The way Hongjoong and Yunho kept on holding hands as they followed Monsieur towards the basement of the manor as the assassin kept on looking around, ready to beat the shit out of a blackened one or creature that will jump out and hurt them. Hongjoong made sure that Yunho is safe with stealing glances towards Wooyoung— under the influence of someone inside him and also, Monsieur.

They stopped in front of a room as Monsieur chanted something in a foreign language before a door suddenly appeared in front of their eyes, Monsieur opened the door and gestured at them to enter it but they didn’t even budge.

“You’re entering first,” Yunho said in spite, glaring at him.

“If that’ll make you trust me,” Monsieur replies as he entered the room, “Come in.”

“Let’s go, Yunho.” Hongjoong walked first as he was leading the taller male and he complied like a puppy following his owner.

“Both of you can take a seat, this discussion will take us a while.” Monsieur pointed at the chairs in front of a table in which he sat on the swivel chair behind it, “I have to explain a lot to both of you.”

“Yunho.” The mint-haired male looked at the redhead and nodded without even hesitating.

The moment that both of them sat on the chairs, still hand-in-hand fascinates Monsieur. He have witnessed a lot of friendships yet this one is one of the most devastatingly beautiful friendship that he have seen. Maybe it’s because both of them have already lost their precious ones that they’re afraid of letting go of each other with the thought of losing one another this time. Humans are so fascinating, Monsieur thoughts as his lips curled upwards into a smile.

“I’d let you ask me, boys.” Monsieur announced as he rests his head on both of his hands, looking at the redhead and the mint-haired male.

“Why do you want Yeosang?” Yunho asks, boring holes on his face with a piercing gaze.

“He’s the unfortunate soul that is chosen to be my vessel in his first life but the curse says otherwise.” Monsieur responded as he lets out a sigh, “I need his soul to free me from this curse as well, it’s the only way to cease it.”

“The only way?!” Yunho exclaimed, brows furrowing as he huffed, “I thought we should just get rid of the village chief.”

“That is one of the temporary solution, fae.”  Monsieur stated then clasped his hands, “You can get rid of him for now but the curse will come back after nine years. Not a single cursed one has passed their eighteenth year of existence because they kept on dying as the Adam failed to save them for the nth time.”

“The Adam is Seonghwa, right?” Hongjoong clarifies as Monsieur nodded, “So the only way to stop this curse is to offer Yeosang’s soul to you?”

“I need something from the so-called ‘chosen one’ that is also from the timeline when the curse happened. His vessel is gone and the soul is the only thing that hasn’t changed so that’s a yes.” Monsieur gave them an apologetic look and Yunho wanted to barf because of that “I need to gain his soul in exchange of my freedom. My freedom is what those mongrels wanted and if I get freed, I could disperse them in the underworld.”

“But there’s a necromancer with us! Wooyoung is a necromancer! And Mingi is from the underworld but he recently died.” Hongjoong stated as he looked down, feeling the guilt of not being able to save their friend.

“The undead are way different than these ones, undead are like mindless puppets that is brought to the mortal realm just to kill. But these ones, the creatures that you call a blackened one, is a restless soul. It won’t stop until it gets what it wants and they wanted me to be free because they thought that I could give them the Eden.” Monsieur grunted as he rolled his eyes, “They’ve been nothing but a bunch of clowns. Eden doesn’t exist.”

“What?” Both of them were flabbergasted on the revelation as their jaw dropped, eyes widening in surprise.

“Look! It wasn’t even my fault! They’re the ones that assumed that I could provide them something like that! They thought that I was a good when they found the artifact where I was prisoned at!” Hongjoong would be lying if he'll say that the Monsieur's reaction isn’t amusing at all, he looks so offended “I can provide blessings but with a consequence and I just stole it from the other villages. I’m not a motherfucking genie! The blessing that I gave their village were the blessings that is supposed to be given to the other villages by the Gods!”

“He just stated ‘motherfucking’ as if he wasn’t alive from centuries ago,” Yunho said as he snickered, “If he’ll give us a long ass speech, no one would be able to stop me from saying ‘okay, boomer’.”

“Shut it, Yun. I’m trying to realize that everything that is happening is because of the blackened ones’ expectation and the reality is just too anticlimactic.” Hongjoong snaps, making the younger male shut his lips tightly.

“The blessings that they gave me was just to enhance my power along with getting worshippers. I just said something that I’m about to reach the peak of the power that was taken from me and the last step is to find a vessel. And these dumbasses thought that if I’ll be able to get out of that artifact, I’ll be giving them something like utopia.” Monsieur added, gritting his teeth in annoyance “I can’t give them that! But I didn’t even had a chance to tell them because they kept on cutting me off! I told them that Yeosang in that timeline is the best vessel that I could get because of his purity. And that’s what happened. I guess Adam, I mean, Seonghwa have told you the rest.”

“Oh my fucking gosh.” Hongjoong was so dumbfounded on the revelation.

“They didn’t gave me enough time to explain myself, they immediately thought that I was a God or something then started offering human sacrifices in which I could say no because I really need to regain my powers!” Monsieur continues, clenching his teeth as his eyes seems to be in fury “I provided them their wishes and during the supposed-to-be sacrificing of the chosen one, the dumb village chief just dragged me in a fucking curse which makes me unable to get out of the artifact for centuries! That is until this other soul in Wooyoung came to make a bargain and offered the vessel as a temporary host as we seek for the chosen one.”

“That soul. Do you have an idea who this soul is?” Hongjoong asks.

Monsieur shook his head, “The only thing that I know is that it wasn’t from this universe. It doesn’t match any of the lifelines from the creatures of this universe as if it really travelled for a long, long time just to get here.”

“I have a question,” Yunho stated and Monsieur looked at him, “Why are you helping us? Aren’t you supposed to be desperate on getting the soul?”

“Now that’s a question I’m anticipating!” Monsieur clasped his head as he beamed which is really not what the duo thought of him, “The truth is that I already gave up on getting his soul in this timeline. It’s impossible this time so I’m just here for the entertainment.”

“Why did you say so?”

“As you can see, fae. This timeline is just too fucked up as the chosen one is targeted by three powerful beings. First is the part-fox spirit and part-demon with a human blood, he is already way powerful for me but the thing is, as long as he doesn’t know what I am. I wouldn’t be exorcised and what all of you have thought of me is really wrong. Ever since I’ve been banished to the mortal realm, all that I experienced is being wronged and getting disappointed! I can’t believe God made creatures like you! Even the dogs are smarter than most of your kind!”

“Damn, Hongjoong-hyung. He's ranting in between the explanation and I’m getting dizzy with all of this,” Yunho sighs as Hongjoong chuckled.

“Second is that prince. The Adam of this timeline, he may look princey and calm but he has a lot of tactics hidden on his sleeves and I wouldn’t be surprised if he uses a forbidden spell or two just to keep Yeosang safe. He's the most sane out of the three threats,” Monsieur stated before taking a deep breath, “Last but not the least is this host of mine. I’ve been seeing his past memories and I really don’t get it but he seems to be quite desperate to see Yeosang again that he have been doing lots of summoning and forbidden spells of his kind. He even tried learning mage spells but it didn’t brought him any luck until he started to clench his teeth and burn his own brain by learning alchemy. Maybe that brought the other soul from I-don’t-know-where to him.”

“He really did that?” Hongjoong asked, “He was busy on school and on his part-time job too.”

“He barely even slept. He literally borrowed lots of books in the library to learn it as he tries his best to keep himself sane. The truth is, this host of mine is the one that I’m worried the most. He’s ruining himself and didn’t even hesitated to do such dangerous stuff just to see Yeosang again. All I can get from Wooyoung’s memory is that after attempting to summon a demon but in an alchemist way, a dark mist appeared and he passed out.” Monsieur seems to be hesitating to continue it but he did it nonetheless “He had a conversation with someone that looks like him but wore a weird kind of clothing. Something that a general from the past would wear, I suppose. They made a pact of letting him stay in Wooyoung’s vessel as he’ll help him to get Yeosang back again. And Wooyoung agreed with just the mention of Yeosang, he fused his own soul with that one. Whenever he’s the one in control of Wooyoung’s vessel, Wooyoung would be in the abyss inside him and stay there as he watches everything or prefers to sleep and let the other one do whatever he wants.”

“What the heck, Wooyoungie?” Yunho can't help but feel a pang of pain from the revelation, thinking about their friend that has been nothing but sweet and smiling all the time to be facing such a blizzard inside him.

“I can’t recall anything when the other one is the one in control of this body though. But I can sense that he’s up to no good,” Monsieur stated, “And Wooyoung needs to get rid of it or else, he’ll die.”

“He’ll what?!” Hongjoong stood up, feeling rage coursing throughout his body as he heard the word ‘die’

“As you can see, fusing souls is forbidden. If you have that underworld-er dude or Seonghwa the sorcerer, they can explain it to you clearly. You can’t fuse your soul and let it control you most of the time because you'll get your memories and emotions mixed up, causing an existential crisis. And the more that you let them control you, the more that it consumes the remaining portion of your soul until it disappears and the fused soul is the owner of the vessel now.” Monsieur said as he looked at the duo with pity plastered in his expression “The fused soul is actually powerful. He was too powerful to block any magical powers in the entire manor which caused a disadvantage to every single one of you. It takes too much of your life force to cause such a thing and that soul didn’t even budge at all. And I’m kind of worried for Wooyoung because his soul is starting to get consumed by this other one because he’s letting him to whatever he wants.”

“How are we supposed to help him?” Yunho asked, staring at the floor as he feel so worthless for not noticing Wooyoung’s suffering.

“To be honest, we can’t do anything about this. It’s about Wooyoung and the soul he fused with, he’s still the one in control of this vessel but he kept on letting his other side do whatever he wants. So if he fights it off, he’ll be able to consume the soul instead.” Monsieur responded yet his expression seems to be quite grim, “However, the memories and the power of that deranged soul of the alchemist would stay within Wooyoung and he has to bear the painful memories.”

“Wooyoungie, what the hell have you done?” Hongjoong grunted, planting his face on both of his hands.

“I’d like to ask if you have any questions aside from that.”

Both of them looked at Monsieur, they didn’t even know if he should trust what this creature even said. They looked at each other and both of them seems to be having a conflict because Yunho doesn’t want to believe a single shit yet Hongjoong seems convinced. The mint-haired male can’t help but worry about their gullible leader, their trusting and precious leader.

“Monsieur, what would you gain if you’ll be getting Yeosang’s soul?” Hongjoong asked, looking straight at him as he analyzes his expression.

“Freedom. Nothing more, nothing less. The moment that his soul was sent to hell is the moment that the invisible chains that kept my existence in that damned artifact will disperse and that’s it.”

“How can we trust you about this? We don’t even know if you’re lying or not,” Hongjoong added.

Monsieur can’t help but sigh in defeat, knowing that they won’t believe him unless he reveals something that can be used against him “Leedo.”

“What?” Yunho frowns, curious about Monsieur’s response.

“It’s the name that they’ve given me. If you don’t trust me that much, you can summon me by saying that given name and I’ll do my best to help you.” Monsieur stated, “But please refrain on saying it in front of the blackened ones or else, I might get lots of curses attached to me and that’s the last thing that I would want to have.”

“Leedo. I’ll keep that in mind.” One side of Hongjoong’s lips curled upwards as if he’s smirking before crossing his arms.

“I know that I don’t have enough proof but I can sense that your demon friend probably has a clue about it. I can sense him in Wooyoung’s home now,” Monsieur’s eyes kept on glowing yellow as he sighed.

“You can use your powers?!”

“Of course, young valkyrie. This vessel is the only one that can use its powers and despite my powers being limited because of my imprisonment, my kind’s trait, more like former one, is to detect demons.” Monsieur explains as his eyes glowed brighter “And a few magical shits, I suppose. That’s why I gave you my given name because in case that Wooyoung is still afraid of confronting that soul, you can call me to take control of this vessel and help you out.”

“Why?”

“Because I wanted to. And seeing a male valkyrie reminds me of someone important to me,” Monsieur said, a smile plastered on his lips as he seems to be thinking about something “One of the important person in my life is also a male valkyrie and ever since I was imprisoned, I haven’t heard a thing about him.”

“An another male valkyrie?! But I haven’t met one!” Hongjoong gasps.

Monsieur smiled sadly this time “It’s either that they’re hiding or worst case scenario, dead. Besides, it’s been a long time so I don’t know if he’s dead or not. As much as I wanted to be free, I’m quite afraid to live with freedom yet being aware of my cherished ones being dead already so I guess that staying in that cramped and dark pot is way better.”

Hongjoong knew that sad smile and that kind of look and he felt it too. Longing and fear. He can’t help but feel bad especially when Monsieur is using Wooyoung’s vessel and it looks like it’s Wooyoung that is expressing such a heart-wrenching expression.

“Is that all the informations that you can provide us?” Hongjoong asked, “I think we should leave as soon as possible.”

“There’s two more.” Both of them looked at Monsieur which is having such a serious expression “You probably have a hunch about this but I’d like to confirm the traitor topic that all of you have been arguing about a few days ago.”

“So there really is one..” Yunho can't help but look away as Hongjoong's pained expression was seen.

“I can assure you that it isn’t Wooyoung.” Monsieur clarified before standing up from his seat to walk towards them, “As much as he was desperate to do everything for Yeosang, he wouldn’t have the heart to kill any of you. Also, I don’t know if the demon representative have told you about this yet but all of you can’t be killed by other creatures aside from your clan leaders and yourselves.”

“Wait. What?” Yunho gasped. He didn't know a thing or two about it and he wanted to rip San into shreds for not telling them about it.

“Aside from your clan leaders, the only one that can kill you is one of you. One of the seven sins’ representatives.” Monsieur explained before turning his back against them, “It clearly means that someone is killing one of you and I don’t know who it is. It can be someone that is out there or possibly, one of you? But Wooyoung is definitely not the traitor, he might’ve caused such a huge mess but killing you all is a no-no.”

“Whoever he is, he’s going to regret betraying us.”

“Well. If that’s the case then I guess the ‘seven makes one team’ chant makes sense now,” Monsieur chuckles, “But you’re quite lucky because the fused soul’s owner doesn’t seem to trust the traitor that much and if he’s in the manor, he can’t use his own powers too. I’ve heard that four of you are great at brawling so if someone is lucky enough that the traitor isn’t good at using his own fists then you're at an advantage.”

“I hope so. Because I’ll be breaking that dumbass’ bones one by one for doing such a thing!” Yunho exclaims, huffing as he stood, “What's the second one that you’re supposed to say?”

“That Yeosang is still alive. He was captivated by the alchemist’s soul yet Yeosang managed to escape and he’s probably wandering around. You need to leave to make sure that you’ll find him before a blackened one does,” Monsieur stated before grinning at them, “They’ll offer Yeosang to me once they’ve got him but getting him means that the Adam’s execution will begin so you have to get them away from him. Remember to say my name if something happens, alright?”

“Alright.”

Monsieur smiled at Hongjoong, “Alright then. You can leave the room and head straight so it can lead you outside once again. Be safe, both of you.”

“Monsieur. Thank you.” Even Yunho was surprised when Hongjoong said thanks to the man in front of them “You know what is one of valkyrie's main trait aside from leading? It’s sensing if someone is lying and all the words that I’ve heard were anything but that.”

“As expected from your kind. Leave now.”

Yunho and Hongjoong looked at each other before exiting the room as they still kept on holding their hands, not even letting go of it. Monsieur can’t help but look at the two males and with Wooyoung’s main trait, he saw how both of the male’s coated with black mist yet one of them has a darker one. He knew what it meant and just sighed, clasping his hands before looking upwards with a melancholic smile.

“He reminds me of you, Youngjo.” Monsieur muttered, “I miss you. I hope that you’re still waiting for me.”

•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•

San wouldn’t believe such a sight in the household that screams nothing but safe and cozy. The dried blood on the walls and floor along with the summoning circle on the side as a bunch of shattered glass was scattered all over the floor.

Most of all is the reflection that he used to he seeing himself yet what he saw is something that made him gasp in surprise. He saw Yeosang but he knew that it wasn’t him, San and Yeosang were united yet he felt no connection towards this man. He also wore the same clothes that Monsieur does and he can’t help but stay alert, eyes glowing in a mixture of purple and red as his demon and fox spirit self is getting activated because of his actions. He went in front of the mirror, ignoring the tiny shards that he steps into breaking into tinier bits.

“Fear not, young demon. I’ve told you that I’m anticipating your arrival,” the male in the mirror stated.

“You’re not Yeosang.” San bared his fangs toward him “Who are you?”

“My name doesn’t matter in this universe, demon child. I’m nothing but a mere prophet,” the prophet clad in black stated, “As you can see, the child that caused the mess in this room fused his soul with my beloved one.”

“Fused?!”

“Indeed. So there are two people living in that vessel of his, it seems that the necromancer is this universe’s version of my beloved. As you can see, he’s a great alchemist.” The prophet stated before putting his mask under his chin and a small smile was seen on his lips.

“Now that makes fucking sense.” San croaked out as he realized how the Harry Potter-addicted Jung Wooyoung knows a thing about alchemy.

“But you have to save him, demon child. A soul that would let the fused one takes control won’t last longer,” the prophet reminds him, “My beloved one doesn’t belong here, he’ll be messing the balance of the universes.”

“I don’t care about him. I only care about Yeosang!”

“That’s a lie. If he wasn’t important, you could’ve gotten rid of him already. He’s still your friend, demon child.”

San huffed, “I’m here for explanations. I hope that you are capable of that, mister prophet or whoever you are. Just because you look like my Yeosang doesn’t mean that I love you!”

“Silly demon,” the prophet chuckles “I’m here to send a message for my beloved.”

“Why would I even do that?”

“Because I’m the reason why he came here.”

This is nothing but a waste of time. San thoughts as he was contemplating to get out of the house so he can finally head wherever Wooyoung is to rip his head apart from his body and get Yeosang. He knew that there’s something wrong with Wooyoung but for him to cause such a huge mess with involving someone that isn’t from their universe is way too much.

San sighed as he took a chair and sat on it, “Tell me why.”

“I thought that you were about to leave.” the prophet smiles again and San would be lying if he’ll say that the smile isn't a beautiful one. This person might look like Yeosang but he still prefers his Yeosang rather than this reflection.

“I will if you wouldn’t explain it already!” San barks.

“Hold your canine self, demon child. I will explain it to you,” the prophet chuckled before sighing, “He came here just to fulfill a promise that should be forgotten and buried into the ground.”

“And what is that promise?”

“If you fail then let's do that together and if you succeed then let’s still do that together.” the prophet lets out a sad smile, “He’s too desperate to see me again and got himself in an another universe and gave his soul to the necromancer child.”

“Then that means he’s dead in your universe? That man isn’t from here, right?”

“Precisely.” the prophet confirms, nodding in agreement “We’re from a different universe and in that one, I died. I died in his arms.”

“Oh.” San doesn’t know what to say. He kind of felt bad because the way that this prophet smile seems to be genuine, as if he accepted his death.

“He didn’t accepted my death that well and tried to revive me. Alchemy wouldn’t be able to do that, it’ll create hideous creatures instead. He have done a lot until he’s starting to lose his  sanity and studied the forbidden arts which led him to this universe when the necromancer seems to summon him using both alchemy and dark arts,” the prophet explained, “I really don’t know what his plan is but it involves your Yeosang and since that Yeosang is this universe’s version of me, it will definitely end up on him claiming the boy.”

“I won’t let that happen!” San growled as his possessiveness got the best of him.

“I knew that would happen.” the prophet sighs before crossing his arms, “You need to stop him before he gets his hands to your Yeosang.”

“How? I’ll do it.” San said with determination as tone of his voice was firm “Should I kill him?”

“Killing him would also kill your friend so I won’t suggest that. But there are times that my beloved one wouldn’t be able to control the vessel and your friend will be the one that is conscious so maybe you can motivate him on fighting my beloved one’s soul so he can consume it before he's the one that will be consumed.”

“But that means that you’re letting someone kill your beloved one.”

“He already chose his fate when he fused his soul to the necromancer. It can’t be helped and he’s just here to see my other version and let’s just hope that he’s sane enough not to disturb the balance of both of our universe,” the prophet stated before massaging his temples, “I can’t believe that he’ll do such ruthless stuff that would make me worried even though I’m already dead.”

“I’ll do it.” San stated, not even hesitating as he looked straight at the reflection in front of him.

The prophet smiled at him. San can’t understand why someone who died can smile as genuine as that, death is something that someone should be crying about. Why are people even satisfied on being happy when they died? San doesn’t understand at all. Even he is scared of death. Death is nothing but a sad thing, it takes away life. San wanted to ask why the prophet is smiling as if he was contented on his current state.

“I’d like you to give my beloved one a message too.” the prophet stated before taking a deep breath, “Tell him to stop interfering because this is something that I doesn’t want to happen. I told him to live his life and continue his dreams, not to ruin it like this. Tell him to cease his actions and accept my death, tell him that we’ll still be meeting on our next lives so he better stop and rest. He has done a lot already, he needs to rest. Tell him that I’ll be meeting him soon and will embrace him for suffering too much.”

“Noted.” San immediately stood from the chair and tilted his head a bit, “Is that all?”

“Yes. And if he still resists then you have to convince your friend on getting him out of his system,” the prophet stated.

“Understood.” San stated and nods in acknowledgement, “Is that all?”

“I believe that it’s all I ca—” the prophet was cut off when he suddenly gasped and a sad expression was seen onbhis face, “Oh. The valkyrie has fallen.”

“W-What?”

“Someone lost its life somewhere. It’s a valkyrie.”

“Hongjoong-hyung, you dummy.” San bit his lips in annoyance, clenching his fists “You’re our leader. What have you done to let that pride of yours lead you to death?”

“I think that you have to go now, demon child. Save your comrades from this curse.” the prophet smiled once again.

“I’ll be going now.” Before San was able to turn his back, he looked at the prophet for the last time “I’ll make sure to kick some sense on your beloved one’s brain.”

“Thank you.” the prophet lets out a grin as his eyes crinkled, “I’ll finally be able to rest now than I’m finally assured that my words can be heard by him. Please tell him that no matter what happens, I’ll still love him and embrace him for being tough throughout the years of loneliness.”

“You really love him.” San said as a small smile was seen on his face, “I’ll take note of that.”

“Indeed. You look dazzling when you smile, demon child.” the prophet sighed, “I’ll be going now. Once again, thank you.”

The huge mirror broke and all that San could see was a warped reflection of himself, his smile faltered as he immediately ran out of the Jung household towards the Kang manor as he silently hopes that Yeosang is alright.

Yeosang, please wait for me.

♠♥♣♦

and yes! monsieur is oneus’ leedo! am i hinting for a book two? h m m m m m : ) would ya’ll like that?

also! i’ve realized that i almost gave away the traitor’s identity on one of san’s flashback for them. like if you read jongho’s last moments and that flashback, you’ll immediately know who the traitor is. next chapter will be about hongjoong and wooyoung. also a hint or prolly the revelation of the traitor! thank you for reading this fic! i’d love to see yer reactions about this chapter so kindly leave a comment or two. i’ve been lacking confidence on my writing skills again and maybe this can motivate me more.

and if you have some spare time, please check my other ateez fics! ‘save you save me’, a seongsang fic. ‘dancing with the devil’, a sansang/yeosan fic and ‘destruction’, a woosansang fic. remember to read the trigger warnings since most of it will be heavy-implied ones while the yeosan fic contains gore and rape. it's a stockholm syndrome fic.