Chapter 2

Jimin woke up to bandages pulling at her skin. She had no memory of how she ended up on the bed, just a faint memory of bleeding in Aeri’s arms, unsure whether it had been a hallucination. She turned her head, ignoring the sharp pain in her shoulder and chest to look around. Aeri was laying in the bed next to hers, her face was pale, her lips barely colored and her breath so faint that Jimin’s heart stopped, wondering if hers was still beating. 

She tried to stand up and failed, letting out a strangled sob that tore through the silence of the room. She forced herself upright despite the agony and dragged herself out of bed until her knees hit the cold floor beside her lover’s bed. Her trembling hand found hers, lips parting to try to say something. 

“Aeri..” her voice cracked on the words, “p-please..please wake up..” 

The priests and healers were nowhere to be seen. She lowered her head and for the first time in years, she prayed. She wasn’t praying for the gods who had turned their eyes away from her, not for the gods who had given her father his crown and cruelty, but prayed to anything that might still be listening to her. 

If love holds any power in this cursed world, let it be enough. 

Take what you want from me, but let her live.

Please. 

Tears ran down her cheeks, falling onto Aeri’s hand as she brought it to her chest. “You gave me everything Aeri..do-don’t you dare leave me with nothing..” Her lips trembled as she said the words. 

The door opened softly behind her and she held her hand tighter, afraid that someone would try to take her away. She was too weak to fight back. 

“Jimin,” Minjeong said softly, not to startle her. 

She recognized her voice without having to turn around. She pressed her lips together and a faint sob caught in her throat. “Where is everyone? They are going to let her die aren’t they?” 

“They are terrified, they said she defied the gods to save you.” The Princess stepped closer. “She saved your life.” 

Jimin swallowed down hard. “And now she’s losing hers because of it.” 

Minjeong crouched beside her and stayed silent for long seconds; She was looking at the woman who had won the war only to fall to her knees beside the one she loved. She finally reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder. “You’ve been through enough,” she murmured. 

Jimin immediately shook her head, a bitter laugh escaping her lips. “She brought me back, she gave me another chance to live and now she’s..” her words turned into a sob she tried to suppress. “I can’t even save her. If she dies because of me–” 

“She won’t.” Minjeong cut her off. “I promise you, she won't. I'll do everything in my power.” 

Jimin turned to her, her eyes red from crying. “Why? Wh-why are you helping us?” 

The Princess took her trembling hand in hers, a warm touch Jimin desperately needed. “Because we’re family, Jimin.” 

Her lips parted soundlessly several times, a sob tearing through her chest at the words. She had not expected such an answer. And before she knew it Minjeong’s arms wrapped around her, pulling her into an embrace. She had spent years convincing herself that she would end up alone, with no family, no home, no one to come back to. And now, her step-sister was holding her in her arms and telling her that things would be okay. 

She buried her face against her shoulder and her body shook. Minjeong held her tightly, her hand brushing against her back as she whispered comforting words Jimin barely heard over the sound of her broken heart. All those years hiding collapsed, she wasn’t alone anymore. 

“I’m sorry,” she gasped in between sobs. “I’m so sorry for everything.” 

“You have nothing to be sorry for,” Minjeong shook her head. “He should be the one begging for forgiveness.” 

Jimin clenched her fingers around her sleeves. “He sent me to die again.” 

“I know.” 

“I’ll make him pay. I swear Minjeong, I’ll make him pay for his sins. For her, for me, for everything he’s done.” She clenched her jaw and said in between gritted teeth. 

Minjeong pulled back just enough to look her in the eyes. “We’ll make him pay. You, me, Yizhuo and everyone who is still brave enough to believe in something better.”