“Have you heard?”   “She ran away with one of them. A willing donor.”   “Does it matter? They’re popping up all over the small towns nowadays.”   “He must be handsome, how lucky.”   “Don’t be stupid. They’re dangerous and they hate humans!”   “But the last one is different. He helped us and just left.”   “It’s a trick to make you let your guard down. He’s after your blood, that’s the only thing their lot ever want for themselves. Don’t with vampires, love.”   “Well... It might be worth it.”   “Oh, Christ. You’re hopeless.”   “Ah, but he seemed so sweet.”     *     “You’re gonna need a shield,” Jinwoo remarks from against the door to Jinhwan’s ready room. The lithe hunter stands with a silver plated shield in his hands. The shield is beautifully crafted and well used. The etched silver inlays perfectly with a thin wooden veneer backing, protected and strengthened by a black lacquer coating.   “I never needed a shield,” Jinhwan replies confidently. He sets down the silver saber he’s been sharpening. Next to the sword lies a wooden dagger with a ruby handle, a set of sawtoothed throwing knives also forged in silver, and a locket carved out of ebony. The locket he wears snug around his throat. “Seven vampires hearts, ten emptied nests and counting.”   “Alright, show-off,” Jinwoo shakes his head and tucks away the long hair behind his ear, “It’d be a shame if any harm comes to our Jinanie’s pretty face. But what do I know? I’m only one of the best and most handsome vampire hunter in the guild.” He walks over to Jinhwan and caresses his cheeks, pretending to kiss him on the lips as he leans down.   Jinhwan turns his head away, laughing. “My face is gonna be fine. Worry about your own, Jinu.”   As two of the most experienced vampire slayers in the guild, they amass plenty of admirers from their lower-level colleagues. A few of the trainees stopped in their steps to gawk at the two of them together. Bored with guild life, Jinwoo loves to create a scene with Jinhwan, flaunting their beauty in front of everyone whenever he can.   Humming under his breath, Jinwoo wraps his arms around his friend and embraces him from the back. His dark hair pools around his neck, spilling over onto Jinhwan’s shoulder like black ink. “I only want you to be careful. We don’t know a lot about the nest you’re hunting, nor its leader. Unregistered rogue vampires behaves more erratically; they’re more powerful.”   “Jinu,” Jinhwan whines, twisting around to push the taller man away. “I know that, I’ve been preparing for weeks. The commander wouldn’t let me go if he didn’t think I can handle it by myself.”   “He didn’t want to let you go by yourself,” Jinwoo reminds him, “but since we’ve lost an entire unit from the last raid, we don’t have a choice.” The younger hunter knows this full well, and that’s why he volunteered to go alone for this new lead. Their guild can’t afford to lose more members, not when more rogue vampire nests are on the rise. Jinhwan stubbornly holds onto his gaze. “Kim Jinwoo, if you don’t trust me, then I won’t go,” he says earnestly and waits for his reaction.   Jinwoo gives him a long assessing glance, then closing his eyes, he nods. “Fine,” he complies, but not before pulling Jinhwan into a tight hug. “I’ll have the elders put you on probation if I have to come get you.” His friend loves to before every hunt, but this time, Jinhwan feels as though it’s more than that. Being in this profession means he can’t let every little odd feeling stop him, however. It is possible that the last failed raid affected their morale, even to someone as seasoned as Jinwoo.   Jinhwan wiggles uncomfortably in his embrace, “I’ll come back on my own two feet, you’ll see. And you’ll treat me to that bottle of wine that you’ve stashed away in the cellar.”   “How did you know about that, you sneaky little---”   A cough from the doorway interrupts their play, and Jinhwan twists around to see Seungyoon standing by the door.   “Commander.”   The tall man in black inclines his head but narrows his eyes at Jinwoo’s hold on Jinhwan. “Captain,” he replies politely.   Jinwoo arches a brow at the formal response.   “It’s time for him to go.”   “I know. I have to get ready as well. Go.” Jinwoo shifts to release Jinhwan before helping him shrug on a sturdy cloak. “Don’t worry, I’ll bring back a souvenir for you.” Jinhwan grins at him in an attempt to lighten up the serious mood. But the worried frown on the handsome man’s face never left, and Jinhwan has no choice but to leave him this way.   “I’ll walk with you to the gates,” Seungyoon murmurs beside him as they fall into matching steps. Together, they walk briskly down the granite stairs and onto the carpeted floor of the grand hall. The staff are busy lighting lanterns and candles in preparation for supper. With his head bowed and hands behind his back, the leader appears aloof to others, but Jinhwan can tell that he’s trying not to let his worry show.   “I’ve studied the map thrice. The scouts did their jobs so we know that there are eight in the nest. I’ve practice the routine until I memorized every step.” Jinhwan explains without prompt. He knows that’s what the commander wanted to ask but didn’t because there’s nothing he can do but send him off.   “It’s different this time,” Seungyoon can’t help but comment on the obvious, “everyone’s on edge.” Despite his best effort, he always end up nagging. There’s an uneasy emotion behind his eyes when the commander gazes at him. It’s always there ever since they were young. Jinhwan thinks it’s the weight of responsibilities crushing him, but he’s glad that he never once saw pity in them.   They strode across the lawn and to the stables where Jinhwan’s steed stands saddled and waiting. Jinhwan watches the restrained smile on the face of man who’s always planning ten steps ahead and sighs to himself.   The war against vampires came to an end before Jinhwan’s grandfather was born. Records tell him that there was peace for a long time when humans and vampires happily co-existed in their own communities. Unregistered vampires, however, still defy the laws and pillaged small towns while preying on the weak for human blood. They use their powers to defy the ministry’s army and evade their control.   Unfortunately for Jinhwan, his family fell victims to a rouge vampire before he turned eight. He can’t remember his face, but Jinhwan knew for certain that the vampire seduced his sister with glamour. His poor mother was fed on until dry while his father had his neck spliced opened trying to protect her. Jinhwan remembers how quickly the blind rage replaced terror and grief. He kicked, cried, and screamed uselessly. In the end, it did nothing, and he was left all alone. Most children were spared because they yield little amount of blood.   For days, Jinhwan wandered across towns, looking for his missing sister, until he couldn’t walk anymore and collapsed on the streets. Seungyoon’s father found him half-dead lying in a ditch, decided to take him in, and raised him as one of his own. Back then, there were plenty of orphaned children like him and Jinwoo. They were considered lucky to be taken in by the guild.   Jinhwan doesn’t remember much of his life before the incident. But he’ll always remember the iron smell of his father’s blood, slick and sticky all over their living room floor. Orange in the glow of the fire that engulfed their home afterward. Everyone seems to know when he recalls that particular memory despite his best effort to hide it. Growing up with Seungyoon and Jinwoo, in particular, means he can no less hide anything he’s thinking from them. They have a brotherly bond that Jinhwan finds suffocating at times. Especially since he’s matured into a decent hunter under the general’s tutorage.   Shaking out of his memories with a shudder, Jinhwan tries to reassure his friend once more. “I’ll send a pigeon when I arrive, and another after I empty the nest.”   Seungyoon tugs the cloak around him tighter, he looks as though he wanted to do something more, but ends up letting his hand drop by his side. The nervous gesture should concern Jinhwan, but he’s impatient to start the hunt.   “The head vampire is young but cunning. He took out two of our most experienced scouts. So I’ll send an army after you if I don’t hear from you in a month,” Seungyoon insists.   Jinhwan shakes his head at the exaggerated threat. “Why is it that you and Jinu always end up saying the same things?”   Embarrassed, Seungyoon coughs to hide his blush which does not go unnoticed by Jinhwan. He smirks to himself. “And anyway, you were jealous back there, weren’t you? You could’ve said something. Jinwoo likes to mess around, but he’s definitely not interested in me in that way.”   Rolling his eyes, Seungyoon decides to help him mount the horse. “Don’t joke around like that in public, Jinan,” he chastises with a tone that leaves little room for argument. “We’re not kids anymore, and the trainees take what you say seriously.”   Jinhwan’s grin widens. “It’s not a secret if everyone knows.”   “Don’t.”   Knowing when to stop teasing, the short hunter mounts his horse with a soft huff. He glances around once more to make sure his pack and weapons are tightly secured to the saddle.   Seungyoon steps over to give the steed a gentle pat on the side. “Just let me