For the Prisoner

13. A New Course

They didn't see Hongjoong all evening.

After they had returned to the campsite, Seonghwa sat in wait for hours, scanning the skies and desperately hoping for even the smallest edge of a wing to appear. Usually, Hongjoong would hide in the trees when upset, invisible, but watchful of his friends.

This time, he had left altogether. And with every minute passing, Seonghwa was less and less sure that he would return.

As if understanding of his dilemma and wishing to pay him company, Mingi stuck close around. His presence mocked Seonghwa, for his plan to split him and Hongjoong apart had succeeded. Mingi feasted on his misery as if he had been starving for months.

Lonely and forsaken even by the one he went to such lengths to please, Seonghwa shivered by the campfire. It had all been for nought. They were back at the beginning, with his heart dying in his chest day by day. This time, he had maddened Hongjoong beyond their regular quarrels. Hongjoong claimed fault for losing whatever he missed on Seonghwa now. Had he been after his virginity? Did sin taste foul on his tainted skin now?

Seonghwa hated the thought that he was no more but a tool for Hongjoong to corrupt.

"Your thoughts disrupt the silence of the night. Are you so concerned about your gargoyle friend?"

Mingi leaned to cast his shoulder over Seonghwa's. The witch's heated body carried a sickening intimacy that made Seonghwa's stomach churn.

Seonghwa refused to reply. He had no patience to play Mingi's game and increase the man's enjoyment. Looking for help, he gazed around the campsite, but couldn't meet anyone's eyes. Jongho was also mad, silently carving away at a wooden statue. Wooyoung laid on his back to count the stars and Yunho and San had disappeared mysteriously.

As long as Hongjoong was gone, none of them had the answers Seonghwa sought.

"My foul play must have come to no surprise to you. I am delighted I saw through him. Man's desires are so easy to recognise."

"What was it you took from me? That he now misses?" The only thing that kept Hongjoong with him, it appeared. Stronger even than his oath that tied them together. Or was the oath dissolved now that Seonghwa willingly chose danger? Would Hongjoong return to Cardend and leave Seonghwa to rot away with his foolish decisions?

Mingi laughed, elated with his games.

"It's something that can't be regained. The very thing that made you precious to him. What it is, you need to ask him yourself. But it is something you wouldn't want any other man to seize off your beloved."

Tired of the riddles, Seonghwa scooted away from him. The sweet scent of death clinging to the witch was nauseating.

Undeterred, Mingi continued with his rumbling voice.

"I fulfilled half of my promise to you. The gargoyle is free. I am not responsible for what he does with that freedom. Now, we can begin our journey to find the White Lady."

Seonghwa buried his face in his hand. His headache had returned for he still felt he did wrong, even after convincing himself sleeping with Mingi was the right thing to do. Was there no way to befriend Hongjoong? Did they always have to be on opposite ends?

"Give me some time. I need to catch up with all of this. Once we are ready, we will ask you to guide us."

"As you wish." Mingi kept his chuckles to himself to focus on his matagot. While he was distracted, Seonghwa got up to pace the nearby forest. He wanted to apologise to Hongjoong properly, both for disregarding his wishes, as well as for losing whatever gave him worth in Hongjoong's eyes. He so desperately wanted to make Hongjoong approve of him. Seonghwa cast his faith aside to free him, and now he was lonely without the guidance of his God. Had he gone wrong? Had the Lord tested him and the right response should have been to never leave his place by His side?