Chapter 1: The Unlikely Bond
I always knew there was something different about the night. The moon hung low in the sky, spilling silvery light across the earth like a soft blanket, transforming the mundane into something ethereal. To most, it was just another night in the sleepy town of Weeping Pines, but for me, it meant the start of my escape. An escape from the relentless humdrum of everyday life and into the supernatural. More than that, it meant my friendship with them—my vampires.
It had been months since I first stumbled upon the hidden clearing in the woods, where whispers of magic danced in the air. The first time I met Taehyung and the others, I had been wandering, trying to shake off the eerie feeling that this place was somehow special. I found them sitting around a campfire, their laughter echoing in the stillness, illuminating the darkness like flickering stars.
“Hey! You lost?” Taehyung had smirked, his eyes reflecting the flames.
“Uh, kind of?” I stammered, unsure if I was about to be dinner or a friend. “I was just exploring.”
“Exploring the woods at night? A brave human, aren’t you?” he teased, his voice smooth like silk, a playful edge dancing in it.
I rolled my eyes, quickly falling into step with their playful banter. “Or maybe just foolish. But it’s not like I thought I’d come across a camp of…,” I paused, glancing at each of their pale faces, “vampires?”
“Vampires, huh?” Jimin chuckled, leaning back on his elbows. “You got us.”
Their dynamic intrigued me, like a well-rehearsed play with each actor filling their role perfectly, yet I also sensed an undercurrent of tension in Taehyung. He was the wild card, the one whose laughter could shift from lighthearted to ominous in a heartbeat.
Days turned into weeks, and I found myself drawn back to them, like a moth to a flame. They were unlike anyone I'd ever met—mysterious, charming, and always toeing the line of danger. Yet, Taehyung had an oddly protective aura surrounding him. There was a fierceness in his gaze whenever I was around. Like a guardian whose resolve was unshakeable.
“Are you sure you want to come here, Maria?” he’d ask, his brow furrowing in concern, an unusual request from the vampire known as the ruthless one. “It’s not safe. You know that, right?”
I would laugh it off, brushing aside his worries. “Oh please, Taehyung. You’re the least dangerous thing in these woods,” I’d retort. “And besides, you guys wouldn’t let anything happen to me.”
“Promise?” he would lean closer, his voice dropping an octave, mesmerized by the thought of being the one to protect me. “You have to know I’d do whatever it takes to keep you safe.”
Even now, as I perched on the edge of the old wooden bridge that stretched over the glistening creek, I could see him in my mind—a protective beast hidden beneath a cool exterior.
“Hey, Maria!” Jimin called from somewhere in the treetops, his figure swaying with the branches. “Don’t get too close to the edge! We wouldn’t want you to fall in and drown.”
“What a frightening thought, Jimin,” I chuckled, glancing at him—his tousled hair glinting silver in the moonlight. “But I think I can survive a little creek.”
Taehyung materialized at my side then, his presence commanding and shadowed with an almost primal energy. “Are you trying to scare her, Jimin?” he scolded, playfully nudging his friend. “You know she has enough on her mind without your ridiculous suggestions.”
“Ridiculous? Me?” Jimin feigned innocence, putting a hand on his heart dramatically. “I’m just looking out for our precious human!”
“Precious?” Taehyung echoed, his eyes narrowing. “She’s not some trinket to be treasured; she’s…” He trailed off, catching himself, a rare flicker of vulnerability passing across his face.
“She’s our friend,” Jin interjected, materializing near the fire, shaking his head with a soft smile. “And that means we protect her, no matter what. Right, Taehyung?”
“Right,” he replied, but the intensity of his gaze was unwavering, left lingering on me. “But you have to promise, Maria—don’t put yourself in danger. We’ve seen how quick the world can turn savage, especially out here.”
“Like when you revealed your fangs in front of that group of hunters?” I smirked. “That was pretty savage too.”
Taehyung grinned, a sliver of mischief breaking past his stern facade. “Hey, they asked for it. I just gave them a reason to leave us alone,” he replied nonchalantly, but I could sense the tension simmering beneath his bravado.
“Or maybe a reason for them to run screaming from the woods?” I teased, but my laughter faded when I saw the unease in his eyes.
“Seriously, Maria,” he said, his tone dropping to a tender whisper, less like a commander and more like a worried friend. “You have to be careful. If word gets out about you… being associated with us…”
“I’m not afraid,” I interrupted abruptly, meeting his gaze head-on. “Do you think I care what others think? You all have protected me so far, and I trust you. Besides, this bond we have—it’s stronger than any fear.”
“That’s what I’m worried about,” Taehyung admitted quietly, turning his eyes back to the woods. “You don’t know what kind of danger you’re playing with. Losing you wouldn’t just hurt; it would—”
“Hey,” I interrupted softly, stepping closer to him, the intimacy of our friendship palpable in the air. “You’re not going to lose me. I’m here. I chose to be here.”
He exhaled, visibly relaxing as a smirk crept onto his lips. “You really are the stubborn one. You know I like that.”
“Of course you do,” I laughed, my heart racing in the electric air, a strange feeling of warmth spreading in my chest. “I’m your favorite human after all!”
“Never forget that,” he said, his voice fierce yet playful. “No one else can have you.”
And just like that, amidst the shadows and whispers of the woods, amid the laughter and companionship, I realized that in this world of eternal night and darkness, I had found my light in them—or maybe they had found theirs in me. Little did I know that our bond was about to be tested in ways I couldn’t even imagine.