Hongjoong could hardly focus on anything much less his work, his mind was too cluttered and and preoccupied with the conversation he had with his father and step mother last night.

Even as he was seated at the weekly council meeting as a stand-in for his father it felt as though he was physically present but all their words simply went over his head and was nothing but muffled background noise.

Prince Hongjoong.

Prince Hongjoong..

Is Wooyoung really brought back from the dead? Why wouldn't Jongho tell me any of this? How long has he even been planning to bring him back? Where did he-

"Prince Hongjoong!"

Hongjoong snaps back to attention, staring wide eyed at the table of high officials and Naex governers. They all looked at him with watchful ice grey eyes, waiting for something. "I-I apologize, I must have zoned out. What were you discussing?" He clears his throat, sitting up straighter in the head chair at the large wooden table where Jaejoong would typically sit.

Jaejoong had something else to attend to so Hongjoong was appointed to take his place at the council table seeing as he is the first son and heir. As far as what that 'something' entails, Hongjoong wasn't sure. In fact, with all his thinking Hongjoong realized that lately Jaejoong had been quite busy but he was mostly left in the dark with whatever the vampire king was up to. But he didn't bother questioning it.

He had no reason to, he trusts his father after all.

"We were going over our next plan of action after the cease fire with Boulia is over" A long haired man speaks up, he pushes his thin rimmed glasses up the bridge of his nose. "It's been a year, and they likely will be ready to hit with full forc-"

Hongjoong began zoning out again.

"Perhaps-" A loud voice cuts through the meeting room, bringing Hongjoong's mind back. He blinks up and meets the cool grey eyes of councillor Beomgyu who was watching him, an empathetic look on his face. "-perhaps we should cut the meeting short today. I'm quite tired and clearly the prince has a lot on his mind. We can have a review next week" He says but it sounded more like a question.

Hongjoong nods, scratching the back of his neck. "Y-yes, uhm.. meeting adjourned" He formally ends it and everyone begins gathering their papers and files spread out on the table.

Just as Beomgyu was about to head out Hongjoong reaches for his arm. "Ah- councilor Beomgyu, thank you for stepping in. I've just been.. dealing with a lot lately"

Beomgyu simply smiles curtly at him then bows. "You do not need to thank me. I can't imagine how busy you must be these days. Please, do take care of yourself. I'll see you next week" He says with a half smile and a wink before walking out the meeting room and to his personal guard which had escorted him to the castle.

Once Hongjoong was alone he settles back in his chair with a tired sigh and rubs his forehead, gaze fixed on the scattered papers in front of him.

Just as his mind began drifting again a knock on the door causes him to flinch. He sits up and pretends like he was working. "Come in" He announces.

Nari comes rushing in and shutting the door behind her, eyes widened and lips dipped in a frown. Her eyebrows were creased and she was white as paper. Hongjoong stands up at her frazzled state. "Nari? What's wrong?"

The maid comes rushing in. "Prince Hongjoong, you must go find prince Jongho.."

"What? My father said he's going to bring him back-"

"Your father lied" Nari cuts, she whisper screams. "I overheard a conversation between some guards. They're planning to kill prince Jongho on sight and make it look like an accident. He's innocent, you know he is" Jongho was like a little brother to her. She'd been looking over him for a long time and though she was formally just a maid she was more than  that to the young prince.

"My f-father wouldn't lie to me.." Hongjoong stutters out. "Why would he kill Jongho?"

"You must believe me Hongjoong" She drops the formal tone and takes his hand, pleading. "I don't know what Jaejoong is planning, there's been soldiers going in and out the city for days now and weapons being moved. Almost like he's preparing for war. And everytime I ask no one tells me anything. There's no one else I could go to, you have to find and protect Jongho. Your brother" Her bottom lip quivers.

Hongjoong's breath hitches. He pulls his hand back from her grasp. "A-and how exactly am I supposed to find him?"

"Last they heard he was traveling with a werewolf, a merman, an elf and.. Wooyoung" She hesitates on Wooyoung's name, contemplating whether to even call him Wooyoung. Because as far as they know, Wooyoung should be dead. "They were spotted around the great lake a few days ago"

Hongjoong swallows his saliva, wetting his dry throat but it just felt like he swallowed shards of glass. "I'll go" He says firmly, eyes narrowed with fresh determination. "But I'll have to sneak out without anyone seeing and I'll need your help."

The sound of crickets tickles San's eardrums and birds flutter and fly about in the trees, singing as the morning sun slowly rose. It's golden rays peaking over the horizon and lighting up the forest.

The small group of misfits slowly arrive at the border of Lloth, their shoes crunching softly against the earth. Just as they get close enough San ushers for them to stop.

"We're here" San mutters, taking in a deep shaky breath. He stares ahead at and down the steep mountain they were on, at his home. The large tents and lamp posts, lighting up the streets like fireflies. Tall giant trees which held even more tents and tree houses in it's branches and several feet above ground level.

Everyone stood in awe admiring on of the many dark elf small towns in Lloth. "So I finally get to see where you're from huh? It's beautiful" Wooyoung whispers, his gaze dancing and fleeting over everything. He'd never been anywhere outside of Naex before so this was all new to him. As well as new to Jongho, Junkyu and Seonghwa.

They could spot white haired people moving about and coming out of their homes in preparation for the new day. "Lets go" San says and takes the lead, walking forward and down the hill towards the front gates.

The rocky path to the town had tall flowering plants with dull purple petals lined in either side. As they walked Jongho absentmindedly goes to touch it and cursed out loud ripping his hand back at the sting. "Ah fuck, what the hell-" He looks down at his finger, a bright red burn mark stared back at him.

"What is it?" Junkyu asks with worry once the group stops after Jongho's exclaim.

"Vervain" San says, his tone dull. "They're lethal to vampires and sting like a bitch if you touch em, so be careful"

"I'm not healing" Jongho says, staring down at the angry burn mark on his finger. A little panic in his voice.

"You'll heal. It'll just be much slower" San continues walking down the path. Seonghwa follows. Wooyoung shoots Jongho a look of amusement before jogging after San, leaving Junkyu to gently take Jongho's hand.

"Are you alright? Does it really hurt?" His brows were creased with worry as he watched the burn very very slowly begin to heal.

Jongho chuckles at him. "Yah- it's just a little burn. I'm fine" He smiles at him, a toothy gummy smile. The same one that makes Junkyu's insides flutter.

The merman blushes and lets go of Jongho's hand. "O-ok"

But Jongho takes his hand once again, pulling him along to try and catch up with everyone else. "Wow, to think you're so worried about me. I'm lucky"

"A-am not! I just don't want anyone to get hurt" Junkyu protests in a small stutter.

"Aw, you love me don't you?"

"Jongho, stop s-saying things like that"

"C'mon admit it"

"Both of you are making me gag. Enough with all the lovey dovey shit" Wooyoung snaps back at them.

"You're one to talk" Jongho mutters.

The closer they drew to the main gates the more nervous San became. They spotted guards posted along the borders and as soon as they came into view the dark elves all drew out their weapons.

"Halt!" A man with long snow white hair yells out. His locks tied back in a loose pony tail. Eyes a light brown, thick white eyebrows furrowed as steps forward while holding a large spear against his shoulder.

The group immediately stops in their tracks, Wooyoung takes San's hand and gives him a reassuring squeeze.

The man, who Wooyoung guessed by now, is a general of some sort, walks forward and closer to them while the rest of the guards stayed back holding up their own spears.

He stops in front of the group, eyeing them one by one. "What business do vampires have in Lloth?" He asks, voice rough sounding and intimidating.

"Ioda, it's me. San" San speaks first in a weak voice.

Ioda narrows his eyes at San, his brow raised in question. He admits that he did notice that this newcomer looks a lot like San. But San had passed years ago as well as he's a drow.

The general brings the sharp end of his spear up and under San's jaw so quick no one could even process it. Wooyoung immediately tries to defend San but the drow-vampire holds his arm back as if to say 'don't'.

Wooyoung scowls and stands down as San stood, unafraid, as he stared Ioda dead in the eyes while the man still held the weapon under his jaw.

"How dare you come here and impersonate a fallen soldier, vampire. I should kill you where you stand" He now moves the wooden weapon to press against San's chest, over where his heart is.

"When I was *6 you took me on my first hunting trip, we caught a deer and I was so happy that I managed to catch my first animal but then I saw how it cried out because it was in so much pain and it was afraid to die. Then I started crying too because I felt bad" He chuckles sadly. "You told me to wipe my tears and explained that all living things were birthed to this world with a purpose. And that when they die that means their purpose has been accomplished"

*(Remember they age slower so it would be 6 in drow years)

Ioda's eyes widen a little and he lowers his spear ever so slightly as San recalls that very specific memory.

"Age 8, when my mom got sick and couldn't take me to the town's annual sunflower festival I was so sad. All the other kids would be going but I had to stay home. But then you offered to watch over me even though you were working that day, just so I could go play with my friends"

The man lowers his spear completely, mouth parted in disbelief.

"Age 13.. after mom died.. I had no one" San's voice cracks and he felt his eyes sting with tears and he fought them back. "I was all alone even after they sent me to a group home it felt like no one else truly understood what I was going through. You would bring me gifts from time to time and home cooked meals you prepared. And one day when you caught me crying alone and missing her so much you said, "Remember what I told you on your first hunting trip, about all living things being birthed to this world with with a purpose". That made me feel a little a better but I was still so frustrated and angry at the world" He ends with a dark laugh, tears beading at his eyes.

Ioda drops his weapon to the ground. "San..." He whispers in complete and utter shock. He quickly pulls the shorter male in for a bone crushing hug and San welcomed it, his arms wrapping around the man's muscular frame.

"Oh, my boy.. h-how is this possible?" He runs a hand through San's dark hair, pulls back and caresses both his cheeks. "How are you a vampire? Everyone thought you were dead"

San chuckles as a single tear slides down his cheek and he sniffles. "It's still a bit of mystery to me to be honest"

Ioda chuckles as well, eyes glossy. He pulls San into his chest again for another hug. And in that moment it felt like he was a young boy again, clinging to the warmth of his caregiver.

.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

My parents 😩 with babygirl Mingi in the back