Chapter Text
⋆.˚ ☾ .⭒˚
Mood: Smoke Sprite by So!YoON! ft. RM
"She's beautiful!" Hoseok raises his arms in worship of the glowing, coppery-red moon peeking through the trees. His black mesh shirt lifts as he spins around to walk backwards, arms stretched out wide, and a sly smile on his face.
Jimin bends over, placing his hands on his knees. He closes his eyes and takes a few slow, deep breaths to will away the encroaching nausea from the translocation spell. "Yeah, yeah…beautiful."
A small, cold, pink nose speckled with tiny brown spots pokes at his cheek and whiskers tickle his jaw. He leans his head to the side and nuzzles his sweet ferret familiar. Her white fur, dusted in gray, is soft and soothing against his neck.
"I'm okay, Lina," Jimin whispers.
Warm, earthy amber tickles his nose as a hand rubs his back. Eunwoo's baritone voice is soft and apologetic, "You never do well with teleporting."
Jimin ignores the guilt seeping off of Eunwoo. Regardless of who casts it, he always suffers from the side effects of translocation magic. "Yeah, I don't think that will ever change."
"Shake it off." Seokjin pats him on the back with a little too much enthusiasm as he walks by. "It's time to party!"
Lina clings to his shoulders as he topples forward with an oof. Eunwoo catches him with an arm around his waist. He tries not to shrink away from Eunwoo's touch. He knows the alpha can't help himself. It's a reflex.
He taps softly on Eunwoo's arm and gives him a small, empty smile, "Thanks."
The sound of dried leaves crunching under their shoes and creatures scurrying into hiding has his head on a swivel. They trek through a dark forest, tempted by the whispered rumors of a grand celebration. Their coven members' efforts to dissuade them from attending fell on deaf ears, for Seokjin and Hoseok could not be easily swayed. They dragged him and Eunwoo along on their impulsive quest for a night of gallivanting under the blood moon.
Jimin scrunches his face in disgust as he swats a large bug trying to get a taste of his neck. Hopefully this will all be worth the effort by the end of the night. They could have easily attended one of the many festivities happening in their realm tonight.
Seokjin curses as he trips over a large tree root. He almost snags his beloved purple, sequined chiffon dress shirt on a tree branch. Knowing Seokjin, he would have declared the night ruined if that had been the case.
Jimin lets out a soft snort as he closes his hand into a fist. Delicate vines of black ink begin to shimmer with a glowing, yellow hue. Tattooed sigils allow him to focus his magic energy with little effort. They wrap around his wrists and travel up his hands to twist around his fingers, gathering his magic energy into the palm of his hand. He opens his hand slowly. A tiny ball of soft yellow light enlarges into a gleaming, softball-sized orb as his hand flattens, illuminating their surroundings.
"Thanks, Min!" Sequins glimmer in the light as Seokjin catches up with Hoseok, linking their arms together.
Speckles of light appear in the distance as they near their destination. They break through the trees to enter a vast circular field at the center of the forest. A trail of black lanterns of varying sizes lights their path. Some are tall enough to reach Jimin's hip as he walks by. Multiple trails lead from the surrounding forest to the center of the field, where a small town called Willow awaits.
Upbeat trance music resounds across the field, beckoning them to enter. Willow sits at the epicenter of neutral territory between all realms. It's a place that welcomes beings of all kinds. That's the only hard and fast rule about Willow. Those who enter do so at their own risk. Whether it be for trading, seedy business, or indulgences in immoral fetishes, anything goes.
Although many of the surrounding realms do not outlaw travel to neutral territory, it is highly frowned upon for the risk of danger and possible fraternizing with enemies.
The sound of rambunctious laughter catches Jimin's attention. A couple of trails over, walk a few tall, elegant elven males dressed in nothing but fitted brown trousers with gold arm bands around their lean biceps. The fair skin of their bare chests glimmers under the moonlight, decorated in gold glitter. An elf notices their presence, and his eyes linger on Jimin.
Jimin can feel Eunwoo step closer to him. He chooses to ignore it as he watches Hoseok try not to squeal at the sight of the elves. It's not often that beings like elves venture out of their realm.
Though tonight is a special night.
Jimin peers up at the luminous moon as they near the town. He wishes he could feel some type of way about witnessing the first blood moon to grace the night sky in two decades. Had he seen it a few years ago, he would have been elated. He would be frolicking around with his body nearly bare to soak up lunar energy.
But as Jimin gazes at the moon's rust-red hue, he feels…nothing.
It's quiet inside him.
Lonely.
Numb.
He can't even feel the despair of his omega anymore.
As soon as they enter the town, they're met with a lively crowd that gathers to share their excitement for this rare blessing—a chance to cleanse and renew their energy. Beings and familiars of all kinds dance, drink, and mingle about. Some are scantily dressed, while others forgo clothes altogether.
A plethora of glowing lanterns hang from small trees that scatter across the town center. Stationed at each tree are whimsical cocktail bars that lure unsuspecting guests. They choose to order their drinks from a human since they would rather not be subject to a playful fae's enchantment. Hoseok still casts an enchantment detection spell on each drink just in case.
It doesn't take long for Seokjin and Hoseok to sashay away, disappearing amongst the sprightly crowd.
Like a beautifully wilted wallflower, Jimin observes off to the side. He longs to share this moment with another, wrapped in the scent of pine and fresh earth. A scent he fears he's forgotten what it smelled like, how it made him feel.
Safe. Loved. Home.
No, he could never forget.
Eventually, his body naturally sways to the music as he feels the soft hum of the blood moon's energy in the air. It's a neutral kind of energy, one that can be molded as desired by its wielder. Yet there's a slithering undercurrent of dark energy. It drifts about as if seeking a vulnerable being to latch on to.
Lina shudders on Jimin's shoulder, sensing the dark energy. She wraps around his neck, hiding her face in his long, layered onyx hair. For now, the dark energy doesn't feel malicious, so Jimin carries on.
"You look beautiful," Eunwoo says as he returns to Jimin's side, handing him a fresh cocktail.
"Thank you," Jimin says quietly as his sultry eyes fall, and he accepts the drink handed to him.
He's wearing a sleeveless black crop top embossed with a crescent moon on his chest. The beads that hang from the hem over his midriff tinkle as he shifts his weight in his low lace boots. He can feel the crisp night air on his toned legs through the long side slits of his black harem pants. His eyelids are dusted in purple glitter and wing-lined in jet black.
Eunwoo looks charming as he stands next to Jimin in his sheer, black dress shirt and fitted slacks. His dark brown hair is tousled and falls over his forehead. The alpha's oak and vanilla amber scent dances around Jimin, soft and inviting. He can sense Eunwoo's alpha calling to his omega like it always does. He wonders if Eunwoo ever tires of the silence he receives in return.
There was a time when Jimin tried to let Eunwoo in. He thought maybe the alpha could help heal his broken heart. But the alpha's caress across his skin just didn't feel the same. He didn't feel anything from the alpha's touch. He couldn't feel anything.
Even now, he's hollow inside.
He doesn't think anything can heal a broken heart, not even magic.
Trust, he's tried it all.
"Eunwoo—"
"Don't mind me." Eunwoo turns to look at Jimin with a wistful gaze, voice soft but firm. "I'll tire of this someday."
Jimin purses his lips and gives Eunwoo's hand a soft squeeze. "Okay."
⋆.˚ ☾ .⭒˚
Jimin begins to loosen up as he gets lost in the music. The melodic sounds worm their way into his mind, putting him in a trance. The rhythmic, pulsating bass vibrates his chest as he dances, body twisting and rolling. He drinks up the blood moon's energy as his arms raise above his head.
He finally feels something.
Something intoxicating courses through his veins.
Glistening, sweat-slicked bodies brush up against Jimin. He leans back onto the body behind him, resting his head on a shoulder. He doesn't know if the shoulder belongs to Eunwoo or maybe Hoseok? It might even be the dryad he could have sworn he saw a moment ago.
Even on a cool fall night, heat simmers and rises above the crowd. That hum of energy is now a buzz in the air. It swirls and builds around them, amping up. It's palpable as it pulses and resonates with the melodic trance sounds.
In his daze, Jimin senses a cold, dark energy.
He curiously tilts his head, and his eyes flutter open. He squints, trying to focus his hazy sight. He sees a broad back amongst the crowd, it pushes forward, and disappears into the sea of bodies. It's just the back of an unknown being amongst the masses, yet it somehow feels so familiar.
Ah, how I wish it were you.
Jimin loses his balance as a body bumps into his shoulder. "Whoa," he giggles, tilting forward.
As his head tilts downward, his eyes widen when he spots a black, bushy tail peppered in white. It slips between the legs of dancing bodies. Jimin moves before he can even think better of his inebriated state. He faintly hears Eunwoo call out to him, but he mindlessly follows the furry tail, quickly squeezing between bodies.
He shakes his head as if it could sober his vision, trying to keep his eyes on the tail threading through the crowd. Just as Jimin closes the distance, he walks right into a burst of pink, shimmering smoke. The sudden party trick startles him. He coughs as he waves his hand around in the air to disperse the smoke. He can hear the giggling of a fae, amused at Jimin's terrible timing.
As the smoke dissipates, he takes a step forward only to freeze.
A wolf stands before him. Its black fur is sprinkled with white across its chest and front legs. It gazes at him with hazel green eyes for a brief moment, and then it's pressing through the crowd.
"I-It can't be—"
Lina whimpers and nudges Jimin's face to pull him out of his shock. Jimin takes off, urgently following the wolf. He suddenly feels sober. He almost can't believe what he just saw, but Lina saw it too. If there's even a possibility that they are here, he has to find out.
Why here? Why now?
"Sorry, sorry," he mutters as he pushes people out of his way.
In his haste, he bumps against a sturdy shoulder and trips over a foot, lurching forward. Lina gets launched off his shoulder from the movement. Jimin gasps and reaches out to catch her with both hands as they almost fall to the ground. When he regains his bearings, he guides Lina to perch on his shoulder and belatedly realizes the wolf is gone.
No, no, no.
He pulls at his hair as he turns in a circle, aimlessly trying to catch sight of the wolf. Lina crawls on top of his head, looking for any sign of the wolf, but neither of them sees anything.
"Fuck," he says, sounding dejected.
The trickling of a water fountain next to him garners his attention. His eyes glide across the glimmering water to see the black wolf peering at him. Jimin's breath hitches. He gets a good look at the wolf illuminated by the lights around the fountain before it walks off.
"It's really Zev!" Lina says telepathically.
She makes a chittering sound, and her cold nose pokes Jimin's cheek. He can sense her nervous anticipation. His eyes sting as he follows the wolf. If Zev is here, then he has to be here somewhere. Zev is his familiar after all.
His chest thumps, and his stomach twists into knots when he sees Zev brush up against a body, tail curling around a pair of legs. Jimin's eyes trail up to see the same familiar-looking, broad back that he saw earlier. His steps falter, but he presses forward, feeling a lump in his throat as he tries to swallow. With a trembling hand, he taps the shoulder in front of him.
Time slows to a crawl as the person turns around.
Jimin forgets how to breathe.
There, standing before him, is the man who holds his whole heart. The one who shattered it the night he left Jimin behind. Like a thief in the night, he also took the broken pieces of Jimin's heart with him, leaving an empty mess in his wake.
He has the same dark hair, albeit a lot shorter and slicked back off his strikingly handsome face. The same big, dark, round eyes that used to gaze at Jimin fondly with so much love. The same chiseled, sturdy body that Jimin used to know as well as his own—except a bit more bulky and a little taller.
The alpha's large biceps are exposed in a fitted black leather vest that has an asymmetrical zipper. Black leather pants hug his muscular thighs down to his laced boots that have spikes and straps down its length.
Jimin blinks once.
Twice.
He wonders for a brief moment if he might be dreaming, but he hasn't dreamt of him in a year. The last time Jimin dreamt of him was around the time his omega went dormant. It was as if his omega wouldn't allow any dreams of him because it hurt too much.
Even if this was a dream, he had never dreamt of the alpha with an appearance like this.
"J-Jeongguk," Jimin says with a quivering voice. He hasn't uttered that name in some time, and he hates the way it feels foreign to say it out loud.
The alpha's dark eyes widen as if a ghost stands before him. His eyes tremble as he takes in Jimin's form, stricken with shock.
For the first time in over a year, Jimin feels his omega stir. It slowly wakes from its slumber. It hesitantly brings forth his dormant scent. Light honey and floral notes of honeysuckle waft into the air, slow and hesitant as if scared to run the alpha off.
"Where have you been? W-Why…All this time—I—" Jimin stumbles over his words. He doesn't know where to begin. He has two years' worth of questions, but he also just wants the alpha to touch him, to hold him tight.
"You…" The alpha tears his eyes away to silently tell his two companions to leave with a jerk of his head. Once they leave, the alpha closes his eyes for a moment and then pins Jimin with a stoic expression. His husky voice comes out cold, detached, "You've got the wrong person."
"What?" Jimin says in utter disbelief.
His eyes dart across the alpha's form, trying to get a good look at him. Jimin notices the barbed wire tattooed sigils that wrap around the alpha's arms. They are far different from the elemental symbols the alpha used to have running down his forearms. The lip piercings and stoic expression on the alpha's face are unfamiliar, and the fresh pine scent Jimin remembers is barely present, but it's there.
He can tell something is different, that something has changed.
But it's still Jeongguk.
His omega knows it's him with the way honeysuckle steadily rises and wraps around the alpha, calling out to him.
"No—" Jimin reaches out to touch the alpha's arm. "Jeongguk—"
The alpha takes a step back before Jimin can touch him. He clenches his jaw and balls his hands into fists at his side. "Look, I don't know who the fuck you are, but you've got the wrong person," the alpha spits out.
Jimin's hand hovers in the air as despair fills his body.
"Y-You don't know w-who I am…" Jimin echoes brokenly as the alpha turns away.
He stands frozen in disbelief as he watches the alpha's broad back walk away from him. He can't even find his voice to beg him to stay. He feels tears drip off his chin. He grabs at the center of his top, feeling pain spread through his chest. His omega whimpers and his honeysuckle scent wilts beyond belief, filled with sorrow.
He doesn't know how long he stands there until hands touch his shoulders, gently shaking him.
"Jimin—Jimin," a voice calls out to him. "Are you okay?"
He tries to blink the tears from his eyes to see the blurry face in front of him.
Eunwoo wipes Jimin's tears with a concerned expression. "What happened?"
Jimin stares at a spot on Eunwoo's shirt. The same thoughts run through his mind on repeat like a curse.
Wrong person. Don't know you. Wrong person. Who are you?
Lina nudges his cheek with her wet nose. “Something isn't right," she says.
Jimin furrows his brow as he looks over at Lina. She flicks her head in a direction behind Eunwoo. He pats Eunwoo's hand on his shoulder and steps around the alpha to see what Lina is pointing at. From across the town center, he's met with the heavy gaze of the alpha who says he isn't Jeongguk.
Jimin's breath hitches. The wispy, fine baby hairs on his arms stand up, and a tingle shoots across his skin. This gaze feels so familiar, but different. The alpha's eyes still carry the same confident strength, but now there's a quiet anguish that fills those eyes. Just as the alpha turns to leave, Jimin can see the flicker of a red glowing ring around his iris.
He watches the alpha turn his back on him again as if once wasn't enough.
His eyes drop to see Zev sitting with his tail curled around his paws, gazing at them. Jimin’s eyes sting, welling with tears again. Lina whines and stretches forward in the wolf’s direction, almost slipping off Jimin’s shoulder. Zev tears his eyes away, tilting his head down for a moment before he stands. He takes one last lingering look at Jimin and Lina before he takes off after the alpha.
Jimin roughly wipes the tears from his face, shaking his head. “No. This...Something is definitely wrong.”
⋆.˚ ☾ .⭒˚
Mood: Bad by So!YoON!
Jimin hears resounding footsteps behind him. He turns around to find his alpha fondly gazing at him. Jeongguk's pierced lips curve into a soft, boyish smile.
"There you are," Jimin says.
"Omega," Jeongguk beckons, voice rich and hypnotic. He reaches out to Jimin with an open palm.
Jimin lets out a small, breathy laugh as he walks towards his alpha. A sweet smile blooms across his face, only to be wiped away by dread.
An ominous black fog gathers around Jeongguk's feet. It thickens and rises, swirling around the alpha's legs. He tries to warn Jeongguk, but no words come out, just silence. His steps quicken into a run. He stretches out his arm to grab Jeongguk's hand, but the distance between them keeps getting farther and farther away.
The black fog creeps up Jeongguk's waist, wrapping around him. Jimin's hand comes up to his throat, a silent screams rip through him as the black fog swallows Jeongguk whole.
"Alpha!" Jimin shouts as he jerks forward, eyes shooting open, and his hand grasping at air. His chest heaves as he takes in his surroundings.
Lina's head pops up from the foot of the bed. "Dream?"
"Yeah..." Jimin runs his hands down his face. He plops back on his bed and throws an arm over his eyes. "Fuck."
I don't know who the fuck you are, but you've got the wrong person.
Liar, Jimin's intuition whispers.
He doesn't believe those words. Not for one minute.
There was recognition in the alpha's eyes when he first turned around, and his gaze of anguish told Jimin that the alpha was holding back. That maybe, there was a reason behind those icy words. A reason why he disappeared without a trace. The alpha's scent was faint, but as they spoke, it weakly called out to his omega. Stale pine seemed to trickle out as if it had been stagnant for some time.
Jimin uncovers his eyes to pet Lina as she curls up on his chest. He stares at the ceiling as he lets out a heavy sigh full of relief.
For two years, there has been a haunting thought in the corner of his mind. It would crawl out at his most vulnerable moments, whispering of Jeongguk's demise. Jimin would banish it back to its corner before poison-laced whispers could corrode his mind. He couldn't bear to entertain the thought.
The flicker of red he saw in Jeongguk's eyes flashes in his mind.
He remembers reading something about it back in University, but what he remembers has to do with something troublesome and dangerous. It shouldn't even be possible.
The ringing of his phone startles him out of his thoughts. He grabs it off his nightstand, "Hello?" he mutters.
"Min, we're outside."
"Alright," Jimin says with a sigh.
Lina hops off his chest. He tosses the covers off and heads to the stairs, where he can see the front door. He holds out his hands, one palm hovering over the other. His sigils shimmer a purple hue as he pulls his hands apart.
Release.
He temporarily removes the protective ward that surrounds his apartment. A violet crystalline barrier materializes, it flickers, then disintegrates.
"You can come in now. Ward is down," Jimin says into the phone as he turns to head towards the bathroom.
He takes a quick shower to get ready for the day. He pulls on a pair of black cargo pants, a cropped white sweater, and places gold moon pendant earrings on. The smell of brewing coffee drifts into the bathroom. Jimin snorts, satisfied to know his early visitors are at least making themselves useful. He parts his black hair to the side and decides to let it air dry as he leaves the bathroom.
Jimin walks into the kitchen of his studio apartment as if there aren't two pairs of prying eyes sitting at his kitchen table watching him. He says nothing as he grabs a mug and pours himself a cup of coffee. He already knows why they're here.
After he adds sugar, milk, and cinnamon to his taste, Jimin turns around and leans back against the counter. He holds the mug to his face with both hands, inhaling its warm richness before taking a satisfying sip. He hums with his eyes closed. "Alright," he says with a dramatic wave of his hand. "On with it."
Seokjin's eyes light up. He somehow looks fresh and well rested, as if they weren't out until four a.m. this morning. "What the fuck happened last night?"
"Yeah, your eyes were so red," Hoseok chimes in while he pets Lina on his lap. "You were definitely crying, and you tortured us by not telling us anything."
"Did Eunwoo make you cry?" Seokjin asks.
"He wouldn't," Hoseok gasps, sounding appalled by the notion, only to second-guess himself. "Would he?"
"No." Jimin rolls his eyes as he takes another sip of coffee. "I saw him last night."
"Huh? Who?" Seokjin asks.
Jimin raises an eyebrow at him.
"Wait..." Seokjin says as he furrows his brow, mumbling to himself for a moment before things start to click. "You saw him last night?"
Jimin nods. His eyes flick over to Hoseok, watching realization dawn on his face.
"What?!" They both yell in unison.
Lina scurries away, having had enough of their loud gabbing. Jimin proceeds to tell them everything that happened last night. From seeing Jeongguk's familiar to the words the alpha spat to the flicker of red in his eyes.
"Wait, are you sure it was him? Maybe he was telling the truth, and that person just looked like him." Hoseok says.
"No, it was him," Jimin says confidently. It doesn't matter if no one else believes him. He knows what he saw and what he felt. That was definitely Jeongguk.
"Then that's fucked up, Min." Seokjin shakes his head. "He's obviously pushing you away then. If I were you, I'd move on. I'd try to forget about him."
"You guys…" Jimin takes a seat at the table and sets his mug down.
He wants to say this delicately, but there's really no other way to say it. He met the two of them after Jeongguk disappeared. They never met the alpha. They don't know how deep his relationship with Jeongguk went. But most of all, they can't understand his pain, his attachment. They don't know what it feels like to have a bond ripped apart. To feel it hanging on by a tiny, delicate thread. Because Hoseok and Seokjin are human.
"He's my alpha…You guys wouldn't understand," he says softly.
Seokjin's shoulders drop, and he sighs. "You're right."
Hoseok rubs Jimin's arm. "We know you guys feel more than we do."
Seokjin snaps his finger, "Wait, did you say you saw a red ring around his iris?"
Jimin perks up. "Yeah, I did."
"I'm pretty sure that's…" Seokjin hesitates, biting his lip.
"Hyung, say it. Please."
"I-I think that has something to do with vampires," Seokjin whispers it anxiously. As if one could appear in the shadows just from speaking the word.
"That's…" Jimin trails off because that's exactly what he remembered from his studies in university.
But a vampire? No, Jeongguk was a wolf. That would mean—
"Wait, but vampires don't bite wolves, they…" Hoseok looks at Jimin apprehensively.
"They kill them," Jimin finishes the sentence.
Vampires despise wolves because they merged realms with humans. A few decades ago, wolves accepted a proposal from humans that sought an alliance because of their strength, instincts, and resistance to a vampire's mind compulsion. In return, humans offered to teach wolves magic. The bond between humans and wolves had flourished so well that they had merged their realms as one.
Twenty years ago, vampires arrogantly tried to overtake their realm in a battle they call the Crimson War. They suffered devastating casualties, but they held strong and drove the vampires out. As far as Jimin knows, vampires are outlawed from their realm, and he couldn't imagine Jeongguk leaving the realm without telling him back then. So he wonders how this could have happened.
"Look, I'm sorry to say this, Min, but I really think you should consider giving up on him. If he really is a vampire…" Seokjin shakes his head. "There's nothing you can do."
Jimin looks across the room, eyes lingering on a black leather jacket draped over the chair at his desk. It's a little too big for him, soft and well-worn. Once upon a time, pine was soaked into every fiber of the garment. He stares into his empty mug. He hums with a slight nod as if considering his friend's concerns.
Unfortunately for Seokjin, his words and lack of support don't carry much weight.
After Jeongguk disapeared and Jimin was able to pick himself off the floor, he had scoured every corner of their realm looking for the alpha. He had never stopped hoping that Jeongguk would walk through his door and wrap him up in his warmth. He had never stopped hoping to get a phone call and hear that velvety voice apologize for being late, but that he was just right around the corner.
He never stopped. He couldn't stop.
"Omega…you feel it, don't you? You were meant to be my mate."
And he wasn't going to stop now. Not when he knows where Jeongguk might be. Not when he could finally get some answers.
"If you really want to find out more about vampires, maybe someone in the coven knows." Hoseok reaches across the table to place his hand on Jimin's. "But be careful who you ask, Jimin. You know how everyone feels about vampires."
"Yeah," Jimin mutters.
He knows that all too well.
⋆.˚ ☾ .⭒˚
Mood: Like a Vampire by Tabber ft. So!YoON!
The ward around their covenstead warbles as Jimin walks through. He opens a matte black door to the sounds of mellow music and an aroma of freshly brewed espresso. Lina spots a coven member's familiar perched near a window. She crawls down Jimin's messenger bag and scampers off to greet the beautiful snow owl.
If anyone off the street were able to walk in, they would think that they entered a hipster, industrial-style cafe. Edison lights hang from the ceilings. Brick accent walls and dark wood furniture decorate the space. Potted plants sit in every corner, and lush green vines hang from a lattice ceiling in the sunroom. A plethora of books are available to read in their growing mystical library, and a coffee bar awaits knowledge-thirsty coven members.
Their coven is simply a gathering of intellectuals.
Aside from monthly meetings, members are often found in the covenstead with their noses buried in a grimoire, keeping to themselves. Though they come together to share, learn, and lend a hand to fellow members, each witch has a secret, or two, or ten of their own. Much like Eunwoo, who sits in an armchair, book in hand.
"Hey," the alpha says, standing to greet Jimin.
"Hey," Jimin murmurs. He looks around the room, trying to find the perfect witch to ask about his pressing vampire issue. There's only one other person in the room. Eugene stands at the coffee bar, stirring his drink. He's a righteous witch who specializes in divination magic. He's definitely not the person to ask about this sensitive topic.
"How are you doing?" Eunwoo rubs the back of his neck, clearly trying to feel out Jimin's mood.
"I'm fine," Jimin says dryly, brushing right past the topic. He leans in, lowering his voice. "I need to find a member who knows about vampires."
"Vampires?… Why would you…" Eunwoo's voice trails off as his brow furrows. He's always been sharp. "Is this about—"
"Yes," Jimin doesn't let him finish. He stares at Eunwoo with fiery eyes, challenging the alpha to try to dissuade him.
Eunwoo purses his lips, deciding to save his breath. "You should probably talk to Hana. I saw her go to the sunroom."
Of course Hana would be the right person to ask. Had Jimin been able to wade through the onslaught of What-ifs running wild in his mind about Jeongguk, she would have easily come to mind. Quirky goth Hana is the coven's resident expert on all things dark magic and necromancy.
Jimin finds her sitting alone under the afternoon sun, covered from head to toe in black with a blood magic grimoire in hand.
"Hana, hi," he says as he sits down across from her on a couch. Lina crawls up Jimin's body to lie on the back of the couch. Eunwoo chooses to stand at Jimin's side.
Hana's smoky kohl-lined eyes flick up to Jimin and back down. She says nothing and raises the book higher to hide her face. Jimin is baffled as he stares at her emerald half-up pigtails peeking above the grimoire. He looks over at Eunwoo. The alpha shrugs his shoulders and gestures for Jimin to try again.
"Sorry to bother you," Jimin tries, pausing to clear his throat. "I was just wondering if you could share with me anything you know about vampires?"
He jumps out of his skin as Hana slams the grimoire shut. Lina falls down on the couch and nudges Jimin's elbow until she can burrow under his arm.Hana's face beams as she sets the grimoire down on the table and spills everything she knows about vampires.
She explains how physically strong and fast they are and how mind compulsion is the only magic they can wield. Jimin's ears perk up when Hana explains that a vampire's eyes are naturally red, but they can conceal the red hue from their prey. When she finally takes a breath after rambling, Jimin takes the opportunity to ask his most pressing question.
"So, do you know where to find a—"
Jimin snaps his mouth shut when Hana shushes him with her index finger to her lips. Her long, sharp black nails look threatening against her merlot red lipstick. Hana waves her hand and collapses it into a tight fist, sealing their conversation within a sound barrier. The yellow transparent dome around them can only be seen by those inside.
"So." Hana leans back in her chair, crossing her legs. "You want to find a vampire?"
"Yes," Jimin says with no hesitation and no explanation.
Hana hums as she appraises Jimin. Her lips curl into a smirk as if she's got Jimin all figured out, or maybe it's just that their secrets share something in common. "I won't ask why. That's none of my business, but…" She pauses to pin them both with an intimidating expression. "If anyone, coven or not, asks you where you heard this shit, you didn't hear it from me."
"Of course, you have my word," Jimin says earnestly.
"Mine as well," Eunwoo chimes in.
"Wonderful!" Hana says with a dramatic flourish of her hands. "Now, if you want to find a vampire, you need to go to a cocktail lounge called Nocturne in Willow. They open after dusk. Speak with the owner. You can tell him I sent you. He has a pierced eyebrow, cat-like eyes, and shoulder-length black hair."
"Got it." Jimin stands to leave, and bows his head. "Thank you, Hana."
While he waits for night to fall, Jimin heads home to open up his apothecary that resides below his studio apartment. As always, just before he reaches his shop, he senses a faint dark energy that wripples outward as he steps onto the sidewalk. He started noticing it a few months after Jeongguk disappeared. It's the reason why he began to put up a protective ward around his shop and apartment.
Indie music and the scent of grounding earthy medicinal herbs and spices fill the shop. Lina snoozes on the purple silk pillow on top of the counter next to the register. It's her favorite place in the shop. Jimin tries to stay busy as he organizes and prepares the fresh herbs that arrived yesterday from his supplier.
He separates chamomile, lavender, and calendula into small bunches and wraps twine around their stems. He hangs them upside down on the trellis rolling rack in the corner of the shop and checks on the other herbs that await to be stored. He gently rubs their leaves between his fingers. Not quite ready, but soon they'll be dry enough to be used for healing teas and tinctures.
The hands of the clock on the wall seem to move through mud as time sluggishly ticks by.
"It's always a pleasure, Mrs. Yoo," Jimin says kindly. He hands his favorite elderly customer a cobalt blue glass bottle that contains her favorite tincture for her achy joints.
"I should be the one saying that." Mrs. Yoo smiles and gently shakes the bottle at Jimin. "This little thing does wonders for me, my boy."
"I'm just happy it helps." Jimin waves at Mrs. Yoo on her way out the door.
He sighs heavily as he plops down on a white store-bought stool. With an elbow on the counter, he lays his cheek in the palm of his hand as he looks around the room. The cabinets, the shelves, the table on the other side of the room—all cheap, store-bought furniture. He can already see signs of wear and chipped paint.
It wasn't supposed to be this way. His apothecary shop was supposed to be filled with wood furniture and cabinets crafted by caring hands. Made with love by Jeongguk.
It was a promise made in the late hours of the night, tangled in the sheets.
Jimin closes his eyes as dusk veils the sky. He isn't religious, but he is desperate. He prays that Willow holds a secret or two that will lead him to his alpha and his shattered heart.
⋆.˚ ☾ .⭒˚
Mood: True Crime by Epik High ft. Miso
Jimin exhales a ragged breath as he trudges through a dark forest once again. He didn't take any time to calm down from the translocation spell. He can hear Eunwoo behind him, trying to keep up with his pace. He had planned to make the four-hour drive to Willow by himself, but Eunwoo had insisted on going with him. He's thankful for the time saved. He can't help feeling like Jeongguk might try to run even farther out of his reach.
Just days ago, Jimin had never thought he would have a reason to visit Willow. Yet, he enters the town for the second time in barely twenty-four hours. The ambience is quite different from the festivities of the blood moon last night.
It's dark and desolate.
There's no music, no lively chatter, or sparkling lights. Just flickering lanterns and vacant buildings. If it weren't for the two glowing business signs on either side of the town center, they would think they were in the wrong place.
The only other soul walking the streets of Willow, a female elf, enters the nearest open establishment as Jimin and Eunwoo approach to pass. There are no windows that Jimin can peep into, but the neon sign that hangs on the carmine door hints of immoral rendezvous and indulgences—You're in the right place for kept secrets.
If those words don't give Jimin an idea of what goes on behind that door, the scents that escape to the desolate streets surely do. The scents of alluring ambrette, curiosity, and arousal seep out as if to lure the most deviant parts of himself that he chooses not to acknowledge.
He clears his throat and avoids eye contact with Eunwoo as he hastens his steps to the other end of town, where the lounge resides. They reach a building with a small, purple neon sign that reads Cocktails. It sits oddly in the middle of a pitch black wall.
"Uh. This must be the place, I guess." Jimin tilts his head curiously as he stares at the wall before him. He casts light magic, gliding his hand along the wall to illuminate it. He finds a discrete recessed black handle that blends into the wall.
"Do they have to make it so difficult?" Eunwoo chuckles as he opens the door.
A rush of cognac and moody rhythm and blues music floods Jimin's senses as he steps into the dimly lit lounge. There's a large Nocturne neon sign that stretches across a wall, casting purple ambient light. The lounge is sleek and modern with charcoal walls, black leather booths, and armchairs. It has a minimal aesthetic except for the bar that draws attention like a piece of art in an exhibit.
Shaped into a black bar where the bartenders serve guests is an enormous amethyst geode. The front walls of the bar are concave, exposing the geode's cavity, lined with an abundance of lustrous crystals.
Jimin pulls out a barstool and glides his fingers across the crystals before he takes a seat. He can feel the serene, balanced energy of amethyst tickle his fingertips. His shoulders feel bare without Lina by his side. Not only is Lina his bonded companion, she also enhances Jimin's perception and intuition. He wasn't sure if familiars were allowed, so he decided to leave her at home. He can always call upon her if need be.
They chose to sit on the farthest end of the bar, where they spotted a bartender who meets Hana's description. Jimin's eyes wander as he waits for their turn to order a drink. He's surprised by the number of patrons present, considering how bare the streets were on their way to the lounge. Aside from one alpha that he spotted on the other side of the bar, there are only human guests. He curiously notes a red string wrapped around a handful of the humans' wrists.
"Welcome," a male bartender says as he approaches, handing them each a menu. His silk black shirt clings to his lithe frame. The design of white leaves on his shirt seem to gently sway as he moves, and his eyebrow piercing glints in the light. "What can I get you both?" he asks, baritone voice mellow and soothing.
Jimin browses the menu. Only one cocktail sticks out to him. It calls to him just like the name intends. "I'll have the Red Hot Temptation."
Eunwoo raises an eyebrow at Jimin's choice.
Jimin shrugs, but he blushes as he hands the menu back to the bartender. After Jeongguk disappeared, Jimin became quite dull and reserved. When he joined his coven, he was guarded. Not wanting to let anyone in or share his most intimate self. His friends don't know who he truly is. It's no wonder they are shocked to see how persistent he is about Jeongguk.
The bartender hums, and a knowing smile spreads across his face. "Fantastic choice. And for you, handsome?"
"Hm…Sweet Lavish." Eunwoo hands the menu back.
"I see," The bartender says, taking the menu from Eunwoo while he appraises the alpha. Strands of his black, wavy hair fall into his face. "You're a softie, aren't you?"
Eunwoo clears his throat and puffs out his chest. "Soft? Nah, you're mistaken."
Jimin covers his mouth as he quietly giggles. "Are you the owner?"
The bartender's cat-like eyes flick over to peer at Jimin. "I am," he says as he pours ingredients into a shaker. The scent of gin, elderflower, and lavender swirls into the air. "The name's Yoongi."
Jimin watches as the bartender mixes the cocktail shaker with finesse. He notes that the leaves on Yoongi's shirt really do move as they shake along with his movements—an enchanted shirt.
"I'm Jimin." He gestures beside him. "This is Eunwoo. We heard about you from Hana."
"Ah, I see." Yoongi pours the lavender liquid into a coupe glass. He waves his hand over the top of the glass, and a cascade of shimmers appears in the cocktail, sparkling like diamonds. "There must be something that you're interested in knowing about." He slides the glass in front of Eunwoo, but his impish eyes gaze at Jimin. "Or maybe, there's something that you're…seeking?"
Jimin hums in thought as he watches Yoongi grab a rocks glass to prepare his cocktail. "Both, really. First, can I ask what's going on with the red strings?" He points at his wrist.
Yoongi chuckles as he pours honey-spiced bourbon and club soda over ice. "Lust Seekers."
"What's that?" Eunwoo asks. He takes a sip of his drink. His eyebrows raise, and he nods his head at the taste.
"Lust seekers are those who offer their blood to those who need it." Yoongi drizzles a red viscous syrup into the glass in a circular motion.
"Like vampires?" Jimin asks quietly. He's mesmerized by the deep red hue of the syrup as it swirls in the glass. It slowly breaks apart, feathering outwards, leaving a trail of crimson as it sinks.
Yoongi slides the glass in front of Jimin and snaps his fingers. The cocktail glows as the spirals of syrup stain the drink until all of it is blood red. He nods with a smirk. "Like vampires."
"Why would they willingly do that?" Eunwoo asks.
"That's where the name Lust Seekers comes in," Yoongi explains, watching Jimin with expectant eyes. "They do it because of the way it makes them feel. Vampires secrete an aphrodisiac when they feed."
Jimin takes a sip of his cocktail. Cherry and cinnamon sweetness coat his tongue. Rich and spiced bourbon makes his taste buds tingle. The flavor is tantalizing, suiting its name.
"Unbridled lust and thrill," Yoongi whispers with a passion that one would think comes from experience.
Jimin thinks about the open establishment on the other side of town. They must have quite a lot of visitors from the lounge. He wonders if Jeongguk has ever come to Nocturne to meet a lust seeker. He selfishly hopes his alpha hasn't. There's a dark seed of an angry thought in the back of his mind.
He should have come to me.
He imagines it for a fleeting moment. The drag of sharp teeth across his neck. The way it would make him shudder. The way lust would invade his veins. Though he doesn't need an aphrodisiac to want his alpha more than he already yearns for him.
The taboo thought has him shifting in his seat. He fans his cherished leather jacket. His cheeks are flushed, and his dormant omega stirs once more. Sweet and floral honeysuckle seeps out of him. He can see out of the corner of his eye the way Eunwoo looks at him curiously, intrigued by the sweet scent that he hasn't had the privilege to witness.
"Is there a vampire in the bar right now?" Jimin asks.
"Right now? Oh no, you came on a very quiet night." Yoongi puts away the ingredients he used for their cocktails. He tips his head in the direction of the other end of the bar. "See those two cozied up in the corner over there?"
Jimin and Eunwoo look across the bar to find the alpha they saw on the way in. He's chatting with a human female who has a red string around her wrist.
"That woman just started coming here last week, and it's that alpha's first time here. She probably thinks she's flirting with a vampire. We, humans, can't smell a wolf's pheromones, and unless you're familiar with a vampire's presence—their dark energy—you could easily mistake an alpha wolf for a vampire because of your," Yoongi points at his teeth.
Jimin hums as he processes Yoongi's words. Wolves have pronounced canine teeth that are slightly longer than a human's, and they elongate when used to mate. He assumes that a vampire's teeth are very similar.
Nocturne seems to be the only place that Jimin would be able to meet a vampire. If he can find a way to conceal that he is a wolf, then maybe he can find someone who knows Jeongguk.
A spell…No, a potion.
There's bound to be a potion for this in his collection of grimoires at home.
"Yah, you're not thinking about being a seeker, are you?" Eunwoo asks.
Jimin sighs, "Look, I need to find him."
"There has to be another way, Jimin. You don't know what they'll do if they figure out you're a wolf," Eunwoo's voice holds back a growl as bitter amber wafts into the air.
Neither of them notices how amused Yoongi appears to be by their conversation. His eyes flit back and forth between the two, but they linger on Jimin's face. "Ah, it's almost that time of the year."
Jimin whips his head towards Yoongi, desperation painting his face. "What time of the year?"
"Well, vampires throw a big gala every year. This year's gala is in a few days. If you're that desperate to find a vampire. The one you're looking for will probably be there—"
"Jimin," Eunwoo interrupts, turning his whole body towards Jimin. "That would be even more dangerous than being a lust seeker. You'll be surrounded by them. Besides, how would you even get in?"
Jimin leans on the table, ignoring Eunwoo's pleading eyes. A hand mindlessly comes to his lips in thought. He knows Eunwoo is right. It would be dangerous. What wolf would willingly walk into a den crawling with their natural enemy? It's a crazy idea. He knows that…but none of that matters.
Because he would do anything just to see Jeongguk again, to feel him again.
His fingers tap on the bar.
There has to be a way—
"I could take you with me," Yoongi says suddenly.
"What? How? I mean—" Jimin stumbles over his words, shocked that a human is going to a vampire gala. "You're going?"
"I am," Yoongi murmurs as his eyes pierce Jimin, searching for something. "Hm, I don't know why I want to help you." He leans on the bar with a hand on his face. "Must be those sad, desperate eyes of yours."
"Please," Jimin whispers. He doesn't care how pathetic he looks begging a stranger for help. He hears Eunwoo curse under his breath.
Yoongi smirks. "Alright, I have what you could call…" He waves his hand in the air as if he could catch the most fitting words. "A mutually beneficial arrangement with a vampire. I attend these types of events with him. You can come with us, but you'll have to wear the outfit I send you. Oh, and you'll need to conceal your scent or anything that makes you appear as a wolf."
"O-Okay, I can do that," Jimin says eagerly. He'll hunt down the perfect potion.
"Good." Yoongi taps the bar and turns to leave, but stops. "Oh, but make sure you don't show that puppy look of yours at the gala. "
"Hm?" Jimin furrows his brow. "Why?"
"'Cause they'll want to do more than just bite you."
Eunwoo doesn't say much on their way home, and there isn't anything Jimin can say to ease the alpha's mind. He had always made it known that his heart and his omega belonged to someone else.
Heartbreak, time, distance—nothing could ever change that.
The moment he steps into his apartment, he tells Lina what happened. They scour the apartment, searching through his collection of grimoires to find a potion that can conceal his identity as a wolf. He sits on the floor surrounded by open spellbooks that he's been sifting through for hours.
Where is it? Where is—
“Here! It should be here,” Lina says.
Jimin looks over to find Lina nudging an old planner off his desk with her snout to reveal a forgotten dark leatherbound book. He rushes over as he takes off the leather jacket he was too distracted to remove when he got home. He lays it on the desk and picks up the grimoire as he takes a seat.
His fingers graze the gold words etched on the worn cover, Sable Echo of Potions. It was a graduation gift from his favorite professor at his university. He flips through the old, stiff pages until he finds exactly what he was looking for, Potion of Deception.
“Found it!” Jimin says.
Lina crawls up his shoulder to read it with him. His eyes fly across the page, taking in the ingredients and materials he will need. He's never seen anyone use this potion before. He's only ever vaguely heard about it, but he's confident he can make it correctly. He wasn't the top student at his university for nothing.
His hand slides over to the leather jacket on the desk, squeezing it between his fingers.
I won't let you leave me like this.