A/N: Summer's usually the time for me to get sick... and when I mean sick, I mean really sick... which more often than not either lands me in the hospital or renders me unable to get up from bed for most of the day. I'm heat intolerant and that's what makes me loathe the season. :/ Anyways, here's the update you've been waiting for. :D Summer. Forgive the mistakes. I'll get back to them when I feel better. Enjoy!

“Sooyeon is not alive, but she can be brought back.” Rika replied. White Tiger frowned. This matter was complex. “What do you mean by that?” The male ancestor asked. Rika’s eyes locked on the youngest one, “It means that Sooyeon’s spirit has crossed into the realm of the deities, but she has not been led into the underworld and had wandered off into another realm instead. Soojung found her and she may be able to lead her soul back into this world.”

“So, there’s hope that we may have our descendant back.” White Tiger hoped. Rika turned to him and smiled. “Hopefully, the gods will be in their favor. We can do nothing from here. This is their battle and all we can do is watch over their physical bodies and wait for them to return.”

+++

“My Lady, we have been waiting for a couple of moons now. Is Princess Taeyeon going to claim her crown soon?” A noble vampire queried Soonkyu as soon as she and the rest of her cousins ambled up to the great hall. Soonkyu released a sigh, eyes wandering over the crowd before she bowed before the people along with her cousins.

“We apologize for the disruptions and the absence of Princess Taeyeon. It is my despair to announce that the coronation of the next Vampire Lord has been delayed.” Soonkyu addressed the crowd, earning more questions and gossip coming from the vampires of noble and lesser birth. A hand patted her shoulder, prompting Soonkyu to turn to her partner.

Soonkyu gave her beloved a tired smile before allowing Miyoung to speak to the people. “Please, we are all facing troubling times. Princess Taeyeon is in the crypts along with our ancestors and Princess Soojung. In the feast, earlier on, we have been faced with a disturbing transformation among our ranks. Our cousin is trying to solve that matter at hand and we suggest that it is best to postpone the ceremony until we have solved this problem. As for everyone, we wish you to get back to your daily duties of rebuilding our torn nation.”

Sighs of disappointment and frustration echo through the crowd, but there were mutterings among the people about how Miyoung was right and that they should move on to  their daily duties whilst waiting for their leader to settle the matter with the last member of the Im family who has turned roguish. Of course, the cousins who sighed in relief at the acceptance of the crowd of the news had planned this speech beforehand. They had agreed to lie about Taeyeon and Soojung’s true state in the crypts.

“The lesser the people know of what’s truly happening, the lesser problems we’d face as members of the higher nobility.” Juhyun had stated whilst they made their way up the gloomy stairwell, brainstorming of their alibi to the masses. And so, the alibi was made as they reached the top of the stairs guarding the royal crypts.

It did not take long before the great hall was emptied save for servants working to clean the area and the vampire cousins left to ponder on what to do. “I need rest.” Juhyun dissolved the silence as she slowly hobbled up the stairs. “Hey, let me assist you!” Hyoyeon hastily followed after the youngest, helping Juhyun in climbing the set of stairs leading to their bedchambers.

Meanwhile, Sooyoung’s thoughts were lost in a sea of worry. Soonkyu and Miyoung, who noticed it, both cast her a look of inquiry, which she only noticed after quite a while. “What?” Sooyoung asked. Soonkyu cleared before voicing her question, “You seem to be worried about something. May we know what?” The Choi sighed, “I’m wondering where Yoona is right now. She’s changed. The war has definitely changed her.”

“Everyone has changed since the Great War.” Miyoung pointed out. “We’ve lost a lot of people. We’ve lost dear ones, even.” Miyoung’s eyes flicker to the hallway leading to the crypts, half-expectant to see familiar faces coming through those doors. Sighing, she gave up and leaned closer to her blood partner, who welcomed her in an embrace.

“Is Yuri ever coming back?” Sooyoung wondered out loud. “We don’t know, but we can only hope.” Soonkyu replied as they all settled at the foot of the stairs, watching over the servants who were busy cleaning the great hall.

“I’m going to check on the alchemists and see whether they have made progress or not.” Miyoung said as she stood up, followed by Soonkyu. “I’ll come with you.” Soonkyu said, leaving Sooyoung to head up the stairs to see Hyoyeon and Juhyun.

+++

Yuri awakened to find herself half-buried in the falling snow. She groaned as she tried to move her limbs, but couldn’t because of some dead weight, keeping her still. She opened her eyes only to squint when a snowflake landed on her left eye. She groaned only to feel bare flesh on her exposed skin. She blinked some before she tried turning her head, grimacing at the pain that throbbed from her neck. Her sight took in her blood partner’s serene face.

Yoona was surreal. Her closed eyes and peaceful countenance made Yuri’s heart flutter. It was like waking up to see her sleeping face once more, although their location was quite uncomely as opposed to their beloved rooms back at home. Her sight travelled to the bared flesh and Yuri then realized that her beloved was fast asleep on top of her in torn up clothes. The Kwon willed herself to rise, grunting at the aching muscles and hurting bones. She managed to sit up, bringing an unconscious Yoona along with her, hand automatically shooting up to hold Yoona in place.

Movement was torture as Yuri tried to carry Yoona and herself back to their lair. Darkness taunted her from within, warning her that her mate would be poisoned by her vile self. Yuri ignored the conflicts within her and put all of her focus on bringing Yoona back to the comforts of their cavern, where she could tend to the injuries th