It’s been years since the council meeting that caused an uproar between us vampires. The news about the President choosing Yoon Bomi, a turned vampire, as his successor was taken negatively by some but those who worship the government learned to understand and accept his decision as time goes by.

I, on the other hand, haven’t moved on from the pain it caused me. I still have twenty-three more years left of service as my punishment. I haven’t been thinking straight since then, not after being haunted by Bomi’s cry during that day. All I know is that I lost her already, that she’s now a property of the government. And I feel ty every time I realize that I’ll live this endless life with regrets on how I wasn’t able to do anything about it.

I’ve made plans to spend and treasure her remaining days with me, I’ve made peace with myself that she’ll be my most valued memory once her days are over. But now knowing that she’ll soon be the one leading our kind, who knows what kind of a leader she will be? Who knows what changes her new birth caused? Who knows?

I tried my best not to think about her, not to care, not to feel, but thoughts like this just come naturally every time I finish my tasks. This is why I hate having idle time.

Hours after the council meeting with the President and Yoon Bomi.

We’re on our way now to do the requirements needed for this century of service sentenced to us. “Are you okay? Good to walk?” I asked Hayoung who’s severely injured from the torture.

“I’m fine. Are you?” Hayoung returned the concern to me and they all look in my direction to see how I’m feeling about our current situation.

“I am not.” All I know is that I’m furious. I’m mad at my brother for being this scumbag that led us all to where we are right now. I’m mad at Yoon Bomi for risking her life just like that. I’m mad at myself for how I have felt useless, powerless. Everything is so messed up. And the more I think about it, the more the reality slaps me that I am the cause of it all. That I am the person who started everything.

“Next.” The council on duty called and I sat in front of her table. I watched her inject this tracker into my wrist. I saw Eunji flinched at the procedure but surprisingly it’s not that painful. Have I gone numb? 

Those who are given the punishment to serve had to go through this process where they will attach a tracking device to us just to make sure that we’re not going to run away from our obligations.

As soon as everyone’s done, we were taken by Eunji to this enormous bulletin board where commissions that we can take are posted while Namjoo and Hayoung decided to stay in the council clinic to have themselves treated after that cruel torture they got from the silver collar.

“You see there are different jobs available, it’s either by group or solo.” Eunji explained as I stand beside them and started skimming through it to start as soon as possible. I knew she would prefer having me with them given the meaning behind those looks. They’re worried about me. But they shouldn’t be, I’ll be fine. I hope.

“I’ll go now.” I told them as I tear one job from the board.

“Wait, unnie!” Naeun called, “You know that we only have to do 2 commissions a year right? Why don’t you come home with us? We can rest for a while until we get our heads sorted from everything.” As usual, she’s the most rational one but I don’t need any rest. I’m planning to take as much work as I can just to get my mind off Yoon Bomi.

“I’ll visit, don’t worry too much Naeun-ah. Also, congratulations on you two.” I may have sounded so bitter but I’m truly happy for them. “I’m truly happy.” With that, I left them in the council territory and started hunting for ghouls in the area specified on the job description.

The chances of meeting them, Bomi and the President, in this place is so high that I always choose to pick up a job from that commission board in broad daylight where vampires are mostly in their houses. 

“Should I get a new one for myself?” To be honest, the council isn’t that tight with this whole service procedure, they’ve given us the choice to where we’d want to stay over the hundred years. There’s the Council Dormitory where most of the lone vampires stay but given that it’s inside their premises, I can’t really choose to stay there. Especially not when I’ve been trying my hardest to avoid seeing the two. 

We can also choose to go back to our base, which is my father’s massive forest but I chose not to meet them after all those years. I don’t think I have the courage to face my father after everything that has happened but most importantly, I don’t want to see Seungwoo’s face. I might end up ending his life for what he did, I can’t afford to add up to my father’s disappointment in me.

There’s also my home, my place in that little town. But the memories it holds would kill me. I- I just can’t stay there for the time being. I’ve been homeless for 72 years now, my life has been in this routine where I’d pick a job, camp over where ghouls are located, wipe them out, rinse and repeat.

I have reached the place where the horde of ghouls are roaming and ‘animal reports’ from the humans are increasing. The way I see it, as much as I don’t want to think of this possibility, there’s someone behind these ghouls. History is to repeat itself.

What’s irritating whenever I’m in the field