Prologue

The pristine castle illuminates in a beckoning glow as Kai ascends the line that leads to the dreadful vampire prince Jae-Hyun’s 18th birthday ball, hosted by the vampire king and queen of terror themselves. He takes a deep breath before his turn in line comes. He freezes and his trembling breath halts, his face turns a ghostly white as he sees that instead of the dwarf size palace guards in front of him, stands a tall vampire with impeccable features, the crown prince of vampires Jae-Hyun. A chill runs down his spine as Jae-Hyun smirks evilly.

“Well, well, well, look who we have here, a little human.” Jae-Hyun says in a cold mocking tone, a hint of amusement striking in his voice. The silver light emerging from the immaculate castle doors seems to disappear as Jae-Hyun speaks making sweat drip down Kai’s fear-stricken face.

“Now what are you doing here little mouse?” Kai’s shaky breathing resumes when Jae-Hyun asks that, however he stays silent not daring to say his reason for being in the place where all humans like him are forbidden to be.

“Answer me little boy.” Jae-Hyun says coldly his expression turning sour as he dislikes Kai’s silence. Sweat runs down Kai’s face as he gulps thinking of an excuse, anything that will work he begs in his mind to come to him.

“I’m here to run an errand,” Kai lies looking away, the shakiness in his voice giving it away. Jae-Hyun grips Kai’s chin gently forcing him to look at him.

“I don’t appreciate lying especially from little humans like you,” he says in the same cold tone as he grips Kai’s chin.

“I-I’m not lying, I-I need to run an errand for my mother.” Kai stutters his lying evident through his shaky voice. Jae-Hyun grips Kai’s chin harder his eyes turning a blood boiling red that bores into Kai’s soul.

“Do not lie to me.” Jae-Hyun says sternly his anger at an all-time high as Kai keeps lying. Kai stays silent which makes Jae-Hyun’s blood boil at the sight. Kai feels his left-hand grip tighten and Jae-Hyun’s second-hand slide down to Kai’s waist gripping it until his knuckles turn white. “You’re coming with me,” he says and does not let go from Kai’s waist forcing him to the castle dungeon. The cold brown dusty walls glisten in the blood red moonlight as Kai is thrown into a cold damp cell, the only source of light being the moonlight.

“I-I- b-but-” Kai stutters trying to produce an excuse but gets cut off.

“No buts, now you will stay here until you explain to me why you came to the magnificent event when humans aren’t allowed here.” He says his tone cold and his expression unreadable like a statue standing, waiting for a reasonable answer.

Kai stays silent, his shallow trembling breathing is the only sound filling the treacherous dungeon. Jae-Hyun hits the rusty metal cell bar not only making Kai jump startled by the sudden sound filling the air but also shattering the metal bar, only rusty brown metal dust stays in its wake.

 “I-I am here to try and stop your parents from destroying the humans.” Kai stutters the fear evident in his voice as his body trembles uncontrollably.

Jae-Hyun’s death glare softens, and he gently places a hand on his waist and caresses it. “Destroying the humans? That is preposterous! They promised me they would do no harm to the humans!”

“T-they’re planning to wipe out all the humans about age 40 and use the rest as s-slaves.”

Jae-Hyun’s expression changes, his eyebrows furrow in shock and his blood red eyes widen. His breath turns ragged as he froths with anger. How could they do this? They promised they wouldn’t.

“Not on my watch, let’s go stop them.” Jae-Hyun says determinedly. He grabs Kai’s wrist and leads him to where the ball is hosted. The gold laced floors glow beautifully and the diamond chandelier that engulfs the room all shine brightly as the blood red moon glows at the highest peak of the night. The chatter instantly halts as Kai and Jae-Hyun enter the room.

“Jae-Hyun! What are you doing with a human!” his mother the queen screeches across the room.

“Enough mother, I’ve heard what you plan to do, and I won’t stand for it.”

As soon as Jae-Hyun says that a wooden dagger comes flying across the room almost hitting his heart but luckily Kai catches it. Sweat drips down Kai’s face as he holds the dagger trembling. Kai dodges the King’s fist as the King goes to punch him. He ducks and fights his way over to Jae-Hyun to give him some clearance for him to fight his parents. Jae-Hyun walks towards his parents, his footsteps fierce as he approaches not backing down even as their terrifying gaze lands on him. The king and queen embrace in a battle with Jae-Hyun and Kai, wooden daggers and swords fly, and screams fill the room. Jae-Hyun successfully drives a dagger through his mother's heart, and she turns to a sickly grey dust while Kai manages to drive a dagger through the king's heart, and he turns to a sickly white dust. He takes a deep breath trying to compose his shaking body. Jae-Hyun hugs Kai calming him down almost instantly.

“I’m sorry” Kai says as Jae-Hyun’s parents are now dust.

“it’s alright” Jae-Hyun says, his gratefulness bigger than his sorrow.

Jae-Hyun sits onto the thrown making it glow a bright blood red and his clothes turn to a blood red Hanfu its long arms billowing in the wind. He touches Kai’s waist and Kai’s clothing turns to a pearly white and red Hanfu.

“We are one and will always be one.” Jae-Hyun says smiling, the turmoil and anger gone, only happiness and fulfillness are shining in his eyes.

Kai and Jae-Hyun embrace, their hanfu’s twirling around each another as one. The gold laced walls and shimmering palace floors intertwine creating a beautiful masterpiece that cannot be mistaken as anything less as elegant.

Kai and Jae-Hyun will never be alone because from this journey they have found an unbreakable bond that will last forever and never be broken through the tough and the rough. This is one adventure but there are many to come as Kai and Jae-Hyun embrace much more than friendship sparks inside them.

Kai goes back to his cozy little cabin on the edge of the beautifully mown forest, the trickling of water and the rustling of leaves from the animals being the only peaceful sounds heard. He hears footsteps and he freezes, scared from the sudden sound.