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"I want her."

I become frozen on my way back into the hall when I hear Master Taehyung's voice.  He does not sound happy.

"I said, I want to have her!"

Poor girl, 

I thought to myself as I snuck back into the room. 

"Who does he want?" I whispered to a musical Pearl who stood there, shocked by the major scene this man was causing. Like a petulant child, he sneered in the direction of Mother Marl, demanding to have his way. 

"....You." She said and I felt my jaw slacken in disbelief. 

"Me? I.....why me?" 

"I don't know but you went missing from the hall and he got pretty upset when no one could tell him where you were. Now he's demanding to take you from the House!" the Pearl explains to me and even though she sounds shocked and worried I can clearly note the hint of jealousy in her voice. 

Well she could have him. 

I stepped forward, onto the scene and took my place at Mother's side. 

"Forgive me, Master Kim but I must kindly refuse your request for a private meeting." 

"....refuse?" it was evident that this, Master Kim had probably never been told the word 'no' in his entire life because his beet-red face and bemused expression gave it away entirely. I can see his temper rising as his dark eyes shake in their sockets.

I tip my chin up in subtle defiance. He was being ridiculous. A man who showed such little self-control couldn't scare me! 

Taehyung took a menacing step toward me but Mother Marl interrupts before he can lash out at me again.

"Master Kim please understand...." Mother Marl pleads, trying to save face. She smiles but its through gritted teeth. Mother never condones any nonsense from clients. Her irritation is apparent but there's also a hint of something else in her voice.

Fear

"Please, why not have one of our more experienced Pearls for your evening?" She suggests but the peevish Master scoffs loudly in dismay.

A low growl rumbles from deep inside his throat silencing everyone around. 

Even the other young Masters at his side look worried.

Mother Marl swallows nervously, determined not to give up on protecting me. 

"This....this one is just green, she's not yet fully trained in the arts required for uh, private meetings. It is our goal to ensure that in such instances, you are well pleased, Master!"

Mother is aware that I have never known a man before. Some of the other Pearls behind me snigger and whisper quietly and I bite my lip in annoyance and mild embarrassment. Despite that, my eyes shine at Mother with appreciation. 

Her sad gaze finds mine and I nod a small, silent 'thank-you'. 

Master Kim can care less. He cracks his neck from side-to-side then rounds on her again, speaking slowly.

"Did you not hear what I said or are you just as stupid as you look?"

The Pearls all gasped to see Mother's feet swiftly lifted off the floor. We all looked on in terror as Master Kim dangled her by the neck with one strong arm. 

"Stop!" I cry, "Wait, stop this. I'll go with you."

More gasps and a few disappointed whimpers echoed around the room from my counterparts.

The other Masters smirked and some grinned as if their leader had won some type of game.

That's all our lives were to them, a game.

Master Kim released Mother and she fell to the ground coughing and gasping for air.

I rushed to help her but felt myself being pulled back up.

Master Kim, spun me into his arms and swept me from the hall.

I struggled to keep up with his long strides, my heels staggering against the floor.

"Where are you taking me?" I questioned but he just kept a firm hold on me as his friends walked ahead of us out of the building. 

As we neared the stone entrance, I spot the light coming out of one of the private rooms only a few steps away. 

Without warning I yank my arm as hard as I can away from him and run towards the room. Almost inside, I fiddle with the lock and nearly close the door shut when Master Kim breaks it off in his hands like a piece of candy.

"Pretty..." He chided, "Buuut not too smart." 

He pushed me inside, pressing me down on the bed. We were alone.

Taehyung paused on top of me to look around. His dark hair falling in his eyes. He sighed with a wicked smirk and swiped his tongue over his pink lips making them shine.

He ran his hands down the sides of my hips and I shivered.

"And for a minute there I thought we weren't on the same page..." His dark eyebrows dance up and down, taking in our surroundings.

He lowered his mouth to my neck and breathed softly. The light from the large torches on the walls went out. But soon all the tiny candles around the room had flickered to life casting a warm glow on the two of us in the darkness.

"Now, that's better." He smiled.

To my surprise, his smile isn't at all sinister like his attitude but childish and playful. Its also an odd boxy shape that would be endearing, had he not just dragged me away against my free will!

Remembering just that, my chest rises and falls fiercely beneath the weight of him on me and I wiggle around trying to push him off.

"Master Kim, let me--"

"Call me Taehyung, beautiful."

I roll my eyes.

"Okay, Taehyung...let me go!"

Suddenly, his playful boyish smile disappears. He forces my arms above my head, pinning my wrists down on the bed.

"You should be glad I was even the least bit interested in you, filthy Uddowāmu slut!"

I glared back at him with fire in my eyes.

"If you think that about me, then why not let me go then?"

The young Master  Kim's delicately chiselled face twists in confusion at my behaviour. 

"Why are you making this so awkward? What is your problem? What makes you think you have the right to refuse me? " He asks, angrily. 

"You think I don't know what you'll do to me?" I eye him darkly and for a moment, Master Kim's eyes soften. 

"You're only going to use me and then you're going to kill me! You're a monster!"

Closing my eyes and praying for my brothers to forgive me, I wrap a leg firmly around his waist, then twist his arms down hearing the bones crack!

Master Kim rolls off of me with a shout of great pain.

"You stupid girl! I was never going to kill you!" 

I did not want to stick around to find out whether he was telling the truth or lying.

I run for the door but he is fast and healing quickly, Master Kim runs at the speed of light, appearing in front of me and blocking my path.

"Ah, you're not like the others are you?" He leers at me, "I like a bit of spunk, that's okay."

We both pause, eyes wide with surprise when we hear the sound of gunfire, shouting and screams coming from outside.

Suddenly, the door to the chamber bursts open. Hit by the impact from a nearby explosion and we both take cover.

Master Kim is crouched over me, like a shield and I sieze the opportunity to deal a solid blow to his forehead using my own. 

He yelps, holding his head while curses fly from his lips to the air. 

I run.

When I get back into the hall, what my eyes behold is like nothing I've ever seen in the 20 years that I've been alive.

My Pearls, my sisters all slain on the floor. Blood leaking from their necks and wrists. 

Thick clouds of smoke billowed around the space, making it hard to breath. 

Mother Marl was nowhere to be found which broke my heart with sickening grief.

"No, no, no!" 

A grizzly creature shrouded in a cloak of darkness re-emerged at the centre of the hall- followed by another, then another. 

They seemed to appear out of nowhere in a mystifying shadow of smoke.

I looked around for help, unable to fully process this incredulous sight.

The other Masters were already gone and there was no one to help fight these disgusting beasts!

Wait....

I ran back up the stairs and out to the stone entrance where I left him. My feet numb with the ache from my heel's straps digging into my skin but I didn't care.

"Master Kim!" I called out in panic.

I found him in the private chamber. He was at the open window about to jump right through it.

"Wait! You have to help us!"

One of the creatures lay dead in the middle of the room, it's nasty fangs on show, hanging from its lifeless mouth.

Taehyung cast a disgusted look at it then looked back over to me.

He smirked, his angelic features were smeared with blood and a purple bruise was blossoming on his forehand where I had hit him.

"You want me.... to help you?"

I gulped harshly, my panic rising.

"Yes- yes.. please!"

Taehyung threw his dark head back and laughed.

"Why?" He growled

"B- because I've heard s-stories..."

He hopped from the window sill, his black jacket flying behind him and the wind from the open window ruffling the collar of his shirt.

"What stories have you heard, little slut?" He asks, raising his eyebrows out of interest.

Anger boiled inside but I had to swallow my pride this once if it meant that my sisters could be saved.

"Hundreds of years ago.... those... those beasts out there."

My eyes flit to the gruesome form laying on the floor between us.

"You— the Masters saved our people from creatures like these. Can you help us, please!"

"From what you showed me tonight, it seems like you're more than capable of helping yourself!" He spat vehemently and I shivered.

What an evil prick!

Yes I broke his arms but he was asking for it!

"Master  Kim!" I asserted raising my voice, "I ask you kindly...."

He snorted. 

This worked my nerves even more but I was out of options right now.

"I will be forever in your debt if you would save my sisters trapped inside."

"Forget about it, pretty-face! They're all already dead by now..."

I gasped, sorrow filling me.

"You're lying!" I shout balling my fists. What I would give the punch that smirk right off of his perfect face.

"I'm not. And if you don't want to end up just like them... you'd come with me."

"Never..."

Another loud explosion went off and the raging roar of flames licking at the walls intensified.

"Right now!" Taehyung bared his teeth in anger.

I stood my ground, only flinching when the burning staircase outside the room howls and collapses sending more smoke and flames into the air. Higher and higher...

Sadly, he was right.

Reluctantly I run forward taking his outstretched hand as he stands mounted on the window sill.

Taehyung winks at me, wrapping his fingers tightly around mine with a devilish grin.

"Close your eyes, sweet cheeks!"

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