CAPTIVATED || JEONGCHEOL

ᡣ𐭩 . Seventeen

Tucked in the corner of the town—beside the bar, was a nicely hidden alleyway which was know as the centre of shady business.

Drug transactions, human trafficking, prostitution—you know, the usual.

Well it just so happened that little Seungcheol had stumbled upon this alleyway. In his eyes, he found his new territory.

The perfect feeding ground.

Saturday's were the best. That's when all the beautiful women came out to linger along the alley, seductively hollering at passer-by's with an occasional "woohoo" and "hey handsome."
Promiscuity hinted in their voices.

Like usual, Seungcheol shape-shifted into a good looking bachelor with a form-fitting suit. A businessman of sorts.

He lured one of the women to the shadows, being careful and discreet enough to not draw attention, then...

Crunch.

His fangs pierced into the nape of her neck. A satisfying flow of blood streamed down his throat. He preferred his beverages to be piping hot but it seemed his catch for tonight was lukewarm.

Well—blood is blood.

He sucked profusely, desperate for his thirst to be satiated.

And while this was happening, a silhouette lurked in the opposite shadow.

Watching.
Observing.
Waiting.

Too infatuated with his meal to notice, Seungcheol continued to feed; unaware of his one-man audience.

But nothing happened.

The silhouette—after a while of lingering, left the scene.

No "hello," or "goodbye."

Just an indefinite date of return.

—————

It was the most beautiful hour of the afternoon and the sun had been blaring for a while.

Jeonghan's horse galloped through the fields; his hips rocked, matching their rhythm.

A few metres to the side of him was Julia. Her hair sprawled in elegant waves behind her as the wind gusted past her. It was an invigorating feeling; chasing through the daisies and buttercups hidden throughout the meadow.
This place was the embodiment of peace and calmness.

After a while of trotting, Jeonghan and Julia decided to take a stop—allowing their horses to take a rest.

"After years of competitions, you'd think someone's skills would be incredibly refined by now." She takes a deep sigh, "I must say, I'm quite disappointed."

Jeonghan grimaced from her audacity. She's acting as if she didn't just try to reach over and kick him off his horse. "For such a small woman, you talk as big as a beast."

He took the chance to add a dramatic eye roll before starting for the forest.

As soon as his soles touched the moist and patchy grass, he felt a presence shoot upwards into his body. A warm trail of heat entering his heart.

Something resided in this forest.
Something that wasn't mortal.
Something inescapable.
Someone.

Jeonghan retreated immediately, practically jumping back from the fuzzy sensation in his heart.

But it wasn't that comforting feeling you get when someone gives you a compliment—no.
It was just sitting there.
Hovering.
Settling itself into the cracks of his heart.

Like it was just waiting for an opening before it could invade his soul.

Jeonghan's body froze up and his muscles tensed like stone.

Something has changed. Something inside him. It wasn't his body, mind, organs or even cells that changed—something deep inside had been altered or added to.

And although he couldn't pinpoint it's whereabout or what the hell had decided to house itself in his body, he couldn't shake the fact that a foreign presence had now entered him and was staying for the indefinite future.

Julia's voice was getting louder and louder until her (surprisingly husky) voice had reached Jeonghan's ears. "Hey brat! What's wrong with you?" She used her finger to push his shoulder forward. "You scared to enter the forest?" She was now in front of Jeonghan, eyeing his spooked appearance up and down.

Julia spun on her heel and trudged towards the forest.

Jeonghan's eyebrows became knitted together, "where are you going?" He yelled.

Julia glanced over her shoulder, "I'm on my way to show you what a pussy you are." She sent him a defiant glare.

Jeonghan raced up to her. His hand reached out desperately to stop Julia from potentially becoming the host to some unknown spirit or power. "Wait—no, no!"

As he leaped to grasp her, all he could catch was her hair; slipping through his fingers. In horror, he stood still; his feet welded to the ground beneath him.

His gaze lowered to the fiery strands of hair that hung off his palm. Although he had never really thought of Julia much, she was still a long time friend.

'Friend' was an odd term to use; but he still somewhat enough to care about whether she gets cursed or not.

He lifted his gaze to Julia who was now standing on the same patch of grass that he stood on minutes before.

Julia called out, "what's the big deal, prince-o?" She stood all smug and petulant with her hip popped to the side and her hand propped up on her waist.

—————

My schedule is so messed up!! This school year has just been bombarding me in work so I can't do anything or have time to write.
Sorry! I'll try my best to keep posting!!

-kai