For Peace

14. Believers

Smut warning!

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Mingi sat in the grass and prepared for his spells while the others ate. The clicking of their spoons in their bowls offered a welcome bustling to the apprehensive group, but they kept sneaking glances at the witch whenever they believed he wouldn't notice. Their curious eyes lingered on the crystals he had spread in a circle around the spot he sat in. Black chalk marred the grass under his body, a symbol of a magical gathering. As Mingi lit some candles and uttered words in his occult language under his breath, the shadows around him deepened and a whirr as if of a wasp swarm filled the air.

He was casting a spell on himself, a catalyst needed for his ability to bind the local spirits. While he was at it, he also enchanted his staff so it could bear the power of such accumulated hateful sorcery.

Seonghwa shivered whenever he looked too closely at the flaring runes on his fingers and the effortless weaving of spells, as if he were casting a spider web. He knew little about the influence Mingi's spells had on the world around him, or what price they demanded from the witch. Even using nature magic, he appeared ominous in his foul craft.

Before he could drown in his memories about the spell binding them and what it entailed, Seonghwa averted his gaze. Wooyoung had over-salted their stew, but it wasn't unbearable.

When Seonghwa's meal finished, he cleaned his bowl and got to his feet. Hongjoong sat in the tree behind him, lounging with his legs supported by a branch and his back leaning against the stem. Upon meeting Seonghwa's eyes, he swung down with an elegant leap.

"We'll take a walk," Seonghwa informed the others with nonchalance. Jongho and San nodded without a pause, trusting so long as they knew where they were. Yeosang looked suspicious, however, and Yunho downright smirked at them.

"Don't wander too far," he told them with a teasing voice that insinuated far more than just that. Seonghwa blushed, but he hoped the others couldn't see it outside of the fire's light.

Hongjoong's hand found the small of Seonghwa's back and guided him along. His warning glare at the companions kept their lips sealed, but Seonghwa bet they would start gossiping as soon as they were out of earshot.

Seonghwa forgot about them as Hongjoong wandered into the darkness. Fireflies drifted between the tall grasses, not quite enough to illuminate the night, but a mesmerising sight. The priest's heart hammered in his chest by the time they were far enough that their fire was a small light in the distance and Hongjoong grabbed his hand to sink into the grass with him. Despite having done this before, Seonghwa's hands were sweaty.

Hongjoong kissed those worries off his lips. His warm tongue was familiar to Seonghwa now, not having lost its spark of excitement, but also not terrifying in its invading. Putty in the gargoyle's hands, Seonghwa let his mouth drop open to accept anything Hongjoong had to give.

The gargoyle's kiss alone carried such intensity that Seonghwa felt his loins heat with desire. He forgot where up and where down was as Hongjoong's tongue skimmed the soft insides of his cheeks, forgot about their dangerous location when the gargoyle sunk his teeth into Seonghwa's plush lip.

When the gargoyle pulled from him, Seonghwa's hands had found their way to his chest, caressing smooth, dark skin. Hongjoong licked up the glistening string of saliva that connected them so vulgarly. His clawed palms didn't move from their place at the priest's waist, where they slipped under his shirt so deftly.

"I like this look on you, sweet lamb," Hongjoong uttered as he took in Seonghwa's swollen lips, his glassy eyes. The look of debauchery suited the priest, and Hongjoong always craved more of it.