Since Seonghwa had few personal possessions he brought to the tomb, their bags were packed swiftly. Hongjoong helped him retrieve as many coins as they dared steal from the dead - though Seonghwa's tolerance was much higher for that since he regarded them as equals - and they packed their blankets and capes into bundles so they wouldn't freeze during their crossing. Seonghwa had stayed for several months, so he wasn't too depressed to leave this place. He nodded his farewell with respect and thanked the dead for harbouring him. Then he closed the door to the mausoleum behind them and took Hongjoong's hand. In the wintry landscape greeted by the first snow of the year, his smile shimmered like the most precious of jewels. 

"Let's go," he suggested quietly. Though tentative about leaving so abruptly with Hongjoong, he didn't hesitate. His pale hand squeezed Hongjoong's, and he smiled at Hongjoong's breathless grin. The thin blanket of snow crunched under their shoes as they carefully felt their way down the side of the cliff. They never let go of each other and muttered the occasional warning about loose rocks or slippery branches hidden beneath the shining coat of white. Some snowflakes made their way into Seonghwa's inky black hair, decorating him with an innocence that matched the untouched beauty of his features. Hongjoong was almost too timid to be seen with him. Wouldn't onlookers think him too ugly and ungainly for Seonghwa? No, they would probably assume Seonghwa was a rich lord and Hongjoong his personal servant. 

The longer Hongjoong thought about it, the less he loathed that idea. He would like to carry anything Seonghwa demanded and to protect his head from the sky's wrath by guiding an umbrella along.

"Who were you? Before you... you know," Hongjoong asked once they made it onto the street. Seonghwa tugged the wide hood of his coat over his head, masking the unnatural beauty of his features. His every step was elegant like that of a cat, and Hongjoong tried to angle his shoulders to carry himself in a matching manner. He heard the tales of how vampires were turned. Not born from a father and a mother, but the spawn of those already struck with the vile curse. The exchange of blood with a vampire bound a human to their kin, making them a child of the night. Somewhere, some night, Seonghwa died to be reborn under another's hands. Had he wanted it? Or had he screamed and fought until his last breath?

Shuddering, Hongjoong strained his senses to attend to Seonghwa's reply.

"I was once the son of a merchant. We never lived in poverty and my mother cherished me as their sole child. I travelled to many places by my father's side, saw foreign buildings and unique treasures. Just as many rare people, one of which happened to be the vampire lady that took a liking to me." His smile turned wistful, so Hongjoong didn't ask. He could tell it wasn't a joyous story. 

"I forgot everything I ever learned from my father, but I have been trying to catch up on my studies whenever I am not running. Perhaps in our new place, I will find time for such endeavours."

Hongjoong hemmed and hawed but ultimately grunted in displeasure.

"Best you stay home and tend to those studies from there. I will do everything you need me to do, but I can't come home one day and see you gone. It would break my heart," he admitted his fear. Understanding in his solace, Seonghwa inclined his head.

"We will find a way so both of us are safe in our fulfilment. I shall fret the same, meeting you as a hunted man. Once you find work, I will sigh wistfully at the window for your return."

In disbelief that his grandest dreams came true and he got to be with a person he cherished, Hongjoong shirked his fear. He stifled his grin in his cloak and steeled himself as they entered the town. Both men veiled their identities, and the ship waited at the harbour. They had enough money and the resolve to buy their way on board.

"Soon," Hongjoong promised them. "Soon, all that will become a reality."

They paced themselves, straightened their backs, and strode in confidence. As soon as they made it on that ship, they were free. No one else could harm them. 

Seonghwa's fingers were warmed by Hongjoong's clammy grip as he guided him through the alleys to the harbour. The scent of the sea and fish guided their way and soon, the circling seagulls hopped over the familiar wooden walkways. Today, more ships waited on the docks, grandiose vessels that seemed to reach for the skies. Awed, Hongjoong looked around until he spotted the person the old fisherman mentioned. He loitered near the walkway to the biggest vessel with a purse of coins and rubbed the warmth into his limbs.

Hongjoong's breath left him in a rush as he steered straight for him. First, they needed a guarantee for passage. He could figure out afterward if it was safe to bring Seonghwa into a tavern to warm up. Once they left the freezing crowd rushing to find shelter, some bystanders might linger to study the vampire in more detail. Though this wasn't Hongjoong's village, vampires were just as loathed down here. 

The sailor already took notice of their brisk pace and lifted his head to greet them when a sudden hand packed Hongjoong by his arm. It didn't come from Seonghwa's direction so he startled, turning to look at the stranger.

No, not a stranger. The man before Hongjoong was Mingi, their blacksmith. He came from their village and he had hunted Hongjoong during his escape through the forest. As soon as their eyes met, recognition flashed in his skeptical expression. Hongjoong paled in fear.

"Would you look at that?" Mingi rumbled in his deep voice. He was much stronger than Hongjoong, and when his hand painfully tightened around his arm, all squirming was futile. Alarmed, Seonghwa halted, but he didn't intervene yet. Perplexed, he stared at the tall man.

"We thought you dead. Who's this?" Mingi grunted, merciless as Hongjoong began to quiver. 

Not now, please, not now. They were so close, only a few paces away from the boat. If Mingi was here, that meant others had come to the town for trade while the merchant ship was docked. 

"Please," Hongjoong choked out, desperate to get away while they had time, but Mingi already peered beneath Seonghwa's hood and his eyes widened when he pieced together the peculiar sight. His grip almost lightened enough for Hongjoong to break free. Almost.

"Oh. Oh, I see. This is delightful. Is he your prey or were you his, Hongjoong? Oh, who cares? Two vampires, that is the root of all the mayhem. Finally, we can solve this predicament, here and now," Mingi grinned once his surprise died down. He looked around for the other villagers while tears quelled in Hongjoong's eyes.

"I'm begging you, don't do this. We will flee, we will never come back. You won't have to fear us," he whispered, panicked when other townfolk realised their odd picture and slowed their step. Mingi yanked at the criminal he found and raised his voice to alert everyone of the danger in their midst. 

"Then others will die. Perhaps you were human once, Hongjoong, but we cannot be friends now. If you and your companion want us to make this discreet, follow me to the courthouse."

As if. There would be an awful trial, torture, pain, losing Seonghwa. Seeing the light dying in his eyes. Triumph turned the villagers into ruthless creatures once out for the agony they relished.

"Mingi," Hongjoong whispered. They had been friends. Before everyone turned on Hongjoong at once. Before they chased him out to die in the woods.

But this Mingi was a different person. He didn't guffaw while they played in the meadows. He lifted his hand into the air to signal the other villagers trading near a corner to join him.

Before they detected him, a shadow fell over his features. Watchful, he tilted his head at Seonghwa, at the face of inhuman magnificence inside the hood. Perhaps he realised at that moment that one could tell the appearance of a vampire from a human. But before he could retract his statement, his eyes glazed over as he fell for Seonghwa's charms. The hand dropped, useless in its purpose.

"Are you a friend of Hongjoong?" Seonghwa asked, smooth voice lulling like the sea. Mingi stood befuddled, and his hand slackened. Hongjoong pulled from him and rubbed his bruised flesh. The ache reminded him of the pain still haunting the shadows. Worried, Hongjoong attended their exchange. He didn't dare speak up, so Seonghwa wouldn't be distracted, but he fretted by himself. His feet wanted to rush for the boat and flee this place before others saw them.

When the conversation calmed, other bystanders ventured on. They didn't bother looking at their huddled forms for long enough to best the cold. 

"I... I am from his village," Mingi muttered, flustered by the beauty before him and his light hand on his forearm. Within a second, that grip could become bone-crushing and Mingi seemed caught in a healthy sense of fear of this mighty being.

"Then don't you know how dear Hongjoong is? He has been crying so much because no one would listen to him. I cannot give you back to him, so I will take him to a better place. Don't you agree everyone deserves a second chance, Mingi?"

His name from Seonghwa's lips made Mingi jolt. For a moment, his lips babbled helplessly as he tried to articulate himself. Then he shook his head and nodded at the same time. 

"You are also getting a second chance today," Seonghwa continued. His voice had fallen to a low drawl, no longer veiling his threat. Hongjoong gnawed on his lip, feeling stifled in his cloak. One scream from Mingi and it was all over. Seonghwa and he couldn't win against an entire town set on banishing evil.

"You may take it or you may test your luck. But if you are wise, you will gift him with the same that has been gifted to you," Seonghwa offered. He made sure Mingi understood the stakes, that those fear-stricken eyes were awake enough to sense the danger he was in.

When Seonghwa stepped back, he smiled with his usual kindness. The oppressive cloak of his influence lifted and Mingi blinked as if he woke from a long slumber. His face was white as a sheet.

"Anything else we may help you with, Mingi?" Seonghwa asked, voice light and polite, as if he were talking to someone for a trade.

Mingi pursed his lips. When he stepped back, he almost tripped over his own feet.

"I saw nothing. You better never come back." He threw a glance at Hongjoong that was both baffled and concerned, but he didn't stick around to find out whether he also got threatened by the vampire. Instead, he booked it, not mentioning their presence.

Hongjoong exhaled. His knees had softened, and he feared his heart would stop in his chest. When Seonghwa's hand found his, its touch was no more but a feather's caress.

"Did I frighten you? Are you having second thoughts?" Seonghwa whispered, leaving him a moment to gather himself. The danger was banished, but they shouldn't linger.

With a huff, Hongjoong straightened.

"You are a marvel. Whenever I see your fangs flash, my stomach does something funny," he promised, surer than ever that he wanted to be with Seonghwa.

An elegant hand hid Seonghwa's smile.

"What a tempting confession," he chuckled, and the shine of his eyes was bright in the evening. A grin came back to Hongjoong almost naturally, and he hooked his fingers around Seonghwa's cold and pale ones.

"Let's delve into it once we are safe," he suggested. Without hesitation, he drew Seonghwa along, sealing their promise to go together. Finally, they made it to the merchant ship and though the sailor studied them with distrustful eyes, he didn't bring up the scene. Hongjoong's heart hammered in his chest while Seonghwa haggled for the price, but he didn't dare glance over his shoulder, didn't make them look suspicious.

After agonisingly long minutes, they settled on the amount. With a grunt, the sailor pocketed their coins and handed Seonghwa two tokens.

"There you go. We are departing soon, so get on board."

Joy erupted in Hongjoong's chest like the shot of a bow, and he jumped by Seonghwa's side when the vampire led him down the walkway. Hongjoong wanted to scream and kiss his gorgeous vampire, but Seonghwa's matching grin told him there was enough time for that later.

They made it to safety. Now, crossing the far sea, they could plan for life.