A Taste Of Midnight

21

As Taehyung and his entourage-Seojun, Hyung Sik, and Min Ho-stepped into the grand ballroom, the air shifted. Draped in opulent silence and eerie elegance, the four vampires commanded attention without a single word. The glow from the chandeliers cast their shadows long and ghostly on the walls, flickering like whispers of ancient power.

Each wore masks crafted from intricate golds, giving them an otherworldly appearance, as if they were specters from a bygone era brought back to life just for tonight. Taehyung's mask, black and laced with veins of gold, framed his intense gaze-a gaze that missed nothing.

The masquerade was a spectacle of wealth and mystery, and Taehyung took it in with a mixture of amusement and boredom. It was just like any other elite gathering...until his gaze fell upon a figure near the far end of the room.

Jeon Jungkook.

The young heir's stance was poised, yet there was a hint of restless energy about him, an underlying intensity that betrayed his composed exterior. He wore a sleek, dark mask that highlighted his eyes, which shifted across the room with focused precision, as though he was searching for something... or someone.

Taehyung's lips curled into a faint smile, his interest piqued, if only slightly. There was something about Jungkook's presence tonight, an almost magnetic quality that hinted at hidden layers. The faint mark Taehyung had sensed on him before lingered, an invisible thread that subtly pulled at Taehyung's awareness. But it wasn't just the mark-it was the way Jungkook's gaze moved purposefully through the room, betraying a curiosity too sharp to be mere chance.

"Isn't that the Jeon heir?" Min Ho murmured, his voice low, laced with dark amusement as he noticed Taehyung's lingering gaze.

"Indeed," Taehyung replied smoothly, his gaze narrowing as he watched Jungkook move through the room, his mask firmly in place, concealing any telltale expressions. "He seems... preoccupied."

Hyung Sik chuckled softly, his eyes glinting with mischief. "The look of a man searching for something-or someone. It appears he's been lured by mystery, like so many before him."

Taehyung's smirk deepened. He had no intention of revealing his own intrigue, especially not to his companions. But a flicker of something darker flashed in his eyes as he considered Jungkook. Whoever had left that faint, almost imperceptible mark on him had done so with subtlety-an art that Taehyung could respect. Still, he wondered who might have deemed Jungkook worthy of such attention.

"Perhaps the Jeon heir will find himself in over his head tonight," Seojun murmured, his voice barely above a whisper, though his smile was wicked. "Humans can be so... fragile when they step too close to shadows."

Taehyung inclined his head, eyes gleaming with quiet satisfaction. "Then let him search," he murmured, his tone laced with amusement. "If he stumbles too close, it won't be our concern. But perhaps we'll enjoy watching."

The four vampires drifted deeper into the crowd, their movements fluid, almost spectral. As they passed, whispers followed in their wake, guests unable to ignore the subtle but unmistakable chill that clung to them like a second skin. But Taehyung's attention flickered back to Jungkook one last time before he disappeared into the ballroom's shadows.

He couldn't help but wonder if Jungkook felt it too-that intangible draw, like a thread connecting them across the room, faint but unbreakable. A game was afoot, but for now, Taehyung was content to watch from the periphery, letting the humans play their parts.

But he knew, with a certainty that sent a thrill through him, that this night would be one to remember.

Seokjin wove through the crowd with Jimin trailing behind, his steps quickening as he attempted to blend in. He knew that if he moved any faster, they'd look more like fugitives than party guests, but the thrill of Taehyung's presence creeping closer was enough to make even a vampire's pulse spike. Beside him, Jimin fought the urge to laugh, his expression somewhere between amusement and mock concern.