New Moon | Vampire TAEKOOK

15 - Truce For Truth

[TW: some fighting, weapons]

<Jungkook POV>

It was the middle of the night. The Jeon army was slowly moving towards the Kim territories, lead by Aesoo, the leader, Jungkook himself and his father. It was so quiet, no sounds could be heard apart from the soldiers walking, stepping on the ground in unison. 

As the group was approaching their closest neighbours, Jungkook felt a knot in his stomach, growing more and more nauseous. This wasn't right... There was something off about this plan. He should feel happy to finally be able to accomplish what he worked so hard for, to finally be able to see his father smile again, but he just wanted to stop everything and go home. Home with Taehyung. 

For most of the walk, he stared down at the ground, sometimes glancing at the Dragon Bracelet around his wrist. Indeed, he was chosen to wear it because of his rare mixed-blood. The power of two races flowing in him make him the most suitable candidate to wield the power of the artefact. In a way, it made Jungkook feel better to know he would be in control, but it also added so much pressure on his shoulders if he had to take a decision whether to fight or not. He could not afford to hurt Taehyung, not more than he already has. 

He looked over at his father nervously and noticed the older vampire had an unusual smirk, like he was looking forward to watching the flames consume the forest and his own people. It made Jungkook sick. This man was not his father. He couldn't recognize the kind and attentive man he once was, the one who loved teaching his son about every magical creature, place or object he could name. Revenge consumed him... 

Jungkook then glances over at his leader, who had a serious face, staring forward towards his goal with no emotions, just a cold glare. Jungkook would hate to become a leader like him, yet it was what was expected of him; to be this insensitive power-hungry leader who destroys everything on his path. This isn't me... I can't turn like that... But what if I can't stop this and end up like him...? Or what if I try to stop him and things go wrong? I wouldn't be able to save Taehyung at all... The torment was endless. Jungkook was spiralling down in his thoughts, trying to find a way to save the other clans while avoiding his own clan's wrath. It seemed impossible... 

"Halt!" Aesoo suddenly yells. The entire army comes to a stop. Murmurs arise from the crowd, curious of the reason why they stopped suddenly so close to their goal, right at the entrance of the woods. "Who are you?" the leader asks to the void. He was staring at a point in the forest, at a far distance, immobile. Jungkook squints; it seemed there was someone sitting there! Are they crazy?? 

"Stand aside, or you will perish. This is your last warning." threatens Aesoo with confidence while signalling Jungkook to come closer with the artefact. The elf hesitantly walks closer and notices the silhouette standing up. He squints more as the person walks out of the bushes and tries to focus on their face. It was a new moon that night, so it was particularly dark. As the person walked into the light of the stars, Jungkook started to recognize familiar features, notably their flashing red eyes as they looked at Jungkook. His heart skipped a beat when he recognized his own soulmate and his jaw drops. Taehyung, why are you here? Does he not realize how reckless it is to try and stop the Jeon army on his own? Jungkook stares at him frozen and Aesoo gets more angry at the boy disobeying him. 

"I warned you! Jungkook, get rid of him." he orders dryly while glaring at the elf. Jungkook was too busy staring at Taehyung and did not budge, his mind was racing trying to find a way to avoid the confrontation. He was about to say something back, when Taehyung's loud deep voice interrupts him;

"You're the one who should move. You are not welcomed here." he says with a calm but stern attitude. Aesoo did not like that tone...

"Jungkook, hurry up. Remove this inconvenience." Jk felt his blood boil as his leader referred to Tae as an 'inconvenience'. There was so much he wanted to say in this moment, like apologizing to Tae for leaving him suddenly, yelling at his father to snap out of it, rebelling against his leader and stop this madness, yet no words came out. Aesoo gives him an insisting look to pressure him which gave Jungkook chills. Again, Taehyung speaks before he can do anything;

"If you want to cross this border, you will have to go through us." he says with an intense look. Aesoo scoffs.

" 'Us'? You really think you can defeat my army on your own?" 

"Who knows, maybe I could but... Tonight, I am not alone."

What? What are you planning Taehyung? Stop this! Stop this and run! Run with me! 

Jungkook was going internally crazy, staring at Taehyung, urging him to stop, fearing that the worst would happen to him. What should I do? He watches as Aesoo gets impatient and grabs his large spear, the famous weapon known to have been used to kill millions of creatures in history, trapping their souls in its peak. Shit... Stop... Jungkook was frozen. Taehyung was just standing there, like he was waiting for something. Aesoo gets ready to throw the weapon at the boy. No, run! Jungkook tries to stop his leader but it was too late. Before he could even move, Aesoo had thrown the spear straight towards Tae's heart. It all happened in a flash, and yet it felt like Jungkook was watching the scene in slow motion. The blade was dangerously racing towards Taehyung, who didn't move an inch, and right before the impact, something suddenly stops it; a katana, swung by Suni who jumped in the spear's trajectory with an incredible speed, hit it and sent it flying to the ground.

What just happened...?

Everyone stood still while staring at her. Taehyung was still standing in the same spot as before. He knew she would save him... 

"Well, well, well... Look at you threatening my protégé and stepping on my lawn with your dirty shoes." she says arrogantly, slowly putting her katana way. Jungkook recognized this sword, forged by dwarfs, an indestructible katana as light as a feather and with a perfect precision.  Aesoo seemed to have recognized it too and understood the message; she was here to fight. This meant war. 

The tension was so intense. The leaders scowled at each other silently. Jungkook could feel his heart beating in every centimetres of his body and made the mistake to look towards Taehyung. His soulmate was glaring at him darkly with an intensity that Jungkook had never seen before. It was scary enough to raise the hair on his back. He was clearly angry. In fact he seemed more than angry, more than furious, more than fuming, he seemed to hate Jungkook with a flaming passion. Koo felt his heart sink in his chest. The atmosphere suddenly felt so heavy as he realized how much he hurt Taehyung and regret and guilt took over him. He just wanted to run towards him and explain everything but he knew there was no way he would listen. Not in that state... 

While the leaders and apprentices were staring at each other, the silence was interrupted by movements in the trees around them; more people were here... Jungkook looks around along with the rest of his clan and notices the other clans were here, their respective leaders standing on each side of the Jeon army. It took him less than a second to realize they were surrounded. A sudden stress took over the Jeons but Jungkook almost wanted to smile at the idea that his father's plans could maybe be stopped. All he had to do was take care of Taehyung, that way he knew he would be safe, and let the other clans take care of the rest. It was wrong, but Jungkook felt so relieved, contrary to Aesoo. He raises his hand, provoked by Suni's arrogance, and his spear start floating off the ground and quickly flies right to his hand. Grasping it firmly, he lets out a scream of anger and runs at Suni, who screams back and runs to him too. Their blades collide in a loud 'clank' that resonates in Jungkook's ears. As soon as they see this, the armies follow their leaders and run into battle. 

It was the end of the truce and the beginning of a war.