Set My Soul On Fire [Part Eight]
Title: SMSOF
Pairing: 2woo
Rating: R (more for the graphic aspect of it, but I'm sure there is NC-17 on the way...maybe?)
Genre: supernatural, smut, romance, action, horror
Summary: Dongwoo couldn't just have a normal job like other humans. Hell, he couldn't be normal period. Even with the help of his new hell hound familiar, it was still a hard job being a necromancer, especially with a soul snatcher on the loose praying on humankind that would like nothing more than to take over his body.
Dongwoo... Dongwoo... Damnit Dongwoo wake up!
His eyes snapped open, looking around the room for whatever had woken him up in the first place. His door opened slowly, and as if in a trance, he got out of the bed and left his room, careful not to wake Hoya up in the process. He followed the whispering until it led to his outside patio, glowing red eyes tapping on the glass double doors in annoyance. He should have been afraid, but those red eyes seemed so familiar...
Opening them, he stepped out into the brisk night quickly, shutting the doors behind him just as fast.
"Your friend is a lot stronger than he thinks," the spirit in front of him groused, no doubt talking about Hoya. He took in the woman before him curiously. Definitely not a normal spirit. She shook herself, almost like a dog would, before bowing formally.
"Jang Dongwoo, it's an honor to finally meet you."
"Ehm... likewise?" Dongwoo said uncertainly.
"You may call me Nara. I apologize for the hasty introductions, but there's more urgent matters to attend to."
Dongwoo froze when he finally realized why he recognized her eyes, her mannerisms. This spirit was a hellhound. "Is it Woohyun? What's wrong? He should be inside somewhere if you want me to go get him."
She made a face somewhere between regret and pity. Dongwoo did not like that face. "The soul snatcher you've been hunting down is no ordinary spirit, Dongwoo. His name was, is, Kim Kibum, and he's arguably one of the strongest dark sorcerers in existence."
"And what does he want to do with me? With Woohyun?"
"Your great great great great grandfather was the man who killed him. Well, sort of."
"Sort of?"
"It's pretty impossible to kill sorcerers. Yeah you can send them into the afterlife, but they're so familiar with dark magic it's really only a matter of time before they find themselves back in the living realm in the form of soul snatchers. Your grandfather and I have been in charge of watching over Kibum for centuries, but as strong as we are, he still got loose. But if you send him back into afterlife, he'll have to start his process all over again. That's why I've come to ask for your help."
"Yeah, that's great and all, but what does this have to do with Woohyun?"
"That's...not my story to tell, but I can tell you they have history, and that history has gotten Woohyun into quite a bit of trouble. And he needs your help."
"Meaning?"
"Meaning you're gonna have to fight Kibum on your own because Woohyun can't help you anymore."
"Just fucking spit it out," Dongwoo said frantically.
She sighed. "He went to try and make a bargain with Kibum earlier. His life for yours."
Dongwoo fell to his knees. "You're wrong. I would feel if he was dead. I would know!"
"He's not dead. Yet. But unfortunately it's only a matter of time. Not that a hellhound can ever be killed, we're immortal, but you won't be able to see him on this plane. The only reason I'm here is because the underworld is in a tizzy over this entire situation. He won't stop with just Woohyun, Dongwoo. Do you understand what I'm saying?"
Dongwoo remained on the ground, numb to the cold whipping at his face.
"Dongwoo," she said softly, kneeling in front of him, "I'm sorry, I'm truly sorry, but you're the only one who can stop him."
"Why me? Surely there's other necromancers in the world," he said bitterly.
Her red eyes bored down onto him, but he avoided her gaze. "Dongwoo. Stand up." When he remained on the ground, she hoisted him up, her spiritual energy like ice on his skin. "If you don't do this, others will die. You will die. If you don't care for your own well being, think of your friends, everyone you've ever cared for. You think he'll stop after Woohyun? After you? He won't stop, Dongwoo. They never do."
"I still don't see why this is any of my responsibility. I'm afraid of my own shadow."
"Never be afraid of the dark, Dongwoo. You're a Jang, you were made for darkness, but I see now you don't truly know what that means. I knew your parents died when you were young, but didn't realize you knew absolutely nothing of your upbringing. Why do you think you had a hellhound as a familiar in the first place? You're not a normal necromancer, Dongwoo, you're an Abhorsen." Her voice as she said the word sounded so awed, but he could care less.
"Never heard of it."
"They died off with your grandfather, but believe me when I say Dongwoo, that you have that ability. You can create portals into the afterlife, can walk into their very depths without feeling fear. You're much stronger than you know."
Dongwoo remained quiet for a moment, mouth going dry. He'd always been so afraid of his powers. "What... what does that have to do with Woohyun?"
"All Abhorsens are given hellhounds as familiars, for although you can create portals, you can't actually open and close them on your own, your power drains much too quickly after summoning a gate, but we are gate keepers. We can open the gates for you."
"But without Woohyun..." his voice trailed off. That was something he never wanted to say again.
"He's not dead yet, but if he can't open the portal from inside of Kibum, I will. I understand you're in shock, that you need to grieve, but trust me when I say, it's better to get revenge first. We don't have the time for you to mourn yet, he's coming for you tonight and I need you to be ready."
"I don't even know how to open a portal or whatever the hell you're talking about."
"I will guide you through it, Dongwoo, but right now, I need you to go inside and get dressed and meet me at this address." He stared numbly at Nara as she spoke, though he could hardly understand her, she could be speaking a foreign language for all he heard her. Woohyun was... gone? He'd only just discovered his feelings for him... hadn't even told him he loved him... and now it was too late? No.
He stopped her rant, dark eyes determined as he uttered, "You claim I'm something stronger than a necromancer, that I'm some horse with abs thing, so couldn't I just bring Woohyun back?"
Her eyes turned soft yet again. "Dongwoo... familiars aren't meant to get close to their masters, you and Woohyun were already skating the line. There's rules, even in the afterlife. It's true you'll need another hellhound," the 'if you survive this' was left off, "but they won't send Woohyun. My master lived for over 400 years because I broke the one rule all familiars must adhere to, and no one's meant to live forever, Dongwoo."
"We'll see about that," he growled, storming back into the apartment.
______________
"Dongwoo, it is way too early for this, and this hangover is killing me."
"I don't care, I actually need your help. So act like a professor for once in your life."
Sunggyu glared up at him before grabbing his glasses off the end table by the loveseat. "Touchy."
Dongwoo ignored him, instead going to put on his shoes. "I need you to tell me everything you know about Abhorsens, sorcerers, and any history on how to release souls from inside a soul snatcher."
"I mean, yeah, I can try and remember what I know, maybe call up some experts..."
"Do so on the drive there, you're coming with me."
Sunggyu's eyes widened, but he didn't argue. He'd never seen Dongwoo with such determination before, but he could read his mind. The boy was mere inches from falling off the ledge.
____________________
He didn't learn much on the car ride, Abhorsens were mostly believed to be a myth in the first place, and every story described something different. Not to mention the only thing he could find on the devoured souls of soul snatchers was that they were only released when the soul snatcher themselves was sent into the underworld, but the poor souls didn't get a second chance at life, no, they merely went to where they belonged in the afterlife. That wouldn't do. He needed Woohyun.
"Dongwoo... are you sure you're ready for this? I can't see your future anymore... and that worries me."
"I don't have a choice."
"And from what I've read, you can't force someone into the afterlife unless you push their soul from their body. Do you even know how to do that?"
"Guess I'll find out," he said as he stopped the car in front of the address Nara had given him earlier. He tossed the keys to Sunggyu as he tried to get out, but Sunggyu's hand grasping his arm stopped him.
"I... I don't know if this will help, but the the resurrection spell runes he's been using on all his pentagrams, they're shortcuts. There's repercussions to all magic, and if he's cutting corners, there's no exception. Try and stall him. With any luck the spell will wear off on it's own and you won't have to try and push his soul out, because honestly? I've never heard of that being a necromancer trait." At least not any of the good ones...
"I'll try to keep that in mind. Look, I don't want you getting all sappy or any shit like that, but... if I don't come back... know I still hate you." He blew him a kiss and got out of the car. Sunggyu grumbled and got out as well to get into the driver's side. Before he had the door shut, however, Dongwoo yelled, "Tell the others-"
"I know I know, moron. I can read your mind, remember? You're a fucked up little kiddie, you know that? But you were still always my favorite student," he sighed before slamming the car door and speeding away.
Dongwoo watched the car until the tail lights disappeared, biting at his lower lip. He was not going to cry. Not when he had a score to settle and a hellhound to save.
A/N: Shout out to Garth Nix for the Abhorsen name! If you guys haven't, you should seriously check out his old kingdom series. It's fucking amazing. I kid you not. It's definitely in my top ten favorite book series of all time.
So I hope this wasn't too confusing! We'll get more into Woohyun and all that jazz in the next chapter, but our poor little Dongwoo needed to be filled in as well! Good lord, I think this story is slowly but surely coming to a close! Someone hold me! I NEED TO BE HELD!
Lanna
FMS
web counter
Pairing: 2woo
Rating: R (more for the graphic aspect of it, but I'm sure there is NC-17 on the way...maybe?)
Genre: supernatural, smut, romance, action, horror
Summary: Dongwoo couldn't just have a normal job like other humans. Hell, he couldn't be normal period. Even with the help of his new hell hound familiar, it was still a hard job being a necromancer, especially with a soul snatcher on the loose praying on humankind that would like nothing more than to take over his body.
Dongwoo... Dongwoo... Damnit Dongwoo wake up!
His eyes snapped open, looking around the room for whatever had woken him up in the first place. His door opened slowly, and as if in a trance, he got out of the bed and left his room, careful not to wake Hoya up in the process. He followed the whispering until it led to his outside patio, glowing red eyes tapping on the glass double doors in annoyance. He should have been afraid, but those red eyes seemed so familiar...
Opening them, he stepped out into the brisk night quickly, shutting the doors behind him just as fast.
"Your friend is a lot stronger than he thinks," the spirit in front of him groused, no doubt talking about Hoya. He took in the woman before him curiously. Definitely not a normal spirit. She shook herself, almost like a dog would, before bowing formally.
"Jang Dongwoo, it's an honor to finally meet you."
"Ehm... likewise?" Dongwoo said uncertainly.
"You may call me Nara. I apologize for the hasty introductions, but there's more urgent matters to attend to."
Dongwoo froze when he finally realized why he recognized her eyes, her mannerisms. This spirit was a hellhound. "Is it Woohyun? What's wrong? He should be inside somewhere if you want me to go get him."
She made a face somewhere between regret and pity. Dongwoo did not like that face. "The soul snatcher you've been hunting down is no ordinary spirit, Dongwoo. His name was, is, Kim Kibum, and he's arguably one of the strongest dark sorcerers in existence."
"And what does he want to do with me? With Woohyun?"
"Your great great great great grandfather was the man who killed him. Well, sort of."
"Sort of?"
"It's pretty impossible to kill sorcerers. Yeah you can send them into the afterlife, but they're so familiar with dark magic it's really only a matter of time before they find themselves back in the living realm in the form of soul snatchers. Your grandfather and I have been in charge of watching over Kibum for centuries, but as strong as we are, he still got loose. But if you send him back into afterlife, he'll have to start his process all over again. That's why I've come to ask for your help."
"Yeah, that's great and all, but what does this have to do with Woohyun?"
"That's...not my story to tell, but I can tell you they have history, and that history has gotten Woohyun into quite a bit of trouble. And he needs your help."
"Meaning?"
"Meaning you're gonna have to fight Kibum on your own because Woohyun can't help you anymore."
"Just fucking spit it out," Dongwoo said frantically.
She sighed. "He went to try and make a bargain with Kibum earlier. His life for yours."
Dongwoo fell to his knees. "You're wrong. I would feel if he was dead. I would know!"
"He's not dead. Yet. But unfortunately it's only a matter of time. Not that a hellhound can ever be killed, we're immortal, but you won't be able to see him on this plane. The only reason I'm here is because the underworld is in a tizzy over this entire situation. He won't stop with just Woohyun, Dongwoo. Do you understand what I'm saying?"
Dongwoo remained on the ground, numb to the cold whipping at his face.
"Dongwoo," she said softly, kneeling in front of him, "I'm sorry, I'm truly sorry, but you're the only one who can stop him."
"Why me? Surely there's other necromancers in the world," he said bitterly.
Her red eyes bored down onto him, but he avoided her gaze. "Dongwoo. Stand up." When he remained on the ground, she hoisted him up, her spiritual energy like ice on his skin. "If you don't do this, others will die. You will die. If you don't care for your own well being, think of your friends, everyone you've ever cared for. You think he'll stop after Woohyun? After you? He won't stop, Dongwoo. They never do."
"I still don't see why this is any of my responsibility. I'm afraid of my own shadow."
"Never be afraid of the dark, Dongwoo. You're a Jang, you were made for darkness, but I see now you don't truly know what that means. I knew your parents died when you were young, but didn't realize you knew absolutely nothing of your upbringing. Why do you think you had a hellhound as a familiar in the first place? You're not a normal necromancer, Dongwoo, you're an Abhorsen." Her voice as she said the word sounded so awed, but he could care less.
"Never heard of it."
"They died off with your grandfather, but believe me when I say Dongwoo, that you have that ability. You can create portals into the afterlife, can walk into their very depths without feeling fear. You're much stronger than you know."
Dongwoo remained quiet for a moment, mouth going dry. He'd always been so afraid of his powers. "What... what does that have to do with Woohyun?"
"All Abhorsens are given hellhounds as familiars, for although you can create portals, you can't actually open and close them on your own, your power drains much too quickly after summoning a gate, but we are gate keepers. We can open the gates for you."
"But without Woohyun..." his voice trailed off. That was something he never wanted to say again.
"He's not dead yet, but if he can't open the portal from inside of Kibum, I will. I understand you're in shock, that you need to grieve, but trust me when I say, it's better to get revenge first. We don't have the time for you to mourn yet, he's coming for you tonight and I need you to be ready."
"I don't even know how to open a portal or whatever the hell you're talking about."
"I will guide you through it, Dongwoo, but right now, I need you to go inside and get dressed and meet me at this address." He stared numbly at Nara as she spoke, though he could hardly understand her, she could be speaking a foreign language for all he heard her. Woohyun was... gone? He'd only just discovered his feelings for him... hadn't even told him he loved him... and now it was too late? No.
He stopped her rant, dark eyes determined as he uttered, "You claim I'm something stronger than a necromancer, that I'm some horse with abs thing, so couldn't I just bring Woohyun back?"
Her eyes turned soft yet again. "Dongwoo... familiars aren't meant to get close to their masters, you and Woohyun were already skating the line. There's rules, even in the afterlife. It's true you'll need another hellhound," the 'if you survive this' was left off, "but they won't send Woohyun. My master lived for over 400 years because I broke the one rule all familiars must adhere to, and no one's meant to live forever, Dongwoo."
"We'll see about that," he growled, storming back into the apartment.
______________
"Dongwoo, it is way too early for this, and this hangover is killing me."
"I don't care, I actually need your help. So act like a professor for once in your life."
Sunggyu glared up at him before grabbing his glasses off the end table by the loveseat. "Touchy."
Dongwoo ignored him, instead going to put on his shoes. "I need you to tell me everything you know about Abhorsens, sorcerers, and any history on how to release souls from inside a soul snatcher."
"I mean, yeah, I can try and remember what I know, maybe call up some experts..."
"Do so on the drive there, you're coming with me."
Sunggyu's eyes widened, but he didn't argue. He'd never seen Dongwoo with such determination before, but he could read his mind. The boy was mere inches from falling off the ledge.
____________________
He didn't learn much on the car ride, Abhorsens were mostly believed to be a myth in the first place, and every story described something different. Not to mention the only thing he could find on the devoured souls of soul snatchers was that they were only released when the soul snatcher themselves was sent into the underworld, but the poor souls didn't get a second chance at life, no, they merely went to where they belonged in the afterlife. That wouldn't do. He needed Woohyun.
"Dongwoo... are you sure you're ready for this? I can't see your future anymore... and that worries me."
"I don't have a choice."
"And from what I've read, you can't force someone into the afterlife unless you push their soul from their body. Do you even know how to do that?"
"Guess I'll find out," he said as he stopped the car in front of the address Nara had given him earlier. He tossed the keys to Sunggyu as he tried to get out, but Sunggyu's hand grasping his arm stopped him.
"I... I don't know if this will help, but the the resurrection spell runes he's been using on all his pentagrams, they're shortcuts. There's repercussions to all magic, and if he's cutting corners, there's no exception. Try and stall him. With any luck the spell will wear off on it's own and you won't have to try and push his soul out, because honestly? I've never heard of that being a necromancer trait." At least not any of the good ones...
"I'll try to keep that in mind. Look, I don't want you getting all sappy or any shit like that, but... if I don't come back... know I still hate you." He blew him a kiss and got out of the car. Sunggyu grumbled and got out as well to get into the driver's side. Before he had the door shut, however, Dongwoo yelled, "Tell the others-"
"I know I know, moron. I can read your mind, remember? You're a fucked up little kiddie, you know that? But you were still always my favorite student," he sighed before slamming the car door and speeding away.
Dongwoo watched the car until the tail lights disappeared, biting at his lower lip. He was not going to cry. Not when he had a score to settle and a hellhound to save.
A/N: Shout out to Garth Nix for the Abhorsen name! If you guys haven't, you should seriously check out his old kingdom series. It's fucking amazing. I kid you not. It's definitely in my top ten favorite book series of all time.
So I hope this wasn't too confusing! We'll get more into Woohyun and all that jazz in the next chapter, but our poor little Dongwoo needed to be filled in as well! Good lord, I think this story is slowly but surely coming to a close! Someone hold me! I NEED TO BE HELD!
Lanna
FMS
web counter