Half-Blood | NCT DREAM

Chapter 25

Trying to keep their feelings for each other hidden was very difficult for Haerin, as all she wanted was for Mark to hold her the entire day, but he couldn't.

Haerin had a feeling that Dasom knew as the girl was smirking the entire day as she walked alongside Haerin, the group making their way to Eros's house.

According to Mark, who had came here before on another quest, Eros was a mischievous god, who never really gave you direct answers. Haerin didn't know how that was any different from the others, as it seemed like all the gods were like that.

Haerin noticed that Dasom seemed a little nervous, with Eros' bow in her bag. She was going to ask but Jeno approached her instead.

Haerin saw Dasom smile from the corner of her eye after her exchange with Jeno and was glad that the male could help her friend out. It just so happened that Mark had stopped walking, making her run right into his back.

"Sorry." Haerin mumbled as Mark turned around.

"It's alright, you good?" Mark asked. Haerin nodded.

That's when Haerin realized that they had arrived at a grand mansion in the heart of the city.

Eros' house.

The group made their way up the stone steps to the front door. Before Mark's fist could meet the door in a knock, the door swung open, revealing a butler.

The butler allowed them to enter in the grand lobby, and it took everything for Haerin to keep her mouth closed.

"Eros' is waiting in his study." The butler said with a thick french accent, motioning to a door on the side. Mark thanked him in french before leading them to Eros' study.

Eros was sitting in an arm chair, looking out the window as they entered. He wore all white with long black hair and red eyes that felt like they were piecing into your soul when you met them. He wore a devlish grin as they entered, his chin resting in his hand as if he had been waiting for a while.

"What a fine group." Eros commented, his voice rich and deep. "I was expecting four."

"Well, I was not expecting to be trapped in rock." Dasom replied, surprising her friends. Haerin had expected Mark to be the one to reply.

Mark moved aside, letting Dasom move forward.

I mean, it is her quest, Haerin remembered as Dasom stared at Eros, without a hint a fear. Whatever Jeno said to her had definitely helped her regain her confidence.

"What were you expecting, it was Echo." Eros pointed out, staring at his fingernails.

"Why did she even steal your bow in the first place?" Dasom asked, narrowing her eyes. "You should have retrieved it yourself instead of making us do your dirty work."

"Echo is an oread." Eros pointed out. "You need a child of Hades to work around that. It was your mistake for choosing someone else instead."

"What is he talking about?" Haerin heard Renjun mumble.

"To answer your question though," Eros said, putting his hand down to look Dasom in the eyes. "Echo was upset that she fell in love with Narcissus and blamed it on me. Although, if she wasn't such a damn chatterbox, she would have had her voice instead of being spelled by Hera."

"Why are they all such immature children?" Jisung whispered to Chenle, making Haerin struggle to hold her laugh.

"But I don't think you're here to return that." Eros said, a smirk on his face as he motioned to his bow that was now in Dasom's hands. "Isn't that right, Dasom?"

"I-"

Dasom turned around and Haerin watched as she stared right into Jeno's eyes, fear in hers.

"Just tell them." Jeno told her. "They were going to find out anyways.

"Find out about what?" Haechan asked, raising an eyebrow as he crossed his arms.

Dasom glanced at Eros before letting out a deep sigh. "We're not here to return the bow, but here to retrieve Aegis."

"Aegis?" Haerin exclaimed at the same time as Chenle, but with different tones in their voices.

"It's a shield used by Zeus and Athena, made by my father." Chenle informed the confused girl. "It's recognized by the face of Medusa on it."

"But why do you have it?" Mark asked the god sitting casually on the chair.

"I stole it." Eros told them. "So one of you could retrieve my bow for me."

None of this made sense to Haerin but she figured that she would just have to ask Mark for the details later. Judging from the vibe of the room right now, the others wanted to get out as soon as possible.

"Your bow is right here, so hand Aegis over." Dasom demanded but Eros' grin just widened.

"After a confession is made." Eros said, his eyes seeming to glow.

Dasom sighed turning around to face the group. "Alright lovebirds, confess to each other and let's get this going."

"What?" Haerin exclaimed as she recieved at light shove from Renjun, Haechan doing the same to Mark.

"The faster you two do this, the faster we can get out of this place." Renjun hissed as Mark and Haerin stood in front of the god.

Haerin felt very embarassed as she stood there and could tell Mark felt the same. She decided to look at Eros to see if she could determine exactly what he wanted. As she met the god's eyes though, she noticed something.

Something's wrong.

Eros seemed unsatisfied with the pair standing in front of him, as if they weren't the two that he wanted. Haerin wondered if Mark noticed this too.

"Alright, I like Haerin and she likes me. Happy?" Mark said, glaring at the others behind him.

"Not really." Eros said, crossing his arms. Haerin stole a glance at the others and could tell they were shocked. "You two have already given your confessions. I'm looking for someone else's."

Someone else?

If looks could kills, Dasom would be dead by the way Mark gave her the dirtiest look but the colour on the girl's face has been drained as she stared blankly in front of her in shock.

As Haerin and Mark stepped back, Haerin was surprised to see Jaemin, the male that was quiet all this time, give Dasom a shove, sending her forward.

"You're not going to be able to hide it any longer." Jaemin said softly as Dasom gulped, now standing alone in front of the god.

Eros seemed much more satisfied to see Dasom standing there as he sat straighter. "This is the only thing stopping you from going home with your mother's weapon. You must be honest with yourself and admit it outloud, Dasom."

"Easier said than done." Dasom mumbled before taking a deep breath.

Haerin was surprised when Dasom turned around, walking straight up to one of them, Eros watching her from behind with a smile on his face.

"I'm in love with you."

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