Chapter Text
Seoul doesn't sleep. It bustles with life during the day, filled with endless music and chatter. Adults going on with their lives, children playing, students tiredly stumbling from one place to another.
When the sun goes down, everything changes. People hide in the safety of their homes, locking their children inside in worry, although some of them are not even aware why. They're not aware what comes out at night.
Hidden in plain sight during the day -- shapes in the dark alleys of Hongdae, creatures moving through the dark waters of the Han river -- most of them only get to live their lives after sunset.
Being a part of that is the only thing Hyunjin knows, but, in his defense, he doesn't remember much. His earliest memory is from two years ago -- opening his eyes to the bright neon lights shining in the sky, the feeling of wet concrete under his back, a worried face peering into his. Any attempts to reach into his past memories result in debilitating pain, and asking around results in even more questions.
Over the years, he's managed to piece together who he was and what his life was like before; he ran away from home at a young age, after finding out he had magical abilities. Once he came to Seoul, he quickly became immersed in the night life with the help of the people he came across, who he started to consider family after knowing them for some time. He knows he specialized in divination, always with a deck of tarot cards on him, just in case he felt lost; his magic, however, had an unknown purpose, couldn't help anyone, couldn't guide him anywhere, only came out when he was really focused, or really upset.
The two years that he's been, well, remembering, were full of new things. The first night after regaining his memory he was led to an apartment that supposedly was his and yet, he couldn't see himself in. The people he once considered family were now strangers, and as heartbreaking as that must've been for all of them, he had to form bonds with them once more.
Hyunjin can't say that there's many constants in his life -- if he really focuses on it, he can name three things that have stayed with him the entire time.
The first one is his tarot deck. Well worn, slightly faded and not in the best condition it's ever been in, the cards make him feel at ease. The connection he has with them is as though his memory was never lost, their energy familiar and new at the same time. He turns to them in times of feeling lost, unsure about something he's about to attempt, and they never fail to provide an answer.
The second one is his familiar.
On his first night, he remembers a black snake sliding across his body, and even though he didn't know the animal at the time, its presence wasn't threatening in any way. Its magic, its energy, were all familiar and compatible with his own. The creature, having earned the nickname Bean from Hyunjin, doesn't leave him most times. It's always there, curled around his shoulder or wrapping around his arms, crimson eyes always on him. It doesn't know anything about his past, though, almost as if it lost its memories the same way Hyunjin did.
The third and quite possibly most important, is the seven people that he can, for the second time in his life, call a family. From what he's gathered, they've known each other for an incredibly long time -- people in Seoul usually come and go, but they were different. They stayed for each other, stayed for what they had. For some of them, it's the only family they've ever had.
(It's quite sad for Hyunjin -- he had a family too, at one point, but he can't remember anything apart from that. He's not sure what's worse - never having a family before, or having one and not remembering it.)
One thing that has helped him immensely with forming new bonds and relationships with them, was his deck. He quickly became aware that every single member of his family shared the same energy and characteristics of at least one card and, with their guidance, it was a bit easier for him to get familiar with them.
The oldest out of all of them, someone Hyunjin from the very beginning associated with The Emperor, was Woojin. His card represents organization, authority, protectiveness, and that's exactly who the witch is. He takes care of them almost like a parent would, his magic strictly protective and never with ill intentions. Being the oldest grants him some authority over them, as he's obviously experienced more than any of them in any field, but he never takes advantage of that. He thinks logically, knowing that his emotions would only be a burden in certain situations, and he is the one always able to help them, always giving advice no matter what it might require of him.
Younger than Woojin, but still technically one of the oldest, was Chan -- a witch described the best by the King of Wands; a natural leader, capable of big things, full of raw power and inspiration. Everything Chan does is filled with energy, and there isn't really anything he can't do, because once he sets his mind on something, he will not stop until he's achieved it. While Woojin is a critical thinker and never lets his emotions cloud his judgement, Chan is different -- his choices are based more off his emotions, as well as everyone around him. It's a double edged sword -- as helpful as it might be at times, sometimes mistakes are made. His magic manifests itself in all forms - it can be protective, used as a weapon or a tool, and it's saved him from negative situations plenty of times, as well as almost hurt them at times.
Minho, the third one in their age order is The Moon. The older was a bit of an enigma; it definitely took Hyunjin the longest to figure out what he really was like. The most obvious thing that he saw -- Minho was a trickster. His magic wasn't the strongest, which is why he only ever uses it to play tricks on them, but it's obvious he has the potential to be more powerful. Just as the card suggests, he brings clarity to all of them, like a light guiding them through the dark. Despite everything, the pranks and the trickery, he brought all of them together. In times of being lost, in cases of their rare arguments, he is the one that sees through their lies and calls them out when needed.
The first person Hyunjin can remember is Jisung. The shapeshifter is his age, and even before he was associated with The Chariot in Hyunjin's mind, his energy was clear. Having obviously gone through a lot, as his powers were very unstable, according to Jisung himself, he was now the definition of control and overcoming challenges. He's helped Hyunjin immensely, back when he couldn't remember anything, being patient and kind. He's told him countless stories about how close the two of them used to be, talked to him about how their life was before and Hyunjin is insanely grateful for him (even though he never wanted to tell him what exactly made Hyunjin lose his memory).
Seungmin is balance. Everything in his life; from him going to school and trying to perfect his highly unusual powers at the same time, to all the patience he has for everything. Temperance is all of these things. Seungmin, out of everyone, has helped Hyunjin the most with his abilities -- not that Hyunjin is extraordinarily gifted, but he appreciates it nonetheless. They're similar, in a way -- Seungmin used to be like him; over sensitive at times, unpredictable when upset, but he's learned how to control that, found his balance. He's learned how to adapt, and no matter how dangerous his power could be at times, he's calm and patient with himself, and that's what's the most important.
Felix is The Sun in all possible ways. From his tanned skin and bright eyes, to the warmth and happiness he radiates just by existing, he brings hope to all of them. It wasn't always like that, though (or so he heard). The boy's powers did not make themselves known until after being with them for a year and a half, and before that he was sure he was ordinary. Not being gifted was not a particularly odd thing around here; but having come from a family of people with powers, and then becoming a part of their family -- it sure was sad to him. Not that Hyunjin remembers what it was like - all he knows is the Felix full of confidence and optimism, the one who sends Hyunjin bright smiles when he's down and helps him interpret his readings when he's struggling.
The Fool, numbered zero, showing infinite potential, is an eighteen year old named Yang Jeongin. He's pure everything -- pure joy, pure innocence, pure power . They haven't seen the full extent of his powers (or, at least Hyunjin hasn't), but the boy is capable of great things and they all know that. The fact that Jeongin would probably be able to set the entire city of Seoul on fire and get rid of every living creature there; and yet, he's spending his entire life in Chan's living room watching animated movies and eating his food.
That, and he's the only one strong enough to travel to other realms, which they all use to their advantage because some of the most useful things to them; stones and magical plants, happen to be unavailable here. Because of that, every once in a while, their youngest brother leaves, to better his abilities and, while he's at it, get them supplies.
It has now been about six months since Jeongin left, and to be fair, everyone of them misses the boy. Hyunjin, only slightly excited, has been waiting to see him, coming 20 early and having to stand in the rain.
The neon lights of the brightly lit streets cast strange images onto the wet pavement, still falling rain distorting the shapes. Something warm and smooth slithers down his arm, onyx colored head peeking out of his sleeve and looking around curiously.
Can we go home? The voice in his head whispers, a slight whine to it. Hyunjin chuckles, shaking his head.
“It's not going to take much longer, I swear.” He says quietly, urging the snake to hide back in the confines of his clothes. A small, displeased sound echoes in his mind before the creature moves back into his sleeve, curling around his arm.
And, as the clock strikes midnight, something shifts, so subtle any other person would've missed it. But, to Hyunjin's experienced eyes, it's obvious. A small ripple in the street, a wave in the neon lights, the wind picking up, carrying a faint scent of herbs and magic with it. The cold night air thrums with silent energy, and a figure steps out of the shadows, seemingly materializing out of thin air. Hyunjin smiles, walking out of the alley. “Finally,” he breathes out, shaking his head in mock annoyance.
“How long have you been standing here?” The person asks, bright eyes sparkling even in the dim light of the street.
“Too long, Jeongin.” He answers, taking a step forward and giving the other a tight hug in greeting. He almost bumps the orange cat perched on the boy's shoulder, but catches himself in time and gives the animal a pat on the head.
Jeongin grins at him, smile (literally) illuminating the area around them. While his expression doesn't falter, the boy seems a bit troubled, if not disappointed. “I'd love to stay a bit longer, but Woojin is waiting for me, and you know how he gets--” he rambles, gesticulating wildly and searching around his pockets for something. After a few slow minutes, he pulls out two velvet pouches from his jacket and hands them to Hyunjin.
One of the pouches is normal, filled with a variety or herbs and stones Hyunjin had asked him for. He pockets it with a small smile and an appreciative nod.
The other one is… odd. It feels unusually heavy in his hands, but the energy it radiates is even stranger. It tugs at Hyunjin's soul, sends a shiver down his spine and makes his fingertips tingle with unknown magic. He looks at Jeongin, questioning. “What is this?”
Jeongin shrugs, rocking back and forth on the balls of his feet innocently. “Just some things that reminded me of you. Why?”
Hyunjin shakes his head. “Nothing.” He says, not wanting to trouble the boy with that just yet. He need to find out for himself, first.
Jeongin doesn't look very convinced, but doesn't say anything. He looks around, searching for any people that might be there, before launching himself at Hyunjin. “I really missed all of you,” he mutters, face buried in the other's shoulder. “But I better go -- I don't want to keep dad waiting.”
“That's fine. We're can hang out, like, tomorrow.” Hyunjin reassures, patting the younger's back. “Tell everyone I said hi.”
They stay like that for a little while, enjoying each other's presence after not being able to have any contact for months. For Jeongin, he wasn't gone for very long, but, unfortunately, time passes differently in magical realms. Once they part, Jeongin flashes him one last smile, before he steps backwards and blends into the rain.
Hyunjin reaches into his sleeve, running his fingers over the snake's head gently. “Let's go home, Bean.” he whispers, walking onto the streets, wet concrete crunching underneath him. He considers taking the long road home, to enjoy the cool wind that came with the rain, to watch all the bright lights just for a few seconds more; before he has to hide in his tiny apartment. Something stops him, though -- the odd vibrations the velvet pouch gives off, the strange energy he feels in his core. He needs to find out what it is as soon as possible.
It's not long before he jogs up the stairs, reaching his apartment on the second floor of a building occupied by other witches, for the most part. He unlocks the door with a key firs, then places his hand flat on the wood, the surface lighting up with intricate sigils (courtesy of Woojin), before it finally opens.
Only in a bit if a rush, Hyunjin takes his coat and shoes off, lays Bean down on the couch, places his newly acquired herbs and crystal where they should be, and heads to the balcony with the other pouch.
He spends a lot of time there -- doing readings, practicing magic, spending time with himself. It helps him focus, calms him down and makes him feel like he's in control of his own life and powers. As he sits down on the floor, he leaves the balcony door ajar after seeing Bean slither across the floor. Heart pounding in excitement and nerves, he opens the pouch and lets the items roll onto the tiles.
There's three items in there; two of them hand carved wooden figurines, one of them a fox and the other a snake. It brings a smile to Hyunjin's face - the younger boy always brings him something like that, all of them having a special spot on his dresser in his bedroom. The third item is what was making him feel so odd . It's a crystal pendulum -- a piece of amethyst, held up and wrapped in a leather cord. It appears to be well worn, and the energy it radiates feels oddly familiar, like it's something he's felt before. Amethysts are stones for mental protection, they help warding off negative energy and act as a shield for the wearer.
Hyunjin clicks his tongue in thought, wondering what it could be. He holds in in his hands, eyes closed, and focuses. There's something almost like a barrier there, something preventing him from getting a grasp on the energy and trying to press further only makes pain erupt behind his eyes. With a heavy sigh, he stops. Looks like he won't be getting anywhere with it.
Without further thought, he slips the pendulum around his neck and gets up. It feels like it belongs there, the cold stone resting against his sternum. It thrums with silent energy, sending a wave of warmth down his spine, and as Hyunjin slowly heads to his bedroom, it just tugs at his soul more and more. It's weird, really, how it's making him feel safe just by being near him. But it's definitely something he needs to discuss with Chan and the others - perhaps it has something to do with his lost memories.
Usually, Hyunjin has pretty clear dreams -- oftentimes it's messages that he interprets with the use of his tarot deck after awakening. This time, however, is different.
The night is warm, and the streetlights overhead bask them all in a golden light. The eight of them are sitting under a tree in Woojin's backyard, laughing about something silly Felix said.
Hyunjin can feel two people leaning against him, one of them, obvious by the loud laughter being Jisung, and the other--
When he turns his head to look in the direction, he finds that he can't see the person's face clearly; features blurring into an indistinguishable mass, their whole body looking like it's made out of fog.
Once he's awake, all he can feel is confusion . He can't remember more past that . The memory, which is what he assumes it was, was just odd enough to make him consider taking out his cards, but he decides against it. He quickly texts Chan, warning him that he's coming over later, and gets out of bed slowly. Humming softly to himself, he checks all his notifications, and moves to the kitchen to make himself coffee and breakfast.
The pendulum feels warm against his neck, and if it wasn't slightly uncomfortable, he probably wouldn't have noticed it. Despite that, he doesn't even try taking it off.
As he's texting Seungmin, he briefly mentions getting an odd gift from Jeongin the night before, but changes the topic quickly. That's not something he wants to discuss over text.
Hyunjin is out of the house almost two hours later, because, as it turns out, browsing the internet and watching reruns of his favorite TV show is more time consuming than he'd thought. He takes his time walking, because even though Chan lives quite far, he still needs to think about the memory (?). That, and the weather is pretty nice.
He's lucky to be the part of Seoul's night life that's able to still live their lives during the day as well. He knows many people, from vampires to chimeras and lamias, who can't show up during the day because of the fear of being beaten up or worse.
Even Jisung, despite looking 100% human, sometimes gets caught up while shifting and ends up with wolf ears or a wing sticking out of his back. Those situations can escalate quickly -- he gets things thrown at him, ranging from insults to empty glass bottles, and it never ends well; none of them are patient when it comes to their family being hurt.
He keeps on texting both Seungmin and Felix as he walks, and even as he gets to the door of Chan's house he doesn't lift his eyes from the screen of his phone. What makes him snap out of it, is the door slowly creaking open.
“You've been standing out here for, like, 5 minutes and didn't think to knock?” Woojin asks, laughing silently. Hyunjin nods with a flat expression, walking past the older boy and going straight to the kitchen after taking his shoes off.
Woojin and Jeongin moved in with Chan over a year prior, after he had complained about “feeling lonely” and “Jeongin only coming over when he wanted help with homework” and “never having food at home” -- in the end, since their house is the biggest, that's where the eight of them spend most days. And, because of that, he's not at all surprised when he sees Jisung and Seungmin already there, the older of the two immediately clinging to Hyunjin.
Only slightly startled by that, he wraps one of his arms around Jisung and pats Seungmin on the back with his free hand as a greeting.
Woojin looks at them fondly from where he's leaning against the counter. “Do you guys want food?” He asks, cringing slightly when he's answered with loud yells of excitement at the question.
Seungmin gets up, sighing. “I'll help you.” Shooting Jisung and Hyunjin an exasperated glare, he moves to help Woojin make what looks suspiciously like pancake batter.
Jisung stays glued to Hyunjin's side for as long as he can -- until Woojin sets down the first pancake and he ends up burning his tongue on it and subsequently getting scolded.
They eat and joke around, making Hyunjin forget about the strange gift and the even stranger memory. Even the pendulum, hidden under his sweatshirt, has cooled down to a normal temperature.
It's slightly later when they move to the living room and sit down on any available surface; Hyunjin in the armchair next to the window, the remaining three on the couch, close to each other despite there being a lot of space around them. After a few minutes of them sitting in silence, the only sound whatever game show was currently playing on TV, the front door opens and the house is filled with noise, the remaining four making their presence known immediately.
“Hi, Woojin. Hi, the rest of you who don't live here,” Chan greets, dropping down on the couch next to Jisung and pulling Minho down next to them. He looks tired, like he usually does these days, but Hyunjin doesn't question it. All he can do is hope someone's reminding him to sleep regularly. Felix and Jeongin emerge from the kitchen soon after them, the older of the two sitting on the other armchair opposite of Hyunjin and pulls their youngest on his lap. It's obvious that they've all missed them, more than they usually did.
Finally, being able to talk to each other, the eight of them together again, they all appear a lot happier -- Seungmin's smile could rival the sun itself, and Jeongin's laugh is definitely heard all throughout the neighborhood.
And yet, Hyunjin gets the feeling that something is missing. Maybe he's just being paranoid, but perhaps it has something to do with the faceless boy from his dream, with the pendulum that's once again heating up.
Who could the boy possibly be? It's always been the eight of them, that's what they've always told Hyunjin. When they talked about it, that is. All of them avoided the subject as much as they could, only ever telling Hyunjin that it was a stupid accident, a concussion doubled with magic injuries to his brain. That's all.
They wouldn't lie to him, would they?
He pushes the uneasiness down, and they fall into a conversation just as easily as they always do, and it they spend forever chatting about useless topics, before they start talking about Jeongin's last trip. The boy recounts stories of people and creatures he's met, things he's eaten, people he (almost) fought and then, they talk about the gifts they've gotten.
It's all standard, for the most part -- the wooden figurines are now like a tradition, it's what he always brings back. Herbs, crystals, wands are also an obvious gift because there really isn't much they need aside from that. They discuss the different things they could use them for -- from divination and protection, to cooking for the rest of them.
As the conversation slowly dies down, Seungmin just so happens to mention Hyunjin calling one of his gifts odd. Which, of course, leads to him being bombarded by questions that he really doesn't feel like answering because of how uneasy it makes him feel.
“Yeah, uh…” Hyunjin chuckles, slowly pulling it over his head and holding it in front of him for everyone to see. The crystal seems to glow faintly, but it might be just his imagination. “I don't know, it's odd.”
They all fall quiet.
Out of the corner of his eye, Hyunjin sees Woojin and Chan stiffen.
“Where did you get that?” Jisung asks Jeongin, and his voice is strained, like he's trying to hold himself back from screaming.
The boy freezes for a few minutes, staring at Hyunjin with that deer in the headlights look on his face, before he turns to the rest, voice shaky. “Oh shit , I- I didn't even realize, I don't know how the seller had it there- ”
Everyone's too still to scold his choice of words.
Hyunjin's heart rate quickens at their reactions worry heavy like lead in the pit of his stomach, and he furrows his brows in confusion. “What are you talking about?” He asks, shaking his head.
No one answers his question for a while, only adding to his panic, before Woojin finally opens his mouth to speak.
“Jinnie, before I start, I just need you to understand that we did what we did for a reason,” he says, speaking slowly and quietly, as if talking to a wounded animal. Hyunjin sits up straighter, pocketing the pendulum with a shaking hand.
“We… were not always honest with you. And I swear it was for your own good--”
What?
Hyunjin's antsy now, frustration bubbling in him, making his fingertips tingle with magic. “Just tell me, for fuck's sake.”
The oldest shares a sorrowful look with Chan, before he speaks again.
“There… was no head injury. No accident. The memories that you're missing were removed by us,”
His heart drops. Why would they--
“There wasn't always eight of us, either. We were nine, but he-”
Hyunjin wants to scream. He wants to show them the goddamn pendulum, wants to tell them that he saw him, that he knows , and yet, words fail him. He looks at Woojin with his mouth slightly open, utterly speechless.
Seungmin speaks up afterwards, oddly timid. “He died. And so would you, if it wasn't for him.”
Time seems to stop, and the only thing Hyunjin hears is the rushing of blood in his ears. Deep inside of him, he recognizes the faint whisper of the pendulum as the same as one of the cards in his deck.
The Hanged Man: martyrdom, release, sacrifice.
When he gets up, it's so sudden the armchair almost topples over. His entire body is shaking and at this point he's not sure whether it's just fear or also frustration.
They lied to him, about everything he can remember? No, it doesn't seem like them, they'd never--
“You have to understand that we had no other choice--”
Shut up, he thinks , becoming increasingly more frustrated with every second. There had to be another choice, had to--
Why would they lie? Why would they lie to him about something so important?
How could they?
“Just let us explain, Jinnie-”
shut up.
“There wasn't anything we could do-”
stop.
“We didn't mean to keep this away from you, but--”
SHUT UP
Something inside of Hyunjin breaks.
“All this time,” he spits out, angry tears filling his eyes. “ All this time, you knew. And you didn't consider telling me?” It hurts to even think about it, but there's no going back from what they just told him.
Someone calls out to him as he turns to leave, fingers barely ghosting over his shoulder before he summons an energy shield, effectively pushing the person away.
Betrayal feels like an understatement right now. His whole chest is on fire, pain burning through his veins and his entire being, sending him spiraling even deeper into his anger. His best friends, his family , have been lying to him for two years, about quite possibly the most important thing in his life. The thought alone, of them never even mentioning it , makes the tears spill over his cheeks, burning hot on his skin.
Hyunjin's magic runs hot, lines of fire running up his arms and accumulating around his fists. It hurts, almost like he was touching metal that laid in the sun for too long, but it at least distracted him from the heartbreak he was feeling. The pendulum, on the other hand, feels icy cold in his pockets. He fights the urge to throw it away.
He doesn't walk far after he leaves, no, he collapses on a sidewalk, burying his head in his hands, allowing himself to wallow in misery for a while. Out of all people, he didn't expect them to do that.
As expected, he isn't left alone for long. He feels someone approaching before he sees them, the energy calm and familiar.
“Fuck off, Chan.” He mumbles weakly, breath hitching and lungs constricting as he tries to keep himself from sobbing.
“You have to understand, Hyunjin--” Chan starts, voice soft and filled with worry. There already is a protective shield over him -- Woojin's magic -- and thankfully, because when Hyunjin slams his fist on the pavement, it sends sparks flying towards him.
“What is there to understand?” Hyunjin grits out through clenched teeth, staring at the ground in rage. “You lied to me, about everything I've ever known! Is that what families do, Chan?”
Guilt flashes across Chan's features, but so briefly he almost misses it. He kneels on the wet ground in front of Hyunjin, looking just as calm as he always does. They stare at each other for a while, the older with that soft, compassionate look in his eyes and-- goddamn, Hyunjin looks away in defeat, all anger leaving him. No matter what they do, he can't bring himself to feel any sort of resentment towards them.
“You've lied to me about everything I know,” he whispers, grief sitting heavy in his chest, making his breathing stutter. “What am I supposed to do, now?”
Chan just stares at him, troubled. For the first time in ages, he seems at loss for words. “You… have to understand that we had no other choice,” he starts, looking as if he just remembered something bad. “It was either that, or...”
He doesn't finish. Hyunjin's throat feels dry all of sudden as he sees the look on Chan's face. It's full of fear and sorrow, and perhaps it means that they really had no other way.
Both of them go quiet for a minute.
“You do know that I have to get my memories back, right? I can't turn back now.” The younger says, voice unstable and hands trembling. His magic has since faded, but his entire body still feels uncomfortably warm and his arms are sore.
“I know, and I trust that you will be able to get them back,” Chan smiles, but it doesn't quite reach his eyes. He places a careful hand on Hyunjin's shoulder. “But you have to promise me, that-- that whatever happens, you're going to be careful. And… no matter what, please remember to put yourself first.”
The urgency in his voice unsettles Hyunjin -- Chan won't be stopping him, but somehow, it feels like his endeavor might be more dangerous than he initially thought.
Nevertheless, he has to do it. If not for himself, then for the faceless boy from his memories.
“I promise.” He smiles at the other, although it feels a little shaky. They both stand up, and stare at each other in silence that's only mildly awkward.
“I'm sorry, Jinnie.”