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Of Storms And Vampires // Ch. 1
Pairings: Vampire!Yoongi x Witch!Reader x Vampire!Jungkook
Summary: During the worst storm you have witnessed in your life, a bat crashes on your window. When you bring it inside your cottage to take care of it, you realize it isn't simply a bat but a baby vampire. Your past has come back to haunt you because Jungkook's sire is no one else but Min Yoongi, who you had left behind when you disappeared five years ago.
Genre: fluff, angst
Word Count:Â 9.1k+
The wind howled outside with the voice of a thousand lost souls. You had read somewhere that the breeze and the sounds of the night were the dead singing. If that were true, tonight they were screaming.Â
The storm had hit in the afternoon in full force, getting only worse since then. In seconds, the first few droplets turned into arrows of water falling from the heavens. Dark clouds overtook the sky, wiping out the sun and bringing the night early. Lightning struck every few minutes followed by loud thunder that sounded too close for comfort. You had sensed the storm brewing a few days ago but only yesterday you had realized how strong it was going to be. It was like all the rage of the Gods had been released at once.
The rain splattered on the windowpane relentlessly, a constant murmuring in the background interrupted only by the thunder. You could cast a silencing spell but you needed to be aware of what was happening outside and the sounds were comforting in a way. It was the music of lonely nights and disasters.Â
You were curled up in the overstuffed armchair next to the fireplace, a book on kitchen magic leaning on your thighs. The fire flickered and danced, flaming tendrils reaching for above. It was a calm night for you, almost peaceful. You had been casting protections against the storm on your house, your garden, and the small farmhouse of your animals for days. There was nothing to worry about, you were more than safe. But your mind kept going to the town. It was the worst storm this part of the world had seen in decades.
You flipped the page to the recipe for an antipyretic potion and breathed in the smoky scent of burning firewood. Your eyes scanned over the ingredients of the potion and you considered how it could be improved to better fit your magic, without losing its essence. It was hard changing existing recipes and spells but when done right, it could be very rewarding.Â
You sensed the presence before you heard the thud. It was small and weak, pulsing in flashes. Something had hit your window but you had only seen a black blur before it disappeared. You closed the book and lowered your feet from the couch, listening for any more noises. None followed. The rain continued like before.Â
The aura of somethingâsomeoneâ, that hadn't been there before persisted. You had to see what it was, maybe it was an injured animal that needed your help. The forest would lead them to you sometimes, both animals and humans in need.Â
You wrapped your black cloak around yourself and raised the hood. It was woven with enchanted thread for protection and stitched with intentions of blending in with your surroundings. The protection applied to the weather as well, it wouldn't completely spare you from the heavy rain but it would be more like going out during a mild rainfall instead of getting drenched within seconds.Â
Outside, the world was dark and ominous. Trees lurched and bent under the force of the wind, its strength was enough to uproot some smaller and more frail ones. The rain bounced off your cloak and thunder boomed overhead. You shielded your lantern underneath your cloak and, with your boots sinking into the wet earth, moved carefully toward where you had heard the sound. At first, you didn't see it in the darkness but when your eyes adjusted, you noticed the outline of the crumbled figure underneath the window.Â
The creature was small and it was shivering, probably both by the cold and the fear of the storm. You approached slowly, trying to seem non-threatening. It was a small bat, one of its wings bent at a weird angle and the other hiding its face.Â
"Hello, little guy," you said, sending some of your energy to the bat to soothe it. The wind swept your voice away but you still tried. "I'm going to have to pick you up and take you inside. You can't stay out here in the storm."Â
With a short incantation, you enchanted the lantern to float in place and slid one hand underneath the bat's small form, covering it gently with your other hand. It struggled a little but settled soon. By touch, you understood two things. It wasn't a normal bat but, in your hands, you were holding a vampire. And it was a very young one.Â
"I'm going to take care of you," you promised, cradling the vampire close to your chest. "You don't have to be afraid."Â
You rushed back inside, careful not to jostle him. You unclasped your coat, took off your boots at the entrance, and carried the baby vampire into the living room, sitting down on the armchair near the fire. His small body was trembling and the fire would calm the cold leeching on his bones. You laid him on your thighs to take a quick look at his injuries. There were a couple you could see at first glance, one of his wings was broken and there was a shallow gash on his belly.Â
You touched his forehead with two fingers and transferred some more of your energy to him. The vampire flinched but when he felt life seeping into his veins, his eyesâwhich were larger than any other bat you had seenâwidened, looking at you in wonder.
âStay here,â you advised, laying him on the armchair as you got up. âIâll be back with a few things to treat your injuries. Donât move too much.â
You kept most of your potions and salves in the kitchen, they were in jars and tins of various sizes stored in your cabinets. Various herbs tied together with thick strings were hanging from the ceiling and potted plants lined the windowsills. The counters were cluttered with multiple ingredients for potions and spells, from the most common ones like dried daisies, mint, and sea glass to some rareâor mostly avoidedâones like bleeding nightshade, dragon hair, and heart crystals.
You opened the cabinet that contained most of your medicinal potions and a few salves. You skimmed over the labels, reciting their properties in your head and contemplating which ones would be better suited for a vampire. In the end, you grabbed a vial of dark green liquid and a small bottle, the inside of which was reflective like a mirror. The first one was to fight off the effects of the cold, it wasnât easy for vampires to get sick but the vampire was young and he had probably spent too much time in the storm. The second one was to ease the pain and speed up healing and its effects could last for as long as twelve hours. Before returning to the living room, you grabbed a platinum tin containing a salve that would accelerate the process of the skin stitching together.
The baby vampire had obediently stayed where you had left him, his eyes were half-closed and he was still shaking. There was a small pang in your heart for him. Baby vampires werenât supposed to be alone for more than a few hours, they needed the presence of their sire like humans needed air. But here he was, alone in the forest with a witch and his sire nowhere in sight.
âIâm back,â you said softly. The vampire opened his eyes a little and turned his head in your direction. His eyes were so bright, much brighter than any vampire you had ever met. âI need to take care of your injuries now. You need to drink these, they are going to help you heal.âÂ
The vampire eyed the potions but, surprisingly, he didnât put up a fight, opening his mouth.Â
âGood boy,â you said and if the vampire was in his human form, you were sure he would be blushing. As much as vampires could blush. You poured the green potion in his mouth first and when he swallowed, he made a face of disgust. âI know it doesnât taste great but itâs one of the best potions for this.â He tilted his head and to distract him, you started explaining to him what the properties of each potion were.
You applied the salve on his wound with careful fingers, he whimpered but didnât snap at you like you had expected. He was pretty docile for a young vampire, who could get violent away from their sireâs protection. Then, you made a small cast out of some cloth for his wing.
âBy tomorrow night, you will be able to shift back. We can see how much your arm has been affected then. But I believe you will make a quick recovery,â you said and the bat let out a chirp. âPlease, in the future, avoid going out before or during storms. Your bat form isnât strong enough to withstand this kind of weather. Youâre very lucky you hit my window.â He made a squeaking sound and lowered his head at your admonishment. âIâll be back in a minute.â
Some of the most sensitive ingredients were kept in the refrigerator that was powered by magic. One of those ingredients, stored in a large jar, was human blood. It was one of the ingredients that was frowned upon but was necessary for your type of magic and a very powerful asset. You poured a good amount into a bowl and put the rest back in the fridge.
The scent of blood made the vampireâs head shoot up as soon as you walked into the living room. âStay there, Iâm bringing it to you.â The vampire made a few more chirping noises as you carried the bowl and set it in front of him. He looked at you and when you nodded, he dived head-first into the blood. âIt isnât fresh but it will have to do. I know that baby vampires need blood.â
He gulped down the blood hungrily and when the bowl was licked clean, he looked at you with his large eyes.Â
âThatâs enough for now. Iâll give you more later,â you said, picking up the bowl. âNow, rest.â
Vampires stayed in nests with their sires while they were still young, so you tried to make a mock nest for the small bat. On the floor by the fireplace, you bunched up a fluffy blanket, placed two pillows on top, and laid the vampire inside. You thought you heard him sigh as he settled, making himself comfortable. After the events of the day and the two potions, it didnât take long for him to fall asleep.Â
Near this side of the forest, there was only one small town from where he could have got lost. You tried to remember if there were any vampires that lived in the town but came up blank. You didnât visit the town often and your interactions with its inhabitants were rare. Whatever you learned about them, you learned from Seokjin, who took it up to himself to fill you in on all the gossip he could remember. And he had a very strong memory.Â
You stayed in the living room for a while longer, picking up the magic book where you left off and throwing glances at the bat every few pages. He was sleeping soundlessly, shifting only when thunder struck somewhere nearby. Soon, you closed the book again and after adjusting the blanket around the vampireâs small form, you retired to your room for the night.
The next morning, you woke up to the sounds of the storm raging outside. The wind whipped the roof and the walls and the rain falling was enough to fill up a river. Outside the window of your bedroom, the world was being suffocated in gray. The sun had disappeared, hidden behind the endless expanse of dark clouds. The storm would last through the day and hopefully calm during the night. However, the signs showed that it wouldnât be gone soon.
You dressed for the day and braided your hair to keep it out of your face. There were things you had to do, despite the storm outside. Most importantly, there was a baby vampire that needed your attention in the living room.
Said vampire was awake and lazying around in his makeshift nest. He blinked slowly at you before letting out a couple of chirps, shaking his not-injured wing in what you guessed was the bat equivalent to waving at you. You had to admit that he was adorable as he greeted you enthusiastically.
âGood morning. How are you feeling? Did you sleep well?â you asked and the bat nodded his head. He gestured to his belly with his wing and you were glad to see that the skin was already stitching itself together. âThis looks good, you are healing quickly. By nightfall, it will only be a small scar and that will go away soon too. But you will still need to be careful, donât go flying into a storm again.â He squeaked lowly and lowered his head, making you giggle. âNow, let me take a look at your wing.â
His wing was also healing nicely and, as you had predicted, he would be able to turn back into his human form, if he wanted to, by the end of the day. It would make communication much easier although you werenât sure if you would prefer that over the cute bat. You had found over the years living alone in your cottage in the forest that you were better at interacting with animals than with people.Â
You let go of his wing and the vampire squeaked and pointed to his belly and then his mouth.
âAre you hungry? Do you want some blood?â you asked and he responded by pleased chirping. âOkay, Iâll bring some to you since you have been a good patient.â
You poured some blood for him in the same bowl as yesterday. The jar of human blood was enough to get you through more than a year of potions and spells but it could barely last for two days as the main food source of a vampire, especially a young one that needed feeding regularly. You hoped the storm would ease by tomorrow and you would be able to look for his sire. You would have to be on guard because sires were overprotective of their fledglings and if they believed you had been keeping them apart for no reason, it could get ugly.
You placed the bowl in front of the vampire, who chirped in thanks and started drinking messily. Blood stained the fur around his mouth and he looked almost angry at how good the blood tasted. For now, your priority was to take care of him, you would have to worry about his sire later.Â
While the vampire was drinking his blood, you bustled around the kitchen. You made a quick and simple breakfast for yourself, a cup of tea with ginseng for energy and bread with homemade strawberry jam. Like every morning, you lit up a fire in the hearth and filled your cauldron with water and a crystalline blue powder you had made for cleansing. Something was always brewing in a witchâs cauldron.
You were going to make a specialized potion for the little vampire to enhance his healing abilities. The effects of the one you had given him last night would have worn off and personalized potions were more effective. Opening and closing cupboards and drawers, you gathered a few of the ingredients you would use, consulting a recipe from a magic book focused on magical creatures.Â
After a few minutes, the cauldron was clean and ready for work. You measured the first few ingredients and put them in. They needed to boil a couple of hours on their own before you added a pinch of dried rosemary and red oyster mushrooms. Brewing potions was like performing a ritual, it wasnât only about the ingredients and the quantities, it was about the timing, the intentions, and each action itself. You had to sense what the potion needed and how it needed it done. Some potions could take days to make and the more difficult ones could be ruined by a single wrong move or even a bad thought. It was a delicate process but you enjoyed it.Â
The rain persisted but you had to go outside to feed the animals and make sure that their protections were holding up. The storm must have scared them and your presence would calm them.
The vampire had closed his eyes again, the bowl in front of him empty. He opened one eye to look at you and as you picked up the bowl to return it to the kitchen, he bumped his head against your hand.
âDo you like petting?â you asked, stroking between his ears. He closed his eyes and wiggled happily at the attention. âYou do, donât you? You are really cute, such a cute bat.â He preened at the praise and you cooed. âIâll go outside for a bit but Iâll be back soon, okay?â
The vampire chirped in answer although he didnât seem happy to be deprived of petting. You threw on your cloak to protect yourself from the wild weather outside and made your way to the small farmhouse.Â
It was only a few meters away from the house, through a cobblestone path that at least saved your boots from sinking in the mud. The farmhouse had been there when Seokjin had first led you to this place but it had been in a much worse condition than the house. The roof had crumpled in and the walls would have followed soon, leaving nothing but a heap of decayed wood. The renovations lasted a couple of months, accomplished mostly by you, Seokjin, Jimin, and a few people from the town that Seokjin had called when he realized there were a few things that, magic or not, you simply couldnât do.
The ground of the farmhouse was dry, evidence that your protection spells were still holding strong. The familiar sounds of the animals greeted you, the bleating and the clucking, the hooves against the ground, and the flapping of wings. There were ten chickens, six goats, and Daisy, your horse, who had got her name from her fondness of eating daisies. They all had their own fenced areas with enough space to roam and stretch their limbsâthe fence of the chicken coop almost reached the ceiling because your chickens could somehow fly much higher than normal chickens could.
You visited all of the animals, petting them and replenishing their food. None of them liked the thunder and the wind howling but, luckily, they understood they were safe inside. They surrounded you and you spoke softly to them. You werenât an animal witch but you were good with them. You had learned quickly and you had been surprised to find that animals enjoyed your company.
Last, you went to Daisy. You stroked her neck, fed her apples, and promised to take her on a long walk to the fields at the end of the forest and let her gallop for as long as she liked. Forests werenât the most suitable places for horses but Daisy seemed to like it well enough as long as you took her to the fields from time to time.
Returning to the house, you found the vampire squirming and agitated. Apparently, he didnât like staying still for such a long time, so you carried him with you to the kitchen. His eyes followed you while you worked on the potion so you started explaining to him what you were doing. You werenât sure how much he understood or how much he knew about witchcraft but he was an attentive audience. He made sounds whenever you said something interesting and he stopped hopping around the counter whenever you told him to.
For lunch, you heated up some leftover tomato soup from the previous day and you fed the bat a plum. Once upon a time, there was a vampire you had been close with, or you had been getting there, and he had told you that plums were his favorite food to eat when he was in bat form. The little one on your table must be the same because he devoured it.Â
He kept you company for the rest of the day and at some point he somehow ended up clinging on your shoulder and refused to budge. He didnât weigh much so you didnât mind and you guessed he was missing his sire and needed some contact to stay grounded.
In the afternoon, the potion was ready. First, you poured the potion into the batâs mouth like you had done the previous night and then filled his bowl with blood. Your work in the kitchen was done and you returned to the living room, settling in the armchair. The vampire curled up in your lap and you petted his head while you flipped through a random book from your stack on the floor. You had run out of space so your books were everywhere now. You should hire someone to make more shelves for you.
The vampire was getting drowsy so you left him in the armchair and you went to the kitchen to make a cup of tea for yourself. It was part of your routine to have a cup of tea along with some baked goods in the afternoon. Living away from civilization, you had discovered the comfort of mundane moments and the importance of a nice routine.Â
You boiled water and looked through your jars of tea. They were your own varieties, you had mixed their ingredients with light enchantments to boost their benefits. Black tea was one of your favorites to drink in the afternoon so you chose one with maple and vanilla pieces, hazelnuts, nutmeg and honeybush. It was fitting for the weather. The sweet honey fragrance mingled with vanilla tickled your nose when you opened the jar. You filled the teapot with the hot water and added two tablespoons of tea to the infuser.Â
In the 4 minutes the tea required to brew, you cut a piece of the apple pie you had made yesterday and plated it. The aroma of the soft, spiced apples and the brown sugar drifted in the kitchen. A tiny bit of magic kept anything you baked as fresh as the day they were pulled out of the oven. Another thing you discovered while living in the forest was your love for baking. When you lived in the city, you had dabbled in baking, occasionally baking chocolate chip cookies and cinnamon rolls, but it wasnât until you moved here that you truly fell in love with it.Â
You arranged everything in a tray, along with a smaller cup in case the vampire wanted to try, but you stopped short at the door to the living room. The tray almost slipped from your hands at the sight of a young man sitting where the little bat used to be. He looked young, with large eyes and messy dark hair that reached past his ears. A silver ring glinted on his bottom lip and more silver earrings adorned both of his ears. He was wearing all black and you could see the beginnings of a tattoo underneath the sleeve of his sweatshirt.
âHi,â he said, sheepishly waving at you. âIâm sorry. Did I scare you? I didnât mean to.â
You had to get yourself together, you had known since the beginning that it wasnât a regular bat you were treating but a vampire that would need to turn back into his other form at some point. You had expected it, it was obvious that it would happen at some point. You shouldnât be surprised. But you hadnât expected him to look⌠like that.
âYou didnât scare me, I was just surprised,â you said, keeping your voice steady. âSorry, I didnât expect to see you in this form.â
He fidgeted with his sleeves, making himself smaller. âDid you like my other form better? I can change back. It just makes me feel a little weird when Iâm a bat for too long. But I can change back, I can.â
âNo, no,â you rushed to say. âI donât mind really. This form is nice as well.âÂ
Mentally, you slapped yourself, you couldnât be more awkward if you tried. At least, the vampire looked pleased at that, a small smile making its way to his face. It was unfair that he was cute even in his human form.Â
You approached and put the tray down on the coffee table. âItâs good that you are back in this form. Now, we can finally meet. What is your name?â
âJungkook,â the vampire replied shyly and you offered your own name. âI wanted to say thank you for taking care of me. I donât know what I would have done if you hadnât taken me in. Iâm not sure if I would have made it.â His smile tightened and you shuddered just thinking about it. âIâm really thankful for everything. If there is any way for me to repay you, I will do anything.â
âThere is no need for that. I wanted to help you and it was the right thing to do. Just promise me you will be careful in the future. Your bat form is small and you saw how dangerous storms can be for you.â
Jungkook nodded, abashed. âI wonât, I promise. I thought I had some time before it hit and I wanted to explore the forest. Iâm really sorry.â
âYou donât need to be sorry to me, itâs you who was flung from tree to tree last night.â He chuckled a little at that. âDo you want some tea? Itâs black with maple and vanilla.â
âYes, please,â he said politely.
You picked up the black ceramic teapot and paused. âI brought a cup for you because I thought you would be in your bat form. Would you like a mug?â
âNo, no, the cup is fine,â Jungkook insisted.
You poured some into the cup first and then into your mug. The cup was from the same set as the teapot, black and with the same engravings of flowers and vines. Your mug was a gift from Seokjin during his pottery phase, like many of his obsessions you werenât sure how or why it started. It was weird cups at first that looked like melting pieces of clay but he got pretty good by the end. Before he moved on to his next obsession, he was able to make things like your mug, which was shaped like a cauldron and he and Jimin had painted it to look like the night sky.
Jungkook hugged his cup in his hands, bringing it close to his face. He breathed in the sweet aroma of tea and closed his eyes in delight.Â
âDo you want some honey or sugar?â you asked, taking a seat on the couch. âI usually drink my own without and I didnât think to bring any.â
âNo, itâs okay.â He took the first sip and you could tell that it wasnât okay. He frowned, but not in the way you had seen when he was drinking blood, and pursed his lips. He didnât say anything but it was clear he was trying to pretend that it wasnât too bitter for him.
You chuckled and set your mug down. âIâll bring some honey for you.â
âThank you,â Jungkook said, wincing subtly.
You got the jar of honey from the kitchen and added two teaspoons to his tea. That way, he liked it enough that he asked for a refill. While you drank your tea together, he explained to you that he was in town for a few days visiting some friends with his sire. He had spent all of his life in the city and the small town and the forest fascinated him. He knew that there was a storm coming but he hadnât realized the extent of it. He had been planning to go for a quick flight to stretch his wings before it hit, he hadnât got to explore the forest yet and he was curious. Unfortunately, the storm hit early and the wind had dragged him deeper into the darkness.
âI thought I wouldnât make it out,â he admitted quietly, holding his cup close to his chest. âIt was so strong and so loud and I couldnât fight it. Iâm not very strong in my bat form, Iâm still young and I donât have much practice. I couldnât hold on to anything and I couldnât find shelter. I was thinking about my sire and how sad he would be. He must be very worried.â
The bond between sires and their fledglings was very strong and for the first months after the turning, some sires wouldnât even let their fledgling out of their sight. For years, the sires would take care of the younger vampires, help them adjust, and teach them everything about their new life. It wasnât commonly understood but sires needed their fledglings as much as their fledglings needed them. You had read that there was a part of them, an echo of their own blood from the turning in their fledglingâs bloodstream, that called for them to be by their side.
âThe storm is messing up with any means of magical communication but as soon as it calms a little, I can send a message to town,â you offered. âWe can let him know youâre safe here until the worst passes and you can safely return to town. The townspeople know me, it will be alright.â
âThank you.â You had lost count of how many times he had thanked you since he had changed forms.Â
You finished your tea and roped him into a game of cards to distract him from the thoughts of his sire. He got engrossed into the game quickly and he won two out of the three rounds you played. He had a competitive streak and he learned quickly the rules of every game you taught him.Â
It had been a few months since you had played cards with someone. Jimin had been the one to teach you and you had only ever played with him and Seokjin. It was fun to share this with someone else, even when he pouted when he lost. You didnât care about winning very much so you didnât mind and his excitement when he won was heart-warming to watch.
He jumped when loud thunder cracked through the night and you told him that he didnât have to worry. You had applied strong protections on the house and the garden. And the forest protected you too. The storm was interfering with its magic but nothing could change its core and nothing could turn it on you. Turning on you would be like turning on itself and the forest was too wise for that.
You played games until well into the night. Jungkookâs eyes were growing heavy and his mouth stretched in small yawns. It was time to go to sleep. Jungkook curled up on the couch and you carried two knitted blankets to the living room and wrapped them around him. His cheeks grew rosy and he giggled at being tucked into bed like a child.Â
You left the fire burning in the hearth to keep him warm in the night.
âGoodnight, Jungkook. Have sweet dreams.â
âGoodnight,â he said, muffled by the blankets. âSweet dreams.â
There was a change in the air like the turning of the tides. Your limbs were lighter and something different was lingering on your skin. You padded to the window and drew the curtains to the side. The sky was cloudy but it was no longer the suffocating darkness of the day before. The trees swayed and the rain persisted but it wasnât attempting to drown the earth anymore. The storm was breaking.
You threw on one of your long black skirts and a brown sweatshirt and climbed down the stairs to the living room. Jungkook was sitting up on the couch and already looking in your direction when you walked inside. Supernatural hearing, you forgot about it sometimes.Â
"Good morning,â you greeted him. âThe storm is slowly calming down. I will probably be able to send a message to the town and by tomorrow, it will be safe for you to return.â
âThank you so much,â Jungkook said. He was fidgeting with his sleeves again but his smile was unmistakable. âI hope my sire will forgive me for being so careless.â
âIâm sure he will. For now, breakfast blood?â
Jungkookâs smile widened as he eagerly agreed. You couldnât offer him the amount of blood he was used to, you had to ration it to make sure that it would last. It would be very difficult to get human blood once your supply was gone.Â
You hadnât reached the kitchen yet when you sensed someone pass through your wards. The presence was familiar, the knowledge sitting in a hidden pocket in your brain and you couldnât touch it. Jungkook hurried to the window, the path leading up to the door could be seen from there. He let out a small yelp before bolting to the door and throwing it open.
âYoongi!â he shouted the name that had circled your mind for years. The presence was in your house and the name fit like a glove. Against your better judgment, you walked towards them to see for yourself. It could be someone else, couldnât it? You just had to take a look.
He was clinging to Jungkook, hugging him so tightly it looked painful. Half of his face was hidden against the fledglingâs shoulder but it was unmistakably him. The memories were as clear as when you made them, they resurfaced stronger than any of your nightly musings bordering on regrets. His hair was longer than you remembered, reaching past his nape, his cat eyes were clenched shut and his skin was white porcelain. He was also drenched to the bone.
âI looked for you,â he said and his voice awoke more memories. âI looked for you everywhere I couldâ But the storm was too strong. We were locked inside for so long. They wouldnât let me out. Donât ever do that to me again, do you hear me? Donât ever disappear on me like that. I was going out of my mind.â
âNever, I promise.â Jungkook was hugging him just as tight and although he was bigger in stature, he made himself smaller in the older vampireâs arms. âIâm alright. I was safe here. The wind carried me here and I was well taken care of. I should introduce you,â he said with excitement, pulling back a little.
Yoongi opened his eyes, their dark color made your heart beat faster. He looked at you behind Jungkook and when your eyes connected you could see the myriad of emotions passing through them. First, there was surprise, then disbelief and confusion and all the minor ones in-between. You had disappeared from one day to another, leaving no trace behind and no trail to follow. He must have believed he would never see you again.
Oblivious to the change in the atmosphere, Jungkook introduced you to each other, telling his sire how well you took care of him and that you kept him warm and well-fed and healed his injuries. You couldnât read Yoongi, there must have been a point in your history that you had been able to but that was lost now.Â
There was silence after the introductions were over. Jungkookâs eyes jumped between the two of you. âDid I say something?â
âNo, no, we justâ We knew each other. In another life,â you said. Before you had enough of the wary glances and offending questions and fled the city. Before the manifestation of everything you had been afraid of.Â
Yoongiâs lips parted and he looked away. âWe did. In another life,â he repeated bitterly.Â
âOh.â Jungkook stood awkwardly between the two of you, shifting his weight from foot to foot.Â
Thunder boomed outside and you rushed to close the door that they had forgotten half-open during their reunion. That served to remind you about the very important fact that Yoongi was wet enough to have taken a long dive in the lake.
âIâll bring some towels, youâre dripping,â you said and climbed upstairs.Â
It was an escape but a necessary one. It gave you some time to think. Jungkookâs sire was Yoongi. Yoongi, who you had known for years when you lived in the city, who you had tried to forget for years while you lived in this cottage but gave in once you realized it was impossible. He starred in most of your favorite memories from the city. And thatâs exactly what he was supposed to be. A memory.
What was he doing in your forest? You had run so far away from the city that no one from your past would be able to find you. Except one. You had one link left to your old life, Seokjin. Seokjin was the one who had shown you this cottage hidden in the forest that spilled into his hometown. When the incident had happened and you were desperate for an escape, he had been your savior and he had swore not to tell anyone about your whereabouts. Seokjin was also Yoongiâs friend.
The dots were connecting. Seokjin and Jimin were the friends Yoongi and Jungkook were visiting.Â
You grabbed two forest green towels and paused in the hallway. Seokjin hadnât told you. The few times you had seen him in the past weeks, he hadn't mentioned anything about Yoongi. A twinge of hurt scraped at your heart. He should have told you. If he knew Yoongi would be visiting, why wouldnât he tell you? He knew who Yoongi used to be to you. Had he thought you wouldnât be able to handle it? No one was supposed to know you were here but that was all over now.
You took a deep breath and returned downstairs. Yoongi was where you had left him, a small puddle of rainwater pooled at his feet. Jungkookâs clothes were also a little wet from their embrace but it was nothing compared to his sire.
âHere,â you said, handing him the towels.
âThank you. Iâm sorry for your floor.â
âThe floor can be cleaned. You will catch your death like this.â
He rubbed his hair with the towel. âIâm already dead.â
You scoffed. âThat doesnât work on me. I know vampires are not as indestructible as you would like to think. I have a spell to get all the water out of your clothes but I havenât tried it on clothes that are currently being worn.â
Yoongi looked down at his drenched clothes. âItâs not that bad.â
âYou are making a small lake on the floor,â you pointed out. âYou didnât even take an umbrella with you?â
âIt was no use against the wind.âÂ
The wind wasnât so bad now but you guessed it must have been worse when he set out to find Jungkook. He could have been looking for hours before he stumbled upon your house. Usually, the forest helped along the ones who looked for you but the storm was messing with its energy.
Yoongi gave you permission to use the drying spell on his clothes, his face scrunching up when the water was removed. You didnât use it often because it left the clothes stiff and weird to the touch for some time. They turned too dry but in the present situation, you didnât have many options.Â
Jungkook was still looking between the two of you in confusion as he held on to Yoongiâs arm, although witnessing the spell had put a smile on his face.
âNow that youâre dry, letâs move to the living room,â you said. âIâll get the fire going and make some tea. None of you are going out in the rain.â
Yoongi studied you and you felt naked under his eyes. He was the only person from your past, other than Seokjin, that you had seen since you fled. He knew a version of you that no longer existed and you hadnât been prepared for that. In the end, you should have known. The past always comes knocking regardless of how long and how far you run from it.Â
Yoongi didnât pretend to turn you down to be polite but silently followed you to the living room. Jungkook pointed to the armchair by the fire that he had claimed for himself and gushed about how comfortable and soft it was. However, he didnât sit there in favor of staying close to Yoongi on the couch. It was clear he had missed his sire and he needed to be as close to him as possible.
You picked up a few logs of wood from the metal box near the fireplace and stacked them inside. You added two layers of kindling and reached for the matches.
âHow do you know each other?â Jungkook asked, breaking the fragile silence.Â
Yoongi looked at you, staying quiet. He was going to let you share as much as you wanted. You were surprised that he wasnât asking more questions himself. Maybe he hadnât cared as much as Seokjin had told you. Maybe it was the shock.
âI used to live in the city,â you started. âI went to the Academy of Magical Arts and Sorcery and we met on campus. Yoongi was visiting a friend of his.â
âNamjoon?â Jungkook asked and Yoongi nodded.Â
Namjoon was another person who you hadnât seen in years. He was a powerful witch but he had chosen the academic route and didnât practice magic much. You hadnât been very close but you could have got there. You enjoyed his company and you could talk for hours. You would see him in the library and around campus and you had coffee together a few times and talked about magic theory and how energy flowed through living things. Seokjin was your only link to him as well and you had learned from him that he was still teaching at the University and he had been promoted from assistant professor to professor. When the news reached them, Seokjin and Jimin had traveled to the city to celebrate with him.
âWe havenât spoken since she left the city,â Yoongi said it simply like you had decided to leave one day instead of fleeing in the night, taking the last train to a town in the middle of nowhere. That had been five years ago.
You lit up a match, the action familiar and comforting, and threw it between the logs. The fire spread slowly, enveloping the wood. You stroked the flames with the poker, pushing and pulling the logs until the fire was burning strong.
You got up and wiped your hands on the soot-stained towel that hung from the same hook as the poker. âIâll make some tea to fend off the cold.â
In the kitchen, you put on your apron with the embroidered mushrooms and marigolds, taking a moment to pull yourself together. It felt like everything was spinning out of control. The ghosts of your past never disappeared but they hadnât been more than ghosts until now.Â
You focused on the task at hand, setting the water to boil and opening the cabinet that housed your tea jars. Echinacea and elderberry tea with dried angel lotus leaves was the most effective for preventing colds and boosting the immune system. Its taste was also nice and soothing.Â
You were putting spoonfuls of the tea blend into the strainer when Yoongi walked inside. His footsteps were soundless and you felt his presence before you saw him. Vampiresâ energies were different than most creatures. They werenât alive, not exactly, and energies were tied to a creatureâs life force. Therefore, for vampires, their energies were unique and as a witch who could feel life and death very acutely, you could detect them easily.
âHave you been here all this time?â he asked after a few moments of silence.Â
The sounds of boiling water caught your attention, steam was coming out of the kettleâs spout. You removed the kettle from over the fire and poured the water into the teapot.Â
âI have,â you replied. There was nothing else to say, any explanations you could offer were useless.Â
âThatâs it? Thatâs all after all these years?â Yoongi asked.Â
You couldnât look at him, fiddling with herbs there was nothing to do with and glancing at the large clock on the wall for the brewing time. âI donât know what else to say. You know why I had to leave. I couldnât stay after what happened.â
âAnd you chose to disappear without a word?â When you didnât answer, he continued. âI was sure that Seokjin knew where you were but he swore he didnât. He said you disappeared without telling him anything and that he hadnât heard from you since. Regardless of how many times I asked, it was always the same answer.â
âI asked him to say that to anyone who asked,â you admitted. âI didnât want anyone to know where I was.â
From the corner of your eye, you saw Yoongi shake his head slowly in disbelief. âWhy? Why didnât you want me to know?âÂ
It hurt to keep quiet but there was no way to make this better. You couldnât tell him that you had been afraid although a part of you knew Yoongi wouldnât judge you, like Seokjin wouldnât judge you. But your fear had been too big and all-consuming, fear of what he would think and also fear of what you could do. Your magic had proved to be much stronger than you had believed and you needed to regain control of it to ensure you wouldnât make the same mistakes.
And Yoongi was too strong of a link to the city. Your feelings were too much and too complicated. If he had known where you had run to, there was a chance he would have followed and it wouldnât be only Seokjin you had doomed to a life in a small town he hadnât wanted to return to.Â
Yoongi sighed. âThat's all then. I came here to thank you for taking care of Jungkook,â he said, breaking the silence. âI will forever be in your debt. Jungkook told me of how you found him and how you cared for him. I was out of my mind when I couldnât find him and I realised he was out in the storm alone. I wouldnât be able to bear it if anything had happened to him, I would never forgive myself. Thank you for being there for him when I couldnât.â
âI will tell you what I told him, there is no need for thanks or debts. I wanted to help him and I did. The fact that he is a very cute bat also helped, I couldnât resist.â
Your attempt at a joke was rewarded with a weak chuckle. âItâs those big eyes. Itâs impossible to tell him no.â
âI can imagine that.â You glanced at the clock again. The tea was ready. âI guess you are visiting Jin. Now that the weather wonât interfere as much with my magic, I should send him a fire message to let him know that you are both here and safe. Knowing him, he will be fretting over where you are and driving Jimin crazy.â
âThatâs a good idea. I didnât tell him I would be leaving in the morning,â Yoongi confessed. It made sense, Seokjin wouldnât have let him leave while the rain was still this heavy and definitely not without an umbrella. âShould I take this to the living room?â He gestured to the tray you had set up with the teapot and the three mugs.
âYes, go ahead. The tea is ready.â
Yoongi picked up the tray and left the kitchen without saying anything more. There was a painful tightness in your throat as your shoulders slumped. You had to send that message to Seokjin but your feet were rooted to the ground and your knees were weak. You had thought you would never see Yoongi again and although it hurt, after years you had made peace with it. All that was [changed] by the storm and you didnât know how to feel about it.
You opened one of the drawers and pulled out a crinkled loose leaf of paper from the stack you kept there. On the counter, there was a pen next to the old witchcraft recipe book you had been studying the day before. You gripped the pen and debated how you should start the letter. He had known Yoongi was coming to town and yet he had told you nothing when he knew why you had run away and why no one should know where you were. He was supposed to be your best friend and best friends looked out for each other. For the first time during your friendship, that wasnât true.
Suppressing your stupid anger, you wrote a quick message letting him know that Jungkook and Yoongi were safe in your house and that you would send them back to town once the rain and the forestâs magic calmed down. Towards the end, you added that you would like to know about any future guests of his from the city. You considered crossing over the bitterness that bled into the page but you let it be. Using black chalk, you drew the sigil for the fire message at the top right corner.
You lit up a blood-red candle and burned some thyme over the flame first. You recited the incantation while you held the message over the fire and watched it consume the paper. The magic was a lazy tingle at your fingertips and a warmth curled in your chest.
Yoongi and Jungkook were talking in hushed voices that were swiftly silenced when you walked back to the living room. The tea had been poured into the mugs but they were untouched. You picked up one of them on your way to the armchair. Conversation was stilted. Jungkook tried to alleviate the awkwardness but was soon shrinking into his sireâs side, clutching onto his mug of tea with both hands.Â
âThe rain is growing weaker,â you observed. âThe forestâs magic is settling, it can be unpredictable during storms and itâs dangerous to tread through it when it is like that. It will be best for you to return to the town before it picks up again.â
There would be another spike in a couple of hours before it broke in the night. Thatâs how storms like this one worked and what your senses were telling you.
You accompanied them to the door and they thanked you again. It felt like you didnât deserve it with your past mistakes clinging to you like vices. Jungkook was quieter than last night when you were practically a stranger.
âHere,â you said, handing Yoongi the only umbrella you owned. It was a black one with little mushrooms Jimin had painted on it and enchanted them not to be washed away by rain. âI donât use it much and I wonât be going into town for a few days. Seokjin can bring it back when he finds time.â
âThank you,â Yoongi said.
You picked up your cloak from the coat stand and offered it to Jungkook. âAnd this is for you. Itâs charmed to protect you from rain.â
Jungkookâs eyes widened, making him look like a baby deer. âI canât take your cloak,â he said, shaking his head. âYou might need it.â
âDonât worry about that. I donât have anywhere to go.â You would have to go to the farmhouse later in the day but it was only a short distance away and a little rain wouldnât phase you. You took it up to yourself to wrap the cloak around him and pull the hood over his head. âI didnât nurse you back to health for you to get sick now.â
Suddenly, there was a blur of movement and strong arms were wrapped around you. Jungkook was hugging you and, when the shock wore off, you hugged him back.
âThank you for finding me,â he said, his voice sounding a little wet.
âIf anything, you found me,â you joked. You pulled back, although you didnât want to let go of him. âGo now. The forest will lead you to the town.â
âI will bring the cloak back to you,â Jungkook promised before he and Yoongi left. On the path, Yoongi glanced back at you over his shoulder but you averted your eyes and closed the door.
Five years and your heart still fluttered. But it was different. There was guilt tainting everything surrounding him. You had imagined meeting him again countless times, of course, you had, mostly during restless nights and too quiet mornings, but it hadnât played out like this in any of your scenarios. It was too⌠simple, too mundane, even though your heart was still racing, but it also felt a little like the end of the world.Â
Their mugs were sitting empty on the coffee table. You placed them on the tray to take everything back in the kitchen and you realized that you had forgotten to at least put some cookies in a plate for them. Vampires didnât eat much human food but it was simple courtesy to offer.
There was a spark in the air, followed by another, before flames erupted and formed a letter. You caught it before it floated to the ground. The loopy handwriting belonged to Seokjin. The first line was an apology, the second line was an apology as well. He promised to visit as soon as he could to explain and that you had every right to be angry at him. He thanked you for letting him know that Yoongi and Jungkook were safe since Yoongi had taken off in the morning before Seokjin had woken up, otherwise, he wouldnât have let him go off in the rain. Reading his letter, the jagged edges of your anger smoothed but Seokjin would have to explain himself in person.
You picked up the tray and set yourself to tidying up. It was strange, you had lived alone for five years but the house felt emptier than ever before.
Taglist: @nochuwastaken @blancflms @rinkud @seokteoksworld
Please comment and reblog, it motivates me to keep writing!
What the Devil Doesnât know
(Witch! Namjoon x Demon! Jimin x human! Reader) (Soulmate au)
Summary: when Jimin dies suddenly and mysteriously it leaves both you and namjoon devastated. But maybe Jiminâs story didnât end there, maybe heâll find a way to come back to you from beyond the grave.
Tags: MAJOR CHARACTER DEATH, themes of grief, depression, nightmares, night terrors, devil characters, magical au, witch! namjoon, magic shop au. soulmate au, brief mention of shapeshifter! Yoongi, brief yoonkook.Â
W/C: 5.1k
A/n: this was heavily inspired by a dream that I had where Tae (or something posing as Tae in my dreams) said to me âI donât care who you love in this life-but when you die- youâre mineâ so yeah! when I die Iâm getting that good demon dick! happy Halloween everyone!!Â
Playlist: Work song - Hozier, when we all fall asleep where do we go?- Billie Eilish, Devil like me- rainbow kitten surprise.
 - As with most sweet things in life, It starts with a flower.
- Namjoonâs friend, Yoongi a shapeshifter, gives him it to him early one morning. though really, Namjoon shouldnât be surprised that yoongi arrived just after sunrise, pawing at the window in his cat form until namjoon lets him in. he doesnât shift until namjoon has a cup of coffee poured for him. One moment a cat and the next a very grumpy human. He barely says a thing before he plops the bulb onto Namjoonâs kitchen counter and raises an eyebrow at his unkempt hair over his coffee.
- Namjoon grumbles at that, unlike Yoongi- he doesnât have anyone to be put together for at almost 5 in the morning. And his shop wonât open for a few more hours either- he has more than enough time to shower and be presentable before then.Â
- âYou have better luck with flowers than I doâ he justifies. And heâs not wrong- but this flower- is something peculiar of note. All Namjoon has to do is pick it up before he realizes what the blub is- and more importantly why Yoongi has brought it to Namjoon instead of trying to pawn it off or keep it for himself.
- The flower is none other than the species âAnimus Videndceusâ or the âsoul seeing flowerâ, and it has the unique ability to bloom according to oneâs soulmate.
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