Traitor's Song

35. Inner Strength

Seokjin and Jimin were the only ones up as the sun rose. Henley had shifted during the night so that she was now sleeping with her head on his lap. Taehyung and Hobi were curled up on the ground on the other side of the fire; both looking peaceful for the time being under their respective blankets. As Jimin looked over at Seokjin, he noticed that Seokjin had his phone out, staring at the blank screen.

"What's up?" asked Jimin as he looked over at Seokjin.

"I was just wondering if I ought to call my cousin," said Seokjin as he looked over at Jimin. "I thought that I could help Henley with all of this, but it's getting out of control so fast. At first it was just you, Hobi, and Jungkook, but now we have Taehyung and Yoongi too...I just think he ought to know. This is his kingdom after all - and if someone is after you or if Jungkook and Yoongi are in trouble -he could help us."

"You respect your cousin a lot."

"I do," said Seokjin with a thin grin. "Do you think it would be alright to call him?"

"If you trust him, we trust you," said Jimin. "You haven't steered us wrong yet."

Seokjin appreciated hearing those words, nodding his head. Before he could place a call though, a cry could be heard echoing out through the trees around them. Its echo carried such fear and pain that it woke up those who remained asleep.

"What was that?" asked Henley as Seokjin scrambled to his feet and grabbed his weapon.

Another scream echoed out then followed by a distinctive growl.

"You don't think that could be..." Jimin's question trailed off as he saw that Seokjin was already heading towards the trees.

"I don't know, but I'm about to find out," he remarked quickly, turning back to look at Jimin. "Stay here with the others."

No one had time to argue with Seokjin as he disappeared into the woods in the direction of the noise.

- - -

Even from six feet under, Yoongi could hear the screams of terror as clear as day. He felt a shiver run down his spine as they continued, recognizing the howl of pain as coming from the vampires that had put him in this predicament in the first place. It didn't take Yoongi long to figure out what exactly was the cause of their screams. Hope filling his chest, he brought both of his hands up and pounded them on the lid as hard as he could given the confined space he was trapped in.

"JUNGKOOK! JUNGKOOK, I'M DOWN HERE! HELP ME!"

Even though Jungkook could hear Yoongi's screams, the tainted blood of that bait had taken full control of him and brought out the werewolf in him again. Blood dripped from his maw as he glared at the vampire on his butt before him. His ghost white hand was pressed up against his shoulder; his right arm completely torn free.

"I...I thought a vampire's blood just turned you insane, not...not made you a crazed killer..." babbled the one eyed vampire as he quickly cast his gaze away from Jungkook to his two mangled friends who were still and lifeless on the ground. They'd been so torn apart there was no way for undead life to pulse through them.

"P-please spare me..." begged the one eyed, one armed vampire in front of him, using his heels to scoot back further away from Jungkook as he approached him slowly with his teeth bared.

"JUNGKOOK! JUNGKOOK!"

Jungkook - still growling - slowed in his progress once more when he heard someone calling his name again. Somewhere deep inside him, he knew who that cry of help belonged to and was desperate to save them. However that was overshadowed by the ill effects of the vampire's blood. The savage desire of the werewolf side of him took over the human part that wanted to save one of his best friends. Jungkook focused back in on the trembling vampire in front of him and was about to finish him off like his other two friends when someone stepped between him and the vampire brandishing a sword. Jungkook looked at the man before him who - despite having eyes the size of quarters at seeing him - kept his weapon steady in his hands.