awaitings parts in doom
'The demon lurks in between the peasants, awaiting an opportunity to devour and end.'
"I am Hoseok!"
The curly haired man had introduced himself, urging Jimin to do the same. Not really something that he was keen on doing, but had to give into Hoseok's buzzing presence. They had established the fact that Jimin wasn't human, but the fact he was Raven was quite obvious to Hoseok.
Jimin knew he shouldn't entertain the thought of life so much. Of life that had banished him away at the slightest inconvenience. Of life that he wished was his in a way that he could feel the golden rays warm the skin. Of life that was never his to claim after misery struck him in ways unknown to all. He should have started away when he first smelled the sweet dough from his past. But something about Hoseok screamed at him in big red words. Something that made him want to explore life that he had lost. His unbound curiosity may also have been one of the reasons.
"Spit it out."
Jimin ordered the human, as he felt Hoseok twinge with a mix of nervousness and discomfort. It didn't quite look like Jimin was the reason for him to be in such a condition, but you could never be sure.
"Nothing. 'is just awkward. And I'm extremely confused."
Hoseok murmured in a quiet tone, like he wasn't supposed to disclose his secret.
"Okay, what do you want to know?"
Jimin sighed out lowly.
He knew the risks of entertaining a human, much less one who wasn't afraid to enter the infamous dark forest. Yet, the bigger part of him was too excited to accommodate life that was eager and receptive to him, despite his many unlovable flaws.
"Why is this part of the forest so barren and uninhabited? Well, of course except you and that bird!"
Hoseok asked, peering sideways to meet Jimin's calculative eyes.
"It's a long story. Parts of which I, myself am not aware of."
Jimin answered honestly, as he tore away from the innocently curious gaze that held him binded.
"Given that we are spending the night at least, i guess we have enough time."
Hoseok replied, as if suggesting him to continue.
"A few hundred years ago or so I think, the village you live in was under a different regime all together. A revered prince. He wasn't like the others. He had unwillingly ascended the throne on his mother's insistence. The queen wanted her son to become the bearer of the crown and scepter. It was told that the scepter had magic within its crystal and by claiming stake on the piece, it protects you. An old magic that was captured by a bigger war that had broken out between the gods. I'm not sure if it's true, but the magic is said to be so powerful that it could either envelop everything in its darkness or allow it to flourish like the heavens. It -"
Jimin explained, before coming to a halt, both in his steps and his words.
"Why did you stop?"
Hoseok asked, as he looked at Jimin's frowning face.
"...nothing."
Jimin replied, trying to look as unaffected as possible.
His eyes filtered through the trees that swayed in a way that signified one thing and one thing alone. The once a decade each thunderstorms were about to start in the next few days. And that also meant that uninvited creatures would come out of their hiding and to the ground where their limbs submerged.
It wouldn't be as much of a problem, if not for Hoseok's presence in this forest right now.
"So...uh the prince ruled for a nice decade. His entire life was mapped beforehand by his mother, meaning he didn't have much say in the choices. He never let that affect the subjects, but there were floating rumours of him being in disputes. In one such heated argument, he broke the scepter by smashing it on the ground, instantly killing him. That was the start of this elaborate story where misfortunes and curses went hand in hand. The creation of dark forest was all by the unleashing of the magic within that crystal."
Jimin finished the story, though it was just the beginning of the end.
"But that doesn't explain your existence here."
Hoseok said in a bubbling tone of interest.
Jimin didn't make a move to answer that, as he looked at ground that trembled under the foredooming entrance of havoc. He had to get them to safety, especially now that he was incapable of using any power to his advantage. As much as the thought of helping the human learn the history of the dark forest was amusing, he couldn't spare time.
"Something is wrong, isn't it?"
Hoseok murmured, as he felt the temperature of the place drop further.
"You shouldn't have come here. Fuck, we need to get you inside now."
Jimin hissed, grabbing ahold of Hoseok's wrist and running ahead into the forest's depths.
Hoseok tried his best not to panic, as he ran beside Jimin, who still had a firm hold on his wrist. After a good 20 minutes of more running, much more than Hoseok had done this year, he could see the small cottage like structure. It had creepers all around it, encasing the space to be not as seen for any ongoers. It was very similar to his grandparents' one in the neighbouring village. Jimin muttered a small sentence in an unknown language, making the door open instantly.
Jimin quickly went inside the dark cottage first and snapped his fingers for the overhead lights to flicker away, along with a small lamp on the floor.
"Get in and stay here, while I finish up some stuff."
Jimin uttered, moving inside to close the windows. He could see the clouds clear for a second long enough for the gibbous moon to peek out.
Jimin quickly shut the windows and pulled the drawn out curtains harshly. There was so much to be done before the actual thunderstorm of his nightmares would make an appearance. Mumbling all the protective spells he knew, Jimin hoped that this time it would be different. He couldn't be immobilized for the monsters to ravish him like last time.
"Can I do something to help?"
Hoseok asked, as he watched the shorter furiously stomping around to complete tasks.
Jimin didn't seem to have heard the question at all, as he went by to picking up cauldrons. Upon the lack of response, Hoseok's eyes filtered out to look at the interiors of Jimin's house. From where he sat on the floor, he could only see a multitude of books in one room and lots of trinkets in another. The lack of furniture as tiny as a stool made him give an unbelievable side eye. Despite the humor, Hoseok couldn't help but feel the seizing fear clutching his heart tightly. If the supposed infamous Raven was terrified, that surely meant something bad right?
"You cannot leave this place for the next seven days atleast. Not until the land outside is clear. Do you understand?"
Jimin ordered, standing right above Hoseok.
Hoseok stared at the Raven whose black leather blended into the background. It stood shiny yet impressively sleek on Jimin's body. The only thing that compared to the lamp lit beside him were the ruby red eyes on display. Ferociously wild, the red was in shades of the blood that seeped through the ground. They were like the pits of hell brought to life. Pulling himself away from the admiration point of view, he gave a small yes in answer. Upon the muted answer which was better than nothing, Jimin gave a satisfied nod to move about again.
After a whole while of moving about, Jimin seemed like he was confident in his preparations around the cottage. He had made sure to make the cottage as inconspicuous as possible to the naked eye. He took out the magical potions he had kept in storing for emergencies like these, as the cauldron simmered with a new one. He sat himself down beside Hoseok, who had started making shapes on the floor in boredom.
That was until Hoseok's stomach grumbled loudly.
"Haha... blueberries don't exactly make a fulfilling meal, do they?"
Hoseok nervously added, in hopes of getting a giggle from the demon.
Honestly, he was surprised by the way he seemed so comfortable around Jimin. Hoseok was the type of guy who was shy around new people, mostly because it took time to assess and adjust to their vibes. He was also the type of guy who didn't like the sharp and rough edges around life. The type who would be scared of a jumpscare, all done by the younger kids of the village in the name of fun.
But, as he was in the presence of the alleged Raven himself, he noticed how he didn't have a shiver in the bone. Not a single thought in his mind that went off in fear of his life. Opposite to that vilified thought, he felt himself relax and cin Jimin's watchful gaze. It was weird to have someone break down his barriers of being a stranger danger so quickly, but honestly it didn't matter. Not when he had strayed this inside the Dark forest.
"Shit. I forgot humans need to eat regularly."
Jimin muttered, getting up to procure some food.
After a few moments, Jimin came back in with a bowl of what looked like boiled meat in a stew. It smelled aromatic, especially to Hoseok's hungry tummy.
"Thank you!"
Hoseok whispered, as Jimin sat down beside him once again.
Taking the chopsticks, he broke apart the shreds of chicken to fit in with the stew that tasted even better than he expected. He ate it all quietly with chipmunk cheeks and slurped the soup full, before turning sideways to see Jimin's relaxed and almost likeable gaze on him.
"Where's your supper?"
Hoseok questioned hesitantly.
"I don't have to eat as often as you humans. It's the only additional bonus of this life I suppose."
Jimin answered, with a soft muted smile.
"It was delicious nonetheless."
Hoseok spoke, uncrossing his legs to stretch them as the silence grew.
"Do you mind if I ask something?"
Jimin mumbled, keeping his eyes straight on the ground below them.
"Sure, why not?"
Hoseok said, wondering what Jimin would be doing if he weren't stuck in this home with a mere human. He prayed that he didn't ask the various questions that were bugging him out loud.
How did Jimin know so much of humans? How old has he been living in this god forsaken place? Did he ever watch the flowers bloom? Was he cursed or was he born with magic? What was his lore of existence? How did breathe in those clothes? Was he really the dark, mysterious and fear-striking Raven that everyone warned him of? If yes, then why was he so unlike the picture that was painted of him?
"Why didn't you argue or reason with me when I said that you had to stay here?"
Jimin asked in a undescribable tone, as he seemed to struggle to string the words.
"I have seen many people in my life. People who strayed too far. People who came in search of me. People who were afraid of me. People who vowed to kill me. People who thought I was the reason for the unending doom of a forest. You...you aren't like them?"
Jimin continued quietly, staring away from Hoseok.
"When I was younger, my mother would always warn me of even uttering the name of this forbidden forest. It brought bad luck and would destroy your bloodlines, they said. Many more nasty things had been uttered. But something of how this place came to existence as compared to the other parts of the forest always intrigued me. I guess I just happened to give the benefit of doubt."
Hoseok replied, giving a tight-lipped smile towards Jimin.
"But...you seem to trust me? That's new."
Jimin commented with a little pinch in between his eyebrows.
"I'm said to be very gullible according to my siblings. But if you had to kill me then you wouldn't quite exactly allowed me reason my arrival upon our first sight."
Hoseok chuckled, imagining that if that was the case, then this evening would be the end of him.
"I don't kill humans. I have never done that. That's a lie."
Jimin muttered as his face fell into a frown.
"Well, rumours in the village do go wild sometimes. Once, the lumberjacks of the village had come up to me asking if I had some connection with black magic because they found my breads to be softer than any in town."
Hoseok added, his eyes crinkling with mirth.
And unknowingly, Hoseok had pulled Jimin out of his guilt spiral where only eternal darkness existed in between his weaknesses and insecurities.
"You said that the magical crystal unleashed its wrath in here. Is that incident also the reason why there's no other life here except you and that bird?"
Hoseok asked, equal amounts of curiosity and awkwardness as the silence had begun to stretch between them.
"Ah. There's life here in the form of bitter rotting trees and dirt thriving insects, but other than that animals don't prefer to live here. It's not very sustainable for their growth. That bird though, is a different story all together."
Jimin laughed softly.
"What about you? Why are you here?"
Hoseok asked again.
"Oh, that's hmm...When the crystal broke and hell found its way on this land, the prince's wife broke into rage and cursed the royal family. Apparently, her scream of anguish had thundered across the seas and it's said to have caused the flash floods during the start of winter. The curse included that the lineage will end with the seventh generation and the offspring shall be the reason for their downfall. And so, i came into this world, unknowing of the past but having to bear the brunt of it."
Jimin narrated, feeling lighter than the previous minute.
"Wait. You are the royal heir?"
Hoseok asked, baffled by the revelation.
"You could say so, I guess. I've never felt that connection so it doesn't quite hit as much. My own family despised me since the day of my birth. I was an only child which stood corrected by the curse. But then, my mother pleaded reverently to the gods above for a way out. Something that wasn't tragic to my existence. A little bit of mercy and a lot of patience led me to have magical powers in this godforsaken place of terror. After my first night of learning that my life was never normal and would never be, I ran away there. My powers are the only things I have here as my knowledge of that world is limited to memories that are fading steadily."
Jimin tapered off, thinking deeply of the words he had uttered.
"I'm sorry."
Hoseok said, not knowing what would be appropriate to be said in this situation.
"It's been a long time since that happened. Granted powers can only protect you so much. I unknowingly fulfilled her curse and no one knows of the royal family now."
Jimin sighed out, though hints of guilty could easily be found in his voice.
"Ha, this is the longest I've spoken to someone in my life. Anyways, you need to get some rest, I'll leave you to it."
Jimin sadly chuckled, before getting up to pull the worn out sack filled with hay to be used as a pillow for Hoseok.
The human didn't have any time to react to Jimin's statement and just opted to process the revelations that had occured. Despite, his plans of staying awake to guard himself from any kind of danger, sleep came in like a lullaby that pulled strings of his tired body.
On the other end of the tiny cottage was Jimin, who sat apprehensively in front of his trunk that held the only few precious things that he valued in this life. His eyes skimmed over the feather pen that he had stolen from his father's desk before running away. He was selfish for doing such a deed. A real coward in better words. But, he knew despite all the aura he carried, his fragile couldn't see the realisation wash over their faces. He just couldn't face them when he was the one wielding the curse's rotten fruits.
"Wish I didn't have to live like this, father."
Jimin muttered softly, holding that pen.
One tear drop rolled off his cheek to make a splattered dent on the crushed paper below.
To be fair, the way he was treated was worse than one could imagine. It was never punishments which was usually termed to be something that caused physical welts and hurt. It was the way he was practically invisible to their eyes. The silent words that were never spoken to him. The reassurance and praise that he never received. The eyes that never met his as orders were passed. The dismissive wave of their hands that pushed his inner child into hiding. Everything that was never his, had only made him bitter and cold. Deprived and unwanted in his own skin.
Yet, even after so many decades of hiding away here, he couldn't find it in himself to let go of that past.
Jimin wasn't dumb to let those sly humans near him. He always had his guard up. Be it the vicious monsters who craved blood and destruction or the ungrateful humans who destroyed the lands together. But, Hoseok was here. Laying his tired body on the floor of his home. Hoseok, who was a human with piqued interest and far reach into the forest. Hoseok, who hadn't crashed and freezed under the overwhelming pressure of coming face to face with the Raven. Hoseok, who had been the receiving party to parts of Jimin's distinct woe in silence.
And of course, there was Jimin who hadn't been in contact with anyone. Thus, craving that peculiar comfort in the voices and scents of his human childhood. Hoseok seemed to be the reminder of all those sweet memories. When he had woken up this morning, he hadn't expected to be having the relief of his first heart-to-heart with someone, more a human. Folding the paper that had writings in cursive, he kept them back under the only sweater he carried.
Picking at his own outfit made of black leather and rugged cloaks in colours of deep black, Jimin walked back to the cauldron that had stopped simmering a long time ago. He wasn't someone who knew how to work with magical potions, but he had mastered a few that would keep him safe from the monsters that come out when the full moon is high in the sky. Pouring it in jars that were built for the ease of usage, Jimin slumped back feeling his magic exhaust him. He hated this part of the year when he felt bared of his powers, completely useless to defend himself. As he tried to close his eyes, the sound outside put him on guard.
Rushing to the window, he found his beloved pet bird that wasn't actually a pet in a domesticated sense but rather one that found its home in Jimin's surroundings.
"Tsk. It's just you."
Jimin uttered, opening the window to let the bird in.
Swooping beside him, the black feathered raven perched itself on Jimin's shoulders. The bird looked around what was equally its home as well, until it's eyes caught on the human who slept soundly on the ground.
"Just a few days. Things are bad for him to return back tomorrow."
Jimin answered, feeling the bird's inquisitive side eye at the addition.
"I know. I know. But floods will approach soon and I can't let him go into that."
Jimin continued, hearing the bird's consistent noises.
Glancing sideways, Jimin hummed the little tune he had learnt from his grandfather. He would sing the hymns of the heavens to Jimin when they went out for watering the plants. It was a simple hobby of sorts where Jimin would bond with the only family member that didn't see the dark in him. The dark that was never an outcome of his actions. But, it was still the dark that disgusted everyone away from him. It had been years since he even saw the green that smelled of freedom and tranquility. Oh, how he craved for that calm to consume him whole and carry him away from this wasteland.
"There's nothing here. I don't know why you still stuck along with me."
Jimin murmured, pulling out the grain jar that he had kept specifically for his bird.
He sat opposite to Hoseok, who slumbered away peacefully. When he ran away from the palace, he had taken a few books from his father's collection that spoke of myths and curses. Heavy with words able to last him so long, Jimin turned to the page that he had left off earlier. Time stilled as his eyes scanned over the sentences, all in hopes to try and break free. His bird had slept in his shoulder, making itself comfortable in the shelter of his long locks that were loosely put in a braid.
Jimin was startled out of his trance by the loud strike of thunder outside.
He had underestimated the time of its arrival.
The two napping beings also shook awake in distress. Hoseok stared at the door, trying to gain resemblance of where he was. As his eyes filtered out, he stared at Jimin recollecting the evening before. The confusing lore behind the Raven's existence had unfolded quite a bit under the oil lamp's light. Before he could look at his surroundings for anything further, the bird chirped up loudly.
"It's okay. We're okay."
Jimin crooned, bringing his hand up to pet between the bird's feathers.
Hoseok looked on, not knowing what to do at the moment. Too many things at once we're happening for him to focus on. He was unsure if his brother had called for a search party in his disappearance. Apparently there was danger outside for him to return back to the comfort of his home. And of course, there was Jimin. The last royal blood left who also happened to be the one and only fearsome Raven. If his parents knew how far he had travelled, practically into the lair of the power-wielding being of the dark forest, then they would scream profanities dragging him away themselves.
"You can sleep if you want to."
Jimin said, not looking at Hoseok though directed to him.
And as the human tried to answer, the thunder shook once again, except this time louder than before. This only made him scramble towards Jimin in a fear. He hadn't heard such a thunder in his life, despite only living a few kilometres away from this place of horrors.
"The thunders are going to stay for a while. You need to get accustomed to that. The rains that will accompany it will soon invite the demons from the darkest crevices of this hugs forest."
Jimin said, not commenting on how Hoseok practically jumped out of his skin.
"Uh?"
Hoseok made an unintelligent sound in response.
"Things go haywire during thunderstorms on full moon's here. You need to be careful."
Jimin re-emphasized it again, getting a nod from Hoseok who had blown wide eyes.
Despite being next to Jimin, who was cold to touch and speech, Hoseok tried moving even closer to the other's body with his own warmth.
Jimin knew the recuperations of hosting a literal human. And yet, he couldn't find it in himself to let Hoseok remain stranded for those bloodthirsty spawns of hell to devour him. Jimin might have an aura of someone entirely rock cold to maintain, but he was still someone who valued life in whatever form and size.
Even with his powers reaching low, Jimin was ready to protect.