Fresh smoke of the newly burnt carcass aspirated into the air, making its way through my nostrils. The atmosphere was tense once again as Fei and Jia made their way back to join the other two female Cold Ones.

Far too much has gone on today for me to handle. The only thing resonating through my head was Boram's final shrill of fear, terror, shock...pain...

If the Volturi had that authority and power over a vampire's death, what would happen to me?

A matted silence then followed as the foreign coven of vampires stared at EXO. My heart wouldn't stop pounding so loudly that I could hear it, sweat dampening my palms.

"So who is this...Victoria?" a baby-faced man with a slightly higher-pitched voice than the other two men muttered.

"Junsu, I suppose you were not informed of the mass killings and people going missing at Incheon a few months prior?" Suho answered politely. The Volturi exchanged glances.

"So she was the one who caused all that?" Yoochun questioned rather softly.

Suho only nodded once. "That's right."

"Why was she doing so?"

"We killed her mates," Kris answered. EXO turned to look at him questioningly.

Yoochun only looked confused. "Why did you do that?"

Kris shifted his gaze around the area before looking down, a sigh leaving his lips.

Jaejoong only nodded once before stirring his gaze onto me.

I gasped silently before quickly blinking to avoid the avid stare. Everything was just too intimidating for me.

"Who is this?" he added, "A new member of the coven? He looks far too small and young for you."

From the corner of my eye, I saw Kris stepping forward. "Her name is Jang _________, and she is...our mate."

I squeezed Baekhyun's wrist and faced forward once more.

The three men looked befuddled before exchanging surprised glances.

"Mate? Aren't they a little too young?" the baby-faced man, Junsu, said in surprise.

Now I understood why Minzy and Kris gave them the code name 'JYJ' - Jaejoong, Yoochun, and Junsu.

"Junsu-ssi, we have bonded with her, and we love her..." Suho explained, flashing the water droplet-shaped tattoo that was printed on his wrist.

Consequently, the rest of EXO began to move their shirts to the areas which they had their tattoos inked.

I remained frozen, waiting for the next set of intimidating words from the Volturi.

They seemed unfazed by the revelation. It was as if they had seen covens of males this big bonding to single females in the past.

"Yes, yes, we can tell," Jaejoong pressed, "You needn't have to show us," he then turned his attention to me, "Young miss? Would you mind proving that they are your mates?"

I bit my lip in hesitation.

"I've got you," Baekhyun quietly assured me. I nodded and let him turn my body around, lifting the back of my shirt to reveal the twelve tattoos on my back. I felt the gazes of the Cold Ones bear onto my skin. What would they do now?

After moments, which felt like hours, voices began to speak.

"Fascinating..."

My shirt was forced down once more, and I was turned to face the front.

"Back to my question, if you do not mind," Yoochun continued, making me swallow.

"We killed Victoria's mates because they were after ___________," Luhan answered rather nervously, "she was on the verge of...death...until we came and stopped them on time. This whole battle was Victoria's plan for revenge."

"What happened to her then?" Junsu asked.

I bit my lower lip, waiting for Kris' answer. Was he actually going to tell them that this wild vampire was still alive?

Once again, Kris hesitated before answering, "She..she got away."

"What?!" I heard Tao hiss. Whoops.

"I see..." Jaejoong eyed me, a small smirk beginning to form on his face. I cringed inwardly, feeling as if I was some sort of specimen for an experiment. "You have bonded with a human," he stated.

I felt Baekhyun stiffen from behind me; EXO would have reacted in the same way.

He would know. He could probably see and hear my blood flowing, my heart beating, and inhale my scent.

"We had no-"

"Understandable," Jaejoong interjected Suho's attempt of an explanation.

I looked over across the line that EXO had formed. Their eyebrows were furrowed in confusion.

"However," the Cold One continued, "You ought to know by now that bonding with humans come with a price."

"We can't do that!" Kris protested, his voice full of agitation.

It clicked. I instantly knew what 'price' Jaejoong was talking about - my humanity.

Jaejoong frowned in false sadness. "Well, I do apologise. It would be a shame to rid of a mate bonded to twelve vampires-"

"The date is set!" Luhan interjected. My head shot up and looked towards his direction, EXO did the same.

What was Luhan thinking?

Jaejoong looked rather surprised, slightly cocking his head to one side. "Really, now?"

Luhan swallowed and nodded confidently. "I've seen. I'll change her myself."

Following that were hisses and complaints of "WHAT?!" and "ARE YOU AN IDIOT?!" or anything along the lines of that.

The Volturi continued their interrogating stares.

"If you don't mind, Luhan," Jaejoong gently requested, holding his hand out. Luhan only firmly pressed his lips together before nodding. He gracefully made his way forward to Jaejoong, holding his own hand out to the Cold One.

What on earth were they going to do?

"Jaejoong has the power to see people's thoughts by the touch of their hands," Baekhyun murmured in my ear, as if he read my mind. He'll obviously know, since I was pretty new to this Volturi stuff.

I nodded slightly as he kept his grip firm on my waist, my gaze staring at Luhan and Jaejoong.

Jaejoong closed his eyes as his hands were clasping Luhan's right hand. I absolutely had no idea what was going on, but I had a feeling that some psychic connection had formed between the two.

Moments later, which felt like hours, Jaejoong finally opened his eyes, staring at Luhan's hand.

I wonder what image Luhan conjured up for him to see?

"Hmm..." Jaejoong mused, "Interesting...yes...now that you think of it that way...it makes me rather," he swallowed, lightly smacking his lips, "thirsty."

I froze. Did Luhan show Jaejoong that he was going to bite me and drink my blood? The blood of a singer?

Luhan began to slowly retreat, stepping backwards with his gazed faltered onto the ground.

"If you won't mind..." Jaejoong continued, holding his hand out, looking at Kris, then to me.

Kris hesitated. "Y-yes...go ahead."

I raised an eyebrow. "What?"

Baekhyun's grip on my waist began to loosen before he removed it completely. "Just go up to him. I'm sure he means no harm."

I looked up at Baekhyun before looking at Jaejoong. Reluctantly, I began making my way over to Jaejoong, holding my hand out. When I reached the Cold One, he instantly clasped my hand in his, as if he was desperate.

A sudden jolt of an icy sensation ran through my hand, sending shivers down my body. Instinctively, I jerked my hand back, but it was still restrained in Jaejoong's grasp. I now understood why they were called 'The Cold Ones' - their skin was literally ice cold.

Jaejoong closed his eyes, holding my hand as if for comfort. How ironic was that when I was the most uncomfortable in this situation out of all the species present.

Seconds later, he opened his eyes again, giving me a piercing gaze of wonder. I couldn't help but stare at his crimson irises that were so intimidating.

"Fascinating..." he whispered, looking at my hand again, "I see nothing." he stated bluntly before slowly removing his hands from mine.

I took this as the cue to go back to EXO. Once I did, I stood next to Lay and Kris, hoping that standing next to the illusionist and mind-reader would give me some sense of security. Yeah, yeah, call me a coward all you want - as if you don't want to be protected against the odds that your throat would be ripped out by the vampire authority, wouldn't you?

"If her mind does not work with my powers..." Jaejoong trailed, his hands beginning to clasp, "Jia, my dear?"

The pink-haired woman stepped out from behind, a small smirk played on her lips as she looked at me.

"No!" a voice, Kai's, growled. In that moment, he lashed out, despite the many hisses of protests.

"Pain," Jia said softly.

Kai was suddenly cut off from his actions, his body completely frozen. He began to tilt his head backwards.

Jia continued to use her sickening power, still unfazed, instead, she was smiling as if nothing was happening. Kai was then brought to his knees, his fists clenching.

Before I knew it, a small section of my left shoulder began to sting. I hissed, grasping at the area, hoping that the nagging pain would stop, but it only worsened.

The area began to burn, as if a hot bar of iron was placed there.

A screech of pain escaped my lips as I was brought to my knees also. I suddenly felt numerous presences around me, the guys were crouched, some on their knees, and looked at me in worry.

"No! Jia, please stop! She's hurting too!" Lay's frantic voice pleaded as I saw Luhan running up to Kai, crouching down to him.

By that time, I was rolled to my side on the ground. I couldn't help but let out an elongated scream of utter pain as my back began to sting and burn even more than when the tattoos were freshly imprinted onto my back.

"__________!! __________, are you okay?!" Sehun stammered, his hands cupped my face.

I was in too much pain to answer; it was like one of those dreams where you tried screaming, but nothing would come out.

"Jaejoong, please!" Chen protested as well. Jaejoong only nodded to Jia, who blinked numerous times as her nonchalant smile suddenly disappeared, returning to her original expressionless one.

Kai loosened his tensed body from the sprawled position, as the pain on my back ceased, as if it was never there in the first place.

"Amazing..." Jaejoong muttered, scratching his chin.

"Their bond is strong," Yoochun commented, "Never in hundreds of years have I seen the bond between a human and vampire so intense."

"It seems that they really do love each other." Junsu added.

I let out a choked cough before seeing Kai still on the ground with Luhan beside him. Seeing his suffered state, I scrambled upwards, attempting to run to him, but I was met with a tight grip on my arms and a woman's fierce gaze. That definately spelt that I wasn't going anywhere.

"Jongin!" I cried out, voicing myself for the first time in front of the Volturi, "Please, don't hurt him!"

Jaejoong only looked confused. "It was not our intention to do so," he informed, "It was his choice to interrupt."

I thought about it for a split second. He was right. Jia's power was aimed at me to see if it affected me, and Kai wanted to jump in.

Luhan help Kai to stand up before leading him back to the line.

The woman in front of me let go of her grasp and stood next to me. "Jia." she said flatly.

In response, Jia turned her attention away from Kai and Luhan to me. I felt her creepy stare seep into my skin, making me inwardly shudder.

"This may hurt a just little," Jia said before giving an angelic smile, slightly lowering her head. I gulped, clenching my fists, bracing myself for what was to come.

I waited. Jia continued staring at me, her red irises were the only things I could only really look at. Was she using her power at all? I surely couldn't feel anything.

A creepy laugh suddenly resonated across the field, causing Jia to blink, snapping out of her gaze and looking at Jaejoong.

"Magnificent!" he praised, clapping his hands together once, "Absolutely remarkable!"

EXO seemed to look like as if they had witnessed me turn into a Cold One - their expressions were priceless!

"So what do we do with her now?" Junsu inquired. I froze.

"She will become one of us!" Luhan exclaimed, "I promise you that."

Jaejoong only 'tsked'. "Yes, we know that. There are other mishaps that must also be resolved - that Victoria you mentioned. She is still alive. Your mate is a human. If you want to keep yourselves and your mate in good condition, for those two reasons, I suggest you make the change quick. Keep in mind that I'm saying this as a family friend and as an authoritical figure."

And with that, the seven Cold Ones were gone. The tenseness was relieved and EXO released breaths that seemed as if they were holding for that hold time. I felt multiple arms enveloping around my body.

"Thank goodness they didn't do anything to you," Suho whispered in to my ear.

"Yeah..." I sighed, "Hey, let me go to Jongin," I wriggled out of their grasps and ran over to Kai.

He looked like a wreck. I jumped-hugged him and buried my face into his neck, inhaling his sweet musky scent.

"Are you okay?" I mumbled, tightening my grip around his neck.

"Yeah, thanks, _________," he groaned, "I'm glad Jia's powers don't hurt you."

I nodded before letting go of him. "Me too, I guess." I then punched his chest with all the strength I could muster. "Damn it, Jongin, why did you have to jump in for me?"

"You're so violent! What are you gonna be like when you're a newborn?"

"Answer the damn question, please?"

Kai rolled his eyes. "I didn't know what to expect. Who knew that your mind didn't allow Jia's powers to hurt you?"

I bit my lip. Even though that was an experiment, anything could have happened.

"It's official, her mind is sealed from all powers," Lay observed.

I looked over to him and grinned. "I guess I should be happy."

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I AM BACK FROM TRIAL EXAMS!!!!!!!!! But then I have 2 months before my finals OTL

Thank you so much for your patience, guys! So here's another long chapter ^-^

One more chapter to go, and then Breaking Dawn will be around~

Here's some of oppas in GROWL BECAUSE THEY LOOK LIKE VAMPIRES :)

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