The sun had long since set, and the warm glow of candlelight illuminated the vast dining room. The table stretched almost endlessly, adorned with ornate silverware and dishes that looked as though they hadn't been used in centuries. I had been summoned to dinner, my curiosity and anxiety building with every step I took through the labyrinthine corridors of the palace.

The heavy doors creaked open, revealing a scene that took my breath away. Seven men sat at the table, each radiating an aura of otherworldly presence. They all turned to look at me, their gazes piercing through the dim light, each of them carrying a distinct energy that was impossible to ignore.

At the head of the table sat a man with sharp features and an air of authority that was almost suffocating. His eyes met mine, calculating and distant, yet somehow reassuring.

Namjoon: "You've arrived." His voice was deep and commanding, and though he didn't smile, there was a sense of calm in his tone. "Please, take a seat."

As I cautiously made my way to an empty chair, two men sitting near each other exchanged glances. The one on the left had a mischievous smirk and was twirling a goblet lazily, while the other, his expression hardened, simply scowled in my direction.

Yoongi: "She looks like she's already regretting stepping through that door," he muttered, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

J-Hope: "Because she probably is," the other replied, crossing his arms and leaning back. "You should've left her alone, Namjoon. She's human. Weak."

Namjoon shot them a look that silenced their bickering.

Namjoon: "Y/n is here because it's necessary. You'll treat her with respect."

Their dynamic was confusing but intriguing. I had learned from the woman earlier that these two were once brothers who had destroyed each other over a woman, only to be brought back as vampires by Namjoon himself. Their resentment lingered in the air like a thick fog.

A man seated nearby cleared his throat, drawing my attention. He was elegant, almost regal, with a soft smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.

Jin: "I...apologize for them," he said softly, avoiding eye contact. "They can be...difficult." He seemed shy, almost out of place amidst the intensity of the others. Yet there was something motherly in the way he glanced around the table, making sure everything was in order.

"Thank you," I said hesitantly, not knowing what else to say.

Before I could gather my thoughts, the door burst open, and a younger man strode in, his energy almost childlike despite the gravity of the situation. His messy hair and cocky grin were impossible to ignore.

Jungkook: "Am I late? Didn't think I'd miss the human's grand entrance!" He plopped down into a chair, earning an exasperated look from Namjoon.

Namjoon: "You're always late, Jungkook."

I had barely begun to process this whirlwind of personalities when the room grew eerily quiet. Two more men entered, their presence heavy and imposing.

The first, tall and broad-shouldered, carried himself with the confidence of someone who had once worn a crown. His eyes were dark, filled with a mix of pain and defiance.

Taehyung: "She doesn't look like much," he said coldly, his voice sending a shiver down my spine.

Behind him was a man who couldn't have been more different. His smile was warm, almost too charming, and his eyes sparkled with mischief.

Jimin: "Don't scare her off, Tae," he said with a playful laugh, moving to sit closer to me. "We don't want her running off already. That wouldn't be...fun."

It was overwhelming. The sheer intensity of their personalities, their stories, their gazes—everything felt like too much.

Y/n: "What do you want from me?" I finally asked, my voice trembling slightly.

Namjoon leaned forward, steepling his fingers.

Namjoon: "Answers will come in time. For now, all you need to know is that you're here for a reason. And you're safe with us."

The words didn't feel entirely reassuring, but as I glanced around the table at the strange, otherworldly men who surrounded me, I couldn't help but feel that my life was about to change forever.

After the tension-filled dinner, Namjoon led me to a sitting room. It was spacious yet cozy, with walls lined with ancient books and a crackling fireplace casting flickering shadows across the room. The seven men gathered around, each taking their place as though it were rehearsed. I sat stiffly, unsure of what to expect, until Namjoon broke the silence.

Namjoon: "You deserve to know who we are and how we came to be this way. It's only fair."

The air grew heavy with anticipation. One by one, they began to tell their stories.

Namjoon remained seated, his voice calm yet carrying an unmistakable weight.

Namjoon: "I was the first. I was turned centuries ago, in a time when knowledge was considered a threat. I was a scholar, someone who sought answers to questions the world wasn't ready to ask. One night, a creature attacked me outside my study. When I woke, I was...this."

He gestured at himself, his expression unreadable.

Namjoon: "At first, I hated what I had become. But over time, I realized I could use this existence to build something greater—to save others from meaningless deaths and give them purpose."

He glanced at the others, who avoided his gaze, some out of respect, others out of lingering resentment.

J-Hope leaned forward, his arms crossed tightly, while Yoongi leaned back in his chair, glaring at the fire. It was J-Hope who spoke first, his voice laced with bitterness.

J-Hope: "We were brothers. We had a good life, or so we thought, until we met her. She was everything to us, and we fought over her like fools. In the end, it cost us everything."

Yoongi scoffed, his tone cutting.

Yoongi: "He stabbed me, I stabbed him. We both died that night."

J-Hope's jaw tightened, but he didn't argue.

Yoongi: "Namjoon found us, decided we were worth saving. Turned us into monsters instead of letting us rot in the ground."

J-Hope: "We didn't ask for this." He shot Namjoon a look, then turned back to me. "But we're here now. Whether that's a blessing or a curse depends on the day."

Jin hesitated, his hands fidgeting as though he wanted to avoid speaking altogether. Finally, he sighed.

Jin: "I didn't want to live anymore. My family was gone, my kingdom in ruins. There was nothing left for me. I wandered the forests, hoping to starve or freeze to death. Instead, I met him."

He nodded toward Yoongi, who didn't react.

Jin: "He was...hungry. And I didn't care. But instead of killing me, he turned me. Against my will." His voice trembled slightly, and he clenched his fists. "I've hated him for it ever since. But I can't deny...he saved me, even if I didn't want saving."

There was a painful silence before Jin added quietly, "Now, I try to make sure no one else feels the way I did. It's the only way I can live with myself."

Jungkook grinned, though there was a flicker of sadness in his eyes.

Jungkook: "I was a sailor. Young, reckless, and in love with the sea. But one stormy night, my ship went down. I don't remember much—just the cold water, the darkness, and thinking, 'This is it.'"

He glanced at Namjoon, his grin fading.

Jungkook: "But then he found me. Dragged me to shore and gave me a choice: die or become something...more."

His expression softened, almost reverent.

Jungkook: "I owe him my life. And yeah, I get into trouble, but I'll always have his back. He's my captain now."

Taehyung's voice was low and steady, carrying the weight of a long-buried pain.

Taehyung: "I was a prince. Horses were my passion—my escape from the pressures of royalty. One day, I fell during a ride. Broke my spine. The pain was unbearable, and I knew I'd never walk again."

He looked at Jin, his expression unreadable.

Taehyung: "That's when he found me. Hungry and desperate. He didn't ask, didn't hesitate. He just...did it."

Jin flinched but said nothing.

Taehyung: "I tried to hide what I was, but it's impossible. Especially when I saw him." He glanced at Jimin, his tone softening. "My best friend. My family. I lost control and turned him, too."

Jimin smiled, his tone playful but edged with tension.

Jimin: "I was part of the palace staff. Loyal, hardworking, competitive—everything you'd expect from a servant. Taehyung was like a brother to me, but when he disappeared, everything changed."

He leaned back, crossing his legs.

Jimin: "When he came back, I knew something was different. He tried to stay away, but I wouldn't let him. And then...he bit me."

Jimin chuckled, though there was no humor in it.

Jimin: "At first, I hated him for it. But now? I'm stronger, faster, better than I ever was. And if I have to flirt my way through eternity to keep things interesting, so be it."

The room fell silent, their stories lingering in the air like ghosts. I looked around at the seven of them, their pain, resentment, and grudging camaraderie forming a fragile yet unbreakable bond.

Y/n: "Thank you for telling me," I said softly, unsure of what else to say. Their eyes met mine, each holding centuries of stories untold.

Namjoon stood, his voice firm.

Namjoon: "Now you know us. The question is, will you stay?"

I swallowed hard, knowing that the answer to that question would change everything.