Cerberus - Part Five
Genre: Werewolf/ Shifter AU; Medieval AU; Strangers-To-Lovers AU; Heavy Angst; Soulmate AU; Eventual Romance/ Smut
Rating: NC 18+, Explicit
Words: 5,732
Pairings: (Eventually) ot7 BTS x Human (?) Female Reader; Slight Min Yoongi x Reader ; Slight Kim Seokjin x Reader ; Slight Kim Taehyung x Reader
Warnings: Dark themes; Yandere Vibes; Murder/ Killing; Dark Dreams; Non-consensual touching/being touched without consent; Men who pray on women when they are vulnerable; mentions of being naked, mentions of demons/ creatures of the night; SEVERED HEADS/ DEATH / BLOOD
Tag List: (Please notify me if you wish to be added/ no longer want to be apart of the tag list!) @openup-yourmind, @deeepvibes, @xxsunny-side-upxx, @heoniebaby @applelovesposts, @jenartejk @demarie04 (I am so sorry I've missed anyone! It's been awhile!)
Cerberus Playlist — Apple Music (Let me know if you have a good song to add to the playlist and I’ll chuck it in there!)
“Do we have a deal?” The tall man simpers, lowering his voice just so the odd pair in front of him could be privy to their intimate conversation.
“...Indeed…No funny business from either party involved after we shake on this, I presume? I want this matter swiftly resolved.” The deep baritone questions as he darts his icy gaze between the two creatures clad in their human forms standing before him.
The woman laughs. “We have nothing to gain from swindling you, good sir.” Her eyes glow a soft purple and her voice is like rich wine retains her stance on the matter.
“And, we agree! We feel the same as you and-- of course--” she gestures her arms open wide, “all these good creatures here.”
The tall man takes slender drinking flutes off the blood sampling table, glamoured for a certain pest amongst them tonight. The red liquid sloshes against the glass, melting down the side, bubbles forming on the top. It was delicious, making his mouth water at the sight. The liquid treat smells strong and rich with iron. His favorite. Perfectly fermented blood.
“Very well.” The baritone man in the black and white mask nods as he accepts a drink from the tall man. “Let us shake on this, then.”
“And a toast-- to your good fortune! Being almost rid of such a vile thing should have you feeling elated!” The woman’s eyes shine with that eerie, lavender glow, nearly squealing as she lifts her blood wine up high.
“...Quite.” The baritone says solemnly as he clinks his glass against the other two creatures of the night.
-
“Miss.” Lacy sighs, looking at me with stars radiating in her eyes. “You look perfect, you do.” Tears well in the corners of her eyes, her wrinkled corners crinkling with a bittersweet expression.
It makes me blush. I’m not used to nice compliments from a more mature crowd.
“That feels like an overstatement.” I smile shyly in her direction. “But, thank you.” Indeed, I do feel like a goddess in this shimmering, glittering gown. It fits perfectly. Madam Hwasa’s legendary handiwork is evident with the dozens of gems affixed to the stunning fabric, the details to the trim on the edges, and the fact that it was lightweight, but still looked heavy and expensive. This dress is truly a work of art.
“The princes are going to eat you up when they see you!” Sophia squeals, moving to a small-sized square box, pulling out a gold and silver tiara. Everyone keeps saying that to me lately I think. “Prince Taehyung suggested you wear one of the Mistress’ crowns for the ball as it would complement your outfit nicely.”
My smile falters as I stare at the beautiful silver and gold piece of jewelry Sophia is bringing closer to me. “Are you sure?” I ponder. “It looks quite expensive and I would hate to somehow ruin it…Afterall, I am rather clumsy--or at least that’s what my brothers told me--”
“Hush now, child.” Lacy coos as she and Sophia sit me back down at the vanity mirror. “You are meant to shine. Become what you’ve always meant to be.”
“A star!” Lacy chimes in as the sisters begin weaving and pinning my hair.
I grin a true, genuine happy smile at their kind words.
The sisters work to fix the opulent crown of braided, intricately woven metal upon head. For this evening, the sisters have decided for a half up, half down style. Apparently, it is all the rage--this is how most of the young girls are wearing their hair, or so I have been told. (Also, the cleavage I am sporting this evening per this tight corseted dress is making me feel like I am not my true self. I usually stick to modest clothing and designs where I am not spilling out of my chest area…However, this dress is beautiful and all the girls are wearing a ballgown in this style per Seokjin…how could I simply refuse…?) Clear crystals that are hooked in the middle of the crown so they dangle when I move. The tinkling sound they created when they hit the side of the metal frame made me giddy for some reason.
For the first time in my life, I feel like a real and true princess.
A rasp of knuckles on the wooden door knock in soft, rhythmic taps that I recognize immediately. Prince Yoongi. It’s from the piano sonata we have been working on together.
“You are almost ready, love.” Lacy whispers as the sisters work like busy, buzzing bees around my head.
“Should I tell him that?” The inquiry comes from my lips as a whisper. They both nod, smirks spreading across their faces. “I am almost ready, Prince Yoongi!” A grin finds my decorated lips as Lacy spreads clear gloss across my them. The gloss appears to be laced with freckles of gold glitter.
A star! Her words echo in my skull and I feel like the whirlwind of me arriving, getting ready for the ball with the princes, the man I punched in the bathroom and then this gown…It finally hits me.
I am giddy for this event…however, I am also feeling mentally drained…I miss my brothers dearly…
“You need your mask.” Sophia grins as she quickly ties the white and gold trimmed cat-and-bird-like mask to my face. She snaps me out of my daze, pushing me to my bedroom door. It only fits across my eyes and the slope of my nose, drawing attention to my lips, thus the gloss they have smeared across my mouth. “I hope someone courts you tonight.”
“Oh, no…” I shake my head softly, looking at my reflection in the mirror. Dread fills my body as I remember the monster I am…In the flesh that is not my own, but my mother’s. My father’s blood on my hands, the nose I just broke of that strange man, my beloved brothers… “I don’t believe I would ever be.”
“Nonsense, love.” Lacy chuckles, drawing me from my swirling, dark thoughts. “Any man here is going to be gawking from miles away.”
“The ladies too!” Sophia chuckles as she shoos me out the door.
A shy grin crosses my face as they escort me to the wooden door. “You are too kind, my dear ladies.” I take a deep breath, trying to release my nerves from the devastating events leading me to the kingdom of Bangtan. Tonight, I shall be carefree and potentially be a star! I think as I open the old, wooden door.
“Ready?” Prince Yoongi smiles his wonderful gummy smile as I exit the room. I am in awe of the royalty of this household. He wears a black with white Rococo-inspired trimmed wolf-like mask. He holds out his hand to me as I curtsey as best one can in such a gown as I wear. The second-oldest prince, kneels down on one knee, kissing the top of my sheer gloved hand. “You look divine, Y/N.” His deep, low voice simpers up to me.
I blush, glancing away at his words. A hot rush of electricity strikes my core and I hope he cannot hear my heart beating rapidly. What a truly wild night this has turned out to be--and it has barely begun!
A wolfish grin spreads across his face as he stares up at me, holding my gaze with his beautiful amber orbs. “I am happy to know I have the honor of seeing you first in your gown tonight.”
“She has no idea, huh?” Sophia looks down at her sister with a sad expression once they are out of earshot.
“Naive, that one, she is.” Lacy says, looking at the girl who is going to have one of the hardest nights of her short life.
“This will be our best ball yet.” Yoongi continues, leading me down the marble staircase. My arm feels just right, nestled in his elbow of his brilliant black and white tuxedo jacket. “The Harvest Moon Ball will be perfect now that you are here, little bird.”
I blush, tucking a stray curl behind my ear. The intensity of his gaze is more than I can bear this evening! I scramble for a modicum of a topic to stir a conversation.
“Why do you celebrate this Harvest Moon?” I inquire, looking at the prince with curiosity. “We always believed full moons were to be met with uncertainty."
He looks at me puzzled, his amber eyes searching mine as we continue to walk the corridor in silence. Another silent beat passes before he asks with disappointment, “Like a bad omen?”
“No.” I shake my head. “Not a bad omen. Just to be heeded with caution and care.” A soft grin finds my gold-flecked lips at the memory. “My father believed it was bad though, if you were met with a wolf cry on a full moon. He thought a werewolf or wolf person would come and claim you and eat your heart in the middle of the night.”
“And, did that ever happen?” He simpers, a touch of teasing in his deep, pleasureful voice at my father’s old wives tale.
“A wolf eating my heart?” I giggle at the thought of my father’s old story and how my brothers would tease me on nights of full, pregnant moons, pretending a wolf was going to barge into my room. “No, but I swear I could hear them sometimes on nights when the moon was full.” I sigh wistfully, looking around the darkened castle, candles lighting our path down the stairs, to the ballroom. “I always felt like they were out there though. In the distance…beyond the wood and past the deep ravine…”
All at once, a cacophony of sounds in the usually calm mansion floods my ears as I descend the staircase, prince in tow. Sounds of violins, cellos, flutes, clarinets, pianos and harps floating throughout the mansion as we trek to the ballroom. The echo of people chattering and laughing joyfully carry through the air as we get closer to the other side of the giant home. Savory smells of creamy cheeses, buttered breads, salted delicacies and cured meats waft throughout, hitting my nose, making my mouth water. Sweets and chocolate from far away kingdoms I have never even heard of linger in the air, creating quite a delicious mix of savory and sweet. However, there is an underlying scent that I can’t identify hovering under the other smells like perfume and flowers, but I cannot quite put my finger on what it is.
“I hope the music is up to your standards.” Prince Yoongi grins as we start to breach the outer rims of the throes of the buzzing gala.
A wave of nervousness washes over me as we start to see the first groups of people exiting and entering the ballroom. I cannot see anyone’s eyes well behind the masks they wear but I feel their eyes upon me. Watching the hem of my gown, the placement of my arm intertwined with the prince’s, my breasts heaving, my hair swaying as I continue on the path Yoongi has chosen.
A star! The voice of Lacy echoes in my mind, rattling around like a small ball, banging against the sides of my skull. A star!
I shake my head, trying to lift these crazy thoughts from my head. “Oh, I adore your music on the piano so dearly!” I say as we make our way through the masked crowd. My stomach is in a tangle of intricate sailor knots and balls of tightly woven yarn. The corset of the gown is not helping this scenario as it is already a struggle to breathe since Lacy and Sophia put this sparkling beast upon my body. Lightheadedness wafts over me and I feel slightly dizzy, but I will endure this evening. I will not shy away like every fiber of my being is telling me to run away. I owe the princes that much. “I am sure I will very much enjoy whatever you have planned this evening, Prince Yoongi.”
“Do tell me if you have any requests for me this evening, little bird.” Prince Yoongi says, his voice sounding like the softest leather and electricity floods from the apples of my cheeks, traveling down to my nether regions.
“I-I shall…” I say sheepishly, averting my gaze. I am happy to be at the entrance of the loud and busy ballroom, my jaw going slack at the sights I behold here. More people pass, their masks obscuring their faces. I simply don’t know which person was who and from what in this colorful masked display of eleganza.
The band was on the second floor of the ballroom, leaving the rest of the opulently decorated room to be occupied by the hoard of people invited here today. Millions of candles set the room aglow with their flickering flames, illuminating the enchanting every corner of the room. Mask wearers in different suits and gowns of every color under the sun hold champagne flutes, gossiping amongst themselves in the corners of the giant ballroom. A huge mass of people dance joyfully in the middle of the marbled floor. They take their places for what looks like a line dance. Ladies on the left and gentlemen on the right, meeting in the middle to push their elbows against each other and then turning in tow. I believe I have spotted prince Hoseok and Jungkook among the crowd of lively, giddy dancers but I cannot be certain.
The masks are making this crowd impossible to make out just who is who.
I am in a state of awe and wonder. I hope to spot all the dedication and hard work the Princes of Bangtan have placed into making this Harvest Moon Ball the most splendid yet.
Seokjin’s attention to the food he helped prepare was very much unrivaled, everyone seemed to be digging into whatever creations he concocted with the cooks in the mansion. The music was perfect. I cannot fathom Yoongi’s musical choices being any less curated and designed well for this elegant occasion. Jimin’s fragrant flowers decorate the room in giant vases; garlands of the beautiful autumnal flowers and plants hang from the ceilings and banisters. Taehyung has curated and crafted all the artwork along the walls and the busts of his statues placed on short pillars to decorate the room. Hoseok and Jungkook were leading the line dance, smiles of gee spread across their faces. And last but not least, Namjoon was busy mingling with a whole flock of guests, conversing seemingly to be one of the many talents of his. He is shaking hands with a tall gentleman and what looks to be a petite woman.
How odd. It is strange to see a man shake a woman’s hand in such a way. Perhaps it is a business negotiation of some kind? I forget that these balls, these galas, are more like a networking event than a social or leisurely one sometimes.
All the brothers had the same wolf-like mask on, showing off the crest of the Bangtan household with pride. The black and white Rococco-inspired elegant masks couldn’t hide their beautiful amber eyes.
“Would you like something to drink?” Prince Yoongi grins wide as he watches me gawk at the splendor of this ornate scene.
“I would, yes.” I nod, watching the masked people twirl and spin around each other on the dance floor. “I cannot believe this is the same empty ballroom I have passed several times before.” I chuckle as Yoongi passes me a champagne flute off a tray from a masked wait staff. The golden liquid was fizzing and popping just before the rim, smelling sweet and fragrant of alcohol.
It’s been many moons since I have had the bitter, sour tasting liquid. My brothers would jest and tease me that I could not handle any liquor, Though I hardly drank at my old kingdom, the princes have never coaxed me into savoring any of their own alcohol. I wonder why that is.
Yoongi chuckles, “Quite!” He rumbles a laugh. “We have completely transformed this space. I think it’s come together rather nicely, wouldn’t you agree?”
A small sip of my drink is all I can muster before I answer, “Oh, yes. I quite agree! Everyone who had a hand in this ball has really worked to put on a beautiful, otherworldly show!”
The prince cocks an eyebrow, taking his own sip of his drink, softly smiling over the rim of the delicate glass. “Otherworldly, you say? What a good description of what this evening has in store.”
“Prince Yoongi?” A woman asks as she slinks up to the pair of us. “May I have a word?” She appears to be older than Seokjin but not quite as old as my father. Her voice was like rich honey smothered on buttery bread. I admire her mole next to her upper lip and her very large bosom that was threatening to spill out of her red and black satin dress. Her eyes are fixed solely on the prince, never wavering.
“Absolutely.” Yoongi says straightening up, voice hardening, expression falling. He sets his empty glass on a waiter's tray that quickly darts by. “Y/N, I will return shortly.” A small smile quirks up his lips as he turns toward me, tugging one corner of his mouth as he does so. His amber eyes seem to glow, piercing through his mask as he says, “Please save me a dance this evening.”
“I shall.” I curtsey as he bows deeply, his white hair falling over his eyes. He turns to take his leave and I feel a sickly feeling creeping up from the depths of my heart.
Jealousy.
I scoff at myself. Surely, I cannot be jealous of a woman I have never met! Besides, to think I would have all the princes undivided attention as I usually do is utterly absurd! Why, I already am asking too much as it is! I am but a humble guest in their home. Envious is something I am not! Right…? I look down for a brief moment at my chest and sigh. I finish the rest of my golden liquid in a polite swig. Maybe, I do covet for a size a little larger than what I have now…
Cheering noises erupt upon the dance floor interrupting my slightly envious thoughts.
Prince Jungkook had a woman in a pink rabbit mask as his partner for this next dance. His hands fit around her waist, holding her as he flits through the crowd of other dancers. The woman giggles and smiles as he guides her gently through the dance, laughing and stepping tandem as the music picks up. They look like figures spinning upon a jewelry box, twirling in a sort of elegance that only certain people possess.
I grab another drink of the liquid-gold looking drink off of a member of the staff's tray. This drink is so tasty!
A pang of guilt slices my heart as I look away, taking a sip to distract myself. Remembering my brothers I left in my home always feels like a fresh knife wound to the heart. They were all such lovely dancers…especially Soonyoung, Minghao, Junhui, and Chan…
All my brothers were…I miss them…I miss Yoongi…I miss all the princes...
What is the matter with me! Why am I thinking like this? This is not like me at all…
I watch the way Jungkook’s fingertips rest upon the woman’s hip, gliding her through the fray. The people dancing look like they are having the time of their lives. I imagine myself as the woman his long fingers rest upon, hoping I could feel the warmth, the strength that the youngest prince yields. His smile was infectious as he never took his amber-colored gaze off of her.
My eyes catch a flash of red hair and I spot the third oldest slightly behind his younger brother. Hoseok fits around with a woman in a mouse mask, dressed in a grey satin-like material with white lace adorning her outfit. He moves them together with ease, swaying and sweeping across the dance floor like a beautiful pair of swans doing a special dance only they know. Hoseok’s hearty laugh carries above the din of the music and chatter of people in the large ballroom.
They both look so happy.
Realization dawns upon me. I am jealous. Purely and truly envious.
I grab another champagne flute off the tray of a floucing waiter and drink a rather large gulp. I am no lady with my swift action, but the ton is not admiring me. My stomach turns sour with only the golden liquid sloshing inside.
A prickle goes up my spine. I feel eyes upon me, but that is impossible. Nobody would be gazing at me. I am nobody. I am just an impersonator. A monster in this skin, in this body, that is not mine. I am a monster….Not even a very good one at that. But, still…that feeling persists.
I look behind me and find nothing but people I don't know, mingling and talking and laughing and--unsurprisingly--not paying me any mind.
A twinge of loneliness stirs in my heart and I set my third cup of fizzing liquid down with a soft sigh.
“My darling, little bird.” Seokjin simpers as he moves with stealthy precision around a group of ladies. “Come dance with me!” He exclaims, taking my hand gently, leading me to the dance floor.
“How did you know I needed a dance?” I giggle, falling into line on the dance floor. Luckily, I know this step sequence. My brother Hoshi drilled it into my brain when we were barely knee-high. It’s an old one, like a waltz where you exchange partners part-way through.
I don’t mind the exchange of dance partners, though. My feet feel so light as we step round and round with one another. My head feels like candied air was puffed inside. I feel like complete bliss.
“I didn’t know!” He laughs a hearty belly laugh. “You just looked so beautiful, I had to give you your first dance here.” Seokjin grins down at me, the wolf mask fitting his features perfectly. “My little bird.” He says through slurred speech, holding onto my waist with a gentle grasp and my free hand in his other.
I am sure I am blushing a deep red as we step out and twirl before coming back together.
“That dress is divine on you.” Prince Seokjin whispers to me, pulling me slightly closer than before. My chest is upon his, his breath tickling my ear. “You look like a fallen star.”
A star!
“Prince Seokjin, why do you celebrate the Harvest Moon?” The words tumble out of my mouth before I have the chance to think about them. “I inquired with Prince Yoongi and he never told me the reason why.”
The eldest prince frowns, his happy expression falling as he guides me across the marbled dance floor. “Why do we celebrate?” He asks, seriousness coloring his tone. Seokjin is silent for a beat before he hiccups then, causing him to erupt in a fit of laughter. “We celebrate the harvest coming to an end.” He slurs, turning me in his hands to hold onto my hips. “It’s a beautiful, orange, pregnant moon.” He breathes in my ear.
I breathe in sharply. Molten-hot heat shoots to my core and I feel myself pulsing around nothing. I ache for something in between my legs at that moment, wanting pleasure. I want to be pleasured…I want to give pleasure… I want one of the princes…I want Prince Seokjin…
I’m cut off from my thoughts when the eldest prince says, “Off you go now.” Seokjin laughs as he pushes me to the next partner. “Be good, little bird.”
No! I wasn’t done dancing with him yet! I think as I come-to reality and see my next dance partner.
A tall, big man in a blue horse mask was waiting with arms wide open, wolfish grin spread across his lips. “What do we have here?” He asks with a hearty, raspy voice. He inhales and a shiver goes down my shine as our fingertips touch. The man pulls me closer to his hips, my heaving chest rubbing against his chest. “Human…” He ponders this for a moment before his green eyes pierce my own orbs. His grin extends up his jowls. “Ahhh, you are the dessert this evening, I see, I see.” He nods, twirling me around.
“I-I beg your pardon, sir?” My brows furrow as I try to follow the conversation, but pull away from his cold, yet sweaty, grip. I feel incredibly uncomfortable under this man's watchful eyes. “Human?”
“Yes, that’s right.” He sniffs the air deeply again, his belly protruding onto my dress. “No….” His green eyes light up with an eerie glow. My hands start to shake under his leering vision. “Half-human, half-demon.”
He twirls me out from his grasp again and my feet move on their own, exiting the dance floor without looking back.
My skin is crawling! I feel like I’ve swallowed dozens of slimy insects and they are crawling around inside of my organs! I have never been spoken to like that. Like I am a snack. And a demon? What ever could one possibly think I am a demon? Do I have a likeness of a hellish creature? In this body that is not mine but my own mothers? I barely even knew my mother and my father was a mystery to me. How am I supposed to respond to a person saying these things to me?
I reach for more sparkly, gold liquid off of the wait staff's tray and gulp down some feverishly.
How incredibly uncouth. I am not being very polite to the prince's guest, walking away from him like that…but, I hope they will understand if it is brought up in conversation. I search for the unknown man in the crowd of dancers but I lack finding him. Prince Seokjin too has seemingly disappeared as well.
Should I even tell the princes about this man? If they are all here in the ballroom, doesn’t that mean they are friends or at least acquaintances to some capacity? I ponder what I should do, staring at the dancers on the marbled floor moving in beautiful tandem, stepping in and out of their chosen partners arms.
With a few more gulps of the fizzing alcohol, I finish the drink with a sigh, setting the empty glass on a wait staff tray.
“Would you care for a dance, Y/N?” The deep velvety voice of Prince Taehyung, breaks me from my spiraling thoughts and worry of eyes upon me.
I smile wide. My hero! “Finally! A familiar face!” I grab his free hand which seems to startle him. “You really are a charming prince, coming to rescue me!”
Stunned into a beat of silence, he laughs a deep, boisterous laugh. “How much of this have you had?” The prince points to the empty champagne flute on the table next to me.
“Three…Four?” I giggle, a flush finding my cheeks of embarrassment. “I beg your pardon.” I cover my mouth quickly. “I never drink such a bubbly livation.” A sheepish grin breaks on my gold-flecked lips as Taehyung smirks down at me.
The prince shakes his head with a wide smile and a deep chuckle. “No matter. Nothing to be ashamed of!” He beckons a waiter by the wall in our direction. “Please, Samuel, bring us some fresh water. From the cellars preferably.”
“Yes, sir.” The blonde man says, rushing off and through the ton.
“Little bird,” Taehyung says, placing his thumb on my chin and his pointer finger just underneath, leading my gaze up to him. “Please only drink water provided by Samuel this eve. You understand?”
His thumb brushes against my flesh as he tenderly touches me. I feel like my skin is on fire, like my soul has been set on ablaze. Nothing matters, only Taehyung’s gentle, warm fingertips against my skin and his beautiful, glowing amber eyes. Molten-white hot heat sears my core, making me nearly melt as the prince looks at me with such intensity with feather-like caresses. I feel as light as a cloud on a breezy day, floating away, into the ether.
“Hmm?” He questions me. “You understand, don’t you? Our good girl.” His hot breath hits my face, his wolf mask coming closer to my own bird-cat-like one.
“Y-Yes…” I pant out breathlessly, my eyelids fluttering closed.
This is completely inappropriate. I know this. This is the most unlady-like thing I have done in my life. Well, besides my journey that has led me to this castle of course.
“Very good, little bird.” Taehyung pants. I feel the weight and heat of him pull back from me. “Here, Y/N.” He says, handing me a glass of fresh water brought back from Samuel.
He was so close to me! I think as I relish in the cool liquid hitting my throat. I thought he was perhaps going to kiss me just then…
“Drink up.” Prince Taehyung demands, amber orbs glowing through his mask. “I don’t want your head to be clouded with that nonsense when it happens.”
“With what nonsense?” I query the second youngest prince, finishing the glass with glee. “When what happens?”
He gestures his long fingers to the ton around us. “This lot.” He chuckles darkly, lip curling. “These creatures of the night. The infernal crowd that delights by dancing with the devil. The witches, vampires, succubi, and werewolves you see before you.” Prince Taehyung’s usual amber eyes flash a bright green before he continues, “The demons being the worst of them all.”
More talks about devils and demons tonight? I step back instinctually. The little hairs on the back of my neck stand straight at attention as the prince glowers at me with dazzling green orbs. “Prince Taehyung, you are worrying me.”
“I can save you.” He leans in catching my wrist with his free arm, the other has a glass of alcohol in it. His deep voice made me tremble under the strange words he was saying to me. “Let me save you from them.”
“From w-who?” I stammer, moving back, unsure of what is happening around me.
“The princes.” Taehyung’s grip intensifies, crushing me under his aggressive clutches. “They are going to kill you.” Taehyung says, breaking his champagne flute in his fist, slicing the fresh glass against my skin. He created a small gash, opening my flesh with the sharp edge of the broken glass. “Let me end your suffering first.”
Red blood oozes out of the wound, tickling down my palms, gliding off my fingertips.
I gasp, eyes blown wide by why he was suddenly hurting me. This is not like him at all! What is happening!? “What is going on, Prince Taehyung?” I demand, tone deadly. I look at my slowly bleeding wrist. It doesn’t hurt all that much. Just stings.
People around us have gone silent. The whole of the ton on this side of the ballroom was watching us, nostrils flared, mouths watering.
I realize he isn’t bleeding. Glass was sticking to his skin, embedded in his hand, yet he was completely fine. He watches me, green eyes glowering, trained on my every move.
“What are you?” I query with malice now. “You are not Prince Taehyung.” I try to yank my bleeding hand away from his. This person is unwavering, digging his fingernails deeper into my flesh.
“You’ll never know, demon.” He chuckles, lifting his glass-embedded hand up to show the glass being absorbed into his bubbling, moving flesh.
I feel sick. I wish to vomit. I start to shake, my body quakes with a quiet tremor rippling through me.
“Y/N!” Prince Jungkook bursts into the ballroom then, holding something massive and swollen by what looked like threads in his hands. The other princes were behind him, filing into the ballroom, looking at the scene before them.
Oh, thank the Gods they are here! I think, relief washing through me. Please save me!
“Get away from her, you fiend!” Prince Hoseok shouts, coming to stand at the base of the ballroom steps. A series of snickers and laughter arise from around me and all I think is please save me over and over and over.
“Taehyung, catch!” With a smug grin, Prince Jungkooks sends the thing he was holding onto flying through the air.
In the dim candlelight of the ballroom, my eyes widen as I finally realize what Jungkook has thrown through the air.
That wasn't thread he was holding onto…It was hair…
It…is a head…
I…I-I…know this profile…I know this head…
I cover my mouth with my free hand.
I know this hair and that once gummy smile…
The head rolls, lolling and slumping over and stops at my feet. The person that claims to be Taehyung laughs maniacally, using his boot to turn the face toward me.
No…
A star!
I am shaking. I am moving by my own volition. Steam is rising off my back, my dress is melting off my skin... Anger, grief, sadness, frustration, heavy heated emotions flip through me.
No… It can’t be.
The thing that has Taehyung’s face hisses. My flesh closes the wound he inflicted upon him, burning him in its violent wake. He growls at me before he turns into an orange and black butterfly and disappears into the crowd. I am being consumed by murderous thoughts.
A star! A fallen star!
It cannot be….
Someone calls my name and I see red.
It cannot be my brother Jihoon’s severed head lying on the floor…
My rage fully takes over all thoughts. I become engulfed in radiant orange and red flames, consuming my body as my beautiful dress melts away, turning into glittering, sparkling ash leaving me naked, my body still steaming, radiating with heat.
I grab the glass off the floor, crouch down, and take off like a beam of light into the crowd. I hack and saw at everyone and anything I find in my violent wake.
I do not need any prince to save me. I can and will always save myself.
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Author's Notes: Happy Spooky Month, sweet beans! I am still here! Always thinking about my stories! I hope you will accept this humble offering as I know it's been a while! Thank you everyone who has read this story and kept up with it! Sorry it's been so long! This year has been NUTS! I love you all and have the most wonderful day/ night! <3
Feedback is appreciated but not necessary.
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Part Four l Part Six
