mess with Yuqi? What, are you suicidal?

-We got attacked and now we're stuck here, Felix explained. Is she a daughter of a god as well? he looked curiously at the girl.

-Yuqi? Jisung crouched down to be at her level. I want your adult form now. Can I talk to her?

-But it's no fun... she whined.

-We'll have fun later. Please? he tilted his head and waited for the girl to listen to him.

The little girl turned into a full grown woman right in front of them. She was as tall as Jisung and with an unsettling beauty that could only be described as an omen of bad luck and evil.

-Thank you! Jisung got up. This is Yuqi, daughter of Thanatos and Makaria.

-She's the embodiment of death, Felix remembered the names.

-You could say that. Due to her inheritance she is likely too dangerous as a grown woman. She stays in her childlike form most of the time until she can take her father's role as a death bringer.

-And why did she call you her brother? Changbin raised an eyebrow.

-Because he is the only one he can play with me, she replied with a heavy deep voice that shook everyone. He's the only one that can survive.

-How so? Hyunjin asked a bit terrified of her.

-Because he can't die, she smirked.

-Yuqi, they are not here to play. Let them go, alright? I'll play with you again, he tried to stop her, but she had already made up her mind.

-I wanna play with them. Now, her smile dropped.

-Yuqi, that's not nice! I'm not letting you hurt them, Jisung tried to interwine before he found himself pushed to the ground by the dead people she previously summoned.

An army of them rose from the ground and circled the others.

-Master Changbin? Miyeon backed off terrified.

-It's okay, I can take them down easily, Changbin prepared his blue fire for the battle.

-There are too many, Hyunjin searched himself for Seonghwa's daggers, but he only found one.

As the enemies approached he took a deep breath and waited for the moment to strike. However, all the bodies dropped in synch as soon as he swung the dagger towards them.

They all looked confused at each other. Then at Yuqi who was left aback. She whiped her face and noticed blood dripping from her freshly cut cheek.

On Hyunjin's face a proud smile cracked as he watched Felix with the other dagger threatening her.

-You dare harm me? she screamed.

-I dare protecting my friends. You have no right to play with us like that. And to do this to the dead. And you! he turned towards Jisung. You are a titan, you're immortal. But you DO NOT need to play with her. I know you're trying to save the passers-by from her wrath, but you don't owe it to anyone.

-He's playing because he likes it, she protested.

-Do you like what I did to you?

-No...

-Then why should he?

She looked down ashamed and thought about it for a second.

-You win, she said dissapointed. What do you want as a price?

-I want you to stop doing this to people, gods, titans. And to free Jisung from your sick mind game.

-But-

-He's my price.

-Very well... Let me also give you something else.

She turned on her heels and kneeled in the dirt where a skeleton hand rose from its grave holding a sword. She took it and handed to Felix.

-A sword?

-I think it will come in handy. Besides, it's owner won't mind you borrowing it.

-Why would you give it to me?

-Because I want to see how you play with it, she smiled.

Felix took it and bowed before going to his friends. Hyunjin cupped his face and smiled.

-You did so great! See? You're not useless. You're a hero.

That brought Felix to tears. Maybe he could do something for them after all.

It felt so good to be in control. The sword fit perfectly in his hand. Like it was made for him. And the title "hero" was an honour for him.

He had never felt so brave. So alive. So bold. He had a grip on his life. He was in it. No longer a spectator. And he was in for it.

He walked towards Changbin and stopped in front of him.

-I'm not happy that you cut the string, he said dead serios. And I'm also not happy that I wish I had done it, he confessed.

Changbin didn't say a word. He could almost hear Felix's heart beating in his chest like a drum.

-The thought of you falling for someone else made me physically ill. I just wanted you to know that, he took it off his chest and decided to walk away when Changbin grabbed his wrist and turned him back.

-You're so adorable, he smiled and kissed the boy, this time softly and shortly.

-Finally! Hyunjin groaned. Took you long enough, you idiots!

-So beautiful... Miyeon teared up. Young master finally found his lover.