The Books of Evil

JP by Lorem, mdman, red_sword7

Sung raised an eyebrow at the orb that Eun-Ji got. You have a ride I don't think I want to stick around here much longer." suggested Sung to Eun-Ji and Choi. "I think we have exposed ourselves enough for right now." Added Sung as he looked around making mental notes on the van of Alyssa's. Sung could not see inside. but something had been given away. It could have been communications equipment there.

The orb that Sartre threw at Eun-Ji passed right through her body and landed on the porch floor. It rolled and went under the outdoor couch, bumped against the side of the house, and rolled back out so that only half of it was visible. The Eun-Ji on the porch was just an illusion; however, she wouldn’t have just willfully caught a mysterious orb thrown to her from an untrusted source, so even if it was the real one, she would have let it hit the ground with a side step anyway. The real Eun-Ji was nearby walking about and inspecting the unkempt landscaping of the front yard. It should be much more overgrown than it was. Perhaps there was a service still that came around to work on it. Anyway, she did not attempt to come out and mingle with the others. When Sung finally emerged with Choi, Moon joined them. “Everything handled I presume?” It was mostly a rhetorical question. “I can call for a ride.” She looked at Choi’s condition with a bit of a frown, “What happened to you?”

Choi Yeong was conscious, barely able to walk. That thing had drawn a lot of energy and blood from him. “I had a shadow attempt to eat the soul out of me,” Choi mumbled, clearly in pain as his body regenerated. He lifted his shirt so she could see the claw marks on the right side and the small circular holes in a circular pattern on the left. The scars were there he figured for an eternity. “I’m glad the others weren’t harmed,” he said glad he could distract the shadow enough until others came.

"Let's get you back to my place we can do more healing there. but I think you are right the scars will be there forever I have my fair share of them. There is a first time for everything." said Sung with a crack of a smile. Helping Choi walk Sung said "This way I have an SUV over there." said told Choi and Eun-Ji.

Eun-Ji winced empathetically at the sight of the wounds. She didn’t see anyone else from the basement in such shape. It made her wonder how he managed to monopolize all the injury. Before they left the property, she did ask them about the orb that was tossed at one of her illusions. Upon hearing their explanation, she retrieved it from the porch and hastened her steps to catch up with them. As they walked towards Sung’s parked SUV she asked, “Would you mind dropping me off at my accommodations?”

Sung led them to his SUV it was a black Chevy Suburban it was nice. he helped Choi into the back seat to let him lie down. "It is a 30-minute drive to the place," informed
Driving through the streets "OK, Eun-Ji I will drop you off. But keep in touch. I trust in your ability the stuff we found is going to lead to something big. I can feel it. Like the book you found is not to be toyed with. You can take the box as well it is probably all linked somehow but that is out of my expertise." explained Sung I will take care of Choi you don't have to worry about him," said Sung as they turned a corner. The way Sung was going it was quite the zig zag. "I think we are cleared no one is following us," remarked Sung pulling up to here Eun-Ji. "See you around Eun-Ji, stay low for a while," suggested Sung.

“Book!” Yeong said forced out in pain. “You found a book? Did you have a vision too?”

Eun-Ji had to brace herself a few times on the drive to her apartment because of the acute angle and speed of some of the turns. For the majority of the ride, her thoughts were mulling over the variety of new information she discovered. She also half listened to Sung state the obvious, a technique she had perfected from lots of practice with her mother. She jumped in her seat at the sudden outburst from Choi. Turning to look back at him as the SUV was coming to a halt. “No vision, but I found a Bible on the floor …. and collected a lot of information from the attic. Sung found some artifacts too.” Without wasting any more time, she exited the vehicle and bowed to Master Sung. “Thank you for the ride and for saving the investigation today.” That was the best Choi would get right now and she was glad he didn’t die. It was the only expectation she gave him after all. She paused, “I found a business in San Francisco that I think you may want to check out if you are up for it while I am researching … P3 Apothecary”. Then she turned and went inside the building.

Choi waited until she entered the building. He sat up and braced his head against the back window. It was a painful endeavor. “Why of all people did Master Sung send me to work with someone who would rather be on her own?” he inquired. “You have been around a while. Why?”

"It was not so much me and to be honest I do not need to give you an answer. I do not need to explain myself to you, But I will," Sung replied backing out and driving. "I did choose you because of your record so Far and highly recommended. Like you I follow orders I was given an order and fulfilled it, that simple" remarked Sung with some annoyance in his tone. "Understand some families in the Dragons go back very far and have a high standing in the Dragons. Some families even go back to the beginnings of the Dragons organization itself. My family line is one of those families so are the Moon's families. Our Families never officially met until 20 years ago. This is your chance to be in the spotlight and be seen by our regional directors. To rise quickly in the organization." Sung informed Choi. Sung probably went into more detail than needed or had to But Choi impressed Sung with his actions back at the house.

Yeong had mixed emotions concerning this chastisement. He was embarrassed that he asked the question. He was surprised that he had caught the eyes of someone with more authority other than Master Park. He was angry from the pain. He was happy that Alyssa and Powers were safe. He was confused at his reception from Eun-Ji. But the compliment from Sung gave him the confidence to talk. “There was another book,” Choi explained. “It was in the basement. It was called The End Rite I left it there because of what happened whenever I opened it.”

Sung glanced in the rearview mirror. "It is probably in the hands of the Illuminati by now," said Sung now looking disappointed that he missed that. "I think we can trade information on that With the book that Eun-Ji got and now is studying. We might have not made friends but maybe acquaintances. Remember there are times in life when you have to call on others. So do not burn your bridges with the Illuminati or The Templars." said Sung advising his experience. Sung paused thinking. "Does not mean you have to like them but be professional it is the best course of action.

“I have no issues working with the Illuminati,” Choi admitted. “They do strange things, especially that Powers guy, but I have no issues with them. The Templars seem to be less likely to share information. I’m surprised we haven’t run into them yet.” “Do you have any idea who someone named Emma or Marquardt maybe?” Yeong then pursued. “Those names were mentioned in the vision I had after opening the other book.” He refused to mention the name, for it seemed to imply the end of time.

"Emma and Marquardt, I don't think so. I thought you guys saw them in a vision right?" asked Sung. "we are almost to the condo I hope you can get some rest there." said Sung turning down another street. the condos and houses are nice this was the better part of the town. Nothing luxurious but a nice area.

Choi managed to look out the window of the Suburban. The neighborhood looked nice, he agreed. San Francisco, as much as many liked it, wasn’t South Korea. The thought of working with a grandmaster and a member of an ancient family from within the Dragon made him more confident. He had always been confident in his abilities. Run-Ji was a lucky one. She had a family. Yeong didn’t know his biological family. As far as he was concerned, the monks of the monastery were Choi’s family. Master Park was like a father to him. “It was strange, the vision,” Choi agreed. “It seemed apocalyptic. I saw all three organizations running from something in Africa. A woman holding a scalpel. A man dressed in black. A voice announced, Dark days are here. Emma is anima. Marquardt…This is the end of days.”

Sung drove into an underground parking lot and parked his SUV. getting out Sung helped Choi "I saw in your records you were raised in a monastery. I bet that was ruff." said Sung helping Choi to the elevator. Sung thought about the end of the day's comment from Choi. and the names. But how many times have they said something like that before? better do it right or the world will end thought Sung.