Fourth (1/1)

Joy woke up with a startle. The dark room was filled with a certain ambiance as Joy took in her surroundings. She wasn’t sure where she was, but she saw Wendy lying down beside her. Slowly, she got up and grabbed her gun that was left on the nightstand beside her. Joy slowly opened the door and went out. The hall was long and dark, it seemed as if no other existence was here besides Wendy and herself. At the end of the corridor, there was a portrait. When she looked at It closer, it was Joohyun. The portrait was a painting of Joohyun in a hanbok. How old was Joohyun? How long has she existed without change? “Are you enjoying wandering around my mansion?” Joohyun’s voice came from the darkness of the hall. Joy jumped in shock as she heard the voice. She suddenly felt relief in knowing it was just Joohyun. “Should you actually be feeling relieved by seeing me? I could tear you into pieces.” Joohyun was right in front of Joy now peering into her eyes.  “You wouldn’t do that to me, unnie.” Joy sounded so confident when she spoke, she surprised herself. Joohyun smirked as she reached out to the hunter’s face, “Why are you so sure of that?” She started to caress the girl’s cheek with her hand. Joy was shocked at how cold Joohyun’s hands were. Yet they caressed her with such warmth and gentleness. Joy wasn’t sure how to answer her; it was a gut feeling. “You should wake your friend, I will send you home. You should not be here for too long.” Joohyun dropped her hand from the hunter’s face, missing the warmth.  Joy pouted, she didn’t want to leave Joohyun. She was slightly confused on why though. She hadn’t known her for long, but she felt a connection to the pureblood.  Joy watched as Joohyun walked away, finally aware of Seulgi’s presence there. She watched the two communicate, they didn’t even need to speak to know what the other wanted. Joohyun looked back at Joy, offering her hand, “Come, Seulgi will wake her.” Joy immediately locked her hand with Joohyun’s. Joy didn’t know how to explain why she felt so comfortable with an immortal that could destroy her in a split second, but she did. When she got out of her daze, the two of them were in a living room. There was no TV mounted to the wall, only old, full bookshelves. There was a couch and a few chairs within the room. Joohyun led her to the couch and motioned for her to sit down.  “You’re lucky I made it there in time, otherwise it would not have ended that way. Be more careful next time, please.” The urgency in Joohyun’s voice made Joy’s heart flutter. She was unsure of why the pureblood was worried about her and would save her. “Your questions will be answered in the future. Right now, focus on being safe.” Joohyun sighed with frustration. She had existed for millennia’s, it wasn’t often she lost her composure. “Yes, unnie.” Joy mumbled with a small frown. She didn’t want to be a burden. There was also so many things she didn’t understand, she was feeling overwhelmed. It was long before Seulgi and Wendy arrived in the room. Seulgi motioned for Wendy to sit beside Joy as she reclaimed her spot next to Joohyun. “How are you feeling, Joy? Are you okay? No pain?” Joy rolled her eyes at the overly worried Wendy. She knew her friend only meant well but she wasn’t a child anymore. “I’m fine, mother.” The sass in her voice led to a light slap from Wendy. While the hunters were in their own world, the two vampires were observing the hunters. After a few more minute of small talk, the hunters gave their attention to the vampires who were waiting patiently.  “Thank you for saving us but did you know him?” Wendy was curious, this could be vital information for their investigation. Joy watched as the vampires looked at each, communicating with their eyes. “He was of noble descent, a cousin of Joohyun’s.” Seulgi said with distaste. “But I thought Joohyun was a pureblood?” Wendy asked trying to remember all the events that took place. “She is, one of the few. She is my sire and my teacher. I intend to serve her for the rest of eternity.” Seulgi said proudly as Joohyun rolled her eyes. Joohyun’s face suddenly changed, “Seulgi we have guests. Go give them a warm welcome.” Seulgi disappeared into the darkness, leaving the two hunters confused. Joohyun was cursing under her breath. She knew it would happen because of Taeyong. “You two, stay by my side. Don’t think of moving or going anywhere, no matter what happens.” The two hunters nodded. Joy couldn’t help but want to calm Joohyun down. She looked like she could kill whoever it was that decided to come by. Light footsteps were heard down the hall as Seulgi approached, “It is Sir Suho, head of the council.” “It’s a pleasure to see you again, Joohyun.” Suho bowed and smiled at Joohyun, “I see I interrupted your meal time. I did not realize you had a taste for hunters. How interesting.” Seulgi snarled, “Watch your mouth.” He just kept his attention on Joohyun whose face remained stoic. “What are you here for, Suho?” Joohyun asked. Suho smirked slightly, “Taeyong, a noble, was killed by you. We want to know why.” Joohyun chuckled softly, “Here you all are trying to keep me in the palm of your hand. He tried to eat my property, that’s all there is to it.” Suho turned his gaze to the hunters beside Joohyun, they shivered at his intense gaze, “It couldn’t be helped then could it. Please try to refrain from killing more nobles, there are only a handful left. I will take my leave.” He bowed to Joohyun and threw the hunters a glare. Joohyun let out a sigh as he left, Seulgi immediately was by Joohyun’s side, “Are you okay?” Joohyun nodded her head and turned her attention to the hunters behind her. “I’m more unsure of what to do with them. Suho will definitely try to do something to them.” The hunters were shocked at that. Why would a vampire be interested in them? “It’s because Joohyun said you were her property.” Seulgi attempted to explain, “They will do anything to get the upper hand on a pureblood. Especially Joohyun because she is the strongest one, her bloodline is the purest.” Joohyun sighed, “You’ll be staying here. Or, we’ll be living with you. Chose.” The two hunters looked at one another, contemplating their choices.  “We’ll stay here, unnie.” Joy’s voice sounded unsure. The situation was overwhelming her. When she met Joohyun’s eyes, she found herself lost in them.“Seulgi will show you your rooms. Goodnight.” Joohyun quickly disappeared leaving the hunters alone with Seulgi. Joy sighed, she wanted to talk to Joohyun. She failed to notice the concerned look that Wendy and Seulgi shared. “Come, I’ll show you to your rooms.” Seulgi led the way through the corridors. The mansion was bigger than the two realized. Did the two of them live here alone?  “You two will be right across the hall from one another,” Seulgi said as she showed them their rooms. After Wendy and Seulgi excused themselves, Joy let out a sign in relief. She quickly laid down on the bed in the middle of the room. Soon, she felt herself succumb to sleep. She was in a house, dancing with Joohyun. The way the immortal looked at her was full of love and warmth as if there was no one else there. Suddenly, she was ripped apart from Joohyun. She was chained in a dungeon with a bunch of men surrounding her. The last thing she saw was darkness as she awoke in a panic. Joy was gasping for air as she came back to reality.  “Are you okay, Joy? That voice she longed to hear in her dream was there, looking at her with concern. She looked just like her dream, not a thing had changed about the pureblood in front of her.  “Unnie…” Joy’s voice was barely audible as she tried to get ahold of herself. Joohyun didn’t say a word and wrapped her arms around the younger. It was odd that Joy felt such comfort in this ice-cold embrace.  “I had a nightmare, unnie. We were dancing and then some men took me away from you. I was so scared.” A chocked sobbed came out. She felt Joohyun tense at the words.  “Shh, it’s okay. Go back to sleep.” Joohyun whispered comfortingly before Joy knew anything she was asleep. Joohyun was flabbergasted. How could Joy have a dream about them? She couldn’t be Sooyoung, could she? Joohyun took one last look at the sleeping girl and left the room. “Seulgi, we need to investigate this. I know you heard everything.”  “Yes’m!” Seulgi quickly disappeared into the darkness. Joohyun was lost in thought.