CHAPTER THIRTEEN: "The Message Between Words Spoken"

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Seonghwa POV:

"Hoshi is going to try and kill me tonight, and I am going to allow it to happen." Ji Eun said nonchalantly.

It felt as if the air in the office had stilled, and I couldn't help but wonder what else she was planning despite knowing what was to come. A doubtful scoff escaped my lips as I pondered the idea in my mind. "Lady Ji Eun, what do you mean you'll allow it to happen? I don't understand.."

She sighed, waving her hand dismissively. "Living a life as long as I have, you too would grow tired and bored of it. However, it's not every night where you get the chance to...dance with the devil...if you know what I mean?"

"Sadly, I don't. You are the only pure blood in the room."

"Seonghwa..." Ji Eun smirked, "I trust that you don't take me as a fool?"

I shook my head, making sure to choose my next set of words carefully as I answered. "Not in the slightest, which is why your words confuse me. Maybe if given a little more context, I'll understand."

"The life I've learned to live is one of grand gestures," Ji Eun began.

"The spectacle of such a blatant atrocity is one that I welcome wholeheartedly, or whatever that is left in the space that usually holds such a thing...The idea of Hoshi trying to do something as silly as killing me tonight has many pros to come..." She smiled proudly.

I paused, absorbing her words slowly before speaking. "...The pros such as knowing he would be fooled?"

Ji Eun laughed, a laugh that encompassed the mixture of both pleasure and mockery in a harmonious blend. "Exactly! I knew you'd see it sooner or later...Him being a complete and utter embarrassment will not only entertain us all, but only bolster the idea of half-bloods being nothing but jealous beings! What a wonderful thing to witness!"

"Is all of that necessary though?" I asked skeptically. "Wouldn't the alternative of tonight cause even a bigger rift between the two groups?"

"Well...that's a possibility," she sighed, leaning back in her chair while twirling a strand of hair around her finger, "but I'm still bored nonetheless. I haven't had any true entertainment since our own fight months ago."

Taking that as my cue, I granted her a forced smile before making my way towards the door to leave. "A fight that will never happen again, may I remind you. It took me months to recover."

"Yes yes, I know. By the way...rumor has it that you are already spoken for...Am I wrong?" She asked softly, yet there was a trace of venom as the accusation left her lips.

I froze, my body stopping in its tracks as she continued, finalizing her words as one indirect threat that I knew she felt compelled to lay upon me before my departure. "Yes, I have ears and eyes everywhere, Seonghwa...Never forget that."

A moment of silence filled the space between us before I granted her a nod, stepping out the room and back into the hallway. Part of me felt instantly worried about Hongjoong, realizing that his safety could be compromised if I wasn't careful. Ji Eun was the type of woman to kill if she didn't get what she wanted, and the last thing I dreaded was losing the person that was already attaching themselves to me.

Making my way back to the other vampires still mingling around, my eyes caught sight of Hyunjin and Changbin who still remained stuck with Ji Eun's subleaders. However, my eyes combed around for one male I knew I could dedicate the job to. Passing through the group, granting pleasantries one by one, I saw the male seated on his fiancée with smiles. "Wooyoung, a word please."

His ears perked up and with an eager smile, he stood up. "By the sound of your voice, that means I have a job!"

A chuckle escaped my lips as I nodded. "Indeed you do, but it requires you to be away from us for awhile."

San raised an eyebrow before standing and joining his partner's side. "What's going on...?"

"I need Wooyoung to protect him."

Wooyoung's eyes grew wide. "...seriously? You trust me enough with something that important?"

I smiled, ruffling his hair gently in adoration of his innocence. "I trust you four equally, and I believe you would be the easiest person for him to get along with."

"How long are we talking?" San asked sternly. "I don't like the sound of this..."

"Don't worry, you can visit him, but I don't have an exact timeline as to how long yet. Something came up and I need to ensure his safety."

Juyeon chimed in, picking up the trail-and of the words in passing. "Something wrong, Hwa?"

Turning to him, I sighed. "Your sub-section court is still neutral territory, right?"

The male nodded. "Yeah, anyone is welcomed there, living or non-living. Why, what's up?"

"I just needed to make sure. Thanks."

"Well of course, I'm here if you need me." Juyeon playfully bowed before his eyes darted to the two males. "He's such a worry-wort. My court is still open if you want less work, you know?"

Wooyoung rolled his eyes while San laughed, watching as the male strolled away. Wooyoung glanced back at me. "You want me to meet him there? How do you know he will even be there anyway?"

I sighed. "Knowing him, I have a feeling he's going to be there. If not, I'll give you the other best places to run into him.

Suddenly, the conversations around the room started to flow into abrupt cheers as Ji Eun made her appearance inside. My eyes caught sight of hers as she slowly walked over to her throne to sit, with her mate Jeonghan holding her hand ever so delicately in guidance. I could tell that she was eager for the impending arrival of Hoshi, but something about the entire ordeal felt off.

Chan discreetly made his way over to me before telepathically speaking. "What did you two talk about?"

"Hoshi is planning an attempt to kill her tonight, but she's using it as a tactic of embarrassing half-bloods." I answered, my face stoic in similar fashion to his own.
Chan subtly nodded before making his way back to his own group, all while me noticing Hyunjin making his way over to me with Felix in tandem.

Ji Eun held her hand up to silence the crowd before beginning her speech, granting everyone with a confident smile. "Welcome everyone once again to the Midnight Court. As you all know my sub-leaders Yeji, Chaeryeong, Karina, and Winter are all here to ensure everyone enjoys their time in a cordial and friendly manner."

"Now, before we begin the open floor discussions, I'd like to-"

Her words were abruptly cut short the front doors blasted open in an explosion, smoke and dust instantly spreading around the room and blurring our eyes. Fang-filled hisses were scattered amongst the room as the dust filled the air. Before I could confirm whether or not it was Hoshi as the culprit near the entrance, my eyes caught sight of colorful canisters being tossed in different directions, one landing directly near me.

What the hell..? Why would Hoshi need all of this..?

"Everybody, cover your ears!" I yelled as soon as the canisters opened, each one releasing an instant high-pitched whistle. The sound was piercing, as all of us within the room began to scream in pain at the pitch grew louder and louder.

Ji Eun, with one of her abilities, spoke to everyone in their minds with urgency. "Everyone, leave! Get out of here now!"

On cue, everyone started running and flashing out of the room, each in desperate attempt to get to safety. Glancing around, I noticed the four boys looking to me for an answer. With a nod, the five of us ran out of the mansion in a blur towards the car to leave. However, as the four led the way, my eyes caught sight of the one male who I didn't expect to even see, let alone be able to get through the barrier at all.

Mingyu.

•••

"What the actual fuck was that?!" San yelled as we made it back home. "I still can hear my ears ringing from that damn grenade."

"Yelling doesn't help, San. Shut up, please, I have a headache." Felix scowled before taking a look at each of us. "Is everyone alright?"

The four males nodded, talking amongst themselves as they followed behind me to my office. Wooyoung sped his steps up and whispered. "Are you alright, Hwa? You've been silent the whole car ride back."

Granting him a smile, I nodded. "You need to go get ready for your job and not worry about me. You leave tomorrow night."

The reminder of the job bolstered his mood as an excited grin grew on his face. "I promise I won't let you down!"

Hyunjin, picking up on our conversation, raised an eyebrow as we each stepped inside my office. "What job did you give that energizer bunny now?"

"He's going to protect Hongjoong."

Felix gasped. "Wait, really? You're letting him meet one of us already?"

"Technically yes," I sighed, taking my seat at the desk, "but it's really out of my hands right now. Tonight I saw someone that shouldn't have been able to get inside."

"Who?" Wooyoung asked curiously.

"Mingyu."

"No fucking way, the barrier prevents anyone who isn't one of us or wasn't invited." Hyunjin said sternly.

Rubbing my temples, I nodded. "I know that, so that means either he was invited by someone or he's actually one of us."

San shook his head. "It has to be the first part, his heart is still beating. I heard it at the event!"

"Half-bloods still have beating hearts, remember?" Felix added softly.

"This stays here, and we will not jump to any conclusions," I paused, turning my attention to Wooyoung, "get whatever you need ready for tomorrow. The rest of you, get some rest. I need to think."

The four males bowed and made their way out the office, and once the door closed, I turned my attention to the window while processing everything.

"Something dark is happening, and I feel like this is just the start of it all..." I whispered.