nineteen;

Hongjoong didn't say anything on their track back. He let Wooyoung ride his horse while he led them home. His mind was racing. Soojin was the man that came onto their land all those years ago. He was the vampire that murdered his mother. He was the monster that killed his father in front of him. His face covered with the blood of his pack kept flashing in his mind. The part of his past he tried to hide from—run away from—was coming back to haunt him once again. The eerie cry for help echoed in the barren forest around him. The sick crack of his father's jaw being split open. The strong stench of death. The thick blood soaking into his paws. The harder Hongjoong shoved the memories down, the louder they became. Overwhelming the hybrid until his grip on the horses' reins almost snapped. Wooyoung noticed the sudden change in his captain when they left the village, but said nothing. He was stiff, stuck in his own mind. Just staring forward as he walked them home. Once they were at the bridge leading up to the castle gates, Hongjoong let go of the reins and walked ahead of them, leaving them to stable the horses while he went searching for one of the vampires. "I'll drop you off at the doors then take the horses-"        "No. I want to go with you." Eunha's eyes were pleading to not be left alone again. He gave her a reassuring smile that he wouldn't.        Wooyoung dismounted his horse and took them back to the stalls, helping her down before removing the tack. Eunha watched him intently, grabbing onto his arm once everything was put away. Her mind kept floating back to Soojin's words. Specifically where he said Hongjoong and Zero cannot be compelled to do anything by him. She wasn't sure if that meant all hybrids were immune, or was there something that excluded them from his control. Hongjoong seemed concerned after hearing of his presence so close to home. And he was. But that's not the reasoning for his silence. Hongjoong found Seonghwa—thankfully alone. He grabbed him and dragged him down to the dungeon, locking the door behind them. "Joong? What's wrong? Did something happen?" The hybrid didn't respond right away, pacing back and forth, not once making eye contact with the tall vampire. "Hongjoong. What is it?" He latched onto his shoulder and finally pulled his attention back. "It's been him this whole time. All these years, I tried to forget his face. And-" Hongjoong couldn't hold back the tears, his hands began to shake uncontrollably while he stumbled over his words. "And he's been right under our nose. He-" Seonghwa grabbed his shoulders and faced them. "Who? Who are you talking about?" "He killed my family. He ruined my life. He turned me. And-and he-" He couldn't hold the tears back, finally letting them fall down his face. His eyes met his companions'. "Soojin was the vampire that murdered my pack." Seonghwa was taken aback at his answer. He opened his mouth to say something but nothing came out. It all made sense now. "What happened? How do you know?" "I saw him today. In the village. He got Eunha alone and threatened her." Seonghwa felt the rage stir up inside of him, but he forced it down to comfort Hongjoong. He pulled him into a tight hug. "We will protect her, Joong. Her and the baby. He won't lay a hand on her again."

1880.10.19Wilderness South of Suwon, Korea

Zero launched up from the forest floor, his body still aching. He noticed a presence beside of him, turning to find his face and body, but with brunette hair. He was startled, scooting backwards away from his unconscious counterpart. "So it's true. You're of pure blood." He turned to find the face of someone he knew all too well. "You.." "Let's not get emotional now. We don't have much time." Soojin stepped towards him, noticing he wasn't backing down. "I'm offering to make you a deal." Namjoon was still seated on the forest floor, looking down in shame. Zero stared at him for a moment before looking back up at the monster that haunted their dreams. "What do you want? Why are you doing this? And what exactly have you done?" Hongjoong was obviously who was laid out next to him. And only they knew why Zero kept the original body. "What did they call you? The moon-walker? I'm not familiar with wolf lore-" Zero's jaw clenched in anger. "Night-walker."        "Ah, yes. The night-walker." Soojin leaned down to level with the blonde hybrid. "I gave you the freedom you deserved. You are no longer trapped as a bystander under Hongjoong. You can do as you wish now."        "How do you know I'm not just going to go back to my pack?" The vampire chucked darkly, not at all fazed by a dry threat.       "Like I said. You have the freedom to choose what you want to do." He stood up and turned to Namjoon. "Let's go, I have hybrids I need you to help me make."        Zero hesitated for a moment, standing up from the ground on his feet. "Wait-" Soojin stopped walking, turning his head to glance back at the hybrid. "You said- you offered a deal... what is this deal, exactly?"       Namjoon turned around as well, watching the battle in him. And he could tell one side was winning. "If you help me, I'll let you keep Eunha."

       Soojin returned to Vatican City, being met with two familiar faces. Geonwoo and Hyunwoo were waiting by the church doors. "Thank gods, you're back. The witch won't shut up!" The vampire didn't seemed fazed by the young man's behavior. "Geonwoo, not now. So, did you see them? You've been gone almost a week."        "I don't have time for one-hundred questions with either of you. You both haven't exactly been helpful. I mean, the witch has done more than both of you, besides talk constantly. Now please, get lost." Soojin waved off the brothers, entering the building. He found the hybrid outside in the atrium. "I seen her today. Already halfway through."        Zero seemed to ignore Soojin at first. They might have been working together, but that didn't mean he didn't hate Soojin. He hasn't forgotten what he did.        When this is all over, he's taking Eunha and leaving Korea. He never wants to see any of the others, and he didn't seem to care what might happen to them. "You sure you aren't going to stab me in the back and rejoin them?"       "After what he did to me that night? It's something I'll never forget. He's going to pay for it, and she will be mine. Only mine." Soojin's words seemed to snap the wolf from his trance.        "It's seems I've hit a nerve. Apologies." He wasn't being sincere, Zero could hear the venom in his voice. "Just wanted to make sure we're both still wanting the same thing."        "You can have the child, you can have Hongjoong. But Eunha will be unharmed. That is our deal."