"Did you know there are three sides to the Moon, Jung Hoseok?"

Hoseok said nothing at Yeonjun's question, finding himself startled as Yeonjun gently lifted Hoseok's chin upwards. The moon was seemed to have split itself into three, each bearing the same spherical shape. Under these three, a pattern of stars resembling female figures. Hoseok's lips parted in surprise at the view, feeling himself instinctively hold Yeonjun's hand tighter.

"There's the Crescent New Moon," Yeonjun pointed towards the far left. "The Full Moon, and Waning Moon. Each one represents a Goddess, and while it seems peculiar that three Goddesses would share the symbol of the Moon— light and dark bring about two different sides of the same coin."

While the Crescent New Moon and Full Moon competed to be the brightest, the Waning Moon singled itself out, bearing a soft, darker glow, complimenting the Crescent New Moon while bringing out the fortune that came with the Full Moon. Hoseok had no idea what to make of the situation or how any of this tied into anything, but he couldn't find it in himself to let go.

"Artemis bears the symbol of the Crescent New Moon, taking the role of protector," Yeonjun outlined the pattern of stars, and with a slight twist of the wrist, the stars disappeared— a figure solidifying in their presence. "As the Goddess of the Hunt, she wields the bow and arrow and, when used, bears a direct representation of her symbol. She is the light that contrasts the Waning Crescent, providing harmony and stability."

Artemis looked just as Hoseok could have imagined her to look like. Long, platinum hair with light green streaks flowed down past her waist, encapsulating her face shape perfectly, bringing out her perfectly tinted lips, and matching with her silver eyes. If it weren't for Yeonjun painting the picture perfectly, Hoseok would have thought Artemis was nothing more than a ghost. The shine of the Crescent New Moon reflected on every part of Artemis, but, just as quickly as she had appeared, she disappeared, and with it, the first Moon Yeonjun had pointed out.

"I don't get what you're trying to show me," Hoseok began, only to be quickly cut off by Yeonjun. Yeonjun smiled, his mismatched eyes looking at Hoseok amused.

"Do not interrupt me when I'm talking, your Highness," Yeonjun clicked his tongue. "Has your father not taught you manners? You'll know in due time, I promise. Now Artemis's counterpart of sorts bears the Waning Crescent, and her name is Hecate."

Yeonjun's mother?

"Correct," Yeonjun answered, earning a surprised look from Hoseok. "As long as you hold my hand, I know your every thought. I'm a direct descendant of Hecate, and as her Waning Crescent represents coming darkness, so does she meddle in everything the dark provides. Magic, witchcraft, sorcery, ghosts, crossroads, you name it. Everything in this universe has a dark side, and my mother so gracefully carries the burden that comes with it."

Hecate's hair was raven black, the streak opposite of Artemis's white. She bore the same mismatched eyes Yeonjun had— one red, one blue, and her skin was pale, causing her features to stick out more prominently. Though she embodied darkness, there wasn't anything that alerted Hoseok or made him feel like she was someone that was dangerous.

Still, while everything was being presented to Hoseok as if it were a history lesson from one of his father's countless courses, it didn't stick to Hoseok as fact. Even though he could see everything that Yeonjun was pointing out to him, it wasn't internalizing. This sounded more of a myth than anything else, and while intriguing, only left Hoseok completely confused.

"Now you have the Full Moon, which combines the light and dark," Yeonjun pointed to the Moon in the middle. "She provides the balance between the two, a role given to her partly out of guilt and her nature. Guilt from Artemis, who represented the light, and nature because of Hecate, after Selene abandoned life as a human for immortality. Frankly, Hecate loved Selene more than Artemis, but family feuds aren't something we should get into, Prince. You'll come to learn that nothing is simple when it comes to the Gods."

Hoseok remained silent, taking in Selene's appearance. While all of the goddesses that had been shown to him had naturally pale skin, there was something odd about Selene's skin color. Her among the Moon's light seemed more translucent, and there was no color to her cheeks. She resembled the hue of a marble statue, and her ocean eyes, though bright, radiated with a strange dullness, one that seemed enveloped in mystery. There was something familiar about her features, too, that Hoseok couldn't quite pinpoint, and it was beginning to bother him.

"Selene isn't just a goddess," Hoseok stated, looking at Yeonjun. "She isn't like the rest."

Yeonjun smiled. "Your brain seems to be functioning correctly for once, Prince."

Hoseok scowled at the response. "What happened to her?"

"Don't ask me, Prince." Yeonjun chuckled, "Ask your future lover."

"Yoongi's isn't going to be my future lover," Hoseok snapped. Yeonjun arched an eyebrow, coyness slipping into his expression.

"Prince, you aren't married to Kim Seokjin yet." Yeonjun hummed. "He is considered to be part of your future, no? And yet, the first name that came to mind wasn't his."

"That means nothing," Hoseok retorted, shaking his head. "Look at where I am. He took me. Of course, he would be the first person I'd think of. Are we done with the children's stories now?"

A look of irritation flashed across Yeonjun's face. "Nothing I have said is fiction, Jung Hoseok. Do you think I would waste my time on children's myths? All I'm doing is helping cover what your worthless father opted out of doing."

Worthless?

"Your father's nothing but a con artist," Yeonjun spat, fire beginning to blaze in his eyes. "A con artist with an insatiable greed for power, he pledged allegiance to his enemies so he could get rid of generations of royals and replace it with his own. The only thing that was requested he promised to give up and didn't. I don't involve myself in family affairs, but when something is owed, it must be given."

Rage bubbled inside Hoseok at Yeonjun's words. Was this the only reason that he'd waltzed his way into the residence? To tarnish the image, the person that Hoseok looked up to the most, the one that was trying to get him back? There was no way that his father was capable of greed— everything he did was for Hoseok's safety and the success of the kingdom. For Yeonjun verbally insulting the only person that raised him, well, that angered Hoseok beyond means.

"You know nothing about my father," Hoseok gritted his teeth. "A con artist? Could you not have come up with something better? My father's the King. There would be no reason for him to scam anyone — he has everything!"

Yeonjun laughed menacingly. "I was raised alongside the Purebloods, Prince. Who are you to tell me, I know nothing of your father, when I was alive to witness his first steps? All you know is what he wants you to see."

Hoseok closed his eyes at the sudden flash of light in his vision, attempting to shield himself with his free arm.

"But I'm not here to tell you what is and what isn't," Yeonjun said. "I'm not indoctrinating you, Jung Hoseok. Fortunately, I am a man of principle."

"That stupid sorcerer has yet to activate Hoseok's spell!"

At the sound of his father's voice, Hoseok's eyes immediately opened. To his surprise, he and Yeonjun were at his father's study, and from the looks of it, in present times. Tears immediately welled up in Hoseok's eyes as he gazed at his father, eyes darting next to him to see Seokjin, with just as much worry on his face. Before he could say anything, Yeonjun immediately raised his free hand.

"They won't be able to hear you unless I want them to," Yeonjun hissed. "So you better be on your best behavior if you want to speak. Now listen."

"You heard him. It takes time, and he needs to find Hoseok first," Seokjin responded, pressing his lips together. "He promised to alert us once everything was clear. Have more faith in the sorcerer you chose."

"I paid good money for the witch to use his Mother's magic to make sure Hoseok was never out of reach," the King spoke, sounding irritated. "I have no clue why he opted to lay it dormant. How can a spell lay dormant for over eighteen years?"

"You had the spell on Hoseok since birth?" Seokjin asked incredulously. The King only sighed, casting a side glance.

"Had it shortly after that Pureblood showed his presence a few months after Hoseok was born," The King answered.

"Sir, for you to have someone cast a spell on Hoseok as an infant, that would have meant that you knew the Purebloods would come for Hoseok," Seokjin said, freezing in place. "If you knew what would happen, why didn't you prevent it more in the first place? Why didn't you let any of us know what would happen? You acted like everything was fine."

"Such an amazing father, isn't he, Hoseok?" Yeonjun whispered in Hoseok's ear. "He knew you'd get taken and said absolutely nothing to you. Didn't prepare you, let you believe that you were perfectly safe."

"Why would I cause mass hysteria?" the King asked. "There was no need for me to tell you or him about the possibilities. If you and Hoseok had completed your bond, as I had intended, it wouldn't have mattered. We need to get Hoseok back, complete the ceremony, and all of our problems will go away. Now, where is that useless wizard?!"

"Would you like to hear more about how your father had me cast a spell on you, Hoseok?" Yeonjun asked, turning to him. "Or would you rather have me enable the spell? Yoongi wanted me to get rid of it, but that takes away from my amusement."

"Amusement?" Hoseok questioned. Yeonjun nodded.

"They're family, of course, but it's no fun for me if he gets what he wants." Yeonjun breezed. "He already had me introducing you to the family tree. I need to have my fix of amusement too. Yoongi would skin me alive if I were to turn on the spell for you. But, I am willing to do it for a price."

Hoseok looked back at Seokjin and his father, mind already made up. Nodding vigorously, he stared at Yeonjun wide-eyed.

"What do I have to do?" Hoseok asked. Yeonjun's lips curled into another smile, his expression overtaking with malice. He gently pressed three fingers against Hoseok's chest and his thumb on Hoseok's wrist. A soft light began to glow, and as Hoseok's eyes continued to glance back at Seokjin's, he realized what was happening.

This can't be happening.

"Your father made a mistake choosing me to cast the tracking spell on you," Yeonjun chuckled softly, letting go of Hoseok. "It will only turn on if you something is given up in return. A spell for a spell. A bond for a bond."

"What the hell's going on?"

Hoseok's blood ran cold at the sound of Seokjin's bewildered voice. He looked at Seokjin, heart falling as Seokjin emitted the same light Hoseok was, before turning back to Yeonjun, who seemed to be having the time of his life. His eyes glittered with glee as he leaned towards Hoseok, with no trace of sympathy or compassion in his expression.

"If you want them to find you, you must give up your l'amour lie with Seokjin."

a/n: staying up with my sister who's completing her assignments for school, so here we are, writing past midnight (though this is pretty normal for me ahahaha).

this actually took me a lot longer to write. it was like i knew what i wanted to write, but presenting it was a completely different story. there were so many times where i completely deleted what i had written and rewritten. in a way, it was kinda slow and more of information to digest— but the end of this was very fun.

i didn't want to do just pure information. information dumps never help, and yeonjun covering the basics is the first step in hoseok beginning his descent into what the truth is (hence why last chapter yeonjun says "and so it begins")

thank you for 3k reads <3 IDK WHAT I DID TO DESERVE YALL BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR CONTINUOUS SUPPORT

i'm going to try to decrease the length of the chapters b/c they be incredibly long skjghfdjlksgh don't wanna accidentally bore you guys or anything (:

thanks for reading !