Four Weeks Later...

I met Sunghoon at the gate. It had been become apparent to me in the last weeks he regularly snuck outside the wards without a guardian. I think it had much to do with the rumors about him turning strigoi. I managed to get the other boys to open up to me, but he still very much kept my farther than arms length.

I knew it wasn't something to blame myself for, but I felt miserable in his presence. Like I was just a speck of dust he disregarded daily. I channeled all of my newfound energy into my training. I was now in the top four in terms of dhampir rankings.

"Vayamo prima che ci vengano catturati," (Let's go before we get caught,) He said not ever sparing me a glance. Not that it was needed. However, I was disappointed with how things currently were going between us.

Sunghoon lead me over the gate as we ventured past the gates. He had a discreet driver pick us up so we weren't walking for long. A few minutes passed before I tried making conversation once again. "I know things are a bit odd, but I promise I wouldn't make any of you do anything." I said this hoping it would invoke some kind of reaction, even if his reaction dismissed my genuine emotions.

Sunghoon simply smirked as he stared out the car window next to him, "Non ho mai pensato che avrebbe forzato la sua autorità con il vincolo. Penso semplicemente che non possiamo tenere a freno i nostri instinti per molto tempo." (I never thought you'd force your authority with the bond. I simply think we all can't hold back our instincts for much longer.) I took in what he was saying. Nothing about the golden purified bond was familiar. Far more complicated than we initially thought...

It wasn't long before we stood in front of the door to the place I was raised. The place that held all my childhood memories. The place I thought I was human... Sunghoon knocked seeing as I froze. My mother answered the door brightly until her eyes settled on me. "Haeun ? Why are you here ? Come inside. Now."

We didn't have much time to refuse before we were inside. Sunghoon looked around while I talked with my mother. "Is that all you have to say to me, mother ? I have some questions I need answers to." Sunghoon remained quiet, but just him being a few feet away made time feel as if only seconds were passing.

"Ask away then, Haeun ah. I can't hid things from you anymore." My mother seemed to be genuine & honest. "What do you know about the golden purified bond ? How does one live with this kind of bond ?" My mother paled as she began pacing. She knew something for sure. "How do you know about that ? Even mentioning that Purificato d'oro bond is dangerous."

Sunghoon almost questioned her angrily, but I stopped him as I looked at my mother. "Rischioso? Ho il vincolo. Vorrei sapere come ciò influirà su tutti gli altri interessati... E' per questo che mi avete tenuto qui? Perché il mio padre biologico non poteva essere nella mia vita?" (Dangerous ? I have the bond. I need to know how this will affect everyone else involved... Is this why you kept me here ? Why my biological father couldn't be in my life ?) However, my mother' mind wasn't on any of my questions. In fact, she seemed highly against talking about the golden purified bond.

"It has only been a few weeks, Haeun ah. You already speak old moroi ?" Sunghoon pulled me aside. His eyes mirrored mine. I was angry, I was disappointed, & I was aware we'd never get any answers out of my mother. She had secrets she was not willing to even share with me, her daughter. "What do you want me to do, Haeun ? This is completely your call," he looked really concerned for me. Time seemed to slow as I took a few moments to think.

"Let's just head back to the academy. There is no use in being here anymore...." Without much needed left to say , I left with Sunghoon. On the car ride back he held my hand. Something he's never done before.

We snuck back into the academy as Sunghoon walked me to the dhampir dorm. This is when he asked me something I never thought I'd be asked ever. "Lei sarà il mio dhampir?" (Will you be my dhampir ?), he asked with this goofy & charismatic look in his eyes. It was a simple question, but it was also fueled because he was one of the few people I shared my bond with.

I was speechless...