"Go and sneak us through the rivers
Flood is rising up on your knees
Oh, please
Come out and haunt me
I know you want me
Come out and haunt me"

Apocalypse - Cigarettes After Sex

🕸

*********

Three days were spent in endless scheming. A web of several outs and ins, weaving into a spindly existence.

It ended with thinly veiled frustration. For she had not found a way to get out of a marriage with Kim Taehyung.

By the third and final day of her wedding, she was still just as lost about what to do next with the dark prince as she had two days prior. She had decided though she would go through the ceremony peacefully, she would have to do something that showed she was still trying to fight back. If she acted like she was okay with staying in his territory, he would assume her plot against him. Her want to earn his trust, and use it.

Leila just didn't know what she could to do phase him yet.

She didn't know what to make of her meeting time with the Prince. His unconcern towards her presence.  Leila scarcely remembered a time the boys in her territory could pull their gaze off of her. Though she also never remembered a time where she cared.

And yet, she was simply there, in his eyes. Or lack thereof.

It felt like failure. That's why she felt so strongly towards it. She'd never failed at anything before. Everything depended on her ability to make him see her in a different light.

But there would be a flicker, a spark. When she called out his name, feeling it caress and push its way too him. Or when she asked him to teach her about the experiences she had missed out on. Then, his eyes had softened, mouth slack. For only a moment, his stare felt like the only thing in the room. And soon enough, it would be gone. Like that, it was left for her to dream about when sleeping.

Which she had, every night of his absence. The princess had begged the goddess to quit her visions, but they did not waver. The young woman even thought they would disappear after seeing him again in person, after he insulted her emotional intelligence and told her he did not care for her within mere minutes of each other.

'Do not mistake my begrudging respect for interest'

The words alone were enough to set her blood cold, but the tone of disgust in which he said it reminded her of her place here. Captive. Unwanted.

And yet she still woke up shaking, thighs pressed together at the mere thought of him.

For how could one so vicious look so attractive while doing it?

Leila was again, embarrassed. Though her attraction to him was divinely ordained, she wished she could've had the same, easy effect on him. Whether it be her lack of inexperience or her curse, her reactions to him were becoming stronger.

She hated him.

Lust would not cloud her mind of her affections. While enigmatic, he would not capture her mind. No matter how much his absence, and his fail to provide her lessens drowned in her thoughts. At least it would make her destiny much clearer, for she would not fall for him.

In these three lonely days, she kept mostly to herself. A book in hand, as she laid across her pretty sheets. Walking up and around the room, counting how many silver pieces of glass were used on the star mosaic on her ceiling. It was freeing for once to simply have nothing to do. When she was at home, training came before frolicking and exploring. The calm before the storm, and probably the last moments of piece she'd have before marrying her captor. So her room would have to take the brunt of her curiosity. It was known quite early on that she was not allowed to roam around freely on the grounds or even the castle until married.

'Safety precautions' Jimin had told her. He was the only person she could bother in these moments. His rooms were fairly close to hers, which he took amusement in. That is, until she annoyed him with a bunch of questions the other night after he had been done assisting the prince.

"Are their any other rules that I should be aware of?" She asked, laying on her bed.

Jimin had sat in the middle of his floor, arms wrapped around his tucked in legs.

He rolled his eyes, muttering about getting paid to entertain a petty royal, " Yes, only two true rules."

Don't walk around with blood wounds. The second, don't meddle in Taehyung's affairs.

The princess had brushed off the second rule, but sat up at the first. She had been wounded the first night she'd been there. Jimin told her the prince had rushed forward, covering her before anyone noticed.

When she'd asked why, he faintly responded, "A goddess isn't meant to bleed. Divinity loses its power if they know you can feel what they feel. That you are just as vulnerable."

And now, as the lights dimmed she read on her window sill. Luckily it was only magicked enough that she could still sit halfway out on the marble. If she looked the right way, it felt like she was flying above the ocean.

Leila rested her head on her knees, using the moonlight to illuminate the page. She inhaled the stiff sea air, briny and alive. It made her hair curl tighter, as the wind picked up. The girl had started the novel last night, and she was already at the part where the prince fell madly in love with the girl he saved from the witch.

The princess sighed as the characters lips met, knowing she would not have this happy ending. It became much less relevant to her life, when the lovers ran off in the sunset. That surely was impossible for her. Her life had been a tragedy from the start, and she was tired of pretending it wasn't. Her wedding would not be a joyous celebration of love and affection, but a bid for power. To keep her on a tighter leash. And though she had known this, it caused a twinge in her heart.

Because before, she had thought she was the one in power. The one that would change the tides as she sunk her blade into her betrothed. Before she knew the dagger was meant to pierce her soul. From predator to prey, she was still no ordinary bride.

The young brunette knew she only had a short amount of time before she'd have to get ready for her wedding. While time was not counted by light and darkness now, lights were often charmed to follow the hours through the day. The lights in her room flickered 6 times and she knew it was 6 o'clock. All the lights across Tenebris reacted the same way.

And her lovely hand maid had not made it to her room yet.

Leila huffed, straightening her white night dress. They both had been avoiding his newly appointed duties, with her loose clothes and lack of corsets. Though the unlikely pair would have to tackle the unavoidable today.

Her wedding dress.

When she had been fitted, she thought surely they wouldn't have been able to make something so intricate. But when Jimin dropped off fifty pounds of material that would be her assemble, seething under it, she knew she would at least feel beautiful tonight. If nothing else.

She felt her heart skip a beat as she walked down the dark, cold hallway to Jimin's quarters. For once, she felt the same as she would reading about the new advancements to a story. The girl had learned to place this emotion as anticipation. Leila couldn't help it. She loved beautiful dresses. And that would distract her enough before the actual ceremony nerves would set in.

The girl made it, to an iron door with etched ivy across it's expanse. The girl knocked twice and waited. There was nothing, and if he didn't come out soon, they were going to be late.

"Jimin?" She called out, her voice ending in the silence of the hall. She placed her ear to the door, wondering if he was even there.

Of course he'd make me late to my wedding. He probably thought it was funny.

After several more knocks, she didn't find his sloth funny anymore. With a grunt, she pulled at his heavy door, and walking in.

"Jimin! You need to help me with my-" Leila's rant was stopped short when she saw the man wrapped under sheets with a woman servant, his lips against hers.

She stood awkwardly still, trying not to scream as Jimin stopped kissing the woman. His gaze landed on her, pulling their attention away from the action and alerting the woman next to him of her royal presence. The servant next to him squeaked, quickly pulling another sheet over her body. Jimin rolled his eyes at her, before glaring at Leila.

"Your timing is fairly good. At least we were finished."

Leila groaned with disgust, ignoring his fair but pretty chest. She placed her hand over her eyes, letting the nervous servant girl dress again quickly. The girl's cheeks were burning as she left, quickly bowing and apologizing to the princess.

"I am sorry, please don't tell Taehyung I-"

Leila shook her head, sending her a wary smile, "I would never."

The girl bowed once more, a grateful smile on her face.

Leila let the door shut, annoyed with the arrogant advisor.

Jimin shrugged, still naked under the sheets, "She was boring and skittish, wasn't she?"

"Really? You couldn't wait until after the ceremony to satisfy yourself?" The princess asked exasperated. Ignoring the rude statement about the woman he just bedded.

The fair man stood up, shaking out his dark hair. A lazy smile on his face as Leila once again his behind her hand at his naked body. She had only seen his silhouette slightly, thank the deities.

He was beautiful. Delicate yet masculine in all the right ways.

But he wasn't the prince. Bronze skin flashed in her mind, broad shoulders, and black wavy hair that kissed eyelashes.

She banished the strangely intimate thought.

"Princess, you really do not know men at all." Jimin said, after sliding on pants. He was now standing before her, not too much taller than her.

Leila's cheeks burned. She didn't. Not like that servant girl, who had now honed real experience and skill. The type Leila should've known for her wedding night. And while she had been told about the act, the practicality of it, and even dreamed about it, she was so unsure of what she could do.

What she would have to do when she lay with Taehyung.

Tonight. Her chest felt tight, and she swore her heart stuttered.

Jimin appraised her one more time, his arabica eyes moving from her nightgown to her thickly lashes eyes. She saw his chest halt, his tongue swiping across his feminine lips.

"Let's get you dressed."

When they made it back to her room, her dress had been laid out by other servants. Along with her veil and heeled shoes. Her under garments were set in the bathroom.

Leila cleared her throat, feeling nervous for the first time in a while in front of Jimin. He wasn't even looking at the bathroom, his head stiffly remaining on the wedding dress. The room was a little quiet without his insults and mean spirited comments. She grew familiar to it, to the point it would've been a comfort if he spoke.

"I'll go put that on first." She stated, stepping away from the main room. The advisor just quietly nodded.

She stepped into the bathroom area, blocking the area off with her sheer lavender curtain.

The girl saved time, placing on her makeup before going out. Her eyes were lined with kohl, but she smudged it so it was a bit softer. Her lashes were long and full, but she still fanned them out with the black substance. She took her more plum rouge, placing it onto her cheeks and lips. She then took her crushed mica powder suspended in olive oil and rubbed it on her chest, neck, and arms. The areas that would be exposed to light. The shimmer was slightly silver, and made her tanned skin shimmer. Then to soften the slight smell of the body oil, she dabbed on her oud scent.

Leila set the corset to the side at the moment, but placed on the white lacy brassiere and the underwear and garter belt, attached to stockings. The white contrasted starkly with her deeply tanned skin, making it glow more. She looked at herself in the mirror, cheeks a rust color and eyes bright.

She was barely clothed, and she couldn't even put the corset on herself. She'd never been so bare on front of a man before.

And now it would be twice in one night.

This had been a terrible idea. Yet, she asked for this.

The girl once again cleared her throat, alerting Jimin that she was finished. She was surprised to see him sitting on the bed, eyes towards the ground. He had not peaked while she was changing.

He looked up, eyes widening as she pulled the purple gauze to the side.

Leila's cheeks flamed as she averted her gaze, unused to someone seeing her body, "I need help with my corset."

She walked over, his eyes not leaving her. She swore she saw pink trail from his necks to his cheeks. The princess couldn't help but smile at his reaction, knowing at least from his reaction she didn't have to be embarrassed in front of her soon to be husband. She threw the corset onto his lap, to which he barely reacted to.

"Come on Jimin, it's nothing you haven't seen before." She said, a smile on her lips. Her short, but delicate fingers rested against her hips as she waited.

The man blinked as if woken up, "You're right. Also, did you just make a joke?"

The girl shook her head, ignoring him. As she lined up in front of her iron rubbed full length mirror, Jimin stepping behind her, she smiled. She did not want to admit to the advisor, that though she lived in isolation, she had felt more alive these couple of days than she ever had before. Less like a ghost, with her existence passing her by.

Their eye connected in the mirror as Jimin lifted his arms to wrap the corset around her front. Leila expected him to make a haughty or inappropriate remark, but he was fairly professional. Once the cream, satin material was in place, he went to work. He was quietly professional as he started lacing up the corset, weaving the ribbons through the holes.

Leila was jolted as he pulled onto the ribbons like a maiden would, forcing her to grab onto the mirror.

"It should scare me how well you can do this." She said, taking in a quick breath as he pulled the corset tighter.

Once again, Jimin's eyes met her own reflection. His arrogant smirk was back as he pulled even tighter once again, making her eyebrows scrunch in a pained glare.

"Really? And I hoped you would find it impressive." He commented, one eyebrow raised as he began tying the last of the ribbon in a bow.

"You might be right. For once."

The man snorted at the remark, finally gathering her dress. He knelt down on the ground before her, opening the bodice and skirts.

Through his lashes as he was eye level to her thighs he asked, "Isn't this such a pretty sight?"

Of course it was meant to be a dirty joke. Leila stepped into the dress, mussing up his hair as she used his head for balance. For good measure, she flicked him on the forehead.

"Ouch!"

"Yes, you kneeling in subjugation as my dress maiden will always be a funny sight. I mean pretty."

The man glared at her, lifting the material of the heavy dress as he stood up. Careful and slow. Soon they were close to eye level again, as he held up the sleeves. Leila placed both her arms in the frabric, lifting the bodice towards her. As Jimin started to move behind her again, she marveled at the dress. 

It took her breath away. When she had been shown the sketch by the dress maker, she could've never imagined this.

The dress was a cream white. The bodice skin tight to her body, moving with her curves. The sleeves were long, puffy and made of mesh and fell gently off her shoulders. But the bodice, was decorated with thousands of diamonds and pearls. The cups were cut to show off her breast, underneath lined with shiny jewels. From her chest to her feet, the bodice and skirt were lined vertically with stars, and flower petals made out of a frilly white. The material underneath was a moonlight satin.

Leila turned to look at the back, stunned even more. Her eyes trailed along the almost open back, the appliqué sitting against the wings of her shoulders like layered necklaces. Strands of pearls and crystals dripped down her back, droplets of water, and cool to the touch.

"This is amazing." Leila said with all, feeling down her front. Every inch of her was accentuated, but she still felt like herself.

Jimin nodded, placing the veil over her head, but not over her eyes yet. This, Leila had heavily been involved in the planning of. She wanted to wear something a bride would wear at home, a protest against Taehyung and Tenebris as a whole. A small piece of her culture.

The veil was the same off white, but on the mesh was gold flower designs around the rims. Suns decorated sporadically across the mesh.

I am the bringer of the sun.

It would say, to the husband who seemed to revel in its demise.

"Oh, and one more thing." Jimin muttered, pulling something out of his pocket.

Leila looked up, waiting. Getting lost in the dress so much, she had forgotten the royal advisor was there.

Jimin lifted his hands around her neck, a chain dangling between his fingers. He maneuvered around her long, dark, wavy hair that would be kept down and natural for the ceremony. The necklace settled onto her olive, shimmery skin. As cold as the crystals on her back. As Jimin clasped the back, she touched the charm at the center.

An amethyst filled crescent moon, on a silver chain. She felt the rough stone, the thickness of the chain.

It seemed old, extremely old. And she swore she felt a humming on her flesh as it remained on her.

As though she spoke it allowed, Jimin answered her curiosity, "A wedding gift. From your beloved."

She let the irony of his comment drip off of her. A weird aching filling her chest as she looked at herself in the mirror, alone despite a man who only met her a week ago. One who only seemed to tolerate her.

"You know, I have talked to you more than my own siblings." Leila said out loud, voice filling the quiet silence.

Jimin had his head down, only the top of his dark hair shown. But his hands had frozen on the buttons at the back of her dress.

"That's pathetic." He said bluntly, and strangely it comforted her.

While he wasn't offering her words of kindness, he was recognizing its wrongness. In his own, Jimin type of way she was beginning to recognize.

Leila looked at herself in the mirror, barely recognizing it was she. Not because of the beauty of her dress, or her makeup. It was her eyes, silver and usually depthless, now a pool. They were filled with sadness, but at least they weren't empty.

"Isn't it? I could've made them talk to me. I had the power to do it."

Jimin was silent, finishing up her buttons. There were many at the small of her back, under the jewels.

"And yet you still came willingly, for them." Jimin said definitively, breaking the silence.

Leila laughed softly, wanting to break the darkness that was forming. For some reason, the man seemed a little angry.

"No, I came because I was curious if the man I was meant to marry looked like a toad or not." She said, a lightness to her tone.

Leila waited until Jimin looked up again, their gaze connecting. A smile spread across his oval face, eyes smaller.

"I think I am rubbing off on you more than you'd like."

"Sadly." Leila said back, her own smile forming.

She turned around, searching for something in the man forced to be her companion. So many things would happen tonight. She didn't know what to expect on her wedding night, or what the prince entailed. And she only had Jimin to turn to, as no women from her home would be here.

"You look beautiful Leila." He said instead, for once his voice serious.

Sincere.

"Thank you, Jimin." She said back as cordially, stepping back a bit.

He nodded stiffly before telling her to wait. He needed to be dressed for the wedding. Since he'd be walking her down the aisle. She waited, sitting on her bed. Biting her lip in trepidation.

This is all she'd been prepared for in her life.

But things were so different now. Everything was.

She stayed seated, even when Jimin came back to the room. Dressed in his royal celebration uniforms that were black as night like usual, but decorated with black crystals along the pockets, cuffs, and neckline.

He'd been even more shocked, when he found the tears escaping down her cheeks. Fleck of what seemed like mica in them. All the more divine she was, even in sadness.

The man did not sit beside her, offer an embrace. Instead he held out his arm, waiting till she stood up. Leila sniffled, embarrassed. Pushing away the tears and making sure her makeup was still in place. He walked with her, opening the door.

In the hallway, their footsteps echoing as she made her way to her fate.

The young woman thought Jimin was going to pretend he didn't see her cry, until he broke their peace.

"Your family, they're missing out." Jimin said out loud, a harsh edge to his voice.

Her grip tightened on his arm.

"I knew they wouldn't be at the wedding. Even if things went as planned."

If everything had gone as planned, she wouldn't have cared.

Jimin shook his head, a soft smile tickling his lips. His eyes staring ahead, as he paid her a single compliment.

"Not just the wedding."

Leila warmed, hoping she understood what he meant.

They would be missing out on who she was when she was not being the daughter of the moon.

*********

This would be it.

Her wedding. Her apocalypse. The end of everything she once knew. Once believed.

It was soon approaching, and Leila wondered if she'd ever be ready. As she swept down the silent halls, haunted by their absence.

"Where is everyone?" She asked, only really coming in contact with other people the first night she was here.

Jimin gestured in front of them, as he made her pass by what she knew to be the throne room. Well, that ended all of her guesses of where the wedding could possibly be held. She needed to start mapping out the castle. The area around it once they were married.

"Already at the venue."

"Oh, and everything is prepared? Everyone is waiting on me?"

"Yes, Leila."

They fell back into a silence, Leila lost in her own mind.

What would it look like? Weddings at home were warm, and soft. This place was cold, crystalline in structure. Still gorgeous, but she expected winter.

The girl sighed, "So, where is the venue? I haven't been to this part of the castle before."

Jimin nearly rolled his eyes, urging her to walk faster, "The old temple."

"All churches and religious buildings were destroyed in the war."

"Didn't you say yourself that royals don't have to follow rules? Now please, walk faster. We are going to be late."

Now he's worried?

The girl shook her head, taking in her surroundings. The ceilings were vaulted these parts, and it seemed to be located in the east ends. More windows were placed into the walls, stained glass depicting stories. The first showed the eclipse. The second, a viper biting a man's hand. The third, the man laying under the moon, eyes shut in endless sleep.

"Jimin, what do these depict? I don't know of this legend." She asked, curiosity peaked once again by their unfamiliar borders.

It was interesting too. The glass was only various shades of red, gray, and black.

Jimin looked at the stained glass, as if forgetting for a moment they were there. His eyes flickered to hers, and then to her lips. And back. His slim jaw set in a harsh line.

"Nothing important."

Leila now noted they must be extremely important, but the man stopping in front of two large doors stopped her rebuttal.

A temple she did not see, but the wrought iron doors were beautiful. They towered above her, all she could see as she strained to look up. They depicted two angels in battle, swords crossed to create the handles. Though she doubted Jimin could pull these buy himself.

The advisor straightened himself out, knocking once, twice before putting on his regal mask. The doors slowly opened, unleashing a wild fury in her chest.

Please, give me strength.

Her grip tightened on Jimin's arm, her mind spinning as the gates to hell opened. With her left hand she lifted the veil over her face. Hidden from everyone that could truly know her.

The room revealed itself, four guards pushing at each large door.

The princess swallowed harshly, trying to calm her heart. The room was even bigger than the throne room, comparable in size to the old ruins of cathedrals. It was a temple shed maybe in an old textbook about architecture.

Columns, as they were called, lined the entire perimeter. Though instead of the white color of her books, they were made of black shiny stone. Gray marble lined the floors and made up benches, but they were not cold like she thought. White gold candelabras lined the entire room, and the aisle. They were lit with the warm light of Persia, orange and fiery. Lights were strung from the ceiling like falling stars, and white rose petals lined the floor.

The main platform which she would be married on was flat, but had a wrought iron arch built over it. White flowers were strung along with pearls and shells along the top, and the glow from the candles turned them into a summer sea.

Taehyung was not there yet. But she did not panic, because she did not know all their customs.

Through the columns, the ocean was visible. It was an open space, protected with magic just like her window. She could see and hear the waves crashing, but it never reached them.

It was beautiful. It was terrifying, in its majestic nature.

It reminded her of home.

The first thing she really saw was the faces, the hundreds of people of the court that sat in rows. They wore black, as if attending the funeral. Different velvets, satins, and silks but still different shades of shadow. A sea of them. Many looked to be of this territory, with dark hair and sharp eyes. Some from the northern and western regions, with lighter hair and still very pale skin. Individual faces did not stand out through the mesh covering her eyes, but she felt the dots of their irises boring into her.

Hungry, hungry for knowing how they could torment her without hurting her. Maybe. Maybe they hated her as much as they were allowed.

One detail. Two. Feel the ground, look around. Hear the sounds.

Yet everytime she wanted to ground herself, she felt the warmth of her breath on her veil. The sound of it so close to her ears because of the fabric. She felt suffocated, caught in a trap.

Was she?

"Don't focus on them." Jimin said, urging her forward. His voice quiet next to her ear.

She hadn't realized she'd been frozen, unseeing. Except the sea of black. The princess took in a deep, shaky breath.

Emotions suddenly felt not worth it. In this moment, numbness would've been preferred. But now matter how badly she wished unfeeling back, it wouldn't come.

She nodded, to which Jimin gestured to the organ player who sat by the platform.

A haunting melody lilted through the space. Notes that clashed and raced like the ocean outside, fighting the shore and the sounds.

She moved slowly down the aisle, urged by Jimin. Feeling the sighs and stares from the aisle.

"Pretty, for a witch." She heard some woman with a flower filled hat say loudly to the woman next to her. Her lips were blood red, her upturned eyes a shocking green.

Her tone was mocking. Unkind.

Jimin leaned towards her again, voice barely above a whisper, "Don't worry. Aera always vied for the prince's attentions. She never got it."

Leila shook her head, noticing the woman's beauty.

It must have been her personality then, "I don't know how. Also, where is he?"

"Here, the groom does not appear until the bride has made it to the podium. So that all the attention remains on you."

Leila nodded though she wasn't sure she liked it. It was more people than she'd ever encountered at one time. And they were quiet, alert.

Unsettling.

Maybe they were afraid because of the incident with the glass. But there were no windows she could break here.

No one to break, but herself.

With each step, and each note, she finally made it to the candle lit podium. Jimin let go of her arm, and she stayed still, unsure. He made no sudden order, but instead took her hand. His crescent eyes connected with her, as his plump lips graced upon her knuckles.

A little smile was left on his mouth as he pulled away.

A custom.

Her heart calmed a bit, knowing the joke now. She smiled, though she doubted he could see her sincerity from under the veil.

Then she was alone, staged in front of the entire room. In front of their gods, and her own. Her chest bloomed in and out, waiting.

Murmurs were faint in the crowd, settling in as they waited for their real ruler.

Knowing she was only there to be caged. Kept from harm. Watched. So that her demise does not happen. For whatever reason, these people and her were opposed in values and morals.

An outsider.

She only noticed the music stopped when the candles began to flicker. One by one, the moved as if pushed by the wind, and yet no breeze could squeeze through the enchantment.

The crowd got louder, before falling into complete silence.

The prince of night was here.

She felt him before she saw him, a shiver up the spine. The weight of his unseen gaze, a blanket against the rest of his court. In her veins the blood rushed to the surface, wishing to spill its mercury.

Then, a shadow moved from behind Jimin. And if he appeared in a cloud of smoke.

The girl bit her lip, watching with a sharp urgency.

Her betrothed was gorgeous, dangerously more so. These three days had cleansed her of his presence, only to be renewed this strongly. Like the sky outside he was, all consuming and unavoidable.

My enemy.

His black hair shined like onyx in the candlelight. He walked up the steps gracefully, softly. A leaf in the wind. The man's strong jaw was shown by the orange light, burning golden on him. His heart shaped lips straight, but not as harsh. He did not press them at the sight of her today, no.

She watched, as he paused a step. His body tensed, but his face open. Square eyebrows lifted, in a breeze. The candles glowed brighter around them. His hands clenched and unclenched, softly at his sides.

Leila could see in pure detail, as he walked the rest of the steps. Getting closer, and pausing. She heard his breath as he moved towards the end of her veil, lifting it over her head.

Her vision sharpened. Taehyung was now closer than he had been to her since her first day. He did not move away, letting his hands rest on the veil as it lay behind her back. His chest moved up and down, his lips parted as if he wished to speak.

The flecks of gold in his eyes, ore in the deepness of them. In the concern she found pooling there.

Did he pity her?

His eyes, ones always touching everywhere but her...

They could not pull away. Not this time.

But he did, standing back. His gaze still on her, but turning rigid as stone.

The prince was broad as he stood in front of her, posture perfect. Head tall and proud. Like the rest of his court he wore all black. Though his doublet was embroidered with silver vines and flowers, a less ornate version of the ones on her dress.

He must've looked at her design.

The thought made her cheeks heat. She tried to focus on anything else. Now that she had his assured gaze, she wished it would be less potent.

A man in black robes lifted from the first bench, ready to officiate the ceremony.

"Should I have worn black?" The princess of moonlight asked, voice rasping in its timid manner.

Taehyung's lips lifted at the corners. They looked so vital here, so close to her. In a moment, she would feel their touch.

Her heart raced.

He narrowed his eyes slightly before speaking, "I made everyone wear black. I thought it was fitting. The prince of night stealing the moon. Keeping the world in eternal darkness. It's metaphorical. They will write of it in history books."

Leila felt her throat close, choking on air. So he prided himself on keeping the world dark. It wasn't just about not wanting to do the bidding of Tenebris.

Her heart pounded as she found strength of will once again, no matter how pretty he was, "Sometimes I forget who you truly are."

His eyebrows lifted in feigned jest, but she swore the light in his eyes dampened.

"You'll never forget now. I'm yours."

The words were meant to unnerve her. They should've. But instead it sent heat to her stomach and chest. Her gaze lowered under her lashes, though she did not shy away completely.

The ebony haired man smiled, as if he knew too. It was the first time she'd really seen it directed at her. A real smile, white teeth shown. They were as beautiful as the rest of him. Though she couldn't help but think of the stained glass with the viper's bite outside the temple. Thrilling and enigmatic all at once.

"Please, under the gods and goddesses make your vow of unity." Said the man in robes, who now stood behind the pair. Even though Leila knew he was old, his shallow skin was still smooth. Only his eyes were sunken in, the bones of his cheeks protruding.

His palms lay flat towards the ceiling, and openness to the gods. The gods no one in this room were supposed to have. But Leila wouldn't tell, for she thought of her own too.

Taehyung watched her a few more seconds, his eyes trying to pry into her. She would not show emotion now. She would not give in, to their depth.

"Where the night meets the shore, and the sea meets the sun, I will follow you there. From now, until the end. If oblivions is our future, then I will gladly perish in it with you, Leila Mahnaz Anvari." He spoke, voice silken, as if he's said it a thousand times before.

Her full name on his lips, was a thousand fireflies across her skin. Lighting her up, tickling the flesh. Goosebumps rose on her skin as the candles burned brighter around her. As his dark eyes stared into her soul.

Maybe this is why he didn't look. It was hard to think. To catch her breath.

He nodded, face blank. Waiting for her to repeat the vow.

She started off shakily, but quickly recovered. She avoided the crowd, lifting her chin. Needing to assert her presence as their ruler, one equal to the man before her.

"Where the night meets the shore, and the sea meets the sun, I will follow you there. From now, until the end. If oblivions is our future, then I will gladly perish in it with you, Kim Taehyung." Leila finished, a lavender drop in the dark.

The prince's pupils grew under the wisps of his black, wavy hair. His jaw clenched, and she wondered if he regretted making this vow. The open book she'd seen closed, as he stood still as the rocks against the water. The glow gone from his eyes.

Leila wondered if it was all just a dream again. Maybe she'd wake up, surrounded by sand and honey.

She wasn't sure if she wanted to wake up anymore, if that were the case.

The priest smiled gently, looking out at the crowd. The whispers started again, laughs and claps filling the great hall.

"You may now embrace your wife, and connect your souls forever."

Blood rushed through her ears. Her first kiss with him, in front of everyone. The girl felt her cheeks heat once more, probably a russet mess. Taehyung regarded her quietly, as he stepped forward into her space. She panicked, stepping back.

The prince did not miss her hesitation.

"Trust me, if only for a moment." He said as he leaned down to her left ear, away from the sea of people. Anyone sitting would've thought it was sweet nothings he whispered.

The young woman's eyes couldn't help flicker to the advisor, who stood off to the side. But he offered no encouragement. Unlike every other person in the court, he looked off to the side. He would not be watching the newlyweds.

Her eyes fell back onto him as her breath quickened. His eyes, all she could see. The man brought his sculpted hands up slowly, but romantically. He let them settle onto her bare skin. She shivered at the warmth, feeling it everywhere.

This, this is what his real touch felt like.

Delicate, and never begging for more than she offered.

With his hands in place, he turned them slightly away from the crowd. With eyes that burned like molten amber, a soft smile on his lips, he placed his left hand at the bottom of her chin. Leila swallowed harshly, a lump in her throat. Or maybe it was her heart, bursting. He let his pointer finger trail across her cheekbone. Fire blazed across her cheeks, and she swore the candles around them. Her lips ached, her head swirled. His proximity filled her with cedarwood and the salt of the shore.

And finally closed the distance between them.

Leila ceased to breathe, as his soft and pliant lips landed to the right of her own. He remained unmoving, kissing her cheek. The breath of his nose tickled against the middle of her cheek, as fell into shock.

Hot embarrassment. Begrudging disappointment. Shame.

He could not even endure one kiss with her. Not even when it was expected of him. How could she ever expect to seduce him now?

The way his hand was placed, the court wouldn't be able to tell the difference. She let her eyes close, his mouth so close to her own. Waves of tingling falling over her. The crowd cheered, mocking whistles. A foreign princess to fall into the hands of their ruler.

It was all too much. That he wouldn't really claim her.

When the prince decided it was convincing enough, he pulled away from her flesh. His hand, dropping from her face. His eyes were all black, no gold to be found.

Though he seemed to recoil, as he saw the controlled anger on her face. His face faltered, in its perfect concentration. Though she did not dare to guess his thoughts.

She turned her head from him.

The prince's stare remained on her face, for only a moment, before he addressed the court.

"We will continue the celebration in the main hall. But before we do, I would like everyone to pick up the pouches left in their seat. It is custom in weddings where Leila is from, that flowers rain from the sky."

Leila looked at the man, once again surprised to the core. The man was speaking of Gol Baroon. A custom that he is supposed to know nothing about, because it should not exist. If any official from the capitol of Tenebris showed up, they would all be tried and killed. At home, they all knew of this sacrifice.

What did Taehyung know of it?

He did not look at her as he addressed her.

"I told you that we don't follow the rules Tenebris wishes to impose. Fuck the capitol. Culture is beautiful. Yours especially." The words came out with factual intensity, as if what he were speaking weren't heresy.

If they weren't the most astonishing she'd ever heard.

The girl was stunned into silence, even more so when his touch came upon her again. He held up his arm, guiding her own to rest upon his. His palm laying up, so her thin fingers could wrap around his. His palm glowed with heat, keeping her usually cold hands from feeling brisk. His fingers gently curved around her own, though his expression did not change.

Leila walked with him, as Jimin stepped in time behind them.

The crowd of black swirled before her in the candlelight like ghouls. They reached into their velvet bags, pulling out rose petals of the deepest burgundy. Men, women, and those who didn't want to choose alike delighted at the color. They threw their petals into the air, letting them fall back to the earth, back onto the newlyweds.

Leila looked up, feeling the soft suede of the flowers kiss her skin. Watched as they went up, just to fall gently back down.

Bloodied rain. An omen she was sure. Deadly.

They quickly moved, guards starting to form around them. Leila could barely see where they walked over the black metal of their armor. Though the great hall was close, as she saw them open doors.

She wondered when she would stop being appalled by the castle.

This room was cavernous as well, though a little warmer. Large, long oak tables were covered in rich purple cloths. White flowers and pearls littered the table, silver center pieces snarling like tree branches. There was a table that sat horizontally in front, to be watched by the rest of the court. This was more extravagantly adorned, a seashell centerpiece holding golden candles. Crystal fixtures ran across the table, amethyst and diamond filled. The cloth underneath similar to the color and luster of her dress.

The table had only two chairs.

Taehyung helped her onto the slight step, as she grabbed her skirts with the other hand. She let go of him as if he were poison, as soon as she sat in her seat. Staring forward, and willing numbness as he stood before her, until eventually he sat in his own seat.

The man clapped his hands, gesturing the the servers to bring out their great feast. Wearing their finest black uniforms, they brought out glittering silver trays of food. She couldn't help but be impressed by the amount of food they were able to produce, when most people had shortages because of the sun. The grumble in her stomach was intense as her and the prince's own and individual spread was brought to them. Leila was fully prepared to eat her fill, when a large crystal bowl with a thick stem was placed in front of the pair.

Filled with yellow and sweet honey.

Oh, no.

Leila turned her head to the side, eyes blazing. Her lips were pressed tightly, a harsh line.

"You aren't serious, are you?"

Taehyung smirked, "I am very serious."

He leaned onto the table, his tunic gripping to him. Looking all the arrogant royal she assumed him to be.

The man couldn't kiss her, but he was willing to do this Persian wedding tradition? Maybe he did not know.

Her heart jolted, as his bronzed hand reached out to hers. Gently bringing it to the bowl. Her chest rose and fell rapidly, as he sorted out her fingers for her, dipping the pinky into the bowl. Her finger was now dripping with the golden, sticky liquid. Taehyung's eyes followed its path of drip back into the bowl. Trailing it all the way from her pinky, to her arm, to her collar bones, and then back to her face.

His eyes were dark again, blown out. His eyebrows furrowed while looking at her, though his lips remained soft.

"May I?" Taehyung gently prodded with his deep voice. Intimate, as if they were the only two in the room.

Maybe they were.

All that existed was him.

She was surrounded, enriched. The cedarwood, his pretty skin. His lips, and his eyes that were aflame with candlelight.

Her stomach was in knots.

The princess did not trust her voice, so she merely nodded.

The man glanced through his lashes, gently bringing her frozen hand closer to his mouth. Hades pulling Persephone deeper into the Underworld. His irises moved from her face, to the honey, and back. Unable to move off each other, as he hesitated. As if testing her reaction. The honey started to drip onto his own hand.

Taehyung dipped his head, looking up at her, as he often did in her visions. Parting his deep lips only slightly, letting her pink smothered in honey touch onto them. She was startled by the smoothness of his lips, as he darted his wet tongue to caress her. The sensation shouldn't have been startling, but the hot stripe of muscle against her was too much. The girl held back a gasp, almost jerking away, but he held fast onto her. He inched her finger in further, never looking away as he hollowed his cheeks to devour the rest of the honey.

(A/N: djkJDSkfzsjdifj oh lord im making myself nervous)

Leila was leaned forward, pulled towards him, a fly caught in amber. Neck bared towards him. Petrified for a century. His lips let go of her, her hand placed gently on the table. The man lifted his thumb, wiping away the remnants of sweet that remained on the corner of his mouth.

If he liked her innocent silence, he did not make it known.

He sighed, letting his lids rest lazily against his eyes. The man sat towards her now, legs more open.

Watching, as he held up his smallest finger. Dragging it across the silken tablecloth, until it met the crystal. Lifting it, and dipping it in the honey.

His eyes looked fluid, that small smile back, coldness abated for the season, "Your turn, Leila."

This time, he was above her. The height difference was clear now, as he sat back her head at his chest level. Not helping her by keeping his hand out.

Now this, this is where Leila wonders where the hell her mind had gone. A moment of temporary madness, it seemed. Or maybe she was possessed by a god. No.

Nothing could explain as she stepped out of her seat. Taehyung had looked up, the little line of stress between his eyes as he thought her leaving. At the war waging on her face, in her stance.

She did not leave.

No, instead, she placed herself on the prince's lap.

His eyes flashed, as she sat down. Back against his chest. She did not want to look into his eyes as she did it. It felt too intimate. This, with his gaze behind her, she could deal with.

Leila stretched out, a cat lounging. Her heated head and neck, resting on him. His chest did not move. She gripped his clothed forearm, running her nails down to his wrist. She heard his sharp intake of breath, as she gripped onto his wrist, lifting his elegant hand to her face.

Wasting no time, she licked up the side of his finger at the honey was trying to escape. His thighs were tensed underneath her, and she did not dare to peer back. Then, letting her lips wrap around him, just as he did. Her tongue swirling around, letting the taste of sugar with notes of pear and lilac fuel her. Then, promptly pulling away when she felt his left hand tighten into a fist to her side.

Not touching her waist, or attempting anything else. Still, as if he wanted nothing more than her to get off.

What had she done?

"I need air. It's my corset." She said, promptly getting off his lap. Face blank. Acting as unaffected as he usually did.

Not looking back at him still. She would not be able to stand it if she saw nothing.

It took him a few seconds to respond. She stared at the rest of his court, who luckily no one paid notice of their games. Well except Jimin, who stared at her with wide eyes. Then, looked off to the side. His eyes narrowed as he seemed to glance at the prince.

"Of course." His voice was darkened, a little rougher than she was used to.

It sent a dark thrill through her.

Leila walked down the podium, chin up. Back straight, in regal perfection as she made her escape. Feeling eyes trail down her back, pulling at her pearls.

She barely noticed that none of their food had been touched the whole night. Or the goblets endlessly being filled with wine, and the pretty violin that cried her song.

The princess moved quickly. Her dress heavy and pulling at her heels as she searched for a door to the outside. When she found one, she was surprised it opened so easily. It seemed to lead to a dead, once thriving garden. Past it, the sea lay roaring before her.

The wind chilled her blood filled cheeks, embracing her in its icy clutches.

Leila ran into the night, only the silver of the moon to ignite her path.

But would he keep his vow?

Would he follow her into oblivion?

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(A/N: How are we feeling? This is probably one of the longer chapters I will write. And if anyone is wondering "why so many jimin moments" trust me. Just trust me. It is definitely still a TAE story and always will be. I like when male leads are broody and a bit unattainable in fantasy enemies to lovers books.

I stg I am so busy at the moment, and I am writing ALOT. Its just a testimony to how excited I am to share this story with you all! I literally have future chapters partially written and trust me, you'll love it. I say this every chapter but AHH

Here are some visuals for the dress! Like I imagine the same colorings, details, and veil. The only thing is the sleeves are more puffy and sheer.

Front: these sleeves and the second photo is the front of the dress

The veil and gold designs

The back