When Chanyeol pulled up outside a Hanok three hours later, Baekhyun was stunned into silence. The music he had been jamming out to eventually fell on deaf ears as his entire attention was pulled onto the traditional Korean home in front of him, he knew that Chanyeol was taking him out of Seoul to some place in the country but he never expected to be led here.

The painter couldn't wait for his mate to turn off the engine and exit the car, too excited to get a glance at the area Baekhyun rushed to step out onto the pavement. The ever so faint crackle of the gravel beneath his shoes had his excitement of the place bubbling over, a dramatic difference from his feelings at the castle. He threw a glance at the Prince who had just gotten out of the car himself, a smile etched on his face as he took in Baekhyun's amazed expression.

"Are you excited?" Chanyeol asked, teasing. He heard the gravel crackle as Baekhyun skipped over to him at the boot of the car, eyes filled with both mischief and wonder.

"Are you kidding me?!" Baekhyun scoffed, stretching his arms out to showcase the entire building. "This is incredible, I can see why you would like this place more than the castle."

"Manor." Chanyeol knew that it was worthless trying to get himself to explain, especially when his mate was looking at him with his eyes narrowed and a furrow in the centre of his brows. Chanyeol didn't stop himself from reaching out and gently pressing the pad of his thumb against Baekhyun's wrinkled skin, feeling it relax against the heat of his touch.

Baekhyun's eyes closed naturally, his body leaning forward into his mate's space. He could faintly feel the Prince's breath against his forehead, forcing him to look up at the taller who met his gaze from a few inches away. Baekhyun's lower lip slipped into his mouth, his two upper teeth gently pressing against it as he allowed his body to step forward again. He leaned forward and allowed the top of his head to rest against Chanyeol's chest, the muscles vibrating as Chanyeol's arms wrapped around his torso pulling them flush together.

"What's all this about Baek?" He whispered, not wanting to disturb the peace but also not wanting to spend the next few hours wondering why his mate felt the need to hug him so tight now. "Are you okay baby?"

"You think too much," his voice was muffled due to the taller's clothing but Chanyeol could still hear him loud and clear. "I just want some alone time with you. Is that so bad?"

"When I'm the one you're addressing, it might be." Chanyeol teased, although his chest hurt at his own words. Baekhyun shook his head, his fingers fisting through the loose black material of Chanyeol's shirt. He pulled away from his mate's frame, material still wrapped around his fists.

Baekhyun had a response on the tip of his tongue created by his anger and frustration, but he managed to hold himself back. He had a role to play, he was the patient mate and could wait for Chanyeol to tell him his deepest and darkest secret. Baekhyun tried to (many times in fact), but he couldn't bring himself to think about what could be in his mate's mind. Because even if he hated to admit it, it was a dark place. A place filled with insecurities about their relationship and their joint future, a place Baekhyun didn't know how to approach or handle. The frustration of leaving his mate in the darkness alone made his blood boil, but how could Baekhyun reassure him when he wasn't sure of the horrors that lay ahead for them?

Baekhyun had accepted his fate the day after his rendezvous with Kyungsoo. He knew what he was signing himself up for and yet seeing how terrified Chanyeol looked as each day passed, Baekhyun couldn't help but wonder if he was perhaps ready for this? He was just eighteen, and most eighteen year old boys had their minds set on a couple things; their relationships and how to keep themselves in school long enough to graduate. Not having to continuously reassure their sufficient other that everything was going to be okay between them-

Chanyeol had told him many times that the life he lived was a dangerous one, one filled with backstabbers and people who wouldn't hesitate to make your life a living hell. It was through Nana that he figured just how true those statements were, but how was Baekhyun supposed to address these concerns when Chanyeol refused to talk about them?

They didn't speak as Chanyeol collected their belongings from the back of his car and began leading the way to the entrance of the Hanok. The excitement that had once run through Baekhyun's veins no longer wanted to show its presence as the mood had dipped and the tension once again skyrocketed because of a constant problem that continued to plague the Prince's mind and cause Baekhyun to lose his patience as it continued to remind him of the final wall between himself and Chanyeol. Baekhyun was living every day, day by day while Chanyeol seemed to be savouring the time second by second because he expected the smaller to leave the next moment.

The tote bag containing the white decorated box Baekhyun had made for him was set down on the kitchen counter, Chanyeol's gaze lingering on it for a moment before he moved on to unpack the groceries he had stopped to pick up along the way. Baekhyun left him to deal with dinner, venturing through the Hanok to take his mind off the heavy cloud hanging over their shoulders.

He found himself in the living room, the fire blazing regardless of the fact that Chanyeol hadn't even entered the room since they arrived. Baekhyun didn't comment on the strange happenings and instead lost himself to looking, finding himself intrigued by the shelf just above the hearth. He moved closer, smiling slightly when he felt the heat from the fire kissing his jean covered skin. As Baekhyun's eyes travelled over the various items of the shelf, he couldn't help but do a double take at the sight of two items. His nimble fingers reached out and delicately traced the frame protecting a picture of Chanyeol and Jongin. The youngest had his arm thrown over his elder brother's shoulders while the both of them smiled at the camera. Baekhyun recalled this photo from the castle, it's positioning almost the exact same there as well.

Eventually things began to make sense.

Chanyeol had said before that the Hanok hadn't been visited in a long time and since he was a vampire Baekhyun could only imagine how much time had passed since then. In a desperate attempt to keep the ruse Chanyeol must have contacted Kyungsoo and Jongin to come and clean the house so that it would be prepared for them the moment they arrived. Baekhyun figured that if one picture from the castle had made its way to this place, surely there were others somewhere around the place. Knowing that the fire currently blaring by his legs hadn't been the work of someone else still within the walls of this beautiful house had Baekhyun's nerves relax. He and Chanyeol truly were alone.

Which brought him to the next item on the shelf just above the fireplace, an item that had Baekhyun's heart rate picking up its pace within his chest. His hands automatically reached out to touch it but at the sight of the shaking limb Baekhyun willed himself to stop. To an untrained eye the piece looked like any other random clay urn found in any random household. But Baekhyun knew this urn. He had a connection of sorts with it.

Baekhyun knew exactly what this piece was because he created one just like it when he was in the orphanage shortly after his parent's left. It was one of those bonding activities. Introducing another kid to the already large group present wasn't easy, especially when it meant more competition to the kids hoping to be adopted. Still the memories he had of the large room filled with lively chatter and the ever so faint smell of smoke from the kiln, made Baekhyun's lips curl upwards. He recalls picking a random green paint to cover the entirety of his 'masterpiece', but now looking back Baekhyun couldn't exactly call his creation by that name.

Originally the urn was supposed to be small and fat bottomed with a wide opening. Yet Baekhyun and the rest of the kids had fallen victim to the long-necked design, which had a narrow opening and thin bottom. In Baekhyun's opinion it was a lot more fun to try and attempt, regardless of the disappointed but amused faces of the caregivers around them.

But the sight of this urn had Baekhyun's breath hitching in his throat, especially when his shaking fingers worked to turn it around towards the light. It looked painstainly like the ones his fellow orphans had created and yet this one at a little more poise to it, it wasn't coloured in a vibrant colour and it didn't look to have as many flaws as Baekhyun's. However he had been to enough welcoming parties to know when an urn was made by a child. Which is how he found himself drawing a breath at the sight of the date etched into the clay, just below Chanyeol's tiny handprint.

Park Chanyeol
1909

The sound of footsteps outside the room couldn't faze him, Baekhyun couldn't simply pull his eyes away from the damning piece of evidence his mate's family forgot to take out of the room. Or perhaps they had meant for him to see it? Maybe it was another one of their inside jokes that they figured Baekhyun would never have the opportunity to understand.

"Baekhyun?" Chanyeol's deep voice brought goosebumps to Baekhyun's forearms, the skin prickling in little bumps as their eyes found each other from across the room. The human watched as his mate's eyes drifted from him to the urn over his shoulder. He could do nothing but stand and watch as Chanyeol's entire life crumbled around him. The lies he had created to protect his secret were shattered all because of a mistake. A mistake that shouldn't have even happened in the first place. "I can explain-"

"You can't keep finding excuses for things," Baekhyun whispered, his voice breaking as he took in the look of desperation settling on Chanyeol's handsome face. "Please Chanyeol you can't keep lying to me when I have this as proof."

"You weren't supposed to find anything like that" the giant huffed, shoulders dropping and yet Baekhyun could see how tense his mate remained. "this isn't how I wanted you to find out, Baekhyun. I wanted more time to-"

"To what?" Baekhyun laughed, feeling his heart clench as Chanyeol took a step away from him. Backing himself out of the room and into the hallway, a significant amount of distance between them. "You needed more time to tell me that I can't be with you, to tell me that the moment I find out about your world I would run for the hills? Chanyeol I just found out and I'm still here."

"All it took for you to realise my secret was looking at an urn?" Chanyeol scoffed, shaking his head. "Do you know how long I've hidden my life from you, only to find out that it would take an urn to ruin all of that?!"

"The urn wasn't how I figured it out!" Baekhyun yelled, crossing both of his arms over his chest. His eyes unintentionally narrowed as his mate took a couple hesitant steps forward. "This is just a piece of evidence I have to show you so you wouldn't keep shifting our conversation away from the truth! Do you really think so low of me to have not come to the conclusion by myself? Did you think that I would need you to nurse me through your explanation?"

"You're talking nonsense" Chanyeol's voice rang loud, cutting himself off before he could continue. Eyes swimming in the unshed tears and lip quivering as he held back his emotions. Baekhyun allowed him to take a breath so he could finish what he started, knowing that he may regret it. "how could you think of me in such a way? I lied to you to protect you! I knew how intelligent you are Baekhyun so I had to do something to keep you off my case!"

"Do you know the shit I had to put up with while you were doing that?" Baekhyun screamed, surprised by his own tone but not letting it get him. He needed Chanyeol to know the consequences of his actions and he may not have another chance in the future so now is the best option he has. "How do you think I felt whenever you refused to imagine a future with me? How every time I kissed you, you looked at me like I was going to leave you the next minute? What about those snide comments you make about me running for the hills or how I could never learn to love the beast you see yourself as?! You keep saying that I'm going to leave your side, but you're the one that's been pushing me away from the very beginning! Everyone has been telling me how desperate you were to find your mate and yet from the moment you met me you have been trying to shove me away, so how do you think that makes me feel?!"

He was breathless after his rant but despite his heaving lungs he didn't regret it, his entire body was tingling as a possible after effect of finally getting his frustrations out. Baekhyun knows that he could have addressed the situation better than yelling and shouting, but he couldn't control the anger boiling over as Chanyeol's words slowly picked holes into his heart. He closed his eyes and allowed his legs to buckle out from below him, he fell backwards against the couch a sigh escaping his lips at the comfort.

"So you're saying that you know?" Chanyeol's deep voice pulled him out of his thoughts. Baekhyun opened his eyes and took in the sight of the Prince before him, as he had been standing near the door frame not even a second ago Baekhyun was confident to say that he sped before him.

"I know." he agreed, blinking up at his mate who nodded his head.

"What do you know?" Chanyeol asked, tilting his head to the side. Baekhyun noticed how his expression stiffened, stone cold as to not allow an emotion to slip through. The painter also picked up on the fact that his mate's eyes no longer held tears, the water had been drained from the dams and it hadn't overflowed onto his cheeks. Chanyeol clearly had a better way of dealing with emotions than Baekhyun, the painter felt like he was ready to cry a river. "I want to hear what you know."

"Alright, fine." Baekhyun sighed, accepting the challenge. He shifted against the couch cushions, pulling one of the throw pillows onto his lap so that his fingers had something to do while he spoke. "I know that you're a vampire and I know that you're a Prince."

A few seconds passed leaving the two of them in utter silence, Baekhyun's attention split between his mate and the tassels on each of the four cushion corners. He was worried about the fact that Chanyeol hadn't moved for the past couple of seconds, the vampire simply blinking down at him.

"Is that all?" Chanyeol wondered, swallowing a lump in his throat.

"Those are the most important parts so yeah," Baekhyun nodded his head, trying to meet Chanyeol's eyes but was unable to do such a thing. "That's all."

"Okay then."

Baekhyun wanted to talk to him, approach him and apologise for his harsh words but he never had the opportunity to. Now that Chanyeol knew his secret was revealed, he didn't seem to care about showing his powers off to the painter. Baekhyun was helpless as Chanyeol sped himself out of the room within blinking speed, he could do nothing but groan and fall backwards against the couch. He blinked up at the ceiling before him, he supposes that he should have seen this happening but the air was clean now. Surely all Chanyeol needed was some time for himself, to realise that things weren't that bad now that Baekhyun knew. Granted the Prince still doesn't know how long he knew.

Baekhyun decided to find something else to occupy his mind until his mate returned, if he did. He pulled his phone out from his jean pocket, wondering if sending Lay a message would be worth it. If Chanyeol reacted like this Baekhyun didn't even want to imagine what it would be like for his best friend, although the distance between them now would probably allow the professor to get over his shock before Baekhyun returned on Monday.

Before he could overthink it Baekhyun had already pressed the call option and pressed the phone against his ear, he only had to wait for a moment before Lay picked up. His voice was riddled with worry, seemingly not having expected a sudden call from his student when he was supposed to be with Chanyeol.

"I don't want you to freak out," Baekhyun began, his lower lip slipping back into his mouth. "promise me that you're not going to freak out." Okay maybe that wasn't the best conversation starter-

"Baekhyun, the only thing that would freak me out is if you called me to tell me that you're pregnant." Lay's calm voice travelled through the speaker, making Baekhyun's heart pick up its pace in his chest.

"What Lay!" He shrieked, cheeks burning in embarrassment. Baekhyun shook the idea of himself and Chanyeol in that position to the back of his mind, he couldn't possibly begin thinking like that when his mate just ran out of the house. "No! No that won't be happening, at least not yet!"

"It's not like you're a carrier-"

"It never came up in conversation." Baekhyun pursed out his two lips, studying the ceiling for it's tiny faces and drawing left over by the layers of paint.

"Wait Baekhyun are you actually-?"

"A gifted one? Yeah I am. " Baekhyun found his lip curling, the thought of his bully being round with Chanyeol's child inside made his cheeks flare. "But if you're asking if I'm pregnant then I'm sorry to disappoint you Lay, I'm calling you because Chanyeol and I got into a bit of a fight."

"We will get back to that matter later," Lay's voice was stern, fiercer than the voice he uses when addressing his noisy class. So Baekhyun made sure to make a mental note to bring up his carrier gene later. Lay was scary when he wanted to be. "tell me about this altercation with Chanyeol."

"Promise not to freak out?" Baekhyun begged, knowing that his direction may be very hard to achieve. "Or at least don't freak out now, do so when you get off the call okay?"

"Yes your Highness," Lay joked but his words ultimately had Baekhyun choke on the air in his lungs. The painter's body shook as he coughed harshly against the ball of wind that got stuck in his throat, he felt a rush of fire burn his chest until the air was kicked back into his lungs and he was able to take a breath. "are you okay Baekhyun?"

"I suppose I'm going to have to get used to that huh?" Baekhyun sighed, throwing his head backwards. "Your Highness and then eventually your Majesty right? Lay, I need you to tell me that this isn't going to destroy me, I need you to tell me that I can do this because it feels like I can do this but I need someone else to tell me that I can do this."

There was silence for a couple minutes, Baekhyun thought that he could hear some rustling on the other line but it was over before he could confirm. "It's going to be hard," Lay began, voice as soft as ever. Baekhyun let out a pleased sigh, thankful that he hadn't lost someone else to panic. "you're going to be pulled into a brand new lifestyle. It's going to frustrate you probably more than anything else in your life, but at the end of the day Baekhyun you will have Chanyeol by your side. He's just as scared of this as you are hence why he didn't want to bring you into this life so soon, he cares for you and he didn't know how to approach you about this. I won't sugarcoat it and say that it will be easy because I saw first hand how difficult it can be and how it can take a hold of you. The best advice that I can give you is to develop a support system while you still can. You're going to need it when Chanyeol comes to power so make sure that it's with the necessary people, and make sure that you and Chanyeol form a relationship base. A house can't be built from the top down, it needs support and the both of you are each other's even when you're going through the worst. That's what a mate is. You don't need anyone to tell you to do this Baekhyun because I know in your heart you already know that, you don't need reassurance. You need a push. And that push won't come from me and you know that."

"Centuries old traditions Lay," Baekhyun hummed, his eyes scanning around the room that no doubt held all of Chanyeol's family at some stage in their lives. His mind drifted back to Kyungsoo and his bite mark, he couldn't get the chef's face out of his mind after they explained that Jongin isn't allowed to have a mark even if they have gotten married. "how am I supposed to follow rules that I don't agree with?"

"I didn't expect you to Baekhyun," Lay chuckled, his laughter making a smile spread across Baekhyun's lips. "I know in my heart that you aren't the type to roll over when it comes to rules. You respect your elders but when they start telling you how to live your life you get pissed and rightfully so, which is why I can't wait until you get more involved in Chanyeol's life. The whole system is going to get a shake up when you enter-"

"And I will be able to though, right?" Baekhyun whimpered, allowing his hidden insecurities to enter his mind for just a moment. Just while he had Lay on the phone. After all, the elder knew what to say to get his heart rate back on track and set his mind at ease. "They won't be able to simply brush me to the side because of who I am right?"

"Our community holds our moncery very close to our hearts, they're the example of how we are supposed to act. They are the source of our traditions, we respect everything they say although some will agree with you and say that most of these things are outdated. In the beginning a King only needed someone who could bear him a successor to the throne, a boy was preferred but girls were accepted if they had found their mate by the time they were to ascend the throne. It wasn't until the early 1700s that the community decided that the monarchy needed two heads and thus the title of King and Queen was created, it wasn't necessary at the time for the both of them to be mates."

"But I thought that they needed to be mates in order to like-" Baekhyun composed himself knowing how this may harm Lay in some way. "remain sane."

"The King and Queen were created simply as figureheads for the community, they weren't necessarily expected to do anything together especially since they weren't soulmates. They would only appear together in formal events but they would ultimately live separate lives, when they did find their soulmates it was decided that it would be the king's children that would continue the line and if the king's soulmate was infertile only then would the line move to the Queen. As you can probably guess this didn't exactly work since there was no real chemistry between the declared King and Queen and the community itself decided again that the only way a monarch would work would be if a King and Queen were soulmates."

"But what about Chanyeol's father and Suho?" Baekhyun wondered, brow furrowed.

"Kris is a slightly different story," Lay huffed, his blood no doubt boiling. "he wanted the throne since the very first time he learnt that he was entitled to it but stuff like that takes time to happen. 118 is the usual year a new king rises to the throne if their parents hadn't died before then, but with Kris' excitement and his father's sudden sickness the Council decided that they could overlook one of their centuries old traditions. An agreement was arranged between Kris' father and Suho's, apparently they were close associates and knew that each side would benefit from this arrangement. Suho comes from a rich family so not only did they get their taste of Royal life, they got the bragging rights. While Kris on the other hand got his throne, all the money he could spend and respect from the community because he found his mate and didn't allow history to repeat itself."

"But surely people started to realise-"

"Oh they did," Lay laughed, but Baekhyun couldn't hear any amusement. A shiver ran down his spine. "but it was too late. When Kris started showing interest in other people the council quickly realised their mistake and word spread that their beloved King wasn't the man they believed him to be, it wasn't until Chanyeol was born that things took a dip for the worst. The Council were relieved to know that Suho produced him an heir that could take them out of his reign for good, that only meant that Chanyeol -from the moment he was born- is expected to right all of his father's wrongs."

"He quite literally has the weight of the world on his shoulders, doesn't he?" Baekhyun swallowed around the lump in his throat, the tears reappearing in his eyes. "How come he hasn't completely lost it when this is the life he's dealing with?"

"Chanyeol has always been desperate to meet his mate, not because it would allow him to be a King but because he generally has a childhood dream about it. Knowing that someone was created just for him to love and cherish is really important for him, especially since he didn't have a role model of his own at home. He hoped that the life he lived with his mate would be one filled with appreciation and love, real love because by God does that child need it."

"I knew that he was waiting for me, I just never realised how much."

"How could you?" Lay asked, sounding genuinely curious. "Chanyeol is programmed since he was a child to keep things to himself, because if he opened his mouth his father would retort with mean comments or Suho would simply wave him off. Katherine tried to show him what it meant to love and I feel as though she was the only adult that he could pull from, her and another person the prince held tight to his chest."

"Nana?" Baekhyun whispered. The silence returned but it vanished quicker than the last time it had arrived.

"Has he spoken of her?"

"Sadly not but I wouldn't have placed all these pieces together without her." Baekhyun admitted, realising just how simple it is to allude to his own deep dark secret. "She died recently, but she's still around watching all of you. Suho has her pissed off a little but she's hoping that my union with Chanyeol will whack some sense into him, I'm not supposed to tell him about this..."

"Baekhyun.." he hummed. "do you see her often?"

A small smile pulled itself onto Baekhyun's lips, his eyes finding that of the flickering fire before him. "As often as I do you."

"Does she-"

"She doesn't blame you for what you did Yixing," Baekhyun swallowed around that lump again, finding it weird to call his professor by his birth name and not the nickname he had entrusted him with after some time had passed since their first meeting. "she understands that you did it out of the goodness of your heart. She watches over you now that she's passed on, but she did wish that the two of you were able to meet before her passing. She had a couple things she wanted to say to you, but I'm sure that one of these days I can pass them on to you."

"If it's not much trouble to you..."

Baekhyun giggled and shook his head. "It's not a bother, really. You're family, it's the least I can do."

"If it's okay with you Baek, I think I'm going to go now. Did I help you at all?"

"I think you gave me back my confidence, Yixing." Baekhyun smiled, somewhat wishing that they were together so that he could give him the warmest and tightest hug possible. "I also want you to be the first person that I ask to be a part of my support group."

Baekhyun felt his heart flutter at the sound of Lay's laughter, his own giggle slipping through his lips. "I always was Baekhyun, ever since I allowed myself to get involved in your life. Like you said we're family, it's the least I can do."

The painter found himself nodding his head, urging the tears to return to where they came from. He gently drew a breath of air knowing to keep calm so that he could finish the call with (somewhat) dry eyes. "I appreciate that hyung, I'll see you on Monday."

"This fight isn't going to impact your relationship with him Baekhyun, couples fight, this isn't something to worry about in the long run okay?"

"I know hyung. I'll call you again tomorrow okay?"

"Don't stay up too late! You need some rest after all of this."

"No promises!" Baekhyun shouted before ending the call, happy their conversation ended on a light note even though they were both so close to crying. Baekhyun pulled the pillow closer to his chest, blinking through the tears that were free-falling down his cheeks now that no one was there to see him completely unravel.

After speaking to Lay, Baekhyun not only felt better but he understood. He understood the pressure that was placed onto Chanyeol's shoulders, a weight that shouldn't be shoved onto a boy so young. Baekhyun wasn't crying because Chanyeol had run out on him, he was crying because of the horrors Chanyeol had to endure without him. His sweet and innocent mate was expected to accomplish so much by so many people, how could that not be heartbreaking? Especially when Baekhyun knows how much Chanyeol cherishes those within his life.

Expecting a new-born baby to right their father's wrong should have never happened, nor should Chanyeol have such expectations placed onto him. Not only did the Prince have a kingdom to run he would have to start from scratch, dismantling his father's entire reign so that the people would live happily again. That wasn't a pleasantry, it was a death sentence.

And after hearing so many accounts about Kris without having actually met the man, Baekhyun didn't find an ounce of hesitation in his mind when he drew the word 'monster' to Kris. Chanyeol hates his father, that much is obvious but now that Baekhyun knows a little more into their history he can make a calculated conclusion that regardless of the fact that Suho wasn't Kris' mate it didn't give the King a reason to completely lose himself. However, after consulting with Lay Baekhyun realised that Kris had lost his mind long before he met Suho, which just showed that Suho had no part in Kris losing his mind.

Baekhyun pulled himself up from the couch, his eyes coursing through the hallway on his way towards the kitchen. When he entered the room, he noticed that most of the ingredients for the dinner Chanyeol was making still remained in their various positions on the countertops. The painter immediately turned his attention to the half-chopped vegetables Chanyeol had left behind as he ventured on his journey to find Baekhyun, he didn't know what had brought Chanyeol to come and find him in the house but Baekhyun knew it was a mere coincidence that he walked in just as he found the urn.

As he didn't know how long it would take for the prince to return, Baekhyun decided to continue making dinner for the two of them. His fingers wrapping around the handle of the knife that had been left just shy of the chopping board, he lifted the slightly heavy object and with the other hand prepared the onion. A bing from his phone had him halting in his actions, he gently placed the knife back down from his hold and withdrew the device.

_____________

Kyungsoo: Is everything okay? I heard from Jongin that you couldn't go home, what happened?

_____________

Baekhyun's lips curled upwards as he swiped the conversation open, he didn't want to worry Kyungsoo about the argument he had with Chanyeol a few moments ago. He didn't want to tell the boy that he also knew about their secret, at least not yet. Chanyeol may be mad at him now but he wouldn't be forever, which means that he will want the both of them to tell his family about Baekhyun's findings.

____________

Baekhyun: I'm not entirely sure, but when we got to my apartment building so I could pack a bag for the weekend there were police cars everywhere! Lay had to meet us in the lobby and bring us up because they wouldn't have let us otherwise.

Kyungsoo: Well I'm just glad that you're okay! Let me know if there is anything you need!

Baekhyun: Thanks for cleaning up the house a bit, it really is beautiful!

Kyungsoo: Oh Chanyeol told you that?

Baekhyun: He didn't need to... We're making dinner right now Kyung so I'll text you later okay?

Kyungsoo: Nah dont worry about it! Have fun on your couples weekend vacation Ill see you on Monday right?

Baekhyun: Of course!!! See you then Kyung!

____________

When Baekhyun was sure that the conversation with Kyungsoo was over he slid the phone back into his pocket, he let out a deep sigh before turning his attention to the window situated just behind the sink. His legs brought him over to the view, his arms coming up to rest against the rim of the sink.

The moon had just begun to rise over the horizon that the window in the kitchen overlooked, it's gentle pale glow filtering through the trees surrounding the Hanok's estate. They weren't surrounded by mountains but there were wide trees which Baekhyun assumed had animals, perfect for a hungry vampire this close to the human territory. He couldn't help but wonder which plot of trees Chanyeol had found himself in, he just hoped that the boy would find himself home soon.

A glistening from his peripheral vision caught Baekhyun's eye forcing him to turn in the microwave's direction, a clutter of pens sat in a ridiculously decorated cup. The painter chuckled at the sight of the bold letters reading SMARTASS 2 in Impact font, his mind filled with possibilities as to who the mug belonged to. He withdrew a blue pen, the cap being thrown onto the counter as the painter wrecked his mind for another design to draw. It could be a sentence, begging the Prince to return or a simple scene that would at least make him smile. Baekhyun didn't know which one to do, the possibilities were endless.

Instead he decided to do something symplectic, but also large enough for Chanyeol to notice his meaning. Two lines defined the beginning of his merry-go-round, a nod to the never-ending pushing and pulling the two of them had based their relationship on. The whirlwind of emotions coursing through both of their bodies when the other was present, a current of both electricity and excitement. As the curves and finishing touches were added Baekhyun couldn't stop the smile from forming on his lips, his heart thrumming pleasantly in his chest.

Two koi fish swam against the pulse on his wrist, no clear difference between them and yet Baekhyun could see not only himself but his mate defining these creatures. As they swam in a curve they still drifted towards one another, which Baekhyun believed represented his relationship with Chanyeol and hopefully the Prince would see it that way too. Koi fishes were often seen as a symbolicalic meaning for love and commitment in Japan, something Baekhyun wished for Chanyeol to notice too. As the final line was drawn Baekhyun allowed the pen to slip from his fingers and clatter against the marble countertop, rolling from the impact until it hit the wall beneath the large window.

He returned to cooking after that, heart a little lighter now that he had at least attempted to contact his boyfriend. Baekhyun wondered as he piled the ingredients into the pan if he would get asked officially to be Chanyeol's boyfriend, naturally being soulmates meant that they were supposed to spend the rest of their lives together and that meant that they would automatically be linked together regardless of the label they held. However, he would like to be able to call Chanyeol his boyfriend officially and not just address him as such because of their soulmate bond. Perhaps vampires were different when it came to confessing their feelings, because of their soulmate system?

Well, Baekhyun decided, if he won't ask me. Then I'll just have to ask him!

As the minutes turned into an hour, Baekhyun rushed back to the chopping board to finish off preparing the green onion, the knife slipping from the wet vegetable and embedding itself into the board below. However in its course from onion to board, the knife had sliced a thin but deep gash into Baekhyun's middle finger. At first the painter was too focused on dishing the food that he hadn't noticed, but when he started noticing small droplets of blood dotted around the kitchen he was faced with the reality.

"Shit." he whimpered, allowing the cold water to run against the wound. He examined it closely and deemed it suitable to be wrapped up, no stitches necessary. He rummaged through the cabinets, scanning the contents before running back to the sink to control the amount of blood pouring from his cut. Eventually he found a box of plasters but it seemed like they were outdated, Baekhyun figured that anything was better than nothing so he fumbled with the wrapping and managed to find one suited for the wound.

A loud bang had Baekhyun's heart stutter in his chest, the whole kitchen shaking from the force of whatever created the bang.

"Baekhyun?!" Chanyeol's deep voice filled the Hanok, he sounded desperate, scared.

"Chanyeol?" Baekhyun called out, not knowing where the shout had come from. Seemingly the vampire could pinpoint his location because in the next moment he was standing before him, eyes searching his face for something Baekhyun couldn't figure out. "You came back.."

"I wasn't that far," the vampire let out a heavy breath, eyes closing for a moment. Baekhyun watched as the relief settled into Chanyeol's frame, his shoulders dropping on either side of his head. "I could still sense you but then I was overwhelmed with your blood and I couldn't stay away. I thought that something happened to you and-"

Baekhyun threw himself onto his mate, smiling against the vampire's neck when Chanyeol's arms wrapped around his waist to hold him up. The painter tightened his hold on his mate, pulling him as close as possible in their current position. Chanyeol let out a quiet chuckle, shifting Baekhyun higher on his hips before taking a couple steps forward. The artist let out a gasp as he was plopped down onto the counter, Chanyeol pulling himself out of Baekhyun's grip.

"Are you okay?" He whispered. Baekhyun watched with heated cheeks as his mate's eyes coursed over his body, hoping to pinpoint the exact spot the wound was located. "What happened to you? Why can I smell blood?"

"I cut myself while I was preparing our dinner." Baekhyun admitted, holding up his injured hand since he didn't want the taller one to think he was giving him the finger. As Chanyeol held onto his wrist, gazing at the bandaid, Baekhyun used his other hand to gesture at the various blood spots all over the tiles. The vampire's eyes scanned the room, taking in the small splashes of blood dotted on the floor and counter spaces. "I was about to clean up when I heard this loud bang, are you alright?"

"How can you ask me that when you're the one bleeding all over the place?" Chanyeol shrieked. His eyes blown wide while his hand still clutched Baekhyun's wrist.

"I was worried about you," Baekhyun pouted, allowing Chanyeol to do as he pleased with his wound. "you just left after our argument... what else was I supposed to think?"

"I'm sorry about that.." The vampire hung his head, allowing Baekhyun to take his hand back. "I was so surprised that I couldn't think of a more reasonable approach. I won't allow it to happen again, I will remain by your side no matter what happens you have my word."

"As I know your secret I think that it's best if I tell you how I was able to learn about it, but by doing this I will also be sharing with you a secret of my own. Only two other people know this, so count yourself lucky-"

"Oh I plan on it." Chanyeol joked, lips curling upwards in a small smile.

"I can't tell you exactly who helped me," Baekhyun rushed to explain, knowing how Nana would feel if he suddenly blurted her presence out to Chanyeol without her consent. "but I can tell you that it wasn't Kyungsoo and Jongin."

"Okay." The Prince nodded his head, allowing his large hands to rest against Baekhyun's thighs. The painter's cheeks sporting a beautiful pink hue at the heat drifting off his mate's palms. "I won't ask who helped you then."

"It was a ghost." Baekhyun stated, his face scrunching up as he waited for Chanyeol's reaction. He wasn't expecting the vampire's lips pulling backwards to showcase a bright smile.

"I figured."

"What?" Baekhyun deadpanned, staring into the eyes of his mate who chuckled at his expression.

"I said that I figured you could see ghosts, that or you have a fascinating interest in dust particles."

"What-"

"Baekhyun, you forget that we spend a lot of time together, don't think that I didn't see you zoning out into a particular part of the air around us. You did a really good job at communicating with them by the way, but pretending to answer a phone call when I knew there was no one on the other line was a terrible idea."

"So I knew your secret and you had an idea about mine?" Baekhyun laughed, eyes crinkling as he stared up at his mate.

Chanyeol nodded his head, seemingly agreeing. "How crazy are we huh? I'm Edward Cullen and you-"

"I see dead people." Baekhyun joked, reciting the famous line causing his mate to burst into laughter.