chapter 11:
inner demons

hae seul
so, it's been 3 days since i nearly killed everyone 🙃 and currently i'm being quarantined. i think it's kinda dumb that they're literally quarantining me like i have some infectious virus, but i guess i can understand.

maybe i can't control my powers after all..

i sat by my glass window as a single tear rolled down my cheek.

i mean, i know that it wasn't completely my fault, as enyo said. but i still feel like i am to blame.
ever since i stepped foot into the underworld, i felt a new wave of responsibility surge through my system. i am expected to be this fantastic witch of the infamous kim line, ready to lead the witch race into battle against its counterpart - but that's just not me.

a week ago, i was simply just a regular 21 year old in seoul, trying to get by. and i feel like i am always gonna be that hae seul. i know it actually. but it upsets me that i'm disappointing so many people. people whose lives depend on me and my abilities.

"you may think you are just some 21 year old, but i think we both know you have so much more to bring to the table,"

i was startled out of my thoughts by the sound of a familar voice.

"namjoon?" i called out.

i turned around to see namjoon, standing by the visitor's area behind the glass of my prison.

nj: you were talking out loud, haha.

he wore a beige trench coat with a fitting white tee that clearly displayed his well defined chest.

i wouldn't think namjoon ah was the type to work out, i thought to myself.

his face was adorned with thick, black-rimmed glasses and his beautiful smile. i felt myself melting from the radiance of his bright and bubbly grin.

i got from my bed and walked over to the glass slowly with a small smile

"welcome to my crib for the time being," i said with a laugh.

he released a giggle as well but his eyes were telling a different story. a look that was more apologetic.

nj: it's actually hilariously sad that they actually quarantined you.

hs: hilariously sad?

nj: yeah, i dont know if i should laugh or feel bad 😂

i rolled my eyes as far as i could then glared at him.

"yeah, go ahead namjoon, yuck it up!" i said lowly as i fidgeted with my fingers.

"i'm really sorry though, hae seul."

my head shot up as he said this.

nj: if i could break down the glass to give you a hug, i would. trust me.

this sentence made my heart flutter.

he cared about me? i thought to myself.

i mean, i knew he cared. but i didn't really know that he cared. if that makes any sense.

i tried to hide my blush as best as i could but i don't think i did it so well.
i immediately changed the subject as i averted my eyes from his stare.

hs: so what's our situation?

nj: as in?

hs: the council. what's our next move?

nj: we don't have one. we're stuck.

hs: so we are just gonna wait for the broken wands to strike again??? and cause even more damage??

the thought of this upset me. if my memory serves me correctly, deino said we don't have another base. so if we are unprepared for another attack, thats a game over for the council.

namjoon noticed my tenseness and tried to reach out for my hand. only to remember that you two were separated by glass

nj: ah, screw it.

hs: wha-

namjoon swiftly inserted a passcode and the door slided open.

"are you to be doing this??" i questioned with my brows furrowed.

"no," he replied with a mischievous smirk.
"oh well!"

i laughed as he dragged me onto the bed to sit.

nj: hae seul ah

hs: yes joonie?

nj: don't call me that

hs: why not joonie?

nj: because-

hs: because what? j o o n i e-

namjoon swiftly pushed me over and was now hovering over me on the bed. i immediately went brain dead.

"i- uhm- uh- ah," was the only think i could say

"i-i am sorry," he sheepishly smiled as he removed himself off of me.

i could see his cheeks had become pink and was obviously averting his eyes from you.

this reminded me of the incident between the two of you a couple days ago.

we almost kissed, i thought.

now i could feel the heat rush to my cheeks. and we both sat their for a while; a blushing mess.

"w-what i was going to say," namjoon slowly began, "was that you shouldn't blame yourself."

"i know," i plainly replied.
"enyo told me already."

nj: i know, but you're you. so i thought i should remind you.

third person
hs: what do you mean i am me??

hae seul jumped up when she heard this and turned to her mentor

nj: you are choi hae seul. literally the most stubborn girl to breathe, so i knew you would still blame yourself for the happenings of that day.

hs: i'm not stubborn!1!1!1!

nj: and i don't have a dick.

hs: I WOULDN'T KNOW IF YOU DID OR NOT

nj: want to find out?

hs: ew and no. make that the newest episode in your fantasies of me at night.

nj: that's my line!

hae seul smirked and snuck out her tongue.

hs: tough tiddies.

namjoon laughed at her childishness, but suddenly became more serious.

"i'm not kidding though," he said as he stared into her eyes.
"it's not your fault. and it will never be you fault."

"but it was me,,, i lost control..." she said as she hung her head in shame.
"i was the one who created a tsunami that literally could have killed all of us.."

"it was your inner demons. not you."

hae seul slowly raised her head, with a questioning look on her face.

hs: my inner demons?

nj: yes. and i think in your case, it was your literal inner demon.

hs: what-

nj: your father?

the room was immediately washed over by silence.

"i almost forgot that my dad isn't actually my dad..." she said, choking up just a bit.

nj: well i don't know, i was talking to enyo about it. all she told me was that your biological dad, uh, wasn't the nicest..

hs: do you know his name?

nj: that's the only detail enyo didn't have for me. i'm sorry.

hae seul was a little disappointed by this, but she thought that it was best that she didn't know anything about her real father.

"hey, cheer up though!" namjoon said as he gave me a soft punch on the shoulder.

hs: are you telling me to be overjoyed by the fact that i'm basically benched?

nj: well no, being benched isn't always fun.
but! being benched with a friend is!

he gave me a big dimpled smile.

friends. that's all we are, hae seul reminded herself.

deep inside, she wanted to be much more to him. she couldn't exactly give a reason why but being friendzoned had never hurt so much.

hs: and a great friend too at that :)

namjoon
friends. don't worry,, i probably hate the term as much as you do.
i mean i know i just friendzoned her-
but it really hits when you're friendzoned back.

am i hoping that she likes me? i don't know.
we did almost kiss in halls a little over 72 hours ago.
i'm not sure of anything at this point but that isn't my focus now. i'm here to make hae seul feel better. get it together, namjoon.

nj: stop,, you're too sweet.

hs: no but seriously,, i know it must be hard to bear with me sometimes. i'm alot, i'll admit. but you're just so good at being.... well you. i mean you just sweet and patient and really good-

nj: looking? ;)

hs: hey, don't push it. i was going to say you're ugly ass is good at fighting.

nj: should i be flattered or offended first?

hs: both,, i think we are good at making each other feel both at the same time 😂

nj: haha, so flanded?

hae seul fell to her knees and began rolling. she wore the purest smile as she wiped the tears off of her face. she was really the most beautiful at her happiness.

hs: NSJSJEJEJDDJSNDJ AAAAAAAAA

it's my duty from now on,, to keep that smile on her face forever, i thought.

hs: holy shit,, that's beautiful man

i took a seat on the floor beside her sprawled out figure.

nj: yeah, it can be our thing you know? flanding each other. it's creative, intriguing but utterly stupid,, kinda like you're annoying ass :)

hs: ah stop joonie, you fland me! 🥰

nj: i try my hardest to,, babe 🤷🏻‍♂️

hs: babe? 😏

nj: it is simply a term i chose to use, choi. dial the hormones a tone back, would ya?

hs: everything is in check within me, mr. kim. but i'm kinda excited by the fact that you let me call you "joonie" and you didn't get all hot and bothered about it.

i thought for moment. i didn't even realise for a matter of fact. i guess, everything just feels right with her. she could tell me a million lies and i would fall for each and everyone of them. i was lost in those hazel eyes of hers for the second time this week.
they drew me in and in — to the point where i felt in encaged. i took in everything i could. in that single moment, i had realized the feeling i possessed was true.

hs: hey? big guy? you doing okay-

nj: i guess,, it just sounds better when you say it.

she seemed a little taken aback by my sudden confession. and so was i, to be honest. perhaps there was a better way i could have done that.

just as i finished overthinking the millions of different ways hae seul could have taken my words, i was pinned against the floor in a rush as she quickly but carefully straddled my waist. hesitant at first, she brought herself down and connected her lips with mine and it was... electric.

it was sweet but rough, gentle but passionate — truly magical as it had best of both worlds.

as much as i was enjoyed this dream-like reality where i was being dominated by the choi hae seul, i held her in place as i sat up and took the lead.

i felt her smile against my lips as she reluctantly pulled away to catch her breath.

i rested my forehead against hers as i reminisced this euphoric feeling in my chest. we let out soft giggles and sighs as we prayed for this moment to last forever. now this is shit i could get used.

*ATTENTION ALL COUNCILLORS AND ASSOCIATES - PLEASE GATHER IN CELESTIAL HALL AT ONCE FOR MANDATORY EMERGENCY  MEETING*

third person
the pair's heads shot up as they gave each other a worried glance. the demon hunter sprung up first and the witch followed suit.

hs: i have,, an extremely bad feeling,, about all of this..

namjoon took her smaller hand in his and gave it a couple tiny kisses.

nj: everything will be okay, harriet. i'll make sure it is. forever and always.

with that, the newly discovered lovers ran off to the celestial hall hand in hand.

in the celestial hall

the two had arrived, met by witches and warlocks alike, murmuring in confusion and slight panic. hae seul's hand began to shake out of anxiety.

nj: harriet? i told you, everything is good. they probably just going to inform us that dong min was the one stealing snacks from the training facility pantry. i swear, when my triangle gimbap went missing after conditioning, the dude was giving me the weirdest looks-

hs: no, joon. i'm actually really fucking serious. something bad happened overnight. something to do with graeae-

just as she said this, sister pemphredo grabbed hae seul by her throat and pointed her oakwood wand at her heart.

ph: i'm not one to point the wand, but you are dead witch, kim descendant.

the crowd pointed all their attention to the confrontation in the centre of it all. to see a graeae sister get violent, meant that shit has completely hit the fan.

namjoon wasn't fully aware of his actions, but in a nanosecond, he had whipped out his celestial blade and threatened pemphredo with it.

nj: your excellency, my apologies, but i won't let you hurt her.

ph: dare you challenge me, cambion. you don't call shots around here. now back off, before you are charged with high treason to the council.

enyo immediately stepped in pulling the three apart.

ey: sister! this is never the way to go about this. it's not her fault.

ph: did you not read the damned letter???? who is at fault then? so they can burn in hellfire 'till the end of days. oh wait! that wouldn't make sense since that is basically upon us now!!!!

ey: ENOUGH!!

the entire hall shook.

enyo hurriedly made her way to the front to address the surely confused immortals standing before her.

ey: thank you all for showing. we have gathered you all here to announce that something terrible has happened in the last couple of hours; something that nobody in the high council foresaw. as we all know, when the 'broken wands' infiltrated our main headquarters, they kidnapped one of our guests, choi ain yeon. it has become apparent to us that, somehow, ms. choi has escaped captivity.

gasps swallowed the room whole and hae seul's jaw dropped.

"ain yeon? she escaped? but where is she then?" thought the worried sister.

namjoon wrapped his arm around her shoulder and kept her as close as he could, whispering words of positivity into her ear.

"is she okay?" someone shouted out the question on everyone's mind.

ey: we don't know as no one in the council aided her in her escape. however, our enemies fully believe that we infiltrated their prison facility in tartarus to save the mortal. so they have taken revenge...

no one in the room was prepared to hear what form of revenge was taken.

ey: the broken wands-

ph: they have our leader. deino. my sister. and have official declared war against the council. we have a month to prepare.

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// hi! this is just over 2500 words NSNSJSKSKDK i really did something here huehue. but yea this is the turning point in story and it's alot to digest ik but IM SO EXCITED. i have finally regained my drive to write so im looking to finish this book during coronacation lmao. but yeah i hope you liked this and please remember to vote! and leave comments too,, i love reading them! see you soon <3