Yoongi

Why are mornings necessary? Can't we just wake up somewhere closer to noon. Waking up just as the sun peeks over my balcony is annoying. The man literally looks at me with only his nose visible each morning.

"Hoseok, have you nothing better to do?" I grumbled covering my eyes from his brightness.

"I'd say no... but we both know that's not true. I'm a very important god. If not for me, you'd be in total darkness."

I could practically feel his megawatt smile burning through my blankets. Slowly I sat up on my elbows, leaning my head to the side.

"That's not true. There is the moon and the stars."

Hoseok scoffed, folding his arms across his chest.

"I bring happy vibes though."

"To who?" I shot back.

He mumbled something under his breath and I chuckled. These gods acted like toddlers sometimes.
The way they played with humans as if they were dolls. How they toyed with our emotions with no remorse.

I quirked an eyebrow with a smirk.

"You are quite cold these days."

"I wonder why."

"Look, Yoongi. There are things even gods can't control." Hoseok whined, gripping the edge of my bed.

"No, it seems you only control punishing people for your mistakes."

"That's not true! That's the Fates! Not just that, I have a punishment right now and it is unbearable." Hoseok sighed. His head sagged with the full weight of the emotions that troubled him. I almost felt sorry for him. What punishment could they possibly have given him?

"Sure... If you excuse me, I'm needed in the war room."

I got up from the bed, stretching loudly. Picking up my attire for today. A simple set of village robes to disguise myself from prying eyes. I didn't wait to see if the god left. Hoseok either followed me around like a lost puppy or he would vanish into the rays to who knows where.

In the war room a lantern sat burning, casting an eerie glow across the map scrawled out on the table. Kira was hunched over it, her fingers tracing the way lines.

"Good morning." She murmured without looking up from the map. I grunted in response, moving to get a better view of what she was looking at.

"It is said the entrance of hell rests between these way lines."

I looked down at where her finger pointed. Along the way lines were mountain ridges with a deep ravine that ran near the bottom. It was like a gaping mouth begging for lost souls.

"Are you sure about this?"

"More than anything."

It had been several days since Taehyung and Jungkook appeared in my chambers. Many hours I found myself pouring through old scrolls to find a way into hell to get to the dreadful Fates' layer. I even took on some martial arts training with Ages. Although, I'm pretty sure the man just wanted to throw some punches without any consequences. I can't be sure.

Kira has trained me well with a long sword, even though she preferred to use a bow. Probably something to do with her being half elf half human. Her slightly pointed ears are the only indicator of her elven bloodline.

She sighed standing up straight.

"What about the Empire and your duty to the people?" Kira questioned.

"Ages is to handle any pressing matters."

"Ages?" She scoffed in disbelief. The two of them always bumped heads. I simply nodded, gazing back down at the map. I could feel my heartbeat accelerate with the thought of being with Jinx once more.

"Why not me?" Her question took me by surprise. My eyes met her blue ones in confusion.

"You are coming with me."

Her face reddened.

"Oh."

"I trust you over anyone. So I want you by my side to take on these hags."

Kira bowed her head.

"Thank you, Your Majes-"

"Woman! What did I tell you!?"

She shot up quickly, rubbing the back of her head in embarrassment.

"R-right! I-I meant Yoongi."

"That's better. Gather your things, we leave before the sun god throws the light across the Empire. Kira nodded curtly, hastily leaving the war room.

Quickly I made my way to the kitchen. The cooks were busy making breakfast. When I entered the room the bowed then continued moving about the room like a symphony.

Tucking a loaf of bread and some jerky away into a satchel, I disappeared back into the hallway. Ages stood watching the sun as it rose above the horizon. A tranquil smile playing across his tired face.

"Good morning, Your Highness." Ages mumbled.

"The sun god is most gracious today."

I rolled my eyes. You don't even know the guy.

"It is a beautiful morning."

"Perfect for a trip to Hell, wouldn't you say?" He turned, eyeing me carefully. I just smiled while my heart skipped a beat. I need to find Jinx.

"There could be no better day." I mused. He grunted, looking back towards the rising sun.

"See you in three days, Ages. Take care of the people for me."

"Of course."

Come on Hoseok slow down! Isn't it close to daylight savings time? Slow your happy ass. I cursed racing towards my chambers to grab my bag. Why I didn't carry it to the war room before?

Poor planning. Yea... that's it.

Kira stood lightly tapping her foot.

"You are not very punctual, Yoongi."

"Oh hush, Miss I need a cup of bitter beans to keep me awake!" I teased. She laughed. We moved among the shadows down into the dungeons. Finding our way to the hidden pathway.

"There!" Kira pointed with her torch towards a stone gargoyle with glinting yellow jewels for eyes. It was quite the grotesque looking thing. That didn't phase Kira any. She walked right up to it and poked it square in the jewels.

This woman. I thought as the walls quivered and dust rained down around us. Groaning loudly the stone gargoyle shifted, revealing a dark tunnel followed closely by the smell of damp earth.

Thick spider webs spread across the opening. Although they appeared to be vacant.

"Let's move." Kira whispered.

Moving swiftly we entered the cool pathway. The gargoyle sliding back in its place a moment later. Had it not been for Kira's torch we would have been in complete darkness.

"Watch where you step." She warned, running forward. I followed closely my eyes darting to every spot that lit up along the way. How long had this tunnel been here? What were the claw marks from?

Jagged claw marks riddled most of the stone walls. In some places it looked like dried blood splatter. How could that be possible if this was a secret tunnel?

"Kira." I called out to her. She stopped to look back at me.

"Yes?"

"What is this place? How did you come to find it?"

"It's a secret passageway... I found it when I was younger."

When she was younger? But she said she had never been in the castle before.

"You've never been in the castle."

"Not since I was five."

"Why didn't you mention that before?" I inquired, that trusting feeling starting to dissipate with each passing second we stood in a dank place.

"My father was the advisor of the king before you. He was slain by a Pen in an attempt to save him. I was hiding behind the heavy drapes in the throne room when I witnessed both of them die."

She sighed heavily then continued.

" I must have cried out, because the next thing I knew it was on me. It's hot breath breathing down my neck, ready to tear through my flesh. I ran. I didn't know where I was going, but I didn't stop until I found myself face to face with shimmering yellow eyes in the darkness. Behind me the pen wailed, followed by the screams of a wet nurse who had just come from the queen's chambers. Then silence."

Tears trickled down her face, they fell like diamonds in the torchlight. I felt bad for not trusting her and I didn't want her to continue, but my curiosity wanted to know how she escaped.

"How did you know to push the eyes?"

She knitted her eyebrows in deep thought.

"A man appeared. He told me that my escape was within the eyes. He worded it much like a riddle. No sooner had he said it he disappeared in a wisp of smoke."

So a god helped her. But why? Which one?

"What color was the smoke?"

She looked at me puzzled.

"What?"

"What color was the smoke the man disappeared in?"

"I don't know... it was dark. All I wanted was to get away."

I frowned, the disappointment evident on my face.

"After he disappeared, I climbed up onto the gargoyle, looking for a keyhole or a button. Not being able to find either I punched the gargoyle several times in frustration and desperation. The screams had started again, drawing closer by the second. A body stumbled down the stairs just as the gargoyle shifted, revealing this pathway. However, I wasn't the the only thing to escape the castle that night."

"No."

Her body shuddered at the memory.

"It followed me. The odd thing about it all is I don't remember coming out of the tunnel. I only remember waking up in a bed, what seemed like days later with a nasty cut across my back. Or should I say claw marks."

"I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"For the loss of your father."

She wiped at her cheeks, glancing a the claw marks on the wall.

"We have to hurry. We don't want to be caught in the burning forest after dark."

"The burning forest?"

"Yes, it used to be known as the whispering forest or forest of tranquility."

"I know." I responded coldly. The memories of the forest going up in flames and all the trees screaming. While one took the time to save me.

"Okay, well you know why we can't stay."

"Pens."

"Enough chit chat, let's go!"

We hurried along in silence. My mind replaying her story, trying to figure out why a god saved her. I am thankful that they did. She was a great friend and ally.

I'm starting to think these fates are just troubled witches with a vendetta to destroy people's happiness because they are miserable and the gods are trying to protect it. Except for maybe Jungkook.

I must have been deep in thought. The sunlight that hit my face startled me along with the burning feeling in my chest from the smog.

"Here." Kira handed me a cloth. "Cover your nose and mouth with this."

Her face was already covered. Carefully I tied the cloth around my face, watching Kira as she scanned the burning trees.

"It shouldn't mess with us right now." She whispered.

My head darted from one direction to the other.

"Okay."

Did the god help her more than once? How else did she get away from the pen?

"Kira?"

"Do you remember what the man looked like?"

She rummaged through her pack, pulling out a stick of jerky and a pouch of water. She took a long drink from it, then squinted her eyes at me.

"He had blonde hair I think... His face was almost angelic. But that's all I remember... it was dark. What light I had came from the torches in the stairwell."

Kira took a bite of her jerky, chewing quietly.

None of the gods I know have blonde hair... but she said he disappeared in smoke. All the gods did, aside from Hoseok. He vanished within the rays of light. Perhaps one of them changed their hair color. That's a thing.

Why would they do that though?

"Why are you so concerned with the guy that helped me?" Kira spoke with her mouth full.

"There are a lot of things people don't know." I murmured. She frowned at me.

"Do you believe in witchcraft? I think he was a wizard."

I laughed, she scowled at me, tossing the remainder of her jerky at my head.

"I suppose it's possible."

You name it. I'm sure I'd believe. Just by everything I've seen and been through.

"Where'd you think pens come from?"

Her mouth made an 'o' shape.

"I wonder if I have powers?" Kira thought out loud, examining her hands. I smiled at her innocence. She was a lot like Jinx. However Jinx was more gentle and peaceful. Kira was a bit rough around the edges. Given her past, I guess I understand why.

"If you have powers, then I'm a nine tailed fox!"

To be honest I don't know if I was anymore. But I also know I can't turn back into because I found the heart that calls to mine.

I just have to find her again.