Chapter 1: The Unlikely Friendship
The moon hung high in the sky, casting its ethereal glow over the trees surrounding the abandoned warehouse where I often met Taehyung and the rest of the vampires. It was a bizarre friendship, one I had never contemplated forming with creatures of the night. I should have been terrified, but the truth was, they felt more like family to me than anyone else I'd ever known.
"Maria! You’re late!" Taehyung’s deep voice cut through the stillness of the night, his silhouette sharp against the silvery light. He stepped forward, arms crossed over his broad chest, his dark hair catching the lunar rays.
"I got caught up at the library," I replied, trying to catch my breath. “You know how it is—” I paused, noticing the way his brow furrowed, his emerald-green eyes narrowing in concern. “I fell into a rabbit hole of folklore about vampires. You’d think I wouldn’t be so interested in that given my current company.”
Taehyung laughed, but it was a low, rumbling sound that sent shivers down my spine. "You really have no idea how dangerous it is to spend too much time around those books, Mari."
Rolling my eyes, I approached him, a playful grin creeping onto my face. "Come on, it wouldn’t be so bad if I read a scare or two, right? It’s not like it’s ever going to happen to me." I leaned in closer, pretending to whisper conspiratorially, "Unless, of course, I magically turn into one of you guys tonight?"
His expression softened, but there was a flicker of something deeper behind his eyes. "You have no idea how much I wish you wouldn’t joke about that. You’re… different. Special."
Different? Special? The words lingered on my mind like a whisper in a dream. I couldn’t quite decipher what he truly meant, the ambiguity always left me on edge yet exhilarated. I shrugged it off. "Well, it’s good to be special, right? In a world filled with exceptional creatures, I’ll be the extraordinary human!”
"Maria," he warned, stepping closer, his intensity enveloping me like a warm cloak. "This isn’t a game. You’re vulnerable to things you can’t even fathom. I’d do anything to protect you."
I wanted to laugh at the thought of me, a seemingly mundane human, being protected by someone like him. Taehyung was ruthless—his reputation among his fellow vampires was one of ferocity. He had a past buried in shadows and blood, yet here he was, standing before me like a guardian.
"Taehyung, I appreciate it. But you have to understand—" I took a step back, trying to ease the tension that was growing in the air between us. "I can take care of myself! It’s sweet, but I’m not some delicate flower waiting to be crushed."
He pressed his lips into a thin line, an inner turmoil playing behind his guarded expression. "It’s not about you being delicate, Maria. It’s about the world we live in. You don’t know the risks—especially not with my kind. Not all of us share… well, let’s just say I’m not all that’s out there."
Suddenly, the atmosphere shifted as the other vampires began to arrive. Jimin was the first to slip into the moonlight, his playful nature lighting up the darkness. "What’s this? A serious conversation? I thought we were here to unwind." He grinned, shooting a look at Taehyung, who remained unyielding. "Are you finally going to admit you have feelings for our lovely human?"
"Shut it, Jimin," Taehyung snapped, but his cheeks flushed slightly.
“Wow, there it is! The famed Taehyung blush,” Jimin teased, swaggering toward me. “Maria! Guess what? He totally has the hots for you.” He winked exaggeratedly.
Despite the playful tone, I felt a rush of embarrassment, heat creeping up my neck. “Come on, you guys! Can we not make this awkward?” I shot a glance at Taehyung, who was now scowling, almost like a protective shield against the jibes.
"You’re the one who’s making it awkward by being so… amazing," Jimin shot back, and my heart soared at the compliment, even if it was delivered through laughter.
"Alright, alright," I laughed, trying to lighten the mood, “What’s on the agenda tonight? Do I get to learn how to dodge actual vampire attacks? Or is there a fun blood-sucking contest?"
Hobi came in next, groaning dramatically. "If we have to teach you how to dodge attacks, we’re going to need snacks. Can’t go fighting on an empty stomach!"
Taehyung’s gaze softened as he watched us, a hint of a smile poking at the corners of his lips. “You can’t just make jokes about—”
“Just kidding! I know I’m safe with you guys,” I interjected, raising my hands defensively.
“See, that’s the problem,” Taehyung murmured, and I caught a flash of something in his eyes—was it fear? Protectiveness? “You shouldn’t feel safe, not with the world we live in. I can’t lose you, not like this.”
"I’m right here, Taehyung," I assured him, slipping my hand into his, squeezing it tightly. Strangely, it felt important, this connection, the warm weight of his palm lingering on mine. “I’m not going anywhere.”
My heart raced as Taehyung looked down at our hands, then back at me, his expression a complicated mix of affection, frustration, and longing. “You have no idea how lucky you are to have a heart that beats so fiercely, Maria. But I can’t help but feel it’ll lead you into danger.”
“Danger? Maybe,” I admitted, “but you also taught me bravery. I’d rather have an adventurous heart than let fear dictate my life.”
Jimin coughed dramatically. “And we’re all here to make sure she embodies that adventure! Right, everyone?”
The others nodded, eyes filled with encouragement, but I could still see that shadow lingering in Taehyung’s gaze. That protective urge he felt was a reflection of something deeper, a bond that had developed between us—one that was more than just friendship.
The night promised to be filled with laughter and teasing, but as I looked at Taehyung, I felt an unmistakable connection pulling us together, an invisible thread that twisted through the shadows of uncertainty.
And so began what I knew would be an unforgettable adventure, one that would test our limits, our fears, and perhaps, just maybe, would lead us to confront our true feelings amongst the darkness.