Last Snow Chapter 6: Blood Lust (Part 1)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A/N: Not one of my proudest chapters, but this chapter was essential as a filler for the next chapter, which was supposed to be the main focus, but it was getting to be too long T.T In any case, I tried my best to update/write this as fast as possible. I'm super excited to hear everyone's reactions! Let me know what you think! ^^
Last Snow
Chapter 6: Blood Lust
The sound was coming from somewhere deep within the heart of the forest, not but a few yards from their house. They were too close, and the music was far too enticing for Minho's taste.
He swept past rows and rows of trees, finally descending on the source of the music near a small pond - a tall man with long white hair and dewy skin. His eyes were blood red, and his equally red lips were pressed to the small mouthpiece of his flute.
“This is private property,” Minho said, drawing out a thick blade from his pocket.
The music stopped.
“Has Sleeping Beauty awakened?” The low sultry voice echoed in his ears. It was a warning. Minho gritted his teeth against the Provocation, pocketing the blade against his better judgment.
He pressed his lips into a thin line, refusing to answer.
Red eyes swept over his frame, and the familiar prickling sensation that came with it stabbed his limbs. Minho clenched his teeth.
“The Entity is awaiting results.”
Minho bit his tongue from lashing out at the official. “The results will be submitted upon further inspection.” He said through gritted teeth.
The red eyes watched him with a hint of amusement, the corner of his mouth turning up in a nasty smirk. “She's taking well to the turning I presume?”
“Why are you here?” Minho asked coldly, ignoring his question. His own eyes flashed red, a splash of darkness on his own face.
“Careful,” The man sang, voice entrancing. “You wouldn't want to ignite my wrath.” He circled Minho, eyes taking in all that they could, and leaving nothing untouched. “The only reason I've left your turned untouched is to irk the other Entities. Not to mention,” He inhaled deeply, eyes slipping shut. “Her scent is positively intoxicating.”
Minho growled, eyes becoming a darker red, and he pulled out the blade from his pocket again.
“Always the business type.” The man said, eyes opening and watching the silver metal with playful eyes. “Has she given herself to you?”
“On several occasions, though I doubt that is the reason behind your visit.” Minho snapped. He fingered the blade in his hand, testing its sharpness.
The smirk was back, nastier and more sinister. “How very right you are.” He agreed. “Very well - I've heard you've taken another human into your seethe.”
Minho narrowed his eyes. Looked like news traveled fast.“The daughter of a Head Hunter - nothing out of the norm.”
The white haired man snorted, aiming the tip of his flute in Minho's direction, inches away from his throat.“We are not pleased.” He said darkly, a poison tipped blade emerging from the edge of the instrument.
“You are never pleased.” Minho said, eying the blade with curiosity. “Working with the Faeries I see.” He mused.
“An inferior race.” The flutist promised. “The girl?”
“She has information. It seems as though we're not the only ones working with the Faes.”
A quirk of an eyebrow. “Information? What have the Faes to do with the humans?”
“A hidden agenda. They've been supplying them with liquid poisons to support their weaponry.”
Silence filled the forest, and the man slowly pulled away the flute, a calculating look in his eyes.“I'm listening.”
“The girl told us herself - bullets soaked with liquid poisons. And I'm sure that we both know no one other than the Faeries can concoct a poison strong enough to ill both a vampire and human.”
“A double ailment?”
“Only the best.” Minho bit out.
A hum of delight. “Antidote?”
“The girl knows it.”
“And I'm sure you won't hesitate to share that information with the Entity.” They locked gazes, the snow haired man's challenging, and Minho's the definition of defiance.
The white haired man pulled away first. “Tell your leader to bring her. The Entities haven't seen entertainment like her in centuries. I'm sure she'll do just the trick,” He claimed, slipping his flute into the inner pocket of his blazer.
“And don't forget your precious mate - if she lives that is.” Minho released the blade in his grip, sending it sailing past the man's head and into the core of a tree by the man's head. The man chuckled, strands of white hair swishing in the air from the aftermath of the attack. He fingered the handle of the weapon before tugging it out.
“How defiant,” He purred, turning over the blade. “I'll be sure to let the others know of your message.” He pocketed the blade, turning to leave.
“Oh, and do be a dear and bring Jonghyun. He's been absent far too long from the,” He glanced at him over his shoulder, a wicked glint illuminated in his bloody eyes. “Festivities.”
Minho swallowed, watching as the man swayed his hips, and tossed a hand wave over his shoulder in goodbye.
The Entity was on them.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Start Flashback)
She laughed happily, evading his flailing limbs with ease. Taemin pouted as she danced away from his reach.
“Minah!” He whined.
“Catch me!” Minah demanded, and darted away.
Taemin grinned and followed her, hot on heels.
“C'mon Minho. Before she gets too far!” Taemin called back to his companion.
Minho rolled his eyes delving back into his meal. He was going to need energy if they decided to chase that minx. Somehow she had managed to master the art of fleeing better than all of them combined.
He continued to feed from the steady red stream pouring from the deer's neck below him. He drank slowly, relishing the sweet tang in his mouth. All the while he kept his ears open for Taemin and Minah, easily picking up on the sounds of their squeals and the soft pounding of their feet against the dead leaves lining the forest floor.
It was comforting, hearing them laugh.
It sounded like they were alive again.
“Minho!” Minah exclaimed, her feet changing direction and making their way to him.
Minho pulled away from his hunt and glanced over to where Minah and Taemin had previously disappeared. He grinned softly as Minah came back into view. She was running towards him, and Taemin was right on her tail.
He laughed at the image, and opened his arms in offering.
Her grin broadened and she leaped in his arms, pushing his back onto the ground. Minho's arms circled her tiny waist and she giggled.
“Hey! No fair!” Taemin said, coming to a stop and watching the scene with playful eyes.
Minho glanced at the orange haired fledgling and snorted affectionately before opening his arms in a welcoming gesture.
“Yes!” Taemin cheered, pouncing on Minho at once.
“Oof!” Minho grunted against the forced weight settled in his lap.
He glared lightly at Taemin, who grinned at him innocently in return.
“Why is it that I feel oddly unsettled around you two?” Minho asked knowingly.
He hadn't missed the twinkling eyes.
“Minho,” Taemin sang.
“We forgot to tell you,” Minah trilled back.
Taemin pressed a finger to Minho's side, and Minah followed in his example.
“Tag, you're it!” They both exclaimed happily. They pulled away at once after having tagged their teammate, crawling back to their feet a relatively safe distance from the brunette.
“How is it that you were both it?” Minho asked them suspiciously, propping himself on his elbows to glare at the two.
“It's not our fault you fell for it.” Minah pointed out, her white dress swirling in the breeze caressing their faces.
Minho opened his mouth to retaliate.
“Tick.”
He stilled, eyes growing red at the sound.
“Min-” Taemin started when he saw the red pupils appear.
Minho held up his hand, effectively cutting him off. He sniffed the air delicately and growled when his nose picked up on the familiar scent.
Hunters.
He turned to Taemin. “Hunters along the boundary.” He explained. “They're still a while away so we have enough time to head back. Take-”
The sound of a gunshot whistled in his ears, and Minho's eyes widened in shock as a bullet 'whooshed' by him, lightly grazing his left arm.
At the same time another bullet whizzed past Taemin's head, who leaned fell back a few inches, legs firmly planted in the ground, to avoid the assault.
“They're attacking us. From the perimeter!” Taemin screamed, pulling back up, and his own eyes becoming red as the sound of more gunshots filled his ears as well. And this time they were closer.
Minah squealed as another swept past them, the noise echoing in her ears. Taemin quickly pulled her to his chest, and watched as the silver bullet hit the tree behind her. It splintered the wood, a few wooden chunks flying off the surface.
“Run!” Minho ordered sharply. There were too many bullets, and too little of them.
Minah and Taemin both nodded their heads in understanding, taking off for the trees. Minho followed them and they all fell into the familiar defense tactic Onew and Jonghyun had showed them not too long ago, with Taemin and Minho leading the back, and Minah cutting through the trees at the head of the formation. In most cases the formation would have done spectacular, but the bullets were still
there. They were swirling past their legs and arms with skill that none of them had ever seen before.
Minho scowled when one soared past Taemin's head, and left a cut on his cheek.
He pulled away from the formation and Taemin and Minah both turned in alarm when they no longer heard the pounding of his feet. Minho drew out a silver gun from his jacket.
“Go home and round up the others.” He explained swiftly.
Taemin looked like he wanted to protest but was acutely cut off. “You're a fledgling, you can't fight them. They're nothing like what you’ve faced.” He said.
Minah whimpered, unwilling to leave him behind. Minho was just as much a fledgling as the two of them combined, having just graduated to a youth. He was weak.
Another bullet broke the air.
“Go!” Minho yelled, beckoning them towards a set of trees. “Keep Minah close by!” He directed Taemin.
Taemin bit his lip but nodded in understanding. He was still a fledgling, a trained one at that, but he was still a fledgling nonetheless. He didn't have enough control nor strength to face Hunters, and even the thinnest wisp of the smell of blood would be enough to make him delirious. Blood lust was difficult from him to control. Minah hadn't even yet felt it.
A bullet lodged itself into the ground my Minho's foot, and his eyes turned a raging red. “I said, GO!” He yelled.
Taemin grabbed Minah's wrist and started tugging, pulling her away from Minho and deeper into the forest. They made their escape from the cacophony of bullets, cloaked in a shawl of blackness.
He could sense Minah's tears and he tightened his grasp, reminding himself that this was her first attack. It wouldn't be the last, but the first was always the most raw. Her tears would only last this one time. They wouldn't return the next.
Minah squeezed back in answer, a gesture promising him she was alright, that she was there and she understood. A rush of gratitude filled him for her lack of ignorance and argument.
Taemin yelped when a bullet came soaring between the two of them, poised to take out his arm, and he quickly let go of Minah's wrist. “Left!” He ordered. The girl didn't say anything but did as she was told, skirting the tree blocking their current path to the a cluster of trees to the left, whereas Taemin moved to the right.
The latest bullet made a deafening 'crack' as it took refuge in the tree forking the two paths, large pieces of wood flying in the air in the aftermath.
They ambled down their respective paths, the rustling of the trees' leaves the only indication that the other was still there and following.
But there were separate footsteps creeping into Taemin's ears, tipped with steel and heavy.
Hunter boots.
They were being followed.
He glanced behind him, zeroing in on any sign of life, and ears searching for the pump of a beating heart.
A cold sweat break out on the back of his neck, and the familiar feeling of forewarning beating at the walls of his heart.
“TAEMIN!” The scream from the other side of the screen of trees separating him from Minah.
And of course there was fear. There was always fear.
Fear that only intensified when realization sunk it.
They weren't following him. They were following Minah.
“Minah!” He yelled back. “Minah, where are you?!” He screamed. He changed direction, cutting through the thick vegetation keeping him from the girl, twigs and branches scratching his face.
“Taemin!”
“Minah!” He yelled back.
She sounded closer.
He continued in his rampage to find her, all the while his inner thoughts begging him to pounce, to hunt, to feed - to kill, because they were onto her. They were going to kill her.
“Stop it! You're hurting me!” Minah screeched, piercing the calm.
Taemin's heart beat erratically in his chest cavity, coming back to life from it's usual lazy state.
He darted past another thickening of trees and Minah's scent consumed him.
His eyes took in the scene playing out before him, a ragged Hunter with an unshaven beard, pressing a thick hunting gun to Minah's back. Minah's arm was twisted back, and by her foot lay two other hunters, unconscious and hopefully dead.
The Hunter heard him come, and lifting his eyes to match his, showing him a row of yellowing white human teeth, and he pressed the trigger.
A cry of anguish sliced through the night, bloodcurdling and tragic, punctuated by the bullet's roar.
Taemin felt the shot in his chest as if he had been the one that had been shot, the price of being the member of the girl's seethe.
He couldn't breathe.
Everything happened in slow motion: the bullet breaking through her back, the collapsing of her chest, and finally the death of the whisper of her murmuring heart.
Specks of blood burst from Minah's back, blooming across the soft expanse of the white cloth of her dress.
It was the first taste of darkness the girl had ever tasted.
It was the first Taemin was forced to taste in a long time.
His eyes became acrid, red blooded pupils staring at the man who had shot the gun. His blood lust surged through him, mingled with his anger and his hatred.
There was still the slightest pulse of her beating heart, but his mind was too hazy to see the logic. To him she was gone - she was dead.
'Death. He deserves death.' Taemin barred his fangs and jumped, easily pinning the assailant under his arms. 'He deserved a haunting death.'
Behind him Minah rolled lifelessly to the ground, her eyes trained up at the silver moon, glazed over with unshed tears as she stared.
It was a red moon.
(End Flashback)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------