Chapter 93

Taehyung

My chest rumbled like a brooding tempest, a tempest of vexation and smoldering rage, ready to unleash its fury at any moment. Being a hybrid of a succubus and a devil was no easy fate to bear. My days had been consumed by capturing sins and battling demons, leaving me scarcely any time to satiate my insatiable succubus cravings. Each passing moment of sexual frustration was like a ravaging wildfire consuming me from within, fanning the flames of my already simmering wrath that threatened to consume me wholly.

I attempted to regulate my breathing, inhaling through my nostrils and exhaling through my mouth, but it was to no avail. My body buzzed with an unholy restlessness, and as the tree finally released Irene, I exhaled a labored breath of relief. The sooner we accomplished our task, the sooner I could quell the persistent yearning of my succubus nature.

The worry etched on Irene and Yoogni’s faces was like a dagger sinking further into my already tumultuous mind. The fact that all I could think about was my own desires in the midst of this crisis only made my internal turmoil worse -- a vicious cycle of anger, guilt, and desire that threatened to consume me whole.

Yoogni, gave Carter words of encouragement. At Yoogni's words of encouragement, I couldn't help but feel a jolt of annoyance. Didn't he realize the gravity of our mission? Lilly was counting on us, and here we were, focusing on our own trivialities.

But there was no time to dwell on that. Our trek through the eerie forest continued, and the eerie voices of the damned children grew louder, more insistent. Yet I knew their pleas were nothing more than a ruse -- they were soul eaters, after all. They wanted to ensnare us, to feed on our very essence. We had to be vigilant, or risk losing our very souls.

"Yoogni," Carter's voice carried through the eerie mist, interrupting the tense silence. "Have you ever traversed these grounds before?" Irene and I turned our heads in unison, curious about his response.

"I have not set foot in this place, but rumors spread like wildfire," Yoogni began, his eyes scanning the dense fog. Dread crept up my spine at the thought of what tales he had heard. Gruesome ones, no doubt. Yet, something about his answer felt incomplete, as if he hid a deeper truth from us all.

Without warning, a phantasmal creature appeared before us, its form elusive and uncanny. It was a three-headed deer, emerging from the enveloping mist, its eyes glimmering like precious rubies. "What in the Name of the Angel..." I braced myself, ready to evade its oncoming attack as the beast rose up on its hind legs, ferocious and ready to strike. But before I could utter a word of caution, a searing ball of flame erupted from Irene's hands, hurtling towards the deer. "No!" Yoogni cried out, the beast writhing in agony as the flames smote it.

"We must douse the flames!" Yoogni shouted, gesturing in a circle until a mass of water coalesced in his hands. With a flick of his wrist, the sphere of water cascaded over the deer's writhing form, leaving behind a billowing cloud of steam."

"We cannot unleash the flames in this sacred Forest, for it will cause unrest amongst the land," Yoongi declared, running his fingers through his tousled hair.
"And what shall we do instead?" Carter questioned, ever the pragmatic one. If I wasn’t so irritated I might have laughed.
"We shall proceed with caution, hoping that we do not offend the spirits of the Forest," Yoongi replied, with a serious tone.
Irene, however, was not convinced. "Are we to stand still like statues and await the onslaught of beasts next?" she demanded, her arms crossed and her gaze fierce.
"Of course not Irene," Yoongi replied, his voice calm. "For there are other ways to navigate these treacherous woods, ways that honor the Nature that lies within."
There was a palpable tension in the air as we continue on our journey, and Irene couldn't resist one final jab. "Do enlighten us, Yoongi, for it appears that we are stumbling around this forest like blind mice," she spat.

The mist curled around us like an ominous embrace, and as if in response, a low growl echoed through the air. My heart stuttered as I watched figures emerge from the fog - wolves, but not the kind you see in the wild. These beasts were three times the size of your average wolf, and their eyes glowed with an otherworldly malevolence.
Before I could even catch my breath, Carter called out, "We come in peace." I resisted the urge to punch him - couldn't he see that this was not a diplomatic negotiation? These wolves were not interested in our peaceful overtures.

"enlighten us, Yoogni, on the manner in which we might rid ourselves of these unholy beasts." Irene's arms were crossed tightly against her chest, a scowl marring her features as she remembered Yoogni's earlier verbal reprimand. Meanwhile, the wolves had encircled us and were closing in with agonizing slowness.
"I am thinking," Yoogni replied coolly.
"Maybe you should be quick before we are all dog meat," Carter remarked with a sarcastic drawl, prompting an eye-roll from myself. Even in the gravest of circumstances, the man couldn't resist a wry quip.

Fangs bared and Slava on their tongues, the wolves held their ground, their crimson eyes blazing. We stood frozen, transfixed by their otherworldly beauty. "Form a circle, backs to backs," Yoogni commanded, his voice calm and steady. Slowly, we complied, each of us bracing for the imminent attack. "No fire," Yoogni warned us. "Irene, summon electricity. Tay, water. Cart--" His words were cut short as the wolves launched themselves at us, their movements fluid and synchronized.

I deftly dodged the first wolf's lunge, tucking and rolling as I brought my sturdy leg around to sweep him off his paws. The creature crashed down with a resounding thud, but I knew my victory was far from secure. In mere moments, another snarling beast was hurtling toward me, nearly skimming the earth with its vicious trajectory.

Muscle memory kicked in as I deftly reached down to grasp the trusty blade that I always kept within easy reach, nestled protectively in my boot. With practiced precision, I plunged the blade deep into the second wolf's chest, barely breaking stride as I pivoted toward my next challenge.

This third wolf was a more wily adversary, carefully circling me as if assessing my strengths and weaknesses. I could feel the creature sizing me up, biding its time before launching a new attack. But I was ready for whatever came my way - my knife held steady and my senses on high alert, I stood firm and waited for the perfect moment to strike.

It was with lightning-quick reflexes that I plunged my blade down upon the wolf as it lunged for my ankles. The creature lay defeated at my feet, but the victory tasted bitter with the sight of my fallen friend Carter, lying lifeless and drenched in a pool of blood.