"Umm it's too delicious." Seungkwan devoured the food as he and his fellow teammates sat at the huge dining table for lunch at the Serenity Stylth's mansion as per the invitation.

"I'm glad you loved it." Mingyu chuckled.

"Excuse me, can I ask something?" Dino hesitated, "I'm sorry if it comes out to be personal."

"Yeah sure." Joshua nodded, "You're free to ask anything."

"Are you guys not in good terms with the Rose Quartz Stylth?" Dino dared to ask, "That day when Hoshi and Joshua hyung came to pick us for hanging out, I saw Hoshi hyung arguing with Woozi hyung. I didn't say anything at that time to not to spoil the vibe."

Mingyu glared at Hoshi who avoided eye contact. Jeonghan cleared his throat and smiled, "There's nothing like that Dino." He caressed his head, "We've just met them once or twice and it didn't came out well. So they naybe bickering again that day, trust me, they weren't arguing."

"Yeah Dino, we were just playing around, don't worry." Hoshi assured.

One question, one mention was enough for them to be flooded with past memories. They cheerful memories which they treasured were actually the cause of their aching heart, pity.
----

"Kwon Soonyoung and Lee Seokmin, please stand up." The vice principal ordered as she stood beside the teacher in the classroom, "It's pretty obvious that you both were casting spells on the playground during the basketball competition which is strictly prohibited. I heard your team was already winning, what made you play this kind of act?"

"We're sorry ma'am, but it was to counter the spells being cast by the opponent team." Both of the accused bowed.

"They're already in detention." The teacher remarked, "And you guys deserve a punishment too as you disobeyed the rules as well, no matter what the motive was. Now, who else was along with you?"

"No one-"

"I was." Seungcheol stood up, "I'm extremely ashamed of my wrong doings ma'am."

"Same goes for me." Jeonghan stood up next, "We're sorry ma'am."

"So we're really doing it?" Wonwoo mumbled as he, Woozi, Joshua and Mingyu backed each other and apologized in unison.

"Here we go again." The vice principal scoffed.

These eight students were one of the bright and famous students of the school. But their academic and sports achievements didn't make them any better. They were actually the trouble makers in most of the cases and it wasn't easy to punish them because the teachers used to be biased for their excellent performances.

Each time any one of them would be caught in trouble, all of them would collectively take the blame. Henceforth, the teachers would warn and spare them most of the time and even if they were punished, it wasn't a big deal as long as they were together.

That's how strong their friendship was. They used to blindly trust each other and were always there for one another. Among the group there were pairs of some 'close friends' too but they were the best when together.

The only problem was that Jeonghan's father did not like him being with Seungcheol. He had his own filthy reasons for that. Seungcheol's mom and dad - Mrs. Choi Soyeon Mr. Choi Leehyuk were the respective leaders of the Rose Quartz and Serenity Stylth while Jeonghan's mom and dad - Mrs. Yoon Chaewon and Mr. Yoon Jaebyeom were the deputy leaders.

Mrs. Yoon was very much okay with that. She was friends with Mrs. Choi but Mr. Yoon could never digest that fact. He was always envious of them and hence would never tolerate his wife and son hanging out with his supposed to be enemies.

Coincidentally, Choi Leehyuk's sister, Miss Choi Sana was a teacher in their class who taught about magic spells. Leehyuk and Soyeon had nothing against Jeonghan because of his dad's behaviour because they were friends with at least his mom who was always guilty because of his husband.

Jeonghan respected Seungcheol's parents with all his might and that's why he was adored by them too. But Choi Sana didn't understand any of it. She lowkey hated Jeonghan for his dad and its effect was very much visible during the classes of magic spells.

But all of these complications never effected their friendship. They didn't care about whatever went around in their families. Jeonghan had to bear his dad's wrath sometimes and that's all.

"Anyone else?" The teacher asked in sarcasm.

And the unexpected happened. The entire class stood up along with the boys and recited an apology.

"You all are done for." The vice principal was annoyed, "2 hours detention for all of you for this week. Dismissed!"

Now was this a punishment? Not really. The entire class would be staying back for 2 extra hours. It was rather a headache for the teacher, an after-party for them and the actual accused ones were saved from being kicked out of the basketball team.

United, we stand!

The teacher and the vice principal left when the bell ringed for the recess. Hoshi and Seokmin immediately turned back to the class, "Seriously guys, thank you so much! You all can buy anything from the cafeteria today, it's on us."

During recess, all of them scattered according to what they wanted to eat or do. Usually they would stay together but now they had 2 extra school hours up their sleeves.

Jeonghan and Seungcheol decided to sneak to the rooftop after grabbing their lunch.

"This scenery is the best." Seungcheol chuckled as he looked at the younger.

"You mean the sky right?" Jeonghan's eyes turned crescent shaped.

"Obviously." Seungcheol scratched the back of his neck. It was when he noticed faint scars on Jeonghan's wrist and neck.

He grabbed his hand to which the younger resisted but Seungcheol was quick to unbutton the sleeves and witness the scar on his arm.

"What happened-" Seungcheol stuttered as he couldn't digest those marks.

"Nothing." Jeonghan scoffed, "I had an argument with dad last night so I got them. It doesn't hurt anyways."

"Why didn't you let them heal?" Seungcheol worriedly looked at the younger.

"Because he hates when I keep the scars given by him." Jeonghan chuckled bitterly, "And I love to annoy him."

"Are you sure it's okay if we keep seeing each-"

"Shut up Seungcheol." Jeonghan cut off the older's hesitant words, "I swear it's all okay. Honestly, his behaviour, his words don't affect me anymore. It's usual for me. Instead, I become amazed the day he tries to stay sane."

Seungcheol embraced the younger from the side to which Jeonghan laid his head against the older's shoulder.

"I don't know what to say." Seungcheol scoffed, feeling guilty. He very well knew how Jeonghan was being treated by his father and he couldn't do anything.

"You don't have to say anything. All of this has nothing to do with you." Jeonghan stroked the older's palms, "I already told you to not worry. I'm genuinely all good."

"That's all I want." Seungcheol grinned, "Oh wait I forgot something."

He grabbed the bag that was kept behind him and shuffled through it to find a box.

"What's this?" Jeonghan asked as he opened the box and found hand-made chocolates, "Uncle made them?" He excitedly asked.

Seungcheol nodded admiring the younger's cheerful face, "Dad finished making them yesterday in the evening and the first thing he did was to pack them for you. He knows you love the chocolates made by him."

"Thank you so much, I'll visit Uncle and Aunt really soon." Jeonghan unwrapped the chocolate and devoured it.

"Of course you have to, they were missing you to the point that it made me jealous." Seungcheol whined, "I don't think they will ever love me the way they love you. But I don't blame them considering how alluring you definitely are."

"Yahh Choi Seungcheol." Jeonghan giggled while slapping Seungcheol's arm, "You should accept the truth."
------

"I'm amused that you don't like chocolates hyung." Dino mumbled as he finished the last bite of the brownie snack, "It's your choice anyways."

Jeonghan just chuckled while staring at Dino and offered him more from the packets scattered on the table.

"Woahh I'm jealous." Seungkwan squealed, "Jeonghan hyung is so longingly staring at Dino as if he's his own younger brother or something."

"Am I?" Jeonghan didn't even realise that he was doing so, "He's just adorable and so are you."

'Wait what the fuck did I just say? Get a grip Jeonghan, they are your prey.'

"Get your eyes checked hyung." Minghao dared to say, "They both are the actual trouble makers."

"Oh is it so?" Hoshi cackled, "I had a feeling about Seungkwan but didn't expect it about Dino."

"What do you mean to say?" Seungkwan glared at Hoshi as uf he'll throw hands.

"I'm older than you Seungkwan, have some respect." Hoshi teased him even more.

"I don't care." Seungkwan rolled his eyes.

Mingyu laughed out loud, "You're good to go Seungkwan! I'm with you."

"You guys should calm down considering that you're at someone's else's place." Jun intervened.

"Let them be." Joshua patted Jun's shoulder, "It's more comfortable and lively this way."

"I love this place." Vernon declared, "I almost feel like home."

"So now we'll try even harder for you to drop the almost part." Jeonghan stood up to pour some water for himself which he didn't have to as Minghao offered him some.

The vampires wouldn't deny that the mansion was gaining back the cheerful environment that it once used to have. In the process of gaining the trust of the mortals, they were themselves getting emotionally attached to them and as a matter of fact, the same was happening with the Rose Quartz Stylth.
-------

"How's your research going, do you need any help?" Wonwoo asked as all of them were seated together with the humans in the enormous hall of their mansion to spend some quality time in the evening.

"It's proceeding really well, I love the beautiful sceneries here." Minghao admired.

"Specially the night sky, the stars shine so elegantly." Vernon added as he scrolled through his phone to show them the pictures he had clicked.

"Yeah we know, I hope you get to see the full moon too." Seungcheol sipped his coffee, "That night is the most beautiful I swear."

"We'll look forward to it." Seungkwan chuckled, "Anyways Woozi hyung, this is for you."

Woozi opened the box that the younger handed him in which, he found a keychain which was engraved with his name, Woozi.

"You said you have a guitar so I made this for keychain for your guitar." Seungkwan explained, "I like to make these things."

"Wow thankyou Seungkwan, I love it." Woozi genuinely smiled.

"That's not fair." Seokmin whined, "We should get gifts too."

"It's not a gift hyung." Dino intervened, "Woozi hyung will play an original song for us in return. We know he works on music as a hobby."

"If you want, then sure!" Woozi promised.

The line between pretending to befriend the humans and actually being soft for them was very thin by now. Within their stressful lives, rivalries, wars, etc. the immortals were finally getting a ray of light during their darkening days.

But they were still conscious of their actual aim. The end was already known. No matter whatever happens amidst the spare time, the destiny of the humans was pretty obvious.

It was impossible to escape from Scarlet Coast, at least not when they were targetted by the immensely powerful vampires as their preys.

Moreover, this dirty play was of course going to be a heartbreaking betrayal for them as they had started to trust them not knowing that their lives were actually in danger because of the oh-so-trustworthy citizens of the Scarlet Coast.

And betrayals, are always the worst.
---

A/n : I've already planned to more books, help-
All I don't have is the time to write lmaoo someone pray for me.

Anyways ik this chapter didn't have much twist and turns but yeah THE DETAILS are important. What are your views about all of the mess going on?

Votes and comments- idk why I always feel embarassed to say this lmaoo.

Take care everyone!!

-Jeonghanneyonghaseyo