Chapter 23
Doyeong finally realized who Gamal resembled.
Codename ‘Anti-aircraft.’ Until recently, he had been the leader of the Ruas terrorist group ‘SN’ that terrorized the world, arrested and imprisoned three years ago.
Upon hearing that name, Gamal visibly flinched. Doyeong didn’t know a person’s face could lose color so quickly. Gamal had turned deathly pale.
“Kunis...”
She murmured like it was a moan.
Her eyes, filled with terror, turned pale as if their color was draining away. Doyeong frowned.
“Kunis? That bastard’s real name is Kunis?”
While higher-ups might know, Doyeong himself hadn’t known Anti-aircraft’s real name.
Doyeong looked Gamal up and down.
“Don’t tell me it’s really because of him? Is that why you won’t leave this island?”
Gamal opened her mouth. Then took another breath. But the sound of her breathing wasn’t normal.
Gamal collapsed while clutching her mouth. She couldn’t breathe. It was a hyperventilation response from panic. Tora immediately dropped what she was holding and ran over.
“Marty!”
Recognizing Gamal’s condition, she began treatment immediately. Finding nothing suitable nearby, she cupped her hands over Gamal’s nose and mouth and breathed into them. This wasn’t the work of someone who’d only done it once or twice.
“Marty, breathe. Come on.”
Finally, Gamal exhaled sharply while gripping Tora’s arm painfully tight. In those fingers digging into her adoptive mother’s skin were desperation, fear, and something like a scream.
Doyeong pulled that hand away.
“Lieutenant.”
Tora said sharply, but he ignored her. Doyeong only looked at Gamal and asked:
“What did that bastard do to you?”
In her wide-pupiled eyes passed despair and tangled fear as if it had happened yesterday.
“He killed me.”
“He killed you?”
Doyeong made a face.
“What does that mean?”
“Kunis was born with me. Inside Marty’s womb.”
Gamal suddenly became calm, like a different person. But her red eyes, still pale, stared at Doyeong.
“Kunis was kind. Everyone liked Kunis. The men, the women.”
“Gamal is still too young!” Kunis shouted.
Then Tawa said:
“What do you mean ‘young’? She’s already eighteen. Women Gamal’s age all have at least three children by now.”
“Other women are other women. Gamal is Gamal. What does she know about marriage?”
Kunis refused to back down.
“Adawi loves her. He knelt and begged for her hand. A warrior of his caliber doesn’t do that lightly.”
Tawa spoke in a tone that brooked no argument.
“Most importantly, he said he doesn’t care about the Rantu incident.”
Listening to this conversation outside the tent, Gamal looked down at her knees.
She had been married into the neighboring tribe last year. The reason for the past tense was that her groom, Rantu, had drowned in the lake after drinking at the wedding feast, found dead before entering the bridal chamber.
Though everyone called it an unfortunate accident, the way people looked at Gamal had undeniably changed.
“Why blame Gamal for that idiot slipping and drowning himself?” Kunis argued fiercely, his usual calm replaced by rage.
“Kunis. That’s no way to speak of the deceased,” Tawa chided his son with dignity.
Kunis sighed.
“I’m sorry. But how can they bring up marriage again so soon...?”
Gamal rose and walked to the lakeside.
Sitting on the grass, she gazed at the water. The midday sun glared on the lake’s surface, making the ripples sparkle like schools of leaping fish.
Adawi was gentle.
She didn’t understand romantic love, but being with him felt comfortable. Though a strong warrior, he wasn’t brutish like other men, making Marty say he’d make an excellent husband.
Gamal agreed.
Though she wished he were slightly more handsome.
Others claimed Adawi was good-looking enough, but to Gamal, what people called “manly”—that ruggedness—wasn’t particularly appealing.
“Gamal.”
Hearing the familiar voice, she turned.
“Adawi.”
He sat beside her.
“I heard your twin opposes our marriage.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Nothing for you to apologize for.”
Adawi muttered:
“What about me displeases him?”
“He’s just sad about us separating.”
“True. You two are famously close.”
This was how Adawi differed from others—he never shouted about being right or challenged others to duels.
A peaceful silence fell. Gamal appreciated that he could share quiet moments—until now, only Kunis had enjoyed such silences.
“Does Kunis not plan to marry?” Adawi asked suddenly.
Gamal shook her head.
“I don’t know. Maybe he hasn’t found someone he likes.”
“Makes sense. Hard to find a woman prettier than himself.”
Adawi murmured, watching her.
Gamal sat with her knees drawn up, glossy black hair cascading down and gleaming in the sunlight. Even her toes peeking from under her long skirt were beautiful.
Though later, as a vampire, she’d possess unearthly beauty, as a human, her radiance was like a freshly harvested pearl—pure and luminous.
At that moment, she exuded innocence like an unblemished lamb that could never commit sin.
Feeling his gaze, she looked up. Adawi’s eyes shone with admiration and pure desire—a worshipper’s gaze mingled with a man’s passion.
“Are you really alright about the Rantu incident?” she asked.
Adawi shrugged.
“He drunkenly misstepped into the lake. Tragic, but blaming you makes no sense.”
"I'm sorry to Rantu. If you hadn't married me, you wouldn't have had to go to the lakeshore that night."
Gamal murmured, and Adawi burst into a short laugh.
"Married or not, you'd still have gone to piss."
He then stroked Gamal's head with his large hand.
"Don't blame yourself. The world sometimes brings unavoidable tragedies that are nobody's fault."
Gamal regretted ever wishing Adawi were more handsome. What did looks matter when he possessed such kindness?
Their eyes met. With Adawi's hand still resting on her head, the atmosphere grew charged.
"Gamal."
His voice dropped low. She'd never even properly seen Rantu's face before their arranged marriage, but now she understood - this was how men sounded during intimate moments.
Though slightly frightening, it felt more like anticipation of the unknown than true fear. The realization that this man clearly desired her wasn't entirely unpleasant.
Adawi leaned in slowly. Their lips brushed - a cautious gesture, as if worried he might startle her.
When they separated, the large man looked unexpectedly shy.
Gamal suddenly turned, sensing watchful eyes. Across the lake, someone vanished behind a tree.
'Kunis?'
It must have been him, discreetly withdrawing upon seeing them together.
When her eyes met Adawi's again, he smiled. Against all expectations, Gamal felt this future with him might work.
Faint light seeped through the tent flaps.
Adawi wiped his feet and entered the bridal chamber. Gamal sat waiting on the wooden bed, clad in the white wedding gown cherished by the Satadi tribe.
"I barely drank," Adawi chuckled. "In case you needed to relieve yourself."
His smile widened. "I'll make you happy."
Gamal lifted her gaze. Her beautiful obsidian eyes glinted with an oily, pitiless coldness.
"You pathetic worm?"
The knife struck before he could blink - a perfect thrust to the throat.
"...!"
Adawi clutched his neck, blood cascading through his fingers.
"You..." he rasped, staggering backward.
Gamal - no, Kunis disguised as Gamal - rose from the bed. The erect posture and piercing eyes betrayed him despite the feminine garb.
Adawi flailed against a pillar before collapsing. Blood coated his body like second skin, rendering movement impossible.
A shadow fell across his vision. Kunis loomed above with glacial blue eyes.
"Don't tell me... last time too..."
Adawi's fading mind finally connected the dots - Kunis had killed Rantu as well.
Kunis snorted.
"You both courted death. How dare you covet Gamal?"
The knife flashed again, piercing Adawi's throat with surgical precision.
Adawi died staring at his killer.
Kunis stood impassive, his face devoid of emotion. Murder meant nothing - merely a tool for his purpose.
The disguised killer opened a large clothing chest in the corner. Inside slept the real Gamal, resplendent in her wedding finery. The white gown pooled around her like frozen waves, intricate jewelry and cosmetics transforming her into a goddess who could rival Anat herself.
"Gamal."
Kunis gently shook her shoulder. The girl stirred from her drugged slumber, eyelids fluttering.
"Kunis...?"
"Wake. We leave."
"Where...?"
She rubbed her eyes, struggling for clarity. "I'm supposed to be with Adawi..."
Her words died as she glimpsed over the chest's edge - Adawi's corpse lying in a crimson pool.
The scream never came. Kunis' palm sealed her mouth.
Gamal shuddered at the inhuman strength. Though wearing her face, the muscular grip and strange shimmering eyes - glowing with unnatural light - revealed the terrible truth.
When his grip slackened, Gamal lunged from the chest.
"Kunis! Something's wrong! Adawi's—"
He seized her mid-step, spinning her with force that left her reeling.
