The Vampire Heirs | ATEEZ

2: Cutting Ties

  It was almost dawn when the ritual finished. The King's coffin was about to be moved and hidden underneath the palace of Amaris. The 8 Princes held the coffin of their father and they went down the stairs in silence. As they reach the end of the stairs, Yunho felt sick. The place was dark and eerie, but thanks to Yunho and Jongho who have the power to transform into wolves, they easily made it inside and stopped at a small room. Outside the room had their father's name carved on the steel doors of the small room. Hongjoong used his telekinesis and opened the door, revealing a pit where the coffin should be placed. 

  They slowly and carefully placed their father's coffin in the pit. When they placed the coffin, they let out a grunt and dusted off their hands. Hongjoong was about to go out when Seonghwa stopped him. 

  "We still need to say our pledges." He stated. Hongjoong squinted his eyes annoyed by such activities but then obeyed the oldest. 

  "Seonghwa you start." Said Wooyoung who grew a bit bored with the situation. 

  The Princes did honestly hated their father. He was cruel and did nothing but pain to them, which is why they grew up without having a good bond with each other. Each of them did make a good bond with their mother, however, they bonded with her secretly afraid that their father can find out of their good relationship with their mother. The death of their father didn't bother them much, but Yunho had grown fond of his father when he was a teenager. 

  The other Princes didn't know nor have witnessed their father smiling at them, except for Yunho. At first, Yunho thought his father was evil and merciless that his father even had the gut to hurt his own sons. But when Yunho made his father lose in their battle training, the King was happy for him. He wanted the best for his sons but seen none of them make an effort besides Yunho. In secret, Yunho and their father made a good bond with each other once, and that was when Yunho's point of view change, making him the one who was more emotionally hurt when they stood in front of their dead father.

  Seonghwa gave Wooyoung a nod and he held a Chrysanthemum flower. "Father, I want this day to respect your death. And I promise to do all I can and become a great King like you are." Wooyoung scoffed lowly and was nudged by San who stood beside him. Seonghwa sighed, not having the energy to argue with Wooyoung, and just continued. "As the eldest son, I find it unfair for me to still participate in the King's Trial. But I promise you I will sit on the throne and show my brothers that I deserve the throne of Amaris." Seonghwa then threw the flower to their father's coffin.

  Hongjoong took a step forward and was next to say his pledge. "*sigh* How unfortunate is it for you to pass away, right father?" Hongjoong glanced at Yunho then smirked. "Out of all my brothers, I know you were more fond of me since I was more active in battle." Yunho tried to fight the urge of laughing and it made Hongjoong irritated. "And as I have said before, no one can sit on the throne but me."

  Hongjoong and Yunho had a staring contest and was stopped by Seonghwa. Seonghwa looked at Yunho and gave him a nod, signaling him that it was his turn. Yunho sighed and held the Chrysanthemum in his left hand twisting it from left to right. Yunho started to lowly chuckle making the others confused. "I didn't know you were fond of a weak son father." Hongjoong clenched his fist knowing the person Yunho was referring to. "But I guess you majoring in theatre arts at Amethyst Academy did work somehow." Wooyoung held his laugh because of how Yunho was dissing Hongjoong. Yunho sighed again and threw the flower to the coffin. "Rest well father."

  Hongjoong glared at Yunho who was not fazed by Hongjoong's glare and just grinned. Yeosang nudged Yunho who was beside him and Yunho eyed him down. "Nice shot," Yeosang whispered. Yunho scoffed and shook his head, not believing how Yeosang casually talks to him as if they were on good terms.