[Three days before Haemin had met Jihyun]

Yoongi

 

“No I’m sorry, I haven’t seen her.”

         I sighed for the umpteenth time as the other had probably too. Here we are in a small looking store that sells dresses and shoes for women, talking to the owner named Nam Jihyun as her name tag had labeled her. “Sorry for the disturbance, we’ll be on our way now.” Seokjin said before the other had bowed at the lady, she bowed after before he escorted us back out of her store.

          I then face our eldest before giving him a sad sigh when I noticed that his face was down as ever. “Don’t worry hyung, we’ll find her. I’m sure that we will. Let’s just go back home and rest; I think we need to stop for a while.” Once I saw the latter nod his head and so did the others, we then made our way back to Vaiteron.

          Once we had arrived at the castle, the others wasted no time to disperse to their individual rooms as they collapse due to exhaustion. I continued to stand there in the entrance, still feeling my body as numb as ever, couldn’t help but feel the light twist in my chest. Was it longing? Was it missing ones person? I think that obviously it. With another sigh, I then slowly made my way upstairs towards my room but was stopped when my mother’s assistant had stopped me midway. “Yes, Changmin-ssi?” I looked up at the latter before he had bowed his head me.

          “Knight Min, the Majesty requested me to give this to you.” He said before he handed me a white envelope. I looked at him before I decided to open, seeing seven golden invitations in my hand. I opened one that had my name in it and read the content. “A masquerade ball?” I raised a brow at the assistant as he nodded his head. “It’s to honor the King of the Kingdom of Saraillah for his 50th birthday. His Honor is expecting all of your presence.” He then bowed, excusing himself before he had walked away back to where my parents were.

 

“Ball, huh?”

 

Haemin

 

“I swear for the second time, this isn’t me.”

          Lightly mumbling under my breath, I had watched the unknown girl in front of me as she mimicked what I was doing. Right in front of me was a giant mirror that could let me see the other side of me, the other girl that had come out for the second time in the year.

“Oh shut it, dear. This beautiful girl is you.”

          I turn my head to the left to see the Queen smiling cheekily at me as I was taken aback for her chose of words. “What? That’s what you teenagers speak these days right? Should I say you look pretty dope right now?” Yet again, I still stared at the lady who was smiling down at me. “I should really stop this young act of mine.” I then let out a laugh before another voice had spoken, pulling my attention away from thy majesty beside me.

         “Oh Haemin, you look even more lovely than those ladies downstairs. Look at you, amazing as ever.” I smiled genuinely at the latter on my other side, reaching out to take her hand as I gaze up at her gratefully. “Thank you, Jihyun-ssi. Thank you for everything and this dress, this amazing dress.” She smiled back down at me before nodding her head, receiving my piece of gratitude.

          I then looked back at the Queen beside me, giving her another sweet smile before bowing my head. “And to you too, your Majesty. You had done nothing but be kind to me. I thank you for that.” She then caressed my cheeks with the back of her hand before placing a small kiss on my forehead.

           “You are always welcome my dear, Haemin. Always.” And with that, she had left the room along with Jihyun to get ready herself. I was then left in the room all alone, staring blankly at myself in the mirror as I let out another smile. “This is it Haemin, this is what you truly are. No backing out now.” I lightly whispered to myself before tucking a strand of hair behind my ear, still smiling at myself as I slowly reached up to touch the necklace that the queen had given me.

“Haemin, I was just won—”

          My thoughts were destructed a familiar voice had rung in my ear, looking to the side to see Sehun looking at me with an expression which I felt very awkward. I let out a light cough, pulling him off from his thoughts before he let out a light laugh as he slowly made his way towards me.

          “Hey.” He softly said before reaching up to rub the back of his neck, I smiled back at him. “Hi.” I lightly responded as I looked down and noticed that he had already worn his attire, a black suit with little gold linings on the side of his shoulder, letting out the prince aura. I stared up at him and noticed that he was already staring back at me.

          “You look amazing.” I heard him whisper, staring down at me as his eyes looked deeply in mine. Feeling the heat rise up from my cheeks, I immediately looked away from his stare to refrain him from seeing my blushing cheeks. “T-Thank you.” I let out a light laugh before I looked up at him again. “You don’t look bad yourself, your Highness.” I teased a bit before he laughed along with me.

          “Come on, the party’s probably starting and I bet everyone’s already downstairs.” He said as I felt something at the pit of my stomach again, nervousness is what you call it. I let out a shaky sigh, staring down on the ground as I fiddled with my fingers. “I don’t think I can.” I mumbled under my breath but was enough for the boy in front of me to hear.

          I then felt warmness envelope my hand as I looked down, seeing that another was on mine. I slowly looked up to see Sehun smiling tenderly at me, if that was really it. “Hey—” He began as I felt him scoot closer to me. “You look beautiful and I sure am not lying. We’re both going to go out there and enjoy ourselves, okay? Trust me, I’ll always be with you.” Security is what I felt when I saw his long and slender arms bring me to his embrace.

"I’ll never let you go.”

          And that statement was enough for me to feel the weirdness in my stomach. No, it wasn’t butterflies nor was it something to do with the glee and happiness inside me. It was actually something going with the lines of this-is-wrong. I knew and I feel that he wasn’t just implying our current situation right now, I just know it.

          “L-Let’s just go down, I think I’m okay now.” I gave him a soft smile before I pushed him slightly away from me, walking my way towards the door as he followed behind. Before I could even open the door, Sehun had beaten me to it before lending his arm at me. “My lady?” He did a courtesy before a cheeky grin was plastered on his face again.

          I rolled my eyes at him before reaching out to loop my arm in his as we started to walk towards downstairs where the party was probably starting. As soon as we arrived where music could be heard already, I once again felt nervous but I didn’t need to show it. Before we could even make our way down the fancy and big flight of stairs in the middle of ball room, Sehun had stopped on his tracks when the Queen appeared beside us.

          She was looking as lovely as she was. With an elegant blue dress and the shining crown that she wore, she was absolutely amazing. After letting out a loving smile at both of us, she then signaled something to the announcer beside her as I saw him nod his head before looking in front to where everyone was enjoying themselves.

“Ladies and gentlemen!”

          He yelled, drawing the attention of the guest and the catering workers as they all stopped what they were doing then looked up at us. Right when I had the full site of everyone, that’s where I realize how much of a grand entrance I was going to have with the princes beside me. Looking at every woman in the room, I know I was different.

          It wasn’t the fact that I’m human and they were all vampires. Nope, it wasn’t that. But it was because of the different type of dress codes we all held. They were wearing cocktail dresses while I, being the only one who wore such a big gown. No wonder those Vampire Ladies had been giving me the eye.

“I present you Prince Sehun and his beautiful maiden, Lady Haemin!”

          And without further ado, I and Sehun had already walked down the flight of stairs as every pair of eyes had been settling on us. I can feel the radiant of the glares the ladies had given me, maybe it was probably because I was beside the crowned prince and they weren’t. I suddenly felt the chills running down my spine the moment we had ended on the ball room floor.

          “Hey, you okay?” As if sensing my anxiety-attack, I looked up at the latter as I nod my head. “I’m fine.” I smiled lightly at Sehun before we both made our way to the center, probably the time where I had dreaded all throughout this time; the dance.

          “Remember what I taught you? Just follow my lead.” He chuckled as he sensed my upcoming tension, slowly circling his arms around my small waist as I gently placed my arms around his neck. Feeling him pull me closer as I cleared my throat, looking down when I felt his gentle stare on me again. “Just, don’t let me fall.” I whispered back, biting down on my bottom lip as I heard him chuckle again. Leaning in closer to me as his lips were near beside my ears, I suddenly felt weird and worked up again.

“Never” After that has been said, I know and I feel that he wasn’t just implying the situation now.

          Slightly turning my head to the left and saw that everyone wasn’t looking at us anymore as they continued their own individual activities yet here I was, still in this prince’s arms as he sways me from side to side. I slowly looked up at Sehun, seeing that his eyes were still on me and the smile on his face was evident along his face.

          Right when I was about to say something, gasp and whispers had shaken me out from what I was planning on doing as I looked around, seeing everyone staring at someone or more like some people at the entrance of the ball room. I tried peeking at who they were looking at but gave up when I knew, even with this heels I still couldn’t get to see who.

          I then looked back at Sehun and saw that he had his eyes trailing towards the entrance, taken that he had probably seen since he was tall enough to peek through the crowd of people. Slowly, I saw the people move back as they made way for their source of amazement to walk closer inside the room.

          Right when I had taken a glimpse of them, I was mesmerized at how many they were. The way they dress was equally as dashing as Sehun and the other princeses in the kingdom. I then felt the boys hold on me lessen and soon, my waist was now released from his grip as I looked up to see the male beside me had gaped too. I turn my attention back at the unknown men again as I raised up a brow under the white mask that I was wearing.

          Seeing that those men had already placed themselves at the very front beside the Majesties and the other six princeses, I then looked up at Sehun and saw that he had also looked down at me. I gave him a nod before he hurriedly made his way beside the where the other royalties are. Seeing that those men had the same aura as what the princeses has, I guessed that they were also royalty themselves.

          The room then suddenly died down as it went full silence, seeing the Queen had raised a hand up in the air with a smile on her face. After that, she placed her hand back down before speaking. “All of you might have heard about the rumors of the said Vampire Knights from the Vaiteron Kingdom had suddenly disappeared?” She question as I saw everyone nodding their head in anticipation.

Vampire Knights?

          “Well, you people shall wait no more because here beside me are the missing knights that you all have been looking for. I give you, the Vampire Knights of the Kingdom of Vaiteron!” After that has been said, claps and the sound of amazement have been filled the room. Not wanting to be left out amongst the crowd, I clapped along with them but decided to keep silent on my place.

          I then saw the one in the middle take of his mask, letting everyone of us see one of the destined knights of the said Kingdom. And when he did, my arms immediately went falling on my sides as I stared blankly at the person in the middle. The room was suddenly filled with oohs as the rest of the men had taken of their mask, letting more of them reveal themselves.

          I just stood there, staring blankly at the people in front of me as they stood there rooted in their grounds, smiling at everyone at the audience. The room then fell silent again as the person in the middle had decided to say something. “Hello people from the Kingdom of Saraillah. And yes, as what you have heard from thy Majesty, we are the lost Vampire Knights of the Kingdom of Vaiteron.”

Liars. You all are liars.

          “We are deeply sorry for being at your absence when you had needed us in special and important occasions, as the leader of this royal group I deeply and sincerely apologize.”

I trusted you, all of you.

         “But now we’re back and we are always here at your service. We promise to make Aereth, with the help of the Saraillah monarchy, a much better world that all of us had been wanting to live in.”

I was honest with each and every one of you yet you all had been the biggest liars in my life.

“We will—”

          And without wasting any time, I had sprinted my way out from the room towards the entrance as I had probably caught everyone’s attention the moment I had started running. Hearing that the said Knight had stopped saying what he was planning on saying. Opening the big doors as I ignore the protest of the guards, I ran all the way outside the palace. Running to who knows where as long as I’m away from people that had lost everything in me because right now, everyone were no other than big fat liars.

 

Sehun

          Namjoon’s statement had stopped as the attention of everyone wasn’t on him anymore, but it was that girl in the purple gown that was practically sprinting out of the palace’s land. My eyes widen as I felt a tight grip beside me, turning my head to the side seeing my mother sadly smiling down at me. “Let her be.” She silently said before I looked back in front to see that they had their attention back at us.

         As Namjoon ended his speech, everyone then continued to do what they were doing as I couldn’t help but stare blankly at the now closed entrance. I turned my head to the side and saw my former play mate smiling brightly at me. “Hi hyung.” And after that, the latter had already enveloped me in a tight hug as I could hear him let out a light chuckle.

          “How have you been Sehun-ah? Still stupid and single?” He teased before I rolled my eyes at him, reaching out to playfully punch him on the arm. “Shut up hyung, like you have a girlfriend yourself.” I spat back before I let out a grin at me. “Oh you bet I do.” I didn’t ask further questions as something had caught my attention.

          Through my vampire vision, I can easily see what had been lying on the floor. I slightly excused myself as a made my way towards where Haemin used to stand before running away, bending down as I picked up the silver looking chain. It was her bracelet. It was the bracelet I let her wear so that vampires couldn’t smell her own human blood running in her veins. And right there, I felt even more scared for her.

Haemin, what are you trying to pull off this time?

          “Sehun-ah, what’s wrong?” I then turned my head to see the side to see Seokjin blinking at me, I then shook my head as I let out a light smile. “It’s nothing, I just dropped something here a while ago.” Then after that, he nodded his head before we both made our way back to where the others were. But I still couldn’t help but feel empty as Haemin just ran off like that, s