Thread by @ladyelocin

“Roses & Rubies” 🥀
— a yoonmin au

Jimin is a notorious thief who likes pretty and shiny things. Hearsays about an old and abandoned castle harboring mountains of precious jewels and a golden crown filled with the highest grade of diamonds and rubies steer his path to a small town in the western port. He was told the castle was cursed—that anyone who had attempted to enter the place never returned to tell the tale. Jimin refuses to believe in such ridiculous superstitions until he meets an enigmatic, handsome man who has lived in the mystical castle for hundreds of years.

cover art by the amazing @mminymo 🫶

tags:
• thief jimin, vampire yoongi
• fantasy, romance, royalty, mythical creatures
• kinda has a dark theme but there's more fluff i swear
• mentions of violence, blood sucking/drinking
• angst, enemies to lovers, misunderstandings, happy ending
• smut 🔞 top!yg x bott!jm

• This fic is inspired by "Beauty and the Beast" but darker 🥀
• This is a commissioned AU. The commissioner gave me a prompt and asked me to finish writing the story.

🥀

"Have you heard the news?"

"What, another storm coming this way soon?"

"No." One of the babblers, a man with a faded scar on the left side of his face, lowers his head to whisper, "A band of thieves from the east attempted to break into the castle."

"And?" the other asks, his full attention caught by his companion's rumor. "Have they found it?"

"Of course not." Scarface shrugs, taking a swig of his ale. "Like the others, they never returned."

Jimin turns his gaze back to the ale in front of him, looking down at his blurry reflection on the bitter liquor. A light snort makes its way through his nose, and he downs a gulp of his drink before placing the tankard on the bar.

"You're a new face."

The raven-haired boy lifts his gaze to the old man wiping plates behind the counter. "Where are you from?" he asks, eyeing Jimin curiously.

"It depends." Jimin shrugs. "I came from anywhere."

"Are you a traveler?"

"You could say that."

"A wandering rogue, then."

The old man's words elicit a chuckle from him. "Is that how you see every new face around here?"

"No new face around here ever wants something good." The barkeeper scoffs. "I've been living in this small town for more than fifty years, +

+ and each newcomer like you was either a fugitive or a fraud." He cocks an eyebrow at the younger. "Which one are you?"

Jimin smiles in amusement, taking a sip of his ale and then licking the bitter aftertaste off his lips. "The latter one, perhaps."

"A thief."

Jimin nods.

Something in the old man's eyes glint, something akin to disapproval and caution. "I have lost count of the number of crooks who traveled from all parts of the kingdom just to meet the end of their fate here in the western port."

"I do not know you, but I wish no harm for you, boy. Turn around and forget your purpose here while you still can."

But instead of heeding the barkeeper's warning, Jimin pushes on, "What do you know about the old and abandoned castle?"

"Are you soft in the head?" the barkeeper grunts. "Take my advice and leave. Forget that castle ever existed."

"I shall not leave until I get what I want." Jimin throws a pouch on the counter, its contents thumping against the hard wood, sounding dull and full.

The barkeeper looks at it for a moment before letting out a sigh. "Do you think a bag of silver coins can persuade me to utter a word?"

"No." Jimin reaches out to loosen the strap of the bag, smirking in triumph when he sees the man's eyes blow wide in shock. "But gold can."

Then, the young thief fishes out something from the inner pocket of his dark coat. "And this might persuade you more," he says, sliding an artifact of a golden cross filled with diamonds across the counter.

"Is that..." The man gasps. "The missing relic from the basilica?"

To this, Jimin nods. "I am the thief the bishop has been looking for." He grins, tucking the relic back into safety. "Say a word if you want. But no one will ever catch me. Even if you know my face, I can easily outrun all the guards sent after me."

Stroking the rim of his tankard with a finger, Jimin looks at the old man under a canopy of thick, dark lashes as a mischievous smile curves the corners of his lips. "I'm not a simple thief or like any other thief you met before."

"I have no interest in small rewards. I focus my attention on the highest benefit that I can reap. I do not rob simply anyone or anything. I take the highest grade of jewels and artifacts worth far more than a couple of bags of gold."

He tilts his head. "A few moons ago, I heard of this 'cursed castle' lying in the heart of the western port. They said within the castle walls lies a treasure unbeknownst to man, a treasure so great it remains hidden from the rest of the world. Is it true?"

The barkeeper's eyes wander around the tavern, keeping a cautious gaze at each person eating and drinking at the establishment before he takes a jar of ale and pours himself a drink. "No one knows," he answers, offering Jimin another round of the bitter liquid.

"I heard stories as I grew up—disturbing and grotesque ones. There are many versions of the same tale, but in the end, no one knows about the castle's curse or what the truth is."

Jimin doesn't believe in magic, curses, or any of the sort that is unperceived by the human senses.

He doesn't believe in things that he cannot see. Believing in such superstitions is a waste of time for him. "What kind of tale?" asks he.

As the warm flames of the torches and candlelights chase away the shadows of the night, the barkeeper narrates,

"They said mountains of gold and precious jewels, as well as a golden crown filled with diamonds and rubies, are hidden within the castle. The abandoned fortress was believed to have belonged to a royal family hundreds of years ago, but no one could say for certain."

"So the castle has been harboring nothing but gold and jewels?" Jimin asks, a wave of disappointment seeping into his bones.

"No." The old man shakes his head. "It was rumored that one of the chambers in the castle holds a vial that is worth far more than any gold in the world."

Jimin narrows his eyes. "What vial?" What kind of hidden treasure is worth more than all the gold in the world?

"A vial for immortality," the barkeeper says in a serious and solemn voice as Jimin parts his lips in surprise.

"Nonsense."

"Perhaps." The old man nods in his direction. "But then again, no one knows for certain, for any person who attempted to enter the castle never returned to tell the tale. It was rumored that the vial was guarded by a hideous beast that would devour your flesh and bones."

"A beast. Right." Jimin lets out a mocking snort. "A piece of imagery crafted by elders and wet nurses to frighten stubborn children at night." Drinking the rest of the ale, Jimin wipes his lips with his sleeve and frowns.

"The only beasts I know of are the selfish nobles who prey on the poor and those in the seat of power who use their privilege to act in their interest at the cost of other people's lives."

Sliding off the stool, Jimin pushes the bag of silver coins towards the old man and says, "Thank you for the company and warning. But such nonsensical and whimsical tales of beasts and vials of immortality won't deter me from entering the castle."

Pulling up the hood over his head, Jimin nods at the old man one more time before making his way out of the tavern, walking in the cold and salty breeze wafting from the nearby port, shivering slightly under the dark, starless sky.

Jimin shall enter the castle on the morrow at the dead of the night.

🥀

A distant howl seeps into the dark night as Jimin alights his horse several yards from the castle. Roping his stallion around a sturdy tree, Jimin lifts his eyes to the old castle standing tall and proud atop the cliff.

He can hear the wild waters hitting the rocks at the bottom of the cliff, bringing salty air into the land as the moon shines from above, behind the tall towers that cast creeping shadows onto the ground below, creating an eerie glow around the abandoned fortress.

Jimin got a piece of disturbing information from a town resident, saying that candlelights had been sighted burning behind the glass windows on multiple occasions, bright and warm in the dead of night. But no one had ever confirmed the truth of it. No one.

And yet, a few residents believe that there are inhabitants in the castle, folktale or not, and have managed to shun away from the peering eyes of the townspeople for years.

"There must be an underground tunnel of sorts," one told him. "Otherwise, how could one enter and leave the castle without being seen by anyone?"

"I told you. No one lives in that abandoned castle. Not for hundreds of years," another countered.

"That's absurd. Who else would have lighted those candles? The thieves who didn't manage to get back?" A mocking snort.

"No. The candlelights you spoke of were nothing but a figment of your imagination or a mere trick of light from the sea or moon above."

Jimin lets out an amused huff through his nose before pulling the hood over his head, checking his bag and the tools strapped on his belt one last time. Inhabitants or not, Jimin will steal the infamous vial from that creepy place.

Jimin enters the castle's perimeter through the east side, shooting a climbing spike toward the parapet with a crossbow until the metal hooks over the brick walls. He has been climbing walls as high as this for years.

He knows how to maneuver himself in the air like the back of his hand and where to step and support his weight to avoid slipping and falling down to his death. It comes from years of experience, of broken bones and bruises, that he can do this task now without breaking a sweat.

Hopping over the wall, Jimin stays low as he stealthily walks across the battlements, blending in the darkness of the night to avoid any watchers from the guard towers, if there are any. With deft hands, Jimin picks the lock of one of the guard towers and slips into the door.

Guard towers are oftentimes connected to the courtyard, at least from what he experienced before. Hence, with practised ease, Jimin quietly descends the stairs and opens the door leading to an open inner yard.

Finally, his vision finds what he's searching for: the highest keep where treasures are frequently hidden, the most guarded and secured place in any fortress. Without wasting another second, Jimin hides behind the pillars as he traverses the place, swift and lightfooted.

He slips into dark hallways like a feline, making no noise with every step. Castles almost always have the same layout, especially something as old and ancient as this one. Hence, it doesn't take him long to find the connecting bridge to the highest keep.

Cautiously looking around, Jimin opens the oak door to let himself into the keep. The halls are dark and eerie, with sinister shadows lurking in every corner as the moonlight passing through the windows guides Jimin's footsteps across the place.

"No one lives here," he muses as he ascends a spiral staircase leading to the mezzanine overlooking a huge and spacious room below, probably the great hall. "If not, this place would not be as deathly still as it is."

On the contrary, the castle is cleaner than he thought, no dust accumulating on surfaces nor broken splinters of overturned furniture like what one would expect in an abandoned stronghold where traces of a battle or conflict took place.

It's almost as if someone has been watching over the place. A housekeeper, perhaps. But the tales he heard from the townsfolk prove the theory otherwise. However, how can an old, forsaken castle be as preserved as this if not for the efforts of a helping hand?

Jimin jolts upon a sudden, rattling sound coming behind him. Halting his footsteps in the middle of the hallway, he reaches for the hilt of his dagger and narrows his eyes at the long stretch of corridor, keenly watching for any movement or fluctuation of shadows.

None.

"It must be a rat or a little critter," he thinks before removing his hand from the dagger and continuing on his way. He turns at the end of the hallway, mildly reeling back in surprise at the portraits hanging on the wall.

The moon peeking through the glass windows casts its soft, blue glow upon them, giving Jimin a clear view of the noblemen and women painted delicately on the canvas, each wearing the finest gowns and tunics that their deep coffers could afford.

"Of course," Jimin whispers with a humorless chuckle. "This castle once belonged to a noble family. Maybe, a royal one."

And yet, why does no one in town know anything about such prominent information no matter how many hundred years have passed?

"It's none of my business," the raven-haired thinks. He's not here to learn about the castle's history anyway. Veering away from the portraits, Jimin continues to walk until he reaches the lone door at the end of the hallway.

A wave of excitement unfurls in his chest at the prospect of finding what he is searching for and finally seeing the vial of immortality the barkeeper told him about. But, to his surprise, he notices that the door appears to be ajar as if someone is deliberately inviting him in.

Jimin feels a fleeting moment of hesitation before he remembers that the last person who walked on the castle grounds must have left the door in that state, or possibly a product of natural causes as the castle crumbles throughout the years.

Hence, steeling himself, Jimin carefully pushes the door to avoid any creak that might sound an alarm if ever there is someone, possibly, another thief like him, lurking around and searching for the same vial that Jimin yearns to get a hold of.

A bedroom. This place is a spacious bedroom with the most mundane things in it. No mountains of gold, a golden crown, or a vial of immortality. None of those things. Averting his eyes from the bed, Jimin takes in the long, heavy red curtains obscuring the windows,

almost drenching the place in darkness if it weren't for the open glass doors leading to the balcony outside. But what catches Jimin's attention is the crystal rose floating on a red cushion placed atop the end table.

It serves as the centerpiece of the room, luring Jimin in with its clear petals reflecting off the blue glows of the night. "What's this?" he mutters, stepping closer to the alluring crystal bloom. "I have never seen such an artifact before."

Pulling off the hood of his cloak to take a better look at the artifact, Jimin gazes at the crystal with curious eyes, astonished by its luminescent glow. And then, as a human seduced by temptation, Jimin reaches out for the crystal rose.

"Ow," he reels his hand back in pain, looking down at the blood slowly oozing from the finger that made contact with the thorn. It felt like a needle piercing through his skin, as strange as it was, for it was merely a crystal and not an actual rose.

Then, to his shock, he sees the smear of blood he left on the thorn slowly seep back into the stem, flowing up like a languid stream toward the petals, coloring the once clear crystal with the lightest shade of pink. "What the...?" he whispers, frowning. What is happening?

"Who are you?"

Jimin flinches back from the crystal rose and spins around at the sound of that low and deep voice, uttered like a ghostly breath at the back of his neck.

He sees a figure standing amidst the dark shadows.

Adrenaline fires through Jimin's veins, and he seizes the dagger from his belt strap, placing the weapon before him in defense and setting his feet apart in a fighting stance. Why didn't he hear a sound coming from the opposite corner of the room?

"Who are you?" Jimin counters, scowling.

"An intruder does not have the right to ask questions." The figure takes a step out of the shadows, directing Jimin's attention to a pair of polished boots peeking under the moonlight.

"It was rumored that the vial was guarded by a hideous beast that would devour your flesh and bones."

The barkeeper's words echo in the young thief's mind like a warning, heightening his senses and putting him on guard as he glares at the shadowy figure in the dark.

"Are you the beast they spoke of?" asks Jimin. The cold night breeze coming through the open balcony door blows across the room, chilling Jimin's skin and sending light shivers down his spine as he stands there with a dagger in hand.

Then, the deep voice answers, "What if I am?"

Jimin could fight him; that much is certain. He had faced more intimidating opponents before and came out triumphant. However, he is not here to spill blood; his purpose is to steal the castle's most prized possession, and said jewel is right there on the table behind him.

Hence, with an arrogant uptilt of his lips, the young thief tells the stranger, "You can't scare me." Then, he spins around to grab the crystal rose from the table, resolved to forget the prick of imminent pain as his mind calculates the shortest and quickest route for escape.

But before his hand can touch the rose, Jimin feels himself freeze as a pair of arms renders his entire body motionless. A shocked gasp falls from his mouth when he feels a body pressed to his back, an arm wrapped tightly around his torso, and a hand gripping his wrist,

knocking the dagger from his hand. With his eyes blown wide in shock and confusion, Jimin shivers at the ghostly touch of lips on the right side of his neck, tickling his skin with the soft and warm breath blowing through the stranger's nose. "You shall not take the rose."

Everything happened quickly, faster than the blink of an eye that Jimin didn't see or feel any movement behind him before a pair of arms caged him, perplexed by the thought of the stranger moving in a blur and managing to reach Jimin in a split second from across the room.

"And you should be scared of me," the stranger tells him, his deep voice as dark as a starless night, holding a mystery that evades Jimin's perception.

"No," he manages to say through the initial shock. "Because you're a person." He lets out a ragged breath. "Not a beast."

Jimin hears a faint hitch of breath near his ear, the sound so quiet and light that he thinks he had imagined it, like an illusion playing with his mind. And when he feels the arm around him loosening, Jimin takes that opportunity +

+ to slip away from the stranger's hold, crouching down before lifting a leg to swipe across the man's torso to hit him on his side. When the other staggers back, Jimin hastily runs toward the open balcony and steps onto the marble railing.

Jimin removes his cloak, letting the fabric float with the night breeze before looking back at the stranger. A fleeting moment of surprise passes across Jimin's face when he finally sees a murky glimpse of the man's features in the dark.

He's wearing a fine, white tunic tucked neatly under his dark trousers, the deep cut of the pristine fabric showing a generous expanse of a pale, broad chest, the palest skin that Jimin has ever seen in his life, and a sharp pair of jaws that angles perfectly at the corners.

But before Jimin can catch a peek of the man's face, he lets himself fall down the balcony, feeling the rush of wind against him as he pulls the double strap on his back, spreading his arms wide like angel wings. The glider catches air and takes Jimin off in a boundless flight.

He maneuvers himself in the air with practised ease, deftly sliding to the east wall where he left his stallion. Landing on his feet like a feline, Jimin runs across the battlements and shrugs off the glider as he grabs another climbing spike from his belt.

Hastily knotting the end of the rope around one of the low brick walls, Jimin hops over the parapet and descends down the wall with his heart pounding hard in his chest. With adrenaline surging through every vessel in his body, Jimin sprints across the yard +

+ and hopes that the stranger who caught him a while ago got lost while chasing him. It's easy to lose sight of him in the night, especially in an unlit and unguarded castle like this one.

But then, when Jimin's booted sole steps on a fallen tree branch, with the sound echoing into the night louder than a gust of wind, he reels back in profound shock as he is thrown back to the ground by an invisible force.

"Ngh," he groans in slight pain as his rear hits the dirt. Hauling himself up to his feet, Jimin reaches out in front of him and almost chokes on a breath when his palm flattens on nothing as if touching an invisible wall.

"What?" he mutters under his breath and feels the rush of blood in his ears. He bangs his fist in the air repeatedly, panic rising in his system with every failed attempt for an escape. "Fuck."

He is trapped.

"You can't leave."

The short hair on the back of Jimin's neck rises at that low, familiar voice. Recognition flashes across the young thief's face as he flips around to stare up at the lone figure standing on the parapets.

The luminescent glow of the moon shining down upon him outlines the majestic ebony of his hair, perhaps the most beautiful charcoal tresses that Jimin has ever seen in his life. The stranger's face is obscured by the shadows, but something in it robs the air off of Jimin's lungs.

His voice gets stuck in his throat as the shock settles heavily in his bones. And before he can turn around to run away—anywhere far from here—he feels another presence beside him and opens his mouth to scream.

Another young man, with skin bluer than the deepest ocean and eyes blacker than a bottomless void, blows a breath out to him. Azure stardust hits Jimin's face, and he feels his consciousness quickly slipping away.

"It wasn't a young man," the last strings of Jimin's consciousness tells him as he falls down to the dirt, blinking through the haziness in his vision. "It was a creature."

As his lashes flutter shut and strength leaves his limbs, the last thought that crosses Jimin's mind before slumber swallows him whole is the pair of red eyes staring down at him from the parapets, fierce and shining like rubies in the dark night.

🥀

"𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘥𝘰𝘮 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘦𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘧𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯 𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵."

"𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘭𝘦," 𝘛𝘢𝘦𝘩𝘺𝘶𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘴. "𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘬 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨."

The candle in his hand flickers, casting warm glows on the cold, stone walls.

𝘑𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘯 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘴 𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘴𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘭𝘶𝘮𝘱 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘢𝘵. "𝘋𝘪𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥?"

"𝘕𝘰." 𝘛𝘢𝘦𝘩𝘺𝘶𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥. "𝘏𝘪𝘴 𝘏𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘤𝘳𝘶𝘦𝘭𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘰𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘧𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘶𝘱𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘴."

"....𝘈𝘯𝘺 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘦."

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘸𝘯𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘶𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘯𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦, 𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘑𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘮.

A rancid stench clings to the air, curling in Jimin’s throat like smoke. He moves deeper into the dungeon’s suffocating darkness, his steps unwavering as he reaches the endless line of pitch-black cells.

Then, he sees it.

"𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘦." 𝘑𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘯 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘵𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘨𝘢𝘻𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘦. "𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘪𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘐 𝘥𝘪𝘥."

𝘛𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘥𝘴. "𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘭𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘳𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘦, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘖𝘯𝘦. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘰, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘴."

Jimin stumbles backward, his breath hitching as his back meets the cold, unyielding wall. His eyes widen, his pupils blown with muted shock and 𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘳, a shiver crawling down his spine at the dreadful sight before him.

"𝘋𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘖𝘯𝘦?"

𝘛𝘢𝘦𝘩𝘺𝘶𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘢𝘱, 𝘧𝘪𝘥𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨.

"𝘐𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘤𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘰𝘶𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘤𝘳𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘖𝘯𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘮."

It was a lie. Taehyung had lied to him.

"Gods," Jimin breathes, his hand clamping over his mouth as nausea coils in his gut. Behind the iron bars, heaps of human skulls and bones lay in grotesque disarray, some still clinging to rotting flesh.

"𝘏𝘪𝘴 𝘏𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘤𝘳𝘶𝘦𝘭𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘰𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴."

Jimin grips the cold stone wall behind him, his pulse hammering.

"𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘧𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘶𝘱𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘴."

"𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘴𝘰 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩."

The words resurface in Jimin’s mind, their once gentle tone now twisted with something dark, a whisper of danger he had chosen to ignore.

"𝘉𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘢 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘵."

Jimin turns around to run.

"𝘉𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘭𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘺 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘳… 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘪𝘵."

Panic floods his veins, the sting of betrayal festering deep in his chest. Just like the mounds of bones decaying in those dark cells, would Jimin's fate be reduced to the same grim end?

🥀

Jimin's hurried footsteps echo along the walls of the castle as he makes his way to the prince's chambers. He pushes the doors open, entering unannounced, his breath unsteady as his eyes roam the dimly lit space.

They halt upon the prince’s figure effortlessly poised upon his chaise lounge. The balcony doors stand ajar, allowing the moon’s silvery glow to spill into the chamber, casting a luminous radiance over the prince’s handsome features.

On any other night, Jimin would have paused, entranced by the sheer elegance of his ethereal beauty. But it is not. A weight presses against Jimin’s chest as he strides toward the prince, anguish etched into every line of his face.

"Jimin," the prince greets, setting his sketchbook aside with quiet grace. "Can't sleep again?" The warmth and concern in his voice only deepen the ache in Jimin’s chest.

"Are you hiding something from me, Your Highness?" he asks, his piercing gaze searching for the truth the man refuses to speak. Prince Yoongi stills at the words, his expression unreadable as he locks eyes with Jimin for a fleeting moment before glancing away.

"I went to the dungeons and saw it with my own eyes." Jimin’s voice cracks slightly as he moves closer, desperation seeping into his words. "The intruders turning to dust, the crystal rose, your curse—have you been lying to me this whole time?"

Without meeting his gaze, Prince Yoongi rises to his feet. "The curse is real."

Jimin exhales sharply, his hands clenching at his sides. "And those countless thieves who broke in to steal the rose—did you leave them to rot in the dungeons? To starve? To die?"

"Their lives hold no meaning to me."

And for the first time since they had grown closer, Jimin sees it again—the predatory red gleam in Prince Yoongi’s eyes. The very same one he had witnessed that fateful night he first trespassed into the castle.

A stark, chilling reminder that the man before him is something beyond human. "They broke into my castle and dared to steal what is mine." Prince Yoongi’s gaze flickers to the floating crystal rose. His voice remains cold, unwavering. "Their fate was their own doing."

Blood roars in Jimin’s ears as he forces out the question. "What about me?"

He swallows hard, pushing down the storm of emotions threatening to rise. "I committed the same crime. So why am I still alive?"

A heavy silence blankets the room, stretching unbearably before the prince finally speaks. "Because you are the Destined One."

Jimin lets out a shuddering breath, his voice barely above a whisper. "And what does that mean for you? For this curse you carry?"

His eyes search the prince’s for answers, for something more than vague truths. "What am I to you, Your Highness?"

The weight of his words settles between them, an unbearable burden neither can escape. And when the prince finally speaks, the warmth once woven into his voice has vanished, now as unyielding and cold as his icy skin.

"I warned you before—you are my prisoner."

Yoongi’s ruby eyes gleam with a dangerous light. "You were destined to be the sacrifice, the key to breaking this curse and setting my people free."

Jimin stumbles back, his breath caught in his throat, as Prince Yoongi's voice hardens, his next words as unforgiving as the cold, wintry night.

"You are nothing but my prey," he utters. The dim light catches the sharp curve of his fangs, and Jimin's breath falters, his body turning rigid as a chilling fear seeps into his bones. "I am no man, Jimin. I am a 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘵."

Prince Yoongi's tone is dark and merciless as he slowly advances forward. "And now, you must run before I find you and take every drop of life from your veins."

Terror surges through Jimin’s body, and he spins and bolts out of the prince's chambers.

The world around him blurs as he sprints through the castle’s corridors, his breath ragged as his heartbeat deafens in his ears.

"Jimin?" A voice cuts through the chaos—Taehyung. "Where are you going?"

"I must get out of here." Jimin barely spares him a glance before rushing down the grand staircase, each hurried step propelling him toward the only escape he can see.

"What?! Why? Wait, Jimin—"

The young thief shoves the heavy doors open, the night’s cold air biting at his skin as he bolts outside. Unlike before, no invisible wall stops him, no unseen force keeping him trapped. This time, Jimin is free to run.

🥀

1 week later....

"Have you heard?"

"Heard what?" A gruff man grumbles, raising his tankard before taking a deep swig of ale.

The other leans in, voice hushed yet brimming with intrigue. "Another band of fools—thieves, they say—tried their luck with that mysterious castle."

At the mere mention of the castle, Jimin's fingers tense around his tankard. He sits perched on the tavern's counter, his expression unreadable, but the faint tremor in his hands betrays him.

The surface of his drink ripples, distorting his reflection just as his thoughts have been ever since he escaped. A week has passed, yet Jimin remains. No matter how much he tells himself to leave, his feet refuse to move beyond the borders of the western port.

It’s as if unseen chains bind him here, holding him captive in a way even he cannot understand.

"And?" the gruff man presses, seemingly uninterested at first. "Did they never return like the others?"

"As a matter of fact, they 𝘥𝘪𝘥 return." A smirk plays on the man’s lips. "Carrying chests of gold, I was told."

From beneath the shadow of his hood, Jimin stiffens. Then, with a sharp turn, he finally whips around, disbelief flickering across his face at the unexpected news.

"Well, well…" The gruff man chuckles, a wicked glint in his eyes. "Seems that old castle 𝘪𝘴 nothing more than a treasure trove waiting to be plundered."

"Shall we gather men to search it at dawn?"

"We must." With a final swig of his ale, the larger man rises, his chair scraping against the wooden floor. He slams a coin onto the table with a sharp 𝘤𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘬. "Come. Let’s see if the tales of this so-called beast hold any truth."

As a handful of men trail after them into the night, a cold wave of panic grips Jimin’s chest. No, he cannot be drawn into this again. He tells himself to look away, to let them go.

The prince had deceived him, making him believe he was more than just a prey caught in his trap. That there had been something between them. Something 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭.

"𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴. 𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶."

The prince’s voice lingers in his mind, cruel and inescapable, twisting like a dagger in his chest. Jimin grits his teeth. “Fuck,” he spits, slamming his tankard onto the counter as he pushes himself to his feet.

Prince Yoongi has the luxury of eternity, an endless stretch of time to let memories fade like whispers in the wind. But Jimin? Jimin has only this one fleeting life. And so, he cannot forget—not now, not ever.

🥀

The distant echo of heavy footsteps marching toward the castle fills Jimin’s ears as he scales the back walls with practiced ease. Perched atop the parapets, his breath catches at the sight of the first sliver of sunlight creeping over the horizon.

"Shit," he hisses, urgency flooding his veins as he quickens his pace. He cannot allow those men to see the prince, especially in broad daylight.

"Jimin?" Jungkook’s voice rings out, sharp with surprise, as his eyes lock onto him.

"You're back!" Hoseok cries, his translucent form rushing toward Jimin, ghostly eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "I don’t understand what’s going on, but thieves invaded the castle yesterday and took our gold!"

"We tried to lead them away, but the prince ordered us to let them take what they wanted," Seokjin grumbles, his scowl deepening. "And now? More intruders are marching straight to the castle doors."

"I need to see the prince," Jimin gasps, struggling to catch his breath.

Namjoon shakes his head. "He's not in his chambers or the observatory. I searched everywhere—he's nowhere to be found in the castle."

"That can't be right—" Jimin’s words die on his lips as a sudden, thunderous banging echoes against the main doors, sending a jolt through his body. Around him, the castle staff snaps to attention, their expressions shifting to alarm.

"He has to be somewhere; he cannot step beyond the castle grounds."

Taehyung clasps his hands, grounding him. "Go find the prince," he says with quiet determination. "Leave the intruders to us."

As the relentless shouting behind the heavy doors grows louder, each bang making the wood tremble in its frame, Jimin whirls around and sprints toward the drawing room. "Your Highness!" he shouts, throwing the door open.

When silence greets him, Jimin grits his teeth and hastily turns around to search every place he knows the prince might have gone. Echoes of shattering objects and the clash of steel against steel reverberate through the corridors, but Jimin doesn’t stop.

With his breath unsteady, he heads to the one place left he has yet to search. "Please be here," he breathes, voice barely audible over his pounding heartbeat as he rushes into the greenhouse.

As the first, fragile rays of dawn filter through the glass roof, Jimin halts, holding his breath. Amidst the field of moonglows—buds tightly closed, their once-majestic shimmer now extinguished—stands a lone figure.

"Your Highness," he whispers.

His back remains to Jimin, but the prince turns his face just enough for the morning light to caress his sharp features, making them appear softer—almost vulnerable. His dark hair gleams under the first touch of dawn.

Despite the prince's picturesque beauty, Jimin notices the dark bruise under his eyes and the color of his skin, now paler than it had ever been. "You shouldn't have returned," he murmurs, but this time, his voice carries no edge. Only exhaustion. Resignation.

"My prince, I—" The words die on Jimin's tongue as his gaze locks onto the crystal rose, clutched loosely in the prince’s left hand, its petals now a vivid, pulsing red.

Its cruel thorns sink mercilessly into the delicate flesh of his palm, blood beading along the wounds before slipping from his fingertips like falling rubies.

"You said you wanted to see the sea," the prince murmurs, his voice fragile beneath the weight of his pain. "I'm letting you go, Jimin. Please... just go."

And then, Jimin sees it.

Prince Yoongi’s skin does not burn under the morning light. Instead, the right half of his face is slowly crumbling to 𝘢𝘴𝘩, the wind carrying away pieces of him as if the world itself is reclaiming him.

The prince is dying.

"No!" Jimin cries, sprinting through the field of flowers just as Prince Yoongi collapses. Dropping to his knees, he gathers the prince’s limp body into his lap, his hands trembling as he watches dark cracks spread across his face, his existence crumbling into drifting ashes.

Crimson seeps through the prince’s tunic, staining his pale skin as it spills through the crystal rose, pooling into the earth beneath them. Jimin chokes back a sob, his tears falling freely as he clutches Prince Yoongi’s hand to his chest, +

barely noticing the sharp sting of thorns piercing his own palm.

"𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘮𝘴 𝘳𝘶𝘣𝘪𝘦𝘴, 𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘯 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘢 𝘣𝘦𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵."

Jimin had once believed that only he could be the sacrifice to break the curse—just as the prince had told him. But now, as the truth unfolds before him, it becomes clear. It was never just him.

The prince had offered his own blood to the crystal rose, sealing his own fate in a lie of sacrifice and deception. Prince Yoongi loves him, and because of that, he is dying. "Please, my prince," the younger weeps, "do not leave me."

Jimin murmurs softly, the words floating into the air like the drifting fragments of the prince’s fading body, "I love you." His lips brush against Prince Yoongi’s in a silent confession, a final touch, before the weight in his lap disappears, leaving only ashes behind.

The prince fades from Jimin’s grasp, the crystal rose turning to dust as it slips away, leaving nothing but silence and the bright rays of the dawning light.

With his hands pressed to his chest as if holding a remnant of his beloved, Jimin collapses on himself as the weight of grief crashes over him. He shouldn't have left. He should have trusted his heart over the prince's words.

He should have found the courage to speak of his heart when the prince’s smile was still resting in his arms.

"My prince," he sobs, his bloody hands trembling as he cradles them close to his chest. "𝘠𝘰𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘪."

A gust of wind brushes against his face, and as Jimin blinks through his tears, he watches the flowers around him shift in color, once untainted in white now beginning to bloom in a fiery red, their petals glowing under the sun's first light.

"𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺'𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘰𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘴," 𝘗𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘠𝘰𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘪 𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘴. "𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘮 𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳. 𝘐𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘦."

"How...?" Jimin stammers, speechless. And then...

“𝑱𝒊𝒎𝒊𝒏.”

Jimin freezes, his breath halting in his throat as his heart races at the sound of that voice. Has his grief caused him to hear things? But when the unmistakable scent of 𝘭𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘤 drifts towards him, he immediately spins around, his pulse quickening.

There, behind him, stands Prince Yoongi, a single crimson rose clutched in his hand, his eyes wide with disbelief and wonder. "Jimin," he breathes, repeating his name as if unsure of the reality of it all.

Jimin rises to his feet, lifting a trembling hand to the man's face.

They both gasp at the touch, eyes wide as they meet. "You're..." Jimin starts, but the words escape him.

"Warm," Prince Yoongi says, finishing Jimin's sentence, a faint blush coloring his cheeks. "I feel warm, Jimin."

"My prince!"

"Jimin!"

"Your Highness!"

Rushed footsteps steal their gaze from one another, and it doesn't take a moment for Jimin to recognize the people hurrying towards them.

"I think I died again!" Hoseok exclaims, gripping Jungkook's arm. "This kid, too! I can feel his arms now—"

Everyone gasps as they see the prince standing before them, just as he was, yet somehow different.

"The curse," Taehyung murmurs, his dark eyes wide with disbelief, "it's broken."

"Heavens," Seokjin breathes, tears welling up in his eyes as he presses close to Namjoon's side. "At last, it's over."

"What do you wish to do with the intruders, Your Highness?" the werewolf asks, awaiting his lord's decision.

The prince's gaze shifts to Jimin, pondering. "Let them go."

A moment of shock ripples through the others.

"But, Your Highness—" Taehyung begins to protest, only for Jungkook to place a hand on his shoulder, shaking his head.

"We'll do as you say, my prince," the youngest smiles, gently ushering everyone to leave.

Once alone, Jimin lifts his eyes to the prince, only to find him already looking at him, a certain fondness swimming right in his dark irises. Wordlessly, he offers the crimson rose to Jimin.

Blushing, the younger mutters, "It is done, isn't it? Everything."

"Yes," Prince Yoongi murmurs, tucking a lock of hair behind Jimin’s ear, making him catch his breath. "But some things are just beginning."

Jimin blinks, curiosity lighting his expression. "Like what?"

"Our life together." The warmth of the prince's voice wraps around Jimin’s heart as he feels the man inching closer. "This time, we will see the end of it." The promise of eternity in Prince Yoongi's words sends a shiver down Jimin’s spine as their lips nearly touch.

"This time, I will grow old with you," he whispers. "I love you, Jimin."

With a tender sigh, Jimin wraps his arms around Yoongi’s neck and pulls him in for a passionate kiss.

🥀

"Mhn..." Jimin cups the prince's face in his hands, tracing the blooming flush on the man's cheek with his thumb as the latter moves languidly above him, chasing the lingering remnants of his pleasure. "I love how warm you are, my king."

Yoongi leans into his touch, his chuckle vibrating against Jimin’s lips. “As do I unto you.” He takes a teasing bite of the younger's bottom lip. “My love.”

The ship's wooden floor tilts with the rhythm of the restless waves, sending the monarch tumbling onto his husband's chest. Jimin's laughter rings through the salty air. "We must get up," he coaxes the frowning man. "Your crew needs your guidance, Captain."

With a heavy sigh, the king bestows a lingering, final kiss upon Jimin's lips. "Very well," he concedes. "Let us make ourselves presentable."

Grinning, the king consort willingly obliges.

The sharp scent of salt fills the air beneath Jimin’s nose as he and Yoongi step out of their cabin, making their way toward the deck where waves crash and churn below. “How does it feel to be at sea once more?” he asks the king.

Yoongi steps behind him, encircling Jimin’s waist with his arms. “It feels freeing,” he murmurs, pressing a small telescope into the younger’s hands.

Peering through the lens with one eye, Jimin utters, “I can see the purple star.”

“Then, we will never be lost,” the king chuckles, his warm breath ghosting over Jimin’s ear as he leans in closer, his lashes fluttering shut. “No matter how endless the open sea may seem, we will always find our way home.”

Lowering the lens, Jimin tilts his head, letting the tip of his nose graze the king’s. “Indeed,” he breathes, his voice swept away by the salty breeze, his heart alight with something deeper than the sea. “We will always find our way back to each other.”

🥀𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒆𝒏𝒅🥀

thank you for reading! omg i finished it ;u;
this is my yoonminified version of "beauty & the beast." i hope you liked it! hehe. here, if you wanna support my writing ♡ ko-fi.com/ladyelocin