𝕘𝕚𝕧𝕖𝕟-𝕥𝕒𝕜𝕖𝕟 | ᴇɴ-

𝟏

I open my eyes to the gray ceiling of the orphanage, a ray of sun creeping in through the crack between curtains. I sigh. This is the start of our new life.

I get up and take in my new surroundings, trying to familiarise myself with them. Starting today, this has to be the place I call home. The room is small compared to my old bedroom and cramped with four bunk beds. The figures in them is the only thing that actually feels like home.

Some of them mumble in their sleep, but they don't stir. I quietly make my way outside to catch the bathroom down the hall before anyone else. I breathe easily in the emptiness and lock the door behind me. Just a few minutes before we officially start anew.

My eyes are an innocent hazel in my reflection and, after opening my mouth, I confirm that my fangs are a normal size. At first glance, I look as human as ever.

Let's keep it that way, I promise myself and the others. This is our chance to fix my mistake. This is my chance to right myself. The girl can't find us here, or so I tell myself.

⭒ ＊ ⋆＊ ✧ ＊⋆ ＊ ⭒

The seven of us make our way to the dining room to eat breakfast. I try to conceal the discomfort I feel with the sun shining in through the windows, even through the light curtains.

There are other boys, though not many, and some maidens bustling around with trays of food. The Mistress is fixing the curtains across the room from us since they've stuck together. When she spots us she smiles kindly and approaches.

"Good morning, gentlemen!" she chips. "I hope you all slept soundly. Don't be shy and grab a tray. Our cook will fill it up down the line."

She gestures to the counter lined with a couple of boys getting their food served. A woman, who I assume is the cook, scoops something into their plates.

We stay in place, unsure yet. We're used to servants bringing the food to us, but this is our new life. Things will be different. I need to keep reminding myself that.

"You're safe here," the Mistress adds at our silence. "I'm sure it's a lot to take in, what just happened to you, but I promise you don't need to worry about anything anymore."

What just happened to us. A little white lie I told her when we came here in the middle of the night, tired, afraid, and dirty. Our story was that a fire had burned down our village and left us orphaned.

"Thank you," I say and move to grab a tray. The others follow my lead and make a line behind me.

Sunoo looks tired, but not sickly like he used to, just like Jay. Niki is holding hands with Sunghoon and has a nervous look on his face but doesn't say anything. Jake smiles shyly at some of the other orphans, trying to be friendly.

"Do you think they're looking for us?" Jungwon asks as he moves to stand beside me.

It has been a week since we left the castle. The King and Queen should be arriving in a few more days, but maybe they have already received a letter with the news of our disappearance.

"I don't think they will forget about us," I tell him, unsure if it's comforting enough.

"Let's just hope we're not recognised," Sunno says behind us.

Once our trays are filled, we go to an empty table. I sit at the head, angled in a way that the sun doesn't disturb me too much. It has been a very long time since we sat together to have breakfast like this, I only wish it were under better circumstances.

"Well, I, for one, don't miss sleeping in the woods, I don't know about the rest of you," Jake comments, shoving a spoonful of oatmeal into his mouth.

"This is definitely an upgrade," Sunghoon agrees, moving the food around his plate.

"Is that a piano?" Jay asks suddenly, looking beyond our table to the room beside this one. It looks like a living room, with sofas and an old clock hanging from the wall. There is a squared old rug in the middle and, indeed, a piano pushed into a corner beside a lamp.

"Didn't you always want to learn piano?" I remember him brooding over having to take Knight sessions instead of Arts.

"Yes I did!"

"Maybe you can start now, hyung," Jungwon says happily.

Maybe this is better than I thought. Maybe we can finally leave our curse behind and be normal again. I realise now that I didn't have nightmares last night and the girl's voice is a fading memory.

The piano looks like a promise for a new future, where we can finally be ourselves.