(Y/N) POV:

There's a restlessness in me, my head whipping from side to side as I frantically search for something. What is it? What am I looking for? My feet fidget from where they currently stand, itching to move even as I stare at the gallery walls, looking, searching, needing. There's something inside me tugging at me, wounds itself around my heart with intricate ties that yank harshly at my centre- squeezing me mercilessly, forcing the air of my lungs and leaving me harshly panting for breath.

Move. Move. My mind urges me, pushing me feet into motion as I stagger forward, ground feeling unsteady and rocky under me.

I move through the gallery, eyes frantically roving as they search, the betraying sting of tears prick my eyes even as I try to force them away, try to calm my wildly thudding heart. Everything seems out of my control, spiralling out of my grasp and no matter how hard I try to clutch at it, whatever it could be; it slides away easily- as if I'd never had a chance. The walls of the gallery blur and merge, nothing catching my eye. I brush against shoulders, go blindly stumbling into some people, the jolt of the collisions forcing air to be punched out of my lungs. But I can't find it and I can feel despair sinking into me, mingling with desperation. What is it?

It feels like an unknown force is tugging me forward, yanking my body through the gallery, mind blank and unfocused save for the unknown need to find that something. My mind, body and soul betrays me. Operates without listening to me. Something reaching out for me, guiding me closer and closer. Controlling me, guiding my body's movements.

I step into a blank room save for a single canvas that adorns the wall on the far end, my feet hasten in their rush to go forward, to see what it is. My breath quickens, heart beats erratically- loud thumps echoing in my ear. I pause in front of the canvas- find my breath caught and the tears that I've tried so hard to keep at bay, well up and spill over, hot as they course down my cheeks uncontrollably.

My eyes catch onto the painting. Finally see what it is.

A human and vampire intertwined in a loose embrace, complete trust, and love for each other as the vampire feeds from the human's wrist, a flash of fangs latched onto the sensitive skin of her inner arm. Both smiling at each other.

I've seen that painting before, I've made it. So why does looking at it stir up longing in me, a need and want for something more than what my eyes are seeing. A feeling of yearning that makes my soul ache with a feeling of emptiness, a hollowness. I feel incomplete looking at that painting, feel myself as something incomplete.

I want that hollowness to go away, that ache to fade where my heart is.

I want...

I bolt upright, feeling the clamminess of my skin, the sweat pearling at my forehead, as I try and escape the cocoon, I've wrapped myself in before sleeping and now that same cocoon becomes restrictive. Confining.

That feeling of incompleteness still hovers over me, the unknown need for something still hovering over me, even as I focus on my surroundings, see Gyeomie next to me begin to stir.

My chest heaves, desperately trying to fill it with sufficient air- there's a whisper of the ache, a phantom pain- my heart feeling squeezed and wrung out.

Gyeomie quickly rushes up, ears having picked up on the loud thundering of my heart, the slithers of my dream sliding through my fingers even as my mind tries to latch on, tries to figure out what it was.

The dream. The walls so familiar, the high ceiling, the colours. It was the gallery I had dreamt of. But why had I been so hurried, so frantic, so desperate. What had it been that had been calling out for me?

"Breathe (Y/N)-ah. Breathe. What's wrong?" he asks gently, cool hands brushing the strands of hair off my face, his touch makes me aware of how clammy my skin is. But his eyes are focused on me, red peeping through the warm brown as he scans me for any tells.

His warm gentle voice guides me out of the wisps of my dream, the uncertainty falling away slowly as I focus on him, the cool temperature of his skin, his knees brushing against my own, head tilted down to look at me.

When I've finally calmed down, I take a deep breath.

"I dreamt about the gallery hall. There was something pulling me forward, making me move. And I felt hollow, like there was something missing. Gyeom-ah, the exhibition's stress is getting to me." I say, looking down at my lap, where my fingers wring nervously at each other, the tell-tale sign of my fingers as they fidget being the physical manifestation of my anxious thoughts.

He sighs, a long-drawn-out sound, even as he leans to press our foreheads together, looking me in the eyes, holding my gaze there.

"My mallow flower...you have nothing to worry about. I'm here with you, I'll be there every step of the way." He vows, banishing and putting to rest my worries. The old term of endearment rouses a small giggle out of me, brings back the warmth from years ago.

I'll be fine. It'll all be fine.

JIN POV:

My eyes flash red, mind jolting me awake even as the dream remains vivid in my head.

The whisper of warmth, this urge to move and get closer, to find someone, something. The gallery walls I recognise, feet moving forward with a hastened need, an urgency to find something. What. I don't know. I brush past people impatiently, the din of their chatter being secondary noise, a distraction that seeks to derail me from my hunt for something. My feet move faster, my body moving with the grace and speed I've been born with. Move, move. My mind urges, my brain whispers to me of the countless possibilities of what might be waiting.

And then the thought that slithers in unbidden...maybe your last soulmate. The last piece to your soul. Your final mate. It urges. I can feel my heart weigh heavily in my body, suddenly overflowing with worry, fear, doubt.

What if it is? Will I find them? Will they recognise me? Will their soul reach out for mine?

Those desperate thoughts urge me forwards in a panicked frenzy, body screaming for everyone to move away, to get out. And then finally. I reach a door. Tentatively set my hand on it, nervous. But I push it open. And there in the far-end stands a small figure. A girl.

But before I can do anything, go forward, and see who it is. Turn her around so I can get a glimpse of her. The dream shatters, darkness flooding in before my body jerks upright, eyes frantically searching even though all they land on is the familiar bedroom walls. And next to me, asleep and curled into my side is Jimin, nestled comfortably under the blanket.

And I know the dream was a whisper of truth because the dream had been imbued with a silvery glow. The tell-tale sign of a prophetic dream.

A newly rooted seed of hope begins to sprout, an ember of a flame begins to flare. Because somewhere the eighth piece of our soul awaits. Our final mate. And we need to find her.

We need the final piece to our soul.

Just, where are you?

My soul cries out for her, hoping that wherever she is, she knows that she has seven soulmates, all of them waiting for her. Waiting to love and cherish her.

And I hope that whatever it is that bound us all together, brings her towards us. Brings her soul to ours.

(Y/N) POV:

I stand outside the classroom, looking up at JB oppa.

"Oppa can I please go now?" I wheedle, trying to meet his eyes but he steadfastly keeps his gaze away from me, sliding them shut even as he hugs me closer, smothering me with his own scent.

When he finally pulls away, he eyes my outfit critically.

Then with a dissatisfied huff, shrugs off the sweater he has been wearing and brings it over my head, threading my arms through the large sleeves before staring at me with a blatant look of satisfaction.

His fangs poke through as he smiles at me, a wide grin that coaxes a smile of my own out.

"Now you can go, that should be enough to keep your scent disguised." He says, eyes crinkling with laughter as he eyes the way his jumper drowns my arms and hangs over my frame.

"How am I meant to work in such large clothes? Oppa, your clothes are too big." I complain, hands struggling to escape from the seemingly endless fabric, fingers finally poking through as I clutch the edge of the sleeves.

He laughs, warm and fond.

"Aigoo...too cute. How am I meant to let you out of my sight when you look like a little chick? Our chickie." He coos, gently pinching my cheeks, which bunch up as a smile turns my lips up, against my will, my attempt to look cross failing miserably.

I protest but they fade, I can't stay annoyed no matter how insistently I try to.

And with a last hug, JB oppa lets me enter the classroom, watching me fondly as I leave.

I enter, quickly spotting Eunbi unnie, hurrying forward so I can sit in the seat she's gesturing to with a smile on her face.

She scoops me into a hug, a quick tight squeeze, before she lets me go, sliding a takeout cup of hot chocolate towards me. I shoot her a wide smile, leaning forward to peck her cheek in thanks.

My hands wrap around the cup, sighing at the warmth that comes from it, bringing it to my mouth so I can take a small tentative sip, the hot sweet milk filling my mouth.

The professor enters, a smile on their face as they wave the paper that holds our fate. The list of group names. I remain seated where I am, even though it's not my usual seat- the list she'll call out will change the seating anyways.

I clutch at the cup, desperate to know who I'll be placed with.

Eunbi unnie's hand comes to settle on my leg, squeezing reassuringly.

"Groups! Now there's no negotiations. And I expect all of you to be polite and respectful- and everyone to pull their own weight." The professor says, eyes stern as she eyes us all over the rim of her glasses.

And then proceeds to call the names out of the group.

Eunbi unnie's hand squeezes my shoulder as she gets up to go to her group, a silent show of support.

I wait to see who it is that I've been grouped with.

And then I hear my name.

"(L/N) (Y/N), Kang Daniel, Lee Sanmi and Park Jimin." She calls out.

My eyes snag onto Daniel, sitting a few rows ahead of me and Sanmi in the row right at the front. Park Jimin....I turn to see where he's seated. Somewhere near the back.

I've noticed the segregated divide in seating- humans in the front half, vampires in the back half. So based on that alone...we have three humans and one vampire in our group. I wince thinking how it might be difficult to make sure everyone gets along, but I hope they're all willing to try. Willing to cooperate.

----

This is going to be harder than I thought.

Much, much harder.

Sanmi and Daniel had been wary of crossing the unofficial halfway barrier and sitting on the side that the vampire students sat at, and Jimin had outright refused to budge from his seat- so I'd resigned myself to making the first step and made my way to the back, Daniel and Sanmi in tow, albeit wary and slightly reluctant, as we sat down- twisting our chairs so we could face Jimin.

He looked unimpressed, borderline hostile. Eyes cold and disinterested as they roved over us, Daniel challengingly meeting his stare and Sanmi's gaze never even meeting his. His eyes catch onto mine, and I meet his gaze unwaveringly, staring back into his brown orbs. He huffs, eyes sliding away.

There's a period of silence. The other groups have begun their conversations, faltering and slow as they may be, but they've started. Here we're all sitting waiting for someone to say something.

It looks like it might have to be me.

"Umm...so. Is there a specific period of history you guys want to research? Any particular thing you're interested in adding?" I break the silence with my questions.

Daniel stops fidgeting with his pen and Sanmi stops tapping her fingernails against the table- the repetitive pattering sound finally cutting off.

Jimin just sits there. Silent. Unmoving.

"I really like court history." Sanmi says, voice slightly quiet but she looks at me through her bangs, expression hopeful.

I smile back at her.

"That's great Sanmi! But I don't know if it'll be suited to the idea of human and vampire positive coexistence...court life was very socially structured." I word delicately, conscious that the wrong wording could spark an argument about something sensitive.

The hopeful smile slightly diminishes and then Daniel speaks up.

"We could do something about the war treaties, seeing as it took both races to unite to bring end to the world wars." Daniel suggests.

His idea bringing a smile to my face. I eagerly nod at him, writing it down in my notebook.

"Great idea! And then we can talk about how even though the vampires were a major factor in ending the wars, after it all ended- humans went back to shunning their existence. Feigning ignorance." Jimin spits, words bubbling out with corrosive anger, making me flinch against the pure venom that seeps from his tone.

But he's not wrong. His words are true- as horrible as it is, humanity errs far more than it should.

"Listen Jimin...as right as it may be, the topic is emphasising the positive." Daniel retorts, anger flashing in his eyes, finger stabbing violently at the highlighted word on the brief we've all been given.

"How about the aid of vampire medicinal practices. It helped with treated the injured, both races?" Sanmi adds, trying to ease the tension and bring the conversation back on track.

I jot it down, head ducking under the sheer anger I can feel radiating off Jimin, something in his ire making me want to both cower away from it- somehow sensing it'll be explosive as well as rush to placate and soothe him.

I shake the thought out of my head.

"We can also add how most of the frontline soldiers were vampires- being ready and willing to help, braving and placing themselves in the thick of the war." I suggest, the idea bringing affirmations of nods from Sanmi and Daniel. I continue making notes, adding on reference points and books we can use, margins filled with ideas about how we can connect it to the present.

The others continue inputting ideas, soon I have several pages filled with ideas- a solid plan coming in to shape.

But the crackling anger doesn't abate, it seems to thicken the air more and more and I can see it in their eyes- the fear failing to be disguised, the tightness of Danie's hands as they clutch at the edge of the table, body tightly coiled, Sanmi curling back, body tucked in slightly on herself.

My own fingers are slightly trembling, wondering when the self-control Jimin is exerting will snap, and what'll happen when it does.

And then his voice fills the air, quiet but still powerful, a dangerous hiss.

"And let's let humans continue on pretending that vampires are the villains, that they didn't lose anything in the war. That they're not still losing today." his words, crackling with fury wound themselves around my heart with a tight grip, compelling me to listen, forcing me to feel.

I turn to face him, try to calm him even if it's in the slightest. The other groups have begun giving us side glances, whispers of what might be happening, work lying forgotten. Even the professor has stopped from where she has been talking to a group at the front, raised herself upright to look at us.

"Jimin, I know it hurts. I know it's not fair, it's disgusting..." I start, voice soft as I try to soothe him out of his angry thoughts. My hand reaches out to touch him, some instinct guiding me that it may help. Something urging me to get close, to get rid of the barrier that the table poses.

But his hand is snatched away before I can even make contact, revulsion, and something undecipherable flashing in his eyes- a crimson hue that remains even when my hand falls limply back at my side.

"Don't try to sympathise with the humans. Don't try to mix both worlds. If you're a vampire at least stay faithful to your own. You reek of a coven's scent, you're a nestling and this is how you choose to show your loyalty? By trying to be connected with both." Jimin's voice rises in volume, accusations flowing out his mouth in a poisonous torrent.

He's mistaken me for a vampire. The sweater I'm drowned in did its job too well. The startled and confused looks Daniel and Sanmi shoot me don't go amiss either.

"You must be newly turned. But you'll learn soon enough that there's no place where the two can mix. There never has been and there never will be." Jimin hisses, before getting to his feet, purposely knocking his chair back as he storms off, door crashing loudly into the wall when he throws it open- a dent in the wall with the force behind the act.

And when the teacher dismisses us minutes later, it's with a pale face and disappointed expression.

And somehow, I feel responsible. I feel like I've failed to make him feel welcomed in our group.

And that thought weighs heavily over me, my personal raincloud that dampens my spirits.

(A SLIGHTLY LONGER CHAPTER BUT THERE YOU GO! HOW WAS IT? WE GOT JIN'S ABILITY BEING PROPHETIC AND JIMIN GOING MAD! OOF- JIMIN ANGRY IS SOMETHING I HOPE NEVER TO DO, HE IS TERRIFYING! SO NOW WE'RE MOVING CLOSER SLIGHTLY TO THE ANGST, TO SEEING HOW THE OTHERS THINK OF HUMANS- LITTLE DO THEY KNOW....THAT THEIR FINAL SOULMATE IS HUMAN. LET ME KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS, CAN'T WAIT TO SEE! HOPE YOU ENJOYED IT! STAY SAFE LOVELIES!)

Your heart is something both strong and fragile. It's what keeps you alive, sustains your whole body, without it, there is no existence. But that doesn't mean it's not something fragile and delicate, that it can't hurt and ache with pains beyond those that are physical. Your heart is something that can hold an endless number of people, treasure it, cherish it. For your heart is yours. To give and to protect.

Borahae! 💜💜💜

PurpleQueenie <3