Prince's Gamble | HAOBIN

23. Telepathy

After leaving Zhanghao to his room, Hanbin had slowly made his way back to his own, groaning as he entered his chambers. Taking off his clothes, he turned on the hot water before getting into the shower. Washing away his thoughts, Hanbin changed into his nightwear, before stepping out of the bathroom and throwing himself on the bed. 

As much as the dinner hadn't been all that pleasant, it had been better than most. Grabbing the book filled with magic symbols and spells, Hanbin turned off all the lights except for the small lantern on his bed. Moving under the covers, Hanbin pulled the blanket over his head, lying on his stomach as he read the book under the lantern's light. He had one quill with him which he began to mimic drawing the symbols with. 

He was about to put the book away and drift off to sleep when he heard the faint creaking of a doorframe. His balcony doorframe. Freezing on the spot, Hanbin felt adrenaline rush through his blood as his mind whirred. Someone entering through his balcony caused him to only think of one thing. The assassin was back.

Hanbin assumed they hadn't realized that he was still awake as he had drawn the covers well over his head. However, if he moved even just slightly it would signal to them that he was very well not asleep. Looking down at the book, he gazed at the page the book was open to. 

Telepathy Rune 

Doing the first thing that came to mind, Hanbin began to carefully draw the symbol on the back of his hand which rested on the page. Once the symbol was complete, it was almost as if he felt a jolt in the back of his head, opening his mind. Following the book, Hanbin began to think in his head of Zhanghao—calling out his name desperately as he shut his eyes tight.      

He was still attempting the spell when the blanket was ripped off of him and Hanbin whipped around, shutting the book as he hid it behind him. The cloaked individual was taken by surprise at Hanbin's consciousness but he hid it well as pulled out a long thin sword. 

Hanbin kicked at him, managing to change the assassin's attention with enough time to get up and out of the bed. Grabbing a practice sword which Zhanghao had left in his room a while ago, Hanbin readied his stance as he faced the assassin. Although it might not seem like it, Hanbin had experienced his fair share of training during his childhood in the King's hope that he and his brother might make great warriors one day.  

As the assassin began to jump at him, slashing and stabbing with the sword, Hanbin dodged, the loud clangs of the swords meeting making his ears tremble. Yet, as they fought, it seemed too familiar. Every move the assassin made, every duck and slice—Hanbin had seen it all before. 

And he realized. 

He knew the assassin's moves, countering them quickly as Hanbin made a lunge for the assassin's black mask which concealed his face. Grabbing a hold of it, Hanbin pulled it off the other's head, revealing the identity of his supposed killer. 

Standing in shock as he held the mask by his side, Hanbin stood, face to face with his one and only brother.

Yujin's eyes were icy as they cut into Hanbin's gaze like a knife, his breath heavy. Hanbin scoffed, chucking the mask away. "Why?" He looked to Yujin. "Why are you doing this?"

Yujin sucked in a breath, his stare hard. "Why?" He said, "Oh wow, look at the crown prince there he goes, Sung Hanbin." He mocked. "But what about me? Has anyone ever stopped to think about Yujin?" He paused as if waiting for a response, "No, because no one fucking cares about Yujin, Sung Hanbin's little brother." Yujin growled before moving closer to Hanbin. "I'm done with it all, I don't care anymore and it's not going to be you but me who sits on that throne." Yujin snarled as he made a swing for Hanbin with his sword, Hanbin dodging narrowly. 

Hanbin backed away, sword held in front of him, "You're just like our father—the same. All you want is power, and that makes you evil." 

Yujin swung again, his movements becoming quicker and angrier, "Evil? Well, I'll be evil if that makes me King." Yujin said. "See because, our father is evil, don't think I haven't noticed that, but at the end of the day he's also the one with the crown on his head."

"You're insane." Hanbin said, his defensive moves beginning to lose against Yujin's attacks. 

"Everyone is a bit insane." Yujin smiled creepily, before knocking out Hanbin's legs which caused him to fall onto his back, the sword knocking out of his hand. Yujin pointed the thin sword towards Hanbin's throat, "No more little boyfriend to protect you this time." He grinned. 

"Goodbye, brother." Yujin said before bringing the sword up and swinging it down to slice Hanbin's throat, Hanbin closing his eyes in fear. 

Just then, Hanbin heard a loud clash of metal above him and he opened his eyes to see Yujin's sword not in his throat but mere inches away from him as a larger sword clashed against it, stopping Yujin's sword. At the end of the larger sword was Zhanghao, his face full of rage as he looked at Yujin.

Hanbin stood up, watching as Zhanghao and Yujin fought until Zhanghao had pushed Yujin to his knees, Yujin spitting at him. Zhanghao turned to Hanbin, "What now?" 

"We take him to my father." Hanbin stated. 

Zhanghao nodded in response, but as his head was turned Yujin took the opportunity to grab his sword, stabbing it straight into Zhanghao's stomach, not missing a second time. Roaring with pain, Zhanghao collapsed onto the floor, grabbing his side as it bled uncontrollably. All of a sudden, there was blood everywhere, and Zhanghao's eyes faded in and out of focus. 

Too many things were happening at once but Hanbin needed to move fast if he wanted to make sure that Yujin didn't get away a second time. Just then, Zhanghao's eyelids closed and his head fell limp and Hanbin knew he needed to do something quickly, 

or else he would lose Zhanghao forever.