Suddenly the circle shifts before me, allowing one who is twisted even more than the others to pass through and stand before me. Eyes the color of blood stare at me dismissively. It's huge, with a body somewhere between bug-like and molten disease. I shiver as it begins to speak, sickly black liquid oozing from its pores and making me nauseous.

"Human child," it speaks, voice booming into the darkness. "Do you know why you are here?"

I am speechless, frozen in both body and mind by the terror evoked by this monstrous being.

"Run Evie!" Jimin shouts feebly, desperately attempting to push me away and failing miserably.

I do not fail to notice how alarmingly weak he is in this moment.

"Get out of here!"

"I won't," I reply defiantly.

Instead, I hold him even tighter. Burying my face into his chest, I will all of this to go away. If I close my eyes and open them once more, would we magically awaken to find out all of this is just a bad dream?

Maybe Jimin never actually left and all of this is a nightmare created by the hormones coursing through me. Maybe I've watched too many horror movies and my active imagination has finally returned once and for all...

Except...

I know the truth.

This is neither a dream, nor a nightmare, and there surely won't be any waking up.

The sound of footsteps nearing ever closer snaps me out of my melancholy. Lifting my gaze, I am met face to face with the vile creature. I shiver at its proximity.

"You should never have been born, " it says flippantly. "Your existence is a strain on the natural order."

Standing to once more reach its full height, the creature continues.

"And this Fae child... His actions are inexcusable. He must be eradicated, as must you."

The other creatures crowd around once more, circling us as they chant. Jimin begins to scream in agony, flailing about in pain. I hang on to him as best I can, tears streaming down my cheeks the response to his anguish.

The creature before us stands there, watching massively as Jimin begins to conclude beneath the effects of whatever magic it is that they are using. Time loses all meaning as the chant continues, ominous and eerie, but somehow beautiful as well.

"Why?" I scream, voice breaking under the strain of my panic. "Why are you doing this?"

And the chanting stops. I blink, looking to each of the now silent creatures before settling my anguished gaze upon the obvious ringleader.

"By taking a human as his wife, Crown Prince Jimin has sinned greatly against the Fairy court. But that is not his only, and certainly not his most grievous sin." The creature explains. "Over a hundred years ago this Fae interfered with the life and inherent nature of one human woman, in particular, thereby setting off a chain of events whose result you see before you now. If he had never saved this woman, she'd have died as she was meant to. Instead, she survived and sired the woman who gave birth to you."

I gasp, shocked by the revelation placed before me. The story that Jin had told me, about the woman that Jimin had loved enough to spirit away... That was my grandmother?

Suddenly, everything makes so much more sense.

"You will both die, and in doing so, restore the natural order. The laws of nature must be appeased." It says, unflinching in the slightest.

But I am not ready to die.

There are so many things that I want to ask Jimin, and so many things that I want to tell him. None of it matters the lies, the deceit. Not even this new revelation.

I love Jimin. And I know that he loves me in return.

From the corner of my eye, I spot suspicious movement. Only after a few moments does it become clear to me. The cavalry has arrived.

Jin looks directly at me, placing his finger before his mouth in indication. Beside him is a noticeably more calm Namjoon, but they are flanked by men that I don't recognize at all.

But they aren't going to make it in time. Already I can feel Jimin slipping away, his breathing becoming alarmingly labored. His heart beats so faintly against his chest that I can no longer feel it against mine.

If they begin chanting again, Jimin will die.

As I notice Jin and Namjoon speaking to each other, and the others, the wheels in my brain begin turning. They are obviously trying to determine the best course of action, but we are running out of time. I have utter faith in them, but it won't matter if something isn't done and quick.

What if...

What if I could stall? Afford the group more time? Would we be able to emerge victoriously? And even if we can't...

Shouldn't we at least try?

With nothing left to lose, I steel myself and face the creature once more.

"These laws of nature, " I begin, thankful that my voice is not shaking this time. "What are they? How can you punish someone who didn't know they existed?"

The creature looks at me, clearly deliberating my words in order to form a response.

"It matters not, " he finally speaks, "whether one does or does not know the law. All are bound by it."

"And just who the hell are you? Who decided that you get to interpret such laws?" I inquire, defiance lending me strength enough to finally rouse my anger. "Who died and made you king?"

The thing looks at me quizzically, obvious confusion easily read upon his face.

"My father before me, of course. It is the way of things. And someday, when I die, my son will be crowned the new King of the Winter Court. Just as I was." He retorts. "Though I fail to see the point of all these inane questions. Stall all you will, but you only delay the inevitable. You cannot escape fate."

He lifts his arms, signaling the creatures circled around to begin chanting once more.

But they never get the chance.

Suddenly the men, led by Namjoon, rush into the clearing. They take several of the creatures by surprise, ending their lives before they can so much as scream.

By the time they have reached the two of us over half of this creeps forces are gone. Namjoon stands tall before us, shielding us from view. And as Jin drags Jimin away, Namjoon stands his ground, scowling.

"You'll have to play with us first, " he spits, gesturing to the man around him. And this time, I'll make sure to kill you."