Warm Eyes | Hyunchan ✅

XXV [Deceit's Web]

Master Gillet had always been a formidable figure in Hyunjin's life. He had taken the young mage under his wing at a time when no one else would, and had taught him everything he knew about magic. Now, as Hyunjin and Christopher tried to live their peaceful lives in their cozy cottage tucked away in the woods, Master Gillet's sudden appearance sent a shiver down Hyunjin's spine.

"Master Gillet, what are you doing here?" Hyunjin asked, trying to maintain his composure.

"I have come to bring you back," the old mage replied sternly. "Your talents are needed, and running away from your responsibilities will only make things worse."

Hyunjin's heart sank. He had left the royal court and the mage tower behind for a reason, and he had no intention of returning. But he knew better than to defy his old teacher.

"Please, Master Gillet, I just want to live a quiet life now. I don't want to be involved in any more royal affairs," Hyunjin pleaded.

But Master Gillet was rigid, and he wasn't about to let Hyunjin go so simply. "I can't believe you're now living with a vampire. You've got not a clue what he's done." His tone was one of disgust and mockery. Hyunjin remained silent as he cast a peek at Christopher. True, he had no idea about Christopher's past because Christopher had never told Hyunjin anything about himself. "You have to go back and this vampire needs to go back to where it belongs." Master Gillet added.

"Where he belongs?" Hyunjin asked.

"The dungeon, he needs to be punished for what he has done." Master Gillet stated.

"What has he done?" As he stared at Christopher, Hyunjin finally asked. Christopher was deafeningly silent, his stare fixated on Master Gillet, his expression unreadable but his eyes sparkling as if they were talking. Hyunjin could feel the tension rising in the room as he struggled to reconcile his loyalty to his old master and his newfound affection for Christopher.

"Master Gillet, I understand your concerns, but Christopher has been nothing but kind and supportive," Hyunjin argued, his voice filled with concern and resolve.

"He's a vampire, Samuel. You can't trust his kind. They are creatures of darkness, preying on humans," Master Gillet retorted, his voice stern and unyielding. Hyunjin struggled to reconcile his teacher's words with his experiences with Christopher. He knew there was much about Christopher's past that remained a mystery, but he also knew the vampire had saved him countless times, demonstrating kindness and selflessness.

"I won't go back, and I won't let you harm him," Hyunjin declared firmly, his stance unwavering.

Master Gillet's eyes narrowed, the air thick with tension. "You're making a grave mistake, Samuel."

With that ominous warning, Master Gillet turned and vanished into the shadows, leaving Hyunjin and Christopher to grapple with the unsettling confrontation and the unanswered questions lingering in the air. Hyunjin approached Christopher, feeling a surge of conflicting emotions. Without a word, he wrapped his arms around him, pulling Christopher into a tight embrace. The two stood there, locked in a silent moment that seemed to stretch on, a mix of comfort and uncertainty entwined in their embrace.

"I never meant to bring trouble to your doorstep," Christopher finally whispered, his voice tinged with regret.

"It's not your fault," Hyunjin reassured, his voice soft but resolute. "We'll figure this out together."

Their embrace spoke a lot, it was a wordless commitment to weather the storm, to navigate through the darkness that had been put upon them. Their unity felt greater than any external threat at the time. They knew their quiet life had been disrupted when the evening light dropped below the horizon, throwing an orange glow through the cottage windows.

Hyunjin decided to sleep earlier than usual because he felt stressed and tired. Christopher remained nearby, keeping a watchful eye on the younger, his concern visible in his unflinching look, as Hyunjin dozed off. He hadn't moved his gaze for a second until he felt a stinging ache in his back and everything in his vision went black.

....…………………....…………………....…………………

When Hyunjin opened his eyes, he saw a strange ceiling and a tightness around his body; as he blinked, he saw he was tied to the bed with ropes. He couldn't make sense of the situation, and Christopher was nowhere to be seen. Panic coursed through Hyunjin's veins, causing his heart to gallop wildly. He yanked at the ropes, urgently attempting to free himself, but they resisted, biting into his wrists with each movement. His mind was racing with frantic thoughts, but he couldn't figure out how he had ended up in this perplexing situation. Hyunjin tried to relax himself by taking a long breath. He mentally retraced his steps from the night before, looking for any signs that would explain his current condition.

When he saw a familiar face enter in, the loud creek sound of the door drew his attention.

"Master Gillet?" Hyunjin expressed his surprise.

"You useless piece of shit." Master Gillet was in a rage. "You never work along my plan." He went on to say.

Hyunjin was baffled by what he was hearing. His thoughts raced as he tried to figure out how to get out of this dreadful situation. For years, he had trusted Master Gillet, believing that he was working for a good cause. But everything seemed to have been a lie now.

"Why?" Hyunjin exclaimed, barely audible.

The frigid voice of Master Gillet led the room. "You were nothing more than a pawn but you're creating trouble in my way" His dark eyes gleamed with hatred as he circled the bed. "But don't worry, I have big plans for the future." And you will be of great help."

Panic gripped Hyunjin once more, his mind whirling as he anxiously searched for a way out. The ropes sunk farther into his wrists, sending searing pangs up his arms. He knew he had to find a way to break free, to survive this strange game in which he had unintentionally become a participant. But his eyelids were heavy and his body was numb. He couldn't stand up to the power Master Gillet possessed across the room, so his body fell silent and he dropped off.

Meanwhile, Christopher had opened his eyes for the first time since being attacked the night before. When he awoke, he was in an unfamiliar room, his head pounding with pain. As he tried to move, he realised he, too, was bound, his hands tightly behind his back. As he strained against the silver chains, desperate to free himself and find Hyunjin, panic set in. It didn't take Christopher long to realise he wasn't alone in the room. The sound of approaching footsteps sent a shiver down his spine, and he braced himself for whatever was to come. The door opened, and Master Gillet entered with a wicked smile on his face.

"What have you done with Samuel?" Christopher demanded, his voice filled with rage and fear.

Master Gillet's eyes twinkled with delight. "Concern yourself. He's no longer in a position to cause trouble."

Christopher's veins were filled with rage. He fought the shackles with increased energy, his teeth gritted as he pushed against the restraints. "You will pay for whatever you've done to him," he said with a grin.

However, Master Gillet only laughed. "It was never about Samuel, Christopher." He was just a pawn in my great plan. And you, my lovely vampire, are an even more important piece."

Christopher's thinking was muddled with confusion. He couldn't understand what Master Gillet was saying, and the more he tried, the more his brain throbbed with distress. He knew he had to find a way out, to save himself and Hyunjin from whatever demise Master Gillet had planned for them.

Before Christopher might think of a plan, a wave of dizziness rushed over him, and his eyesight began to blur. He struggled to keep the blackness at bay, but his body felt heavy and unresponsive. He could hear Master Gillet's wicked laughing becoming fainter and fainter.

He had no clothing on and numerous injuries on his body when he opened his eyes again. His hands were still chained together with silver chains.

"Where am I?"