Seven

It’s hot.

I squirm in my spot, and crack one eye open. The room is dark, and I know it’s clearly the dead of night still. I attempt to shift away from the source of heat only to find myself wrapped in someone else’s limbs.

I open my other eye and crane my neck to see Sehun’s sleeping face. The usually good at playing distant boy has somehow resorted to fucking cuddling and suffocating me in the middle of the night.

His mouth is open and soft snores are coming out. I smile sleepily at him. How cute.

I’m torn between wanting to push him off and letting him sleep on. He’s really warm and suffocating me, but he’s also sleeping so peacefully, and I have a heart. How could I wake him up when I don’t know how often he sleeps this well?

I whimper pitifully and use my feet to shuffle the blanket off my upper body so that I can have a bit of cool air to combat the body heat. I relax in his hold and close my eyes while facing the ceiling hoping to fall back asleep soon.

That is until I hear his whimpering.

Fuck, is he cold now? I reopen my eyes and look at him trying to figure out what’s causing him discomfort. His eyebrows are furrowed and his mouth has closed. He kind of looks like he’s in pain, and when his grip on me tightens, I assume he’s having some kind of nightmare.

The whimpering starts to change. Instead of soft whimpers, he begins to let out soft sighs and quiet moans. My eyes widen.

Not a nightmare.

Probably the opposite.

When I feel something distinctly hard pressing against my thigh.

Definitely the opposite.

My breath hitches and I silently listen to the noises. He pulls me in even tighter. I can feel his erection rubbing shallowly against my thigh and to say I’m flustered would be the understatement of the century. Should I wake him up? What am I supposed to do?

“June…” I close my eyes at the sound of my name unconsciously slipping from his mouth. This is wrong. Him doing this is wrong. Me letting him is wrong. The way my body is reacting to this so positively wrong. I didn’t even know he had thoughts like that. I take in deep breaths and try to force myself back to sleep.

Go to sleep.

Go the fuck back to sleep before he wakes up and is embarrassed and everything is ruined. How would either of you be able to face each other after this? I bite my lip hard.

I should be allowed one bad decision right? I’d just be helping him out.

That’s right. I’d be doing him a favor, and I’d be helping myself out. I have to go to sleep so I can be rested for the party, and how can I do that with him grinding up against my leg and moaning right in my ear?

That’s right. I can’t.

I peek and look at him with one eye to check and see if he’s asleep, because how the hell would I explain this to him if he were to wake up and basically find me molesting him in his sleep?

That’s right. I can’t.

With a deep breath, I slide one hand down between our bodies and palm the outside of his boxers, and he sighs at the touch. I freeze and don’t remove my eyes from his moonlit face, waiting for signs that he’s about to open his eyes and curse me to hell. I can feel him moving against my hand and he whimpers once again.

I bite the inside of my cheek and move my hand to the top of his boxers and slide my hand below the fabric against his skin. I grip his hardened member gently and watch his face closely. His face crunches up slightly and another shaky breath escapes him, I move my hand along his length.

Listening to his sounds of pleasure is a strange experience. Intriguing…and dirty. I feel terribly dirty listening to, watching, participating in this, and yet I don’t force myself to stop. His face contorts at the outlet my hand is providing for his uhm…problem and my entire body heats up shamefully.

His dick is hot and heavy in my hand. It throbs rhythmically in my palm, just as fast as my heart in my chest. When he starts to unconsciously buck into my hand I know that he’s getting close, and I should reclaim my hand before he- “Nng…”

Comes. I close my eyes in frustration at myself. I waited a second too long. I take my hand back and hold it up to my face to look at the white transparent liquid. I press my fingers together and pull them apart to watch as the sticky substance messily stretches from one finger to the next.

Should I just wipe it on my sheets?

This is the 3rd fucking time I’ve had to deal with cum in my damn sheets. Poor laundry boys who have to deal with this. You could always lick it off.

I scrunch my face up at the thought. Gross. That’s gross…but…

I stick my tongue out and lick it quickly anyway. The salty taste of it (in general) is definitely not my favorite, but it’s not…terrible, and that’s shocking. I quickly rub the rest of it off in the sheets. My hand is going to smell like cum in the morning. Again. I roll my eyes. Whatever. I look at Sehun’s face to see him falling right back into the peaceful state he was in before.

I am a terrible person.

But as long as he doesn’t find out…this can be my little secret. Besides it benefited him too, so it’s not like I was doing it for just myself. I throw my leg over his, and put my head on his chest to listen to his slowing heartbeat. I let the sound of it lull me back to sleep.

“Wakey wakey~”

I groan and crack open my eyes to see a bright red headed being.

“Satan is that you?” I ask deliriously. “Have you come to claim me?”

“Yah!”

I rub my eyes and the face that belongs to the hair clears to show not Satan but Chanyeol, who does not look amused. It feels like I’ve only slept for like 2 hours since…I was last up. My eyes widen and I look beside me to see it’s empty.

“He had to go get ready.” Chanyeol explains after following my gaze. I feel bad for feeling relived at the younger’s absence. I feel even worse about last night now that time has passed. “How’d last night go?”

“Fine!” I reply all too quickly. He jumps at the sudden volume and places a hand to his heart. “I mean it was fine. We just went to bed. Nothing happened.”

He raises an eyebrow and opens his mouth, but quickly shuts it at the sound of rapid knocks on the door.

Saved by the army of women. Never thought I’d be happy to see those ladies.

Chanyeol backs away from my bed and I brace myself for another morning of pampering and coddling.

Like yesterday, I’m bathed, dried, made up, and dressed all without having to actually lift a finger of my own. The purple dress isn’t nearly as tight as the teal one, and I’m given a pair of sandals that strap all the way up to my calves to wear with it. My hair is pinned up in a style that allows half of my hair to be down and in its natural texture. No curling or straightening and for that I’m thankful.

After being decorated with the little tiara, I take Chanyeol’s arm and -unlike yesterday- we walk to the dining room.

It’s been almost entirely transformed. 7 long tables have been laid out and are accompanied with at least 3 hundred people at each table and enough food to feed everyone in the Capital. A stage is set in the very front of the room, and all of the women are eating breakfast happily.

I see that at the head table, there is a seat next to the Queen’s that must have been set up for me. I wordlessly make my way to the seat and sit down. A few of the women at the table give me a welcoming nod while others do nothing of the sort.

Chanyeol taps my shoulder and I look up at his towering body. He juts his chin in the direction of the women at the table, and I suddenly notice the Charmers under some of the women. I make a noise of realization and stand up so that he can sit down. He holds his arms open in the chair with a toothy grin waiting for me to sit on him, and I shake my head incredulously.

This guy I swear.

I sit down and try to have only half my weight on him, until he wraps his arms around me forcing me to rest entirely on him. I gasp and grip the table to keep myself sitting straight.

“It’s fine.” He whispers. “I like having you in my lap.” He says. I grimace and pinch his thigh to show my displeasure with the comment. He flinches slightly and then I can feel the timbre of his laugh. I grab two pieces of toast and turn around to shove one in his mouth, and the other in mine. To shut him up, and to keep me from laughing at him. On my own without Solar, I feel like I’m going to shit my pants. I don’t want to say anything out of line or do something wrong, and without her I’m ten times more likely to do just that.

I pick food up from in front of me and munch silently while feeding Chanyeol every now and then. The women at the table talk animatedly to one another and I listen to their conversations without adding a word. I attempt to look as though I’m not listening in.

A joyful fanfare plays on a horn, and the entirety of the room quiets. The Queen appears in the doorway with a golden mermaid dress, and everyone in the room stands at the sight of her in all her glory. She struts over to her chair beside me and nods. Everyone bows and then sits back down in their seats.

“Good morning everyone. I hope that you will enjoy the feast laid out for you all and all of the activities that will be occurring throughout the palace. Be merry for the party begins now.” The room erupts in applause and she smiles politely before holding a hand up and silencing the applause. “Before you all get back to eating, I would like to reintroduce June.”

I stand up and bow again in front of everyone. Solar smiles humbly before turning her attention to the room in front of her. I’ve never seen her in official Queen mode, but right now he commands the room and everyone is watching her intently. She doesn’t look like the silly girl I’d been seeing behind closed doors.

Right now she was larger than life itself. Imposing. Loud and has obvious control and respect of everyone in the room.

She clears her throat. “I expect you all to treat her with the same respect you would with me. If I hear or catch anyone treating her without the utmost care I will find and end you before you can even begin your explanation.” At that everyone’s breathing stops. Mine included. She clasps her hands together and smiles once more. “Now, let the party begin!” she says with large grin. A moment of silence follows before someone starts clapping. Slowly everyone joins in until the room is filled with cheers, banging on tables, and applause. Gracefully Solar sits in her chair next to me. She gives me a reassuring smile and then claps her hands loudly.

Charmers enter the room in all directions. Just as shirtless as always. Frightened I sit further back against Chanyeol and grab his forearms for comfort. I watch as the Charmers walk around offering drinks and such to the numerous guest. When One comes up to me with the pink liquid I shake my head. He walks away and goes to the Queen. She takes a glass and downs it in one gulp.

I take another bite of some egg on my fork while the men make their way around. I offer the fork to Chanyeol and he opens his mouth wide. There’s a gleam of playfulness in his eyes and I smile. I’m so glad he’s here. I feel so much more relaxed in his arms.

A few minutes later, the lights dim in the room and brighten on the stage. I look at it expectantly. Three figures come on the stage in leather pants and white button downs. I recognize both Jongin and Sehun immediately. The third face is unknown, but is just as attractive as the other two. Music begins playing from the hidden speakers around the room, and the three take their places on their own platforms and begin dancing.

The song starts out slow, but then a voice begins talking over the music like poem. Once the voice stops, water begins to pour from the ceiling and on the stage while the music picks up. The song is mainly piano but has a heavy beat to it. The three of them are dazzling up there and my mouth drops open as they splash around and dance in the simulated rain without falling or tripping. I shove another piece of toast in my mouth so that I’m not so openly gaping.

Out of nowhere, the unknown Charmer rips open his shirt and the room erupts into ear splitting cheers. I cover my ears with my hands but smile at the boys on stage who’ve just given a terrific performance and look exhausted.

Wet.

And exhausted.

I clap excitedly as they exit the stage and the women continue whistling and cheering as if their lives depend on it. I turn to look at Chanyeol in amazement and he only nods excitedly with me.

Wah. Amazing.

At that another influx of drinks come in and everyone really begins to get loud and rowdy.

“You can leave for a bit. The next event isn’t for another 2 hours.” Solar leans over to tell me. I nod and stand up. I grab Chanyeol’s arm again and lead him out of the room. We might as well wander around for a bit since we’ve got a bit of time.

“That was amazing.” I whisper to him as soon as we’re out of the dining hall. I keep him attached to my side by holding onto his arm with a vice grip. I don’t want him drifting behind me, and I don’t think I’d fare well if I wasn’t holding him for comfort.

“They’re always amazing.”

“I didn’t know Sehun could dance so well.”

“He’s really good. All three of them practice really hard to give their best performances every time.” I’m so proud of both Sehun and Jongin for that dance, and I want to let them know as soon as possible. However, I know that I can’t go searching for them. Not right now at least.

“Remind me to let them know that I loved the performance, okay?” I look up to try and catch his eyes. He blinks before nodding once. I smile and go back to leading him in our wandering around the castle.

It’s still fairly early in the morning, and yet is seems as though half of the guests are trashed and drunk beyond belief. Stumbling women leaning up against walls. Shoes that have been left on the ground haphazardly. People sloppily making-out out in the open. Shamelessly grinding against one another.

I see mainly Gaia with other Gaia, and then the occasionally a Gaia with her Charmer(s). I look around at all of the women making out in slight confusion. Do some Gaia own other Gaia’s in the same way they own Charmers? “Most of these women are dating.” I hear. I look up at Chanyeol who points discretely at two women sitting at a couch leaning against one another and holding hands. “Gaia tend to marry and date other Gaia. They use Charmers as an outlet or even sex toys, but they will usually fall in love and settle down with one another.”

“Ahh…” I say distractedly. That makes sense. I had been starting to get confused, but it’s starting to make a lot more sense. Some Charmers are used as sex toys. Others as servants. Most as both. Humans aren’t even looked at that highly. They are slaves. Usually seen as tools. They handle the lowest and hardest jobs. Charmers handle things like service and entertainment. Of course Gaia fall in love as well, and would want someone with equal or greater social merit. I guess I had assumed they were just heartless and just liked to fuck every now and then.

Looks like I was wrong.

Later on the next event starts. I had been told that it would be children showing off their abilities and their mastery in their magic. What I wasn’t told was just how this show and tell would happen.

There are at least 20 little girls, no older than maybe 10 years old. Each one of them dressed in beautiful clothes and greeting the Queen in the politest way I have ever seen a child address any adult in my life. After doing that they would step onto the stage and one of the many human boys here would be pushed on stage next to her. The girl would repeat her power and then go right in to showing it.

Using the human as the test dummy.

I watch around 15 of the 20 humans die right in front on us, and the other 5 are critically injured. Burned, drowning, crushed, suffocated, beaten, the list goes on. The bodies would be dragged off stage as the next is brought up in the same breath.

I squeeze Chanyeol’s arm in an attempt to comfort myself, and he places a hand on my shoulder reassuringly. Solar claps proudly at the display, and I can’t help but cringe.

She’s just proud of the little girls. That’s not a crime right? The humans brought on stage were raised knowing this would happen to them, so it’s not a huge loss right? These humans don’t know anything besides this as their lives, so it doesn’t matter right?

Right?

They’re raised as property and that’s what they think they are. I can’t help them, and that’s not my fault.

Luckily, once that’s over most of the guests move to separate areas of the castle for free time. I go to the entertainment room that I’d been playing around in with the boys for the last few weeks. Following the Queen with Chanyeol at my side. I don’t know when they got the chance to decorate it, but the large room was entirely transformed. Long tables have been added and are lined with the lunch that was made in the kitchen.

Not many people have come in to this area (although it’s still a shit ton and I’m feeling suffocated) since the ballroom is open for dancing, and the pools for swimming. Not to mention the fact that most of the drinks are being served in the ballroom as well. I assume most of the guests have settled there to get their fill.

The stage in here only has one mic, as opposed to the original three, and it’s positioned over a large black piano. Everyone settles at the tables and I force Chanyeol to sit beside me for once. He does so hesitantly, but with no complaints. The room is full of enthusiastic talking and eating. I seem to be the only one who sees the boy walking on to the stage and sitting at the piano. I glance at Solar who is animatedly talking to one of her advisors beside me.

The sound of music begins to play softly. I squint at the musician, and it takes a moment but I recognize him as one of Moonbyul’s Charmers. The pink hair being the main giveaway. I look around for said woman and find her talking relaxed to a woman at her side. The sound of the piano is beautiful, and I can’t help but admire the skill of the boy whose name I’ve forgotten. I look at Chanyeol. “Do you know-” the sound of singing interrupts my question. I look back to the stage to see the pink haired boy singing into the microphone above him. I watch in awe as his smooth voice accompanies the piano. “…him.”

“Yeah. That’s Baekhyun.” I blink and face the red haired man next to me. Baekhyun. That sounds about right. “I don’t talk to him very often. None of us really do…” he says. I turn back to the stage completely engulfed in silently taking in the performance. No one else seems nearly as wowed by this as I do.

A sudden note that sounds out of place interrupts the otherwise perfect flow and Baekhyun tenses as the entire room quiets. All eyes turn to the stage judgmentally, and I look around in worry. It was just one small mistake. Why is everyone freaking out? He stands up from his seat at the piano and bows so low that his head almost touches his knees. “Please forg-”

“Take him.” Moonbyul’s cold voice cuts through the apology like a blade and Baekhyun stands up looking like a deer in headlights. 2 Charmers dressed like guards walk up to the stage and grab him by the arms. The lack of fight that he puts up is heart wrenching. I look at Chanyeol worriedly. I hope they aren’t taking him there.

When he avoids my eyes, I know that the pink haired singer is being taken away for the small mistake. As soon as Baekhyun is gone, another boy takes his place and the room goes back to the way it was before. As if nothing even happened.

A hand on my shoulder makes me flinch in my seat. “What’s wrong?” Solar. I look at the new boy on stage and back to her. I don’t want to admit the reason behind my nervousness, but she already knows that I have a heart different from her and her peers.

“What’s going to happen to him?” I ask softly. She gives me a sad smile and caresses my cheek with her hand.

“I don’t know. He isn’t mine to deal with.” She replies simply. I look at Moonbyul who is once again engaged in relaxed conversation with a Gaia and I feel sick. I had been told plenty of times that she isn’t a very merciful owner, from my own Charmer friends, and I can only hope that Baekhyun isn’t punished too severely. That’s only wistful thinking, I know. I stand up as soon as Solar removes her hand from my cheek.

“I need a moment. I will be back.” I tell her.

She nods understandably. “Take your time.”

I catch Moonbyul’s eye, and she raises an eyebrow. I tap Chanyeol’s shoulder and leave the room in a rush.

I speed walk to the abandoned basketball court and start to pace in a line. I rub my sweating hands on the fabric of the short dress. Chanyeol watches on in silence for a few minutes.

“He’ll be fine.” He tells me. “Baek will be okay. Don’t worry.”

Lies. I know he’s lying. Looking at his face I can tell that he’s attempting to hide how scared he is as well. He lets out a breath and I bring a hand up to my mouth, tempted to bite at my painted nails. Will Baekhyun really be okay?

“Hey guess what.” I stop at Chanyeol’s now cheery voice. I give him a look. Why is he talking so happily all of a sudden? “I know how to play the piano too.”

“Really?”

“Yes. I can play that, drums, guitar, and I can sing.” I look at him in shock. He smiles and puts his hands into his dress pants pockets. “I know, what can’t I do. I’m perfect.” He says lightheartedly. I scoff out a laugh and roll my eyes.

“Of course you are.” I agree sarcastically. “You should play for me one day.” I add honestly.

He nods shortly. “I might. If I can ever get my hands on a piano.”

Looks like I’m going to get a piano put in my room for the tall boy to use. I look down at the court in confusion. Why did I come in here? Oh shit! Right. I give Chanyeol a thankful smile. He nearly entirely took my mind off of what just happened. In just a few sentences.

He grins shyly back. “We should go back.”

I shake my head. “Let’s walk around again. I don’t want to go back yet.” I tell him sheepishly. He walks up to me and links his fingers with mine, his long digits covering mine. I look at our hands and he bumps his hip into mine.

“Lead the way princess.” I look up at him and scrunch my face up at the nickname he’s gotten used to calling me.

“Shut up.”

Surprisingly while wandering, we find a whole other section of the castle that neither of us were even aware existed. I was almost sure that I found every part of the castle when I went searching on my own; however, after following the never ending streams of party goers we stumbled upon a separate building that was connected by a bridge near the back of the castle.

Knowing we didn’t have long before dinner would start, I made a mental note for us to come back and figure out what all the hype is about in this area. With fingers interlocked we walk back to the large dining room where dinner will be served at any minute now.

While leisurely making our way to the 2nd floor a small group of people manage to catch our attention. Giggles fill the air around them, and it’s obvious that the women in the group are flirting with the Charmer they’ve managed to surround. It only takes a second for my mind to register that it’s Luhan surrounded by the three women.

He has on a black button up, and grey slacks with his hair pushed up and out of his face. The women are subtly touching him and he has a smile on his face as he talks to and entertains the Gaia around him. He’s obviously in the middle of working.

I can’t hear anything that any of them are saying even as we get closer to actually passing them by. One thing is for certain though, the flirting is happening both ways. One of the Gaia in the group meets my eyes and immediately breaks into a friendly smile before bowing her head.

“Mistress June. It’s wonderful to see you.” I nod my head politely and my eyes glance over to Luhan who looks panicked at having been caught in this situation. I quickly look away and smile at the woman who addressed me.

“Are you enjoying her Highness’s party?” I ask. She nods quickly.

“This is the nicest party I’ve ever had the pleasure of being invited to. Everything is perfect.”

I nod again. “I’m glad to hear it. I’ll make sure her Highness knows that you all are enjoying the festivities.” I look in Luhan’s direction again and it seems as though he is making a point to avoid my eyes. I grip Chanyeol’s hand tighter. “Let’s go Chanyeol.” I give each of the women a smile. “I hope to see you all at dinner.”

“Of course!”

“Most definitely.”

We leave quickly after that.

Dinner is uneventful outside of the performance given by the dancers. Like before, Sehun, Kai, and the third Charmer were amazing and the room was full of praise. I clapped excitedly for the two boys who looked absolutely pooped after a long day of performing for these large crowds. After an announcement that there would be drinks and music in the grand ballroom, the crowd leaves to go to the next location.

I sigh and stand up on my aching feet for the nth time today. My feet are absolutely killing me after all this walking, and I’d rather slit my own throat than deal with another 12 hours of standing and dancing.

“I want to go to my room.” I mutter to Chanyeol on the way to the ballroom.

“So do I.” he agrees.

I purse my lips and walk silently down the stairs and through the large doors of the grand ballroom. Just as they said, it was pulsing with music and nearly everyone already had a drink in their hands. I scan the room for Solar. As much as I don’t want to be here, I know I am supposed to be standing at her side while she keeps up the role of being hostess.

I meander lost for a few minutes until I finally manage to catch sight of her. I hurriedly scamper to her side and refrain from grabbing her dress to keep myself from getting separated. She is deep in conversation with a woman I’ve never seen before, so I turn my attention elsewhere so that I don’t interrupt her and the guest.

The room is just as large and imposing as when I had to come here for the judgement day. Where I once kneeled there is an elongated table covered in treats, desserts, and other snacks. On the other side of the room is a large circular table decorated with countless bottles of wine, liquor, and other spirits. In the middle there is a tower of what look like jelly snack in the shape of crowns. They range in color from red and blue, to chartreuse and seafoam. It’s beautiful really.

“Ah there you are baby.” Solar’s voice pulls me from my amazement. She looks at me with a soft smile. “Are you enjoying yourself?”

“Yeah. This is all really nice.”

“That’s great to hear.” She puts one hand on my shoulder and the other points behind me. I turn my head to follow her finger. “Do you see those girls?” she asks. I look around until I see a group of huddled girls who look no older than me talking animatedly in a circle. “You should go over and introduce yourself to them.”

I turn away from the group and face Solar with a frown. “Why?”

“They’re others like you who were brought here for the party. You should go make friends. I know you don’t have any friends outside of the Charmers you’ve taken to, and it would be good to have human friends like yourself, yes?” I nod dumbly. She’s right. I should have friends like myself. As of right now I don’t talk to any other humans, and it’d be nice to talk about…human things with others that get it. She squeezes my shoulder affectionately. “Have fun. I’ll be over here if you need me.” She kisses my cheek and walks a few feet away. I glance towards the girls before placing my focus on Chanyeol who is giving me a disapproving look.

“Can you leave me for a bit? I’ll be fine around them, so you don’t have to play bodyguard so closely.”

His eyes wander in their direction and his frown only deepens. “I’m not sure about this…”

“Just 30 minutes. All I want is like 30 minutes and then you can go back to being my shadow.” I plead with my eyes and he silently stares me down trying to convince me otherwise. When he sees that I don’t plan on budging he sighs and bows before finally walking off. I let out a nervous breath and head over to the group of girls.

As I approach them I can see that they’ve all got glasses of champagne in their hands and are talking happily about something. I clear my throat and let out an awkward “Hi,” cutting into their conversation.

All of their eyes turn to me, and I shrink under their gazes. “You’re the girl who lives with the Queen right?!” one asks with widened eyes.

“…uhm yes.” I inform her. They all gasp in surprise and look at each other with opened mouths.

“I’m so jealous!”

“You’re so pretty.”

“It’s no wonder the Queen took you in.”

“I bet you have an amazing time living here.”

I rub at my bare arm anxiously. “It is pretty nice being here.” I admit.

“Where did you come from originally?”

“I lived in a human village.”

“So did I!” one with blonde hair says.

“Me too!” a pretty girl with black hair and tanned skin chimes in.

“Really?” I ask, shocked to know they have backgrounds similar to my own.

“Yes, I left at a very young age though…so I don’t remember much about it. I can’t even remember my mom’s voice to be honest.”

“Me too!” I add in a bit too loud. I immediately dial down my excitement. “I mean, neither can I. It’s been so long. I can’t believe I’m not the only one.” The girls giggle and I laugh in relief. I can’t believe Chanyeol was worried about me coming over here. I never thought I’d meet others who had the slightest understanding of what it is like to be a human girl in this world. I could definitely see myself becoming friends with these girls.

I hear a scoff from one of them. Her eyes are focused on the walls of the room where human boys are lined up. “Disgusting.” She says with a scowl. I brighten. I’m not the only one who thinks that the way the boys are treated is horrible. Another follows our line of vision and she frowns.

“I know right. I can’t believe they’re allowed to be visible. Awful little creatures they are.” My stomach drops. I look at her in horror. The girl beside her rolls her eyes and looks at me with a grimace.

“How do you even deal with having those gross things around you so often?”

I open and close my mouth at a loss for words. “The…the humans?” I manage to ask.

“Yeah.”

“Duh.”

“But…we’re humans too…” I say quietly, unsure as to whether or not they were aware of that fact. They collectively roll their eyes and let out sounds of dissatisfaction.

“Yeah of course we’re human, but we aren’t them.”

“They’re hostile, vile, gross creatures.”

“They aren’t even doing anything useful right now; they should be dead.”

I keep my mouth closed as they carry on talking about their own experience with human slaves and how useless and worthless they are as beings. The conversation then shifts to them discussing Charmers and how worthless their own are.

“If they weren’t such a good fuck, I’d have them killed as well. At least it’s fun training them in to submission.” They laugh in agreement to the blonde’s statement. I stand among them flabbergasted. How could they even say these kinds of things? They- we’re humans too. What makes them so much better than the human slaves and Charmers? Had they not been taken in by the Gaia they could be in a similar spot. They could be working under the Gaia as a personal slave. Don’t they know how lucky they are? Don’t they know how terrible they sound?

“Um, please excuse me. I have to go find her Majesty.” I bow my head to the girls.

“Oh, please go on. Come find us again soon.”

“It was nice meeting you June!”

I offer an unstable smile as I hurriedly make my way out of the ballroom.

Fucking human girls.

Just as bad as the Gaia. Am I the only person who can see how wrong all of this is? I can’t be can I? There have to be others who think the same. I clench and unclench my fist a few times as I walk fast paced down hallways just be alone for a while. Since everyone has congregated in the ballroom full of booze I can find momentary peace down these dimly lit halls.

The only sounds I can hear are my own footsteps and the quiet thuds of bass coming from the ballroom I left behind. I make a noise of frustration and turn on my heel.

I have to go back. Not because I am going to talk to the girls or even find Solar, but because I left without Chanyeol knowing. If he realizes I’ve vanished he’s going to have a fit. I follow the sound of the music since I wasn’t keeping track of where I had actually rushed off too.

“Please stop…” the plead is faint. I almost didn’t catch it. I’m not even sure if I heard correctly. I stop in my tracks and look around me. I know that the ballroom is down this hall on the left, but it sounded like the voice was coming from the right. Looking wistfully towards the direction I know I should be walking, I head in the other direction.

I tread quietly down the hallway and I know that I’m being a dumbass right now. Whatever I think I heard was none of my business. I should just let it go.

And yet I keep searching.

After turning a corner, I see a woman hovering over a guy on one of the couches.

“Please get off. Don’t do this. Please!” he cries out. She shushes him softly and leans further in to him. I run over to the pair and grab the back of the woman’s top to pull her off. She stumbles back and looks angry for a millisecond before she starts to smirk. I stand in front of the man defensively. I don’t know what this lady is about to do, but I will stand here and scream and fight until the last second.

“Leave him alone!” I bark. “You can’t force yourself on him like that.”

She chuckles. “Trust me. It’s not him that I want.” At that the woman begins to shift. Her limbs elongate, hair shortens, body turns into lean muscle, facial features shift entirely. Where a curvy woman once stood is now a tall ass man. A very attractive tall ass man. I gulp and take a step backwards.

I bump into the body of the guy who was previously sprawled on the couch vulnerably. I feel the cold metal of a blade on my throat as he holds me against his chest. I gasp. “Don’t worry, we aren’t going to hurt you…yet.”

I inhale before staring at the man in front of me. “What do you want?”

He rolls his eyes and looks at the man behind me. “You don’t have to hold the knife to her throat.” The guy behind me shrugs, but the pressure of the blade against my throat lessens. “Look, we just need to talk to you for a while. We want you to cooperate.” I settle for a glare in lieu of response.

“You really are quite careless for a human.” The man behind me supplies.

Yeah, I know that. I can’t even deny it. I shouldn’t have jumped into the middle of this even if it had been real. I really need to get my life together.

“We’ve been waiting for someone like you to finally come in to the castle.” The shorter man behind me says. I furrow my eyebrows in confusion. They’ve been waiting for me?

“You got our book with the pictures right?” the taller one in front of me asks. I search my memory for any picture books. The memory of shoving a book full of grotesque images under my bed resurfaces quickly.

I wheeze roughly. “You put that in my room!? B-but how?”

“Don’t worry about it. For now, just come with us and we’ll all be happy-”

“June?! June where are you?!” Chanyeol. I sag in relief at the sound of his voice. I’m so glad I gave him a time limit. The knife is removed from my throat and the smaller male stands beside the shape shifter.

“It seems like we have to postpone our little meeting.” The shapeshifter says.

“We’ll see you June…soon enough.” The shorter male smiles in a way that is weirdly innocent before he places a hand on the other’s arm and the two vanish on the spot, leaving nothing but a huge gust of wind in their wake.

I bring my arm up to my throat to check and see if it’s bleeding. Without moving my hand, I look out the large window at the very end of the hall worriedly; the moon is high in the sky and is only a small crescent. They’re going to come back for me…

I feel his hand on my shoulder before I hear him, and even knowing that it’s just Chanyeol I still jump a bit at the touch. He’s panting heavily at my side. “Where did you run off to-” I throw my arms around him. He freezes up momentarily, but he returns the gesture easily. “Did…did something happen?”

I know that I should probably tell him about the almost successful attempt to kidnap me, but I also know that if he knows he and Sehun and Jongin will be even more worried than they already are. They have so much to deal with and I don’t need to add to that. They might also tell Solar…and then I’d be locked up in my room until the end of time. If I have to suffer through that I might as well die.

I debate whether or not to tell him before settling on holding him a bit tighter and telling him not to leave my side anymore. “Just...don’t let me wander off alone again. Okay?”

“…okay.”

Notes