✨ Chapter 1 — The Princess and the Blade
🩸Genre: vampire au • gothic • mystery • slow-burn romance
🗡️Pairing: ot7!Enhypem x reader; vampire!Enha x ???!reader; Enha x oc
⌨️ Word Count: 13.2K
⚠️ Trigger Warnings: This story contains themes that may be distressing to some readers. Violence & blood • Death, grief & reincarnation trauma • Supernatural manipulation & power imbalance • Mental distress & identity confusion • Implied suicidal ideation (past lives)• Possession, curses & ritual magic• Historical trauma (war, persecution)More specific warnings appear at the top of each chapter.
Synopsis🗝️ Seven immortals. Seven stories. One cursed legacy.
“You may only ask questions during the interviews. You cannot leave until the final story is told. And no one—not even you—is who they appear to be.”
🩸 Masterlist🩸 / ✨ Prologue — The Letter ✨/ 🕯️ Taglist Signup🕯️
You could feel the soft pale warm light grace your face through the curtains in the guest-room you had fallen asleep in. You don't remember how you fell asleep or ended up back into the guest-room. But, you didn't feel scared just a dull calm and peace. You knew things now that you should fear but instead comfort. This knowledge was of the secrets in the shadow, the supernatural world existing and now you are a part of it. Pulling you form your thought you hear a soft knock on the door, and you get out of the bed to answer the door.
At the door you see the young man who had welcomed you to the manor standing in front of you. Ni-Ki had your phone in his hand and held it tauntingly with a smirk on his face.
"When did I give you that?" you speak reaching for your phone out of his hand.
"Last night after you looked at the painting and when I told you about what we are" Ni-ki spoke as he put your phone in his pocket before you could grab it.
"I should fear you….why am I so calm " You feel your breathing pick up. Ni-ki see this and grab both side of your face forcing you to look directly into his eyes.
"Calm down" Ni-Ki speaks in a melodic tone as his eye turn an icy blue "I told you last night to make the interview easier. You are here to tell our story and now you know what we are. Now give me your laptop."
Now you put the piece together. Ni-ki and the other people in the manor are Vampires and you reaction at the mention made you want to run. So, last night after the revelation he had compelled you to feel numb and not scared by them. The information would be a shock to anyone but with the power of compulsion clearly use by said vampire, it was obvious that he had dull your emotion.
You push his hand away from your face and feel your yourself calm "So, Vampire can control emotion that's great"
Ni-Ki see you turn away from him and walk toward your bag. His eye shows his inner turmoil of having to dull your emotions. He know that you never would like it but he also knows that this would be the only way that you would be okay with what they are.
"You do realize I need some way of taking notes and record of these interviews" You grab the laptop out of your bag and turn back towards him to hand it to him. Even though you were calm the anger towards him for taking away your emotional reaction frustrated you to the core and you couldn't hide in your face.
Ni-Ki takes the laptop and began to reach for another item in his leather jacket and pull out a tape recorder. Ni-Ki speak with a cheeky smile, " That is why… we provided you with this. We have many tapes for you and we will provide a typewriter and a journal in each interview"
You could help but role your eye as you grab the tape recorder. You walk back into your room to began to prep for the interview leaving Ni-Ki standing in the doorway. You began to go through your bag in search of your Notebook to make sure you have your pre planned question.
" Your going to be interviewing one of us each day." Ni-Ki slips in quietly, wearing an expression that blends mischief and seriousness. He returns her notebook with a knowing smile, admitting he compelled her mind to accept the existence of immortals and vampires. His hand tapped your shoulder and handed back to you. " I read through it and gave you some better questions to ask"
You couldn't help but chuckle at the sheer notion of Ni-Ki breach of privacy " Okay, If I have to follow your guys rules then listen to one of mine." He crosses his arm and lean against the bookshelf near the open door waiting patiently for your rules. " No more digging through my stuff, no more compulsion on my emotions, and I need to know why you feel the need to control my emotion and my choices"
You see his face change from one of amusement to seriousness. Ni-Ki’s words carry the weight of necessity and warning “You needed the truth in your blood, not just your mind. This isn’t a choice anymore.”
"You said I had to stay here for 7 days." Ni-Ki nods his head silently "At least let me tell my roommate that I will be gone for the week"
" Already taken care of last night…You had sent her a message about it last night before I told about the whole supernatural state of the world" Ni-Ki tilted his head still leaning on the bookcase silently waiting for you reaction.
"At least let me look less sleepy before we began the interview process" You say waiting for Ni-Ki to leave the room. He raise both his hand in surrender and walked out of the room and waited for you to get ready for the day.
You gotten fresh up and made your self look decent and grabbed your notebook and the Tape recorder that was given too you. Outside your door stood Ni-ki patiently waiting for you to exit. Once you had open the door again a small smile formed on lips.
" Let get the first interview over with" You say as you join Ni-Ki. He guide you to the opposite side of the manor.
" The first person you are interviewing is the eldest Immortal in our clan" Ni-Ki spoke. " His name is Heeseung and he can be well… you'll see."
In this section of the manor, seemed more like a castle with many more painting but in a different style. The painting showcasing landscape you do not recognize and a castle in the distance. Then you both had finally arrived in front of Heeseung door. Before Ni-ki knocked on the door, he turn to you and whisper " The state of the room will be quite a mess but once you here his story it will make much more sense,"
Ni-Ki knocks on the door and on the other side you here a faint voice speak "Come in."
Ni-ki warning of the room, was an understatement. You could see that the curtains of the room were close the only light eliuminatikng was from the fire place. There where many empty bottle of wine, paints scattered across the floor, the bed was unmade, many canvas were destroyed or covered in single color, and clothes laying about. The only nice kept item was a painting above the fire place that had now sign of paint or stain on it of a women with a beautiful color-filled landscape in the background.
Ni-Ki was the first one to step into the room. "The Interviewer is here"
He stood by the fire place sitting in a chair staring up at said painting.The figure that you assumed to be the immortal Heeseung stood up and finally turned to the pair of you. He was wearing your a loosely fitted white button up shirt that had some random paint stains on it with a dress paints, and barefoot. His hair was unkempt and in disarray. He stood with a cup full of what you assumed to be wine. He looked to Ni-Ki before eyeing you. He spoke in a mockingly "This is the famed Interviewer that Ni-Ki begged us to talk to,"
Ni-Ki took a step forward protectively in front of you " You agreed to this no killing them and you get to vent about all you want" You were stunned at Ni-ki statement. You were no therapist you were just a mere eager journalist.
"Fine." Heeseung spoke and took a big sip from the wine glass. "I won't kill them or hurt them just a plain interview"
Ni-ki nodded before he turned to exiting the room and leaving you alone with the second immortal vampire you have ever meet. Heeseung gestures you towards a couch that was covered in a white tarp that was paint spot across it, that he removes off for you to sit on. He began to clear the small coffee table in front of the couch so that you can put down your stuff.
You sit on the couch and arrange the recorder carefully, the quiet clicking sounds filling the heavy silence. Heeseung sat across from the couch on a fancy chair that seemed to have golden accent.
Your voice is steady but layered with curiosity and caution “So your immortal and that a lot to take in but the biggest question that comes to mind how did you become immortal?"
Heeseung’s gaze is sharp, measuring — his voice cold but not without sadness “A woman died to make me eternal.”
The flicker of a shadow crosses his face as the story pulls you both into the past. "How did she make you immortal?"
"That is a long story. It start way before I became like this" His eye wandered to the portrait of the mystery women.
The grief in his eyes were palpable, you knew in that moment that the story he was gonna tell might break your soul. "Then, tell me what was life like before and after you turned?"
" Are you sure you want to hear it?" Heeseung quip to you. I nodded signaling silently for him to answer the question. " The story is quite long and sad but it started in kingdom that is largely erased from the history book"
Heeseung smirked thinking about his mortal life and began to tell you the accounts of his mortal life and the tragedy of his turning that took his will to fight.
*italics is talking and tell you about thing from his memories of events*
I grew up long ago in a kingdom known as Haesung. It was a beautiful place according to my parents but the image I grew with was a land battered by decades of war. The kingdom was broken and loyalty was my currency. It was run on the political betrayals and stained borders. But, I learned quickly that the only way to live is to only relay on yourself. I grew up with a King who had his history of mistress, even though he had a queen.
I had given my life to the kingdom and a loyal solider, a fighter in the King's army. I quickly climbed the ranks and cemented myself an important part of the King army. Then, I was ask to join an order of spies that worked in shadows and politics within the kingdom. This order; titled The Black Vow is loyal to no one just the idea of the continuation of the kingdom and its people. I was never originally supposed to be in the castle form the moment I joined I was moved to a different type of battlefield, one that was in market and village that I was born in.
Then one day, the king's health waned and there was no official heir in sight. I was sent a royal summons through a fellow knight that was a part of The Black Vow named Gillian. The official summon had told me that I was reassigned by the king himself, from working in the village to the castle. Under his orders I was supposed to keep eye and protect a girl that was need to ensure the kingdom safety. Gillian never told me why I was need for this but insisted that ones loyal to the vow to be with the ward of the king. That where it all began at the cursed Castle.
The Castle hall where always pristine and clean there were painting of the many royal family that grace the hall. I was called to face the King's council for an unknown reason. I come across these large double door and hear chattering on the other side. I push my way through seeing the big circular chamber in front of me. The seat directly in might line of site was a throne made for the king himself but he was not on the throne it was his second wife sitting there the new queen with a stern look upon here face. The other seat surrounding here filling the circular room were filled with scheming noble man that where loyal to her and a general that I knew was at her beckon call.
As soon as I enter and reach the middle of the room I kneel and began to speak " My Queen, permission to speak."
She waved her hand allowing to state my business to the rest of the council. I know that I need to choose my words carefully in front of the council, "The king has sent a message to me to come here and serve a special guard detail to one of his wards." I see that every person that are a part of the council instantly shift.
"May I see the note, Heeseung High Knight of Haesung" Heeseung hands the queen the note from my pant pocket. She quickly gaze over it, the anger build on her face after every word she reads.*
" Am I to believe you are being sent to the castle to protect the ward of the king" The queen spoke in a compose but anger filled tone.
" I was not informed of who the protection was for but I was given order by the King," Heeseung say calmly and choose my words carefully. He need to fly under the queen radar and not cause to much trouble.
I knew that the order as many of its own in the castle but I didn't know if the queen herself had any knowledge.
"Gillian take Heeseung to the witch in the red tower" The exact same vow member that hand me the king's order was the queens personal guard and he was sauntering across room towards me. I quickly bow and exit with him toward the mysterious ward.
"Long time no see" Gillian spoke with a smirk. "The tales from the vow say that the ward is a girl named Arae but, nothing other than that "
"I am curious to know why the king wanted me to watch this girl" Heeseung speak plainly as servant and other guards that where walking in the opposite direction."I am supposed to be on the field not a protection detailed"
" Well maybe you will gain better favors." Gillian tease Heeseung as he walks backwards to talk. He was the type of soldier that liked to pass the time with joke and conversation. Often Heeseung thought he liked the sound of his own voice than of silence fill the void*, "Besides information here in the castle is currency."
"Are their any other rumors that has followed this mystery ward." If information was currency, then might as well know what the whisper speak and find out the truth. But, in my many years as an immortal I still wonder why the vow chose me.
"They say that she might be another mistress" Gillan often knew all the whispers in the castle, "But the vow have no clue why she is important to the king."
"Why is she so important to the vow?" Heeseung expected an explanation from him but all he gave back was more questions.
"Why hide her away from the kingdom?" Gillian spoke with a giggle in his tone. " She has private meeting with the queen but the bow has no information on this ward"
I couldn't find a response but I knew in that moment that the girl I was about to meet was the loneliest person in the kingdom.
Once we had finally arrive at the tower we reach the sight of a red door with black accented handles. It seems that this room took an entire wing of the castle. "She is a quiet the beast, I trust that you will ensure information about her will get back to the vow….The queen might ask you to leave ensure you have ear in the room before she request privacy with your ward."
Heeseung nodded and heed his caution. Then Gillian turned back and proceed to the door. Gillan knock on the wooden door and it creak open. Gillian gesture for me to enter and I do so. He pats my back as I enter and here him murmur under his breath a silent prayer.
The room was large and seemed to take up this side of the castle. The entry had a bay window that showed the outside world and a bookcase covering one side of the room. The surround walls where painted and filled with picture of thing that happened on the battlefield and other picture of other events that I could hardly recognize. There was no bed in this room, but on the far right of the room there is a door that I assume leads to her bedchambers. I see a girl with one hazel and one blue eye in a regal dress with straight black hair and crouching behind a couch in the middle of the room with a painting knife in her hand. She looked like a scared child that saw an enormous monster. I can see the fear in her eyes and she clearly didn't trust me.
Heeseung put his hand in the air to signal peace "I was sent by the king to protect you… I am High Knight Lee Heeseung." She doesn't respond, so with my hand in the air I slowly approach her, "I am not gonna harm you."
In that moment, something switched in her face and she began to swing the knife at me, on instinct I back up. Then after the initial shock of her attack I quickly disarm her and she doesn't fight back instead freeze in spot and drop the knife from her hand. She push's me out of the room and in an instant I was outside, in the hallway again and the red door that let me slam in my face.
I stayed outside the door all night waiting for the girl I just met to let me in. She stayed in the room for an entire week with no servants walking in as I stood outside the door like a mere castle guard not the high knight title I had work hard to acquire.
"How long did it take for you to get her to trust you?" You asks pulling him out of his memories
"It took her a week to finally exit her room. She didn't know that I witness her exiting" He mused "She was sneaking around the castle at night when all the servant and guards where asleep, just to make food."
A smile that was laced with silent adoration for her, graced his face. Standing from his elegant chair and grab his now empty wineglass. Making his way over to some open wine bottle scattering the room, turning with his back now facing you.
As he found the exact bottle he wanted to drink he spoke again and began to fill his wineglass, "Establishing trust was a long process. It took another 3 month for her to let me even step back in that room. Most of the time she left the wing of the castle was if the queen insisted and or the occasional event. It wasn't until 6 month after that I had finally heard her voice."
He made his way back to the chair with a now full wineglass and finally answer "That when I knew she trust me. So… 9 months"
It was in the castle garden, when she finally started to speak to me.
Her voice came out softly and she was crouching down to the smell the flowers and Heeseung stood by her side quiet and observing the surroundings,"You know that the other women in the palace whisper about you."
The way her voice was a light as air itself surprised me in that moment. Over the past months, I heard whispers that she never talks and when she does it was only in front of the queen. But, here she was speaking; to me of all people.
Heeseung was flustered at the sound of her voice. "Uhh…What do they whisper about?"
Her eyes are filled with curiosity and wonder as her gaze travels across my very being.
She stood up and turned to face Heeseung looking and silent observing his face. "They say you are a noble warrior and that you are unmarried among other things."
She turns to walk away and I couldn't help but follow along. It strange really like a magnetic pull that made me more drawn and protective with after that. It was one of the few moment where she was vibrant and not buried behind a wall. But from the 9 month of just being by her side it was clear that most of the protection she need was from inside the castle walls. I knew she need a signal or something that would help avoid problems. So with the little trust I got from her, I used it.
"I was thinking that we need to establish a signal for you to give me when your in danger" Heeseung couldn't help but gaze into her eyes. There was a spark that lit them and held this curiosity he couldn't place."My job is to protect you and now that you have decide to trust me, Arae. This will help me ensuring your safety."
She smirked like she was masking something and continued to walking through the gardens. She wasn't looking at Heeseung and began to walk away picking up the pace of her steps, "Why?…Doesn't me screaming for help not signal for danger?"
He follow her as she quickly walking the garden and back in the direction of the castle.* "That always an option but I'm talking when the danger is not so direct but in whisper and conversations you fear… Beside just a signal or gesture only you know when your in direct danger would be helpful "
I knew that it was a good progress by her finally talking to me. Unfortunately, it was the same day when I see how difficult her life truly was and the way she put walls between her and other people.
She body seemed it could hide her growing anxieties and she turn towards Heeseung. She couldn't look at him, instead look at her hand rather than his face. She took a deep breath and the look in her eyes was one filled with hesitation, and began to pick at her fingernails.* " I think this conversation is best back in the tower where there aren't as many ears and eyes on my… actions"
I quickly understood why the patrols of the garden had risen over the time while we were in the garden. I gesture to guide her back to the tower. The walk back was quiet, only hearing the servant's chatter and gently tap of foot movement could be heard. Once we finally make it back to her safe space she finally fill the silence with her gentle voice.
Arae was pacing the entry room and she looked out the window making sure there was no wandering people, "Most of the people in the castle see me as a ward of the king…in there eyes I am a mistress."
She turns her back to me and stares out the window. I could feel her fear rising, she does not face me as utter her next words so cautiously. It seemed like she wanted to disappear.
She spoke in a fright filled tone. This was her biggest secret and if any of the queen spies or loyal follower heard it spoken, it would lead to more punishment." The king is my father and my mother was a noble lady that dabble in magic. She was a friend too the queen."
Heeseung keep quiet and letting her speak without judgment. This wing was her safe space and she feared the judgment outside of that room. She spoke again this time gaining more courage to look at him with each word she spoke,"My mother dabbling in magical totem and knowledge had an affect on her pregnancy with me…that why my eye are different colors. It also left me with an ability that grants me vision or glimpses of the future"
I couldn't help but wonder at the possibility of her powers and it's various uses. Then it all circled back to one question that stuck in my mind.
Heeseung face showed the many though and question that filled his head. In that moment, the only question that mattered came to mind "Is that why the queen constantly ask to speak to you in private?"
She nodded back at him. Her hand was spinning a ring that she received long before they had ever met. It was the only thing of her mother she kept. It was the only jewelry she was allowed to keep. She spoke again still twirling the ring around her finger , " She ask me about my vision if there attacks or plans… Most of my vision tell of the future and I can hardly piece them together. That why I draw it like this focus and clarity I can find to understand the images"
Heeseung understood that the drawing on the wall were in fact not from her imaginations but glimpse of the future events that haven't happened. He had seen her draw or paint randomly when he would check on her but he the piece together of some of her painting. He understood that she was only a tool to the kingdom used to win wars and foil plans.
Heeseung had one last question "Why tell me now?"
"If you really are here to protect me from danger, then I need you to know what that entails "
The gap between us close as she take a step away from the window. "I do not wish for you to be under the same danger as me. You are a noble knight with a life outside the castle and I am nobody. Just a mere tool used by the queen to check the kingdom's loyalty"
She shared to her fear of the queen to me that night. All the threat on her life, the way her powers worked, how the queen would slap her every time one of her vision of the future did not come true. It was easy to talk to her and even easier to just sit with her while she painted in silence. Over time, we got closer and we continued to talk about her life and the thing she went through. I failed to notice the follow of the conversation change over time from worries and concern to personal interest and childhood stories. It was somehow easy to talk to her, I didn't have to worry about titles, class, and politics. Eventually we came up with signals and action to know when the other was in danger.
"What were some of the signals?" you ask him with a smile etched on your face. The way this immortal talked about the mysterious ward he need to protect, like he was admiring a sunset.
Pondering for moment, he recollected a couple of them. But one signal in particular his mind went back to, he couldn't help but stifle a chuckle at the mere thought of it. He was playing a reels of that memory when they had created it. Lost in the memories as he tried to remember the color of her gown, her dark chocolaty brown long wavy hair, and there combined laughter blowing in the wind.
"We hand many signals. One in particular was from to her about her movement. If I need her to stay I would make my hand into a fist. If I need her to move again I would show her the palm of my hand."
The words he spoke had brought him some comfort but, quickly changed into the same mournful look he held when talking about his home. "Did it work… the signals did it protect her from danger?"
Heeseung couldn't look you in the eye as he spoke about those times. It was like a boy standing in front of his mother when he had done something wrong. "It worked for a while. The threats on her life increase as the queen used her powers and sought her out more. The danger became more physical the more I had to intervene and the more injuries."
Heeseung took a breath sharing something he felt was intimate about him, "Often with those injuries I would have to bandage and heal it myself. But, she saw a pretty bad injury and insisted on taking care of me. It was one of the shared moments that I was just another guard. I was exhausted and couldn't stop her generosity. It was one of the first night I didn't sleep in the guardroom. I slept on the couch she hide behind when I first met her in the entry room."
The paused taking a sip a long sip from his wine-glass. Heeseung smiled at the memories of her constant nagging when she was bandaging him. Then his arm reached around himself touch a scar that was all too familiar. "I didn't know it then but looking back at those moments. It was one of the few moment that we didn't care for title, caste, or class. It was one of the few moment of peace and not worrying about the danger or threats."
There was an assassination attempt on the king one night. Through Heeseung many contact within the black vow, he knew that there was a growing resentment within the kingdom for the king and queen. They had used Arae wing of the castle to enter from and Heeseung was able to stop it form happening but in doing so word had gotten out that there was a secret heir of the king.
Heeseung had fought off every attack and attempt at killing Arae, to the public she was a the next in line. So these people that were against the ruler soon targeted her and he like the noble knight he was would stop them every time. However, this particular time he had a deep gash from his shoulder down the length of his back. Arae had saw the wound, she was scared in that moment and Heeseung knew by her face.
Arae turns Heeseung around so she could see the gash better "Heeseung…Are you okay?"
Heeseung chuckled but the he felt the wound on his back sting. He tired to down play the seriousness of his wound "I'm fine princess… it just a scratch."
Arae huffed a stress breath and she grab his arm dragging him to her bedchambers. She spoke in murmurs and Heeseung didn't pay attention. He was more focused on the fact that he was being dragged to her bedchambers. Once they enter the chambers, Arae guide him to her bed and spoke before she thought gesturing towards her neatly kept bed, "Lay down on your stomach and take off your shirt."
Heeseung eyes widen at the statement but, she did not seem fazed. She stared at him waiting for him to follow the instructions. There is a pregnant pause before Heeseung decide to listen. He took off the light patted armor that was fraying at the seams slowly. He unbuttoned his loose fitted tunic and carefully remove it off his battered body. Arae look caught glimpse of past injuries and some ones that hadn't fully healed. There was bruises across his toned body some in purple and yellow cascading across his skin. Finally, he turns to lay down on his stomach on the covers of the bed. Arae went to a hidden drawer where she kept some first aid that she had stolen over the year.
Heeseung turned his head to see were she was going and see her walk into another room that he assumed was a bathroom. She return with a damp cloth and some other thing to help with bandaging him. She sat next to him on her bed with all the supplies and began to apply.
Arae had taken a damp cloth that was drench in some clear liquid which he knew was some alcohol. Arae was wring the cloth out into a bowl and spoke as she began to clean his wound, "You can keep putting yourself in danger for me. Your injuries are getting out of hand and you aren't recovering fast enough. "
Heeseung winces ever time she wiped and dabbed his gash. But as she ranted on about her anger that he treating his injuries by himself, her touch was less gentle. Heeseung felt more sting pressure on his wound. He tried stopping her to tell to easy up and grunting out with each sting, " Princess… Princess…Arae please go easy on the wound."
Arae only realize what she was doing and pause calming her quelling anger, "I'm sorry… I just hate to see you hurt and I just sit around not helping,"
Heeseung didn't how to make her feel helpful. So there rest of time of her cleaning and banding was this comfortable silence. Arae spoke to him again, "I am done with the stingy part just need to wrap the bandage. Can you sit up?"
Flipping over from his stomach and sat up; dangling his legs off the front edge of her bed. She was focused on wrapping him, but her closeness to his toned body could not prevent her from blushing in that moment. Heeseung saw her cheek become a rosy tint and chose to ignore the warmth and safety he felt in that moment. He spoke to her to try and fill the awkwardness and distract him from his flushed state, "It my job to protect you, princess… I know that you feel useless but I don't know how to resolve your need."
She had lifted his arms so that she could continue to wrap the bandage around his upper body. "Let me help you… Teach me more than just signals."
Heeseung waited for her to finish wrapping him up before responding because he was afraid that his voice would give away his emotions. She had fully wrapped his long gash on his back and pulled last bits of the binding over his right shoulder to tuck into binding across his chest.
She patted his binding over his shoulder and backed up a little not directly looking at him. Heeseung spoke, "I can just put you at risk or use you as bait. I do not need another thing to worry about."
The silence gather between and she lift her head finally looking at him. Arae knew this wasn't a great time to ask him to teach her. But, she was determined to not be sideline in her own life. She didn't want to be weak anymore. Heeseung gather his lightly battered armor and shirt in his arms and began to leave the room,"Thank you, for taking care of me."
Arae didn't respond but stood in the same spot as facing her bed as he left the room.
The silence began to fill the void as he choose his words carefully. He ran his hand over his face trying to calm his sadness and longing for her out of his mind. "She asked me later on if I could train her so that I wasn't always risking my life. So, under severe protest on my part, I indulged her."
In that moment for a second you could read the emotion right off his face. The grief, anger, sadness, and severe regret shimmered across his exhausted form. Then, he quickly put the mask of indifference back on and he went back to his rambling. "It was hard at first to train her without the servant or other kings guard noticing. But we decide we to train in the mild of the night when most of staff and others slept We would practice for hour and hours til she got it right."
The way he spoke about her with a longing made it very clear to you, that she was no mere ward to him. It was clear that somewhere in that time of Heeseung guard duty to protect this ward had turned to something more than just duty for him. "So when did it change?"
He changed his posture and became defensive," When did what change?"
It was clear you asked the right question. That there was something he refused to speak about but need to get off his chest. "You know what I mean. When did you start to see more than just your duty, but as someone that you needed more than life itself?"
Heeseung didn't look at you and was silent for a while. He knew if he talked about those memories, the one that showed more about you it would break him. He knew that if it breaks him, he could never really put the piece together again.
" If you really want to know it was one of the many night we spent training"
There was an enclosed space in the palace grounds that we used as a training. It this courtyard with only one entrance and exits; the only place where servants and guard rarely entered. The moon was glowing high in the night sky. There where some lanterns that were flickering but subdued.
They had been training in everything from distance weapons to hand-to-hand combat. She was holding a long-sword and Heeseung was correcting her posture. "Relax your shoulder. Your carrying too much tensions, that leads to that sword becomes heavier."
She listen to instruction fairly well. It was like that every time I made a comment and she would instantly fix it. Her mind had long been her weapon but, in our training she use her mind and body to adapt quickly. In every miss step and bruise she acquired, there was this unyielding determination that no one could dim. She took her every bruise like a badge of honor. She did this funny thing where she would see if we had matching bruises. But she long for more than just stance and basics.
"You know I need to actually practice not memorize proper form right," She spoke with a little annoyance. She understood that this was par for the course in the training. But she longed to be able to fight to be able to stand beside him against everything.
So an idea popped in her head. " Spar me… I need an actual challenge and we have gone over the basic what is it… 77 times"
The idea of she spoke was; in my opinion; laughable. I have more experience and training but, I couldn't really deny her. The magic…The fire in her eyes is the one thing that I could not deny. So like any rational human I indulged her.
" Fine but I not gonna going easy " Heeseung unsheathed his own long sword and stood his typical fighting stance. The danced around each other neither one making the first move waiting for the other to struck them. Heeseung meet her gaze and tries to read the move she make but, grew bored of the dance.
Heeseung lunged forward at swipes at Arae. She swift doge the blade and knock his sword back to him. She smirks at him " Your being predictable."
Heeseung smiles back at her and circles around her. He was astonished by her ability to fight back," Nice. But, you can't keep blocking and dodging forever."
Heeseung began to strike again and the swords clang together. It was a quiet rhythm of sword clashing, striking, and countering each other blows. Heeseung and Arae had both worked up a sweat but neither yielded to the other. Heeseung lunged forward with swiftness that catches Arae off guard. She dodges it in time but the sword manages slash her the side of left arm.
She doesn't wince but smirks back at him. Heeseung looks at her and speaks,"Just a little too slow"
Arae raise her sword towards him and speaks " Maybe but it's not the end of yet."
The moonlight glints against her sword and the light bounce into Heeseung eyes. It his temporary blindness creating and opportunity that she takes. She choses to swing her sword towards him. He flatter slightly and steps back to balance. Arae see him flatter and uses that to sweep his leg out from under him. He landed on the ground with a thud and he feel the point of the sword near his neck. He looks up in the direction of the sword and sees towering over him the hidden princess in the shadow of the cold glowing moon.
In that moment Heeseung couldn't help but smile at the sight of her. Both of them were breathing heavily. Arae was waiting for him to utter a surrender. He smirks and in breathless voice," I Yield… not bad for just learning the basics."
Arae removes the sword aimed at his neck and offer her left hand "Told you… I learn quick"
Heeseung grabs her left hand and pulls her down to the ground with him. She let's out a surprise yelp at his action and lands directly on top of him. There face inches apart and staring it each other's eyes. Heeseung other arm had wrapped around her to hold in place on top of his chest. It was a quick moment and both in shock at the other action and closeness. They stayed like that for a minutes and all you could her where the crickets and there exhausted breath.
Arae cleared her throat and Heeseung release his hold on her. She quickly get off of him feeling the heat rise in her face. The color of her check had become a soft red as she thought about how close he was. Then she remembers she shouldn't feel like this, she shouldn't long for him. She knew her role in the court and he was not a part of that. He knew of the danger and the threats but in that moment she asked him something she longed for, " Do you think maybe one day I won't have to keep worrying about my safety? "
Heeseung could see the fear in her eye's that held her back. The thought did cross his mind, why did she have to hide who she was. He also knew being her personal guard that her vision were random and often happen with out any warning. That meant to him she would never be safe or free as long as she has her vision. But, he also knew if she didn't have them then the queen would not let her live.
"It's my job to worry about your safety and I promise you that you will not have carry that burden alone." Both still on sitting near each other looking directly into each other soul. She looked at him trying to read his thoughts, " I just don't want to just be the weapon of the kingdom anymore. I want to be free from this royal cage."
In the moment, of her telling me of her desire I made a promise to myself that I would free her. The entire time I was with her was like stolen moments and glance. I grew to care even when I tried to be distant she would be able to pull me back in with just a look. I gave the black vow all the information I could gather but after a while I stopped because I realize that all I was doing was keeping her in that very cage. So that night I told her everything about the system, politics, the black vow, and she never judged me.
I thought that maybe she would start to distrust me but it never happened. It was just a silent understanding between us that we were both trapped under our roles and duties. That we never lived for ourselves either. It was never just danger from the enemy but within our own lives. We have always lived in the shadow of danger.
Heeseung face showed the sorrow of the situation. The longing that turned into something more of a mutual understanding of the other. "When did the danger become real? When did it mean that you might loose each other?"
The immortal's gaze looked directly at you then to the painting and he took a deep breath. He knew when but he knew that would lead to there inevitable end. He gritted his teeth, " It was around 2 years after when I first met her. There was an unspoken thing between us. We still use the signals but we developed more and she learned to fight back. The king had been sick for a while and the queen took away more freedoms given to her and made me tell her everything about every vision. After a while, Arae started to distance her self from me."
He contemplated that feeling the way he had turned into the black vow spy to the queens. " I obviously never gave her the information she wanted to hear. But the more the queen asked for me the more Arae trust went away. That when I noticed that there were murmurs about the king declining health and increasing tension outside the castle wall. I didn't know that was the beginning of our end. That when it became real. The night we finally gave into our desire and feeding our longing for each other."
It was just another quiet evening, where she would be in her room and I was outside her door. It had been some time since we even got to train. There was a growing divide between us, the more I tried to come closer she backed away. It was supposed to be another night of distance and I had decided we need to end this distant. I couldn't protect her if she was at arm length and we couldn't trust each other. So I walked in thinking she was gonna be painting another vision or sketching something. But she wasn't she was in her bedchambers. I walked in slowly only to fine her out on the terrace looking at the garden from above.
Heeseung slowly approached her carefully afraid she might disappear. He steps out to the terrace and see her have a distant look on her face. Her two different colored eye are not in sight but instead a milky white color, he knew she was experiencing a vision. Then her hetero-chromic eyes returned and she let's out a held breath. She didn't notice Heeseung in that moment she was more focused on the vision she just experience and was in a panicked state. She felt a hand run up and down her back and noticed it was the guard she grew accustomed to. In that moment, him being by her side brought her comfort and grounded her from the painful visions she witness.
But it wasn't long before she remembered the way the queen would now call on him and she pushed his hand away slowly, " I'm fine"
She would tell me she was fine but her eye said a different. She didn't let anyone in because I grew to learn that's what kept her safe all this time. She told me once that, if she cared for or about someone or something; the queen would always find a way to remove it from her life. But I knew her pulling away from me was hurt her more than cruelty she experienced. I knew cause I felt hurt more and more she pushed me away. It wasn't just the queen she worried for but the vision often brought more danger than guidance.
Heeseung look directly at her but she refused to look back " Your pulling away, where did your determination for your freedom go? I know it's not just the queen action that causing this."
She still did not look at him. She knew that she would fall for him all over again and tell him everything she long kept hidden. The burden of her life she long carried and did want anyone else involved with," I am doing what I need to do in order to survive and not risk lives"
" By blindly trusting your vision and the rumor mill" Heeseung spoke challenging her plan.
She finally turned to him, " By trying to prevent them from happening"
When she finally spoke to me, I could see the look in her eyes. There where silent tears forming and sorrowful expression I had never seen on her face. I knew… with one look at her face and eyes, she was carrying something that was breaking her. The vision had increase recently but she refused to share them with me or the queen. But I could see that it was consuming her and it broke her down overtime.
Arae tried to wipe away the tears from her face, but now she couldn't keep the images that came to her inside anymore. She turned away from looking at him. Her voice was barely a whisper but Heeseung could her the sorrow in words as she look down not making eye contact with him, "I saw the end of you… I saw that you where bleeding and beaten…"
She chocked on her tears and her breath came out uneven," I heard you telling me in your last breath the promise you made. You said that I could be free and that you would be by my side. But, you told me something whispered those words of undying loyalty. I kissed you and then I couldn't feel you heart beat anymore."
Heeseung first instinct was to bring her in a bear hug. She was surprised by his action instead she began to let's out all the emotions she had caged away. He didn't let her go as she balled her eyes out and punched his chest begging him to not become close to her. He didn't say a word, just held her as she cried and ground her by moving his hand in circle on her back.
Once she finally calmed down, Heeseung spoke to her in the only way he knew she would listen " My first battle, I was scared out of my mind. I knew that many of my friends had never got to make it home and that I would loose many more. I was scared I gonna loose my life."
Heeseung still held her and one of his hand made its way to the top of her head smooth out her hair. He leaned back slightly so he could see her eyes and continued. " I walked away from that battle with some scars but I thought that scared feeling would dissolve…it never did and I still feel it to this day"
He move his hand form the top of her head to under her chin and lifted up her chin so he could hold her tearful gaze," I learned that fear will always be there. But I don't let it guide me because if I did I would have never survive this long and never have met you"
She push him away slightly but, still held both his hands " I have let my fear control me my entire life I don't know how to let it go"
"Then be brave and chose your wants. Forget the visions and the politics inside this castle be yourself. What do want to do?" Heeseung pleaded with her.
I begged her that night to let go of her fears and give into her own happiness. I could tell from her eyes that it was like a war within her mind. But she did. She let it go and hold it to her self anymore.
Arae looked at Heeseung with a longing she had felt since she sparred with him all those month ago. Her gaze seemed to be trying to memorize every inch of his face and eventually landed on his lips. If she gave into her want without the worry of her vision and the fear of every action she took, the only person worth letting that go would be him.
Before he could properly think, she quickly placed a gentle peck on Heeseung lips. It was quick and short, she had never kissed anyone before so it didn't cross her mind that maybe there would be more than a simple peck. Heeseung was stunned at her sudden action and stood still for a moment. Arae became shy at actions and look at her feet though they were still holding the other hand. She felt him let go of her hand and she felt rejected in that moment before she felt his hand gently cupping her face. He tilted his head slightly and pulled her closer to him crashing his lips on to hers. He kisses her with all the passion and desire he had built up since he met the curious ward.
His kiss was slow, long, and filled with a satisfying warmth that filled both of them in that moment. Arae had wrapped her arms around his back. Heeseung kept his lips on hers as one of his hand moved from cupping her face to behind her neck. Arae knew from fairy tales that there need to be a passion but the book that had kept her sheltered couldn't prepare her for the feeling of his lips on hers. She knew she was lost in this feeling and holds her breath has with each movement of both of there lip turned more and more lustful. Heeseung couldn't help but smile into the kiss. It meant the world that she finally would let him give in and now he made a different vow.
They finally pull apart out of breath, leaning against the other's forehead. Heeseung couldn't help but laugh and Arae stroke the back of his hand that was cupping her face; lightly holding his wrist in the process. She knew that she could not get rid of this feeling or even distant her self from him anymore. It would break both of them. But she didn't care, her eye close as she is taken in his scent and feeling of him silently holding her.
Heeseung breathlessly vowed on his life to her in that moment, "No matter what comes, I will keep you alive. Not just as your guard…but as someone who cares"
Arae eyes open and looks at him directly and take the only jewelry that was just her off her finger. She held took the one hand still gently cupping her face and open his palm placing that ring in his hand. She close his hand around it and cover his fist with both her hands and vows to him, " No matter what my vision tells me. I will find a way to make sure we are both free."
Heeseung head was swimming into moments that they shared. The feeling of her lips on his and her hand drawing circle on his hand, her finger in his hair. Then the ring he never wore it on his finger but kept it on a necklace hidden.
It had been a while since he had it with him. He speaks again on the tragedy that be fell them, " If I had known that was exactly one week later that we would not only be at war with a different nation. But a rebellion within the kingdom. I wouldn't have just kissed her that night."
"What happened that she turned you into this?" It was the question that had started the conversation. Why a girl had made him immortal what happened to make these people immortal.
Heeseung was silent as he remembered the event that lead to his turning. It was then you could finally see his emotions plain as day no mask of distant. He held tears in his eye and did not dare to look at you. " Funny thing is she couldn't turn me. But if I never had met her then I wouldn't be immortal "
I had woken up that day in her bedchambers. Once we had given into our feeling I barely slept in the guardrooms, I couldn't leave her side. But that particular morning we got news from a servant, close to the queen inform us that the king was dead. In that moment we knew that it was only time before everything got worse.
Once the new of the kings passing reached the people, the rebellion launched its attack against the queen. We were in her room when it happened. The angry people attempts at invaded the castle and they where looking for any royalty that was under the queen. Some rebels had snuck into her room but I managed to deal with them before we tried to escape.
During the escape though, we were ambushed and Arae tried to fight back but in the end we were overwhelmed. The people that ambushed us where a part of the queen circle and in that circle was one of the close people I had found a friendship with used that against me. Gillian was never on the black vow side but on the side that ensured his continued survival. He knew of my feeling and hers as well and the queen used that knowledge against us. The people that had invaded where out number by the queen spy's and solider and soon retreated from the castle. They quickly new that the only threat to them was an invading nation. Under the queen orders they had separated us and I was locked in a dungeon. There was no light in that cell and most of the time I was tortured, starved, and beaten so I could spill all my knowledge. I don't exactly remember how long this lasted. Most of there session of interrogation were random and often I lost track of the time. But one random day they stopped coming, I knew something changed. The only thing that kept me sane was the feeling of that ring she gave me.
Heeseung who is half-alive was being dragged through the hall of the castle his head felt heavy on his neck and he couldn't walk they dragged by his arms. He had never been tortured or beaten this badly before. He could feel ever bruise and wound against the floor as they dragged him by his arms to the first room he had ever entered in the castle, the council room. In the moment of his arrival it lacked the same conversation he first saw here. It was empty save for Gillian, the queen, and the girl he swore to protect.
He lifted his head slightly to get a better look through his matted in blood hair. Arae couldn't help but try and go to him but Gillian grabbed her by her arm with such a force that cause brushes to form. The sudden action caused Arae to let's out a slight yelp this raise Heeseung attention. He use some of his conserve strength to try and get to her.
I tried to get to her but every time I stood up the guards that held my arms would push me back to the ground. I couldn't do anything but watch her and she tried to get to me and I had to watch her talk but I could not hear the conversations. I don't know how long they held me in that dungeon but it was clear some time had passed. Arae hair was longer than the last time I saw her. She looked tired and hollow, but I could barely hold my head up as my neck felt heavy and strained.
The queen witnessed the sight of the two and couldn't help but scoff "Young love how pathetic. As I told you Arae… I kept him safe and he is alive" She moved towards Arae and spoke in a teasing tone "Now you promised to tell me one of your visions"
Arae eye never left Heeseung broken and beaten form, she knew that this was the very vision she saw before. The one that had long held both there desire back. The next vision, she saw after that was something she had yet to tell anyone. She had begun to tell Heeseung of all the vision she experience before chaos happened. But, never got to tell him of her latest vision, " The castle will be lost in ruin and the fire will consume everything. "
I could hear the slight tremble in her voice and I knew this was the moment she saw. The one she feared the most. It was my end.
The queen stormed in front of Arae blocking her view of Heeseung. Gillian released Arae cause her to stumble a fall to her knee in front of the queen. "This is not the end of my empire. This vision is false. Tell the truth or he will not make past morning"
Gillian had moved to Heeseung side and grabbed him by his matted hair lifting his head up and holding a blade to his throat. Arae eyes went wide at the site, and she let out a loud cry for Gillian not to harm him. She frantically reach's out for the queen's ankles and pleads her case " I am telling the truth please do not harm."
When Gillian lifted my head I could see how tired her eyes where. The queen was dress in extravagant clothes that could have saved a village. In that moment I failed to notice that Gillian slipped something past my lips. My entire focus was directed at her. She was on her knee begging the very women who never cared for her. I couldn't do anything but sit there a witness every action and emotion.
The queen kicked Arae to get her off and turned to Gillian. "Gillian he is all yours"
When the queen faced my direction I could see a glimmer of happiness in her eye to see Arae at her feet and begging brought her joy. I couldn't really hear what she spoke but I could hear Arae screaming my name. Then I feel a sting sensation at my chest. I feel something spill out and my breathing beginning to haggard. Suddenly, she was in front me the girl that I knew I wouldn't see again. I could only hear her voice begging the guards to release their hold on me. They let go but I didn't have much strength to hold myself up. I felt myself drape my body on to Arae hold. She was whimpering and I could feel her teardrop on this my exposed shoulder.
Arae had managed to convince the queen to let her say goodbye. " Heeseung….Hee… I got you its gonna be okay. Heeseung…Its gonna be okay… your gonna be okay… Please stay with me…please"
Heeseung manage to crooked out something in his weakened and painful state,"R-ru-run a-a-away please…g-go an-and b-be f-fr-free."
I begged her to go run and so she didn't have to live out my end. But she refused, She had move my body to gently lay on my back as my head rests on her lap and I couldn't help but look at her face. I reach up to touch her face and I try to memorize every inch of her face. Her hand were cool against my feverish skin. In my final moments, I grabbed her hand and I squeeze it three times. It was the last signal we created and only used when we couldn't say it out loud. Then there is a bunch of shouts and they yank her away. I can hear the scream and chaos and the final thing I see in my mortal life is her crying and reaching out for me as they drag her away.
Heeseung had let it out the moment that had haunted him in his long immortal life. The last image of the women he cared for was one of her in tears. "It was until years later I knew what had happen in that moment. That I was kept me weak for months in that state and used as a tool to keep Arae in check. That over the month the queen was slowly losing the war against a distance nation and the battle had finally comeback to the castle."
" Well you died how did you come back?" You say leaning in your seat toward the immortal " I mean it seemed like you where stabbed in the chest and where left for dead. So how did you even turn?"
Heeseung finally looked at you with mournful look on his face. He need a second but he hadn't expected you to move on so quickly to the next question. But, he couldn't help but feel anger and rushing of all his mortal emotion boil to surface. "That coward of a man, Gillian had secret of his own and turn out he was an immortal that had recently turned and he wanted another solider under his control."
Heeseung anger toward that man was clear you could feel it. It was enough to make you feel anxious about your safety. Luckily Heeseung hadn't notice it, he was too focused on the moment he turned and all the intense emotion he felt in that moment. The next question you asked next words were chosen deliberately, " When you died and turned what was it like?"
Heeseung put down the wine-glass on the coffee table. He heard how fast you heart was beating and he took a long sigh trying to calm down his emotions. He promised Ni-ki that he would not bring harm to you.
Once he seemed to regain his composure, he told the truth of how he turned, "It happened moment before Gillian lifted my head. He had used the very knife that he stab me with to cut his arm and give me some of his blood. Also stabbed me with the same blade that he use to gather his blood to go through my chest. The way we turn is if you have immortal blood in your system when you die. Unlike what the media tell you our blood doesn't heal. Instead, its like medication that only activate after death."
He began to explain the process of feeling when turning," When I died, all I could feel was this nothingness. Then in the next moment I felt this rush of energy it was… like all the adrenaline coming back into my body. I wake back up in the same place I had just died to new sound and smell and feeling. I knew in the moment I was in the castle but there was no emotion connection for the first minute as I observe the destruction of the castle around me. Then in another second all the pain and emotion I felt as I was dying coming rushing to the surface to consume me whole. Finally, after that wave of pain and emotion all that left is this anger and desire to kill anything."
You could see he hated every part of the turning. That it was something he wish he was never given. Heeseung look at you directly this time and his eyes were fill with the emptiness and sadness, "Those first moment awake all I could think of was Arae safety but the castle around me was crumbling. I see fire outside and I rush through the castle. All around me there where dead bodies, sword, and lots and lots of blood."
You notice the gulp that Heeseung had taken like he was holding himself back in that moment. He continued on, "I couldn't stop the hunger for something I didn't know. In my daze and confusion I stumble across a living person a guard that I had met once that was bleeding out half conscious and delirious. But, this smell was signing to me something in me was singing lulling my hunger. I was hesitant and slowly approach the barley living person and I devoured him---drank him dry and licked up all the blood that pooling around him. It gave me enough strength to exit the crumbling castle. I was in this state of blood lust without thought and guidance for a decade before that man that turned me came back into my life. "
I knew the night I turned that the kingdom of Haesung was wiped of the face of the earth. I never knew what happened to the queen or Arae. I was too consumed in satisfy my own constant hunger to look for her. It was nine years of killing to survive. After those nine years, I was broken and so alone. I felt numb, I wanted to be able to feel something again so I decide I need to learn control and it work for a whole year. Then showed up one night offering me something I could not resist.
It was a cold night and I had isolated myself in this dense forest in a little house I made. I feared every part of me. I needed to control what I was. A part of me wished to be with Arae, to protect her again and the other part wanted to consume all of her blood. That night was the worst need for blood I felt, then towards the middle of the night I finally gave in and opened the door to look for something to drain. But instead in front of my house it was that bastard that gave me this fate. I could feel the rage build up in my body. So, since I was already giving into my hunger might as well given to the anger.
Heeseung lunged at the man he once knew, both hand reaching his opponents neck. But was quickly overpowered by the very man that killed him. Gillian had moved faster than Heeseung has anticipated. Catching Heeseung off guard Gillian grab him by the neck and shoved him to the snowy ground. Heeseung tried to scratch and claw his way out of Gillian grasp but he was not as strong.
Gillian smirked at Heeseung manic state," Didn't expect you to survive this long… Then again I severely underestimated your strategic mindset before"
Heeseung grunted and growled at the man, " I kill you, you crazy fucking psycho"
Gillian laughed at the new immortal, " You won't after you hear what I have to say… I can help you control your blood lust and I saved your life remember. Give me a little credit"
Heeseung still pinned anger still rising " You are the reason I am like this and unless you can tell me what happened to Arae and where I could find her. Then you are of no use to me."
Gillian still the same smirk on his face,"I know where the precious seer is but I can teach you how to not kill her the moment you see her again. I can teach to control the hunger and maybe show you that there are rules we immortals follow."
Gillian offered a deal that pulled me out of that rage and gave me hope for a better life. He would teach me how to control the blood lust and the rule's immortals all follow and in exchange he would take me to Arae. I took the deal with out question and spent about 5 year under his teaching. I wanting to kill him every second of it.
I didn't just learn how to control the feral side but I also learned that immortals have heighten emotion. So eventually I had learned my hunger was tide to my emotion. It tough but eventually I learned how to quell these heighten emotional states. It was 5 years of having to control every movement, feeling, and thought. It felt good but after a while I learned there was another obstacle. I started to develop these abilities and learning that all immortals often develop powers over time. It get stronger over time that it was one of thing immortal long for over there very long life
It wasn't sudden noise in my head. It was this quite dull noise in my head that grew louder and I thought this was my head playing with me at first that this was my hunger. The blood lust trying to win me over with it whispering in my head. But it wasn't it was the thoughts of every being in the same room as me. Don't worry, It took me a total of 50 years to master that ability and another to be able to use it passively to quiet everyone thought from my head. But before I could master that ability I heard Gillian thought one night. I had been sitting in a room painting one of the many sketches I could remember that Arae once drawn and I could hear his thought from over my shoulder.
His thought where mainly surface level. The usual quip and remarks at my longing for Arae. But then his thought went deeper. It lead me to the fate that had be fallen Arae.It was buried and he unknowingly brought it out. His secret thought the instantly broke our little arrangement 'It's a shame that the Arae won't can't see you so desperate, then again she just a lingering spirit watching over him now'. It took a second to intercept but another surface thought grace Gillian mind 'At least she went peacefully.' I knew with this information that she was gone.
Heeseung hearing Gillian thoughts shot up in an instant and quickly catching Gillian off guard. He had pinned his maker to the wall shouted into his face "You lied to me. You said that you could take me to her. If she is dead then you precious little deal is off"
Gillian stuttered out an apology and one of marvel of Heeseung growing powers. Heeseung had enough of his constant remarks and anger building up inside him.
Gillian was surprised at my actions, I didn't need to use my powers to know that. He worked hard to put up a facade of strength and power but he was just another coward. I learned all I needed from him so I granted him a mercy. I snapped his neck so fast his head nearly rolled off his body. I burned his hideout with him still inside but it never really satisfied my anger.
The idea the man in front you had killed someone over a mere thought that might not have been true shook you to the core. Immortals we're not a kind or forgiving race. You jot down a reminder to never piss off an Immortal.
Then with out a second thought you blurt out a curiosity that had been dancing on your tongue "So if you thought Arae was dead what kept you wanting to continue your immortality."
Heeseung smirk, " I have tried to end it… to stop being immortal. But turn out we are pretty hard to kill… So wandered and stumble across the others living in the manor. Took up some painting over the years, just so I would be able to remember my mortal life. I painted my memories of her some of the sketches she made. Those memories kept me going. I wanted history to remember her even as a random person something to make this long life worth something."
Heeseung focus returned to the painting of the women you now knew now was his Arae. Your gaze move from him to the painting and couldn't help but comment, "From the way you talk about her and paint her she seem like someone worth remembering for centuries."
Heeseung eyes never left the painting and he smile, "Yeah, she is… mesmerizing."
In that moment, Heeseung was not just an immortal that was stuck in his memories but another person that had lost the love of his life. The grief was palpable to you but it was clear that these memories of her was something he could never let go. Then before closing the interview you asked one last question, "Did you ever wonder how she died or if Gillian thoughts where true?"
Heeseung wasn't angry in that moment. He felt a slight weightlifting off his chest and that the conversation felt like friends catching up. Heeseung had been speaking honestly all those pent up emotions that where held in these memories and the guilt for his immortality that followed. He looked at you without the typical mask he put up for people he just meet. Instead of finding annoyance and indifference expression across his face, you found that a he gaze was in a relaxed and playful manner and he answered, "I have wondered but never for too long. If I get lost in that curiosity that rage would consume me. Gillian is a bastard and a trickster but not lair. Plus with these abilities you can't really lie in your thought."
Processing all the details and memories he gave it came to one conclusion in your head about his immortal life. It was a lonely one that was built loss and grief. Instead of processing he chose to live in those memories. He was just an immortal but a ghost that haunts him with his own memories.
"I think I got enough of your story… thank you for trusting me with it" You clicked the recorder off and began to pack up your stuff. In the back of your head you hear a whisper of Heeseung voice thanking you for letting him share those memories. Then before you exit the room there was this lingering feeling that you couldn't place but this underlying need to tell him something, "It wasn't your fault what happened to her. You did everything you could have done. Do not let your grief continue to cloud your happiness. She would have probably wants you to live and not become a ghost because of her."
Heeseung watched as you walk out with tape recorder in one hand and the other was the notes you had taken. He stayed in that spot until he couldn't hear your footstep. He stood up and made his way to a side table next to his unkempt bed. He opened a drawer and see the only thing from his mortal that found its way back to him. He never wore it the burden and emotion behind the simple necklace felt to consuming. It was a simple chain that held her ring and he finally found the courage to wear it again.
The grief didn't go away, he knew that, it was a part of him. But the thought that he had let Arae down for holding on it in instead of actually living was a worse feeling. He gain the courage to wear that necklace without fear and with love once for her once again.
🩶 Next: Chapter 2 —Jake: The Curse Beneath the Willow 🥀 🔗 Masterlist | 🕯️ Taglist open — send an ask 💌
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📢 Author’s Note: Thanks for stopping by! Hope you enjoy the story. Also this series will post every Saturday at 9:00pm. sorry for the delays but Jake and jay chapter will be Friday and Saturday this week