The Guard

No smut - 3.3k words

I spent half the night on the phone with Jimin. I told her of the stand off between Joohyun and Seulgi and her worry skyrocketed again.

"You're getting caught up in two major Night Races, Seren," she commented softly.

"It wasn't exactly by choice," I replied, sipping a mug of hot chocolate.

"That's the only reason why I'm still with you," she replied.

"That and your nerdiness," I quipped.

I can hear her stifle a laugh from the other end.

"Seriously, where can you get first hand information from higher vampires? Do you also want me to schedule an interview with Detective Werebeast?" I teased and she's now giggling at the other end.

"Be serious, Seren, I care about your safety, don't push this anymore than you already have."

"It's nice to hear someone cares," I joked.

"Oh shut up. You're a good friend, and I—" she paused abruptly.

"You what?" I asked, my heart trembling in my chest as I placed the mug of chocolate on the kitchen counter.

"It's... it's nothing, just —"

Did she almost say it? Then again, what do I expect her to say? That she likes me? Yeah, wake up, Seren Vale.

"I know, be careful and don't tempt fate."

"Good."

"But what if fate tempts me?" I teased.

"You're hopeless," Jimin sighed although I could hear a bit of amusement in her voice. "Anyway, I'm going to go shower now, then get ready for bed."

"Any chance for a video call while you do?" I joked yet nervous of her reaction. I haven't exactly pushed her this far.

To my surprise, she laughed loudly and genuinely, "Don't push your luck, Vale. I thought you were chivalrous?"

"A chivalrous perv. You have to strike a balance." I joked as I breathe a sigh of relief that she was, at the very least not uncomfortable in me breaching these kinds of jokes, although I told myself not to overdo it or risk making me sound like a real creep.

Jimin laughed again on the other line. "Maybe next time. Goodnight, Seren Vale. Don't dream about me too much," and she hung the phone up.

"Wait, what do you mean by 'maybe next time' Yu Jimin?!" I yelled at the phone knowing I'm the only one who can hear myself. I finished my chocolate and placed the mug on the sink, washing it could wait — I was tired and needed some shut-eye. 

I texted Jimin goodnight one last time before walking to my bedroom, headed towards the window to close my curtains. Before I did though, I noticed two cats by my porch — one was pure white with a spot of black by its eye, while the other was ginger with brown stripes. I stared at them as they licked themselves clean. "You're not the guards Seulgi said she'd send, right?" I asked, getting no response from the cats whatsoever.

I chuckled to myself, here I am, talking to cats. Those cats are too small to fight even the smallest of fae pixies, let alone vampires. Am I becoming paranoid? Best not dwell on it, I'm just tired, I thought, and with a deep sigh, I closed the curtains and laid on my bed. Before I fell asleep however, my phone beeped and as I scanned the message, my smile widened from ear to ear. Jimin texted goodnight — and sent a photo of her lying in bed with cute pink pajamas — her eyes are closed as if she were asleep, but her lips are spread wide in a cheeky grin. Well, I thought, not a bad way to end the day. I fell asleep smiling, though part of me wondered why the night air still felt like it was watching.

Morning came with a light drizzle as I opened my curtains. The cats were gone, I observed — yeah, I was just probably paranoid last night.

I took my phone and texted Jimin good morning, though I didn't really get my hopes up for her to reply. I brushed, showered, and got dressed. I scanned my phone — yep — no message from Jimin. I grabbed my bag and keys, got out of my room, and jogged to school.

I arrived with twenty minutes left to spare. I sat down, laid my bag and did some light reading. I wasn't able to concentrate on Professor Zhang's lecture yesterday because of Joohyun, so I thought I should read to catch up.

"So he was teaching about the war of the dwarves and the giants," I jumped as Joohyun's cold voice pierced my ear.

"WHAT the hell — Bae Joohyun!" I exclaimed. She wore the exact same white robe as she did yesterday and two nights ago — only now, she wore a denim jacket on top of it. Baby steps in fashion I thought — who am I to judge with my usual shirt, jeans, sneakers, and a hoodie sprinkled on top — an already tried and tested combination.

Joohyun giggled, "Don't bother reading that, I know everything that happened by heart."

"This war happened five thousand years ago, you weren't even born yet, despite your... antiqueness," I quipped.

Joohyun smirked as she sat down, "I wasn't, but my father was — fought in it himself, or so he says."

"What?" I asked in disbelief.

"He was a young vampire noble at the time, said he was a mercenary for the dwarven side. Narrated epic tales about it to me and my brother when we were young, even though only my brother seemed interested," Joohyun yawned. "So did Seulgi already send her 'guard'?" She asked.

"No, not that I noticed," I replied.

Joohyun giggled, "I'm excited with who she will send. A wolf werebeast, perhaps, or an avian?"

"Frankly, I don't care Joohyun. If she really does send one, I'm gonna make do with my promise to drag her guard to the station," I replied, already exhausted with the conversation.

Joohyun however, kept giggling, "Now that would be a sight."

Just then, Jimin finally enters the hall, my one ray of light in this otherwise bleak world — pretty poetically pathetic of me, I should say. 

She wore denim jeans that hugged her thighs and legs snugly, and a simple white shirt that hugged her voluptuous figure, faint traces of her black bra showed through as well as a hint of her cleavage. Her hair was still wet and she seemed out of breath when she sat beside me. And I must say, I was swept off my feet — figuratively, of course.

"That was close," she panted as she looked at her watch, the faint scent of her shampoo blessing my nose — a mix of lavender and rose. "Three more minutes and I would have been late."

"You're not usually this late," I observed.

"Had trouble sleeping," she replied as she set her stuff down.

"Were you thinking of me too much?" I teased.

"Perhaps," she replied without missing a beat.

"Wait, wha-?"

She then turned and gave me a wink, and I could swear the world ended and restarted when she did. Damn, I'm whipped — I thought.

Joohyun then elbowed me and I leaned in closer, "See those guys?" She gestured at a group of guys at least three rows below us on the other side of the hall. Her voice was sharp, making my hair stand on edge.

"Yeah. Why?" I asked.

"They've been ogling Jimin since she arrived, talking about her chest in an... ungentlemanly manner." Joohyun said, and the calm way she said it made me fearful for those guys — she's mad, and I don't know how to calm her down.

"I'll cover Jimin up, you calm the f down. Don't do anything to them." I whispered.

"If they keep saying the things they are saying right now, they won't leave this campus tonight alive," she said coldly, her eyes flashing red momentarily.

"No need for that, Joohyun." I said, panic slowly creeping in my voice.

"Just, cover your girlfriend up."

"She's not –"

"Just do it," Joohyun whispered sternly.

I leaned away and unzipped my hoodie. "Hey, Jimin," I called her.

"Hmm," she responded and turned around to look at me. I pulled the hoodie behind her, "Put your arms in," I ordered.

"What? Why?" She asked, confused but still complied. I zipped up the hoodie, the size being a little bit big on her, effectively covering the swell of her chest. "Joohyun says the guys out there are ogling you."

Jimin blushed as she fixed the hoodie's collar. "Is this possessiveness or chivalry, Seren Vale?" She teased.

"Chivalry, you're not a thing, I don't and can't possess you." I replied, hoping it sounded cool like how I imagined it.

Joohyun chuckled, "Correct answer, Vale."

"Thanks, Joohyun. And to you too, Seren." Jimin said shyly before wearing her glasses and turning back to her books, her cheeks and ears still flushing a light red.

Finally, Professor Zhang enters the room — who looked tired for the first period of the day. "Good morning," he greeted — and then sighed heavily. "Once again," he started, "we have new students, board approved their transfer in the middle of the semester blah blah blah. Just, come in and introduce yourselves, ladies." Professor Zhang beckoned the new students in.

"New students? Again? What the hell is happening in the middle of the semester?" Jimin whispered as the new students entered.

There were three of them, and all were girls. The first one looked fiery, with orange hair and dressed in a crop top, leather jacket, a leather skirt that brushed around her knees, stockings and boots — she looked like a femme fatale if looks could kill. The second seemed to have some boyish tendencies with her short black hair and overall posture. She wore almost the same fit as I do, shirt, denim jeans, and sneakers, yet for my normalness, she seemed to rock it — which I thought was unfair. And the last one seem more timid, where the other two walked with confidence, she walked with her head slightly dipped. She wore a knitted sweater short enough to expose a little bit of her midriff, denim shorts, and sneakers.

The trio stood, they weren't as ethereal as Joohyun nor do they have the powerful aura Seulgi exudes. I also personally think that Jimin is prettier than all of them, but they were beautiful in their own rights.

Professor Zhang then beckoned the girls to introduce themselves.

The fiery one bowed first, "My name is Hwang Yeji, it's nice to meet all of you.

The boyish one followed, "I am Shin Ryujin, glad to be here."

And finally, the timid one, "Hi! I am Lee Chaeryoung, it's a pleasure to be studying here."

Some guys hooted and were immediately shut down by Hwang Yeji's sharp gaze.

"Alright ladies, you may have a seat and I'll start the lecture." Professor Zhang said.

The girls scanned the hall and they seemed to lock their gazes on the three of us. I didn't assume much about it since the seats on the row below us were vacant, yet Joohyun chuckled beside me.

"Oh. She's serious alright," she commented in amusement.

"What are you talking about?" I asked curiously, Jimin also turns to her.

"That's Seulgi's guard, Seren," she declared as the trio started their way up the stairs towards the row right in front of us. "Three young werebeast huntresses."

Jimin sighed, "Now I get what's happening this semester," she said as she falls limp on her chair and turns toward me. "You are," she points at me in a playfully accusatory tone.

"Hey. I—"

"I know. You don't control it." She sighed heavily again, raising her hands in surrender as the trio finally took their seats in front of us. Yeji and Ryujin sat immediately while Chaeryoung bowed to us before she sat down.

"So," Joohyun began, leaning forward in her desk. "Seulgi thinks three little huntresses can take me on, huh." She said smirking.

"Not now, Joohyun," I whispered, but my pleas fell on deaf ears when Yeji leaned her chair back so it was touching the wall behind her. She looks up at us, her eyes sharp as a cat's, "Yes, she thinks we're enough for you... old-timer." She taunted before returning her seat the way it was.

A heartbeat passed as the wind inside the room suddenly grew colder.

Then I saw Joohyun's eyes flash red and I pushed her down to her seat immediately. "Don't get provoked, Joohyun. You're better than that," I said, trying to calm her down. I felt Jimin's hand on my shoulder, giving me quiet support.

"She called me an old-timer, Seren," Joohyun said in a mask of calm rage, her skin slowly becoming colder as her eyes gradually grow blood red. "I'm two thousand years old, that's still young by vampire standards."

I would've laughed — if only I'm not dealing with the heiress of Verrath City's coven. "It's just provocation, Joohyun. If you fall for it, you'll only prove them right."

Joohyun tilted her head towards me, the same tilt that she did the first time we met — when she decapitated another higher vampire, and chills run down my arms. "Breathe Joohyun, calm down, please."

To my relief, Joohyun breathed, slowly calming down. Her eyes slowly returned pitch black and her body temperature gradually rose back to normal as well.

I sat back on my seat as Joohyun finally relaxed. Beside me, Jimin released a heavy breath I realized she may have been holding.

"Now that's a sight," Ryujin commented from below us. "The Pale Princess held back by a human."

"Stop provoking her, Ryujin, and you too, Yeji," Chaeryoung scolded, apparently the trio's voice of logic. "Seulgi said we watch, not start a fight."

"Where's the fun in that?" Ryujin asked.

"It's not supposed to be," Yeji replied. "But it's the job given to us."

"What is the job given to you exactly?" I asked.

Yeji craned her head back to look at me, "Watch you in the day, make sure no harm comes to you."

"Only during the day?" Jimin observed.

"Yeah," Yeji nodded. "Apparently a different team is assigned at night," and she turned back to continue pretending that they give a damn about Professor Zhang's lecture on the Dwarven-Giant Wars.

The day passed uneventfully though. Joohyun accompanied Jimin and I for the whole day while the trio of huntresses kept their respectful distance. It still feels weird however, being watched every second of the day — and by three wild godesses at that.

It was around afternoon when, as we were about to leave the campus, a girl calls up on us — well, to Jimin to be precise.

"Jimin!" She called in a high pitched voice, running towards us. She was petite and slender, with long flowing hair. She wore a simple black one piece dress that somehow made her look a lot smaller than she actually is. She's cute, in the little sister kind of way.

"Yeah. What is it, Minjeong?" Jimin asked as Minjeong caught up to us.

Kim Minjeong is a sophomore and one of the scholars in the college. Like Jimin and I — we are juniors by the way, a year ahead of Minjeong — they work part time at the Archives to keep our scholarships.

"I..." she panted, bracing her arms on her knees.

"Breathe, girl." I said jokingly.

She raised a hand indicating that she's fine. Joohyun eyes her up in curiosity.

"Yizhuo," Minjeong kept panting. "Yizhuo's not feeling well." Yizhuo was her partner in shifts at the Archives — and one of the Archives' rules is that every shift must be manned by a pair.

"What happened?" Jimin asked in concern.

"She caught a cold," Minjeong replied as she finally recovered enough to stand up. "But our shift is tonight, and I can't clock in without my partner."

"So you're asking for a switch in shifts?" I asked.

"I know it's sudden," Minjeong pleaded, "but can you both take our shift for the night? The Archives would excuse you for tomorrow's classes and Yizhuo and I will take one of your shifts as recompense."

She was really cute, pleading like that. Like I want to just put her in my pocket and take her home.

Jimin then looked at me, "What do you say, Seren?" I, however, can already tell that Jimin had already made up her mind.

"Fine, I'll clock in with you," I said.

"Oh my! Thank you so much! I... we promise we'll make it up to you! Both of you!" Minjeong exclaimed as she jumped towards Jimin's arms.

"And what about me?" Joohyun asked.

"Uhmmm..." Minjeong murmured in curiosity. "Is she?"

"Irene Bae —" I began.

"Oh. The transfer student!" Minjeong remarked.

"Yeah. She entered yesterday, and then today we had three more." I added.

"That's way too many transfer students at the middle of the semester," Minjeong observed.

"Yeah. I wonder why," Jimin stares at me accusingly to which I can only shrug in reply.

"Well, rumor has it that transfer student was incredibly pretty," Minjeong kept on talking, she could be a yapper like Jimin when she gets started. "Glad to see that's true, Ms Bae."

"Why, thank you. You're adorable yourself, Minjeong was it?" Joohyun smiled warmly.

"Kim Minjeong, pleasure to meet you," Minjeong bowed curtly. "Now I gotta run. I have to take care of Yizhuo, make sure she recovers quickly." Minjeong then started jogging out of campus before looking back. "Thank you again, Jimin and Seren! And nice to meet you again, Ms Bae!"

We waved back, chuckling, even Joohyun seemed to be amused of the girl. "That girl never runs out of energy," I remarked.

"She does, she recharges when no one's around," Jimin said.

"Well, where are you off to, Joohyun?" I asked.

"Well, I was planning to walk both of you home but since you're both going to the Archives, I'll just walk you both there and go home," she replied.

"Not coming with us?" Jimin asked.

"No, not tonight. Father expects me to be home for some kind of announcement. However, before I forget," Joohyun fished something out of her denim jacket — a silver chain with what appears to be a thin glass whistle upon it. Joohyun then handed it to Jimin, "When you're in danger, blow on this, and me and my coven will rush to your aid."

Jimin accepted the trinket gingerly. "Thank you, Joohyun."

"Where's mine?" I asked.

"You don't have one," Joohyun replied flatly.

"What? Why not?"

"You already have bodyguards with you," Joohyun gestured at the distance where Yeji, Ryujin, and Chaeryoung were standing, each of them drinking a different flavor of bubble tea. "So I figured, Jimin needs some protection of her own." Joohyun smiled warmly again at Jimin.

"Seriously, thank you, Joohyun." Jimin said as she clasps the chain around her neck.

"It suits you," I said, as the glass whistle sparkles under the sunset's rays.

"Are you flirting or are you jealous, Seren?" Jimin teased.

"None of the above," I quipped back.

"Say, Seren," Joohyun started, her tone already teasing. "You said you'll drag the guards Seulgi sends to you to the station. How come those three are still here drinking bubble tea?"

I looked flatly at Joohyun, "There's three of them, I expected her to send only one."

Joohyun and Jimin chuckled. "Well, should we start walking to the Archives? Before Seren develops any other bright ideas," Jimin suggested.

"Alright, time for an uncalled for shift," I responded as we made our way towards the Archives. A short distance away from us, the huntresses followed, ever watching and vigilant.