***

My eyes snapped open as I blinked once and then twice towards the ceiling of my room before moved to turn to my side as I felt a death grip around my waist and looked down at the owner of the arm,

Park Jimin groaned softly as he tightened his grip on me, not even bother to crack an eye open but it obvious that he’s awake and a slight frown instantly formed on my forehead as I tried to pry his arm off of my body,

“stop it, baby, you know it’s no use, why don't you just let us go back to sleep, yes?” the midget said in his husky just-woken-up voice and I simply roll my eyes at his stubbornness but complied in the end. Just like how he said, it’s useless anyway, I couldn't budge him even for an inch at this point,

“nope, you know as well as I am that won't do, so move your lazy , it’s already late in the evening and we have something urgent to be done” I grumbled when he nuzzled his nose onto my chest like a brat he is,

He grunted once again, mumbling an incoherent sentence, “five more minutes then”. My brow twitched in annoyance at this,

“now, Jimin”,

He shakes his head lightly, electing a funny tingles through our tangled bodies as he did kind of rubs his whole face on the valley of my chest, the end of his soft locks tickled my sensitive skin. Annoyed at his childlike behaviors, I put my right palm on top of his forehead and push him away none too gently, he growled “I swear, you are just too persistence for your own good” then suddenly flipped me onto my back as he pinned me down, countering my glare with a set of deep frown on his face,

“speak to yourself” I hissed after the long lasted glaring contest,

Jimin let out a heavy sigh at this, the tip of his black hair grazed his tired eyes as he shake his head lightly, whispering “you are as feisty as ever,” and I couldn't help the small smirk that crept onto my lips at the defeated tone but the momentarily victory was crippled shortly from my face when Jimin’s trademark cheeky grin back on his face,

“but I like it either way” he said before quickly leaned down to bury his nose back on the nook of my neck as I just growled out of frustration lightly when I felt his plump lips nip on my skin. For pete’s sake, why is he so infuriating?!

“oh come on Jimin, the others will kill you if they wake up and see your bed empty only to find you here” I change my strategy and tried to reason but he just snickered,

“let them be, I’ve told you I don't care, right?” he glanced up to throw me a playful wink. Really? Is he a masochist or what?,

But before I could muster my never ending protest, he beat me at it, mumbling into the back of my neck softly and I felt myself relaxed slightly -just slightly-, “just give me a few second, let me savor this moment, we haven't cuddled together like this for far too long and I missed it”. I sighed in defeat then move my hand to pet his head lightly and playing with the short hairs on the back of his neck,

“don't ever leave again, please”,

A crease formed between my brows at this and said the first thing that came up into my mind, “you brought it upon yourself, all of you”, I felt the boy stiffened at my cold answer and pulled away, a wave of guilt dawn on me as I looked at his pained looks but alas, the deed had already been done and I honestly just stating the fact, he knew that,

“baby, I-I know we were at fault for cornered you like that at the courtroom that day, th-that’s why, I’m sorry, I...” he said in a whispered, stumbled upon his words slightly but I cut him,

“yet you still don't believe me, even now”, it’s a statement, not a question or anything near it and Jimin he clearly understand that as he bit his lip at this. I hold the urge to grit my teeth in anger at the sight,

“but-”,

I held a hand at him, stopping his words “keep it, just move away, I don't need your excuses, we have more urgent things to do than discussing this all over again” and with that being said I push his shoulder aside as I start to climb down from the bed but he quickly catch my wrist, yanking me back towards his bare chest and I turn to squint my eyes as I send my cold glare at him,

He open his mouth to say something but before he could even form his words, the mahogany door slammed open and in an instant, four -greatly- displeased boys barged into my room at once, glaring daggers towards the flabbergasted black haired boy who still have his grip intact around my wrist,

And as if flipping a coin, I felt the tension around us evaporated into nothing as I lift an amused brow when I saw how livid Jeon JungKook right now. His dark eyes dropped upon my neck -which still covered by the trail of dried blood by the way- to our disheveled state and finally the lack of clothing on both of us respectively,  he practically seething in anger as he scowled at the older boy and Jimin visibly gulped as he cursed under his breath “”,

“I’ve warned you, didn't I?” I casually stated when I felt the iron grip around my wrist turned into a jelly just right before JungKook suddenly exploded,

“THAT’S DONE IT! COME HERE, YOU MIDGET!”

Ahh, what a way to start the night.

***

SeokJin flipped the pancake quietly before the sounds of the youngest heir rang through the peaceful evening loudly, shocking the eldest Kim as his grip on the pan slipped momentarily, let out a quite unmanly yelp as he smoothly saved the pancake before it ruined by the frantic moves then glanced at Yoongi who just sipped his coffee casually, not even bothered for the slightest by the ruckus that came from their mate’s room on the second floor as if nothing happened,

The oldest sighed in defeat as he shake his head in disbelief, “so much for a quiet evening, I can't believe you Park Jimin” he commented, guessing what’s the matter already just by hearing how angry their maknae sounded. Yoongi wordlessly put down his cup, turning when SeokJin dropped the last pancakes on his plate,

“he just loves to annoy JungKook too much, I don't understand why he enjoyed the torture so much though” SeokJin said, elbows on the counter with fingers tangled together as he rest his chin on top of the flat surface his fingers has created, glancing at Yoongi from the corner of his eyes as they listening to the chaos unfolded in silence as if it’s a morning show. The later just shrugged his shoulders lightly as he brought his cup back to his lips,

“beats me, I’m as clueless as you are in this” he answered before their eyes simultaneously trailed towards the second floor when another loud yelp heard which no doubt belonged to one and only Park Jimin. They muttered the exact same thing with two different tones underlining the word. One being completely amused while the other just simply felt defeated by the whole things,

“idiot”.

***

I watched in amusement when JungKook unceremoniously dragged the half-conscious Jimin by his ear out of my door with TaeHyung and HoSeok hot in their tail after beating the life out of the poor Park boy just a few seconds ago, I could practically see the hot steam flew out of the youngest boy’s ears as he stomped his way through the hallway from my spot by the door, leaning on the frame as I watch them go, a little taken aback at the slight pout on TaeHyung’s face to be honest but decided to keep it to myself. That boy keep on surprising me with his bizarre antics, the fact that he displayed such reaction would make me questioning my sanity if I ever saw it in the past but my present self just really don't wanna think about it too much, I have much more things other than that moody little ’s mood swings to think about,

“come down after you freshen yourself, I’m sure the breakfast would be served right then” NamJoon deep voice pulled me back from my trail of thoughts and I turn my head aside to look at him, still leaning my forearm on the door frame where I stand all along and simply let out quiet hums as an answer,

The boy chuckled at me as he pat my head lightly and leaned to steal a quick kiss before turn away to follow his brothers back to the first floor. I watch him leave for a mere second before straighten my back and proceed to close the door then taking my time walking towards the bathroom, stripping off of my nightwear along the way, feeling the silk smoothly slipped from my skin before dropped lifelessly onto the floor. I couldn't help the delightful shivers when the cold kissed my skin even more,

Stopping right before a huge vanity table, I watch myself from the vanity mirror in the bathroom after running the water for the bath and emotionlessly stared at my reflection, tilting my head slightly in childlike manners,

Looking back at me, is an expressionless girl with a remarkably pale skin. She looked like a living corpse with her almost translucent complexion and beady silver eyes, the two orbs resembled a doll's eyes so much with their lifelessness, thick black lashes framed the eyes perfectly and I saw the orbs followed my movements when I glide them down to look at the pair of luscious red lips, watching them gaped slightly as a the cold air formed a thin cloud every time I exhale, the room temperature has dropped drastically and I almost didn't even notice it the slightest if it's not for the cold air that clouded from my lips. My eyes fixated at the flow of red locks next, streaming down like a bloody red waterfall behind me as they swaying even by the slightest movements I made, tickling my bare waist with its soft tips before finally brought my eyes back at the face,

I blinked, frowning at the girl as she mirrored my action,

She looked different, yet just the same at the same time. I still found the old flaws that scattered around the girl’s complexion, the awkward combination of her stature but despite of that, I felt like I’m seeing someone else inside the mirror. Something’s changed,

And I like it but hate it at the same time

I like how I still found the old -a tad bit bonier- me inside her but hate the fact that I resembled her more and more every time I blinked at myself inside the mirror,

Frowning at the thought, I tear my eyes from the reflection and turn my whole body to walk towards the tub before dipping my feet into the warm water and hissed at the contrast of the temperature. The room’s cold and yet the water’s warm, it’s kinda burn my skin a little bit before I adjusted to the feels. More intriguing thoughts poked me. I find the cold much much more comforting than the stark white warmth

It’s true that I’ve never mind the cold most of the time and it’s just seems like I found myself liking it more than usual now but the thing is, I’ve never found myself to be this bothered by the warmth before,

I sat down on the tub, enduring the burning first touch for a second until the water finally engulfed me up to my chest, feeling more like my old self when the warmth seep through my skin and warming my body temperature in the process,

I don't even know how long I’ve been sitting there in the water as I lost in thoughts before a voice brought me back to my awareness and I whip my head in alarm to look at the owner of the voice,

HoSeok looked back at me from the door frame, his arms crossed in front of his chest in casual manners as his dark taunting eyes studying me and I felt myself relaxed when I recognized the intruder despite of my ness,

“we’ve begin to think that you has drown yourself to death” he said after a second pause, “so I came up here to check” he continued with a smirk. I roll my eyes at the cheeky tone he used,

“sorry for causing such thought then” I scoffed as I move to stand and stepped out of the water, the cold floor touched my wet feet and a pleasant shivers ran through my body when the cold replaced the warmth. I frowned lightly at such feelings,

HoSeok chuckled as he held out his arms, my bathrobe spread out for me to wear in his hands and I slipped into it in silence, turning to let him tied the robe for me,

“don't be, love, that’s because we were worried” he said after secured the knot and run the side of his index finger down along my jaw to the side of my left , avoiding the perked bud intentionally as he watch my reaction through his eyelashes but I just scoffed at this, slapping his hand away lightly and he lift an eyebrow, amused,

“yeah, sure” I said as I turn my back at him, walking away and look at him from the mirror as he moved to stand behind me before put both hands on top of the vanity table and trap me inside. He hummed as he put his chin on top of my right shoulder before nudging the shell of my ear with the tip of his nose,

“why so cold?” he drawled, eyes turning into a dark shade of red and a wave of darkness surge out of him, washing me like a wave as it burn my throat, my inner Reaper sniffed in hunger at this. HoSeok never have difficulty on taking off his mask in my presence. His true self showing off and I forgot how alluring it is,

He put his hand on my waist as he start to nibble on my neck while I just stood there watching him in a new spark of interest, curious of how he handled that side of him,

“say HoSeok, how you stay sane with all those darkness lurking inside you?” I finally opened my mouth and he stopped his antics at once and look up to stare back at me from the mirror before a smirk grazed his face as he straighten his back,

“hn? What’s this? What’s with the sudden interest?” he practically purred, taking a stray lock from my nape and start playing with it. I clucked my tongue before turning my body to fully face him and he tilt his head in amusement at my annoyed expression. The jerk’s clearly enjoying this

“just answer me, you prick” I hissed and his smirk widened,

He ran a hand through his head as he chuckled, “well? What’d you think?” he glanced down at me and I frowned,

“I don't know, if I knew, d’you think I would waste my time asking you?” I glared, countering his taunting looks as he keep on smirking at me before laughed darkly before picking another strands of hair to play while humming,

“you know what? I could sense it, love,” he started and my breath hitched, grasping well what he talking about instead of just answered my question and waiting for him to continue and after a few prolonged second he did, sadistic smile on his face “the newly awakened darkness within you”,

He smiled fondly at me as he grazed the side of my face with the tip of his fingers as if admiring a piece of delicate art as he keep going “it’s small, like a thin veil of shadow but it’s there, spreading itself steadily even as we speak, exciting isn't it?” his eyes dancing on my face before they fixed on mine as he grinned his childlike grins and for a second I thought his brighter side come back but he giggled as he purred,

“so pretty, so dark, so… beautiful”,

I frowned in annoyance when he lean down to nuzzle his nose on my ear before continuing again in a whisper,

“you just have to find something to keep the darkness at bay, find a reason”,

My frown deepened “that’s sounds too simple for something so important” I said and HoSeok chuckled as his mouth traveled further south to the base of my neck and stop there,

“what’s your ‘reason’?” I ask after the pregnant pause, HoSeok arm sneaked around my waist and hoisted me up to my tip toes while the other secured on top of the table behind me, slowly the two closed punctured wounds that Jimin’s fangs has created earlier, the flesh looked pink and raw but it didn't stop HoSeok from grazed the skin with his own fangs, making me winced slightly from the uncomfortable feels,

“hmm, you’re awfully curious tonight, love” he commented casually as I grip onto his shoulders for support “and you’re so persistent in keeping your riddle-ish words, just answer me” I snapped impatiently, making him laugh into my neck while keep on poking the tip of his growing fangs onto my scar. I felt the knot on my robe loosening,

He tilted his head slightly to look at me and the smirk back on his handsome face “my mother and the boys keep me sane, our bonds with each other are strong enough to keep the darkness at bay and also I might have found another reason,” he finally answered before pausing thoughtfully before grinning as he pulled me more firmly onto his chest, tightening his grip on my waist and my robe slipped down to my forearms. I lift a questioning brow but he just chuckled, “it’s a secret” and sink his fangs into my neck.

***

My thoughts darkened as soon as the familiar white building of the Council headquarter entered my sight from the tinted windows and I let out inaudible sigh when the sounds of tires rolled on the gravel rang loudly in my ears as the Limo pulled to a stop,

“let's go” SeokJin said casually, nodding his head at his brothers before opening the door then climbing off of the vehicle gracefully. He looked as calm as usual even though both of his dark eyes completely betrayed his composed looks, they looked hard and distance ever since this evening and I know why,

I watch the boys climbed out one by one until I was the last one out and the chauffeur closed the door behind me,

“what’s the matter, angel?” SeokJin concerned voice snapped me back from my trail of thought and I quickly turn around to found seven pair of eyes looked at me with either curious and worried looks on their faces. I shake my head to drove away their concern before slowly walked to them, accepting Yoongi’s open palm wordlessly,

“you looked rather pale, you shouldn't let them drink that much” the white haired boy reprimand me softly, his soft locks swayed lazily with the cold wind and I found myself focused on them more than my surrounding as we walk, making me stumbled upon the graveled surface a little. I catch both reaction from Jimin and HoSeok when they heard the second oldest, Jimin scratch the back of his neck guiltily as he got a heated glares from both JungKook and TaeHyung while HoSeok just looked around, avoiding the rest of the boys accusing glares casually but I saw a slightest -almost non existing- smirk appeared from the corner of his lips and I couldn't help but scof