(Y/N) POV:

When the two of them leave, there's an ache inside, something that is physically paining at them walking away, soul tearing itself apart trying to get to them, something almost compelling me to rush after them, stop them. Even if all I do is find out their name.

But my brain remains insistent, whispering that they're strangers, mean nothing. That the logical and rational thing to do is see this exhibition through to the end.

But even as I mingle back into the crowds, the image of the broad-shoulder male flashes through my mind, something incredibly alluring about him specifically- as if he had been someone I'd been searching for, I surely hadn't mistaken the crashing waves of relief that had washed over me when I met his eyes, something shifting inside me- almost screaming that he...he had been familiar despite seeing him for the first time. Something about his presence that had been soothing, something about him that was inviting as it tugged at me and lured me in.

But why couldn't I place that familiarity, that unknown calling? Just who was he?

It infuriated my mind, and I stood there lost in thought until a gentle hand touched the crook of my arm.

I turned to face Mark oppa, his soft gentle smile wiped away with whatever expression he saw on my face.

"What happened?" he asks, tone completely serious and concerned as he scans me, peering intently at my eyes.

"I-I'm not sure." I stammer, my brain still trying to process it all, sort out the jumbled mess and put it into some sort of organised manner.

He looks unappeased but nods unhappily, giving me the time to sort through it. He knows I'll go to him when I've figured it out. He's one of the eldest and he exudes this natural welcoming aura that makes confiding in him easy.

He's my safe space.

He slings a comforting arm around my shoulder, drawing me in closer to his side as we navigate the crowd, pulling me out of the way when the bustle becomes thicker, strong arms blocking out any obstacles. But then my feet come to a halt, oppa colliding into my back with a soft 'oomph', most of his strength held back to stop the two of us from plummeting.

But I can't stop the icy dread that seeps deep into my bones and forms a cold aching feeling. Nor the way I press tightly back into Mark oppa, as if trying to meld myself to him and somehow disappear from view.

Hard, cold eyes stare at me. His thick lips twisted into a grimace as he eyes me. His eyes shutter, as though he's pushed his emotions back, hiding them behind a wall. And I see nothing but a cool blank look.

My mouth opens, but what is it that I should say first? Greet him? Apologise?

But he beats me to it.

"Mark hyung, how are you?" he greets cordially, albeit a bit stiffly, eyes moving past me as though he's not even noticed me.

A flash of hurt goes through me because I know he's choosing not to acknowledge me. And even though he has a valid reason- it doesn't make it sting less.

"I'm good Jimin-ah. How's the coven?" oppa says, words gentle and careful. Hedging on safe territory.

But then something bitter flashes across Jimin's face. Gone in the next, vanishing so quickly, it's as if I'd imagined it.

"We're good. Been better." His words are curt, sharp. And I know...I know that the dig is aimed at me.

"Ahh, that's good to hear. Well we must be going to find the others..." Mark oppa tries to say brightly, hands tight on my forearms, trying to avoid a confrontational scene.

But as oppa nudges me forward, stirring my frozen feet into action, a quiet voice sounds up, almost as if he's speaking to himself.

"Are you going to pretend like nothing happened? Like you weren't caught in a lie? That you have no regrets? More fool me for thinking and hoping otherwise..." he says, sadness bleeding into his tone, piercing my heart with the intensity hidden behind those words, heart wrenching and forced to feel the same. It hurts, aches...my hand fists as it comes to rub at my chest, try to ease the pain in it.

And I want to turn around, apologise but he's gone, melting into the crowd easily. And I can feel oppa's arms rub soothingly on my own shaking ones, hear the murmurs distantly.

But it doesn't get rid of that feeling.

The feeling that I had wronged him.

And hadn't made amends. Or apologised properly.

JIN POV:

Namjoon is far too calm and collected considering that we had just walked away from our mate...our mate- and his face hadn't even looked even the slightest affected. Just a cool, calm collected expression.

And it was infuriating me. Was he feigning ignorance or did he really not realise?

And when we'd finished talking to both the gallery owner and curator, a woman who had seemingly appeared out of nowhere to slide next to him and confirmed that we had in fact offered a sum amount that was sufficient to ensure that Amparo's paintings would be ours to collect after the exhibition was over.

But the moment the two of them had moved on, I snatched Namjoon's wrist, drawing him to a secluded corner beyond the exhibition hall, stepping outside so we could talk.

"Really Joon? The first time we meet our final mate and you're telling her off?" I hiss, trying to keep my annoyance at bay. The desperation to go back and find her thrumming wildly through me.

His face melts into an expression of surprise, then scepticism and then confusion.

"Hyung, what do you mean by that?" he asks, stepping closer.

My brows furrowed in confusion- was he genuinely not understanding?

"That girl, was our final mate." I say slowly, but his frown deepens. As if he's deep in thought. His face clears but it still looks torn- as if he's trying to find an easy way to break something to me.

And the look on his face alone is enough to begin the stirrings of panic deep in my gut.

"Joon..." I say softly, feeling my heart clench with fearful anticipation.

"Hyung...I think you're mistaken. She can't be our final mate." He says, those words sending my world crashing down around me.

My eyes widen.

"What? Why?" I say, nervous- stomach churning violently.

His face is sympathetic.

"She's the Im's nestling. If she was our mate, her body would have rejected the bonding." He says, words breaking my heart further.

But that can't be. I saw her in my dreams, my prophecies led me to this point and even if they hadn't- there's no ignoring the undeniable strong pull towards her, an urge to get closer- the tether between our souls reeling me in.

There's been some sort of misunderstanding. A big misunderstanding. Somewhere there's been a loss of communication. Because there's no way that our final mate has already been claimed, and that too by someone who are not her mates.

It just can't be.

I need to find her. Make sure that everything cleared up.

Find out once and for all if she is the last piece that connects us.

TAE POV:

I'm standing with Hobi hyung staring at a piece of art that is kaleidoscope of images- giving the illusion of a shattered mirror, except each shard paints a different scene, a different moment in life, a different focal point.

I step closer with hyung so I can see what it is that has been captured in each shard. Some of them are childhood images- images of a playground imbued with a soft blue glow, a sleeping smiling face in the other, a softly coloured bedroom filled with toys. And then images of looking inwards to a bustling group of students, seeing a lone figure under the shade of a tree. And then there are some less bright- fragments of memories encompassed in a grey tone- bitterness and sorrow seeping from them in images of tears, shattered glass, blood pooling on the floor.

The artwork is a journey of going through life, of experiencing different things.

And it makes me wonder what it is that Amparo has had to go through, has endured as they grew?

And whether they're happy now.

Hobi hyung has a sorrowful expression, almost as if he's experiencing the pain that Amparo has, as if their work has reached out and tugged at his heart- urging him in a silent plea to listen to their tale.

Their work is entrancing.

That's what makes them stand out from the others.

And just as we turn around the corner I spot a figure separating from Mark hyung, ducking out the hall with a hurry and speed that could rival the natural one of a vampire's.

And there's something familiar about the wavy locks that tumble down her back, something familiar about her side profile.

And when I manage to get a glimpse of her full face- eyes sparkling with tears, that I realise I've seen her before.

(Y/N). The human girl with a vampire sister.

And looking back I could call it curiosity, intrigue, some odd fascination to find out why she's crying, something enticing me to go to her that allows my feet to divert from their place next to hyung's and follows her out silently.

(Y/N) POV:

At some point, the emotions begin to choke me, making it almost impossible to breathe properly, throat feeling clogged up. I can feel the sharp sting of tears prickling the corner of my eyes. I gently extract myself from Mark oppa's arms- mumbling about needing to get some air before I leave. The usual warm welcoming atmosphere of chatter now seeming confining and restrictive.

I hurry out of the hall, past the glass doors and only stop when I've reached the back do I stop, chest heaving with the exertion of forcing air into my lungs, loud shuddering gasps as I bend over, hands clasping my knees.

The sting in my eyes becomes too much, and silently tears begin to course down. I sink onto the ground, drawing my knees to my chest as I look up at the starless sky. Allow the cold wind cut sharply into my skin, let the chill sink into my bones and make me numb- push away the regret and guilt that bubbles and threatens to overflow.

I don't know how long it's been until I note someone shift- stepping into view, as if they'd been debating whether or not to turn away. I wipe away the traces of my tears, though the wind has dried them against my skin.

I smile encouragingly at the gangly teenager boy who emerges shyly, hands fidgeting in front of him as he dithers debating whether or not he should step closer.

"I don't bite. Promise." I call, and something shifts and he walks forward- a bit more confident before he stops in front of me.

I pat the space next to me.

"You can sit if you want. Or I could go if I make you uncomfortable." I offer.

The boy hurriedly shakes his head, sitting down quickly next to me, face pale save for the dots of colour on the highs of his cheeks.

"Are you okay? Just wanted a bit of escape from the crowds?" I ask, his head coming down in a slow jerky movement.

"I don't do well with crowds, but my parents insisted I come." He says, voice muffled slightly because of the way his posture mimics mine- knees drawn close to his chest, rocking slightly.

"I know how that can feel. I used to hate crowds, couldn't step outside for a long time." I share, confiding with the boy who appeared in the dark night.

He turns to me curiously.

"Why...you don't have to say if you don't want." He back pedals, biting his lips nervously- and that's when I see them, small fangs that will grow, fully develop.

He notices my eyes and snaps his mouth shut. Seeming frightened and unsure now.

"I won't bite. Vampires are pretty cool, you know?" I say again nonchalantly, twisting so I can face him.

He looks uncertain, afraid.

I tentatively reach out, hand hovering but not yet touching.

"Is this okay?" I ask quietly, not wanting to startle him. He nods his head and when I let it rest- it seems like he'd been holding a breath back, body tense before it loosens.

"I'm guessing you're not fully adjusted to the mingling of both races. But believe me when I say it'll get easier, and you don't need to be afraid." I say softly.

"But what if it doesn't? What if people hate me? See me as a monster?" he asks, insecurity and fear in his words.

My heart aches for him, for someone so young troubled with thoughts about whether he'll ever feel like he belongs.

"You keep trying, you don't give up. You stay true to you. And remember that if no-one is by your side, somewhere out there, this noona is rooting for you." I promise, seeing a spark of hope in his eyes.

He's gravitated closer, almost unconsciously shifting closer to the touch, leaning in.

I smile at the young boy who looks at me with trust.

"I hope you grow into the brave person you're meant to be." I say, seeing his eyes turn slightly red before he's beaming at me, and that smile alone transforms his face and brings just a bit of light on this otherwise dark night. And just makes my own worries abate, seeing him smile without fear, prejudice and worries tainting his mind.

And when his arms shift almost shyly, I open my own out for him, scooping the young baby vampire into an embrace.

"You'll grow into someone wonderful." I whisper. His grip tightens a bit.

And I look up at the night sky illuminated only by the lone crescent moon.

"And you're not alone."

TAE POV:

I shift back from around the corner, never somehow managing to muster the bravado and courage to go talk to her. See if she was fine. And just as I had made my mind to step out, regardless of how things might turn out, I see her attention focusing on the boy on the other end. A new vampire- full blooded, but still really young.

And I see her invite him close, no fear on her face, try to help him open up, offer him comfort in both touch and words even though she doesn't know him.

And I hear her softly reassure him that even though life is tough, even though it doesn't deal you a great hand every time, that hope never truly diminishes. That there's always a spark of it somewhere.

And just like that I melt back into the shadows, turn away even though a part of me longs to turn back- leaving her behind. And the words she'd uttered, the soft comfort she'd given warms my unbeating heart, and makes it patter...just a tiny bit.

----

When everyone is in the car, it's as if a solemn silence has descended, an awful hush that seeps out from the passenger seat and driver seat where Namjoon hyung and Jin hyung are sitting to the back. A shift of tangible worry and confusion in the air, clearly felt by everyone else too.

I wonder what it is. What has happened.

But the tightness of their jaws, and the tight grip Jin hyung has on the steering wheel only indicates at something bad.

And the redness in the eyes that doesn't fade- instincts flaring fully.

Something has happened. Something more than the exhibition we'd come for.

And I know I'm not the only one with a story to share. With a story I might hide.

(TA DA! WE HAVE JOON ADDING MISUNDERSTANDINGS, MINNIE NOT WANTING TO HEAR IT, A VERY GUILTY FEELING (Y/N), THROWN IN WITH SOME COMFORT SHE MANAGES TO GIVE TO A STRANGER- AND TAE HAS BEEN THERE TO WITNESS IT! OH MY, MY MY, I WONDER WHERE THIS'LL TAKE US THE NEXT CHAPTER, I DO KNOW THAT I'M SUPER EXCITED TO GET THERE AND WRITE IT! AHH! I'M SUPER SUPER EXCITED FOR THIS FIC, THANKS FOR ALL THE SUPPORT YOU'RE GIVING MY WRITING! I APPRECIATE YOU ALL LOVELIES! LET ME KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS! STAY SAFE! WE'RE STILL AT NUMBER ONE AND THAT'S DOWN TO YOU GUYS! THANK YOU!)

When you look up at the sky what do you see? Do you see the sun that shines brightly and consistently- always there regardless of what's happening in our world? Do you see the way the hues of the sky shift with the weather- much like our faces do when we experience different emotions? The clouds that come and go- in such unique shapes. We are somewhat like the sky- there's always the unchanging core of who we are, the way we are expressive of the way life affects us, changing and moulding into the people we'll become in the future. But at the end of the day, stay strong and true to you!

Borahae! 💜💜💜

PurpleQueenie <3