House of the Nefarious

Chapter 18

"Jimin, may I ask why you're trying to blind me?"

The sin shot me a frown. "Not even a hello hug?"

"Nope," I replied, popping the p.

"I was wondering if you would like to go with me to retrieve a necklace."

"A necklace?"

He nodded, a strand of silver hair falling onto his forehead. "I kind of slept with a witch a few decades ago and now I owe her or she'll turn me into a bat."

"Wouldn't it be kind of cool to be a bat though? You could sleep on the ceiling forever," I suggested.

"Very funny shortie," he sighed.

I narrowed my eyes. "We're literally the same height."

He shot me a wink. "That's what you think."

"So where is this necklace anyways?" I asked, ignoring his response. 

"Well the thing is, it's in the human realm in a place called Japan I believe."

My brows drew together. "But I thought I couldn't go back to my world?"

"See you're not really supposed to go back, according to Minhyuk orders... But it is possible, we just have to go through one of the portals that the lesser demons use to fulfill their tasks. They're scattered all around Hell."

"How do you know I won't just run away?" I replied, startled by the revelation that I might get to go back to Earth.

"If you did run away Seokjin would probably kill me, then you, so as long as you promise not to run away," he paused for a moment. "I'll even give you my stamp, it seems like you're collecting them."

I pulled my sleeve down in embarrassment pondering over his words. It wasn't a bad deal, I'd get to go to Japan and be one step closer to getting what Yoongi asked for.

"Won't Seokjin get mad when he realizes we're gone?" I mused.

Jimin shrugged, a devious smile making its way onto his face. "He will, so that's why Jungkook and Taehyung are coming as well. He can't murder all 3 of us without throwing off the balance."

I internally groaned at the thought of being stuck with Taehyung for who knows how long. "What do you mean by balance?"

"The sins are basically the 7 pillars that hold Hell together, if you get rid of one you might be okay, but if you get rid of 3," he curled his fingers into his palm before releasing them dramatically. "Chaos."

"But if there's seven and 6 of you.." I trailed off, seeing if I could get any information on Yoongi.

He hesitated for a moment. "That's a long story."

"I have lots of time," I replied.

"Maybe another time, you should start packing, we're going to meet outside by the big tree in an hour," he said before enveloping me in a bone crushing hug I had failed to avoid.

I was finally granted oxygen a moment later when he released me. I shot him a wave as he departed and I peered into the kitchen.

Namjoon had begun eating frozen who knows what.

"Umm Namjoon?"

The man turned to face me letting out a noise of acknowledgment.

"I have to go do something now, but I'll see you later?"

He shot me a thumbs up. "Okay, the next time we meet in the kitchen I'll let you know where my secret candy stash is."

His lips stretched into a dimpled smile and I felt blinded by his handsomeness.

I felt a little guilty, but I knew the less people that knew where we were going the better.

I made my way back to my room to begin packing. I shoved a few random articles of clothing along with some toiletries into my backpack.

I reached across my bed to grab a sock, but Sushi quickly crawled on top of it. His eyes were narrowed in a threatening manner and I already knew what he wanted.

"Please don't light my socks on fire, of course you're coming."

Looking satisfied with my response, he made his way onto my shoulder. I made sure the necklace Yoongi had gifted me was fastened around my neck before departing into the hallway.

I also shot Yerim a quick text that I'd be going on a trip so it isn't like I vanished off the face of the Earth (even though I did).

I was on the way to the entrance when I noticed Seokjin coming around the corner. I quickly pressed myself into the wall hoping he wouldn't notice me.

I didn't really want to bet on my lying skills if he asked any questions.

Luckily he didn't notice me, but he did have a familiar file tucked under his arm. Operation Unity was scrawled on the side and I knew it must be something important to have seen it this many times.

He continued towards his office and I let out a sigh of relief before heading to the front doors. I'd have to see what I could find out about that when I got back. For some reason it left me with an ominous feeling.

"Took you long enough plebeian," Taehyung groaned upon my arrival at the tree.

"It literally hasn't even been an hour yet."

He shrugged. "Still too tardy for me."

Not bothering to reply, I turned to Jimin. He looked rather annoyed that Jungkook was glued to his phone.

"So where's this portal you mentioned?"

"It's in one of the back alley ways on main street, it's a lesser used one so there shouldn't be anyone around," he explained.

I nodded, still amazed by the face that portals were littered all around Hell. Who knows if I had been meters away from one?

We trekked along the cobblestone path and arrived at what appeared to be main street 20 minutes later.

It reminded me of Myeong dong back when I used to go shopping with my friends. Demons lined the street and stores of all kinds were side by side. Lanterns were still lit up from the weekend fair. 

Jimin led us down a narrow alley way and I scrunched up my nose at the foul smell that seemed to be attached to it.

We eventually reached a dead end and Jimin pulled a shiny gold object out of his pocket. Was that a key?

"The original way of traveling between realms was via the world tree, but then portals randomly started showing up after the disappearance of a pillar. They can all be opened with keys and the lesser demons tend to use them for missions," Jungkook explained, momentarily looking up from his game.

I nodded in response, that must've been what Jimin meant when he said the disappearance of pillars can lead to disarray.

I watched as Jimin made a downwards slicing motion with the key. It left a white line that ripped apart at the seams to reveal a black vortex.

It did not look very welcoming.

"I'll see you guys on the other side then," Jimin saluted, he made an attempt to hug me but luckily Jungkook was standing in front of me.

He pouted before striding into the black hole. Next was Jungkook who didn't even bother looking up from his phone.

"Umm Taehyung you can go first," I muttered eyeing the vortex.

"Nope," he replied. "Humans first."

I glared at him. "I think demons first makes more sense."

He shrugged and I watched in horror as his arms stretched out towards me. He gave me a light tap and I felt myself plummeting backwards.

"Taehyung you bitch-"