Chapter Four
Dinner in the Great Hall was loud, all the students cheerfully shouting amongst their friends as they all ate. Ten took a sip of his tea as he silently eyed Youngho, who just sat across from him, reading a book instead of eating. “You know dinner is a time for you to eat.” Ten snarked as Youngho flipped another page. The older slytherin just lifted a singular eyebrow without looking up. Ten just sighed as he picked up his fork to poke at his chicken.
The girl to Ten’s left side scuffed, making the cat eyed boy look to his side. “Youngho’s probably waiting to see if Kunhang will show up.” The blonde girl smirked, making Ten laugh. Youngho ignored them as he placed his book down.
The older slytherin boy just slowly picked up his fork, stealing a piece of chicken off of the girl’s plate, smiling sinisterly at her as he chewed. “Yeri, if I were you, I wouldn’t speak.” Youngho stated. Yeri just shrugged as she turned to fist bump Ten. “Ten, I wouldn’t get too comfortable.” Youngho muttered, his eyes boring holes into the smaller boy’s side profile. Ten just giggled.
Before Youngho could respond, Kunhang sat down beside him, sighing heavily as he leaned his head onto the older boy’s shoulder. Youngho frowned, rubbing the younger’s scalp. “How was the infirmary?” he whispered, Ten and Yeri’s eyes widened in shock as they leaned forward to listen in. Kunhang closed his eyes, pressing his nose into Youngho’s neck. “Do you want to eat, or do want to go back to the dorms?” He whispered into Kunhang’s ear silently, so the others couldn’t hear.
Kunhang just mumbled a “dorm” as his lifeless body stood back up. Youngho quickly followed, giving a glance to Ten and Yeri who both nodded in understanding as they watched the two leave. Yeri frowned as she spotted multiple people staring as the two boys walked by.
“What should we do to the people who are causing such harm to the young raven?” Yeri whispered. Ten smirked, eyes glaring down multiple wandering eyes. “What we do best, Yeri.” Ten grinned, “We destroy them.” Yeri giggled along with Ten as the two clinked their drinks together.
Youngho followed Kunhang back to the dungeons, only passing the younger to open his own dorm room. Kunhang grinned tiredly at the single bed inside the room, slowly moved towards the window where a loveseat sat underneath it. Kunhang laid down, facing the moon that glowed down on the world, “It’s a full moon tonight.” He whispered as he felt Youngho’s weight dip the seat. He closed his eyes as the older boy laced his fingers into his hair, softly combing the strands. A pleasant thirty minutes passed, allowing Kunhang to shut his eyes, comfortably relaxing as Youngho pampered him.
Youngho’s low tone of voice sent a shiver down his spine as he said, “I must leave before midnight.” Kunhang hummed as he opened his eyes slowly, looking up towards the elder. “You want to talk about it?” Youngho asked quietly, he had known the younger boy was fragile, and the thought of anyone breaking the raven haired boy made Youngho’s blood boil. No one wanted to see what an angry Youngho was capable of.
The younger boy just smiled sadly as he turned to lay on his back, facing up at Youngho. A moment of silence passed as the two watched one another. “I allowed three adolescent girls belittle me, and my anger ended up becoming too much to contain…” Kunhang whispered, Youngho’s blank eyes gave no comfort to him. “I’m sorry, I know everything could have been ruined all because I lost control. The dark lord would never want me back, if that had happened.” Kunhang shook in a fear that had Youngho pale in worry.
“Kunhang” Youngho’s calming voice breathed out as he placed his hand on the side of the younger’s jaw. “What happened, it was not your fault. Never apologize for crude wenches pissing you off.” Youngho traced lines on the younger’s cheek with his thumb absentmindedly. “Being unable to control your powers is normal, love. The dark lord would never disown you for a fluke such as that.” Kunhang stared up at the older boy, his eyes calculating.
The younger took in a breath to calm his nerves. “Why were you chosen by Hyungsik?” Kunhang whispered, his voice barely audible. Youngho smiled down at the boy. “You were with him when he found me… but how and why did he choose you?” Kunhang placed his hand over Youngho’s that was still tracing over his cheek.
The older boy thought for a moment. Youngho knew it was fair to tell the boy, but he himself was still unaware of some parts of the story. “I was young when Hyungsik took me in.” He softly leaned against the window, placing Kunhang’s head onto his lap. “He was like a prince… he had after the death eaters had murdered my father and mother… but I wasn’t afraid.” His eyes locked onto the wall across from them, zoning out. “He had never frightened me, not even once. I remember he had come into my home, and kneeled in front of me, overing his hand.” Kunhang smiled, he knew how that felt, he remembered the same gesture of the dark lord when he was first chosen. “He had said, '' Come, you will be my second in command.” and to a child that was 9, it sounded magical. Knowing that I was freed from my parents, and a handsome man was allowing me to work beside him.” Youngho grinned, looking up to the ceiling.
“Did you ever have any doubts?” Kunhang whispered as he nuzzled his nose into the elder’s hip. Youngho hummed in thought.
“No…” he mumbled, “I don’t think I have ever really stopped to think about how I was useful to Hyungsik. I knew when he had chosen you, that you were a useful tool for us, but me… I was never able to pinpoint what was so special about me.” Youngho looked down, playing with the younger’s dark locks. Kunhang purred under the attention of the older boy. “I wish I knew why I was chosen, but he never spoke of it to me…”
Kunhang giggled, a light hearted sound, that was too gleeful for the dark room. “Maybe he knew he needed a protege to leave behind, so if he had an untimely end, you could still lead the others…” Kunhang stated, gently lacing his fingers with Youngho’s. “You have the might that no one else has.” Kunhang sat up, smiling mischievously, “You’re scary.” he stated in a fake frightened tone as he shivered, making Youngho laugh as he smacked the younger boy. “Oh shut up.” Youngho laughed out, his smile real making Kunhang grin wider. He only ever see’s the elder’s real smile every once in a while, and to Kunhang, he wishes he could see it everyday. “It’s almost midnight…” Kunhang stated, quietly glancing outside.
Both of the boys stared out, eyes locking on the darkness of the forest. “Yes…” Youngho muttered, “it’s almost time.” Kunhang let his face stay glued in a frown as he watched Youngho put on his cloak. “You can stay here, you don’t ever have to stay in your room, I know Ten and the others can be a little too much.” Youngho stated, as he reached the door. Kunhang smiled, nodding as the older boy left.
Yuta had done this every night. He was never nervous about leaving the castle, or going towards the Black Lake. Yuta always felt like he was going home when he reached the shores, his bare feet melting into the sand. But tonight was different. He had never been caught, nor has he ever allowed anyone to see his true self. The sound of a twig breaking was the only indicator of someone walking, and Yuta was not ready. He really wished this was all a dream.
Youngho stood tall at the edges of the forest. He smirked, as his and Yuta’s eyes met. “Fancy seeing you here.” Youngho called out, making the redhead scuff in annoyance. The older boy just snickered as he walked forward, standing only a few feet from the ravenclaw. “Thank you for coming, but I guess we would have met here whether or not you wanted to.” his grin made Yuta want to smack him.
“How did you know?” Yuta questioned, his eyes lit with a fire that Youngho could only call fury. A few moments of silence passed, making the ravenclaw impatient. “How did you know I would be here? How do you know what I am? There are no signs of my true self when I am in my human form…” Yuta glanced down at his legs. Youngho’s face became blank as he eyed the redhead.
Yuta could feel his heart race as Youngho took a few more steps forward, coming in arms reach. “I have never met a Nix, but I do recall that they are water spirits, and usually take the form of a beautiful mermaid, not a siren.” Youngho stated, “Am I correct?” His eyes bore into Yuta's, causing the younger one to look away.
“How do you even know what a Nix is? No one does, not even our magical creatures professor.” Yuta spluttered, his eyes wide. “No one ever knows of my kind.” he lowered his voice, eyes sad as he looked at Youngho. The older boy just smiled.
With a hum, Youngho took another step, getting into Yuta’s personal space. “Will you show me what a Nix truly looks like?” Youngho asked, his voice purring over the other. Yuta felt his instincts wanted to push him closer to the older boy, but he quickly moved back, deciding to oblige the request. Yuta hesitated for a moment, looking at Youngho, before he slowly took off his clothing.
Youngho’s eyes looked away as Yuta pulled off the last of his clothing, he didn’t look again until he heard the splashes of Yuta’s feet in the water. He glanced, only getting a small look at Yuta’s backside, before the boy’s body fully was under the water. Youngho waited a moment, a silent interest growing greater inside him as he waited for the beautiful redhead. He had not realized how beautiful a real life Nix would be. Especially as he stared right into the eyes of one, and he couldn’t believe what he saw. Yuta had emerged from the water, his crimson red hair a darker wine color, the usual brown eyes were a glowing emerald green, and what caught Youngho’s high the most was the glowing scales of Yuta’s tail. Youngho walked down to sit by the water line, his eyes never leaving Yuta.
The red haired Nix was not used to eyes being on him as he was in his original form. Let alone eyes of adoration. “My hypothesis was off…” Youngho whispered as he reached out slowly to caress Yuta’s face. The younger tilted his head in confusion. “I did not predict that you would be this breathtaking…” He whispered, mostly to himself as he stared in shock.
“You said that you needed a favor, and if I didn’t do it you would tell everyone my secret.” Yuta spoke, making Youngho’s eyes widen. He knew sirens and other Mer creatures were known for their angelic voices, but a Nix was different, it was like how veela could attract any man by just a look. Yuta came up to Youngho’s face, staring him down, knocking the human back into reality.
For a moment, Youngho had to compose himself. “Nixes are water spirits, they are like the gods of the waters. Every creature within this lake follows you, correct?” He questioned, Yuta nodded hesitantly. “I would like you to join me,” Youngho lifted his left sleeve, showing off the dark mark.
Yuta eyed him, he was weighing his options. “What is in it for me?” he questioned, he reached out to trace the mark on Youngho’s arm.
“You won’t have to get the mark…” Youngho stated, “But you must show loyalty to the dark lord. All you will have to do is have the creatures of the lake side with us… that is all.” Youngho watched carefully as Yuta continued to trace the mark. “I can give you whatever you wish for.” he whispered.
Yuta pulled his hand away. He needed to think rationally, but he was tempted. Siding with the dark lord and not having to give out his actual identity was comforting, but he was still hesitant. Yuta was scared, he was terrified of Youngho, no one had ever made him feel such a way. The worst part was that he could not tell if it was true fear he felt whenever he looked at Youngho, or if it was a foreign emotion. Maybe it was lust… He thought in a mild storm of responses inside his mind. “Okay…” Yuta whispered, making Youngho smile. Yuta felt his body shiver in response. “Just don’t tell anyone, not even Ten or any other slytherin about what I am…” Yuta muttered.
Youngho grinned, nodding in agreement. “It was nice seeing you like this…” Yuta felt his body freeze as Youngho’s eyes showed a glint of hunger to them as he eyed his form. “I’ll see you tomorrow in potions. Maybe we can swim together another time.” Youngho purred before he stood up, walking into the dark forest, leaving Yuta to slowly vanish under the water.