Of Blood and Brooms - Chapter Ten
Of Blood and Brooms
Chapter Ten
The smell of blood and death hung like a thick fog in the air of the house. He could smell it without breathing and his lip curled up at the scent of it. It was dark, all the windows having been covered with heavy curtains to fight off the sunlight during the day, but with his sharp eyesight he could still make out the dark splotches on the wall and floors. Very likely all that remained of the house’s previous tenants and their neighbors.
“I would lecture you about entering a house unwelcome,” Seungri drawled from the chair he was lounging in with one leg hanging over the armrest, “but that would be improper.”
“Especially since you are in my territory uninvited,” Heechul replied, seemingly unbothered. Kibum stood slightly behind him to his right and Yesung behind and to his left, neither moving.
“But it is so very good to see you again Heechul,” Seungri joked, “Especially when you have decided to appear as the thing that you truly are.
Heechul snorted, ignoring the attempt to get a rise out of him. While it was true that he and his children spent most of their time trying to appear human, that hardly meant they didn’t have more than enough vampiric strength at their disposal. “I am here to give you your one and only warning. You have overstayed your welcome in my territory and I hereby order you to leave it.”
He felt the brush Seungri’s mind against his own, then against each of his children’s. When the vampire could get no farther than the surface he smirked. “I’m not certain I care to listen to your orders any longer,” he mused. He lifted his right hand and flicked his fingers.
From the shadows vampires began to move forward. Heechul smelled them before he saw them, the scent of human death and blood clinging to each one. As they moved forward, their movements lacking the fluid grace that was characteristic of their kind, his children shifted, ready to meet the threat.
“Someone has been breaking humans,” Heechul snarled, not taking his eyes from Seungri. He didn’t need to reach into any of the minds of the vampires to understand what had happened to them. Each one still had the lingering scent of humanity clinging to them as newly changed vampires did, but instead of smelling sweat and attractive as Taemin did, these seemed foul and out of place.
Seungri waved his hand flippantly as seventeen of his children surrounded the three. “I don’t want friends, I want Children. True Children.”
“A true Child makes the choice for themselves,” Heechul snapped.
“No,” Seungri’s grin widened, “a true Child is obedient to the wishes of its Maker, no matter what they are.”
Heechul waited until the first of the abominations shifted forward before he leapt towards Seungri. In midair one of the new creatures collided with him, sending him back the other direction. She smelled much like the house had likely smelled before the invasion and he spared a moment of pity for the now dead former owner of the home before he grasped her head with one hand and her shoulder with enough force and pulled.
Dropping her still form to the ground, he whirled to both of his children being overrun by the creatures. Kibum snarled as he tore an arm off one of the creatures and whirled to punch another with enough force that his fist went directly through it. A third leapt on his back and managed to sink its fangs into his shoulder before Kibum reached behind him and tore it from him along with a piece of his own shoulder.
Yesung was fairing only marginally better, worrisome since his particular Talent made it very hard for him to lose a battle. The creatures were simply overwhelming and Heechul snarled as he intercepted one in mid leap for his Children. He didn’t bother to deal with it, simply casting it off with enough force that it flew through a wall.
A brush against his mind sent his attention back to the smirking Seungri and allowed one of the creatures to sink it’s fangs into his neck. It was removed a second later by a snarling Yesung and another instantly leapt to take its place. The creatures fought like wild animals with only the goal of destruction and feeding in their mind. Despite the years of experience and skill, Heechul and his Children were no match for the unpredictable nature of the creatures coupled with their sheer numbers.
Yesung released a snarl of anger and pain, and Heechul whirled just in time to watch a deep gash be torn into his side. They were losing, and as harsh as the reality was that he may cease to exist, it was all the more frightening that he might lose his Children.
Heechul lunged for Yesung, tearing the creatures from him and pulling his Child to himself, using his body as a shield to protect his broken form. His eyes found Kibum next, across the room, struggling beneath four of the creatures. Heechul’s speed could bring him there, easily, but he didn’t know if it would be possible for him to help Kibum and protect Yesung at the same time. A cry left his throat, first of anguish and then morphing into something of anger as his eyes fell upon Seungri’s smirking form.
“I’ll kill you,” he snarled, grabbing the nearest creature with one hand and hurling it in the direction of the vampire. It was easily intercepted by another and thrown aside like trash.
“Really? I think you have grown weak and frail in your old age,” Seungri taunted.
‘Leave me,’ Yesung’s voice was weak in his mind. For a split second he considered it, but laying down his Child so that he could deal with the vampire, would mean that there would be nothing left to return to. Yesung would be torn apart by the creatures lingering just out of reach.
All at once the creatures shifted and he felt another vampire appear as if from nowhere. Before he could do anything about it, he felt Kibum reach out to the new mind and place within it a powerful desire to leave. A hand fell on his shoulder and the last thing he saw was Kibum grinning at him, before he was pulled through space.
▪▫▪☼▪▫▪
“Taemin?” he called softly.
“Something isn’t right,” the young vampire muttered as he moved from one end of the giant chamber where Heechul accepted his guests to the other. His movements were almost too fast for Jonghyun’s human sight to follow.
“I’m sure everything is fine,” Jonghyun tried to reassure him. He had never seen the new vampire quite like this. While he knew the changes that were occurring in Taemin’s body, he had never, for reasons he couldn’t phantom, expected to see his friend appear so much like something caught between a human and a vampire. Taemin still breathed like a human and carried himself as a human did, yet the red eyes and fangs were nearly always present now and gave him away for what he was becoming. The power with which his friend had begun to move was frightening.
“No something is wrong. I can feel it,” Taemin responded. Then as if realizing he was not making any sense he tried to clarify. “It’s like I can feel him inside my head. Something isn’t right. He feels distressed.”
Jonghyun didn’t know what to say to that and any response he might have made was torn from his lips as Taemin’s arm wrapped around his waist and jerked him backwards off his feet. Before his mind was able to process what was occurring, there was a hiss and three vampires appeared where he had been standing. He recognized them immediately and would have moved forward if the arm around his waist hadn’t stopped him with its inhuman strength.
Upon farther inspection he found the vampires to look more like the creatures he had feared in his memories than the exquisite wonders he had come to appreciate them to be. Heechul was covered in blood looking feral with the gory remains of a vampire that could only be Yesung in his arms. The female vampire, Sooyoung he seemed to remember her name being, dropped to her knees before her Master.
Heechul struck like a snake, sinking his fangs into her neck, his throat working immediately to swallow the blood that flowed forth. The careful feeding that he had always witnessed seemed even more gentle in the face of the raw hunger of the Master vampire, and he whimpered in fear before he could stop himself.
Heechul’s eyes snapped up, immediately finding him, and the animalistic look of hunger set fear curling in his belly. Taemin growled low in his throat, and for a moment Jonghyun stiffened against his long time friend. Then Taemin was shifting, shielding him from Heechul’s gaze and growling at his Maker.
The vampire watched them for a moment longer before he turned his attention back to the two in front of him. He pulled back from her neck and she moved back, kneeling with her head bowed as if waiting for instructions. Heechul tore into his own wrist, then immediately pressed the fresh wound to Yesung’s unmoving lips. It took a long moment but the broken vampire weakly raised his hand and his throat began working to swallow. They stayed locked like that, the vampire weakly drinking and Heechul hunched over him protectively. It took a moment, but slowly the gaping wounds on Yesung’s body began to close.
After what seemed like an eternity, Yesung released his Maker’s wrist and hung limply in his arms. “Leave,” Heechul growled and Sooyoung disappeared without a word. Heechul rose, cradling the limp form of the vampire in his arms. “Taemin,” he called, his voice rough, “Bring Ryeowook and come to my room.” Without saying another word, he turned and walked from the room, his pace much slower than normal.
Taemin waited until he was gone before speaking. “Shh, I won’t hurt you,” he cooed. Only after he had spoken, did Jonghyun realize he was trembling in his friend’s arms.
“Sorry,” he murmured, closing his eyes and trying to calm his breathing. Taemin was a solid presence behind him and he hated that he was drawing strength from the young man when, as the elder person, he was supposed to have protected him.
“Was that what I looked like?” Taemin asked softly.
“Worse,” Jonghyun whispered, trying and failing to erase the image of Taemin’s broken body from his mind.
“I’m sorry,” Taemin told him earnestly.
“It’s not your fault,” Jonghyun mumbled.
“Thank you for staying with me all this time.”
“I’m glad I did,” Jonghyun realized that it was true a second after he said it. If he hadn’t stayed, who knew where they all would have ended up. Likely not together.
“Let me take you to your room,” Taemin offered. Jonghyun couldn’t find it in him to protest as Taemin gathered him into his arms and carried him from the room.
▪▫▪☼▪▫▪
“It looks worse than it is,” Taemin cautioned softly. “Remember that he isn’t human.”
“I know,” Ryeowook responded, trying to prepare himself for what he might see. He knew that anything he was feeling could upset the vampire more than he already was, and he tried to rein his emotions back into his control.
He recognized the interior of Heechul’s personal chambers, having been within them once or twice himself. If Heechul had brought Yesung here, than it had to be much worse than Taemin had originally let on. Taemin knocked lightly on the door and waited for something that only he could hear before pushing it open.
Inside Heechul was leaning against the headboard of his bed, Yesung spread on top of him. A distressed noise left Ryeowook’s throat at the sight of the blood covering the vampire. One arm was twisted at an impossible angle, leaving him to wonder if it had nearly been unattached. A huge line, now red and angry, ran from above one eye through the other, and down over his cheeks. His clothing was torn and so matted with blood that he had no idea what was fresh and what had already healed.
He moved to take a step forward, to go to the vampire, but he found his feet wouldn’t listen to him. Heechul could do that, he had heard and he turned a glare on the vampire, fighting against his hold.
There was a pitiful whine from the direction of the bed and Heechul’s voice snapped in his mind, ‘Stop fighting me. You are upsetting him and he will hurt himself.’
Ryeowook didn’t have the strength to argue when he gazed into the one glowing red eye, seeing more of a creature than the man he knew and loved. ‘He needs blood,’ Heechul said, the voice in his mind gentle now that he had stopped fighting. ‘Yours will be the best for him, give him the most strength.’
‘He can have every drop,’ Ryeowook thought, knowing that Heechul would hear him.
‘He will not take that much,’ there was approval in Heechul’s voice, ‘not from you, but this will not be like other feedings you have participated in.’
‘I don’t care,’ Ryeowook said fiercely.
‘Treat him as if he is a wild animal,’ Heechul warned. ‘With caution. I will not let him harm you.’
“He won’t hurt me,” Ryeowook was certain of that. Heechul said nothing and he found his limbs free to move once more. Slowly he walked forward and towards the bed. He got a knee on it before Yesung shifted, reaching out with his good arm and grabbing a hold of Ryeowook’s bicep. The move was slow enough that Ryeowook could have shifted out of the way, but he didn’t, choosing instead to follow the tug onto the bed. He didn’t want to lie on Yesung’s chest for fear of aggravating wounds farther, but the pull was insistent on getting him there.
He was ready for the press of fangs when it happened, sharper than normal, like knives sliding through his skin. He felt the first pull of blood leaving his body, minus the rush of pleasure that usually came with the feeding to mask the sensation. It didn’t matter to him. He could put up with any sort of pain, if it meant helping the vampire. “Yesung,” he murmured, petting the small clear patch of skin he could reach.
The arm hooked around him, holding him closer before everything tilted as Yesung rolled him onto his back and shifted on top of him. The pleasure started then, a slow curl deep inside of him, unlike anything he had felt before. The sensation of it and the reality of what he could have lost brought tears to his eyes. “Yesung,” he choked out, stifling a sob in the vampire’s shoulder as one hand tangled in the man’s hair and the other arm wrapped around his body, holding him close. Emotions bubbled inside him, his own and those of the vampire feeding from him. They swirled within him narrowing his world to just the two of them, until he couldn’t tell that anyone else was in the room. He never knew when Heechul silently rose from the bed, and left them to be together in peace.
▪▫▪☼▪▫▪
He could tell that his Maker was weak and in more pain than he was letting on as he sunk into the chair in the sitting room. “Taemin,” he called his voice filled with so much emotional pain that it nearly overwhelmed the younger vampire. Immediately he was filling Heechul’s lap and being cradled close. Heechul was weak, in desperate need of blood, and he tilted his head in offer.
The fangs slid in smoothly, painlessly, as always, an arm lifting to pull him closer. Heechul had left with two of his children and had returned with one. Taemin didn’t have the courage to ask what had happened to Kibum, but he knew. Heechul would never abandon one of his children if there was a chance of saving him. For them to have returned without Kibum, it could have only meant one thing, and he wasn’t willing to think that. There was nothing he could do for his family. Nothing at all except to be there for Heechul.
He ran his fingers through his Maker’s hair, trying to give comfort where he was certain that he could provide none.
▪▫▪☼▪▫▪
“Minho?” Onew asked softly, awakened by the shift of the other young man’s body.
Fangs pieced his neck lightly, a motion so normal now that he didn’t even wince at the tiny speck of pain. ‘Something didn’t go well,’ he could feel the vampire’s distress in his mind as if it were his own. ‘I smell so much blood and my Master feels distressed.’ Minho was still trying to get used to the new bond between Heechul and himself and it seemed to, more often than not, allow him to know some things and have no idea about others.
“I’m sure everything is alright,” Onew tried to reassure him, stroking a hand down his arm comfortingly. “If it wasn’t they would have come to get us or Hankyung would at the very least.” His words, despite how uncertain he even was of their validity, seemed to calm the young vampire.
‘I thought Hankyung wanted nothing to do with you any longer,’ Minho asked, more curious than anything.
“I think he swore a magical oath to my mom to protect me and whatnot. I’m pretty sure that some strange vampire attacking and killing or simply carrying us off would require his protection,” Onew mused.
‘He will not have you,’ Minho growled with ferocity that still stunned him.
“I’m not worried about it at all,” Onew agreed, turning so that he could face the vampire. He wiggled until he had a leg hooked over Minho’s hips and was fit snuggly to his chest.
Minho nudged his head sideways so that he could get access to the still oozing bite mark and lick it closed. ‘Love you,’ Minho murmured.
“I love you too,” Onew hummed, closing his eyes and settling in. In truth he was very worried about the creature who had tried to destroy his world, but the last thing he wanted to do was put more stress on Minho who was just figuring out how to return to himself. Instead he would gladly bear all of the worry alone if it would help Minho in any way remember what it was to be human.
Minho kissed his nose affectionately, before tucking him securely against his chest. With a sigh Onew closed his eyes, and allowed himself to drift off to the sound of the vampire’s purr.
▪▫▪☼▪▫▪
‘This marks the fifth day since the disappearances began and investigations still have produced no results. With over twenty missing, people have begun leaving town to relatives’ houses,’ the announcer on the television declared.
“Turn that shit off,” he heard Kangin growl as he prowled by the living room and into the kitchen. Leeteuk was glad that he was well used to the Alpha by now and it hardly bothered him when Kangin marched up to him, shoved him against the refrigerator with a less than gentle push, and plastered himself against Leeteuk’s front, kissing him passionately. Leeteuk melted into it, allowing Kangin to dominate him in every way he wanted and carefully reaching out to place the glass he had been washing on the counter beside them.
Kangin was restless, even more so since he was taking the fear and aggression from the rest of the pack and bottling it himself so as to keep them calm. It was his duty as an Alpha, Leeteuk knew, and he needed the outlet of his mate.
“Damn it,” Kangin growled, pulling away. Angrily he slammed his fist into the appliance just beside Leeteuk’s head. Judging by the crunch he heard, Leeteuk added ‘new refrigerator’ to his mental shopping list. “I know better than this. I swore never to treat you like this.”
“Youngwoon,” he purred, resisting the urge to touch the man. “A year ago I would have agreed with you, but I am your mate and I find your displays of carefully controlled aggression impressive and a powerful turn on,” he said frankly. “You won’t hurt me, and there is nothing you can do to change that knowledge in me.” He tilted his head to the side exposing his throat in submission to the man.
A growl rumble through Kangin and he could feel the man’s arousal through their Mate Bond. “Jungsu,” his tone carried approval and he set his teeth against Leeteuk’s neck simply because he could. His pressure was light and the idea that a twitch of the powerful Alpha’s jaw muscle could kill him, sent a thrill through his body that surprised him. Of their own accord his hands lifted to Kangin’s sides as he moaned.
“Not a good idea,” Kangin growled, grasping his wrists firmly and lifting them over his head. “My control is shot.”
Leeteuk opened his eyes to see his mate’s golden ones staring back at him. He could feel the desire of both the man and Beast, powerful and equally possessive of him. It thrilled him more than he ever thought it would and his eyes fluttered shut as he hooked a leg around Kangin’s hips and rocked forward.
“Bitch,” Kangin growled, his voice more animalistic than Leeteuk had heard it in a long time, and he knew he was dealing with more Beast than man. “You are such a little slut aren’t you?”
“Only for you,” Leeteuk returned, knowing that his eyes had turned completely blue. He felt the hand down his pants before his mind registered the tear of fabric and he moaned, rocking into it uncaring.
“Hey, I found this on the doorstep. Who hand writes things anymore these days?” a voice commented as the young man walked into the kitchen. Then, as if he had just realized what he had just walked in on, he coughed nervously. “I’ll uh, leave this here for you.”
“Zhou mi,” Kangin growled not in aggression but relief, and Leeteuk could feel him sag against his body. The Quieter was possibly the only person in the entire world that could have walked into the room and not been killed for simply seeing them as they currently were.
“Come here,” Kangin ordered and Leeteuk felt the power of an Alpha wash over him. It wouldn’t have any effect on Zhou mi, since he seemed to be immune to those things, but the feel of it made him moan and his fingers clench into fists.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea,” the young man’s voice was hesitant.
Kangin wasn’t moving, clearly having trouble doing just what he was. “I need your calm. If I don’t get control I could kill Leeteuk.”
“You wouldn’t,” Leeteuk argued trying his best not to shift restlessly and whine for his mate.
“I think he is right,” Zhou mi agreed.
“Please,” there was a whine in Kangin’s voice that sent a chill through him. “Please Zhou mi. I already broke one of his wrists, please.”
Surprised, Leeteuk opened his eyes to stare at his mate. He hadn’t realized it before but now that Kangin had mentioned it, his right wrist seemed to be throbbing, but the pleasure zinging through his body had masked it as soon as it had happened. Gold and brown iris swirled with tears in Kangin’s eyes and tore at his heart.
“What can I do?” Zhou mi’s voice was near them, but Leeteuk couldn’t take his eyes off his mate to spare him a glance.
“Sing Peace for me,” Kangin whispered. Zhou mi, clearly needing no more encouragement, began to sing softly in a language they couldn’t understand. The words didn’t matter anyway, it was the power of a Quieter that swept over them, easing their Beasts to rest. “I’m so sorry,” Kangin murmured, lowering his wrist gently, “I should have had him stay here days ago, as soon as I realized something was working us up.”
“It’s alright,” Leeteuk tried to reassure him, “it will be healed tomorrow.” He dropped his leg from Kangin’s waist to steady himself as the Alpha stepped back. Only when there was distance between them and Kangin was cradling his broken wrist in both hands, did he realize that his body had calmed completely. Not only had the arousal faded, but his Beast had as well, curling quietly and restfully in the back of his mind.
“It looks like it is set fine. We should get a brace for it so it doesn’t heal crooked,” Kangin murmured.
Leeteuk could feel his distress through their bond and he reached out, pulling the werewolf close again. “You didn’t mean to,” he whispered in Kangin’s ear, “and I don’t mind. This stuff happens.”
“Not from me,” Kangin argued backing away again, clearly upset. “Never from me.”
“And that is why I love you. Youngwoon, you are man enough to control the Beast that would break me to make me mind and take me whether I want it or not. I love you, everything about you. I love the control that you have when you feel that you have none.”
“No,” he murmured, still staring at the slowly healing wrist.
“Youngwoon, look at me,” he ordered, dangerous not only in asking a werewolf to make eye contact but in giving an order to an Alpha as well. However, because it was Kangin, and possibly because their Beasts were being lulled to sleep, the werewolf lifted his eyes to look at him without issue. “I am your mate,” he said firmly. “I find it an incredible turn on when you let yourself go with me. You and your Beast are both mine and I want both of you equally. I would kill for you, and I would certainly die for you. I am not some fragile human that will break, not anymore. I am as much a werewolf as you and I can take a little bit of a beating every now and again.”
“I swore to you-”
“You swore you would never do what was done to me,” Leeteuk cut him off, “and breaking my wrist because we are desiring each other so much that you can’t keep your strength in check is hardly equal to beating and rape.”
“Jungsu,” Kangin murmured.
“Now I think we have traumatized Zhou mi enough for one afternoon. If you think you can behave yourself why don’t you go out and get me a new refrigerator,” Leeteuk suggested.
Kangin’s eyes flicked up to the appliance and the fresh dent in the front of it. Leeteuk felt a flash of guilt through their bond and he smothered it with amusement. “I’ve been wanting a new one anyway.” They had had the conversation just a week ago and Kangin had convinced him that they didn’t have a need to buy a brand new refrigerator, no matter how much Leeteuk had wanted one. He found it highly amusing that the Alpha was now responsible for their need of the appliance.
“Oh how I love you,” Kangin said softly, pressing a gentle kiss against his lips. “I’ll be back in a bit,” he said. Before he released Leeteuk’s injured wrist, he pressed a butterfly kiss to the skin above it very likely to show them both that he could be gentle and not cause any pain. Then he was gone from the kitchen and Leeteuk sighed.
“You can open your eyes,” he told Zhou mi after glancing to the red faced young man who was standing with his eyes clenched beside them. “Thank you.”
Zhou mi closed his mouth, cutting off the beautiful music. “I,” he began hesitantly, “I’m sorry for intruding.”
“Zhou mi,” Leeteuk scolded gently, “if you are going to be a part of a pack, seeing a mated pair making out is hardly the least you will be exposed to.” He frowned as he found he couldn’t move without holding his now torn pants up around his hips. “What did you find outside?” Leeteuk asked, trying to steer Zhou mi into more comfortable territory.
“Oh this,” Zhou mi offered him an envelope that appeared to be made out of old fashion parchment. Kangin’s full name was scrolled across the front of the envelope and its thickness made him curious as to what was within.
“You’ll have to open it for me,” Leeteuk reminded him gently, not bothering to elaborate.
“Are you sure? Maybe I should leave it here for Kangin,” Zhou mi offered.
“I’m sure. Kangin would tear it apart before he opened it. It was only because he was so distracted that he didn’t already,” Leeteuk informed him. “Use your nose Zhou mi. What does it smell like?”
Zhou mi sniffed hesitantly as if he was only just now paying attention to his other senses. It was a horrible habit that they had been trying to break him of. “It smells like blood and,” he paused as if trying to put words on it “kinda like a basement.”
“Very good,” Leeteuk murmured. “Where have you smelled that before?”
The Quieter shut his eyes, clearly taking the small lesson very seriously. “Wait,” he moved the letter closer and sniffed it again, “this smells like Heechul.”
“Very good,” Leeteuk repeated proudly. “Blood and stale earth are usually scents that go with a vampire but you were able to pick up Heechul’s unique scent.”
“So Kangin would have torn it up because it comes from vampires?” Zhou mi asked.
“No, because it comes from Heechul and they both act like children when it comes to one another,” Leeteuk rolled his eyes. “Open it for me please?”
Obediently Zhou mi flipped the envelope over and broke the wax seal. Inside were folded pieces of parchment that the Quieter carefully removed and then unfolded for him to read. Leeteuk’s eyes scanned the top page quickly and then he hummed. “Interesting.”
▪▫▪☼▪▫▪
Onew wondered just how long it would take him to get used to sitting beside Minho along the edge of the room, rather than being down in the center with his coven. It was a strange feeling, kneeling on a plush pillow yet knowing that he carried a great deal of power with his station. He had always thought that Pets were something like slaves and treated as such until he had met them. Although Ryeowook had changed his thoughts on the matter a good deal, he had never realized just what it meant to be a Pet to a vampire. He could say or do anything and Minho would back him, simply because of what he was to the vampire.
Around the room, the rest of the Pets sat beside their respective vampires, with the exception of Ryeowook who had shifted his cushion forward until he could easily lay his head on Yesung’s lap and curl a hand around the same leg. The action and the vampire’s hand in the human’s hair was so intimate that Onew couldn’t watch them for long without feeling as though he was intruding on something.
He shifted his gaze to the one other chair in the room, its station beside Heechul’s chair clearly displaying who was supposed to be there. Everyone in the room could feel how empty it was and knew what that absence meant. A Child of the Master was not absent from a meeting like this, not unless there was a very good reason.
In the center of the room stood Hankyung, dressed in black and his long coat likely hiding more weapons than he would ever know. Key, Jessica and Henry were behind him, looking a bit more apprehensive than he was, although Henry and Jessica had both taken the time to smile in Onew’s direction and offer a wave.
Beside them, set apart enough to display that they were clearly not together stood people who he had been told were werewolves. Leeteuk, one of his teachers was there, as he had expected, and so was Kyuhyun and Zhou mi. Another werewolf was with them, someone he didn’t recognize but standing to the left of the man that could only be their Alpha.
Heechul, sitting ridged in his chair with one hand in Taemin’s hair, gave everyone long enough to stand and ponder why they were here before he opened his mouth. “As each of you know, there is a matter that I have called you here to discuss today. One of my children has been taken from me.”
“This is a vampire problem and no concern of mine,” the Alpha growled.
The Master vampire’s gaze shifted to the Alpha, a dangerous move since a direct gaze would certainly be seen as a challenge for dominance. “I’m certain you have felt it Alpha, the unrest in your pack, echoing the unrest of the humans. Something isn’t right in our territory and you know it.”
“Again vampire, your problem not ours.”
Heechul’s mouth twisted and he turned his gaze towards Hankyung, ending the impromptu staring contest. It wasn’t surrender, mere deference for another time, and Onew understood that Heechul had lost nothing by breaking off his gaze. “I’m certain that you are aware of the treaty by which we coexist peacefully. This is a threat to all of us and our very way of life, as such I invoke the last clause of that treaty.”
Chapter Eleven
Masterlist
AN: Hehe I would appologize for the cliff hanger, but at the same time I'm pretty proud of it. Now the fun starts. ^^ Thanks to my lovely beta who works so hard to make sure these things are understandable for you all!
Chapter Ten
The smell of blood and death hung like a thick fog in the air of the house. He could smell it without breathing and his lip curled up at the scent of it. It was dark, all the windows having been covered with heavy curtains to fight off the sunlight during the day, but with his sharp eyesight he could still make out the dark splotches on the wall and floors. Very likely all that remained of the house’s previous tenants and their neighbors.
“I would lecture you about entering a house unwelcome,” Seungri drawled from the chair he was lounging in with one leg hanging over the armrest, “but that would be improper.”
“Especially since you are in my territory uninvited,” Heechul replied, seemingly unbothered. Kibum stood slightly behind him to his right and Yesung behind and to his left, neither moving.
“But it is so very good to see you again Heechul,” Seungri joked, “Especially when you have decided to appear as the thing that you truly are.
Heechul snorted, ignoring the attempt to get a rise out of him. While it was true that he and his children spent most of their time trying to appear human, that hardly meant they didn’t have more than enough vampiric strength at their disposal. “I am here to give you your one and only warning. You have overstayed your welcome in my territory and I hereby order you to leave it.”
He felt the brush Seungri’s mind against his own, then against each of his children’s. When the vampire could get no farther than the surface he smirked. “I’m not certain I care to listen to your orders any longer,” he mused. He lifted his right hand and flicked his fingers.
From the shadows vampires began to move forward. Heechul smelled them before he saw them, the scent of human death and blood clinging to each one. As they moved forward, their movements lacking the fluid grace that was characteristic of their kind, his children shifted, ready to meet the threat.
“Someone has been breaking humans,” Heechul snarled, not taking his eyes from Seungri. He didn’t need to reach into any of the minds of the vampires to understand what had happened to them. Each one still had the lingering scent of humanity clinging to them as newly changed vampires did, but instead of smelling sweat and attractive as Taemin did, these seemed foul and out of place.
Seungri waved his hand flippantly as seventeen of his children surrounded the three. “I don’t want friends, I want Children. True Children.”
“A true Child makes the choice for themselves,” Heechul snapped.
“No,” Seungri’s grin widened, “a true Child is obedient to the wishes of its Maker, no matter what they are.”
Heechul waited until the first of the abominations shifted forward before he leapt towards Seungri. In midair one of the new creatures collided with him, sending him back the other direction. She smelled much like the house had likely smelled before the invasion and he spared a moment of pity for the now dead former owner of the home before he grasped her head with one hand and her shoulder with enough force and pulled.
Dropping her still form to the ground, he whirled to both of his children being overrun by the creatures. Kibum snarled as he tore an arm off one of the creatures and whirled to punch another with enough force that his fist went directly through it. A third leapt on his back and managed to sink its fangs into his shoulder before Kibum reached behind him and tore it from him along with a piece of his own shoulder.
Yesung was fairing only marginally better, worrisome since his particular Talent made it very hard for him to lose a battle. The creatures were simply overwhelming and Heechul snarled as he intercepted one in mid leap for his Children. He didn’t bother to deal with it, simply casting it off with enough force that it flew through a wall.
A brush against his mind sent his attention back to the smirking Seungri and allowed one of the creatures to sink it’s fangs into his neck. It was removed a second later by a snarling Yesung and another instantly leapt to take its place. The creatures fought like wild animals with only the goal of destruction and feeding in their mind. Despite the years of experience and skill, Heechul and his Children were no match for the unpredictable nature of the creatures coupled with their sheer numbers.
Yesung released a snarl of anger and pain, and Heechul whirled just in time to watch a deep gash be torn into his side. They were losing, and as harsh as the reality was that he may cease to exist, it was all the more frightening that he might lose his Children.
Heechul lunged for Yesung, tearing the creatures from him and pulling his Child to himself, using his body as a shield to protect his broken form. His eyes found Kibum next, across the room, struggling beneath four of the creatures. Heechul’s speed could bring him there, easily, but he didn’t know if it would be possible for him to help Kibum and protect Yesung at the same time. A cry left his throat, first of anguish and then morphing into something of anger as his eyes fell upon Seungri’s smirking form.
“I’ll kill you,” he snarled, grabbing the nearest creature with one hand and hurling it in the direction of the vampire. It was easily intercepted by another and thrown aside like trash.
“Really? I think you have grown weak and frail in your old age,” Seungri taunted.
‘Leave me,’ Yesung’s voice was weak in his mind. For a split second he considered it, but laying down his Child so that he could deal with the vampire, would mean that there would be nothing left to return to. Yesung would be torn apart by the creatures lingering just out of reach.
All at once the creatures shifted and he felt another vampire appear as if from nowhere. Before he could do anything about it, he felt Kibum reach out to the new mind and place within it a powerful desire to leave. A hand fell on his shoulder and the last thing he saw was Kibum grinning at him, before he was pulled through space.
▪▫▪☼▪▫▪
“Taemin?” he called softly.
“Something isn’t right,” the young vampire muttered as he moved from one end of the giant chamber where Heechul accepted his guests to the other. His movements were almost too fast for Jonghyun’s human sight to follow.
“I’m sure everything is fine,” Jonghyun tried to reassure him. He had never seen the new vampire quite like this. While he knew the changes that were occurring in Taemin’s body, he had never, for reasons he couldn’t phantom, expected to see his friend appear so much like something caught between a human and a vampire. Taemin still breathed like a human and carried himself as a human did, yet the red eyes and fangs were nearly always present now and gave him away for what he was becoming. The power with which his friend had begun to move was frightening.
“No something is wrong. I can feel it,” Taemin responded. Then as if realizing he was not making any sense he tried to clarify. “It’s like I can feel him inside my head. Something isn’t right. He feels distressed.”
Jonghyun didn’t know what to say to that and any response he might have made was torn from his lips as Taemin’s arm wrapped around his waist and jerked him backwards off his feet. Before his mind was able to process what was occurring, there was a hiss and three vampires appeared where he had been standing. He recognized them immediately and would have moved forward if the arm around his waist hadn’t stopped him with its inhuman strength.
Upon farther inspection he found the vampires to look more like the creatures he had feared in his memories than the exquisite wonders he had come to appreciate them to be. Heechul was covered in blood looking feral with the gory remains of a vampire that could only be Yesung in his arms. The female vampire, Sooyoung he seemed to remember her name being, dropped to her knees before her Master.
Heechul struck like a snake, sinking his fangs into her neck, his throat working immediately to swallow the blood that flowed forth. The careful feeding that he had always witnessed seemed even more gentle in the face of the raw hunger of the Master vampire, and he whimpered in fear before he could stop himself.
Heechul’s eyes snapped up, immediately finding him, and the animalistic look of hunger set fear curling in his belly. Taemin growled low in his throat, and for a moment Jonghyun stiffened against his long time friend. Then Taemin was shifting, shielding him from Heechul’s gaze and growling at his Maker.
The vampire watched them for a moment longer before he turned his attention back to the two in front of him. He pulled back from her neck and she moved back, kneeling with her head bowed as if waiting for instructions. Heechul tore into his own wrist, then immediately pressed the fresh wound to Yesung’s unmoving lips. It took a long moment but the broken vampire weakly raised his hand and his throat began working to swallow. They stayed locked like that, the vampire weakly drinking and Heechul hunched over him protectively. It took a moment, but slowly the gaping wounds on Yesung’s body began to close.
After what seemed like an eternity, Yesung released his Maker’s wrist and hung limply in his arms. “Leave,” Heechul growled and Sooyoung disappeared without a word. Heechul rose, cradling the limp form of the vampire in his arms. “Taemin,” he called, his voice rough, “Bring Ryeowook and come to my room.” Without saying another word, he turned and walked from the room, his pace much slower than normal.
Taemin waited until he was gone before speaking. “Shh, I won’t hurt you,” he cooed. Only after he had spoken, did Jonghyun realize he was trembling in his friend’s arms.
“Sorry,” he murmured, closing his eyes and trying to calm his breathing. Taemin was a solid presence behind him and he hated that he was drawing strength from the young man when, as the elder person, he was supposed to have protected him.
“Was that what I looked like?” Taemin asked softly.
“Worse,” Jonghyun whispered, trying and failing to erase the image of Taemin’s broken body from his mind.
“I’m sorry,” Taemin told him earnestly.
“It’s not your fault,” Jonghyun mumbled.
“Thank you for staying with me all this time.”
“I’m glad I did,” Jonghyun realized that it was true a second after he said it. If he hadn’t stayed, who knew where they all would have ended up. Likely not together.
“Let me take you to your room,” Taemin offered. Jonghyun couldn’t find it in him to protest as Taemin gathered him into his arms and carried him from the room.
▪▫▪☼▪▫▪
“It looks worse than it is,” Taemin cautioned softly. “Remember that he isn’t human.”
“I know,” Ryeowook responded, trying to prepare himself for what he might see. He knew that anything he was feeling could upset the vampire more than he already was, and he tried to rein his emotions back into his control.
He recognized the interior of Heechul’s personal chambers, having been within them once or twice himself. If Heechul had brought Yesung here, than it had to be much worse than Taemin had originally let on. Taemin knocked lightly on the door and waited for something that only he could hear before pushing it open.
Inside Heechul was leaning against the headboard of his bed, Yesung spread on top of him. A distressed noise left Ryeowook’s throat at the sight of the blood covering the vampire. One arm was twisted at an impossible angle, leaving him to wonder if it had nearly been unattached. A huge line, now red and angry, ran from above one eye through the other, and down over his cheeks. His clothing was torn and so matted with blood that he had no idea what was fresh and what had already healed.
He moved to take a step forward, to go to the vampire, but he found his feet wouldn’t listen to him. Heechul could do that, he had heard and he turned a glare on the vampire, fighting against his hold.
There was a pitiful whine from the direction of the bed and Heechul’s voice snapped in his mind, ‘Stop fighting me. You are upsetting him and he will hurt himself.’
Ryeowook didn’t have the strength to argue when he gazed into the one glowing red eye, seeing more of a creature than the man he knew and loved. ‘He needs blood,’ Heechul said, the voice in his mind gentle now that he had stopped fighting. ‘Yours will be the best for him, give him the most strength.’
‘He can have every drop,’ Ryeowook thought, knowing that Heechul would hear him.
‘He will not take that much,’ there was approval in Heechul’s voice, ‘not from you, but this will not be like other feedings you have participated in.’
‘I don’t care,’ Ryeowook said fiercely.
‘Treat him as if he is a wild animal,’ Heechul warned. ‘With caution. I will not let him harm you.’
“He won’t hurt me,” Ryeowook was certain of that. Heechul said nothing and he found his limbs free to move once more. Slowly he walked forward and towards the bed. He got a knee on it before Yesung shifted, reaching out with his good arm and grabbing a hold of Ryeowook’s bicep. The move was slow enough that Ryeowook could have shifted out of the way, but he didn’t, choosing instead to follow the tug onto the bed. He didn’t want to lie on Yesung’s chest for fear of aggravating wounds farther, but the pull was insistent on getting him there.
He was ready for the press of fangs when it happened, sharper than normal, like knives sliding through his skin. He felt the first pull of blood leaving his body, minus the rush of pleasure that usually came with the feeding to mask the sensation. It didn’t matter to him. He could put up with any sort of pain, if it meant helping the vampire. “Yesung,” he murmured, petting the small clear patch of skin he could reach.
The arm hooked around him, holding him closer before everything tilted as Yesung rolled him onto his back and shifted on top of him. The pleasure started then, a slow curl deep inside of him, unlike anything he had felt before. The sensation of it and the reality of what he could have lost brought tears to his eyes. “Yesung,” he choked out, stifling a sob in the vampire’s shoulder as one hand tangled in the man’s hair and the other arm wrapped around his body, holding him close. Emotions bubbled inside him, his own and those of the vampire feeding from him. They swirled within him narrowing his world to just the two of them, until he couldn’t tell that anyone else was in the room. He never knew when Heechul silently rose from the bed, and left them to be together in peace.
▪▫▪☼▪▫▪
He could tell that his Maker was weak and in more pain than he was letting on as he sunk into the chair in the sitting room. “Taemin,” he called his voice filled with so much emotional pain that it nearly overwhelmed the younger vampire. Immediately he was filling Heechul’s lap and being cradled close. Heechul was weak, in desperate need of blood, and he tilted his head in offer.
The fangs slid in smoothly, painlessly, as always, an arm lifting to pull him closer. Heechul had left with two of his children and had returned with one. Taemin didn’t have the courage to ask what had happened to Kibum, but he knew. Heechul would never abandon one of his children if there was a chance of saving him. For them to have returned without Kibum, it could have only meant one thing, and he wasn’t willing to think that. There was nothing he could do for his family. Nothing at all except to be there for Heechul.
He ran his fingers through his Maker’s hair, trying to give comfort where he was certain that he could provide none.
▪▫▪☼▪▫▪
“Minho?” Onew asked softly, awakened by the shift of the other young man’s body.
Fangs pieced his neck lightly, a motion so normal now that he didn’t even wince at the tiny speck of pain. ‘Something didn’t go well,’ he could feel the vampire’s distress in his mind as if it were his own. ‘I smell so much blood and my Master feels distressed.’ Minho was still trying to get used to the new bond between Heechul and himself and it seemed to, more often than not, allow him to know some things and have no idea about others.
“I’m sure everything is alright,” Onew tried to reassure him, stroking a hand down his arm comfortingly. “If it wasn’t they would have come to get us or Hankyung would at the very least.” His words, despite how uncertain he even was of their validity, seemed to calm the young vampire.
‘I thought Hankyung wanted nothing to do with you any longer,’ Minho asked, more curious than anything.
“I think he swore a magical oath to my mom to protect me and whatnot. I’m pretty sure that some strange vampire attacking and killing or simply carrying us off would require his protection,” Onew mused.
‘He will not have you,’ Minho growled with ferocity that still stunned him.
“I’m not worried about it at all,” Onew agreed, turning so that he could face the vampire. He wiggled until he had a leg hooked over Minho’s hips and was fit snuggly to his chest.
Minho nudged his head sideways so that he could get access to the still oozing bite mark and lick it closed. ‘Love you,’ Minho murmured.
“I love you too,” Onew hummed, closing his eyes and settling in. In truth he was very worried about the creature who had tried to destroy his world, but the last thing he wanted to do was put more stress on Minho who was just figuring out how to return to himself. Instead he would gladly bear all of the worry alone if it would help Minho in any way remember what it was to be human.
Minho kissed his nose affectionately, before tucking him securely against his chest. With a sigh Onew closed his eyes, and allowed himself to drift off to the sound of the vampire’s purr.
▪▫▪☼▪▫▪
‘This marks the fifth day since the disappearances began and investigations still have produced no results. With over twenty missing, people have begun leaving town to relatives’ houses,’ the announcer on the television declared.
“Turn that shit off,” he heard Kangin growl as he prowled by the living room and into the kitchen. Leeteuk was glad that he was well used to the Alpha by now and it hardly bothered him when Kangin marched up to him, shoved him against the refrigerator with a less than gentle push, and plastered himself against Leeteuk’s front, kissing him passionately. Leeteuk melted into it, allowing Kangin to dominate him in every way he wanted and carefully reaching out to place the glass he had been washing on the counter beside them.
Kangin was restless, even more so since he was taking the fear and aggression from the rest of the pack and bottling it himself so as to keep them calm. It was his duty as an Alpha, Leeteuk knew, and he needed the outlet of his mate.
“Damn it,” Kangin growled, pulling away. Angrily he slammed his fist into the appliance just beside Leeteuk’s head. Judging by the crunch he heard, Leeteuk added ‘new refrigerator’ to his mental shopping list. “I know better than this. I swore never to treat you like this.”
“Youngwoon,” he purred, resisting the urge to touch the man. “A year ago I would have agreed with you, but I am your mate and I find your displays of carefully controlled aggression impressive and a powerful turn on,” he said frankly. “You won’t hurt me, and there is nothing you can do to change that knowledge in me.” He tilted his head to the side exposing his throat in submission to the man.
A growl rumble through Kangin and he could feel the man’s arousal through their Mate Bond. “Jungsu,” his tone carried approval and he set his teeth against Leeteuk’s neck simply because he could. His pressure was light and the idea that a twitch of the powerful Alpha’s jaw muscle could kill him, sent a thrill through his body that surprised him. Of their own accord his hands lifted to Kangin’s sides as he moaned.
“Not a good idea,” Kangin growled, grasping his wrists firmly and lifting them over his head. “My control is shot.”
Leeteuk opened his eyes to see his mate’s golden ones staring back at him. He could feel the desire of both the man and Beast, powerful and equally possessive of him. It thrilled him more than he ever thought it would and his eyes fluttered shut as he hooked a leg around Kangin’s hips and rocked forward.
“Bitch,” Kangin growled, his voice more animalistic than Leeteuk had heard it in a long time, and he knew he was dealing with more Beast than man. “You are such a little slut aren’t you?”
“Only for you,” Leeteuk returned, knowing that his eyes had turned completely blue. He felt the hand down his pants before his mind registered the tear of fabric and he moaned, rocking into it uncaring.
“Hey, I found this on the doorstep. Who hand writes things anymore these days?” a voice commented as the young man walked into the kitchen. Then, as if he had just realized what he had just walked in on, he coughed nervously. “I’ll uh, leave this here for you.”
“Zhou mi,” Kangin growled not in aggression but relief, and Leeteuk could feel him sag against his body. The Quieter was possibly the only person in the entire world that could have walked into the room and not been killed for simply seeing them as they currently were.
“Come here,” Kangin ordered and Leeteuk felt the power of an Alpha wash over him. It wouldn’t have any effect on Zhou mi, since he seemed to be immune to those things, but the feel of it made him moan and his fingers clench into fists.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea,” the young man’s voice was hesitant.
Kangin wasn’t moving, clearly having trouble doing just what he was. “I need your calm. If I don’t get control I could kill Leeteuk.”
“You wouldn’t,” Leeteuk argued trying his best not to shift restlessly and whine for his mate.
“I think he is right,” Zhou mi agreed.
“Please,” there was a whine in Kangin’s voice that sent a chill through him. “Please Zhou mi. I already broke one of his wrists, please.”
Surprised, Leeteuk opened his eyes to stare at his mate. He hadn’t realized it before but now that Kangin had mentioned it, his right wrist seemed to be throbbing, but the pleasure zinging through his body had masked it as soon as it had happened. Gold and brown iris swirled with tears in Kangin’s eyes and tore at his heart.
“What can I do?” Zhou mi’s voice was near them, but Leeteuk couldn’t take his eyes off his mate to spare him a glance.
“Sing Peace for me,” Kangin whispered. Zhou mi, clearly needing no more encouragement, began to sing softly in a language they couldn’t understand. The words didn’t matter anyway, it was the power of a Quieter that swept over them, easing their Beasts to rest. “I’m so sorry,” Kangin murmured, lowering his wrist gently, “I should have had him stay here days ago, as soon as I realized something was working us up.”
“It’s alright,” Leeteuk tried to reassure him, “it will be healed tomorrow.” He dropped his leg from Kangin’s waist to steady himself as the Alpha stepped back. Only when there was distance between them and Kangin was cradling his broken wrist in both hands, did he realize that his body had calmed completely. Not only had the arousal faded, but his Beast had as well, curling quietly and restfully in the back of his mind.
“It looks like it is set fine. We should get a brace for it so it doesn’t heal crooked,” Kangin murmured.
Leeteuk could feel his distress through their bond and he reached out, pulling the werewolf close again. “You didn’t mean to,” he whispered in Kangin’s ear, “and I don’t mind. This stuff happens.”
“Not from me,” Kangin argued backing away again, clearly upset. “Never from me.”
“And that is why I love you. Youngwoon, you are man enough to control the Beast that would break me to make me mind and take me whether I want it or not. I love you, everything about you. I love the control that you have when you feel that you have none.”
“No,” he murmured, still staring at the slowly healing wrist.
“Youngwoon, look at me,” he ordered, dangerous not only in asking a werewolf to make eye contact but in giving an order to an Alpha as well. However, because it was Kangin, and possibly because their Beasts were being lulled to sleep, the werewolf lifted his eyes to look at him without issue. “I am your mate,” he said firmly. “I find it an incredible turn on when you let yourself go with me. You and your Beast are both mine and I want both of you equally. I would kill for you, and I would certainly die for you. I am not some fragile human that will break, not anymore. I am as much a werewolf as you and I can take a little bit of a beating every now and again.”
“I swore to you-”
“You swore you would never do what was done to me,” Leeteuk cut him off, “and breaking my wrist because we are desiring each other so much that you can’t keep your strength in check is hardly equal to beating and rape.”
“Jungsu,” Kangin murmured.
“Now I think we have traumatized Zhou mi enough for one afternoon. If you think you can behave yourself why don’t you go out and get me a new refrigerator,” Leeteuk suggested.
Kangin’s eyes flicked up to the appliance and the fresh dent in the front of it. Leeteuk felt a flash of guilt through their bond and he smothered it with amusement. “I’ve been wanting a new one anyway.” They had had the conversation just a week ago and Kangin had convinced him that they didn’t have a need to buy a brand new refrigerator, no matter how much Leeteuk had wanted one. He found it highly amusing that the Alpha was now responsible for their need of the appliance.
“Oh how I love you,” Kangin said softly, pressing a gentle kiss against his lips. “I’ll be back in a bit,” he said. Before he released Leeteuk’s injured wrist, he pressed a butterfly kiss to the skin above it very likely to show them both that he could be gentle and not cause any pain. Then he was gone from the kitchen and Leeteuk sighed.
“You can open your eyes,” he told Zhou mi after glancing to the red faced young man who was standing with his eyes clenched beside them. “Thank you.”
Zhou mi closed his mouth, cutting off the beautiful music. “I,” he began hesitantly, “I’m sorry for intruding.”
“Zhou mi,” Leeteuk scolded gently, “if you are going to be a part of a pack, seeing a mated pair making out is hardly the least you will be exposed to.” He frowned as he found he couldn’t move without holding his now torn pants up around his hips. “What did you find outside?” Leeteuk asked, trying to steer Zhou mi into more comfortable territory.
“Oh this,” Zhou mi offered him an envelope that appeared to be made out of old fashion parchment. Kangin’s full name was scrolled across the front of the envelope and its thickness made him curious as to what was within.
“You’ll have to open it for me,” Leeteuk reminded him gently, not bothering to elaborate.
“Are you sure? Maybe I should leave it here for Kangin,” Zhou mi offered.
“I’m sure. Kangin would tear it apart before he opened it. It was only because he was so distracted that he didn’t already,” Leeteuk informed him. “Use your nose Zhou mi. What does it smell like?”
Zhou mi sniffed hesitantly as if he was only just now paying attention to his other senses. It was a horrible habit that they had been trying to break him of. “It smells like blood and,” he paused as if trying to put words on it “kinda like a basement.”
“Very good,” Leeteuk murmured. “Where have you smelled that before?”
The Quieter shut his eyes, clearly taking the small lesson very seriously. “Wait,” he moved the letter closer and sniffed it again, “this smells like Heechul.”
“Very good,” Leeteuk repeated proudly. “Blood and stale earth are usually scents that go with a vampire but you were able to pick up Heechul’s unique scent.”
“So Kangin would have torn it up because it comes from vampires?” Zhou mi asked.
“No, because it comes from Heechul and they both act like children when it comes to one another,” Leeteuk rolled his eyes. “Open it for me please?”
Obediently Zhou mi flipped the envelope over and broke the wax seal. Inside were folded pieces of parchment that the Quieter carefully removed and then unfolded for him to read. Leeteuk’s eyes scanned the top page quickly and then he hummed. “Interesting.”
▪▫▪☼▪▫▪
Onew wondered just how long it would take him to get used to sitting beside Minho along the edge of the room, rather than being down in the center with his coven. It was a strange feeling, kneeling on a plush pillow yet knowing that he carried a great deal of power with his station. He had always thought that Pets were something like slaves and treated as such until he had met them. Although Ryeowook had changed his thoughts on the matter a good deal, he had never realized just what it meant to be a Pet to a vampire. He could say or do anything and Minho would back him, simply because of what he was to the vampire.
Around the room, the rest of the Pets sat beside their respective vampires, with the exception of Ryeowook who had shifted his cushion forward until he could easily lay his head on Yesung’s lap and curl a hand around the same leg. The action and the vampire’s hand in the human’s hair was so intimate that Onew couldn’t watch them for long without feeling as though he was intruding on something.
He shifted his gaze to the one other chair in the room, its station beside Heechul’s chair clearly displaying who was supposed to be there. Everyone in the room could feel how empty it was and knew what that absence meant. A Child of the Master was not absent from a meeting like this, not unless there was a very good reason.
In the center of the room stood Hankyung, dressed in black and his long coat likely hiding more weapons than he would ever know. Key, Jessica and Henry were behind him, looking a bit more apprehensive than he was, although Henry and Jessica had both taken the time to smile in Onew’s direction and offer a wave.
Beside them, set apart enough to display that they were clearly not together stood people who he had been told were werewolves. Leeteuk, one of his teachers was there, as he had expected, and so was Kyuhyun and Zhou mi. Another werewolf was with them, someone he didn’t recognize but standing to the left of the man that could only be their Alpha.
Heechul, sitting ridged in his chair with one hand in Taemin’s hair, gave everyone long enough to stand and ponder why they were here before he opened his mouth. “As each of you know, there is a matter that I have called you here to discuss today. One of my children has been taken from me.”
“This is a vampire problem and no concern of mine,” the Alpha growled.
The Master vampire’s gaze shifted to the Alpha, a dangerous move since a direct gaze would certainly be seen as a challenge for dominance. “I’m certain you have felt it Alpha, the unrest in your pack, echoing the unrest of the humans. Something isn’t right in our territory and you know it.”
“Again vampire, your problem not ours.”
Heechul’s mouth twisted and he turned his gaze towards Hankyung, ending the impromptu staring contest. It wasn’t surrender, mere deference for another time, and Onew understood that Heechul had lost nothing by breaking off his gaze. “I’m certain that you are aware of the treaty by which we coexist peacefully. This is a threat to all of us and our very way of life, as such I invoke the last clause of that treaty.”
Chapter Eleven
Masterlist
AN: Hehe I would appologize for the cliff hanger, but at the same time I'm pretty proud of it. Now the fun starts. ^^ Thanks to my lovely beta who works so hard to make sure these things are understandable for you all!