"Oh, it's you."
Adrean didn't like the way the stranger's voice resonated in his mind. His ears started ringing out of the blue. and he stumbled away from the stranger, bringing his hands to his ears. "Sorry, I--"
A weird pressure was building up inside of him, fighting against his insides. Adrean felt like a balloon being blown up well past its limit and that if he didn't do something he'd burst. He looked to the stranger. Who was it? Why did he look so familiar? Somehow, the stranger didn't find his actions weird but stood there watching him in what appeared to be amusement?
The man took a step forward closing in the distance Adrean had created, coming uncomfortably close to him.
"S-step back."
Adrean managed to breathe out fighting against the strange pressure. It was beginning to get too much to handle, clawing at his insides frantically, screaming to be let out. He saw something flicker across the eyes of the man in front of him. The man's grin turned to a cold smirk.
"And if I don't?"
"Kneel."
There was a visible shift in the air around them at Adrean's uncharacteristic command. The stranger in front of him tilted his head. "You know, I don't like the tone of your voice, Andrea."
Andrea. The name sent a shockwave through Adrean's body. "I'm sorry, what did you call me? W-what did I say?"
And before Adrean knew it, his back slammed against a tree and he felt the feel of a palm against his throat, squeezing so hard that it cut off his airflow. A pair of shining rings of fire stared down at him and the voice that followed was gutturally low, "You would do well to remember this, darling. You don't use that tone with me."
That was the moment Adrean broke. A fury so fierce shot through his veins as a memory that he despised with all his heart resurfaced and he spat in recognition. "Vile one."
"That's right, Andrea." The rings of fire narrowed as he smiled. "It's me." The Vile One's eyes trailed down his face in some kind of hungry fascination. "You've gotten prettier, darling. I wonder how..."
"You vile monster!" Adrean's eyes flashed as his palm clamped down on his wrist. Unfortunately for the Vile One, he hadn't anticipated that it would be on the same left wrist that held a certain bracelet.
Upon Adrean's touch, the metal burned white-hot. The rings that circled his eyes flickered and went out and a hiss of pain left his lips as the flesh against the bracelet burned though there was no visible sign of a burn.
Hoseok cried out in agony as it became unbearable and his legs gave out. Though the change in his demeanor was apparent, Adrean didn't let go of him. Oh no, he had a critical debt to pay.
"You dare touch me, you vile filthy monster!" Adrean growled, strengthening his grip on the bracelet.
"How dare you! How dare you come back, you cunning devil!" He spat on the ground, rotating his shoulders as he let his fury control his body. It was the most invigorating he ever felt since the day the Vile One waltzed into Andrea's home claiming to be the one who cursed her lover. She had always wanted to beat the living sh*t out of the warlock after that but unfortunately for her, she never got a chance. Now, as the opportunity presented itself in front of Adrean, he wasn't just going to sit back and let it pass. He aimed a sharp kick at the man on the ground who he thought to be the Vile One. "Arrgh!"
"You made a mistake coming back to me, Vile one. I will not let this end well for you! Die!"
He shot another kick to his stomach, making Hoseok cough out helplessly. "Die! Die and go back to hell where you belon--"
"Stop!"
Adrean didn't hear the female cry, too absorbed in his mind when a feminine figure shoved past him, snapping him out of his daze, and ran up to the weak form on the ground. Stretching out her hands in front of Hoseok, she turned to glare at him. "Stop whatever you're doing! He's not who you think he is. He is innocent!" Sia Winters yelled out, standing protectively over Hoseok.
Andrean blinked in a daze. Once he got over his initial shock, he smirked, "Are you his girlfriend, sweetheart? If so, run away..." He gritted out, eyes traveling back to Hoseok in disgust, "Runaway before this bast@rd curses you, takes over you, and turns you into a monster like him! Filthy scum, I ought to--"
"ADREAN!" Namjoon appeared right in time as he made to shove past Sia to Hoseok on the ground. "Adrean, hear me out! I should have told you!"
"Tell me what? What is this monster doing here, NJ? He shouldn't be here! How dare he be reborn--"
"Adrean, please--"
"He deserves to die, NJ. He doesn't deserve to breathe the same air as you and I!"
"Adrean, please listen. I will explain everythi-- OH NONOnonono! Hoseok, don't!"
Whoosh!
NJ quickly whipped out his hand to create an invisible shield moments before a wave of flames burned them to ash that erupted from Hoseok's outstretched palm. "Hoseok! Please, calm down!"
"Calm down?" Hoseok asked incredulously, glowering at the pair of them. "NJ, you heard what he said and I'm supposed to take in all that?"
NJ breathed out an exasperated sigh as he realized that things were getting too out of control. "Adrean, hold my shield."
Handing the shield over to Adrean, NJ walked up to Hoseok, his angelic powers naturally shielding him from the flames, and pressed his palm onto Hoseok's forehead. "What do you think you're doing?" Hoseok bristled.
"I- I'm trying to calm you down. Please, I know. I know this is too muc--"
Hoseok scoffed, shoving his palm away from his forehead. "Your power doesn't even work against mine. It goes void."
"Here let me try." Namjoon had briefly forgotten about the girl whom he had brought with him just in case. Thinking back, he felt lucky to have considered that option, especially with the way things were spiraling out of his control. He needed Sia there. Upon her offer, he nodded and stepped back from a glowering Hoseok who was still seething at him.
Sia stepped forward and placed a hand over his tensed shoulders. The effect was instantaneous. Hoseok's shoulders slumped and the glare on his face smoothened to define exhaustion and hurt. Even though Sia had anticipated the change, it seemed as though she was surprised and a tad bit intrigued. NJ gave her a contended nod as he looked back to Hoseok.
"Hoseok, I'm sorry. I should have foreseen this coming but--"
Adrean took the exact moment to interrupt with a battle cry and before he could reach them, NJ commanded, "Freeze."
He froze mid-way against his will and directed a fuming glare at him. "Now, Adrean. Please be calm and let me explain. This is not the Vile One. This is Jung Hoseok. He is...different."
Adrean scoffed. "So that's what he is pretending to be now? NJ, you of all people should know that the Vile One is a master manipulator!"
"I know, but I have seen him. He has empathy. He is not like the Vile One--"
"Somehow I find that highly difficult to believe. Forgive me NJ but I don't think you understand. He is cunning! He can be anything he wants! He is a pretende--"
"Stop."
It wasn't a command but it still had the same results.
"Vile One. . . Vile One. Who is Vile One? Why do I have to suffer for all that he did? What did I ever do wrong? I didn't ask for this...I didn't ask to be born in a body that isn't mine."
The hurt, the helplessness in his voice was too defined. Too vulnerable. Even Adrean couldn't find his voice as he spoke.
"I never wanted this. All I ever wanted was to be normal. Just like everyone else. And I would literally do anything for that. So stop..." His voice cracked and NJ had to look away, unable to bear the look in his eyes. "Just stop calling me a name that's not mine."
Sia could feel the way his body trembled under her palm and she gulped down remorsefully. She had heard about everything from NJ and now as she stood watching him tremble, she knew Hoseok was suffering more than he let on. It made her feel even more guilty about what she did before. Sia slowly removed her hand from his shoulders.
The moment her touch left him, the anger in his eyes was back. His shoulders tensed once again. Even Sia couldn't register the sudden change in his stance quick enough as his fingers clenched and he snapped.
"And I will have you know this once and for all. I'm not the Vile One. I'm Hoseok! Jung Hoseok!"
______________________
A/n: Oooh...
Also, the story behind Adrean (Andrea), if you want to know more about what happened, check out CURSED by yours truly.