April Rain

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Fortune smiles on you. You’re not watching. Create your own fate.

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Segment Twenty: Beginning

Heechul stood, surveying the scene with sharp, calculating eyes. From what he could see, The Sanction was tearing apart their home in order to find some way to kill a werepire. The fools, Heechul thought, werepires can’t be killed.  The vampire watched for a moment longer before turning away, walking down from the ridge and towards the figures hiding in the woods. Heechul smiled crookedly, one of his eyeteeth poking out slightly from his top lip.

“All right, listen to me. We’ve got a bunch of intruders in our home and I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m a particularly territorial vampire and I don’t like them being there. So this is what we need to do. We need to get them out and send them packing,” Heechul pronounced, red eyes blazing. The army shifted, nodding their assent.

“We know The Sanction and we know how they work. We’ll have them down and out in an hour or so,” Ilbae promised as he stepped forwards. Heechul nodded.

“I’ll hold you to that,” the elder vampire smiled. Ilbae grinned.

“Sunrise is in forty-five minutes.”

The troops began to move away, some fading into the shadows and some taking up positions in treetops. Heechul watched them, gauging each position carefully. His mate slipped to his side and Heechul relaxed, feeling the soothing presence of Hankyung.

“We’ll show exactly who they’re dealing with,” the volatile vampire promised.

“So you’re just going to waltz in and surprise them?” Hankyung asked.

“No, I’m waiting for the right moment,” the elder vampire paused for a second, eyes narrowing. “When that moment comes, we’ll tear The Sanction apart. They’re only as strong as their weakest link and I’ve found that link. We’ll take back our home.”

Hankyung reached out, clasping Heechul’s wrist tightly. His mate turned to him, intrigued curiosity in his eyes and cocked his head to the right, questioning the Chinese vampire silently.

“You can die you know. You’re not pure Immortal,” Hankyung whispered. Heechul stared at him for a minute longer before he walked forwards and wrapped his arms around Hankyung’s body.

“I know. I’m not afraid of having my heart ripped out and destroyed. What I am afraid of is letting The Sanction walk all over us. Don’t worry so much. You’ll still have a mate,” Heechul reassured, losing the bite to his voice for a second.

“I’d better,” Hankyung nuzzled into Heechul’s neck, not relinquishing his grip on the other Supernatural.

There was a slight rustle in the bushes and the two broke apart. Heechul gave Hankyung a half smirk before turning around and looking at the darkness that hid the army he had amassed.

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Jongwoon reached over and wrapped an arm around Ryeowook’s waist.

“I’m sorry for scaring you,” the vampire whispered.

“You better be,” Ryeowook grumbled, leaning into his mate despite the fact that he was angry with the vampire.

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Flashback

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“Ryeowook, just leave him. He loved you. It sounds cruel but you can mourn him properly later. We don’t have time,” Jungsu murmured, trying to draw the distraught werepire back. Ryeowook fought him valiantly, trying to stay by Jongwoon’s side. Both of them were distracted by the hand that had clamped down on Ryeowook’s wrist.

“Don’t cry, Wookie. I’m here, I’m not going anywhere,” the vampire smiled weakly. Jungsu and Ryeowook stared in disbelief. Jongwoon was alive?

“You’re alive!” the werepire gasped. “But you – your heart...” Ryeowook gaped like a fish. Jongwoon chuckled softly as he pushed himself up, still weak from what had happened. Jungsu backed away quietly.

“Ryeowook, you’re a werepire. You heal instantaneously. A vampire heals quickly but not as fast as a werepire,” Jongwoon coughed as the hole in his chest slowly sealed itself.

Jongwoon stood to his full height and held a hand out to his mate who was still on the floor. “I don’t want you to know how to die, Wookie,” the vampire said, gaze soft.

Ryeowook sat frozen for a second before he took his mate’s hand, pulled himself up and attached to Jongwoon, breathing in the vampire’s scent, feeling the secure solidness of his mate. He couldn’t stop quiet whimpers escaping from his mouth as he tried desperately not to cry.

The vampire wrapped his arms around the small body of the werepire, pulling him closer and running a hand through hair, trying to soothe him. He wouldn’t tell Ryeowook how close he had actually come to death. How if the werepire had waited just a second longer, he would have died.

“Ryeowook,” Jongwoon whispered, his voice so quiet that for a second, he thought he had imagined himself speaking. The werepire calmed slightly, listening to him. “Ryeowook, I love you.”

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End Flashback

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“Okay guys, we need to get to Daegu before anything else happens,” Jungsu ordered. The werepires nodded in agreement.

“Leaving so soon?” came a silky, honeyed voice. Jungsu swore under his breath and turned to look into the shadows. From the darkness stepped the remaining leaders of The Sanction.

“If I didn’t know better, it would look like you were trying to escape,” Yoochun commented lightly, sharp eyes roaming over the members of the Clan. The fourteen remaining werepires bunched together uncomfortably. Siwon smirked at them. And his eyes caught sight of something else.

Within seconds, Siwon had crossed the room and knelt beside the body of his mate. Jongwoon’s hand closed around Ryeowook’s wrist tightly. Jongwoon didn’t let go of his wrist. Not when a cry of pain pierced their ears and not Siwon smashed a hole in the stone floor, his agony at losing his mate filling the Atrium.

“Who did this?!” the vampire leader snarled, eyes brightening dangerously. Jongwoon could tell that the leader was close to crying but he restrained himself from actually doing so.

Taking a deep breath, Jongwoon stepped forward. “I did.”

“You killed my mate, Jongwoon? You, a member of The Sanction killed him?!” Siwon stared in disbelief. Jongwoon shrugged and nodded. The room filled with silence. Ryeowook opened his mouth to deny the claim but his mate shot him a look and he fell silent. You promised not to contradict me.

“I killed him because he threatened my mate,” Jongwoon elaborated.

“Who is your mate?” Siwon asked, momentarily distracted by the new information.

“He’s a werepire,” the vampire answered. His eyes darkened, challenging the leaders to comment on it. Silence fell over the Atrium once more. Jungsu was looking from Jongwoon to the leaders, Ryeowook was barely managing to stop himself from speaking and the rest of The Sanction stood in muted shock.

“A werepire?” Siwon breathed, finding his voice once again. Jongwoon nodded. “You mated with a werepire? You joined their cause? You fell under the spell of the tainted ones?”

“Something like that, yeah,” Jongwoon shrugged again.

Siwon seemed to be trying to hold back his anger as he spoke again, “You traitor. You have betrayed your race. You’re no better than any of these filthy creatures that dare to call themselves Supernaturals.”

“You deserve to be terminated,” Yoochun snarled, his ice blue eyes stone cold. “They’re werepires. They’re the scum of Supernatural races.”

At that Jongwoon snarled viciously, “And how are you any better? You kill them even though they’ve done nothing to you.”

“And you killed Kibum even though he showed you favour,” Siwon interrupted, fangs lengthening. Jongwoon scoffed.

“Sure he did. And once he was done using me for his own means, he went for you and became your mate. So tell me, was that really undeserved?”

Siwon jumped for the vampire, absolute fury in his eyes. Jongwoon immediately moved into a defensive stance to protect himself from the blow but Siwon suddenly dodged at the last second. A beautiful dark-haired vampire had appeared in between them and stood there smirking.

“Long time, no see, Siwon,” the vampire laughed coldly. Jongwoon blinked.

“What are you doing here, Heechul?” Siwon spat, annoyed by this interruption. Heechul shrugged and gave him a wily grin.

“I wasn’t exactly expecting a huge reception but you might at least run towards me with open arms, asking where I’ve been all these years,” the legendary vampire smirked. Siwon’s eyes narrowed.

“You killed all the senior members of The Sanction. You killed Yoochun’s father!”

“And I would enjoy it very much if I could be revenged for that,” the werewolf stated icily.

“If your father hadn’t been such an idiot, he wouldn’t have needed to die. In fact, if The Sanction weren’t such idiots, I wouldn’t need to be doing what I am now,” Heechul snarled in retaliation. The two leaders flinched at the vampire’s tone.

“And what are you doing?” Yoochun asked, regaining his composure. “There are many vampires and werewolves here who would love to see you get ripped to pieces.”

“Let them try,” Heechul sneered. Without changing his expression he appeared by the nearest vampire, plunged his hand into its chest and ripped out the heart, crushing it with his fist. There was silence as the vampire fell and wet flecks of blood dripped from the decimated organ.

Everything happened at once. Vampires, werewolves and the leaders of The Sanction leapt for Heechul, intent upon killing him and darkness opened in the middle of the room. Warriors began spilling out from the shadows. Jongwoon recognized none of them but Ryeowook apparently did.

“It’s the Clan of Gwangju!” Ryeowook breathed as he watched vampires and werewolves invade the space. The remaining members of the Clan of Seoul looked around in shock as the new warriors engaged The Sanction in battle. Then Hankyung was beside him, pulling him to the side.

“I’m glad we got here. Heechul didn’t have to antagonize them that much but it’s Heechul and what can you do?” the Chinese vampire laughed lightly as the other members of the Clan of Seoul were tugged out of the battle. “Don’t worry, Heechul has a plan. There’s a reason why there are no werepires from Gwangju.”

With that, Hankyung disappeared into the battle, no doubt going to find his mate. Jongwoon watched with wide eyes as the vampire and werewolf warriors of the Clan of Gwangju took on The Sanction. The Atrium rang with the sounds of battle, ferocious snarls and vicious hisses and the sound of teeth and claw ripping apart enemies.

Jongwoon watched the skirmish with wide eyes, unsure if he was meant to help or stay where he was. Then he heard Ryeowook gasp and he turned to see what had startled his mate. He came face to face with a vampire that was at full Warrior Level, eyes a beautiful vermillion and the longest eyeteeth he had ever seen.

“Just stay here, Jongwoon. Let us take care of this,” the vampire said. Jongwoon’s eyes widened.

“Ilbae?” he gasped. The vampire laughed.

“The one and only. Thanks to a little blood and few days of rest, I’m back to what I was. But right now, I have a purpose. I too must show my true colours. I will show Jaewon that I’m capable of protecting the Clan that he holds dear,” Ilbae smirked and patted Jongwoon on the head. “Keep out of this battle, Jongwoon. Heechul has a plan.”

The vampire laughed happily and jumped into the midst of the battle. The werewolves and vampires nearest him looked shocked at the sudden attack of one of their own whom they hadn’t seen in years. And then Jongwoon understood what Heechul was doing.

The Clan of Gwangju had mostly vampires and werewolves who had been pro-werepire. By taking the prisoners to that particular clan and making them stronger and mixing them with members from the Clan of Gwangju, Heechul had created an army of The Sanction’s own members. He was making them fight against themselves.

“Jongwoon!”

The scream pierced the vampire’s ears and it terrified him. He whipped around and caught sight of a werewolf dragging Ryeowook away.

“Ryeowook!” the vampire yelled. He followed his mate into the battles, trying to reach him, His heart was pounding wildly and even though he was the only one to know how a werepire could be killed, he couldn’t help but think of the worst. He pushed through another pair of battling werepires and came face to face with Siwon holding his mate by the neck.

“Make a choice,” Siwon snarled, digging his fingers into Ryeowook’s jugular vein. “You killed my mate so now I can either kill you or I can kill your werepire.”

Jongwoon’s breath caught in his throat. Ryeowook cried out in pain as Siwon dug in deeper. Jongwoon caught sight of silver and he knew what to do. He bowed his head and stepped forwards.

“You can kill me,” Jongwoon offered. “Just let him go.”

“What?” Ryeowook gasped. “No, Jongwoon! I’ll be fine, you know I’ll be okay!”

“Very well,” Siwon smiled viciously and he dropped the werepire, no longer interested in the Supernatural. He ran towards Jongwoon, fingernails elongating into sharp and deadly points, perfect for gouging out the hearts of vampires. He raised his hand, ready to tear Jongwoon’s life away.

Sungmin appeared in front of the vampire and blocked the attack, snarling in pain as the nails sliced into his shoulder. “Get out of my home!” the werepire warrior snarled, pulling Siwon’s long nails out of his body. Before the vampire leader could make another move, the werepire had backhanded him. Siwon hit the wall hard.

Jongwoon watched as Sungmin tore into Siwon, simply raw power emanating from him. Blood covered Siwon as his body healed at a slower rate. The two went at it and then it happened. None of them had noticed it growing lighter until the sun broke over the treetops and spilled into the Atrium.

There were screams of terror and shock as the vampires realized they were being burned by the dim light of dawn. Vampire members of The Sanction retreated to the shadows, leaving only the werewolves to battle the Clan of Gwangju. The werewolves looked around in confusion as the vampires tried to find shadows. The numbers of The Sanction were depleted by more than half and the tide had turned.

And Jongwoon knew that Heechul was truly a legendary vampire. Not only was he a strong warrior but he knew exactly where to hit his enemies where it hurt. The vampires who had left The Sanction would have been trained by the Clan of Gwangju to resist the sun. Their counterparts in The Sanction had not had that training. They were vulnerable and unable to fight.

“You’ve lost, Siwon,” Heechul smirked triumphantly. “Give it up. Your vampires are burning, your numbers are badly reduced and there are only werewolves left to fight. It’s over.”

“It’s never over,” Siwon snarled back. Heechul gave him a wildcat grin. Jungsu walked towards Siwon who glared heavily at him.

“This one is over. Now leave us alone. The Sanction is not welcome here,” Jungsu crossed his arms.

Siwon looked for a minute as though he would like to argue but it was obvious that he couldn’t put up a fight now with his vampires transporting themselves through darkness back to the safety of The Sanction.

“Fall back,” Siwon ordered. The remaining werewolves drew back, heading towards the shadows in order to be transported out of the Clan of Seoul and back home. “We’re not finished,” Siwon hissed, throwing in a final word before vanishing. It didn’t take long for the rest of The Sanction to vanish from the home of the Clan. The Clan of Seoul breathed easier as their home was theirs once again.

“They know where we are now but if we can hold our ground and try to make them see reason, we might just achieve what we were created to,” Jungsu said, looking around at their destroyed home.

Jongwoon nodded. This wasn’t the end of the road. Elsewhere, other werepires were being targeted and ripped to shreds, abandoning their puplings and constantly on the run. If they could bring peace, they wouldn’t have to worry about pups being abandoned anymore. Taewung might even find his real parents.

The sun rose higher, warming the vampire’s body. He smiled slightly. Kibum may have been dead and The Sanction may have lost the battle but there would be others. The Sanction would never rest until it was truly defeated, whether in battle or with reason.

Ryeowook came to stand beside his mate, looking at him curiously, wondering what was going through his mate’s head. “Jongwoon? Are you all right?”

The vampire looked down at the werepire, his smile getting wider, “I’m fine, Wookie. The rising sun is beautiful, isn’t it?”

It might take years, decades or even centuries before they could bring peace. Other Supernaturals would come into his life and leave it, maybe trying to stop what they were doing, maybe trying to help. They had won this battle, only to face others. But they could do it, Jongwoon knew. They would do it.

The gentle rays of the morning sun shone down on them, warming the sleeping world, waking them, getting them ready for the future, for all that lay ahead.

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Take off the glasses that have treated your world black and grey. Count your blessings and prepare to change your point of view.

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And that concludes April Rain! I’m really sorry that was such a crappy ending chapter. Thanks so much for reading. As always, I’m really sad to leave this world of werepires, vampires and werewolves. Maybe I’ll come back to it someday. If you have any questions, you can ask me! Thanks for sticking with me throughout this fic. I really hope you enjoyed it. Thank you readers!  I owe you more fics!

*Shae Connet*