Eyes open taking in the darkness that overwhelms her vision. Crimson irises light up as her vision scans the dimmed surroundings that appeared as clear as day through her eyes. She was alone. Her head was throbbing from the pain of the object that had hit her skull. She tried to touch her crown when something tugged her hands preventing them from reaching up.

She was shackled with magical bonds that were casted by hunters. ‘Pretty smart for humans…’ she thought as she looked for other restraints on her body. Her feet were chained as well and the chains were embedded to the wall restraining some movement and only allowing her to walk a few paces. She realized she was in a dungeon.

‘Great… Now how will my family find me? I’m wondering how rogue vampires could have a hunter’s tools…’ she thought as she searched for any means of freeing herself from her bonds. The stoned walls were pieced meticulously and there was no light source in sight except for that small slit that lined the metal door which was the only means of entering and leaving the room.

Her ears strained for any hints of a presence from the other side of the door. She heard nothing, not even footsteps. ‘Great. Just great. No one is there for me to manipulate…’ Krystal thought as she searched for more means of escape.

Then after a few moments of pondering and taking in her surroundings, an idea popped into her mind. Ice! Yes, it weakens the objects it coats. ‘I’m just going to freeze this room…’ she decided.

The Jung maknae concentrated on her affinity and lowered her body temperature only to realize that nothing was happening. Her temperature remained constant and the room was left untouched. Not even an inch of snow appeared on her skin.

She soon noticed her spellbound bonds glowing. The hunter’s spell was preventing her from tapping her power. She struggled and scrambled towards the wall. Back hits the cold hard stone. Head rests onto the cold wall. A sigh escapes her lips.

“At this rate, I cannot leave this place…” She muttered to herself as she stared at her shackled hands that were raised just below her shoulders before she simply dropped them lifelessly on her lap; the shackles clanging upon her movement. She absentmindedly stared at her restrained feet before closing her eyes.

She thought of her sisters and her cousins. How they must have been worried for her. ‘Blame me and my reckless stunts…’ She mentally cursed as she softly hit her own head against the stone wall. ‘Now I have jeopardized not only myself but my family as well!’

She gritted her teeth in disappointment as she opened her eyes to take in the reality again. Her gaze landed on her pendant which her sisters had given to her and which she had worn ever since she had received it from them. It was the Bulgarian Bonds and the gift was supposed to be exclusive to the twins. It was supposed to be the symbol of their engagement but the two just shared the treasure to the rest of the girls and more importantly, to her.

Krystal studied the pendant’s composition. It was ethereal to stare at that she couldn’t help but drift back into her mind and reminisce the memories she had shared with her sisters. Just as she was about to immerse herself in her thoughts, a few footsteps were heard from the hall alerting her sensitive ears to the sounds of boots tapping the cobble-stoned floor.

‘Just my luck!’ Krystal thought as she hoped to somehow know of her whereabouts and her captors while waiting for the person to reach the entrance of her claustrophobic cell.

Judging from the number of the rhythmic taps of the boots, there were two men that Krystal could point out; two visitors for her to welcome into her dark dungeon. Two people to answer the questions running through her still clouded mind.

‘I must know the people who are after my family.’ Was the first thing that entered her mind as she prepared herself for the two men who will soon face her. Krystal was ready with her interrogations although she was still unsure if she will be facing the right people to throw in her queries to.

The footsteps stopped in front of the metal door that guarded Krystal’s prison. She could sense the hesitance of the two people as she heard the keys shaking vigorously as it was inserted into the keyhole. A sly smile appeared on the maknae’s face. She can smell their fear and she can take advantage of it. Krystal is a Jung and they have this distinctive characteristic that makes them intimidating – their eyes that could send piercing glares and send shivers down one’s spine.

She heard the key turn the lock and with a hard push of one man’s hand, the metal door swung open with a loud greasy screech. Light invaded Krystal’s glowing crimson eyes which made her flinch as she adjusted her sight and her eyes returned to their normal carnelian tint.

The first one to enter her cell was a middle-aged man with a beard and a muscular stature. Judging by the knives he packed on his waist belt and the huge overcoat he wore, Krystal deduced that he was a hunter – a high ranking one at that. The man let out a strong stance but the Jung maknae had already seen past his bold façade and she can sense that he was tensed based on the sweat beads on his forehead. She knew he was uncomfortable being in the same room as her.

The youngest Jung then turned her sights on the second person who stepped foot in her prison. He was a lean man and his age seemed too young for his demeanor. He looked rowdy yet stern. His pale complexion and crimson eyes gave the young vampire a hint of what he is.

Just staring at him made Krystal conclude that the vampire loathed her upon seeing her seated comfortably, back leaning against the wall with a facial expression that showed them she didn’t give a damn about their presence.

The vampire cleared his throat catching Krystal’s attention when the maknae turned her sights elsewhere. “I suppose you’re surprised to see yourself in this state…Your…Highness…” the rogue vampire said with an acid tone of emphasis when he mentions the last two words.

Krystal shrugged refusing to respond to his mockery. She is, after all, a member of the Royal Family. The hunter who was accompanying the rogue vampire stared intently at the stubborn prisoner.

“Do you have any idea why you’re here?” The hunter asked; his voice was gruff yet loud. Krystal simply shook her head in reply. Her face was expressionless as she stared at the hunter in the eyes.

“Then let me remind you of your place here, vampire…” The hunter replied as he unsheathed one of his knives and walked towards the young vampire. Confidence beamed from him as he took a stride closer to the vampire sulking at the corner of the room. He was no longer afraid of the seemingly harmless girl.

The rogue vampire then stared wide eyed upon seeing what the hunter was about to do to their prisoner. “Wait! Don’t!” The vampire let out as he restrained the hunter’s hand that was brandishing the deadly knife that was longing for Krystal’s flesh.

The maknae only stared surprised at the sudden behaviors of the two different individuals. They were on bad terms and she wondered what made them somehow cooperate with one another.

“So,” Krystal spoke for the first time ever since the two men arrived as she caught the two bickering men’s attention, “What are you going to do with me?”

The hunter lowered his knife and the vampire restraining him relaxed. The hunter didn’t sheath his blade to intimidate the prisoner a little bit.

“You’re going to be ransomed.” The hunter said.

“For what?”

“You’ll be free in exchange for either of your sisters…”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. And the rogues have promised to leave this country alone if we help them get one of the twins…”

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