I actually really enjoyed writing this, so I hope you enjoy reading it! <3

Epilogue: Jeongguk

Fancy.

I don't know what he expects. I've never had any need for formal wear, so the fanciest thing I have is black battle fatigues embroidered with silver. And somehow, I don't think that's what he's looking for. Part of me wants to show up in clothes splattered with blood, just to see how V would react. But then again, that would just be embarrassing myself, and also calling the attention of every vampire in a hundred mile radius. I didn't want that.

I'm almost deciding to just go in a simple black tunic when the doorbell rings. In two seconds flat, I've wrenched the door open and have a knife pointed straight at the throat of whoever is on the other side. Experience has taught me that you never know when you might have some unwelcome visitors. But today, it is only a middle-aged vampire with a bag slung over his shoulder. A messenger, by the looks of it. But I know not to lower my guard. 

"Who are you?" I growl at him, pushing the knife in a little deeper. "How did you find me?"

"P-Please don't kill me!" The guys yelps. "I'm just delivering a package!"

"What package?" I snap, and the guy shakily holds out a wrapped, lumpy black... thing. I take it from him, not yet letting him go. "What is this?"

"I-I don't know," the poor guy's shaking now. "I'm just a messenger. I don't interfere with my client's wishes!"

I huff, and finally let go of him. The messenger takes this as a chance to run, muttering something about crazy guys with knives. I don't stop him, still intent on the package in my hands. I experimentally tear a corner of the packaging with a dagger and hold my breath, wondering if it is an explosive in disguise. But it does not explode. I tear it open, genuinely curious to what I will find. Inside, there is an expensive-looking black tuxedo, complete with black opal cufflinks. There's no note, but I can guess easily enough who had sent it. If I wasn't considering wearing blood-stained clothes before, I'm seriously thinking about it now. Even worse, the tuxedo actually fits me perfectly, almost as if it was tailored for my use only. Which it probably was. Next time I saw V, I was going to murder him.

My annoyance soon turns to intrigue as I find that my tuxedo has an unlimited number of pockets. I don't know if V picked that on purpose, but it's certainly useful. I tuck a few extra blades in the chest pocket of my tuxedo, along with some throwing stars hidden in my shoes. Just to be safe. I keep my mask on, checking myself in the mirror before leaving the house.

I had a party to survive.

☆☆☆

I did not expect the building to be this massive.

The black marble palazzo looms over me like a tangible piece of the night, its great marble columns reaching towards the starless sky. Light shines from within, and people in fancy gowns and tuxedos walk up the dauntingly long staircase. A white fog has settled across the streets around the palazzo, curling around pillars and blanketing the cobblestone streets, lending the scene an eerie glow.

I double check and triple check the address on the slip of paper, hoping that I have it wrong. But no, this is the place. I groan quietly. Of all the places we could meet, why did V have to choose the place where I would have to do the most social interaction? As I start to walk up the stairs, I notice that all the people here are wearing masks. Feathered masks, reflective masks, wire masks, there are all kinds. Which can only mean one thing.

This is a masquerade.

Of course V would invite me to a bleeding masquerade.

A guard at the entrance stops me from entering, his eyes narrowing as he looks me up and down. He's a vampire, and I'm sure that I look shady to him just because I'm a shadow spirit.

"You have an invitation?" He asks.

I'm just about ready to punch this guy in the face and go home. Why had I even agreed to this date anyways? I take V's note out of my pocket and hand it to the guard wordlessly. He unfolds it, his eyes scanning the paper, then stares at me with an eyebrow raised. I glare back at him. Finally, he hands back the note and steps aside. "Go right in. Sir V is expecting you."

So now V is a sir? What he did to deserve that title, I don't know. Probably murder a whole village by the looks of it. Mounting the last few marble steps, I steady my breathing before walking inside. As soon as I step into the building, I stop dead in my tracks. My eyes widen in horror.

Vampires. Vampires everywhere. There's not a single shadow spirit in sight. The smell of blood in the night air is making me lightheaded. I almost want to see V now, just to be with someone my own kind. I struggle through the crowd, careful not to draw attention to myself as I find my way to the main ballroom. My eyes aren't that noticeable in the dim lighting of the corridors, but if people look at my face twice, they'll know I'm not one of them. I don't like mingling with vampires. Actually, scratch that. Mingling with anyone is a herculean task for me. I check the main ballroom, but V doesn't seem to be there. I can't help but feel a bit relieved. The only people here are vampires dressed in tuxedos and fine dresses. Just when I'm about to decide to call it a night and bid a hasty retreat, a hand clamps down on my shoulder.

"Jeongguk." That insufferable, and yet so gorgeous deep voice sounds in my ear. Sliding one of my blades out of my pocket, I whip around, intending to at least nick his face. Instead, my arm is caught in a firm grip before it even closes half the distance. We wrestle silently for a moment, before my dagger clatters onto a nearby oak table. V doesn't even look scared. If anything he looks a bit amused. He's wearing a dark blue half mask, which I grudgingly admit goes very well with his eyes.

A low, deep chuckle escapes V's throat. "I should have known that you would try and kill me. Even at a party."

"It's your own damned fault," I snap back at him. "Why would you invite me to a place like this?"

A ghost of a frown adorns V's face. "Do you not like it?"

"Do you expect me to?" My gaze sweeps around the ballroom, and I lower my voice. "Almost all these people are vampires, V. They don't like us, and we don't like them. I shouldn't have come."

"Nonsense," V shakes his head. "If we're going to enjoy our time here, my Jeongguk, we should set aside old prejudices. It's the only way you'll enjoy the night."

My eyebrow twitches. "My Jeongguk? I'm not yours."

"Not yet," V says knowingly. "But you will be, soon."

I scowl. "No I won't. This is the last time we'll meet. Don't expect to see me again."

V's smile is tight. "All the more reason to enjoy ourselves then."

I grit my teeth, before yanking him towards me by the collar of his dress shirt. V's onyx black eyes glint in the light from the chandelier as he studies me. All shadow spirits have black eyes, but his look especially dark and dangerous. But that couldn't make me back down.

"How in the hells did you figure out where I lived?" I hiss at him, twisting his bowtie in my hand. The tuxedo's many useful pockets hadn't deterred me from the fact that he now knew where I lived. Something I didn't want anyone to know.

V's dark eyes stare into mine. "It's easy enough if you know the right people to look for. You aren't exactly unknown in the black market, Jeon Jeongguk. Besides, aren't you grateful? If I didn't send you a tuxedo, I'm sure that you would have come in your black battle fatigues. And that wouldn't have been good, would it? You're at a ball, not a battlefield." His gaze sweeps down my body, and I fight the urge to cross my arms over my chest. Something about his stares makes me feel self conscious. More so now, without any hood to keep his eyes off my face. Finally, he gives an approving nod. "You look nice. Tuxedos suit you."

"And you look hideous," I tell him, which makes him laugh. His navy blue half mask somehow makes him look all the more alluring, which I'm trying hard not to notice. In reality, he doesn't look hideous at all. It annoys me and intrigues me at the same time. He's wearing a black silk tuxedo with a two-button front, and a crisp white dress shirt underneath. He looks... handsome. Which I never ever would admit to his face. V's hand clasps over mine, prying my fingers off his collar. His superior strength makes me let go against my will. I glare at him, but he only smiles that infuriatingly calm smile.

"What even is this place?" I ask him, watching dancers twirl gracefully around us to the beautiful piano music. I feel out of place amid the beautiful gowns and relaxed, smiling faces. I'm a fighter, not a dancer. I don't belong here.

"It's the headquarters of the most respected and feared gang in Bloodcrest. They have this party every year to look for new potential victims," V says seriously.

I stare at him, my interest suddenly heightening. "Really?" Maybe this party isn't so bad after all.

V smiles. "No."

My curiosity deflates. I slump against one of the many columns in the ballroom, surveying the too-bright dancing scene in front of me. "Why did you invite me here anyway?"

"I needed a date," V says cooly. "And you happened to be the perfect candidate."

"Because of my attractiveness?" I ask dryly. In truth, I didn't expect him to acknowledge it, but he nods.

"That, and your ability to kill anyone you see on sight. Remarkable thing, really. You intrigue me, Jeongguk. In more ways than one." I don't know how to respond to that, so I just stay silent while my mind and heart try to work out if that was a compliment. Thankfully, we weren't in awkward silence for long.

"Sir, would you like to be my partner for the next dance?" A voice sounds from behind me, and I reluctantly turn around. There stands a vampire with a dramatic sweep of dark red hair and surprisingly blue eyes. Good looking I suppose, but he doesn't hold a candle to V. Not that I wanted to dance with anyone at this party. I feel V's dark gaze scrutinizing this stranger from behind me, almost as if contemplating how nice the guy's head would look on his wall. 

"No." I mutter. Then, just because I feel a tiny twinge of guilt seeing the man's crestfallen face, I add, "Sorry."

The man shrugs. "Don't worry about it. I guess there's always next time right?" No, I want to tell him. There won't be a next time because I'm not dancing with you. I'm not dancing with anyone. But before I can say any of this, the man already walks away.

V gazes at me with a mixture of exasperation and humor and... am I imagining it? Relief. "You're at a ball, Jeongguk. When someone asks you to dance, most people would say yes."

"I suppose I'm not most people then," I mutter. "Besides, you're my date here, correct? Would you have wanted me to dance with that guy? Don't think that I didn't see how you were staring daggers at him." I mean the words in a teasing way, but his face tenses.

V's silent for a moment, before sighing. "No. Your only partner here should be me." He says the words with such conviction that for a moment, I'm speechless. A light blush rises in my cheeks without my permission. I'm glad for my mask now, as it prevents V from seeing it.

"Well there you have it," I say, glad that my words come out strong. "I'm not dancing with anyone here." I give him a dark scowl for emphasis.

He laughs, the tension in the air dissolving. "Don't tell me that you don't enjoy it."

"I don't." I grumble, though now half-heartedly. I have to admit, the place itself is beautiful. Crystal chandeliers dangle from the high domed ceiling, looking like a cascade of falling stars in the midnight darkness outside. Two of the ballroom walls are lined with enormous arches open to the night, making the room shine like a golden orb between black waters and black sky. The ballroom floor is a wide expanse of polished maple, which gleams under the light footfall of dancers swaying to the music. After spending years in the black market, it's nice to see someplace clean and tidy for a change.

A slow, sweet song begins. I had thought that the dance floor could not become more crowded, but it happens. Couples twirl gracefully around me while I stand awkwardly to the side. I'm beginning to wonder whether I could see if the refreshments were any good, when V suddenly steps away from my side. I expect him to walk away, but instead, he stands in front of me and extends his hand. I stare at it stupidly for a moment, before I realize what it's meant for.

"May I have this dance?" He looks amused when he sees the surprised expression in my eyes. "You said it yourself Jeongguk. I'm your date. And as your date, I'm asking you for a dance." His hand is still out as an invitation, almost as if daring me to take it. I should say no. Let him dance with some other poor girl or boy. Enough people are eyeing him from the dance floor that I know he won't be without a partner for long if I decline. And somehow it's that thought―the thought that there are at least ten girls and boys waiting to dance with him― that seals my resolve.

"Let's make this quick." I try my best to sound uninterested, but a slight tremor in my voice destroys it. V takes my hand, and a shiver runs through me at the close contact. I hadn't let anyone touch me for such a long time, that I had forgotten how it felt to have someone's skin against mine. It is electrifying.

"I can't dance," I tell him, as he leads me onto the dance floor. "I'm not good at it."

V smiles. "You mean to tell me that you can wield dangerous blades, and excel in hand-to-hand combat, but get flustered when asked to dance?"

"I've had no need for it." I say, which is true. In terms of usefulness, I rank dancing somewhere between singing and painting. None will help me survive in a battle. But now I'm starting to regret my choices. Seeing all the other dancers twirl effortlessly like birds through the room, I must stick out like a sore thumb.

I wrap my arms around V's waist, then feeling unsure about it, try to reposition my hands on his shoulders. The position feels awkward and unnatural, so I just end up holding my arms by my sides, hesitant on how to proceed. V smiles as he watches me struggle. In one clean motion, he takes my left hand in his, as the other snugly fits in the curve of my waist. I shiver at the unexpected intimacy of the feeling.

"Allow me."

We start off slow, controlled. It takes me a few tries to get the movements correct, and V endures many unintentional (and intentional) steps on the toes as I try to get the hang of dancing. I'm not a dancer, but I am a fighter, and I find that I can appreciate the consistency of his movements while dancing. It feels natural, and suddenly, we are gliding across the floor as gracefully as any other couple in the room. I instinctively know where to put my feet, and can't step on his toes even if I tried. The rhythm is too good to be broken. V's hand on my waist becomes not a source of discomfort, but a steady anchor that keeps me grounded as he spins me around. I even find myself... enjoying it.

"Look at you," V whispers, his tone impressed and laced with something that makes my cheeks warm. "And you said that you weren't good at dancing."

"Honestly I'm not," I try to step on his toes on more time for good measure, but he pulls them away. "I don't know what's gotten into me."

"Are you going to tell me now that you don't enjoy this?" V's tone is teasing, and I feel a smile curving at the corners of my mouth. His soft brown hair brushing against mine is more of a distraction than it should be. I give a nonchalant shrug, trying to calm my breathing. "It isn't all bad."

"I'm sure," V murmurs. My breath catches as his hand tightens on my waist, bringing me closer as we dance to the slow beat of the music. People are starting to stare, murmuring behind their gloved hands and fans, but I couldn't care less. Let them stare. V doesn't seem to mind either, or maybe he's just perfectly oblivious. His eyes never leave my face, the dark orbs so intense that it isn't a far shot to think that he is staring straight into my soul. Staring, while each barrier I painstakingly put up between my mind and heart start crumbling down. And I just stand there, watching.

All too soon, the song ends, and I am snapped out of my daze. Couples all around us are breaking up, saying thank you to their partners before finding others for a new dance. A new song. And yet, neither V nor I make a move to pull away. His void black eyes mesmerize me, and I find that I cannot look away. My eyes are transfixed on his ruggedly handsome face, half covered by that blue mask. As my eyes travel up and down his face, I realize small nicks in his perfect facade. Those scars, faded to white and barely visible on his left cheek, are those from a fight long ago? And the little cut above his lip, what is that from? I blink, realizing that I know almost nothing about the man dancing with me. The person who invited me here in the first place. V catches me looking, though his expression is hard to decipher. He stares at me for a long moment, before looking away. I think I detect a flash of pain in his eyes. I don't dare speak, and after a long moment of silence, he looks up again, flashing me a crooked smile. He bites his lip hesitantly, and shock ripples through me when I realize that he's nervous.

"If I asked you to go out with me again," He starts in a low voice, "Would you say yes?" His black eyes give nothing away as he gazes at me. I realize that he's trying not to influence my decision. The choice is entirely up to me. And isn't it obvious? Nothing good would come out of choosing V. If I walked away now, everything would be the same, and I would be able to go back to my life as an aimlessly wandering shadow spirit. Tied to no one, belong nowhere except for the black market. I can be... alone.

And it scares me.

Now that I've experienced something different, I know that if I leave now, I will keep coming back to this moment, this day. Not as a good memory, but a memory which could have been expandable if I had kept going. A memory of regret. And when you're immortal, having regrets isn't good. V with his onyx eyes and battle-born figure will not stop plaguing my mind no matter how hard I try, I know. Everything about being with V is new. Uncharted. But perhaps just this once, new could be good. If I didn't like it, V's made it clear that I can leave anytime. So why not follow through with it, and see where this leads me? I can think of it as a sort of adventure, a thing I've lacked in my life.

Finally, I nod. Small, but sure. "Only if I get to pick the place next time."

I see surprise and joy light up on V's face. He clearly wasn't expecting this. And really, his expression is more rewarding than even the small spark of something in my chest. His smile is broader than ever before as he leans his face towards mine, his eyes focused on my lips. I feel a jolt of shock as I realize what he's about to do. And not the good kind of shock either. It's too early, too new. I don't want it. I turn my face away, and V stops. Alarm flashes in those usually serene dark eyes as he quickly pulls away. He looks mortified.

"I'm sorry. I know you aren't ready for that yet." He says apologetically. I give a curt nod, but still avert my eyes. I hear him sigh, before my chin gets lifted by a strong hand, and I'm staring at his face again. I can't help but notice that his touch is gentle.

"Jeongguk," his tone is soft as he says my name. "You know I won't do anything like that without your consent. Take as long as you want. I'll wait."

My mouth tastes like sandpaper, but I force out a small, "I know." V nods, and I can see that he keeps his distance as he holds my hand. I'm glad.

"Would you care to join me for another dance?" he asks, though we are already both in position. Music starts to waft through the room, and my feet are already itching to be moving.

"Just one more," I agree. And this time when I hold his hand, I can hold it with a bit more confidence. His grip tightens in response, and his smile is still on his face as he pulls me towards him, but not too close. I see myself reflected in his mask like a mirror, my eyes wide and black against the ballroom behind me. I almost don't recognize myself. I look... happy. Happier than I have in years. Perhaps it is because of the lighting, but even my mask seems to glow. Or maybe it is the way that V looks at me with unprecedented affection. Affection for... me? I'm not sure. I've never experienced this before, but I have to admit, it's nice.

I remember V telling me that he once had a lover that looked exactly like me. It shouldn't bother me, but it does. Did he ask me out only because I look like the person he once loved? Every time he looks at me, there's some sort of distinct sadness in his expression which he tries hard to cover up. And this makes me have even more questions. Questions about his past, who he is, who he loved. Who I am to him.

And as we twirl through the room, I wonder, if he's really seeing me at all.