Take Me to the Sky | BTS+

Enter the Dragon

"You have some nerve."

A tall woman swaggered towards the Noon Mool crew. She had long black hair cascading down her back and was draped in a canary yellow gown that bulbed out in a bell shape and curled into her knees. Her voice was biting and dangerous, her eyes and smile alluring.

"Some nerve, indeed."

Shae couldn't help but notice that the woman was fixated on Joon. And that her features were breathtaking, in a sharp and severe way.

"Now is not the time or place, Petra," Joon growled.

A small-yet-fit bald man walked just behind this alluring woman, his hawkish eyes surveying the crowd. He was her escort. He looked like her tiny bodyguard.

"It never is with you." Petra's voice was a mix of malice and taunting. The woman gestured lazily towards Shae and Ava without looking their way. "These are new."

Joon's grip on Shae's hand tightened.

The sound of voices grew even louder around them, as the people standing nearby watched the scene unfold and muttered to each other in suspicious tones.

Joon's usual commanding voice returned: "I'm sure you've heard by now. Yoongi and Hoseok have branched out to form their own coalition, so they won't be a part of our negotiations."

Petra let out a haughty laugh. "Oh, but I just talked to Hobi! He's around here somewhere.... Ever the gentleman. Awful things to say about you these days, I must say." Petra sounded delightfully amused. "So awful."

"People love their gossip," Joon answered, his voice unmoved.

Petra let out a petty laugh. "I know I do. Speaking of," she stepped seductively into Joon's free arm and let her hand trail slowly from his shoulder and down his forearm. Her eyes flickered towards the watching crowd of bystanders with a pleased smile, enjoying herself on display.

Then Petra leaned into Joon's ear and said in a voice just loud enough for Shae to hear, "I hope you've decided on my offer." Then her hand reached out and tugged slowly down Joon's tie. "I don't like to be kept waiting when I know what I want. Might make me change my mind."

Joon cleared his throat.

Petra lingered close to his arm.

"I've decided."

"Good. Let's plan for a rendezvous soon, to discuss." For the first time, Petra's severe-yet-gorgeous eyes fell on Shae. Her haughty smile reigned. "You can bring your new pet."

For reasons unknown to him, something happened to Jungkook when Petra and Shae looked directly at each other. He felt that blue light flash quickly over his eyes again, and hoped to God that no one noticed. An electric buzzing, like radio static, started crackling in his ears.

When Petra turned away from Shae, the buzzing stopped. 

Jungkook shook his head as if trying to shake off the weirdness that had just seized him. Ava, still hanging on Jungkook's arm, shot him a puzzled look.

Petra took a step back from Kim Namjoon in her yellow bell-dress, her smile unwavering. Petra's short bodyguard-escort stepped in line behind her, and the devilish woman strutted away from the Noon Mool representatives and on into the gossiping crowd. A wave of watching eyes followed her as she went, her long black hair fluttering and glistening like a train behind her.

"What the hell?" Ava turned to Kookie, who had just grabbed a drink from a nearby table and taken a swig. His cheeks puffed with liquid and eyes were wide. He swallowed.

Jungkook answered distractedly, "Uh...yeah, she's kinda the worst."

"I like...hate her and want to be her all at the same time," Ava answered with slight awe.

Jungkook shrugged. "She's the most powerful person in this room. And she wants Joon to join her alliance."

"And does Joon plan to?" Ava wondered.

Jungkook shrugged again. "I dunno. I'm not the politician, Joon is. I trust his judgement." Jungkook scratched at his ear, still mildly distracted. "She does have the largest Mysterium reserves in Era, though. And she only shares with people in her coalition."

"Mysterium?"

Jungkook gave a quick explanation of the mysterious magical energy source. As he spoke, Ava pressed her hands into the folds of her emerald dress and considered what this meant.

Meanwhile, Joon's white crew topped head turned slowly, his eyes surveying the room with a blank expression. His face betrayed nothing of the tension in his fingers, which had become claws digging into Shae's knuckles.

Shae cleared her throat and leaned into Joon's shoulder. She whispered, "Joon. Your hand."

Joon looked down, eyes widening with realization. "Beg your pardon." His strong fingers slid from Shae's delicate ones. Shae rubbed at the claw marks in her knuckle with her opposite hand to relieve the pressure.

Shae and Joon stood in silence, shoulder-to-shoulder, both calculating through their own very different range of questions and consequences.

Joon's mind ticked for the millionth time through what was ahead for Noon Mool if he chose allegiance to Petra's alliance...or, if he did not. He knew Petra was powerful. She could solve their Mysterium shortage in a blink. Joon also knew that Petra was extremely dangerous, even when she was on your side.

Shae was considering the weighty exchange between Petra and the stubborn leader of Noon Mool, as well as Jungkook's explanation of this strange Mysterium material. Shae couldn't help but wonder who this Kim Namjoon really was. Some sordid villain? Or a desperate man with nowhere to turn?