HEX

CHAPTER 2

LALICE

I came back to the manor with a heavy heart. Jisoo and Jennie ran towards me.

"Where's Roseanne?" Jisoo asked. That was when I started to break down.

"They captured her. I was too late. I... I failed to save her."

Jisoo hugged me and comforted me. I felt Jennie tense up but she didn't say anything.

"We have to get her back." I wiped my tears off. "If I have to rip those mutts apart, I will. I will kill them all with my bare hands--"

"But how?" she asked. "We were heavily outnumbered here, what more outside? We have to tell Sajangnim about this first."

"How?" I blurted out. "He didn't even help us when we needed it. We're just a tool--"

"Lalice!"

I stopped myself. Truthfully, I felt betrayed. Beulping may be hidden but we all know that Sajangnim watches over us. But today, he didn't even send help.

"Whatever you say, Jisoo, I will leave and rescue Rosé. With or without your help."

I moved quickly and got out of the manor. I have no idea how I could get out of Beulping but I guess I can make a portal for myself. Even if it drains me, I don't care.

"Lisa! Come back here!"

To stop Jisoo from following me, I used my abilities against her and created a line of fire as an obstruction.

"I am not just gonna stand here and do nothing, Jisoo. I need to save her!" I am determined to do so.

"But those guys... you can't take them on! They'll rip you apart!"

"I'm a hybrid," I answered back showing my fangs. "I have an advantage--"

"Even so, you're still outnumbered!"

"It's a risk I'm willing to take for Rosé."

Determined, I used my enhanced abilities to run through the woods at lightning speed.

"Lisa stop!" Her voice echoed in the woods.

A mound of earth suddenly elevated from the ground which blocked my path. I instinctively dodged it and jumped over the damn thing.

"Lalisa! Listen to me! You can't just take her back that easily! We need to ask help from the elders!"

I don't care about those damn elders. I don't even care if I die rescuing Rosé. I have to get her back and I have to do it fast. God knows what those filthy mutts would do to our sweet Roseanne.

As I jumped from one place to another, I gathered up all my magical energy and concentrated to open up a portal. It was successful!With sheer determination, she targeted the entrance in full speed.

Then I suddenly bumped into something. The portal closed and she fell on the ground.

I saw Jennie using her hands to create an ice-like forcefield around the portal I created.

"Jennie!" I exclaimed. "I need to save her. She's family..."

"You're such a stubborn ass, aren't you?" Then out of nowhere, a duffel bag appeared on her hand and a map on the other. "That's a map to the Vampires' lair in the modern world. Find Namjoon and tell him you're a friend of Jennie's. Stay with them 'til I contact you. I'm off to see the Fae's. We need to gather as much help as we can."

I nodded and took the things from her. "What about Jisoo?"

"Don't worry about her. Just worry about yourself for the time being. The vamps may take our side in this war but they're not 100% safe." Jennie hugged me tight. "We'll save Rosé. I promise. Now go."

I nodded and ran towards the opened portal. A blinding light welcomed her.

•o•o•

I stumbled on a paved floor as I was thrown off the portal. Next time Jennie should start practicing conjuring portals with a smooth landing system.

My eyes wandered around and saw cars passing by the streets. Great. I seemed to have landed on a highway.

I started to panick as the cars produces this loud sound which made me shield my ears and mutter a short spell that would teleport me to somewhere safe.

Seoul... I thought. It was the place Jinhwan said in his letters.

"Waah!" I suddenly fell on a small fountain.

Drenched, I stood up only to see a pairs of eyes looking straight at me.

"Lisa!"

"Jinhwan!" Jinhwan is part of the Wayji coven as well and under Ikon group. We knew each other well because we stayed with them back in Beulping when they were still trainees like us.

Right. He's the last person I thought of that's why I appeared before him.

"What are you doing here in Seoul? How did you get out of Beulping?!" He helped me out of the water and took off his jacket to cover me.

"Oppa, Rosé's been abducted by EXO. They said something about Sajangnim using Wayji to corrupt every non-supernatural."

Jinhwan grew silent. It confused me because he seemed to know something we don't know.

"Oppa? Do you know something about this?"

He sighed. Of all the past male trainees in Beulping, Jinhwan was the closest to me. He even demanded that I call him Oppa when in fact, I'm older in terms of years. But he argued that my age was frozen and that I'm 20 forever. Making him older.

"There's a reason why the four of you weren't able to join us--Winner and Ikon, leave Beulping," he started. He guided me towards a strange looking carriage. "You four are very special to the Wayji Coven. You are our jewels not because you possess abilities but because you girls hold a special place in Sajangnim's heart. You girls are both our strength and weakness which Esem thinks will be an advantage when Sooman challenges Sajangnim."

She frowned. "So they're after all of us?"

Jinhwan nodded. "Where are the others? How did you get out?"

"Portal," I explained. "Jennie said she'll ask help from Jeywaypi and Jisoo waited for 2NE1 unnies. She also gave me this map."

"Aish jinja," he muttered. "You and Jennie are stubborn. I bet Jisoo stopped the both of you from leaving Beulping but you insisted and Jennie could never really resist you."

I grinned. He knew us very well. It earned me a flick on the forehead.

"Ya!"

"You should've listened to Jisoo!" I rubbed my forehead. "Sajangnim wanted to protect you girls more that's why he chose to hide you girls a little longer until he can create a masking spell."

"Masking spell?"

Was it the symbols embossed on our backs?

"Yes. None of us except for Bigbang knows how to create the spell." He then looked around then suddenly held my hand. "Come with me. We have to make sure you're safe. Those EXO members might be able to track you here."

I nodded and let him pull me to this strange looking carriage. He opened the door for me and it had cool seats.

"Where were you originally going?" He asked as he sat beside me but went around to enter. Strange carriage. "You mentioned a map."

I showed him the map and he looked shocked.

"This is not an ordinary map, Lis. It's a tracking map. Jennie made sure that she'd know you're safe. And the coordinates here says you should be heading to Gangnam." Suddenly, he grinned. "That witch is as clever as she is savage. Vampire territory is a sacred ground and no other supernatural can enter without their permission."

I looked at the piece of parchment. So that's why I felt something different about this map. But the question is, how did Jennie get a hold of this map?

"Let me make a quick call, Lis. I know their pack's leader Namjoon."

Namjoon... That's the person Jennie told me to find!

"Hey Buddy. Remember me? Yea it's been a while. Yeah. Listen. Can you do me a favor? Can you watch over a friend of mine? She's a vamp too. Yeah. A hybrid. She's friends with Jen."

Maybe they knew each other before Jennie got into Wayji. Maybe they were friends from way back. I looked over the window and tried to recall my past. But as usual, I couldn't. I couldn't recall a single thing about my past.

"Thanks, bud. We're on our way. Don't worry about her. She won't cause much trouble."

I looked at Jinhwan and handed me the thing he used to call that Namjoon guy.

"This is a cellphone. You can ask Namjoon to teach you how to use this. It's basically something you should have in the modern world."

I looked at the 'cellphone'. Strange looking thing.

As the carriage moved, I looked over to Jinhwan. He's a lot different now. His clothes too.

"I know what you're thinking, Lis. But you'll know all about the modern world in the days to come. But we first have to secure you from those mutts."

"How about Jennie and Jisoo? How will I know they're also safe?"

"I texted Got7's leader, Jaebum. I already told him that Jennie's on her way." His eyes were focused on driving the strange carriage. "If my hunch is correct, she's going to Nayeon. They're friends from before she entered Beulping."

"Sometimes I wonder if I had any friends..." it came out as a whisper. Jinhwan turned to look at me for a second.

"It's okay, Lis. You'll remember your past eventually."

I sighed.

"About Jisoo, Bobby's already with her." Before I know it, the carriage stopped in front of this building. "We're already here. I will call you on that phone regularly, arasso?"

I nodded then he hugged me tightly.

"Take care of yourself, Lis. We will always protect you and your sisters even if it meant our lives. But for the time being, this is the best way to keep you away from harm."

The door beside her opened. I took a quick look back at Jinhwan before completely hoping off the carriage. A man stood in front of the building who smiled--I can clearly see his fangs. Jinhwan stood beside me.

"Namjoon," he said to the stranger. "Please take good care of her."

"We will," the vamp replied.

Jinhwan hugged me again before riding his carriage again. It sped of and I was left with Namjoon.

"That wasn't a carriage. It's called a car," he said.

"You can hear thoughts?"

He nodded. "It's my gift."

"Daebak." He smiled and I noticed his dimples. They were cute.

"Thank you."

"Ya! Stop reading my mind!" I hissed. He was shocked. It was too late for me to realize that I went full on b***h mode again. So much for first impressions. "Can I go in now? I'm kinda drenched so..."

"Oh, right." He led me towards the building.

"Woah!"

I couldn't believe my eyes. The place looked like an interior of a castle I could only see in books! It was far more sophisticated than the manor--which I liked better 'coz it was home, but as elegant and extravagant.

"Kamjagi~!" A metal door opened and revealed a small cubicle. "Is this where I'm staying? Not to be rude but... it's kinda small."

Namjoon looked at me smiling.

"Nomo kyeopta." I couldn't help myself from blushing. "This is an elevator. We will be riding this to be able to reach the penthouse where you'll be staying at."

Elevator? Penthouse? These terms... it was the first time I heard of this.

"Just trust me and you'll see what I mean."

He reached out his hand and I accepted. There's no other choice, isn't there?

"No, there isn't any choice," he said chuckling. "Don't worry. We won't harm you. You're a vamp like us so... we're practically family."

"Stop reading my thoughts. Or else I'll barbeque you." Flames appeared on the palm of my hand. His eyes widened.

"Ya. Stop that! There are mortals around!"

My flames disappeared and we walked inside the elevator.

"Wow. You really are a hybrid. Do you have other special Vampire abilities?"

I shrugged. "Not that I remember of--"

The doors were about to close when suddenly, Namjoon pushed a button and yelled.

"Ya! Jimin!"

A pale looking guy with cotton candy pink hair looked at our direction and smirked. In a blink of an eye, he got in the elevator with us.

"So she's Lalice?" The guy ask Namjoon while looking at me. "The hybrid?"

"Yup," Namjoon replied. The Jimin guy kept looking at me--scanning to be exact. He even bit his lip. I instantly got annoyed. "I wouldn't do that if I were you."

"Wae? Is she gonna hex me or something?"

Namjoon looked at me. "Go ahead. Just no fire."

I smirked and snapped my fingers. Jimin's clothes then disappeared leaving him with only his boxers on. The elevator door opened and Namjoon pushed him out.

"Ya!" But before he can go back in, I shut the elevator door with my magic.

"Nice one," he commented. I chuckled as well. "That would teach him not to be rude around girls."

I'm starting to like this guy. And Namjoon, if you're reading my thoughts again, I will barbeque you.

His eyes widened and he looked away.

As the light on the last button disappeared, the doors of the elevator opened. Namjoon guided me towards the door and even opened it for her.

I was shocked. I always thought vampires were a bit--depressing.

"So we have a total of four rooms. We're currently seven--excluding you, in the household so you'll be sharing with our Maknae." Namjoon explained as we walked up the stairs. "This will be your room. The one on the right is Taehyung and Jimin's room. You've met Jimin. And oh! Taehyung-ah!"

"Ne, hyung?" The guy looked over at us. Wow. His face... it's so symmetrical! "Oh. You're Lalice, right? Dope hair!"

"Uh, thanks..." He grabbed my hand and shook it. He also smiled--a weird one. It looked boxy but cute. "Taehyung?"

"Ne." He pointed at the room Namjoon said was mine. "You'll be staying with Jungkook?"

"Yup," Namjoon interjected. "No swapping, Tae."

Taehyung pouted. She chuckled.

Cute.

Namjoon opened the door and showed me in. He placed my duffle bag on an empty bed.

"We weren't sure what you'd liked since Jinhwan told us about your arrival a few minutes ago," he said. "He also told me that Jennie gave you a map here. Any friend of Jennie's is ours."

"I appreciate it all but it's not what I want," I replied. "I came to the modern world to find my best friend, Rosé. She was taken by EXO. Whatever Jinhwan told you about keeping me safe from those mutts, forget it. You guys can't stop me from finding those wolves and killing them with my bear hands."

Taehyung's eyebrow raised. "The wolves?"

I nodded in response. "Those mutts broke in our manor and took Roseanne. Jennie told me I could ask for your help."

"We'd love to help you take down those wolves but that wasn't what Jinhwan said to us." He looked over to Tae then back at her. "Tell you what, why don't you settle in for the time being then we'll think of a plan to get your friend back, arasso?"

I nodded. "Sure. Thanks by the way."

I glanced over the bed next to hers and snapped her fingers. The bed siddenly had an identical design as to the bed next to hers.

"Woah. I didn't expect that," Namjoon said.

"What an odd thing to say for a mind reader," I teased.

"You told me to stop reading your mind so..."

I smiled and rolled my eyes at him.

Taehyung laughed. And so did Namjoon. "Ya, Lice. Wanna go out for some food? I'll tour you around Seoul for free."

Taehyung is someone who's easy to trust. He had this strange aura that draws you automatically towards him. I managed to smile.

"Sure!" I agreed. "Kaja!"

"Wait wait wait!" Namjoon stopped us immediately. "You can't go out wearing a black cloak, Lalice. You'll draw attention."

I then snapped my finger and Taehyung suddenly wore a black cloak.

"Cool!"

"Aigoo..."

Namjoon grabbed a thin piece of book with lots of picture. He showed me a picture of a girl.

"Copy her clothes," he instructed.

Which I did. "Are these the type of clothes mortals use?"

"De." Namjoon turned towards Taehyung. "Take her shopping too. Here. Use my card for the time being. Hers is being processed by Jin."

"Is that the money of mortals?"

"Sort of. Anyways, you can get going."

Taehyung nodded and held my hand. "Kaja!"

"Kaja!"

Both being vamps, we both moved at a faster pace.

"Cool! A vampire-witch hybrid!" He said as we reached the door. "We're gonna have so much fun!"

I smiled.

I think so too... 

ㅇㅇㅇㅇㅇ

Are you trustworthy?