When Baekhyun woke up he wasn't even surprised to see that he was still in the spirit world, his body relaxed against the plush pillows of the couch. His eyes glanced around in order to find the woman who had kept him there, his chest relaxing when he saw her by the fireplace a smile on her lips as she turned back to him.

"I'm glad to see you awake" she giggled stepping closer, taking her seat on the stool by the couch like she had sat when Baekhyun awoke the first time. "now that you've gotten you're rest I think it's time that you end on back to our family."

Baekhyun didn't want to admit it but hearing Nana say something so simple and plain like 'our family' made Baekhyun's heart race. He could feel the muscle race against his chest, making his fear of actually being dead slowly fade. He was going home and there wasn't anything else he had to worry about now that Nana had calmed his head. "Okay" he whispered. "Let's go home."

Gently placing his hand into her opened palm, Baekhyun allowed the woman to pull him up from the couch and take him through the house and towards the front door. Baekhyun's eyes had glanced around for one last time until he was pulled through the doorway and into a world full of colour and solid beings. He blinked the brightness away and stared at the scene before him.

His body was laid out on the couch with Chanyeol hovering above him holding his hand and crying, tears streaming down his cheeks as he clutched Baekhyun's hand close to his chest. Baekhyun couldn't help but gasp at the wounds on his body, dark black burn marks covered his fingertips and his clothing had burnt cinder circles throughout it. He noticed that Yixing was holding onto his other hand just as tightly as Chanyeol was holding onto his right, Jongdae was by his feet watching both boys with a grim facial expression.

"They think I'm dead don't they?" he whispered out into the room, knowing that the people before him wouldn't be able to hear him now that he was in the spirit world. "I mean why else would they be around me like that?"

"Your body is still alive Baekhyun" Nana tried to explain holding the boy closer by his shoulder. "Your breathing is slow and you'll more than likely feel a bit of pain when you wake up but you must remember that you're not dead. The only way to fully kill a vampire is to burn him in the sunlight or rip out his heart-"

"Or a wooden stake to the heart right?" he wondered earning a soft giggle in return.

"Yes or a wooden stake to the heart." Baekhyun turned to face his soon-to-be grandmother and sighed noticing her worried expression. "My Chanyeol could never hurt you with his powers Baekhyun, true mates aren't able to hurt each other. You can see the burn marks on your body but they'll fade within the hour with your bodies natural healing abilities, his flames burned you only slightly it was I that made you pass out so that I would be able to bring you here to talk. Please try to explain that to Chanyeol when you wake, or don't I don't particularly like the idea of upsetting my grandson."

"I'll tell him when the time is right" Baekhyun declared, taking the woman into his embrace. He noticed how at first she was stiff, obviously shocked with his gesture but the moment she hugged back it felt like whatever weight that was on his shoulder's was now free. She had been the last thing he needed to officially untie himself from the weight of dread, guilt and worry that came with being a new born male vampire who just so happened to be mated to the Prince of Darkness. "Thank you for everything."

"It was no problem sugar, I'm just sorry that we never got to officially meet." she sniffled, pulling away so that she could wipe her eyes. Because ghosts can apparently still cry? Baekhyun didn't even know where to begin with that question, but he figured some questions were best left unanswered.

"I don't think that I would change anything of how we met." Baekhyun admitted with a shy smile, bowing his body over a full 90 degrees suddenly feeling the need to be formal in front of his boyfriend's favoured family member. "You probably went against nature by asking the witches to bring me here and for that I am grateful, your wisdom will help us in the future and maybe one of these days we will be able to see each other again?"

"Not for a long time sugar" Nana chuckled shaking her head from side to side. "You both have long lives and happy lives ahead of you.. I can feel it!"

"Baekhyun?" Luhan called out, forcing the two conversing members to turn to the side. Their eyes widening as Luhan's draw dropped in surprise. "W-How? Na-"

"Don't freak out my child, everything is going to be okay now" Nana smiled attempting to step closer to the anchor but second guessing herself and stepping backwards, Baekhyun sighing as he watched the woman smile shyly at her youngest grandson's mate. "its nice to see you awake."

"I can't believe this" Luhan choked back a sob, his cries grabbing everyone's attention. "Baek are you d-dead?"

"Luhan?" Sehun gasped speeding before his mate and holding onto his hand. Baekhyun watching them both with a frown, he couldn't do this.

"I can't do this" he immediately turned back to Nana shaking his head, feeling his own tears perk in the corner of his eyes. "You said that every supernatural being that touches him in order to get to the other side will make him feel all their emotions that they've ever felt- I can't do that to him!"

"You have to otherwise you're going to be stuck over here and away from them!" Nana raised her voice pointing her finger towards Chanyeol who had stood up at Luhan's words. He could already see the anger boiling over in his mate's eyes.

"Chanyeol no" he tried to shout, getting in the way of his mate who rushed towards Luhan. Instead of stopping him like he originally planned Baekhyun gasped as Chanyeol simply walked through him reminding him that he wasn't technically 'alive' to stop him.

"What do you mean is Baekhyun dead Luhan?" Baekhyun heard his mate roar from behind him, turning around as more tears poured from his eyes he watched as Chanyeol continued to wait until Luhan spoke. Baekhyun could see the vampire stare at him in confusion and with tears of his own trailing down his cheeks.

"I can see him" he hiccupped, gently shoving Sehun out of the way so that another fight didn't break out. "I can see them both."

"Luhan don't" Nana begged pleading as she shook her head from side to side. "don't tell him that you can see me that's not what he needs to hear right now.."

"Then why can I hear you? Why can I see you when no-one else can?!" he yelled pushing Chanyeol out of the way and making his way towards the two ghosts before him. "Is this some new power that I have developed because if it is I sure as hell don't want it!"

"Luhan listen to me, I'm so sorry this is all my fault that this is happening to you and I swear that if I could take it off you I would but I cant-"

"Baekhyun why are you standing there when you're body is supposed to be over there?" He choked, pointing with his pointer finger towards Baekhyun's body. "Why do you have a blue hue around you and why are you standing with her when we both know that she's dead.. please don't tell me that you're-"

"I'm not" Baekhyun whispered stepping closer while shaking his head, his hands were reaching out to touch Luhan's shoulders but the description of the anchor forced him to pull back before he could make contact. "I was brought here by witches, they put my body in a coma so that they could bring my spirit here. Nana only wanted to help us, this is huge Luhan. You're more powerful than probably Chanyeol and I combined-"

"Actually~" Nana tried to interrupt but after receiving a rather harsh glare from Baekhyun she instantly shut up.

"Fine maybe you're not, but you're sure as hell the most important one right now.. what do you know about the Spirit world?"

"Is that where you are right now?" he wondered shooting a glance to Sehun and Chanyeol who just watched him talk with air in complete confusion. "The spirit world is like a supernatural version of heaven."

"Good" Baekhyun nodded his head, proud that the vampire at least knew that. "do you know what an anchor is?"

"No... what does that have to do with anything?"

"The Spirit and Human world are linked together, think of it as like a ship to the ocean" Baekhyun recalled, figuring that his metaphor might work better than Nana's explanation. "The ship is connected to the ocean by an anchor right?"

"So the ship is the Spirit world and the anchor is what keeps it grounded to the human world?"

"Exactly, now the pearly gates of heaven have what use for the humans?"

"They prevent anyone who tries to come back through to the human world-"

"And that's what an anchor does for the Spirit world, they're the gateway between there and here. You're the gateway from there and here, you have one foot here and one foot over there which means that supernatural beings have to pass through you in order to come over here."

"Okay so how can I get you back over here?" he wondered looking between Nana and Baekhyun. Baekhyun simply turned to the lady who smiled sadly but shook her head.

"The dead people on this side can't cross through you to get back to the human world Luhan, that's the whole point of having you as an anchor you're the entrance but never the exit."

"But what about Baekhyun, how can we get him back over here? You told me you weren't dead!"

"And he isn't, Baekhyun's spirit was called here by the witches their magic is fuelling this crossing. Think of him as a simple visitor or a guest, he can come and go whenever he wishes all he has to do is touch you and he'll wake right back up."

Just as Luhan was about to reach forward and take the boy's hand Baekhyun shot back almost immediately. "Tell him the full story" he demanded, looking at Nana who sighed deeply and glanced to the ground.

"Whoever dies has to pass through you but, you'll end up feeling every emotion that they've felt before they died. You'll feel their pain, their sorrow, their love.. Luhan when Baekhyun passes through you on his way back you'll feel everything that way too. You'll be overrun with it that it will hurt you just as much as it hurt them but you'll feel it all at once, like a wave crashing over you each time some passes through you no matter if they're just visitors.."

"That's why I can't do it" Baekhyun whispered backing away from the boy yet again. "You'll feel everything I've felt in my entire life be propelled at you at one hundred miles per hour and all at once, I can't be the one to hurt you after I'm the one that caused this.."

"How come you're the reason I'm like this?" Luhan questioned, his eyebrows furrowed together in the centre of his forehead. "What could you have possibly done to give me this?"

"I was born.." Baekhyun sighed, collapsing down onto the carpeted ground his head falling into his hands. "When the attack on the castle happened I had already activated Chanyeol and I's mate link, since I wasn't a vampire at the time and hadn't died I wasn't a good match for the universe. For years the anchor was born into the Citrine family bloodline and since Kris killed them all nature flipped out of balance but, when the attack on the castle happened and my mate link with Chanyeol had been created the universe saw an opportunity to give nature back it's balance. To make the Spirit world get it's front door back, you were supposed to have died that day Luhan.. but nature chose you to be the anchor and it's all my fault."

"Baekhyun-" Luhan began but ended up choking back sobs, his knees giving way as he collapsed onto the ground. He tried to get closer but seeing as how Baekhyun had warned him of what would happen he kept his hands to himself. Immediately Sehun was once again by his side, but this time he was silent deciding to see how this would play out. He didn't understand what was going on considering he could only hear Luhan's end of the conversation but it was obvious that whatever he was seeing was Baekhyun. Chanyeol unknowingly stood behind the ghost of his mate, his puffy eyes and stained cheeks tilted down so he could watch as Luhan continued to sob at the air. "you saved my life how can you blame yourself for this?"

"Because you still end up hurting in the end, I may have saved your life but I'm the one that signed your life over for the universe to use at it's disposal. You're going to be faced with death almost everyday and I have no idea how you're going to be able to cope with pain you're going to feel."

"I don't know either" Luhan admitted pushing himself closer, Baekhyun having nowhere to run to. Nana watched both of the boys talk to each other with a small smile tugging at her lips, even though the sight before her broke her heart she couldn't help but feel a warming sensation in her heart. She may be dead but ghosts still have feelings too. "but that's the beauty of being alive forever because we will be able to figure it out, together."

"Nana?" Baekhyun called, turning his head to look up at the woman who stood off to the side, her nail between her lips as she held back her cries. "Will you be okay here? Alone?"

"Oh sugar I'm not alone over here" she giggled shaking her head from side to side. "I get to visit my family everyday and still get to hang out with my friends at night, you don't have to worry about me pumpkin. The spirit world is quite a peaceful place, I'm happy here."

"Well I'm glad to know that" Luhan laughed looking up at the woman he thought he would never see again. "will I always be able to see you?"

"That depends" she admitted, a small smirk puling up in the corner of her lip. "if I want you too or not. Now that you're aware of you're power I can't secretly watch over you all anymore. But yeah sweetheart, I'll be sure to show myself to you whenever you need me, I promise."

"Okay then." Baekhyun breathed out a shaky breath of air, his hands rubbing against each other as he slowly crept closer to Luhan. His hand raised just above his shoulder as his eyes naturally fell back on the woman before him. "Don't be a stranger, you said that you can send messages from here so I expect to get some!"

"I'll consider it sugar" she laughed, a single tear escaping her eyes as she waved her hand. "take care of my grandson okay? And get his anger under control!"

"I'll consider it" Baekhyun mimicked with a laugh before he turned serious and looked back at Luhan who had been gripping on Sehun's hand tightly.

"You ready to come back now?" Luhan wondered, his voice a little hesitant as Baekhyun slowly nodded his head.

One..

Two..

Three..

"Jesus fucking Christ!" Luhan howled as he screamed bloody murder, Baekhyun shutting his eyes once his hand had made contact with Luhan's shoulder. The blonde screamed in pure agony as Baekhyun bolted awake on the couch, his eyes wide as he was instantly smothered by a crying Chanyeol. He wrapped his arms around his mate, gazing over his shoulder as Luhan drew deep breaths from the air. His grip on Sehun slowly releasing as the pain slowly subsided. "Fucking hell Baekhyun!" he hissed looking up at he former human with wide eyes. "What the hell happened in your life to feel that?!"

"Are you okay?" he whispered, feeling incredible guilt and sorrow. "I'm so sorry that you had to go through that."

"It's okay" the boy faked a smile. It was obvious that the situation had put quite a damper on Luhan's energy, his knees wobbling as he tried to stand up. Sehun helping him up with a had around the waist. "I'm fine honestly, you just sort of knocked the wind out of me."

"Sorry" he giggled, allowing his fingers to tousle around Chanyeol's hair. Jongdae and Yixing who had stepped out of the room when Luhan had entered returned almost instantly, rushing forward after hearing Luhan's scream. "Is everything alright?"

"Yeah" Luhan answered with a small nod, allowing Sehun to place him down on the couch next to Baekhyun.

"Is she still here?" he wondered, turning to Luhan who glanced towards the fireplace a small smile tugging at his lips as Nana rolled her eyes and pressed a finger to her lips.

"I think she's gone.." he muttered. Baekhyun let out a quiet hum, claiming without words that he didn't believe the latter but it didn't matter. All that mattered now was the crying giant in his arms and for once Baekhyun knew that he had good news to make him calm and relax, but for now he would allow him to get his tears out.

Luhan smiled at Sehun knowing that his mate clearly had so many questions to ask, but what he was the most grateful for was that he knew that the Prince's son would patiently wait until he was ready to tell him. Luhan grinned and allowed the warm arms to pull him into an embrace, his giggles causing his body to shake once he realised that Sehun was also crying. "I'm okay" he whispered, running his fingers against his mates nape. "I'm okay."

Meanwhile~

"Oh Darling have you thought of any good baby names yet? I'm sure his majesty would love to hear the options on the table." Mr Lee smiled entering his bedchambers, a wide grin on his face as he gently set the tray of food down on her lap.

Mrs Lee simply hummed, excited about the topic of baby names however her excitement quickly turned bitter at the mention of the king. It was still too early to tell if the baby was a boy or a girl, Mrs Lee not even passing a full two months of pregnancy yet and already so much had been expected of both her and her child.

"If it's a girl Hani" she grinned, taking a piece of cooked toast. Her husband's lips rose at the possibility of his child being a girl, a girl wouldn't benefit the king's plan in anyway.

"And if it's a boy?" her husband wondered, stretching his legs out in front of him as he waited an answer.

Mrs Kim had prayed every night to almost every god out there in the wide universe, hoping to be blessed with a girl. At least then the king wouldn't be as demanding of her as he would be with a boy.

"If it's a boy than Jeno, his name will be Jeno."

"Jeno? Interesting name, where did you learn it?"

"It was my brother's favoured name when he was young, he always said that if he was to have a boy he would name him Jeno, but of course this was before you arrived at our village and killed him."

"Oh yes I remember him now, Doyoung right? Quite a handsome fellow, too bad he wasn't able to survive the transition otherwise he would still be with us today.."

"Yes" Mrs Lee spat a her husband, her eyes narrowing as he ignored her toxic tone and stood up from the bed. "A terrible waste indeed."

It wasn't until the doors of her chambers were closed that she allowed the tears to cascade down her cheeks, she only hoped that one day in the near future her baby would be loved and appreciated by someone who didn't use him as a pawn in a much larger game.