Taehyung woke up to find himself trapped in a pitch-black prison cell. The walls were thick and made of magical steel that seemed impenetrable. He wasn't alone, though. Jimin, Jungkook, and the human were with him. The human was unconscious, which annoyed Taehyung. He muttered to himself, calling the human a "weakling." As he sat there, he couldn't help but wonder why he had been so foolish to follow the priestess. It meant his doom, but he didn't see a flicker of fear in his eyes then.

Jimin sat there in silence, and he was clearly trying to use his powers. But unfortunately, the prison they were in was shielded, rendering every magical creature powerless. Meanwhile, Jungkook was struggling to keep his anthracite wings tucked to his body. Being in skyheaven only accentuated his true nature as an Archangel. It was once his home until he was banished by his own father, the King, and forced to rot in the underworld.

Jimin's voice was filled with confidence as he asked, "Do you think Yoongi and Hobi will kill us?" His long hair was tousled, and it looked like he had lost his tie on the way. The question hung in the air, and everyone awaited an answer. It was clear that Jimin was trying to lighten up the mood.

"Ha! You have no idea what my brothers are capable of," the angel retorted, his wings visibly trembling with anger at the mere mention of their names. "You think they'll just let us go? Think again. They'll make sure we suffer every last bit of it. And as for the priestess, well, I shudder to think what they'll do to her.”

Taehyung rose to his feet, his gaze scanning the bleak prison hall. "They won't be foolish enough to harm her," he said. "Your brothers may be wicked little bastards, but they know better than to mess with Kazimir's fiancé. If they lay a finger on her, they'd practically declare war on the entire underworld.”

The human suddenly jolted up at the mention of the priestess. He was such a lovesick fool, Taehyung thought. Seokjin jumped, wrapped his hands around the cold steel poles, and shouted into the prison hall. “Where is the lady? If you even touch a hair of hers, I am going to kill all of you!” Tae saw the rage in his eyes and wondered what relationship he and the priestess had. “KAYA, I AM COMING." “ I WILL SAVE YOU!”

With a smirk on his face, Taehyung couldn't resist teasing the human. "Go ahead and roar all you want, but let's be real here. Let me plop those bubbles of yours_ You don't stand a chance of rescuing her from wherever she is right now," he playfully taunted. The human's face grew serious as he realized the daunting task.

Seokjin turned to gaze at Taehyung, and with loud taps on the stone-hard floor, the human approached him, grabbed him by his collar, and growled. “Then make sure YOU rescue her. Demon. You claimed she'd be safe with YOU. Where is she now, demon?” Jin tried to shake him, but Taehyung was clearly the stronger one in power and height. But Tae had to give the human credit for being so brave in grabbing a demon by its collar. “GET HER!”

Did the general guess he was a demon, or did he know? But how? He never told what creature he was. Taehyung had enough and shoved Seokjin away. The human hit the wall with his back and groaned in agony on the floor. “Touch me again, and you will regret even looking my way. Then you will see a real demon!” He didn't know why he acted like that, but all he knew was that Jin’s scent bothered him to the bones. The human smelled like fresh cotton, but underneath his skin lingered the smell of sweet peaches on a spring day. The scent that lingered under his tongue since he sniffed it. He couldn't stand it. Hated it. Kaya’s scent stuck with him, and it was now clear what relationship they had. It made his blood run wild, but he couldn't decipher this rage.

Jimin was concerned about the human's well-being, but as he tried to approach him, the human slipped away and sat far from the group. Seokjin wore a stern expression as he glared at all of them. He then said, "You, magical creatures, are all the same. You're selfish and only care about yourselves. You destroy the human world, enslave them, and take what you want to satisfy your boredom." The human's eyes were filled with hatred, and Taehyung sensed that Jin might have had a terrible encounter with otherworldly beings. “Kaya might believe there can be peace between the worlds, but I disagree. I will watch you, and if I have to, I'd kill all of you!”

He understood him in a kind of way. After all these years, the human species had to endure many terrible things. Things he'd not agreed to yet, who was he to decide on anything? Taehyung was just someone from the underworld. A slave himself to the kingdom, the dragon realm. He was a bastard. A child from a white tiger demon, his beloved mother, and his heartless father…

“Fuck, Aleyna!” As soon as the thought of his little sister came to his mind, he felt a rush of panic coursing through his veins. Only three more days were left for Taehyung to return with the priestess, and the fourth day was already ending. The mere thought of what the King and his sons might do to Aleyna if they failed to return on time made him shiver with cold dread. He couldn't just sit idly by and wait for the worst. His mind was racing with thoughts, trying to find a way to escape, get the priestess, and make it back home in time. The stakes were high, and he knew that he had to act fast and decisively.

A loud thud echoed through the halls, followed by a low groan as Taehyung punched the magical gates repeatedly. With every hard strike, the sound of breaking bones and bloody wet sounds could be heard. Desperation and anger clouded his thoughts. Taehyung's golden eyes turned fire-red, and his canines visibly grew as he let out a deep growl similar to a tiger.

“Come on, brother, this is useless.” Jimin stepped behind him and wrapped his arm around Taehyung's body. “We will find another way out. Ally will be fine.” Jimin's words calmed him down for a little bit. The prison went silent. Just Seokjin's slumber breathing was audible. The human passed out again. Skyheaven was another world, the realm of angels and mighty spirits. Humans were the weakest creatures among the three worlds. No wonder Jin couldn't stay awake. The magic surrounding this world was too heavy on a human's body and soul.

Then Jungkook suddenly started to tell a story. “Before the war, I had a friend. She was not an Archangel like me and my brother's, just a normal angel. We knew her from childhood on and spent our days together. Yoongi, Hoseok, and I loved spending time with her. She was full of energy, fought back when she had to, and her mouth never stopped talking.”
Jungkook chuckled at the memories, and Taehyung and Jimin listened carefully as he continued. They had never heard this story of their friend. “It wasn't usual for a female to watch over a realm, but she was the first to do so. She was twenty years old when she was announced as the protector of the human realms amongst a high fae queen and the royal wolf family.” Jimin stiffened at his friend's words. But Jungkook went on. “At that time, we couldn't see her constantly, but we tried to meet every month twice until she was announced to marry Hobi. Archangels usually married their kind, but my brother had been in love with her since we were kids.  He wanted her, and my father thought of her as powerful as one of us, so the King agreed.” The air changed into a heavy atmosphere as Jungkook told his story. “The message went around the world, and suddenly, there was the underworld prince, Prince Kazimir, who confessed his love for her as well. He kidnapped her to the underworld, and Yoongi, Hobi, and I went to save her. We got her back, but Kazimir was furious. On her wedding day, she confessed something to me. She didn't want to marry Hobi. She loved him as a friend but not as a male. Then she told me about a King, a human King. She loved him, and he was her mate. Her mate! We don't believe in such things, but she was lucky to find her mate. It's almost impossible to find your equal. The one fated for a lifetime. When she would've married Hobi, she wouldn't be allowed to visit the human realm ever again. Her role would've been to be a wife, to breed children.” Jungkook's wings shifted. His eyes darkened. “I never saw her crying, not even when we were kids, but on that day, she cried and cried. She was so utterly helpless and devastated. She knew what it meant if she'd reveal her feelings for a human to our realm. Well, that's when I took her from the palace, escaped Skyheaven, and helped her to get to the human realm. To her mate. All hell broke down when Kazimir came to steal the bride, but she was already gone, and then the war started… Hobi found out I helped her, treated me as a traitor, punished me by cutting off my wings, and my father banned me. I never saw her again. What happened after I helped her? Did she make it? Was she happy now? I don't know.” A shaky whimper left Jungkook's lungs when he revealed his friend's name. “Celeste was her name.”

The room was heavy yet empty. Jungkook's head hung low, and Tae felt the shift in his friend's mood. He was utterly sad and sorry. Taehyung lost his words. Jungkook’s confession took him off guard. He never knew Kook was punished because he helped his friend. The angel told them another story of why he landed in the underworld. He asked then. “So the whole war began because Hobi and Kazimir wanted the same female?”

Jungkook nodded. His eyes closed, and his face was tense.

“That's bullshit, why did they destroy the whole human realm then, including fairies and wolves?” Jimin’s voice got louder, and anger colored his usually kind voice.

“Because they wanted to punish the human King. The High fae queen and the wolf's alpha queen were Celeste's best friends; they came to help her, and their duty was to protect the humans. So they fought.” Jungkook explained. The rage in his eyes was visible.

“So that's when my mother found you?” Realization hit Taehyung as he asked his friend, who was like a brother to him and Jimin. And Jungkook nodded again.

His eyes glimmered with gratitude as he recounted how Taehyung's mother had saved his life. “It was wartime, and as an Archangel, I was forbidden from setting foot in the underworld realm. I was utterly injured and close to death. Hobi threw me down the skyhills, and I landed on the rocky way of Eden, crawled without thinking through the underworld's gate, and fell into the lake. A female, your mom, fished me out. Your mother defied all odds and welcomed me into her home, nursing my wounds and giving me a place to stay,” he said, looking over at Jimin and then back to Taehyung. “Your mother gave me a family when my own had cast me aside. She gave me two new brothers and Ally, a sister. I will always treasure this gift, this second chance, for my entire immortal life.”

Jimin approached the Archangel, and he felt a rush of emotions. He knew that he could always count on his friend's support, no matter what. Jungkook could crumble and act silly; with them, he could be himself. Taehyung joined their embrace, and the three stood there, holding each other tightly, reminiscing about their past adventures. Having lived for a hundred years together, they had formed an unbreakable bond that nothing could ever shake. Jimin leaned in closer and whispered, "You made the right decision. If I had known Celeste, I would have done the same. She seemed like a blast to be around." The trio exchanged knowing glances, grateful for each other's backs, no matter what.

Jungkook chuckled at Jimin’s comment and laughed even more when Taehyung said, “Well, she sounded like a pain in the ass.”

Jungkook pondered, his mind raced to find the right words. Finally, he spoke, "Celeste was a unique soul, one of a kind. But there's something about the priestess that reminds me of her. Celeste always had an answer to everything, just like the priestess, and hearing Kaya's prayers earlier, I can't help but think of my dear friend. She was one of the few who could speak the language of the Seraphim. It's an ancient language, only spoken by the eldest, like my father. Kaya and Celeste are somehow similar, yet entirely different. I just can't quite put my finger on it.”

“Looks like the little beast will be a pain in the ass.” Taehyung huffed heavily, and his friends nodded in agreement with a smile on their faces. “Look where she got us!”

Steps were suddenly audible, and before they could react, their arms were chained to the ceilings. They were hanging. Only their toes were touching the ground. A sharp pain drew through Tae's body. The chains were toxic to him, and with every movement, the spikes bore deeper into his flesh. This was on purpose. Only iron dipped in Zamzam water could hold a demon still. Taehyung was on the verge of losing consciousness. Hobi and Yoongi entered the cell. It was written on their faces that they meant no good.

Yoongi's face was unfazed as he studied the trio. A long scar was still visible on his right eye. The scar Yoongi got from Kazimir. His black hair was neatly styled, showing off his immense beauty. Archangels had a unique beauty; ethereal. On his head was a golden halo, a sign of royalty and power. Every creature had a different kind of beauty, and Angeles shone brilliantly bright from within. But Yoongi had a dark aura; the darkest ruby. He was Jungkook's and Hobi’s older brother and the rightful heir to the throne of Skyheaven. He was the future King of the angel realm.

Hobi wore his emotions on his body and face. And right now, he was pissed and simultaneously amused. His golden eyes were only fixed on his little brother, Jungkook. Hobi had the same dark hair as his brother's, and like Yoongi, he did not have a bright aura. Dark emerald surrounded him. Hobi's sharp face was known for cruelty; despite his stunning features, everyone feared his wrath. He, too, had a halo. He approached Jungkook, and Jimin shifted when Hobi clenched his grip on the younger one by his jaw. “You little piece of shit. I never thought you would survive, but assholes like you will always find a way.” He said through gritted teeth.

“Celeste loved you, but as a friend!” Jungkook struggled with his words as his brother's grip tightened. “If you loved her that much, you would've supported her, but instead, you hunted her and her mate…” Hobi kicked his little brother's gutt with his knee. Jungkook hissed in pain when the chains dragged deeper into his wrists. Blood ran down along his arms, staining his leather armor crimson.

“Shut your mouth. I should've killed you.” He growled back, and his silver eyes turned golden—a sign of rage in an Archangel’s case. Hobi swiftly put out a lash and tore Jungkook's leather armor apart, leaving his upper body naked. “Mate. There is no such thing. How about I cut off those pretty wings of yours again?” He turned him around and started to whip his back and his wings. Antracit feathers flew around. The sound of flesh ripping apart and blood splashing echoed through the prison, but Jungkook didn't make a sound as his brother whipped him. Each round, he hit harder than the other. The smell of iron lingered in the air.

Jimin swung his whole body back and forth, trying to kick Hobi away, but the chains stopped him with a hard tug. Yoongi held the other end and fixed it to a straight line, making it impossible for Jimin to swing. "Don't move, handsome!” The Archangel warned and stepped closer. His hand wrapped around Jimin's throat to hold him still and whispered. “It's a family matter. It would be a pity to bruise a handsome face like yours.”

It was painful for Taehyung to listen to what Hobi was doing to Jungkook. And the latter one stood quiet. No complaining. No sound in agony. No fighting. Jungkook did let it all happen. He endured everything. Even when Hobi focused on whipping his wings, he knew the pain. Taehyung couldn't stand this. His friend was in pain, and he was helpless. All he could do was listen to the horrible sounds of lash hitting skin and bones.

The iron was too deep, and the Zamzam water paralyzed his whole body, but he wanted to help Jungkook. He wanted them to stop hurting his friends. Anger coiled up within him. He couldn't take it anymore. A fiery sensation lit up in his soul, and he felt warmth along his spine. Pain. Taehyung's back itched, the part where his wings were supposed to be, and his head pierced with utter pain. So much pain. His horns were growing back. The horns were the carnal of his powers, and they were finally back. Not fully yet, but it was enough that he felt the darkness covering his being.

“STOP THIS!” His voice sounded overlayed and echoed through the prison hall—a thousand voices in one person.

And suddenly, a blast of darkness and shadows filled the room. The shadows were strangling Yoongi and Hobi. The brothers were surprised; fear crept up on their faces and muttered, “This is impossible.”  They tried to fight the shadows but couldn't grip them; there was nothing to hold onto. The air was taken away and the princes gasped to breathe. Taehyung would suffocate them for what they did to his brothers. Creepy sounds echoed from the darkness. Taehyung summoned more and more blackness, and creatures from the pit were coming out of his body. Horrible creatures with red eyes and claws so huge, one couldn't tell where it began and ended. Monsters appeared; those said by parents as a warning for their children not to go to the pits of the underworld. Taehyung was going to be, death, himself if it meant it would save his family; Jimin and Jungkook.
But before his soldiers of darkness could fight, a stream of Zamzam water was showered over him.

He lost his powers in an instant. All darkness vanished. A sharp pain hit his every nerve as if his body was bathing in acid. Taehyung was losing consciousness, but before he passed out, he could see Yoongi and Hobi run out of the cage, their eyes met as they complained. “This is impossible. You shouldn't be able to summon those creatures. Not without your horns fully grown and wings. Not in our realm!” Angels in black masks entered the room. In their hands, an iron saw, and he knew what would happen. Knew it because he went monthly through this torture at the demon King’s order. They'd cut off his horns, and he wouldn't, couldn't object. He didn't have the power to fight back. Taehyung closed his eyes as they began to cut off his demon horns—the horns he hired from his father. Only the voices of his brother-like friends set him in peace as they repeatedly called his name. It was a lullaby to him, knowing they were alive. And then darkness claimed him.

•••

[Phew, this was a hard chapter to write. I'm not too familiar with torture scenes, but I hope it hurt a little bit. This chapter must've given you more information, right?] 😏🤭