BLOODBOUND DESIRE | HEEJAYWON

06: Shadows of Power

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."