The Deal

Chapter Seventeen

Slowly, Jeongguk closed the door behind him, tears welling in his eyes as he looked around the vacant apartment, eagerly searching for his mother.

"Momma...?"

His voice was quiet and meek, cracking a bit as tears began to fall down his cheeks, his mother rounding the corner, skin as sun kissed as ever.

Her beautiful mocha eyes shimmered with tears, her arms opening wide as she smiled softly, her eyes crinkling in the corners just like Jeongguk's always had.

He darted into her embrace, sobbing into her neck as he held his mother tightly, relishing in finally being in her arms after years apart.

They held each other, the only sound being their desperate and happy cries. When they finally separated, Jeongguk cupped his mothers face, their eyes meeting.

"I'm so sorry momma, I'm so sorry I couldn't- couldn't save you... I-I never wanted you to get hurt the way I was. I-I never wanted that horribleness for for you, I never wanted you to feel that pain, never.."

His mother let out a broken laugh, hands falling over Jeongguk's softly.

"Baby, my precious Jeonggukie, I wish that I could have protected you like a good mother. I couldn't do that, and I'm supposed to. I'm supposed to protect you, baby. And I couldn't."

Jeongguk shook his head a bit, turning his head to look away from her as his hands dropped to his sides.

"I'm a man now, momma. It's my job to take care of you like you took care of me for so many years..."

However, exposing his neck was a mistake, as a second later, his mother's warm hands were grazing the deep bite mark that laid in the junction between his neck and shoulder.

"Jeongguk-ah... Did you..."

He stepped back quickly, his eyes widening to that of a deer in headlights, left hand flying up to cover the mark.

"Momma... I... I belong to the vampire that saved you. Kim Taehyung, heir to the Kim coven throne, and a Royal Blood vampire. I- I'm his human... And- and he's my vampire..."

Her eyes flashed with confusion, so Jeongguk sighed a bit, and led his mother to the couch, helping her sit down before sitting down himself.

"Momma, about a month ago, I-I almost jumped off Mapo, because Kyunhae... Kyunhae raped me again. Taehyung stopped me, he- he showed me what he was, but instead of draining me right then and there, he comforted me."

"I was having a panic attack, and he made me swallow some of his blood so I would calm down. I fell asleep, and he wrapped his arms around me, made me feel safe. The next morning, he made sure that I wasn't in any pain, and gave me clean clothes."

Jeongguk paused a bit as he let out a heavy sigh, hands grabbing hold of his mother's ever so softly.

"Vampires have a tendency to make.. Deals... With humans. These deals almost always involve letting them feed from the human. It was the case with Taehyung and I as well. He promised to protect me from Kyunhae, and promised to give me anything I wanted. He promised to love and cherish me, promised to let me stand by his side."

"All he wanted in return is blood when he needs it, and sex when he wants it. Although he promised me that he would make sure I felt safe and comfortable, he promised he would never force me into anything I didn't want. And he hasn't. I trust him, momma. He cares about me. Not just because of our deal, but he said that being around me tames his beast."

"The thing inside him that revels in giving his prey false hope, their screams of pain, fear, horror. The beast inside him that shakes to life at those things, and all I have to do is smile at him, and his beast calms instantly. I'm special to him, momma."