Eclipsed hearts {T.K}

Chapter 9

Third person's pov

One more day had passed.

Outside the tent, the camp lay still, hushed in an uneasy calm. The night was dark, and the only light came from the laltains and a sliver of moonlight.

Jungkook was inside his tent, he sat on the edge of a wooden stool, his head bowed low, and his breathing was shallow. His hanfu was soaked through with dark, sticky patches of crimson. He could feel it seeping into his bones, cold and relentless. He didn't care. Not anymore.

His hands, trembling slightly, were stained as well, coated in a layer of red. He stared at them, unseeing, as his mind was pulled back, back to a memory he wished he could forget.

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Jungkook was standing, in the middle of the palace hall, he was fully dressed with heavy jewellery. He stood, his heart thudding wildly in his chest. Suddenly the doors opened and the soldiers started coming inside. His eyes were only looking for one person.

His mate. His heart.

He turned, frantic, his eyes scanning the group, searching for a familiar face. His breath came in desperate gasps, his hands flexing by his sides. Where was he? Where was his mate? He had seen him just hours ago, standing next to him, now where was he?

“Hyeon!” Jungkook screamed, his voice breaking. “Beakhyeon!”

There was no answer, only the silence of the soldiers and whispers of the servants. Jungkook’s chest tightened, panic seeping into his veins like poison. He pushed forward, shoving past soldiers, and then, he saw him.

Hyeon was there, on a wooden plank, being carried by others . But there was blood—so much blood—staining the flor. Jungkook’s heart lurched in his chest, his breath catching in his throat.

“No… no, no, no…” he whispered, his voice trembling. He rushed forward, his legs moving of their own accord, and in an instant, he was there, by his mate's side, catching him just as he staggered, his legs giving way beneath him.

Hyeon's body was heavy against Jungkook’s, his weight pressing down, and Jungkook could feel the warmth of his blood soaking through his own clothes. “Love, look at me,” he pleaded, “Stay with me, please, stay with me…”

Jungkook choked out, his hands moving to press against the wound, trying to stem the flow of blood which was almost finished.

He rocked back and forth, holding Hyeon tighter, as if he could somehow keep him here, keep him alive by sheer force of will. “I love you… I love you… please… please…”

“WAKE UP!”

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A tear rolled down Jungkook's cheek, and he wiped it away quickly, almost angrily, refusing to let another fall. He could still feel the blood on his hands. His hands clenched into fists, and he drew a deep, shaky breath.

Just then, a soldier’s voice called from outside the tent. “Luna, the food is ready.”

Jungkook exhaled slowly, trying to push the memory back. "I'm coming," he replied and stood up. He walked over to a small basin and began to wash his hands, scrubbing harder than necessary, as if trying to wash away the stains of the past along with the blood.

He reached for a new hanfu, and changed into it quickly. He then adjusted his veil, making sure it was secure before stepping out of the tent.

Long leaves had been laid out as siting mats, and a simple meal of rice and chicken stew was being served. Jungkook made his way to the front, and sat down at the head of the gathering.