Chapter Text

 "There's a scary story about this house. I’ve heard someone saw a ghost last night.”

Seonwoo cries out as he nudges Sunghoon, not satisfied with this hyung telling him a scary story. “Why do you always say such things at night? We walked by here this morning, you could’ve told me then!”

Sunghoon can’t help but laugh at Seonwoo’s pout. He brings his arm around his shoulders and pulls him closer. “Don’t worry, Sunny, hyung is here.”

“As if you could do anything against a ghost.” Seonwoo scoffs and rolls his eyes while turning away from his friend.

“Yah, how could you doubt me?”

As Sunghoon continues ranting about manners and strength, Seonwoo can’t help but glance at the small house close to the road. It’s swallowed by darkness and it feels like it’s staring into Seonwoo’s soul. Shivers run down his spine and he looks away before he envisions a monster running towards him.

“...that’s why I don’t believe in monsters.” Sunghoon finishes with a loud exhale.

Seonwoo hums, his hold on Sunghoon’s arm tightening as his throat becomes dry. He can’t help but look at his hand and notice it’s shaking. Could he be scared this much? What is happening here?

Just as he thinks of asking Sunghoon about his math test, both of them are slammed from behind and fall to the ground. Seonwoo’s sight is black for a moment but among the blurry lines he can make out shoes and legs, running to him and then knees and thighs. He thinks someone saw them fall and came to help.

But as he blinks more and regains his sight, his breath is stolen by what he sees.

Sunghoon, his hyung, is being attacked right before him. But what scares Seonwoo more is the man violently biting onto Sunghoon’s neck, as if he wants to tear it apart.

Seonwoo is shaking as he struggles to stand on his feet. Fearing that his hyung is gone, he jumps onto the man’s back and tries to choke him. The man seems strong as he stands up and stumbles around a bit. He screeches, letting out incoherent sounds that make Seonwoo think of an animal fighting to free itself.

With a loud growl the man manages to grab Seonwoo’s shoulder and pulls him forward. The young boy painfully collides against the asphalt and groans. He tries to stand up but his attacker is quickly advancing towards him.

He begins to fear that he’s going to die.

But out of nowhere someone else comes running at the man and punches him right in the face, before flawlessly standing straight. The newcomer looks at Sunghoon and mutters something before turning to look at Seonwoo. The young boy thanks God for sending a saviour, though the ice cold look in the man’s eyes seems nothing but deadly.

With all the falling and tossing, Seonwoo can’t stop himself from closing his eyes.

Sunghoon feels pain in his neck before he even gains consciousness. He groans, reaching up to touch the wound but doesn’t dare make contact. The pain is a rather disturbing sign that what happened wasn’t a nightmare.

“Seonwoo...” the thought of his younger friend being hurt like he is or even worse makes him open his eyes faster and look around.

He’s confused by the sight of a rather vast room, decorated like a king’s chamber. Sunghoon is more afraid than earlier and can’t find Seonwoo anywhere in the room. First he was attacked and almost killed, then kidnapped. He crosses the room in three steps and pulls the door open.

His neck throbs and he places his hand against it carefully, confused when he realizes there’s a bandage around it. For a moment he thinks he was saved by someone.

“Yah, where do you think you’re going?!” Someone asks from behind him and he jumps in surprise.

Turning around, he comes face to face with a rather unrealistically looking man, who is, despite being approximately the same height, looking down his nose at Sunghoon. The latter stumbles back and raises his hand to maintain that distance.

“Where’s my friend?”

The man raises an eyebrow, an amused smirk on his face. “What friend?”

“Cut the crap. He was with me when that monster attacked us.”

“Your friend is safe and sound. He’s none of our concern, so we took him home, tucked him in his bed and kissed his forehead.” The man rolls his eyes, amusement glimmering in his eyes as he sees Sunghoon becoming restless. “You are the only one we care about.”

“Why? Because I was the one who got hurt?”

“Precisely. What happened to you wasn’t an ordinary attack. You were bitten by a nonhuman creature.”

“What? Nonhuman?”

“Yes. That man was a vampire suffering a fever. I’m afraid he bit you during the peak of his fever and now you’re bound to turn into a vampire at any moment.”

For a moment Sunghoon stares at him wordlessly, trying to figure out if this person is being serious. He looks like he means everything he said but Sunghoon cannot believe his words. Vampires? Is he insane? He must be insane.

“I must have hit my head pretty badly when he knocked me down.” Sunghoon mutters, taking another step away from the man.

With a small sigh the man walks forward and doesn’t hesitate to grab Sunghoon’s collar and slam him against the wall. His eyes don’t waver a second as they begin to change colour, becoming bloody red. Sunghoon gasps and leans back, head colliding with the wall. The man chuckles.

“Yeah, I’m not joking about this. You have no choice but to become one of us and I’m not thrilled by the idea. This is a very complicated situation and a lot of laws were broken tonight. Though you are a victim of our kind, you will most probably not be excused by the Council.”

“I want to go home. I can’t stay here. I have a life!”

The man pushes him further against the wall and brings his face closer. “Boy, you died tonight. There is no going back.”

“No!” Sunghoon pushes him back and runs down the hall. But as he turns round the corner he comes face to face with the same man. He turns back to run in the opposite direction but he’s there again. As he moves towards Sunghoon the boy feels tears fill his eyes despite himself. He’s not ready to say goodbye to everything he had. And this lunatic is going to keep him here! Why is this happening to him?! He doesn’t want to be here! He should’ve been with Seonwoo, cuddling him right now back home!

Seonwoo...

His little Seonwoo, his little angel...

“Please...” Sunghoon sniffs, glancing behind him. “I can’t stay here.”

The man shakes his head, not looking a bit compassionate. “I’m sorry. But you can’t leave either.” Sunghoon’s back meets the wall and the man reaches him. He lifts his hand and Sunghoon closes his eyes as he approaches him.

Seonwoo

Seonwoo gasps for air as he rolls off the bed. He cradles the back of his head as pain blossoms. He quickly looks around and finds himself confused when he realizes he’s in his room.

Wasn’t he...

How did he get here?

There’s an ugly feeling in his chest, something like worry and fear. He can’t understand it. Seonwoo notices his backpack and quickly takes his phone out. He dials Sunghoon's phone number and calls. His gut is telling him that Sunghoon is the reason for his unreasonable feelings. His own skin feels itchy and uncomfortable when Sunghoon doesn’t pick up.

Seonwoo jumps up from the floor and runs out of his room, down the stairs and outside the house. Sunghoon’s house is not too far from his but still Seonwoo is exhausted by the time he sees it. It seems rather far when he begins to fear that he might not find Sunghoon in it.

His knees are weak as he brings his hand up and knocks. He hears someone on the other side and his hopes are high suddenly. But when he comes face to face with Sunghoon’s mother he's very disappointed.

“Seonnie? What are you doing here?” The kind woman asks, her smile shaking as she begins to question the boy’s appearance. Only because she knows the two of them are inseparable.

“Uh, I’m sorry for interrupting you but... is Sunghoon-hyung home?”

Her eyebrows come together in confusion, opening the door wider to take a better look at Seonwoo and he feels smaller than a grain of rice. “He’s not. I thought he spent the night at your place.”

Seonwoo’s throat becomes dry as he struggles to answer. His memory is hazy and unreliable as he seems to remember walking through a very dark street, talking about something but... was it last night? Or maybe it was some other night? No, Sunghoon definitely went to see that movie with Seonwoo. And they walked back to Seonwoo’s home together. And they did walk... but... Seonwoo woke up alone in his bed.

“Seonwoo?” Sunghoon’s mother asks again and Seonwoo shakes his head.

“I... I’m sorry, I have to go.”

“Seonwoo! Where is Sunghoon?!” The woman screams but Seonwoo runs away, hoping she’s not running after him.

He tries to call Sunghoon again, and again, and again. Tears stream down his cheeks and he angrily wipes them away. Making his way to the cinema, Seonwoo is determined to remember where his hyung is. From all the walking through the city, the Sun has set behind the tall buildings, leaving certain parts deserted and lonely.

Walking down the same road makes Seonwoo head hurt. Well, he did hit it rather hard this morning. Cursing under his breath he turns the corner and halts. His heart skips a beat and his breath is shortened. His hand comes up to his throat and he shivers. Forcing his feet to make steps, he begins walking down the street.

As his eyes move to the small dark house near the road, he almost screams. An image of Sunghoon lying on the ground with someone eating his throat is something Seonwoo can’t bear. He stumbles back as if he were hit but he can’t take his eyes off the house.

“Don’t worry, Sunny, hyung is here.”

Sunghoon’s voice echoes in his head and he looks around, as if the older boy is standing somewhere near him. Seonwoo begins crying, his hands shaking as he begins to near the house. His hyung and him were here last night before something happened because that’s all Seonwoo can remember.

Pushing the door open and listening to the creak is scary, as if Seonwoo is in a horror movie. Taking small and scared steps in, he’s welcomed by the stench of mould and dirt. As something moves against his leg he can’t help but scream and jump away. He manages to see it’s a cat but he’s running into a paper wall and ends up falling onto the floor. He quickly stands up, out of breath and hair all over the place.

His hand moves to cover his mouth as he realizes he fell into a pool of blood.

There are no bodies but blood is splattered all over the walls and the ground. Seonwoo takes a step back but bumps into something.

He turns around and gasps in fear at the sight of a familiar pair of eyes looking down at him. Seonwoo can remember this man, standing over him while he was on the ground and he knows he was there last night. As he begins to approach Seonwoo, the latter begins to run. And he manages to go by him.

But standing right in front of Seonwoo, blocking the entrance is the same man.

And he doesn’t look impressed.

“What are you doing here?” the cool voice makes Seonwoo shiver. He doesn’t sound thrilled about Seonwoo’s interruption with whatever he was doing here.

“I was... I was looking for someone!” Seonwoo answers.

The man raises an eyebrow. “Why would you be looking for anyone in here?”

“I...” Seonwoo can’t answer as his throat closes up, choking on his tears. Why is this fear of death familiar? It feels like he’s already gone through this once.

“Well? This doesn’t look like a place someone would go to.” As he takes a step forward, Seonwoo takes one step back. “Who are you looking for?”

“My friend! I can’t remember what happened to him but it... it happened in front of this house! We were attacked by someone but I can’t remember anything! And I don’t know where he is! And you... you were here last night...”

His last words are a whisper but the man doesn’t seem to have troubles hearing him. He stands straighter and takes a deep breath as his head tilts to side. “You shouldn’t be remembering anything, human.”

Seonwoo swallows a lump in his throat. “What?” his voice is barely audible to him but the man nods.

“It would have been better. For you.” The man takes steps towards him and Seonwoo yells for him to stop but it falls on deaf ears. With one hand he grabs Seonwoo by the collar and brings his other hand back, fingers straight and together resembling a knife.

Seonwoo’s fear of being murdered makes him clutch onto the man’s hand. He wants to get out of here. He can’t die. He doesn’t even know what happened to Sunghoon. Sunghoon must be so scared and hoping that Seonwoo will find him. And this man right here must know something about it.

The man watches in surprise as he feels the air shift around them. The uncomfortable scents are replaced by a smell of... pomegranates. He feels his hand becoming numb and a sudden aura appears around the boy. His eyes open and they’re emerald green, looking alive and very, very angry.

He releases his hold on the boy, sensing a rather scary energy coming from him. The boy blinks and the greenness dissipates. They’re staring at each other for a moment in silence, neither daring to move, though Seonwoo looks confused and surprised by himself.

“You’re not human.” The man mumbles, looking him up and down.

“Neither are you.” Seonwoo readily answers, looking angry suddenly. The sudden bravery is quickly replaced by fear as he remembers how easily the man can attack him. “You know what happened to my friend. Please, take me to him.”

The stranger raises an eyebrow. “You’re not losing your mind over this whole ‘there are nonhumans running around the city’ situation?”

“No. I’ve... I think I’m more worried about my friend.”

It seems like enough to make the man sigh in defeat. Seonwoo is most probably one of those people he can’t let roam the city freely.

“Your friend is in my domain. And you clearly don’t belong there. Bringing you with me is very dangerous too.”

“Please, I’ll do anything.”

The man seems satisfied with this, although he doesn’t voice it. “You’re in my debt now, human.” Without waiting for Seonwoo to reply he brings his hand over Seonwoo’s face and his sight disappears.

Chapter Text

“Your world is one domain. There are numerous others and they’re much older than yours. It’s mostly one domain for one kind and right now you’re in the vampire domain. And only vampires can open portals to take them here. In due time, you’ll be taught how to travel. But first you have to learn to survive and live as a vampire.”

Sunghoon stares at Heeseung, barely registering any words coming from him. First he knocked him out then he brought him to the living room and tied him up. Sunghoon taps his fingers on his thigh, looking displeased.

“Am I supposed to feel any different as a turned vampire? Because I feel pretty human.”

Heeseung doesn’t give in to Sunghoon’s pokes and instead sips on his tea. Sunghoon can’t recognize the smell but it’s pleasant. “Sunghoon, you’re clowning. This is a very serious situation.”

“I still think you’re insane. And I still think there’s no need to continue this charade, so let me go home and find someone who’s actually ready to go along with your games.”

“I think I showed you enough to prove how real this is.” Heeseung smirks, his prolonged fangs appearing.

 Sunghoon lets his head fall back and takes in a deep breath. He takes a careful sniff as a familiar scent of shampoo travels through the air.

Heeseung puts his cup of tea on the table and stands up. He can recognize Riki’s scent along with someone else’s. It happens in a blink.

Riki opens the door and allows an unknown human to step in first. And Sunghoon is moving like light across the room, ropes ripping to shreds and his mouth opened wide. Heeseung grabs him but he’s too close. Riki pulls the human back with his arm around his throat just as Sunghoon’s mouth closes, teeth sinking deep into Riki’s forearm.

Heeseung digs his fingers into the wound on Sunghoon’s neck and the latter opens his mouth in pain. Before he can turn around to bite Heeseung, Jake appears and grabs him by the hair and pushes him down against the ground. Heeseung pulls his hands behind his back and holds him down.

“What in the world is going on here?” Jake asks, eyes moving from Sunghoon to Riki, who’s still holding the human close. The boy is pale and his eyes are wide opened in shock.

Riki sighs. “Still wanna take your friend to the movies?” He untangles himself from the human and looks at his ripped jacket. Blood moves down his arm and falls to the ground.

“Hyung!” Seonwoo moves closer to Sunghoon but Riki pulls him back before Sunghoon can bite him.

“You’re human and he needs blood. Does he look like he wants a hug?”

“If he needs blood he can have mine!” Seonwoo glares, his hands moving to his collar, tugging his shirt down.

Riki’s lips curl into a snarl but before he can voice his displeasure, Heeseung interrupts them.

“I apologize for interrupting your lovely quarrel but what is a human doing in here?”

Riki fixes his jacket and looks at Heeseung. “He’s not human. I have reason to believe he’s a sorcerer.”

Heeseung’s eyes widen as his attention shifts to Seonwoo. “What? How?”

“I wanted to kill him but his powers awakened so I didn’t.”

Heeseung’s features seem to light up the longer he stares at Seonwoo. “Oh, Jeongwon is going to love this.”

“Wait, I’m only here for Sunghoon!” Seonwoo declares, glancing back at Riki who doesn’t even look at him. “Undo whatever has been done to him!”

Heeseung laughs. “I’m afraid you don’t understand what’s going on. Sunghoon, here, is turning into a vampire as we speak and he needs a little drop of blood to complete the turning. If he doesn’t drink it he’s going to be eaten inside out by the venom. So, what we’re going to do is feed him and then keep him here because vampires live here, not in your world.”

“Then how did Sunghoon get infected?” Seonwoo almost screams in anger.

“That was a mistake, not entirely ours. But nevertheless, you too are a valuable token. We’ll be consulting the prince about your accommodation.”

“Oh, you’re insane!” Seonwoo yells. “Sunghoon-hyung! Get up!”

The older boy screams as he recognizes Seonwoo’s voice. He bites onto his tongue but it’s not enough to stop the lust for the only beating heart in the room. Seonwoo is too close for Sunghoon to control this new craving. He slams his forehead against the tiles and hears something crack.

“Hyung! Let’s go home!” Seonwoo cries out.

Sunghoon shakes his head, trying to get thoughts of Seonwoo’s blood out of his head. “Sunny...” He sobs. “Get away from me!”

It feels as if something heavy falls atop Seonwoo’s heart and his knees give up underneath him. “W-What are you saying, hyung? I came here to get you home. Your mom doesn’t even know what happened to you. She’s so worried and must be crying at home! And she only has me to blame for this!”

“What is all this commotion?”

The vampires in the room bow as the prince comes in. He looks ready to reprimand them all for being so loud and uncaring but as he catches sight of Seonwoo, eyes starry and cheeks covered in tears, they all feel the change of air.

“What is happening?” His voice changes into a gentle tone, attention solely on the small human.

Heeseung bites his tongue and Jake looks up at him, hiding his amusement. “Your Highness, it’s nothing we can’t take care of.”

“I think if that were the case I wouldn’t have to come here.” Jeongwon pins Heeseung down with a very scary gaze.

Riki shivers, knowing very well how it feels. Heeseung stumbles over his words but Jeongwon raises his hand and silences him.

He gets closer to Seonwoo and brings his arm around him. “What’s wrong, little one?”

Seonwoo wipes his cheeks and sniffs, choking on his tears. “I want my friend back. Sunghoon-hyung is everything I have! I can’t lose him like this!”

Jeongwon looks at Sunghoon, knowing very well the boy is not done with turning. “I see. But the human world is dangerous for Sunghoon now. If someone finds out about him, he can be killed in a blink. There are people in the human world who eliminate people from other domains.”

“What?” Seonwoo sobs.

“Yes. It’s very unfortunate that your friend was bitten and has to turn but we have to keep him here because we want him to survive. There are guardians in your domain who make sure mistakes like these don’t happen. If we’re lucky no one will notice and no harm will come to any of us. But Sunghoon is a part of this problem so he most probably won’t pass unscathed.”

As the prince talks gently to the human they all feel engrossed by his speech. Seonwoo’s shoulders sag in surrender.

“But...”

Heeseung is the first one to get out of his trance. “He doesn’t seem to be human either, Your Highness. Riki here saw him use his powers.”

Jeongwon looks up at Riki and the boy bows his head. “Yes, his powers awakened most probably out of fear. He’s a sorcerer.”

The prince’s eyes widen as he looks at Seonwoo again. “Are you sure?”

“Positive.” The short remark makes Heeseung glare at him but Riki ignores him. “It’d be for the best to keep him here, Your Highness. No one needs to know other than us.”

Jeongwon hums in thought. “Yeah.” He rubs Seonwoo’s back and sighs. “For now, our guests should take a rest. Make sure Sunghoon here is comfortable. And Seonwoo is to be taken care of as one of us.”

All of them bow as Jeongwon stands up and pulls Seonwoo with him. “Seonwoo will stay with me until Sunghoon transitions. All right, Seonwoo?”

Seonwoo nods silently, eyes not moving from Sunghoon.

As the prince and the human leave the room, Jake pulls Sunghoon up. Heeseung helps him manoeuvre the boy outside. Riki takes his jacket off and looks at his wound with disgust. It’s healing but not as fast as it should. The strength of the venom in Sunghoon is scary but Riki is thankful no scar will remain.

Glancing down the hall he can still see Jeongwon and Seonwoo walking, talking in hushed whispers.

Turning in the opposite direction he goes back to cleaning up the mess the fevered vampire left in the human domain.

Opening his eyes this time is less startling than yesterday. Seonwoo sighs, still feeling tired despite having just woken up. He sits up when the door opens.

Jeongwon comes inside with a small but gentle smile on his face. “Good morning, Seonwoo. Have you slept well?”

Seonwoo stands up and nods. His cheeks redden as he feels rather inappropriate in front of the man. “Yes, thank you. Have you slept well?”

“Oh, I haven’t slept yet.”

“Is it because of me? I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to-“

“No, don’t worry. Vampires mostly sleep on their own accord, since we seldom feel tired or sleep deprived.”

“Oh...” Seonwoo stares at him for a moment, feeling envious of such ability.

Jeongwon chuckles. “Come on, we managed to prepare you something for breakfast.”

The dining room is big and Seonwoo feels so small. He most probably is the shortest person in the room. The thought makes him pout despite himself as he trails after Jeongwon and sits next to him.

The first ones to arrive are Heeseung and Jake, soon followed by Riki. Food is served quickly and Seonwoo can’t stop making sounds of awe and surprise, making the others laugh. He blushes and looks down at his hands.

“So, Seonwoo, can you tell us a bit about yourself?” Jeongwon is the first one to ask.

“Uh, there’s nothing really to know. I was adopted by an old couple when I was seven and a bit after I turned eighteen they both died in a car accident, so I was left alone again. And since I’ve known Sunghoon-hyung my whole life, I lived with him for a few months before moving back home. We go to school together, we travel together, we do everything together. Sunghoon-hyung is like an older brother to me.”

“You were adopted? So, you don’t know your biological parents?” Heeseung asks.

“No. I’m honestly not even interested. I’ve always felt more angry and disappointed. But there’s always been this... feeling, that I didn’t quite feel welcome in this world. I thought I was just having scary thoughts but it wasn’t that. I think I had some kind of dreams about another world. Maybe I even dreamt of my parents. But some things I just kept to myself when it came to that.”

“If they weren’t human then they were clearly being hunted down.” Riki says, gaining attention of all of them. Seonwoo looks startled by the opinion while the others roll their eyes in unison. Perhaps this behaviour is typical for Riki but the careless tone and the meaning of those words is too harsh to Seonwoo.

Jake takes a different approach and smiles at Seonwoo. “If you’re a sorcerer, as Riki says, then one or both of your parents were, too. And considering that a few years back sorcerers faced extermination, you must be the last of your kind. Your parents managed to save you.”

Heeseung nods. “And considering why everyone was exterminated, your sole existence is enough reason to start wars.”

“Why?”

“Because sorcerers are powerful and they’ve always loved to experiment with that they are able to do. While most of them tried to do good and help people, some were dangerous and selfish. Though there’s nothing in wanting to keep your abilities to yourself, it’s not right to bring harm to others. And some sorcerers did that and couldn’t be stopped. So, a great number of domains united and attacked sorcerers, good and bad. I believe that domain remains empty, to this day.”

Heeseung ends with a whisper, a hint of sadness in his voice as he thinks of all the good people he knew. For so many years the two kinds coexisted perfectly and many domains flourished only thanks to sorcerers and their abilities. Yet because of certain people everything had to be burned to the ground.

Sensing the effect the story has on Heeseung, Jeongwon focuses on Riki.

“Yah, what were you even doing in the human domain twice?”

Riki rubs his neck and doesn’t look at the prince. “I couldn’t finish everything at once.”

“That’s never happened to you before.” Jake adds and Riki glares at him.

“That’s because I leave only after I’m sure I’ve done everything. And I think there’s another vampire in the city.”

“What?” Heeseung almost yells. “How could that be?!”

“I don’t know. There’s been another attack last night not too far from the same place. And Sunghoon was here so obviously someone let loose another vampire.”

“That’s worrisome.” Jeongwon holds his hands together before leaning his chin against them. “Someone is playing around with us.”

“It looks like that to me.” Jake agrees. “We all know what will happen if others find out our people are hunting down humans like animals.”

“Not like they haven’t done the same.” Riki scoffs.

Seonwoo’s silence and attempt to disappear catch attention of the others and they turn to look disapprovingly at the vampire. Riki rolls his eyes.

“We have to get to the bottom of this. The others will come for us and there’s no one else to blame. Heeseung, Jake, take whatever you need and find the culprit. Riki, you take care of Seonwoo while I’m away. I have a meeting with the wolves in a few hours.”

“What? I have to babysit?” Riki’s voice gets louder but one look from Jeongwon is enough to silence him. Heeseung and Jake look satisfied with their prince reprimanding the man and Riki can see it.

“Be careful with the full moon tonight.” Riki smirks as he stands up and leaves.

Seonwoo is confused as Riki’s words seem to impact Jake and Heeseung. Jeongwon can’t stop himself from smiling.

“Well, I have to go get ready for the meeting. Seonwoo, feel free to look around the castle. Though, maybe it’d be better if you somehow masked your scent.”

“Huh?”

Jeongwon takes off his cardigan and wraps it around Seonwoo’s shoulders. Heeseung and Jake stare at them with wide eyes.

“Your Highness, it’s probably inappropriate for Seonwoo to be walking around with your scent.” Heeseung quickly says.

Jeongwon thinks for a moment before nodding. “Yeah, that would be troublesome for everyone. Heeseung, give me your blazer.”

“W-What? I don’t really want to...” Heeseung mumbles but under Jeongwon’s scrutinizing gaze he has no choice but obey.

As Seonwoo wears the blazer, Jeongwon can’t help but smile at how big it looks on him. “I forgot how adorable small beings can be.”

Jake laughs at Heeseung’s sour face.

Seonwoo sighs as he stares at the vampires coming in and out of the castle.

“Aren’t vampires supposed to burn in the Sun?”

“In your world, yes.”

“In our Sun?”

“Yes.”

“So, I’m not looking at the same Sun?”

Riki glances at him from his book, his annoyance evident. Seonwoo feels spiteful for some reason. Most probably because Riki won’t let him leave the room.

“Different domain, different everything.”

“Oh my God, you mean I’m basically in another universe?!”

“You’re so annoying.”

“But this is so amazing!” his amazement begins to diminish as he thinks of Sunghoon and how much he’d love to share this experience with him. “Amazing.” He mumbles again without any excitement, hand coming up against the window.

Riki stares at him for a bit before taking pity on him and closing his book. He stands up and immediately gains Seonwoo’s attention. “Huh? You’re going somewhere?”

“There’s something I have to do.”

Seonwoo stands up but doesn’t move, not sure if he’s included in Riki’s intention. He watches silently as Riki walks up to him and pushes Heeseung’s blazer off his shoulders.

“What are you....” he doesn’t finish as Riki makes him wear his jacket.

“That one stinks.” Riki mumbles while nudging the blazer with his foot.

Seonwoo’s confusion must be showing on his face because Riki looks at him and rolls his eyes.

“Come on, no one’s waiting on us.”

He quickly runs after him.

Seonwoo’s fear is getting the best of him as all the vampires turn and look after him. Riki doesn’t have to look back to know, the boy’s natural scent must be coming out and alerting everyone. As he turns the corner and stops, the boy runs into him with a small huff.

“I’m sorry.” He apologizes while looking down.

If one of the vampires begins to question Seonwoo, Riki knows trouble will follow because vampires despise intruders. And they’re looking at Seonwoo like he’s one. And taking in concern that his identity must be kept secret, Jeongwon can get in trouble.

Riki crowds Seonwoo’s space and the boy looks up, not asking anything as a trace of fear appears in the air. The vampire leans down and tugs on Seonwoo’s collar before gently biting onto his skin. Before Seonwoo can jump away he grabs him by the waist and holds him still.

“What the hell are you doing?!” Seonwoo yells, pushing against him.

“The jacket isn’t working. Everyone can smell you.” Riki mumbles, his voice low and eyes moving to the vampires walking by, their attention on the two boys.

He can feel blood rushing right through the vein beneath Riki’s fangs, begging to be pierced. His fangs prolong before he can control them and he forces himself to step back. He clams his mouth shut and steps back.

Seonwoo quickly covers his neck and wraps his arms around him. The downturn of his lips, the wavering look in his eyes makes Riki wonder if Seonwoo will be able to go through all the trials his life has in store for him.

Without saying anything he grabs his hand and pulls him into the crowded street, going against the current of vampires. Seonwoo is unstable on his feet and struggles to keep up with Riki’s long steps, leaving the vampire with no choice but to slow down, hearing his heart beating very fast.

As they stop in front of a library familiar to Riki, he sighs in relief before opening the door and gesturing for Seonwoo to go in first. The boy walks past Riki looking very cautious and wary of him.

His wariness is overshadowed by amazement as he looks around the massive library. There are a few vampires sitting by the windows and drinking something while others are walking by and minding their own business. Riki begins to walk somewhere and Seonwoo doesn’t dare stay behind alone.

They go up the stairs and sit next to a window. Seonwoo sits down opposite of Riki who exhales loudly, gaining the attention of the attendant. The vampire looks young and bright as he approaches them with a pleasant smile. However his smile wavers as he looks at Seonwoo.

“Welcome to Burgundy Phoenix, what are you having?”

“I’ll have the usual. He’ll have the Stench.”

Seonwoo looks visibly disgusted and insulted by Riki but waits until the attendant leaves before he leans forward.

“Are you making fun of me?”

Riki can’t help but chuckle at him. The more he watches Seonwoo the more he realizes the angry look only makes him look more innocent. It’s ridiculous someone like him found his way into this world.

“The Stench is actually wine. It smells and tastes really bad to us, until a certain point, of course.”

Seonwoo’s face scrunches in disgust. “I don’t drink alcohol.”

Riki smirks and the knowing look in his eyes makes blush blossom on Seonwoo’s cheeks. The attendant appears with their drinks and quickly disappears. Seonwoo sniffs the drink, hoping it really is wine with nothing additional in it. Taking a small sip he nods to himself, satisfied with the familiar taste. As he catches Riki’s face he rolls his eyes and looks outside the window.

“Why did you bring me here?” He leans closer and whispers. “Isn’t it dangerous?”

Riki looks around the library. “This is actually a pretty safe place since it’s Jeongwon’s favourite location. There are plenty of books about your world and your kind here.”

“I see. And do you know anything about sorcerers?”

“Vampires were neutral in that war. For some reason, unknown to his people, the late king refused to aid in exterminating a whole kind. It’s caused a lot of trouble for Jeongwon who was almost used as a puppet by the council in an attempt to rush their people into the war. The king refused and soon fell ill, murdering the queen and committing suicide. Jeongwon was left alone with the council. But Heeseung and Jake managed to protect him. Heeseung hyung has been around for a long time, so his advice is extremely helpful.”

“That’s really sad.” Seonwoo mumbles.

Riki nods, for a second his eyes stray to Seonwoo’s but he quickly looks outside. “Sorcerers have always been used to ease mundane tasks and whoever came to them for help they seldom refused. The main reason you’re the last of your kind is because you’re too powerful even without knowing you’re a sorcerer. If you somehow got your hands on something to help you become stronger then you’d be everyone’s enemy number one.”

“But I could just go back to living my life normally.”

“Yes, but would you leave Sunghoon behind?” At Seonwoo’s pout, Riki can hear him without the boy even talking. “That leaves us no other choice but to leave you here and have you learn everything you can about magic and you’ll be used as our secret weapon whenever need be.”

 “Hey.” Seonwoo protests, his eyes looking worried as he leans back, expecting Riki to say he’s joking. But the vampire stares at him, not an ounce of joke on his face. “I don’t want to be a weapon. What are you saying?”

“You think we’d let someone as valuable as you just walk away and let someone else get their hands on you and use you against us? Or someone else innocent. You’re missing the point, sorcerer. There are ways to manipulate people, ways to convince you that what you’re doing is right and you’ll do it. You have no idea about how our worlds work and right now we are the only ones ready to protect you and endanger our own domain for your sake. Think about it.”

“But it’s not fair!”

Riki chuckles, unamused. “And we’re only getting started.” He stands up and walks towards the endless shelves. “First you need to learn about your roots.”

Seonwoo doesn’t follow the vampire and instead watches Riki from the distance. He wonders if Sunghoon-hyung is doing better. He wonders if he can see him today. What is he supposed to do now?  Can he escape with Sunghoon-hyung? Can Sunghoon-hyung open a portal to get them out of here?

His thoughts are interrupted by Riki coming up to him and putting books in front of him. The dust makes him sneeze before he can stop himself. He looks up to glare at Riki but catches the man looking away with a dumbfounded look on his face.

As he stares at the fat books he can’t help but sigh, feeling defeated before even starting. “How can I read all of this? Is it written in your language?”

Riki smirks. “Of course it is.”

Seonwoo opens the book randomly and looks up in surprise. “Are you serious?”

“Humans took our language as theirs. But it happened a long time ago so no one talks about it. These books were supposed to be burned along with the sorcerers years ago but our king kept them. You speak to no one in the castle, all right? And always stay in someone’s room. If someone from the council sees you we’re in big trouble.”

“Okay, I can do that. But can I see Sunghoon-hyung today?”

“Not today. It’s better for him to be isolated and treated by physicians handpicked by the prince. Stop worrying about your friend and start worrying about yourself. He’s just another vampire who can easily blend in in his domain. You, on the other hand, are wanted dead or alive.”

“You don’t have to be so mean about it.” Seonwoo pouts and looks at Riki, disarming the man without moving a finger.

Riki clears his throat and looks away. “We should head back. You’re starting to reek.”

“Oh my – you were the one who ordered me wine!”

“I didn’t mean the drink.”

For a second Riki thinks the boy will remain quiet but the gasp lets him know he will not. “Why are you like this?!”

Chapter Text

“The disturbance across the northern borders has been taken care of. Our pack managed to hunt down a group of rogues wrecking havoc.”

Jongseong hums as he listens to the young beta listing everything that happened in his absence. After coming from the short trip to the neighbour pack, Jongseong’s own pack went through a little bit of trouble due to his beta being much less lenient than Jongseong and despite believing he’s doing his best, his own pack mates see him as a walking disaster.

And being an alpha in charge of his pack Jongseong has no choice but to appoint new beta as his advisor. That’s what he’s thinking about as the beta rambles on but there’s wind around them and soon Jongseong’s surrounded by a scent belonging undoubtedly to a certain vampire.

Sensing their alpha’s sudden object of attention the other wolves easily see prince Jeongwon making his way down the long hallway, quietly talking to his servant. Jongseong inhales quietly and stops breathing. His heart picks up pace and he hopes his face is not giving him away. He schools his expression when he realizes his pack is staring the prince down like he’s the enemy. Jeongwon’s servants return the gesture and Jongseong wonders if he looks as calm and collected as Jeongwon does.

“Alpha Jongseon.” Jeongwon acknowledges with a nod.

Jongseong nods. “Prince Jeongwon.” He steps aside and gestures to Jeongwon. “Shall we?”

As Jeongwon makes his way to the meeting room, he worries if bloodshed will happen with the two groups left behind. He walks into the room and waits until he hears the click of the lock before he releases the breath he’s been holding. With a shaky smile he turns around to look at Jongseong but he’s pulled into a bone-crushing hug by the latter. He doesn’t say anything as Jongseong holds him and inhales his scent. It’s been weeks since he last saw him and Jongseong has always been easily touch deprived when it comes to Jeongwon.

“Oh, I can’t believe you missed me so much.” Jeongwon hopes to bring the wolf back to the present but he’s pleasantly surprised when Jongseong lifts his head to kiss him.

It’s gentle, as if he’s afraid that Jeongwon’s a dream he can shatter easily. The vampire can’t help but smile into the kiss, hands coming up to squeeze his cheeks.

“Being without you feels like dying.” Jongseong whispers against his lips, forehead coming to rest against his.

Jeongwon sighs, feeling the change around them. Jongseong is releasing hormones that can probably be smelt outside the room but he can’t bring himself to care as he holds him so dearly.

“I know.”

“I don’t know how long I’ll be able to keep this up. I’m going insane.”

Jeongwon moves back to sit on the table, pulling Jongseong to stand between his legs. “Just wait until the announcement.”

Jongseong scoffs loudly. “What does that have to do with anything?”

“Because...” Jeongwon swallows his anxiousness and looks into the wolf’s eyes. “I plan on arranging our marriage.”

The wolf’s eyes widen as he stares at him, shocked speechless. Jeongwon tries to smile but worries that his proposal might be a mistake. Jongseong smiles slowly, teeth showing and almost blinding him. Without a word he begins to kiss his lover, mouth colliding in a passionate kiss that makes Jeongwon laugh.

“Wait, idiot, is that a yes?” Jeongwon manages to say.

Jongseong doesn’t move as he hurriedly answers “Why would you think I’d say anything else?”

The precious moment between them is interrupted by a knock on the door.

“What?” Jongsong growls over his shoulder, his voice low and projecting his displeasure.

His beta clears his throat before speaking. “Alpha, a group of... demons arrived.”

Jeongwon jumps off the table and adjusts his clothes before opening the door, leaving Jongseong behind. As he knows, the alpha is quickly beside him.

“What are they doing here? This is reserved for our meetings.” Jongseong whispers.

Jeongwon remembers Seonwoo and bites his lip from saying anything now that they’re surrounded by their people. Perhaps it’s better that Jongseong doesn’t know. After all, what he doesn’t know can’t hurt him.

They step outside the mansion and look at the group of demons who look rather familiar to Jeongwon.

“Gentlemen, how can we help you?” The vampire approaches them with a small nod, showing respect to the one in charge.

He remembers this demon named Soobin, known for his unpredictability and strength. The demon nods back, not blinking as he stares at the vampire.

Jongseong takes a step forward. “Speak. This land is taken as common ground for vampires and wolves. You’re trespassing.”

“We’re here to warn you. Several of our people have been harmed by your poisonous herbs. If you wish to keep this peace, keep to yourselves.”

“Poisonous herbs?” Jeongwon asks. “How could we possibly harm your people if our herbs grow in our domain?”

“I don’t really care. All I know is that midnight lily grows only in your domain. And since you’re the only ones who can travel in and out of it, only you can bring it elsewhere. I thought prince Jeongwon was supposed to be a capable leader to his people.”

The provocation doesn’t sit well with Jongseong but the vampire clears his throat, by now being very reasonable between each other. Soobin tilts his chin, satisfaction written all over his face as he taunts the vampire prince.

“I’m sorry you believe we’d go through the trouble of harming someone. Whatever is happening in your domain must be the result of your own problems. I suggest you think twice before coming here and interrupting meetings.”

Soobin nods. “Yes, of course, meetings that must be very important.”

Sensing the change of the wind Jeongwon startles as if awakened from a dream. He opens his mouth to say something before Soobin can but a sudden explosion near them interrupts him. Jongseong covers him with his body and pulls him inside the mansion, slamming the door shut. It’s not significant as he turns to see a hole in a wall close to them. He hears yelling, laughing and cheering.

“Demons.” Jongseong growls.

Jeongwon stands up but stumbles back. His head pounds like a drum and he can barely grab Jongseong’s arm. The wolf looks worried as he holds him before he can fall. The familiar smell of midnight lilies makes Jeongwon groan.

“Why are they attacking us?” The alpha yells as he picks the vampire up and runs towards the portal. His beta joins him by his side, looking around frantically before staring at Jeongwon.

“Alpha, why are you bringing him with us?!”

Jongseong doesn’t say anything, focused only on getting Jeongwon to the other side of the portal where they’re both safe. More explosions go off and he thinks he’s going deaf. His beta is struggling to keep up with him as he keeps looking back.

“Alpha, he’s slowing you down! Just leave him here, no one will know!”

“Will you shut the fuck up?!” Jongseong bellows, voice reverberating against every surface and coming back to him. The beta is shocked, mouth dry and head empty from the anger he feels radiating off Jongseong. As his superior and having that hierarchy ingrained among them, the beta stumbles back from him and remains quiet.

Jongseong sees the demons coming after them in their original form; a dense cloud of black smoke. He runs, hoping to at least get Jeongwon out of here. As he jumps through the portal and sees the familiar landscapes of the vampire domain he almost sighs in relief.

But the deadly grip around his shoulder stops him.

He’s ready to throw Jeongwon and go back to close the portal. Yet the vampire surprises him by clamping his mouth shut over the hand. He hears someone yell in pain but doesn’t dwell on it. As he steps on the field he turns around and crushes the stone with his foot.

The portal crashes before he can see anything else happen.

He takes a moment to regain his balance before looking down at Jeongwon who is unconscious in his arms.

But what worries him is an unknown black smear on his lips, spreading across his cheek.

Left without a choice, he stands up and makes his way to the castle, hoping no one murders him on his way there.

“Are you sure Jeongwon won’t be angry?” Seonwoo mumbles as he wipes dust off a lamp, his face scrunching in disgust.

Riki can see him from where he’s wiping the floor and turns around to hide his smile. “Of course not. Considering they’re so adamant on keeping you here, you should probably have privacy. And sleeping with Jeongwon can only make him suspicious to his servants who can’t do their chores because he’s trying to hide you.”

“But they will eventually find out.”

“Maybe. But we need to test the waters soon. First we have to familiarize everyone with sorcery again. Otherwise the only thing we’re doing is sending you to the gallows.”

“Yeah, that doesn’t sound nice.” Seonwoo goes to the bed and throws on the sheets. “Riki, have you ever met a sorcerer? What are they like?”

Riki is quiet for a moment, his sweeping slowing down as he goes down the road of memories.

“I knew a sorcerer once. He was really powerful. But humble. He helped us a lot, brought us many potions and teas that helped us significantly. I think he was a prodigy in his village. He was a bit odd, I guess. But, it seems like all sorcerer are. They all seem so... distant.”

Seonwoo sits down on the bed as he listens to Riki. “What do you mean?”

“Like they’re only able to be happy if there’s someone with them. That sorcerer always looked so sad and lifeless whenever I saw him sitting alone. Yet the moment someone greets him he’s ready to climb walls. Maybe they just feed on interactions, I don’t know.”

They’re silent for a moment before Riki reaches Seonwoo and joins him on the bed. The latter smiles, eyes squinting in the sun and Riki can’t help but enjoy the sight. He looks like a fairy.

“Riki... I’m hungry.”

After making sure Seonwoo’s covered in Riki’s scent, but this time without biting, they make their way to the kitchen. The halls are empty which is expected since most of the servants do their work at night.  ---

Seonwoo looks at the group of vampires on the hall across them. One of them looks up and Seonwoo startles, looking ahead and hurrying to fall in step with Riki. The vampire doesn’t seem to care about the others as he reaches the kitchen and waits for Seonwoo to step in before closing the door.

“So, what do want to eat?”

Seonwoo looks through the kitchen and stands in front of a fridge. “You have...a fridge?”

Riki can’t help but laugh at the boy. He opens the fridge for him. “Of course, idiot. And we have a lot of food for you.” He sees a few bottles of blood but doesn’t comment since he doubts Seonwoo will be reaching for them.

“I’m going to pretend I don’t know what that is.” Seonwoo rolls his eyes as he reaches for a chicken, tapping his nails against the glass bottle.

Riki nods, mouth pulling into a tight smile. As they sit at the table Riki leans back to watch Seonwoo eat, making the boy turn red visibly.

“What are you looking at?”

Riki smiles. “Nothing. I’m not allowed to look at you?”

Seonwoo huffs as he eats. He begins to struggle with his sleeves as they keep falling onto his hands and Riki reaches out and rolls them back for him. Seonwoo nods. “Thanks, Riki.”

“Don’t mention it.”

Sensing their silence will possibly be awkward, Seonwoo swallows a bit and sighs. “So, how often do you drink blood? Is it like food?”

“No. Blood, to us, is more sustainable than normal food is for humans. I fed about a week ago and I can go without it for a month. But it depends on what you do.”

“I see. And you drink human blood?”

“That’s kind of hard considering humans can’t come here and we can’t go to their domain.”

“Then... what do you drink?”

“There are special families in our domain. Pureblood royalties. And feeding on their blood is a privilege. It’s a tight connection between the ruling family and these donators. They help the kingdom and in return the kingdom helps them.”

“But... Do these families feed the entire kingdom? Isn’t that hard?”

Riki chuckles at his wide eyes. “We don’t need to drink that much blood, Seonwoo. These are peaceful times, vampires need little only to live. And a bottle of blood a month is enough. Plus, vampires recover much faster than you think.”

“That sounds... nothing like the vampires on TV.”

“Oh those myths were made to make fun of you. And you actually believed all of that. And those stories about werewolves.”

“You’re telling me none of that’s true?!” Seonwoo pushes the chicken away and leans on his elbow to stare at Riki in wonder.

The vampire pours him a glass of soda which Seonwoo hadn’t noticed before and slides it to him.

“Vampires don’t have all those luxurious lifestyles and we definitely don’t feed on human blood every night to stay alive. Human blood doesn’t even taste nice. I mean, they eat almost everything they can get their hands on. The only truth is that we have fangs, we do drink certain blood and your Sun does cause us harm.”

“Wow. But I really liked Bram Stoker’s Dracula.”

“Oh, I liked that one too. But I didn’t like the end. He should’ve killed everyone.”

Seonwoo looks away quickly with wide eyes, not expecting such a genuine opinion from Riki. The vampire laughs.

“And the werewolves? Full moon, crazy transformations and incontrollable fury?”

Riki seems to think about it for a moment. “Well, the full moon is a special night for them. I think they worship a goddess during that night. And their transformations are actually various. Most of them can turn into a very big wolf while certain few can turn into half-human half-wolf. But they are pretty temperamental, I can tell you that.”

“They sound really scary.”

“And they are. Especially in their stronger form. They’re really dangerous because they mostly rely on instincts and emotions, so they’re really unpredictable and sensitive.”

Riki remains quiet as Seonwoo takes in all the information while sipping on his drink.

“Are there other creatures I should know about?”

“Oh there are hundreds of them. Demons, hybrid monsters, gods and demigods, fairies, creatures without physical form – there’re plenty.”

“Wow...” Seonwoo shakes his head. “And humans think they’re the only ones.”

“Only because everyone let them. Humans are rather proud and stubborn. No one wants to have problems with them because having them oblivious to everyone else is good for both sides seeing as humans attack first, ask questions later. And they fear everyone stronger than them. But they’re getting to the point of ridiculing everything and romanticising monsters and tragedy. Maybe we’d get away with a massacre or two.”

Seonwoo turns to look at Riki with wide eyes. “You really do say what’s on your mind.”

Riki shrugs. “There’s no reason not to say something.”

“Wait till I get stronger. You’ll have to be nice to me.”

“I think I’ll be able to take you down no matter who you become.”

Riki looks into Seonwoo’s eyes and the boy can feel his heart beat stronger the longer he looks. His drink shocks him as it goes the wrong way and he ends up coughing everything up. Riki doesn’t hide his laugh as he moves closer to help him wipe his face. Seonwoo laughs too, feeling very at ease with the boy after spending the day with him.

As Riki wipes his cheek he tilts Seonwoo’s face to side and he ends up face to face with him. Seonwoo can’t help but glance at Riki’s lips as they part, the man looking like he wants to say something but doesn’t.

The moment is shattered by a sharp knock on the door.

“Who is locked up in the kitchen?! Open up!”

Riki quickly stands up and goes to unlock the door. Seonwoo rubs his face, knowing very well that his face is burning red.

“Riki? What are you doing here?” Someone unfamiliar walks in and Seonwoo immediately stands up.

The man is looking down on him, his hands in his pocket and his confidence written in the way he moves.

“And who is this? I didn’t know we had a guest.” He moves towards Seonwoo but Riki steps in front of the boy.

Unease makes Seonwoo shiver as he nervously holds the hem of Riki’s shirt.

“Oh come on, Riki. I’ve never caught you sneaking around with someone. Introduce us!”

“This is prince Jeongwon’s friend. I’m taking care of him while he’s in a meeting.”

“If he’s a friend of Jeongwon then he is a friend of mine!” The man leans to side to look at Seonwoo. “Hi! I’m Kyuhyun!”

Seonwoo thinks about waving but Riki grabs his hand and pulls him out of the kitchen. He doesn’t get far as Kyuhyun grabs Seonwoo’s other hand and keeps him in place. Riki turns around with intent to kill.

“Riki...” Kyuhyun brings Seonwoo’s hand up to his nose and sniffs. A wicked smirk crosses his face as he looks at the other vampire. “He doesn’t smell like a friend of Jeongwon’s.”

Seonwoo pulls his hand away and nudges Riki to walk forward as he notices the man isn’t doing so. “Riki, let’s go.” Seonwoo mumbles, holding tight onto his hand.

It takes a moment for Riki to come back and begin walking, his grip deadly around Seonwoo’s hand. Their attention, however, is stolen by the bells ringing. Both of the vampires appear confused and worried as they move quickly.

“Riki, what is this?” Seonwoo asks.

“Alarm bells. Something happened.”

“You impudent mutt! Put him down!”

“Get your filthy paws off him!”

“Step back! Get away from us!”

Riki and Seonwoo run through the mass of vampires and stand shocked as they stare at unconscious Jeongwon in the arms of someone.

Seonwoo doesn’t know what happened and who the man is but Riki is furious.

“What the hell happened to him?!” He approaches the wolf and attempts to take the prince from him.

Jongseong growls, eyes flashing gold as he takes a step back. He looks ready to jump at the next thing that moves and no one dares to do so. They’re shocked and frightened by the wolf’s behaviour.

However, it seems like Riki is the only one capable of thinking under pressure. “Listen, alpha Jongseong, prince Jeongwon seems in need of medical attention. I don’t know what happened but I can assure you that you’ll be safe until he wakes up.”

“We were attacked by demons. Soobin and his gang. They almost had me but Jeongwon bit someone and he’s been unconscious since then. I don’t care what you think of me but you need to help him! And I’m not leaving him out of my sight!”

A moment of silence goes by, all of them stumped by Jongseong’s anger.

“Kill him!”

“He’s trying to deceive us!”

They begin to cheer and step closer to the wolf.

“No! We need to help the prince and-“ Riki attempts to push them back but they don’t listen.

“We can take him down!”

Seonwoo stumbles when someone bumps into him. He yelps when he feels a burning sensation on the back of his hand. As he brings it to his face to see what happened, there’s an open cut on it and a smear. He looks around but can’t see anyone other than the vampires moving towards Jeongwon.

Two familiar suits move past Seonwoo and move effortlessly through the crowd, pushing everyone aside.

“What is going on here?!” Heesung’s growl seems enough to silence the raging crowd.

Jake runs to Jongseong and whispers something to him to which the latter nods. The wolf seems familiar with Jake, seeing as he begins to walk away with him as everyone’s focusing on Heesung.

“Despite what your personal opinion on wolves might be, prince Jeongwon and his kingdom are in an alliance with them and they must be treated with respect! I’ll have you know I’ve never been treated like this when visiting their domain and I’m disappointed in you.” The vampires begin to move away. Seonwoo watches in amazement at the effect Heesung has on them. “I hope this doesn’t change alpha Jongseong’s attitude towards the prince. Though I will notify prince Jeongwon of this. You should be ashamed of yourselves.”

As Heesung heads after Jake, Riki walks to Seonwoo and pulls him away.

“That was intense.” Seonwoo comments and Riki lets out a sigh while shaking his head.

“I thought the wolf would shift right there and then.”

“What happened to Jeongwon? Will he be all right?”

“I have no idea.”

As the physician steps back from the bed, all of them eagerly move towards him.

“I’m afraid His Highness has been poisoned by midnight lily only to get infected by biting a demon.”

“What does that mean? Is it serious?” Heesung asks calmly even though he looks like he might jump out of his skin any moment.

“Well, I have the antidote for midnight lily but the infection can only be treated by the green water from the Bottomless Pit. And that’s not even scientifically proven.”

Seonwoo wants to ask what the man is talking about but the horrified faces confuse him even more as he remains quiet, believing now is not the right time.

“So, you’re telling us there’s no real cure for the infection?” Jongseong stands up and moves towards the physician. Heesung steps in between them. The wolf stares at the vampire, looking like he wants to crack his skull open.

“W-Well, demons seldom allow themselves to be bitten. Their kin has been least researched by us so I can only guess about certain things. Demons are an unknown territory.”

“As well is their domain. We can’t look for the cure in the demons’ domain.” Jake says.

“It pains me to say that you have little choice. Prince Jeongwon probably has less than a week to be cured before the infection begins shutting him down, one organ at a time. And it’ll be painful enough for him to try to end his life.”

“Oh you fucking-“

Seonwoo gasps in shock as Heesung and Jake jump at Jongseong who’s managed to grab the physician’s collar but Riki manages to pull the vampire back. The wolf growls and struggles against the vampires and they seem to have troubles with holding him down.

“We should think of Jeongwon first! Fighting isn’t going to solve anything!” Seonwoo yells, gaining attention of the wolf who notices him for the first time.

His viciousness ebbs away from his face and Heesung sighs in relief when he feels the wolf calming down. Riki manoeuvres the vampire out of the room and leans against the door. Jongseong glances unsurely at Seonwoo before moving back and sitting down. His attention immediately goes to Jeongwon.

Heesung puts his hands on his hip and looks at Jake. “Well, we could really use a bit magic now.”

Seonwoo feels them look at him one by one. He rubs his arm and looks down.

Something is beginning to happen and he can sense something big is coming their way. There’s a certain restlessness that’s taking over him. And he knows he’s going to play a big part in this.

Jake takes a deep breath and looks at the vampires. “How do we get the cure? Any ideas?”

For a moment they remain silent, trying to think of anyone or anything while Seonwoo quietly makes his way to the bed, sitting on the edge as he feels the piercing gaze of the wolf. Jongseong’s eyes shift a bit upwards, looking somewhere past Seonwoo and the latter notices someone moving to stand behind him. Though he doubts Jongseong would harm Seonwoo, seeing as he’s keeping his distance from Jeongwon.

“We need those rare portals Jeongwon once got as a gift from the Kim clan.” Heesung starts.

“Yes, but we first have to find them in the royal vault. Remember how much time we spent looking for that antique vase the late queen put in there?” there’s probably a happy memory behind that event, watching the way they travelled back in time once hearing Heesung.

“And when we get to the demon realm... how do we know where the Bottomless Pit is? I’m not familiar with their domain.” Jake says.

They all agree.

Except Jongseong.

He turns to Seonwoo. “You’re a sorcerer, aren’t you?”

No one says a word as Seonwoo considers what to answer. He expects someone to deny it and for him to go along with it, but they remain quiet.

The wolf doesn’t seem to ponder on the fact too long. “If you’re kept here then it’s because you’re under Jeongwon’s protection. Can you use magic?”

“N-No.” Seonwoo mumbles, looking away from his intense gaze. “I just found out, too.”

“There’s a demon familiar with the domain. And willing to help us.”

Riki glares at him. “I don’t think associating with demons is a smart thing to do. They’re all loyal to a fault to Soobin.”

“He is their prince, after all.” Jake adds.

Jongseong stands up. “Yes, but this demon isn’t tied to the domain. He’s tied... to someone.”

“Mated?!” Heesung doesn’t bother hiding his shock. “Demons can’t mate!”

“He’s not really mated. He was cursed a long time ago and ended up being bonded with someone.”

“Wait... are you saying what I think you’re saying?” Jake stands up.

“Most probably. If we manage to convince his master to help us, the demon will have no choice but to do so.”

Heesung raises his hand to stop him. “I’m worried about the part where a demon actually got cursed. How can they be cursed?”

“By the strongest creations of all. None other than sorcerers.”

Seonwoo feels uncertain as he senses a strange type of guilt. With now being a part of the new world, he can’t help but force himself to blend in, hoping that quickly he’ll make a place for himself among these people. Oh to be strong and brave enough to go to enemy land to obtain a cure for their friend – what a lovely cliché.

“I see.” Heesung mumbles, looking down to keep himself from looking at Jeongwon. “I think... we should get ready to leave.”

As Seonwoo walks behind Riki, he can’t help but stare at his back. They way he’s walking, the way Seonwoo can see muscles shift beneath the clothes though it’s only his strong imagination – everything about Riki is screaming confidence and strength. He barely notices the man stopped walking and is looking over his shoulder to check on Seonwoo.

“You haven’t said a word.”

For a strange reason Seonwoo doesn’t feel like he can pour his heart out like he used to do. Maybe because it’s not Sunghoon, maybe because he doesn’t even know what is going on within his body and mind right now, but he feels like his strange dream is morphing into a nightmare.

He thinks of Jeongwon lying in the bed, that black mark on his cheek and sweat covering his face. He looked like he was fighting to wake up from a nightmare and Seonwoo feels his fear. After all, he was like that too.

His eyes move up to Riki and the man raises an eyebrow, looking genuinely interested in Seonwoo’s explanation.

But he doesn’t feel ready to answer. “Just... thinking a bit.”

He moves past him and opens the door to his room and wonders if he should close them or leave them open. Before he can make the choice he notices that Riki doesn’t step inside. Seonwoo looks at him, about to invite him in but Riki speaks sooner.

“I don’t think you’ve had a good chance to think about everything transpiring. We’re going to look for those stones while you rest a bit.”

Seonwoo hums, clinging onto the door but refusing to move. “When can I see Sunghoon-hyung?”

“I’ve heard he’s doing great with controlling his thirst, so, probably in a few days.”

“But... if we leave to demon domain then I won’t see him.”

Riki tilts his head to side, face morphing into a confused frown. “You’re staying here.”

“No. I thought I’m going with you by default.”

“To do what, exactly?”

Seonwoo opens his mouth to answer but finds himself at a loss of words. Feeling insulted by Riki’s question, Seonwoo slams the door shut before anything else can be said.

“Oh come on, that was a joke!”

“You definitely meant it! Go away, I want to sleep!” Seonwoo pouts as he throws himself on the bed and waits for a response.

He begins to think Riki went away once everything goes quiet.

“Sleep well, Seonwoo.”

He can’t help but smile. No matter how much Riki’s words hurt him he can’t help but think how adorable the vampire is. He looks all tough and dangerous on the outside but Seonwoo firmly believes he is still a child on the inside.

“You too, Riki.”  

His steps falter at the gentle words from the other side of the door. Riki smiles, taking a small glance at the door before walking away, promising himself to come check on him in a bit. 

“Wow, you look creepy.”  

Riki’s face turns scary as he recognizes the voice. From around the corner, Kyuhyun steps out and leans against the wall. With his hands in his pockets and a cunning smirk on his face, he looks very suspicious. 

Deciding to not give in to his taunting, Riki continues to walk away but Kyuhyun grabs his arm before he can walk past him. 

“That boy... he’s not human, nor a vampire. What is he? And don’t give me that same bullshit. Prince Jeongwon is sick, this creature is walking the castle, there’s an unknown vampire transitioning in the dungeons – what are you all doing?” 

Riki rips his arm away, startling the man who steps back but doesn’t give up. He lifts his chin, shoulders straightening and he’s satisfied with the fact that he’s taller than the other vampire. Riki turns his body to give him proper attention.

“You’re nothing but a pest here, Kyuhyun. The sole purpose of your existence is to create more walking blood bags and you’re acting like you’re one of a kind. What is going on in the kingdom and the entire realm can be taken care of by people who actually can do something about it. So, keep your ass quiet and stay fucking away from Seonwoo.”

Kyuhyun’s face reddens, fingers curling into a fist but he doesn’t move at all. Staring back at Riki shows enough will to fight him but there is a clear difference between them.

“You think just because you’re a warrior you can say something like that to me?  You think laws can’t be changed?”

“I don’t think they will. If you think your father is going to change anything, you’re lost, Kyuhyun.”

Riki turns around and walks away from him. He hears him punch the wall, an angry yell echoing through the empty hallways. And Riki can’t stop himself from smiling.

Chapter Text

Seonwoo lets out a long sigh before he even opens his eyes. The softness of the bed and the sheets make it harder for him to get up and he wonders if he can spend more time doing nothing.

A knock against the door makes him open his eyes. Believing he shouldn’t be inappropriate, he gets up and runs to the door. Yet before he opens the door he thinks of how the others warned him to stay out of sight.

“Yes?” He calls out, hoping there’d be no need to open the door.

“Sir Riki asked for your presence, my lord.”

The voice is familiar, though kind and melodic. Seonwoo can’t help but wonder why Riki would send someone for him if it would defeat the purpose of staying low profile. But then again he worries that something came up and Riki couldn’t come in person. Seonwoo opens the door but before he can step out he’s roughly pushed back into the room, his feet tripping and making him fall.

Kyuhyun stands towering over him, two more vampires behind him. Seonwoo can’t calm his wilding heart as he stands up slowly.

“Well, well, it seems like Riki must be the keyword.” Kyuhyun laughs, his friends joining him. He walks up to Seonwoo and grabs his collar.

Seonwoo gasps when he lifts him off the floor while his other hand moves down Seonwoo’s neck. He shivers, feeling every hair on his body stand. For a reason Seonwoo can’t grasp, Kyuhyun’s nails are razor sharp as he easily cuts open his skin. Seonwoo tries to push him away but the vampire slams him against the wall and surges forward to drink his blood.

He sucks out blood through the cut. Seonwoo doesn’t know how long he’s hanging in the air but Kyuhyun begins to hold onto him tighter, fingers beginning to dig into his skin. The pain is too much for him as tears spring in his eyes but he can’t move or call anyone to help him.

He opens his eyes when he hears a yell. The hold on him disappears and he slides down the wall. His limbs are heavy and he has no strength to keep his eyes opened despite sleeping for so many hours. Seonwoo can’t tell who’s picking him up off the ground and his head is too heavy for him to look. Luckily, whoever it is, adjusts his head before he begins moving.

Riki’s fuming in silence as he stares at Seonwoo who’s asleep on his bed. Heesung pats his shoulder and sighs.

“He’ll be fine, don’t worry. Sorcerers are a tough bunch.”

Riki doesn’t respond, mind still in Seonwoo’s room, regretting not bashing Kyuhyun’s head on the floor until his brain matter was splattered everywhere.

Jake comes into the room with a book in his hand. There’s an uncertain expression on his face once he takes in Riki and Seonwoo.

“You don’t look well.” Heesung remarks.

Jake shakes his head. “I’m afraid I’ve got some concerning information. This book, which was hidden among the late king’s collections, says sorcerer cannot leave their domain until a certain age as their body feeds on the energy their domain has. And there’s a legend of sorcerers being a certain type of creatures whose blood was considered luxury among many others. First we must take Seonwoo to his domain if we intend on keeping him alive. And second, Seonwoo is a walking blood bag to a lot of us.”

“I don’t smell anything.” Riki says, eyes not moving past Jake’s chest.

The latter takes in a deep breath. “Even if you could smell something, warriors are not susceptible to something like this. You’re on a different level. Seonwoo has to make something to hide his scent before everyone else begins to notice.”

“I really wish Jeongwon was here.” Heesung mumbles. “I think he’d know what to do.”

Jake agrees. “I think so too. But I also think this should be our lesson not to rely on him always. No matter how you look at it, Jeongwon is still a kid.”

“Yes but... he’s a smart kid.”

The door opens and Jongseong comes in. The valuable portal stone is in his hand and he looks more than ready to leave.

“We’re running out of time.”

“We can’t leave Seonwoo here. It’s not safe.” Riki says.

Heesung looks at the boy and ponders for a moment. “Well, we can only bring him with us.” He looks up at Riki. “I take it, you’ll be the one in charge of him.”

Riki nods a bit too fast. “Don’t worry about him.”

Riki can sense everyone present is onto something but remain quiet about it. While they leave to prepare everything for leaving, Riki focuses on Seonwoo.

His eyes open for a moment, looking at the ceiling, most probably not aware of his surroundings. Riki sits on the bed and nudges him gently.

“Seonwoo, are you awake?”

The sorcerer slowly turns to him. He looks like a train ran him over, with his eyes barely open and not a trace of that pretty smile. He hums in affirmation, not finding more strength for anything else.

“We have to leave. And we can’t leave you here. Do you think you can handle being carried?”

Seonwoo is quiet for a moment, thinking if his presence makes any difference next to the vampires but then remembers Kyuhyun. He opens his mouth and gasps involuntarily, his breathing quickening and eyes wide with fear.

Riki takes his hand and uncurls his tiny fist. “Don’t worry, you’re safe. And I promise you, I’ll never let something like that happen again. I’m sorry for not coming earlier.” Listening to Seonwoo’s wild heartbeat makes Riki restless.

He puts his jacket on and slowly helps Seonwoo get on his feet. He crouches in front of him and Seonwoo can’t help but giggle as he climbs onto Riki’s back.

“I feel like a kid. I’m sorry for causing this. It’s already enough to have Jeongwon wounded.” Seonwoo whispers, knowing very well Riki can hear him loud and clear from how close he is to his ear.

Riki leaves the room and makes his way to the gate where the others are waiting. “No, I should’ve known Kyuhyun wouldn’t be convinced so easily. Jeongwon will kill me when he wakes up.”

The belief that they’re going to save Jeongwon in time makes Seonwoo smile. They haven’t even once made an assumption of possibly losing the prince.

As Riki steps outside the kingdom all eyes turn to him. Jongseong is carrying Jeongwon just like Riki is carrying Seonwoo. The stone is placed before them along with a small box next to it which Riki can’t recognize so he concludes it’s Jongseong’s.

Jake smiles and gives a small wave to the sorcerer which is quickly returned. Heesung looks around and takes a deep breath.

“Well, we’re ready if you are.”

Jongseong nods and walks to the stone. He pushes the box with his foot until it clings against the stone. Heesung and Jake share a look, both of them confused by the man’s way of opening the portal.

“That’s an interesting way to open a portal.” Jake mutters, afraid of taking his eyes off the wolf.

Heesung hums in agreement. “Perhaps portals to demon domain are opened this way.”

Jongseong nudges the stone this time, muttering a curse under his breath.

The two vampires exchange another look but quickly look away, seeing as they’re about to laugh at the wolf.

“I’ve seen Jisung do it like this.” Jongseong says. Just as he turns to look at them the portal opens and a gust of hot wind comes out of it, startling everyone.

One by one, they make heavy steps and walk towards it. What awaits them on the other side is unknown and very dangerous to them. Being on another race’s territory is not a smart move especially now that Soobin is after them.

That attack on the vampires and wolves seemed like a pretty bold attempt to get rid of the two rulers and declare war to helpless creatures. Though they failed the previous time, nothing is stopping them from trying again.

And leaving the vampire domain not protected enough and bringing Jeongwon with them is definitely not a smart move. Soobin is a dangerous demon with more than enough potential to sneak an entire army into their domain and crush it to the ground.

As Riki steps through the portal he immediately senses the change in the density of the air. It becomes harder to breathe and his blood boils underneath his skin. Seonwoo makes a small noise of protest, no doubt equally troubled as the others.

Heesung stares in shock at his surroundings. The scorched land, the deadly silence and a strong wind blowing heat in every direction might resemble demon domain at first sight but this definitely isn’t it. He turns to look at Jongseong but the alpha is already walking away.

“Wait! You never said you’re bringing us here!”

Jongseong seems confused by Heesung’s yelling. “I said we have to find the demon first.”

“And your demon lives here? In the wizardry domain?”

The others seem shocked by Heesung’s statement and turn to Jongseong. Their biggest concern is Jeongwon sleeping on the wolf’s back.

“The wizardry domain is the safest place among all domains as it’s unreachable and dangerous.”

“And you brought all of us here.”

“Listen, I’m ready to lay down my life for Jeongwon. I’m sure he can help us and I’m sure no harm will come to us here, in this domain. So just stay quiet and follow me.”

For a moment Jake fears that Heesung might start a fight with Jongseong. Riki worries that he might not be able to help anyone without putting Seonwoo down and he really doesn’t feel comfortable getting separated from the boy. His senses are tingling and he feels unsafe. His vision is blurry and he can see Jake’s eyes beginning to shine red.

They slowly move after Jongseong, despite every bone in their body feeling like breaking and their muscles fighting against the pull of the ground.

“It’s only a bit further.” Jongseong whispers, his voice wavering.

A few more steps through the dense air last for a year. Riki’s knees are wobbly and he suddenly remembers he hasn’t heard a single word from Seonwoo since they got here. He takes a step and his foot goes through something soft.  He almost trips and falls but quickly regains his composure as he suddenly feels pressure alleviate from his bones.

He gasps as air rushes into his lungs and he bounces on the spot as if he’s been leaning against a wall that disappeared. The sudden greenness and the forest surrounding him makes Riki blink a few times, thinking it’ll disappear.

“What... happened?” Heesung collapses to the ground and his fingers grasp the long grass and he’s pulling it out.

Jake falls beside him and there’s a relieved smile on his face. “That was... a barrier.”

Jongseong puts Jeongwon down and brushes hair out of his face. The vampire’s eyes slowly open and he stares ahead for a moment before looking at the wolf. Jongseong smiles and lowers his head down to place a gentle kiss against his forehead.

“Hey there, Sleeping Beauty.”

Jeongwon smiles, looking tired. “Hey.” He whispers. “Where are we?”

“You’ve been poisoned and we’re looking for the cure.”

“Hm. I can feel it.”

Jongseong bites his lip as he watches Jeongwon’s face scrunch into a painful expression. “Don’t worry. We’re almost there.”

“I really hope this friend of yours cooperates.” Heesung mumbles as he walks past him with Jake, his hand around the latter’s arm. Jake is struggling to keep his direction and doesn’t listen to anything.

“He’s been through a lot before and after being bonded. And then everything happened with the sorcerers and... I hope you won’t take his words to heart.” Jongseong says.

Heesung notices a house ahead of them. Relief washes over him. “The sorcerer or the demon?”

“I suppose... both of them are a handful.” Jongseong chuckles.

As they reach the house, none of them approach it at first. Jongseong takes a careful step forward but quickly stops when he hears someone yell.

“Where the hell do you think you’re going?!”

Someone jumps from the roof of the house and approaches them with hurried steps. Looking at the young man, Heesung finds him familiar. The man scans all of them, his attention on Jeongwon and Seonwoo particularly.

“This isn’t a hospital. You take your wounded somewhere else!”

“Yeonjun.” Jongseong calls out, moving closer to him.

The man takes a good look at the wolf and Heesung is certain he can’t recognize him but his expression changes, eyes widening and leaning back.

“Jongseong-ah?”

As soon as he nods, Yeonjun grins widely and moves to hug him, well aware of Jeongwon on his back.

“What are you doing here? How did you even get here?”

“I need your help. Vampire prince Jeongwon’s been poisoned by a demon and this other one is a sorcerer.”

Yeonjun looks at the two of them. “Please don’t tell me there’s another war brewing.”

None of them answer the question, somehow all of them thinking that Yeonjun’s words could be an accurate prediction of the uncertain future. But the moment is shattered by the door slammed open and someone jumping out.

“Old man! I told you not to touch my PIs!”

A young looking boy is moving towards them with long steps, an angry face and a pout. Heesung begins to find him quite delicate until he comes up to Yeonjun and punches him mercilessly in the stomach.

The demon merely grunts and takes a step away. “Beomgyu, you almost broke my rib!”

“I couldn’t make you a potion without my herbs! And you put them away last time!”  They’re all confused and wondering if the young man noticed guests standing around them but Yeonjun begins to quarrel with him, soon forgetting about his friend.

It’s not until Heesung clears his throat loudly and claps. The two of them stop talking and look around. The sorcerer gasps and bows quickly.

“Oh my! Old man, you brought us guests!”

Jongseong is puzzled by the sorcerer’s behaviour, not expecting him to behave so childishly but Yeonjun’s not paying attention to any of them.

“I didn’t bring them. They found their way here.”

The sorcerer covers his mouth with his hands, eyes widening even more. “Destiny! You were meant to find me!”

Yeonjun shakes his head when he notices that Jongseong wants to say something and the wolf quickly catches on and stays quiet.

“Please, come on in! I’ll take a look at the two of them!”

As they make their way towards the house, Heesung can’t help but worry about the sorcerer knowing about two of them being hurt when he wasn’t even present while Jongseong was talking. And technically he only has to look at Jeongwon, considering Seonwoo isn’t ill.

But he remains quiet and decides to be more careful in his presence.

The inside of the sorcerer’s house is very warm and comforting, looking exactly like one would imagine a sorcerer’s home.

“Put him here.”

Jongseong puts Jeongwon onto the couch slowly and fixes his hair before making space for the sorcerer.

Yeonjun is standing above him, arms crossed and looking intently at the vampire. “Beomgyu, I doubt you can help him.”

Beomgyu rolls his eyes, turning to Jongseong to make a grimace, making the wolf smile at the childish behaviour. Truly, Yeonjun deserved a handful of a brat as revenge for everything he did in the past.

“Shut up, old man.”

Beomgyu is very gentle and careful while undoing a few buttons on Jeongwon’s shirt and placing his pale palm flat against his chest. Jongseong can see his eyes shine green and an uncertain feeling washes over him. He chalks it up to the magic being used in his proximity and tries not to think too much about it.

The sorcerer gasps suddenly, mouth falling open and his hand quickly moves away. Beomgyu swallows a lump in his throat and looks at Jongseong and back at the vampire, looking close to panicking. He leans back and ends up colliding with Yeonjun’s leg. The demon looks at him with eyebrows knit together, just as confused as Jongseong but also worried.

“What is it?” Yeonjun is the first one to ask.

Having the demon close to him certainly makes a difference to Beomgyu because he doesn’t move away for a moment.

“He’s... fighting.”

“What does that mean? You look scared!”

Beomgyu looks between them before standing up and from where he’s standing Heesung notices how he’s staying very close to Yeonjun.

“It means his mind is succumbing to the poison.” Yeonjun answers. “It also means it might be for the best to keep Jeongwon tied up somewhere.”

At this Jongseong growls loudly, standing up to Yeonjun’s height. “We’re not tying him up.”

“Jongseong, he’s currently in a bad place in his head. It’s only a matter of time before he begins to sleepwalk and possibly strangles all of us in our sleep.”

Seonwoo is looking through tired eyes the exchange happening in front of him. His head is heavy to keep it from tilting back and he feels like he’s falling back but Riki’s hand moving to his thigh and giving him a small squeeze grounds him.

He turns to look at the vampire but Riki’s not even looking at him. He looks incredibly focused on the argument happening between Jongseong and Yeonjun and Seonwoo doesn’t want to interrupt him, considering how handsome his side profile is. Seonwoo catches himself and looks down, his cheeks heating up. But it doesn’t prove to be a smart move as he stares at the strong hand gripping on his flesh.

His mind goes  back to being numb from all the shyness that Riki has to look at him once he notices how loud his heart it.

“Hey, you good?” Riki whispers, his warm breath tickling Seonwoo’s ear.

He has a feeling his ears are as red as roses.

Seonwoo nods, humming silently as he doesn’t trust himself to speak without squealing.

Jake steps closer to Heesung. “Hey, you don’t think it’s a bad idea, don’t you?”

Heesung smiles at the assumption. The two of them have really spent too much time together.

“I think whatever we do, one side won’t be happy.” He looks at the prince and thinks for a moment. Hurting someone unintentionally might tear Jeongwon into pieces. Perhaps, for the sake of Jeongwon’s mental health, it’d be better to tie him up until they return with the cure.

“Do it.”

Jeongwon’s weak voice attracts their attention easily and silence follows. The vampire doesn’t have enough strength to keep his eyes opened. “I said do it. I can already feel it everywhere. I don’t want to hurt anyone.”

Jongseong turns away from him and pulls his knees to his chest. “Why the hell is this all happening now?”

They all watch as the vampire moves his hand and tangles his fingers in Jongseong’s hair. His eyes close and a bit of tension eases from his face, though he still looks angry.

“Don’t be sad, love.”

Heesung visibly pales at Jeongwon’s words. He turns to Jake, thinking he’d be just as shocked but the vampire doesn’t dare look at his friend.

“Who dares?!”

Fires around them burn stronger as the young prince continues to rage through the palace.

Kai sneaks a glance around the room but finds everyone scared and standing still. He pouts when glass shards bump against his shoes.

The demon prince sits on his throne, hand coming up under his chin as he looks around the room, gaze blazing with fire. They all stop breathing in fear of catching his attention.

“Who knew we would be there?”

The sudden calmness of his voice startles everyone. This side of the prince is far scarier than the previous one. Concealing his rage and coercing the culprit to come out of hiding only preludes unseen forms of torture and repetitive death. At the silence of his soldiers, Soobin turns to his advisor.

“Soonyoung. Who else knew we’d be going to the neutral lands?”

Soonyoung has to find strength to speak as he bows to the prince and avoids looking past his shoes.

“W-Well, after the ill demons were taken away, the word travelled fast and I’m sure plenty of demons were aware.”

Soobin’s face forms into a disgusted expression, eyes becoming pitch black. “So, I should slaughter the entire domain?”

“Of course not!” Soonyoung is close to crying; he can’t quell the prince’s anger yet he cannot give him what he’s asking for.

“Then you should answer better.”

Soonyoung stumbles back when Soobin stands. He falls to his knees and bows. “Your Highness, please forgive me! I don’t know! I really don’t know!”

Soobin walks past him and stands between the two rows of demons.

“Kai, Seonghwa, Seungcheol, San, Hyunjin, Soonyoung. Others leave the room.”

The chosen ones share worried looks while Soobin waits patiently until all of the others leave. Once the door closes the prince looks at all of them. He brings his hands together behind his back and stands proudly.

“From now on, you will be the ones in charge of tasks I give you and no one else is allowed to know.” The demons hurry to nod in agreement. “First, we need to fix this whole shit wreck. Who’s trying to make us look like instigators? Second, are their goals our relations with the vampires and the werewolves? We’ll wait until they react. I can’t think of anyone.” Soobin covers his face with his hands and rubs his eyes.

“Someone is trying to start a war.”

Soobin looks at Kai, giving a small nod. “In the last one, an entire race was wiped out. What can happen in this one?”

They look at each other before turning to their prince.

“Kai and Soonyoung, you two find out who interrupted our visit to the neutral lands. Seonghwa, Seungcheol, Hyunjin and San, you find out what you can in the vampire and wolf domains. We’ve always been blacklisted by others along with sorcerers. I’m afraid we’re in danger.”

Soobin holds his hand out in front of them, a flame burning in it. “You’ll be carrying this Flame of Oath. I don’t wanna hear anything about you failing your tasks. And be fast.”

The demons run their hands through the flame and it sticks onto their palms before diminishing and disappearing.

“Go, now. Time is of essence.”

“Here, this tea will help with your nausea.”

Seonwoo looks up and smiles at Beomgyu while taking the mug from him. The latter is all smiles as he sits opposite of Seonwoo.

“So, Seonwoo, you’re a sorcerer!” The boy exclaims quietly, eyes moving to Jeongwon occasionally. “I haven’t seen one in... well, three hundred years?”

Seonwoo’s eyes widen. “That long? I thought the war happened a few years ago?!” He looks around the room to find Riki, feeling fooled by the vampire.

Beomgyu laughs. “Oh, that is a few years to immortals!” The sorcerer pats Seonwoo’s arm. “Don’t worry, you’ll be a lot older than you are now.”

“That doesn’t really comfort me.” Seonwoo pouts.

“Well, if it means anything, you can keep you current looks.”

The younger boy nods, suddenly much happier. Beomgyu smiles.

“How did you survive, Seonwoo?”

“Oh, I was actually in the human realm. It was only by accident that Riki found me and my friend being attacked by a fevered vampire.”

“Really?” Beomgyu’s eyes drift to Riki who’s in the kitchen discussing the plan of action with the others. “You were raised by humans?”

“Yeah. They were really nice and kind, I’m thankful for having them in my life.” Seonwoo’s sad smile tugs at Beomgyu’s heart and he finds himself patting his head gently.

“Don’t worry, Seonwoo. Despite what you might think now, this is where you belong.”

“I know. I just miss my friend, Sunghoon-hyung. He was bitten by that fevered vampire and he’s turning, back in the vampire domain.”

“Oh.”Beomgyu slowly moves back. He watches Seonwoo while the boy drinks his tea. Beomgyu feels the tips of his fingers tingle as he focuses on sensing Seonwoo’s magic. “Oh.” He mumbles again, mouth falling open as he realizes the familiarity of it.

The younger boy can see something happening in Beomgyu’s head. “What is it?”

“Nothing.” Beomgyu jumps to his feet and almost runs upstairs.

Believing it’s not a suspicious behaviour, taking in concern how the boy’s been behaving since they came here, Seonwoo focuses on trying to overhear the conversations in the kitchen. He briefly looks at Jeongwon, still out of it on the couch. Taking a piece of cloth next to the vampire, Seonwoo moves closer and gently wipes the sweat off his face.

“It’s less dangerous to go over the hill. The tunnel is already on the verge of collapsing.” Yeonjun’s voice comes from the kitchen.

“I don’t think we have much of a choice. I’ve heard rumours of demons being able to sense foreigners on their territory.” Heesung adds. “If that’s true, we’ll most probably have a few minutes to get what we need.”

“Yeonjun can save us a lot of time if he can portal us as close to the Pit as possible.” Jake says and attention is quickly turning to the demon.

He looks at them, considering his abilities. “I haven’t portalled in years.”

“It shouldn’t be hard for you. The most important thing is to visualize the place.” Jongseong says and Yeonjun doesn’t find his opinion helpful.

“Yes, I’m sure I can get there. But taking you lot with me might be dangerous for you.”

They all stay quiet at his words. As expected, Heesung is the first one to collect his thoughts.

“Then that means not all of us should go.”

Yeonjun shrugs. “I mean, I’m just saying I can’t guarantee everyone’s safety.”

“Who should go, then?” Jake asks.

They exchange looks and Yeonjun points at Jongseong. “You’re fast, so, we’ll need you with us. And I know Jake is faster than you.” He turns to Heesung and the vampire’s disbelief can be seen on his face.

“How the hell did you make that assumption? I’m centuries older than Jake!”

Yeonjun smirks. “Yeah, that much can be seen.”

Jake grabs Heesung’s arm and nudges him, though he can’t help but smile too. It calms Heesung as he realizes the demon is enjoying the taunting. He fixes his cuffs and looks at him.

“Jake is very fast. You’ve made a good decision.”

“I know.”

Yeonjun feels like his skin is too itchy as he makes his way upstairs. His chest feels too small for his beating heart as it leads him down the hall and to the last room on the right. He opens the door to find Beomgyu hovering over his table, his finger moving along the lines of some book that looks close to falling apart.

The sorcerer doesn’t seem to notice him as he walks slowly behind him, attaching himself to his back while his hands naturally come around his small waist. Despite the many robes the sorcerer is wearing, Yeonjun can still feel how small his body is.

Beomgyu hums to the demon, eyes not moving from the book.

“What is it? Something’s bothering you.” Yeonjun whispers in his ear, trying to figure out what’s written but it’s a different language from the one he knows. “That looks ancient.”

“It is. Written by the sages.”

“Why are you suddenly reading that? I’ve never seen this book.”

“I never needed it until now.”

“And what happened for you to need it?”

Yeonjun waits for Beomgyu to speak but he can guess his answer-

“Seonwoo.”

“What about him?” Yeonjun asks, not having a nice feeling about Seonwoo being related to an ancient book written by ancient sorcerers.

“You’ve seen the wizardry domain at its peak. But the very creation of it is kept a secret even by a few ancient beings alive today. The Creation is tied to our extermination.”

The demon begins to worry as he realizes Beomgyu’s far more serious than he’s been in the long period of time. And he has a feeling this won’t end with a nice conclusion.

“Sorcerers have been around for a long time. Many other domains mark their appearance much after we performed our first spells. It leads to a conclusion that sorcerers came to be first, if not...”

“The creators.” Yeonjun mumbles and Beomgyu turns around to look at him with wide eyes.

“Hyung, the feeling I get from him is the same feeling described here by the first sages. And it’s raw magic, so pure and scary.”

“Why are you scared? Seonwoo doesn’t even know anything about spells and casting.”

“Because his body cannot channel that magic properly. Sorcerers never developed bodies strong enough to contain it and in the end it ends up tearing them apart. Seonwoo is probably the most dangerous creature walking through domains.”

“Well, if we teach him to control it-“

“Hyung, you don’t get it! That magic will most likely control Seonwoo.”

“Is there something we can do...?” Yeonjun slowly asks

“I don’t think... we can’t do much. I mean... maybe relieve him of some magic?”

“I thought that’s a temporary solution.”

Beomgyu groans quietly, turning around in Yeonjun’s embrace and throwing his arms around him. He sniffs dramatically.

“It is only temporary but we can find a way to use the magic instead of letting it go to waste.”

“Right. And do you have anything in mind?”

“Not right now. But I’ll have to think of something. Are you guys leaving right now? You’ve come to say goodbye?” Yeonjun leans back and stares at Yeonjun’s chin, not wanting to look into the demon’s eyes.

Yeonjun smiles and moves to place a gentle kiss on Beomgyu’s forehead. He cups his cheeks and leans down to kiss him on the lips, laughing lightly at Beomgyu’s puckered lips.

“I’ve told you before, I’ll never say goodbye to you.”

Beomgyu grabs his collar and pulls him into a fiery kiss, loving the way Yeonjun doesn’t falter for a second to pull him against him. Like usual, Beomgyu feels his body become lighter the longer Yeonjun kisses him, fingers digging into the robes, thinking of throwing the robes off and letting Yeonjun take him on the table before he leaves.

But he’s well aware of the guests who are becoming louder and louder, the more Yeonjun bites onto Beomgyu’s lips. The demon is the first one to realize the noise and pulls back, licking his lip and eyeing the sorcerer. Beomgyu smiles in satisfaction at the fiery gaze, loving the way the demon’s eyes have turned black.

“After not leaving for so long, you still make me regret doing so.”

Beomgyu laughs as he pats Yeonjun’s chest before stepping away to fix his robes. Yeonjun stares at the bruised lips and a trace of blood on them. He’s very happy with the way Beomgyu looks and smells, wanting nothing more than to drag him to bed and have his way with him but he can’t. And the brat knows it very well.

“Let’s go, old man. We’re on borrowed time.”

“Remember boys, the moment you step onto their land, run. Do not look around, don’t waste time – if we’re lucky they’ll locate us after we reach the Bottomless Pit.” Yeonjun waits for the two of them to nod before placing his hands on their shoulders.

Beomgyu catches his eye a second before they all disappear.

Riki sighs and looks at Beomgyu. “So, are we going to pretend no one heard that conversation between you and your lover upstairs?”

Beomgyu sighs and faces the vampire. Heesung is standing next to him, looking just as suspicious. Seonwoo is taking care of Jeongwon inside the house, so Beomgyu thinks this might be a perfect opportunity to share his worries with them.

“You heard everything?”

“Pretty much. Though I didn’t meet a lot of sorcerers in my life, I must admit Seonwoo’s little snippet of magic was alarming.” Riki says.

“From what we’ve heard, Seonwoo can control a certain amount of magic while the rest should be channelled somewhere appropriate.” Heesung raises an eyebrow.

Beomgyu confirms with a nod. “Yes. But there’s something else that’s worrying me. Seonwoo could be a direct descendant of the royal sage family.”

Heesung’s eyes widen in shock. “W-What are you saying?!”

Riki has an idea what his words mean but he’s not sure he wants to say them out loud.

“Seonwoo might be the prince of the wizardry domain.” Beomgyu confirm.

Riki stares at him in silence, mind overflowing with images of Seonwoo being hunted down, or worse, killed. If someone were to find out about Seonwoo existence...

No, there’s too much at stake – no one can allow that to be known.

Heesung on the other hand feels ready to hit something. “Oh no, we’re doomed. I can’t believe this is happening. Why would you imply something like that?!”

Riki would have laughed at the older vampire losing his composure but at the same time he feels like Heesung is reacting for the both of them. Oh how he wishes he could laugh this off. But as much as it’s dangerous for Seonwoo, it might be much bigger than what they originally thought. Riki did joke with him being a weapon on standby but it wasn’t entirely a joke – with a different approach the young sorcerer could’ve become a valuable warrior with them.

This revelation can only mean that it’s within Seonwoo’s right to build a domain of his own and by that bringing the wrath of his enemies directly on him. It’s a sensitive topic and a difficult task.

“It’s going to be okay, Jeongwon. They will save you.”

Seonwoo’s gentle voice reaches Riki’s ears and it tugs at his already weakened heart. He continues to speak lowly to the vampire while dabbing at the sweat on his face. As he tries to think of Seonwoo suddenly disappearing from here...

He turns to Beomgyu and grabs his collar. The sorcerer is mildly surprised but doesn’t seem frightened a second.

“We have to keep him safe. No harm can come to him.”

Beomgyu smiles and nods. “I know, you don’t have to tell me. What we need to think of is how to protect him.”

Riki reluctantly releases him and fixes his collar, patting his arm before giving a small nod. “All right. Let’s say we can trust you for now.”

Beomgyu rolls his eyes as he nudges the vampire away. “As if I’d be alive if I were an idiot. And if old man gives me shit about your stench on me, you better not be on this side of the barrier.”

As the sorcerer walks back into the house, Heesung looks almost worried as he looks at Riki. The younger vampire doesn’t seem too worried but at the same time he’s not dismissing it.

Putting his hands on Beomgyu the moment his mate left... Riki should pray Yeonjun doesn’t smell him.

“No! Step back!”

The sudden yelling of Beomgyu makes the two vampires run inside the house, immediately thinking something happened to Jeongwon.

But what they see is much more worrying.

Jeongwon is lying on the floor, his fingers and face covered in blood. From the scent Riki can tell it’s Seonwoo’s.

“Seonwoo!” He yells as they run to Jeongwon and put him back on the bed. “He bit him?!”

Beomgyu sighs and looks towards the kitchen. “Why haven’t you tied him up yet?”

Heesung stays quiet, feeling suffocated by the amount of guilt he feels suddenly. Riki goes to the kitchen and raises his hand in time to stop a wooden bat aiming at his face. Seonwoo yells as he reaches out for Riki’s throat. The vampire pushes his arms aside quickly and hugs him tightly, leaning his head back as Seonwoo struggles to get out of his hold.

“Seonwoo! It’s me! Seonwoo!” Riki yells, feeling scared about the boy’s state.

Seonwoo begins to cry and Riki panics when he sees his eyes changing colour into emerald green. Riki can feel his strength beginning to leave his body, no doubt being drained by Seonwoo. But he can’t let go. He promised Seonwoo no one would attack him again. And to think it’d be Jeongwon of all people...

“Seonwoo, I’m sorry.” Riki manages to say while using every ounce of his strength to keep him in place. But he knows he won’t last for much longer. “I’m sorry... it’s my fault.”

Beomgyu gasps when he feels the tremors in the air around him. He can see the green aura of Seonwoo and fears the worst is going to happen. He runs to the kitchen and manages to see Seonwoo cradling Riki’s unconscious body, tears streaming down his face.

And then the compressed energy in Seonwoo explodes.

“Hurry up!” Yeonjun yells and his heart is beating wildly in his chest as he watches the demons inches behind Jongseong.

The bottle of green water is in his mouth as the wolf runs in his true form.

“We’ll have to take them with us.” Jake points us and Yeonjun nods slowly. The portal beside him is opened but Yeonjun can’t bring himself to step through it without Jongseong being close.

“Get ready.” Yeonjun says as he pulls Jake to step inside the portal. “Come on, Jongseong!”

The wolf snarls, fatigue getting the best of him. Yeonjun counts down steps to the portal and as soon as the wolf’s tail is over the line Yeonjun breaks the stone into shards.

Looking around they can’t see any sign of demons.

But it brings them no relief.

The oasis Beomgyu created with his magic is broken and they’re all staring around the damaged forest and the dark grey sky above them.

“What... happened?” Jake wonders but Yeonjun doesn’t waste a second and runs towards the house.

Beomgyu hisses in pain as he pulls his foot from underneath a big piece of wall. He coughs from the dust and struggles to stand on one foot. He looks around and despite that he wants to be strong and not cry, he can’t stop himself from screaming out.

“No!”

His foot gets stuck and he falls down, his hands bruising and his knee colliding against something sharp. He yells out in pain and rips his foot out. He rolls over the rubble and lies in the grass.

The sight of the grey sky confirms Beomgyu’s fears and he covers his eyes, cursing under his breath. He feels sick.

“Beomgyu!”

The familiar voice of his mate only makes Beomgyu cry harder.

“Hyung.” He doesn’t have the strength to yell and hopes his voice reaches Yeonjun’s ears.

“Beomgyu!” he drops to the ground by his side, hands moving from his face to his body, wide eyes scanning all the wounds. “What the hell happened?”

“Seonwoo. Jeongwon bit him.”

“God, you’re hurt all over.” Yeonjun looks at the house and wonders if he could find the healing potions. “Don’t move.”

He runs to place where the shelves with Beomgyu’s potions used to be and easily lifts a wooden beam and moves it. He stares worriedly at the broken glass bottles and runs his hand through his hair. Just when he thinks nothing can be used, he manages to see a damaged bottle with a few drops of the potion.

Running back to Beomgyu, Yeonjun trips and falls near Beomgyu. The sorcerer smiles at him, though he looks tired and exhausted.

“And you tell me I’m clumsy.” He teases and Yeonjun forces a smile.

He drinks the potion, feeling the sharp edge graze his skin before he leans down and transfers it into Beomgyu’s mouth. The sorcerer makes a face at the sour taste.

“Ugh, why is it that bad?”

Yeonjun chuckles. “Because something that helps is usually disguised like that.”

Beomgyu can’t help but laugh, raising his hand for Yeonjun to grab. “Aigo, old man, don’t fret so much. These are just scratches.”

Yeonjun turns to look at the rubble. “Yeah, to think I trusted these idiots to keep you safe.”

“Hyung!” Jake yells as he jumps into the rubble, throwing big pieces to side. Jongseong shifts into his human form and sniffs the air. He walks to the centre of the house and looks around. He worries that his nose isn’t working but he manages to smell traces of Heesung’s scent. He begins digging and doesn’t care about his bloodied hands.

As he lifts a big shelf he stares in shock at Heesung’s body lying atop Jeongwon’s, outstretched and clearly protecting the vampire. Jongseong slowly untangles them and lifts the vampire in time for Jake to come and take him away, calling his name.

“Jeongwon.” Jongseong chokes out as he kneels next to the boy and gently brushes dirt off his face. He watches in shock as blood smears across his cheek. And it’s a scent Jongseong can recognize. He takes the boy away from the ruins and lowers him next to Heesung.

“What the hell happened? Who did this?!” Jake yells, looking around but can’t see anyone but them.

“Seonwoo.” Yeonjun growls. “Jeongwon attacked him and the sorcerer reacted like a baby. Despite knowing of this you still refused to tie Jeongwon and look what happened.” He turns to Jongseong and the alpha doesn’t answer. “I understand what having a mate means. But if you’re going to be this unreasonable then you’ll be hurting Jeongwon too.”

Riki groans in pain as he comes to. He’s holding Seonwoo close and listens to him breathe for a couple seconds. He looks around and sighs in relief to see they’re somewhere in the forest.

“Seonwoo?” Riki nudges him slightly, afraid of frightening him. The boy hums, still not waking up. “Seonwoo, you have to wake up.”

The sorcerer peeks through one eye and looks at the green forest. “Where... are we?”

Riki sighs. “I really hope we’re still in the same domain.”

At this Seonwoo forces himself to stand up and tries to help Riki but the vampire accepts his hand despite not needing it. Riki steps closer to inspect the wound on his neck and Seonwoo grunts in pain as he moves his head.

“Hurts?” Riki whispers, as if fearing that this moment might be broken.

Seonwoo nods. “Yes.”

Riki watches in amazement as he runs the pad of his finger across the skin. No signs of damaged skin.

“It’ll be fine. Do you feel all right?”

Seonwoo hums, neither confirming nor denying. It has to suffice as the boy is clearly still shocked by the explosion of magic.

“It still feels the same.” Seonwoo mumbles, his hand going to his chest.

Riki stays quiet for a moment to feel any changes around him. “No. It’s a bit... different.”

“Beomgyu! Heesung?!” Seonwoo begins to yell as he makes his way somewhere.

“I don’t feel any of them near.” Riki says.

After a bit more of walking, Riki almost bumps into Seonwoo as the sorcerer stops.

“What...?” Riki’s voice trails off as he stares.

Right before them is a barrier, much more visible than Beomgyu’s. And next to them is the forest, surrounded by a broken barrier. And they both know it’s the forest they were in previously.

“Seonwoo, did you...” Riki doesn’t need to finish the question as Seonwoo also catches on.

“It’s impossible.” Seonwoo shakes his head.

“It’s possible. You’re strong enough to do that.”

“But why would I do this without even knowing how to? Or wanting to do exactly this?”

Riki thinks for a moment before smiling. “Barriers are made to protect. And you were really scared back there. Maybe you created a barrier to protect the two of us.”

Seonwoo’s ears turn red and he doesn’t face the vampire. “Shut up, I don’t think that’s the reason.”

“Okay, let’s get back to the others." Riki takes his hand and holds tight, glancing up at him and both of them try to hide their smiles.

Chapter Text

“The barrier isn’t completely gone. But it’s weak.” Yeonjun says while helping Beomgyu sit up and lean against a tree.

“Just like me.” Beomgyu winks, though Yeonjun stares coldly at him, not finding the strength to smile. “Oh, come on, old man, you should be happy I’m not dead.”

“I can’t be happy if you’re hurt.”

Jake laughs softly next to them as he hands Heesung a glass of water. “How long have you two been together?”

The two exchange looks, both of them becoming red and looking away. Jake laughs again.

“Oh, you’re adorable.”

Beomgyu snorts as he takes a sip of the potion he made with the herbs surrounding them. “I think it’s been too long.”

Yeonjun agrees as he observes the sorcerer, eyes shining with fondness. “Yeah.”

Jake watches silently as Yeonjun takes Beomgyu’s chin and gently wipes a drop of potion trailing down his chin. He averts his eyes as he feels like he’s intruding on something very private.

He looks down at Heesung but the vampire doesn’t seem present despite looking up at the sky. “Hyung, you feeling all right?”

Heesung takes in a deep breath but doesn’t look away from the sky. “I think I can smell Seonwoo and Riki.”

As Seonwoo and Riki approach the place where the house was, the two of them stop dead in their tracks at the sight.

Before Seonwoo can turn to Riki to ask anything, Riki is pulling Seonwoo back and grabbing Yeonjun’s hand headed for Seonwoo’s chest.

Seonwoo falls down, watching with wide eyes as Yeonjun knocks Riki back and punches him.

“Riki!”

The vampire grabs Yeonjun’s neck and squeezes, feeling enough rage to hold until his eyes pop out. Yeonjun punches him again, not giving up even when his face is red. Riki growls as rage begins to take over his mind. He punches Yeonjun back with enough force to gain space to pull his knee up and hit him.

“Old man, don’t fight!” Beomgyu comes closer, with Jake supporting him. “It wasn’t intentional!”

“It was reckless. And these kids are at fault! I’m not risking anything anymore!”

“But I need Seonwoo! And Seonwoo needs Riki! You can’t break the cycle or else our plans will fail!”

Yeonjun is determined to beat the vampire to death but neither of them looks tired. On contrary, Riki looks more energetic than usual. Seonwoo grabs his jacket from behind and tugs him back from combat.

“I’m sorry! I really didn’t mean to destroy it!” Seonwoo cries out, wiping his tears furiously. “I’m so sorry, Beomgyu! I was just so scared, I thought that vampire came for me and...”

Riki interrupts him by hiding his face in his chest, looking at Yeonjun with a glare. “Seonwoo, you shouldn’t apologize for something you have no control over.”

Yeonjun points his finger at them, eyes wide in shock. “I advised you! If you’d listened, none of this would have happened! Why doesn’t anyone listen to me?! If you came to me for help, then listen to me!”

Beomgyu brings his palms together and mutters an enchantment. His aura appears, sea blue and mesmerizing. He lifts his hand and moves it from right to left and all of them watch in shock at a small two-story wooden hut that appears. Yeonjun watches as Beomgyu wavers, having troubles with his balance. Without a word he goes to stand behind the sorcerer, hand coming to rest on his hip as he finishes muttering the enchantment.

Beomgyu looks at all of them and smiles. “We’re in this together now. I want to help you. Please accept it.”

Jongseong walks to them with Jeongwon slowly dragging his feet across the ground. The vampire looks very pale and sick but the black smear is gone from his face.

“I think... accepting your help is the least we can do for you now.” The vampire says and Beomgyu’s smile widens.

“Well, get in, quickly. I’ll see if I can bring the house together.”

“You don’t think it’s suspicious?” Yeonjun asks as he puts a few bottles in front of them. Beomgyu reaches out and pours all of them a glass and Seonwoo immediately leans forward once he smells alcohol.

Riki is trying not to laugh at the boy and the latter can see him, a shy smile appearing on his face as they both remember their conversation back in the library in the vampire domain. The knowing look on the vampire’s face makes Seonwoo’s face redden.

“Well, we didn’t think more about it. We were kind of occupied with our prince dying.” Heesung answers, meaning no disrespect as he sighs, mind suddenly going elsewhere.

Jeongwon bows his head, lips pressed in a firm line. Jongseong pats his arm and smiles.

“Plenty of people knew about the meeting. But it doesn’t necessarily have to mean it was someone on our side. The real question would be why?” Jake says before tipping his glass back.

Yeonjun turns to Jeongwon. “Vampires have committed many atrocities to show they’re a superior race.”

Jeongwon, Heesung and Jake all turn to look at him in surprise, perhaps mostly hurt by the indirect accusation. Beomgyu doesn’t agree with his mate. He shakes his head.

“I think it runs much deeper than we think. I really believe the last war against the sorcerers and this sudden attack is connected.”

“How? The vampires didn’t participate in the war. And the demons could dislike us for that but they, too, were coaxed by the gods. Favours and such.” Jake rolls his eyes.

“Yeah, Soobin’s brothers were in debt to Zeus and Odin.” Heesung chuckles.

“Right! I remember how angry Soobin was. And that happened around his maturing. He was so embarrassed.”  Jake laughs.

Jeongwon smiles as he watches the two of them reminisce the old times. He looks down when Jongseong takes his hand and holds it tight. He feels blessed to have this man in his life during these dark times. It takes a great burden off his chest when he compares this circle of friends and the one he didn’t have when his father died.

He can’t help but look at Heesung, remembering very well how much the older vampire helped him and fought to keep him safe. Now he feels even stronger because there are more of them. To go to great extents to save his life only proves how much he means to them.

Even Seonwoo, for whom he believed wouldn't be exposed to so much britality this soon, especially from his side. The baby sorcerer isn't sporting a wound on his neck, thanks to his genes but it still doesn't make Jeongwon feel less guilty. Despite apologizing and Seonwoo trying to convince him that it was nothing, with a smile on his face, Jeongwon can't bring himself to look the boy in the eye.

“I’m afraid that the few strongest races would mind the vampires being on good terms with the sorcerers. There are a few who actually had pretty serious disagreements with them.” Yeonjun says and Beomgyu agrees.

“Yes, I remember demigods being angry with the royal family for refusing to get involved in their civil wars. Some of them even managed to sneak in the domain and attack the king. Thankfully, his guards were there and no one got hurt. But still, demigods are pretty dangerous creatures.”

“In terms of sorcery, they come close to you.” Heesung points out and Beomgyu nods.

“Yes. Sorcerers are unique creatures, along with gods and thereby, demigods. But demigods are much more vicious in nature. Must be their human side.” Beomgyu says and for a moment Seonwoo expects them to look at him but it doesn’t happen. A warm feeling envelops him as he feels more a part of the group than the previous time he listened to them talk about humans.

He looks at Riki, remembering how he seemed to despise humans but the vampire is intently listening to them speak. He can’t help but notice him tapping his fingers against his thigh, looking impatient and tired at the same time.

“Come to think of it, I haven’t seen much of them since the war. They seem pretty closed off.” Jake says as he pours himself another glass. He doesn’t hesitate to scan other glasses and fill them, much to the others’ pleasure.

Jeongwon hums in agreement, nodding toward Heesung. “We’ve ran into them on a few occasions. Not a chatty bunch.”

“They never talk to anyone.” Heesung rolls his eyes. “But I do recall one of them saying something about changes about to be made. I don’t think... Well, I guess I don’t want to think I heard him say those words and did nothing after the war.”

“They’re always talking shit. Plus, there’s no solid evidence. All they can do is talk.” Jongseong assures the vampire.

“What about elves?” Jake’s question has them all shaking their heads.

“No way. Those creatures wouldn’t harm a soul. Especially unprovoked.” Jeongwon says and Jake nods with a small smile.

“Fairies?”

Silence befalls at Riki’s words. Seonwoo thinks it must be because it’s a silly thought – fairies can’t be involved into something like this. His opinion on fairies seems to be a wrong one as they all seem to think about it.

“Fairies are... dangerous.” Seonwoo’s mouth drops open at Heesung’s statement.

Jeongwon nods. “Yeah. I think we both have had troubles with them.” He looks at the wolf to his left who quickly nods.

“Our packs are pretty territorial and don’t like admission of other creatures but the growing cities are luring many of others home. We’ve been provoked a few times by them. I believe they’ve hurt a few of wolves, maybe even pups, but there is no proof. Even if there were, the only thing that can come out of an argument with them is war.”

“Jeongwon, wasn’t your mother a sorceress?” Yeonjun’s question makes all of them look at him in shock.

The vampires seem to be surprised by Yeonjun’s knowledge, rather than the revelation itself.

Seonwoo looks especially surprised. “What?”

The demon is confused by their reaction. “What? I think I heard someone say that, years ago.”

“The late queen was...” Heesung begins but Jeongwon clears his throat loudly while looking at him. The vampire stops talking and begins to play with his glass.

The prince sighs and forces a smile. “My mother was a sorceress. Though I must add, only a few people knew that. And if you know, then I shouldn’t be surprised if someone else knew too.”

Yeonjun clears his throat, looking into Jeongwon’s eyes and refusing to let the vampire think he might be intimidated in any way. “Yes, well, word travels fast when you’re a demon like me.”

“I bet it does.”

“But I’ve also heard stories about vampires and sorcerers being forbidden to mate.”

At this Beomgyu looks up at Seonwoo, well aware of the sorcerer’s magic and the feelings blossoming between him and the vampire sitting next to him.

“Vampires have been said to be susceptible to their blood. And many sorcerers can use that to gain control over vampires.” Beomgyu says, only after lowering his eyes onto his hands. “It’s a painful topic to vampires.

“And what comes out of a bond like that?” Yeonjun asks, tilting his head towards Beomgyu.

The sorcerer hesitates, displeased with the fact Yeonjun wants to him to answer when he knows the answer too.

“Daries.”

Jongseong brings his fist against the table, startling Seonwoo. “You should be careful of what you speak.”

Yeonjun leans forward, protective of his mate just as much as the wolf is. “And you should think first, be mad later. Does Jeongwon look like a daries to you?” At his silence, Yeonjun rolls his eyes. “Of course he doesn’t.”

“So, his mother was not a sorceress?” Seonwoo asks.

“Well, either that or...”

Jeongwon stands up before Yeonjun can end his sentence. He’s disappointed with the demon’s behaviour but he shouldn’t have expected anything else – it is in their blood to provoke. Without another word he makes his way to his bed, settling in while everyone remains quiet.

“What was the real reason the wizardry domain was attacked?” Yeonjun asks as he stares ahead at the place where Jeongwon is no longer sitting in. “There are reasons to believe the vampire king’s bond with his sorceress queen brought panic to the two domains. And instead of listening to words of reason, the two went ahead and mated. Jeongwon, this isn’t an insult to you, we’re just taking things into consideration. If the stories are true, then you have a daries sibling running around. And I’m almost one hundred percent sure that’s true.”

“How could’ve a daries survived for three hundred years without anyone finding it?” Jeongwon asks, clearly irritated.

“There are ways to control them. And there are ways to use them.” Yeonjun says, looking around at the others who are listening to him. “Daries are dangerous creatures, born only a handful of times since our creation. They feed on blood, not exclusively a sorcerer’s, and fight an incontrollable bloodlust even sated. They are addicted to the blood of sorcerers, so they are convenient servants. Strong, smart and dangerous, they are top predators among all races. And they seek out sorcerers.”

“It means there are more of them.” Beomgyu says, his eyes becoming wider the longer he looks at Yeonjun. “It means it’s already serving someone if it really is alive.”

“And someone wanted to prevent it from happening again. The war broke out, one race exterminated – we’re down to only one daries. A potential catastrophe was stopped. The king’s mating with a sorceress would have been a perfect excuse for the races to mix.”

Heesung pushes his chair back and stands up. “All right, I think we shouldn’t be talking about this while drinking.”

“Agreed. But I will take this one with me.” Jake takes a bottle of alcohol and hides it underneath his shirt before standing up and going to his bed.

Beomgyu stands up and Yeonjun follows, walking behind the sorcerer and disappearing behind a wooden wall hiding their bed.

Seonwoo and Riki exchange looks, not impressed by the whole situation. The vampire stands first, making sure Seonwoo doesn’t fall or trip. He’s seen him drink a few glasses during their discussion and he doesn’t know if he should be proud or worried about Seonwoo’s alcohol tolerance.

The boy lets Riki drag him towards the bed and sighs. “Why couldn’t I have been born during the peaceful times?”

His question echoes in the silent house but they all hear him. And they all wish the same, especially since they’ve lived during those times. It’s sad, nostalgic and heartbreaking that everything changed in a blink and the consequences are following them to this day.

Riki helps him lay down and doesn’t get to move away as Seonwoo holds onto his sleeve tightly. Without saying anything, he settles next to the boy on the bed and Seonwoo sighs loudly as he throws his arm and leg over him.

“Riki, you smell like... cherry blossoms.”

The vampire’s heart stops beating and he hears Heesung and Jake gasp from across the room. He pulls Seonwoo closer and wants to laugh but controls himself. What Seonwoo doesn’t know can’t hurt him.

And if he only knew what the scent of cherry blossoms means to vampires...

Soonyoung jumps in the spot when Kai throws a large bag on the floor. The latter stares at him, utterly disappointed with his unprofessionalism but Soonyoung doesn’t notice as he leans against a desk and sighs.

“Kai, you startled me.”

“Hm, you don’t say.”

Choosing not to argue with him, Kai opens the bag and kicks the demon in it in the back. “You better be nice.”

Soonyoung watches with wide eyes as the demon sits up and looks at the two of them with the nastiest look he’s ever seen on someone.

“I’m not talking, you dumbass!”

Kai doesn’t hesitate to kick him again.

“You look a bit familiar.” Soonyoung says.

The demon scoffs. “I’ve told you ten times already, I didn’t smell anything on the borders.”

“Then why are you not talking about something?”

“Because...” the demon yells, swinging his fist back but a simple raise of an eyebrow is enough of a question. He smacks his fist on the floor. “Prince Soobin will skin me alive!”

At this, Soonyoung crouches next to the demon and smiles. “My friend, if we bring you to Soobin and accuse you of withholding information... I think Soobin will do more than skin you.”

The demon stays quiet for a moment, thinking and looking between the two demons. He looks down and sighs.

“Can you keep my name out of this if I tell you? What I did was to protect my family.”

“Of course, but you’ll have to be relieved of your position. If you made a mistake once then you’re doing it again.”

“I agree with that. But I still want to serve prince Soobin.”

Kai stares at him for a moment, wondering if the demon will live to see tomorrow. But he nods. “That’s all right. We’ll think of something.” He doesn’t have to look at Soonyoung to know the demon is confused and worried about Kai’s promises.

The demon starts talking. “We were in the wolf domain, in the city. And someone was following me the entire time. I thought I got rid of him but when I least expected it, I was taken away like a sack of potatoes. I really don’t know where I was, or who I was talking to but I know one of them was a vampire. An older one. I also remember them smelling like... like forests and, and lemons, if it means anything to you.

Then one of them brought in my mate and kids and I had to do it. I had to open a portal for a few fairies. They brought no weapons with them, only their usual pouches but they were small and didn’t look like there was anything in there.”

Kai stands up and takes in a deep breath. “I suppose we should’ve seen that one coming.”

Soonyoung sits on a chair, still looking at the demon. “Fairies. Took them long enough to do something.”

“Yeah, they’ve been itching to crush Soobin since his younger days. We should report this to Soobin and see what he’ll do next.”

“Knowing him, he’ll probably go and face them.”

“Yeah. Convincing him not to do that will be easy. But we might not be able to stop him from releasing hell upon them.”

Taehyun plucks the blades of grass and sets them in his basket. He looks up when he sees rainbow reflect on the grass.

An attack?

He strains his ears to try and hear something.

He can’t hear anything.

There’s thrumming in the air and Taehyun’s breath stutters as he realizes there’s a dangerous presence approaching him. It’s wild and scalding, like fire. Taehyun begins to sweat from fear of being attacked but realizes the presence, whatever it is, is passing by him.

It feels like removing a massive stone from his chest.

He has to go back home.

“Ready?”

Jeongwon turns around to look at Jongseong while he’s fixing the collar of his shirt. He nods, smiling at the wolf as he approaches him and sits down.

“Yeah.” Jeongwon mumbles and sits next to him. “Though, I don’t have a really nice feeling.”

“Why? What are you thinking about?”

The vampire is quiet for a moment, organizing his thoughts and discerning his emotions.

“If, what we talked about last night is true... I feel like I have to find him. And I will most likely have to face the council because everything related to our past was witnessed by them.”

“You won’t be alone in this.”

“I know. But it will be so hard because their influence is too great. I can’t face them head on. I’ll lose.”

“Then we’ll figure out a plan once we return.”

Jeongwon pouts and leans against Jongseong, melting against the wolf as he wraps his arms around him. “Sometimes I just want to be a normal vampire, far from all this stupid stuff and problems.”

“I know, baby. I’m sorry this is happening to you.”

“I'm so glad I have you.”

He lifts his head and sharea a gentle kiss with his lover. Jongseong smiles and cups his cheek, looking into his eyes.

“Every step of the way.”

“Can you two stop being so gross?” Jake comes stumbling in the house, his shirt in his hand as he cradles a bottle of an orange liquid. He sits on his bed and holds his head in both hands. “My head is killing me without all that lovey dovey crap.”

Jeongwon rolls his eyes and stands up, Jongseong following him. “Jake, you’re losing your sense of propriety. I am your prince, after all.”

Jake hums. “Yeah, no, I think you’re his.”

He’s stunned into silence while Jongseong nods behind him, agreeing with Jake’s statement. Jeongwon grabs his hand and pulls him out of the house.

“Jake, you’re crossing the line.” His voice is weak as Jongseong watches the tips of his ears redden.

“Well, I guess some company was nice after so many years.” Beomgyu says as his guests stand before him.

“Yeah, most of you are a pain, but nothing unmanageable.” Yeonjun adds and flinches away when Beomgyu hits him with his elbow.

Jeongwon smiles and bows to them. “Thank you for saving my life. I welcome you to my domain anytime, should you decide to visit. If there’s anything I can do for you, please feel free to let me know.”

“Oh, are red honey fingers still being made? Can I get, like, a basket of those?” Yeonjun asks and Jeongwon is taken aback for a moment.

“Well, I think they are. I’ll bring a few to you, personally.”

“Awesome.” Yeonjun claps, a wide smile blossoming on his face.

Beomgyu closes his eyes for a moment, refraining himself from hitting the man again. Heesung steps forward and makes a circle with his hand, successfully opening a portal. One by one, they begin to step through it to the other side, waving to the couple staying behind. As Heesung is the last one left, he looks at them once more.

“You know, Jeongwon would’ve been thrilled if you’d taken his offer to come with us.”

Beomgyu smiles. “We know. But we have a few more things to take care of before leaving this place.”

“Besides, it might not be the best time now to go out there.”

Whether consciously or not, Yeonjun moves closer to Beomgyu. Whether Heesung understands the subtle action as Yeonjun’s worry or not, he has to agree with the demon.

Now definitely might be a wrong time to bring one more sorcerer with them. Even the first one is still being hidden from everyone.

With a small nod and a smile, Heesung steps through the portal and it closes.

Chapter Text

Blessed Or Cursed?

“What is the meaning of this?” Jeongwon asks, looking at the soldiers pointing their swords at them, their own eyes wide and reflecting the shock the prince is feeling.

They move as someone moves towards them and Jeongwon should have seen it coming.

“Prince Jeongwon, we’ve been worried sick!”

Hearing Kyuchul’s voice makes Heesung and Jake sick to the stomach and they don’t hide it. The older vampire doesn’t look genuinely worried with a sickening smirk on his face as he keeps a distance from them.

His eyes move from Jeongwon to Seonwoo, the only unfamiliar person to him, making Riki and Jake step closer to hide him from sight. Riki’s eyes are set on Kyuhyun appearing behind his father, the same disgusting smirk on his face. It makes all of them uneasy.

“As you can see, lord Kim, I am perfectly fine. What is all this about?” Jeongwon gestures to the soldiers who appear uncomfortable as they shift their weight from one foot to the other. These soldiers are the generation that he raised and they know better than to point the end of those weapons at him.

“Several of our men claim they witnessed you being ill, as if poisoned or even worse, cursed! Not to mention a wolf carried to the castle and demanded medical help! I immediately came here and what do I see? No one is here but a wandering dazed vampire! You can imagine how confused both of us were. Not to mention the strange rumours of a sorcerer roaming our kingdom!”

Not a single vampire believes a word that comes out of his mouth but dare not speak. Jeongwon’s expression hardens and closes his hands into fists. The prince’s anger is apparent as he steps forward, standing extremely close to a sharp end of a sword. During Jeongwon’s reign over the kingdom there’s been only a handful of moments where he showed this side and only a handful of vampires have actually seen it. The soldiers, however, seem to be one of many who are witnessing it for the first time.

“If you value your lives, put your weapons down.”

Seeing their wandering eyes and unsure hands, Kyuchul moves closer. “Your Highness, you don’t seem very well? Are the rumours of the sorcerer true?”

“Kyuchul, there is no need for you to intervene with my decision for as long as they benefit the kingdom. If I’m not wrong, that is a rule you all agreed to.”

“Of course, your highness, but there is no point in the council without a ruler.”

“Stand down.” Jeongwon looks at the soldiers, making them take a step back. “I am still your prince and I order you to lower your weapons. Under whose orders are you pointing your swords at me?”

“You’re threatening the prince of the vampire real!. Are you insane?” Jake asks, beginning to grow restless when he realizes the soldiers are not quite giving in to Jeongwon. “You should be smart about this.”

“They are prince Jeongwon’s men. But they’re only worried about him! I know you’re hiding a sorcerer right there.” Kyuchul points at Seonwoo. “What I want to know is where did you find him?”

“That is none of your concern-“ Riki begins to say, ready to pounce on him but Kyuchul happily interrupts him.

“It is definitely my business, young warrior. I am a part of the council and I’m watching the prince hide a creature wanted dead by everyone many years ago. I do not want to bring wrath upon our people because of someone like this! He is not worth our lives!”

“Lord Kim, while we’re talking about the past days, was I ever going to be told about my older sibling?”

Jeongwon’s question makes Kyuchul silent. He’s staring at the prince with wide eyes, most definitely not expecting it in a million years. He opens his mouth and closes it, averting his eyes to the floor for a moment.

“What are you talking about?” The fierceness is gone from his voice, replaced by an even tone hoping to sound unknowing.

“I think you’re perfectly aware of what I’m asking you.” Jeongwon taps a sword to side, his narrow eyes meeting a soldier’s, making the man draw his sword and move back. The other soldiers are hesitant but one by one, they follow his lead and soon there are no weapons pointed at them.

“Let’s have a chat, shall we?” Jeongwon says while gesturing for Kyuchul to follow him.

As they walk after Jeongwon, Riki stomps as he walks past Kyuhyun. None of them bother to hide the satisfaction when Kyuhyun jumps back.

The grand gate opens and the fairies begin to panic when several demons come rushing in. Guards approach them with spears and swords, ready to strike.

 Soobin lifts his hand and they are thrown away.

“Where is your king?!”

No one moves or speaks as the demons watch them.

“Who dares intrude my lands?!”

The fairy king comes marching, his sword drawn and his knights by his side.

“We’ve come to return the favour.” Soobin smirks, holding his hand up and fire burns in his palm.

“We’ve no qualms with your domain!”

Soobin’s face becomes expressionless as his eyes darken from all the anger. Kai almost takes a step back as he feels the sudden surge of Soobin’s demonic power.

“My dead demons wouldn’t agree.”

“I’ve heard what happened between you and the vampires. I’m afraid-“

“You should be.” Soobin interrupts him, making the king angrier. “I see what you’re doing. Vampires will be made aware of your conspiracy.”

The king points his sword at Soobin. “How dare you?!”

“How dare you?!” Soobin yells and the entire palace trembles. The demons cower back. “First the sorcerers, now you’re going after demons and vampires! You’re killing others!”

“I will not allow you to attack me on my own ground.”

Soonyoung turns around in time to catch a dart coming towards his neck. At the familiar scent of midnight lily, he immediately pales. “Prince Soobin, they’re-“ another dart comes and he doesn’t manage to catch it before it’s stabbing him in the chest.

Soobin turns around, also smelling the flower and watches as his demons get poisoned by darts. He feels his fingers becoming numb. He realizes he’s lost this one without even making a move. Soobin quickly portals them all at once while he still can. There’s little strength left in his weakened body and he hopes to get out of the palace.

He stops breathing when he feels a sharp blade pierce his shoulder and gets pulled out quickly.

“Father!”

Soobin watches as a boy comes running through the gate and towards him, looking frightened with his wide eyes and disheveled appearance. His white robes are all over the place as he barely comes to a stop right in front of the demon.

Soobin growls when the poison sizzles in his wound and he sees red for a second. In two long steps he reaches the boy and grabs his wrist. He hears the king yell and a woman screams but the two of them are already gone.

“It was never planned for our king to wed your mother. We tried to keep them apart with everything we could but your father overcame all obstacles to get her. We even tried to accuse them of bewitching the king, however, there was no evidence. After a few years, he brought her to our kingdom and claimed her in front of our own eyes.

We’d all heard of strange and dangerous creatures being born in distant past, daries. Magic is a terrifying thing. And vampires are terrifying during maturing. Combining them together creates magic-addicted monster with a bloodlust greater than any, who seeks out sorcerers. And since giving them magic can make them useful, it’s a bad thing to have them on the opposing side.”

“Do you know where the daries is?” Jeongwon interrupts him.

Kyuchul doesn’t dare look at him. “Your brother was born five years before you. At first he was constantly weak and ill, we had to feed him so much blood that the royals were beginning to question us. The queen refused to give up the boy but we had to get rid of him.” He stops, eyes going to Seonwoo for a short second. “The closer the sorcerer to the sages of the past, the more dangerous the fetus is. We couldn’t entrust him to just any sorcerer, it had to be someone strong and capable of controlling that beast.”

“The prince.” Heesung says suddenly, making Kyuchul look at him in confusion.

“What?”

“Not a beast. The one you’re talking about is our prince.”

Feeling under pressure from the ice cold eyes on him, Kyuchul shakily nods with a twitching smile. “Of course. Prior to the attack on the wizardry domain, we managed to persuade the queen to entrust her child to the prince of the domain. We were aware of the plot and with the queen’s abilities, managed to send the princes away to safe mere moments before the sorcerers were attacked.”

“Prince Minho? He’s alive?” Jake voices the vampires’ thoughts. “Where has he been the whole time? You kept him alive?”

“It was not my decision!” Kyuchul squirms in his seat, his face gaining colour as his eyes fleet towards the door.

“The late king and queen wanted to save their child and I believe they’ve succeeded. Prince Minho was very reliable and strong, a direct descendant of a sage named Yong.”

 “Do you think they’re alive?” Jeongwon stands up and makes his way towards the door. He’s quiet as he approaches the door and hearing a movement on the other side makes him hurry to open it.

On the other side is standing Kyuhyun, staring at Jeongwon with wide eyes and hands coming up to defend himself.

“I-I was just about to knock.”

The prince doesn’t say a word and instead slams the door shut, making sure it makes the floor tremble beneath their feet. Seonwoo jumps at the sound and Riki turns to look at him with a smirk, very much happy with Kyuhyun being shown where his place is. He pats his thigh and his hand remains there. Seonwoo doesn’t dwell too much on the thought and takes Riki’s hand in his.

Heesung can’t help but look at the two of them, hearing Seonwoo’s heart pick up speed. He makes a mental note to ask Riki about the two of them later.

“I believe sorcerer Minho’s kept him alive.”

Riki thinks of Beomgyu and his idea that Seonwoo might be a prince. The best locating spell Riki’s heard of is done with blood of a relative. And if Jeongwon wants to find his sibling then Seonwoo is his best try. But no one’s yet confirmed Seonwoo’s identity as a sorcerer to Kyuchul or the rest of the council members.

“How can we find him?”

“I’m afraid it’d require a spell. And a sorcerer. You have neither.” Kyuchul says, leaning forward in his seat, looking like he’s waiting for something to happen. “The chances of your sibling being alive are almost non-existent.”

“Lord Kim, thank you for telling us everything we wanted to know. I’ll take care of everything else.” Jeongwon says, his tone leaving no space for arguments and a clear indication that their joyous time together has come to an end.

Kyuchul isn’t pleased with Jeongwon’s behaviour, not used to being treated this way but they all enjoy it too much.

The older vampire huffs, face turning red as he struggles to stand up and makes his way to the door. He stops and looks at all of them.

“Depending on your actions, we’ll be either hailed as heroes for preventing a war on a large scale or being stoned to death if more and more people find out about certain secrets.”

As Jeongwon sits down in front of them, he listens for a moment to make sure no one’s on the other side of the door.

He looks at his friends and smiles, albeit weakly.

“Based on the new information, it seems like my family is the reason for everything, after all.” His words make all of them speak at once. Jongseong moves his chair closer and takes his hands in his. “I know. I know what you want to say. And thank you for not changing your opinion. And... I’m really embarrassed but can you... Will you help me find my brother?”

“Of course we’ll help.” Riki answers immediately.

“Not all of us can go. Jeongwon, you can’t leave the kingdom right now when troubles are arising among the realms.” Heesung stands up. “Riki, Seonwoo and I will go. The less of us are gone the better, because of the attention and in case something happens. I don’t doubt Jongseong’s ability to protect you but if demons, fairies or demigods attack... we’ll be surrounded in no time.”

Jongseong nods, admitting heavily Heesung’s words. “I have to go back to my pack. Many of those creatures are already in my domain and it’s worrisome. I don’t know what’s going to happen but it won’t be good. I have to check up on everyone.”

Jeongwon nods, patting his arm lightly. “You do your job and don’t worry so much about me. I just hope you’ll find him.”

“We’ll find him. One way or another.” Jake says and Jeongwon smiles. Jake’s eyes widen as he realizes what he said. “No, I mean alive! We’ll definitely find him alive!”

“Don’t worry, Jake. I think I’m prepared for whatever you come back with.”

Soobin’s sight is blurry, he can only make out a trace of light for a while, with white noise in his head. In the back of his mind he knows he’s poisoned and wounded – not a good combination. As he blinks a few times and fights back the effect of the poison, his sight begins to clear out.

The white noise morphs into humming and soon, he’s staring up into wide green eyes looking down on him. His pale, cotton-looking skin could’ve been just the demon’s hallucination, but a trail of blood from a wound on his lip serves as a proof of reality. 

He pushes him away and sits up, growling through the pain coming from his shoulder.

“You shouldn’t move!” The fairy exclaims while reaching out to hold him but Soobin grabs his wrist and twists it, bringing the boy to his knees.

He cries out in pain, trying to pull his hand away but it’s useless against the demon.

“Keep your fucking humming to yourself! Or I’ll rip your throat out!”

“I’m trying to help you!” The boy tries to move closer but Soobin pushes him away roughly, making the boy fall.

“You’ve done enough!”  Soobin yells and manages to stand on his feet for a second before he’s crashing on the ground again.

The fairy is by his side immediately, his soft hands pressing against Soobin’s hot forehead before moving to his wound, struggling to rip his shirt with his bare hands but he’s not giving up. The demon is slipping in and out of consciousness but he can register something cold being pressed against his wound.

And then the boy is humming again.

And Soobin blames his humming for falling asleep.

Taehyun blinks the sleep away, staring up at the beautiful starry night above him. His body is still heavy for him to move, exhausted from healing the demon.

Remembering the earlier events, Taehyun forces his heavy head up and watches the demon sitting not too far from him, eyes set on his.

“You’re awake.” Taehyun mumbles as he lets his head fall to the ground, closing his eyes again.

Soobin doesn’t say anything, his thumb moving across the razor sharp blade hidden behind his thigh. The fairy turns to his side to take a better look at him. He doesn’t seem intimidated at all by Soobin’s gaze like many others.

“Does your wound burn? Are you sweating?” He asks but the demon doesn’t respond, still staring at him wordlessly. Taehyun slowly sits up, his sight becoming dark and he has to take a moment or two to regain his senses. He slowly turns to Soobin. “You shouldn’t be up. I’ll make more salve for you.” He stands up slowly, his movements sluggish as he blinks tiredness from his eyes.

Soobin watches him as he walks towards the forest and he lifts his hand, pulling the blade back and ready to throw it. But the fairy crouches in front of a tree and begins to pluck herbs. The demon doesn’t put the blade down until Taehyun stands up again and walks towards him.

He sways a bit as he walks but successfully reaches Soobin. He falls to his knees loudly, bringing his hands together and keeping the grass within them before blowing inside. He mumbles something in his own language and rubs his palms together.

Once he stops mumbling, he holds his hands apart and the grass is mashed into a salve, a pleasant scent coming from it. He moves towards Soobin’s wound and the demon grabs his wrist, his grip tight enough to make him gasp in pain.

“Please, I just want to help you.”

“I don’t remember asking for your help.”

“If I don’t treat your wound it’ll get infected and you’ll die. Please, let me help you.”

Soobin weighs his options but decides his chances of dying are higher if he doesn’t let the fairy help him. So, he lets the boy slip his hand and gently press his hand against the wound. He watches the boy’s eyes become a shade lighter and Soobin feels his wound being cleansed deep within. Then he rubs the salve into the wound before reaching into his pouch and pulling out bandages.

“Can you move a bit? I have to cover your wound.”

Prolonging the silence doesn’t affect Taehyun and Soobin caves in and carefully moves, noticing how the fairy’s hands hover around him, undoubtedly wanting to help him. His blazer is pulled down and warm hands graze his skin. Whether or not they notice the goosebumps, neither says anything.

“You’ve never visited our domain before. Are you looking for something?”

As expected, Soobin doesn’t answer.

“Why were you attacked by the king? And why did you take me with you?”

“Shut up.”

“I’m sorry. I know you must be exhausted because of the wound.” Taehyun tugs the bandage and the demon grunts at the sharp pain coming from the wound. “But I know you’re here because of prince Jeongwon.”

Soobin looks over his shoulder at him.

“I’ve been waiting for things to escalate.”

“Where’s prince Taehyung?”

“He’s visiting the Heavenly Temples. The celestials are questioning the arising problems in the domains.”

“What a coincidence I don’t know about that.” Soobin rolls his eyes, not surprised at all. “Where has the king been hiding you?”

The fairy takes his time to answer. “Our cousins are celestials, so, it makes sense to visit sometimes. Demons wouldn’t be welcome anyway.” Taehyun finishes bandaging the wound and slowly pulls the blazer over Soobin’s shoulder. It easily gets on Soobin's nerves as the fairy entirely ignores his question.

Soobin leans against the tree again and briefly closes his eyes. Taehyun stands up again and looks around.

“I suppose we can light a fire. You’ll need the heat.”

“There is no fire you can make that can keep me warm.”

“We’ll see about that. We’re still in my domain.”

Soobin watches the fairy walk into the forest and listens to him picking up wood and mumbling something about not seeing well in the dark. Looking up at the darkening sky, Soobin lets his eyes close for a moment, mind focusing on the humming fairy.

He wonders if his demons made it home safe.

His thoughts wander back to the humming and he feels his body becoming numb.

It’s warm.

Soobin breathes out contently, feeling the strong fire deep within his bones. It reminds him of his home and his brothers who always made sure he was closest to the fire. And he yearns for that home and that time.

As his brain rewinds everything that happened before he fell asleep, Soobin jumps off the ground, swinging his blade around. He can’t see any of the enemies he thought would be there, only seeing a flash of white robes before he smells that familiar scent of peaches with the clear undertone of lemons.

The fairy.

He realizes soon that his sight is blurry.

“What...” he has to stop talking to wet his dry throat but doesn’t lower his weapon. “What is happening...?”

Taehyun moves towards him but stops when Soobin points the blade at him. He holds his hands out to show him he has no weapon, hoping the demon can see it.

“Your body is fighting the poison. Just sit by the fire, let it heal you.”

“That fire... how did you start it?”

Even in his state he’s worried about the flames that burn almost as the ones from his domain. Taehyun doesn’t respond immediately, jumping a bit when Soobin stumbles forward.

“I have my ways. The most important thing is to help you get better before my father finds you. You should come closer.” Taehyun reaches inside his pouch and pulls out a bottle of water. “Here.”

He takes small and careful steps towards Soobin, holding the bottle in front of him so Soobin can see it.

“You can put the blade away.”

Soobin’s mind is blank, somehow only zeroing in on the comforting scent coming from the fairy. He knows fairies, along with elves, have the most pleasant scents but there’s something about this one that makes Soobin grab the boy’s hand and tug him closer until he has him crushed in a hug. Taehyun doesn’t move, frightened but believing not putting up a fight against Soobin is a smarter move.

He waits for him to say something, to threaten him with the blade. What he doesn’t expect is Soobin lowering his head and inhaling lungfuls of his scent.

“Um, Soobin?” Taehyun whispers, poking his side but the demon doesn’t react, only proceeding to smell him.

Slowly, Taehyun lifts his hands and places them across Soobin’s back, lightly patting him. Soobin doesn’t move, only breathing in Taehyun’s scent and in a few moments, Taehyun feels the demon’s muscles relax beneath his palms while he puts more of his weight on him.

“Oh, Soobin!” Taehyun panics when he feels his weight crushing him.

Taehyun thinks the demon lost consciousness and yelps as his legs give out beneath him. He ends up with one half of the demon’s body over him, while his arms still hold him in a hug.

“Soobin, you’re crushing me.” Taehyun tries to unwrap his arms but the demon growls, though he doesn’t sound angry or dangerous. Taehyun’s wiggling results in a tighter grip until the fairy is struggling to breathe. “Why are you suddenly like this?” He whines, feeling too warm.

Behind Soobin’s closed eyes, there’s an entire childhood rewinding; the troublesome childhood filled with wars, lost brothers and no satisfaction in anything. He thinks he remembers his mother gathering all of them around the table before serving dinner but he might be making it up. He doubts there’s a chance he remembers her because of her early death but it’s nice.

They’re laughing, poking at each other and provoking, scolded by their mother but she doesn’t try to stop them. And Soobin is there with them, loving the warmth and...

There’s a scent of peaches in the air in their home.

It’s home.

Peaches mean he’s home.

So, Soobin holds tighter onto his home, his chest clenching from the sudden pain he feels at the remembrance. He sobs, not understanding the suffocation he feels in his chest but he knows he doesn’t want to lose this scent ever again.

“Soobin, you’re choking me.”

He hears a familiar voice but doesn’t think too much about it. That is, until he somehow processes the wiggling boy in his arms.

“Soobin, I can’t... breathe.”

Taehyun’s voice is weak as he manages to softly nudge Soobin once more before he loses consciousness. The demon stares at him, taking a moment to understand what happened. He jumps away from the fairy who fainted because of Soobin’s body temperature and tight grip. He taps his cheek a few times, hoping it’d be enough to wake him up but it’s not.

“What...” Soobin begins coughing violently and feels something coming up his throat. He turns away from Taehyun and spits out a black matter.

He feels relieved as he realizes it’s the poison leaving his body. Looking back at Taehyun, his brain catches up with his actions and he’s left staring at the fairy. There’s an unfamiliar feeling creeping on him, a part of his brain wondering if Taehyun should be falling asleep like this.

No, he shouldn’t. It's the consequence of bringing natural and unnatural together like this.

“Hey, wake up.” Soobin nudges him.

Taehyun hums but doesn’t react other than that. Soobin stares at him, wondering if he should be questioning the fairy’s health.

“What happened to you?”

Taehyun can’t stop the glare he gives the demon as he peels his eyes open. “You.”

Soobin chuckles before he even realizes it, looking away from the fairy. “Didn’t know you’re so sensitive.”

“I didn’t know you’re so insensitive.”

The demon shakes his head, feeling in a mood to overlook Taehyun’s impolite answers. It’s the least he can do in return for his aid. He can feel strength returning to his bones and muscles and he didn’t even notice how clouded his thoughts were until now. He watches the fire burn and sighs, having a feeling something heavy got off his chest.

“How did you start the fire?”

Taehyun moves on the ground to look at the fire and doesn’t respond for a bit. Soobin doesn’t ask again but there’s only a bit longer he can wait for the fairy to ignore his question again.

“Petals of a weeping rose.”

Soobin raises an eyebrow, not expecting that answer. Weeping roses grow in places where people who don’t belong in demon realm die. And Soobin doesn’t know of any creatures who were buried in the demon realm that weren’t demons. What matters in particular is for the creature to have a pure soul. The roses are the result of the land of sins and the pure souls combining.

“I’m not surprised a fairy got his hands on something that rare.”

Taehyun appears affronted, utterly unimpressed with Soobin’s opinion. “A demon gave the rose to me, I didn’t steal it.”

“Yeah, and for a pretty price, I’d guess.”

“I said he gave it to me, not that I bought it.” Taehyun closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. Soobin glances at him. “We’ve never been on good terms with anyone. That demon is my first friend ever.”

Soobin doesn’t say anything as he’s not really interested in his story. But Taehyun is almost falling asleep, his mouth running without him even being fully aware.

“I never knew how bad I was until I met him. All the stories about fairies made me hate myself. I never got the chance to say goodbye to him properly.”

For a moment it’s silent, Soobin watching as Taehyun sneakily wipes a tear before it escapes his eye. There’s a conflicting storm in Soobin’s head. He knows creatures usually comfort each other during moments like these but he also knows this boy is a fairy – the most hated kind of all creatures. He thinks he should say something in return for the boy saving his life but nothing comes out – Soobin’s never comforted anyone in his life. If anything, only his brothers comforted him as the youngest of them all.

“Do you plan on making people see you differently?” Soobin asks.

“What can I possibly do? I can’t leave the realm on my own, I’ve never gone anywhere. I’m kept away from the kingdom on most occasions, my father is keeping me a secret as if I can make a difference at all.”

“No offence but your father has a reason for everything. It might be for the best to leave this place.”

“I just told you, I can’t leave. He cursed me to break my portal.”

“I’ve only ever heard of portals being locked, never broken. Your connection to your own realm can never be broken. Your father either lied to you or he committed a serious crime.”

“Where would I go even if I could leave? It’s not like someone is sitting somewhere and waiting for me to come. I’ve never belonged anywhere. At least here I can help my people in some way.”

“So you’re ready to sacrifice yourself and be used by the king for something? I’m telling you to look past his facade of not liking you to actually see that there might be something about you that he will use against the other realms.”

“You’re thinking too much about it.” Taehyun looks away and seemingly wants to end the conversation there.

“I think your soldiers should have been here by now. I haven’t heard anything rustle at all. The night has been dead silent. Shouldn’t the wails of your people be heard throughout the realm?”

“Will you just stop?!” Taehyun raises his voice slightly, his little fists closed tightly. He turns his back to Soobin. He thinks the demon will stop talking and fall asleep.

“Was that demon named Kai?”

After a long moment Taehyun slightly lifts his head to look over his shoulder. “Do you know him?”

Soobin smiles. “Of course. You most probably happened a bit before the war. Kai was sent to spy the vampires but almost got caught by assassins. He portaled here believing they wouldn’t be able to track him. And he was right. We always knew something else happened but he never told us.”

“How is he? He had to leave before my father got his hands on him.”

“I hope he didn’t get poisoned.”

“He was here?!” Taehyun sits up, eyes wide but Soobin wouldn’t describe him as excited to see his friend. He looks more scared than anything. “Why would he come here?!”

“He came with me. My plan was to behead your father but I think he was expecting us.”

“Kai shouldn’t have come at all!”

“Why? You’re not telling me something.”

“I can’t tell you but you can’t bring Kai in this realm ever again!”

“Kai will most probably come to get me if I don’t go by myself soon.”

“Then go! Just don’t let him come here.”

“Listen, if you don’t tell me what you’re hiding from me I’m going to torture it out of you and then go find Kai. If not for your own sake, then do it for Kai’s. I think he’s been through enough already.”

“No, I’m sorry. I can only tell you there are lives at stake.”

Taehyun gasps when Soobin grabs his collar and pulls him closer, looking down at him with those black eyes that make Taehyun shiver against his will. The demon doesn’t get a chance to speak before he feels a slash across his cheek, thin as a paper. Taehyun blinks when a drop of blood falls onto his cheek and stares in surprise at the long cut on the demon’s face.

“What...” Taehyun becomes quieter as he hears leaves rustle, his mouth falling open in surprise but doesn’t seem too frightened. “Oh, they’re-“

Soobin growls when something pokes him in his thigh and then his ribs, then his bicep. He tries to shake it away but it’s invisible. Fire bubbles within him when he hears fairies snicker in the dark. He wants to release it, burn everything around him but remembers the weak fairy lying on the ground next to him. “Come out!” The growl he lets out travels quickly and shakes the trees.

The fairies yelp, shocked by the power of the demon.

“Soobin, they’re my friends.” Taehyun carefully taps Soobin’s arm before holding it lightly, hoping the demon isn’t too irritated with the fairies.

“Release our prince!”

“Tyunnie, step away from him before we knock him out!”

“You, demon, get away from the prince!”

Soobin stares at them for a moment before raising an eyebrow and looking over his shoulder at Taehyun. The fairy doesn’t know what to say, a blush covering his cheeks as he brushes his knuckles along his jaw. “Uh, they’re very brave.”

“Seems like there is a thin line between bravery and stupidity.”

Taehyun rolls his eyes and takes a step forward. “Boys, you can come out. He’s not going to hurt you.”

“Hurt us?! He’s outnumbered. We can easily take him down.”

“Maybe he’s controlling Taehyun.”

“Oh heavens, what if he’s poisoned him?”

Soobin shifts his weight and pulls his hand back before swinging it and pebbles fly at great speed. Taehyun gasps when he hears them yell out in pain. He turns to Soobin, angry and ready to scream at him but decides to run to his friends instead of wasting words.

Felix is holding his shoulder, Hongjoong is cradling his thigh and just as he’s about to ask about Wooyoung, a branch cracks and the fairy lands with a yelp.

“I’m so sorry!”

Soobin listens to them apologize as Taehyun helps them all stand and guides them to the bonfire. They scoot together and the demon is amazed by the doting and cooing Taehyun is doing. He looks like a mother with clumsy children.

He looks ridiculous.

One of them turns and looks at Soobin like he’s invading a private meeting. “What are you looking at?! The only reason you’re still in one piece is because our Tyunnie is an angel!”

The demon scoffs, a puff of smoke escaping his lips and the fairy leans back, looking less angry and more frightened but still not letting go of the attitude.

“Wooyoung, don’t be rude!” Tyunnie reaches over Felix and slaps Wooyoung on the back of the head.

“What do you mean?! He literally kidnapped you!”

Taehyun notices Felix staring at his neck and shakes his head when his eyes widen in realization. He puts a finger over his lips, hoping Felix would stay quiet.

“Tyunnie, let’s go back.” Wooyoung turns around and Taehyun lowers his hand.

“You guys should go back. I can stay here until he leaves.”

“Are you delirious? Did you poison him?!” The fairy’s face reddens in anger and he attempts to stand up but Hongjoong grabs his arm and tugs him down, the younger fairy yelping in pain as Hongjoong digs his fingers into his flesh.

“Will you just listen to someone for once?” Hongjoong almost growls in anger and Wooyoung bites his tongue to keep quiet, opting to stare at Soobin in hopes of drilling holes in his head.

Soobin smirks, enjoying the whole situation but still very aware of the fact he is, after all, outnumbered and suffering the effects of the poison. He would win without doubt, he just knows who’ll be caught in the crossfire.

“You plan on sending him away? Can’t he leave on his own?” Felix asks.

Taehyun sighs. “Of course he can but it’ll take a few more days for him to open a stable portal. By then the soldiers will be swarming this place.”

At Taehyun’s words the fairies’ eyes widen and they seem to become smaller as they look down. Soobin thinks he knows what is going on, considering the topic.

“About that... Tyunnie-hyung, we’re actually...” Hongjoong begins but with every word his voice is quieter until he’s not audible.

“What?”

“We’re the only ones looking for you.” Wooyoung says angrily, his eyes still on the ground, unable to look him in the eyes.

Felix glances up at him. “The king is focusing on some kind of war to retrieve a stolen emerald of ancient times.”

Soobin is surprised to hear this from Felix. The emerald is located in the forbidden desert in his realm, buried under an ocean of hellfire. It’s one of the best hidden locations throughout the realms and with only a chosen few knowing about it.

“If no one’s looking for me it means I can finally leave.”

At Taehyun’s sudden idea, Soobin can’t help but look at him. Looking a bit saddened but still having a small smile on his face makes Soobin believe that perhaps this is a perfect opportunity for him to get away.

But if a war breaks out then not a lot of places will there be left to hide.

The number one most dangerous weapon the fairies have is the ability to open numerous portals among realms, connecting them all. It takes a lot of energy, strength and experience to accomplish but there are a few very capable fairies in this realm.

He stands up slowly, choosing not to disturb the fairies who are still shocked with Taehyun’s decision.

“You’re not being serious.” Wooyoung says, sounding much less angry and very much sad.

Soobin can tell they’re not too shocked about his decision, which also means they must be familiar with Taehyun’s life.

“Are you leaving... with him?” Felix asks, taking Taehyun’s hand.

“I don’t think we can survive in hell.” Hongjoong says, glancing up at Soobin. “The air is too dry for us. We’ll die.”

“I’ll take care of that.” Soobin says.

Taehyun looks up at him, eyes wide and mouth hanging open. “What do you mean?” He stands up and walks up to Soobin. “You’ll help us get away?”

Soobin knows for sure that in the entirety of his life he hasn’t seen someone’s eyes so wide and shining so bright.

Especially while looking at him. Soobin takes a moment to remember to breathe.

“I don’t think I’m the one helping here.” Soobin whispers, attention falling on the fairy’s small lips that slowly stretch into a smile.

“We’re coming with you!” Wooyoung yells, pulling Taehyun back and glaring at Soobin.

“Wooyoung is right, we can’t let you go alone.” Felix adds.

Hongjoong smiles and nods in agreement. “I think there’s nothing left here for us if you leave. We have no one else.”

They all look at Taehyun, hopeful smiles on their faces and Taehyun can’t help but smile back, his eyes wandering past them and onto Soobin. The demon feels a tremble in his chest and hopes the small smile on his face doesn’t look like a deformation.

Chapter Text

Given-Taken

Seonwoo looks up as if someone called his name. Heesung is standing in front of him as Jake fixes his tie and pats his shoulders.

“You’ll be fine.” Jake says.

“I know.” Heesung nods.

Jake’s mouth opens as if in surprise. “Oh, I was talking to myself.”

Heesung reaches out and slaps his hands away, both of them smiling at each other. Seonwoo stands up and takes his backpack.

“Ready?” Riki is by his side, carrying a similar backpack. “I know it might not be the best time but…” He pulls out something out of his pocket and Seonwoo watches as he takes his hand.

It’s a silver bracelet with a single emerald stone hanging on it.

“This is a precious bracelet, made by the ancient elves. Its sole purpose is to connect.” Riki pulls his jacket back to reveal the same bracelet on his left hand. “It’s precaution but you need to stay close to me, all the time. All right?”

Seonwoo can’t help but smile at the vampire as he lowers his head to look into his eyes. “Got it. I hope we won’t have to rely on it.”

Riki nods. “Yeah, me too.”              

“Okay, Minho is hiding in the dwarf realm. Now, I know it’s going to be tough dealing with them but we need to find him as soon as possible and bring him here.” Heesung says.

“I have a question, though.” Seonwoo interrupts him. “Does Minho know the war is over? Couldn’t he have brought Jeongwon’s brother here, a long time ago?”

“Not if he’s been among the dwarves. I’m surprised he even managed to pass through their runes. They’re the most powerful thing across domains. If it meant safety for Jeongwon’s brother, then he might’ve stayed there to this day.”

Jeongwon enters the room and looks at all of them, a smile blossoming on his face.

“You wanted to leave without saying goodbye?”

Heesung smiles back at him. “I don’t really want to say goodbye. I’d go for ‘See you soon’.”

“We’ll be back before you even notice.” Riki chuckles. “Besides, if your letter hasn’t reached them yet, we’ll back before we even leave.”

Jeongwon nods. “Don’t worry. I’m pretty sure they’ve even prepared rooms for you by now.

The King is aware we’re looking for one of our kin, he doesn’t know who exactly it is. They’ll help you look for anyone suspicious. But Minho might be skilled enough to hide them both. Just… be careful. Everything’s become more dangerous and more serious than we thought. I don’t want anyone getting hurt during this mission.”

“Don’t worry, Jeongwon.” Jake stands beside him. “If anything, they should be worried about us, considering whom we’re staying with.”

“Yeah, this will be an excursion to us.” Riki laughs and the other join him.

“Well then, let’s be on our way.” Heesung waves his hand and a portal opens. Almost immediately Seonwoo hears bells.

“Bye!” Seonwoo manages to wave at Jeongwon and Jake before Riki drags him to the other side.

“I didn’t imagine it like this.”

Taehyun looks over his shoulder when he hears Wooyoung whispering. The fairies are frightened but holding hands to stay together despite it. Soobin is marching in front of them, moving with confidence and charisma only a king can move with.

They’re walking through a long hall, one side open to see the vastness of the realm, barren and scorching scarlet lands that Taehyun is familiar with.

This visit to the demon realm is very different from his first one. Kai had to take him through alleys and into the underground while with Soobin he’s walking like the king’s guest.

“My King!” Someone yells from the other side of the hallway.

Soobin slowly comes to a stop and Taehyun leans to side to see who’s approaching them.

“Soonyoung.” Soobin says, eyes moving up and down the demon to ensure he’s not poisoned like he was.

“My King, we’ve arrived minutes ago! Why didn’t you portal with us?!” Soonyoung looks close to crying and Taehyun can’t help but find him hilarious.

“Is everyone alive and well?”

“Yes! We came across a group of celestials scouting the realms and they helped us. We told them everything about the fairies! From the rotten king provoking war to that prince of his being silent about it!”

Soobin doesn’t say anything, considering the fairies standing behind him. Soonyoung only then seems to notice them. His eyes widen in shock and he steps back. “What are they doing here?! Guards!”

“They’re with me. They healed me from the poison.” Soobin says before the demon can panic any more.

“I’m sorry, what?”

“Gather my demons. I’ll be joining you in a minute.” Soobin walks past Soonyoung and the fairies follow him, hurrying to be as close to him as they can.

“Is Kai here?” Taehyun asks as they reach a door.

Soobin opens the door and gesture for them to go inside. Taehyun ushers his friends into the room and remains standing in front of Soobin.

“I can’t know until I see him.”

“Can I come with you? Please.” Taehyun steps closer.

Soobin’s eyes roam Taehyun’s face, wondering how exactly he got himself into this situation. It seemed perfectly logical to steal the prince from the mad king, even better now that he wanted to come willingly. Taehyun has a purpose, at least judging by his father’s suspicious behavior. That’s the thought running through his head as his eyes stop on Taehyun’s lips.

“If Kai is alive and well, I’ll bring you to him. I have more pressing matters to attend to now. Stay here to stay away from danger. Nobody knows I brought you to the realm. And no one comes to this room.”

Taehyun isn’t satisfied with Soobin’s answer but he agrees with him. “Okay. We’ll be waiting for you, then.”

Soobin nods and turns around to leave when the boy grabs his arm, his hold way too gentle to the demon. Soobin waits for him to say something, or do.

“Thank you.” Taehyun looks up at him, a small grateful smile on his face.

Soobin nods. He’s not moving at all in that moment, wondering if he’s ever heard those words being spoken so genuinely. He wonders if he’s ever done something like this for someone else. He knows about his reputation and the stories told about him. A big part of it is true, Soobin does have a reputation to uphold, but not even the few lives he spared were thankful like this.

“I am a demon but I do have a sense of fairness. A life for a life, wouldn’t you agree?”

Soobin’s not sure what he means by those words. Initially, he wanted to keep the boy here, his loot that will show its worth in due time. Now, though, he thinks of Taehyun’s will to escape and start a new life.

Did Soobin save him as a thanks for the fairy’s help? Or is he still upholding his reputation and keeping him here as a prisoner? He will have to think about his intentions because his head is about to split in half. He leaves Taehyun standing in the hall, that dumb smile still on his face.

It irritates Soobin that even he doesn’t know what he’s hoping to accomplish by keeping the boy here.

Seonwoo stares at the throne in the middle of the room, mouth hanging open.

The dwarf king looks almost like Seonwoo’s always imagined dwarves. Fat, long beards and hair, seemingly always ready to fight and quarrel. The only thing that surprises him even more is the fact that they are not, in fact, short.

This dwarf king in front of him is the largest man Seonwoo has ever seen. The other ones present are also tall and fat but this one is distinct.

“Prince Jeongwon’s informed me of a stray vampire in my realm. I said it’s impossible, nothing gets past our runes.” He leans forward in his throne, his thick eyebrows furrowed and narrow eyes make Seonwoo hold his breath. “Yet, somehow, Almighty Odin made me agree to bring you here. Or maybe it’s my own curiosity.”

“King Lugh, I assure you, we mean no harm. Neither does the stray vampire.” Heesung is the one who speaks, head lowered in a bow.

“Hm, so he’s just that? A stray? Lost himself among the realms and landed into mine? Small chances for that to happen. Nevertheless, my soldiers will help you. I, too, wish to see this mouse that snuck into my home.”

“Of course.” Heesung bows again and they turn towards a soldier prepared to take them to their room.

“Oh, and vampires?”

“Yes?”

“No sorcery is allowed in my realm.” The king says slowly, making sure every word is clear to them.

“Oh my God, I had no idea dwarves are so scary! What happened to friendly dwarves who love mead and meat?!” Seonwoo says as soon as the door to their room closes.

Riki and Heesung laugh at him.

“First I find out that fairies aren’t small and cute and now this! What’s next?”

“Wait until you meet demigods.” Heesung says.

“What about them?” 

Riki grimaces as he thinks of his answer. “Well, they’re more monstrous than any monster you can imagine.”

“Huh? They’re not humans with supernatural strength?”

“Supernatural strength, check. The human part? Far from it. As if a human body could house even the tiniest part of a god's power. Inherited or not."

Seonwoo closes his eyes and falls back onto the bed. “I think this is too much for my brain.”

“Too bad. We have to leave right now to check every nook and cranny for Minho.” Heesung doesn’t give them a moment to collect their thoughts.

“Where do we even begin?” Riki asks. “I’ve never been here.”

Heesung sighs and moves to stand next to the window. “I’m afraid we’ll have to find a dwarf who can use magic.”

“What? The king said no magic.” Seonwoo stands up and walks closer to Heesung. “We can’t get in trouble. Jake told me we can’t portal out of here of our own will.”

“Yeah, we’ll have to find a dwarf willing to help us.”

“Do you know anyone here?” Riki is the one who asks.

Heesung turns to look at him and can’t hide the smirk on his face. “Oh, I know one. He can put even sorcerers to shame with his skills.”

Heesung’s dwarf is located outside the kingdom, behind a village and inside a forest. Seonwoo’s tired but he doesn’t dare complain, well aware of the importance of the mission. He leans against a tree and watches as the two vampire march ahead without breaking a sweat. He’s jealous of that stamina. But he really needs to catch his breath.

He looks down as he breathes.

That’s when it catches his attention.

A stone, perfectly crafted into a shape of a diamond and a single symbol on it. Seonwoo realizes it’s some kind of a rune.

“Riki! I found-“ He looks in the direction where the two vampire were walking but there’s no one. “Riki? Heesung?”

He holds the stone tightly, now afraid that someone’s in some kind of a trap. He walks forward but has to stop because he runs into an invisible wall.

“No.” Seonwoo raises his hand and tries to push his hand forward but to no use. “Riki!”

“What kind of an insect are you?” A growly voice comes from behind him. However, when he turns around, there’s no one. “You’re no vampire or wolf. Far from a hybrid. Not a demigod, no, but close… close to a demigod. A sorcerer.” Seonwoo’s heart is beating loudly in his chest, wanting Riki to come out of somewhere to take him away from this man. “But you’re not just a sorcerer, aren’t you?” The dwarf hums. Seonwoo’s vision begins to spin as he keeps looking around for the source of the voice.

“By gods… you’re the child of Chaos.”

Seonwoo freezes when the man finally appears before him. He looks similar to the king but his eyes are not cold and harsh, his face isn’t pulled into a disgusted look. This dwarf looks genuinely surprised and amazed by Seonwoo.

“How did you get here? And why? You can’t be here!” He stomps towards Seonwoo and the latter stumbles back in fear.

The man’s fingers hover in front of Seonwoo’s face, held back by Riki’s hand. “Don’t touch him.” The vampire is angry, hissing the words through his teeth as he pushes the hand away and stands in front of Seonwoo.

“Dagfinnr.”

The dwarf turns around in surprise when he hears his name spoken by Heesung.

“What are you pests doing in my home?” The kind face Seonwoo was met with has turned into the same angry one as the king’s. “You’re far from welcome here!”

“We need your help!”

“Going to war in your stead wasn’t enough?!” He approaches Heesung but the vampire doesn’t even flinch. Even when the dwarf towers over him, Heesung keeps his composure. “I know what was done during that war. I’m aware it was all schemes and plots to destroy someone. And you being here means it might happen again.”

“We came here to prevent that from happening again. I, too, know what happened during that war.”

“Not in the first lines, I’m afraid. Vampires are never there where it counts. You only know how to keep your hides from burning. This time will be the same.”

“Help us find prince Minho.” Heesung tries.

“I’m afraid I can’t do that. Because, as you might have been notified, magic is not allowed in this realm. And I am not willing to lose anything more for your filthy kind.”

“Please.” Seonwoo tries, stepping around Riki but stopping when the vampire holds his arm. Even Seonwoo can notice the look on his face becoming less angry the moment he looks at the sorcerer. “I need your help to find prince Minho because I need his help to build my home. The world I grew up in is not mine. I never belonged there. Please, help me. I’m not a vampire. You can help me.”

“You’re more than capable of building your home.” Dagfinnr says, without a bite in his words. They suddenly sound like an advice. “How can you know the wizardry realm is your home when you’ve never been there?”

“Because no one can tell me I don’t belong there.”

Dagfinnr huffs, shaking his head at the boy’s persistence. “I knew it. Sorcerers are just a bunch of know-it-alls.” The dwarf begins walking away, waving his hand to follow him.

Seonwoo sighs in relief as they move after him. “Riki, how did you find me? I found that rune-“ he stops talking when Riki holds up his hand, the emerald bracelet shining around his wrist.

The vampire smirks. “As if something like runes can keep me away from you.”

Seonwoo’s cheeks redden as he playfully pushes him away but Riki takes his hand and they remain tangled until they reach Dagfinnr’s home.

The hut is halfway on the surface, the other half is buried under a small hill. Dagfinnr stomps inside the house and they all thought the dwarf lives alone.

“I found your friends looking for your bottom.”

“What?”

As soon as Heesung steps inside the room, his eyes locate the owner of the voice. Sitting in front of the hearth is Minho, in his own flesh and body.

“Heesung?!”

“Minho.”

The sorcerer stands up but doesn’t move at all. “Why are you here?”

“We came for prince Jeongwon’s brother.”

Minho looks at Riki and Seonwoo. Once he realizes the other is a sorcerer his eyes widen in surprise, an expression Heesung doesn’t remember ever seeing on him.

“Are you… Seonwoo?”

The boy stares at Minho in shock, all kinds of questions flooding his brain but he can’t manage anything but a nod.

Minho chuckles in disbelief, shaking his head as he sits back down on the chair. “I was wondering when you would appear.”

“Why? What do you mean by that?” Heesung is the one asking the questions, again.

Minho gestures for them to sit. “Seonwoo is his name now. In our books and legends, he’s known as Elbus. The bringer of chaos. The destroyer of worlds.”

“From what we managed to find out in the vampire domain, the prince was poisoned by the midnight lily and he somehow managed to bite a demon. While we were away, we were visited by our long lost friend, Yeonjun. He went to the Bottomless Pit and ran with a bottle of water in the company of alpha Jongseong and two vampires for whom we know are prince Jeongwon’s close friends.”

“Yeonjun is alive?” Hyunjin’s question is barely a whisper as he voices what the others must be thinking.

“That bastard always finds his way out of every problem.” Seungcheol grunts, holding his throbbing head in his hands. “Wasn’t he bonded with a sorcerer, a bit before the war?”

“Yeah, I don’t know his name but not everyone is familiar with this story. It’s understandable, since he just disappeared.” Seonghwa adds.

“Soonyoung, continue.” Soobin orders before anyone else can add anything. Soonyoung clears his throat but continues his report.

“The wolves aren’t very secure in their domain. Their larger cities are swarming with other creatures and we managed to see the very foreigners attacking the wolves. Not to mention, the most recent fight among demons, wolves and fairies. According to our demons, the fairies provoked them about their king being humiliated before the fairy king and our demons reacted physically. The wolves attempted to separate them but fairies, as expected, taunted them, too. It’s an issue that reached the celestials and they immediately reacted.

I believe it was our luck, in one hand, that the group came right by the place we were portalled to.”

Soobin chuckles. “And why weren’t you taken for questioning? Why aren’t you up there, right now?”

Taehyung, one of the celestials, is Soobin’s answer to that. Just how cunning and intelligent can fairies be? What is their problem with the rest of the domains that they can’t just sit idly and enjoy their own lands and people?

And Soobin can’t help but think that celestials are only getting involved because Taehyung is a fairy. Is he trying to do something good? Is he trying to correct his father’s mistakes or is he just another pawn in his father’s games? The knots are tied too tightly and Soobin can’t think of an answer to these questions. Dealing with fairies has never been easy and more often than not, a creature never even gets the answer.

“The king’s son, Taehyung, might ascend to the Heavens. He might be cleaning his father’s mess before more creatures find out.” Kai says.

Soobin looks at the demon.

He thinks back to the fairy in his room. What exactly happened between these two? More importantly, why did Taehyun insist on keeping Kai out of his domain? But to give the weeping rose to someone like Taehyun, a fairy…

It’s a gesture done between lovers, more typically a demon and another creature. Demons belong to the realm and they die in it, while anyone else willing to die there with them, might result in the birth of the weeping rose. So, the gesture represents the hope of creating and building something that will grow and blossom.

It’s sweet.

And corny.

Very much a Kai thing to do. At least, might've been in the past. Demons are volatile creatures and their emotions and opinions change frequently, not necessarily influenced by something or someone.

And taking in concern Kai’s thorough knowledge of the underworld, he’d know exactly where the rose would grow. He can understand what lured Kai in to fall for the fairy. Those eyes, reminding Soobin of a valley, shiny and dewy. Those eyes could trick anyone into falling for them.

The conversation’s continued without Soobin, everyone speaking their mind and giving ideas. Soobin stands up from his seat.

“Kai, come with me.”

“My King, what’s the matter?” Kai asks from behind him but Soobin doesn’t answer him.

He’s not obliged to answer.

He’s only doing this to repay his debt to the fairy.

But… he already repaid his debt by taking him to his domain. Well, this is just something along the way.

He reaches his room and opens the door, walking inside and looking around. Taehyun is sitting on the bed, surrounded by his friends who are sleeping soundly. He smiles when he sees Soobin. Kai follows after him, easily noticing there’s someone in the room.

The moment their eyes meet, they freeze, neither of them even breathing. Taehyun is the first one to move, slowly slipping off the bed and walking up to Kai. He glances at Soobin but the demon king is looking away.

“Taehyun?” Kai whispers, hand moving up to cup his cheek.

The fairy’s eyes light up and mouth stretches into a wide grin. “Kai!” He wraps his arms around the demon and the latter returns the gesture.

“I can’t believe you’re here. Why are you here? I thought…” Kai looks at Soobin, the king’s eyes dark and face expressionless.

“Soobin brought me here. I wanted to come the moment he mentioned you.” Taehyun glances at Soobin and the demon chuckles quietly, not even surprised the fairy doesn’t want to tell the whole story.

“Right. I really thought I’d never see you again.” Kai mumbles as he pulls him closer again.

Taehyun giggles.

Soobin feels his skin prickle as his blood fires up. Without a word to either of them, he leaves the room. It can only be called an invasion of privacy.

Taehyun watches Kai speak, enjoys his voice and attention but… this isn’t really the same man whom he saved. This Kai has been through so much more and seen more within these few years. Gone is the starry look he gave to Taehyun, as if there’s no one else in the world.

“Kai, you remember I gave you something before you left?” Taehyun asks, interrupting the demon’s monologue.

He nods, reaching inside his inner chest pocket and pulling out a single bead. “I’ve kept it with me everywhere I’ve gone. I always believed it brings me luck.” Kai smiles.

Taehyun returns the smile as he reaches out for it. But Kai moves his hand back.

“You never told me what this is.”

Taehyun feels blood rush to his head as the air changes around them. “It’s… mine.”

“I know. But I had to go through so much trouble to find out what and why. Do you know there are only two living creatures who have all the information on fairies? I mean, this is just so small and insignificant that I wanted to throw it away but… I went to that one demigod and he explained to me everything I wanted to know.”

“Insignificant?” Tears well up in Taehyun’s eyes as Kai stands up and observes the bead between his fingers.

“Well, it is, to me, at least. To you, it’s centuries of grief and sorrow.” Kai moves closer to the fairy and gently picks up the tear on his cheek with his index finger. “This is something sentimental to you.” Kai brings the bead closer to Taehyun, waiting until the fairy holds his hand out to take it.

And carelessly, Kai drops it.

To Taehyun, it feels like time stops. Yet he watches the bead fall onto the floor and just like that, changes into scattered droplets. It feels like something in Taehyun twists and turns, all the memories and happenings over which he cried and mourned... Now, they’re all gone.

Taehyun falls to his knees, hands hovering over the tears, unable to save them and unable to touch them.

“Whatever happened before, Taehyun, happened a long time ago. That part of me is gone. I killed it myself.”

And then Kai leaves.

But Taehyun can’t move from the spot on the floor. Fresh tears fall onto the old ones.

He’s a demon. What did Taehyun expect to happen? It’s already a shock that he didn’t throw like he wanted to all those years ago.

In his mourning, Taehyun doesn’t notice the door opening. The sight of shiny, black shoes only makes him think of one person. But he can’t look up at him. He doesn’t have the strength nor the will to confide to a demon again in his life. He has to go back to his friends yet he can’t leave this room now. These tears… they’ve tied him to this place now.

Soobin holds his palm over the tears, fingers spread while his other hand is in his pocket. He mumbles something in a language unfamiliar to Taehyun.

Taehyun shivers when a wave of the demon’s power washes over him. He’s confused for a moment, not understanding what the demon is trying to do. But then he sees them… His tears are moving towards each other, melting together into one.

Melting into one bead.

Soobin doesn’t stop until the bead is returned to its original shape. This time, Taehyun’s bead is placed directly into his hands.

“Thank you.” Taehyun says through all the crying.

Soobin chuckles and sits next to him. The fairy turns towards him but doesn’t say a word when he feels Soobin’s arms around him. For a moment, neither of them believe this is happening. But neither of them have anything against it.

The only thing that bothers Soobin now are the fresh tears that are not being used to make a new bead.

To think a fairy like Taehyun can be brought into a situation like this, where his instinct to use them is neglected makes Soobin, perhaps, worry about the fairy.

Fairies are emotionally strong and rarely shed tears. Soobin is someone who knows their importance and significance but the knowledge was of no use to him so he almost forgot it.

To see a fairy shed a tear is a rare sight because their tears can primarily be used against them by sorcerers who use them in potions and spells. The bead is forged by strong emotions; love, devotion, hate, grief, sadness – it all makes the process of the tears melting into one thanks to the bit of magic within fairies as creatures of nature. That’s one fact about them that they’ve always been hiding and the two other creatures who know of this is an ancient demigod living somewhere in between realms and a sorcerer for whom everyone believes is dead.

And Soobin, taught of this by the very ancient demigod who ran away, never knew what to do with this knowledge.

“Why did you even give it to Kai?” Soobin asks, his voice unusually quiet and gentle.

Taehyun wipes his tears away and leans away from Soobin, despite the comforting warmth radiating from the demon.

“I… fell in love. Standing underneath the weeping rose.” The fairy whispers, head hanging low to hide from Soobin’s eyes. He knows it sounds childish and stupid but he was fairly young and hadn’t known what love really is. He firmly believed that Kai was the one, despite being who they are.

Naturally, they were enemies.

But Taehyun saw Kai as someone who can help him break the cycle of hatred and animosity between the two kinds.

Soobin sighs while nodding slowly. He doesn’t condemn him for it, despite not being able to understand. Demons aren’t great in numbers because this kind puts destroying other lives first, instead of wanting to create new life. Soobin is one of these demons and lust for someone doesn’t come easily, or it doesn’t come at all during their lives. They’re a different breed from those who leave the realm and just adapt to their ambient.

They say they have a choice but bringing misfortune to other and inflicting pain in any way is what they are born for. Love, or whatever comes close to it, rarely happens.

The last couple he can remember being maybe close to loving each other, were his parents. And Soobin's six older brothers would definitely agree with him.

“I thought…” Taehyun shakes his head, a mocking smile on his face. “I was such a kid. It was so stupid. I can’t believe I did that.”

Soobin’s hand hovers over his shoulder for a moment, unsure if the fairy wants him to touch him. But the nagging feeling inside his chest makes him believe that this might be the bit of comfort the fairy needs in this moment.

“We all make mistakes, Taehyun. And we learn from them.”

Taehyun hums, thinking for a moment. “Have you made any mistakes when you were young?”

Soobin exhales loudly, an airy chuckle accompanying it. “Oh, you have no idea. I can’t even remember all of them.”

“Have you ever loved someone? Have you ever met someone and thought to yourself ‘This person might be what I’ve been waiting for’?”

The fairy turns to look at him properly, eyes wide and red, looking like a lost child. It’s an image Soobin will have forever ingrained in his mind.

The question is easy to answer. No. Soobin’s never felt the need for someone, never comforted someone or protected them. He’s never, not a for a single moment in his life, thought about risking his life for someone.

“If I’ve never waited, how would I know?” Soobin answers, not taking his eyes off Taehyun’s.

The fairy shrugs, still keeping eye-contact. “You don’t know. It just hits you. You just realize that if you don’t keep that person, then nothing else really matters. Like a reward you never asked for.”

Soobin’s skin begins to tingle, fingers twitching on Taehyun’s shoulder. This is a question he’s no longer sure how to answer. It somehow sends him back, thinking of the recent few days when the fairy risked his health to heal him and then couldn’t stop until Soobin was standing on his own two feet. And not to mention those eyes that looked at him like a savior. Those green eyes that look at Soobin differently.

“King Soobin!”

Both of them are shocked by Soonyoung running into the room, out of breath and doubling over. “The portals… the portals are opening… fairies.”

Soobin portals out of the room and at the gate to the kingdom.

“King Soobin!” Demons exclaim around him but he can’t take his eyes off the numerous portals opening before his eyes.

Anger makes his blood boil beneath his skin and he catches sight of the fairy king marching in first, head held high and a disgustingly satisfied smirk on his face. He steps through riding a horse and a golden spear in his hand.

“We’re under attack. Awaken the Sleepers, prepare the shields and send all of our forces out there!” Soobin yells at the demons. “Nobody move until I come back!”

“Elbus, as he’s known from the beginning of the worlds, is one of the creators. There were three of them Yong, Elbus and Hwa. Yong created nature and all creatures of it; sorcerers, wolves and fairies and then they all mingled together and outcome were hybrids and other creatures. Yong himself is mentioned as a sage in our ancient books but that was his disguise. Hwa created those born unnaturally; vampires, demigods and demons of several kinds. While two those created, Elbus’ role was to watch everything becoming and advancing, being birthed and growing. But he will be the one to bring an end to these worlds once he awakens. That’s his purpose and role to play.”

Minho’s words aren’t what they came for and now all of them are staring wordlessly at him. None of them expected to find out something like this.

“W-Wait, but Seonwoo doesn’t have any plans to end everyone. Right?” Heesung turns around to look at Seonwoo, face unusually pale and despite his calm and collected composure, he can’t hide his fear at the revelation.

Seonwoo shakes his head, feeling very far from exploding and taking everyone with him. “No, I’ve never thought of such things.”

Minho chuckles. He’s amused by their reactions. “Of course, you don’t. But whether you feel like it or not, it must happen. The war ended a long time ago and I know very well Beomgyu and I are the only ones alive, I have the ability to connect to my people and feel them. But you, however… I don’t feel you like a sorcerer. But I do feel the raw and dangerous power within you. You can snap anytime and awaken. Seonwoo, you are a vessel, you are no natural sorcerer and only through you can Elbus come through any fulfil his role.”

“Do you have any evidence to prove this? You might as well have said something entirely else. Seonwoo is his own person and no Elbus or whatever can replace him.” Riki says, sitting on the edge of the chair, his eyes burning holes into Minho’s head.

“There’s no need to lie to anyone, young warrior. Magic has always been a dangerous weapon and I’m not the only one who knows this story.”

At this, Heesung comes to a conclusion very easily. “Fairies.”

Minho nods. “The last war was encouraged by them, passively. And now they’re staring another one. But this time, they have no strong opponents. I’m surprised they took their sweet time to plan everything. It will definitely be a very bloody war.”

“We came here for Jeongwon’s brother. We never expected to hear something like this.” Heesung shakes his head then covers his face with his hands. “I can’t believe things get more complicated with every passing minute.”

“Things have always been complicated because everything is planned flawlessly. Because it’s so complicated, no one thought to point fingers at the real culprit. I’m amazed, honestly. And Jeongwon’s brother isn’t with me.”

“Fairies have always been like that. I’m not surprised but to be this calculative and thorough…” Heesung trails off, head slowly moving to look at Minho. “I’m sorry, what did you just say?”

Minho sighs. “Jeongwon’s brother escaped the dwarf realm about a few months ago. I don’t know how or why but… he’d been odd a bit before that.”

“Then find him! We’ll go look for him!” Heesung stands up.

“I’m afraid I need Jeongwon’s blood to perform the spell. And that would require for me to leave.”

“Then pack your things.” Riki stands up and Seonwoo does the same. “We don’t have any time to waste. If anyone catches him, they might kill him. Or worse.”

“I’m not leaving this realm. My life will be in danger the moment someone recognizes me. And I’m sure you don’t favor your council member Kyuchul either.”

At the mention of the elder vampire, Heesung and Riki are taken aback.

“What does he have to do with you?”

Minho chuckles. “That vampire has been looking for Jeongwon’s brother to kill him from the very beginning. And I doubt he’d let me off the hook now that I’ve lost him.”

Taehyun’s eyes are glued to the horrendous sight just outside the kingdom. He easily catches sight of his father and almost immediately feels shivers creeping up his spine.

The door to the room slams open and Soobin comes marching in, starling the sleeping fairies from their sleep.

“Get ready to leave. It’s no longer safe here.”

“Is he here for the emerald?” Taehyun asks. “You can’t give it to him! No one knows what he can use it for.”

“I know.” Soobin watches as the fairies jumps off the bed and stumble to stand before him. Taehyun moves closer, rubbing his arm subconsciously. “I’m going to portal you to a safe place. As soon as the sorcerer finds you, tell him we are under attack and I need his help.”

“Who will find us?” It pains Taehyun to leave the king behind, but he knows his duty to his people. And Taehyun is in no position to join the fight in any way. It feels like shattering his bead once more.

Explosions go off outside and Soobin moves closer to the fairy.

“Listen to me. We need help. And that sorcerer is in debt to me. Find him and tell him this.”

Taehyun nods, his lip becoming wobbly as his eyes cloud with tears. Soobin can’t help but smile, knowing the fairy is either scared or worried. Either emotion stems from leaving Soobin’s side and the demon can’t help but enjoy it.

He gently cups Taehyun’s face and presses his lips against his. It’s short and gentle, odd at a time like this. When he moves back, Taehyun’s are still closed but a pretty smile blossoms on his face. He opens his eyes and blinks, tears spilling.

There’s a half-smile on Soobin’s face that could be mistaken for a smirk, but Soobin’s eyes are shining instead of darkening and they radiate his satisfaction.

“Go, now. I’ll come to find you when I win this battle.” Soobin lifts his hand and they’re all gone.

Taehyun’s happy smile is the last and only thing he manages to see before the boy disappears, his tiny fist curled and pressed against his chest.

He knows he’s holding those spilled tears.

Tears of joy.

Chapter Text

Set Fire To The Rain

Sunghoon looks up when the echoing footsteps reach the door to his room. Jake is the one who appears, a small smile on his face.

“Hey, how are you feeling?”

Sunghoon sighs as he gives the vampire a long look, not knowing how to answer the question. 

He has no idea how to feel because he’s bene told to sit idly and wait for Seonwoo to come to him, instead of running off to look for him. Not to mention he was discovered by that council member who wanted to kill him on the spot but decided last minute to try and extract any information he thought the new vampire might have.

He had none.

But telling the man he was shoved into the dungeons to ensure everyone’s safety and not actually speaking to anyone other than the weird doctor wasn’t the answer the older vampire wanted.

Jake nods, as if he can hear the concoction of an answer inside Sunghoon’s head. “I know. But Seonwoo has enough on his plate already. These are things he has to go through and we’ll unite you two soon. Don’t worry.”

“I’m not worried. If everything you said to me is true, then you’re the ones who should try not worry.”

Jake laughs as he moves closer to him and sits down on the bed. “That’s true.”

“Did you come here to comfort me? I was busy.”

“Doing what, exactly?”

“Thinking.”

“Well, I’m sorry for interrupting but prince Jeongwon wants to see you.”

“What for? I’ve been obeying orders since day one.”

“Then he might want to reward you for your obedience.”

Sunghoon rolls his eyes and stands up, waiting on Jake so he can follow his lead.

“With everything else going on, it might be best for you to remain here. It’s safer for you. However, prince Jeongwon thinks you can do something for him.”

Sunghoon raises an eyebrow, wondering what it could be. They reach the prince’s room in a minute. Jake knocks politely before opening the door.

“Jake. Sunghoon.” Jeongwon stands up from his desk and smiles at the two. He gestures towards a pair or chairs in front of them. “Have a seat.”

The two do so without a word. Jeongwon sits down and takes a deep breath before looking at Sunghoon.

“Sunghoon, how are you feeling?”

“Like a prisoner.” Sunghoon answers, staring directly into his eyes, wondering if the prince can see how much he’s had it with the captivity and secrecy.

Jeongwon sighs, eyes falling to his hands before him. “I understand how you must feel. But believe me, everything’s been done to ensure your safety and wellbeing.”

“I don’t think that fat bastard had those intentions when he chained me up and smashed my fingers, one by one.”

“I know. None of us were present here and Kyuchul used that to harm you. I’m sorry, I’d never allow something like that to happen. After all, I’m aware of your potential and strength. My personal physician took care of you and pointed out your admirable abilities, as well as your ability to transition impeccably.”

“Yeah, yeah. I’ve heard that from him.”

“Sunghoon, this is your prince you’re talking to. Keep your unnecessary comments to yourself.” Jake says from beside, voice devoid of the friendliness he’d shown the vampire a few minutes ago.

Sunghoon doesn’t acknowledge his words. Instead, he turns to stare at Jeongwon. “I’ve been begging you people to let go back home. You said no because it’s not safe. Okay. There are guardians in the human world who would kill me. Okay. Every day you promise me to take me to Seonwoo but it never happens. Okay. I’ve been giving up on everything I’ve known and loved from the night that shit bit me and I’m sitting here again, being reprimanded for my language when I’ve had it with your promises and nice intentions. Now you might ask me to do something and I’ll have to do it, simply because a prince of a world I’ve never heard of is ordering me to do it. So, no, Jake. I’m not keeping any comments to myself because I don’t want this. I don’t want this strength, these admirable abilities, a status in your world because this never was and never will be my home! If you think that will change, then you might as well stab me to death or rip my head off! Whatever it is that kills a vampire.”

Jake and Jeongwon turn from Sunghoon to look at each other. Both of them know it’s difficult to leave a perfect life behind and start something somewhere else, anew. And the circumstances under which Sunghoon was welcomed into this world were far from enjoyable and welcoming.

“Sunghoon… If I ask of you do to something for me… for my kingdom… would you do it? Under the condition to bring you back to your previous home?”

At Jeongwon’s words, both of the vampires look up at him, shocked. Yet both for two very different reasons.

“Jeongwon, you mustn’t do that! You know what his thirst for blood could do when he’s surrounded by beating hearts!”

“I can bring him blood to satiate him for months. If this is his will, then I have no choice but to let him go.”

“If Heesung were here, he’d tell you what the right choice is!”

“I need him to do this for me.”

“Heesung can do-“

“Heesung is not the prince of the vampire realm!” Jeongwon yells suddenly, startling both of the vampires. “I am! And I’m sorry if you don’t support my decision but I’m giving an order here! Sunghoon will accompany you to the Higher Lands to find the lost Sword of Death.”

Jake looks away from Jeongwon, eyes falling to the ground. Sunghoon, on the other hand, is very interested in Jeongwon’s next words.

“The Sword of Death is hidden in the mazes of Higher Lands. It’s a dangerous and cursed weapon that will not show itself to those off ill intent. The sword will come on its own to the one who seeks protection. It kills enemies with the slightest touch, doesn’t even have to cut skin. A single strand of hair is enough to be killed. But only if the wielder sees another as an enemy. That’s why it’s dangerous, and that’s why the gods who forged it and wielded it hid it in the most remote place among realms and behind a maze that can read one’s heart.”

“What if I don’t acquire the sword? What if it finds something impure in my heart that it decides to kick me out?”

“Seonwoo is fighting a very difficult battle to retrieve his domain lost many years ago. There are creatures out there who might be looking for him at this very moment. The sooner you find the sword the sooner you get to be by his side as his protector. With a weapon of guaranteed success.”

Sunghoon nods, understanding Jeongwon. But also understanding is intentions. He has to do this. He has to help Seonwoo, then he’ll go back home. He doesn’t belong here but as far as he can see, Seonwoo has become close friends with these vampires and he’s already looking for a way to rebuild his home.

The two of them are on opposite sides regarding the matter.

But this is something only he can do. And he wouldn’t be able to live with himself if Seonwoo ever found out that he’d backed out of the deal.

“When do we leave?”

Taehyun looks around the dense forest and takes in a deep breath, inhaling the scents, as well as traces of magic in the air. The magic is flowing through every living being around him. That’s his sign that the sorcerer who can help Soobin is near.

“Come on, he might be this way!” Taehyun says to his friends before he runs.

His lips are still burning from Soobin’s, the ghost of them now remaining like a seal. Taehyun has to get help from anyone he can find, other than the sorcerer. The creature alone might not be of great help in the demon realm.

“Stop! Damn it, why does everyone keep spawning from somewhere in these past few days?!”

The fairies stop in their tracks, looking around to try to pinpoint the person’s location. But a demon steps in front of them, sporting a bruised left cheek.

“What are you doing here? Fairies.” He adds, his posture changing as he realizes. “How the hell did you find this place?!”

“Soobin sent us here! We need to find a sorcerer who can help him!” Taehyun says quickly.

The demon’s eyes widen, shoulders falling as he lets those words sink in. “What… happened?”

“The fairy king intruded the demon realm! And Soobin needs the sorcerer’s help to defend the kingdom! Please! You have to take us to him!”

The demon nods, pointing over his shoulder. “Yeah, this way!”

“Old man! I’m about to bruise that other cheek of yours!” Beomgyu comes stumbling outside the house, struggling to carry a large bag. “Why do you always run off-“

Beomgyu stops ranting when he sees Yeonjun approaching, fairies following him. “What is this?”

“Soobin sent them. He’s asking for help.”

The sorcerer rolls his eyes before looking at Taehyun. “Did he ask or did he tell you to find me because I’m in his debt?”

“Um, the latter?” Taehyun nervously answers.

Beomgyu turns to look at Yeonjun again and the demon takes a step back, lifting his hands in surrender. “Oh come on, do you have to dissect every single sentence?”

“What happened for Soobin to send you to find me?”

“The fairy king attacked the demon realm. Soobin needs help. Countless portals have been opened and gods know how many are marching in.”

“I can’t believe I survived a war only to be dragged into another one. What is it with you demons?!” He turns to yell at Yeonjun, starling the demon.

“I’m sorry!”

“You better be! You’re the reason I’m in his debt at all! Saving your ass to now endanger mine! Old man, you better pack my stuff while I prepare my spells!” He points a finger at him, eyes narrowing threateningly.

Yeonjun rolls his eyes as he walks around him (keeping his distance) and goes inside.

Beomgyu sighs and turns to the fairies, a wide smile on his face. “Now, I haven’t seen fairies in ages! I don’t remember them being this beautiful! Oh my, you’re adorable!” He approaches all of them, patting their heads, pinching their cheeks and hugging them.

Taehyun’s not sure how to respond to this behavior, not used to it at all but it seems so natural to the sorcerer.

“I have to go find my books, if you don’t mind. Wait here for a moment, then we’ll portal back to Soobin.”

“What an oddball.” Wooyoung whispers.

Hongjoong nods, rubbing his sore cheek. “I can’t believe Soobin relies on this man.”

Felix giggles. “It’s the outside that pleases the eye. People like this are those who take you by surprise when they use their powers.”

Taehyun sighs and agrees with Felix. “As if someone like Soobin would rely on anyone. He must be strong enough to be used in a war. Let’s just hope he helps us.”

“Yeah, the fairies are savages when it comes to wars.” Hongjoong says, his disdain for his own kin not surprising anyone.

“How can they fight on their ground? I mean, we only survived with the king’s help.” Wooyoung asks, looking at Taehyung curiously.

“That’s the irony of midnight lily. It grants fairies ability to walk the demon ground, whereas it kills demons and vampires. He most probably had everyone drink it before coming. That man is capable of anything.” Taehyun answers.

The fairies look at Taehyun with pity and he despises that look. It makes him feel like a lost cause. As if all he’s ever been is a button to be used at his father’s disposal.

Beomgyu comes outside, Yeonjun following after him, carrying a heavy bag.

“Let’s go!” Beomgyu says and turns to Yeonjun.

The demon grunts as he places the bag on the ground. As they blink, they’re in Soobin’s throne room, surrounded by shocked and heavily armed demons.

“Hi! Help has arrived!” Beomgyu exclaimed with a grin.

The demons take a moment to process the sorcerer, the demon and the fairies suddenly standing among them. They scream as they advance at them with their weapons. Taehyun closes his eyes in fear, feeling his friend cling onto him in same fear.

But everyone falls into silence.

Taehyun opens his eyes and stares at Soobin’s back, cut and covered in blood.

“Our enemy is on the other side of the walls. Move!” The demon king bellows, his growl making the entire kingdom shake.

He turns around to face the newcomers. He’s surprised when Taehyun’s small body collides with his own, the fairy’s hands gripping onto the back of the trashed blazer. Soobin closes his eyes and wraps his arms around him, taking in a deep breath to inhale the fairy’s scent.

“I’m very sorry for interrupting you two, but I do have a life of my own to go back to, so if you’d be kind enough to… you know.” Yeonjun says, his annoyance seeping into his words.

Taehyun moves back and Soobin releases his hold on the boy, sneaking a smile before looking up at Yeonjun.

“I never thought I’d end up in this situation.” Soobin admits, eyes moving to Beomgyu. “The fairies are flooding the realm. I can’t reach other realms because of their interventions. You’re my last resort.”

Beomgyu smiles slightly, eyeing the demon, as well as the fairy he has his arm around.

“I’ll do everything I can. But someone has to go and alert other realms. Some of them won’t sit back and watch.”

“You might be the only one to weaken their spells for me to send everyone a message.”

“Let’s do that first. Then I’ll go out there. And show them what they haven’t seen in a long time.”

“The demon realm has been attacked.”

“I’m aware.”

“By the fairies.”

“I can see.”

Jimin purses his lips in annoyance as Taehyung stares at the moving image in front of him. “Are planning something?”

“Mhm.”

“You know, this is the reason you might never ascend.”

Taehyung sighs and look up at Jimin. “I don’t like to waste words unnecessarily.”

“Well, answering a question which I find important, might be necessary.”

Taehyung doesn’t say anything, his indifferent gaze getting on Jimin’s nerves. Jimin covers up his annoyance with a smile and looks down at the map.

“Don’t you find your younger brother’s whereabouts concerning? He might be in a life-threatening situation.”

“He’ll be fine.”

“He was taken by the demon king. He might not even be alive.”

“He’ll be fine.”

Jimin gives up, pushing his chair back and standing up. “Are we intervening in this battle or not? Can’t you make small talk before I ask you the big question?!”

Taehyun barely pays him any attention. “I’ve already ordered your legion to prepare for battle.”

Jimin gasps, hand moving over his heart.  “How dare you?!”

“So, you don’t want to join the battle? Save prince Taehyun?”

“Oh, so now you want to small-talk?”

Taehyung chuckles, finally standing up and walking up to the celestial. He looks down at Jimin and the latter narrows his eyes at the bold approach.

“The legion should be ready soon. If you wish to help the demons, now’s your chance. Your kin might not be so proud of you.” Jimin stay quiet at that. “But you have your priorities sorted out, I guess.”

“Great. Do you have an off button now?” Jimin runs his hand through his hair, slightly pulling at it.

Taehyung smirks, loving how the celestial can’t even look at him now. “I think you might be confusing me with someone else. Someone you can easily turn on and off.”

“All right, bye! You insufferable prick!” Jimin yells as he runs away from Taehyung. “Damn fairies!” He rants as he runs through the vast hallways.

Taehyung looks down at the map, seeing all the red dots moving and lingering behind the walls of the demon kingdom. The white dots, his own kin, is approaching them more and more, all the while more emerge from the opened portals.

This bloodshed has to end.

And he will end it himself, if he must.

“The fairies have surrounded us! The eastern gate is barely holding up!”

“They’re using midnight lily!”

“We have more wounded than healthy!”

“They brought the dragons!”

The demons watch in horror as two massive dragons step from the portals, stretching their wings and snapping their jaws before roaring. It has effect on the fairies too but whoever recuperates faster, get the first punch.

“Is everyone ready!” Beomgyu comes running to the walls, Yeonjun following behind him.

Without waiting for any answers, the sorcerer jumps off the walls and lands on the scarlet ground. Fairies turn to him but he conjures up a field around him, having anyone inside it at his mercy. The fairies fall to the ground with the snap of his fingers.

Yeonjun runs past him and takes down the enemy. Beomgyu claps his hands together and his eyes shine emerald green.

“From my grandfather to my father, from my father to me!” Beomgyu yells and lifts his hands.

Trees emerge from the ground, their roots catching the fairies and squeezing until there’s no life in them.

“Go!” He yells and the roots move rapidly forward, straight towards the fairy king.

Yet before they can reach him, the roots are crushed into bits and pieces, his magic thawed by another. He looks for the source, stunned by their presence. Not too far from the fairy king, he can see a demigod.

A well-known demigod.

“Ah, our Beomgyu is all grown up!”

Jinyoung.

It just has to be the worst of the worst.

“Jinyoung, you sick bastard! I thought you died of old age!” Beomgyu taunts as Jinyoung walks closer to him.

The demigod smirks but Beomgyu knows he hit the spot.

The demigod is over two meters tall, with two fat horns curling backwards. On his cheeks there’s another pair of blood red eyes. The scars on his large body are self-inflicted, deep but neatly made. The paint marks on his ash-coloured skin are a sign of his devotion to this battle.

They’re a promise of glory and victory.

“I see you’re still a brat. But you brought your pet with you. How sweet.” He hunches forward, pulling two big axes from behind his back. “I can’t wait to finally try that meat of yours.”

“You fucking psycho!” Yeonjun jumps at him, aiming for his head but the demigod shields himself with the axes.

Yeonjun manages to step back in time to avoid the weapon coming for his throat.

“Yeonjun! Leave him to me!” Beomgyu runs to his side and drags him back.

“Like hell I am! You are not fighting this lunatic!”

“I don’t think it really matters.” Jinyoung says as he brings an axe to his nose and takes a deep breath. “It’s a matter of minutes before both of you get a taste of my godly power.”

“Don’t you fucking-“

“Yeonjun!” Beomgyu grabs his arm firmly. “Let me fight him. If things go wrong… you have to notify Soobin.”

“What? Are you insane?!”

“I’m dead serious. It’s his power against mine. You can’t fight him. Please. Just do as I say. Soobin has to know if we lose so he can portal as many as he can out of here.”

Yeonjun’s face twists, wanting to throw the sorcerer over his shoulder and take him away.

But neither of them is a child.

And this is a battle.

The demon steps back. Last minute, he pulls Beomgyu towards him, kissing the boy like it might be their last kiss. He moves away and turns his back to him.

“Just… beat his crazy ass.”

Beomgyu laughs as he faces his enemy. “Oh, I’ll beat the shit out of him.”

Sunghoon breathes in the scent of chamomiles. The field is never ending and Sunghoon really can’t see its end wherever he looks.

“This is it.” Jake says as he steps beside him. “Once you step inside this field, you’ll be able to look for the sword.”

“What if can’t find the way out?”

Jake glances at him. “The only ones who were trapped here were the worst of their kind, looking for the sword for their own greed and selfishness. You have a different goal. And I do think you’ll succeed. But… we can’t know how long it will last.”

“What? What do you mean? Hours?”

“It might be even months, years. The last known person to wield the sword waited for six years until the sword showed itself. It happened only because the man repented from the depths of his heart and wished to go back, worried about his family.”

“It took him six years to remember he had a family?”

“Time passes differently in there. Once you step out, I might not even be here.”

“He really couldn’t have told me before, could he?” Sunghoon grunts as he steps towards the field.

Jake sighs. “Good luck, Sunghoon. I really wish things didn’t happen the way they did.”

Sunghoon chuckles. “Tell me about it.” He looks over his shoulder at the vampire. “Anyways, tell Seonwoo I did this for him.”

And with that, the vampire steps into the fields, his body disappearing at once.

Jake looks down at the small rings adorning his finger. “Tell him yourself.”

Once he goes back, he’ll tell him too.

Sunghoon doesn’t notice anything else but Jake’s absence.

The field is warm and quiet, a gentle breeze washing over him comfortingly.

“Think of Seonwoo, right?” He mumbles while looking around.

He doesn’t stop walking.

The silence leaves him only hearing his heart beating.

He can’t help but wonder if Seonwoo went through something like this the moment he was brought into their world. He wonders if Seonwoo was scared, worried about Sunghoon and wondering where he’d been the whole time. He thinks of his mom, back home. She must still be crying, asking no one ‘why’?

And indeed, why?

Why did that vampire have to bite him, of all people? Why did Seonwoo have to look for him and end up in this mess of realms? It’s unbelievable, the chances of a strong sorcerer like Seonwoo, the last of his kind, endangering his life for a friend and being discovered by supernatural creatures.

He steps into a whole and twists his foot, cursing under his breath about pain but it’s soon gone.

He wants to ask Seonwoo if the boy misses his home like him. Does Seonwoo wish that none of this had happened? Does Seonwoo miss all those days the two of them spent together, not worrying about wars, but pestering each other childishly?

Did all of those moments lead to this? Was it all a plot of something bigger?

He has to ask Seonwoo. He has to know his friend is safe. He needs to know if he feels like he doesn’t belong here and wants to go home.

He really has to save Seonwoo. At least, to hear Seonwoo say how he really feels.

Sunghoon steps onto a sharp stone, yelping in pain. In his anger, he brings his foot back to kick the stone.

Only to realize what’s in the ground, is far from a stone.

Jake turns his back to the field and looks over the cliff at the small village underneath it. The little vampires are running around and giggling, enjoying their youth. The elderly are careless, greeting each other and creating groups as they endorse themselves in conversations.

He feels the warmth of the breeze on his skin, closing his eyes for a moment and wondering where Heesung is. He wonders if his friend is safe and on his way to bring Minho and Jeongwon’s brother. He can’t comfort himself anymore, his own soul is becoming restless from the worry.

The older vampire is a big part of his life, always there to advise him, to comfort him and protect him. When he looks back at those old days, he wonders if he’s ever repaid him his kindness.

He plays with the ring on his finger, feeling emotions wash over him.

Why couldn’t all this happen after he’d lived his merry life and died? Why do all the bad things have to happen during the course of his life? His and Heesung’s? Are they cursed? He doesn’t think so, demons are way worse than them.

Amidst his overthinking, Jake doesn’t hear the quiet footsteps approaching him. That is, until he feels the cold edge of a sharp weapon pressed against the back of his neck.

Taehyun moves from one demon to another, easily navigating between the narrow rows of wounded demons lying on the floor. His friends are helping the other physicians but the wounded don’t stop coming for a second.

“I need some bandages!” One of the demons yells.

“On it!” Taehyun yells back and runs to the kitchen in the next room.

He’s surprised when he sees Kai, bandaging his own wound on his arm. The demon looks up and focuses on his task, ignoring the fairy entirely. Taehyun walks past him to take bandages and turns to leave. But he decides that Kai has no idea how to treat a wound.

Taehyun puts the bandages on the table and turns to Kai. He takes the bandage from his mouth and one hand and quickly places the gauze properly before wrapping the bandage around his arm. Kai doesn’t say a word, doesn’t protest or move away. Taehyun ties a knot and hurries back to the wounded.

As soon as he places the bandages down, the entire kingdom shakes.

“What was that?” Wooyoung asks, holding onto a pillar.

“That sorcerer is fighting a demigod.” One of the demons grunts. “It’ll be nice if they leave at least a part of the kingdom standing.”

“A demigod?” Taehyun whispers.

The door to the throne room opens wide and Taehyun’s shocked to see Soobin. He runs to him and manages to catch him before he falls. The demon king is disoriented and his face is bruised entirely. However, he easily recognizes Taehyun.

“Oh… this brings back memories.”

Taehyun shakes his head at him as he drags him to the kitchen. He sits down and breathes heavily.

“Wow, I’m really out of shape.”

Taehyun bites his lip as he looks at all the wounds on his body. “I don’t even know what to heal first.”

Soobin takes his clothes off, revealing his torso. Taehyun finds the deepest wound and presses his fingers against it. Soobin watches him when he closes his eyes, ancient words of his kin being whispered like a secret. His flesh mends back together, he can feel it underneath Taehyun’s tiny hands.

“You know, I never thought I’d live to see this. Fighting fairies, only to come back and be healed by a fairy.”

Taehyun smiles and leans back, looking for the next wound. “Well, I never thought I’d be healing a demon my kind is fighting, yet here we are.”

Soobin takes Taehyun’s hands and brings them to his lips, placing a long kiss. He looks at Taehyun and sighs.

“I think I’ve got what I’ve never waited for.”

As those words sink in, Taehyun’s eyes become glossy as his lower lip protrudes into a pout. He slaps Soobin’s chest, ignoring the pained sound from the demon. “Why would you say something like that?!”

Soobin laughs at him. “I thought you’d be happy to hear it!”

“I am! But now is not the right time!”

“Every time is the right time.”

“No, it isn’t-“

Taehyun’s interrupted by the demon grabbing his collar and dragging him forward to kiss him. As they part, Soobin’s teeth latch onto the fairy’s lip for a second. Taehyun opens his shiny eyes and stares at Soobin, lips stretching into a wide smile.

“Was this the right time?” Soobin asks with a smirk.

Taehyun opens his mouth to speak but the sudden appearance of Soonyoung and Kai makes the fairy step back. The two demons take a look at both of them, Soonyoung opening his mouth but doesn’t manage to speak.

“Beomgyu’s message reached the vampire realm! Jeongwon’s sending an army as soon as possible!” Kai speaks instead, eyes focusing on Soobin.

The demon king stands up, not refusing Taehyun’s help when the fairy attaches himself to his side. “Good. At least someone is willing to help.”

“The fairies brought two dragons.” Soonyoung says.

They don’t have time to be shocked when the kingdom rattles again, all of the struggling to remain standing. A roar from the outside reveals who’s to blame for the attack.

“I’m afraid you’ll have to activate the Mt Gore.” Kai says, his hand gripping tightly onto Soonyoung’s shoulder, keeping him from falling. “It’s our only option to distance the fairies from the kingdom.”

“My demons will be taken by the fire of Mt Gore.” Soobin closes his eyes and sighs. He feels much older suddenly, his bones heavy under his burning flesh. The hellfire within is beginning to diminish as he wonders how he could have allowed things to go this far.

“It’s our last defense. We have no choice.” Kai urges him to give in and give the order. “Many more will die if we make no sacrifices. This is war, after all.”

“That sorcerer might be able to get everyone to safe when you attack. He’s definitely capable of doing that.” Taehyun says, eyes boring into Kai’s. He can’t believe the nerve of the demon to pursue his king to sacrifice his people. “Someone has to tell him the plan so he can wait for a signal to do his part. While they’re stunned by the attack we can recuperate and think of a new plan.”

Soobin opens his eyes, looking at the little fairy beside him. He can’t help the smile on his face, not one of the biggest but it might be the first time in his life that he smiled from all the warmth inside his chest. Taehyun looks up at him, eyes serious and by no means joking about anything.

“Sacrifices must be made. But only the necessary ones.” Taehyun says to him.

Soobin nods. He turns to his demons. “Do as he said. Find Beomgyu and tell him of this plan. I’ll go to Mt Gore.”

The two demons leave. Taehyun is disappointed by Kai’s fiery gaze.

“I’ll be back soon. Don’t leave the castle.” Soobin moves away from Taehyun but the fairy quickly grabs his arm.

“I’m coming with you.”

Soobin looks at him in disbelief. “Are you insane? I’m not taking you out there. We’re at war, Taehyun.”

“I know. And I have to go with you because you haven’t healed properly.” He points at his chest where the wound is bleeding.

Soobin sighs. “I’d rather risk my own life instead of yours.”

Taehyun’s heart skips a beat at those words but he refuses to be swayed by them. “That’s why I need to come. I don’t want anything to happen to you. Please.”

Soobin throws on his shirt and sighs again, this time in defeat. “You can’t always be so persuasive.”

Both of them smile, knowing very well that Soobin’s defeat has nothing to do with persuasion.

Beomgyu’s right eye is closed tightly and he thinks he might have even lost it to Jinyoung’s axe. He struggles to breathe properly. Jinyoung laughs at him from the distance.

“Is this how you usually kick ass? I think I’ll have to show you the proper way.”

“I’m just getting started.” Beomgyu growls and stands up.

He runs towards the demigod, commanding the roots to grab the creature. Jinyoung cuts them all easily. He turns his back to Beomgyu to cut a root and Beomgyu sees his opportunity. He conjures a sword in his hand and swings it.

However, the demigod is the one trapping him.

He turns around in time to deflect Beomgyu’s sword and grab his neck, squeezing tightly. Beomgyu’s feet dangle in the air as he struggles to breathe. Jinyoung grins widely.

“You think I’m stupid, huh? Nobody can kill me!”

Thunder crackles above them and lighting begins to strike the ground around them Beomgyu hears everyone crying out as it hits them. Jinyoung’s red eyes shine sadistically as he squeezes his neck tighter.

“You sorcerers never had any idea what magic is! That’s why there was never a need for you to exist!” He brings the axe back and cackles. “Say hello to the others!”

Beomgyu tries to get out of his hold but his head is about to burst from lack of air. His eyes are closing despite his will to fight. Just as they close, he sees the white flash through his eyelids. Very distinct from Jinyoung’s lightening.

He doesn’t feel his body hit the ground, his consciousness slipping for a moment.

When he opens his eye again, he’s lying the ground. And immediately by his side is Jinyoung’s body.

Wide, lifeless eyes staring at him.

Someone comes to stand on the other side of the body, the clean, white robes make Beomgyu think of only one creature. He looks up slowly, shocked.

Looking down at the demigod with nothing but disgust is a celestial.

Taehyung.

He nudges Jinyoung’s head with his foot, snorting mockingly.

“Trash. Know your place.”

He looks at Beomgyu, gaze softening as he sees his state.

“Beomgyu. I’m sorry I’m late.”

Beomgyu closes his eye and laughs, hearing Yeonjun screaming his name from somewhere.

“No. You’re just in time.” He turns on his back, feeling weightless. “Like always.”

Yeonjun falls next to him and his wide eyes almost make Beomgyu laugh. “I’m so sorry. I should’ve stayed closer.”

Beomgyu shakes his head but he can’t say anything. His tongue is heavy in his mouth, as well as the rest of his body.

“Take him inside for treatment.” Taehyung says, turning his back to them to look at the enemy.

Even from this great distance he can see his father, looking at him with nothing but anger. This time the feeling is mutual.

“We’ll take care of this trash.”

Chapter Text

Revelations

“We’re late.”

Seonwoo looks over his shoulder at Minho. The sorcerer is staring blankly ahead, his mind elsewhere.

“What are you talking about?” Riki asks.

Dagfinnr is busy arranging the portal that can sneak past the sensitive runes that guard the realm. Minho looks at him slowly, eyes wide as if he’s watching something from his spot.

“I sense… celestials.”

Seonwoo can only watch in wonder as the two vampires stare in bewilderment at the sorcerer. Heesung, however, looks more shocked. It most probably stems from his probably ancient knowledge of the celestials.

“Are you sure? How can you sense them?”

“They’re the only ones besides sorcerers whose pure magic can be felt by mine.” Minho looks at the runes Dagfinnr draws on the floor. He’s not too sure about joining the vampires now. Something horrifying must be happening for them to intervene. “The war has begun.”

“Then we need to hurry and join everyone.” Riki says, his eyes set on Minho’s. The warrior blood in his veins is almost begging to be unleashed. “Can you sense anyone else? Can you see where the war is?”

Minho closes his eyes and the others wait for his next words. “I feel a faint presence of nature. I think it might be fairies. But they’re somewhere far and dark. I can only imagine the demon realm.”

“Of course, that trash attacked first. I can’t believe this. We need to hurry up with this.” Heesung says, turning to Dagfinnr who stands up and nods at the vampire.

“It’s ready.”

Taehyung pays close attention to the fairies who stare at him in shock, not expecting their prince to join the enemy in the war. His father, however, is not surprised. He’s angrier than anything.

“Is this how you repay me for all my efforts to raise you properly? Not to mention your sudden appearance among the celestials.”

“You think it had something to do with you? I’m afraid you’ll have to discuss that with master Yang and his first disciples who almost dragged me to the celestial realm.”

“Yang?” The king raises an eyebrow, not believing Taehyung’s words. “There was never anyone else but me! I was the one making place for you wherever need be!”

“Wherever your need be! I’ve grown tired of your plans and schemes, father. You’re nothing but an old king, rotting inside from all the hate. Not to mention that hate from days long gone is still torturing and infecting our youth! Creatures like you shouldn’t be alive!”

Taehyung’s feet lift from the ground, his body levitating as he holds his hand out and a sword appears, shining brightly and radiating nothing but pure magic that can take down anyone in its path.

“Your reign of rage and hatred ends today.”

The king chuckles at him, pulling his word from its sheath. “As if a puny little celestial can put up a fight.”

“I’ll show you what this fairy can do.” Taehyung grips the hilt tightly, cursing the sweat on his hands.

Taehyung is the first one to strike, his sword colliding with his father’s, a powerful noise echoing around them. The ground beneath the king cracks but he only laughs at him before waving his sword and pushing Taehyung away. Taehyung jumps at him again before he can attack, aiming for his neck but the king ducks and aims for his feet. Taehyung jumps over him, thrusting his sword forward, wishing nothing more than to push it through the old man’s heart.

The king laughs like a lunatic and spins around quickly to stop Taehyung’s sword. He grabs his collar and tugs him forward, wanting to stab him. Taehyung drops his sword and clasping his palms on both sides of the king’s sword, stopping it in time. Before his father can push it forward, he smacks it to side and kicks him with his foot as a last resort. He stumbles back, not expecting the hit.

“Trash!” Taehyung yells as he runs towards his father, picking up his sword and swinging.

The noise echoes again as their swords clash, rising enough dust to leave them without sight of each other.

“You really think you’d be here, with celestials, if I didn’t wish it? You think everything leading to your ascension was pure will of the creator? Including Taehyun’s presence in that cursed castle?”

Taehyung turns around, trying to see where the old man is. He can see the castle through the dust, wondering if Taehyun is fine. He jumps back when a sword appears, narrowly missing his throat.

“You’ve been keeping that boy a prisoner his whole life. Was it all for this purpose? To use his portal?!”

“Of course!” The king laughs. “My children are supposed to serve me! And that good for nothing is only able to do this! At least he did something for me. You… you’re opposing me.”

“There was never a need to exterminate the sorcerers!”

“The daries can’t walk the land! Especially enemy land!”

“Who are you to decide who can walk any lands?! You are no god! You are no king! You’re nothing but a weak man hiding behind his army and wicked schemes! I won’t allow you to harm Taehyun! My brother is the only one innocent in these games! Let him live his life! Let him-“

Taehyung grunts in pain when the king cuts his shoulder. He swings his sword, hoping to hit his enemy.

“I’ll decide who lives and who dies! I’m the one who allowed you to live. I will decide when you die!”

Taehyung spins around in time to deflect the king’s attack and quickly surges forward to stab him. He manages to cut his side. He revels in the pained yell he lets out. Taehyung moves again, summoning all his powers and channeling them into the sword. He swings and the energy surrounding the sword manages to cut the king’s chest.

“I’m so tired of your stupid philosophies.” Taehyung says, continuing to attack the fairy while he’s controlling his magic. “All you ever did was think of yourself and throw everyone else into the fire. Your mate, your sons, your people – you spare no one. I’ll make sure you die by my hand.”

Yeonjun looks up when he sees Soonyoung approaching them. He helps Beomgyu sit up as the sorcerer groans in pain.

“Don’t force yourself.” He mumbles, his chest constricting as his eyes are unable to move from Beomgyu’s wounded eye.

The sorcerer smiles at him. “Old man, I’m not dying. I’ll be fine in a few minutes.”

“Sorcerer Beomgyu! The king has a plan. And it involves you.” Soonyoung says as soon as he’s close to them.

“He’s wounded. He might not be able to do anything else.” Yeonjun stands between the two of them.

Soonyoung struggles to find words. “King Soobin might be able to stop the battle. Unleashing Mt Gore will flood the land around the castle and burn everything in its path. We can only save our people with your help.”

“I have to portal everyone off the battlefield when he unleashes Mt Gore.”

“Yes! It might end at that.”

Yeonjun turns around to look at Beomgyu. His lips are pressed together, as if he’s holding back everything he wants to say in fear of saying too much. Beomgyu takes Yeonjun’s hand and stands up.

“I’ll do it. It might be our only option.”

“Why do you have to do everything?! This isn’t even your war, Beomgyu!”

Beomgyu’s eyes flash green before his hold tightens around the demon’s hand. “These are the killers of my people. I’m ready to die to win this war.”

“I’m not ready to lose you. Don’t you get it? I’ve spent all these years by your side and you expect me to say I’m okay with letting you die before my eyes! I can’t lose you, damn it!” Yeonjun yells.

“I order you to stay out of my way.”

Yeonjun gasps, feeling his body move against his will. He steps aside, clearing path for Beomgyu. He’s unable to speak, only watching Beomgyu with wide eyes and trembling lips. The sorcerer doesn’t hide his tears, moving closer to him and cupping his cheeks gently before placing a lovely kiss on his lips.

“I’m sorry. I love you, old man.”

Taehyung breathes heavily, leaning onto his sword for support. His father is in worse condition, bleeding in several places and barely standing. The two dragons fly over their heads.

“What are they waiting for?” Taehyung manages to ask in one breath.

His father cackles. “Fire.”

“What fire?” Taehyung stands up, looking around for any signs but he can’t notice anything. “What for?”

“There’s only one mountain here, beneath whom the fire of Hwa is sealed. And the seal can only be lifted by the king.”

Taehyung’s eyes widen when he remembers Mt Gore. He can’t believe his father thought so many steps ahead. He can’t believe he’s this prepared to win the battle. He has to get this over with and find Soobin to stop him.

“You fool.”

Taehyung blinks and his father is standing before him. In another blink, the sword is plunged into his stomach, his father’s magic entering his body and keeping the wound open. He steps back and leaves Taehyung to fall onto his knees.

“So pathetic. It’s sad both my sons took after their mother. A shame really.”

Taehyung almost tunes him out entirely, his eyes moving across the battlefield, watching as his comrades fight their enemy. It looks like they’re going to win. And Taehyung might believe that victory is close, but the moment Soobin unleashes Mt Gore, it will be over for them. Their certain victory will definitely be a certain defeat.

“You can’t win.” Taehyung whispers. “I won’t allow it.”

The king turns around and punches him, knocking him onto the ground. “Imbecile. I will have your head on a stake. You are no son of mine.”

Taehyung stares up at the dark skies, noticing now how the clouds are moving as if being pulled to side by something. He turns his head to side and sees the mountain. That must be Mt Gore. And something must be happening right now.

His father screams in victory, turning to his fairies, his back to Taehyung.

The celestial lifts his hand, heavy as lead. He points his index finger at him, a white swirl of light forming around, thin as a straw. It moves like light, piercing the fairy’s head.

He only hears his body fall on the ground, the screams of his people filling his ears.

Jimin

Taehyung puts his strength into reaching Jimin.

Taehyung?

Mt Gore. Stop Soobin from lifting the seal. Hurry

He closes his eyes, feeling strength leaving his body.

“Why don’t you do it yourself?”

He hears the man’s voice above him. He can’t help but smile.

“Prick.”

Jimin chuckles. “I prefer delightful. Get up. The king is already there.”

Taehyun stops walking when he feels the sharp pain in his chest. Soobin turns around and manages to catch him before he falls. From the edge of the narrow path, he looks down at the lava river. His eyes are burning from the heat.

“Taehyun, go outside. Please.”

“I’m fine. Let’s keep moving.”

“The mountain will only get worse for you. It can feel me coming closer to the seal.”

“Hurry up.” Taehyun pats his shoulder before taking his hand.

“Taehyun, please. Go back.”

Taehyun sighs and looks him in the eyes. “I want to come with you. I belong by your side and I’ll follow you into this river of fire if you jump!”

Soobin smiles, letting his forehead fall against his. “I can’t believe I brought an angel here.”

Taehyun huffs with a small smile. “Come on. Soonyoung must have told Beomgyu the plan.”

Soobin takes his hand and they make their way forward. Taehyun sees a large bow made of bricks, a thin veil in it and from the feeling it gives, he can only conclude that this is the seal.

“This is it.” Soobin says and releases Taehyun’s hand. He walks forward and takes in a deep breath. Familiar words are spoken in an ancient way that Taehyun probably can’t put together but they are heard by the seal that turns dark. The heat is becoming unbearable and the fairy can barely lift his hand to wipe the sweat on his face.

“Taehyun! Don’t break the seal!”

Taehyun spins around, shocked to hear the familiar voice of his brother. He thinks it’s a hallucination from the heat but there’s someone else by Taehyung’s side, helping him stand. His body is battered, bruised and cut in numerous places. There's one big wound in his abdomen and blood falls onto the ground continuously. 

“Hyung?” Taehyun barely whispers.

Taehyung hears him, though. “The dragons are malnourished and the fire will only feed them to bring back their strength! He can’t break the seal! It will only make things worse!”

“And how would you know this?! You’re telling me you have nothing to do with this?!” Taehyun yells.

Taehyung is shocked by his outburst but he knows that Taehyun owes him no respect or faith. After all, he did neglect him in favour of accomplishing his goals and staying on his father's good side. Although he got what he wanted, he knew it would bring him to this.

Facing his brother who no longer sees him as one.

“Everything I did was to get away from him. Now, you can do that too. Please, trust me when I tell you that I’ve never supported any of his decisions. Regarding anything or anyone.”

“Yeah, I’ve seen how supportive you can be when you want something!”

“Just stop the demon, damn it! I’m doing this to save everyone in hopes of atoning for my father’s and my own sins! Just do this and you’ll never see or hear from me again!” Taehyung’s eyes are shiny, but Taehyun believes it’s from the heat. He cannot believe that his brother can cry.

He did see the two dragons outside and until now, they only attacked without fire. He looks over his shoulder at Soobin, still reciting the spell. What Taehyung is saying is one hundred percent true, everyone knows this.

Taehyun makes his way to Soobin and takes his hand. “Soobin… can you stop?”

The demon king turns to look at him, words not stopping. He looks at the two celestials, well aware of the fairy that’s staring at him with pleading eyes.

Soobin stops reciting the spell, his eyes returning onto the fairy standing next to him. “If this is some kind of their plan…”

“Even you know how much sense their words make.” Taehyun whispers, not wanting his brother to overhear.

“The fairy king is dead.” Jimin says and ignores the hit from Taehyung. “Your brother killed him. Vampires will be here any minute. There is no need to break the seal on the mountain to fuel the dragons. We know what we’re doing here.”

“I know. You only arrive with purpose. Blah, blah.” Soobin turns around to face them properly. “Were you also aware of fairies poisoning my demons, poisoning me when I faced them? What a coincidence that you find my demons in time to heal them from midnight lily. You’ve done nothing to earn my trust. What was the purpose of your absence in times when it was meaningful? This all could’ve been prevented if you had reacted in time.”

“Some things have to happen. For the better good.” Jimin says. “Breaking that seal would be taking things further than necessary. If you do this, then I’ll make sure you don’t live to see tomorrow.”

Soobin chuckles at him. “You sadistic pigs. If any more of my demons die… no one is going home.”

Seonwoo’s holding onto Riki’s hand for dear life when he feels the surge of magic coming from the runes. For a moment he fears they won’t make it past the protective runes of the realm but then it all stops. He opens his eyes, not even remembering when he closed them.

They’re standing in a room full of demons, most of them lying barely alive on the floor.

“Seonwoo!”

They all turn to look at Beomgyu in surprise, not expecting him to be here.

“And Minho too!”

He runs to them and jumps at Minho, wrapping his arms around the prince. Minho laughs at him, his eyes closing as he melts into the hug.

“Hi, Beomgyu.”

“I thought the dwarves found you when you left.”

Minho chuckles and they move away from each other. “As if. But I did have a friend who helped me.”

“What is going on here?!” Kai approaches them, a few demons in his company.

“This is Minho, prince of the sorcery realm.” Beomgyu introduces him. “And the others are prince Jeongwon’s men.”

“Prince Minho?” Kai repeats, eyes moving up and down the sorcerer who returns the gesture, smirking at the suspicious look on his face. “Prince Minho died in the war.”

“He was never found in the war. There’s a difference.”

“I bet you don’t have any evidence this.”

Beomgyu becomes restless at those words, sensing the hostility of the demons behind Kai. “Of course not. And it doesn’t matter now. Vampires will be joining the war any minute and the battle will be in our favour.”

“Then there’s no need for prince Minho to be here. Who allowed him to come? If I remember correctly, in his time, prince Minho travelled through realms as if they were his own. Including our realm.”

“He’s been on the run for his life since the war ended!” Beomgyu raises his voice, as if it would affect Kai.

“He’s the one who brought us here! He helped us!” Seonwoo adds.

Kai’s attention turns to the sorcerer, head tilting to side when he doesn’t recognize him as a vampire. “Did you say he’s a vampire?”

“No.” Beomgyu quickly says.

Kai pulls his sword out of his sheath. “He seems like another sorcerer to me.” The demons follow him and prepare their weapons. “I honestly don’t know who’s worse between you and the fairies. Liars, both of you!”

All of them panic when the demons begin to circle them.

One of the demons grabs Seonwoo from behind and the latter gasps in shock, not having heard anyone behind him. Riki reaches out to take his hand but their fingers barely brush when two demons jump on the vampire. Heesung doesn’t manage to even move before someone throws chains over him and squeezes him.

“There’s no need for this!” Minho yells, moving Beomgyu behind him. “We came to help you!”

“The vampire prince Jeongwon is going to help us. You aren’t even coming from the vampire realm. Plus, there are two sorcerers with you, one believed to be dead and the other unknown to me.”

“What is going on here?!”

All heads turn towards the loud voice of the demon king. Soobin is leaning on Taehyun, both of them looking as if they were tortured on Mt Gore. Behind them, two celestials are standing, one of them very wounded and very familiar.

“What is that worm doing here?!” Kai yells.

“I know why he’s here and that should be enough for you!” Soobin raises his voice, enough power seeping into the order to make all of them step back. “No newcomers can be treated like this until I say so! There are no enemies on this side of the walls! Who are you to decide that instead of me?!”

Their heads bow. Kai’s, however, in displeasure with his king.

“The vampires are here!” Soonyoung yells from somewhere. “And they have the Sword of Death!”

“What?!”

“I’m tired of this. The demon realm is brought almost to ruins because of your incompetence! This all happened because you want peace with realms! With the very realms who won’t welcome any of us!” Kai yells. “We were the superior ones, once! We were feared once! You made us a laughing stock!” He takes a step back. “I’ll show you what demons used to be.”

And with that he’s gone.

The demons restraining the vampires and the sorcerer move back and portal after him.

Minho is the first one to move. He walks over to Soobin and helps the king to lie down onto one of the makeshift beds.

“For what it’s worth… thank you.” Minho says, hands hovering over one of the wounds. “For everything.”

Soobin closes his eyes and breathes out a long sigh. Taehyun takes his hand and begins muttering in his own language a healing spell.

“Everything will be all right. Help arrived.” Taehyun whispers to him, one hand moving to push his hair from his forehead.

Soobin smiles weakly, opening his eyes to look at the fairy. He doesn’t say anything but Taehyun can’t help but chuckle at him, feeling the heavy burden fall off his chest.

“The Sword of Death took one dragon down!”

Heesung and Riki turn towards the demon who yells. Riki turns to Seonwoo.

“You stay here with Beomgyu and Minho. Heesung and I have to go. Help the wounded here.”

“But…” Seonwoo doesn’t want to let go of his hand. He doesn’t want him to join the battle, no matter how much they’re winning. Yet, he knows he’ll be nothing more than a burden to Riki. “Fine.”

The vampire smiles, squeezing his hand for a moment before leaning forward and pressing his lips against and savouring the feeling. When he moves back an inch, he looks at Seonwoo, the latter’s eyes are wide open and his cheeks are already red.

“J-Just come back.” He slaps his arm before covering his face.

Riki laughs as he nods. “I definitely will.”

“Jeongwon must be out there. We need to tell him we’ve found Minho.” Heesung says as the two of them rush through the kingdom.

“Who could possibly be wielding the Sword of Death?” Riki wonders.

“Someone did on Jeongwon’s orders. Might be Jake.”

“I have to say I miss you two acting like two old mates fighting over everything.”

“Shut up. We don’t fight.” Heesung reaches out to hit him but Riki slaps his hand away. “We just talk like that.”

“Like two old mates?” Riki teases as they reach the front gate.

Heesung sighs, eyes moving across the battlefield. It’s too much to see and he thanks the heavens for not being present in the previous war. He thanks his late king for sparing him the experience.

His fear for Jake’s like grows as he tries to see him anywhere. He prays that he’s somewhere here, fighting and alive.

“Yeah.” He mumbles to Riki. The younger vampire looks at him in surprise, not expecting Heesung to agree.

Heesung feels his heart clenching in his chest. All this time he was at ease because he believed Jake was in their realm, safe and sound. But knowing he’s here, in the middle of a bloody battle, he thinks of all their shared moments and fears his absence. He fears Jake’s absence in their future because he’s not sure it can be bright without him by his side.

“I don’t know what it’s like to have a mate.” Heesung begins. “I’ve heard stories but… if I can see anyone by my side as a mate, it’s Jake. I don’t think I’ll be able to live with myself if I don’t find him here, yelling at me for taking my sweet time.”

Riki laughs. “Wow, I can’t believe it took you so long to figure it out.”

“Huh?” Heesung’s snaps to side in surprise. “What do you mean?”

Riki shakes his head as he runs away, leaving Heesung without an answer.

“Wait! What does that mean?! Riki!!!”

“You sure know how to wield a sword.”

Sunghoon can’t help but laugh when he hears Jake’s voice. “All those games are finally paying off!”

Jake avoids a spear coming for his head and quickly takes his opponent down. He hears a whoosh of an arrow, coming his way but all the noise makes it hard to pinpoint its direction. As he turns around, he manages to see the jet black sword snapping it in two. He turns to Sunghoon and sighs in relief.

“Thanks.”

“I think it moved on its own, this time.” Sunghoon says, not looking at the vampire as he proceeds to take down the next fairy.

Jake shakes his head, smiling to himself.

“Jake!”

Jake turns around when he hears someone yell his name. He doesn’t immediately see the source but soon enough he notices his prince not too far from him. He runs to him, worried that he might have been wounded.

“Jeongwon?!”

“That group over there! They keep going behind the line to take something! It might be health potions!”

Jake turns to the direction Jeongwon points. Indeed, several fairies are running back while others are running to the battle. “I’ll take care of it!”

There’s a group of fairies surrounding someone and Jake sees a hand reach out, giving a small vial to a fairy. He notices a bow on the ground and scattered arrows. He picks them up and aims, praying that he manages to hit the mark that’s between a narrow spot between two fairies. He holds his breath when he releases his arrow.

It cries out when the arrow pierces it. It’s a delicate cry, like a woman’s.

It doesn’t sound like someone in the middle of the battlefield would cry out like. Various thoughts run through Jake’s head a moment before the fairies catch sight of him and attack. It’s too much for a moment, they manage to hit and cut him but he remains the last one standing.

Until other fairies gather around the lying body and recognize him.

He feels the weight of his bones now, he can barely stand, let alone fight this group. The sword in his hand is slipping, his hand sore from the constant grip. He doesn’t want to let go, there’s something he never got to say to someone and…

He doesn’t want to go until he tells him.

Before the closest fairy can stab him with his spear, Jake deflects it and manages to stab him. The second one, however, cuts his arm too deep and his sword falls to the ground. He doesn’t even blink and another’s spear pierces his thigh.

He’s on his knees, watching as a fairy pulls his spear back and with a face angrier than anything, he pushes it through his chest.

Breath is stuck in his chest, wide eyes staring at the spear in disbelief.

His brain is struggling to grasp that he’s going to die here and now.

The wound stings when the spear is twisted, the fairy yelling something at him but the noise in his head is deafening.

His body falls back when the spear is pulled from his chest, body heavy and light at the same time.

It’s time to go.

He feels his strength leaving him but it’s almost liberating, as if his body has been confiding his soul his entire life.

“No, no!”

Someone is yelling but he can’t recognize them.

Heesung screams as he takes the fairies down, one by one. He wants to run to Jake’s side and take him back to the castle but the fairies are swarming him like flies.

“Jake! Get up, Jake!” He yells but the vampire doesn’t appear to hear him.

“Menien… am eso lio.”

Jake gasps when he hears those words. His wounds burn all over his body. Tears blind him, as well as the face hovering above him.

“Menien!” The man raises his voice and Jake wonders if it’s the culprit who was distributing the health potions to the fairies.

He doesn’t know where the arrow hit him, after all.

“You’ll be fine, menien!” The man says before sniffing. Wet drops fall onto his face. Jake’s body is burning up from something, hands clenched into fists.

“Get away from him!” Heesung screams as he runs at the unfamiliar man lying next to Jake.

“No! Don’t! I’m trying to help him!” The man raises his hands over Jake’s body. “Let me help!”

“Whose side are you on?!” Heesung yells, holding the tip of the sword almost against the man’s forehead.

“The fairies captured me and my family! I had to help them! But he helped me! Let me help him back!”

Heesung bites his tongue to ground himself. He doesn’t know what happened minutes before he came. He only knows that Jake is dying at the moment and this person claims they can help him. He puts his sword down but doesn’t take his eyes off the man.

“If you do anything else but heal his wound, I’ll make sure everyone you know dies slowly and painfully by my own hands.”

The man nods and doesn’t waste time to begin healing Jake while Heesung turns his attention to the fairies.

His sword is frozen in air when several portals open before his eyes. He’s fearing the worst now, taking in concern their exhaustion. But the familiar faces that appear from the other side make him smile in relief and joy.

“Alpha Jongseong!” He exclaims, sword almost falling from his grasp when the wolf comes through.

“Heesung. Haven’t seen you in a long time.” Both of them laugh as they shake hands. “You didn’t think I’d leave you in this battle?”

“Oh, we both know you’re only joining for one person.”

Jongseong nods, not even bothering to deny it. “Yeah. But don’t worry, you’ll benefit from this too.” He turns around and whistles.

Wolves come pouring through the portals, already shifted into their forms, some even standing on two feet, their claws itching for fairy blood.

Heesung uses the opportunity and turns to Jake, sitting down next to the man. “How is he?”

The man nods, a sigh escaping his lips. “He’ll be fine. I’ve stopped the poison from spreading and in a few hours he should cough it out.” The man sits back on his legs and wipes sweat from his forehead, his hood falling back and revealing his face properly.

Heesung watches as the man places his hand on a bloody spot and watches his hand covered in it. But as he looks back at his face, he remembers why he looks familiar.

“Aren’t you… Jeonghan? Prince Minho’s cousin?”

Jeonghan chuckles, lifting his head to look at him. The smile on his face becomes sad, eyes softening as he nods.

“Yes, I used to be recognized by that.”

“You’ve been their prisoner this whole time?”

“Yes, unfortunately.”

“Why are you helping Jake? There are plenty of others who also need help.”

Jeonghan sighs, looking down at Jake before gently placing his palm against his cheek. “If it weren’t for him, I’d probably still be helping the fairies. He freed me.”

Heesung doesn’t know what to tell him, eyes falling onto the unconscious vampire. He looks around to see fairies running back, chased by the wolves, vampires and demons. It’s almost over. Soon enough, they’ll be yelling in victory and singing.

He reaches for Jake’s hand and holds it tightly. He’s embarrassed that it took him so long to realize his own feelings for the vampire. But he prays that it’s not too late. He hopes that Jake will wake up and accept Heesung because there’s no one else in Heesung’s life that can fill this spot.

Right by his side.

That’s where Jake belongs.

Almost an hour later the kings of their respectful realms, Soobin, Jeongwon and Jongseong meet on the battlefield, soon joined by Jimin and Taehyung.

“I am forever grateful for your help and for coming at short notice.” Soobin begins, bowing his head in gratitude to the others. “As much as it pains me to say, this battle would have been lost, had we fought it alone.”

Jeongwon nods. “It’s on us now to form an alliance to make sure the bad blood of the old days remains in the old days. Wars shouldn’t be an option for us.”

“We’ll strive to build a better future. Together.” Jongseong adds, smiling at Jeongwon who can’t help but roll his eyes at him, feigning a hit with his sword.

“We’ll recover first. Demons will need a few days to recover from everything. We’ll send everything you need.”

Soobin bows to them. “Thank you. I am in your debt.”

“Riki!”

The vampire barely manages to turn around to catch the sorcerer in time. Both of them laugh. Riki puts him down and looks at him.

“You’ll get dirty, too.”

“Are you hurt anywhere?” Seonwoo asks him instead.

Riki rolls his eyes. “Of course, not. As if any of those fairies can hurt me. Why, would you kiss my wounds all better?” He teases.

Seonwoo groans before hitting him on the chest. “You’re so insufferable. I’m leaving.”

He turns around to leave but Riki drags him back into his arms. “Don’t worry, Seonwoo. I tried my best to come back to you.”

The sorcerer quickly becomes red in face but he dares to look up at the vampire. “You better. Or else I would’ve learned a spell to bring you back and kill you with my own hands.”

The vampire smiles as he leans down to kiss him and this time Seonwoo isn’t shy to return it, hands coming to grip onto his collar to hold him close.

“Disgusting.”

Both of them ignore Minho as he walks past them, but they can’t help but laugh, still in their own bubble.

It takes the demon realm almost a week to rest and recover, with help arriving from the realms who promised it. Soobin’s sitting in his room, reading a report from Soonyoung on how everything's developing in the kingdom.

“Aren’t you going to the feast?”

Taehyun’s voice makes him look up from the paper, smiling at the fairy approaching him with a worried look on his face. He stands in front of him, hands crossed and lips pressed tightly together. It makes Soobin think he’s about to be scolded and the idea makes him chuckle.

“Are we going to be late?”

“Well, everyone else left. It’s just you and a couple of other guards.”

Soobin stands up and walks up to Taehyun. The fairy leans back against the desk, not losing the attitude even when Soobin grabs his thighs and sits him on the desk. He tilts his head to side, eyes glinting in the dim lights as he begins to wonder how disrespectful it’d be to ditch the feast and just stay here with his fairy.

“When did you become my secretary?”

Taehyun huffs. “Never. You just get too into your work that you forget to use your chance to relax a bit.”

“I do relax.” He buries his face in the crook of Taehyun’s neck, inhaling deeply and sighing contently. “This is enough for me to relax.”

“Don’t be like that!” Taehyun whines, nudging him but not really pushing him away. “I want to go. Take me to the feast!”

“You weren’t so demanding a week ago.”

“I think I was.” Taehyun chuckles.

Both of them go down the memory lane and find it hard not to smile.

“All right.” Soobin nods. He kisses him once, having a hard time moving away. “Are you ready?”

Taehyun nods eagerly, jumping off the desk and grabbing Soobin’s hand. “Yes! I’ve been ready since hours ago!”

Soobin laughs, pulling him back and holding his hand tightly as he waves his other hand and opens a portal. “Fine, fine. I’m sorry for keeping you waiting, your Highness.”

The fairy opens his mouth to say something, already red in the face but Soobin pulls him to the other side of the portal and like that, Taehyun swallows his swords.

Seonwoo has time to look around and see all the people and still feel like he belongs here. Everyone is drinking, singing, talking and laughing. It’s a feeling nothing can buy and the young sorcerer wishes nothing more than for moments like these to happen over and over again. It’s like a feast from a fiction and everything looks like a dream.

“Jeonghwan took down one of the Sleepers, thinking it was some kind of a monster!”

“To my defense, I’ve never been to the demon realm, therefore-“

“Oh shut up!” Everyone else at the table groans before chugging their beers.

Seonwoo hides his smile behind his hand, looking aside at Riki who reaches over the table to take a bottle of wine. He watches with utter adoration as the vampire pours it into a glass. He pushes plates away before putting the glass right in front of Seonwoo.

“Come on, Seonwoo! Tonight you can drink without a care! Finally!” The vampire laughs making the sorcerer join him genuinely.

They’re so carefree, so relaxed.

It’s a reward.

At the table in the row next to them, Sunghoon is sitting, a somewhat plastered smile on his face as he exchanges words with Jake. The latter has healed and now can’t make a step without Heesung by his side, who’s also refusing all bottles and glasses pushed in his face in favour of taking care of Jake (who is quite possibly already drunk, judging by all the empty bottles right in front of him).

Sunghoon catches Seonwoo’s gaze and the time stops. The two of them met in the middle of the deserted battlefield. Seonwoo didn’t expect Sunghoon to join the battle, let alone wield a weapon that’s legendary even among the creatures. Seonwoo couldn’t stop himself from crying, feeling guilty for not seeing him and making sure he’s fine. Sunghoon thinks Seonwoo doesn’t need to know about the torture he went through and Seonwoo’s tears have always had the same effect on him – tell him everything’s fine just to stop those tears.

Sunghoon smiles, lifting his glass up for a toast and Seonwoo doesn’t deny it, raising it high enough for everyone to see. He bursts out laughing when Jake yells something and slams his glass against Sunghoon’s, successfully breaking it.

“All right, that’s enough for tonight!” Heesung sighs as he stands up and struggles to separate Jake from Sunghoon, onto whom he’s holding on for dear life.

“No! I don’t want to be the only one sleeping!”

“You’re the only one drunk out of his mind!” Heesung tries but Jake, in his drunken state, is much stronger than him.

It’s an incredible sight.

“What’s on your mind?” Beomgyu asks as he sits down next to Minho. “You really look like you’re waiting for someone to jump you.”

Minho sighs and looks at the sorcerer. “You don’t think this just happened so easily? The battle we won, the sudden acceptance from everyone here? I just can’t help but question it all.”

Beomgyu hums in thought, looking around at the creatures who seem to be having the time of their life. “No, it looks to me like everyone is enjoying this moment.”

“I have feeling nothing’s really over. So much happened and the fairy king knew everything we would do to stop them. He predicted all of our moves. Kind of suspicious that he suddenly allowed himself to be killed and ensured our victory.”

“We won because there was more of us. We were united, for the first time in a long time. Don’t be so pessimistic, you’re ruining all the fun!” Beomgyu whines.

“Tell that to your boyfriend, over there. He’s worse than me.”

Beomgyu sighs, shoulder slouching as he puts his glass down. He looks over his shoulder to see Yeonjun sitting at a table, looking around but not really focusing on anything. He knows his order lost effect, so this time Yeonjun is staying away by his own will.

“He’s too worried about me. I can fight my own battles.”

“True. But it’s not his lack of understanding that makes him say something.”

“I know! But I never tell him what to do! Or stop him from doing something!”

“Maybe because he doesn’t separate from you at all?”

“Gods, you’re so picking sides right now.”

Minho chuckles, looking at the sorcerer in the eye. “The amount of love he has for you is shown in his protectiveness and care for you. Instead of pushing him away to stand alone, pull him in to stand together. That way you’ll both be taking care of each other.”

Beomgyu pouts. “I hate it when you’re so right.”

“Trust me, Beomgyu… there will come a time when you’ll regret your decisions. So try to make as little as possible and just enjoy holding his hand, his embrace, his love and care. You never know what tomorrow brings.”

Beomgyu stares at the glass in his hand, looking like a kicked puppy. “I know.” He mumbles.

He stands up and Minho watches him as he walks around the table to reach Yeonjun. The demon doesn’t want to look at him at first but as Beomgyu keeps talking, Yeonjun sighs and slowly looks up. He looks hurt, like he still hasn’t recovered from the exhaustion and wounds from the battle.

Yet, soon enough he smiles. He takes Beomgyu’s hand and pulls him onto his lap, wrapping his arms around him and holding him tightly. Beomgyu hides his face in the man’s neck and sighs.

“Old man, I don’t want to regret anything when it comes to you.”

“Does that mean you’ll finally let me buy a snake?”

“I regret ever offering to buy you a pet at all.”

Yeonjun laughs at him, kissing him on the head. “You’re so adorable.

“Shhh, don’t say that! Someone can hear you!”

“Beomgyu, you’re sitting in my lap and you’re concerned about that?”

“Look at all those lovebirds nesting together! I want to nest with my own mate too.”

“Shh, someone can hear you.” Yeonjun teases.

Beomgyu sits up and looks at the demon. “I’m not ashamed of being mated to you. And it’s not like anyone thinks we’re not mated. We act like mates already.”

“Yeah, I can’t really argue with that.”

“There’s your proof.” Beomgyu winks, nodding his head in approval.

“Welcome, everyone!”

The creatures fall into silence when Jeongwon speaks. Soobin, Taehyun, Jongseong and Taehyun stand behind him.

“Tonight we celebrate our victory over the fairy realm and the bond we established in these tough times. Vampires, wolves and demons are to be considered friends in the future, to aid each other and to rely on each other. The past led us to separation which, as you can see, almost cost us another entire realm.

Although there’s no guarantee that there’s another enemy coming our way, it is certain that this unity is our only hope! Just like the days before the wars, the days of peace, we cannot allow one person to break it and throw into a new age of terror.

My only wish is to see all of us happy in peaceful times where our race does not matter. We are all creatures whose roots go back to the same creation. Our creators did their part, now it's time for us to do ours. Thank you again, for fighting for the right side.”

The creatures applaud, Riki, Jake and several other vampires being the loudest. Jeongwon smiles, but it’s one of those smiles that makes all of them fall into silence. Seonwoo bites his lip to stop himself from laughing.

They are so going to be scolded later.

Soobin steps forward, hand barely releasing Taehyun’s. The fairy looks at his brother who’s already smiling at the two of them.

“First of all, I want to thank everyone who helped us, my warriors on the battlefield as well as my wounded ones. I’m sure we would have lost that one on our own. Secondly, I agree with prince Jeongwon that people will oppose this alliance and what it will stand for. There will be no place in my realm for those who wish anything less than peace.

I will personally take care of everyone who sees others as enemies. That is a sickness we must treat and with time we will heal. The burden of the past is heavy on our shoulders, we do not need it in our future. We will work on this together and together we’ll start a new age for our future generations. No wars, no bloodshed and no discrimination.”

Taehyun is the first one to applaud, a wide smile blossoming on his face when Soobin steps back and turns to face him. Their hands find each other and Taehyun comes closer when Soobin lowers his head to his ear.

“Can we go now?”

So insufferable.

Taehyun sighs and nods, looking like he could stay the entire night but those wide, shiny eyes and the blinding smile suggest he doesn’t mind leaving it all for Soobin.

“Fine, we can go now.”

Heesung watches in defeat as Jake rips the clothes off his body before throwing himself on the bed. The vampire groans from the unnatural position and Heesung hurries to help him lay properly.

"Jake, you seriously turn into another person when you're drunk."

Jake hums. "It's okay. Heesung-hyung likes all sides of me."

The older vampire opens his mouth to say that he does but he lifts his head and he's face to face with Jake. He's struggling to keep his eyes open, cheeks rosy from the wine but there's the dumbest smile on his face.

"Hyung, did I ever tell you how pretty you are?"

Heesung takes his blazer and tie off before lying on the bed next to Jake. "No. You're always telling me how stupid I look."

"Well, I lie. You're always handsome and pretty but I couldn't tell you that without sounding like an idiot."

"So, the next time you tell me I look stupid I should take it as a compliment?"

"Or... you just look stupid."

Heesung laughs at him. Jake moves closer to him, throwing his leg and arm over him and exhaling loudly. 

"This is so nice. So stupid... I should've told you earlier."

Heesung looks down at him. "Confessed?"

He hums. "Yeah... I lost so many mornings with you, so many hugs and kisses. Now you have to make up for the time we lost."

"What? Why me?!" Heesung whines.

"Because you always said you have no time for dating or hook-ups!" Jake yells, sitting up to look him in the eye. "And I stayed away! Now I want a compensation for you being stupid!"

He lies down, deliberately slamming his head onto Heesung's chest in an attempt to get comfortable. Heesung gasps but it turns into a laugh. He holds onto the vampire tightly, indeed feeling guilty for robbing both of them of this. 

"I'm sorry. I'll make up for all the moments we lost."

Jake hums. "Thank you."

Heesung thinks Jake must have fallen asleep. He places a gentle kiss onto his forehead, his own eyes closing as his body feels weightless in Jake's embrace.

If only he had known...

He regrets now, being such a coward.

Chapter Text

Beginning of the End

It’s a beautiful day. 

Vampires at the table are talking and discussing their plans for the oncoming days and everyone is talking about some improvements and decisions to be made.  

Jeongwon nods to whatever Heesung is saying, eyes somehow zeroing on two empty chairs where Seonwoo and Riki were supposed to be sitting.  

Only a few days after the battle in the demon realm, Beomgyu suggested that Seonwoo should return to the sorcery realm with him and Minho. Their main goal appears to be extracting magic from Seonwoo to give some to the realm to test both of them. Seonwoo agreed easily, despite Riki’s worry. 

His friends are sitting next to him but it pains him a bit that just when he got used to their presence, they had to leave. 

“…the new council members seem nice.” 

Jeongwon turns to Jake at his comment. 

“Hm? I picked them.” He shrugs, a satisfied smile on his face.  

Dismissing the previous council required extra work and effort to separate them from their golden nests but Jeongwon might have thrown a threat or two into his offers and they simply had to agree. The first thing he announced upon his arrival was the arranged marriage between him and Jongseong. Then he didn’t give them enough time to recover and announced their early retirement.  

Perhaps by their laws he has no right but by Jeongwon’s law… 

Vampires like them are far from creatures who care about their people, therefore they do not deserve their positions. Even his soldiers had to intervene. The night before, Jeongwon made a list of people he wanted in the council and brought a new law by which he is allowed to dismiss a council member without an explanation if he deems them a threat to his realm.  

Jake nods to Jeongwon, looking very proud of him. “Good. But we’ll see for ourselves if they’re deserving enough to advise our king.” 

Jeongwon laughs. “Thank you.” He looks at Heesung. “I don’t think anything would have turned out this way if I didn’t have you guys by my side.” 

Heesung smiles. “We’re just doing our duty as your friends and warriors. You shouldn’t have to thank us for that.” 

“I know. But… I don’t want you to say I was a brat, later on!” 

“Oh, I might’ve said that a few times already!” Jake says with wide eyes. 

Jeongwon’s smile falls as he looks at him. “You have?! Why? And to whom?!” 

Jake scratches his head as he thinks. “I think… once when we visited the wolves and you wanted me to leave you alone with Jongseong.” 

“That doesn’t make me a brat. That makes you annoying.” Jeongwon rolls his eyes as he takes a sip of his drink. 

“Then once when you were giving a speech about honoring our ancestor by respecting our elders, minutes after you called me a rat. Though, I did rat you out to Heesung because you wanted to sneak out to another realm.” 

“And to whom did you say I was a brat?!” 

Jake stares across the table at Heesung who’s sipping on the wine and looking away, feigning disinterest. Jeongwon sighs, letting his head fall into his hands. 

“If it’s Heesung-hyung, then it’s fine. I thought it was someone else.” 

“Your father always told me to make sure you act like a brat every once in a while.” 

Jeongwon looks at Heesung in surprise. “What?” 

Heesung chuckles while he plays with the glass in his hand. “Yeah. I guess he wanted you to live a normal life, with your rebellious age like any other vampire. Every time Jake called you a brat I couldn’t help but think that the reasons were very acceptable, at least in the late king’s opinion.” 

Silence befalls but it’s a pleasant one. Jeongwon’s even smiling. 

“Thanks. It’s only thanks to you. And Jake-hyung. If he didn’t act like a mother, I probably wouldn’t have gone through that rebellious age.” 

Jake gasps, hand going to the top of his head. “You gave me gray hairs! Brat!” 

Heesung and Jeongwon can’t help but laugh at him. 

“It acts on your will. You are magic, Seonwoo. Visualize it, channel it.”  

Seonwoo tries to conjure an image and imagine the magic moving through his veins. After a moment he feels something, like millions of ants are crawling under his skin and running down his hand and into the ground beneath his palm. 

He dares to take a peek and he’s beyond happy when he sees a green patch on the previously dead ground. “I did it!” 

Beomgyu pats his back, smiling at his happiness. Minho nods, satisfied with the progress. 

“That’s good.” 

Seonwoo’s happiness quiets down and he sighs “Yeah but it took me three days.” 

Minho shakes his head. “No, it doesn’t come easily to control magic, especially when we take in concern who and what you are. This is a really big step. Look at this.” Minho plucks a few strands of grass and holds it up for Seonwoo to see. “The dead ground gave birth to something alive. And you made that happen.” 

Seonwoo’s cheeks redden from the pretty compliment. “Yeah.”  

“Okay, we should go inside for some breakfast. I’m sure old man is finished by now.” Beomgyu pats his arm to move and Seonwoo obeys. 

“Shouldn’t Riki be here by now?” Seonwoo mumbles, looking around in case he can welcome him home. “It’s been more than an hour.” 

Minho looks around, entertaining the thought of something unexpected happening. He stayed quiet when he felt a sudden shift in the air around him but he couldn’t pinpoint the source or the reason. He catches Beomgyu’s worried expression. 

“It’s probably nothing. He did say going back to his realm might take a while.” Beomgyu reassures the youngest sorcerer. 

It doesn’t put his thoughts to rest but Seonwoo turns around and goes inside. Beomgyu looks at Minho and waits, knowing very well that Minho felt something. 

“Someone might have been here. After Riki left.” Minho says. 

Beomgyu’s eyes widen in surprise. “Are you sure?” 

“I felt something but... I suppose Seonwoo’s powers mess up my perception. It’s the only thing I can think of, I guess.” 

“Let’s get inside. You’ll help me raise another barrier. No one is supposed to get inside.” 

Taehyung peels his eyes away from the book he’s reading when the door to his room opens. Jimin comes in and Taehyung can’t think of any reason for him to be here. But the lack of smiles and provocations from the celestial worries him. 

“Jimin?” 

Jimin doesn’t come too close and Taehyung notices his clenched fists. 

“We might have a problem.” 

Taehyung puts the book down and turns his attention to Jimin entirely, unable to think of anything for a moment. “Might?” 

“Hoseok just came back from his expedition.” 

“Really?” Taehyung stands up. “Did he find anything?” 

“He did. And that might be the problem.” 

Jimin walks in front of Taehyung and that’s the only reason why he doesn’t see Hoseok properly until he’s standing next to his bed. 

The older celestial’s face is almost blue and covered in sweat. He’s struggling to breathe but opens his eyes when he hears them come close. 

“Taehyung, hey.” 

“Hoseok, what happened to you?” Taehyung sits on the bed but dares not touch him. 

Hoseok smiles despite his pain. “Just ran into some trouble.” 

“What trouble?” 

Hoseok glances at Jimin who’s standing behind Taehyung. He swallows a lump in his throat and closes his eyes for a moment. 

“Titans.” 

Taehyung’s eyes widen in disbelief. “What? That’s... impossible.” 

“I saw them.” Hoseok whispers, eyes filling with tears. “They grabbed me and Jaemin risked his life to save me.” He throws the covers off his body and Taehyung jumps off the bed, covering his mouth. “They’re coming! They told me to prepare for the end of times!” Hoseok cries out, closing his eyes tightly when he feels the pain all over his body. 

Jimin moves past Taehyung and sits next to Hoseok, running his hand through his hair and muttering something to him. 

Taehyung can’t take his eyes off the black marks on Hoseok’s body. It looks like he was crushed by something that cursed him immediately,  

It’s the poison of the titans. Destroying everything with the slightest touch of their damned being. And to reveal themselves to the celestial to relay this message...

“They’re coming! They’re coming!” Hoseok cries out, his body twitching as if he’s fighting to stand up and run but his body is disabled from the cursed touch.

Jimin cries by his side, covering his body with the sheets as the medic team comes running into the room.

The titans.

Long forgotten and legends among legends.

They’re now coming to bring the end.

Taehyung leans back against the desk and watches as the team calms down Hoseok with something.

It can’t sink in immediately, Taehyung is struggling to grasp the concept of inevitable death.

How meaningless a war will be.

How fruitless their sacrifices.

How inevitable their death is.

“Wakey, wakey.”

Riki doesn’t even realize his eyes are opened until someone slaps him. He startles, wanting to jump but it only helps him realize that he’s tied to a chair. He looks around before recognizing the man before him.

“You! Bastard!”

Kai laughs at his struggles to break the chains. “I wouldn’t bother if I were you. Those chains were forged in the holiest of all realms. Someone like you can’t break them.”

“What do you think you’re doing?! Where am I?!”

He can’t see anything around them, the dark swallowing anything the light over his head can’t reach. Kai smirks.

“We are in your head, Riki.”

The vampire stills. However, he refuses to come off as frightened to this demon. “What the hell are you doing? Stop this, right now!”

“I don’t think I will!” Kai raises his voice, moving closer and tipping the chair back. “And I don’t think you realize that I’m the one in control here.”

“If we’re in my head, then I’m the one in control.” Riki growls, letting the chains around him sink into his skin as he strains his muscles to break them.

But he can’t.

“I don’t think you see the point, Riki. While you’re here, all tied up and out of the game, I’ll be taking care of things from here.”

Riki reaches out with his hand to grab his neck but his hand is far from its mark. He feels blood trickle down his skin but that’s the least of his concerns. Kai lifts his chin, looking down his nose at the vampire.

“Demons have always been the superior creatures. Our downfall began with Soobin’s reign. But I intend to bring glory back to my realm. However, I need your little sorcerer to do that.”

“You stay away from Seonwoo.”

“Don’t worry, Seonwoo won’t even realize what he’s doing.”

“He’ll know it’s not me!”

“Oh, no, he won’t! I have all of your memories in the palm of my hand, Riki! And that sorcerer will do as I say or you two will never see each other again! And that’s a promise!”

Kai brings his fist back before punching Riki.

“Don’t-“

Another punch.

Kai doesn’t stop until Riki’s consciousness begins to slip. Kai leans down to his ear and chuckles.

“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure Seonwoo enjoys our new moments together. I know, for a fact, he has something to look forward to.”

Soobin takes the next piece of paper from Taehyun.

The fairy took it upon himself to keep the demon king company since all the reports have to be read and considered. It’s boring and exhausting, Taehyun’s bottom hurts from sitting for hours. Yet Soobin shows no signs of tiredness.

“Soobin, can we take a break?” Taehyun pouts, holding tightly onto a report when Soobin reaches out to take it.

Soobin laughs at him. “Tired already?”

“We’ve been here for four consecutive days! My eyes hurt!”

“Okay, okay, let’s go outside.” Soobin takes his hand and they make their way to the balcony.

Taehyun takes in a deep breath and closes his eyes. “Finally.”

Soobin rolls his eyes. “I told you to go with your friends yesterday.”

“As if I’d leave you here all alone.” Taehyun says without looking at him.

Soobin can’t help but stare, wondering how he deserved someone like Taehyun to care about him like this. It’s always something small like making sure he’s not in the office for too long or that goes to bed earlier. Well, he can’t deny that going to bed with Taehyun is something he’d ever oppose since sleeping has nothing to do with it.

He steps behind Taehyun and wraps his arms around him, his chin easily resting on the top of his head.

“I think Wooyoung will blame me for that.”

“Wooyoung will blame you for everything from the moment you kidnapped me.”

“Yeah, well, he has no idea that was the smartest thing I’ve ever done.”

Taehyun smiles, nudging him playfully. “It was. So, you should refrain from giving me headaches and listen to me when I tell you things.”

“I do listen. What are you talking about?” Soobin mumbles but knows that Taehyun has a pile of evidence when the demon barely processed his advice or even an attempted order.

Before the fairy can provide all those evidence, Soobin holds him tighter against the fence.

The ground begins to shake and a terrifying sound is heard. Soobin recognizes the wail of Mt Gore and turns to look in shock. Black smoke comes out of it and at the tip he can see lava beginning to spill over the edge.

“Soobin?! What is going on?!” Taehyun yells, eyes unable to move from the mountain.

“I don’t... know.” Soobin’s voice is a whisper, swallowed by the mountain’s wails still echoing around him.

Why is it erupting?

He’s the only one who can break the seal, so why?

“We have to get everyone to safety!” Taehyun is the one who yells, grabbing his hand and dragging him inside. “Soobin, move!”

Taehyun can’t feel it. The betrayal Soobin can feel from the one creation that’s only supposed to answer to his call. No written document or an orally passed information among the previous kings mentions anything else about the mountain’s activation other than the king’s words.

When he blinks he’s in the hallway, the guards running up to the two of them.

“Gather everyone at the gate! I’ll open a portal for everyone to leave!” Taehyun says and Soobin watches him. “Leave everything! We have no time to bring anything but our lives! Go, hurry!”

The guards look at him for a moment but they move even before he nods in approval.

Soobin takes his hand and Taehyun looks at him with those wide eyes that he’s grown to love so much.

“You go with them.”

“You are not going to that mountain!” Taehyun moves closer to him, eyes shining as he all but growls the words between his teeth. “We are leaving together!”

“I have to know what happened to it. This isn’t allowed to happen without my order.”

“We’ll come back later!”

“There might not be anything here if we come back.”

“Then at least we’ll be alive! Don’t go, Soobin!” Taehyun holds tightly onto his hands. “Please, don’t leave me.”

Soobin hugs him, placing a firm kiss against his forehead.

He knows that he has minutes or less. Whatever started the eruption might be strong and capable enough to keep him in the heart of it forever. He wouldn’t go but he can only have the answer there.

“I’m sorry.” Soobin closes his eyes tightly, not wanting to look into Taehyun’s eyes again. He knows they’re full of tears and sadness and if those are the last things he sees... then he won’t look.

“I love you.”

Taehyun stands in the hallway, fists clenched around nothing. Without Soobin to lean onto, he reaches out to lean against the wall, feeling his chest burning with sudden pain as if Soobin took something from him.

“Your Highness! The castle is being evacuated!”

Soonyoung is by his side and helping him stand without him even processing the demon’s words. He’s lead away by him, down the familiar halls and stairs. They merge with other demons heading to the main gate and Soonyoung tries to protect him as much as he can.

“Your Highness, you have to open the portal now.”

Taehyun wipes his tears away and looks up, watching all the wide and teary eyes staring back at him, children scared and clinging onto their parents. He steps forward, arm almost moving on its own and easily four portals are opened.

It’s the most he can do and even this is done on borrowed energy from Taehyung. He has no idea how long they will remain.

“Hurry! We don’t have time!” Taehyun yells.

Saving Soobin’s people has to be his focus. He can’t sit and cry. It’s only with his belief in Taehyun’s abilities that he’s gone to see what went wrong with the mountain. It doesn’t calm Taehyun’s heart at all, but it occupies his thoughts for long enough to get the people to safety.

Soobin’s standing  few steps away from the seal.

There’s almost nothing left of it.

But between him and the seal stands a young man, unfamiliar to Soobin.

“King Soobin. You’re a bit late.”

“What have you done?!”

The stranger chuckles. “More importantly, how?”

“Who are you?!”

“I come from a realm that’s not familiar to you. Or to anyone, really. You see, this mountain used to be a part of it. And I think it’s only within my right to be able to use it.”

Soobin doesn’t speak, realizing that this man didn’t come here to answer questions. He came to tell something.

“This mountain hides something precious.” The man moves closer to the edge and looks down. “My weapon.”

“I don’t have time for your lesson! Leave my realm this instant!”

The man holds his hand out, over the edge and something explodes. To Soobin’s shock, a big sword comes flying into the man’s hand. He looks at it in wonder.

“I’m actually here to help, king Soobin. For you will need every weapon available if you wish to win the battle.”

“What battle?!”

The man moves closer and Soobin watches him carefully, anticipating an attack. But the man sighs and looks at the ground for a moment, gathering his thoughts.

“There’s a darkness coming and taking over all realms. We cannot fight it as we are. But we can try.”

“You’re nothing but a lunatic.” Soobin growls.

“Perhaps. But I’m sure none of your predecessors would agree. After all, I did advise them as well as Hwa Himself ordered me to.”

“What?”

The man smirks, noticing that he got his attention.

“Yes. You call me Han.”

Seonwoo jumps when he hears glass shatter across the kitchen floor. He peeks inside to see Minho looking down at the shards but his eyes are wide and distant, as if he’s watching something horrifying.

“Hyung?” Seonwoo whispers carefully, scared that something might be happening to him.

Minho opens his mouth to speak but nothing comes out. Somehow, he peels his eyes off the floor and looks at Seonwoo.

“Hm?”

“Uh, are you all right?” Seonwoo slowly approaches him. He squats down to pick up the shards and Minho quickly follows him.

“Yeah, uh... I just... I thought I felt something for a moment.”

“Something?”

Minho nods. “Yes. Don’t worry, this happens occasionally. It’s nothing to worry over.”

“Okay.” Seonwoo mumbles but he’ll definitely be asking Beomgyu about Minho’s sudden episode.

The door closes and Seonwoo stands up to take a look. He smiles widely when he sees Riki.

“Riki! You’re back.”

The vampire smiles as he makes his way towards him, pulling him into a tight hug that makes Seonwoo laugh.

“Oh, you missed me so much?” Seonwoo teases him but Riki nods with a smirk.

“Oh you have no idea.”

“All right, you need to take that outside before I throw something.” Minho rolls his eyes at the two of them.

Seonwoo takes Riki’s hand and pulls him away from the kitchen and into the living room.

“So, did you see anyone in the vampire realm? I haven’t seen Jeongwon in so long.”

Riki hums as they sit down, only watching how Seonwoo doesn’t sit too close to him and lets go of his hand. He can’t help but smirk as he realizes how much of a coward Riki is. The sorcerer busies himself with a small crystal that Beomgyu gave him that can absorb magic and they can release it later into the realm.

“Jeongwon wasn’t in the realm. I just checked up on Heesung and Jake.”

“Oh. Well, Jeongwon is making big changes right now. Makes sense that he’s away.”

Kai’s displeasure almost entirely shows on Riki’s face but the sorcerer is too busy with the crystal to notice it. That vampire and his friends are just like Soobin. He’ll get his revenge on everyone responsible for the time he’s forced to live in right now.

Beomgyu comes inside the house, with Yeonjun in tow. Beomgyu halts at the door, eyes zeroing on Riki for a moment, and Kai worries that he can sense him within.

“Riki, I’m so glad you’re back! Seonwoo was so worried!”

Seonwoo immediately makes a face at him but they all laugh, Kai sighs in relief. He takes the boy’s hand and smiles, enjoying the screaming he can hear in his head, coming from the deepest parts of it.

Riki isn’t satisfied with the sight before him but Kai is enjoying way too much. In fact, he might even do something worse just to stun him into silence.

“Seonwoo, we could go somewhere tonight.” Kai proposes.

“Really? Where?” The boy glances at him.

Kai smirks. “Don’t worry. You’ll love it.”

Chapter Text

Thank you everyone for reading and leaving kudos, as well as commenting and asking for more!!! <3 

I'm sorry for taking my sweet time but it's here.

The first chapter was written ages ago, deleted, written again a few hundred times and since I worked on two laptops, there are two entirely different version of the way the first chapter dictates the story. I liked this one more and added a few parts from the other one and decided to publish it now.

I'm sorry again, but the plan is to write and end it in the oncoming week since I'm on vacation!

Thank you for waiting and enjoy the sequel <3 <3<3

XOXO, Truly yours

Me :)