Chapter Text
*.~εӜ̵з~.**.~εӜ̵з~.**.~εӜ̵з~.**.~εӜ̵з~.*
Park family: Demons, crimson butterfly clan
Hong family: Yong, dragons
Choi family: Gumiho, nine-tailed foxes
Tom Lee: White Tiger
Jake & Gapyrong Kim: Trolls
Samuel: Trickster
*.~εӜ̵з~.**.~εӜ̵з~.**.~εӜ̵з~.**.~εӜ̵з~.*
*.~εӜ̵з~.**.~εӜ̵з~.**.~εӜ̵з~.**.~εӜ̵з~.*
*.~εӜ̵з~.**.~εӜ̵з~.**.~εӜ̵з~.**.~εӜ̵з~.**.~εӜ̵з~.**.~εӜ̵з~.**.~εӜ̵з~.**.~εӜ̵з~.*
*.~εӜ̵з~.**.~εӜ̵з~.**.~εӜ̵з~.**.~εӜ̵з~.**.~εӜ̵з~.**.~εӜ̵з~.**.~εӜ̵з~.**.~εӜ̵з~.*
*.~εӜ̵з~.**.~εӜ̵з~.**.~εӜ̵з~.**.~εӜ̵з~.*
Jake was the first to reach the showers.
Brad and Jason had stayed back in the canteen; the guards were probably already on their way. At least his men could keep an eye on the other curious prisoners, keeping them at bay.
The troll was panting, out of breath, when he finally reached the door.
He expected the worst when he entered the room - and his assumption wasn’t entirely disproven.
The shower room was destroyed, the tiles splintered, with a body motionless against a clearly cracked wall. The water washed away the blood, while the bodies of several naked men lay on the floor. It wasn't hard to see that some had broken bones, with their limbs bent in at unnatural angles.
Darius Hong looked even worse.
His nose was a bloody mess, eyes rolled back into his head. Around his mouth was foam, mixed with blood, and a bar of soap was next to his head.
As Jake got closer, he discovered the reason for Darius' collapse. The crew head turned pale and looked away in horror. Whatever happened to Darius’ dick looked more painful than Jake could even imagine. Darius was probably lucky he still had a dick.
His gaze slid further until he finally found Daniel. The sound of running water stopped and Daniel stepped out of the shower stall, a towel wrapped around his waist.
When the younger man saw him, he blinked in surprise, "Jake?"
"Of course, it's me," Without thinking, Jake took off the dark blue shirt of his prison uniform and pressed it against Daniel's chest. His attention briefly rested on his birthmark, reminiscent of a butterfly tattoo, "Hurry up. The guards will be here soon because of all the commotion you've caused!"
"And?"
"And?" He echoed, stunned, gesturing wildly at the massacre. At least the other prisoners were still alive, "We have to leave."
"As if they won't betray me as soon as they come to their senses. It’s better if I get it over with," As he spoke, the Demon Prince put on the shirt. At least Daniel was smart enough to hide his 'omega mark'; even the guards couldn't be trusted. Jake knew enough rumors about guards using their power to take advantage of the positions of the omegas and other prisoners.
"Besides, it was self-defense. I think they'll believe me, considering Darius Hong's background."
"Still. You should -"
It was too late.
The next moment, the door was pushed open and several guards burst into the room, armed with batons and stun guns. Jake tensed and pushed himself in front of Daniel's half-naked body. At least Jake’s shirt reached a little over Daniel’s thighs and covered his private parts.
Luckily for Daniel, there were three men among the guards that Jake bribed; they would at least listen to Jake.
"Let me take care of this," He hissed, clearing his throat, "The new guy was attacked in the shower. I just happened to come by and help him."
Jake found his lie very convincing, while Daniel gave him the side-eye, as if he found the idea ridiculous. Then, he just stepped past Jake and marched toward the guards, "Jake Kim didn't arrive until it was all over. He had nothing to do with it. I defended myself. Alone."
One of the guards stepped forward - Jake recognized the man immediately. It was a bulgae, one of the strongest creatures among the guards - and the highest-ranking one present at that. The bulgae had a reputation for being incorruptible and cracking down on corruption among the other guards, which meant Jake couldn't count on the help of his friendly guards to sweep the situation under the rug.
The bulgae let his gaze wander over the carnage, brow furrowed. His nostrils trembled slightly as he analyzed the smells in the room, reminding Jake of a dog sniffing out scents.
"I see," The bulgae said, voice surprisingly calm despite his usually hot temper. He turned to the other guards and ordered in a gruff tone, "Get off your asses! Get those bastards to the infirmary and then clean up here!"
The other guards immediately went to work and Jake watched in disbelief as they took the prisoners away. As one of the human guards walked past him, he could sense a hint of magic. The human guard's face was strangely blank, almost as if the man was moving in a trance, not aware of what he was doing. As he walked past Daniel, he even smiled at him.
"It's a good thing nothing happened to you," He heard the human guard say, in a worried but friendly tone. He was a man who was usually too fond of hitting unruly prisoners with his baton. Jake had never seen him so friendly with anyone before.
In the end, only Jake, Daniel and the bulgae remained in the room. The fire dog sighed and turned to Daniel before bowing to him respectfully.
"You have to be more careful. I'll take care of those bastards, Mister Park."
Daniel nodded, arms crossed over his chest, "Good. I was promised I would be able to shower in privacy, but instead I'm being attacked. I don't expect that to happen again."
The guard bowed again, "I beg your pardon. It won't happen again, sir."
Then the man straightened up and let his gaze wander over the destroyed room, ignoring Jake and his shocked expression, as if he was invisible, "However, we can't just sweep this under the rug. We’ll have to take action."
"Of course," Daniel sighed, "Otherwise that would also damage my cover," The Demon Prince pointed at Jake, who was still standing there, frozen and useless, "Mhm... I think it's better if we go with his story. I trust you to take care of the other guards. The attackers need to be kept quiet in the infirmary until my mission is over."
"Yes, sir. I'll give you a moment to get dressed. Then I'll have to arrest you," At these words, Daniel nodded as if he approved, and the fire dog left the room, almost obediently.
Jake just stared at Daniel.
“How long… how long have you been controlling the guards?”
Daniel smiled.
“Since I arrived.”
For a brief moment, Jake smelled the demon's sweet scent as Daniel moved his finger, red sparks dancing around his fingertip, “A little charm spell for the human guards. Crystal showed it to me. Besides that…” Daniel shrugged, “...Dad is the top executive of the underworld - it's important that he can work well together with the prison director. They meet for dinner at least once a month to discuss the situation of the monsters in the country's only juvenile prison. Of course, the director ordered some of the supernatural guards to look after me.”
Jake was wrong.
He had underestimated the situation, and, more importantly, Daniel Park. Jake might be a part of the underworld, but in all his years of staying away from the big families, he had forgotten how much power they had; he wasn’t aware of the current political situation or the power struggles.
He’d been naive. How could he have thought he could keep the Demon Prince under control as long as he was here?
Daniel Park wasn't locked up with them.
They were imprisoned with the Demon Prince.
*.~εӜ̵з~.*
The solitary confinement cell he was sent to after beating up Darius Hong and the others was tiny and white, the walls dirty and cracked, smelling slightly of mold. It was cold and there wasn't even a blanket on the wooden floor. The old toilet in the cell looked surprisingly clean but took up one corner of the room completely. The window was blocked with cement, so the only light came from a whirring lamp on the ceiling. Next to it was a fan to provide some cooling and air circulation in the small room. The remains of a piece of paper hung on one wall, but the words on it could no longer be read. A camera was mounted on the ceiling for security, but Daniel found it unnecessary.
He suspected that it wasn't just for surveillance, but to prevent anyone from harming themselves.
Daniel had a week ahead of him in this cell.
It could have been worse, but since he had only defended himself, his penalty was less than a month - which would normally have been the norm. Maybe that was also thanks to his contacts in the juvenile prison. If he stayed here too long it could jeopardize the mission.
If Daniel was honest, he thought a week was already too much while the parasite was still running around, unrecognized and hungry.
His attention turned to his hands.
They didn't even uncuff him.
His eyes darted over all the stains on the walls.
“Mhm…”
Probably signs of self-harm. It wasn't hard to imagine that someone could’ve gone crazy in here, separated and without human contact. Without distraction. Only the surroundings of white walls.
“Hey, don’t do anything stupid. There are three meals a day. Behave yourself, unless you want to starve,” A voice suddenly said, distorted through a loudspeaker. The camera's red light flashed. Daniel could imagine how many times these words had been said before. That didn't exactly speak for their rehabilitation system.
Would they be watching him all the time?
His eyes darted to the toilet. Well. This was just another reason to continue with his plan and fast.
A cockroach crawled across the floor.
The hygiene really left a lot to be desired. He would mention it to his father when he got the chance. This prison was in poor condition and inhumane. Punishment was prioritized over rehabilitation - but he could see why some youths seemed lost forever in the eyes of law enforcement. But that didn't mean you couldn't win them over; they could be useful in other ways - at least to the underworld.
A dark red butterfly appeared in the cell.
The camera light fluttered as the magic interfered with its software. Even if the guards noticed the butterfly, they would think it was just another insect.
The butterfly served its purpose. The cockroach sensed the predator's presence and quickly disappeared into a hole in the wall. In the future, no more vermin would bother him.
Report to my father, he ordered the butterfly. The red insect circled around him before sliding through the bars and disappearing.
Ignoring the guards' comments, Daniel made himself comfortable in the middle of the room, sitting cross-legged.
This place was so narrow and small; tf he could have stretched out his arms, he could have touched the walls with his fingertips.
Daniel tilted his head back and stared at the ceiling.
A sigh escaped him as his lips curled into a smile.
That was kinda…nice.
It reminded him of his cocoon. Narrow. Comfortable. Quiet.
He had spent weeks in his cocoon, always in a space between sleep and a dozy state, as his body grew, haunted by dreams of the past, the present and perhaps the future. However Daniel was not Chanyeol Park, the clan founder, who had been able to create a real prophecy from the confused and fleeting glimpses of the future; precognition wasn't one of Daniel's talents.
He smiled briefly before closing his eyes.
This place was perfect for calming down and collecting his senses.
Daniel's shoulders relaxed and he lowered his chin. He sat upright with his thumbs and forefingers touching and his palms facing up.
He would use this time off to meditate. His fast would continue to aid the purification process of his body. The week would pass in no time. Meanwhile, his butterflies would search for the parasite.
*.~εӜ̵з~.*
The Commissioner-General was all dressed up for their meeting; it was obvious. The gaunt faced man with dark gray hair was sporting one of his best suits. It had been a while since Mister Park had to deal with this particularly disgusting sycophant. The ex-policeman was extremely corrupt, greedy for power, which on the one hand, awakened Mister Park's dislike, and, on the other hand, was reassuring.
It allowed him to easily control the Commissioner-General, and, therefore, the country's police force.
A necessity to ensure peaceful coexistence between the supernatural beings of the underworld and humans. All three royal families of Seoul bribed government bigwigs, making work much easier for the Demon King.
Mister Park sipped his matcha, enjoying the taste with a slight smile.
“It’s so nice to see you,” The Commissioner-General's eyes darted from the envelope containing the paycheck and his new order to the CEO of PK Group, “I always enjoy our monthly tea time.”
Of course, he did.
Mr. Park smiled tightly, not very talkative today. He was worried about his son, even though he knew Daniel could take care of himself. It was his job to eliminate the parasite...but still, he couldn't help but worry. His boy was now almost a man and soon he would reach his final life cycle and his full power.
A sigh escaped him.
It wouldn't be long before this constant fear would finally come to an end.
“Mr. Park." A hand rested on his; wrinkles and the first age spots had appeared on the Commissioner-General's rough skin. The man wasn't human, but he couldn't resist aging. Officially, they were about the same age, but unlike him, Mister Park still looked like he was in his early thirties. The media often praised him for not looking like his true age. In the past, the centuries-old butterfly demon had laughed about it, but now this was another of his concerns. His ´glamor` could only deceive others to a certain extent and didn’t work in photos.
Maybe he should ask Charles for a spell that would give him an older appearance. Perhaps an enchanted ring? A few gray hairs wouldn't just suit Charles.
A thumb slowly stroked the back of Mister Park's hand, giving him goosebumps. He froze and looked at his business partner's devious expression. The Commissioner-General raised both eyebrows in feigned concern, “You look pale, old friend. Is there something wrong with your son?”
Hypocrite.
"He's fine," Mister Park smiled stiffly, “His butterflies tell me everything surrounding the events in prison. Still, I’m very grateful for your help and the cooperation of the prison director.”
Well, the butterflies only told him what Daniel wanted. Somehow, he was afraid that Daniel was keeping some details from him.
Maybe he should send his own butterflies to see what's going on. However, he didn't want to interfere with Daniel's mission; the boy had his complete trust. He would make it, his father was sure of it.
"That delights me. For such a gentle and well-mannered young man and prince, juvenile prison may be difficult. He is so responsible, despite his young age,” The thumb was still impertinently stroking the back of Mister Park's hand, “Plus,you raised him so well, even when you were all alone and had so much to do. I admire single parents.”
Mister Park raised an eyebrow. What was that? What was this weasel plotting again?
“But wouldn’t it be better if you weren’t alone anymore?” The Commissioner-General clasped Park's hand. His rough fingers looked out of place next to the Demon King's long, delicate fingers. Confused, Mister Park frowned.
"I am not alone. Charles Choi helped me. We raised our children together,” He removed his hand from the man’s grip and stood up, “And I have an appointment with him now. Good afternoon, Commissioner-General.”
“Of course,” The man cleared his throat and pulled away, "See you soon. Contact me if you need anything.”
With a nod, Park picked up his white coat and put it on, exiting before heading towards the gardens. The space was inspired by Japanese architecture, offering not only a place for food and drinks, but also tea ceremonies were held here regularly; there was even a hot spring. The building itself was a relic from pre-generation times; many gangsters and businessmen met here, sometimes both groups at the same time.
As he reached the back of the building, where a zen garden and a pond awaited him, he heard familiar voices, catching the scent of cigars. Smiling, he came around the corner and spotted Tom Lee and Charles Choi on the porch, enjoying the scenic view. The two immediately stopped their conversation. Charles let the cigar vanish with a spell, turning it into ash, dispersed by the slight wind. The smell still lingered in the air, but Park appreciated the gesture.
“Ahh, you’re earlier than I thought!” Tom pulled his friend into a warm hug, one that would probably have broken a human's bones. Park just giggled and enjoyed it before tapping Tom on the shoulder.
“Tom was complaining about how hungry he is,” Charles came over to them just to fix Park's collar, “Our room is ready. So let’s finally eat."
The Fox King sniffed and frowned before muttering a spell. In the next moment, Park could smell Charles' scent stronger than before, wrapping around the butterfly demon like a warm blanket. The top notes of the perfume had faded, but since Park's sensitive nose was still picking up the heart touches, it couldn't have been more than twenty minutes since Charles had put it on. Cinnamon and cedar graced his nose, mixed with a hint of tonka bean. Underneath, he recognized other familiar smells, mixing with Charles's personal scent. He noted white musk, but the remaining fragrances were beyond his knowledge.
“Is that Arabesque?” He murmured, then buried his face in the crook of Charles’ neck, taking a deep breath. The perfume smelled so good and seductive, reminding him of the warm hotteoks they had eaten at street stalls in their youth, a bittersweet memory. He still remembered how Gapryong had bought him his first hotteok and how incomparably good the first bite had been.
“It is,” Charles patted his head, fingers running through Park's silky black hair and scratching the back of his neck, “Your sense of smell is sensitive. Has your bloodlust cycle already started? Isn’t it too early for that?”
“Did someone try to mark you with their scent?” Tom asked. Of course, the situation wasn't lost on the white tiger. Charles had used the spell to protectively cover the butterfly demon in his scent and to hide Park's scent - and a foreign one.
“That would be daring. And a death sentence,” Park frowned and tried to remember who he had met today. Aside from the Commissioner-General, he had had several business meetings this morning, including some werewolf alphas from prominent families, but nothing unusual had happened.
Charles cleared his throat, “It was just a weak scent, perhaps a mistake.”
His ears turned slightly red as Park just hummed, lips pressed against the gumiho's neck. The deep hum in his throat caused a slight vibration, giving Charles goosebumps.
The boss of the White Tiger Job Center crossed his arms over his chest, frowning slightly, “I thought your species only had a heat every two months. I'm getting too old for this. The last time you got your bloodlust, we fought all day until I could barely stand - my back can't handle this anymore. Miss Kim was really angry with me.”
“I’m sorry, Miss Kim,” Park actually sounded a little remorseful. He didn't want to make the nice chiropractor any more work. Plus, he was also a little sorry that he had put Tom through so much trouble. Tom was no longer a wild, young tiger either.
“I think it's the stress and concern about Daniel. Maybe that’s why my biorhythm is messed up.” It was a shame that modern supplements didn't work for their clan. The butterfly demons also had a high resistance to all kinds of poisons and drugs. Only magical medicine helped, but Park no longer remembered all of his family's recipes. The ancient texts he had found in the clan's crypt referred to various rare diseases and some to their bloodlust. There were even formulas to make effective ‘heat blockers’, but many of the ingredients no longer existed.
Charles, who at least made Park's potions for the period after the bloodlust cycle, was still looking for a way to replace the missing ingredients for the medicine with other ingredients. Even after all these years, they had made little progress.
“But normally you had no problems with this shit at all. Why has it gotten worse in the last five years? Before that, you never needed help with your heat, rut, whatever,” Tom, still annoyed by his aching back, crossed his arms over his chest, “You never bothered us about it when we were young.”
Sighing hesitantly, Park pulled away from Charles. Clinginess was one of the side effects of bloodlust, especially when he smelled a scent he particularly liked. Charles had different perfumes for different occasions, but Arabesque was one of Park's personal favorites. It suited the Fox King well.
Park rubbed the back of his neck, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Because of my long sleep in my cocoon, my biorhythms had changed slightly. After that, my body was busy healing and keeping me alive because of the fight against my Great Grand Uncle… I guess this caused my bloodlust cycle to delay.”
It wasn't until he met Seonhui that everything went back to normal. It hadn't bothered his wife. She wasn't able to claim him or scent mark him, but they had enjoyed their long hours in bed. At this point, none of his bloodlust cycles had been a problem. He had been happy, but, now, only violence and blood were left to keep him sane during this time.
“When Seonhui died, I had to raise Daniel alone. A bloodlust cycle would have only been a hindrance and would have made us vulnerable without a clan. I think that's why my body stopped the process for years, but now that Daniel is almost an adult, the bloodlust cycles are coming back. They are stronger than before.”
Maybe the last part was because of the illness that would slowly destroy his mind..and be the reason for his death.
“Probably because it was absent for so long,” Charles sighed. Aside from the Parks and the family's doctor, no one else knew as much about the bloodlust cycle as the skilled sorcerer.
“Practical and problematic at the same time,” Park had to smile slightly at Tom's words, but he silently agreed with him. His gaze slid over the quiet, beautiful zen garden; the garden's sand had been designed in wave patterns. Whenever he was here, he felt a wave of relaxation pass through him. Sometimes, he wondered whether the building complex had been built over a place of power.
Tom grumbled, “Speaking of which, there’s something I’ve always wondered about…”
Charles placed a hand on the Demon King's shoulder to squeeze it.
“...do you get slicky too?”
Both Park and Choi turned their heads towards Tom, perplexed.
“...what?”
“You know, all the omegas I know produce this sweet slick when they’re in a state of euphoria or at least, in their heat. Depends on the supernatural species, I guess. But you're a weird mix of omega and alpha. So…” Tom cleared his throat, “… are you self-lubricating when you have your bloodlust?”
For a moment, Park just stared, his expression frozen, eyes still wide and lips slightly parted. Then, in a split second, his face turned dark red, contorting into an angry grimace. His fangs became visible, but before he could lunge at the white tiger, Charles wrapped his remaining arm around his waist to hold him back.
“How dare you?! This is a very intimate and private matter!”
“Sooo...is that a yes? You get all wet and horny - but I never smelled anything like that when we fought.”
It didn’t matter that Tom was curious or if he had a scientific interest in that topic. Park felt embarrassed by the question. That was unforgivable.
One arm alone wasn't enough to stop Park; the Demon King was too strong and angry for that. Before he could break free, Charles transformed and set up a domain around them to protect their surroundings - should a fight break out. His soft tails wrapped around Park's limbs to hold him in place.
“You damn pervert!” Park hissed, a vein bulging in his neck from tension, “Come here!”
“I didn't mean it like that. Calm down,” Tom sighed and raised his hands defensively, but his goofy grin spoke volumes.
“You’ll pay for dinner, Tom,” Charles growled, busy trying to stop one friend from murdering the other.
He was too old for Tom’s jokes.
*.~εӜ̵з~.*
An angel.
An angel existed in this godforsaken place.
The youth worker couldn't believe it.
This juvenile prison was a violent place where only the strongest survived.
Rehabilitation began through bonding; to stop their violence, he needed to know what the kids were like.
Darius Hong, for example, was disgusting. He had even harassed the older man, having to be stopped by the guards.
The youth worker worried when he heard the guy had attacked someone again. Fortunately, the worst had been avoided and Darius ended up in the infirmary.
Of course, the youth worker had to take care of Darius' victims.
But James Lee was nothing like he imagined.
The boy was so calm, so gentle and kind. His manners were excellent and he was very easy to talk to.
He didn't seem perturbed, which was what the man had expected. James told him that Jake Kim, the unofficial leader of the prisoners, had saved and protected him; the guards took very good care of James, looking after him.
The psychologist looked through the pictures James had drawn; hee had no talent. They looked like they had been sketched by a small child, but they were all colorful, lively and happy.
"That's my dog," James pointed to a black dog with pointy ears, "Zack. And this is our house. My dad and I live there alone, but we always celebrate Thanksgiving with ahjussi and his daughter. Dad always grills and marinated pork - according to an old family recipe. Sometimes, hyung visits us."
James Lee was so innocent, so naive.
Even though he had escaped from Darius, Jake Kim was also a gangster, certainly not good company for this lovely child.
"That sounds wonderful," Nothing so far suggested that the boy had problems at home. He probably lost his mother young, but he had a healthy relationship with his father, a close circle of friends, good grades and a strong social life.
He just couldn't understand why the boy would steal. Maybe a test of courage? For fun?
“I would like to do something different today,” The youth worker took a stack of pictures from his folder, adorned with black inkblots. James just nodded.
"Darius is dangerous. You have to be careful," He put his hand on James' black, curly hair and smiled, "But it's not right to respond with violence. Don't let those kids change you. James, you're a nice and smart kid."
James just smiled and pointed curiously at the pictures with the ink spots, "What is that?"
"This is the Rorschach test, a personality test."
James' eyes immediately lit up, "How interesting, I've always wanted to try this!"
As James examined the inkblots, the youth worker wrote down everything the subject did or said, no matter how trivial it was. Later, he would analyze the collected data completely with the help of a tabulation and scoring sheet.
"Oh!" James showed him the first picture excitedly, "That's a butterfly, right?"
The man hummed in amusement. It was a classic interpretation of the inkblot.
"This looks like skin," James frowned, "Like a bearskin lying in front of the fireplace on a cold winter night, in one of those forest huts. Ahjussi Tom once invited us into his hut in the mountains. We went hunting together there."
The psychologist diligently noted the details, smiling slightly, "That sounds magical."
"This one looks like a head. It reminds me of my hyung," James Lee laughed, "Hyung is a great artist. He once brought Dad one of his pieces of art. He particularly liked this head. A beautifully made piece, very detailed, almost lifelike."
It looked like James Lee had good role models in his life. Too bad he didn't share his hyung's talent for art.
"This is another butterfly. Isn't it beautiful?" James' eyes lit up and the youth worker nodded in agreement.
Butterflies were a symbol of transformation, hope and faith. It was suitable for this boy's situation. The boy was ready to change and so full of hope, it made the man smile.
Daniel put card V back on the table; butterflies or moths were a typical answer to this card. Card V wasn’t perceived as threatening and typically meant “change of pace” in the Rorschach test, after he had shown the boy the more challenging cards of the set.
He took notes but stopped when James spoke again.
"Mister, I'm worried about you. You look so pale," These words surprised the psychologist. It was the first time that an inmate asked about his well-being, "Do you have a lot of work? Are the other inmates causing problems?"
Reluctantly, he sighed. He shouldn't say something like that, but he felt strangely light-headed and relaxed in James' presence, as if he could trust James with anything.
"There's one boy I'm particularly worried about. He attacked me and has been in solitary confinement for a month. Tomorrow he'll be back with the other prisoners... he's dangerous. The drugs have destroyed his mind."
"How sad," James carefully picked up the next picture and studied it thoughtfully, "I think I've heard of him. His name is Wally Lee, right?"
The man nodded, the pen in his hand no longer moving.
James Lee's eyes lit up as he smiled.
*.~εӜ̵з~.*
Wally Lee was the only one he hadn't been able to check yet.
Even his butterflies hadn't been able to get to him in the week since Wally had been detained in a special cell for creatures. However, thanks to the youth worker, Daniel had been able to gain some useful information: Wally Lee was imprisoned for repeated consumption and possession of drugs, going hand in hand with a sentence for bodily harm, which he committed while intoxicated.
According to the youth worker, Wally Lee could only be saved through rehab. The teen had been rejected by his family due to his mental and drug problems, while on the streets and taking drugs hadn't made it any better. They had dismembered his mind and it wasn't the first time Wally Lee had been in solitary confinement for attacking someone over trivial things, including Darius Hong, whom he had bitten, severing some tendons in his foot.
Wally had once attacked someone with a sharpened toothbrush, stabbing the inmate multiple times - because he had forgotten to water Wally's houseplant while he was in solitary. That had immediately earned him another round in the small, dirty cell.
There was the possibility that Wally had been infected shortly before going into solitary. He wasn't the smartest choice given his background, but if the parasite had taken over his body, Wally would soon behave differently.
Of course, it wasn't easy to figure out. Daniel knew the parasite's magic signature, but these creatures were masters of hiding and deceiving. He or his butterflies had to get close enough to feel its magic. That wasn't easy under the circumstances. Even after his solitary confinement, Wally was not allowed to go into the yard. Out there, the butterflies would have reached him unnoticed. In the building itself, Daniel could only send his butterflies at night to avoid attracting attention. They couldn't get into the secured solitary cell - at least not without destroying the protective spell and he couldn't do that. Too obvious. Too dangerous.
So, Daniel had to wait.
After two days, once he was released from solitary, Wally Lee was supposed to return. The prisoners stayed in a hall that served as an alternative if the courtyard was not accessible. Thanks to the storm, the courtyard was canceled today.
It felt like nothing was going to go according to plan. Maybe Daniel would have to wait until tonight before he could send a butterfly into Wally's cell.
“So your next suspect is the crazy junkie?” Jake asked, sitting next to him as he played cards with his No. 3 and 4. Daniel had politely declined to join them. Instead, he sat restlessly on the floor, chewing his thumbnail.
Meditating had helped, but his hunger had only gotten worse since he had left the solitary cell, intensifying his irritation.
"It has to be him. Otherwise the... my target somehow escaped," As he spoke, his eyes flickered to Jake's subordinates. They were still suspicious of him but had come to accept his presence.
It wasn't Daniel who noticed the target first. After a few minutes, Jake nudged him and pointed to a gaunt figure with long, messy hair. The man stood hunched over, rubbing his hands together. Instinctively, the other prisoners backed away from him.
Daniel stood up and slowly approached his target. At this time, he couldn't call his butterflies without it being noticed, so he had to get close enough to directly sense the parasite.
He walked past a few prisoners; his view of his target became better as a few large men stepped aside. The moment Daniel was finally close enough to Wally, he felt something familiar. It was weak, but there. It was what he was looking for, and now he just had to -
Their eyes met.
The demonic parasite stared at him, through the human mask of Wally Lee.
The monster's eyes widened - realization painting his expression.
Then, everything happened so quickly that Daniel had no chance to react.
The parasite showed its true colors, surrounded by countless witnesses. Daniel didn't expect the parasite to react like this. The bastard had always stayed hidden, but so close to his hunter, he reacted in panic. Maybe he felt surprised, maybe cornered, but in the end, the 'why' didn't matter.
Wally's body split open, ulcers and small tentacles erupting from his face, destroying any humanity that was left of it. His jaw seemed to dislocate and open widely, bristling with sharp teeth. It was grotesque, but far more dangerous were the ulcers that grew from his back. They were growing in length and thickness in a matter of seconds. Some were riddled with thorns, others tapered and formed sharp ends like spears. Some almost looked like tendrils or tentacles. While Daniel was still staring in shock, they continued to multiply.
Those closest to the parasite were grabbed by the thin tentacles, followed by a crackling sound as their bones broke. The monster threw the living missiles at Daniel and others, which he quickly dodged, keeping his distance.
Another inmate almost hit him, but, at the last moment, he was pulled aside. Jake cursed and watched in horror as the parasite continued to grow, his hands still protectively on Daniel's arm.
"Jason! Brad!" Jake shouted, "Protect the others and be careful!"
Chaos.
Total chaos.
Within seconds the room turned into a battlefield. The tendrils hit other prisoners. Some of the supernatural inmates used their powers to defend themselves, but it was useless in the face of the demonic parasite. Even the guards were already lying on the ground, wounded or even unconscious.
Jake stood up and held out his hand to Daniel to help him up. The troll looked around, assessing the situation as he continued to speak, "We must -"
This time Daniel pushed Jake aside, causing him to fall to the ground a few feet away. The blade-shaped tip of one tentacle had missed him at the last moment - Daniel’s fast reaction had saved Jake from being split in two.
Blood dripped to the ground.
Jake's eyes widened, all color drained from his face.
"Daniel, you…"
Daniel stood there frozen and looked down at himself. His fingers were shaking.
A part of him couldn't understand what had happened.
On the ground, a few feet away, was Daniel's arm. Cleanly separated at the biceps.
Blood spurted from the stump that had been his right arm just seconds before.
His heart trembled.
His mind stopped working.
A bloodcurdling scream echoed from the prison walls.
Then, summoned by the pain and as a natural defense reaction, countless butterflies appeared. They dissolved from Daniel's body. Within seconds they became hundreds. Their wings made the air vibrate and their magic caused an instinctual fear in those present. Crimson sparks fell to the ground and danced through the air. The flapping of their wings was like thunder, as if a storm had been unleashed in the hall.
Screams rang out - some in surprise, others in horror because the children of the underworld knew the meaning of the crimson butterflies. The supernatural beings had grown up with stories about the pre-generation and the Demon King. The red butterfly was his coat of arms and a symbol of fear.
And now, in their midst, these creatures of terror rose like a wall, ready to swallow them all.
Jake reacted instinctively.
He ordered Jason and Brad to buy him time and rushed towards Daniel.
Daniel had lost it.
His wide eyes were empty, stripped of all clarity and humanity. His mouth was twisted into a maniacal grin as he bared his teeth. His fangs were sharp and longer than usual, horrifying to look at, displaying the hunger and the monster within him all the more clearly.
The butterflies became more restless, their movements frantic. Even the parasite paused, sensing the threat of a larger predator.
Jake's arm wrapped around Daniel's waist to hold him back. He pressed his other arm against Daniel’s mouth.
"Drink!" He snapped at Daniel, his heart pounding in his throat.
It took a few tormenting seconds, but then Daniel followed his instincts. His teeth sank into Jake's forearm before he began to drink quickly and greedily.
This way of feeding took longer than with the butterflies, but it was safe.
Thick tears streamed down Daniel's cheeks, rolling down his chin as he drank. As the tears touched Jake's bare skin, he sighed in relief and looked down at the younger. Apparently, Daniel slowly began to come to his senses and calm down.
Normally, this method would help little or not at all with such a major injury, but Jake was his bond partner. The magic in his blood and their connection helped in the process, like a booster. Jake knew how Charles Choi had saved Mister Park from madness and how Tom's sacrifice had healed Daniel as a baby and saved his life.
That was all Jake could do at the moment to stop the Demon Prince.
Jake's legs began to shake, hand convulsing as more and more blood and magic were drained from him.
Finally, Daniel's teeth removed themselves from his flesh. Daniel sniffled, cheeks slightly red from the fresh blood, red drops shimmering on his lips before he wiped them away with his tongue.
At the same moment, Daniel's severed arm disintegrated into red sparks, transforming into new butterflies.
Jake stumbled back, nearly falling to his knees. He felt so weak, so incredibly exhausted, that even breathing was difficult for him.
"Thank you," Daniel murmured as the blood dripping from the stump of his arm shifted into butterflies that gathered in a moving, restless mass. The little swarm finally scattered, revealing Daniel’s regenerated arm, unscathed. There wasn't even blood left on his skin; only the torn sleeve indicated that something had been wrong.
But that didn't solve the main problem.
Maybe their chances of winning were even worse - in this condition, Jake couldn't fight anymore.
As if Daniel had read his mind, he turned to Jake and grabbed him, taking his face in both hands. His eyes were asking a silent question. Jake's lips twitched, "Do it. Together we can take that monster down."
They had no more time to waste. Daniel leaned forward and pressed his bloody lips against Jake's. Instantly, magic flowed from Daniel's body into Jake's, shifting the connection between them in the opposite direction.
Jake's pupils dilated as his left eye glowed purple, power flowing through him. His body became light, filled with new energy. His muscles strengthened. He had never felt so strong and intoxicated before. Fuck, he felt invincible.
“Yes, together we can defeat him,” Daniel was still breathing heavily. His body had recovered a bit, but the magic transfer had put more strain on him than usual.
With renewed vigor and a grim smile, Jake slammed his fist against his palm, ready to fight.
The parasite made a sound - there was nothing human left in it. It was a high-pitched scream, blood-curdling and painful. Prisoners everywhere fell to their knees, covering their ears or even fainting; humans were more affected by the effect than supernatural beings.
As Daniel and Jake ran toward the demonic parasite, Brad and Jason defended the other inmates as best they could. There were injured people everywhere, but so far the monster didn't seem to have killed or eaten anyone.
“We must destroy its core. The source of his strength,” Daniel shouted and ducked as one of the thorny vines shot over his head. He glided across the ground, analyzing the wild movements of the vines. There was no real rhythm. It was like the uncontrolled twitching of a body, completely unpredictable, “The parasite has settled in the host’s chest, where the heart is located!”
“And how?” Jake called back, catching one of the whip-like tendrils. The troll seemed to grow, his muscles becoming larger and his skin turning a grayish color - almost looking like stone. Then, with a cry, Jake tore the vine off with his bare hands.
The parasite shrieked in pain, but it didn't shed a drop of blood. Instead, the vine turned to dust in Jake's hands. Confused, he took a step back and shook himself to get rid of the dust.
Jake was right.
It was incredibly difficult to get anywhere near the host who was the center of the monstrosity. But they only needed a small moment. A well-aimed blow.
“Buy me some time!” Daniel's nails grew sharper and blackened. His plan was simple: break open the host body and crush the parasite with bare hands. The original body of a demonic parasite was surprisingly fragile - if you got close enough.
A tendril hit him in the chest, knocking him back. His chest throbbed with pain, but Daniel gritted his sharp teeth and dodged another blow. Even if a rib or two were broken in the worst-case scenario - there would come a time when he could rest and heal. Now, it was a matter of surviving and protecting the others.
But that wasn't easy.
This time, the parasite hit his shoulder, blue overall ripping open. Fresh blood seeped into the fabric and splashed on the ground.
He jumped over another tendril, noticing that Jake had also fought his way forward.
But Daniel was faster.
He darted past whipping tendrils, his focus solely on Wally.
Finally, Daniel was close enough to reach out to him. His fingertips touched the blue uniform but couldn't penetrate any further.
Several tendrils had wrapped themselves around his limbs and held him in an iron grip.
A hideous grin appeared on Wally's disfigured face. The tendrils and tentacles moved like a wasp nest.
Daniel could only watch helplessly as other tendrils shot towards him, determined to crush him or tear him to pieces. Daniel squeezed his eyes shut, expecting unimaginable pain, but nothing happened. Slowly, he opened his eyes as warm breath brushed his neck. Daniel turned his head, unprepared for the sight:
Jake Kim stood behind him, his tall body leaning over him. Jake's face was distorted with exertion, his jaw clenched tightly. The tendons on his neck stood out and his eye glowed, illuminated by violet flames. His skin looked as if it had been petrified in various places. He held various tendrils in his large hands as more lashed out at him, trying to force their way past him, but Jake's body had become an impenetrable shield.
“Come on! Hurry!” Jake shouted, body shaking - he couldn't take it for much longer.
It was enough to wake Daniel from his state of shock. He sank his fangs into one of the tendrils that clung to his right arm and ripped it off. The demonic limb crumbled into black dust. It tasted bitter in his mouth, but it had worked - his hand was free.
The next second, his hand dug into Wally's chest, where he felt the parasite's magic signature. His fingers pierced flesh and broke bones until he grazed something, giving him an electric shock; the parasite tried to escape and retreat further into the body.
Daniel growled, determined, pushing his hand deeper into Wally's chest.
Finally, his fingers closed around the little parasite.
It crunched as Daniel crushed it with his bare hand.
The effect was immense - immediately the host body, tendrils and tentacles crumbled into dust. As the remains fell to the ground, Daniel stumbled forward, but before he could fall to the ground, he felt a hand on his waist, holding him upright.
“Fuck,” Jake gasped, “That was close.”
Daniel could only nod, legs feeling weak.
There was still chaos around them.
Creatures and humans alike lay motionless on the ground; apart from Jake, Daniel, Brad and Jason, no one was standing. Big Deal's No. 3 and 4 stared at them in disbelief, where Jake winked at them with a grin.
“What do we do now?” Rubbing the back of his neck, Jake looked around, “There are so many witnesses.”
"Don’t worry."
Daniel sighed and tilted his head back, summoning his butterflies again. Jake watched the whole thing with concern - as if he expected him to use the butterflies to get rid of the witnesses. Instead, the kaleidoscope moved through the air as red dust fell onto the lifeless bodies. Anyone who was still conscious fell asleep peacefully.
Frowning, Jake took a step toward the demon prince, "What are you doing?"
“It's another spell that Crystal taught me,” His breath became shallow, each word becoming strained, “I'm not as skilled at it as she is, but combined with my natural charm skill, it should be enough to hypnotize them all and to erase their memories. The guards will do the rest.”
"Nice," Jake sounded impressed.
A quiet snort escaped Daniel. Then, he tilted his head to the side and looked at the crew head.
“Jake...I trust you.”
Before Jake could ask what the younger man meant, Daniel's eyes rolled back and he lost consciousness - casting the last spell was too much for him. It finished him off. Before his body could hit the ground, a pair of strong arms wrapped around his waist and caught him.
*.~εӜ̵з~.*
Warmth. Rough hands. A pleasant tingling sensation on his skin. Those were the first things Daniel noticed when he came to his senses.
"Easy. Take it slow," He registered Jake's voice, closer than expected.
His eyelids still felt heavy, but after a few futile attempts, Daniel was able to open them.
White-tiled walls and a white ceiling greeted him. Warm water flowed over his body, which was covered in bruises, but had already begun to heal, as the cuts and scratches were no longer visible.
Then he saw Jake, his expression marked with concern. His short hair was damp and his open blue shirt was soaked in several places. It took a moment for Daniel to realize that he was resting on Jake's lap. In his hand, Jake held a yellow sponge, which he moved in a circular motion over Daniel's chest. Water and foam bubbled over his body and dripped onto the cold tiles below him. Thanks to the slight cold that Daniel felt even on his legs, it wasn't hard to guess that he was naked.
Groaning, he closed his eyes and enjoyed the gentle, circular movements of the sponge.
"You were covered in blood. I took the liberty of freeing you from it."
“Mhm,” Daniel just hummed. That felt good.
Silence followed, not unpleasant, while just their calm, relaxed breathing filled the room.
"...Daniel, you said you met Samuel."
“He’s now part of Workers,” Daniel yawned, telling Jake about the events as briefly as possible. As time went on, Jake's expression became more and more dark. When he was finished, Jake put the sponge aside, scooped water out of a plastic bowl with both hands and then opened them over Daniel’s chest, washing away the foam.
Then, for the first time in years, Jake returned Daniel's trust. He told him what had happened in the years since he’d disappeared. How he had met Samuel, how Gun and Goo had shown up and offered them a deal - to disband Big Deal or submit to the Fox King and continue to exist if they stopped their illegal business. Jake only learned years later that Old Face had committed crimes with other Big Deal members behind Sinu Han's back. Jake told him about Sinu's sacrifice, about Workers who had taken advantage of their situation and how Jake had become a crew head. It was a long story, but the troll kept it short. Jake wasn't a man for long speeches - but he could achieve a lot with just a few well-targeted words. Even if this was more out of instinct than through sophisticated rhetoric.
"It sounds like we can help each other," Daniel opened his eyes and then grabbed the arm that had Jake's bond mark on it, "Do you want to be my ally?"
“If you help me to save Sinu Han,” Jake sighed, "I'll be released soon. After what you said about Sammy's collage and the numbers on it... I think Sammy is counting down the days until I'm released."
"That’s possible," Daniel's fingers slid over Jake's wrist. The bond mark began to glow purple through the black tattoo; it was impossible to hide it, "I believe that Workers will contact you as soon as you are out. They want to take action against ahjussi, so they need strong allies."
Big Deal’s crew head began to grin, "Then I'll play your spy. I'm good at undercover missions."
Daniel smiled.
“Thank you Jake hyung.”
It was the first time he had called the older hyung since they were children - it turned Jake’s grin into a soft smile.
Daniel could feel the half-dead bond between them growing stronger once more.
*.~εӜ̵з~.*
Maybe it was just his imagination, but the air outside the prison seemed cleaner and more pleasant. Daniel took a deep breath and smiled. Regardless of whether it was his imagination or not, it felt good.
A black sedan was waiting for him.
As Daniel approached, the driver's door opened and an older man got out, dressed in a black suit with white gloves. The scar on his head was almost completely hidden by a black driver's cap, hair already grayed. Even his eyebrows were streaked with white and gray hairs, but his eyes were still filled with vitality, warm and friendly. His smile was also young, despite the small wrinkles that appeared around the corners of his mouth.
“Young Master,” Bakgu Noh bowed in greeting to the Park prince. In his hands, he held a small plate with a piece of white tofu.
Amused, Daniel's gaze flickered from the pre-generation gangster to the tofu.
“Nice to see you, Mister Noh, but that wasn’t necessary,” Daniel had already suspected that his father didn't have time to pick him up and that he would send one of his men. Bakgu Noh had been taken in by the Demon King after the death of Gapryong Kim. The old man might theoretically be the same age as Charles Choi and Daniel's father, but he hadn't aged quite as well - but that wasn't surprising. Charles' aging process was slowed down thanks to his bond with the Demon King.
“It’s tradition to eat tofu on your release,” The man handed him the plate.
“I don’t need to turn over a new leaf,” Daniel smiled but accepted the plate. Of course, as a child of the underworld who was raised around gangsters, he knew about the meaning behind this tradition. Eating tofu after prison symbolized the wish not to repeat the bad deed and to never sin again. Normally, it meant to start a new life and never come back to prison, “It was just an undercover mission.”
When Bakgu Noh looked at him disappointedly, Daniel sighed and started eating the piece of tofu. His stomach grumbled, but thanks to the neutral taste, he didn't feel sick.
“Nevertheless, it was the Young Master’s first time in prison. A release should be appropriately appreciated. It’s an experience that almost all of us had,” Bakgu Noh smiled, “Although, I hope that the Young Master can lead a free and happy life, without going through what our generation went through.”
After he swallowed the last bite, the family's driver handed him a handkerchief to clean his mouth and hands. It felt a bit like a little initiation rite. The thought made him smile as Mister Noh opened the car door for him. After Daniel got in, the man went back to the front and took a seat behind the wheel.
"Were there any problems? Or did everything go smoothly? The boss was very concerned when it took longer than expected.”
At the question, Daniel leaned against the seatback and stared out the window. For a moment, he debated whether he should tell Bakgu Noh about Jake. Before the man had worked for them, his young master had been Jake, not Daniel. Daniel knew Bakgu Noh cared about Jake - but he had promised Jake he would keep his mouth shut. The only person who was allowed to know about it was Daniel's father. But only because he had to tell him about his mission, Jake understood that.
“The parasite was in solitary for a month. It took me a while to find him and confront him,” The landscape passed by the window.
“How’s your back, mister?”
“Ah, the age. It’s not getting better, just worse,” Bakgu Noh smiled, good mood contagious, bringing a smile to Daniel's lips. If he had the chance, he would buy red ginseng for Mister Noh as a small thank you for the man who drove the whole way from the city to the prison to get him. Even though he was happy about the sweet little welcome, there was someone else he'd needed to see.
“Is Dad even in Seoul?” Normally, his father would certainly have come along if some business hadn't stopped him.
“He’s in Busan. He will be back tomorrow and invites you to breakfast,” They turned onto a busier street, “...He asked if I should take you home or somewhere else, Young Master.”
Daniel blinked, then he grinned broadly.
“Please take me to Jay’s house. By any chance, did you bring my smartphone?”
“Outer pocket, on the right side. It’s fully charged.”
Daniel quickly rummaged through the sports bag next to him. After turning on his smartphone and texting his dragon, he looked at the rest of the bag’s contents. It contained street clothes, pajamas and toiletries; everything he needed for an overnight stay. He even found a small box with food. The dosirak looked delicious and reminded him of his kindergarten days when his father had made him breakfast every morning.
On his drive into the city, he feasted on the food, which consisted of lots of small, nutritious delicacies. It was a thousand times better than the prison food he had tried. After drinking Jake's blood, his appetite had returned. Nevertheless, he tried to eat slowly and enjoy it - also because his stomach had to get used to solid food again after fasting.
During the drive, Mister Noh told him a few stories from his youth and about some small events that had happened while Daniel was in prison. Luckily, nothing serious had happened.
Time passed faster than expected, and, before Daniel knew it, they reached Seoul. Mister Noh parked the sedan in front of Jay's house. Daniel said goodbye to the man, grabbed the gym bag and rang the bell. Jay’s butler let him in, but instead of going to the apartment, he made his way to the swimming pool, leaving his bag by the front door before entering. The water in the pool shimmered blue, sunlight coming in through the big windows and letting the surface of the water sparkle.
Jay dozed in the water - but not in his human state.
In his full dragon form, he took up almost the entire pool. His long, flexible body floated in the water. His dorsal scales were golden, belly covered in white scales, shimmering like jewels in the warm sunlight. The yong slowly opened his eyes as he became aware of Daniel's presence.
The sight made Daniel's heart beat faster. He could feel the magic in the room as he got closer to the edge of the pool, footsteps resounding throughout the big room.
The dragon moved, waves hitting the edge of the pool.
A golden light spread over Jay’s body. The water reflected the light, and, for a moment, it seemed as if the pool was filled with liquid gold.
Jay's body was nothing more than a golden ribbon that seemed to dissolve into sparks in the next few seconds. At the same time, the remaining light began to gather further ahead, near the edge of the pool.
Daniel's hand touched the golden light as the stream of energy passed him. His fingertips tingled and an electric shock shot through his entire body. The little hairs on the back of his neck stood up as a longing sigh escaped him.
As his steps slowed and he stopped to face the pool, spots of gold danced in his dark eyes. He held out his hand, smiling. The remnants of the magic levitated in small sparks around his fingertips.
Outlines emerged from the golden light. Broad shoulders, a small waistline, a powerful body. In some places, golden scales covered the pale skin, placed like an artist's brushstrokes. His horns gleamed like polished marble, the tips plated with gold. Long, pointed ears stuck out of his blonde hair. In his hybrid form, the hair at the back of Jay's neck was a little longer than usual. His bangs were a little disheveled, revealing a golden eye. Jay gazed back at him. His look never left Daniel while he moved towards him.
Daniel put his hand on Jay's cheek, watching as his dragon nestled against his palm. Closing his eyes, Jay smiled as if he had missed the touch.
A soft purr escaped the dragon.
Placing his other hand on Jay's cheek, Daniel leaned closer.
"I'm back."
Jay's warm lips welcomed him home.
*.~εӜ̵з~.**.~εӜ̵з~.**.~εӜ̵з~.**.~εӜ̵з~.*
