PUERTOS

Chapter 7: Bad Feeling

“Why do you think Appa wants to see us, Juhyun-ah?” TaeYeon tidied her clothes and looked at the mirror one last time before turning towards her sister.

“I don't know, Unnie, but I think something important is coming up.” Seohyun stood up from the bed.

TaeYeon shrugged and walked out of the room with Seohyun behind her. Once she was outside, she could see maids and servants running about the house in haste. She looked at her sister who had the same exact confused look.

“Hey.”

TaeYeon turned to see Sooyoung closing her bedroom door before walking towards them.

“What happened?” Sooyoung asked.

“No idea, but Appa wants us to meet him.” TaeYeon replied.

“I've heard from the maids too.”

“Let’s just get the girls first.”

They nodded.

---All five of them walked towards the King’s room in silence. The familiar big wooden appeared right in front of their eyes.

Tiffany remembered the day when she first got here. She came with heavy steps when she realised that it was the King’s room she was about to enter. Everything for her that day was almost like a blur – a dream. She wouldn't have expected that she would even get to know that vampires existed on that day.

But right now, she was almost used to this. She wasn't as uptight as before after knowing that they were going to meet the King. After all, the King did treat her and Jessica well enough for her to know that he was a man– or vampire of great heart. He wouldn't hurt her, she knew that.

TaeYeon knocked on the door. A “come in” was heard from inside the room so she proceeded to open up the door.

She was about to step into the room when she saw her father talking to the general from their army.

The King looked at her and gestured for her to enter. “It's okay, we’re done talking.” He nodded his head at the man before adding, “Put more security if necessary, I wouldn't want anything to happen.”

The man bowed. “Yes, Sir.”

“Good. Now, get going.”

The man stood straight and saluted. “Have a good day, Sir.” The King nodded and he walked to the door. He bowed at the sight of TaeYeon before exiting the room.

TaeYeon looked at the back of the man before shrugging. She entered the room with the others behind her and all of them bowed at the King who was standing up from the chair.

The King went to the couch and asked all of them to sit, which they obliged.

“How have you been, Jessica and Tiffany?” The King smiled at the two girls.

“Fine, Mr Kim.” Jessica said.

“We’re good.” Tiffany smiled.

“Good to see that you're opening up to us, Tiffany.” The said girl blushed at the comment.

“Sorry if I did anything to offend you.”

“No, no. No need to apologise, Tiffany. It's understandable. I mean, no humans would have expected that vampires existed in the world.” The King laughed before clearing his throat when the others were deadpanned. “At least now I know that Taetae isn't mistreating you.”

TaeYeon groaned at the nickname while the others snickered. The King smiled a little.

“As for Sooyoung... I wouldn't have to worry because she always does a good job in doing what I told her to. So I assume that you’re adjusting pretty well with Sooyoung, Jessica?”

The snickering girl stopped when she heard her name. “Of course, Mr Kim.”

“So, Taetae–”

“Appa! Stop with the nickname! I'm over two hundred years old, for goodness sake.”

The King wanted to laugh but stopped himself. “So? You’d always be a child in Appa’s eyes so... suck it up!” The King chortled while TaeYeon had her mouth opened because of what her father had just said.

TaeYeon quickly closed her mouth and shook her head. “I don't even think anyone would believe that you're actually the King, Appa.”

The King pretended to be shock. “How could you say such inhumane thing?” He pointed at his chest. “Appa’s heart hurts, Taetae.”

“Appa!” TaeYeon whined and unconsciously pouted.

Tiffany watched the two interesting pair. Now, did she just pout? Wow, so she does have a cute side. Wait... Geez, what are you thinking again, Tiffany Hwang?

“Okay, okay. I'll stop.” The King wiped the tear that had fallen when he laughed too much.

“We should get to the main topic now.”

“We should have, long ago.” TaeYeon rolled her eyes.

The King smiled. That was a good laugh. He cleared his throat. “Okay, so, the purpose for calling all of here is because I have an announcement to make.”

Everyone noticed the sudden seriousness.

“We’re having the clans leader’s meeting tonight. So, like always, all of those high rankings leaders would then be present for the night.”

“Tonight? But it's not very convenient for them to be here, Uncle.” Sooyoung commented.

The King nodded. “I know, so we can't let anyone find out that Tiffany and Jessica are here, with us.”

The two humans were confused.

The King saw the look on their faces. “The leaders don’t like people from outside of our world to find out about us. In the past, should anyone have known, they will have to be killed.” The gulped at the mention of them being killed. “Moreover, the two of you are human-beings, and that could put you in more danger.”

The two nodded.

“So, all we have to do for the night is to keep a low profile?” Tiffany asked.

“Bingo.” The King said. “And I want all of you to be extra careful.”

“But the question is how? They'd be walking around the place, Appa.” TaeYeon said. “Are we going to make them stay in the room the whole time?”

The King nodded and the others were shocked. “That's the only thing that we can do.”

“What about their scent? They will be able to smell that there are humans in this house, Uncle.” Sooyoung remarked.

“There are the maids.” TaeYeon said.

The King shook his head. “The human maids would not be here. That's what always happens whenever there are visitors, TaeYeon-ah. Have you forgotten?”

“Oh, right.” She cursed under her breath.

“Just spray lots of perfume on them to cover up the scent.” The King ordered.

“Okay, Uncle.”

“Juhyun?”

“Yes, Appa?”

“Stay with them in their room and make sure to contact us should anything happen.”

“Don't worry, Appa. I will.”

Tiffany and Jessica looked at one another and gulped. They didn't know why but they have a feeling that something is going to happen tonight.

---Time passed in a flash and soon, the sky was dark. Like what the King had ordered,

Seohyun was with Tiffany and Jessica in her bedroom and TaeYeon and Sooyoung weren’t able to be there because they have the meeting to attend to.

The room that they were in was filled with the smell of perfume. They had to make sure that no human scent was left so they had even sprayed the perfume at the girls’ bedroom.

As much as TaeYeon and Sooyoung wanted to be there with the girls too, but they knew that they couldn't.

Vampires were seen sauntering into the house every now and then. The meeting room was then slowly filled with people in it.

The door to the meeting room opened again and this time, it was the King, TaeYeon and Sooyoung who walked in.

The King sat down at the end of the long table first before the two girls sat beside him.

“Good evening to every one of you in this room.” The King said and the others nodded. “It's been quite some time since we've had a meeting so I really want to know what your clans have been doing.”

Slowly, one by one, the clans’ leaders each reported to the King on what they are planning to do and what they are doing at this moment. Everyone in the room was listening

attentively except for a few, which included TaeYeon.

Even though her body was sitting right there, but her mind was obviously somewhere else.

She couldn't seem to concentrate on what the leaders are saying but to keep her professional image, she still kept a serious face on with not even a single evident of boredness in it.

She was actually very worried for the two girls... or maybe only, Tiffany. She doesn't know why, but she's just worried that something bad would happen to Tiffany.

She just had a feeling that something bad was going to happen to the girl.