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The Kwon house is nothing short of remarkable. To call it anything other than an estate would be an insult, and honestly, Sulli's never been in a house that's felt quite this big before. Of course, Adelaide could have stayed here, but she'd told Sulli she preferred living on campus anyway, with Cassiopeia and the rest of the Lore Club. Their gaze flickered out the large window of Adelaide's bedroom, scanning the soft, glowing gardens that surrounded it. It was wild and untamed, embracing the natural beauty of Ireland. They stretched into the horizon, fading into old-ace forests and glittering waters beyond that.

It was poised and regal, but there was still something so deeply unbroken about it, something that dug phatasmal talons into the ground they stood on, and said here.

Behind them, Adelaide adjusts the straps of their dress. It's irresistibly beautiful, it certainly was off of them anyway, but even without looking in the mirror, Sulli likes how it feels. The top piece is a boat neck, although there's a second pair of sleeves that cross their forearms, leaving their shoulders exposed. It's black lace, translucent enough to see Sulli's skin in between the patches. They do love the top, but the bottom is where the actual dress part comes in. Although, they suppose it's more a skirt. It's the same black coloring, hugging their waist in hips and flooding down to the ground, with a thigh-high slit on the right side.

Adelaide pushes them in front of the mirror, and they don't bother trying to contain their expression as a grin splits over their face. "Oh, wow." They don't just feel pretty, they look pretty, Adelaide grins behind them.

"Oh wow is right Sulls, you look gorgeous."

"Addy! Could you tie this for me?" Cassie pokes her head out of the bathroom but pauses, and near squeals.

"Sulli! Oh my god!" She presses her hand to the top of her dress to keep it up, hurrying over. "You look amazing! Oh, I just knew it would look good on you." She turned her back to face Adelaide, holding the two strings at the top of her dress so she could tie it. Addy obliged, and Cassie continued to prattle on, "I should have known, me and Adelaide are always right."

"It's true." She nods in response, finishing tying the dress before pulling Cassie back to face her. "There. You look perfect." Adelaide vanishes into the bathroom then, with her dress in hand.

Cassie laughs, stepping up to take her turn in the mirror, and Sulli smiles warmly at the both of them. Adelaide isn't in her dress yet, even though people have already begun arriving. It's only cause they wanted to do their usual Samhain routine before any of them got dressed. Cassiopeia spins a little, and Sulli steps back to admire her dress all the same.

It's a deep brown, just a shade darker than something like hickory, and she was right when she said the back of the dress was stunning. The fabric hugs the back, hooking just above the ends of her spine, leaving the back almost completely bare other than strands of muted pearls that are draped over the bottom half, skimming across her skin in strings. It's a silky, glimmering fabric with a sweetheart neckline and layered fabric near the bottom of the dress.

Adelaide returns finally, and Sulli has to bite back an audible gasp. Cassie doesn't bother trying to hide it. It's glittering red, hugging her frame as it accents each curve in blood-red vivacity. The neckline plunges down her chest, and Adelaide grins, giving a little spin as she giggles, the sound sparkling over the room. "Based on both of those looks, this dress was definitely the right choice."

Madden will certainly think so.

Beside them, Cassiopeia grabs their arm "Oh! I almost forgot I brought your jewelry for tonight."

"My jewelry?" Sulli tilts their head, watching her dig into her bag and retrieve a small box.

Adelaide looks away from the mirror in front of her to explain, "Cassie makes jewelry for each of us, it's a tradition that we wear one of her pieces on Samhain, it's like a good luck charm." She motioned up to her hair, pointing to the hairpiece that was keeping half of her hair up. It was an array of blooming red flowers, bedazzled with red glitter, black and gold leaves sprouting from around each of them.

A moment later, they're handed a box, and once again finding themselves fighting back the emotion of knowing what it's like to have real friends, they open it to find a pair of earrings. It looks like a collection of bubbles, dripping downwards, with a glittering black liquid inside that shifts with each movement. "Oh, Cass-"

"You'll wear them tonight, won't you?"

Sulli looks up to find Cassie's eyes almost pleading, and they reach over to take her hand. "I'd love to, it's not like I have other earrings to wear anyway." They mainly wore studs most of the time, just to keep them from closing up, but it's nice to have a special occasion to wear earrings. She grins right back, wrapping arms around them in a tight embrace before standing back up and brushing her dress off.

"In that case! It's time to make our grand entrance." She pulls up Sulli with her, pulling them back out of the room, and Sulli notices the jewelry she's wearing in her hair. It's kept up mostly, with a golden claw clip that is strung with those same muted pearls. It's only a moment later before she pulls to a stop again, and sets Sulli on one side of Adelaide, before setting herself on the other side. "This is my favorite part." She giggles, and Adelaide rolls her eyes, playfully swatting her.

"Just don't slip on your skirt, Sulli."

"Right." They nod, peering past the corner where the grand staircase enters into the ballroom. There's distant chatter, along with the sweet sounds of the musical accompaniment. It feels a little surreal once they start walking, and Sulli can't stop their ear-splitting smile the moment their feet hit the first step. It feels like it should be from a movie, and people stop and still their dancing as Adelaide Kwon herself, walks down the steps of her parent's estate, flocked by two of her very best friends. Sulli doesn't risk focusing on anything other than careful, meticulous steps until they reach the bottom of the staircase, and look up to find the rest of Club Lore staring directly at the three of them.

Warmth crawls up their features, but they again follow the girls over to the group, watching as Kelsey, who is wearing a warm amber shirt, left partially unbuttoned, tucked into black pants, grins. "Oh my fucking God, you guys look incredibly- don't they look incredible?" Kelsey sets his hand on Madden's arm, and it seems to jolt at least him from their silent stupor.

A sheepish grin crosses his face before he ducks his head into a nod, "You do all look incredible."

Adelaide shares the smile, and it's softer than the crass grin that occasionally curves her lips. "Thank you, Madden, now then- who's going to dance with me first this year?"

Sulli raises their eyebrow, and Cassie leans over, "Because Adelaide is one of the hosts, her first dance is usually an outlook on the rest of the night! It's superstition, but Julian is the best dancer, so it's usually him-"

"I think Madden should." Sulli's head snaps up as Julian speaks. He's wearing a brown suit, inlaid with gold atop a black shirt, but he shakes his head, running a hand through his hair.

Madden snaps back over to him, "What?"

"I think you should dance with Adelaide. You've gotten a lot better at the waltz anyway."

Madden is almost glaring at Julian, but Adelaide ignores it, interlacing her arm in Madden's before tugging him away, "Come on then, Mads, show me how good you've gotten."

Beside them, Cassie giggles again, turning to, "Would you dance with me, Kells?" Sulli refuses to look at Julian, even if they can practically feel the stare that he's giving the two as they follow Adelaide and Madden out to dance.

"You know this is your fault, Jules." Magnus is taunting him. He's wearing a black shirt too, with a maroon vest and pants over it, and a matching tie beneath the vest. "You're the one that broke her heart."

"Shut up, Magnus." It's half-hearted, and Julian shakes his head again, grumbling about something before walking off down the edges, likely looking for another dance partner. This leaves Sulli in the very awkward position of standing in between Magnus and Yaşru, who's wearing a black turtleneck and pants, with a deep burgundy, or maybe a wine-red overcoat over it. They can feel the equal weight of both of their glances, looking down to avoid the pressure to be the one to talk to them first.

"Sulli-"

"Do you want to dance?" Magnus cuts Yaşru off, and although Sulli's head snaps up to face Magnus, they know that he's sharing a smug glare right back at Yaşru instead. It's only a moment before golden-imbued eyes look back at them, offering their arm and another very haughty look back at Yaş, to pull them onto the dance floor.

"Um- Mags?" Sulli lets themselves turn into their friend, "I don't really know how to dance."

Magnus is quiet for another minute, before shrugging, "That's stupid." Sulli feels heat cross over their face again, before his voice turns softer; affectionate almost. "I'll help you, Sulls, just relax."

Oh.

Magnus is still unearthly warm, and his hand glides against Sulli's skin, leading him into the slow dance. "You look nervous."

"I'm bad at controlling my facial expressions, Magnus, I thought you already knew that." They snap back, but it holds no real malice. They're flustered, and Magnus knows it. He grins at their response, leaning closer towards their ear.

"You really are, aren't you?"

Fuck.

"You're being a dick, Magnus." Sulli wants to fight back the heat that is rushing into their face, but it's really hard when someone so goddamn hot is right there.

"Maybe." He grins again, before turning to spin Sulli out, and-

Oh.

Sulli's never been spun before, so when Magnus pulls them back that embarrassment is all but gone, and a smile is now adorning their face once more. "Oh." The words come out humiliatingly breathless, but to be spun in a skirt now has to be one of Sulli's top memories. Magnus' hand slides back to their hip, and the look he's giving them is so, so much softer.

"What?"

"You spun me." It feels so incredibly childish to feel like this, but Sulli laughs a little anyway, under their breath. "I liked that."

"Do you want me to spin you again?" Sulli nearly misses how soft Magnus is talking to them like they're something to be treasured and protected.

"Mhm."

So Magnus spins them again, and when Sulli goes back to him, he's smiling too. It's warm, and much more genuine than it usually is, just like it was at Kelsey's party. It tugs at Sulli's heart a little, and they share the smile, arms instead worming up Magnus'chest to embrace him, setting their head on his shoulder. "Told you, you cared about me."

"Well." Magnus scoffs, but his arms fall back around Sulli instead and warmth envelopes them. "Maybe a little." Magnus might not ever like Sulli in the way they like him, but they can live with that.

Maybe a little is enough for me.

Sulli doesn't want to think about leaving Club Lore. Just for one night, they don't want to think about it at all. Just one night where they can dance, laugh, and be in a pretty dress without thinking about the strange tattoo on their shoulder, or the inevitable loneliness the next semester is going to bring.

Sulli pulls back only in time to see Yaşru appear out of quite literally nowhere, and Magnus rolls his eyes, "Don't be a drama queen Yaş, it's not my fault I asked Sulli before you could."

"Well, it's a new song now, so Sulli." That weighted glare is back on them, "Would you like to dance with me?"

"Alright." They don't really want to get in the middle of whatever argument Magnus and Yaşru might be having, but they pull away from Magnus, leaving him to grumble something to Yaş before he vanishes into the crowd.

Yaşru looks down at them, before taking their hand in his own, setting his other one on their waist. "You've never waltzed before?"

"I was raised in Greenfield, Indiana, Yaş, what the hell do you think?"

He raises an eyebrow, huffing, "You're lucky I stopped Magnus from dancing with you any longer, you would have gotten even more bitter even a second longer with him."

Sulli sighs a little, but can't resist the smile as they're guided across the floor.

We'll keep you safe.

The reminder hits Sulli hard, and they blink for a second. In the back of their mind, they know that they probably won't get a chance like this again to ask him, so they look back up at him. "Yaşru?"

"Mm?"

"When you said you'd protect me, did you mean it?" Sulli didn't mean for their voice to come out so soft, but Yaş's gaze was still just as heavy as it was the first day they saw it, and right now, he was holding eye contact like his life depended on it.

He's quiet for a moment longer, and in another second tugs Sulli impossibly closer, setting his chin atop his head. "I'm sorry that I couldn't, Sulli."

"What- no, I'm not blaming you for what happened with Rowan, or the Fae, or anything like that-"

"Still, I told you-"

"Yaşru." Sulli pushes away, just enough to be able to look up at him. "Yaşru, I know you'd of come if I had called you. You're a good person. You care about people."

He's staring at them again, gripping Sulli's arms in his hands, "I'm a good person?"

"I think so. Even if you have your moments." Yaşru's gaze flattens, and Sulli ducks their head, stifling a giggle before smiling back up at him, "But yeah, I think you're a good person, Yaş. I mean, your dog seems to think so, and they're excellent judges of character, so I think-"

Sulli's suddenly in an almost bone-crushing hug, with Yaşru's head half-buried in his neck and shoulder. "You're a good person Sulli. One of the best, probably." Sulli feels their face heat up again, and warmth seeps down into their chest. Yaşru pauses, "You also smell good, like all the time, and you're so pretty, you make me want to rip my eyes out."

Oh God.

"And I'm sorry."

What?

Sulli feels themselves being set down again, with Yaşru staring back at them. "I shouldn't have kissed you."

Oh.

"I know Magnus already kissed you that night too, and I just-"

Oh.

They didn't like Sulli, not even close to what they had thought from that kiss. They were playing them to get back at each other. They weren't anything but a pawn in a game of chess, used as a distraction before being discarded. Even only half an hour ago, when Sulli was asked to dance, it was to jab at Yaşru, not to dance with them.

I don't care about you.

"Sulli?" Yaşru is talking to them again, cocking his head in that puppy-like manner, and Sulli snaps their hands back.

"I think- I just need some air, Yaş, I'm sorry. It's really warm in here." Not a complete lie, really. Sulli could benefit from a breath of fresh air, and before Yaşru can object, they duck through the crowd, feeling their chest tighten and constrict under the lace of the dress. 

They know the house well enough to find a doorway, stepping outside as cold, winter-kissed air greets their overheating skin. Sulli presses a hand to their chest, desperate to stop any tears from coming as they duck out of eyesight of the lit-up doors, music, and life streaming from inside, and around a corner of the house to press their back against it.

At least it's soothing out here. And Sulli squeezes their eyes shut, pressing their hands into their eyes.

Oh God, please don't cry.

It would be fine if no one could see them, out here in the darkness, but close enough to the house that it felt safe enough.

"Well. Fancy seeing you here, Sulli."

Sulli's eyes snap up, only to meet a face that they'd really never rather see again. Ginger hair, and sparsely dotted freckles, with dark, malicious, revenge-seeking, eyes.

Rowan.

"All alone too. That's too bad." he cocks his head, feigning innocence as he begins walking towards them. "Well this time, Sulli, you aren't going to be able to walk away."

All at once, Sulli watches in horror as his skin morphs and swells, stretching unnaturally and sprouting hair. His face lengthens unnaturally, and the sharp sound of bones placing themselves echoes against the sounds of the hollow forest behind him. It's only a moment before a very large wolf is stalking towards them, teeth bared.

Sulli feels fear root them to the ground, despite their instincts screaming at them to run, run, run. The thing is, Sulli was taught not to run when they were scared because whatever was scaring you would chase you to the ends of the earth one way or the other. They learned as a child not to run from their father, their cousins, or their bullies, because there was no use.

You can't outrun evil.

"Get the fuck away from them!" The words are sharp and lethal, shooting through the air, and the scent of smoke hits their nostrils before Magnus slams himself into the wolf with surprising strength, half-tackling it almost ten feet away before getting to his feet. It takes Sulli a moment to realize Magnus' skin is smoking, and once again, it leaves Sulli's instincts screaming at them.

Run, run, run.

The crackling sound of fire is accompanied only by the snapping of building bone, and two horns emerge from Magnus' hair, curving like a dragon's would. He gets taller, scales of red and gold fury rapidly consuming where his human skin had been only a moment ago, while his eyes slit into sparkling gold, staring back at the wolf that is now rising to its feet. "If you hurt them, Rowan, I'll kill you." Magnus' voice is almost the same, but it sounds irresistible now, threatening and smooth. "Oh wait, you already did." Then he launches himself at Rowan again, and the smell of burning fur lines Sulli's nostrils.

Run, run, run.

Finally, Sulli's body obeys the command, and they dart back around the corner, back into the hallways of the Kwon estate as their mind rapidly tries to piece together what just happened. They dart around the next corner, down a narrow hallway, and slamming into the muscular chest of who else other than Yaşru Parizad. Sulli can't breathe, but they feel the tightening chill of his hands on their arms. "Sulli? What happened? Are you okay?"

I know what you are.

It's why Sulli couldn't join the club in the first place. It's why Adelaide hid it from them. That's why there are only seven of them. It's why the temperature in the room dropped when Madden threatened Rowan. It's why Magnus is unnaturally warm, and probably why Yaşru is unnaturally cold. It's why Cassie said questionable things about Sulli being an other. It's what Adelaide meant by all bad. It's how Kelsey knew everything and then some about the Fae. It's why strange, inhuman things have been happening ever since Sulli joined Club Lore.

"Sulli??" Yaşru sounds worried, and finally, they snap their gaze back up to them, in complete realization that not only is everyone in club lore one of them, but everyone here, celebrating the Festival of Samhain is too.

Monster.

Run.

Sulli slams their foot into Yaşru's crotch, and the moment he lets out a pained yelp, Sulli takes off back down the hall. They aren't really sure if monsters have genitals too, but they must if they reproduce (right?), either way, a kick there probably wouldn't feel good to anyone.

Run.

Sulli's gaze sharpens as they skid towards the back entry, through the kitchens. It's safer that way, and Club Lore is less likely to find them in the forest if they do. Their chest is tight with anxiety and dread, and deep, deep fear has begun to rise over every inch of their skin as they skid past a hanging sword on the wall, snapping it off where it's hanging before darting out the door and towards the deep forest of the beyond.

Run.

They're going to find them. Sulli knows it in the back of their mind, but a little more time is all they want - to prepare, to ready themselves to fight back. They don't have time to let their heart shatter in their chest over the fact that this friendship that Sulli had imagined, might have been a means to an end.

Run.

They run for about five minutes before stopping, and yanking off the warm black skirt, leaving them in shorts before setting it on one of the branches of the trees. No doubt will they be able to track them, so it'll be better to give them different directions to follow. Sulli spins on their heel a moment later, ripping off their shoes and throwing them as far as they could in two different directions, before turning sharply, and running forward.

Run.

They can feel the branches whipping their skin, and the stabbing against their feet as they run within the vast collection of trees. The wind is howling, and a bitter chill has crept up along their skin, spreading strings of goosebumps. They can't breathe. It's too hard too, but there's no choice. Sulli has to keep running.

Run.

They don't know how far they run before they're on the edge of collapse, gripping the probably decorative sword in their hand, and fighting off the merciless cold as it begins to sink through their skin and into their bones. Desperately, they glance around, eyeing a tree with branches low enough before shaking their head.

There's no choice.

So Sulli climbs as high as they can manage, standing near the trunk as they clutch the sword with their hand, and do their best to stop breathing so heavily. It can't be more than a few minutes before Club Lore appears.

The real Club Lore.

Yaşru looks the same, at least at first glance, but Sulli watches him swivel his head and fights back the crawling sob of terror. His eyes are wholly red now, searching and prodding, and his canines have lengthened. A swan swoops from the air, landing in front of them, and a moment later Adelaide is in its place, shaking her head. Kelsey's ears have sharpened, and dark, curling horns have sprouted from his head too, crossing arms over his chest. Madden looks the same, other than thin slits of skin on his neck, and his eyes turning white and hollow. Cassie has a set of angelic wings behind her, a pretty pastel blue, her face worn with anxiety and concern. And Julian - who now looks like he is made of stone, with dark black eyes, and the glowing remnants of some kind of tattoo. Then Magnus behind them, with draconic features, and sharp, slitted eyes.

I don't want to die.

Sulli can't hear them, but they know what they're talking about. They know what they're looking for, and there's this deep, sickening feeling of being hunted. They clutch the sword a little tighter, pressing their back as close as they can to the tree they're in, and nonsensically hoping that somehow they don't find them.

It's a silly hope because Sulli knows they're going too. They look again, watching as Julian kneels on the ground, pressing his hand into the dirt, and begins muttering some kind of incantation. The group is still for a moment, before every single head snaps towards the tree, exactly where Sulli is hiding.

All of them. In sync.

It makes Sulli tense so fast that they lose their place in the tree, and it's only another moment before they're crashing through the branches, each hit more painfully than the last, before landing on the ground with an echoing, sickening snap.

Agony roars up their leg, but through tears, Sulli pushes themselves up, holding the sword upwards towards the seven creatures now approaching them

"Please." It's a half-sob, and Sulli doesn't care how weak it makes them sound. They aren't below begging. "Please, I don't want to die."

The world is dizzy, and it feels exhausting even to hold the sword up with the amount of pain they're in, but Sulli doesn't want to die, they've never felt this scared before. So utterly, painfully terrified, like their only choice is to wait for their brutal end.

Their arm gives out as black spots flood their vision, and Sulli does their best to instead curl into themselves, tucking their head between their arms as they await incoming death. Because suddenly, Sulli is a little kid again, cowering in the back corner of their room. "Please don't hurt me."

It's the last words they remember saying, before slipping into sweet, dreamless darkness.

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WYN

eleven !! (tbh listening to Run Boy Run by Woodkid hit so different during that last part of the chapter)

it's starting you guys...sulli figured it out!

which means the real story is only to come <33

all my love to you - hope you enjoyed it!