"Betrayal is the only truth that sticks."

                                                     -Arthur Miller

Jung Hoseok's eyes were narrowed as he stared down at the liquid in his cup, his hands twirling it absentmindedly.

It was late.

Very late.

You'd been gone all day long...but he was sure you could handle yourself.

He honestly couldn't have asked for a better situation.

He'd been searching out a way to take down those god awful sirens. In fact, he had been craving their destruction for many years, waiting for the right way to kill each and every one of them slowly--painfully.

Then he saw that mark on your finger.

And it all fell into place.

He'd never seen a Mating Mark before...at least, not in person. He'd read about them in books and seen many drawings of them. He knew what they meant and what they were capable of.

If one of the true sirens marked you, that made you valuable...extremely valuable.

You'd die, he was aware of that...but, in the grand scheme of things, that seemed like a small sacrifice.

He just needed you to trust that he was going to protect you. He needed you to trust him.

He was certain that would be a difficult feat.

You didn't seem to trust anyone. Not the captain and not Hoseok.

This mark did provide him with a bit of influence, though. You didn't know anything about what it would truly do if the two of you were separated. He was the only one you'd be able to talk to about it....which meant that you had to believe what he said...even just a little.

And he would be sure to use your ignorance to his advantage.

If one of the true sirens were to die...it would wipe out one-seventh of the siren population...

Once word got around to the other six brothers, they'd come to hunt down Hoseok...and he would be ready...Having them all together in the same place would make killing them much easier...he'd wipe out the entire siren race. 

And he'd use you to do it.

His eyes snapped up from his drink at the sound of the Inn door opening.

You walked inside, blue eyes instantly falling onto Hoseok's figure as you closed the door behind you.

The green-eyed man couldn't read you, your face remaining completely neutral as you stared at him.

He had once questioned how you'd become so good at hiding your thoughts...but, he decided that not knowing would make it easier to kill you.

He didn't want to grow attached.

Ignorance, in this case, was bliss.

"Jimin told me that you'd decided to go exploring." He started cautiously, eyeing you as you slowly walked closer.

You shrugged your shoulders, eyes never leaving his form as you sat across from him.

"I needed air after what happened." You stated, studying him.

He hummed in acknowledgment, gently placing his drink down on the table.

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" He asked softly, moving his hand to rest over your own. "This mark means that it's only a matter of time before that siren finds you...going out alone is quite foolish."

"I guess I'll be the judge of that." You deadpanned.

You didn't trust him.

Your blue eyes were cold as you stared at him, observing him closely.

He was lying to you...that much you were sure of. What he was lying about....that was another matter.

You believed that there may be some truth in what he told you...but, one thing you could be certain of was that he wasn't telling you everything you needed to know.

You could confront him if you wished...

But, showing your cards right now wouldn't be wise.

So, you'd play along....just for a little while.

He sighed, removing his hand from your own.

"Was it because of what Jimin said?" He asked. "He told me that he made you a bit angry this morning. I understand that he can be a bit much as times, but you must be patient with him.-"

"What's your plan?" You interrupted suddenly.

Hoseok blinked in surprise, his brows furrowing at your question.

"Plan?" He repeated, trying to remain neutral. "I'm not sure I know what you mean."

You leaned forward, eyes never leaving his as you pointed to the mark on your hand which had grown slightly since he'd last seen you.

"To get rid of this." You said, trying not to smile victoriously at his reaction.

He seemed relieved that you didn't ask about his true intentions.

"I've told you where my loyalties lie." He lied. "I have no plan of getting rid of it for you. I honestly couldn't care less-"

"You're lying." You stated. "Namjoon told me about what happened to your family and you, yourself, told me about how much you dislike sirens...now, the way I see it, you'd do one of two things; You'd either tell Jimin about this mark and sell me to the sirens for a high price or you'd help me get this mark off to spite the siren that marked me...You haven't told Jimin which means you must have chosen the latter."

You hoped that you sounded confident when delivery your "theory". Hoseok thought of you as a girl who had no idea what was happening...He considered you naïve.

He had no way of knowing that you'd spoken to Jungkook and that he told you what his plan was. Although you didn't trust the siren, you knew that there had to be some truth in his words...

If his goal was to turn you against Hoseok completely, he'd have to show evidence of Hoseok being a bad person, which meant that he knew of a few skeletons hidden in the sailor's closet. You'd use that to your advantage.

Hoseok huffed, running a hand through his hair.

"You catch on fast." He bought it. "I've been doing some reading today..."

You tilted your chin up, signaling for him to continue.

"While there isn't any real record of a mark being removed, I think I may have found the next best thing." He paused, eyes moving to yours. "We have to keep the two of you apart...and when the mark has appeared fully-"

"You'll kill me?"

Hoseok froze at your words, his breath hitching in his throat as he struggled to maintain composure.

The look on your face was unreadable.

If he hadn't heard your words, he would never have guessed your previous words. You looked strangely peaceful as you stared at him.

You had no weapon. He was aware of that...but the way that you looked at him told the sailor that you probably didn't need one to take him down. You were confident and calm...two things that he was not in that moment.

How could you have caught on so quickly?

"What?" He breathed.

You sighed, standing to your feet slowly.

"So, that's how it works, is it?" You asked, staring at the mark on your hand. "It has to be fully formed before you can kill me...otherwise it won't kill him."

Horrified.

That was the only word that could be used to escribe Hoseok in that moment.

You couldn't know that...there was no logical way that you'd know that.

"Your plan was to keep us apart so that he wouldn't tell me how this mark really works," You smiled confidently. "And when the mark was finished...when our souls were completely bonded together, you'd kill me and take both of us out."

"How did you-"

"You didn't tell Jimin." You explained. "Which meant you had another plan for me...You're a pirate. You wouldn't help me to simply spite someone. You wouldn't help anyone unless you got something out of it. Plain and simple."

He clenched his jaw, raising to his feet suddenly.

"It's not as though you can do anything about it." He gritted. "If you tell Jimin, he'll sell you to that siren. Your only option is to keep quiet and let that mark grow...I only have to wait until that time."

You raised an eyebrow.

"You think I can only sit and wait?" You chuckled. "You truly do not know me."

"I know that you have no choices." He stated, trying to regain the upper hand. "You're a woman on an island of pirates, so running isn't a choice. We're protecting you from the bad men out there...Waiting is the only thing-"

Hoseok's words were cut off abruptly at the sound of a loud crash.

Taehyung suddenly stumbled into the room, his eyes wide as he glanced between the two of you.

"We have trouble." He said breathlessly. "Someone told Bluebeard about the siren."

His eyes widened at the younger man's words.

"No one could possibly know that she's here." He growled. "How could he have found out?!"

Taehyung shook his head.

"I do not know." He stated. "All I know is that we need to be off of this island- Wait...Did you just...?"

Hoseok huffed in annoyance at the question, reaching forward and grabbing your arm.

"Let's go-"

You jerked out of his grasp, taking a step away from him.

"I can walk on my own. You needn't worry." You smiled, "Besides..."

His eyes widened in confusion as you walked towards the Inn's door, opening it to reveal a large group of men.

"I think my ride is here."

A/N,

Thank you for your patience. I'm sorry if this isn't as good or as long as you would have liked. I wrote it in a bit of a hurry.

I love you.

I adore you.

I purple you.

I'm out.

-Max