Chapter Text
The congregation assembled in the trial chamber straighten to attention, their voices subdued as Head Overseer Kang enters the room. The ornate gold embroidery of his elegant robe shimmers in the low candlelight as he takes his place at the center of the long bench alongside the other members of the Council. Kang surveys the packed pews on both sides of the room, noting that kindred of varying age from covens all across the city are present. It's rare for a trial to draw such a crowd, but he isn't surprised considering the identity of the accused.
“Head Overseer…are you sure that this is a wise choice?” The hushed whisper comes from the seat next to his own.
Kang turns to face his fellow councilman. “What do you mean, Overseer Ahn?”
The other vampire’s expression is one of extreme wariness. “It is just…the accused, you are aware that his coven-“
“No one must be above the law,” Kang reminds him sternly, though he understands Ahn’s concern. He might have felt the same way if circumstances were not as they are. “And this trial will be the perfect example to demonstrate that fact.”
"The little wretch deserves to burn," hisses Overseer Lim from his other side. "He will be lucky if he manages to get a quick execution."
"He will be judged fairly," Kang reminds him, a note of warning his his tone. Lim's feelings- and the feelings of the Council as a whole-toward this particular vampire and his coven are well known. But they mustn't let personal sentiment cloud professional judgement.
Overseer Ahn still appears disquieted. “But his sire! If he finds out, he-“
“Is hundreds of miles away, and has no place in these proceedings,” Lim replies haughtily.
Ahn looks unconvinced, but he says no more as Overseer Kang turns his attention to the vampire seated below them awaiting judgement.
"You are Jeon Jungkook, of the Kim coven?"
"The one and only."
Jungkook flashes the Council above him a lazy smile that showcases his sharp fangs, sprawled insouciantly across the chair with legs dangling carelessly over one armrest and head on the other. He's the perfect picture of debauchery-white silk shirt still spattered with blood from his violent spree, unbuttoned to expose a scandalous swath of skin all the way down to his navel. His long black hair is tousled as though run through by lustful hands, and silver glints in the candlelight from where it lines his ears and lip. But the most damning part of Jeon Jungkook are his eyes, eyes that blaze a bright burning crimson, clear evidence to the obscene amount of blood he's gorged himself on tonight.
Kang suppresses his disgust at the blatant show of licentiousness. "You have been brought before the Council on this night to face judgement for the serious crimes you have committed."
"Oh no , how terrible.”
The young vampire appears anything but abashed. In fact he seems rather amused by the entire affair, as if being brought to trial by the highest court in the land is a fun diversion and not a potentially life-ending sentence. But perhaps to the youngest member of the notoriously formidable Kim coven it is. He's practically a newborn, barely two hundred years old and the junior of his coven by several centuries, and the arrogance of youth is plain in his demeanor. No doubt he's been spoiled like a little prince by his covenmates, resulting in his flagrant disregard for the ethics of proper kindred society.
"You were caught in Gangnam-gu in the aftermath of the mass slaughter of thirty-five humans, in plain sight of hundreds of others." The report had been graphic- describing the scene of the vampire lounging on a pile of bodies in the middle of a popular nightclub, carelessly tossing one aside as he finished draining it completely. It was a heinous crime, but Jeon Jungkook had made no attempt to escape. Instead he had grinned up at the peacekeepers when they approached, all but handing himself over to them as though he'd wanted to be caught.
"Yeah, and?" Jungkook replies, playing absently with one of the jeweled rings on his fingers. "Sounds like a perfect night out to me."
"You are aware that both overhunting and unnecessary manslaughter are illegal, and that intentionally revealing the existence of kindred is a capital offense?" Overseer Lim barks from next to Kang on the bench.
"To you I guess," Jungkook says with an unconcerned shrug. "Personally, I don't see what the all the fuss is about. Just because you geezers are stuck in 1542 doesn't mean we all need to be...or maybe your fangs are too dull to have fun anymore?"
Both the members of the Council and the other vampires in the room erupt in furious tones.
"You insolent child! How dare you speak to your elders in such a manner!" Lim exclaims. Overseer Kang glances at his fellow councilman and sees that the other vampire is seething in indignation.
"Why should I respect you?" the young vampire retorts with a disbelieving laugh. "Just because you're a pompous old windbag on a power trip? You're not my sire."
"Your sire is a disgrace, and he should be ashamed that he has raised a fledgling as shameful as you!" Overseer Lim spits.
"Shut your mouth." For the first time during this trial Jeon Jungkook looks serious, his scarlet eyes fiery as he glares at Lim. And despite the vampire's age, Overseer Kang feels a shuddering jolt of power from Jungkook as he snarls at the other councilman. "You're worth less than the dirt under my sire's shoe, you piece of shit."
The room bursts into angry cries again at the insult, and beside him Lim rises from his seat looking nearly apoplectic with rage. Kang puts a hand on his shoulder, stopping him from going any farther. "Calm yourself, Overseer. It does no good to stoop to his level."
Lim takes a deep breath, his fists still clenched. After a moment he sits once more. "You are right, of course. Please, continue."
Overseer Kang nods and continues on, turning back to the still scowling Jungkook. "Jeon Jungkook, you are hereby charged with reckless manslaughter, overhunting, and gross violation of the code of secrecy. How do you plead?"
"Does it matter?" the other vampire scoffs. "You've already made your decision anyway. Go ahead, finish your pathetic little trial." He slinks back down in his seat, seemingly ignoring the council above him.
"So be it. Those in favor of conviction?" Kang calls, and every hand along the bench rises. "Acquittal?" No movement. Kang stands, looking down imperiously at the vampire beneath him.
"The Council has reached its verdict, and found the accused guilty on all charges. Therefore Jeon Jungkook, I hereby sentence you-"
His words are interrupted by the loud creak of the heavy oak doors swinging open as a new figure strides into the chamber.
"I believe you've all had enough fun for today," he says, voice smooth as silk.
The entire gallery swings to face the newcomer in their midst, some even gasping in surprise. Jungkook sits up immediately, his eyes glimmering with delight. "Sire," he breathes, smile radiant.
Kang feels a flash of fear as the new vampire makes his way down the aisle toward Jungkook, his gait unhurried and demeanor unaffected by the agitated noise of the crowd. In contrast to his fledgling's rumpled appearance he's dressed impeccably in a three-piece suit, his hair neatly combed and shoes perfectly polished. As he reaches where the accused sits Jungkook slides to the floor beside him, kneeling at his feet like a supplicant at the altar of his god.
But Kim Seokjin doesn't spare his fledgling a glance, merely running a hand through Jungkook's dark waves as the younger vampire nuzzles against him. Instead, he directs his gaze up toward the Council.
"It’s quite uncivil to detain a fledgling without their sire's awareness or consent, is it not, Kang Woojin?" His voice is low, but the room is quiet enough to hear a pin drop, and to Overseer Kang it’s as clear as though they were inches apart.
"K-Kim Seokjin-ssi," he manages to say, "We...we were unaware that you were once again in the country."
"I've only just returned," the elder vampire replies. "But even away, I remain vigilant of the actions of my coven."
"O-of course. As one should." Kang tries to project confidence, but although he sits high above, the other vampire’s dark stare pierces directly through him.
Overseer Kang is nearly two millennia old, one of the lead members of the Council and feared and respected throughout the country, but even he feels insignificant in the presence of such an ancient and powerful kindred. And judging from the uncomfortable rustling of those beside him, he's not the only one. Kim Seokjin’s name is often spoken only in hushed whispers, he and the coven he rules treated with abject terror by most other vampires. They bow to no one, and that had been another reason it was so unusual for Jeon Jungkook to allow himself to be taken into custody without trouble. Now Kang wonders: Had it been a ploy? A trap?
Kang clears his throat, trying to regain some control of the situation. “If you are here, then you are aware of what Jeon Jungkook has been accused of?"
"Indeed...it seems that in my absence, he's developed some bad habits." Seokjin glances sidewise at the fledgling kneeling beside him. Jungkook appears completely unrepentant, still happily curled at his feet.
"Bad habits?!" Overseer Lim barks angrily, pointing at Jungkook. "Your fledgling has recklessly violated our edicts and brought needless scrutiny on our kind because of his arrogant disregard for the law!"
"So I’ve heard," Seokjin says coolly, his hand tightening its grip on the younger vampire's hair as Jungkook gasps, looking pleased. "And he will be dealt with, on my own terms, and at my own discretion."
The elders beside him mutter amongst themselves as Overseer Kang speaks again. "Seokjin-ssi, this...this is unacceptable! The law clearly states that those who commit crimes, especially those of this magnitude, are to be sentenced by the Council-"
"Yes. Your laws," Seokjin speaks over him, his voice light. "But I believe you'll recall that I made it quite clear when this Council was created that I and my coven would not be bound by your oversight."
“…Indeed you did.” Kang grinds his teeth. It was true; he remembers it clearly. As their population began to grow rapidly, the most influential kindred in the country had come together centuries ago to create a system of leadership and law. As one of the oldest in the land Kim Seokjin had naturally been invited to take part, and in truth Kang and many others had secretly hoped that he would perhaps even choose to lead them.
But to their great surprise Seokjin had outright refused, instead choosing to remove himself and his coven from the proceedings entirely. It had been a crushing blow, but there was nothing to be done-there was no way to force someone of such strength to comply. However, the founding members of the Council had never forgotten the slight.
Seokjin continues. “Then it seems to me that you have no grounds to cast any sentence on a member of my coven, and that to do so in spite of this serves no real purpose other than to try to assert an authority you certainly do not possess…”
The vampire's voice is level but there’s a cruel humor in his eyes as he watches Kang flounder above him on the bench, unable to form a rebuttal.
“So I will be taking my fledgling home…Unless you have anything else to say, Woojin-ah?”
He’s talking to him like a child. Kang is the Head Overseer of the ruling body of the land and Kim Seokjin is treating him like a mildly amusing newborn. Kang feels anger and humiliation flood his throat, but even he is not brave enough to argue, not when this vampire could turn him to dust with the flick of a finger.
So despite the irate exclamations of the councilmembers beside him and the muttering of the crowd, Overseer Kang has no choice but to acquiesce. "I...We understand, Kim Seokjin-ssi. The Council will abide your oversight of your fledgling."
"Are you mad?" Overseer Lim screeches, looking between Kang and the two Kim coven vampires with utter disgust. "You're going to let him go free with no repercussion? This deviant mongrel-“
"Silence." Overseer Kang feels the surge of power radiate through the room, and suddenly realizes that he and everyone else in it are frozen, rendered completely immobile by the ancient vampire's compulsion. At the same time Overseer Lim's body starts moving against its owners will, coming down the bench to the floor where Seokjin stands. Lim’s eyes are the only part he still seems to have control of, wide with abject terror as his legs buckle and he falls to his knees.
Beside him Jungkook rises from the floor to stand behind the councilman, his smile positively feral. Seokjin takes Lim’s chin in hand, tilting his head so that their gazes are locked.
"To insult my fledgling is to insult me," he says, voice dangerously soft. "You would all do well to remember your place."
It happens faster than even the eyes of the other vampires can see. In the space of a heartbeat Lim's head is severed from his shoulders, the rest of his body crumpling to the floor in a heap of robes.
Silence reigns in the chamber, punctuated only by the sickening drip of blood from the councilman's head and Jungkook’s gleeful laughter as he holds it aloft.
“Who’s next?!” he taunts.
Kang can't speak, can't think, can't breathe-
Seokjin's face remains impassive. "Jungkook, enough,” he says, already turning to leave. “Come.”
The fledgling carelessly tosses the head aside, sending a triumphant smirk toward the Council as he obediently follows his sire.
The compulsion has faded now, but the chamber remains completely still.