Walks and Talks

No smut - 2.8k words

Joohyun mirrored Jimin and I for the whole day, earning curious looks from everyone in the college. 

"May I ask something, Joohyun?" Jimin started as we are about to leave campus. The sun is setting and all classes are now over so that students living off campus can get home before dark.

"Sure," Joohyun replied.

"Are higher vampires resistant to sunlight?" Jimin cautiously asked in genuine curiosity.

"Right. You've been with us for the whole day, walking around campus and even on the field, how come you're...?" I added.

Joohyun chuckled, "How come I am still not burned to ashes?" Jimin and I nodded. "Well, higher vampires can develop... a tolerance, shall we say. The older you are, the more you can stay under the sun. And we also just sat and walked and sat and walked. I wasn't really exerting myself physically, so that also aided in me not exhausting my energy. That's only reserved to higher vampires though, lesser vampires will always get burned by the sun no matter how old they are — reminds them of their place in the pecking order," Joohyun replied.

"What's the difference, though?" Jimin asked, her earlier nervousness now replaced with genuine giddiness in "interviewing" this higher vampire who turns out to be the princess of this city's coven.

"Between higher and lesser vampires?" Joohyun clarified and Jimin nodded.

"Well, we higher vampires are biologically born. Lesser vampires are created by us higher vampires as thralls, hunters to lure prey with."

"So that vampire you killed last night?" I queried.

"Was a higher vampire, yes," Joohyun confirmed. "But young and reckless, he created those three lower vampires to accompany him in his hunts. They got sloppy, and threatened to draw attention towards us."

"So you hunted them down," I finished.

"And found you in the process," Joohyun replied almost too sweetly. That would have made me swoon, if only it did not come from the mouth of the city coven's heiress.

"Why you, though?" Jimin asked. "Aren't there other vampires who could have hunted them down? The heiress of the coven doing it personally seemed—"

"Unnecessary?" Joohyun asked. 

"Overkill," I suggested.

Joohyun giggled, half sinister, half sweet, her crimson eyes flicking to the sunset as if savoring its fading light. "It was, but like I mentioned, I was bored. And father just lets me do whatever I want. At two thousand years old, probably only the royals of every race can pose a threat against me in a straight battle, and they won't attack me unless they want a war fought within Verrath itself."

I shivered at the thought of a war of the Night Folk. They're already frightening while they're peaceful, how frightening would they be if they let loose in an all out war.

Then a thought came to my mind, "If Seulgi hadn't been bitten and was in full strength, would she be able to beat you?"

"Seulgi?" Joohyun asked.

"You're already on first name basis with the detective?" Jimin queried, her brows scrunched as her posture stiffened slightly. Blood rose to my cheeks as I remembered how we lost control last night, and how she told me to call her by her name in the heat of the moment. And with Jimin asking me the question, my cheeks flushed redder in embarrassment.

"Yeah. It just... went that way... she saved my ass... and she said I can call her by her name so...." I stuttered with Jimin eyeing me curiously. I know she doesn't buy my explanation — even I wouldn't.

"Anyway, back to my question, Joohyun," I deflected.

"So it was that bear werebeast who saved you, huh. So Seulgi is her name," Joohyun contemplated.

"You called her huntress, I thought you knew her," I said.

"The Huntress, or Hunter, is a title given to exceptional werebeasts who have shown great prowess in all manners of the hunt. From tracking to trapping to straight up combat — and I have heard of a werebeast bear that became a huntress decades ago, I assume it is her. But if we fought," Joohyun smirked. "She had trouble with three lesser vampires and a young higher vampire." Then she said with chilling confidence it made my hair stand on edge, "I'll win."

We reached the campus gates and paused, "Well, we go this way," I told Joohyun gesturing to the direction we're going.

"Good, I'll come with you," Joohyun said nonchalantly.

"Wait, no." I blurted out and Jimin and Joohyun looked at me with confusion and curiosity respectively.

Shit — I thought. I looked at Jimin — how am I going to say that I'm walking Jimin home, that I want to walk her home, alone, just the two of us, without offending Joohyun.

"I told you not to walk me home anymore, Seren," Jimin said softly as I was still thinking. "It was because of it that you weren't able to get home before dark."

"Was it?" Joohyun murmured curiously.

"But..." I started.

"Seren," Jimin interrupted.

"I'll be walking with you so, getting attacked again won't be a problem," Joohyun interjected.

"No. I...ugh," I growled in frustration at my ineloquence, no, it's not ineloquence, it's cowardice.

"Oh I see...." Joohyun nods her head. "You want to walk her alone?" 

Jimin and I flushed. The hell — I thought — don't just blurt that out.

"No, it's really okay," Jimin insisted.

"No, I'll give way. I'll keep my distance, but I'll be watching both of you." Joohyun remarked coolly like it was no big deal.

Jimin looked at me and I think she saw that I really wanted to walk her home — and finally resigned. "Fine, but promise me you'll be home before dark," she pointed a finger at me.

"I will."

"And you'll send me a message that you are indeed home."

"Yes, mom," I teased.

Jimin chuckled softly while Joohyun smirked, clearly enjoying the exchange. "Well go on, you two."

"Stay out of earshot as well, Joohyun," I warned as Jimin and I started walking.

"How can I watch you—?" She yelled.

"Just watch, don't listen," I yelled back.

Joohyun rolled her eyes while Jimin and I kept a steady pace.

"Seren," Jimin started.

"I really want to walk you home," I interrupted. "Can you just let me do it?" I pleaded. "After all, I now have a bodyguard watching somewhere behind us," I added, just to make things a little less obvious.

Jimin sighed. "That's just it, I don't know if I should be worried less or more because of it."

"You've seen her do the Blood Oath, and it works," I countered.

"Yeah. But it is her personally, and maybe her coven and other vampires by extension, but what about the other Night Folk? It was not part of her Oath that she would protect you if you get attacked by maybe the fae, or sirens, or warlocks." Her voice getting a little anxious made me a great deal anxious.

"Hey." I took her by her shoulder and looked her straight in her eyes. Her face was downcast in worry. "I'll be fine, I promise. I won't worry you anymore."

"You better not," she pouted. "Or I'll find a necromancer, raise you back to life, and beat you back to death." She said it so adorably that I can't help but smile.

"Consider me warned," I chuckled as we continued walking, the sun still visible in the horizon, so is the crescent moon in the middle of the sky.

"So, how was it?" I began. "Interviewing a higher vampire."

And Jimin's face brightened. "Oh my god! It was exhilarating. At first I was nervous, you know, like, she's a higher vampire, and then, she just casually charms Professor Zhang and drops that she's the city coven's heiress....." and Yu Jimin launched into a never ending yap about how she felt asking Joohyun questions, how she answered, and all the other questions she wanted to ask her.

"You should make a list," I chuckled when she paused for a quick breather.

"I already have one on my mind," and she yapped on, listing all the questions she wanted to ask Joohyun. Part of me wanted Joohyun to hear all of this so that Jimin won't have to repeat it all, but a greater part wanted Jimin to keep going — because she looked so adorably nerdy it makes my heart skip every time she lists a question.

Without noticing it, we already arrived outside her apartment building.

"Feels like deja vu," I joked.

Jimin smirked as she rolled her eyes, "It was only yesterday."

"Yet for me it seemed so long ago," I said in a rare moment of seriousness as Jimin dipped her head.

"You better head inside," I sighed.

Jimin nodded yet stayed on the spot.

"Are you okay, Jimin?" I asked. She looked like she was deliberating something in her head. Something she wants to do — but can't bring herself to, just like me.

And she answered with a hug. She tiptoed and threw her arms around my shoulders.

I froze—then caught her, instinctively, arms wrapping around her slim waist.

My heart was hammering, beating at a rate that shouldn't be normal for a human. Her chest pressed against mine — which didn't help my heartrate at all.

Jimin nuzzled her head upon my neck and whispered softly, "You're not going to make me worry again, right?"

I smiled and tightened my embrace upon her waist. "I won't. I'll text you when I'm home."

"You better," she replied cutely, hitting my shoulder once as she embraced me. She pulled away yet kept her arms rested on my shoulders. We held each other's eyes, my hands resting on her soft waist. She tiptoes again and kissed my cheek like she did yesterday, only now, it was a little bit closer to my lips.

"Be careful, Seren, and goodnight." Jimin waved before turning back to enter her apartment building.

"Uh-huh," was the dumb response that came out of my mouth. My mind was short circuiting — do not blame me.

As Jimin disappeared inside the building and I was about to start walking home, I caught the familiar scent of wild musk, something that permeated in my room last night as a voice cut through my trance.

"Aw, that's sweet."

"WHAT the fu —!" I jumped in surprise, for leaning on the building's wall was a woman, she wore a leather jacket, denim jeans that hugged her thighs and legs as tightly as I just hugged Jimin, and sneakers.

"Yo, Seren!" She greeted, waving a hand awkwardly while the other held what seemed to be a paper bag. My tongue grew parched as my world blurred while I stared at Detective Kang Seulgi.

"Are you two dating?" She asked. "Because if you were then last night was..."

"We're not dating," I answered almost immediately. "And last night was..." my voice lowers in awkwardness and embarrassment.

"Last night was a mistake, largely on my part. I'm sorry, Seren," Seulgi said sincerely.

"No. It's..." I sighed. "I also got carried away so, you don't share all of the blame."

Seulgi chuckled, "You're a good guy, you know that? Ms Yu would be lucky to date you."

I smiled at the thought — though I've dreamt and fantasized about it.

"Anyway, I'm here to return your clothes," she extends the paper bag towards me, "and answer any questions you may have."

I held the string of the bag — but Seulgi wouldn't let go. Confused, I stared at her, she was sniffing the air. "Uhm, detective?" I was getting anxious as she was now sniffing closer towards me.

Then she stopped, her head dipped in a predatory glare and she growled low, "You've been with a vampire," — it was not a question.

"I... uh..." I stammered, not knowing what to say.

"Come out!" Seulgi snarled. "I know you're out there somewhere!"

Then a giggle came, cold, teasing, familiar. "You said to keep out of earshot, Seren. But seeing the werebeast huntress near you, I thought I should come a little bit closer." Joohyun emerged from a nearby tree as if from the shadows.

"Bae Joohyun," Seulgi said warily. "Why do you have the scent of the Pale Princess upon you, Seren?"

"Watch your tone, huntress," Joohyun warned, her voice low yet calm, making her more intimidating. "I am not here to harm Seren. I made a Blood Oath not to."

"You expect me to believe that?" Seulgi's voice rose almost to a roar.

"She did, Seulgi." I croaked a confirmation.

"Why?" Seulgi asked, maintaning her hostile tone.

Joohyun sighed as if she's tired of explaining this over and over again, "Because I was curious why he's resistant to vampiric charm. And until I have my answer, no one is going to hurt him." Joohyun tensed as if coiling to strike.

My mind raced, I just promised Jimin I won't worry her anymore. It would be real bad of me if these two fight outside her apartment with me in the middle.

"Ladies!" I said, and both of them seemed to be broken out of their stances, "nobody is here to hurt me. Not you," I pointed to Seulgi, "nor you," then to Joohyun.

"So can we please not fight while I try to get home?" I asked.

"Great, I'll escort you," Seulgi replied.

"No, I'll escort him," Joohyun immediately bit back.

"Shush!" I interrupted them before the thread of tension can snap. "You can join me in walking or you can not. Either way, if you both want to fight, do it where I'm not around." And I walked, past Seulgi, snatching the paper bag as both women stared at me in disbelief.

I walked until I felt both of them fall into step with me, Joohyun to my right, and Seulgi to my left. I didn't talk, I wasn't in the mood to talk to either of them. So instead — they talked.

"How are the bites?" Joohyun taunted. And I remembered, Seulgi was bit by two of the vampires last night.

"Already healed," Seulgi replied quickly.

Joohyun chuckled, "Impressive physiology you werebeasts have. Advanced regeneration — though all of us Night Folk have it in varying degrees of speed — and a body heat that immediately burns vampire venom, allowing you to not be turned."

"Each Night Race has its own defense against your venom," Seulgi kept her responses quick and short.

"Right," Joohyun continued, clearly enjoying Seulgi's annoyance. "The fae can force the venom out with their magic, the sirens can physically force them out where we bit them, the warlocks — we don't bite warlocks, their blood tastes like fire — the elves just straight up die when our venom reaches their hearts."

"Yeah, yeah. Thanks for the lessson," Seulgi dismisses.

"Why did you track Seren today anyway?" Joohyun asked innocently, yet we all know she was taunting Seulgi. "Was it to return what's in that bag? It smells like clothes, Seren's clothes, overlapped with your scent. Oooh, did Seulgi sleep at your place, Seren?" Joohyun skips in front of me, "Does Jimin know?" She teased, her eyes sparkling naughtily.

I paused in front of her, "Jimin knows, so quit insinuating something, Bae Joohyun." I said in great annoyance.

"Why does she act like she's close to you, Seren?" Seulgi asked as I resumed walking.

"Why do you act like you're close to Seren?" Joohyun countered, and Seulgi and I were unable to answer — we can't just say we had sex.

"Well, I'm returning the favor," Seulgi hastily replied. "He gave me a place to sleep last night and clothes to change into."

"Uh-huh," Joohyun hums, whether she's convinced or not, she frustratingly did not show it.

"Well, Seren and I are classmates," Joohyun bragged.

"Classmates?!" Seulgi stopped in her tracks.

"She enrolled in my class," I responded, growing exponentially tired with this childish arguing between a decades old werebeast and a two thousand year old vampire.

"You what?!" Seulgi yelled as she caught up to us.

"Yep. Me, Seren, and Jimin." Joohyun taunted.

What's with this vampire? I thought. The whole day she was this mysterious, icy, and ancient presence but now she's like a kid arguing with someone who should also know better.

"This won't do, I'm sending someone to protect you, Seren," Seulgi's remark made me stop just outside my apartment building. The sun had already set and it was dark. Thankfully, the vampire and the werebeast accompanied me, annoying as they were.

"You are not going to do that, Seulgi." I said.

"No, you need it, with the Pale Princess by your side —" Seulgi retorted but was interrupted by Joohyun's giggling.

"You think anyone you send can stand a chance against me?" Joohyun asked in genuine amusement.

"You'd be surprised," Seulgi bit back.

"I said no, Seulgi. If you do, I'll drag whoever you send back to you at the station."

Joohyun made to follow me as I was entering my apartment, "Do not follow me in," I said sternly which only earned an amused giggle from Joohyun.

"See you tomorrow, Seren Vale," Joohyun chimed before I closed the doors of the apartment building.