The silence in the room was thick, as if the air itself was weighted by the secrets they shared and the power they now carried. Jay's senses were still humming from the taste of the Umbra Vitae—a potent, electric surge that left him feeling both invincible and volatile. He had never felt anything like it, a high that filled every vein, amplifying his perception until he could hear the smallest breath, feel the faintest pulse of life.
But with that heightened sense came an underlying restlessness. Jay couldn't shake the feeling that the blood had changed something within him. It was subtle, just a gnawing edge in the back of his mind, but it was there, lurking like a shadow.
Heeseung's eyes were fixed on Jay, his jaw set in a tight line. The others could feel his tension radiating through the room. Jungwon glanced between the two, picking up on the shift. It hadn't been easy, watching Jay drink from him, and the unspoken jealousy lingered in the air like smoke.
"Are you feeling okay?" Jungwon finally asked Jay, his voice careful, almost hesitant.
Jay nodded, but his eyes were distant. "Yeah. I'm fine. Just... getting used to it."
But Heeseung stepped forward, unable to hold back. "Are you sure that's all? You look... different."
Jay's gaze snapped to Heeseung, his expression hardening. He could feel something clawing at him, a mixture of irritation and arrogance he didn't fully recognize. Was it him? Or was it the blood?
"I can handle it," Jay said, his voice sharper than intended.
Jungwon cut in, glancing between them. "We need to talk about this. The Umbra Vitae—it's powerful, yes, but we don't know the full extent of its effects. Jay, if you're feeling... anything unusual, you need to tell us."
Jay scoffed, half-smiling. "Unusual? Jungwon, we're vampires. My whole life is unusual."
Heeseung clenched his fists, feeling a surge of frustration. He was used to being the strongest, the protector. Seeing Jay like this—having something he couldn't touch, couldn't control—it made him feel... powerless. And that gnawed at him in a way he couldn't ignore.
"You don't know what you're dealing with," Heeseung warned, his tone low and edged with bitterness. "Jungwon's blood isn't some... enhancement. It's dangerous, and you're acting like you're invincible."
Jay rolled his eyes. "Maybe I am now."
Heeseung's eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched even tighter. Jay's newfound arrogance, the edge in his voice—it was as if he'd been transformed, emboldened by something neither of them fully understood. Heeseung stepped closer, his presence looming, challenging.
"Invincible?" He scoffed, voice laced with bitterness. "You're not invincible, Jay. None of us are. You think a sip of blood changes that?"
Jay didn't back down, his gaze defiant, his lips curving into a mocking smile. "Maybe not for you. But I feel... different. Stronger." He glanced down at his hands, flexing his fingers as if testing the sensation. "And maybe it's about time someone else stepped up."
Heeseung's patience snapped. "You're playing with something beyond your understanding, Jay. The Umbra Vitae—it's not just some power-up. It's a risk, a responsibility."
Jay's eyes flashed. "I'm not a child, Heeseung. Don't talk down to me like I don't know what I'm doing."
Jungwon, sensing the tension reach its boiling point, stepped between them, his voice a calm but firm warning. "Enough, both of you. This isn't helping."
But Jay only smirked, leaning back with that same defiant gleam. "What's the matter, Jungwon? Afraid of a little confrontation?"
Jungwon's gaze hardened. "Afraid of you pushing this power until it breaks you."
Jay's smirk faded, a hint of frustration flickering across his face. "I can handle it. I'm stronger than you give me credit for."
Jungwon's patience was fraying. He reached out, gripping Jay's shoulder tightly. "This isn't a game. That blood... it doesn't just enhance your power, Jay. It feeds off your emotions, your impulses. It can twist you if you're not careful."
Jay shrugged off Jungwon's hand, his eyes filled with a mix of anger and hurt pride. "Maybe I'm tired of being careful. Maybe I want to see what I'm really capable of."
Heeseung's voice was cold, almost a whisper. "And maybe you're just proving that you weren't ready for this."
The words hit Jay like a slap, his expression darkening. There was a beat of silence, thick and heavy, before he spun on his heel, striding toward the door. "Fine. If I'm so untrustworthy, I'll figure it out on my own."
Heeseung moved as if to stop him, but Jungwon held up a hand, shaking his head. Jay's footsteps echoed down the hallway, leaving them in tense silence.
Jungwon exhaled, running a hand through his hair. He could feel the weight of what just happened, the fissure that had cracked open between them.
"This blood... it's already affecting him," Jungwon murmured, his voice laced with worry.
Heeseung turned to him, his face a mask of frustration and helplessness. "We never should have let him drink it. He's not ready for this kind of power."
Jungwon's gaze softened, filled with regret. "I know. But I thought... maybe he'd prove us wrong. Maybe he'd handle it."
Heeseung shook his head. "If we don't keep an eye on him, he's going to tear himself apart. Or worse, tear us apart."
Jungwon nodded solemnly. He could only hope that Jay would find a way to control this newfound power before it controlled him entirely. But deep down, a dark fear gnawed at him—that by sharing his blood, he may have unleashed something they were all powerless to contain.
The silence that followed Jay's departure was thick, each of them lost in their own tangled thoughts. The weight of the Umbra Vitae pulsed in the room like a second heartbeat—a reminder of the immense power they were dealing with, and the dangers that came with it.
Jake was the first to break the silence. "If this is what happens when one of us drinks the blood, how are we supposed to use it against Aurelius?" His voice was low, the weight of his words striking the others.
Jungwon stared at the door Jay had disappeared through, a conflicted look in his eyes. "I don't know," he said, almost in a whisper. "I thought maybe this would make us stronger. But seeing what it's doing... I never wanted this to divide us."
Sunghoon shifted uneasily, his gaze moving between Jungwon and the door, his brow furrowed with worry. "Maybe we should be careful with this," he murmured. "If it's affecting Jay like that, it could do worse to the rest of us."
Heeseung, unable to hold back any longer, turned to Jungwon, his tone edged with bitterness. "Then maybe you shouldn't have kept it a secret from us, Jungwon. You thought this would help, but now you've given Aurelius something he can use to turn us against each other."
Sunoo, usually quiet in moments like these, crossed his arms, his gaze narrowing as he watched Heeseung. "That's enough, Heeseung," he said softly but firmly. "Jungwon's done his best to keep us safe. Right now, we need to trust each other, not tear each other apart."
Ni-ki, standing at the edge of the group, finally spoke up, his voice hesitant. "I don't think it's just the blood, though. We're all feeling the pressure, the fear of what's coming." He looked at each of them, his usual cheerful demeanor replaced by a rare seriousness. "It's not just Jay—it could happen to any of us."
Heeseung's jaw tightened, but he nodded, letting some of the anger slip away. "Fine. But if we're going to keep drinking this blood, we can't just assume it's going to work out. We need a plan—no more secrets, no more surprises. If we're going to do this, we do it together."
Jungwon took a deep breath, his gaze determined. "I agree. We'll start small, taking turns. Each of you should drink from me, Sunghoon, or Sunoo in controlled doses, so we can learn how it affects each of us differently. We'll keep close watch on each other for any side effects or changes."
Jake glanced at Sunghoon, worry flickering in his eyes. "This whole thing... it feels risky. But if we're careful, and we stick together, maybe it'll give us a fighting chance."
"Even if that means we need to face things we've been avoiding," Sunghoon added quietly, his gaze focused, though his unease was evident. "We're already changed, whether we wanted this or not. The Umbra Vitae is part of us now."
Sunoo's eyes softened, and he placed a hand on Jungwon's shoulder, his voice steady and reassuring. "We're with you, Jungwon. But we need to stay grounded. If any one of us starts to feel... different, we need to talk about it, not let it fester like it did with Jay."
Ni-ki nodded, adding, "And if anyone starts losing control, we'll be there to help them. We're in this together."
Heeseung let out a slow breath, looking at each of them in turn. "Then it's settled. We'll start tomorrow, at dawn. We'll document everything—what we feel, what we notice. No one goes rogue. And we all make a promise right now: no matter what the Umbra Vitae does to us, we stay together. We'll be stronger if we face it as one."
Jungwon nodded, grateful for their support, his voice steady as he replied, "Agreed. And we'll keep a close eye on Jay, too. If he's willing to come back, he's part of this, part of us. But if not..."
The unspoken words lingered in the air, filling the room with an even heavier silence. They each knew the dangers they faced and the thin line they were walking between power and corruption. But beneath the fear, there was also resolve—a newfound strength that bound them closer together.
They exchanged determined glances, the weight of their decision settling in their hearts. Whatever lay ahead, they would face it together, forging a path through the darkness and discovering, perhaps, that their greatest strength lay not in the Umbra Vitae, but in each other.
