White Noise - Part 24-32 (Clean Version)

[strongbabypanda]

Part 24:
"No, promise that you won't let me forget."
"I promise."
"Promise that you'll keep me."
"I promise."
"No, promise that you won't let me forget."
"I promise."
"Promise that you'll keep me."
"I promise."

The words kept on repeating, but there was no voice, no face, only emotion. Desperation, fear, sincerity, concern, and something far beyond compare. It seemed like those words would repeat forever... when Minho opened his eyes, they were burned into his brain.

Thickbrows was stepping towards the bedside, but paused when he saw his open eyes. "Were you.. listening?"

Minho took a quick look around and sat up, "Who are you?"

"Siwon... I'm sorry." Siwon held out his hand, "I didn't mean to be impolite."

"You're kidding me, right?" Minho stared at Siwon's hand. He wondered how long ago he'd been out, how long ago it had happened. He concentrated on Onew, the way he had often did when he wanted to feel his emotions, but they were gone. They'd been torn away from him. Instead, he could feel this hint of annoyance that was foreign and intrusive, and he knew it came from Siwon.

"Why did you do this?" he asked, looking from Siwon's hand up to his face.

Siwon closed his eyes, and sighed. "I'll be patient with you, because I understand your time with Onew must have been incredibly difficult and confusing. I'm sure you're used to his ways. A human being impolite to a vampire, however, is unacceptable." He held his hand out still.

"Fuck you." Minho said.

Siwon's eyes widened, like the words had cut him, and he finally lowered his hand. "I don't mean to get off on the wrong foot with you."

"Then you shouldn't have just taken me against my will!!"

Minho had no idea when he'd learned how to express his anger this way, but he couldn't hold back. He was angry. He thought back, and remembered that his bond with Onew was against his will. He didn't know why Onew was any better, not right off, but he was. This was wrong. Everything about it felt wrong. Siwon felt wrong.

Even without the bond, he missed Onew.

"I'm sorry, for the circumstance." Siwon said, bowing his head. Minho knew right away that it was a genuine apology, and began to relax just like that. Then, Siwon added, "It wasn't my decision, so there's no need to make this personal."

Minho scowled, and almost wondered if he was channeling his former bonded's anger when he spoke again, "I was stolen from Onew to punish him?"

Siwon looked a bit sad, but nodded. "That is why it happened, however, once you've been given time to adapt I'm sure you'll find that being bonded to me is.. preferable."

"No." Minho said. "No, I..." he was lost. Why, why wasn't this like with Onew? He'd hated the things Onew had gotten him into, and he hated that Onew got him into this right now, but he still missed Onew even with no bond - he'd still liked Onew, he knew that all too well now. He wanted nothing to do with Siwon. How could it be that they were really bonded?

He felt hollow. Hollow, and violated. He didn't want Siwon knowing things about him. He didn't want to know things about Siwon. Everything he knew already was just so wrong..

"You should lay down." Siwon said, when it didn't seem Minho was capable of collecting his thoughts at the moment. "I believe I took too much blood from you."

"I'm not lying down," Minho pushed a heavy cream colored comforter off of him, moving to slide of the bed. Then, another vampire walked in. Ponytail, as he recognized him, only his hair was down now, so he really was going to need to think of another nickname...

"What's with the faces? Something wrong?"

"Heechul," Siwon greeted him, bowing his head. Good, Minho decided, because he wasn't quite as creative as Taemin when it came to naming people on his own. Siwon continued on to explain, "Minho and I are just getting to know each other better."

"No." Minho corrected quickly. "I'm leaving."

Heechul laughed, loud and obnoxious, "Sure you're leaving. Just as soon as I turn into a pixie, you're leaving."

Minho tensed. He'd found it easy to stand up to Siwon, and he only realized now that it was because of his bond to him. He found he couldn't say a word to Heechul. In fact, he suddenly worried that his breathing might be offensive. Something in those psychotic eyes freaked him out.

"Lay down." Heechul said.

Minho slowly did so, keeping his eyes on him.

Then, Heechul grinned, which made him look a bit surprisingly goofy, at Siwon. "You like him?"

"We'll have to get used to one another." was Siwon's answer.

"Ah, shit, he'll be broken in a week. I'll help you."

Heechul was incredibly odd, Minho was thinking. If he stood still with his mouth shut, he was worthy of the word 'pretty'. In any other moment, he was almost normal. Then, those psycho-eyes....

"I'd appreciate any help you would give me, Heechul." Siwon said. "But I think you're going to be busy for a while."

Heechul shrugged, "Not really. Becoming part of The Council is easier than I thought." As he spoke, he stepped to the foot of the bed. "Kind of boring, really... I'd be more interested in a new bonded than that."

"Onew came." Siwon said.

Minho sat straight up again, "He's here?"

"Minho.." Siwon said, in a warning of a voice, and Minho wasn't sure what he did wrong. But Heechul laughed his big annoying laugh, and stepped around the bed until he stood next to Siwon. "Do you have some emergency?" he asked.

Minho stared at him, not quite sure how to answer. Luckily, Heechul's pause wasn't long. "Because unless you do, you don't butt into a vampire's conversation - you got that?"

So now, he was back to being treated like he was nothing. Minho spent a moment pondering whether or not he preferred Key to this. Yet, he looked at psycho-eyes, and he just knew it'd be dumb to test him. "Sorry." he said, and he despised the pride that he felt from Siwon. He glanced at his new bonded, almost glaring at the man's hint of a smile.

"Oh, wow, he said sorry. I better just forget it happened then." Heechul said, crossing his arms. "No. That's not how you apologize."

"Then how--"

"Get on your hands and knees." the direction came from Siwon.

"Because I spoke out of turn?" Minho asked him, angry.

Heechul laughed, "I bet he's all talk. I'll let you deal with on your own. I'll have to see what Onew is up to around here."

After Heechul left the room, Minho began to relax again, but then Siwon softly repeated, "Get on your hands and knees."

"No." Minho said, looking to Siwon in time to see the flash of anger across his face, and the feeling of his intentions alone was enough to make Minho half regret his actions, as Siwon moved onto the bed with him.
Part 25:

"Okaayyy, so that was... baaadd..." Dara said, tapping thoughtfully against her chin.

She'd pulled Onew into a bedroom not far from Minho, and the younger vampire was staying on edge. He paced in front of the shut door, scowling.

"Ermm.. 'New? The point of pulling you out, it was kind of get you to calm down."

Onew's paused, and his hand slammed against the door as he looked at Dara. "If he touches Minho, I swear..."

"This isn't right, you know. For a vampire to feel so strongly about a human." Dara's gaze was studious, rather than judgemental, but the line certainly was enough to set Onew off. He turned and stepped closer to her, hands in fists. "I don't care about what you think is right! Minho belongs to me!!"

"If you're unable to get you're emotions in order, I'm unable to help you." Dara said, shaking her head sadly.

Onew was torn then. He wanted to yell, and possibly punch some things, but the prospect of help from a higher up vampire - it was unexpected, unknown even, and certainly useful. He simply didn't know how to take it, or, if he should. Was she tricking him in some way? Somehow, Onew thought, it seemed like getting help always backfired on him. He was just staring at her as his mind was at war with itself, so Dara spoke again.

"The Council here has wronged you, I'm almost sure of that." Dara said. "I want to investigate it more, and if possible, I want to make it up to you. Giving you a human that you think you love--"

"I love him." Onew said firmly, trying not to look ashamed.

Dara nodded, "Giving you a human who you love, I'm not sure it's helping you. Even when we are bonded to a human, it may seem a bit like love, and it's hard enough when it comes time for us to let those humans go. To be in love with one, I couldn't even imagine what it would be like.."

"I don't care that he's human, and he's doomed." Onew said, scowling. "Vampires aren't all that immortal either. For all you know, I could die before him."

Dara's eyebrows raised, and she nodded. "True. But he's all the more doomed, being connected to someone like you." she shrugged, adding "It'd be nice if I could change that a little though~. Your crimes, from the story I've heard, are nothing that you're to blame for."

Onew stared at her, still not used to the idea of someone like Dara - someone of that status - siding with him.

"But I'm a very busy person," Dara said, "And I haven't got all day~." she smiled cutely.

Onew raised a brow.

".. Ahem. I mean, I can't babysit you - and shhuuusshh, don't get mad at me, but you obviously need babysitting."

Onew scoffed, crossing his arms.

"Shush, I said. Your emotions are all whack, and it's no good. You need to trust me, and I need to trust you."

"What are you saying?"

"The Council, you know, THE Council is supposed to meet with me soon. I'm going to bring up your situation with them, and in the mean time, I need you to wait around and just be all cool... not.. leaving this room. Got it?"

"I'm not a child."

Dara crossed her arms, leaning closer to him. "Do I need to lock you up? Because really, that's what would have happened if I hadn't been around to stop you from attacking Siwon. Well? Do you want me to lock you up?"

"What if while I'm waiting.." Onew growled, "He's hurting Minho?"

"Right now, unfortunately.." Dara said. "Minho is his to hurt. There's nothing you can do about it." Before Onew yelled, which he looked like he was about to, Dara held up her hand and quickly added, "Use your brain. If you try to stop Siwon now, you'll only hurt yourself and Minho more in the end. Now, once more... do I need to lock you up?"

Onew's arms uncrossed, the angry tension melting away into submission, and with tearing eyes he nodded.
***
The beating was painful, and humiliating, and left Minho feeling like less than a young child. He was bruised by the end of it, and collapsed onto the bed like a ragdoll. He felt guilt and sympathy from Siwon, and he didn't care. He wished he didn't feel it. He didn't want to know what it felt like to be such a monster. He wanted to be away from Siwon, body and mind.

But Siwon crawled into bed next to him, and pulled him into a gentle embrace.

He didn't have the energy to tell the man to get the fuck away, though he was sure Siwon knew exactly how he felt and didn't move, so Minho supposed the words would do no good anyway.

His shaking and his crying only faded off when he fell into a dream of Onew and white noise.
Part 26:
"So you talked to Dara." Heechul was saying as he burst into the room with Onew, who half-jumped at the sudden intrusion. Then, he was fast on guard, snarling at Heechul. "You.."

"Uh-huh. Me." Heechul stepped lightly around Onew, inspecting him. "It's been a while."

"Why did you take Minho?"

"Hardly worse than when you took Noh, isn't that right?"

Onew cringed, balling up his fists. "Don't talk about him. Don't say his name."

"Who? Noh? Your own sire, who you killed? You know, I was waiting for Jonghyun to kill your new boy for me. I thought, since I missed out on killing him before, I might as well let him be useful now. Turns out he wasn't even good for that.."

"You people hold grudges for way too long." Onew said, scowling.

"Almost five years, isn't it?" Heechul asked, sticking his hands in his pockets and looking coldly at Onew. "It's nothing compared to the time him and I spent together before. I was sharing him with you for just a couple of years, and then sure enough, you don't give him back.."

Onew cringed once again, a memory tearing into his mind like a headache. "Get away from me." he said.

Heechul laughed, "Maybe I should have let Minho stay your bonded. I could have watched your feelings for him grow until the day you turned him, so I could see you try to let him go. Now that would have been fitting.... What can I say? Guess I'm impatient."

"You know what he did to me.." Onew said, reaching up and clutching his head. "You know better than anyone, because you were there."

"Mmhmm. I tried to save you both, didn't I?"

"You tried to kill me."

"You were the problem."

Onew's voice was weak, "Please go away."

"No thanks, I'm good."

"Noh..." Onew gasped, dropping on the floor with a broken memory cutting through his brain, a memory of a kiss that had tasted like blood, but not the satisfyingly rich blood that Onew was used to now in his life. It had been an awful kiss that felt like it was destroying him, and it had been, because he'd liked it.

Heechul laughed at Onew again, a satisfied laugh now, and he stepped back towards the door. "I'll let you see Minho again sometime soon, huh? You can see how he's become the good little bonded that you were."

Onew barely heard him. That kiss replayed painfully, bloody lips touching his, smearing on his, staining him...

***
Minho didn't sleep for long. He couldn't remember the last time he did get a good night's sleep, for that matter. Siwon, with an arm still around him, spoke as soon as his eyes opened. "You're awake.", and just like that Minho tensed up.

Siwon quickly moved back from him, "I'm sorry. I should allow you to dress."

Minho shuddered, and Siwon's eyes narrowed. "Onew was far too lenient with you. In order for you to live in this lifestyle, you must understand that you're inferior. What I did was only what I had to do."

"I'm going to try to do what you tell me to do." Minho said, almost in a whisper. He cleared his throat so that he could speak more boldly. "But I will never think of myself as inferior to someone like you."

"It is that pride which I attack," Siwon said, "And that pride which will earn you much worse than what you just went through." His voice was calm, and slow, but it didn't fool Minho, who could feel that edge of frustration.

Minho couldn't imagine worse. He didn't know being degraded could reach such a horrible level.

It was Siwon's turn to clear his throat, and Minho felt him moving around on the bed as he spoke. "We've thought very carefully about how to deal with your family." Minho's eyes widened, and he began to sit up as Siwon spoke.

"Our plan is to explain that you have special needs and will be required to transfer schools. I'll still allow you to visit them on occasion, as long as you behave."

Siwon was watching him for a reaction as if he couldn't feel it. If he could feel it, it'd be this stomach sinking - heart falling with it type of feeling.

Minho's dad couldn't help, his mom couldn't help. Onew probably didn't care to help. Minho's mind drifted to Taemin....

Taemin had escaped here by himself. Wouldn't he come for Minho?

Minho turned over and looked at Siwon though, and wondered if it could be possible to escape from a bond. Didn't seem like he'd been capable of escaping from Onew's.

Dread took over his mind. Would he really have to stay here, as Siwon's? A horrifyingly depressing thought went through his mind, "Wouldn't it be better to die?". It was his first suicidal thought, really, the first that he'd meant so seriously...

Siwon seemed to pick up on it, because he suddenly felt quite sympathetic. "Minho... I want to make this easy for you."

Minho glared at him. He didn't want his sympathy. He didn't want him to care. But he did, and he could feel it, and that made Minho more comfortable than he wanted to admit.

"You won't like me all of the time.." Siwon said, "But we can get along."

"I don't want this." Minho said.

"And I'm sorry," Siwon said, "to force it on you."

There it was - Minho wanted to forgive Siwon, just like that. He was sorry, and Minho knew that, and he was only doing what he had to do. Minho hated knowing that. These mixed feelings were suddenly all too familiar. So he decided to be firm. With himself, moreso than Siwon. He looked at him, eyes narrowed, and he said "No matter what. I refuse to forgive you."

Siwon seemed to consider this for a moment, and then just nodded before he rose out of the bed. "I'll make a phone call to your family." he said, and walked to the door.
Part 27:
Jonghyun awoke suddenly, coughing up dirty fucking lake water, rolling over so he could better throw it up. It splattered on a muddy ground, mixed with traces of blood he'd unknowingly just swallowed.

"Shit.." said a familiar voice, "Thought you were done for."

Jonghyun coughed up a few more drops before looked back over his shoulder and spotted a figure sillouhetted dramatically against the moon.

"Fuck.. Joon?"

"One and only." Joon frowned, "Jessica told me what happened. Then she told me I outta help you out."

"Nice of her." Jonghyun said with a scowl, pulling himself to his feet. He was covered in mud. Key was not going to be happy.

"She's not done with you, just warning. And what's this about hunters?"

Jonghyun glanced to the dead body of an older man that he was sure Joon had fed him, having a bit of trouble focusing on answering Joon's questions. He just said, "I need more blood.", and started walking without a clue where he was going.

"Uh.. hey. How about a thanks?" Joon asked, following along.

"You saved me cause you want something, right?" Jonghyun asked, expression serious. "What is it?"

"Let Onew go." Joon said, just as serious. "I know you and Key have him locked up wherever."

"Yeah," Jonghyun said, "If those hunters didn't save him already.." Jonghyun's brows creased as he thought of what may have happened to Key. "How long have I been gone?" he asked.

"Eh.. I don't even know, Jong. Jessica just told me tonight. You know she isn't big on details."

"If I see her, I will take her head off." Jonghyun warned Joon.

"Sure. Sure. So.. about Onew.."

"Fuck off."

Joon paused, sighing. "Yeah, I'll call you then."

The mud and water dripping off of Jonghyun wasn't gonna make Key happy, but hell if Jonghyun was gonna wait to change clothes before he came home. Tracking footprints across the carpet that they'd installed just months ago, Jonghyun went straight to the room Onew should have been chained in. Instead, Key was there, bleeding and chained and completely unmoving.

Jonghyun walked angrily to the bed, grabbing onto the bar of the headboard Key was chained to and violently snapping it from it's place. He let the bar dangle as he lifted Key carefully into his arms, walking to the kitchen which he found an unfortunately dried bloody mess in. He laid Key on their kitchen island and opened the refrigerator, taking out two packets, one which he ripped open with his fangs and held over Key's mouth - the other which he tore into himself.

Key twitched until his eyes opened, and he put his hand over Jonghyun's, guiding the packet closer to his mouth as he swallowed the blood down. As soon as Jonghyun noticed his consciousness, he finished a mouth full of blood and asked, "What happened to you?"

"Same question." Key said between gulps.

"I was locked in a car trunk under a lake."

It was a while before Key answered, because he was guzzling down the last of the blood in the package, but he finally said, "I was shot in the head and tortured. Ah.. and scarred." Key lifted a hand, pointing to the scratch by his eye. "By Lee Taemin."

"Those hunters.." Jonghyun scowled.

"Are going to wish they killed me." Key said, sitting up.

***

Taemin couldn't see anything. His long bangs clung to his cheeks by the sweat that dripped on them, and his chest heaved with deep breaths that were too loud because he needed to hear.

But he didn't, so when Jungmo suddenly grabbed him from behind, he jumped and squeaked.

Jungmo sighed, arms dropping from around Taemin. "I've come from behind the last three times. How can it surprise you so much?"

"I'm just so tired." Taemin breathed.

"Yeah.." Jungmo said, "You think you're always gonna have plenty of energy for this?"

"I stopped screaming though, so at least I improved, right?"

Jungmo twitched, "Is that because you've improved, or is it because you're getting used to me?"

Just then, a door opened and light filtered into the room. Jay flicked a light on, momentarily blinding the bedroom's two occupants. "Jungmo. You should get ready."

Taemin straightened up, "You two are playing tonight?"

"A little bit." Jungmo said with a sigh.

Taemin pouted, "No fair. You said I could come hear you next time.." then, he turned to Jungmo with a grin. "Or, can I?"

Jungmo and Jay exchanged looks, and then as usual, it was Jungmo who had to deliver bad news. "It just isn't safe enough. We wouldn't go if we didn't need the money. You know that."

So, Taemin turned on his cuteness, moving his hands together under his chin and leaning closely to the taller man. "Please~? I'll stay really close to the stage and if something happens, I'll just run up on it and you can save me."

"Sungmin will be here with you." Jungmo said, patting Taemin's shoulder. "And we won't be gone long, anyway. If you want, we'll play for you when we get back."

Taemin pouted, looking overly disappointed in hopes of course that one or the other would break. "It's not the same, Moomoo~."

"You need to get ready." Jay said quietly, stepping from the room.

Jungmo stepped to the door, looking back at Taemin with a sigh. "Stay and work out, okay? Remember. The arms."

"Weak stupid arms." Taemin muttered, watching Jungmo leave the room.
Part 28:
It was the taste of blood. It was too good, it had turned him into a monster. He was swallowing it down until he realized that he was, and he fast spit out whatever in his mouth as he shot up straight and opened his eyes.

A poor human boy stared wide eyed at him, looking half-offended and half-scared. "Do I taste bad?"

Onew's mind cleared. Had he passed out? Had he been hungry? ... He'd remembered. "Don't think about it." he told himself out loud.

The boy blinked, "Well, I.. try not to think about how my blood tastes anyway, I guess."

Onew glared at him.

The boy, who had a cut in his forearm, just looked confused.

So Onew grabbed his wrist and pulled it over, lying back down so he could easily hold the arm over his mouth. He realized then that he was on the floor, but he didn't much care.

"Dara asked me to come make sure you were okay." the human said as he drank, "I thought since you were on the floor you weren't just sleeping, so I figured, blood.. Didn't mean to be gross."

Onew was barely listening. He drank the blood, trying to keep his mind focused. The blood tasted good, because he was a vampire, and blood is a vampire's favorite food. He wasn't ruined, he hadn't become a monster. He was a superior being now, far above this boy who needed to cut himself to help a stranger just because it's what he was told...

He was superior. And killing didn't make him a monster, it simply made him what he was. Powerful, and above humans.

He grabbed the boy around his torso, pulling him down on top of him suddenly. The human cried out, but Onew's fangs sunk into his neck in a second, and he was quickly too drained to do any more screaming. Onew flipped on top of him, tearing more and more into his neck, wanting the blood to come faster and heavier. It wasn't a life beneath him, only a container for his food.

Minho would be ashamed, he thought suddenly.

He sat up over the human, looking down at him. He was very much dead, his skin paled and the last of his blood dripping into a pool on the floor. Onew stared, wondering if he could feel bad.

.. Nope. Not really.

But that made him feel strangely empty. As if he wanted that annoying guilt that Minho forced into him. Well, not 'as if'... he really just, did.

He sighed and looked around the room. How long was he supposed to wait here for Dara? He narrowed his eyes and stood up, deciding he didn't want to.

He opened the door and leaned into the hall. It was after he checked that it was empty that he walked, carefully, through the creaky small hall to Minho's door.

He leaned against it, hearing just.. a heartbeat. If Siwon was in there, he was being awfully quiet. That wasn't too unusual, but Onew suddenly decided he'd take his chances. He pushed the door open, stepping in.

Minho looked right up from the bed, eyes wide, "Onew."

"Minho." Onew said quickly, hurrying to the bed.

Minho stood up slowly, but stood up all the same. "You actually came.."

Onew put his hands on his shoulders and pushed him down on the bed "I'll bond with you, and we'll get out of here." he said.

Minho cringed when he hit the bed, and Onew blinked. "Did he hurt you?"

Tears rose in Minho's eyes, and he reluctantly admitted, "A little."

They both looked fast to the door when a creak made Siwon's presence known. Onew glared, and quickly turned back to Minho. He leaned towards Minho's mouth, and Minho expected a kiss, though Onew's only thoughts were to pierce his fangs into him so they could be bonded once again...

The tip of Onew's fangs met Minho's bottom lip just for a horrible, teasing moment. Siwon moved way too fast. He grabbed onto Onew's shoulder, just because it was the first thing he reached, and threw him off of Minho with all of his strength, straight into the corner of a dresser.

Onew didn't let the collision stop him for long. He lunged at Siwon, fangs bared, but Siwon was ready too, and the two just held each other off. Minho could even see Siwon's advantage though. So he stood up himself, and ran into the vampire in attempt to throw him away from Onew.

It worked, but only so that Siwon could wrap his arms around Minho and pull him tight against himself. Still, Minho held his hand out. "Onew. Bite me."

Onew moved forward to do so, but Siwon spun around, guarding Minho with his own body. Minho found himself in a corner, with Siwon all around him, keeping him from his last hope.

"You just blew your chance, Onew." Siwon said.

Onew looked over his shoulder as several other vampires, none of whom he particularly recognized, walked into the room. He snarled, "You tricked me?"

"I planned to." Siwon said, "You nearly caught me off guard, but this seems to have worked out fine."

Onew yelled in frustration, lunging himself at Siwon once again. If he could only get a fang through Minho, then..

Siwon turned, knocking Onew in the face with a powerful punch. Onew dropped against the floor and spit out blood. Minho started towards him, but Siwon simply held him back. "Take him." Siwon demanded the waiting vampires.

And they did.

Part 29:
Minho pushed against Siwon, about in a panic. "Don't let them hurt him."

Siwon turned fully to Minho, grabbing onto his arms. "You'd ask him to bite you?" he asked, obviously more furious than his demeanor would let on. Minho could feel it, and it was dangerous, and he was afraid even to meet his eyes. He stopped pushing against Siwon, glaring down at his chest.

"I'm his." Minho said.

"You're mine." Siwon quickly corrected. "Don't make me be cruel. Neither of us wants that."

"Why do you want me? Why should you care?"

Siwon lifted a hand, carefully placing it on his cheek and tilting his head up until their eyes met. "It's true that I bonded with you because I was ordered to, but don't mistake me for not caring. You know that I care. It would hurt me greatly to lose you. Especially to him."

The words made Minho feel queasy. He knew they were true, as much as he didn't want to believe them. Even worse, it bothered him to think of how much it would hurt Siwon to go back to Onew. It bothered him way too much.

Then, Siwon backed away from him. "I told you, when you humiliated me, I'd do worse to you." and Minho stiffened up.

"Take your clothes off." Siwon said, cold.

Minho should have already learned better than to not do as told - he thought he had - but just obediently pulling off his clothes, so Siwon could all too likely beat him and make him feel anything like he felt before, it was just... "No.." he said. "Please, no."

He caught Siwon's angry twitch just before he closed the distance once again. "Don't make me take them off for you."

"I'm yours." Minho said, in a hurried attempt at defense, though he immediately feels horrible for the words.

Siwon shut his eyes, trying to keep himself calm. "Why do you hate that so much?"

"Because you treat me like I'm a thing." Minho said honestly. "At least Onew respected me. Onew cares even now..." As Minho said it, the truth of it struck him, and the emptiness that had been created when their bond broke seemed to shrink, if just a little...

"He doesn't care about you." Siwon told him, "He's confused, maybe, but I assure you what he mostly wants you for is revenge."

Minho looked at Siwon, a bit surprised himself. "Even you know that's not true."

Siwon opened his eyes, looking at Minho. "What?"

"I can tell," Minho said, "That you know Onew's feelings for me are special."

Siwon's anger looked like it was about to burst, and he took another step back from Minho. "I won't tell you again. Take your clothes off."
Now Minho was closing his eyes to try staying calm. He breathed carefully, thinking over his options. Try to run, and probably be beaten. Stay still, and probably be beaten.

But Siwon surprised him. He moved against his human, embracing him to reach up the back of his shirt. Minho trembled against him, hating the closeness, and hating even more Siwon's gentle voice in his ear. "You'll forgive me after this, Minho."

Minho flinched at the thought, and started to pull away, but Siwon held him close until he was still again, and pulled his t-shirt over his head - then dropped it to the floor.

Siwon leaned forward to encourage him, gently kissing his cheek, then his ear, and then moving his lips towards Minho's...

"No." Minho jerked away, backing the little bit he could into the corner. "I hate this."

"If you allow yourself, you'll like it." Siwon said shortly, and he moved his own hands to the front of Minho's jeans.

Minho opened his eyes and grabbed Siwon's wrists. "I can't be this way with you."

Siwon jerked his hands from Minho's grip, giving him a hint of a glare. "It's not a choice," Siwon told him, setting his hands on Minho's hips. "You can make it hard on yourself, but it will happen all the same."

There was a knock at the door, and before Siwon had time to tell them to leave, it burst open. The intruding vampire looked to them in the corner and seemed unaffected by their position. He simply said, "Onew escaped."

Minho couldn't hold back his grin, no matter what predicament Onew had left him in. Onew was okay, and he knew Onew quite well, and surely well enough to know he'd be back for him. It was good news.

"Get out." Siwon told the vampire, his fingers digging into Minho's skin and making his grin quickly disappear.

After the door was closed, Siwon glared at Minho. "I see you're pleased."

"Yeah." Minho told Siwon, "I am."
At first, Siwon was hurt. Then, his mouth set in a tight line, and Minho felt the rage. A second later, Siwon forced his mouth over Minho's. Minho tried pulling away, but it was a useless effort. Siwon was strong, and his mouth was rough against his, but soon his emotions came through and Minho relaxed. It felt good, and he hated that, but well, he also loved it. It was this overpowering sensation, different from when Onew kissed him because it wasn't so much of a kiss as a brutal attack on his mouth. Siwon didn't hold back - Siwon overpowered him and loved doing it, and through their link, that feeling shot into Minho - and he kissed back against Siwon, suddenly in a battle he had no chance of winning.
His mind was gone until they parted, and it hit him suddenly when it hit. Siwon's smug satisfaction, like he'd just won some fucked up game, and it felt very much like a slap in the face, sobering Minho from a drunken state. He'd just kissed a man he hated, and liked it. Not liked it, but loved it.

It was so sickeningly unlike himself that he wanted to vomit, and in fact, he'd hardly eaten anything - but he bent over, and did, right on Siwon's foot. It was too small of a victory to make up for the kiss, so Minho didn't smile even as Siwon yelled and stepped back.

He stared at his small puddle of spit up, all the more disgusted with himself.
Part 30:
"Okay.." Sungmin said with a sigh, "They're officially an hour late."

He and Taemin were sitting together on the couch, and Sungmin had just interrupted the silence that had followed a semi-awkward discussion about whether or not computer animated characters could be "hot"...

"They are?" Taemin asked worriedly, "I didn't know there was an exact time."

Sungmin nodded, "Well I didn't want you to worry until you needed to. They said if they were an hour later than expected, we should go to the meet-up spot."

"The meet-up spot?"

"In front of The Council. That way, we can see if they get dragged in.. and maybe stop it."

Taemin pouted, "An hour seems a little late for that."

"True." Sungmin said with another sigh. "But if they come home and we're gone, that's where they'll assume we are."

"What are we waiting for?" Taemin asked, standing.

"A cab, first of all. Go get dressed in real clothes while I call."

Taemin (who had showered and changed to pajamas after his work out) nodded, and was fast to disappear to the bedroom. He was pulling his hair back in a ponytail when Sungmin stepped in the doorway, looking frustrated. "We have to go to the payphone. My cell got cut off."

"Yours too?" Taemin asked, pouting. "I don't want to steal money again.. It'd be nice if we could kill a vampire who had a lot of cash~."

"We'll worry about money later. Get armed."

"I already have two~." Taemin said, grinning at Sungmin.

Sungmin pouted, looking genuinely hurt.

"Just joking... too dark?"

"I have two arms." Sungmin said, shuffling out of the doorway.

It was silent as they "suited up" so to speak. Taemin, because he felt bad about his not so appropriate arm joke, and Sungmin because he had a bad feeling and really just wished Jay and Jungmo would pop in.

But they didn't.

Sungmin and Taemin descended down the stairs of their apartment building together, both concealing weapons beneath their jackets, and Taemin keeping a hand on the switchblade in his pocket. He felt safer that way, somehow, despite the fact that the gun he was hiding was probably more effective. Then again, he still wasn't really sure about how well he could shoot it. Practicing shooting in a city wasn't exactly an easy thing to do... Jungmo and Jay really should have taken one of the two guns they had left with them, but apparently they were almighty and Taemin and Sungmin were useless without firepower (so Taemin was thinking bitterly).

When they stepped out of the apartment building, Sungmin immediately noticed much too many cars by the sidewalk. He glanced down towards the known vampire hotspot, and voiced his concern aloud, "It's only a couple of hours until sunrise.. why is it busy this late?"

"Let's move." Taemin said, more out of fear than out of a sudden amount of maturity. He and Sungmin turned, walking together towards the street corner. As they did, they heard the obvious footsteps behind them. They both turned, and looked, and saw two other men following behind them. They were young men, dressed in seemingly nice clubwear.

Sungmin muttered "stay calm" as he and Taemin turned forward, but Taemin's hand was already shaking on the switchblade in his pocket.

They had just reached their destination, pausing at the payphone, when the men made their move, the nearest of them reaching out to Taemin's arm - and Taemin's reaction speed was worthy of praise, even if - Sungmin thought - the reaction was a cowardly jump away.

Sungmin was fast to move between Taemin and the man that reached out, even if one of his arms was stuck in a sling. He was reaching into his jacket to get his gun when, what he now assumed was a vampire, took the low road and grabbed his casted arm, jerking him closer (painfully) by it. Sungmin screamed and, weapons forgotten, took his own cheap shot - a knee into the vampire's privates, which at least made him let go.

Taemin had to turn on the second vampire now, who of course - like a true man - reached to grab Taemin's ponytail. Taemin let him get his hand on it, flipping out his blade and stabbing it through the vampire's outstretched arm. So the vampire hissed, letting go of Taemin's hair and jerking his hand back. "You are hunters."

Taemin wasn't listening though. He quickly turned on the other vampire, who had backed off long enough for Sungmin to pull out his gun, but not long enough for Sungmin to take aim. The vampire grabbed Sungmin's gun carrying arm as well as his broken one, clenching them in tight fists. So, Taemin stabbed him in the arm too, which was definitely good enough to make the vampire let go - and Sungmin's gun lifted to the vampire's eye level, before he shot.

As he collapsed to the ground, the other vampire snarled and moved forward for an attack, but Sungmin was ready for him too - and quickly shot.

Only after the vampire fell did Sungmin turn to Taemin, grinning. "I can't believe you did that. You actually.. moved. I mean, no, you actually helped!"

"They weren't all that scary." Taemin said, frowning down at them. He certainly looked shaken, but he breathed evenly, "They didn't even tell us how they were gonna torture us and all that rararaa..."

".. huh?" Sungmin asked.

"Nothing.. a-are you okay?"

"Now that you mention it, ow, but, at least we took care of that." Sungmin said, stepping to the payphone. As he put in change and dialed, Taemin looked around nervously. "Sungmin.." he said. "What if someone heard the gunshots?"

"I just have to make this call, Taemin."

Across the street, Taemin watched a group of six or so moving down the sidewalk. Two women, four men, all dressed in nice going out clothes and - suddenly looking their way.

"Sungmin, we have to go." Taemin said quickly.

Sungmin looked over his shoulder at the group, scowled, and hung up the phone before anyone answered. "Get out your gun." he told Taemin.

***

Onew ran like hell from The Council building, eyes sweeping the streets for a taxi. He spotted one sooner than expected, the car running and a driver inside. He ran so fast to it that he collided with the back door, falling back onto the sidewalk beside it.

The door quickly swung open, and someone too familiar stepped out to check on him. "Are you o--" Jungmo paused, gazing at the fallen vampire. "Oh."

Onew scrambled to his feet, pushing Jungmo. "Get inside!"

Jungmo climbed in, only cause he had no choice, and Onew squeezed in next to him, pulling the door shut. "Drive!" Onew yelled at the driver, an older man who looked a little more than confused.

"Where?" the man asked.

"Just go!!!" Onew growled, and so the cab moved forward.

"What an unfortunate coincidence." Jungmo said, and Onew could see him touching something shiny and silver at his side. He looked at the two he shared the backseat with, the hunters Jungmo and Jay, not that he remembered their names or anything. Taemin's friends, he considered them.

"Why are you hanging outside The Council?" he asked with a scowl.

"Meet up spot." Jungmo answered briefly.

"Meeting who?"

"You have a lot of questions for a vampire on the run who jumps in a cab with hunters." Jungmo said, raising a brow. Jay nodded in agreement.

Onew looked at the cab driver, wondering his opinion on the word 'vampire'. He seemed nonchalant. Jungmo shortly explained, "He knows us. So, you.."

Onew scowled, "It's a long story. Where is Taemin?"

"We don't know. That's why we were at the meet up spot. If they were worried about us, they should have been there."

"Do you need to go back and wait for them?" Onew asked, looking out the window.

"No, the sun will be up soon. They're probably back at home by now.." Jungmo didn't sound like he believed that at all.

"Check the hospital." Onew said.

Jungmo raised a brow at him.

"You aren't stupid. Something obviously happened to them. Check the hospital." Onew tapped on the cab driver's seat. "Hospital."

The driver nodded.

"Suddenly you're cool with hunters?" Jungmo asked.

"Suddenly I don't know what the fuck to do." Onew said emotionally, crossing his arms. "A vampire stole my bond with Minho."

"You're not bonded?" Jungmo asked, and Onew caught his tightening grip on his shiny silver thing, and tensed up until he saw Jay's hand move over the weapon. He looked over to Jay, contemplative. "No. I'm not bonded. But I want to save Minho."

"Or you want revenge." Jungmo accused, and Onew just scoffed. "Whatever. I need to save Minho, and I don't know how to do it on my own."

"You're lucky you ran into us." Jay said softly, "There's someone who we want to save at The Council too."

Onew frowned, not appreciating the suggestion that he'd have to help them to receive their help - but then again, appreciating the suggestion that they were willing to help. Even if they were stupid hunters and he wasn't sure what they were good for...

"Is there anywhere you need to go?" Jungmo asked him.

"What?" was Onew's reply.

"Well, you might be stuck at the hospital at this rate." Jungmo said, checking the time. "Sunrise isn't even an hour away."

Onew wrinkled his nose. "I guess I'll get stuck then."
Part 31:
Last time Minho took a shower at The Council, it had ended with a girl seeing him naked for the first time (well, apart from his mom, but everyone knows that doesn't count). So as Minho showered, he thought of Krystal, among other things, but none of those things seemed positive. Apart from, Onew still cares.

Onew had saved him before. Onew could save him now. But how much would he have to put up with until then? How much more would he hate himself before he was Onew's again?

The clothes he put on when he got out were like the ones Krystal had brought him, the same kind that all auctioned off humans apparently wore.

When he was dressed, he knocked on the bathroom's closed door, as he'd been told to. Siwon opened it. He was worried about Minho, and it definitely seemed like his stress had lessened. Somehow, that just made Minho feel more revolted with himself.

Siwon held out a small white bag, "There's a toothbrush, toothpaste, comb.. whatever you need."

Minho took it, said "Good.", and planned to brush his teeth for about an hour.

"Come to bed when you're finished."

"Fine."

"You're still feeling sick." Siwon stated, rather than asked.

"I'm still bonded to you." Minho said before he could think not to.

Siwon didn't get angry. Just hurt. He frowned, and said, "Maybe you'll feel differently after you've spent some time with others like yourself. I assure you that I'm not the enemy you assume I am."

"But you force me to stay with you."

"I couldn't lose you."

Minho felt bad for a moment, knowing that it must hurt to have your bonded taken, knowing that his own emptiness where Onew used to be was bad enough, and he at least had someone to take his place... "But Onew could?" he asked.

"Onew deserved his punishment."

"Agreed." said an upsettingly familiar voice, and when Key appeared in the bathroom doorway at Siwon's side, Minho was quick to back away. "How did you get free?"

Key ignored the question, looking at Siwon. "I have something I want him to see."

"Key.." Siwon said, "What happened to you?"

Key blinked, and lifted a hand to the scar by his eye, then scowled. "A hunter. But I'm dealing with that. Anyway, from what I've heard, you'll want him to see this too."

"What is it?" Siwon asked.

"Home movie." Key answered.

***

You're not supposed to go straight up hand to hand with vampires if you can avoid it. In the end, they're stronger and faster, and unless you get lucky they're going to win. But Taemin was pretty useless with that gun. They'd shot, and Taemin's gun was empty and had proved useless. Sungmin, he thought, took out a few, but he got busy when, well, vampires came at him.

So he had made an attempt at hand to hand with a vampire.. or rather, three vampires. He'd heard Sungmin tell him to run, but he remembered what it was like to try and outrun one of them, and apart from all the panic and fear and horror that went along with it, he'd only been able to escape through luck, and the thought of doing it again didn't seem all that appealing even in this situation. So, he fell shortly, after a blow to the head. His switchblade skidded away from him. He was still very conscious as nails scraped against his head before a hand clutched his ponytail and pulled.

He kicked his feet and screamed, reached up and tried to steal the grip of his hair from the vampire, but as usual, his struggles weren't doing him any good. It was painful, naturally, to be dragged by your hair down a sidewalk. His vision was blurred with tears, and so he could barely see the vampires that walked behind him, but he thought Sungmin was over one's shoulder.

The vampires were talking, but he could hardly make out about what over his screams. The one carrying him sounded angrier and angrier, but whatever words he was saying, Taemin wouldn't know.

Then finally, the man dragging him stopped. He jerked him up to his feet, and Taemin's teary eyes met with the blurred image of a masculine face. His screaming stopped, just in time to hear the man yell for him to be quiet.

He sobbed, and tried to bite his lip so he could obey, and then the grip on his ponytail suddenly loosened and he watched the man's face grow into a shocked expression.

Taemin stepped back, just as the man fell at his feet, and he froze when he saw Jonghyun standing behind him.

"Here." Jonghyun said, holding his own bloody switchblade out to him - the motion of which made Taemin cry out and stumble backwards. Jonghyun grinned, amused, but he didn't have time to force Taemin to take it before the other vampires of the group attacked.

Taemin watched as one of the most horrifying people he knew defended him from the small group of vampires, using his silver hunter switchblade to stab into them, and using punching and kicking to fend off the rest when the blade was too busy being stuck through another.

Taemin moved forward when Jonghyun attacked the vampire that held Sungmin, and caught him before he toppled to the ground. Run. his mind told him. Just run, while he's busy.

He'd just decided upon attempting to move when he realized it had got quiet.

He looked back at Jonghyun, and the fallen vampires around him. "You helped me?" he asked, and could practically hear his own heart pounding.

"No," Jonghyun said, dropping Taemin's switchblade. "I helped me." He kicked the blade into the street, and Taemin laid Sungmin on the sidewalk, knowing he needed to run and get it.

"Probably wishing you had taken that from me, right?" Jonghyun asked, "You haven't changed much, though."

Jonghyun put a hand around Taemin's neck, and he pulled him closer. Taemin made a choking sound, but he found he didn't even have the energy to try and struggle. He laid a hand gently against Jonghyun's arm, wanting to push, but it wouldn't work, he thought. Jonghyun was going to get what he wanted.

"You can't even imagine what I went through because of you." Jonghyun said, and his fingers tightened around Taemin's throat. "So......rry." Taemin managed to reply, squeezing his hand around Jonghyun's arm. The vampire let go then, taking hold of his thin forearm instead. "Come on. Your friend can stay here for now."

Taemin walked along with Jonghyun, amazingly, not even screaming.
Part 32:
Minho sat between two vampires on the bed, a small laptop forced into his lap. He held it loosely, staring as the image of Onew bloodied on that bed appeared. The position felt horribly uncomfortable - even if Key wasn't within an inch of him, which was bad enough, watching Onew in this kind of situation felt wrong.

"You know, he must have not wanted you to see this for some reason. He broke my camera right in front of me.. you know, Onew isn't very smart, right? Of course I've have already moved the video." Key arrogantly laughed, "I wonder why he'd want to hide this from you~... Strange."

The girl that joined Onew on screen, Minho felt like his breath had been stolen when he realized he recognized her. He didn't notice Siwon putting his hand on his shoulder, trying to be comforting, but he did suddenly feel himself relax.

Well, until he watched Key putting the poor girl on top of Onew. That kind of freaked him out.

Siwon's hand moved down his arm and gripped his hand, and Minho was so incredibly focused on the video before him that he didn't realize he held Siwon's hand tightly back. "I don't want to see this." Minho said as the girl's hips jerked on top of Onew.

"Don't worry. It isn't long." Key said calmly.

Minho found his focus on Onew's expression. It didn't look like the face of a helpless victim. He'd seen an expression like it, the first night he met Onew, and rarely after. It was a horrible, hungry and evil expression.

Then, Jonghyun shoved the girl on top of him, and Onew ate her.

"You made him do this." Minho said quickly. But he had trouble believing it after what he'd seen. He cried, silently.

"He was begging for it, more like..." Key said sharply. "But sure, making him do it, why not tell yourself that?"

Key shut the laptop and pulled it from Minho's hands. "I'm sure we could collect better evidence," he said, "Since the truth is that Onew isn't any more of a human lover than I am."

"Thank you, Key." Siwon said.

Thank you? Minho thought, For showing me someone I care about eating one of my classmates?

Key smiled at Siwon as he stood up, "You know I'd be happy to help you out any time."

"It's late now," Siwon said, "I don't suppose you'll be able to get home before the sun is up."

"Mmhm. I have a place to sleep. You two enjoy your night."

Siwon bowed his head as Key walked out of the room. Minho was still.

A moment after they were left on their own, Siwon took his hand away from Minho, which was the first time Minho knew he was holding it. Minho tried not to miss Siwon's hand, quickly busying his own with wiping away his tears. "Can I sleep now?" he asked, voice cold.

"Yes." Siwon said, moving his hand over Minho's hair. "We'll sleep."

***

Jonghyun thought it'd be nice, to end it like this. His body over Taemin's as it struggled with all of it's pathetic strength to rise up, trying to win even one quick gasp of air. He wanted to leave Taemin's head in that bucket of water until it suffocated him, and that weak body will lay still.

Of course, Key would be pissed as hell, so Jonghyun lifted his head out of the bucket, long enough to hear that gasp, and then he pushed him back down.

Taemin was kneeled in Jonghyun and Key's living room floor, hands together behind his back, bonded with thick sticky tape. His legs were spread, and Jonghyun was between them, bent over him, holding his hair and watching him struggle in the bucket of water with way too much satisfaction. He did it for long enough to lose track of time, long enough that he was exhausted, the sun having risen maybe an hour ago. He didn't mind that exhaustion, though. There was plenty enough fun to keep him awake.

It did get repetitive eventually, though, and he jerked Taemin one last time from the bucket. He stood up and left the human on the floor, gasping and coughing, and basically acting like he didn't know how to breathe. He figured it out after a minute or so and his panting was replaced with sobs.

Jonghyun wished he had counted, wondering how many times he'd pushed the human to his limits, and wondering how many times he'd nearly died.

... Not that it really mattered. Jonghyun kicked him onto his back and held his foot on his chest to keep him that way, lying on top of his arms. Taemin looked terrified up at him, face pale and dripping wet with water and tears when he said, "Please. I'm so sorry.."

"What are you sorry for?" Jonghyun asked.

"Everything," Taemin answered, "I'm sorry."

Jonghyun kicked him onto his stomach now, sitting down on his lower back. "Try to be more specific." he said, lifting Taemin's hands into his lap and caressing his small fingers.

"I'm sorry for bothering you." Taemin said.

"How are you gonna make it up to me?" Jonghyun asked.

Taemin swallowed, and he hesitated for just a second before he answered, "Anything. Anything you want."

Jonghyun reached one hand to Taemin's ponytail, which was a wet mess at this point, and he snapped the holder in it and brushed through it with his fingers. "I don't know what you can do for me." Jonghyun said, voice a sigh. "Why don't you volunteer some things?"

"Give you.. blood.." was Taemin's weak answer.

"Nuh-uh." Jonghyun said, "I mean something like.. betray all your friends."

"Please." Taemin squeezed his eyes shut, "Don't make me do that."

Jonghyun spoke calmly, saying, "You said anything."

"I will," Taemin said, "I'll do it, just please don't make me."

Jonghyun just laughed now, "If this is the most that hunters are capable of, they're really not all that bad, huh? Don't worry. You're not even useful enough for that, so, you don't have to betray your friends."

It was all of a sudden that Taemin began violently shaking underneath Jonghyun, sobs becoming heavy. So Jonghyun decided to calm him down, the hand that still mingled with Taemin's fingers grabbing one, an index finger on his right hand, and twisting it until it cracked. Taemin's shriek was high-pitched enough to be a girl's, which of course made Jonghyun laugh. "Are you really a boy?" he asked.

Taemin ignored the question, and really he didn't have much pride to defend at this point anyway. "Let me go," he said, sobbing, "I can't take any more, please.."

"No, you know what happens when you can't take any more?" Jonghyun asked.

"You kill me," Taemin correctly guessed, and sobbed harder.

"Oh, you knew? So do I hurt you, or are you ready to die?"

"Hurt me." Taemin said, "Please hurt me."