Chapter 13 – Kang Pei Clan
"JIHOO?" Her mouth gape opens in disbelief. Unknowingly, gasping for air to breathe, she felt her chest tighten as the swarming pain drowns her. "It can't be." She mutters softly whispering to herself as she stares wide-eyed at his smirking figure. This can't be real! He is not JiHoo. This is just some sort of trickery, one of his gifts as the head leader of their clan. His power must be shape shifting as he can change into someone else he wanted. It just can't be! She thought as she glares at the deceiving man right in front of her; contemplating on all the possibilities of any forms of deceitfulness.
He smiled darkly at her, knowing what she was thinking. He had expected this type of reaction from her assuming that she would interpret this presentation into some kind of trickery. He had prepared for this moment to come. The time for revelations, for everything to be finally revealed, and just like a curtain being pulled from the cinema, he will unveil his masks. It was part of his plan, a plan for revenge and for payback. He saw her drop to her knees as she cries and he seizes the opportunity to go near her. He leveled at her, slightly inclining his head to the side to scan her face. He cups her chin and somehow as expected she glares at him at the same time releasing a destructive force that almost throws him off guard. He manages to step aside just in time to recollect his balance before it hits him.
"Reveal your true self! You shape shifting bastard!" Seo Jin screams at him, totally convince that he was not the real thing. He loudly laughs at her tirade and stood up. "You are looking at it Seo Jin. This is the real me, the JiHoo you knew is part of me. I am the Jihoo you loved, the JiHoo you saved and the JiHoo you created. I am the reason you are in this dilemma. I brought you here just as plan." He declares as his facial expression changes, evil aura emitting to his aura.
She refused to believe his declarations even though she felt it in her heart. She refused to believe that the man she loves isn't the man he truly is. "I don't believe you. This is just an illusion, some trickery you manage to conjure." She sniffs, weakly holding on to the floor for support. "You are not him." She painfully mumbles as if trying to convince herself from the madness she was into.
"Really now? Can you really deny the obvious beating of your heart? Can't you really tell who I am?" He paced, not taking his eyes of her. He saw her shocked expression turns into bitterness and he continues. "I am quiet disappointed in you my dear Seo Jin, I would have been completely hurt if by now you still haven't sense me." He mutters, stopping to assess her reaction. She sternly gazes at him and what she saw confirms his theories when she caught on his smile. She recognizes it; it was the same beautiful tender smile he has that captured her heart. It was the smile that brought back memories from the past. Their past lives, their promises, her promise to him. She lingers on his face; while forcing herself to stare at him. His eyes; they were different colors, one is golden brown and the other one is gray. His angelic face is now emotionless, his expression stone-cold as he looks into her eyes. And then she felt her whole body shuddered as her heart completely shuts down, her mind blanked and finally both of her systems regard the realization that he was indeed JiHoo.
"Why are you doing this?" She gasps as she felt the tears in her eyes. "Why?"
"Why? Why don't you ask your father?" He calmly stated, his eyes blazing with so much darkness in them.
-0-
Woo bin didn't bother sleeping during this times. In fact, Jae kyung didn't either, not until he used his powers to place her into slumber which of course she had no idea. It was one of the tricks he had in his sleeves as a half bred vampire. Yes, he was one; in fact, he is the second son of Alucard Henry Ladislao III, one of the first two created by the original vampire, Count Dracul Vlad IV. His older brother JiHoo and older sister, Ga eul, Jihoo's fraternal twin brought him up into this messed; a plan which is built upon lies, deceit, manipulation and most of all revenge. Long before the plan was executed, Woo bin made no objection or whatsoever to the twins plan, as always he had supported them every step of the way. As the second son, it is his responsibilities to serve his older siblings, to fulfill their orders, and to please them. The set up was perfect, spread out specifically by JiHoo's trap. For years he had pretended to work at the reporting network own by the So family just to get close to her, it was arranged by JiHoo who made sure that everything is according to plan, as it took years and years to organize such massive layout. Everything is falling into place until for the past couple of days; out of his control, he had fallen in love with his target. He had fallen in love with her, So Jae kyung, the princess of the So clan. She was his target. She was his assignment. It was part of the plan for him to obtain her trust. But now, he isn't sure what to do, he is torn between his feelings for her and his duties towards his family. There is no denying he loves her but there is also the fact that she is the enemy. The reason her parents were dead, the reason to everything and also their love is forbidden. Their two clans clash from each other generation from generation.
He sighs while caressing her face. "Oh Jae kyung" He mutters as she stirs in his arms.
"Woo bin .. " She mumbles his name in her lips and this gesture had Woo bin in tears.
"I love you." He whispers at her as he checks his watch. Hours from now, he'll break her heart, hours from now she will hate him, and hours from now all hell will break lose.
-0-
"My father?" she shockingly responded. "But what does this have to do with him?"
"Simple, your father is reason why the world is in chaos; he is responsible for the killings of innocent lives, the reason why humanity is at its end and the reason why my family suffers too much." Jihoo gravely stated; his voice so cold and dark that it echoed in the room. Upon the mention of his family, he felt the strong grudge that has been buried inside of him for a very long time awakens. And without realizing, he unknowingly releases it, making the room trembled.
Seo Jin felt the room shakes as if an earthquake just swoops by. She braced herself for any chance of attacked but felt none. She stared at him to see his eyes close and then just as fast it begun, it suddenly stop. She continues to observe him and thought about what he had said and it then dawn to her. " … What do you mean … .. about your family suffering? .." She carefully spoke and he momentarily opens his new gorgeous eyes which she finds very seductive. "Darien Cain Vladimir, who is your father, killed my parents." He begun, clutching his fist as if trying to control his anger. "He massacred my whole clan without any hesitation or any remorse towards his own kind. He betrayed our trust and used it against us to stop the prophecy." He composes himself not wanting to breakdown in front of her as the obscure scene from the past flashes in his eyes.
She couldn't believe what she was hearing. Her father? Her father murdered his parents? No way! There's just no way it could be true, her father has been asleep for 500 years now and JiHoo, he couldn't be. He couldn't be more than 500 years old! Or is he? She thought and then speaks her mind. "It can't be! That's not true! My father has been asleep for 500 years and there's no way he could have done that! That is impossible!" She commented, insisting that what he's saying has no truth behind it. She felt sorry for him; really, she does, for what happen to his parents and to his clan. But there is just no way her father is involved in this massacre. "You are mistaken!" She pointed out.
"I was there Seo Jin. I was there when my parents were killed by your father and his allies, 500 years ago. I saw it in my own two eyes; your father killed his very own best friend just to eliminate his rival to the throne." Jihoo coldly explains. After hundreds of years of burying his secrets within him, he is finally ready to face his past and collect the debt that has long been due. And that is too avenge his parents death, to avenge his clan, to take what is rightfully his. He collected his thoughts and wanders towards the window while keeping a keen eye on Seo Jin.
She stood there frozen listening to his tirades, as he explains. She saw him approached the windows and she waited patiently for him to relay his side of story. Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw her looking at him intensely and he took it as a sign to continue. "I was born in 1411; the son of a human mother and a vampire. My father, who is a pureblood, loved my mother so much that he was willing to leave everything behind. He gave up his immortal life, gave up living as one of the most powerful vampire who walks this earth, his responsibilities and his rights to be the head of the royal court just to be with her." He deeply sighed while watching the sky. "It was against the vampire law especially on purebloods to renounce your own birth right and so he was branded as a traitor, an enemy who is punishable by death. So my mother and father went into hiding along with some of his close friends and supporters who were against the whole clan. They live far away on the forest in a country where no one can track them down; my father lived like a human being, feeding on animals until my mother had us." Jihoo now shift his attention to Seo Jin who was now caught up in his story that she was in deep thought. "It was tough, having babies who were half human half vampire living in the forest, feeding only on animals. We were getting so weak, the blood of the animals were poison to us that our body couldn't take it. We needed human blood in order to survive. So my father occasionally had to run into the city to take innocent lives just to feed us. Every night, people where mysteriously dying and went missing until the news got out of hand that my father can no longer contain it. He had no choice but to ask for his best friend's helped to cover for his tracks so that we will be saved. Your father who was delighted for my father's return adheres to my dad's request, knowing that if he can gain his trust, he will be welcome to the family and that he can trace their location. My dad who was very trustworthy and had loved your father very much finally accepted his words sworn upon secrecy that no matter what happens he will protect us. But then that was just wishful thinking, as soon as Darien had known our location, he had ultimately attacked us, killing my parents and the rest of our family's friends." His voice falters as soon as he mentions his parents and Seo Jin couldn't help but feel sorry for him. There was so much pain in his eyes that she felt like hugging him; somewhere she still couldn't find the urge to hate him. He recovered from his painful reminiscing and continues. "You see, Darien Cain Vladimir was the second line for the throne and as soon as my father secretly left, he took his place as the new ruler of the vampire world. But then when he knew about us, my father's children, he went berserk, thinking that when Dracul Vlad IV who is the first original vampire knew about my father's bloodline, the throne will be taken away from him. So as mad as he is, he resorts into the closest thing he can ever think of and that is to end my father's bloodline; to kill us all. Of course my parents had been expecting this sort of attacked, so they have already made every arrangement to protect us. During the time when my father and mother were fighting for our lives, we were secretly smuggled outside the perimeter with the help of our guardian. We were the last to leave the area and so we have witnessed everything that had transpired." He finishes relaying his story and then stared violently at Seo Jin. After hearing everything he said, Seo Jin couldn't hold back her tears any longer. She didn't know why but she felt his pain too. The way his eyes glows in sadness, the loneliness in his face, his faltering voice, she knew he was fighting to hold back tears. She knew how hard it must be for him to witness this tragedy and somehow she couldn't blame him. She couldn't blame him for all of this. She gazes up at him, crying, and her eyes glinting with such pity that Jihoo suddenly felt angry.
"Don't look at me like that!" He roared at her while she was taken aback. "I don't want you to pity me!" His stare so dark that just by the effects of it, it made her wince. "I'm going to take my revenge no matter what. I am the head of the Kang Pei clan and together with my brothers and sister, we will take what is rightfully ours and along with it, I will make sure I will kill your father!" He grimly stated not a care in the world if he was already hurting her.
"Your .. your sister? And brothers?" She stammers, trying to reconfirm what she just heard.
"Yes, as a matter of fact you knew two of my siblings." He momentarily stops in front of her to foresee her reactions. Her expression conveys her bewilderment. "Ga eul … ?" She guessed although she is seeking more of a confirmation. He certainly nods at her and then she gasps.
"And Woo bin." JiHoo harshly added.
With the mention of his brother's name, Seo Jin now clutches her fist unable to believe what was happening; it suddenly dawn onto her that they were deceive, they were set up, they were tricked. She tries to control her emotions as it was quiet obvious, her conclusion as to what had JiHoo inform her was too much bear, let alone process the situation. It was too complicated and yet the Kang Pei clan manages to execute precisely as plan. What had happen to her? Why didn't she foresee this? This is what she was born for? To be cunning, to expect this sort of unspoken surprising attacked but then she was outsmarted. And then all of a sudden a thought came to her, she was vulnerable to him. He made her vulnerable to him and that she is angry. The anger she was suppressing for a long time exploded and ignites through her body. She blasted through the metals that were binding her. The chains shattered, leaving it broken on the floor, she leaps up and circles Jihoo while delivering an attack. Her fangs were retracted as she crouch down and sends a widening explosive towards JiHoo. Smoke was all over the place as Seo Jin seeks him; she narrows her senses expecting some sort of defense from him but when there was none. She panics and search for him. But as soon as her guard was down, he appeared out of nowhere; and tightly grasps her hands above her head while holding her throat hard enough to block her airway but not long enough to kill her. She gasps as she felt deprived of air and then she breathes heavily as soon as he relaxes his hold. She gravely stares at his composed face and squirms out of his grasps. He tightly squeeze her hand, constricting the blood the flows in her veins. She groans in pain and continues to look at him. She saw that somewhere in those hurtful eyes there was still tenderness in it. She halts her uneasiness and lovingly stares at him. As soon as he was caught in her eyes, he suddenly felt her love for him, the warmness she gave him, her smiles and just like a blur, all the memories that they shared flashes his mind. Angry at himself for allowing such emotions to get through him, he releases her and she landed awkwardly to the floor. She winced at the pain she felt as she fingers her throat and then she abruptly realizes that he was still the same JiHoo she loves. With a formulated idea in her mind, she plans to knock him out and slaps him out of this madness. She slowly but carefully whips an energy ball in hand and was about to throw at him when he snaps at her, and suddenly the energy she conjured was gone. Her eyes widen in disbelief as she saw what happen.
He scoffs at her little antics and gravely smiled.
"What did you just do?" She barely whispers while panting in bewilderment.
"You created me remember? I shared your blood, we shared a bond. It's called resonance Seo Jin." He reminded her and then just like a gust of wind that hits her face, she was taken aback. "But you could have never … "She unknowingly utters.
"But I could never surpass your powers? You were right, if I was an ordinary human created by a pureblood like you, I could never have. But fortunately I am not just any human. A pure blood vampire runs through my veins and I was born with abilities to mimic powers. I'm not just a shape shifter; I can also acquire one's ability to manipulate the figures of minds. I can create illusions. I can play with your mind." He deadly declares. "If you ought to remember." And just like a whip flash, she remembers an illusion of her saving little JiHoo 7 years ago.
"That .. was an illusion?" Seo Jin disbelievingly replied and he silently confirms it.
"You see Seo Jin, everything was according to my plan. Everything. Including rescuing you that night at the alley."
"The voice .. the voice from the alley." She shockingly concluded. "That was you? You were the one who attacked me; you were the one who stabbed me with a hawthorn stake? … It's you!" Seo Jin stammered as anger overpowers her. To hell with it, she is going to kill him. She is going to put an end to this war.
"You sick bastard! You lied to me! You used me! You deceitful coward!" She screams at him, rage rising through her being. She stood up and throws thunder lightning at him while he gracefully plays with it. He evily laughs at her and vanished. "You can never harm me my dear Seo Jin. You can never touch me." His voice echoed through the room while she yells at him. "Come back here! Come back here and let's finish this! COME BACK HERE JIHOO!"
-0-
As the clock stops at 3 am; Ga eul prepared herself for what was coming, it was time; time to put an end to this charades, time to stop pretending and to finally reveal her true identity to Yi Jung. She was no ordinary bartender, she was no ordinary human girl but she is the only daughter of the Alucard Henry Ladislao, the head leader of the Kang Pei clan. She is the princess of their mighty clan. It's time for payback, time to take what is rightfully hers, time for revenge. She had waited this moment to come. She had prayed for it, wished for it, to finally come true. Her heart is full of anger, hatred and resentment towards the man who killed their parents. She hated him and she hated his children. She wanted them to feel the exact same pain she felt when their parents were murdered. She wanted them to realize that the world they live in is twisted, full of lies and pretenses. It doesn't matter how she felt for Yi jung, it doesn't matter if she loves him dearly. She is willing to sacrifice her love just to avenge their parents. She will not yield. She will not hesitate to hurt Yi jung. She will not hesitate to kill him if he interferes with her plan. One more night and she'll get the revenge she had desired the most, a revenge to Darien Cain Vladimir, Yi Jung's father who murdered her family.
She breathes steadily, bracing herself for the massive force that is about to come. She sneaks in one last look to Yi Jung until she felt the alarming explosion on the ground. She looks down from the window and found her brother, Saemael Orfeo, the fourth son of Kang Pei clan, clashing into hand in hand combat with Junpyo.
"Yi Jung! Jae kyung! We are under attacked!" JUnpyo managed to scream at the top of his lungs while Ga eul hovers in the air.
Yi Jung woke up when he heard the explosion and when Junpyo screams; he jolted up and prepared himself for battle. He search for Ga eul next to him but found no one. He panics, blinding himself from the attack that was waiting for him. He reach for the door when suddenly he felt being pulled back and was hardly thrown outside the window. He rolls from the rooftop, and fell badly to the ground. He groans in pain as he felt his ribs break. He winced as the pain caught his breathe. He didn't have time to recuperate when an invisible force hammered his body. It felt like thousandths of boulder rocks where hammered into his body as he felt his skull fractured. He tasted the metallic taste of his blood as he felt his body mutilated. He was almost losing consciousness when suddenly the attacked stops and before he knows it, he was already hovering in the air. He blinks as he tries to make out his vision. He saw a blur and heard clashing noises. There was an explosion and somehow he heard Junpyo's name yelling at him, he heard him screams Ga eul's name and without thinking, he powered up, worried about her wellbeing. Where is she? He thought as he tries to sense her aura. He couldn't. He closes his eyes, hoping it will clear his clouded vision and when it finally did. What he saw shattered his heart. Ga eul was hovering in front of him, her eyes glaring at him. He tried to talk but somehow some invisible pressure was holding his throat. He was choking, deprived of air. He grasps while looking at her to see the smirk spread across her face. "… Ga .. eul .." He manages to choke out and she slightly loosens her grip. "Hello Yi Jung." She deviously greeted him.
-0-
Junpyo dozed off while watching her. His head spread across the glass bed beside Jandi's lifeless body. The tears in his eyes dried on her hand as he clasps it with his the whole night. His body is so tired and worn out from crying and from the fighting he encountered. He was weak as he hasn't feed for days. He just couldn't find the appetite to do so because right now all he wanted was to end his life. All he ever wanted was to be with her and now that she is gone, there was no point in living. No point in prolonging his life, but just enough to seek for revenge. He had made his decision, no matter what happens, even if he dies, he will avenge her. He promised her that.
Caught up in a slumber, he didn't notice the obvious presence in his surrounding, someone is approaching him. Someone from the Kang pei clan, who was prepared to kill him. The glass bed suddenly exploded, knocking JunPyo off a few feet from Jandi. He shakes his head, clenching his teeth as he hissed. He felt the blood oozing from his head as he hit the giant tree. He uses his hand to wipe the blood from his face and saw a vampire gliding towards him. He momentarily stood up, catching his balance as he staggered. He stared past him and saw the glass bed where Jandi lies destroyed into pieces.
"JANDI!" He painfully screams as the horrifying scene is presented in front of him. He zoomed past the man towards the center where the glass bed was place. His breathing getting heavier as he seeks for her lifeless body. "Jandi" He spoke between ragged breathing and whips around when he heard a deafening laughter. Then his eyes widen in shocked when he saw the vampire who appeared to him earlier, is hovering in the air carrying Jandi's lifeless body. His laughing image struck him and pushes himself up in the air to level with him. "Who are you?" He demanded while assessing the vampire in front of him. The vampire scoffs at his words and darkly spoke. "My name is Saemael Orfeo, I am the fourth son of the Kang Pei clan." He confidently introduced himself and JuNpyo's rounded in disbelief. "You are the fourth son?"
"Did I make quiet the impression prince?" Saemael added while holding Jandi in his arms. He laughs at JuNpyo's frighten expression. "I'm very disappointed in you Junpyo, I was under the impression that your love for her will protect her no matter what. But then look what it did to her, now I am beginning to regret why I had agreed to put my fiancée in this position." He continues while caressing Jandi's face.
"Give her back to me." Junpyo glares at him ignoring his antics.
"She doesn't belong to you Prince. She belongs to me." The vampire calmly stated.
"Give her back NOW! Or I will have to kill you."
"Then by all means GU, JunPyo." The vampire retaliated and turns his back on Junpyo. That was a mistake on his part because it gave JuNpyo the opportunity to attack him with a whip flash. Junpyo blasted through him, thinking that he had killed the proud vampire and was surprised when he saw him on the ground, still standing, and unharmed. He swoops down and fires fireballs at Saemael. Saemael gracefully dodge his attacks and flicks his hand. And the moment he did, six ugly vampires were zooming past Junpyo attacking him head on while Saemael prefers to fly away. "JANDI!" JunPyo screams while fighting his way towards them. He tries to fly away when two vampires clawed his back. He groans in pain and fights again.
Saemael laughs at him and spoke. "If you want to see her Junpyo, I suggest you come to masquerade ball tomorrow night." And with that said and done, he deviously smiles at him, while Ga eul along with Woo bin who was carrying Jae kyung bridal style join his ranks.
"Jae kyung" JunPyo mumbles and hears Yi Jung screams at Ga eul.
"Ga eul …" YI Jung desperately yells at her.
She mischievously laughs at him. "How pathetic! The Prince of the So clan crying."
"Why are you doing this Ga eul?" Yi Jung painfully mutters.
"You really want to know? Come to the masquerade ball tomorrow night. Everything will make sense. Oh and don't worry about your dear sister Jae kyung, she is only under Woo bin's power. She'll come around in no time, right dear brother?" Ga eul nudge at Woo bin and the latter just stare down at Jae kyung.
"I swear Woo bin! I will kill you if you hurt my sister! You hear that! I will fuck*ng kill you!" Yi Jung screams at him and with that said and done, the four of them vanished, leaving only Junpyo and YI Jung in the hands of the six vicious vampires.
-0- TO BE CONTINUE -0-
Thanks Kimmy95, charmee03, capri8, and sis Michi5463 for the overwhelming reviews you've given to this fic. I appreciate everything and thank you for reading this. I know I've shocked you guys with this sudden twist of the story but there is a major reason behind it. Please bear with me and you'll be satisfied with the progress of the story. As you've read the reason why JiHoo wanted revenge was because of what happen 500 years ago and that everything made sense on this chap. Please don't forget to give me your comments and next chap will be up this week. Thanks again and have a good day! =)