Sweet Catastrophe

Chapter 12

Jimin indefatigably paced around the space of his study, pondering the future that carried an air of misfortune. V sat behind a mahogany desk with a dull look in his eyes, helpless to take any action. Min Suga had warned the two friends that their time together would be cut short if ______ didn't come before the next blood moon. According to the astrologist, next month would be the next blood moon; the first in 33 years.

"Why isn't she here?", Jimin brashly spoke to himself. " I would've thought she would be the type to come to my aid as soon as I needed it."

V looked at the fireplace, staring at its crimson flames in a disconsolate gaze. The fact of the matter was that V was beginning to die. Days had passed since ______ had received Min Suga's message, but she didn't call or visit to confirm or question the strange notification.

"I'm sorry", he continued with hands clenched in his hand. "I wish there was something I could do, but without _____ I'm not much use."

"You've done enough." V tried giving a smile but it came out weak. "I'm sure ______ is just preparing herself right now. Just wait one more day--"

Jimin slammed the table with intense ardour. It startled V, but he was too drained to react more than flinch. "You're dying, V! Look at you! You're becoming human, and your body isn't used to pathogens. You'll grow sick, and then you'll perish!" Withdrawing himself away from the spirit, he staggered to a leather seat by the fireplace.

V took a deep breath as he walked over to his friend's side. Jimin's eyes looked as intense as the ragging fire before him. It was so intimidating that anyone would be frightened by his presence. But V was unafraid, even though in this form Jimin could easily land a hit on him.

"I once pitted humans. All I could think was 'they waste their time on unnecessary wants when their lives are so short.' But the more I watched them, the more I realized how beautiful their mortality was."

"It's not all that beautiful, Taehyung", the redhead grumbled.

"No, it is... Humans have something I've always wanted; something spirits like me can't experience."

"Which is?"

"A family; caring for those you love because their time is limited, or your time is limited. Life is so short that the desire to be with someone is greater. Because humans know they will die, they chose to truly live."

Jimin stared at V. "Are you not living?"

"I have not known companionship until Princess ______ showed it to me. I didn't know kindness or worry until she came. And when she left, only then did I realize how alone in the world I was. I feel as if I'm already human to be feeling such things."

Jimin returned his gaze on the fireplace as he ran his fingers through his red hair. "It's a human's greatest gift and burden... But at this rate if you permanently become human, you'll be spending most of it indoors and tied to a sick bed. You become more visible every day, and sicker with each hour." He got up from his seat towards his desk and took out a paper and pen.

"What are you doing?"

"Writing a letter to the Wizard. He's gotta know how to slow down the process until ______ gets here."

A look of concern met V's lips. His friend was in a greater heartache than he was. "You should sleep. I'll write the letter for you--"

"No, I got it--"

"I insist."

The Prince looked at V's brown orbs. Part of them were pleading for him to forget the adversities and the other part was simply commanding him - something V had never done to him. V had always listened and respected the prince, but this intense air was different.

"Alright", he sighed as he slowly moved away. "If you need me, I'll be in my room."

Alone in the room, V spent the rest of the night roaming around the castle. He was now visible to the general public, but his form was so faint that he merely looked like hot air on a cold winter's day. He stood beside the portraits of Jimin's family, and gazed out the large glass windows that overlooked the kingdom. The icy mountains were before him; a few pine trees were scattered and the sound of thunder could be heard in the distance. It elevated him from his sulkiness, although it didn't stop him from thinking of the Princess. Why wasn't she here? Where was she now? Was she okay?

The next morning, there was still no word of Princess ______. Dark melancholy clouded Jimin's every thought. The rain poured heavily, and thick mists hid the moonstones in the forest.

"I remember when I first saw those moonstones", the spirit began while eatting at the breakfast table. "Are you familiar with them?"

"Yeah", the prince scoffed. "I almost died trying to walk through that part of the region."

"I remember, when I was still small, how big it looked. It has to be about 20 years ago or so..."

Jimin's eyes widened. "Spirits age slower than humans?"

"Yeah. I don't know the exact ratio though." He took a sip of water. "I wanted to grow wings and fly over it. I lived closer to The Land of Light before coming to the forest here. I would've been here much more often if I could make it through."

"You couldn't cross over the stones?"

"No one has been able to cross the stones without being injured."

The redhead grinned. "But that smirk you have says otherwise."

V smiled and the both of them laughed. "I made it to the top of the stones once. It's beautiful, really. It over looks the West Sea. But it gets so cold there that parts are covered with ice. The sun shined over the peak like light to a diamond. I thought I could sit there forever... But then I got cold...and hungry."

Jimin's eyes widened. "And you've never been there again?"

"Nope. Just that one time."

"Aish, I would love to go there at least once before I die."

The storm advanced rapidly; the thunder echoed throughout the entire region. Lightening struck every so often, but the mist has disappeared and the moonstones shined brilliantly. Jimin and V ate their breakfast and listened to each other's stories of the past. The spirit had observed the Prince's melancholy; he sighed frequently, and once V had paused his storytelling, he asked him if he was okay. Jimin replied in a cheerful accent, and the spirit resumed his story when someone tapped at the door.

It was a lady on horseback, dressed in a dark gown and covered in a thick black veil. V asked a question, to which the stranger only replied by saying, in a sweet and apologetic voice, the name of Jimin. On hearing this word, Jimin came up hastily to the lady and threw off her veil to reveal ______'s beautiful face.
Jimin was overjoyed when he saw her; every bit of sorrow vanished from his face and expressed a degree of passion. His eyes sparkled, as his cheek flushed with happiness. And at that moment, the two looked as if they were sworn lovers in their prime.

______ wiped a few tears from her lovely eyes, she held out her hand to Jimin and he kissed it rapturously as he assisted her to dismount.

"My Princess, I have been worried sick. I have been waiting for you for what seems like forever! But of all days, why today with this storm?"

Her voice shook, still raspy from her emotions. "I'm so sorry! I would've been here sooner but an individual had forced me to lock myself in my room and refuse to see the light of day!"

Jimin lead her inside, and brought her to the dinning room. He asked the maid to immediately fetch her a towel and tea. He pulled up a chair for ______ to sit in as V, who was relieved and thankful for her arrival, rushed over to her side and embraced her. He would have kissed her hand, but he raised her and embraced her affectionately.

"______, I've missed you so much. I knew you would come!" V spoke sweetly as he let go of his embrace.

"Yes, but the question is why today? She says she's been locked in her room this whole time." Jimin said kneeling before her, his hands cupping her cold ones.

"I will tell you", the Princess breathed. "But first, tea."