It's like an illusion hits when at one moment everyone sees Somi with a broken neck, and literally a moment later, Jay snaps his fingers and laughs loudly, looking at everyone with superiority in his eyes.
Somi is alive. She's safe and sound, but scared as hell.
He plays with people's minds, deriving a sick satisfaction from it. He is amused by the terrified faces of his enemies, who at that moment look as if they were about to faint from fear.
The blonde girl breathes heavily, feeling Jay's presence behind her. She doesn't understand why the others are pale and scared, but she guesses that the vampire did something to them, because at one point they looked as if they had been hypnotized.
"What are you doing?" Sunghoon asks with a trembling voice.
"I want to prove to you what I'm capable of before you all see the illusions of your past lives," he replies, the corner of his mouth lifting. "You'll see what monsters you were."
Wonyoung throws a worried look at Sunghoon.
- Do you want us to remember where the gold dust is hidden? - The boy doesn't give up.
- Exactly, that's what I want. This is your only chance to finally let me go. If you don't find the gold dust, your current life will turn into an even worse hell.
The young people look at each other with worried eyes.
"How do you plan to make our souls remember their past lives?" Wonyoung asks.
- As usual, in a dream. Except here I will have control over all of you, so... sweet dreams, friends - he states, emphasizing the last word.
It's a brief moment when everyone except Jay and Somi falls into a deep sleep. They lie on the floors while Sunghoon, sitting in a chair, his head falls helplessly to the side.
The blonde girl gives the vampire a frightened look.
- You won't hurt them, right?
The brunette boy with porcelain skin looks at her with pity in his eyes.
- Now stop acting so caring. You only care about yourself, you selfish bitch.
Somi swallows nervously, realizing that there's no hiding anything from him. It's true. Her life comes first, but a part of her still worries about the others, since she brought them to the vampire's house to help Sunghoon.
Year 1938
Inha smiles discreetly to herself as she looks at Jay's handsome enemies, whom she decided to approach at his behest.
She is in their house, pretending to be a scared, and defenseless girl who is being chased by Japanese officers who want to do her harm.
She nervously plays with her hands, wiping forced tears from her cheeks as her oldest brother looks at her with caring eyes.
- Thank you for protecting me, for letting me hide with you. If I hadn't met you, I probably would have lost my life - she declares, theatrically wiping her wet face with her hand.
Minki places a hand on her shoulder, looking the friendliest of them all. Both Wonsung and Tan are not thrilled to have her in the house.
"We weren't supposed to interfere with other people's lives so as not to draw attention to ourselves," the middle brother says, looking furious. "That girl could bring us trouble since she's being chased by the Japanese."
- I agree with Wonsung. We don't really know who she is or what she's done - adds Tan, the youngest of the siblings.
The seventeen-year-old girl looks at them with pitying eyes.
- I swear I didn't do anything wrong. I was walking down the street when suddenly they started running after me, shouting slander about me. I was so scared... - Inha explains, focusing her frightened eyes on Minki. - I've been looking for my father for some time now, I can't find him. I'm on my own, because apart from him, I have no one.
Wonsung rolls his eyes.
- I don't think you realize, young girl, that you have just walked into the lion's den. We are worse than Japanese officers.
Inha knows what he's talking about. He means that they're vampires, and she's just a defenseless human in their home. In fact, she could become their delicious food at any moment.
- Don't scare her, Wonsung. You know very well that none of us will hurt her - Minki admonishes him. - We are not monsters.
- A few years ago we were like that, unable to control ourselves - says the middle brother. - Having such a delicious morsel at home, I don't know if I'll be able to resist. It smells amazing.
This is the moment when Inha feels a little uneasy. The middle brother seems to be the worst of them all.
It will be difficult to gain his trust.
- I beg you, help me hide. I have nowhere to go now. I'm afraid that as soon as I go out into the street, they'll catch me. I'm only seventeen, I don't want to die so young...
- Tan was exactly seventeen when he died. There was no one to protect him then, because he was killed by his father, we simply live in a cruel world where death is waiting for each of us around the corner. You have to accept it, and not pretend to be a scared, defenseless girl.
- Wonsung! - Minki admonishes her younger brother once again, giving him a warning look. - Behave around our guest!
- Our guest? So what? Are you going to keep her for dinner? - He snorts under his breath. - I hope it's for our dinner... - With that he gets up from the couch and locks himself in his room.
Inha shifts her gaze to Tan, who still doesn't look happy about her staying at the house either.
- Take care of your guest, brother. I will also return to my place to rest.
Minki looks at the girl with an apologetic look.
- Sorry, my brothers aren't used to guests. They're antisocial.
The seventeen-year-old girl nods, smiling slightly at him.
- It's my fault. I appeared so suddenly, disturbing the peace between you. I apologize most sincerely - she states, bowing.
- Please stop. I promised I would help you, and I keep my promises. You have nowhere to go, you are in danger, I will not let you leave this house, especially not at such a late hour.
Minki doesn't say it out loud, but this human girl is so beautiful that he can't help but admire her. He feels incredibly sorry for her and can't let her get hurt. She's so sweet and defenseless that he wants to protect her with breast.
She makes his heart, which stopped beating nine years ago, come back to life.
He has been enchanted by her from the moment she ran into his arms on the street, scared and begging for help.
***
In the morning, Inha looks at Minki with gratitude in her eyes as he places a plate of food on the table in front of her.
The girl guesses that he had to buy food especially for her so as not to be caught by surprise that there was nothing in the fridge.
"Thank you," she says shyly, then glances at him. "And you're not eating?" She sees the confusion on his face, which a moment later he hides behind a smile.
- I got up early. My brothers and I had already eaten. We are early birds.
- Exactly, deer first thing in the morning tastes delicious. Finger-licking good - says Wonsung, who is just entering the kitchen. He leans over the table and looks at Inha's face from a close distance . - She had eyes similar to yours, just as big and defenseless. It was sad when, after a while, they became empty. Death comes so quickly and easily...
- Wonsung! - Minki admonishes her brother once again, grabbing him by the clothes and pulling him back. - Stop joking and scaring Inha. I promised her that I would take care of her.
The middle brother looks amused.
- And it's not like she's beautiful and caught your eye, brother? No matter who you protect, I know you - he replies, patting him on the shoulder.
Minki looks confused as his brother walks away, his gaze meeting Inha's.
- I'm sorry about him. He's really immature.
The seventeen-year-old girl smiles charmingly, feeling her cheeks turn pink.
- I am a guest in your home, so I must adapt. You should not scold him. I swear that I will find my father as soon as possible, so as not to disturb your daily routine.
- We will help you find your father.
An unreadable glint appears in Inha's eyes. If she keeps this up, this will be easier than she thought.
Jay will be proud of her.
The girl thanks him for the meal. She goes to wash up after herself, but Minki grabs her hand, not letting her do it. From a close distance, she looks into his eyes, feeling how hard her heart starts to beat.
She can't hide from herself how handsome he is. He's had an incredible effect on her since she first saw him.
As I hold her hand, I feel the coldness radiating from it.
"You're so cold..." she says, and he quickly lets go of her hand, looking confused.
- Sorry, I didn't mean to touch you. Put the dishes away, you're a guest, I'll clean up.
- Exactly, I'm a guest, how could I let you clean up after me? You saved me, you hosted me, so let me at least clean up after myself, please.
Minki nods and steps aside, still watching the girl. There's something mysterious about her, something that intrigues him.
He also doesn't hide the fact that he envies her for being human. That day, when he was transformed by Jay, he would have preferred to die.
Every day he suffers, having to kill innocent animals to eat.
He and his brothers had fought for a long time to not feel the desire for humans. It was pure torture, and literally nothing could kill them, not even the sun.
They could live like ordinary people, the only difference being their food.
He would give a lot to be able to just die one day and be reborn in the next life as a human...