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"I'm warning you, this is not a good idea."
"Quite down," You whined. "No one's gonna know. I just, I want to see for myself."
"See what? What is there to see in those hideous creatures?" Your sister started walking even faster, walking side by side with you as she tried to convince you.
"I don't know about you but I've heard those 'hideous' creatures are, in fact, quite alluring."
At this she grabbed your hand making you stop and stood in front of you. "May I ask where you are hearing about these things from. Who's stuffing your ears full of such stupidity, Y/n?"
Before you could reply with something along the lines of 'no you may not' and maybe make a face so immature that will have your mother tsking in disapproval, your sister's question was answered by the person in question herself.
"Y/n! Didn't know you were bringing Milia with you too." A voice chirped as the person revealed herself, sauntering your way—long, blonde, and evenly cut hair dancing in the wind.
"Limika. Of course it is her." Your sister sighed.
At the same time in which you bounded towards her, taking her hand in yours as you excitedly asked, "where's the market happening?"
"Not 'where', the question is 'when'," She squealed. "And with the sun almost down now we need to hurry! Or else we will miss our chance to see The Market."
'The Market', or more commonly known as The Goblin Market among the elders, is something to be vary of. 'They lure people in', 'they eat young girls', 'their fruits are poisonous', are some of the things you had heard from your mother.
But there are other things you've heard too, 'their charm is irresistible’, 'they have faces crafted by the finest angels', 'their voice is like dark honey'.
‘Once you get a taste of their fruits there's no going back.’
Today you are determined to find out what facts hold actual truths.
The sun was hanging low on the horizon, an hour shy at most before it disappeared completely and the world plunged in darkness. You had till then to complete whatever idiotic fantasy you had.
Limika thought the same as she insisted on hurrying and Milia grumbled but followed behind regardless. Soon you neared the clearing where the market—allegedly—happened most often, you couldn't confirm that as you had never been allowed to come this far out before. Not that you got permission today either, but that's irrelevant now.
Upon reaching the clearing you witnessed how it was filled with brushes and logs strewn about. The moss laid thick and you wondered if you had accidentally gotten lost and reached the wrong place. This place was untouched.
You were about to voice out your concern to your friend but Limika grabbed your elbow and pulled you down. Your sister followed suit and crouched low beside you behind the bigger fallen trees on the edge of the clearing.
"What is it—"
"Shh," Your friend whispered, "did you not hear that?"
"Hear what?" But just as you tried to peek above the wood, you heard it.
"Come buy, come buy."
You all froze in your places. Was it really them?
Limika confirmed this by taking a peek, "oh, y/n. Oh, would you look," She whispered, mesmerized.
Curious as to what exactly had her eyes get that look of wonder, both you and your sister stood— still hunched and hidden—and took in the sight before you. What you saw took your breath away.
Golden. That was the first thing that your brain registered. There were tens of people: men?goblins? Were they really the goblins your Nan talked about? The one they said made the maidens lose their minds and reduced them to unsound girls unable to recall their own names? They had masks on, all in the colour gold. Snakes, crows, rats, deers, cats, rabbits, and what not. You even saw a golden bear mask. So big.
They wore black clothes. Long coats and capes seemed the most popular clothing article among the Goblins, huh.
The setting sun gave them an ethereal glow, looking more like the halos of angels that you saw in the paintings in the church. You noticed that each of them were carrying some sort of utensils—all made of gold—plates, baskets, goblets. They were laughing and conversing among themselves, every once in a while one of them would call out,
"Come buy, come buy."
What were they selling? You couldn't see properly. But you were not thinking about that, all you could think of was how shiny they looked. How real they were.
"Wow." You couldn't make out which of the two said that. Even though it was merely a whisper it seemed enough to capture the attention of one of the masked men. The crow. Oh no.
"Oh no." Your sister said. Milia ducked down, trying to become one with the soil in hopes of disappearing into the ground. You looked between her and the crow masked man—who was now looking over in your direction. You followed his line of sight and realised it was directed at Limika.
"Limika, get down! They will see us." You pleaded to get down yourself. But she didn't move an inch. Rooted in her place, not even breaking her gaze away, as if hypnotised. Was this what they meant when they said that the Goblins trap people in with a single glance.
'We must not look at goblin men'
"Limika," You stumbled over your words. "We should get home, it's getting dark."
Just then the man called, looking directly at her.
"Come buy,"
"No," Limika breathed out, pulling your hand away from her skirt where you were tugging her. "Don't you see how beautiful they are? Look at the fruits in their basket. Aren't you curious? For just a taste?"
You gulped. Yes. Yes you were curious. You wanted to know more about them. But the night was falling and you had this voice inside your head urging you to return back to your mother's arms. Familiar and comforting.
You tried once again, "we really should—"
"This is enough. If you want to stay then you can, I'm getting out of here." Milia harshly whispered. She got up and ran through the bushes, making sure she was low enough to escape undetected. Now it was just you and Limika, and it didn't look like she had any plans of leaving just yet.
You heard the man starting to call out once more, and to your shock Limika stood up all the way, exposing herself. Now every one of the masked men had their attention trained on her. The one with a half fox mask smiled and continued his song like call,
"Come buy our orchard fruits,
Come buy, come buy:
Apples and quinces,
Lemons and oranges,
Plump unpeck’d cherries,
Melons and raspberries,
Bloom-down-cheek’d peaches,"
You couldn't hear more. Your blood was roaring in your ear. Heart thumping as Limika only walked closer. You had no other choice. You needed to leave.
With a silent prayer that she will at least be sensible enough to get straight home after talking to them—or making a purchase as she seemed so determined to do—before the night fell all the way through. You knew she would be fine even though you wanted to run out there and shake her before dragging her back home.
You backed away, you should go home now or else God knows what Milia will say to your mother and if she said the truth then all of you will be in great trouble.
Limika was half way across the field and the men all had their attention on her, ready to sell their fruits. You hoped she brought enough coins.
Taking this perfect opportunity you slipped away in between the thick trees. Something was prickling the back of your neck, a weight you hadn't experienced before. You stole a glance back and froze. Intense, dark eyes stole your breath, stopping you in your tracks.
You realised a beat later that you had your eyes locked to one of the goblins! One with the rabbit mask. You waited for him to move, to do something. Maybe bring your presence to the attention of the others. But he didn't. He just kept staring with this inexplicable intrigue in his deep obsidian eyes.
It was too much, so you looked away and disappeared beyond the trees.
You were cleaning the tables after supper as your mother prepared a cup of tea for your father who had gone up to bed a few minutes ago. You grabbed all the dirty plates and moved towards the sink where Milia was washing the pots already. Setting them aside you looked at her but she was focused on her task, so you went back.
You had arrived just moments after her. The sun was already gone and your mother was furious. She would have spoken the truth for sure had you not intervened.
"Y/n take those cups too." Your mother instructed as she left the kitchen, on her way up.
You silently nodded, moving on to take the empty cups when a knock sounded on your door.
Milia turned at the sound but you beat her to it, "I'll check."
The moment you opened the door the person behind it spoke, "dear, is Limika with you?"
"Mrs. Roberts. Is everything alright?" You uttered, surprised to see Limika's mother at your door. "And what about Limika? Is she not home yet?"
Before further could be said Milia and your own mother were by the door, looking over your shoulder. You stepped out, giving your mother space.
"No. She didn't come home in time for supper so I assumed she'd eat with you or one of the other girls tonight, like you all always do. But it's past bedtime and I've already looked for her at all the places. I thought she'd be here for sure but," Her eyes began to water, "do you know anything?"
You didn't turn around but you could feel Milia had stopped breathing. Limika hadn't returned home. It was you who left her. You saw her alone and yet didn't try to stop her. You can feel the guilt clouding your nerves along with the panic. Where could she be?
"Aunty, please calm down. She must be fine, you know how Limika is." You grabbed her shoulders and turned back to nod at your sister, "we'll go and look for her. Mother?"
Your mother replaced you as you shuffled your feet in your shoes. Your sister followed suit reassuring Mrs. Roberts once more then walking up to you but she stopped, her mouth gaping open. You turned back and were just as shocked. And relieved because behind you stood—
"Limika!"
Her mother cried out, running up to her as she emerged from up the muddy path. (Walking up to you) Upon reaching her she pulled Limika into her embrace while scolding her loudly, during all this she just stood still.
Milia let out an audible breath of relief as you said a prayer to your gods. But you were also curious, what had happened after you left? And why did she take so long to be back? But this was not the right place to inquire about that, it will have to wait until tomorrow, for now you watched as Mrs. Roberts walked her daughter back to where you all were standing, still scolding her softly.
"You scared us," said Mrs. Roberts and Milia agreed, "thank the Gods you're safe." She went ahead and hugged her too.
You watched it all happen, a small smile on your lips as you looked over your friend. Her clothes were muddied, bodice a little loose, you wondered if she had run all the way here. Moving up you noticed how wild her hair looked, some visible tangles and dry straw stuck in her blond hair. She raised her head and a thick lock of hair fell in front of her face, cut a little too unusual. Did her hair always feel like that? Looking past that you finally met her eyes and your smile faltered.
Blown out pupils stared back at you. There was a dazed, blank look in her eyes, as if whatever that was happening before her did not matter. She seemed to be in a world of her own.
Both of your mothers went inside, talking about having some tea while Limika separated herself from your sister, who followed behind, and came to stand before you. She gave you a smile but not her usual, playful ones. Her smile was shy as she hugged you giddily, "oh y/n," She giggled, "you left too soon! Missed all the fun."
"What are you talking about?" You pried. But she was not even listening properly.
"So good," She pulled away and started walking towards your home, "it was so good." She mumbled. "Should've stayed to taste the fruits." And started giggling again while you just stood there, wondering about her strange behavior— which was not even that strange if you were being honest—but you chalked it up to her having a long day and most probably getting lost in the forest.
Limika was definitely acting strange. It was not that noticeable to others but for you? She seemed like a different person.
"—and then you touch hands under the moonlight and that's how you get with a child." The younger girls all gasped as Ana finished with her story, the story about how children are made.
"I once touched hands with a boy in the market. Do I have a baby in my stomach too?" One of the girls asked and you laughed, as did a couple of the other older girls.
"No silly! Only if you are married." Ana explained, "that's what my mother said."
"Does it feel good? Being with a boy." Another one piped up and it caused all the others to screech with giggles.
In all of this Limika stayed silent. It made you frown when she didn't pipe up with a reply like she would have, talking about how boys are the stupidest creatures God created and the only emotion they cause is annoyance. No, she giggled with the others, as if she agreed.
After last night you went to meet Limika early in the morning, only to find that she had gone with the other girls to help in collecting this season's harvest. So you took your own basket and found yourself on the way to the strawberry fields. You wanted to talk to her about yesterday but hadn't had the time or opportunity yet. It was almost noon and you were all done with your work, so here you were all sitting at Ana's barn, a basket of bread and apples sitting in the middle of your lunch.
"You haven't even touched your food. Are you alright?" At your question Limika looked up at you and true to your word she had only torn a small piece of bread, on which she was nibbling half-heartedly.
You sat down beside her, wiping a red juicy apple with your skirt. "If you don't have the appetite for the bread then have this at least," You offered the apple to her.
She gave it a look and then smiled at you, "my silly friend." She took the apple and then handed it back, "They are just not sweet enough."
Confused, you took a bite and immediately your mouth filled with sweet, soft apple flesh, "mmm! It's perfectly sweet Mika! You should try it."
But she just shook her head, "to call that sweet you. You don't even know true sweetness." She sighed. You could only tilt your head in confusion and before you could ask anything more, Ana stood up and announced that it was time to go pluck the rest of the berries now.
—————
You haven't seen Limika in the last two days and after this morning when you met her father in the market and asked about her you couldn't help but run straight to her house.
When you laid your eyes upon her figure, laying on the thin mattress as her mother tugged the handmade quilt closer to her neck hoping to calm the shivers wracking her body, your heart broke at the sight.
“Please dear, eat just a little.” She sounded so exhausted and scared, and rightfully so.
“No…I, I can't.” Her voice barely held any strength. You stepped closer, putting a hand on her mother's shoulder.
“Y/n,” She turned, “when did you get here?"
“Just now, I came to see Limika,” Your voice was soft, her mother looked just as fragile, losing sleep worrying about her daughter.
She turned to look at her then back at you, and once you nodded your head with a reassuring smile only then she left the room with one last look.
After she left, you quietly sat on the edge of her bed. She had her eyes closed, you took this moment to scan her face. She looked thin, dark bags under her swollen eyes rubbed red. While her cheeks which used to be pink and round were now sunken and pale.
“Oh, Mika,” You whispered, “what happened to you?”
You placed a hand on her forehead, gently sweeping back the short lock of hair away. It looked ashy, as did the rest of her.
“Y/n is that you?” Her weak voice muttered, eyes fluttering open.
“Yeah.” You choked out. “How are you?”
“Not good.”
“I can see that. Why are you refusing to eat Mika? You're only gonna get worse.”
She sighed, “why does no one understand…I can't” A noise, almost like a sob, wrecked her whole body, “I can't!” Tears started flowing down her grey skin.
You tried to console her, to calm her down.
After a minute she went quiet, her eyes closed, and breathing even. You thought she fell asleep but then her lips curled into a smile. The change in her demeanor gave you a whiplash.
“Everyone is so silly,” She giggled, “how can I ever eat anything else now that I've had a taste of the sweetest nectar in the world.”
“Limika. What are you talking about?” You whispered, holding her hand tightly while grabbing her cheek in a gentle grip, making her look at you. But her gaze was hazy, gleeful in a rather disturbing manner. She wasn't paying any attention to you, just kept talking as if you didn't exist.
“The reddest of apples. The juiciest grapes. Oh, how I want to eat those again. But, I couldn't find them, you know?” Her voice took on a sad turn, anguish on her face. “I couldn't find them. I looked day and night, but their song was nowhere to be heard. I need to find them, I must…” Her mumbles became almost incomprehensible.
You bit back the tears gathering at your lashes, trying not to break down completely at the vulnerable, broken state of your dearest friend. It was like you couldn't even recognise her. Softly brushing your hair with the tips of your fingers, you lulled her to sleep, pushing the shorter locks of hair behind one of her ears.
“I can't see you like this, I promise I'll do something. I swear I'll help you Mika.” With that you backed away from her room.
You left her house immediately. If the only thing that will make her well are those fruits then you would have no choice but to somehow find those.
A small part somewhere inside of you was aware of the feeling that gripped your heart. It was guilt. You recalled the afternoon you had gone in search of the goblins. When she had first told you about her idea you had been scared, almost told her grandma about the plan cooking up inside her pretty head, but you were too curious, too ignorant of the warnings. You should have known that they were there for a reason. The stories, the songs, the warnings, these did nothing to deter you from your quest, it honestly only made it worse with the way your mind begged for an answer to all those unanswered questions.
Why didn't you stop her? Why did you let her stay by herself, especially when you knew what she was going to do? When you know how dangerous it could be?
You blinked hard in an attempt to calm your racing heart but all you saw were an image of dark eyes staring through you.
You have to go back. Have to fix this. Even if it means to go look for those goblin men.
—————
“Where are they?” You whispered to yourself, standing at the edge of the meadow. No sign of life as far as you could see.
“They were right here the last time!” You started walking around the edges, too terrified to step out of the treeline. Limika said that she had looked for the goblins the past couple days, she must have searched here. It was stupid to think you would ever find them—
“Figs to fill your mouth,
Citrons from the South,
Sweet to tongue and sound to eye;”
Your whole body froze at the distant sound. There was no mistake, you heard it clearly. It was them, their call. They were nearby. You heart started pounding as you looked up trying to locate where the sound came from, then turned back—
“Come buy, come buy.”
—only to have your heart stop beating in your chest.
You screamed as you came face to face with a crow mask just a few inches away from your face, shining golden in the afternoon sun. Stumbling a few steps back, you tried to create some distance only to bump with someone else, turning around to find it was one with the face of a cat.
“You here to buy?”
One of them spoke up. You were too stunned, you had actually found them!? At a loss for what to say, how to proceed, you only stared in silence. Oh come on, say something!!
“Of course she is. Look at these luscious locks.” Cat face grabbed at your hair distractedly.
You yelped, trying to get away but he just laughed. Another spoke up, “you want some fruits? Some apples for the beautiful lady.” crow face offered you a shining red apple.
“Hey back off you lot. This one's mine,” Another masked man emerged, this one with a sheep mask, barking at the crow and cat—the latter still had a grip on your hair—then turning towards you, “dear, would you be enticed with some oranges?”
He offered, nodding towards his coat pockets. He was close enough to have his scent waft up to your nose, he smelled of citrus left too long on the trees. An abundance of them weighing the trees down.
You were so confused—so scared—the hand gripping at your hair tightened, tears welling up in your eyes at the pain. Crow faced started bickering with the newcomer but you couldn't make out what they were saying over the rising panic in your chest.
“Stop.” A sweet voice said over the chaos. Everyone immediately stopped. When you looked up your eyes met with a fox mask, covering half of the face of its owner, just like last time. He's the same one that had called over Limika. You wondered if he was the one who sold her fruits. No, you were sure, it had to be him.
At the silence his soft voice drawled out, “is that how we treat a customer now?” He tutted at the hand in your roots. At that the crow guy backed off a little, releasing you. Fox mask gave him an unpleasant look, leaning more towards annoyance than disdain.
“Now,” fox mask addressed you, “my lady, would you like some of these? As an apology, no charges.” He opened his palm to you, a pomegranate sitting in the middle of it.
“No payment?” The cat face hissed.
“Have you lost your mind?” snickered the sheep.
Before another argument could break out you stepped forward, sacred as you may be you came here for a reason and that reason is so much more important to you than your fear.
“I,” You breathed, everyone turned to face you at the sound of your voice, “I do not want anything free of cost. I'm willing to pay.” You gripped the silver coin in your hand tightly.
Fox face smiled, scratch that, he gave a toothy grin. “oh dear dear, how can I say no to that?”
You gulped, this felt so, so wrong. You had no idea why. It's just a simple transaction.
“Pick your fruit, and the payment will be decided.”
“Uh, I…um, the Apple?” You weren't sure how much they cost here, back in town the silver coin in your hand would get you a whole bag but these were goblins—at least from the stories you grew up with—but you must be able to get something right?
Crow face, who had held the apple, smirked, “here, all yours.”
You gripped it, taking it out of his hands and started putting it in your waist pouch, reaching for the money simultaneously, the sooner you were done the quicker you could get back home.
Before you could tuck the fruit safely for the trip back home a hand stopped you in the middle by gripping tightly on your wrist.
“What do you think you're doing?” He laughed, making you tilt your head in utter confusion, then suddenly all the laughter ceased, his eyes dead serious as he whispered. “Eat.”
“What? You looked at him, then back at the faces of everyone around you, finally stopping at the fox mask.
He smiled gently, lips, visible below the mask covering the upper part of his face, curled in a way similar to the one you will with a child who didn't quite understand the ways of the world yet.
He bent to be equal to your height and softly caressed your cheek, “eat, dear.” Smile gone, his grip tightened around your cheek making your mouth pucker.
You made a choked sound, trying to shake him off, you dropped your apple in your struggle. He didn't relent and just brought his other hand—palm full of crimson seeds—and shoved them on your mouth. You clamped your mouth shut managing to bite his hand, not letting a single seed enter. He growled in anger as you sputtered, and spat on the ground.
The other two watching this happen also came forward to their friend's aid. Before you could yank fox-face’s other hand off of you another pair of arms were on you, yanking you by the waist back to their chest, resting just below the swell of your breasts. Another pair crawled their way down your thighs, feeling around your hips making the fabric bunch at your curves.
The world was spinning and your body was not in control of you anymore. Tears were streaming down your face and you didn't even know which hand belonged to whom. Several voices were speaking all at once, a jumble of words; all of them managing to get across one single message.
Eat the fruit. You must eat it. Don't deny it's pleasure.
But it didn't feel pleasurable to you, and so, you screamed.
“Enough.”
The air went still.
“Hands. Off.” It was a calm, clear voice, but one of authority.
In a second every hand against your skin retracted. The goblins backed away leaving space for you to breathe, but you were feeling faint from the struggle and couldn't help falling to your knees, trying to get your breathing under control.
No one said a word, you staring at the ground, the others staring at the newcomer.
“Scram” one word, and the others started making their way back, to wherever they came from, you didn't have the energy to look up. The apple was still lying just a couple steps away, and you wondered if you could just grab it and make a run; before this new guy could have his turn—whoever he was, who elicited this obedience among the others.
Just as that thought crossed your mind, crow-face bent down, only then did you get a chance to catch his expression. Teeth gritted in a silent protest. Seems this obedience stemmed from fear, you weren't sure yet if that was a good thing or not. Probably not.
He went to pick his apple up but was stopped by black boots stepping lightly over it—the tip pointed towards you—trapping the fruit against the ground.
“It doesn't belong to you anymore,” the stranger said, then put his weight down on it, crushing it into a pulp, “it never did.”
The crow-face left along with everyone, if any more words were exchanged between the two before that, you couldn't say as you were too busy mourning the loss of the one thing you had come so far for, now a mush on the soil.
Pristine black boots came to a stop right in front of you, making your whole body stiffen as a soft voice said, “get up.”
Gulping down your nerves, you managed to look up, and the breath you were about to inhale stopped short.
A golden rabbit mask peered down at you. You remembered them. And from the look of it, he did too.
A pair of onyx eyes, hidden behind it, stared at you with the intensity of a midday sun. Your whole body started thrumming in its heat. Dusty clothes and ragged appearance, you were wide eyed, staring at him helplessly.
He lowered a hand, at which you internally flinched, but he only offered it to you—like a gentleman—palm up, and silently urged you to take it.
Hesitant and still not breathing you raised your hand to meet him. Was this a bad idea? Probably. Definitely.
You gasped the moment he tightened his grip on your palm, pulling you up, causing you to take a sharp intake of air as you crashed into him. His body pressed against you for a moment before you removed yourself, trying to walk away.
He grabbed your wrist, stopping your attempt.
“I know you.” He tilted your chin, making sure your eyes were on his when he talked to you.
You didn't know how to answer. Should you admit to having seen him, having remembered him? Or play dumb? It's not like either will get you anywhere good.
For some reason you decided to not tell him your real reason, opting for a half truth.
“Yeah.” You licked your lips, “I have been here, I mean I live nearby, I saw you people-” you hesitated, wondering how you should address his kind. At last you settled on, "I know what you do.”
He raised an eyebrow, “oh?”
You nodded once, “yeah. And I want to buy from you.”
The way you spoke without visible nervousness even surprised you. But you were nervous, you were terrified. You couldn't see his face, couldn't read his eyes, but you were half expecting similar mistreatment like the others, and half disinterest. What would you do if he turned you away? Wha-
He raised his hand, pulling yours along with his, stopping at chest level. A citrusy smell wafted in the air, making your shoulders relax a little.
“My name is Jungkook.” You didn't process it at first, it took you a couple seconds to swim above your scrambled thoughts and realise he had introduced himself. It was good, he isn't just gonna tell you off now, right?
Softly repeating his name you let the sound melt on your tongue like sugar. Like you could almost taste it.
Realising you were just staring at his face you internally shook your head, deeming it right that you returned the gesture, and proceeded to tell him your own name.
“Beautiful name,” he whispered.
Jungkook tilted his head, eyes covered in a stoic blankness. At your scared eyes, poorly disguised with part determination and part curiosity, his eyes sparkled for a fraction of a second. Passed by before you could be sure.
“Well, then-” he began but fell silent as his eyes roamed the trees behind you. But just as you attempted to look at what had caught his attention, he yanked you forward and started walking.
“Come with me.” He all but mumbled.
Panicked, you tried digging your feet into the ground, trying to halt his movements.
“No.”
He simply turned around, his eyes conveying a different emotion now, telling you to trust him. That you should leave, if he's insisting.
Something in you gave up the fight and the fear of the unknown, and just told you to follow him. So you did.
"What did you say? a purchase…"
His voice snapped you out of your musings, causing you to rip your eyes away from the various trinkets on the desk and turn them back to you.
"Yes. I, I wanted to buy some of your…fruits," his gaze burned from behind that mask, hiding his expressions and making you squirm internally, "please."
He had brought you to a wooden cottage, so deep into the forest that if you had been alone, you would have definitely gotten lost, but you managed to remember as many twisty pathways and turns as you could. Inside the place was quiet and simple looking. As you went inside you noticed a sitting area, with tables filled with dust covered items, and ancient looking furniture. A couple of men were sitting there, not luring at you like the others but also not hiding their stares.
After a long moment of silence he nodded his head, walking towards the long corridor which you were eyeing earlier. He motioned for you to follow him and you sighed in relief, eager to get away from the men still lurking in the sitting area.
He opened a green, wooden door at the end of the hallway, and disappeared behind it. You hesitated. This is it, you can't turn back from here. You've got to do this, for Limika.
Taking a deep breath you grabbed the metal handle and pushed the door open.
You didn't know what you were expecting, going inside the den of the monster—who, it turned out, didn't look even remotely close to the images the old grannies have ingrained in your minds since young—that you've been warned about your entire life, on your way to make a deal with him. But whatever it was, it wasn't this.
The inside of the room didn't look at all like the dark, gloomy outside. The chestnut coloured walls were replaced by walls painted black and golden, an intricate pattern peering from behind the vines crawling up them. There was a huge bed in the middle, its posts covered by the same vines. Upon a look around the whole place you concluded that most of it was covered in those green leaves.
"You must pay a price." Completely forgetting that there was someone else in the room with you as well, you jumped a little at his breezy voice. You looked for him, only to turn around to find him leaning against the bookshelf right beside the door. He had a golden goblet in his grasp—you spied something black and red in it—and was looking at it intently.
You nodded your head, you came prepared. Reaching into the pouch tucked in your waistband you gripped the silver coins in a tight fist. You just needed one fruit, just a single one, this should cover it, right?
"No."
Your eyes widened, and you wondered if you had spoken your earlier question out loud.
He placed the golden goblet on a small table and picked one of the dark berries between his fingers. In slow, calculated steps he walked towards you, holding your eyes captive as you tried your best not to lose yourself in them yet again. It was proving to be more difficult than you would like to admit, as being the only visible part of his face those honey brown eyes commanded all your attention, and your knees were starting to wobble in the face of it.
"The methods of payment are not the same as the one you're familiar with. I was hoping to make that clear for you."
"What do you mean?"
Only after you had spoken did you realise how heavily you were breathing. The words barely came out as a whisper carried by staggering breaths.
His hand reached out, landing on top of your head. Fingers carding through the roots—making you shiver at the sensation of them rubbing against your scalp—they reached your wavy locks, tangling with a curl, wrapping it around his long fingers.
"Most deem it acceptable to receive a lock of hair as payment," his other hand reached up, grabbing at the rabbit mask, "others...may believe in different forms of transactions."
With that, the mask was ripped off, along with your ability to inhale. He cannot be human. You'd never seen a human so beautiful. No, there was something outworldly about him. His full, coral tinted cheeks blooming in a shade like spring flowers, his luscious pink lips, perfectly plush. Sharp eyebrows arched over his eyes. His eyes, they burned your insides as if you had swallowed hot molasses.
He raised his hand pinching the berry between his fingers and brought it up to his mouth, as he bit into it red juices exploded, painting his lower lip crimson.
You gulped, suddenly hungry. The berry smelled so sweet, so intoxicating.
Before you could even comprehend the scenario you'd landed yourself in he had his palm cupping your face. He moved so fast that your brain couldn't register it. Then you made the mistake and looked into those eyes. Dark, intense, and predatory. The same as that day. But this time you couldn't run. Weirdly your feet seemed planted where they stood, his gaze keeping you captive.
“Do you know what my kind offers you, what makes you lose your mind?” He started talking, voice a little clouded, “A taste. A taste so ravishing that it ruins you for all else.” He moves forward, his cheek brushing against yours, “it makes me curious, you know? Curious to know how it affects you.”
He brings his face back, nose to nose, looking straight into your eyes, he brings his juice stained thumb and gently pushes it against your mouth.
“I've been curious since that day.”
You have half a thought to gasp, to push him away, but you can't. You haven't even had a taste yet and you're already mesmerized. His thumb begins separating your lips and your jaw drops open as his thumb enters your mouth, not too deep, just keeping it propped open.
He ever so slowly whispers, “help me sate my curiosity.” Something has come over you, you think that you nod but you weren't sure, all you know is that his eyes take on a darker shade and before you can blink his mouth is on yours.
Immediately his tongue slips past between your open lips, it burns and the first thing you register is the sharp, fruity tang present on his tongue, after that everything becomes incomprehensible. His kiss is overpowering, you can't think, can't breathe. The hand he holds your jaw with has slipped to the nape of your neck, pushing your head in the angle he desires.
It's like you're in a haze, lost, so utterly lost and he is the only thing guiding you. You don't know what to feel about the way your body is so eager to follow behind him. You shouldn't want this.
He pulls away for a moment, just a moment but it is enough for your head to swim over the surface for a fraction of a second and realise what you are doing. Your hands are shaking, knuckles turned white as you subconsciously tighten them in fists, looking for something to anchor yourself with. A man's mouth is on yours, he is kissing you, something you've only ever talked about with your friends, whispers accompanied by shy giggles. Something you never dreamed of doing before your wedding because it's a sin. Right?
He dives right in, capturing your lower lip and sucking hard.
God, but how come sinning feels so pleasurable then?
Your eyes shut on their own and a whimper leaves your lips only to be swallowed by his hungry mouth. You loosen your palms holding them up and pushing them at his chest. Are you trying to push him away? You're not sure. Do you want him to stop? No, god no.
It feels too good. Something you've never experienced before. You had no idea that such a thing existed, that such men existed who knew how to spell magic with their mouth on yours. But he was not a man. You pushed the thought away.
You hadn't even realised it but had started to move your mouth with his, trying to match his rhythm. His tongue against yours, it made your belly cramp, as if something alive came into existence in there. Just as you were thinking you are gonna lose it, maybe start crying from this indescribable glee you were experiencing, his teeth grazed your lip and bit down hard on it. You gasped, your hand clutching the fabric of his shirt at his chest.
You tried to back away, but his other arm snaked around your body, pulling you tighter than ever and holding you close to him. His tongue came out to smooth the bite, gently stroking it in an attempt to soothe the pain. That, combined with his body heat pressing against you drove you to the brink of insanity.
He started moving you backwards and you followed his lead, having no other option. Soon, with his mouth still on you, still making you dizzy, your legs hit solid wood. You had reached his vanity. But he didn't stop pushing, causing you to lift your hips and sit on the edge of the flat surface and knock an array of items situated there, the mirror on your back now.
Only then did he get off you, leaving you with heaving breaths and a shaking body. You wondered if he had taken his payment, whatever strange kind of payment it was. The taste of the berries was barely there, it was him who overshadowed everything any of your senses could feel. His touch, his scent, his taste stuck in the inside of your mouth.
You opened your eyes, and looked up only to find his face just inches away from you. You wondered, is this what he wanted? Will he let you go now? You will get what you want in return, go away, and try to forget all this. That fire you felt; will you be able to forget? You will try. Right now the assurance was enough.
“Not enough.”
Your eyes widened, confused. What could he possibly mean? Not enough of wha-
His hand snaked up your leg, lifting your skirt with it, in a second your skirt had bundled up and his hand was resting on your upper thigh.
“Jungkook!” You scrambled backwards, hands trying to grab your skirt and tug it down but you didn't get a chance. His left hand shot out, grabbing both your wrists and pinning them over your head against the mirror.
Eyes wide in fear you look at him. His gaze is dark as a predator, one who's caught its prey. You are terrified, that's what your racing heart could, your trembling limbs mean. And that's what the knots in your abdomen mean, right?
“You came here for the sake of a loved one, hm?”
You nodded in response, tongue heavy, unable to form words. His big doe eyes gleamed.
“You'd do anything for them? Pay any price?”
A hesitant nod this time. He grinned lopsidedly, white teeth peeking out from under his thinner upper lip.
“Let me have a proper taste then.”
Curses. You couldn't deny him.
Forgive me, for I have committed a crime. Punish me for-
Your apologetic prayers were broken off as a moan was ripped from your throat at the ministrations of the plum lips sucking at the swell of your breast.
The moment you nodded your agreement Jungkook had swooped you up, and deposited on the soft covers of his bed, pulling at your blouse gently until the ribbons came loose, allowing him partial access to your upper half.
He pushed you on your back, hovering above you.
“Look at you, so beautiful, laid out for me like this.” He said as he dove in to kiss you once again.
You clawed at his own clothes, running your fingers through his hair, as the voices in your head tried their best to get heard.
You are a proper lady. Such debauchery! What would your mother think, if she knew?
But just then Jungkook parted your legs with his knee, pressing his thigh at your core making your eyes roll back, making you groan at the pleasurable feeling. A sharp stab went straight to your belly, something you were not very familiar with.
He pulled back, panting and looked at where his thigh stayed pressed to you, then back gaze drunk in a weird mix of pleasure and thrill. As if despite committing such a scandalous act you were enjoying the adrenaline rush.
“So good for me.” He smirked.
He leaned down, starting to leave feather light kisses on your upper thighs. Your eyes widened, as he reached closer and closer to your underclothes. A particularly harsh suction had you scrambling back.
“What are you-” it was a strange feeling. The kisses were shocking, but not completely unfamiliar, you've kissed a boy before—your grandmother would personally arrange for your funeral if she found out—but you were ten, and it was most definitely nothing like the things this man did to you, not even close. But, this? This was completely unfamiliar, a line you never crossed. A line you didn't even know you could cross.
He stalked after you, the flickering candle lights basking him in a soft glow; had your heart beat not been pounding in your throat you surely would have mistaken him for a figment of your imagination, something that could have only been a manifestation from your dreams.
“Shh, it's okay my love,” He took your palm, nuzzling his nose against your wrist in the gentlest of touches. As he breathed you in, his exhales surprisingly calming you down, he dropped your palm softly on the bed. He locked his gaze back at you, “let me make you feel good?”
When you still didn't say anything he tilted his head, the shadows it created across his dark eyes and sharp jaw made your throat run dry. You wanted him, you couldn't deny it. He was like the physical essence of every forbidden fantasy you had.
So you nodded. And that was all it took him as he dove in head first.
His mouth connected to your still clothed center, leaving small butterfly kisses from the up to down reaching your entrance. You couldn't help the shudder that ran down your legs. He looked up at you, a grin spread across his face. In the blink of an eye he undid the already loose laces and knots of your clothes until you were left in only your askew blouse barely covering your stomach.
He made a sucking noise at your entrance from between your legs, which made you realise just how wet you had become. Something warm, and wet traced your cunt making you gasp loudly. Hands bunching up the sheets below, you arched your back, pushing into his face more, feeling his tongue lap at you.
Jungkook groaned and pinned you in place by the thigh, fingers gripping so tight that it left angry red marks on your skin. He glanced up giving you an amused look. His glossy lips caught your attention, realising it was your essence coating his mouth made your skin burn. Too hot, you tugged your blouse off.
Looking at the way you were not shying away anymore Jungkook smirked. With his other hand he cupped your womanhood, palm grinding against your sensitive bundle of nerve, making you mewl.
“h- ungh!”
“So beautiful, opening up to me.” he started tracing one of his fingers at your entrance before dipping it in, just slightly. You almost screamed when he pulled away just as quick, sliding down an inch as if trying to chase after his retreating hand. He chuckled, “desperate?”
Teary eyed you looked down at him. You needed him to do something, and soon. A hunger you didn't even know existed was waking up from within, setting every one of your nerves on fire.
He looked back with the same intensity, before thrusting his finger deep inside your walls in a single motion. A scream tore off your chest as he started pumping at a languid pace.
“I'll make it feel so good for you, trust me.” His gaze was fixed on the way your mouth hung open before he looked down. He pulled his finger completely, but before you could make a complaining noise you watched him bring it, along with his pointer finger, up to his mouth. Without breaking eye contact he put them in his mouth, sucking them clean.
“So addicting,” his eyes shut on their own, “mm you taste devine.”
When he raised his eyelids after a second you could see the way his pupils were entirely blown out, like two pools of black, but something else was there as well. An almost inhuman gleam, that wasn't there before, wasn't something that the candle glow could've created.
It left you mesmerized.
While you were lost in him, he brought his fingers back and inserted two of them in you.
You were a moaning mess as he started pushing them again and again, speeding up before slowing down stretching your insides in a way you never dared attempt yourself. Before long a knot started tightening in your belly, your thighs shaking, and knuckles turning white with how hard you gripped the black sheets beneath you.
One last slow, intense push took you over the edge. Shouting a garbled mess of words you let him help you ride out your high.
He brought his mouth down eagerly just as you started calming down, him sucking on your already sensitive parts made you shudder. In a couple seconds you started pushing at his head, trying to get him off you. It took another few before he did, leaving your toes curling at the sensation.
When you finally peeled back your lids and looked back, you found him already gazing at you while licking his fingers clean.
“as I said, devine.”
Before your eyes he started unbuttoning his shirt. Your breathing hadn't even returned to normal yet and it picked up speed again. The fabric dropped effortlessly down his arms exposing him to you.
You felt a current surge through you.
He was beautiful in every aspect of the word. You didn't even know there were men who possessed such beauty.
Jungkook had his hands on the top of his trousers when you sat up. Hands reaching for him you drew closer. He let you, when you started feeling up his chest, when you brought your mouth near his neck—dying to taste him too—and started leaving feather light kisses down his neck and shoulder which then turned to little bites. He just let you, when your nails lightly clawed at his chest, when they brushed past his nipples, only when you closed your mouth around one of them did he break his silent observation and you heard his breath hitch.
Pushing away from him you blinked back up, then down, watching him work his fingers on his pants. You watched in awe as freed himself, pumping his cock deliberately. It was strange, you thought, in such a moment, you would feel intimidated. Instead you didn't dare direct your eyes elsewhere, a different emotion overcame you. Desire.
He was beautiful. Mesmerizing. You subconsciously reached out to touch him. He helped you guide your hand in a glide, setting a slow pace over his flushed cock. It throbbed in your hands making your mouth water. Maybe you could use your mouth too?
Before you could come to a decision he spoke up in a hoarse voice, “scoot back.” You jerked your gaze up as he loosened your grip on him, only then did you realise that somewhere you had tightened your grip on him. He spoke again in a breathless voice, barely restrained.
“Lean against the head board,” you hesitated, you wanted to keep touching him, but one look directed at you and you couldn't help but obey.
After you settled on a couple pillows you waited patiently for him to make the next move. You thought he would make you lie back down completely. What he did before, with his mouth and fingers, was completely foreign to you, but this? This you had a bit of an idea about. Your mother had taught you, after all you were of marriage age, ready to wed and fulfill your wifely duties.
The fact that you were doing this—unmarried and with someone not your lawful husband—didn't bother you anymore. Strange. Exciting. Free.
He kissed you before you felt him pressing against you. His face was glistening with sweat as he finally pushed in, just a little bit at first. Still, the stretch made you squirm, whimpers leaving your lips.
He kissed your jaw, “it's okay,” and slid inside another inch, “it's alright, love. You trust me?” You met his half lidded eyes.
You nodded.
With your approval he pushed the rest of the way in, immediately trapped between your tight walls.
His eyes rolled back at the sensation. It was so tempting, to shut your own eyes and submit to the pleasure entirely, but you held back, there was something about watching Jungkook, who looked so untouchable, just melt completely. All for you, because of you. It felt empowering.
You smiled before shouting out as he pulled back and pushed in again. No longer able to resist you closed your eyes. One of his hands took hold of your breast, squeezing it deliciously.
As he filled to the hilt only to pull out all the way, and repeating it you arched your back causing your chest to get flushed against his.
“So beautiful.” He nibbled against your neck.
“Please,”
“Mmm love, what do you want?”
What did you want? What do you say? You just wanted more.
“You can move faster. Just, please-” You moaned.
It didn't take telling him twice before he started moving faster. Eager, you tried to respond to his thrusts, but couldn't keep up once he set a merciless pace.
Voices of pleasure you didn't even recognise belonged to you bounced off the walls, Jungkook's grunts joining yours in a chorus of bliss.
A sudden deep thrust had you screaming, “Jungkook!” you brought your face near his shoulder, biting it to try and muffle the scream.
He pulled back, “yeah, just like that. It's okay love, I love hearing you scream.” and slammed back into your heat.
You could feel it, the way your belly began twisting just like before. But this time you could feel it was more intense, the knot coiling painfully.
“Oh god, oh god, oh god-” for the first time your chants of the lord's name had nothing to do with the evening prayers of your grandma.
Soon after you came down you felt him unloading deep in you. Hot threads of his release painted you from the inside as you collapsed completely on your back. You couldn't move an inch, your body was spent.
When you opened your eyes Jungkook was panting above you. His hair and bare chest glistening with sweat, his exposed skin flushed red. He dropped his head on yours trying to get his breathing back under control.
This time you closed your eyes, and it was him who stared back with half closed eyes, running his gaze over your soft features, your shining skin wet with sweat, and bitten red lips. He could stare at you for an eternity, he quickly realised that it was not the human, but him—having had a taste of the salt on your skin—who had become obsessed.
The sun had yet to rise but Jungkook was wide awake. The emptiness of his previously warm bed was what woke him up. He caressed the side where you had slept, now bare. In its place you had left behind cold, empty sheets, and an empty goblet on his desk.
You were gone.
But he's had a taste, and now he can't let go back. He's become addicted.