Chapter Text
Taehyung took a deep breath. "Take my hands." Adrenaline pumped through Taehyung, making him itch for a fight, but he was steadier knowing his brothers were beside him.
"We got this." Namjoon assured him. "Let's go."
Closing his eyes, Taehyung sank into his dream that wasn't a dream. Acrid smoke and mildew filled his nose and he knew before opening his eyes what he would see. "We're here."
Seokjin looked around. "Where's the Wraith King?"
They were just outside of an arched doorway. Water dripped from somewhere, echoing through stone. "Through there." He shivered without meaning to.
Namjoon put a hand on Taehyung's shoulder. "We're here for you, Tae."
Taehyung gave him a grateful smile. "I'm glad I'm not alone."
"You never have to face anything alone again, Taehyung." Namjoon assured him.
Seokjin smiled. "All for one, one for all."
With his brothers bracketing him on either side, Taehyung passed through the archway and entered the dark chamber. Seokjin startled and shrank back as he spotted the hooded figure of the Wraith King. Taehyung caught him, putting a steadying hand on his back. "Well done, my minions, well done." The Wraith King said to the two wraiths before him.
The two wraiths gave oily snakelike grins. "You wanted the best and you got them."
"And here I thought I would be spitting on your ashes for another failure." The Wraith King mused. "A welcome surprise." The two wraiths exchanged a hesitant glance as the Wraith King spread his arms. "Thanks to you, Callow, and you, Gnarl, the way is clear to the final Gate. Soon I shall walk free and all wraiths shall rain terror upon the mortal world!"
"That's right we will!"
"Why don't you show off those new powers we won for you, sire? The witch I killed had a pretty ferocious one. She put up quite the fight."
The Wraith King grinned. "A grand idea." With a snap of his fingers, he reduced Gnarl to a pile of ash. Callow leaped back with a yelp, looking at the pile that was her companion with horror.
"She seems genuinely sorry for her friend." Taehyung said.
"More like she wants to save her own skin." Seokjin scoffed. "Do wraiths even care about others?"
Namjoon bit his lip. "Maybe some do. But that was needlessly cruel even for the Wraith King. What's the point of killing loyal servants?"
"Power." Taehyung said. "He rules by fear."
Callow shuddered and dropped to her knees before the Wraith King. "I can still be useful, Your Highness! I will help the Lady of Lies secure the lodestone."
"Lodestone?" Taehyung furrowed his eyebrows. "That's a term we've never heard before."
"It's gotta be the key to something important." Namjoon said.
The Wraith King scowled at Callow. "What are you waiting for?" Callow scrambled to her feet and ran from the chamber, passing sightlessly between Namjoon and Seokjin as though they were ghosts.
"The dream is about to end." Taehyung said.
Namjoon touched Taehyung's shoulder and the Wraith King froze before them. "I've stopped time but I can't keep it here long. Time doesn't really seem to work normally in dreams. Let's have a look around and see if there's any more clues we can make out."
"Good idea." Seokjin agreed.
Taehyung rushed to a corner behind the Wraith King, finding pages and pages of notes on the floor. His eyes widened as he skimmed through them. "Guys, these are mostly about us!"
Namjoon gave Taehyung a look of intensive concentration, unable to join him as he held time in place. "What do they say?"
"Everything." Taehyung said. "He knows everything. Where we live. Where we grew up. He knew about me before you two did." Though the thought chilled him, Taehyung forced himself to look through the papers, scanning them with a practiced eye. "This is a list of all the covens who have been wiped out this year alone. There's gotta be hundreds of names."
Seokjin frowned and shook his head. "Stop. I can't take it. It's too sad."
"Anything about covens he's targeting next?" Namjoon asked. "Anyone we can warn?"
"No." Taehyung shook his head. "There's nothing here we don't already know." He scrambled over to a high shelf that was full of neatly lined ledgers, Seokjin joining him. He grabbed one of the ledgers and opened it.
"What in the world?" Seokjin asked in confusion. "What is all this?"
Taehyung frowned. "It's just filled hundreds of names."
"Jimin told me that the Wraith King steals names and human memories from wraiths when he turns them." Namjoon said. "He must keep the records there."
Taehyung exchanged a look with Seokjin. "Why keep them at all? Unless…"
"Sounds like binding magic." Seokjin said. "You have to have a part of someone to chain them to your will. He must use their history as leverage."
Namjoon frowned. "Do you think Jimin's mortal self is kept here?"
"Maybe." Taehyung shrugged. "But if Jimin isn't even his name either, how will we know which one is his?"
"I guess we don't." Namjoon sighed. "But maybe defeating the Wraith King will set him free."
Darkly curious, Taehyung next found himself drawn to the lone window in the chamber. "What's out there?" Namjoon asked. "What do you see?"
A desolate landscape stretched in every direction, filled with nothing but flame. "Basically, we're in hell." Taehyung said.
Seokjin joined him at the window, shock and revulsion on his face before he valiantly tried to rally. "Funny, it doesn't look at all like a high school gym class."
"Have you finished?" Namjoon asked, visibly straining. "I can feel time catching up to us. I can't hold it any longer."
Taehyung sighed. "Then I guess we're done. There's nothing more about this lodestone."
He watched with creeping horror as the Wraith King reanimated. A low chuckle emanated from the Wraith King as two sharp fingernails pierced the paper filled with their names. "I feel you watching, Taehyung Kim. Did you enjoy the show?"
Though Taehyung couldn't see his eyes, he felt the Wraith King's awful awareness turn to him, the malicious glee broiling within him. It was his last chance to fight back and Taehyung thought back to the offensive spells Yoongi had been working on with him. He focused all the energy he could muster into a spear of psychic power. His power spiked and soared through the chamber, lancing the Wraith King through his chest. He staggered but didn't fall. Taehyung clenched his fists as his magic faded. "I'm not afraid of you."
The Wraith King let out a low ominous chuckle that made Taehyung's legs shake. Namjoon and Seokjin grasped Taehyung's shoulders tightly as the Wraith King spoke. "Lies. Your coven's blood sings to me. I can sense the stink of terror on you. Only one seal to go. Then I will take my vengeance slowly. Bathe the earth in your blood as I crush it beneath my heel. "And oh, you will scream." As Taehyung opened his mouth to do exactly that, the world went dark.
"Taehyung? Taehyung!" Taehyung snapped awake in Namjoon's room, his brothers looking stricken beside him. Namjoon crushed Taehyung to him in relief. "You scared us!"
"Sorry, that was just…" Taehyung took a shaky breath. "It was a lot."
"Tell me about it." Namjoon frowned. "No wonder you look spooked."
"I'm sure I've said this before but it warrants repeating." Seokjin said. "Taehyung's power is terrifying."
"It was worth it." Taehyung said. "Every new bit of intel we can glean from the Wraith King has to help somehow." He glanced from Namjoon's face to Seokjin's, his resolve steeling more than ever before. "It's not gonna be easy but together, I think we can beat him."
***
When Namjoon entered the kitchen, he was surprised to find Taehyung already up, chugging coffee with a grimace and typing away at his laptop. "You're up early." Namjoon mused. "Especially after last night, I thought you'd sleep in."
Taehyung shook his head. "No way. Too much to do. We have the solstice ritual coming up, remember?"
"Oh yeah, that strengthening ritual." Namjoon said. "Yoongi mentioned something about it. I've been so busy checking on Hoseok I almost-"
"Yeah, well, it's gotta go perfectly." Taehyung frantically jumped from his chair, shoving a list into Namjoon's hands. "Here's all the stuff we'll need. Time to go shopping."
Namjoon blinked at Taehyung. "Can I eat first?"
Seokjin wandered in with a yawn and Taehyung snapped his fingers impatiently. "No time! Let's go! Chop chop!"
"I think that's enough coffee for you." Namjoon deftly plucked the mug from Taehyung's hands.
"It's 7:00 in the morning." Seokjin groaned. "How many have you had?"
"None of your business." Taehyung said quickly. "Four. Why?"
"Because you're moving like Namjoon's set you and only you on fast forward." Seokjin said.
"You don't even like coffee." Namjoon reminded Taehyung, helping himself to the rest of what was in the mug.
Taehyung shrugged. "Sometimes it's necessary."
Once they'd eaten and gotten dressed--and Taehyung had come down from his caffeine high--the three of them headed towards Jungkook's shop. They found Yoongi, Jungkook, and Hoseok waiting for them inside, along with Jimin whose eyes widened when they walked in. "Namjoon!" He crossed the room where he gave Namjoon a once over, then Seokjin and Taehyung. "You're not hurt? I got this horrible sense that the Wraith King…" Jimin seemed to realize that all eyes in the apothecary were on him because he cleared his throat awkwardly. "What? I'm not allowed to worry about my favorite little witchlings?"
"You're allowed to worry." Namjoon smiled. "It's actually kind of cute. It reminds me that I'm your biggest weakness."
"I resent that." Jimin said. "You could never be my weakness, Namjoon. You should know that by now." He winked, his silver eyes twinkling.
Taehyung cleared his throat. "Before I barf, I think I can explain that foreboding feeling you got." HE quickly filled the others in on the dream he had.
Everyone was tense and fidgety by the time Taehyung finished. "So what does this mean?" Jungkook asked. "Do we need to gear up for the apocalypse imminently?"
Yoongi shook his head. "Not imminently. But we can expect the fight of our lives before too long."
"And we should consider replacing some of the protections our mom set up around town that Feras' people disassembled." Namjoon added on.
"I can help with that." Jungkook said. "I can't do the spellcraft but I can place sigils."
"Me too." Hoseok gave Taehyung a pained look. Taehyung avoided his gaze for a long beat but Hoseok refused to look away. "Taehyung, are you okay? That kind of connection with the Wraith King would be hard on anyone."
Taehyung hugged himself. "He saw me. I felt his-his mind. His cruelty." Hesitantly, as if afraid to spook him, Hoseok approached and wrapped Taehyung in a hug. Taehyung stiffened at first but relented, resting his head against Hoseok's shoulder and fighting back a sob. "This is stupid. We have to figure out how to stop him. We have to find out what this lodestone is."
"And we will." Hoseok assured him. "But you have to be okay in order to do that."
"Hoseok makes a good point." Namjoon said softly. "We don't know when the Wraith King will break loose. What we do know is that we'll need all our strength to bring the fight to him. And for that, we need to take care of each other. And let our friends take care of us." He turned to Jimin. "What can you tell us about the Mistress of Deceit? Do you know where she is?"
Jimin shook his head. "I can feel her power but she can take any physical form she desires so I wouldn't recognize her if I saw her."
Taehyung's eyes suddenly widened. "She couldn’t, like, actually be my ex, could she?"
"Definitively no." Jimin said. "That dude had some serious juice but nothing like the Lady of Lies. Plus, she strongly prefers to take on omegan forms."
Seokjin frowned. "What can we actually do with the information at this point?"
"Sanctum is preparing for war." Yoongi informed them. "Guardians are being deployed to combat the wraith threat to covens but many remain to defend Sanctum in case it’s breached."
"Is that even possible?" Namjoon asked.
"It's happened before." Yoongi said. "But only once. It'll be key to find out what this lodestone is."
Namjoon swallowed thickly. "Whatever happens, please be safe, Yoongi. If Sanctum is at risk of being attacked, I wish you'd steer clear of it."
Yoongi offered him a rueful smile. "You're sweet to worry about me, Namjoon, but I have a responsibility. Both to you and my people. They'll need my help if things go sideways."
"It's gonna be all hands on deck." Jungkook said. "I can help out by doing a little research." He smiled as he moved through his shop. "It's a gorgeous day. Maybe I'll grab a stack of books and research in the garden."
"I'll tag along." Seokjin followed him. "I can whip up a potion to narrow down our reading topics."
"I might be able to find something on the forums-"
Yoongi cut Hoseok offed. "Actually, Hoseok, I was hoping you could help us prepare for the Summer Solstice."
"So we are gonna do a ritual?" Namjoon asked.
"We'd be fools if we didn't take the opportunity." Yoongi said. "Summer is a season of passions--joy, anger, love." He pointedly averted his gaze from Namjoon with that last word. "Plus, the Summer Solstice brings a surge of elemental magic that will help strengthen your talents."
Jungkook smiled. "When I hear Summer Solstice, I think bonfire party."
Jimin's eyes widened. "Wait, is Yoongi suggesting a party? Has hell finally frozen over?"
Yoongi shot Jimin a withering glare. "There is a celebration aspect of the Solstice, yes."
"We're really throwing a party?" Namjoon smiled. "We've definitely earned it!"
"For real." Seokjin agreed. "We haven't had a chance to relax since-" He flinched and he and Namjoon glanced at Taehyung who was curling in on himself.
"You mean since my disaster of a birthday party?" Taehyung mumbled, extricating himself from Hoseok's arms. "What if the Wraith King can still see what we're doing through me?" He asked as he started to pace around the shop.
"I may have an idea that could help with that." Namjoon said. "A protection ritual could help shield you from divination magic. You'd be safe from prying eyes."
"Hell yeah!" Seokjin grinned. "Anything to go into the Solstice with clear heads."
"Seokjin's got a point." Jungkook said. "Solstice magic is highly attuned to your emotions so if you go into it this tightly wound…"
Taehyung sighed. "I could fuck up the magic. Great."
"I was going to say there will be ripples." Jungkook said. "And that goes for all of you. Do your ritual. Protect your brother. And then try to relax."
Namjoon nodded. "The Wraith King will come whether or not we panic about it. Best to do what we can to prepare and take advantage of the good things in our reach while we still can."
Taehyung looked at him in confusion. "What do you mean 'good things'?"
"I’m talking about you, Taehyung." Namjoon said. "You and Hoseok."
"Excuse me?" Taehyung's cheeks started to flush.
Namjoon shot him a look. "Taehyung, you like Hoseok. Hoseok likes you. Denying it only makes it worse for everyone."
Taehyung sputtered indignantly. "But-"
Hoseok stepped in patiently. "Taehyung, I know you're trying to protect me. As much as I appreciate and admire the strength that takes, I'm Namjoon's best friend. I'm already involved in this whether you like it or not." Taehyung looked at him with wide eyes. "If you really never want to talk to me again, I can respect that even if I don't like it. But I reserve the right to tell you that I think it's a little premature. I'm an adult. I can make my own choices."
"You were stabbed." Taehyung reminded him.
"Just a little." Hoseok said with a tiny smile.
Taehyung stared at Hoseok for a moment before bursting out laughing. "Just a little? You're really something else, you know that?"
"I think that's what you like about me." Hoseok said and Taehyung bit his lip to fight back his smile.
Namjoon placed a gentle hand on Taehyung's shoulder. "Taehyung, you should follow your heart."
"What is this, a Disney princess movie?" Taehyung asked.
"It can be." Namjoon smiled. "If you suck it up and kiss your prince." Hoseok's eyes widened and his cheeks flushed.
Taehyung sighed. "Not all of us can live in fairytale land where the people we care about are mega powerful immortals, Namjoon."
Hoseok cleared his throat. "I'll give you space if you need it but I'd rather be by your side." Taehyung opened his mouth to respond but Hoseok shook his head. "Don't answer now. You've got a ritual to do. But maybe we can talk after?"
Taehyung gave a tiny nod. "I'd like that. I'm glad you're here." The two of them shared a tentative but warm smile.
Jungkook reached for Seokjin's hand and gave it a squeeze. "We can't take anything for granted."
Yoongi took a step back. "I'll leave you to your ritual. Just call my name if you need me." He disappeared in a flash of light.
"That sounds like my cue to make myself scarce as well." Jimin grabbed a pen off of the counter and took Namjoon's hand, scrawling a symbol on it. "My calling card. Just inscribe this sigil and I'll be there." He stepped back into the shadows, disappearing into them.