Beast ~ Seongjoong

three: prey

Hongjong had the sensation of walking through a warm waterfall, but when he looked down, he noticed that he wasn't wet at all. When he looked up he once again found himself in awe, this time, of his surroundings.

He and Seonghwa were standing off to the side of a grand hallway, lined in rich red velvet carpet, large sparkling chandeliers hanging from the curved pitched ceiling. Marble pillars, round and polished with intricate vine designs wrapping around them were spaced between row upon row of arches built into the wall, all very similar to the one he had just stepped through at Rosé's treehouse.

"Portals?" Hongjoong wondered aloud as his eyes danced around the hallway, absorbing all its splendor and beauty.

"Yes," Seonghwa answered. He caressed Hongjoong's head as they walked down the long hallway together, Hongjoong keeping his arms wrapped around Seonghwa's waist.

Now and then, one of the many arches would flare up with sparking pink and blue light and someone would appear through them. Tall, and long-limbed, Hongjoong noted that they were all beast creatures. Their burning red eyes would glow under the delicate light of the chandeliers as they looked towards him and Seonghwa, and Hongjoong's skin would prickle in fear whenever he locked eyes with one of them.

They held the same dangerous intent, like scorching fire, behind those red eyes as the beast called Mingi. Thankfully, as soon as they noticed Seonghwa's presence, they would stop, bow their head and greet him with "welcome home, your majesty" or something similar as he walked by. Seonghwa ignored them, his head held high as he swept past them.

They eventually stopped at a set of white doors, with large ornate golden door handles. Seonghwa opened one of the doors and ushered Hongjoong inside.

The large room Hongjoong found himself in was just as grand as the hallway. Royal purple carpet was soft under his toes and an enormous fireplace dominated one wall, with luxurious looking furniture dotted around the room. A fire burned and crackled away, providing much needed heat, and Hongjoong enjoyed the sensation of warmth enveloping him. The rest of the walls were lined with equally large imposing portraits, oil paintings of strange yet beautiful looking creatures─ all beasts like Seonghwa, their sparkling amethyst eyes staring unflinchingly back at him.

As Seonghwa led him closer to the warmth of the fire, Hongjoong noticed the room had no windows. He remembered from the stories the villagers had told that the beasts did not like sunlight, and one would never see them out during the day. That fact, in hindsight, was all the more proof of the foolish recklessness Hongjoong had had in venturing into the Forest of the Dead as night fell.

"Come here, Hongjoong. Let me mark you."

Hongjoong turned to face him, Seonghwa capturing his full attention, all other thoughts now seeming to lose their meaning.

"With my scent on you, they will make no mistake in knowing you are mine."

By they Hongjoong knew he meant the fearsome beasts like Mingi who also inhabited the grand castle, who he was sure wouldn't hesitate to kill him and feast upon his mortal flesh if he didn't have Seonghwa to protect him.

Hongjoong shivered at the thought and quickly closed the space between himself and Seonghwa.

Seonghwa smelled like pine and cold night air, but he must have had another scent that Hongjoong's human nose couldn't pick up.

Seonghwa gently slipped his velour jacket from Hongjoong's shoulders, warming the now exposed skin with his touch.

Standing up on the balls of his feet, Hongjoong hooked his arms around Seonghwa's wide shoulders, eyelids fluttering shut as the taller man pulled him to his chest and swept his hands up his back. His touch left tingles of delight over Hongjoong's skin, and his breath hitched when Seonghwa dipped his head to nuzzle his face in the crook of Hongjoong's neck.