❝you know what,❞ johnny gulped as he had his eyes scanning the area. ❝you could have left twenty with lucas.❞

the short vampire standing next to him let out a sigh, johnny changing his mind for the last minute can be annoying sometimes. ❝i told you so—❞

❝and you could have also left me with lucas.❞

the vampires chuckled at how frightened johnny looked as they finally arrived to their destination. they had been here once or twice, while others has visited a couple of times already. one, by one meaning chittaphon, actually grew up in this mansion.

mark, who had only came here once when he presented himself as a vampire, was also finding the area and surrounding very creepy. he could remember very well that he had hide behind donghyuck's back the whole time when they were here.

❝why do vampires live in the dark and abandoned places?❞ johnny asked, genuinely curious. ❝i mean, sunlight is also a great idea if i do say so myself.❞

yuta rolled his eyes when johnny had started to grumble. ❝that's because too much exposure hurts us, stupid ass.❞

❝yuta!❞ taeyong raised his voice at the japanese who cursed, must have forgotten that they had a kid with them. looking down at the child he was carrying, taeyong placed a hand behind twenty's head and let him burry his head on his shoulder. ❝you didn't hear anything.❞

❝but i heard uncle ootah saying stupid as—❞

❝no, baby. you did not.❞

ten then gave yuta a glare for cursing in front of his son, earning a simple shrug from the japanese. ❝he's gonna grow up learning from johnny anyways.❞

the mention male let out an offended gasp with a hand on his chest, ❝i do not curse!❞

❝yes, you do.❞

❝i fucking do not!❞

donghyuck let out a groan as he had massage his temples, getting eyesore from the two immature vampires. ❝this is so chaotic.❞ meanwhile, mark was laughing at them.

stopping the two from worsening the situation, taeyong had scolded the both of them and they were now kneeling on ground looking like children being scolded by their stressed mother. jaehyun would actually love for taeyong to continue nagging at them but he had felt something coming towards his way that he had to place a hand on his lover's shoulder to stop him from shouting.

❝how loud can you get?❞ a familiar vampire came out of the abandoned mansion and still had his boredom plastered on his face even though he was deeply annoyed at them being so noisy. ❝i can hear you inside.❞

❝xiaojun..❞ ten called out, getting nervous in his place as he saw him. ❝is dad inside?❞

❝he is and is waiting for you actually.❞ xiaojun had his eyes at the vampires who came here together with ten, finding it a lot than what he had imagined. ❝follow me.❞

johnny made his way beside ten and held his hand, giving him a reassuring nod as he calmed the vampire's senses down. he could feel how nervous ten was to the point that he couldn't move from his place. everyone followed xiaojun with ten and johnny being the last one to get inside.

in awe at the furnitures, johnny still was surprised at how vampires loved it scary outside and on the inside it would look very beautiful and elegant. it reminded him of his first impression of ten's house when he got there. ten stared up at johnny who looked like a baby gasping at every object he'd see. he could even guess that johnny was just holding back the urge to touch anything. he didn't mind the tall male anymore and just clung to him as he stayed calm in his presence.

but even with johnny composing him, he still felt a tiny nervousness surging throughout his body as they were getting nearer towards his father's throne room.

ten could sense him and once they were finally appearing from his sight, his frightening grin was what greeted them. from the corner of his eyes, he could see twenty shivering in fear as he cuddled to taeyong.

❝for a moment there, i thought you brought an army with you ten.❞ the man sitting down like the king he is chuckled as his eyes grew redder than before if it was possible.

they all stayed silent as they felt the tension in the air. ten gathered the courage to walk forward, bringing everyone behind him. ❝but we aren't going to fight, are we?❞

hearing his son's reply made him smile. ❝of course. we are just going to discuss some things.❞

but they all know it isn't just going to he a simple discussion knowing that ten had broken an important rule. taeyong hushed the baby as his eyes scanned the room, he could see them being outnumbered. he then turned to jaehyun with worried eyes, wondering where taeil and doyoung were when they needed them.

❝p-papa?❞

a child's voice caught everyone's attention, ten walking over to taeyong as he heard his son calling him. he then ran a hand through the little vampire's hair as he gave him a soft smile. ❝papa is here, alright?❞

ten snapped his head towards johnny's attention and gave him a hint to carry his son. johnny got the message quickly and carefully took twenty from taeyong's arms and had composed him down, just in time when twenty was about to sob. ten had his lips curved up as he settled a soft kiss on the child's forehead, helping johnny is calming their son down.

it was such a heartwarming scene but the father just had to ruin it.

❝what a lovely family.❞ he complimented, getting glares from them.

donghyuck took this chance to be of help in there, ❝and i can show you that this family will do no harm.❞

mark grabbed hold of his husband's arm to prevent him from going nearer, shaking his head as he didn't want donghyuck to be in danger. that tanned male just gave him a smile and had told him that everything was going to be okay. it took mark a few more seconds before he finally lets go of the tanned male's arm.

he was prepared to do anything if someone would lay a scratch on donghyuck.

he kept a smile as he watch donghyuck striding towards him. ❝it's a surprise to see you with them, donghyuck,❞ he said, taking the vampire's hand gently. ❝knowing that you are so obedient and isn't prone to trouble.❞

showing a sweet smile, donghyuck was keeping himself cautious enough just incase something happens. ❝they are not trouble, for me that is.❞

with the two exchanging looks, the man stood there as he focused on seeing what donghyuck has been having inside his head. he had a quite similar ability as ten's but the only difference is him being able to see a deeper part of the thoughts that no one can escape with a lie.

it took him a minute to finish and get back to his senses. he then had his eyes on the family that stood there, glued as they were promising to protect each other. his smile grew wide as he drops donghyuck's hand. ❝can i meet the child?❞

johnny frowned, ❝no.❞ being the only one to answer in the silence.

ten took his hand, squeezing it. ❝johnny..❞

❝i don't trust him, even if he is your father.❞ because he was honestly scared as to what will happen if he lets his son get close to the devil himself.

❝oh,❞ the man turned to his side, nodding his head at the vampire standing right next to xiaojun. ❝yangyang.❞

with both ten and johnny talking things out and not being able to notice it, mark quickly had stood in front of the family and smirked at the vampire who took long strides towards them. he could see that he had an intention to break the family apart, which he wasn't going to let that happen.

❝i don't think so.❞ mark took a step, causing for yangyang to sprint towards him. mark gritted his teeth as his hand came in contact with the vampire's neck and had him on air for a split second before slamming him down to the well-designed tiles, causing for a crack to show.

if it weren't for xiaojun meddling with them, then mark would have yangyang down the ground. mark groaned in pain as he could feeling a burning feeling being implanted on him, yangyang took this advantage to kick mark on the stomach and have him thrown to a wall real hard.

yuta then cracked his knuckles with, amusement being displayed on his face. ❝i knew it would come to this.❞

helping mark out, yuta had quickly appeared in front of yangyang before he gets another step close to mark.

❝you know, i can't really use my ability much in this so take it easy, hm?❞ yuta passed him a cheeky smile before pushing him away and sending him a punch.

donghyuck took worried steps as he went down and stopped in front of mark who was coughing, grunting in pain when donghyuck had touched him. ❝does it hurt real bad?❞

johnny widened his eyes once he saw xiaojun diverting his target to donghyuck. with full focus, he tried to reach out on the tanned male that was busy helping mark stand up but still failed to do so. ❝fuck, i can't get to him.❞

❝johnny, watch out!❞

in a swift move, jaehyun made his way beside johnny and just in time he landed a kick on the vampire that was charging towards him. taeyong stood there silently, witnessing everything. he didn't agree to all of this happening. seriously, this can all be solved in the most easy way which is talking. but no, they just had to throw fists at each other.

❝give me a break.❞ taeyong groaned as he turned around and was about to try landing a punch on the vampire that was seizing towards him but seems like someone has done it for him.

❝i don't think you're into fighting.❞ jaehyun let out chuckle, making taeyong roll his eyes. ❝i'll handle it here, go and take care of xiaojun.❞

giving jaehyun a pat on the shoulder, telling him to not overdo it, taeyong now had his eyes on xiaojun and lucky for him, the vampire was looking at him. he got to control the vampire, it was hard to do knowing that xiaojun was of a special kind.

ten watched everything as it happened, his attention going back to his son who's covering his ears and burying his head on johnny's chest. it also looked like johnny was having trouble in composing the child. ten was so upset that he couldn't do anything, he didn't want to fight because that's not what he came here for, he was there to talk things out.

❝johnny, go and take twenty with you.❞ the short vampire ordered, heart beating fast he he had lost sight of his father. ❝where—❞

❝shit!❞

quickly snapping his head around, ten's bloody eyes glistened in fear as he saw his own father going up against johnny. johnny was keeping his distance from him, but it was the child that ten was worried about. ❝stop please..❞

everyone around him was getting hurt and he can't help but blame it on his own self. it wouldn't have come to this if it weren't for him rebelling. no one would have gotten hurt if he could have just faced his father alone. in that case, he could have faced the punishment alone like what he fully deserves.

❝stop!❞ tears were now filled in ten's eyes when his father had caught up to johnny, strangling the male. ❝don't hurt him!❞

the child that johnny was having in his arms cried out as he was being involved in the fight, clutching to johnny very tight as if his life depends on it.

❝twenty!❞

and it's as if time stopped,

ten had stopped breathing, he couldn't hear anything but a straight line, his body feeling numb. everything broke down to pieces when he had seen johnny's lifeless body on the ground and what had devastated him more was seeing his father successfully taking the life of the person he had loved so dearly.

the child let out uncontrolled sobs as he was now on the ground, shaking his giant's body. he didn't dare to believe that he was dead, even though johnny's body laid there without a head.

❝johnny!❞

jaehyun and taeyong tore their attention from their own business and was furious as they saw the male's body down on the cold tiles. they could feel their own world crumbling, their emotions mixing up as they had seen that sight they had never expected to see.

with infuriated gazes, both jaehyun and taeyong went charging towards the man who had taken johnny's life. they showed no mercy as they teamed up to take him down, mourning in pain for johnny.

it's as if ten couldn't control his body anymore, it's as if the man was never his father, he approached them slowly with little steps. he would clear the pathway to whoever was blocking, no one standing a chance on him. both taeyong and jaehyun sensed ten coming closer and as if they would like him to do the honors, they managed to put the man down on his knees.

ten didn't listen to his father's begs, he didn't listen to anyone in fact. all he was thinking of is avenging johnny.

opening his eyes, the man took a step back as he was met with donghyuck smiling at him. it wasn't visible but he did gulped after reading the vampire's thoughts, seeing the possibility of what could happen if ever he does make a move on them.

laying his eyes on his son, and the man that's beside him that was still alive and well and is carrying their baby, the man didn't notice his lips getting dry.

❝now, you wouldn't want your own son hating you to the bottom of his heart and to the point that he would want to kill you,❞ donghyuck continued, ❝would you?❞

⚊ t b c ⚊