Muffled darkness welcomes him on the other end, along with a spinning head, as if the world had turned upside down. He struggles to regain his balance, which takes him a while due to lack of visuals to ground himself. He does notice the distant chatter of a crowd, the clinking of glasses and overall party noises, minus the internal thumping of an EDM track building up to its drop.

If this is indeed a celebration of sorts, Taehyung wonders whether the portal was his invitation. Who but the witches knew about his hideout? Is this their plan to welcome him back after his forced exile? What is their intent exactly? And why is the portal fading?

Oh no. Taehyung is late to realise this was a one-way passage meant to last until someone uses it. Cursing under his breath, he recalls that bid on an invisibility cloak he did not win last month. Now would have been a perfect time to field test it.

His eyes have somewhat adjusted to the obscurity and he makes out the thin blade of light cutting through the shade, as if inviting him to rip it open. When the heavy curtains part, the chatter dies down.

"There he is! Finally!" The unknown voice has an overly hospitable delivery that Taehyung does not trust to be genuine. He is not given time to adapt to the sudden brightness and feels a cold glass being shoved into his hand.

"A toast," the voice booms. "To the Dragon Whisperer!"

No drinks, under any circumstance.

The witch remembers the rule he and Jungkook stuck to and doesn't bother raising his stemware, taking in the crowd scattered about the grandest ballroom he has ever set foot in. Despite the majestic decor, he finds the dress code to be inadequately casual, as if no one was required to comply with sartorial policies. Perhaps no such protocol applies here. The smiles thrown his way do little to calm his nerves down as he searches for a single familiar face in this gathering of strangers.

The host insists. "This is a party after all, and we are celebrating thanks to you!"

"What are you celebrating?" Taehyung dares ask, still not taking any chances with the sparkling wine until he knows for sure he is in the presence of allies. People around them have downed their flutes and are back to babbling, for which the witch is grateful.

"Oh, many things, including your success on this mission of yours."

What mission, he silently wonders, aware it would certainly give away his ignorance. Thankfully, the stranger is of the loquacious kind. "You are somewhat of a prodigal child, and we welcome you home. Granted it is not the home you left but a new one for you to settle in, grow and prosper."

"And what is this new home called?" Taehyung hopes the answer will not foster more questions.

"Oh dear, forgive my manners. Or rather, lack thereof. We are all members of the High Court, and from the looks of it, you have heard of us."

The sudden pallor of his expression is not something Taehyung can hide. Yes. He has heard of them, and not in pleasant terms, which makes their warm welcome all the more suspicious. Also, how did they know where to find him? "I still don't understand what I'm doing here."

"Your kind is ruthless, unforgiving," the man declares. "The witches may have turned their back on you but we knew better. Recent developments have proven us right to put our faith in your abilities. You delivered beyond our expectations!"

"You really have to be a little more specific. How could I fulfil an assignment I know nothing of? I have never received any mission order from the High Court." Taehyung hates that he has to practically beg for information because he is desperate to make sense of matters which seem to reach far beyond the scale of local SSB's operations.

"We have been trying to weed out the Brigade for ages, but your leader is not one easily swayed. Too righteous and idealistic to stray from the path he had steered his team on."

That is one answer the witch did not expect. And certainly one he is not willing to take at face value. "Why would you shut us down? We do good work!"

"That you do. So good in fact that most of the time, it goes unnoticed."

Taehyung wants to argue that it is precisely the point: the lower the profile, the safer their community. But the man has more to say. "As you can probably tell by the size of our celebration here, we require funding to keep all this afloat. And to get such funding from the government, we need to convince them of the necessity of our existence, which we cannot do unless incidents happen and we show up to solve them."

Namjoon would never have put them in harm's way for the sake of a publicity stunt, something Taehyung is grateful for now that he knows the pressure his boss must have been under to cause deliberate mayhem.

Speaking of which... Taehyung can feel his face redden as the man's smirk grows wider. "You used my blunder as justification."

"Blunder he says! Don't be so modest, Kim Taehyung. Your sister was quite right about you when she claimed you'd refuse to take credit for the budget increase that was approved fifteen hours ago by none other than the president himself."

Could alcohol be inhaled, Taehyung wonders as he loses his balance, head spinning at the thought of Taehee having anything to do with his presence in the lion's den. "Wait. What was the purpose of the Brigade if the authorities are aware of our existence?"

"Unexplained phenomenons have always fascinated mankind. I guess you can say we are like their little X-Files project."

As the reality that SSB team members dedicated years of their life to a mere pet project sinks in, Taehyung's jaw tenses. "Where are they now?" he utters, focused on keeping the wrench in his guts under control.

"You must be referring to your ex-colleagues. I'll have you know that we take pride in our expeditious justice. We wasted no time returning the merman to its waters, though I'm not sure how long he'll last without his fins. As for the fallen angel, your wonderful sister will teleport him back to his home once we figure out whether he dropped from the heavens or was spit out of hell. Tinkle bell is still on the run but I trust the glitter he insists on leaving behind like Little Thumb will soon lead us straight to his realm."

"You cannot do this." Taehyung's voice struggles to rise above a whisper.

"Why not?"

"There are procedures. Laws." Isn't everyone entitled to a fair trial? No tribunal worthy of the name could have handed down such merciless verdicts in so little time. Besides, wasn't he a key witness whose testimony deserved to be heard?

"Human laws don't apply your kind. Not to mention the fact that no lawyer in their right mind would ever agree to defend a monster against the plaintiff."

"Did someone press charges?"

The man clicked his tongue, amused. "Funny how quickly you forgot about the spy we planted by your side. Granted he wasn't exactly your type."

His teammates had been lucid about Jaewon's suspicious profile, but they probably never imagined who was pulling that snake's strings in the dark. "What about Yoongi? Namjoon?"

"We intend to set them loose very soon, for that after-party hunt we're having. Should be fun."

Hunt.

The word sickens Taehyung to the core. He does not dare imagine what kind of weapons would be used to capture them for the High Court has made it clear laws are to be followed by the weak, and broken by the powerful. He is afraid to ask about Jungkook, but if he is to trust his hunch, they too could be behind his sudden disappearance.

"Seems like you got what you wished for. How are you planning to—dispose of me?"

"Have you not been listening? You are a valuable asset to us."

"How so?"

The eyes of the mysterious host have narrowed to a scrutinising stare. "I can see why he is so fond of you. Such naivety is quite endearing."

The gaze is so prying Taehyung craves to shower the intrusion off his skin.

"You are remarkable in more ways than one, Kim Taehyung. Wrapping such beast around your little finger..."

"I sure hope, for your sake, you are not referring to Jungkook."

"For your sake," the man repeats, hilarity spurting out in convulsing laughter. "Or else?"

Taehyung pulls out his wand to give weight to his threat, but it only triggers more hysterics. "These grounds are magic-proof. Your stick is of no use here."

"But the portal..."

"Taehee may be what your kind calls giftless, she is in fact quite resourceful when provided with funding and access to the latest discoveries in Occultology."

"Quit bring up my sister. You are taking advantage of her just like you have used me, though to what aim I do not know."

"Isn't research the highest purpose one could dedicate their life to?" Taehee shows up by his side, hooking her arm under his and forcing him to lower his wand. "Sometimes, it's not about who is using who, Brother. Sometimes, it's just about feeling appreciated. I'm sure you can relate to that."

The host seems pleased to see her. Too pleased for Taehyung's liking. "Namjoon never took advantage of my gift. In fact, he assigned me to sickbay at first."

Taehee's gaze is full of sparkles when she speaks. "Jungkook told me how you had saved his life. You of all people would appreciate the work we do here, combining human knowledge with occultism, breaking down barriers between two worlds many believed to be incompatible when in actuality, witchcraft and science complete each other!"

"Research at the cost of lives is plain murder, no matter how noble you trust your cause to be."

The stranger's grin doesn't exactly fill Taehyung with confidence. "Don't be so dramatic. No one has died. Yet."

"And no one will, if I can help it!"

"That's the spirit we love! No one, indeed, has to go the way of the flesh so long as you agree to the bargain we are willing to strike with you."

Finally, some progress, Taehyung thinks before the brutal realisation that he has nothing to bargain hits him like a ton of bricks. Taehee laughs at his confused look. "It's not your wand we're after," she giggles.

This throws Taehyung into further perplexity because he is positive his sister just winked at him. And Taehee only winks when she's up to something. "If you have been spying on us all this time — thanks no doubt to Jaewon's trinkets — then surely you have noticed Jungkook does not listen to me. In fact, he listens to no one."

"Oh but he has already proven you wrong. Did you not send him on an errand today?"

The witch wants to object when he recalls their last conversation, something about a disagreement they had regarding... Oh for the love of the Craft, Jungkook went to fetch him some blasted books! "Fuck," he grunts. SSB's HQ was likely packed with traps. He probably didn't even make it to the library. "Is he in your custody?"

"Silver landmines are quite efficient, you know."

Nausea takes hold of Taehyung's body as he clasps his hands over his mouth.

"Do not be alarmed. His survival instincts are strong. He had the wits to change into a bat to avoid an injury that could have been fatal to his human form." The man whistles in admiration. "He truly is a force of nature. We'd be fools to terminate him, especially now that we have found means to control him."

This nightmarish conversation was bruising Taehyung's heart in most torturous ways. "What will it take for you to release him?"

"Ha! Now we're talking. Do you remember what I called you earlier?"

Dragon whisperer.

Taehyung would have laughed were his circumstances not so precarious. "Ash was set loose in the wild."

"The whole country saw it eating out of your hand. It will answer your call. Is it not bound to you?"

"You seem to believe I have some power over Ash. Over Jungkook... Has it crossed your mind that you could be mistaken?"

"Will you not give it a try, knowing what is at stake?"

Taehyung had never felt cornered before. Surrender suddenly appears like a rather reasonable option when Taehee grabs his hand. "Since the proposal is on the table, we'll grant you some time to think about it. Now follow me. I want to show you the grounds."

With a flick of his chin, the man signals his assent. "Just remember to close the deal before the hunt starts."

╱╲╱╳╲╱╲

The night is cool and cloudless. Ancient stars flicker in the distance but Taehee does not spare them a glance as she crosses the gardens, feet walking faster than necessary for a casual evening stroll. Every now and then, she kneels down to place some kind of device on the ground before moving on to the next spot Taehyung suspects is not chosen at random.

His teeth grind as his patience runs dry. The wand is out before she even notices he got in her way. "I do not know why in the hellfires you are working for the High Court, but you will now do two things for me: tell me where my friends are, and shut off these traps, or whatever alarm system this place has."

"First of all, these aren't traps but EPPs as in Engineered Portable Portals, an invention of mine which will soon come in handy. Second of all, did you not hear these grounds are magic-proof?"

"I'll take my chances." The flick of his wrist is barely noticeable but the effects of his spell are manifest when she tries to move and finds herself immobilised, unable to even speak. "You were saying, Sis?"

Another flip and her mouth opens, eyes growing wide with an odd mixture of dumbfoundment and delight. "You will not remember this after tonight, but I must tell you that Grandma made no mistake when she gifted you instead of me. Kim Taehyung, you were meant to be what you are."

The compliment is both sudden and soothing, causing a sob to escape the witch's lips. He purposely ignores the foreshadowing of his imminent amnesia, hoping it will all fall into place later on. Yet no matter how much he wants to dwell in those few comforting words, this rescue attempt of his calls attention to its urgency. "What are the portals for?"

"Backup. Tonight, the covens rise."

The wink is making a lot more sense now. "If you are part of some kind of rebellion when were you planning on cluing me in?"

"I am right now!"

He finally releases her with another swish. "Will the wands work against their non-magic tricks?"

Taehee's eyes travel to the end of the grassy alley they had been walking on. "The main fountain is hiding a hex amplifier. You are perhaps field-testing it as we speak."

Taehyung's grip tighten against the wooden weapon in his hand. "Are you suggesting this uprising of witches relies on tech you have not trialled?"

The shrug he gets in response could either point to plenty of moxie or hazardous carelessness. "I have confidence in my abilities. And so should you."

Taehyung shrugs back. "Will your plan save my friends from being hunted and killed?"

"If this works, all of the seven of you will be safe. But it will be up to you and boyfie to keep it that way."

More words calling for further explanations which they currently lack the time for. Later, he thinks, focusing on the present. "What do you need me to do?"

Taehee briefly forgets she is not a little girl expecting a treat or a new toy to play with, clapping her hands with excitement as she asks, "what is the most powerful spell you know?"

—

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