Depraved

Leaving The Dark

Of course, there were little hiccups in the healing process. The first being- actually escaping from the Dark Hall. It seemed that the higher felt responsible for what had happened, and they were reluctant to release the coven, afraid that word would spread about the catastrophe and spoil their carefully built image.

A number of enforced apologies were meant to come first- though Chan tried to stop them. The higher came to visit a few at a time, offering gifts and fresh donors but he turned it all away. "I just want to go home." And they swore he would.

Of course, it was pure dumb luck that Minho happened to leave his side for once on the night Suho and Chanyeol came by. They'd taken up one of the entertainment rooms as their own since it had the most stuff to do and was closest to their new guest room- only a few doors down the hall. There was a brisk knock, and then Suho swept in first, checking all of the corners and sighing in relief.

Changbin and Felix flanked him as soon as they realized who it was, and Chan lowered his book to watch them approach.

"I told them I didn't need this- but I especially don't need it from you." He whispered, glaring at the taller.

Suho nodded quickly. "I know. I tried to get them to change their minds, but they rarely do. We are bound to this process just like the others."

"Quickly then."

"I'm so very sorry for what has happened. I should have been watching my coven more closely. I shouldn't have disclosed information about the Sundoor- it was stupid and dangerous. I should have worked harder to ensure Minho was safe. To ensure all of my coven's donors were safe." His eyes bounced to Jisung who was frozen in an armchair, puzzle forgotten on the coffee table behind him.

"Don't look at him." Changbin hissed.

Suho blinked and lowered his eyes, elbowing Chanyeol hard enough to make him cant to one side.

Chanyeol's gaze was terrible and dark, but Chan met it anyway. It wasn't difficult to imagine being at his mercy. How frightening that would feel, to be alone with him again.

"My deepest apologies. I should not have abused my coven head's trust. I should not have ordered Wrath to open the Sundoor. I should not have tried to kill you and your coven." His voice lacked any empathy, sounding much like a teen who is forced to read in front of an entire class- monotonous and dull. "I should not have committed an unmendable crime. I should not have let Vermin and Mouse escape."

Chanyeol's poisonous gaze flickered briefly to Jisung and then Changbin.

Jisung whimpered aloud, curling down behind the chair back and Changbin immediately retaliated, kicking the vampire high on the chest. He stumbled two steps away, grinning up at the human with terrible joy.

"You shouldn't harm a MASTER little one."

"You aren't anyone's master. You won't be anyone's master for a very long time. And if you don't get the fuck out of here, I'll let Felix finish what he started the last time you-" Changbin's voice cut short.

Chan and Suho saw why at the same time. Chanyeol's eyes were deeply red.

"No, baby-" Suho started, but Felix was already beside them, moving so quickly it looked like teleportation. He dug his hand deeply into the elder's stomach and Chanyeol snapped back to the present with a cough.

Changbin clutched at his skull, heaving in air like it was limited. "You... BASTARD!" When he lifted his face, he looked so anguished that it was heartbreaking. "You USED me!" He went to walk forward, but Chan caught him by his hips, yanking the human down into his lap.