Prince of Blood

1. Entering the Mirror

"So, this be it, 'uh?"

With slow steps that had his heels clicking on the boards of the Precious, Hongjoong walked back and forth in front of the mirror. His shattered reflection followed him over the little shards of glass still in the frame, showing off the dark demon that called itself his double.

Or rather, him. It was him.

Seonghwa was watching the man quietly, not commenting on anything. He was ready to go and packed with his sword, his whip, and a pistol that hung heavily from his belt. The long brown coat he wore over it mostly covered the multitude of weapons, but they clanked together at every step of his long, leather-clad legs anyway.

"Ready whenever ye be, Captain." San's voice was low and serious, reminding them all of the gravity of this journey.

The silence in the room was deafening. Everybody was breathing flatly with fear and worry, and their nervousness made the air pregnant with tension. It was as if a dark shadow was looming over them, watching, waiting to swallow them up.

Hongjoong turned to Yongguk, the noise of his heels stopping abruptly.

The warlock was looking at their group from lidded eyes, dark curls falling into his forehead. He seemed transparent and as if Seonghwa could see right through his flesh and bones to the table behind him. The pirate settled his hand on his own hip, where the satchel with ingredients rested. Flour, bones, shells and ink. They were all dry ingredients for now, but soon, they would form a mighty potion when they found the blood of that one person in the Abyssus. Whoever that was.

"Be it time to go yet?"

Yongguk nodded slowly while his fingers were drawing some ancient runes onto the table idly. His sharp nails left an unpleasant scratching noise on the wood.

The ship swayed gently on the water.

"Aye, you should leave. The night will soon fall in that world. By then, you should seek shelter."

With cold determination burning in his dark eyes like the fires in the deepest pits of hell, Hongjoong turned to the crew. They all straightened, ready to receive their orders. Hongjoong stared at Seonghwa for a long time.

"Say yer last prayers, then. I don't think that world will 'ave any regard fer them." His tongue curled around the words darkly.

The sole lamp above their heads swayed back and forth with the waves, making the shadows the light cast on their faces from above wander. Hongjoong looked like a dark angel, or maybe an actual demon in the faint shine.

Wooyung was the first who stepped up to the mirror. His umbra watched him sinisterly as he neared and soon rose a hand towards the flat surface.

"Good luck. May Davy Jones have mercy on your lost souls."

The next time Seonghwa turned to check on their large empty table, Yongguk had disappeared. He left only the reminder of a sweet smell, probably incense.

Seonghwa focused back on Wooyoung. The man's cheeks looked hollow, and his eyes seemed sunken into his skull, but he reached out with alert eyes.

Just when he was about to touch the surface of the mirror, the picture changed. Instead of his umbra pointing his finger at him, he suddenly flipped his hand, offering it.

Wooyoung hesitated, his finger still outstretched. He tried to make eye contact, but his reflection stared back at him just as confused.

With a heavy swallow that made his adam's apple bob, Wooyoung took the last step. Just when his hand normally would have been supposed to touch a cold and hard surface, it smoothly slipped into his umbra's hand. It broke the flat of the mirror without issues and reached out towards the man in black that gently pulled him closer.