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kryptsune · 4 years

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Till Death Do You Part {Part 4} (UF Frans)

🌼Here is part 4 and what I planned to be the last of this little prompt, HOWEVER, if you all really like it then I may consider continuing it. If I can get this post to at least 100 notes then I will seriously consider a part 5 or more. I hope you all enjoy!

Eventually she awoke, staring at the face sleeping next to her. She slipped from her bed careful not to wake him and silently put on some appropriate clothing. It was still very much deep into the night. Her hand slid down the wooden banister to sneakily open the front door. She could run far away right now and it would take some time for him to find her again.

Her heart couldn’t do it.

The slivers of moonlight played off her pale skin as she walked closer to the waters edge. Red’s estate had a beautiful lake that stretched around one section of the home. Its crystal clear waters were a peaceful place where the ghosts of memories past resided in the grasses. There had been many a picnic here.

She cherished it. Every moment they were together filled her with joy but as those phantoms faded away into the starry sky, so too did her smiling face. The bench that retained so many memories was like a grave stone as she bypassed it to take a seat on the lush grasses below. Her fingers slid over that smooth glassy surface, letting hints of her cobalt blue magic dance over the water. They fluttered over the lake causing soft ripples before transforming into beautiful luminescent butterflies.

He had not slept that entire evening. Even if he needed it his mind swirled with conflicting emotions and thoughts. Maybe he could run away with her. They would have to be careful with his brothers on their trail but they could live as themselves.

Now he was dressed as the Lord of an estate but that was not his roots. He had been a poor boy outside the city in the country. His family did everything they could to better their lives better. He remembered the little garden and how his big brother scolded him for being impatient. They did not have much but they were a happy family.

His attention turned to the human girl sleeping next to him. He wanted to give her everything he ever dreamed of, but their union was one that could only end in tragedy. A selfishness grew within him. Frisk was his and no other was going to lay a finger on the sweet mage.

Even with his eyes closed he could feel her slip from their bed and close the door behind her. She was awake but she needed her space. He knew that it would be good for her to reflect on all that had happened. It wasn’t his place to tell her how to feel or push on her his own selfish whims.

Instead he rose from the bed, sliding his fingers into his blonde hair, and getting dressed. He found himself in his study. It was a good place for him to be able to keep an eye on her but also be alone with his own thoughts for a while. There had to be a way for him to pull his humanity back. No more calculated killings, no more toying with people like they were just fodder. She made him want to be better, something more than a wretched damned soul.

Red sighed up in his study, glass of half emptied wine in his hand. He had poured it the moment he stepped foot in the room, "I have not felt like this in centuries. Why do you impart feeling within me when so many others could not?" The thoughts that swarmed his mind forced him to toss the book he had been attempting to read off to one side, "There is no doubt her humanity will betray me. They all do eventually.” His grip was enough to shatter the glass, growling in frustration before throwing the glass into the fire. It had been 400 years of never caring, of having his emotions drain away bit by bit. Why did they have to rear their ugly head now of all times?!

He slumped in his seat watching as the shards of glass fought against the blazing inferno he had tossed them into. The humans betrayed, that was who and what they were. Frisk... saying her name had him shutting his eyes and rubbing at his face with a pale hand. She was not like the others and never had been. Would she try to run away? Leave him forever? That was what he felt he deserved as he removed himself from his chair to look out over his estate.

There she was resting by the lake, moon beams turning her hair nearly a pastel red. No, she would not run. He placed his hand to the pane of the glass as it frosted over with his breath. She must be cold out there all alone.

-----------------------------------------------

Frisk dipped her fingers into the water only to watch her magic swirl and light up the entire lake. This was the place she had told him the truth about herself. How happy she had been that he accepted her for who she was when no one else did.

Somehow deep down she knew that he cared, "I feel like I am a fool but even love can be so blind." She sat there alone letting the cold consume her. It was her way of trying to clear her head. He had said that she would be like the others. Did he not understand that she wouldn't betray him? It hurt her heart so but she understood his apprehension.

That still did not make it right.

Red watched her for a few moments more before he walked out into the night to stand behind her. She was shivering just as she had on the night of their wedding, yet she stayed out here, away from him, “The moon looks beautiful tonight.”

She whirled around in surprise when she heard his voice, turning to look at him, "Yes, very much. Have you come to take me inside? Or are you fearful I shall announce to the world of your treachery?” It was harsh, perhaps too harsh. There was no one more that she hated than deceivers, “or perhaps that I would flee this place and you would no longer have mage blood to sustain you?”

Her time of grieving had past now all she felt was disappointment and anger. Even that after a few moments ebbed away. She curled in on herself in an attempt to keep warm though she could no longer tell if it was the frigid air or the icy bite of her frozen heart.

He sighed once more taking a seat next to her, slipping off his jacket and wrapping it around her shoulders. A mirror to his actions the night he pledged his life... or rather unlife to her, "Just remember what I said Frisk. This is a great deal of trust I place in you.”

She looked up at him creating a cobalt blue flower in her hand letting it dance magically in her palm, "I believe I said something similar to you when we grew to know each other a little more. Please remember... I placed all my trust in you. I want you to believe me but I know after so many betrayals that can be hard. Will you let me prove that I am different?"

He reached out and touch her cheek, "I already have," he whispered softly, holding her close to him. Change was hard but he would try because she gave him hope.

She was one to speak her truth and she would die before betraying his trust. The fact that he was giving that to her was more than she could ask for, "Thank you." Maybe one day they would no longer question each other, “That warms my heart to hear.”

He inclined his head, closing his eyes as he took in that scent of honeysuckle and lavender, “I do not wish to frighten you. I know what I am. It has been so for centuries. The night that I could no longer resist your sweet blood... was painful. The look on your face reminded me that I do not deserve you. I am no longer of his world and yet you, my beautiful Love, are. I do not know how long it will take for me to express my... affections and I understand if you wish to leave this dead thing where it lies.”

Frisk made a soft squeak of a noise when he pulled her close. Those pretty blue eyes looked up at him curiously, “Red...must you be so morbid after all that you have said? I was taken aback by your deception but that does not mean that I no longer love you. You are the one that has made me feel alive most of all.” Her eyes fell closed as she cradled the hand resting on her cheek, “I do not believe that my heart would be able to take being apart from you.”

Her eyes met his before he gave her a soft smile, “Then never shall we be. My Love.”

She leaned against him as he brushed her hair off her shoulder, resting his lips against the crook of her neck. Her fluttering heart beat forced a small sad chuckle from him, “I frighten you to be this close, don’t I?”

Her body turned more toward him when he pulled back to smile at her sadly, “I... do not fear you. I fear the pain. You took that feeling from me and I do not remember. I can only assume it to be painful. I wish to take care of you as you do me and this is the one thing you need that only I can provide.”

He was shocked by her response but that was just Frisk. She was kind and compassionate. Her mind was sharper than any he had come across, “I believe you my Sweet one and I shall confide in you everything about my curse, my family, and my past. You must have many questions for me. I shall answer them all.”

She felt her heart turn within her chest as he confided in her. He was truly putting his full trust in her hands. No more secrets between the two. The pain she once endured had faded leaving behind a new pressure. It was the kind that constricted the lungs for a moment, skipped the normal rhythm of the heart, and warmed her from the inside out. Her joy had returned, “Very much but I do not wish to overwhelm you with them.”

It had been so long since he laughed genuinely, “I have but all the time in the world for you to satisfy your curiosity but I ask two things of you. It is strictly for your protection. My brothers will not take kindly to me keeping a mortal wife. They see humanity as nothing but cattle. This game is truly the only interaction they feel is entertaining enough to debase themselves. Our father is even worse. I do not think the same way they do as I am sure you are aware but my brothers and my father are powerful vampires it does not take much for them to ensnare the human mind. Your magic gives you protection as does the bond I hope to share with you...but it is important to never underestimate them. Do you understand my Love?”

He leaned forward to kiss her forehead, “This will bot be easy for either of us but I love you so.” There it was. He had finally spoke the words he had been meaning to for days.

Frisk nodded gently listening to him enlighten her on his families propensity for bigotry. Her heart nearly came to a stop, feeling her cheeks begin to hurt from how large her smile had grown, “I understand, Red. I love you too.”

She also noted that she must be careful now that his siblings would no longer see her as a helpless unaware victim. It would be a long road to breaking nearly half a millennia of destruction and manipulation.

He too nodded his head to affirm that he believed that she understood, “I shall teach you how to protect yourself further but tonight is not the night for such things.”

The hand that he had been threading through her hair moved to brush her cheek, tilting her head up toward him, "Never go with my brothers alone. Not even if they claim I asked them to fetch you and never look either of them in the eyes directly. My brothers are far older than me and though our abilities differ there are some that remain universal. The ability to bend the mind through compulsion is one such beast. I have found that my manipulations work on you, however, I must be at full strength for it to remain. My brothers have no such limitations. A simple look into their eyes and I dread what they may do.”

She rested her hands on either side of his cheeks, moving to face him fully. Those stunning red eyes glittered like the most dazzling rubies. A trait that they both seemed to share, “I’ve never seen such a beautiful shade of red before.”

He chuckled as he wrapped his arms around her waist nearly hoisting her up so that they could be at eye level properly, “Did I not just explain why you should not stare into a vampires eyes? Are you not afraid what I desire from you?”

A sheepish grin caused her eyes to crinkle at the sides in mirth, “My whatever shall I do then? I simply have not have the opportunity to see you as you truly are. This is the first time. I do not believe that you would be able to entrap the mind of one that loves you so. Your desires are my own but I fully understand that I must be careful from now on.” She had a feeling it would be far from the last time she would hear from his brothers.

“Warning your beloved of our abilities are you? tsk tsk little brother~”

Speak of the devil and he shall appear...

The pair froze when that smooth voice layered with flirtation and mockery met their ears. This was far from the ideal situation that they desired. There was no moment to play the fool. His brothers knew, of how much, they did not know. She could feel the tension that Red was holding in his body as his grip around her tightened, "Crimson.. I thought you had returned to your estate." This time he was free to glare at his vampiric sibling.

Crimsons unamused laugh had her husband’s eyes narrowing dangerously, practically illuminated in warning, “Do you take us for fools little brother? Both myself and Gered saw right through your little ruse. I can’t say that I’m shocked by the development, however, I am that you thought we would buy into your little story. He tilted his head before turning his attention on his nails as if the conversation was boring him, “We never left and if you had not come out to watch over your pretty little mortal then well... who knows what would have happened~”

He growled, "You are not to touch her!" Never had he defied his own family. Gered’s snicker joined Crimson’s chuckles as he leaned against one of the willows that made this lake its home. It was far too dark for Frisk to see anything properly beyond the protection of the lake she made glow earlier, "tsk tsk little brother. You know we could easily overpower you and take her for our own. Unless of course you do what you have failed to do. You do not wish to disappoint us, do you? After everything we have done for you?"

Red held her tightly to him as much as physically possible. He was not even going to give them a window of opportunity, "Do not force my hand. You know why father made me like you!"

Frisk curled in his arms before taking a shaky breath. It was true she would never betray him, never want to see him hurt, especially not for her sake. The true nature of his condition frightened her somewhat or rather not him as much as his seemingly aggressive brothers, “Red...”

His growling did not stop, "She is mine to deal with as I see fit brothers. You have your own, quell your jealousy that I found a rare mage blood before the both of you."

She could tell by the tone of Gered’s voice that he was no longer playing, “Ahh but mage blood calls to mage blood is that not right, little brother~" His chuckling sent a shiver up and down the length of her spine involuntarily. At this distance she would not be able to look into their eyes, hopefully things remained that way.

Her attention turned on the two, “Please leave him be. I... m...mage... blood?” What was he trying to imply? She glanced back at Red who looked furious before his eyes fell on her. That expression melted away as he batted away the mocking chuckles in the background, “Yes. It is why I am so drawn to you. Not just your beauty and your mind but also your blood. It calls to me. Before I turned I too was the same as you. Some humans can survive the change but with magic in ones veins it is undeniable. We all used to be mages it is why our father turned us and why your blood as well as our ancestors... is so very rare.”

A smirk curled on Crimson’s face as Red paused his animosity toward them to explain the truth to her, “I am rather tempted just to know that rare taste of mage blood~”

Gered chimed in moments later, “Yes, indeed. Besides you have never stopped us from sharing in the past. She recovered rather quickly from her illness do you not agree Red?”

Frisk swallowed thickly as she felt his slow heart beat under the palm of her hand. If he pulled her any closer he might just crack her rib. She had corsets for that daily torture. He had snapped, "You see... brothers.” The venom laced in his voice was enough to kill, “You and Crimson are not used to it. I have no doubt you would drain her dry. Crimson you are such a blood thirsty bastard that your last wife was nothing more than scraps of flesh and bone when you were finished. As for you Gered... You did not even bother to hide the gory display. I do not believe there was even a body to speak of!”

He was now pointing at the two, “Even with her full recovery there is no way in Hell I will be letting you even take a taste.”

Crimson seemed amused by the argument, “Smitten as I’ve even seen him.” He placed his fingers near his lips, “You don’t give us enough credit dear baby brother. The reason we care not for our feeding habits is because those that end up in our arms hold no value. She apparently holds value to you and thus we would be at our best behavior. You do not want us to summon father, do you? I hate to imagine what would happen to your blushing wife then.”

Frisk could not believe what slipped from her mouth but she nearly saw Red’s face turn as pale as a ghost. If such a thing was even possible, “If you promise to leave Red alone... I’ll do it... I’ll let all three of you share me but only under the condition I am able to have a happy life with your brother.” Any normal human would have continued to cower in his arms, not her.

He shook her head before looking down on her, “Frisk... you do not know what you are agreeing to do.”

She sighed, “I am not going to sit back and have them bully you for keeping me alive. I heal fast, far faster than any human. I will be fine.”

Gered folded his arms across his chest with a smirk playing at the corners of his lips, “Well that is rather cute. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a human stand up to any of us before... are you that in love?~ I do suppose we can both turn a blind eye if you honor that arrangement.”

She didn’t look him directly in the eyes like Red mentioned before but the moment the question was asked she didn’t hesitate with her answer, “More than my heart can possibly take.”

He hated this. There was no way that he was going to let his brothers steal her away. She was strong willed and stubborn but giving herself over to their whims was far from ideal. As long as they kept father out of it... she would be safe enough, “Though you are my wife I am not going to treat you like so many men do. You must make your own decisions, my Love. I have faith that you will make the correct ones.”

What had she gotten herself into? Now of all times he was being sweet like this. It drove her conviction home as she spoke only once glancing at Gered’s nearly amber eyes, “I wish to warm up inside. It is quite cold out here for me.”

The eldest took a bow before offering her his hand. She trusted Red, of course, but the other two, never, “But of course. We wouldn’t dream of causing you any sort of discomfort. You may belong to our youngest brother but due to your... unique condition you can expect only the most respectful of treatment from us. You have my word.~”

She just followed them all inside before taking a seat on the couch, running her fingers through her hair. Red scoffed at his older brothers claims. What did she just agree to again? Her heart belonged to one but her blood now belonged to three.

The fire that blazed in the grate began to warm her chilled flesh, now resting with her legs to the side of her. If she could get through to Red then perhaps the other two could retrieve the humanity they lost so long ago. It was a risk that she was willing to take as she lifted her head to give the love of her life a sweet smile.

He came to sit beside her so she could rest her head on his shoulder. It was far past the time she should have been awake. Her back was to the other two who now were reclining themselves, a familiar glass in each hand. He threaded his arm through her own as the warmth of the fire soothed and calmed the couple. They both remained silent as they watched the flames dance within the grate.

Nearly half a year ago she had worried that a lady like her would never feel love. That she was broken, damaged due to the blood that ran in her veins but then a suitor came to call. He was young, charismatic, and treated her unlike any man had before.

He truly was nothing like them and now she understood why. What are you supposed to say when you suddenly are thrust into a family’s nearly millennia long strife? A life of blood and excess. One of pain and regret. There would come a day when maybe she would finally be able to understand more clearly but for now all she knew was that she had found the thing she was looking for.

Even if that meant she now lived in an estate with three volatile vampiric brothers. It was a sacrifice she was willing to make.

#undertale #sans x frisk #frans #underfell #vampire prompt #writing #drabble #part 4 #quick little thing #Welcome to the Underworld #WTU #friskys multiverse #Red x Frisk #it feels good to write for the OTP #Vamp Red #gothic #romance

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kinda-iconic · 5 years

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Truth doesn’t always set you free

This fanfic was written for Day 4 of the Choices July Challenge…

Pairing: Adrian x MC

Day Four Prompt: Independence Day

Summary: The group head downtown to celebrate Independence Day by watching the fireworks, but when the group are ambushed and Amy is hurt by one of Gaius’ lackeys, Adrian soon takes matters into his own hands - quite literally!

Author’s Notes: This fic is part of a mini series that I am writing; most of my Adrian x MC fanfics for this challenge will be a part of this series. I’m ever so sorry for the delay; I’ve had a few bouts of writer’s block recently, so I have not been able to get a lot of writing done. My head has also chosen to play up recently, and this has had a negative impact on my motivation. This story takes place a month after the events of ‘Guilt isn’t always a rational thing’.

I’m really sorry for the delay; my health hasn’t been great, and I wanted to try and give you something that was worthy of the wait.

Warnings: Descriptions of violence and injury - it’s not too bad, but I just thought that I’d warn you! PG-13 for sure though - maybe even higher I don’t know!

Tag List: @nk-writes @queerchoicesblog @galaxyside-0 @shelley-parah@desiree-0816 @begging-for-kamilah@choicesfannatalie@adrianadmirer@krishu213 @hhiggs@flowerpowell@nobounderiesplease@theclanless @bhavf @octobereighth@mangoruby@flyawayboo@katyagrayce @dr-brianna-casey-valentine@perriewinklenerdie@lovemychoices @timmagicktoad@choicesjulychallenge@femmeshep@drakesensworld @the-soot-sprite@mfackenthal@itscassandraleigh @iplaydrake @whenyourheartskipsabeat @emceesynonymroll

‘So, are you going to tell us where we’re going?’

Adrian turns his attention to the source of the voice; Amy is walking beside him, her balayage hair cascading down her shoulders and onto her burgundy sweatshirt. She meets his gaze, nestling her head on his shoulder.

‘And spoil the surprise?’ Adrian drapes his arm around her waist, pulling her closer to his side, ‘absolutely not.’

‘But we’re a team, remember?’ She pouts childishly, her bottom lip quivering from her fictional sadness. ‘You usually tell me everything...’

He smiles fondly at her, his arm carefully constricting around her waist as his hand settles on her abdomen. He inclines his head towards her, pressing a gentle kiss to her temple.

‘Not when I’m trying to surprise you,’ he looks at her with adoration, ‘I’m not about to disclose ALL of my secrets.’

She meets his eyes, a warm smile enveloping on her face as she entwines her fingers with his, savouring the warmth of his touch.

‘If it’s any consolation, he hasn’t told us where we’re going either.’ Jax appears beside her, the hilt of his katana glistening in the moonlight as they make their way down the high line. ‘We know as much as you do.’

‘It’s nothing special.’

He turns to glance over his shoulder; Kamilah strolls idly behind them, her hands tucked firmly in the pockets of her jacket.

‘All we’re doing is joining in with the festivities by watching a firework display, nothing more.’

Jax spins around to face her, his brows raising in confusion.

‘You knew about this, Kamilah?’

’I can assure you that it’s safe,’ she sighs reluctantly, reaching up adjust the pendant that dangles around her neck; ‘I staked the area out myself earlier this evening; there are no threats.’

‘Are you sure about that?’ Jax queries, ‘I mean you said something similar before our trip to Vegas, and we all know how that turned out...’

‘Do you think that Adrian would risk the safety of Amy and his child just to observe a firework display if it wasn’t safe?’

Jax huffs, scratching his chin. ‘I guess that’s true,’ he refocuses his attention on Adrian, ‘but I’m still wondering why you chose to tell her and not us.’

‘Kamilah is his best friend, Jax,’ Lily rests beside Kamilah, placing a confident hand on her shoulder, ‘besides... she’s a hell of a lot stronger than the two of us combined and they’ve been friends for over two centuries.’

‘And we’re not his friends too? Amy’s his girlfriend AND she’s carrying his kid! Doesn’t that count for anything?’

‘Well of course,’ Kamilah rolls her eyes, ‘but if Amy had known, then she’d have insisted on coming with me...and she’s not exactly able to defend herself.’

‘Hey!’ She exclaims, ‘I’ve held my own in a fight before...’

‘I have never doubted that,’ Kamilah mutters, her gaze drifting from the mortal to the stars as they glisten in the night sky, ‘just not when you’re four months pregnant.’

‘That’s true I guess...’ she glances subtly at the others, ‘but that’s not to say that I can’t protect myself.’

‘You’ll never need to,’ Adrian chimes in, pressing a tender kiss to her forehead, ‘for you have the four of us here to protect you.’

The group continue on for a while, coversing quietly amongst themselves as they make their way towards the pier. A slight sound causes Amy to pause, her brows narrowing with worry as she glances nervously at their surroundings; it isn’t long before Adrian notices her discomfort, his hand tightening around hers as he whispers softly to her, his voice riddled with concern and confusion.

‘What is it?’ He releases her hand before snaking a protective arm around her waist, ‘are you feeling alright?’

‘Yeah I...’ she looks over her shoulder pensively, ‘I thought I heard something, that’s all.’

‘Are you certain?’

Amy sighs anxiously, her eyes darting to the four corners of the pier. ‘We’ve been through so much, Adrian,’ her voice is quiet and wary, ‘I wouldn’t say anything unless I was a hundred percent sure.’

Adrian closes his eyes for a moment, concentrating on their environent. His brows narrow as he deepens his focus, his nose twitching. It isn’t long before he hears it; at first, the sound is barely recognisable but, as its source draws nearer, he is soon able to work out the origin of the sound.

Sharpening metal.

Amy inclines her head towards him, her voice lowering to a hushed whisper, ‘Can you hear that?’

He outstretches his arm in front of her, preventing her from taking another step forward as he concentrates on the walkway before them. The pier is dimly-lit, but Adrian spies a mysterious figure approaching them, the figure growing in size.

His hand clasps gently around her arm, placing himself in front of her.

‘Adrian...?’

‘Stay behind me.’

Adrian’s eyes fade to a shade of crimson as he continues to usher Amy out of harms way. He turns his head slightly, addressing his companions with a wary tone.

‘Kamilah -’

Kamilah takes a few steps forward, draping a protective arm around Amy’s shoulder. She focuses on the figure, her eyes narrowing as she tries to assess the severity of the situation. She motions for Jax to approach, her arm holding Amy close. After a moment she speaks, her voice somber and cold.

‘I don’t like this...’

‘My sentiments exactly.’

As the mysterious figure draws nearer, Kamilah’s eyes widen as a bout of recognition befalls her; the shadow is no stranger, but a fellow vampire. One that both her and Adrian know all too well.

‘Good evening Kamilah,’ he tipped his hat in acknowledgment, ‘...Adrian...’

‘Clarke,’ Kamilah queries, her brows narrowing with curiosity, ‘What in God’s name are you doing here?’

‘Why I just came to talk,’ he claps his hands together, eyeing Amy with an intensity that is indescribable, ‘and to deliver a message from our King, of course.’

Jax scoffs, running his hand through his hair. ‘Why am I not surprised?’

‘I never saw you as a messenger, Clarke,’ Kamilah interjected, ‘though I guess there’s a first time for everything.’

He responds with an unnerving smile.

‘You know me, Kamilah,’ his grin widens, the satisfaction of this moment becoming apparent as he nods his head in Amy’s direction, ‘I’ve always been one to bend over backwards for others... I’ve often been told that I’m a very selfless person.’

‘It’s a shame that we can’t say the same about your loyalty...’

As the two continue to bicker, Adrian turns to face Amy; he reaches up to caress her cheek, his thumbs tracing intricate patterns from the skin of her neck to her bottom lip. He presses himself closer to her, lowering his voice to a hushed whisper.

‘I need you to stay behind me.’

‘But you know him,’ she retorts in confusion, ‘surely he wouldn’t do anything that...’

‘He’s serving Gaius, Amy; right now he’s capable of anything.’

Her eyes widen at the mention of those words, a fearful expression resonating on her face.

‘What do you mean by that...?’

He wraps an arm delicately around her hip, his other hand resting at the nape of her neck.

‘If you fear the man you serve, you’d move heaven and earth just to make them happy,’ he watches the man with cautious eyes as he continues to argue with Kamilah, ‘even the kindest of people are lured into making that mistake.’

‘Is that what happened with you?’

He sighs defeatedly, running a gentle hand through her hair. ‘It doesn’t matter,’ he leans in, placing a sweet kiss to her forehead, ‘what matters is that you heed what I say.’

‘Adrian...’

‘Do I have your word?’

She nods, taking ahold of his hand as he lowers it back to his side.

‘Good,’ he looks over a Jax, whose eyes are trained on the pair as they converse. He removes his suit jacket, draping it over her shoulders.

‘Stay back here with Jax and Lily... I’ll go and see what all this commotion is about.’

Adrian wanders over to Kamilah as she continues her heated discussion with their visitor. As he draws nearer, he is soon able to deduce the source of the metallic noise; the man is holding two sharp knives, one of them strong enough to slice through bone. The sound they had heard not too long ago was the sound of the knives being drawn across one another.

‘So are you going to deliver this message, or are we going to have to extract it ourselves?’

Clarke stands brazenly before her, his eyes fixated on Kamilah as he presses on, his voice cold and calculated.

‘Oh I can assure you this message will be delivered,’ he smiles menacingly at her before his attention shifts to Adrian, ‘but I’m afraid that I’ve specifically been told that it’s only one for Adrian’s ears.’

‘Oh really?’

Adrian surveys the man, his eyes scanning the young vampire for any sign of movement. He glances down at his hands; Clarke’s fists are clenched around the hilt of the knives, every word he speaks causing his knuckles to whiten as he constricts his fingers.

It doesn’t take Adrian long to put two and two together.

The message was never a verbal interaction or a threat; it was always going to be a physical altercation.

Adrian places his hand on Kamilah’s forearm. ‘I suggest you take a step back, sister,’ he places himself between her and the man, ‘after all, whatever this message entails, it seems as though it was only meant for me...wasn’t it, Clarke?’

Kamilah does as he says, her gaze never leaving Clarke as he takes a sinister step towards Adrian, lifting his hand to brandish one of the blades.

Amy watches on in horror as the man approaches him, the silver hue of the blade glinting in the light of the moon. She starts to speak, her voice hoarse and fearful as she begins to realise the severity of the situation.

‘Adrian...?’

‘Your move, Clarke,’ he sighs with agitation, his red eyes boring into those of his opponent, ‘though I can assure you that this won’t end well, at least not for you anyway.’

The man takes a deep breath, closing his eyes for a brief moment as he regains his resolve. However, within a second he has changed into his vampiric state, his large fangs soon becoming obvious to the eye.

‘RAHHHHHH!’

He lunges at Adrian, his inhuman speed causing him to swiftly change his path as he punches his fist in the direction of Adrian’s throat, the blade brandished tightly in his hand. Adrian dodges the attack with little effort, blocking his whimsical blows with his forearm. He delivers a brutal jab to Clarke’s rib cage, forcing him to briefly retreat from his attack.

‘Is that really all you’ve got?’ Adrian laughs humourlessly, ‘I would have thought that Gaius had told you what to expect when it comes to fighting me.’

The man scoffs, hissing his response through gritted teeth; ‘he told me that you were strong, and not easily defeated...’

He charges at him again, this time with more ferocity. He slices the blade mid-air, its jagged edge catching Adrian’s skin; a small trickle of blood soaks into Adrian’s shirt, but the cut swiftly heals. The man tries to lash out once more, the blade aimed at Adrian’s shoulder, but he manages to catch Clarke’s wrist before he has the chance to inflict any more damage.

‘Then you’d know that I have remarkable reflexes.’

With a tired sigh, Adrian launches the man into the air, watching with intent as he crumples into a heap on the pier beside him, his body crashing into a metal crate.

‘Yes...’ he rises to his feet, clenching his jaw as he winces through the pain, his breath ragged and uneven, ‘but there’s one thing that you have forgotten...’

‘And what’s that, exactly?’

Clarke raises his head, his impenetrable gaze fixated on the mortal; Adrian’s attack had accidentally left her unprotected, for the man now stood mere metres from the young woman. He fights through the pain, each word separated by a short pause as he glances menacingly in her direction.

‘Even the most fearsome of soldiers have their weaknesses...’

Adrian’s eyes narrow as he takes a step forward, his nose scrunching up with rage as he cautiously approaches the vampire.

‘If you touch her, you’re a dead man.’ He snaps, each word more venomous than the last, ‘I will not hesitate to break you...’

‘Is that so?’ He turns to address her directly, his words egotistical and melodramatic. ‘I’m sorry sweetheart, but I guess there is such thing as collateral damage...’

As Adrian charges at Clarke, all he can see is red; his desire to protect Amy from the man becoming more prominent with every step. However, before Adrian has a chance to reach her, he suddenly stops in his tracks; Clarke stands before him, both of his arms wrapped around Amy’s shoulders as he turns her to face him. His arm constricts around her, pulling her closer to his chest, his other hand placing the knife against her throat.

‘One more step and I cut her down!’

‘Clarke -‘ Adrian holds up his hands in surrender, his eyes widening as he is able to see the true extent of her fear, ‘whatever your business is, it is with me... not her...’ he swallows nervously, ‘she has never been a part of this.’

‘I guess not,’ he pulls on her hair, causing a sharp gasp to emanate from her lips as her head tilts backwards, leaving him with better access to her throat, ‘but I can certainly see that I was right about her being your weakness...’ he eyes Adrian with malice, a tortuous chuckle escaping his lips, ‘just look at yourself, Adrian; see what this poor pathetic creature has done to you...’

‘Clarke...’ the sternness in Adrian’s voice has dissipated, replaced with a cautious tone, ‘...let her go...’

‘Why would I do that?’ he hisses, baring his fangs as he draws the blade closer to Amy’s neck, ‘right now it seems as though she is the one thing that is preventing you from tearing me apart!’

Jax growls, removing his katana from its sheath. ‘Only because you’re using her as a human shield!’

‘Why shouldn’t I?’ Clarke hissed, baring his fangs as he drew the blade closer to Amy’s neck.

‘I’m warning you, Clarke,’ he edges closer, testing the young vampire’s resolve, ‘release her now...’

‘Or what...you’ll kill me?’ His demeanour soon changes to one of regret, and Adrian is able to sense that the young vampire is starting to have second thoughts. ‘I’m dead anyway, be it by your hand or his...’ the man hesitates for a moment, thinking over his next few words with caution, ‘I may as well have a bit of fun before the end.’

Adrian takes another step forward, his lips curling into a snarl as his crimson eyes bore into those of his counterpart.

‘LET. HER. GO.’

Clarke yanks her hair back once more, causing a powerless wince to escape her. ‘Nah...’ he inclines his head towards her neck, his fangs mere inches from her skin, ‘I think that I might just take this one out now... it’s not like anyone’s going to -‘

The man is soon interrupted by a sharp pain between his shoulder blades; Jax appears from behind him, his hand clasping at the dagger as it lodges itself into Clarke’s flesh.

‘AHHHHH!’

He spins around to face the Clanless leader, his arm squeezing her closer to his chest as he points the blade at Jax.

‘YOU SON OF A -’

Jax slashes at the arm that holds her, the accurate precision of his attack leaving Amy unharmed as Clarke’s grip on her begins to weaken. He goes in for another strike, but is soon met with resistance as Clarke tries desperately to fend him off, meeting the attack with defensive force.

‘You want to do it the hard way?’ Clarke hisses through gritted teeth, his jaw clenched as he uses all of his might to hold Jax at bay.

‘FINE.’

Without warning, he spins on his feet, shoving the mortal down onto the floor with an almighty force as he counters Jax’s defence.

‘Oof...’

‘AMY!’

As the pair continue to fight, Amy struggles to find her feet, a sharp twang of pain emanating from her knees and elbows; her legs are trembling, and she soon finds herself unable to stand. Within seconds, a pair of familiar brown eyes are gazing back into hers, their expression one of terror.

‘A...Amy?’ Adrian’s voice is no louder than a whisper, ‘are...are you alright?’

‘Y...yeah I’m fine...’ she sits upright, letting out a grimace as she holds onto her head, the pain intensifying with every word. She laughs humorlessly, running her hand across her abdomen, ‘I think it’s safe to say that I took the hit for the both of us.’

He reaches over to caress her cheek, his eyes glistening with fresh tears.

‘Amy...’

Their conversation is suddenly halted by the sound of a muffled scream, resonating from behind them; Clarke is kneeling before the couple, pinned firmly in place by Kamilah and Jax. He struggles against his captors, his demeanour one of hatred and envy. However, as Adrian rises to his feet, Clarke’s resolve quickly falters, his eyes widening as the vampire takes a step towards him.

‘I didn’t mean to hurt the poor lass, I swear I...’ he stutters, frantically shying away from the group as the vampire begin to descend, ‘I was only following Gaius’ orders!’

‘Were you now?’

‘Of course,’ he exclaims, gesturing to the fallen mortal, ‘I told you I never meant to hurt her, but the stupid girl got in t-‘

Before Clarke can finish his sentence, Adrian charges at him, his expression dark and contorted.

‘ARGH!’

He ignores Kamilah and Jax, shoving them aside as he clasps his hand around Clarke’s throat, lifting him into the air. Amy looks on in disbelief, a muffled sob hitching in her throat as she cries out to Adrian, her breath short and raspy.

‘Adrian stop!’

Adrian pays her no mind, ignoring her pleas as he presses on with his task. He snarls through gritted teeth, his voice predatorial and venomous.

‘Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t rip out your throat!’

The man claws at Adrian’s hand, trying desperately to free himself from his snake-like grip. He grimaces from the pain, his words short and sudden.

‘Ah...ahh easy...EASY!’

‘Adrian stop this please!’

‘I’m waiting Clarke,’ the hands around his throat tighten, and the young vampire soon finds himself struggling for breath. ‘GIVE. ME. A. REASON.’

‘I...I was after you. You’re the one he...he wanted me to target...’

‘That’s funny, because from what I witnessed,’ Adrian lifts the man further into the air, his hold unwavering, ‘you intentionally went after her...’

‘She got in the - AHHH!’

Adrian’s fingers constrict around the assailant’s neck, his nails scraping across the skin as he clamps his hand around his jaw. The man struggles for breath, fresh droplets of blood seeping through his collar as Adrian’s nails seep further into Clarke’s flesh.

‘P...please...Mr...Mr Raines.’

The group watch on in horror, their expressions pained and conflicted as they hesitate to intervene. Amy is the first to respond, her approach cautious. She places a gentle hand on Adrian’s shoulder, her fingers trembling as she tries to pull him out of the darkness.

‘Adrian...please just...just stop it.’

‘He HURT you!’ He snarls, his gaze softening briefly as he looks down at her stomach, ‘he could have harmed you both...’

‘I’m standing in front of you aren’t I?’ she interjects, ‘so he couldn’t have hurt me THAT badly...’

‘But he still shouldn’t have...’

‘Adrian please...’ she edges closer to him, wrapping both of her hands around his forearm, ‘let him go.’

He glares at the man, his crimson eyes narrowing as he takes in his horrified demeanour. He remains like that for a moment, his gaze transfixed on the man before turning his attention back to her.

‘I need to protect you...’

‘And you can,’ her grip around his arm tightens as she lowers it, bringing the struggling man back to the ground. ‘Just not like this; never like this.’

‘Amy...’

His breathing is less erratic, and Amy begins to sense that, for now, Adrian is back to how he used to be. He loosens his grip around Clarke’s throat, but not enough to let the vampire slip through his fingers.

She smiles lovingly at him, slowly removing his hand from the assailant.

‘Do the right thing...let him go...’

He tilts his head, narrowing his eyes as he assesses the man before addressing Kamilah, his gaze still trained on the vampire as he begins to cower in the shadows. Adrian’s voice is stern, and Amy can sense that he isn’t about to let this incident go unpunished.

‘Take Amy back to the penthouse.’

‘Aren’t you coming?’

‘No...’ he pauses slightly, his expression darkening as he glares at the man, loosening his tie as he steps towards him.

‘I’m on clean-up duty.’

‘Adrian...’

Amy takes a step towards him, her arms wrapped protectively around her torso as she approaches him, ‘what are you...’

He pulls her into his embrace, his arms tightening around her. ‘I’ll be back soon,’ he kisses her tenderly, resting his forehead against hers, ‘I just need to take care of a few things, that’s all.’

‘L...like what?’

‘Ssshhh it’s okay,’ he presses another kiss to her lips, cupping her face in his hands as he speaks softly to her, ‘I’ll be back before you know it.’ He reaches down, placing his hands gently on the bump as he turns away, addressing Kamilah over his shoulder.

‘Take care of them, okay?’

Kamilah nods, placing a gentle hand on Amy’s forearm.

‘You have my word, brother.’

She tilts her head in the direction of the street, urging Amy to accompany her back to the penthouse. Amy turns away from him, allowing herself to be escorted away from the situation. However, it isn’t long before she hesitates, stopping in her tracks. She looks over her shoulder at Adrian.

‘Adrian...’

‘Go,’ he draws closer, nodding in Kamilah’s direction, ‘I’ll be right behind you.’

‘But...’

‘I promise you,’ he stands before her, placing a gentle hand on the bump, ‘I’ll be back before you know it.’ He presses another kiss to her cheek, his fingers entangling in her hair.

‘Now go.’

--------------------------------------------------------------

Within moments, the group have dispersed into the darkness. Adrian waits for a minute, making sure that his friends are out of hearing distance, before returning to his darkened state.

‘Please, Mr Raines, Sir I -’

‘I’m going to make you a deal, Clarke,’ he kneels before the man, cupping his hands together, ‘You’re going to tell me what that abhorrent little man told you to do, and in return,’ he frowns, focusing his attention on the weapon as he turns it over in his hand, ‘I’ll refrain from burying this stake in your heart.’

‘I...’

‘Take your time, Clarke,’ he edges the stake closer, resting the point just above the man’s heart, ‘it’s not like we have an abundance of time.’

‘I was only following orders...’ the vampire exclaimed, his expression changing into one of fear, ‘you of all people know what Gaius is like!’

‘Indeed,’ he frowns, tilting his head with acknowledgement, ‘which also means that I know you won’t return to him until you’ve completed your task.’ Adrian swiftly points the stake at his chest, his other hand clasped firmly around his throat. ‘So tell me, Clarke, what exactly were you asked to do?’

‘I...I can’t tell you he’ll...he’ll kill me!’

‘I think you should focus your attention on the person that is holding a stake to your heart at this moment in time,’ his knuckles constrict, causing the man to wince, ‘and not the one that will rip you to shreds later.’

The man glares at him, his fearful demeanour quickly replaced with one of malice.

‘Is that it then? Are you going to kill me?’

‘Possibly,’ he lifts his head, meeting the vampire with a stern glare, ‘unless you decide to be honest with me.’

A menacing laugh escapes Clarke, his eyes narrowing as he watches Adrian intently. ‘You don’t have the guts!’ He hisses, each word more venomous than the last, ‘if the way you acted around your girlfriend didn’t prove that, your current hesitation to stake me will.’

‘Is that so?’ Adrian leans forward, his voice a harsh whisper as he delivers another warning, ‘I think you’re forgetting exactly who I am, Mr Clarke.’

The man scoffs, his words barely audible underneath his raspy breath.

‘Don’t you mean who you were?’

Adrian laughs sinisterly. ‘Oh I can assure you Clarke,’ he reaches up to loosen his tie, ‘that man never left.’

‘Is that a threat?’

‘Interpret it how you like,’ he shrugs, taking a step away from him, ‘I’m giving you the opportunity to save your life.’ He hesitates for a moment before delivering his words, each syllable more cold and calculated than the last.

‘If you value your pathetic existence, I suggest you cooperate.’

‘And admit defeat to you? The lost soldier...the Butcher of Antietam?’ Clarke scoffs, scrunching up his nose in disgust as he addresses Adrian, ‘I would rather die a thousand deaths than say another word to you.’

‘You’re talking now aren’t you?’ He pauses for a moment, taking in the man before him.‘You know you’re lucky, Clarke; I could have left you to Kamilah.’

‘I’m not scared of her.’

‘Really?’ He queries with a surprised tone, ‘that’s fine talk coming from someone that was cowering in the shadows only moments ago.’

‘I’m not telling you anything!’

‘Suit yourself.’

Adrian turns away from him, folding his arms across his chest. He peers over his shoulder at the man, his nostrils flaring as his anger intensifies.

‘I didn’t particularly want to do this, Clarke,’ Adrian’s grip tightens around the stake,‘but it seems that you left me with no choice.’

‘Please, Mr Raines,’ his resolve swiftly falters, ‘I...I have people that I care about... a family...’

Adrian hesitates for a moment, though it isn’t long before his expression darkens, his eyes fading back to crimson.

‘Maybe you should have thought about yours before you came after mine.’

‘And what would the girl say?’ A sinister smile creeps across his face, ‘your precious Amy... what would she think if she saw you like this? What would you say to her if she caught you behaving in this way?’

Adrian sighs with agitation, ‘I don’t know why it concerns you,’ he pauses for a moment, his expression displeased, ‘but I would probably reassure her that worms like you get what they deserve.’

‘No you wouldn’t...’ he cackles sarcastically, ‘you know that the moment she so much as mentions your name you’d be fawning all over her...begging for her to look away as you rip me apart.’

‘I think it’s about time you shut up, Clarke.’

‘Or what...You’ll kill me?’ He smiles menacingly at Adrian, ‘what would your master say if he knew the full extent of your affection for her? Didn’t he ever tell you what usually happens when a vampire develops strong feelings for a mortal?’

‘No, but I’m guessing that you’re about to enlighten me.’

‘You get weak...’ he hisses, each word filled with poison and hatred, ‘you become more vulnerable, hellbent on keeping that person safe until, just when you think you have your feelings all under control, something will happen that’ll change that. You’ll grow paranoid; unsure that you have done everything that you can to protect them until...’ he sighs with little emotion, ‘well, until they meet their end.’

‘Huh...’ Adrian shrugs, his knuckles paling once more as his fingers tighten around the stake, ‘well, seeing as you won’t be around to witness what happens between Amy and I, I take comfort in letting you know that I really don’t care about how you feel on the matter.’

‘Spare me,’ he scoffs, ‘like I give a damn about you or that precious little mortal that you care so much about.’

‘Like I said before...my feelings towards her are no...concern...of yours.’

The man shakes his head in disappointment, his nose scrunching up as he glares at Adrian.

‘It’s not like it matters to me anyway; after all, her days are already numbered,’ he chuckles stoically, ‘if not by her association with you, then her natural ability already made her a target.’

Adrian’s eyebrows narrow as he closes in on the vampire, his hands clenching into fists.

‘What did you just say?’

‘He’s going to kill them,’ he spits with disdain, ‘he’s going to pin you down like the beast that you are and make you watch as he tears out her hea-’

Before Clarke has the chance to finish his sentence, Adrian plunges his fist into his chest. He holds it there for a moment, a loud gurgle escaping Clarke’s lips as he looks up at the elder vampire; his expression is darker than any he has ever seen, his crimson eyes boring into his as he speaks, his voice full of rage and venom.

‘That’s enough of you.’

With a flick of his wrist, he rips Clarke’s heart from his chest; the man’s body slumps onto the floor, his lifeless remains crumbling into ash before him.

Adrian glances down at the heart in his hand, its crimson hue staining the outer rims of his shirt before it crumbles to a smoky ash. He stands upright, the white dust seeping through his fingers as he tilts his palm downward, letting the dust fall to the ground like golden grains of sand; he stares down at the vampire’s remains, his expression conflicted.

‘For a second there I thought you weren’t going to go through with it.’

He turns his head in the direction of the voice, his scarlet eyes boring into the eyes of the figure as he emerges from the darkness; Jax stands adjacent to him, his hand wrapped tightly around the hilt of his katana as he slowly approaches the elder vampire, keeping himself at a safe distance.

‘I was beginning to think that I’d have to take care of him myself.’

Adrian sighs agitatedly, crouching down to retrieve the blade as it lay dormant in the pile of ash. ‘How long have you been standing there?’

‘Mmmm...’ Jax considers his answer for a moment, ‘I’d say I’ve been here long enough.’

Adrian turns the stake over in his palm, his brows narrowing as his concentration deepens. It isn’t long before his gaze softens, his eyes widening with fear as he focuses his attention on Jax, the darkness that once possessed him fading away at the mention of her name, his voice a beacon of concern and rage.

‘Is Amy alright?’

‘She’s fine,’ he scratches the back of his head, watching his companion with wary eyes, ‘she has a few bruises forming, but Kamilah said she’ll be okay.’

‘Thank god,’ he whispers to himself, his lips curling into a relieved smile, ‘Did Kamilah contact the Doctor?’

‘She’s with Amy now; all was okay when I left, and it seemed as though she was about to leave.’

‘And the baby?’

‘From what I’ve heard, yes. Amy doesn’t have to go into hospital, but we just need to keep an eye out for any changes; if she shows any signs of pain or discomfort.’ He pauses briefly, lowering his gaze to the begotten pile of ash, ‘did he tell you what you needed to know?’

‘Yes, he did,’ he walks towards Jax, subtly glancing over his shoulder at Clarke’s remnants, ‘but I don’t want you to say a word of this to the others;’ he gestures to the pile of dust as a strong gust of wind begins to take the ash in the direction of the current. ‘I don’t want Amy anymore upset than she already is.’

‘Really?’ He scoffs slightly, ‘I can’t possibly imagine this upsetting her.’

He meets Jax with an icy glare, his scarlet eyes fading back into their usual brown. An irritable moan escapes Adrian before he speaks, the tone of his voice somewhat unnerving.

‘If you still want your head attached to your body, Matsuo, I suggest that you quit with the sarcasm.’

‘Yes Sir.’

--------------------------------------------------------------

The pair make their way back to the building in companionable silence, neither one choosing to discuss the events of that evening. After a short while, they arrive at Adrian’s penthouse, their minds racing with thoughts of Gaius and the threat that he made to the lives of Amy and her child.

Kamilah perches on the edge of the couch, her expression one of concern as she looks at the mortal, whose arms have wrapped protectively around her abdomen.

‘Are you sure you’re alright?’ Kamilah questions, ‘you don’t feel any pain or...’

Amy shakes her head.

‘I’m okay, Kamilah, honestly,’ her fingers interlace with the threading of her sleeves, ‘if anything I’m just a little shaken up...’

‘That’s an understatement!’ Lily’s voice carries across the room as she ponders over to the pair, taking a seat beside her friend. She places a glass of water in Amy’s hand before continuing, her gaze fixated on her friend. ‘You were jumped by some pompous little twerp, of course you’re going to feel a bit shaky for a while...’ she runs her hand across Amy’s back, ‘but in all seriousness, how are you feeling?’

‘I...’

The elevator chimes, alerting the trio as they sit pensively in the room; they focus their attention on the doors as they slide open, signalling Adrian and Jax’s return. The duo enter the apartment, their eyes quickly assessing the wellbeing of those in the room before Adrian’s gaze falls on Amy; a thick marble throw is draped over her shoulders, her long balayage hair fixed neatly in a side plait as if to keep it from falling into her eyes. She meets him with a promising smile, his eyes never leaving hers as he begins to make his way towards her.

‘Amy...’

He takes another step forward, but is soon intercepted by Kamilah, her slender frame blocking his path to the mortal as she reduces the distance between them. She swiftly addresses him, her voice quiet and stern.

‘Did he talk?’

‘Yes,’ he pauses for a moment, looking over her shoulder at the mortal, ‘is...is Amy alright? What did the doctor say?’

‘Everything is fine, Adrian,’ she smiles reassuringly at him, ‘there’s nothing to worry about...’ she sighs despondently, her arms crossing as she swiftly changes the topic of the conversation back to their attacker.

‘What did he tell you?’

‘He didn’t say anything that is worthy of discussion,’ he removes his tie, placing it on a nearby counter, ‘just idle threats and tasteless comments.’

‘And where is he now?’

Adrian pauses for a moment, lowering his gaze briefly before glancing up to meet her eyes.

‘He won’t be bothering us anymore.’

‘Well I can see that.’

Adrian’s brows furrow in confusion.

‘I don’t follow...’

Kamilah lowers her hand, gesturing to his blood-stained sleeves. ‘I don’t know what happened between you and Clarke,’ she sighs defeatedly, ‘but I’d recommend cleaning your hands or changing your shirt before you go anywhere near Amy.’ She clenches her jaw, looking over her shoulder at the young woman; Jax now sits beside her, his hand placed reassuringly on her forearm as he tries to soothe her nerves with his words. ‘If you go over there covered in blood, she’s going to know that you killed him.’

---------------------------------------------

Once Adrian has ensured that any evidence of his encounter with Clarke is hidden, he approaches the mortal with caution, his expression sorrowful and guilt-ridden.

‘Amy?’

‘Hello,’ she whispers softly, her voice quiet and melodic, ‘I was beginning to wonder where you had disappeared to.’

He kneels down before her, reaching forward to take her hand in his. He brings her hand to his lips, pressing a gentle kiss to her palm before closing his hands around it. A warm smile graces her lips, but it isn’t long before her expression fades as she takes note of Adrian’s demeanour.

‘Adrian?’

He meets her with a weak smile, his sorrowful eyes filling her with concern as he continues to gaze upon her. He cups her cheek gently as he inclines his head towards her, resting his forehead against hers.

‘I’m so happy that you’re okay.’

She places her hand on top of his, squeezing it reassuringly. ‘Are you alright?’ She pauses for a moment, trying to process his fearfulness, ‘you look rather shaken up...’

‘I could say the same to you, my love,’ he leans in, pressing a gentle kiss to her cheek, ‘are you in any pain? Do you have any injuries?’

Amy giggles half-heartedly, ‘the only thing that’s hurt is my pride.’ She lowers her gaze to the floor, her loving smile soon returning, ‘that’s pretty battered, but I’m otherwise okay.’

‘What did the doctor say?’

‘She said that I shouldn’t have anything to worry about, but that I should call her if I have any pain or feel any discomfort.’

‘And...you’re alright now?’

Amy wraps her arms around his neck, resting her forehead against his once more before capturing his lips in a tender kiss.

‘Of course! Now that I know where you are...’

She lowers her gaze, her eyes suddenly focusing on the reddish hue that is evident on his clothing. She runs her hand across his arm, reaching for the sleeves of his shirt. However, before she has the chance to unravel the fabric, he takes her hand in his, squeezing it reassuringly.

‘You...you’re covered in blood...’

He follows her eyes, glancing down at his rolled-up sleeves. He rolls them up further, desperate to hide any signs of their altercation.

‘I must have bled more than I thought when he caught me,’ he reaches up to caress her cheek, meeting her with an adoring smile, ‘but I’m alright.’

‘Are...are you sure?’

He nods, placing his hands protectively on her abdomen. ‘Everything is fine, Amy; all that matters is that we’re all here in one piece.’

Her train of thought is suddenly disrupted by a shower of light illuminating the room. She turns her attention to the window, the dark city sky lit up with colourful hues as sparks of red, purple and green adorn the penthouse. She stands up, pondering over to the windowpane, her face pressed softly against the glass.

‘Was that a firework?’

‘I believe so,’ he smiles fondly at her, wrapping an arm carefully around her midsection. ‘I guess we got back just in time to see the show.’

They stand like that for a while, feeling security in the other’s embrace before Amy speaks, her head tilted back to rest on his shoulder as she watches the night sky.

‘Well, it wasn’t exactly the way I wanted to spend my 4th of July, but I have to admit that it ended well.’

‘I’m sorry about today...’ he places a soft kiss to her temple, ‘I should have been more vigilant...’ he shakes his head hesitantly, ‘none of this would have happened if I’d just followed Kamilah’s advice...’

‘Hey it’s okay,’ she looks up at him, ‘you weren’t to know what was going to happen, and everything turned out alright...’

‘But my carelessness got you hurt.’

She spins around to face him, her small arms encasing him in a warm hug. She nestles her face into his chest, her gaze fixated on the fireworks as they continue to blanket the city with colour.

‘You can’t blame yourself for what he chose to do.’

‘No?’

‘Nah...’ she closes her eyes, her lips curving into a tired smile, ‘you did all you could to keep me safe...if anything I’d say more.’ She inclines her head towards him, pressing her lips against his as she runs her hand across the bump. ‘We’re all okay and out of harms way, and I’ve already told you that the baby and I are alright...’

‘Well I can assure you that he won’t be able to hurt you again.’

‘What do you mean?’

His arms constrict around her once more, pulling her further into his warm embrace. ‘There’s no need for you to worry,’ he places a soft kiss to her cheek, resting his face in the crook of her neck, ‘it’s all over now...’

The pair remain like that for most of the evening, pressed against one another as they continue to watch the firework display from the sanctity of Adrian’s penthouse. They stand there in silence for a while before Adrian speaks, his voice no louder than a hushed whisper.

‘Amy?’

‘Yeah...’

‘Happy Independence Day.’

#choices: stories you play #playchoices #choices bb #adrian raines #adrian x mc #adrian x amy #choices july challenge #day 4 #prompt #independence day #kamilah sayeed #jax matsuo #lily spencer #long post

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jooheonspinky · 4 years

Text

The Truth Untold - 4

Image credit: Fake Love (BTS-Fake Love) BTS Comeback Show 180524

Part 4

Word count: 2.2K

I am afraid I am shattered I’m so afraid That you will leave me again in the end Once again I put on a mask and go to see you The only thing I can do In the garden In this world Is to bloom a pretty flower that resembles you And to breathe as the me that you know But I still want you I still want you So many weeks had passed, or better said months, since that evening when he had tasted Y/N’s lips. He missed her terribly. As much as he had tried to push her away, for her own safety, she had become a constant in his everyday life. Even as each day passed, his memory of her refused to fade making him feel empty, lost, and even more alone than he had ever felt in his life. Spring time was here now. The hardened soil, frozen from the blistering winter, was finally thawing out. The time to return to his garden had come and he was relieved. This would bring some respite to the turmoil that was inside his mind. It certainly would offer some time where his thoughts would be on what he was doing rather than on Y/N. He donned his cloak and mask then stepped out into the spring afternoon. He breathed deeply, inhaling the scent of grass and fresh rain. Dragonflies and bees buzzed around him and he felt the slightest shift inside him as his soul hummed, ready to get started. He pulled the cloth from atop his flowers and assessed all that was before him. Much had survived and that thrilled him. Finding his tools, he knelt down ready to begin his tending. The sun was low in the sky when he finally paused. It was then that he realized he was hungry. Thirsty, too. But both were soon forgotten when the familiar sound of hooves galloping met his ears. It was Y/N. He did his best to ignore the lurch he felt in his heart and the flutter that tickled his stomach. “You look well,” he managed to say in a steady tone as he approached her. “Thank you,” she smiled, though it was not the same smile she’d offer him in the past. It was a much dimmer smile, sad almost. “I never thought to see you again…” She kept the stone hedge between them, not climbing up to sit up on it like she used to. She didn’t reach for his hands like she tended to do when they talked. Instantly he knew this was not a casual visit. “I know you did not want me coming here anymore, but I thought it only fair to warn you.” “What happened?” He demanded, the words leaving his lips on a tired sigh. “And don’t leave anything out. Her lips thinned across her face and a rosy hue tinted her cheeks. While at first he thought her miffed, a deeper look in her eyes revealed something more. Fear. “There were men, armed men, at the market at noon time today. I heard them asking after a young man that lived alone and was known to wear a mask.” “Damn,” he cursed, fisting his hands. “J, they said you stole from a duke,” she whispered, leaning forward, as if there were others that could overhear. “They said you are in possession of his jeweled dagger, a family heirloom…These are some serious accus-“ “Yah!” he hollered, impatiently cutting her off. “Do you really believe I am capable of such an act?” He watched her eyes flit back and forth over his as if trying to decide and this angered him. “Go in then. I permit you to search my home. You shall never find it because I do not have it. Lies!” he spat and her eyes widened. “He will stop at nothing to get me. You need to go.” When she didn’t move, he shouted, “Now!” She jumped, cringing at his harshness. “I...just wanted to tell you one more thing.” She chewed her lower lip as she fiddled with her skirts. He said nothing, merely stared at her. “My uncle, he has found me a suitor. I will accept him to court me unless…” She let the words hang in the air. Jimin wanted to scream! She had a suitor? This was unfair. When would he be permitted happiness? He wanted her, didn’t want to lose her. But wasn’t that what he needed in order to keep her safe? Didn’t he have to let her go? This man would definitely be able to provide for her financially and certainly would not put her in any sort of danger. T’would be for the best. “Unless I stop you?” He finished for her. Scoffing, he added, “That will not happen. I have told you before we can never be. Now go. Be happy with him.” He turned then, dismissing her with those last words. He needed to push her away. He needed to hurt her so she would forget about him and move on. He heard the mare’s hooves pounding the earth as Y/N departed without another word. Letting out a shaking breath he rushed into his home. Time to push Y/N out of his mind. He needed to pack and get on the road as quickly as possible. He needed to put as much space between himself and this town before those armed men found him. The inevitable had happened. He knew he’d be found. This was what happened every few years. He lived in peace for a while. The mask helped conceal him for a time, but the moment always came when there was gossip of the masked man. This information would reach the duke and he would send his men swiftly to come see if he was the man the duke was in search of. He’d never been caught. There was always someone to warn him with time a plenty. He hoped tonight would be no different. Plenty of food and water, as well as a change of clothes and a dagger were tucked away in his saddle bags. He even plucked two Smeraldos. One he slipped into an envelope of one of his letters and slid it into a pocket within the folds of his cloak. The other he placed into a crevice in the stone hedge. The flower proudly stood upright. If Y/N ever returned, she would see the flower he’d left behind for her and perhaps she would understand that he did truly love her. He was in the midst of attaching a small wagon with his remaining belongings onto his horse when the thunderous rumble of multiple hooves jolted him upright. “Damn!” He cursed. He made the instant decision to leave the wagon. All that was replaceable. He swooped up onto his horse in a split second and darted off into the night. They were not too far from his heels. He’d been too lost in his thoughts to stay aware of his surroundings. Heart racing he knew, this time, he might possibly not get away. Even still, Jimin would not make it easy for them. Flattening himself along his horse’s neck, he urged the animal to move faster. They were reaching the tree line. As sweat trickled down his neck, his skin buzzed just sure that he would make it just as he always did. He would run as far as the animal would allow. Then he would ditch him and continue on foot, taking refuge where he could. Then he would buy passage to another… A woman’s scream had him halting his horse abruptly, shattering his thoughts. The beast skidded to a stop and Jimin forced it to turn around. Rearing up on its hind legs, the horse whinnied. Coming back down on all fours, Jimin growled. No! His hand instantly reached for his weapon. Squinting, he narrowed his eyes on a fierce looking man with thick, trunk like biceps. Clutched around the waist was Y/N, her eyes large with fear even as she squirmed trying to release herself from the man’s grip. Clicking his heels into the horse’s haunches, they shot forward towards the duke’s hired men. Would they truly hurt Y/N? Jimin had no doubt they surely would and that had a nervous sweat trickling down his back. Stopping a safe distance away, he called out. “Let her go! She has naught to do with this!” The man bellowed with laughter and his men joined in. He had eleven men with him. Jimin’s jaw clenched and unclenched as his mind tried to calculate a way out of this mess. He had been known to get away from many a man in the past. It appeared the duke had wizened up and sent many more this time around to assure his capture. “Do you truly think us foolish enough to believe that is truth you speak?” the man’s deep voice carried over to him. “No. The lady definitely is of import here.” “Just go, J!” she pleaded. “I shall be a’right. Just go. Get away!!” A lump formed in his throat. The fact that she tried to protect him even after he’d hurt and rejected her… How was she so brave when he was in pure terror for her life? “You know I will not do that,” he called back. “Aye, and we were counting on that very fact,” the burly man smirked. “Be a good lad and dismount. I want you to come over nice and easy. No tricks and your lady lives.” “Don’t,” she begged, tears gathering at her lash line. Whether the words were for him or the brute, Jimin wasn’t sure. He slid off the horse and began to walk forward. “Hands up!” came the order when he was half way between his own horse and Y/N. Jimin continued forward, fury bubbling up inside him. He could only see Y/N and those tears that twinkled like fiery diamonds in the torch’s light. He hated to see her cry and as usual, it was his fault. It was always because of him.

“Whoa there, son!” snarled the man. Bringing a small knife to Y/N’s throat swiftly, they both stopped as the tip pricked her skin drawing a small crimson bead.

“Ok, ok!” Jimin threw his hands up frantically. “Just do not hurt her!”

“There you go. Now drop the weapon.” He immediately did so. “Dustin, check for the duke’s property.”

“Aye, Galvin.”

“Rierden, bring him light.”

“Aye.”

The male nearest him on the right hopped off his horse and rushed over to Jimin. One holding a torch to Galvin’s left dropped down, walking speedily to hold the light up behind Dustin. Sword pointed at Jimin to ensure he didn’t attack, Dustin squatted down to grab the dagger that had embedded itself in the wet soil. With his back to everyone, Dustin tucked the weapon into his belt and pulled out another from his boot.

“Well?” Galvin demanded. “Is it the duke’s stolen dagger?”

“Aye, it is,” he called back, lifting up the replacement dagger.

The jeweled handle sparkled as the flame’s light bounced off of each gem. Jimin said naught. In order to keep her safe he had to play along. He hated the gasp that came from Y/N, though. She had believed him innocent, but how could she argue with the evidence presented here? “Bind him.” Dustin fastened his hands swiftly at the wrist in a few loops of rope. As he was guided to Dustin’s horse, Jimin whispered, “I am so sorry, Y/N.” She didn’t speak, but her tears did fall then. He refused to defend himself. Better she think him a thief and forget him, then pine over something that just could never be. Dustin helped Jimin mount his horse, before climbing up behind him.

“Well, little belle,” Galvin smacked a loud wet kiss at her temple. “A promise is a promise.”

Without warning he released his grasp on her and Y/N fell in a crumpled heap on the muddied ground beneath them.

“Y/N!” Jimin barked in alarm.

“Shut it!” Galvin growled as he walked his horse over to Dustin’s.

Without warning, Galvin fisted his hand and drove a powerful punch into Jimin’s masked face.

“No!” Y/N cried out.

Jimin’s chest heaved, incensed that he could not counter attack. The porcelain mask cracked up the left side of the mouth and nose, splitting apart and falling down at the horses hooves. He ducked his head to the side, even now, still refusing to allow Y/N to view his face. He felt a dampness on his cheek and knew the assault had cut his skin open, the blood slowly trickling down his face.

“Let’s ride!” Galvin shouted.

With a roar of triumphant cheers, the men smacked the reigns, signaling their animals to move. Scrambling a few paces away to avoid being trampled, Y/N had no choice but to watch on as Galvin and his posse ordered their steads forward, taking Jimin with them to whatever punishment lay waiting for him.

Jimin risked a look over his shoulder, his last image that of Y/N clutching his broken mask against her chest as she wept.

༻﹡﹡﹡﹡﹡﹡﹡༺

Thank you for stopping by. Part 4 coming up.

3 | 4 | 5

#bts chimchim #bts fanfic #BTS jimin #bts park jimin #bts writing #bts x reader

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rogsclogs · 5 years

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Some Day One Day (Brian May x Reader); part 9

tag list: @brighter-thanthe-sky @im-a-sheerheartattack @fruityfreddie @discodeacygotmorerhythm @killer-queen-xo @destiel-stucky4ever-loki-queen @alfinaldelarcoiriss @kazzish @warren-lauren

if anyone wants to be added to the tag list please message me!

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8

feedback is always welcomed :) enjoy!

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Brian had fucked up. Real bad. And he knew that from the beginning but his deepest fears were confirmed when one day, roughly a week after his argument with Y/N, he had come home to find all her stuff gone. She had left nothing there that could help him find comfort on the lonely cold nights that followed those events, not a scarf, not a shirt and not a sock. The only thing she had left was a pack full of candy for Emily, because after all she loved the little girl and didn't want to leave for good without properly saying goodbye to her, she deserved somewhat of an explanation, so she had come to pick all her stuff up on a day when she knew Brian had most likely left her home alone while he went grocery shopping for the week. She had walked in using the spare key Brian had left under the mat for her in hopes that she’d be back soon, and immediately felt Emily’s tiny arms wrap around her left leg making her heart grow three times its size.

“Y/N, you’re back! Where were you? I wanted to play princesses with you but daddy didn't tell me where you were”“I know baby girl, but that’s just because I didn't tell daddy where I was either! You see, we’re playing hide and seek so I couldn’t really tell him, but I’ve come back here to let you know about that and to bring you some candy so you don't forget about me in case I have to hide for a long time”.How do you tell a five year old child what really happened? How do you explain sadness, regret and heartbreak to such an innocent creature? Emily didn't deserve to know that there were awful things and awful feelings in the outside world, Y/N tried her best to hide it from her. She brought a lollipop, a teddybear and the largest sized bag of candy she could find, grabbed all her stuff in a hurry and left her spare key on the kitchen counter for Brian to find, then closed the entry door behind her back one last time, saying goodbye to a wide eyed Emily who still thought she’d be seeing her again soon.Brian hated the hopeful look on his daughter’s face whenever Y/N was brought up, but he knew it was entirely his fault if they were in such a bad place and it wasn't his place to be mad, angry or upset about it.

He still saw Y/N every day at school, she tried to hide but wasn't very successful.She had switched desk with one of her classmates so she could sit at the back of the room and not have to stare directly into Brian’s eyes, and she made sure to never be the last one to leave the room so he couldn't try and talk to her.It broke his heart to see her become more and more distant by the day, he kept trying to tell himself that it was for the best and that she deserved much more than he could have ever given her, but the truth was that he had seriously considered quitting his job to be with her, so he didn't know if he would ever be able to move on.Emily had told him about the hide and seek thing that Y/N had made up and although it shattered him to know Y/N didn't want him to know where she was, every day he would tell his baby girl that he was getting close to finding her for good and that soon she would be back home with them. It was painful to lie to his kid, but he was hoping she would eventually forget and not ask any more questions, what else was he supposed to do after all? No matter what had happened between the two of them, Brian was dying to know where Y/N was staying and if she was okay, he doubted that she would be back with her parents after all they had done to tear her down, but then again where else could she be? At one of her friends’ place? Was she safe? Was she eating and drinking enough?He knew he had no right to be wondering about her whereabouts, but he still tried to find clues that would let him know a bit more about her situation. He just wanted to know she was doing okay.

Y/N, on the other hand, was not doing okay at all. She had been couch surfing from one place to the other, not wanting anything to do with her parents anymore. Thankfully she had a lot of friends in college, who all offered her the best they could, but she still felt that something was missing from her life and she blamed herself for it every day. Had she not been as pushy with Brian she would still spend her nights lying in his arms and kissing his bare torso lovingly. She even had dreams about it. She dreamt of long nights spent taking each other in, making love until the morning light and taking small breaks in between to talk about life and the universe. That's all she wanted. The only thing keeping her from making those dreams her reality again was partially her own pride and unwillingness to admit that she was also to blame, and partially the fact that she thought Brian was mad at her and wanted nothing more to do with her. She couldn't have been more wrong, of course. Every single day he would wait fifteen minutes after the end of his lesson to leave the classroom, in hopes that Y/N would burst back in and finally talk to him. He didn't know what else he could have done, she was unreachable and he was helpless, so he just waited for her. And he waited some more.

He waited until the day his class could finally retake the exam they’d all been waiting for, on a very humid June morning, at around 9 am. He knew there was no more hope after that, she would move on and he would have to pretend he did too.It had been two months, eight days and ten hours since he’d last spoken to her and he felt himself go crazy without her by his side. Nevertheless, he had to be professional on such a day, he couldn't let his thoughts carry him back to where she was sitting, even though he lingered around her for as long as possible as he handed out the test.He was of course hoping for the best for her, he wanted to see her succeed and be proud of herself and the strong woman she had become, but he couldn't help but think about all the time they had wasted being away from each other when he could have helped her more with her school work. He felt like such an asshole, letting her go when she needed him the most. All he could do was hope that what they had done was enough this time around.He could tell that Y/N had not slept in a while, which was bad and he’d told her about it a million times, but he didn't have much time to think thongs through before the test began.

The students had a little more than an hour to go over thirty questions. Brian had personally been previously selected to go over the test before it was given out to the students to make sure it was all correct and reasonably doable for their standards, so he knew very well what they were dealing with, he remembered most of the questions almost by heart. He knew from the very first moment that Y/N was doing better than last time, the determined look on her face was a huge relief for him considering how worried he’d been about her mental, physical and emotional health in the past few weeks, but he still decided to keep an eye on her for the whole time, just to make sure everything ran smoothly. And for the most part, it seemed to him that everything did run smoothly, at least until the moment he noticed her suddenly stop writing for quite some time, and he got worried all over again. Brian didn't know quite how to handle the situation, he felt it in his bones that she was struggling and he wanted to help, but how was he supposed to do that without raising suspicions or getting caught? He started walking around the classroom with his hands behind his back like he normally would and as he did that he realized that no one was really paying attention to whatever it was he was doing, after all they were way too busy focusing on their test to really give a damn about what their professor did, so he kept walking until he reached Y/N’s desk.

He knew he had to be quick, so he glanced over to her sheet to figure out where she was stuck and saw that it was the last exercise of the bunch, specifically the third point of the last exercise which required to calculate the values of two variables in an equation for an ellipse that was pictured. Easy enough, at least for him. Y/N could feel him stare at her paper and she couldn’t really make a scene in the classroom so she kept silent, but she felt extremely self conscious. What was he trying to do? Make fun of her for not knowing the formula and getting it wrong once again? Was he going to use that against her in any way? Why would he? But then again, why wouldn’t he, after all she had been quite mean to him and he had every reason to be pissed. Brian walked around some more then headed right back to the big front desk where he was supposed to sit for the entirety of the test as Y/N kept her eyes fixated on him, wondering what the hell was going on in his head. He took out pen and paper and wrote down a little something to help his girl out. Morally speaking he felt quite bad doing that, but he just couldn't have her fail again and he felt that after the way he had behaved with her, she deserved his aid. Fuck the test, fuck the system, fuck everything other than his girl, she was all that mattered to him, it was about time for him to prove it.

X squared over 1 squared, plus Y squared over 3 squared equal 1. That was the last answer she needed to get the test over and done with and Y/N found it written on a tiny piece of paper that Brian had ‘accidentally’ dropped on her desk as he walked around the class once more, pretending to make sure that everyone was doing alright when he really couldn't have cared less. As she wrote the answer on her sheet she almost felt like crying from relief and couldn't believe Brian had actually done something like that for her. Her heart swelled with love for the man, she had no doubts anymore.

#Some Day One Day #Brian May #Brian May x reader #brian may imagine #imagine #queen fandom #queen fic #queen x reader #queen imagines #queen #borhap #bohemian rhapsody #writer #fanfiction #borhap imagine #queen fans #borhap fandom #borhap fanfic

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jinterlude · 6 years

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Fight for Me (Final Chapter)

↳Story Header © @softjeon (do not steal this header!)

➵ Pairing: Kim Seokjin x Female OC (feat. Kwon Ji Yong)

➵ Genre(s): Historic!AU, Medieval!AU ,Royalty!AU, Knight!AU, Romance, SMUT, Humor, & Angst

➵ Words: 5.8K

➵ Summary: Once upon a time, there was a not-so-traditional kingdom. In that kingdom, the royal family had the freedom of marrying whoever his or her royal highness deems worthy. Now, of course, having that special privilege came with some interesting challenges, but that doesn’t stop a certain head-strong princess from doing whatever her heart’s desire, especially when she has her heart set on marrying her personal bodyguard. Unfortunately, her beliefs might face some hardships when a certain king sets his eye on her. Will her bodyguard continue to fight for her or is it finally her turn?

※ Previously: ch.1 | ch.2 | ch.3 | ch.4 | ch.5 | ch.6

※ Next Time: The Sequel: Our Second Chance

Final Chapter: So, the Princess & Her Knight…

Previously

Seokjin heard Sumin’s sporadic breathing and pulled her into a loving embrace. He rested his chin on top of her head and uttered words of love and comfort.

“I do not want to marry that horrid King Ji Yong. I will not!” Sumin declared, alerting Seokjin.

Upon hearing his name, Seokjin’s body immediately tensed, and a sudden wave of fury engulfed his body. That evil king would not leave his princess alone, and Seokjin had grown tired of him.

“Sumin, what are you talking about?” Seokjin inquired, glancing down at her.

Sumin remained silent, unsure if she should finally tell him the truth.

After quickly debating, Sumin opened her mouth and said,

“It is King Ji Yong… he…”

Seokjin eyed Sumin eagerly, wanting to know what that devilish king had done to her. He rested a loving hand on her shoulder, while the other hand rubbed her arm gently.

Encouraging words left his lips in whispers as he patiently waited for her to start talking.

Sumin inhaled, then exhaled. She repeated the process until the horrible anxiety left her tummy.

With one last breath, she mustered enough courage and looked in her knight’s eyes.

“As I said earlier, it is King Ji Yong. He had been sending me rather concerning letters, and they were always accompanied with red rose…” Sumin trailed on, trying to find the right words to say next. The last thing she wanted was to trigger her lover.

Seokjin sighed deeply as his eyes slowly closed. He calmed his sporadic breathing while the anger slowly took control. No. Sumin did not deserve to be on the receiving end of his wrath. If anyone deserved the consequences of his fury, it was that stupid king that had yet to realize that Sumin was his.

“Do you have any of those letters? May I see them?” requested Seokjin, wanting to know the severity of these “love” letters.

Sumin nearly choked. A nervous smile graced her lips followed by a few forced chuckles. Boy…how was she going to tell him that she had her dear nurse burn them? Would he think she was hiding something from him? Wait…scratch that… she technically did hide something from him.

Damn it…

“Um… about that, my love… you see… I…um…” Sumin paused, fiddling with her engagement ring that hung nicely from the silver chain around her neck, “I may have had my…um… nurse burn them because I did not want to worry you, my beloved.” She finished, feeling a tiny weight lift off her shoulders. She no longer had to hide this terrible secret from him.

Seokjin nodded slowly; his facial expression was practically unreadable. Uh-oh. That was never a good sign with him.

Sumin’s lips trembled as if she was on the verge of tears. Correction, she was already crying. Her chest tightened as the thought of losing Seokjin frightened her to know end.

“I am so sorry for lying to you, Seokjin. I was honestly terrified of the thought of me marrying someone who is not you, and the more I dwell on that horrid idea, the more I fear that it will come true,” A choked like sob escaped her lips, “I will not marry that cold, calculating King Ji Yong. I do not love him, nor will I ever love him.” Sumin firmly declared as tears continued to cascade down her cheeks.

Seokjin’s eyes flickered from concern to this sense of pride. He instantly captured her lips, not caring if his cheeks became stained with her tears. His heart soared from hearing your declaration.

Slowly, he pulled away from his princess; a warm smile graced his lips as he did.

With nothing but pure love in his eyes, Seokjin stared at Sumin as his thumb gently caressed her cheek.

“It will be okay princess,” He began, placing a soft kiss on her forehead, “As long as you wear that ring around your neck, I am not going anywhere. You and I will wed, and that is final. Nothing and no one will get in the way of that. I promise you.” Seokjin declared as he gently lifted both of her hands and kissed her knuckles softly.

Sumin looked at up with shaky eyes. Her heart warmed after his hearing his promise, however, in the back of her mind, she knew that it was worthless.

“Do not make promises you cannot keep…” She whispered as she eyed the stone walkway with nothing but utter sadness.

A depressed sigh escaped his lips as Seokjin felt his heart break just a bit. Sumin lacked faith in them right now, and it deeply hurt him. At the same time, he understood why she felt that way. With a pending battle happening a lot sooner than they had hoped, anything could happen to him. Hell, he might not even come back alive. Just the mere thought of him lying on the cold ground—lifeless—terrified them both, especially Sumin. She could not bear the thought of living on a world where her one true love was no longer present.

She was already losing her father, and she would be damned if she lost her childhood sweetheart as well.

If she could, she would ride into battle herself and end the war. No need to send her beloved to the bloody warzone…

Out of the corner of his eye, Seokjin noticed a familiar, scheming gleam in his princess’s eyes. He knew that she’s toying with the idea of fighting in place of her father, but with his good conscious, Seokjin could not allow that.

Placing both his index and middle fingers under her chin, Seokjin titled her head slightly. Their eyes met. Love glazed over them as they remained still. Their hearts beat as one as the sounds of waves crashing entered their ears. The soft ocean breeze brushed past their bodies. Little by little the gap between their lips closed. Then, in just one kiss, they poured their entire love…admiration…longing that had been building since they were mere children.

Seokjin pulled Sumin closer, wanting nothing more to keep her close, as they continued to kiss. Sumin cupped Seokjin’s face as she feared that he would disappear if she didn’t keep a firm hold on him.

After what seemed like forever, the lovers pulled apart yet remained holding each other.

With a loving smile, Sumin asked,

“Could you accompany me back to my chambers, especially since we must part ways tomorrow at dawn.” A short yet soft scoff left his lips as Seokjin smiled warmly at his woman.

“You never have to ask me to stay the night since I will always say yes.” He replied, placing a sweet kiss on her cheek.

Sumin smiled brightly and intertwined their hands.

“Well, shall we go to sleep, my love?”

In a blink of an eye, the moon had faded behind the mountains, and the sun took its place high in the sky. Sounds of birds singing their mating tune entered Sumin’s room. Tiny streaks of sunlight penetrated her ivory laced curtains, creating beautiful shadow patterns on the cold floors, walls, and even her blankets.

A faint groan was heard as the tired princess turned over, hoping to cuddle with her dear knight some more. Her arm landed on a soft padding rather semi-hard flesh. Sumin pried one eye open and then the other immediately shot open. She quickly sat up and frantically searched for her Seokjin. Though, deep down, she knew that he had already left in the early hours of the morning.

Her eyes sadly trailed down as tiny tears formed. She wanted to bid a fond farewell and send him off with a sweet kiss. Maybe even had given him a token to remind him what and who he was fighting for.

Maybe it was for the best that he had left while she slumbered…

Out of the corner of her eye, she had noticed a faint blob of yellow. Sumin instantly turned towards the right, the side where Seokjin had slept peacefully since the day they had become lovers and saw a yellow rose on top of a letter.

A gentle smile slowly appeared on her face as she picked up the rose. She held the flower up to her nostrils and inhaled its sweet scent. It was just like her knight to remember that she had grown fond of yellow roses. A special fact that Ji Yong would never understand.

After taking in the flowers scent for a few more minutes, Sumin finally lowered the flower. She then picked up the note and unfolded it.

Her eyes widened. Her brows furrowed. She scanned the graciously written content and with each word, tears formed.

“My darling. My love. The keeper of my heart. The one and only princess for me. By the time you are reading this letter, I have already left for the battlefield with the support of our kingdom. I could not bear the thought of waking you up from your precious slumber and bidding you a fond farewell in person. It honestly took all of my strength to remove my arm from your precious waist. If I had the opportunity, I would gladly stay by your side and enjoy your smiles. Your laughter. How your eyes light up whenever you are around me… Unfortunately, the Holy Father had other plans for me… I have but one request of you, my darling Sumin… Please do not shed any tears for me. I will return from the battlefield victorious, and you and I will be wedded. Until then, every time you feel the wind fan your face, think of its as my love. I had asked the Gods of nature to receive my love and carry it to you. I love you so much.

Forever yours,

Seokjin.”

Tears streamed down her rosy cheeks the second she read the last line of Seokjin’s letter. He loved her so much that he didn’t want to wake her up. He wanted to remember her with no tear stains, so that’s how she was going to honor his wish.

No more tears shall be shed. Only her endless amount of love would remain to be shown.

She would put on a brave face and hold down the castle. That way, there would be a castle for her beloved to return to.

With a determined smile, Sumin practically jumped out of bed and called for a servant. She sat down in front of her mirror and picked up her sapphire encrusted hairbrush. She smoothed away her atrocious bed hair.

As she was brushing her hair, the servant rushed inside her chambers. He quickly bowed and asked what he was needed for.

“I am in dire need to send Seokjin a letter. Pray tell me, where would he be stationed at?” Sumin told the servant, asking where her knight is stationed on.

The servant’s eyes widened, but he soon composed himself.

“Sir Seokjin is currently at the mountain pass. Shall I fetch you a messenger?” He asked, ready to anything and everything to make the princess pleased with him.

Sumin shook her head as she stood up from her vanity mirror.

“I will go to my father’s study and write him a letter instead. I am sure my love would rather have a written reply rather than some man relaying it,” She bowed her head, “Thank you, though. You may go now.” She said, politely dismissing the castle worker.

The servant quickly muttered, “Yes, your highness.”, before exiting her chambers.

Sumin waited to hear the door shut before dashing towards her wardrobe. She swiftly picked a pastel blue dress with a diamond accent detail. The diamonds were shaped as snowflakes that decorated the outer white laced skirt.

She paired the dress with navy blue heels and went for the simpler sapphire and diamond crown. She placed the crown gently on top of her head as she walked out of her bedroom, ready to write the first of many letters for one true love…

Minutes had turned into hours, hours had turned into days and just like that, days had turned into weeks.

Those long weeks without seeing her knight had been the most excruciating for Princess Sumin. However, each time she received a letter from Seokjin, it made those lonely nights bearable—especially since they were always accompanied with a yellow rose.

Each time she smelled the sweet perfume of the rose, a warm smile graced her lips. Her heart warmed at the thought of feeling his love with each word he wrote in the letters.

God, how she missed him…

Currently reading yet another of Seokjin’s letter as she inhaled the hypnotic scent that the flower had to offer, Sumin’s thoughts had been interrupted when a castle worker stormed inside her room; his breath heavy and sporadic.

“Yes?” Sumin politely questioned the young man.

The worker quickly bowed his head in respect before speaking,

“Your highness. My deepest apologies for the intrusion, but I have come here to announce that King Ji Yong shall be arriving soon.”

With just one little announcement, Sumin’s world came crashing down. What…no…why was that horrid king coming to visit? He had no reason to come…unless…he had found out about her father’s worsening condition. No. There was no way because each castle worker had been sworn to secrecy. No one would dare to defy the royal family’s orders, so why had he come then?

Unless…

He had come for her hand in marriage—again. Could he not leave an engaged woman alone?

Few seconds went by and nothing, but the ocean breeze was heard. Then, with a dignified smile, Sumin turned around and thanked the worker for his message. She then dismissed him, telling him to carry on with his duties. The worker smiled politely, bowed his head, and exited the room.

“Alright, you annoying pest. Why are you in my kingdom?” Sumin muttered to herself as she walked to the one place she had been lingering around for the past few weeks.

Meanwhile, with King Ji Yong, his carriage had just pulled up at the entrance. He peeked through the curtains with a scheming smirk. His plan would officially commence. His plan of having the dear Princess Sumin standing with him at the altar.

“How dare that lowly, pathetic knight propose to my wife…” King Ji Yong thought bitterly as he roughly closed the curtains. He leaned back in his seat, rubbing his chin as he thought about the idea of marriage with Sumin. He would have her one way or another. At this rate, he could care less if she married him while sobbing. She would be his wife—the mother of his children…

Stepping out of the carriage, King Ji Yong quickly ordered his driver to go wait for him somewhere else. The driver nodded and took off with the carriage. King Ji Yong then began to walk towards the courtyard as he scanned the area for someone—anyone. Luckily, he managed to find someone and with an intimidating stare, he asked the poor worker where the princess was at. Out of fear, the worker quickly said that the princess was in her father’s study and pointed in the direction of the room.

King Ji Yong smirked in response and thanked the servant for his assistant.

“I am coming for you, my lovely princess…”

Now holed in her father’s study, Sumin dipped her quill in the ink jar and continued to write out intimate details to her love. She wrote how she longed for his touch. How she longed for his sweet kisses. In short, how she longed for him to be her side.

A smile of content formed on her lips as Sumin signed her name on the bottom of the parchment. She blew lightly on the ink, making sure it was dry before folding it up. As a little gift for her knight, she pressed her lips onto the parchment. She pulled away satisfied with the lip stain that displayed near her name. Seokjin would love that.

Just as she poured a bit of hot wax onto the letter, a light knock entered her ears. Her brows raised. Her chest heaved. Something in the pit of her stomach told her that it was the one person she absolutely did not want to see that stood on the other side of the door.

Sumin rolled her eyes before mustering a diplomatic smile and said, “Enter.”

Not even seconds later, King Ji Yong strolled in and closed the door behind him. Sumin raised her brow, finding his actions rather odd.

“King Ji Yong, to what do I owe the pleasure of your presence in my kingdom?” asked Sumin as she bowed her head in respect.

King Ji Yong smirked, drinking in her splendid appearance. Sumin would forever be his most prized possession.

“Oh, I thought I should pay you visit since I have desperately missed you.” He replied as he walked over to her and lifted her chin. He wanted their eyes to meet.

Sumin fought the urge to vomit right and there. She despised his touch on her precious skin. Her sacred body would forever be reserved for Seokjin only.

“Your majesty, I appreciate your sweet words but do refrain yourself from using them as I am now an engaged woman.” Sumin confessed; her eyes flickered with triumph.

However, that sudden announcement did not waiver the scheming king. If anything, it made him more determined to make sure that his plan succeeded.

King Ji Yong nodded his head slowly. He took one step, then another until the gap closed between them.

Sumin felt vulnerable. She felt like a prey being backed into a corner by its predator. Every time he took a step, she took a step back until she felt her back hit the edge of the desk. Her hands gripped the corners, ready to pick up anything that she could stab this man with. She could care less of the consequences right now. She was willing to kill this king if it meant not only her safety, but the entire kingdom’s as well—especially Seokjin’s. She would go to war for that man, and it seemed like she was about to.

“Oh yes… I have heard that your fiancé is fighting in your father’s place. You know…” He began clicking his tongue in a condescending manner, “It is quite a pity that he is battling enemies that I have paid quite a sum to rage war against your people…” He confessed, smirking evilly.

In that moment, Sumin felt as if someone knocked the air right out of here. Had she heard him, right? Had he truly stooped so low to have paid a hefty sum just to rage war on her kingdom?

“Y-you what…?” Sumin questioned, stumbling over her words.

King Ji Yong merely smirked in response, “You see, my dear princess,” He stood in front her, trapping her between him and the desk, “I am quite a jealous man, and the moment I have set my eyes on you, I knew you were the wife for me.” He declared with an evil smirk.

Sumin practically snarled at the man. Her eyes narrowed, almost becoming slits. She was officially done with this rude king.

“I will never be your wife, so as long as Seokjin continues to fight for his life and for my people.” She said, practically spitting in his face.

A soft scoff escaped his lips as King Ji Yong created a bit of space between them.

“Well, it would be quite hard to fight for your people if he is captured by the enemy and is currently waiting for his execution.” He confessed, taunting the fiery spirted princess.

Now, it felt like someone stabbed her in the heart.

“His what?” She said softly; her voice practically a whisper.

“You heard me…” King Jiyong remained smirking.

No.

He was safe. He had to be safe.

As if someone pulled the rug underneath her feet, Sumin collapsed onto the fall; her sobs became uncontrollable. Her heart pounded against her chase as it broke little by little.

King Ji Yong had to be lying. He was cruel, deceitful, and dishonorable. No. She refused to believe anything that came out his mouth.

“You’re lying. He had been sending me letter practically every single day. There is no possible way that he could have been captured by my father’s enemies. No. I refuse to believe your petty lies.” Sumin said as she tried her hardest to calm herself.

King Ji Yong clicked his tongue yet again and looked at the princess with “sympathetic” eyes.

“If only they were indeed lies,” He then gestured towards the desk, “Look at the date at your knight’s latest letter. I am almost certain that it had been weeks since he had sent that, correct?” He finished, hiding the calculating grin that threatened to form.

Sumin stared at him before scrambling up and fetching his letter. Her hands hurriedly grabbed the piece of parchment paper. Her eyes homed in on the date written in the top left corner.

Shit.

That stupid kind had been right. The day he wrote it and the day she had received it, it was indeed a few weeks later.

Nope.

This was not going to happen. She had meant what she said about going to war for Seokjin. It seemed like the time had come. Time to draw her father’s sword and fight for her man.

“Guards!!” She shouted.

“What are you doing, princess?” King Ji Yong inquired, raising his brow.

Sumin glared coldly at the man and ignored his question.

“Guards!” She yelled once more. Seconds later, two guards rushed inside the office and bowed their heads and respect.

“Yes, Princess Sumin.” They answered.

“Ready my horse and tell the nurse to prepare my riding outfit.” She ordered as the anger surged through her veins.

“Yes, Princess Sumin.” They replied before hurrying out of the office.

“Again, what are you doing, Princess Sumin?” King Ji Yong asked with a bored expression.

Sumin sighed loudly, completely fed up with the annoying man.

“If you must know, I plan to draw my father’s sword, ride into enemy lines, and fight for my knight. Now, if you kindly do not mind, I will take my leave.” She stated, announcing her plans.

King Ji Yong stared at her with an amused expression. He mentally counted down from ten, allowing her to finish her little dramatic act. Then, just as she reached the iron door handle, he spoke.

“I actually do not mind since anyone with ears can tell you that your idea is terrible.”

Sumin scoffed and turned around; her body now faced him. She crossed her arms over her chest and gave him an impatient look, wanting him to continue with whatever he has to say.

“Your idea is rather horrid since there is no way those ruthless generals would ever listen to a mere princess…” He trailed on, pausing for effect, “But…”

“But?”

“But they would listen to a queen.” King Ji Yong finished with a devilish smirk.

Sumin’s eyes widened. Confusion painted on her face.

“Marry me, Princess Sumin and with a snap of my finger, the war will be over. Say yes to being my queen, and your precious Seokjin will return home unharmed.” King Ji Yong said, staring her down.

Sumin panted; she felt this unspeakable heavy burden crush her shoulders. Her heart raced as her palms became clammy. Tears began to fill the brim of her eyes. Too many thoughts flooded her mind. She questioned her morals but soon dismissed every single one of them. At the end of the day, she would do everything and anything to ensure the safety of her kingdom and the people that inhabited the land. Yes. She knew what must be done.

She met the cold King’s gaze and walked towards him. Taking one final deep breath, Sumin said,

“Okay…”

King Ji Yong’s brow perked up as an intrigued smirk appeared on his face. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer; the possessiveness in his stare was ever so visible.

“You made a wise decision,” He pressed his lips against her temple, “I promise that I will call of the war first thing tomorrow morning.” He whispered “sweetly” in her ear.

Sumin’s breath hitched as she forced a smile at her new fiancé.

“Please forgive me my love…” She thought sadly as Seokjin’s handsome face flashed once in her mind.

Few days later, in a camp zone filled with many tents, horses, and men practicing their swordsmanship, Seokjin studied the battle map once more. His body had little to no wounds, and he was safe. Unknown to Sumin, King Ji Yong had lied about Seokjin’s wellbeing. He was never captured by the enemy and awaited his execution. No. He spun the truth. In fact, it was actually the enemy general that was captured by Seokjin’s men and brought for trial. The enemy had been tried for treason against Sumin’s kingdom and was sentenced to death.

Too absorbed in the map’s details, Seokjin muttered different plans of attack to himself, wondering which route he should take. Suddenly, a loud wave of cheers was heard. His curiosity had gotten the best of him, and Seokjin walked out of his tent.

The moment he stepped outside, Seokjin instantly saw bright smiles and tears of joy spilled out of his men.

Now, he became even more confused.

Seokjin quickly grabbed one of his soldiers and demanded that he tell him what was going on.

“The war, sir. It is finished.” The solider announced with a bright smile.

Seokjin raised his brow, “What do you mean that the war is over?” He asked.

“One of the other enemy generals has offered his unconditional surrender. Then, eventually, the rest of them followed suit. The war is over, my lord.” The soldier happily explained before running over to his friends to celebrate some more.

Seokjin scoffed softly yet a smile of relief graced his face. The battle was over, and that meant that he was allowed to go home—to go back to Sumin.

Yet, something in the back of his mind would not leave him alone. While he was overjoyed with the battle being over, something told him that this war should not have ended easily. This bloody battle should not have ended in less than a month…

Then, realization struck him. This had the work of that evil King Ji Yong written all over it.

Seokjin dashed towards his horse and swiftly rushed back to the kingdom, silently praying that he was not too late. From where he had been stationed at, it would take him a little over two days to get back to Sumin’s kingdom, however, instead of allowing that to fill his heart with anxiety, he instead used it fuel his adrenaline—his determination—and increased the speed of his horse. He had to get back to his princess—his one true love…

Meanwhile, with Sumin, she stared blankly at her reflection; this emotionless wave washed over her eyes. She looked dead. She felt dead to be honest. Both on the inside and on the outside. She was about to marry someone she did not love nor; would she ever love.

She felt her hair being pulled in different directions. She watched her maids pin every curl into different spots until they were satisfied with how their princess looked. Her hair had been decorated with diamonds, that were shaped as flowers. Her crown rested nicely on top of her hand while her lacey veil shielded her face.

“P-princess… it is time to put on your dress.” Sumin heard one of her maids announce.

Sumin turned away from the mirror and forced a smile. While they were busy preparing her hair and makeup, Sumin had heard them sniffling and taking deeps breaths. Her maids, especially her nurse, hated seeing their beloved princess looking so dead. Their hearts ached for Sumin as they desperately wished that they could do something to stop this wedding. They always dreamt of helping their princess get ready for her wedding, but in their minds, the wedding was for her and Seokjin. Not her and King Ji Yong.

“Princess permit me to speak.” The nurse asked as she guided Sumin towards her dress.

Sumin hummed in response, allowing the nurse to speak her mind.

“It breaks my heart to see you this way. I pray to the Holy Father that he will put a stop to this ceremony. You do not deserve to marry such a despicable man.” The nurse said; her eyes dripped with concern.

Sumin’s lips trembled before she bit her bottom lip. She was doing a great job at not breaking down and sobbing. She was not going to start now. She had to remain strong for everyone dear in her life.

She smiles softly and places a warm hand on the nurse’s cheek.

“Everything will be okay…” She said softly, maintaining her smile.

The nurse sniffled. Tears filled the brims of her eyes.

Naturally, Sumin too began to tear up. However, she wiped them away before it could ruin her makeup. She then reminded herself that she was doing this for Seokjin’s safety. Once this was all over, Seokjin would be safe and back in the kingdom.

“He will forgive you, Sumin. He will…” She thought while she felt a few of the maids lace up the corset.

One of the maids then instructed that she stepped inside her wedding skirt. Sumin obediently followed their directions until her body had been completely covered by the ceremonial gown.

Sumin slowly turned around and faced the mirror. Her eyes observed her reflection. All this time, she had pictured herself in this dress for her marriage to Seokjin. A part of her wished that she had picked out a different dress for her marriage to King Ji Yong, but it was too late.

Time was something that was never on her side. What would make her wedding day any different?

The nurse and maids bowed their head in respect, not wanting Sumin to see them crying.

“Is the carriage ready? I am ready to embark on this journey to wifehood.” Sumin muttered, staring at the floor sadly.

The nurse nodded and escorted her out of the room.

Outside was King Ji Yong’s knights, ready to escort the princess to the church. King Ji Yong had ordered them to make sure that Sumin would not try any funny business or run, leaving him at the altar. He was only minutes away from having Sumin as his bride. Nothing and no one would stop him now…

After what seemed like forever, Seokjin had finally arrived back to the kingdom. He practically hopped off his horse and dashed inside the castle grounds. His eyes hurriedly scanned, hoping to find anyone who would know the whereabouts of the princess. He began to lose hope as nobody was seen in the courtyard.

Luckily, his eye homed in on a familiar face. Princess Sumin’s dear and beloved nurse.

“Nurse!” Seokjin hollered as he ran up to her.

The nurse’s eyes widened. A look of shocked washed over her face as she slowly became confused. What was Sumin’s knight doing here?

“Sir Seokjin?!” The nurse shouted back as she looked over the knight’s body, hoping to find any signs of being tortured. “You are alive and well? But? How is that possible?” She questioned.

Seokjin’s brows furrowed, “Of course, I am alive. Whatever that horrid King Ji Yong has said, it is nothing but lies. Now, tell me, where is Sumin? I must show her that I am alive and safe.” He demanded, panting.

The nurse stared at him with sympathetic eyes.

“I am sorry, Seokjin, but the princess is on her way to the church. She might be even already there.” She explained, fearing that all hope was lost.

However, Seokjin refused to admit defeat. He was ready to fight King Ji Yong if he had to.

He quickly uttered a “thanks” before rushing back to his horse and riding towards the church.

“Do not marry him, Sumin. Just hold on…” He anxiously thought.

With the church in his sight, Seokjin increased the speed of his horse. His heart raced with both anxiety and adrenaline as the church steps appeared in front of him. He then pulled on the reins and halted his horse’s steps.

Seokjin jumped off his horse and ran up the stairs. He pushed open the church doors and unfortunately, his heart shattered into a million of pieces. He froze in his place as his eyes widened. His fingers trembled as his breathing became sporadic.

There he stood, watching the love of his life kiss someone else. King Ji Yong had won. He had won his princess’s hand in marriage. That son of a bitch…

“I present you their royal majesties, King Ji Yong and his Queen Sumin.” The priest announced; though, he tried his best to sound happy. He saw Sumin’s body language, and it screamed at him to put a stop to the ceremony. Now, the priest would live with this guilt for the rest of his life.

Seokjin’s mind screamed at him to leave the church, but for some reason his feet refused to listen to him.

Suddenly, his eyes caught Sumin’s gaze. Due to being far away, Seokjin could not see the brokenness and despair in her eyes. To him, she was filled with joy. To her, she was depressed, defeated, and above all…she was surprised to see Seokjin alive and unharmed. Confusion filled her mind as her eyes switched from her knight to her now husband.

At that moment, she felt like an idiot. She angrily turned towards her husband but before she could demand him to tell her the truth, King Ji Yong roughly pulled her closer and whispered a bone chilling threat.

“If you do anything rash, I will have my men kill your knight where he stands. Now, do you really want bloodshed on our wedding day?”

Sumin fought back her tears, even though a few of them had already cascaded down her rosy cheeks. She shook her head, closing her eyes briefly.

King Ji Yong smiled and kissed her head sweetly.

“Good.” He said softly with a creepy grin.

Sumin opened her eyes and met Seokjin’s gaze one last time. With a sad smile, she mouthed,

“I love you.”

Seokjin forced a smile and mouthed, “I love you too…”

He flickered his gaze onto King Ji Yong, who was now smirking proudly, before turning his back towards the “happy” couple.

He opened the doors and walked away, leaving behind the cheers and lively applause…

And the princess and her knight lived unhappily ever after…

The End…

A/N: Yeah... now can you see why I couldn’t just leave Seokjin heartbroken like that? I kind of left it open regarding, Seokjin’s fate since I didn’t want to quite kill him off (especially, if I had a sequel in mind lol then his modern self wouldn’t even be alive lol). I always found it fun to leave certain character’s unknown fate up to the readers since it gives you an even closer bond to the story! If the sequel wasn’t happening, I want you to tell me your thoughts on what happened to Sir Kim Seokjin!

Anyway, I hope you have enjoyed this beloved story just as much as I did writing it! See you guys in the sequel!

Don’t forget to leave a like/reblog/comment/send in an ask on your thoughts! I love hearing them! :)

- Kim

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brattywriters-anonymous · 6 years

Text

A Rose In Harlem

OC x Erik Story

Based on Teyana Taylor's VII & KTSE.

Warnings: Sneaky Bitch in the cut! Drug use. Drunkenness. Jealous Erik! Jealous Syd! A whole bunch of jealousy! Which leads me to the title of

CHAPTER 4: ENVY.

Erik's face began to heat up with anger at the sight of Syeda and the maintenance man. He continued smoking as his eyes searched for Grant. He found him in the back of the kitchen beside the back door talking to some woman. He barged his way through the thick crowd of party goers and as he walked past the kitchen he gave Syd and her plus one a look of disdain. "Aye, Grant. Lemme get a eighth." He requested, handing Grant two twenties. He needed to calm down and the Henny was not a culprit for that mission. Grant dug around in his pocket for the weed and pulled out a pre-weighed pack and gave it to Erik. "Here man. Just give me a dub. You look like you need it right now. Wassup witchu?"He let out a full sigh before he answered, "Nothin. I'm good. Thanks. You got some more backwoods?" The mystery woman spoke up, "I do." Erik's face changed as soon as he looked up at her. She was no Syeda, but she was bad all the same.

Brown skin that would give Coca a run for its money. She was about 5'7" with a curly top knot bun. "I'm Gina, just call me G." "Erik." They exchanged pleasantries and shook hands. Syeda is witnessing their exchange and she scoffed as she took the last sip of her straight liquor as if it was a shot. Yasin followed suit, thinking she was trying to out drink him. "Damn babe. You took that shot and didn't even blink." He laughed as he pulled her from behind, hugging her by her waist. She smiled in their direction with purpose. "Yeah. I guess I needed this." she then moved her head up to look at Yasin. He took that opportunity to kiss her forehead. Erik accepted G's pack of backwoods and clinched his jaw again after seeing Syd and Mr. Plumber's exchange. "Wanna go outside?" He motioned his head towards the back yard. "Yes, Erik. We can do that." She flashed a smile at him. She had a gap that Erik immediately took to. 'It's actually cute on her' he thought.

Syd sucked her teeth as the DJ switched the record up to "Bandz A Make Her Dance" she asked Yasin, "Hey boo, you wanna dance?" She didn't wait for his reply. She pulled his arm as he followed her into the living room.

Erik began choking on the blunt, "Wait, you did what?" G patted his back and chuckled at him. "I thought I could go to the top of the Empire state building and smoke a couple ls. so I did. Until security was called after I got done with the first one." He hadn't laughed so hard since his Navy days, back before he went off to college. "I had to run down 102 flights of steps with Security on my ass! I don't regret it though." She admitted, grabbing the blunt that Erik was offering. He liked the fact that she was daring. While they were rolling to match, she talked about how she took a leap of faith to pursue her modeling career moving from Houston to New York after her parents passed away in a drunk driving accident. Erik exchanged the similar experience of losing his father and mother when he was younger. They seemed to form a slight bond over their bold interests and their painful losses. They were both only children, they even complimented each other's rolling styles. "Yeah, this is hittin. You good at this. How long you been smoking?" G leaned back in awe of the query, "Shiiiiiiiiit I'm twenty-six, It is my birthday by the way." He interrupted, "Oh, well happy birthday beautiful." Her smile spread from ear to ear. "Oh, Thank you. Anyway- I'm twenty-six. I've been smoking since I was fifteen. So about eleven years." She took another drag as he lit the blunt he rolled. "So what about you?" He exhaled the smoke and did some calculating with his free hand. He'd only taken up smoking when he went back to MIT for his doctorate in Engineering. Even though a eighteen year old Navy enlisted Stevens would laugh if he saw his twenty-seven year old self toking like Wiz Khalifa, he used the flower to decompress. Especially before his dissertation. He smirked and rebutted, "Only four years." G gasped, "Really? I'm surprised. I mean, you being from Cali and all." He kept the same smirk at the way she pronounced Cali with that southern accent. He really liked that. "I wasn't a fan of weed in my younger days. I enlisted in the Navy as soon as I graduated High School. When I got out and went to college, my view became more lenient; and by the time I went to school to get my doctorate, I dove head first in the weed. That shit was stressful." Gina marveled at the small background story he gave her. "Wow. Doctorate. So you're a doctor?" he passed his blunt to her, and rejected what was left of hers. "I am. Kind of. Engineering Doctor." She busted out laughing. Her laughter instigated his as they were enjoying each other's company.

"Front then he coming your way, let the semi dump-dump then he coming your way. Dump when the bad man come, my yute don't ramp wit me/Coupe full of bad hoes, they all wanna come with me./You got a coupe with a sad ho cause she wanna come with me. Shabba!"

Syd wined her body to the bass line of the beat as Yasin joined her movements behind her. The party was singing along with A$AP Ferg, you could've sworn he was in attendance. They'd been dancing for four songs now, and Syd started getting tired. She stopped and rose up from her bent position. "Wooo. I'm drained." Sin nodded. "I feel you. It is hot out here. You wanna go outside?" He pointed at the same back door she saw Erik and whatshername go out of. She agreed, out of curiosity. They make strides to the back of the party. As Sin opened the door for Syd to walk out, Erik and whatsherface were walking in. Laughing as if Eddie Murphy was outside doing a comedy show and smelling louder than Coachella. Syd rolled her eyes and tried to avoid making eye contact. Erik quickly shut that down. "Syd." He always said her name so effortlessly and it immediately stopped her in her tracks as she turned around. "Erik? Hey. What's up?" He took a quick glance at Yasin and looked back at her, "Chillin. Zig finally showing me a good time and shit." He glanced back over at Yasin, who was giving him a smug look. "You?" Syd flipped her hair so she could rub the back of her neck, "I needed to get out of the house. Work is getting hectic."

Ironically, Yasin and G both cleared their throats at the same time at their counterpart's rudeness. Syd looked over at Sin apologetically, "I'm sorry. Sin, this is Erik. My neighbor's cousin. Erik, this is Yasin." Neither one of them felt the need to shake hands they just gave each other a domineering stare. Erik broke it and looked at Gina and her impatient body language, "This is Gina. We just met but she's cool." Gina reached her hand out to Syd. Syd leaned back far enough for Erik and Sin to notice, but Gina didn't. She reluctantly took her hand and shook it, "Syeda." She quickly let her hand go and walked to the end of the deck. Erik's mouth hung open at the crude behavior that Syd was displaying. 'She acting like she didn't bring fix-a-toilet to the party.' he scoffed aloud at the inner thought.

Yasin shook her hand, trying to deescalate the awkward situation, "Hey, I'm Yasin. It was getting hot in there and she needs some fresh air." Erik side eyed Syd, "Yeah. I'm sure. Well you enjoy your night Syd." Syd shooed him off. "Yeah. You too." The door closed and Yasin let out a long breath as the tension levels decreased. "Wow. Uh. You okay? You seem upset." Syd still looking ahead toward the back yard, she shook her head. "I'm not upset. I'm good." She managed a fake smile and took his hand. "Are you okay?" Yasin scratched his forehead in confusion. "I was okay until all of that happened. That was awkward as hell, ma. You two hook up or somethin'?" Syd rolled her eyes at the suggestion, "Hell no. I practically don't know him. I'm just hot and irritated that's all." "Okay babygirl. lets get you cooled down." He found a lawn chair and scooted it up to her so she could sit down.

30 Minutes later

Yasin and Syd were becoming more acquainted. They exchanged stories about Ramadan failures. Syd loves food too much to not eat during the day. "Islam is about patience. Even in our shortcomings. I got up to thirteen days this year. I'll aim for thirty next year and see how far Allah takes me." "Wow. I never thought of it that way." She always beat herself up about not following her religion as diligently as her parents did, her life was too hectic to not eat during Ramadan, she was almost always working on Fridays so she couldn't go to the Mosque. She prayed about two to three times a day on average instead of five. Syd looked at the sky, hoping in that moment that she was making her parents somewhat proud. Yasin felt her mood change. The door opened, they both looked back to see Nina. She leaned against the deck and lit a blunt. "This party is gettin' a lil too lit." She said, exhaling smoke. Syd cosigned, "I feel you girl." Nina took another drag and motion the blunt to her left, at Syd. She accepted it. "I knew you smoked!" Yasin laughed at their dialogue. "I thought I smelled weed when I walked in your place." Syd took a long drag. "First of all, fuck both of you! Secondly, Yes. I smoke. Sue me!" They all laughed as Syd motioned the blunt to Sin. He reluctantly accepted. Nina calmed down, "Nah, but for real though, Syd. I got a friend that would be perfect for your shoots. She just moved here from Houston and she's looking for some modeling gigs." Syd hummed loudly, "YES! I need one more girl. That'll be perfect. Just bring her through to the shoot. Myles sent you the info right?" Syd knew the answer but she was confirming. "Yeah he did. That guy is on it. Sent it the day after the meeting." "Girl, Myles is a Godsend. I'd lose my mind if I didn't have him by my side." Yasin cleared his throat, unfamiliar with the male name being mention. "Babe, that's my assistant." he palmed his face, "My bad. I'm sorry. Damn I'm not tryna come off as the jealous type." She gave him a peck and reclined back in her chair. "It's okay."

🌹

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