[M] 028 (1/1)

Zero"have you and your kind not tortured me enough? what do you want?" Zero bit towards Seunghyun. the beast master who had caused her all this harm. She was weak. Too weak to break the chains holding her down. She was cursed and on top of that lost too much strength through the constant torture already. She regretted having to steal power from her subject and her son. Stealing engergy from the two that fled to survive and stubbornly put up a fight against humans who would not listen to her nor yield and surrender at the knowledge that Zero refused to be broken. Never before had Seunghyun or any other beastmaster faced such a stubborn vampire. One who would simply not break beneath the force of the human hand combined with the power mother nature gave to the people. "We know one of the vampires that got away is your subject. He will not escape us. You will bring him back to the city." Seunghyun commanded in a low threatening voice. however. Zero was unimpressed. "I will never cooperate. I will not give you what you want. I have no regrets. i saved the last soul i could save, i did everything i could to create a path to a better world. you may as well kill me now." She answered. "Tempting. But we need you. Summon your subject" Seunghyun commanded again. "never" Zero refused. He used his wind power to build up the pressure against her chest and to fill up her lungs until the edge of bursting which hurt like nothing you could imagine. the kind of pain was different from internal or external wounds. it was maddening. dull yet forcefull. it left no room for screams. A whole minute Seunghyun caused her pain like that. Leaving her to pant once he stopped. She lost the strength to stand on her legs and hung in the chains around her wrists. The weel keeping her in place. "summon him" Zero looked up with angry eyes. "no" she would not yield to this beastmaster. This time Seunghyun sucked every bit of air he could out of her. Her lungs caving in her body collapsing and breaking. Her screams were partly muted but she screamed. And it brought satisfaction to Seunghyun. "Summon him" He demanded and he stopped to hear her answer. Zero crinched in pain. Weak and defenseless, She had stolen energy from her subject and her son, but it didn't seem to do much good in here. The torture would take away that energy again in no time. Forcing her to the edge of medusa state until they would force her to feed so they could continue to torture her. She knew it all too well. She raised her head and spit forward. The drop of saliva landing on Seunghyun's boot. "go to hell" She hissed. Seunghyun didn't take that well. He build up pressure in the wind and send it to her. Which felt like little razor blades cutting through her skin everywhere. Creating more bleeding wounds and cuts. "SUMMON HIM" The beastmaster yelled without patience. Zero pulled at her restraints. Weak as she was she was stubborn as ever. Jaejoong clearly had that trade from her. "keep asking my answer will still be no."  The beastmaster is furious but he doesn't attack again. "You will do as we say. You will do as told. And you will make an example to others after we are done with you." He leaves the cell but Zero knows exactly what he means. She will burn. She can't keep resisting forever. Everyone breaks. No matter how long it takes. And when she breaks, not only she, but also Henry will burn. When the door closes she closes her eyes. Searching for a memory. Flames were lighting up the night sky. The pile under the stake was large and fully ablaze. People were dancing around it like it was a bonfire. But there in the center, tied to the stake, was he. Zero watched as he burned away under the eyes of hundreds of people. Her maker, her father, her friend. The man who taught her everything. Punished and condamned. She still remembered his words; "Don't let anyone tell you it hurts. It doesn't hurt. Perhaps one day you will understand what that means. . My last command to you.. m style="line-height:1.6;">Don't try to save mem style="line-height:1.6;">... Now, as your maker, i release you." Tears run over her face when she opens her eyes again. She understands. But she has found her goal and her goal is not completed yet. She can't burn. She has to help. She has to help the one who will change all of this. But how can she when she's weak and tied up like this? She closes her eyes. Cursing herself for what she is about to do. the pain she is about to put her subject through. Hopefully, someone there in Heechul's nest, perhaps heechul himself will get the hint. In her mind she searches for the  bond with Henry. Then through that bond she whisperes to him. 'henry.. Come to me.' ... She has summoned him...  JaejoongIt wasn't too long after every one had gone to get some rest and the day progressed that Jaejoong went to see how Henry was doing. Zhou Mi was with him watching over him while the younger recovered in his bed. He seemed almost better now but according to Zhou Mi he was still a little fuzzy. Jaejoong sat on the end of his bed and smiled at him. "How are you doing?" The younger smiled back at him softly. "I'm okay i guess. I don't know what happened but Zhou Mi told me the story in a short summary." Jaejoong nodded. Henry chewed on his lips softly. "Is it true? Jaejoong? Did Zero really do this to me?" Jaejoong sighed but he couldn't deny it. "I don't think she meant to Henry, She's in a bad condition."  "I know that, i can feel it. Even though she's stronger again i don't think she'll be okay if this continues. I still feel her so strongly.. She never released me you know." Henry explained while Jaejoong moved to sit on the side of the bed and Zhou Mi walked out of the room for a short while. "She didn't?" Henry shook his head. "No, she knew i had to be transferred in the city so she decided not to. To keep contact with me. The bond does more then just connect." Jaejoong nodded slowly. "Yeah i know. I thought i knew her. but there is so much i don't understand, i don't even know. Yunho was right that time in the city when he told me that there were things she might not have told me." Henry tilts his head when Jaejoong speaks of the beastmaster. "How is he? did you let him go?" Jaejoong nods. "he's fine. He's back in the city. I didn't kill him or trap him anywhere if you're so worried about that." Henry smiled and shook his head. "I knew you wouldn't do that. It's a good thing that you let him go." Jaejoong shook his head when Henry smiled like that. "What would you know of it? you brat." Zhou Mi walked back in with a kicking rabbit in his hands. The little creature was scared to death and for good reason. but Zhou Mi couldn't really seem to care. "You need to feed Henry." He told the younger. But the younger looked at the animal with wide eyes. "eh? i.. i never.. ate something.. alive.. i don't know if i can." Zhou Mi sat down with the struggling animal. "try it." He held the rabbit out for Henry. Jaejoong stood up to give the younger some room to feed. He wouldn't have a problem with it. But Henry had lived in the city all his live. It was a different thing for him. The younger let his eyes change and his fangs grow. leaning closer bit by bit. But in the end he pulled away. "I can't." Zhou Mi took the animal back. Without mercy he grabbed the poor thing by it's head and broke it's neck. It was dead in an instant. "eat." he told the younger again. Henry flinched but reluctantly let his fangs sink into the now dead rabbit. It was awkward considering it was still warm. And fresh. better then anything they got to eat in the city.  The change made Henry drink more like he was incredibly thirsty. Drinking with greed and desperation. Jaejoong could understand it. The younger hadn't known anything different from the city's cold animal blood they were given every day. To have something so new, so full, so much better. It was quite the overwhelming thing. Zhou Mi made Henry stop when he had nearly drained the entire animal. It was never good to take the last few drops. It was an unwritten rule in the vampire race, never to completely drain something. or you would take in death itself and it would become your master, make you sick and let you die for your greed. Henry pulled away with difficulty. Licking his lips repeatedly after Zhou Mi took away the animal.  When the vampire walked out Jaejoong sat down on the bed again. "How was it?" He asked. wanting to hear Henry's opinion on the difference in the blood. "Much better, I could drink barrels of that." Jaejoong chuckled when he heard Henry's answer. "Don't say such things too soon. there will be types of blood better or worse then that. But no matter how delicious it is. Always remember to control your thirst." Henry nodded. "Thanks Jaejoong... Where is heechul?" The younger looked around but of course the elder was no where to be found. "He's resting." Jaejoong told him. Henry plucked on the edge of the thin blanked draped over his lower half. "Do you think he's really as dangerous as people say he is? I've heard stories about him.. But the way he's acting now.. it makes me doubt the stories are true." Jaejoong looked at the door as if he was suspicious of the elder listening in on them before he answered. "I can't say. I don't know him that well. I heard several stories. One more scary then the other. I don't know which ones are true. But then again i was taught that everyone has multiple sides. Perhaps also sides that are hidden from others. You can know someone for so long and still be surprised at what secrets that person holds." "You're talking about Zero now? Maybe she had a reason not to tell you certain things." Jaejoong sighed and scratched his neck. "yeah maybe. I just think we should be careful with who we trust. Heechul may be kind to us, but he's old. I wouldn't be surprised if -despite his curse- he's still capable of doing alot of dangerous or violant things. Just get some rest now Henry." The younger nodded and laid down. Jaejoong stood up to go to the room he was appointed to. Zero's old room. Before he walked out Zhou Mi walked back in to keep an eye on Henry. Especially now that Henry was the one in the most danger. Jaejoong couldn't stop thinking about what Yunho said to him. "They will force Zero to summon Henry. As soon as he reaches the city they will execute him." Jaejoong wasn't sure if that would really happen. Zero would never allow Henry to get caught like that right? She would never let him walk to his death. However his hopes were cut short when two hours later, Screams echoed throught the halls of the nest. Screams he recognized too well. They came from Henry's room and Jaejoong rushed over immidiately. Along with Heechul and Yoochun who had apparently risen from his slumber. Jaejoong felt this terrible ache in his chest. It burned unlike anything he felt before. It couldn't be compared to fire. It was different but hurtful. He stormed into the room to find Zhou Mi pushing Henry down with all his might. The younger screamed and was desperate to get up. Jaejoong could see the fear in his eyes in an instand. Henry couldn't fight this force. His body forced him up while Zhou Mi forced him back down. The battle made him ache everywhere. And he too had this burning in his chest. but much, much worse. Feverishly Henry tried to ramble some words that had to make some sense about whatever was going on inside his head. but everything was such a haze that he couldn't bring out a full scentence. no matter how hard he tried. He was called, summoned. Jaejoong knew. The younger kept calling out for Zero. Kept repeating the words 'City' and 'calling'. Jaejoong ran over and helped Zhou Mi to push the younger down. Yoochun used his power to conjure strong magical bonds keeping the youngling in place. Yet Henry couldn't stop tugging and trying to break free to get rid of the terrible ache in his chest. It was what they feared. But Jaejoong didn't understand. Why was Zero summoning him? Did she really break? Heechul was the only one who didn't seem much affected by the situation. He just observed Henry for a while. It angered Jaejoong. Why did he just stand there and watch? Until Henry called out to Heechul. the elder came closer and tapped the witch on his shoulder. "Let me into his mind." Yoochun didn't protest and connected Heechul with Henry. It was a storm in there. But through the storm a voice could definitly be heard. "Come claim me. Reunite us." it said. Heechul pulled back and Yoochun broke the connection. "We need to go with him. We need to let Henry go and follow him. We need to take a small group." Jaejoong jumped up in outrage. He didn't understand what was going on but he knew what he heard. And what he heard was Heechul saying he'd let Henry walk to his death. "Are you insane?! You want to let him walk straight to his death?! you know what they will do to him once they catch him?!" Heechul remained calm and unmoved by Jaejoong's anger. He simply nodded. "I am well aware of what will happen if he reaches the city alone. Yet i do not intent to let him go alone. This is a call for help. Zero finally decided to leave the city, thank the heavens. Now.. we can bust her out, if we know where she is held. But we don't and the only one who can feel her pull is Henry. He is our only lead to finding her and busting her out." Jaejoong's look is dark and even though he has calmed a little he still doesn't trust the situation. "And how do you plan to invade a city we hardly escaped?" Heechul looked at Henry who shrieked in pain again and  Zhou Mi trying to calm him and push him down at the same time, there was no way that yoochun's conjured bonds could hold the young vamp on their own. "We did it before. we can do it again. Once we're inside all we have to do is let Henry lead."  "You did it before? right, like the bombing of the factory grounds." Heechul turns a sharp gaze towards Jaejoong. "I'll tell you only once, that wasn't us. That was our brother's doing. Yes my nest was there. But they had a different purpose. We chose some bad timing to go looking for Zero. Someone must have leaked the date and time to the other nest and they decided to attack at the same time. You are wrong to think that i'm the only one who is looking for your dear friend. Besides i managed to get my trusted subject out of there when he was caught. which he never should have" Heechul speaks sternly and shifts his eyes to Zhou Mi who suddenly looks down at the floor with shame. "Thankfully most of us learn from our mistakes. It won't be easy, but we have help from within the city. they can help us to get in and out. Though getting out will prove to be more difficult." heechul continues. Zhou Mi lookes up at his words. "Master you talk as if you intend to go. Please don't tell me you are going." Heechul runs a hand through his hair. "I have to. I owe it to her." Jaejoong shakes his head "With all respect, I have to say Zhou Mi is right. If we are going to do this, maybe you shouldn't come." Heechul frowns when he looks at the other vampire. "We? who says you are going?" Jaejoong crosses his arms. "Try to stop me if you dare. Even though you are older i will not hesitate to fight you. Even though we shouldn't be fighting amongst ourselves." Heechul smiles and shakes his head. "I am over 1500 years old boy, even in this state i would crush you without a problem." Jaejoong smirked and scoffed. "Don't be too sure old man. I'm stronger then you think." Zhou Mi hisses at the insults thrown at his master but Heechul makes him stop with a hand sign. "Fine. You can go. But i do not intend to sit back." For the first time, Yoochun meddles in the conversation between the vampires. Pointing out to Heechul, the price of his help. "Heechul, you promised me you would help me find my shadow brother. You cannot keep that promise or payment if you get caught up in other affairs you don't have to tend to. I will go with them. you stay here and reach out to your contacts." "Fine. Since all of you are so eager to keep me here i will stay. But you will all be careful and if anyone gets left behind i will not hesitate to bring my entire nest to the city walls. watch each other's backs. And don't do anything stupid. I'll send Nuri right away to contact our inside informants." Jaejoong wonders who would be willing enough to risk his neck for a bunch of outsiders while being in the city. Apart from Zero he doesn't know anyone who would.. or does he? "Maybe Yunho can help." He suddenly offers. Heechul frowns. "You trust in a beastmaster who you hardly even know? I was told of you making him a prisoner. What makes you think he will help you?" Jaejoong shakes his head. "I don't know. Not for sure. But Yunho is different. He's a coward yes, but his mind set is right. If pushed a little in the right direction i'm sure i can get him to help me." Heechul tilts his head but nods. "You seem to have deeper connections to him?" Jaejoong realized what Heechul meant by that and quickly denied it. "No. Not at all. But he's.. He helped Zero in the past. They are friendly towards each other. I'm sure that if he won't help me he'll help her." Jaejoong quickly added. He cursed himself for bringing it up in the first place. "Hmm well. the more help we can get the better. but then it's also harder to know if one can backstab you. Be careful."  Jaejoong nodded though he was sure that Yunho could be trusted. For some strange reason since Yunho walked into his life things started changing. He started changing. Even though it was scary. It didn't take long before they were ready to go. Nuri was send ahead to alarm the contacts within the city. Now Jaejoong, Zhou Mi, Yoochun and Henry were ready to leave. Henry constantly scratched at his aching chest. It was itching so much it hurt. He really had to control himself to stop from running full speed towards the city. With the way he was now they would see him coming from a mile away. Fortunately yoochun could keep him somewhat calm with magic. While jaejoong held him by his arm to make sure he didn't have to go through this alone. And to keep him from running away. They are at the entrance of the nest. Heechul has come out to see them off. He is worried and would rather go himself. But he followed everyone's advice and remained here. Still he feels that he is making the wrong choice. "I don't feel good about this. I should go with you." Heechul demands. But again he is advised by three of the companions to stay put. "I don't like waiting. Don't take too long." Jaejoong nods and gives the signal. "We really have to go now. Henry won't stay calm for long." Heechul nods and Yoochun turns himself into a spider positioned on Zhou Mi's shoulder. He won't be able to run fast, this way he won't slow them down. Then they leave. The first part is a large distance they need to cross. they won't have problems running through that territory. They will only have a problem if they enter leeteuk's and Yesung's territory and Leeteuk will give them trouble. But their run is without major events and they do not encounter the trouble making vampire. When the come near the end of the territory near the territory that has the city in it, They slow down. If they run in recklessly they will all get caught. Yoochun changes to his usual self. He uses a clouding spell to cheat his eye color. Making it seem like he has normal human eyes. If anyone sees his witch eyes it might give them trouble. When they are near the city gate they are met with a man in dark clothing. Jaejoong recognizes the uniform. But he doesn't know the man. It's a guard. That much is certain. "This is your help from withing the city? He's human." Jaejoong argues. Zhou Mi eyes him with a glare. "your human is a beastmaster. do you really want to argue about this?" Jaejoong rolls his eyes and takes a tighter grip on Henry who is getting more restless and softly whines to him. "hyung.. it hurts." Jaejoong tries not to interfere with their business as zhou Mi takes care of it all. Apparently the guard is called Onew. He hands out some uniforms that are the same as his. Jaejoong growls when he sees it. "There's no way i'm wearing that." Zhou Mi takes one of the outfits and roughly shoves it in Jaejoong's arms. "you don't have a choice. Wear it. For Henry, and for your dear friend." Yoochun makes sure there is no room for the two to start argueing about that. Henry also quickly hoists himself into the uniform. Onew is the one who leads them past the city gate as a new patrol, transfers from another city. It surprises Jaejoong how easily they pass. Are humans really that stupid? Once they are inside Onew leads them to a place close to the dungeons. "After all these years they still believe i'm a bad liar. If only they knew. I will make preparations to leave again. Don't take too long. we don't have much time. certainly not after you freed a prisoner." Onew states. Jaejoong just huffs. "Yeah don't we know that already. you just pray they never find out it was you." Onew doesn't say much. Apart from getting them in and out of the city he isn't that important to their plan. The most important part is getting Zero out of the dungeon. Jaejoong knows she is probably very weak. Perhaps even weaker then when he tried to get her over the wall. She may try to attack him again. Jaejoong remembers that certain moment. The pain of her fangs digging in his neck. The unexpected rush when she started drinking. The anger he felt because she chose to bite him while Yunho was right there. But then again.. Jaejoong's thoughts shifted to the time he spend with the beastmaster in the ruins of that church. How he was in so much pain that he couldn't move properly and Yunho had the strenght to stop his hand mid air. The sudden impulse he felt when Yunho stood so close to him and the blood... The blood he tasted when he bit Yunho. It was unlike any blood he had before. He had human blood in the past. Long ago before he even met Zero. But nothing he ever had tasted like Yunho's blood. When the red liquid had touched his lips, Jaejoong felt like his body was turning warm and it lit his throat on fire. The prickling of that hot blood running down his throat, entering his system. He felt so warmed by it. And it tasted sweet. So sweet. Better then chocolate for humans probably. It was difficult to compare it to anything. Jaejoong would have had a flushed face if he were human. Just to think of it that way. And he couldn't help but worry about the man. Which was highly unlike his character. Especially since he didn't particularly liked humans. But since he drank from Yunho, the beastmaster simply wouldn't leave his head anymore. and it bothered Jaejoong. It bothered him a lot.