Seo Jun arrives at his parent's estate just past lunch. His mother greets him, a small woman who looks more like a doll than a person.
"Jun, I guess your father threw a fit this morning. He was agitated after seeing your name across the headlines. We both know that it was not you. Since it was Aria in the photo, I hope your brother is careful with her. If she gets her heart hurt, it will cause problems between the families." Brie hugs her son tightly. Her dark amber curls brushed against his chin.
"I have already talked with him about being careful. Did you know that father is trying to force me to marry in thirty days?" Jun looks down at his mother, trying to gauge her reaction. Her head jerks back as she glares into his eyes.
"That man has no decency! First, he weakens your powers so that you can't shift and are stuck in human form. Now he wants to take even the least of them. If you marry anyone but your soulmate, you lose everything. Did he say who he has chosen ?" Brie asks Jun; her agitation is evident by her starting to pace.
"No, I'm sure it will be someone who has no power or has already lost theirs somehow. Whoever it will be, the woman will be she has to give Father an advantage somehow. Father never does anything that he doesn't gain something from." Jun tells his mother, relieved that she didn't know. Since she is his father's soulmate, they have difficulty when at odds. The last thing he wants to do is cause his mother pain. Brie turns to Jun with tears glistening in her eyes.
"What will you do? You have never come close to finding your mate in all the centuries. The chances of it happening now are nonexistent." Brie wipes her eyes before the tears fall on her cheeks. Jun hugs his mother close and whispers in her ear.
"Don't worry; I have a plan. I have to lose Dad's bloodhounds. I will spend the afternoon with you. That way, they will be forced to stay off property. As long as my car is not seen leaving, they won't know when I leave. May I use the portal in the garden later?" Jun asks his mother.
Knowing that her husband has ears everywhere, she nods and takes her key from her necklace. Jun smiles at his mother as she slips him the key and casts an illusion of it back on her chain. This way, no one will notice it missing. Smiling up at her son Brie calls out to the servants that are permanently close by to serve lunch. The two walk out to the garden.
Meanwhile, Seo Ki is gathering the things he will need for the full moon at the office. No sooner does he get his bag packed than his father comes in.
"Are you going somewhere?" Chairman Seo asks.
"No, tonight is a full moon, so I will do what I always do. I will go and make moon water and meditate at the pool. It keeps my intuitive gifts sharp and in tune with the clan. It is what makes me good at my job. Is there something you want?" Seo Ki asks his father.
Chairman Seo tells his son to observe him for any lying signs. "I need you to keep an eye on Jun. I told him he was to be married in thirty days. He is surely going to try something. I need to know first."
"Well, since I am always watching him anyway, that is not a problem. However, it will not be tonight. I will need all my senses to rejuvenate my mind tonight." Seo Ki tells his father as he lifts the bag from his desk.
"That's fine; I know how important it is that you do whatever you do during the full moon. I'm just giving you a heads up, is all. Go and get done what needs to be done. Come see me tomorrow before work." Chairman Seo turns to leave the office with his son following close behind.
Seo Ki watches as his father drives off, waiting a few minutes before calling Seo Jun.
"Ki, I'm at the pool mom gave me her key to the portal over though I did portal to a few other places so no one could follow. I made a point of checking into the hotel in Greece. If Dad's guards look, it will seem like I'm there." Seo Jun tells his brother.
"Good, I'm on my way. Don't be seen, or it will all be for nothing." Seo Ki tells Jun.
"I know, and I won't be. I made sure to make a stir at the hotel. That way, Dad will think I'm throwing a tantrum and leave things for at least tonight. I'm sure he has already heard." Seo Jun replies with a faint smile. A spiritual dragon can only access the sacred pool, so he can't enter till Ki arrives. To do so means death; that's why their father has never tried to interfere with Ki and his rituals. So for at least tonight, they are safe from scrutiny.
It's not long before Seo Ki arrives and opens the entrance to the pool. To most, it just looks like a garden wall. The door is completely hidden from all but the spirit dragon of the pool. Once inside, the air is cool and fragrant with the sound of gentle water running. The ceiling is open for the moonlight to filter in and charge the pool. Seo Ki begins his preparations. A small waterfall and wading pool off to the right, he motions for Jun to undress to bathe.
"We have to be washed of all impurities before entering the sacred pool. So use this oil to cleanse the skin under the waterfall." Seo Ki hands Jun a small vial to bathe with as he begins to place crystals and light candles around the chamber. Once they both have been washed, they enter the pool; the moon is just rising above the reservoir. Jun hears his brothers chanting around him as his eyes close and darkness falls. Jun sinks into the abyss of the pool; the darkness surrounds him.
"Jun, open your eyes; the water cannot harm you. If your heart is pure, it will show you what you desire." Seo Ki tells Jun quietly. Jun opens his eyes, and there is a boat on the surface. With a group of divers in front of him. The girl from before swims away from the group to collect from a pile of rubble near the bottom. When her diving bag is nearly complete, she turns to swim back and becomes distracted by a fish. The fish is swimming as if trying to tell her something. A soft blue glow is coming from beneath some of the rubble. The girl swims towards it and begins to add more to her bag. As she is swimming back to the surface, Jun looks for the fish, but to his surprise, he sees a siren instead. Jun is pulled to the surface, knowing and recognizing where he is. He is just in Greece. The girl is in Greece near Delphi. His heart leaps in surprise as he watches her take off her mask. She is much taller and curvier than he thought from their encounter. His anger rises when he notices a man's hand on her waist. Seo Jun is surprised by his reaction; he has never had such a reaction to a woman before. As the boat moves away from that, Jun notices that she waves to the water behind them. Jun wonders if she knew the fish was a siren. He shakes his head at its impossibility Since a siren would never allow a mortal to see them in siren form. The area begins to fade, and Jun's mind is brought back to the present.
"Did you see what you were looking for?" Seo Ki asks his brother
"I sure did, and she is in Delphi. May even be at our hotel. She found my shard near the base of the cliffs near the Oracle cave. I will go back tonight and look for her tomorrow. That way, when father sends his men, I will be there. That way, you also cannot be implicated in any way. " Jun tells Ki excitedly.
"Could you sense if she was mortal or dragon?" Seo Ki asks his brother.
"No, but I can say her Beauty takes my breath away. She is taller and curvier than I first thought. It bothered me when I saw most of her companions were male. My anger rose when one of them barely touched her waist. I have never had such a reaction before. " Seo Jun told his brother as he dressed.
"Watch yourself; this was just a vision. You cannot lose control when it's real. You could ruin everything." Seo Ki tells Jun as he opens the portal to Greece. Seo Jun's room is on the other side; nothing looks changed. Jun thanks Ki before walking out. Ki smiles at his brother, glad that it took such little time so he can get his moon ritual started before it's too late.