“That moonlight that shines on me at dawn, it’s still the same as then. A lot changed in my life, but that moonlight is still the same.”

August D, Moonlight

It was so cold.

My frozen fingers clutched the reins, holding on as Areum blazed as fast as she could through the forests, her hooves falling heavily against the damp ground as I urged her on.

I could barely see what was ahead, with all the descending darkness of the gloomy evening, and it was nothing like the first time I had ridden to the palace in the mountains. It had been bright then, despite the setting sun.

It was the lack of light that cast a dark cloud in my heart, making it pound against my chest in dread.

I turned ahead and kept going on, and for a journey that lasted an hour, it was longer, because of the slippery ground and the slower speed we were going at.

Something doesn’t feel right.

I was hoping against hope that I wasn’t too late, to whatever it was.

Emerging from the trees, we began the ascent to the mountains, slowing down slightly as I rode carefully up the rocky terrain.

Where once I had marvelled at the sunset glowing over the green landscape, there was none of that now; everything was in shades of grey, from the sky, to the misty clouds over the forest, to the dark grey trees now.

Areum let out an anxious whinny, and I leaned closer, patting the top of her head.

“Almost there,” I murmured, just as she turned around the familiar bend, “Keep going. I’m here with you.”

We entered a clearing, and I expected the familiar wall of vines and wild greenery, but what I saw made my blood run cold.

The vines had been torn, as if something had clawed through on a rampage.

I got off my horse, holding my staff out warily as I led Areum through the gaping hole, squinting at the ripped leaves on the ground that was slightly covered by the snow.

These are recent, but not too recent.

Just when I thought it was a chilling sight, it got worse.

Expecting to see the bright torches welcoming me home, all I could see were small flames illuminating the gaping doors, one of them half torn from the hinge.

I gulped, throwing all reason as I hurried into the compound. “Hello?” I called, looking around the dark shadowy courtyard, “Anyone?”

There was not even a sound. Even the torches were dim, as if they were at their end.

Areum drew closer to me, her breaths warm against my hair as we went deeper into the palace. I pushed through the Inner Courtyard, whose doors were open, and although it was a little brighter, it was still much too dark for my liking.

I took a minute to stare at the place I used to train, about to smile, when I realized how silent and different it felt like now.

I reached for the nearest torch, holding it in front of me as I held my staff and the reins with another hand. “Where is everyone?” I whispered, “And why is it so cold?”

Shouldn’t the palace be warm? Or has the enchantment started to wear off?

The faint red Rose Courtyard doors were shut, and I used my staff to rap three times.

Instead of remaining closed, they easily gave way under my knocks, and they swung open.

I held my breath; this was the first time I could see what lay inside Yoongi’s domain. “Hello?” I called, pushing the door open. “Is anyone home?”

All I saw was darkness.

And as the light from my torch fell on what was before me, the curiosity became terror.

The Rose Courtyard was filled with statues, each in different positions. Some were standing, some were on the ground, some were sitting, and some were sleeping.

My staff dropped to the ground when I saw a group of three girls leaning against each other, making me kneel as I brought my torch closer.

It’s Jihyun, Gayoon and Suhyun!

“Good god!” I breathed, a shudder rippling through me as I peered at their faces, at their hands which intertwined together.

What happened here?

I looked around, but I needn’t have searched too long.

Viscount Kim’s familiar robes billowed around him as he bent forwards over the ground, his hand over one chest as he looked down, trapped in a serving position forever.

And Soonshim…

My heart broke.

He stood, as a kneeling Lady Hong looked up at him with a smile, their hands holding each other’s.

I shook my head, backing away from the dozens of statues of the people I had seen around the palace.

Does this mean that Yoongi is one too? I thought, running from statue to statue, trying to find the familiar hulking figure, but to no avail.

I almost tripped over my feet as I ran from room to room within the Rose Courtyard, calling his name fervently, before entering the largest room overlooking the courtyard of statues.

Climbing up the steps, I threw the door open, entering the massive hall. My eyes blinked rapidly, trying to adjust to the dark as I held the torch in front of me like a madwoman, seeing nothing but empty spaces.

He’s not here.

Desperation built up inside of me. Where is he? Where can he be?

I paused as the light fell onto something in the end of the wall. Walking closer, I stared up at the deep mahogany steps towards a gleaming gold throne, its back looking like soaring wings.

I in a breath, seeing the tapestry of phoenixes hanging behind it, interspersed with the Min family name.

I had been right. Yoongi was royalty.

Something rustled under my feet, and I looked down, seeing torn fragments of paper.

Frowning, I reached for it, turning it over.

It seemed that it was part of a painting.

I looked around, going over to the sides of the room and transferring the flame of my torch to the unlit torches of the room, casting some light into the darkness.

The whole floor was filled with ripped paintings.

Turning them around, I tried to make sense of the unfamiliar face, until I eventually managed to piece together part of the puzzle, which formed the face of a brooding youth.

My brow furrowed, looking at the rough collage of the boy’s face.

He was pale, as if he had never seen the light of the sun, and his hair was dark as midnight, falling rakishly over his face like angry . His eyes were as piercing as they were grave, glaring back at me arrogantly over a long nose and the unhappy press of his lips.

This must be him.

This must be Yoongi.

But it’s not my Yoongi.

The one I know would never look at me this way, like I was nothing in his presence.

The one I know is kind, and gentle, and nurturing, and handsome in his own way.

I hadn’t realized I had spoken the last sentence out loud, through shuddering breaths, with tears falling down my cheeks.

I looked around the room.

What is the use of such luxury when I can’t even find him?

What if he’s frozen in stone somewhere, and I don’t know where he is?

I looked up at the throne, looking at the family crest in the tapestry, noticing the intricate scarlet embroidery of the mugunghwa in the borders.

I blinked. The roses were his favorite flowers. He held my father to a life debt because of them; that was how important they were to him.

That’s it!

I got to my feet, skidding across the floor as I ran out, going down two steps at a time, running through the statues in the courtyard.

He was at the gardens, I was sure of it.

I sprinted back to the Inner Courtyard, making a sharp turn towards the way that led to the gardens at the back of the palace, going past empty rooms and unlit hallways, my throat burning as I inhaled the biting air.

The fire flickered in my torch as I stopped at the balcony overlooking the gardens, and I gasped, hurrying down the steps quickly.

Whatever eternal enchantment that had kept the warmth and life in the gardens had long gone; it was as cold as it had been in the palace, and the flowers and shrubs and bushes had long wilted.

Looking around, I was looking at the skeletal remains of the garden’s seemingly eternal bloom, seeing nothing but the true death that awaited such life.

I kept on going, delving deeper, towards the most sacred part.

The scent of roses permeated my nose, injecting some kind of hope as I arrived at the mugunghwa gardens.

I could feel warmth radiating from within, and the light fell on the roses: deep red, and still alive.

Before I could sigh in relief, I saw the figure laying on the ground beside the well.

“Yoongi!” I gasped, tugging at the rusty iron gates of the enclave, slipping through the gap as I fell to my knees beside him, “Hey. Yoongi? Yoongi.”

His eyes were closed.

I shook him, placing my hand against his cool cheek and gave it a shake. “Wake up,” I said, my throat dry as I held my torch over his face, “Please wake up. It’s me. I’m here.”

A few agonizing seconds passed. I noticed that, even with his magnificent robes, his fur was matted; they felt course under my skin as I tried to feel his pulse for signs of life.

He stirred.

“Oh, thank god,” I breathed, holding him close with my free hand, “I thought you were-”

“Eunji?” he asked, his voice raspy, as if he hadn’t used it for days.

In the light, his eyes seemed too bright to me, despite the exhaustion in his voice.

“It’s me,” I said in relief, “I’m here!”

“Am I dying?”

“You will be, if you lie here, you stupid dummy.”

“I’m dreaming again,” he said, cradling my face, “That’s the only time I can see you.”

Oh, Yoongi. “I’m really here,” I insisted, flicking his head.

He winced. “Ouch!”

I laughed, although it came out like a nervous exhale. “See? I wouldn’t do that if I were in your dreams.”

Rubbing his forehead, he tried to push himself up, and I helped him to sit. “You’re really here,” he said in wonder, pulling me against his chest.

I nodded, closing my eyes as I remembered his familiar embrace. “I came back.”

“What took you so long?”

I didn’t have an answer to that. “I’m sorry. I swear I wanted to return, but…” I trailed off, pulling back, “I have no excuse. I had no idea this was going to happen.”

He looked at me. “It wasn’t your fault,” he said, “It’s just...we didn’t know this was going to happen too. I don’t know if you saw the rest of them-”

“I did.”

He looked away. “It’s all because of me. If it wasn’t because of what I did, they wouldn’t have all turned to stone. I’m responsible for all of them.”

“Hush,” I told him, “It’s the curse. You didn’t know.”

“I’m afraid,” he told me, “Eunji, I have to tell you something. A great many things.”

I took his hand in mine. “Me too. You have no idea how crazy it’s been.”

“I know, but we can’t,” he told me, “But you have to leave. It’s not safe here anymore.”

In the moments that followed, I was silent. "Whatever do you mean?" I asked him with a nervous laugh, "I just got here. I had to see you."

"You don't understand. Something is going to happen. I...I will not be the Yoongi you know."

I returned the grave expression. "You're right. I don't understand."

"Eunji, it's not safe to be around me. Not when it reaches midnight."

"But why?" I cried, "Are you not happy to see me again?"

He ran a massive paw across the side of my face. "Of course I am," he whispered. Then he pulled back from me. "But you must leave. I do not want to hurt you."

"Why would you hurt me?"

Yoongi ran his hands through his face. "These past few days have been excruciating," he said, turning away, "I have an uncharacteristic craving for...for live creatures. And I crave them like a predator craves for prey. And now that is exactly what I feel."

He looked at me then, anguish in his eyes. "I've been hiding out here. I will not succumb to it, Eunji. I’ve tried it and...I simply can't go any further."

I refused to be horrified. "It is the curse, isn't it?" I asked him gently.

He only nodded. "I would rather die than become a monster," he murmured, before letting out a mirthless laugh. "I suppose it would only be fitting to finally act the monster, at long last."

Even with his large stature, he looked small before me, beaten down by the final consequences of his curse, whatever it was.

Mistress Song was right; he was leaving my life.

And he would be.

Except that he wouldn’t leave me, not when I wasn’t going to leave him.

"You aren't a monster," I told him, slipping my hand in his, "I know who you are...You’re Min Yoongi. You’re the last Prince Min’s son.”

He looked up, eyes wide, searching mine. The question lay in his eyes.

I gave a small smile. "I finally pieced together all the variables and did the final equation," I said with a smug grin, “Aren’t you proud of me?”

"You are the smartest girl I know," he told me, running his hands through my hair. He smiled. "I've always wanted to tell you who I really was-"

"But you couldn't," I finished for him.

"And now you know. I hope you forgive me for the deception. I could think of no other way," he said, smiling, but his smile was contrasted with his choked voice. "You still have to leave. It should be anytime soon, and I want you as far away from me before I finally become what is to become of me."

I shook my head. "I am not going anywhere."

He grabbed my shoulders. "You don't understand. Should you be here after midnight, you could be my first meal in three days. And I wouldn't be sorry, not the least bit."

"So be it."

"Eunji!" he cried in frustration.

"No! If I am to die tonight, then it has been fated. I came back because...because I needed to see you. I missed you. I-"

Love you.

Yoongi looked pained. "I understand that, Eunji," he began patiently, but suddenly his words were swallowed by a bloodcurdling howl.

We both turned to the direction of the sound, and I could hear a faint whinny in the distance.

Both of us froze in the silence that followed. Just then there was a panicked whinny in the distance.

"No!" I cried, getting to my feet, panicking, “Areum