New Moon | Vampire TAEKOOK

2 - Familiar Scent

<Taehyung's POV> 

Just nod and smile... Just endure it a bit more, this is almost over... 

Taehyung was standing in the middle of a group of adults, listening to his parents praise him, proclaiming how their son is better than their friends', how successful he is meant to be... Bullshit. That's such a typical thing within vampires... Everyone is so unnecessarily competitive. Why did it matter who was better or not? He sighs despite trying to control himself and rolls his eyes as the boring conversation goes on. His father catches that and gives him a quick intense glare to put him back in his place and the young man looks down, a little guilty. He stares at his empty glass quietly, as he was taught to do. The voices surrounding him slowly start to fade as he gets lost in his thoughts again. What a boring day... Both Seokjin and Namjoon are busy and he has to endure this conversation until the ceremony starts. No amount of alcohol could help him through that, but still he decides to go get more champagne despite hating the taste of it. 

As he mindlessly heads towards the bar, walking through a crowd of strangers and acquaintances, it suddenly struck him; a strong and familiar scent. He freezes and quickly looks around, covering his nose as the smell overwhelms him slowly. Where is this smell coming from? He keeps searching through the crowd frantically, trying to find the source of this scent that makes him dizzy, but nothing... He knows he smelled it before, but where and when? Who? Who are you? he kept asking himself, looking around more and more anxiously. As he turns his head right and left, his vision blurs slightly, it gets harder to breathe, he feels the glass shake as his hand trembles, until suddenly a hand grabs him.

"Taehyung!" It was his mother. "Quick! They are gathering the students, the ceremony is about to begin!" she explains as she drags him across the room.

Everything goes back to normal as soon as he snaps out of it. He stares at the ground in confusion for a minute, processing the recent events... What was that just now? What was that strange feeling that took over, suffocating him? Did he just have a panic attack of some sort? No... He could tell it was something else. He could tell something triggered it. Not something... Someone. 

***

The young vampires took turns to walk up that pedestal where the four clan leaders were standing. It felt endless. Turn by turn, their ranks were revealed by the magical wand the clan leaders took turn to use on their respective students. Taehyung barely paid attention, still focused on what happened near the buffet. He was frustrated at the fact that he couldn't put his finger on this deja-vu he felt... That scent was oddly familiar. But why? He was so sure he dreamt about it. How could it be real? How could he be real? He gulps. It was a new and exciting feeling. somehow, and he liked it. A mysterious sensation that he just can't brush off. Something out of the ordinary. An adventure. 

It occupied his mind so much that he almost didn't notice the Kim leader, Suni, calling his name. Was it his turn already? He glances nervously at his parents, who give him an encouraging nod, and he takes a deep breath before slowly walking up the stairs to join the leaders on the pedestal. Now that he was up there, he could see why other students were so stressed about this ceremony. His fate will be determined in this next minute. Not just his fate, but that of his family too. His clan leader carefully picks up the ceremonial wand and approaches. She has a soft expression and a reassuring smile, which somehow calmed Taehyung down a little. Are you watching? I will make you proud. She waves the wand and recites the spell, then gently touches Tae's neck with its tip, making his rank mark appear. Taehyung looks up at her with worry; his expression changes to fear as he notices surprise on his leader's face. Then she announces it loudly;

"Beta." 

The crowd stays silent for a second that feels like forever, during which Taehyung can even hear whispers, then the vampires clap and the next vampire is called. No... This is wrong... Beta? Only a Beta? It's wrong! A feeling of anger and injustice took over Taehyung as he heads back down and walks towards his parents. He stares at the ground, not daring to face them. 

"...I'm sorry" he says quietly.

He can already predict it without even looking at them. He knows his mother has a sorry look, while his father is probably disappointed and maybe even disgusted at the failure that is his Beta son. No one said anything, which made things worse. The silence was so heavy, and Tae felt tears coming up. He refused to cry in front of everyone, much less in front of his parents. Yet, he couldn't help it... He tried his best to hold it in, guilty. 

"Let's go..." his father simply said. "The rest of the ceremony doesn't matter, only Alphas can be chosen as leaders. We have no reason to stay."

Taehyung nods and starts to head towards the large door of the castle where the party was held. He could hear the leaders calling out the names of the elected students that will be their only apprentices for the next decades until they themselves have the honour to become leaders. Apprentices are the best vampires and students, chosen magically by the Mermaid Pond, a powerful and unique artefact that reveals the truth to whoever asks it a question. It looks like any porcelain bowl, but it contains magical sigils drawn by mermaids. It works pretty simply; just put water in it and ask as many things as you like, and the water will form an image revealing the answer. It is an artefact reserved only for the leaders, however, and is extremely well guarded when it is not used for this ceremony. 

It didn't matter to Taehyung. He listened to his leader's voice asking the bowl the question when it was her turn, slowly zoning out, and as he is about to grab the door handle to leave, he hears his name...

"Kim Taehyung"

He freezes... Hesitantly, he turns around to face the crowd of vampires now staring at him as he was about to leave. He gulps nervously, now that everyone was watching his every move it became harder to breathe. What? 

"Please join me on the pedestal to be titled apprentice properly" his leader continued. 

Since he didn't make a move, his mother gently pushed his back, and miraculously it was enough to make him advance towards the stage. Vampires moved out of the way to make a path for him. Everyone was staring at him in confusion, even the leaders were shocked but tried to hide it. He could hear whispers... But he's a Beta? How can this be? I wish I knew too, trust me...