Wooyoung was stunned. Immortality? There was no way it was possible. Humans had been incapable of reaching immortality since they were abandoned by magic centuries ago.

So how could Seonghwa claim to have found it now?

"I know, it's breathtaking, isn't it?" Seonghwa chuckled. "I have no words to describe it myself. But I can tell you one thing." He leaned forward and grabbed Wooyoung's chin. "I've never felt more alive."

Wooyoung pulled away and looked at Hongjoong. The assistant was just staring at the glass in front of him with a glazed expression in his eyes. There was longing there, and desire, but also confusion.

"Yes, Hongjoong wanted it too. And as a reward for being my ever faithful assistant," Seonghwa now leaned over to take one of Hongjoong's hands, holding it with a tenderness he had never showed before with the other man, "I decided to uphold my end of the deal."

Hongjoong blinked a couple of times, then very slowly turned to look at Seonghwa. "De...cided?"

"Well, your little stint with the octopus nearly cost you. But your quick thinking excuse proved to be true, so I forgave you for going behind my back. Besides..." Seonghwa yanked on Hongjoong's hand, forcing him out of his chair and onto his knees at Seonghwa's side. "What's the point of eternity if you don't have someone... special... to spend it with."

A chill fell over the room as Hongjoong's eyes widened a little. Both he and Wooyoung watched Seonghwa lean over and grab Hongjoong's glass, then bring it to his lips. He didn't say a word as he started to tip it.

Hongjoong must have known better than to fight it, because he willingly parted his lips and gulped down the liquid inside. And he slowly lost all color in his face as he did...

Somehow, maybe because it was all linked by magic, or maybe because he was physically part of it now, Wooyoung could feel the change in Hongjoong already. It caused his stomach to twist in knots.

This wasn't right... Humanity wasn't meant to have this power. Not anymore. And witnessing what Seonghwa was willing to do to obtain it made Wooyoung believe that was true even more.

He started to shake in his seat as his mind started to spiral out of control.

What did this mean for the humans now? Would Seonghwa really take over and try to rule? What would that mean for the future.

What did that mean for him?

Wooyoung feared that he would be locked in that tank forever.

Once Hongjoong was done drinking, Seonghwa slowly set the glass down, then ran his tongue across the bottom of Hongjoong's lip to gather the rest of the liquid there. He narrowed his eyes before pushing his thumb into his assistant's mouth, watching him without blinking.

And Hongjoong played his part well. He didn't fight it, instead his eyelids fluttered and he sucked on Seonghwa's thumb for several seconds.

"That's it, take it all. And you'll take any more that I give you, right?" Seonghwa's hand slowly rotated to grip Hongjoong's jaw. "This is all still an experiment, so we have no idea if we will need more than one dose or not. How do you feel?"

"Good." Hongjoong answered immediately. "S-Stronger, maybe?"

Seonghwa hummed happily, his hand now drifting up to rake through Hongjoong's hair. "Good. That's excellent. And this is how you'll always be."

Wooyoung shook his head. He didn't know if he wanted to stay here and witness what else Seonghwa had to say or if he wanted to try and run. This horrible turn of events was spiraling into a nightmare.

One that suddenly focused on him with black, joyful eyes. "You should eat, my little merman. You're going to need your strength. There is much more for you to do for me."

His eyes flicked to the food on the table. Despite how hungry his body was telling him he was, Wooyoung really didn't want to eat. He didn't want to celebrate what Seonghwa had done.

The door to his freedom was right around the corner... He could try. Maybe he could get far enough away to at least find a place to transfer and hide long enough for his body to heal, or even just get a message to San.

Or maybe Mingi would be better...

Either way, the merman knew he needed to get out of here. There was one thing from what Seonghwa said that stuck with him more than anything else.

No one knew if this immortality potion needed more than one dose to work or not.

If it didn't... then hope was already lost.

But if it did, that meant that Wooyoung would always be the key. If he could escape, then Seonghwa's plans would be ruined.

Slowly, Wooyoung licked his lips and stared down at his lap. He had an idea... it was extremely dangerous, but it may be his only chance to survive.

.

.

.

.

"So what's the plan?" San asked, stepping forward. His eyes flicked over Mingi several times, now noticing the faint layer of sweat coating his skin that hadn't been there before."

"We go get him." The merman said as if that were the most obvious answer. He leaned into Yunho's touch when the other reached up to cup his cheek.

Jongho pursed his lips and kicked a rock at his feet. "Yeah, that's a lot easier said than done. These men are going to have weapons and tools unlike anything you've experienced. Do you know what a gun is?"

Both mermen turned to the younger and shook their heads.

"It's deadly. One shot from it, in the right location, can kill you instantly." Jongho looked at the other two, who both nodded along with him. "And they have a lot."

"Well slickweed..." Mingi muttered, causing several of the fairies to either gasp or giggle from where they were now perched on both mermen. He raised a hand up to pinch the bridge of his nose. "I mean, I could do the same thing... but-"

"What do you mean?" San felt a chill run down his spine. "Can you attack them with your magic?? Can you weaponize it?"

"Calm down, San." Yeosang grabbed his shoulder. "We can't ask them to do that."

"Sure we can!" San rounded on his friend, yanking his shoulder away. "If they want Wooyoung back then we need to use whatever means necessary." He turned back to the mermen, then snapped, "Right?"

Mingi narrowed his eyes. "This is exactly why humanity lost to ability to wield magic. They grew too greedy, too selfish, too cruel." Each word was meant as an attack, and San knew Mingi believed they were a personal attack against him as well.

"If you think I'm not willing to risk it all for the man I love, then you are wrong, not to mention just stupid." It was a lame insult, but San had a feeling neither one of the visitors knew what he meant.

But Yunho's eyes widened, and he let out a little gasp. "What did you just say?"

"Don't listen to him." Yeosang moved in front of San to act as a wall. "He's upset and just worried. We all are, so we aren't thinking straight."

"I am thinking straight Sangie! I will do whatever I need to do to get him back!" San was yelling now, matching the violent trembles shaking his body. He wanted to punch something so bad right now, and Mingi's face was starting to look like an excellent target...

"I know you will." His friend looked over his shoulder. "And you know I will do anything to help you, within reason. We need to be smart about this. And you being angry isn't helping."

"WE ARE JUST WASTING TIME! I don't want to just stand here and debate whether or not we are doing the right thing! HE COULD BE DEAD FOR ALL WE KNOW!" San felt bad when he saw Yeosang flinch and look down, but he was too far gone now. "Can you do it or not, Princeling?" He sneered, rounding on Mingi once more.

Then he paused when he saw Yunho slowly sink to his knees and Mingi following suit, rubbing the back of his head and shushing him gently. "What is it?"

Yunho blinked a few times, then looked at his chosen mate. "Do you think Wooyoung loves him back?" His voice was soft, as if meant only for Mingi to hear, but something on the wind must have carried it over to the humans as well. They all sucked in a breath and froze in place.

"Love? You mean..." Mingi's forehead furrowed in confusion.

"I know you've read about it. The power of human love. I've... I've always wondered what it was like..." Yunho looked down at where his hands were balled into fists on his thighs.

Silence fell over the small clearing. Even the fairies dimmed their lights to match the now somber mood. One shifted on Yunho's shoulder so she could lean over and pat his cheek a few times, while a few others started to drift over to the humans, as if trying to act as a bridge between the two species.

San wasn't sure what to say... He could hear the pain in Yunho's voice. It bounced around in his head several times, and he knew no matter what the outcome was, someone in this little group was going to be heartbroken.

That's when it hit him. He took a long, deep breath, then slowly walked around Yeosang.

Mingi tensed when he saw San getting closer, but he allowed it to happen. Especially when he noticed San looking at Yunho.

The human kneeled slowly so he could be on the same level as the two strange men. When he spoke next, he tried to keep his voice from trembling, because he knew what he was about to say could mean changing what would happen with him and Wooyoung... "I think you already know what it feels like?"

Yunho's head shot up. "What do you mean?"

San took his turn to look down at the ground, too scared to face the merman as he prepared to reveal what could be one of his worst fears. "You already feel it... toward each other... and..." He sighed, "for Woo... I can see it in the way you two look at each other. And that worry and fear that drove you to leave your home for Wooyoung, that's love as well. At least, it's what we call love."

"I love Wooyoung too." Jongho stepped forward. "It's a different kind of love than what Sannie feels for him, but he's become a really good friend, and I don't know what I would do if anything happened to him."

A soft smile came to San as he remembered trying to explain this to Wooyoung at the lake. "I have a feeling its similar to you two choosing to be mates. Yes," San held up a hand to stop Mingi when he tried to interrupt, "Wooyoung told me a little about it."

"I thought he might have." Yunho twisted his lips to the side. "That scale around your neck is enough of a sign to tell me about his feelings for you. We don't give our scales willingly, even to each other. They are too precious. I just hoped... but it doesn't matter now." He grabbed Mingi's hand and brought it to his chest. "I just need to know he's safe. Then I say we let him choose whatever path will make him happiest."

"Yun... No..." Mingi shook his head a little, tightening his grip on his mate's hand.

"Mingi, there's no point in trying to force him to do something he doesn't want to do. That's how we ended up in this mess in the first place, because we tried to shelter him and told him to stay close." Yunho's eyes flicked to San, and even though there was great anguish in them, there was acceptance as well. "I trust San will take care of him better than we ever could."

San felt his heart swell instantly. He couldn't believe he was getting acceptance right now, but he vowed that he would do everything he could to truly earn it. "I promise, I won't let you down. I will always protect Wooyoung. He... He is my chosen mate." Both mermen let out a small sob at his wording. "I would give my life for his if it meant protecting him."

Mingi took a long moment to mull over what San had said. Then he turned to face the human directly. "Promise?"

"Yes." San bent over so he could press his forehead to the ground. "I promise. You can count on me."

"Then let's go get him."