Of Seasons and Spots - Twenty One
Of Seasons and Spots
Chapter Twenty One
He could feel the moment she entered his territory, her irritation and her power as she drew near. It didn’t phase him in the slightest. This was his realm, well protected and defensible. If he had needed, his vampires could have easily protected the entirety of the seethe but it was hardly necessary. It had been some time since he had held any sort of council over those under his command and in his territory and it seemed to be high time for him to do so.
In his large receiving hall, his vampires came dressed at his command as his knights and ladies. As they settled into their chairs, the women arranged their elaborate skirts and the men straightened crisp military outfits each trimmed in gold with a golden sunburst on their left shoulder. In the center of the sunburst a small ruby had been set. In a similar fashion every female vampire had the same small ruby somewhere on their dress. Their Pets, by their sides as always, were dressed in loose but expensive white shirts that bared most of their necks and shoulders as well as loose fitting pants. The only exception was Onew who was dressed in pure white robes with a ruby pin holding them together at his throat.
Near the front of the room and for once not seated in their chairs, stood both of his fully grown children. Their uniforms seemed to be more elaborate than the rest of the seethe as they both wore perfectly tailored black military cut pants and jackets. Unlike traditional jackets, these were both etched in gold with a high collar and sleeveless. A golden starburst was spread across their chest with a large ruby set at it’s center. Their hands were covered with snow white gloves while black arm guards covered their arm from wrist to mid bicep. Black boots stopped just above their knees and a white sword belt that was edged in gold settled around their hips. Both carried sheathed blades upon their hips. They stood to either side and in front of the stairs leading up to where Heechul was seated and each had three of the werehyenas very unhappily kneeling in front of them.
Teamin, dressed much the same as Yesung and Kibum were, stood behind Heechul’s chair, his familiar cushion gone. His eyes, as he took in the room, glowed a vibrant red and every now and again he would inhale deeply and lick his lips. Despite the small action he never moved from his position, nor did he move his hand from where it rested on the back of the chair.
In what could only be described as his throne, Heechul sat, dressed in white and gold. His coat and pants had a clear military cut with gold etching much like his Children, with a large sunburst across the chest. A sizable ruby caught the light from it’s place on his chest and two more on either side of the tails of the open mantle that hung across his shoulders. Gold and rubies were scattered over it creating a stunning and nearly blinding visual that matched well with his deep crimson hair and red eyes. Per his instructions, none of those under his care looked as though they retained any humanity and the humans in the room were silent.
They waited for his command, his Children frozen yet radiating threat should the werehyenas choose to make any trouble. Wisely, Zico and the others that he had brought with him remained silent and relatively still, waiting for what was to come.
Heechul could feel when she arrived, their Alpha more than likely come to retrieve them in wake of what had happened. From a quick brush of Jonghyun’s mind, he knew the human was leading her down to inner chamber of the seethe where he waited. He didn’t attempt to dip into her mind, there was hardly any need. She was alone, he could tell that much from Jonghyun, and bold, a woman who was used to getting her way.
The door to the hall opened and no one moved, save for the werehyena who shifted restlessly. Jonghyun led her forward, toward the raised dais and she strode confidently behind him. She was dressed in leather pants and a form hugging top that reveal ample amounts of cleavage. Despite the seductive nature of her clothing she exuded dominance and danger, enough to warn off all but the bravest. As she neared, Heechul could see her pack shrinking from her out of the corner of his eye, amusing in the motion that they seemed to fear the wrath of their Alpha more than his.
Jonghyun, his part finished now that she was here, quickened his pace and slipped between Heechul’s children to move beside the Master vampire himself. Heechul reached out his hand, and Jonghyun extended his arm as he passed to his place. Slender fingers trailed down it in a slow caress showing the Master’s favor before Jonghyun moved to his large cushion and dropped to his knees upon it.
“BOA,” Heechul purred after the Alpha had stopped within an arms reach of her pack and therefore his Children, “to what do I owe this pleasure?” He felt curiosity in the minds of most of the members of his seethe save for his Yesung and Kibum but he ignored it.
“I think you know why,” she returned in kind, her smirk giving her more confidence than he was certain she felt.
“Ah yes,” Heechul drawled as if he didn’t much care. “The werehyenas that I have seemed to recently acquired. They belong to you?”
“You know they do,” she told him, offering him a dangerous smile.
“Well,” Heechul returned the expression, “you are just in time for the trial.”
“Trial?” that had caught her by surprise, although she covered it well.
“Yes,” Heechul extended his hand and Taemin place a thick sheet of paper within. “Let’s see,” his eyes scanned the paper needlessly. “Your werehyenas are being charged with two counts of impregnating humans in my feeding stock, four counts of disruption of the peace, three counts of destruction of property for the kitchen, fountain, and bathroom that no one wishes to enter, and are being held as the soul responsible parties for the loss of a possession of immeasurable value, and the near ruination of the treaty in this town which they violated on 6 counts.”
BOA couldn’t stop the snarl that bubbled forth and Heechul smirked at the sound of it. “So let’s move this right along shall we.”
“I am certain,” she told him through clenched teeth, “that they have been up to as much trouble as you say they have. However I can personally guarantee that their punishment being left in my hands will far surpass anything you can come up with.”
“Oh I don’t know,” Heechul countered, drumming his fingers against the arm of his chair, “I can be incredibly creative when properly motivated.”
“Believe me,” BOA growled, her hand shooting out to grab Zico by the hair and jerk him closer, “I can be more so. Why don’t you tell him Zico, what you were really up to that got you into this mess.” With the given command she threw him forward and he made no effort to catch himself as he sprawled half on the stairs at Heechul’s feet.
“Drugs,” Zico whispered so soft that none of the humans in the room would have been able to hear it.
“So he can hear you,” BOA ordered, unnecessarily.
“Drugs!” Zico exclaimed clenching his eyes shut.
“His own moronic problem that he decided to bring to your door instead of fessing up to his foolishness to me. Now how about we talk for a moment in private and I get them out of your hair.”
“What do I get out of it?” Heechul asked, steepling his fingers in front of his chest and watching her with half lidded eyes.
“You get you original goal, to get rid of them as quickly as possible,” BOA returned.
Heechul seemed to ponder it for a long moment before settling his hands in his lap. “Very well. That one stays,” he gestured at Zico, “but the rest are yours to deal with.”
“Get to my car,” BOA ordered the members of her pack leaving no room for questions. “Once there stay there until I return.” Before he could move, her hand shot out and grabbed Zico by the back of the neck. “Not you, you are staying with me.” Zico cringed in on himself and Heechul offered him satisfied smirk as the other members of the pack scrambled out of the room as quick as their legs could carry them.
“Lead the way,” BOA told him, her voice dripping with false sweetness. Rising from his chair in a swish of fabric, Heechul knew he was going to enjoy this meeting quite a lot.
▪▫▪☼▪▫▪
The click of the door signalled their absolute privacy and Heechul moved rapidly to one of the the many pieces of furniture his fingers working on his clothing as he moved. When he stood by the short couch, he unclasped and unfastened his mantel before dumping it upon the soft fabric and leaving it to form wrinkles. With the absence of the heavy weight, he rolled his shoulders, an unnecessary and human gesture that made him feel better anyway.
BOA stood in the middle of the room with Zico cringing at her side clearly waiting for his direction. The irritation hadn’t left her form, but she appeared more relaxed now than she had when she arrived. Taemin shifted restlessly by his armchair, his eyes fixed upon her form. ‘I wouldn’t try it if I were you,’ Heechul whispered directly into Taemin’s mind as a grin spread across his face. ‘She will put up much more of a fight then you are able to handle for your first feeding.’
Starting in surprise, Taemin blinked and shook his head as if to clear it. “Sorry,” he mumbled audibly and BOA offered them both a questioning look as Taemin’s eyes focused on a far wall.
Ignoring the question in her eyes, Heechul stepped close and embraced her surprising the other two creatures in the room, more so when she readily returned the hug. She smelled of wildflowers and spice, something sweet yet far from being tamed, just as she always had. “It’s good to see you,” he told her honestly.
“You too,” she returned offering his waist a gentle squeeze before releasing him. “Although for a minute there you had me worried.”
Heechul couldn’t help the smirk that broadened at the sound that his game had worked so well. “That was the intent.” He gestured to the chairs before settling in the one that Tamin already stood by and leaving the other for her. BOA sat and crossed one leg over the other, Zico settling beside her on the floor in a cross legged position without being told.
“You need to remind some of yours who is in power?” she asked leaning forward in a way that was both flirtatious and dangerous.
“Mostly to remind yours of that. They have taken quite a bit of advantage of my hospitality,” Heechul told her casting a glance to Zico.
“Why didn’t you tell me they were attempting to hide out here? I’ve been looking for this one for some time now. Distance worked in his favor to hide from me,” she sent Zico a dangerous look and the werehyena cringed.
“I knew you would turn up eventually,” Heechul told her with a shrug. “Besides I was curious as to what could bring out the Beast and hold it there without the permission of the human side. Drugs you said?”
“Yes,” BOA growled, “tell him,” she ordered as she nudged Zico with the toe of her boot.
“I was at a bar, one that caters to other creatures like us. Someone said he had some drugs that would be quite the trip for me, something that would work even with the strenght of my system and the healing that renders everything ineffect,” Zico spoke quietly, keeping his head down. “I told him I didn’t want anything to do with any silver laced drugs like some weres do because the silver stops our healing long enough for the drugs to actually have some effect. He told me this was nothing like that, and that it would be quite a trip for me without any pain, just like I could have had when I was human. I told him why the hell not. I figured my system would deal with anything too dangerous and I would be fine. He injected me with some substance that was green. Next thing I knew my Beast was snarling in my head and I couldn’t hold him back, couldn’t fight any of that. I lost control and I don’t know if I passed out or if my Beast just took control, but I woke up in an alley looking like this,” he gestured to his body, the fur still apparent on one side of it.
“We’ve been looking into it,” BOA told him seriously. “We found the man who injected him. He turned out to be human. From what we were able to get from him,” her tone suggested that the information had been obtained less than willingly on his part, “the humans are developing a new drug to force anything that is supernatural to the forefront. He told me that he had injected a vampire with it just the night before and watched as the vampire went crazy and started tearing people apart. It took down two werewolves and a fae before something tore its head off. He was proud of his achievements.”
“Is this an isolated event?” Heechul asked, leaning forward in his chair as a cold feeling settled in his gut.
“He implied that there were teams scattered all over,” she told him grimly, “and that they were corresponding.”
Heechul suppressed a snarl. For melina they had managed to keep their presence hidden from the humans, appearing as little more than terrifying stories about things that went bump in the night. He had guessed that at some point, science would advance enough to be a problem for them, he simply never imagined it would be this soon. “What is their goal with this?”
“We haven’t gotten that out of him quite yet. My second is working on it but he seems to be rather resistant to the idea of talking,” BOA told him. She seemed disgusted with their lack of progress and Heechul was certain that they had been very persuasive in their methods. “Our guess is that it isn’t ready yet. Zico destroy half the bar in an uncontrolled rage, something that shouldn’t have been possible even for him. I highly doubt that their goal is a drug that unleashes the animal in us and amps it up. Some of our kinds could find that a highly useful object. I imagine they are looking for a much different result, but there is no way to say for certain.”
“And it’s effects are permanent?”
BOA shrugged, “You would know better than me on that. It appears that not many survive its introduction so Zico is a rather unique case. Clearly you didn’t make a lot of progress on that front or he would look much different.”
“No,” Heechul affirmed disgustedly. “I did not.”
“I’ll keep you informed if I learn anything else. For now I suggest we spread the word.”
“Yes,” he agreed, resting back in his chair with a sigh. “I don’t particularly care for the fae but I would rather not have to deal with a few super powered ones running loose through my territory. With any luck this will prove to be a failure to the humans and they will abandon it.”
“When have we ever been lucky?” BOA asked offering him a sad smile.
Heechul sighed in agreement, “when indeed.”
▪▫▪☼▪▫▪
“This is not a good idea,” Key growled, offering both of them a glare.
“Look,” Jonghyun tried to be as patient as he could even if this felt like the millionth conversation that he had had about this particular topic, “Taemin is ready to feed from something other than Heechul and I promised him when Heechul took me in that I would be his first. It’s one of the most dangerous times for a vampire and I want him to feel safe and not have to worry about any of those instincts that will make it hard for him not to kill if he doesn’t.”
“It’s a stupid promise and a bad idea,” Key countered.
“That isn’t fair and you know it,” Jonghyun shot back.
“I would think at least you would be smart enough to have Heechul here,” Key snapped.
“For the tenth time,” Jonghyun growled, losing any of his remaining patience with the witch, “that would only make Taemin defensive and protective of me when he is feeding and wouldn’t help anyway.”
“Can we please stop talking about me like I’m not here,” Taemin murmured quietly from where he sat against the headboard of his bed.
“Look,” Jonghyun said firmly as he tugged his tee shirt over his head and tossed it on the floor, baring his upper body, “I’m doing this no matter if you like it or not. You can either stay here or get the hell out, I don’t really care. I trust Taemin and Heechul isn’t stupid. If you think he isn’t watching, your more stupid than I thought. He isn’t exactly new to this.”
Having said the last that he would about it, Jonghyun moved to the bed and crawled onto it. He could hear the strangled noises coming from the witch behind him but he paid them no mind. “How do you want me?” he asked Taemin.
The young vampire’s eyes were fixed on the beating of his pulse before he shook his head slightly and looked a little sheepish. “Sorry. Just in front of me is fine. I think your wrist will be best.” Jonghyun nodded and settled himself into a comfortable position, close enough to the vampire that he could reach him.
There was a grumble and then Key settled onto the bed as well. “Don’t get me wrong Taemin, I care about you,” Key told him, “but I won’t hesitate to fry you to a crisp if you hurt him.”
“Thank you,” Taemin sounded so earnest in his gratitude that it made Jonghyun’s heart ache for him.
“Kibum,” Jonghyun said softly, reaching out to his lover and best friend. “Taemin didn’t choose this, doesn’t want this remember? It was this or death and the lesser of two evils isn’t always pleasant. At least let me make this something he can choose, something positive.”
Key studied him for a minute before looking away to the wall beyond them, “I’m here aren’t I.” It was all the approval he figured he would ever be getting.
“I promise I’m not overly hungry,” Taemin told them softly. “Heechul made sure I was fed, but it is just something more that I need. Like I have eaten all of my dinner and I have a craving for dessert that won’t go away.”
“You don’t have to explain,” Jonghyun told him, squeezing his leg affectionately.
“It’s just that the hunger will get worse, Heechul says, until I won’t be able to keep from hurting someone. He told me that because I care about you both I won’t be able to hurt you without really meaning to at this point. I don’t know what else to do,” Taemin, as he looked at them appeared to be very young and Jonghyun was reminded immediately of how much of his youth was taken from him.
“I trust you Taemin,” Jonghyun told him honestly.
“It isn’t that I don’t,” Key told him after a moment. “I just know what you are capable of.”
“So do I,” Taemin agreed. Jonghyun winced at the reminder of what had happened to him just after Minho had been turned.
Key nodded and then gestured to them both. “Get on with it then.”
“Here,” Jonghyun said, extending his wrist with the palm up toward Taemin.
The vampire’s eyes fixed firmly on the flesh as if mesmerized and Jonghyun could see the lengthening of fangs. Slender fingers grasped his wrist gently and lifted it to pale lips. He expected to feel the pain of his skin being pierced, instead he felt the warm wet glide of a tongue across his pulse followed by a soft press of lips. Much more of what could be mistaken for foreplay, and Jonghyun figured Key would have to stake Taemin just on principle.
Before he could say anything in protest of the gentle treatment, he felt teeth scraping against his skin and then pressure. The bite was painless, nearly unnoticeable save for the pleasure filled moan that Taemin offered up against the skin. Even Heechul’s bite had cause pain for that brief moment and it was curious that Taemin’s hadn’t done anything of the sort. He could see the vampire’s throat working to swallow his blood and it took two large pulls before Jonghyun began to feel the curl of pleasure.
It started slow, a pleasant warmth that started in the pit of his stomach and flowed to the rest of his limbs. It reminded Jonghyun of the slow burn of arousal that Key could bring forth in him with only a press of his lips. Something wonderful and warm, making him feel safe and secure, but not quite yet with a distinct edge of anything sexual. Before long a tongue was sliding over the skin of his wrist and closing the punctures. The whole thing lasted less time than he had thought it would. “Taemin?” he asked softly.
The young vampire lifted his head and his eyes locked on Jonghyun, their red depths full of want. “Please,” he murmured.
Jonghyun didn’t know exactly what Taemin was asking but he could imagine. “Anything,” Jonghyun agreed.
It was all the permission that Taemin needed and he surged forward, sliding into Jonghyun’s lap. He nuzzled the skin of his neck affectionately as Jonghyun’s hands came up to rest on his hips. Fangs slid into his skin just as pain free as they had before and the warmth started to build in him once more. Little pleased noises escaped Taemin’s lips with every swallow as the vampire shifted against him. Jonghyun closed his eyes and drew small circles on Taemin’s legs with his thumbs.
He was familiar with the way it felt to be fed upon by a vampire, the surge of uncontrolled pleasure, but this was much different. This felt much more intimate than being fed from by Heechul ever had. If he wasn’t careful before much longer he would begin showing definite signs of arousal.
“That’s enough,” Key said after a moment, but Taemin had already closed the wound with careful licks and was simply continuing to shift against him as he nibbled on his skin. The young vampire was certainly aroused and Jonghyun’s hands flexed automatically, drawing forth a keen from Taemin. It would hardly be fair to leave Taemin like this, but Jonghyun couldn’t bring himself to do anything more than simply hold the vampire.
After a moment he glanced up to find Key watching him with heat smoldering in his eyes. He had expected the witch to be disgusted or angry at the entire event, but surprisingly enough he seemed to be watching them with interest and an edge of arousal. “Kibum?” he whispered.
“Just this once,” Key told him softly. The witch moved forward and touched Taemin’s arm lightly. “Let us take care of you.”
With a broken moan Taemin pulled his head from Jonghyun’s neck and offered him a look full of heat and hints of worry. A drop of blood lingered at the corner of his mouth, and Jonghyun couldn’t stop himself from cupping the vampire’s face with one hand as his thumb rubbed the smudge away. “It will be alright,” he said softly as he leaned forward and pressed his lips carefully to Taemin’s. He could taste blood but had no problems ignoring it in light of the way the vampire sighed and relaxed against him.
Key’s chuckle against the other side of his neck was dark as he sucked hard in a way he knew that Jonghyun liked. Arousal raged to life him and Jonghyun smiled into the kiss. If this was the way that these things ended, Taemin could feed from him anytime.
AN: For those like me that are visual - here is what Heechul’s outfit is based on and here is what Yesung and Kibum’s are based on. One more chapter guys and then this mini book is done!
Chapter Twenty One
He could feel the moment she entered his territory, her irritation and her power as she drew near. It didn’t phase him in the slightest. This was his realm, well protected and defensible. If he had needed, his vampires could have easily protected the entirety of the seethe but it was hardly necessary. It had been some time since he had held any sort of council over those under his command and in his territory and it seemed to be high time for him to do so.
In his large receiving hall, his vampires came dressed at his command as his knights and ladies. As they settled into their chairs, the women arranged their elaborate skirts and the men straightened crisp military outfits each trimmed in gold with a golden sunburst on their left shoulder. In the center of the sunburst a small ruby had been set. In a similar fashion every female vampire had the same small ruby somewhere on their dress. Their Pets, by their sides as always, were dressed in loose but expensive white shirts that bared most of their necks and shoulders as well as loose fitting pants. The only exception was Onew who was dressed in pure white robes with a ruby pin holding them together at his throat.
Near the front of the room and for once not seated in their chairs, stood both of his fully grown children. Their uniforms seemed to be more elaborate than the rest of the seethe as they both wore perfectly tailored black military cut pants and jackets. Unlike traditional jackets, these were both etched in gold with a high collar and sleeveless. A golden starburst was spread across their chest with a large ruby set at it’s center. Their hands were covered with snow white gloves while black arm guards covered their arm from wrist to mid bicep. Black boots stopped just above their knees and a white sword belt that was edged in gold settled around their hips. Both carried sheathed blades upon their hips. They stood to either side and in front of the stairs leading up to where Heechul was seated and each had three of the werehyenas very unhappily kneeling in front of them.
Teamin, dressed much the same as Yesung and Kibum were, stood behind Heechul’s chair, his familiar cushion gone. His eyes, as he took in the room, glowed a vibrant red and every now and again he would inhale deeply and lick his lips. Despite the small action he never moved from his position, nor did he move his hand from where it rested on the back of the chair.
In what could only be described as his throne, Heechul sat, dressed in white and gold. His coat and pants had a clear military cut with gold etching much like his Children, with a large sunburst across the chest. A sizable ruby caught the light from it’s place on his chest and two more on either side of the tails of the open mantle that hung across his shoulders. Gold and rubies were scattered over it creating a stunning and nearly blinding visual that matched well with his deep crimson hair and red eyes. Per his instructions, none of those under his care looked as though they retained any humanity and the humans in the room were silent.
They waited for his command, his Children frozen yet radiating threat should the werehyenas choose to make any trouble. Wisely, Zico and the others that he had brought with him remained silent and relatively still, waiting for what was to come.
Heechul could feel when she arrived, their Alpha more than likely come to retrieve them in wake of what had happened. From a quick brush of Jonghyun’s mind, he knew the human was leading her down to inner chamber of the seethe where he waited. He didn’t attempt to dip into her mind, there was hardly any need. She was alone, he could tell that much from Jonghyun, and bold, a woman who was used to getting her way.
The door to the hall opened and no one moved, save for the werehyena who shifted restlessly. Jonghyun led her forward, toward the raised dais and she strode confidently behind him. She was dressed in leather pants and a form hugging top that reveal ample amounts of cleavage. Despite the seductive nature of her clothing she exuded dominance and danger, enough to warn off all but the bravest. As she neared, Heechul could see her pack shrinking from her out of the corner of his eye, amusing in the motion that they seemed to fear the wrath of their Alpha more than his.
Jonghyun, his part finished now that she was here, quickened his pace and slipped between Heechul’s children to move beside the Master vampire himself. Heechul reached out his hand, and Jonghyun extended his arm as he passed to his place. Slender fingers trailed down it in a slow caress showing the Master’s favor before Jonghyun moved to his large cushion and dropped to his knees upon it.
“BOA,” Heechul purred after the Alpha had stopped within an arms reach of her pack and therefore his Children, “to what do I owe this pleasure?” He felt curiosity in the minds of most of the members of his seethe save for his Yesung and Kibum but he ignored it.
“I think you know why,” she returned in kind, her smirk giving her more confidence than he was certain she felt.
“Ah yes,” Heechul drawled as if he didn’t much care. “The werehyenas that I have seemed to recently acquired. They belong to you?”
“You know they do,” she told him, offering him a dangerous smile.
“Well,” Heechul returned the expression, “you are just in time for the trial.”
“Trial?” that had caught her by surprise, although she covered it well.
“Yes,” Heechul extended his hand and Taemin place a thick sheet of paper within. “Let’s see,” his eyes scanned the paper needlessly. “Your werehyenas are being charged with two counts of impregnating humans in my feeding stock, four counts of disruption of the peace, three counts of destruction of property for the kitchen, fountain, and bathroom that no one wishes to enter, and are being held as the soul responsible parties for the loss of a possession of immeasurable value, and the near ruination of the treaty in this town which they violated on 6 counts.”
BOA couldn’t stop the snarl that bubbled forth and Heechul smirked at the sound of it. “So let’s move this right along shall we.”
“I am certain,” she told him through clenched teeth, “that they have been up to as much trouble as you say they have. However I can personally guarantee that their punishment being left in my hands will far surpass anything you can come up with.”
“Oh I don’t know,” Heechul countered, drumming his fingers against the arm of his chair, “I can be incredibly creative when properly motivated.”
“Believe me,” BOA growled, her hand shooting out to grab Zico by the hair and jerk him closer, “I can be more so. Why don’t you tell him Zico, what you were really up to that got you into this mess.” With the given command she threw him forward and he made no effort to catch himself as he sprawled half on the stairs at Heechul’s feet.
“Drugs,” Zico whispered so soft that none of the humans in the room would have been able to hear it.
“So he can hear you,” BOA ordered, unnecessarily.
“Drugs!” Zico exclaimed clenching his eyes shut.
“His own moronic problem that he decided to bring to your door instead of fessing up to his foolishness to me. Now how about we talk for a moment in private and I get them out of your hair.”
“What do I get out of it?” Heechul asked, steepling his fingers in front of his chest and watching her with half lidded eyes.
“You get you original goal, to get rid of them as quickly as possible,” BOA returned.
Heechul seemed to ponder it for a long moment before settling his hands in his lap. “Very well. That one stays,” he gestured at Zico, “but the rest are yours to deal with.”
“Get to my car,” BOA ordered the members of her pack leaving no room for questions. “Once there stay there until I return.” Before he could move, her hand shot out and grabbed Zico by the back of the neck. “Not you, you are staying with me.” Zico cringed in on himself and Heechul offered him satisfied smirk as the other members of the pack scrambled out of the room as quick as their legs could carry them.
“Lead the way,” BOA told him, her voice dripping with false sweetness. Rising from his chair in a swish of fabric, Heechul knew he was going to enjoy this meeting quite a lot.
▪▫▪☼▪▫▪
The click of the door signalled their absolute privacy and Heechul moved rapidly to one of the the many pieces of furniture his fingers working on his clothing as he moved. When he stood by the short couch, he unclasped and unfastened his mantel before dumping it upon the soft fabric and leaving it to form wrinkles. With the absence of the heavy weight, he rolled his shoulders, an unnecessary and human gesture that made him feel better anyway.
BOA stood in the middle of the room with Zico cringing at her side clearly waiting for his direction. The irritation hadn’t left her form, but she appeared more relaxed now than she had when she arrived. Taemin shifted restlessly by his armchair, his eyes fixed upon her form. ‘I wouldn’t try it if I were you,’ Heechul whispered directly into Taemin’s mind as a grin spread across his face. ‘She will put up much more of a fight then you are able to handle for your first feeding.’
Starting in surprise, Taemin blinked and shook his head as if to clear it. “Sorry,” he mumbled audibly and BOA offered them both a questioning look as Taemin’s eyes focused on a far wall.
Ignoring the question in her eyes, Heechul stepped close and embraced her surprising the other two creatures in the room, more so when she readily returned the hug. She smelled of wildflowers and spice, something sweet yet far from being tamed, just as she always had. “It’s good to see you,” he told her honestly.
“You too,” she returned offering his waist a gentle squeeze before releasing him. “Although for a minute there you had me worried.”
Heechul couldn’t help the smirk that broadened at the sound that his game had worked so well. “That was the intent.” He gestured to the chairs before settling in the one that Tamin already stood by and leaving the other for her. BOA sat and crossed one leg over the other, Zico settling beside her on the floor in a cross legged position without being told.
“You need to remind some of yours who is in power?” she asked leaning forward in a way that was both flirtatious and dangerous.
“Mostly to remind yours of that. They have taken quite a bit of advantage of my hospitality,” Heechul told her casting a glance to Zico.
“Why didn’t you tell me they were attempting to hide out here? I’ve been looking for this one for some time now. Distance worked in his favor to hide from me,” she sent Zico a dangerous look and the werehyena cringed.
“I knew you would turn up eventually,” Heechul told her with a shrug. “Besides I was curious as to what could bring out the Beast and hold it there without the permission of the human side. Drugs you said?”
“Yes,” BOA growled, “tell him,” she ordered as she nudged Zico with the toe of her boot.
“I was at a bar, one that caters to other creatures like us. Someone said he had some drugs that would be quite the trip for me, something that would work even with the strenght of my system and the healing that renders everything ineffect,” Zico spoke quietly, keeping his head down. “I told him I didn’t want anything to do with any silver laced drugs like some weres do because the silver stops our healing long enough for the drugs to actually have some effect. He told me this was nothing like that, and that it would be quite a trip for me without any pain, just like I could have had when I was human. I told him why the hell not. I figured my system would deal with anything too dangerous and I would be fine. He injected me with some substance that was green. Next thing I knew my Beast was snarling in my head and I couldn’t hold him back, couldn’t fight any of that. I lost control and I don’t know if I passed out or if my Beast just took control, but I woke up in an alley looking like this,” he gestured to his body, the fur still apparent on one side of it.
“We’ve been looking into it,” BOA told him seriously. “We found the man who injected him. He turned out to be human. From what we were able to get from him,” her tone suggested that the information had been obtained less than willingly on his part, “the humans are developing a new drug to force anything that is supernatural to the forefront. He told me that he had injected a vampire with it just the night before and watched as the vampire went crazy and started tearing people apart. It took down two werewolves and a fae before something tore its head off. He was proud of his achievements.”
“Is this an isolated event?” Heechul asked, leaning forward in his chair as a cold feeling settled in his gut.
“He implied that there were teams scattered all over,” she told him grimly, “and that they were corresponding.”
Heechul suppressed a snarl. For melina they had managed to keep their presence hidden from the humans, appearing as little more than terrifying stories about things that went bump in the night. He had guessed that at some point, science would advance enough to be a problem for them, he simply never imagined it would be this soon. “What is their goal with this?”
“We haven’t gotten that out of him quite yet. My second is working on it but he seems to be rather resistant to the idea of talking,” BOA told him. She seemed disgusted with their lack of progress and Heechul was certain that they had been very persuasive in their methods. “Our guess is that it isn’t ready yet. Zico destroy half the bar in an uncontrolled rage, something that shouldn’t have been possible even for him. I highly doubt that their goal is a drug that unleashes the animal in us and amps it up. Some of our kinds could find that a highly useful object. I imagine they are looking for a much different result, but there is no way to say for certain.”
“And it’s effects are permanent?”
BOA shrugged, “You would know better than me on that. It appears that not many survive its introduction so Zico is a rather unique case. Clearly you didn’t make a lot of progress on that front or he would look much different.”
“No,” Heechul affirmed disgustedly. “I did not.”
“I’ll keep you informed if I learn anything else. For now I suggest we spread the word.”
“Yes,” he agreed, resting back in his chair with a sigh. “I don’t particularly care for the fae but I would rather not have to deal with a few super powered ones running loose through my territory. With any luck this will prove to be a failure to the humans and they will abandon it.”
“When have we ever been lucky?” BOA asked offering him a sad smile.
Heechul sighed in agreement, “when indeed.”
▪▫▪☼▪▫▪
“This is not a good idea,” Key growled, offering both of them a glare.
“Look,” Jonghyun tried to be as patient as he could even if this felt like the millionth conversation that he had had about this particular topic, “Taemin is ready to feed from something other than Heechul and I promised him when Heechul took me in that I would be his first. It’s one of the most dangerous times for a vampire and I want him to feel safe and not have to worry about any of those instincts that will make it hard for him not to kill if he doesn’t.”
“It’s a stupid promise and a bad idea,” Key countered.
“That isn’t fair and you know it,” Jonghyun shot back.
“I would think at least you would be smart enough to have Heechul here,” Key snapped.
“For the tenth time,” Jonghyun growled, losing any of his remaining patience with the witch, “that would only make Taemin defensive and protective of me when he is feeding and wouldn’t help anyway.”
“Can we please stop talking about me like I’m not here,” Taemin murmured quietly from where he sat against the headboard of his bed.
“Look,” Jonghyun said firmly as he tugged his tee shirt over his head and tossed it on the floor, baring his upper body, “I’m doing this no matter if you like it or not. You can either stay here or get the hell out, I don’t really care. I trust Taemin and Heechul isn’t stupid. If you think he isn’t watching, your more stupid than I thought. He isn’t exactly new to this.”
Having said the last that he would about it, Jonghyun moved to the bed and crawled onto it. He could hear the strangled noises coming from the witch behind him but he paid them no mind. “How do you want me?” he asked Taemin.
The young vampire’s eyes were fixed on the beating of his pulse before he shook his head slightly and looked a little sheepish. “Sorry. Just in front of me is fine. I think your wrist will be best.” Jonghyun nodded and settled himself into a comfortable position, close enough to the vampire that he could reach him.
There was a grumble and then Key settled onto the bed as well. “Don’t get me wrong Taemin, I care about you,” Key told him, “but I won’t hesitate to fry you to a crisp if you hurt him.”
“Thank you,” Taemin sounded so earnest in his gratitude that it made Jonghyun’s heart ache for him.
“Kibum,” Jonghyun said softly, reaching out to his lover and best friend. “Taemin didn’t choose this, doesn’t want this remember? It was this or death and the lesser of two evils isn’t always pleasant. At least let me make this something he can choose, something positive.”
Key studied him for a minute before looking away to the wall beyond them, “I’m here aren’t I.” It was all the approval he figured he would ever be getting.
“I promise I’m not overly hungry,” Taemin told them softly. “Heechul made sure I was fed, but it is just something more that I need. Like I have eaten all of my dinner and I have a craving for dessert that won’t go away.”
“You don’t have to explain,” Jonghyun told him, squeezing his leg affectionately.
“It’s just that the hunger will get worse, Heechul says, until I won’t be able to keep from hurting someone. He told me that because I care about you both I won’t be able to hurt you without really meaning to at this point. I don’t know what else to do,” Taemin, as he looked at them appeared to be very young and Jonghyun was reminded immediately of how much of his youth was taken from him.
“I trust you Taemin,” Jonghyun told him honestly.
“It isn’t that I don’t,” Key told him after a moment. “I just know what you are capable of.”
“So do I,” Taemin agreed. Jonghyun winced at the reminder of what had happened to him just after Minho had been turned.
Key nodded and then gestured to them both. “Get on with it then.”
“Here,” Jonghyun said, extending his wrist with the palm up toward Taemin.
The vampire’s eyes fixed firmly on the flesh as if mesmerized and Jonghyun could see the lengthening of fangs. Slender fingers grasped his wrist gently and lifted it to pale lips. He expected to feel the pain of his skin being pierced, instead he felt the warm wet glide of a tongue across his pulse followed by a soft press of lips. Much more of what could be mistaken for foreplay, and Jonghyun figured Key would have to stake Taemin just on principle.
Before he could say anything in protest of the gentle treatment, he felt teeth scraping against his skin and then pressure. The bite was painless, nearly unnoticeable save for the pleasure filled moan that Taemin offered up against the skin. Even Heechul’s bite had cause pain for that brief moment and it was curious that Taemin’s hadn’t done anything of the sort. He could see the vampire’s throat working to swallow his blood and it took two large pulls before Jonghyun began to feel the curl of pleasure.
It started slow, a pleasant warmth that started in the pit of his stomach and flowed to the rest of his limbs. It reminded Jonghyun of the slow burn of arousal that Key could bring forth in him with only a press of his lips. Something wonderful and warm, making him feel safe and secure, but not quite yet with a distinct edge of anything sexual. Before long a tongue was sliding over the skin of his wrist and closing the punctures. The whole thing lasted less time than he had thought it would. “Taemin?” he asked softly.
The young vampire lifted his head and his eyes locked on Jonghyun, their red depths full of want. “Please,” he murmured.
Jonghyun didn’t know exactly what Taemin was asking but he could imagine. “Anything,” Jonghyun agreed.
It was all the permission that Taemin needed and he surged forward, sliding into Jonghyun’s lap. He nuzzled the skin of his neck affectionately as Jonghyun’s hands came up to rest on his hips. Fangs slid into his skin just as pain free as they had before and the warmth started to build in him once more. Little pleased noises escaped Taemin’s lips with every swallow as the vampire shifted against him. Jonghyun closed his eyes and drew small circles on Taemin’s legs with his thumbs.
He was familiar with the way it felt to be fed upon by a vampire, the surge of uncontrolled pleasure, but this was much different. This felt much more intimate than being fed from by Heechul ever had. If he wasn’t careful before much longer he would begin showing definite signs of arousal.
“That’s enough,” Key said after a moment, but Taemin had already closed the wound with careful licks and was simply continuing to shift against him as he nibbled on his skin. The young vampire was certainly aroused and Jonghyun’s hands flexed automatically, drawing forth a keen from Taemin. It would hardly be fair to leave Taemin like this, but Jonghyun couldn’t bring himself to do anything more than simply hold the vampire.
After a moment he glanced up to find Key watching him with heat smoldering in his eyes. He had expected the witch to be disgusted or angry at the entire event, but surprisingly enough he seemed to be watching them with interest and an edge of arousal. “Kibum?” he whispered.
“Just this once,” Key told him softly. The witch moved forward and touched Taemin’s arm lightly. “Let us take care of you.”
With a broken moan Taemin pulled his head from Jonghyun’s neck and offered him a look full of heat and hints of worry. A drop of blood lingered at the corner of his mouth, and Jonghyun couldn’t stop himself from cupping the vampire’s face with one hand as his thumb rubbed the smudge away. “It will be alright,” he said softly as he leaned forward and pressed his lips carefully to Taemin’s. He could taste blood but had no problems ignoring it in light of the way the vampire sighed and relaxed against him.
Key’s chuckle against the other side of his neck was dark as he sucked hard in a way he knew that Jonghyun liked. Arousal raged to life him and Jonghyun smiled into the kiss. If this was the way that these things ended, Taemin could feed from him anytime.
AN: For those like me that are visual - here is what Heechul’s outfit is based on and here is what Yesung and Kibum’s are based on. One more chapter guys and then this mini book is done!
