More than 4000 words! Enjoy!

XVI: Jungkook 

Something was wrong.

I felt it instinctively in my bones even before Taehyung descended the stairs. When Jimin came down looking equally worried, I knew that my suspicions were correct. But when I asked about it, Jimin had merely shrugged.

"He's not telling me. I don't get why." A look of confusion flashed briefly in his eyes, before he dismissed it and took something out of his folded robes with a flourish. It took me a moment to realize that it was my scim. "Here. You're going to need this."

I looked down at it. "But we're going to London. People would be suspicious if I walk down the streets with a big sword strapped to my belt."

Jimin laughed lightly. "Of course it's not going to look like a sword. Though I never understood why you humans don't carry around weapons with you. You should. It's a dangerous world out there." He threw the scim in the air, watching as it swirled in a circular motion three times before morphing into a thin string of silver. Catching it in one hand, he presented the silver bracelet to me. I took it from him, praying that it didn't turn into a blade in my hands. "Thanks."

"Simple transformation technique." Jimin explained. "It will transform back into a scim whenever you remove it from your wrist. It'll be a handy tool to have if you're faced with anything out of the ordinary."

"What things?" I asked, putting the bracelet on my wrist. It fit perfectly, practically invisible after I lowered my sleeve.

"Specters, most likely."

Taehyung's voice came from the stairwell, and Jimin and I both turned. My heart skipped a beat when I saw him in human clothes. He was wearing a simple gray t-shirt paired with a navy trench coat, and his dark hair was artistically disheveled in a way which I found painfully unfair. A silver ring glinted on his right hand, and his usually red eyes were brown. Even without his daggers and black tunic, he radiated power that a simple human couldn't possibly have. Only the slight dark circles beneath his eyes betrayed his tiredness.

"Take a picture, it lasts longer." Taehyung said, catching me staring at him. I quickly looked away, blushing. He laughed, descending the last stair and walking over to where I stood.

"Good morning," he murmured, landing a kiss on my forehead. His arms snaked around my waist as he pulled me closer to him, and I leaned against his shoulder. It was amazing to think that only a week ago, I hadn't even met Taehyung, and thought that vampires were myths. And now here I was, getting hugged tightly by the vampire king, no less. I smiled as he caressed my hair with one hand, not letting go of my waist. His eyes flickered with some type of emotion I couldn't read as he glanced down at me, but it quickly melted away into love.

"Gods, get a room!" Jimin groaned, shaking his head. "You guys are worse than the Namjin couple!"

Taehyung smiled, nudging me gently towards the pinwheel door. "You and Yoongi are pretty bad yourselves. But don't worry Jimin. We'll be gone for the whole day, so you won't have to see us."

"I know. Just... be careful out there alright?" Jimin sighed, and looked at me. "And keep Jungkook safe. He's only just started the basics of scim training."

"With my life," Taehyung agreed, and I hit his chest lightly. "Yah! I can look after myself, you know!" He laughed as he reluctantly removed hands from around my waist and walked towards the door. "Of course. Now, let's go."

"Jungkook, stay back." Jimin cautioned. I watched as Taehyung moved his hand towards the pinwheel, making a turning motion with his hand. The door started rattling on its hinges, and an otherworldly light engulfed it. Taehyung's face grew taunt with concentration. He made a fist, and suddenly, the pinwheel turned to yellow with a loud ping. The door stopped shaking, and the light receded.

"It's ready," He announced, one hand on the door handle. He stretched the other arm out to me. "Come on. It's safe." I bit my lip and walked away from Jimin, descending the three steps to the door. Once there, Taehyung draped an arm around my shoulders, looking up one last time to wave at Jimin. Jimin smiled.

He then turned the black door handle, and we walked outside. I didn't know what I was expecting, but no sooner had we stepped out of the door, I saw our surroundings had changed. We were in the middle of Hyde Park.

People milled around us, most not giving us a second glance as they continued their daily lives. Some girls gaped as they saw Taehyung, but everyone seemed oblivious to the fact that there was an oak door right behind us, in a place where there were normally no doors. I gasped, still not quite believing that we were here. Taehyung gave my hand a reassuring squeeze, as I looked around in surprise.

"Normal humans can't see the door. To them, it simply looks like we stepped out from behind some rosebush or fountain. It's actually impressive how humans can believe what they want to believe and ignore the truth, though I suppose that it's better for our purposes."

"Oh." I still didn't get the concept of traveling between worlds, and I had to look back to make sure the door was still there. "Now, is there something you want to show me first?" Taehyung asked, surveying the flowers that bloomed all around us. "This is a beautiful place."

"It is. This is Hyde Park." I suddenly felt a surge of pride being able to show Taehyung around my hometown. "Come on. I'll show it to you." He laughed as I pulled him along to look at flower beds. It was spring, so almost all the flowers were in full bloom, making it even more colorful than usual.

"This is my favorite," I said, pointing to some small white hydrangea flowers, thriving against the tall green grass. "I like white flowers."

"Mmm." Taehyung took some of the delicate petals which had fallen onto the ground. "I can see why." When I looked at him, he smiled, tucking one of the large petals behind my ear. "They symbolize beauty and purity. And you, Kookie, are definitely both." Usually, I didn't like it when people called me nicknames, but coming from Taehyung, I didn't mind. I also may or may not have blushed. "They're pretty." I mumbled.

"But not as pretty as you," Taehyung said, wrapping his arms around my shoulders. I pushed him away, laughing. "You're so cheesy."

"And you love it," he teased. Just then, something seemed to catch his eye, and a broad smile spread across his face. "Kookie, do you know my favorite flower?" Before I could guess, he took my hand and walked over to a flower bed not far from the hydrangeas.

A flower bed full of red roses.

Their ruby red petals swayed in the wind, each more beautiful than the last. They seemed to shine in the light, and their light fragrance wafted in the air. Taehyung reached out a hand to touch the petals, smiling at how they danced in the breeze.

"They were my mother's favorite, too." His expression was unreadable, but there was a small sad smile playing at the corner of his lips. I squeezed his hand, and he smiled at me. "My father gave her a whole bouquet of them on their wedding day."

"They're beautiful," I agreed. "Your father must have loved her very much." Suddenly, I remembered the garden room back at the castle. It also had been full of these roses. And the tombstones... were they somehow Taehyung's parents?

"Two young people in love, eh?"

A voice sounded from behind us, and we turned around. An old lady sat on a wheelchair, a pack of bread crumbs in her hands. She had a maroon shawl draped around her shoulders, and her cobalt blue eyes shone from underneath her sun hat. "It reminds me of my own husband. We were married for more than forty years." She smiles at us, showing exactly three teeth.

"That's very nice miss," Taehyung says politely. "I'm sure your husband was a wonderful person."

"Oh he was," the old lady agreed, sadness seeping into her voice. "He passed away five years ago, and I've never been quite the same after his death. It's difficult to lose the person you love when you've been with them for so long. And from such a vile sickness as lung cancer too..." She shakes her head sadly. "But you two are still young. I pray you have much more time together in the future."

"I hope so too, miss." Taehyung says, and I'm struck by the raw emotion in his voice. Was he thinking about his parents? Or maybe he was thinking about us? The old lady nods, and her eyes widen. "Oh! Here, I have a gift for you two." Taehyung and I exchange confused glances. We had just met this lady, so why would she give us a gift?

From her satchel, she brought out a beautiful white rose, water droplets still gleaming on the petals. "A good luck charm," she explained. "I see that you both enjoy looking at roses, so here is a little gift from me to you. It represents young love and eternal loyalty. I picked it this morning from my garden. I hope that you'll accept it." She handed the rose to me, and I took it from her with a bow. "Thank you," I murmured, "It's very beautiful." I turned the rose over in my hands, admiring it. The old lady watched me, her eyes twinkling.

"Now off with you two. It's a beautiful day, and you mustn't spend it all hearing an old lady tell her stories." She laughed, and I smiled.

"Thank you," I say again, and she waves her hand as we walk away. "She was nice," I comment to Taehyung. He nods, hand gently coming up to caress the rose petals. "Very nice," he agreed, but there was a sadness in his voice that wasn't there before. I now know that there was something troubling him.

"Taehyung?" I waited until he looked at me. "What's wrong? You know you can tell me." He seemed to hesitate for a moment, before putting soft fingers to my face and smiling a sad, sweet smile. "I just had a nightmare last night. It's nothing that you should trouble yourself over." The moment the words left his mouth, I knew that he's holding something back. But I don't try to push it. He'll tell me on his own time.
"Now," Taehyung checks his watch. "It's exactly twelve o'clock. We have six hours left. What do you want to do?"

I thought for a minute before deciding. "I want to visit my home first. I... I want to call my parents."

Taehyung nodded. "Of course." We walked to a nearby bus station, and boarded one which would take us straight to 77 Bangtan street. I was about to ask him how he knew where I lived, then remembered that he had watched me for 18 years.

About 30 minutes later, we arrived at our destination. Unlocking the gate to the garden, I saw that all the flowers were still blossoming, but there were weeds peeking out here and there. Leaves littered the ground, making a carpet for our feet as I walked to my front door. Taking a deep breath, I unlocked the door using the key hidden underneath a flowerpot.

The inside of the house was a bit dusty, and I could see dust bunnies sitting in the corners. The table needed polishing and the furniture all had a fine layer of grime coating it. But otherwise, it was exactly how I left it. I suddenly felt a strange surge of nostalgia looking around the home which I had spent 18 years of my life in. In three days, I couldn't even be sure that it would still be standing.

"We'll protect it," Taehyung said from behind me, putting his powerful hands on my shoulders. "Your home will be safe." I nod, hoping that what he said was true. I leaned into his touch, feeling his broad shoulders behind my back. The call, Jungkook, my brain scolded. I needed to make the call.

Walking over to the house phone, I picked it up, blowing away the dust on top of it. Pressing the numbers of my mother's mobile, I took a deep breath and held the phone to my ear. It rang five times before going to voicemail. No wonder. Right now they were in Tokyo, Japan, which meant that with the time difference, it was almost midnight there. I fumbled for words for a moment before knowing what to say.

"Hey mom. I-I just wanted to let you know that I'm safe. If you guys come back and I'm not here, please don't worry. I'm staying with someone for the time being. I hope that all business is going well... and... I love you. Bye."

I ended the call, staring at the phone for a few seconds before putting it down. It wasn't my parent's fault that they had so many conferences and business trips, but sometimes I just wanted them to be here with me. I wanted to see my mother's smiling face, and my father reading the newspaper with a cigar in his mouth. A stubborn tear fell down my cheek, and I immediately brushed it away. It wasn't right for me to be crying about things I couldn't control. Turning around, I saw Taehyung looking at the paintings and photos on the walls, most of them cards from my parent's trips. There were only three photos where both my parents and I were in it, looking like one happy family.

"Jungkook?" Taehyung's concerned gaze washed over me when I tried to hide the tears. "Oh, Jungkook, don't cry." He held open his arms, and I wasted no time burying my face in his chest, not even caring that my tears were wetting his shirt. He wrapped his arms around me tightly, whispering sweet nothings into my ear as I cried. His large hand caressed my hair, and I submitted myself to the touch, concentrating on the warmth of his embrace instead of my sadness. It seemed to work, as my sobs gradually stopped and my body stopped shaking. Taehyung still didn't let go, and I was glad he didn't. I needed this feeling. This feeling of being held and comforted by someone I loved. And Taehyung seemed to know that.

Finally, after what felt like eternity, I pulled away. Taehyung let me, although he still kept a firm grip on my wrist. "Are you okay?" He murmured, cupping my face with his hands, thumbs stroking my cheek in circles. I nodded, still not trusting my words in case I started crying again. I also didn't look at the family portraits behind Taehyung. I couldn't.

"Is there anything you need?" He asked. "Something from your room? Just in case."

That reminded me. "Yes. J-just... can you wait here?" He smiled, stepping back and letting me go up the stairs.

My room was nothing special; a simple queen-sized bed with a nightstand in the corner. Shelves full of books lined the walls, with all the trophies I had gotten on top. There was a door on the right wall, leading to my closet. A large window covered half of the left wall, sending in the rays of sunshine from outside.

There was only one thing I needed from here. Since my parents couldn't be with me from an early age, they had given me a small cedar wood music box to play whenever I got sad. "Think of this as my lullaby," my mother had said. "When you get sad, play the music box and imagine that it's my voice singing to you." Now, I was so attached to the box that I wouldn't go anywhere without it.

I took it off the shelf and carefully blew the dust off the lid. I didn't dare play it now, but I instantly felt better with it in my hands. It was as if a small piece of my mother was still with me. I put it in my coat pocket, patting it to make sure that it was secure.

When I went back downstairs, Taehyung was waiting for me at the door. He smiled and extended his hand, which I gladly took. His larger fingers curled around mine.

"Come on," his voice was soft when he spoke. "Let's go. I have a place in mind." Taehyung didn't wait for an answer as he gently took my hand in his and walked out the door. I followed him, taking one last look around the house before shutting the door firmly and hiding the key underneath the flowerpot.

The bus ride was silent, with me leaning on Taehyung's shoulder with his arm around my waist. I didn't know where we were going, but I was too tired from crying to ask. Finally, after about 40 minutes, we came to a stop, and as soon as we walked outside, I recognized where we were.

"Is this the London Eye?" I asked, staring up at the huge ferris wheel in front of me. It held some of my best memories; sitting on it between my parents when I was six, coming here for a birthday party, riding on it as a middle school graduation gift. It was one of my favorite places in London. But how could Taehyung possibly know all of that?

I caught his eye, and he smiled, kissing me on the head. "I've watched you for 18 years Jungkook. I would make a pretty poor stalker if I didn't know all your favorite places." He held up two tickets which I didn't know he had. "Would you like to ride it with me?"

I gaped at them. "How? Don't you have to be human to get those?" Taehyung stared at me for a minute, before he burst out laughing. "I got them just like any other person. Log onto a website, pay, and get tickets. Even vampires can manage that much." His eyes twinkled in the light of the setting sun. "So, would you honor me with a ride?"

"I―" I blushed crimson. "Yes, I would love to." He took my hand and guided me towards the ticket booth, giving our tickets to a very stunned woman, who wouldn't stop staring at Taehyung. "The next ride is due in about a minute sir," she said, curling her hair around her finger. "I could accompany you, if you like." I frowned, not liking how she was trying to flirt with my soulmate. Taehyung merely smiled, bringing me closer with a pull of my hand. "I'm sorry, but I already have the perfect date."

"Oh." Her hand dropped, and she looked crestfallen for a second, before smiling. "Well, I hope you enjoy the ride."

"Thank you," Taehyung said, before walking towards the pod which had just arrived.

"Watch your step," he said, easily pulling me into the passenger car. The capsule was made of glass walls which curved at the edges, and had a bench in the middle. It was empty except for us, and I wasn't sure if that was pure coincidence, or if Taehyung had planned it that way. By the smirk on his face, I would guess for the second option.

As the ride started moving upwards, I looked out of the capsule, amazed at the dusk London view. All the lights in the city were on, glowing against the darkness. Cars gathered in the streets, turning the roads into a line of light. The slowly setting sun illuminated the horizon, emitting a soft glowing light in the sky.

"It's beautiful," I breathed, mesmerized by the stunning view. I could see the London Bridge in the distance, its towers proudly silhouetted against the darkening sky.

"It really is," Taehyung agreed, but when I looked up, he was staring at me instead of the view. "You really are beautiful," he repeated, tucking a lock of my raven hair behind my ear. My face flushed when he grabbed my hands so that we were facing each other.

Suddenly, I was aware of the close proximity between us, and his hot breath fanning my cheek. His fiery red eyes shone even through his brown contact lenses as they stared down at me. Our hands were entwined, his larger hands easily dominating my smaller ones. For a second, I forget my own name in the intensity of his stare. Something undefined burned in his gaze, a flash of emotion that brings a different sort of fire to my skin.

I should look away.

But I can't.

His burning eyes draw me in, mesmerize me, refuse to release me. I lift tentative fingers to his skin, brushing the warmth of it with my thumb. I never knew that a vampire's skin could be so warm and inviting.

"Jungkook..."

There's a plea in his voice, in his eyes. What does it mean? Does he want me to back away? Does he want me to come closer?

I lift myself up on my toes, and his face comes down at the same time. His lips are soft against mine, just like our first kiss. But this one has a hard desperation behind them, a need. Something happened last night that changed him, changed the kiss. The kiss speaks. It begs. Let me forget, forget, forget.

His hand is entangled in my hair, gently pulling me forward into his chest. I arched into him, reveling in his strength, his fire, the alchemy between us twisting and burning and melding until it feels like gold.

Then he breaks away, his hands held out before him.

"I'm sorry," He said, shaking his head. "I'm so sorry. You can't be ready for that yet. I shouldn't have―"

I put a finger to his lips, smiling. "It's all right." My lips still burn from the kiss. "I'm the one who... started it."

He looked at me for a moment, love clearly written in his eyes. He doesn't let go of my hair, and I don't make him. We stared at each other just as the ride came to a jarring stop.

"Well..." he removed his hand, only to hold it out to me. "Ready to go back home?" I nodded, letting him lead me out of the capsule and onto solid ground again. I put a hand to my lips, not sure if that actually happened, or whether it was all a dream.

The streets of London are bathed with twilight by the time we get down from the ferris wheel. We both agree that since Hyde Park is only a 20 minute walk from here, that we wouldn't take a bus. A comfortable silence descended down on us, our only source of contact being our tightly entwined hands.

"Did you like it?" Taehyung asked suddenly, and I looked up. "Like what?"

"The kiss," he said, eyes searching mine. "Was it good?"

"It was..." I searched for the right word. "Like fire. Burning and strong. But also pleasurable." Even in the fast-fading light, I can see that he smiles. "I'm glad."

"How about you? What did it feel like?" I questioned as I buttoned up my coat.

But instead of answering, Taehyung goes still, his head cocked as if he's listening for something. When I try to speak, he puts a finger to my lips. A moment later, his face hardens.

"We have to go," he said, voice dead serious. "Right now."

"Why?" I asked, confused by the sudden change.

His eyes find mine in the gathering darkness, and I'm struck by the severeness of his gaze. "Specters. They're here."

What the London Eye looks like:

The music box:

Until next time!