In to the ocean

Chapter 4

Stumbling over his feet, Jungkook backs away until he feels the corridor wall firmly behind him. His knuckles ache from gripping the candlestick hard but he doesn't dare let go. Forcing himself to take deep breaths, he braces himself.

Blood swirls through the water, emanating from behind the staircase. Jungkook hesitates then steels himself to take a step forward.

"Hello Jungkook"

The male voice is silky smooth, almost liquid in its lullaby. Yet, it holds a dangerous sharpness. A dagger slicing through him causing his birthmark to flare.

Fear courses through his body. Jungkook fervently glances around, trying to identify the source of the voice.

At first, he finds nothing. But then from the other side of the hall, water undulates gently as a pair of pitch-black eyes emerge from the depths. Eyes darker than the night, void of any white. Glinting, almost glowing. It is as if they have absorbed the light remaining in the room.

The creature slowly rises from the water, revealing a face. A face of beauty, of danger and destruction. Long black hair, delicately pointed ears and pale angular features he has seen before- seen in the book in the study. The familiarity terrifies Jungkook.

Then the creature smiles, and his blood runs cold. Sharp, glinting teeth. Too sharp to mean anything but menace and death. White stark against red. Blood.

Jungkook presses himself further into the wall, every survival instihet inside of him screaming for hin to escape. But his body doesn't dare move, not with the predator's inky black stare fixed upon him.

"You bear my mark Jungkook" he says, smile widening and now I have come for you."

With that, Jungkook dives under the water, just as the creature lunges forward.

Jungkook barely escapes his clutches as he takes a sharp left, pointed claws scraping against his calf. He knows he can't out swim a ocean monster. He has to think fast.

Spotting the staircase ahead, he is about to head for it when strong arms wrap around his waist, pulling him backwards. With a scream of desperation, Jungkook  pivots but his efforts are no match for his powerful grip.

Then, he slams the broken candleholder into the creature holding him. He feels it pierce flesh. With a roar of rage, the creature sinks underwater. His hold on him loosens as he wrenches the sharp metal from his arm.

Jungkook squirms out of his grasp. adrenaline pumping through his body as he swims for the staircase. Reaching the first step out of the water, he pulls himself up. His body is heavy with pain and exhaustion, but his terror propels him forwards. He drags himself upwards, reaching the midway landing between the two floors. There, Jungkook collapses to the ground, shaking uncontrollably.

You're out of the water. You're safe.

He tells himself holding his arms tightly to his chest. He looks down, only to see the creature's eyes emerge silently from the water once more.

Jungkook meets his gaze as he raises his head above the surface. Long, black locks float in the water around him, creating a halo of swirling darkness.

"You have made a mistake Jungkook" he says. Each silken word tinged with venom.

A pause. He seems to be waiting for him to react.

"I may be marked" he musters up the courage to reply trying to keep his voice from trembling, "but I am not yours."

He chuckles darkly, and for the first time Jungkook glimpses his powerful fins flicking lazily under the water.

"Oh, my darling" the creature purrs his fury unveiling it’s self tauntingly.

Jungkook's breath catches in his throat as the monster before him approaches. But, instead of going to him, he reaches an arm behind the staircase.

A horrible gurgling sound rings out as he raises a limp form into the air. His mother, blood running down her chin as she weakly attempts to spit it out. The creature has her by the throat, holding her out of the water to expose the deep, ragged gashes covering her body.

"This" he bares his razor teeth "is what happens to those who try to get between me and my mate."