A Taste Of Midnight

39

Seokjin led Jungkook and Jimin down a dimly lit corridor in his mansion, their footsteps muffled by the plush carpeting as they ventured deeper into the shadows. Though it was technically morning, little natural light reached the hallways of Seokjin's estate, casting an otherworldly atmosphere over the place-a design intended for a vampire who thrived in darkness.

"Where are we going?" Jungkook asked, glancing curiously at Seokjin. The quiet intensity in Seokjin's expression told him this wasn't just a casual tour.

Seokjin gave a faint smile, his eyes glinting with mischief. "To introduce you to someone very special. A companion of mine, you might say."

Jimin, following behind, shifted uncomfortably. His eyes darted warily around the dim corridor, casting an uneasy glance at Seokjin's back. "Odeng?" he asked, his tone less excited than Jungkook's. Despite centuries by Seokjin's side, Jimin had never grown accustomed to the unsettling presence of Seokjin's beloved pet.

Jungkook's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. The name stirred something in his memory-a chill, a coiled presence in the dark. "Odeng..." he repeated softly, a flicker of recognition in his gaze as his mind returned to that night in his office, to the shadowy figure that had appeared in his life like a silent guardian... or a warning.

At the end of the corridor, Seokjin opened a heavy wooden door, revealing a room shrouded in near-complete darkness. Only a few candles cast a faint glow, their light dancing along the walls in a way that felt almost hypnotic. A large, intricate pedestal stood at the center, and there, coiled with an unnatural grace, was a creature that seemed to merge seamlessly with the shadows.

The black mamba was massive, far larger than any natural snake. Its glossy, dark scales seemed to drink in the candlelight, shimmering with an eerie beauty. The faint glint of its eyes was sharp and piercing, reflecting Seokjin's own mysterious intensity.

Jungkook's breath caught as he recognized the creature. Odeng. That same silent watcher who had slipped into his office, who had followed him from shadow to shadow in the days since. Seeing it now, up close and in Seokjin's presence, he felt a strange sense of awe. This was no ordinary animal; Odeng radiated intelligence, a sentience that defied explanation.

"Odeng," Seokjin murmured with a fondness that softened the edges of his usually cool demeanor. He stepped closer, extending his hand, and Odeng lifted its head in response, gliding smoothly toward him. Seokjin ran a gentle hand over the creature's scales, his touch affectionate as he whispered something in a language Jungkook couldn't understand.

The black mamba's gaze shifted, settling on Jungkook with that same eerie intensity. Its head tilted ever so slightly, as if acknowledging him.

Jungkook felt a chill as the serpent's eyes met his. He could feel Odeng's gaze probing him, studying him, in the same way it had all those nights it had appeared unexpectedly. He swallowed, feeling his pulse quicken.

"Odeng is... beautiful," Jungkook said, his voice a little strained as he tried to match Seokjin's calm.

Jimin shifted uneasily, glancing warily at the serpent. "Beautiful... sure. I'll leave it at that," he muttered, his expression betraying a shiver of discomfort as he kept a safe distance.

Seokjin smirked, glancing at Jimin. "Still not used to him, I see," he said, a hint of amusement in his voice. "Odeng's been by my side for centuries. He knows when to protect... and when to warn."

Jungkook felt the weight of Seokjin's words, understanding the implication. He remembered the silent, almost ghostly appearances of the snake, the unsettling feeling that someone-or something-was always watching him. He looked at Odeng with newfound respect, his mind replaying the eerie yet compelling encounters he'd had with the creature.