Bittersweet Silver -X- Chapter 6

  Water dripped down the walls as the trio explored the secret cellar of the church. Heechul's torch provided light for both him and Ryeowook, while Siwon used his keen wolf vision to navigate ahead. The floor was wet and slippery, everyones feet squishing on the soggy floor. Ryeowook held a dagger deftly in one hand, more relaxed now that he was armed. Another map found between the pages of a discarded Bible they had helped them navigate the narrow passage.
Suddenly the hall forked in two.

"I can take care of myself, so Ill go alone down this one. Ryeowook, stay with Siwon."

"No! This way to the right is just a library. Ill look there for any more clues on how to stop Kyuhyun while you two look for any evidence on how long this vampire has been here."

Before Heechul could protest Ryeowook grabbed a wall candelabra that had been extinguished for some time, blew the dust off, reality it, and set off down the right passage. Shrugging, Siwon and Heechul continued on to the left, careful not to stray too far away but trying to make progress at the same time.
  
Ryeowook sneezed as dust blew around him,  the books filled with the stuff as he thumbed through them. The water damage was terrible, vibrant illustrations now dull and faded. The pages were thin and stiff, cracking at points where they were supposed to bend easily. 'What a shame. Such history has to be preserved, not discarded.' He tsked bitterly. Turning to inspect a black velvet covered novel that poked out from the shelves, he jumped and screamed when he heard the thump of a book fall behind him.

"Ryeowook-ah, are you okay?" Siwon's call echoed down the narrow passage.

"Yeah! I-I just dropped something, I'm fine!"

Steadying his heart he padded over to pick the book up and was roughly tackled by an unknown figure. He struggled as he felt it's hot breath on his face, and he scrabbled furiously for the dagger.

"My, you're a fresh one! Young, handsome...you would have been be a treat to a pretty young lady one day. But now you'll just be a treat for me; aren't you lucky?"

Ryeowook stopped struggling. That voice...the way it tickled his nerves, the slight cutesy way words were pronounced. All too familiar...

"Sungmin-ah?"

The hissing stopped, and the creature whispered in surprise. "How...how do you know me?"

"It's me, Ryeowook!"

Startled, the creature leaned in to get a closer look, its vision much better in the dim light. "My Wookie!? Is it really you?" Emotion tore at its vocals, Ryeowook beginning to cry as well.

Siwon burst in out of nowhere, slamming into Sungmin with all his strength. He yelled as he collided with a shelf of books, hissing as Siwon snarled and crouched, ready to spring. Sungmin jumped high and came down on a table with a thud, fangs at the ready. Siwon pounced and struck him full in the chest; this time though, Sungmin held on as they both toppled backwards, skidding to a stop while remaining on his feet and slinging Siwon off of him and onto the floor. Sungmin dug his long fingernails into Siwon's neck, jerking his head backwards as he used a glossy black boot to slam hard on his back. His foot hit the still healing and tender wound Heechul had burned into him, causing Siwon to howl with pain.
  
Suddenly a gunshot was fired,Sungmin fleeing for the doorway as a bullet grazed his shoulder. Two more shots echoed in the darkness, and Sungmin fell to the ground with a thud. He growled in pain while gripping his injured and bleeding side, eyes fearful as Heechul raised his loaded pistol and began squeezing the trigger.

"NO!"

Ryeowook huddled on top of Sungmin's injured form, hugging him to his little body protectively. Heechul shook with anger, but suddenly remembered Siwon as he tried to stand by yelped and fell again. Heechul ran to his side, trying to hold him up and glaring at Ryeowook all the while.

"What is WRONG with you, Ryeowook!? That monster tried to kill m- ahem- Siwon! Why are you protecting him?" Heechul hoped with his entire being no one had heard him start to say 'my'. Thankfully they didn't. Ryeowook was holding Sungmin as he cried, the once terrifying monster reduced to a sobbing young man. He kept whimpering, "My Wookie...I tried to kill my Wookie-ah...I'm so sorry." Ryeowook shushed him, calming him down enough so he could explain.

"Sungmin is my love. He and I have known each other since we were kids, and he was bitten by a vampire. We still remained friends until Kyuhyun killed my brother's lover and Sungmin found out..."

Sungmin suddenly spoke up, choking on his tears. "I wanted to take on Kyuhyun myself...he hurt my Wookie because he killed his brother's happiness. He tore that family apart, and made my Wookie cry...that...that basta-ah!" Sungmin jerked himself up from the floor in rage, falling as his wound had not yet healed and the holy water soaked bullets burned into his skin. Ryeowook hugged him to his chest as he trembled in anger and pain; Heechul did the same to Siwon.

"Siwon-ah...can you make it?"

"That little shrimp can put up a fight, can't he? Sheesh..." Siwon grumbled. He stood unsteadily on two feet but, supported by Heechul, he and the others made it out of the cellar. Night had fallen,shielding Sungmin from the deadly sun. Unfortunately, when Siwon went to get on the horse the animal went berserk, sensing his wolf hidden inside him. After much angry yelling from Heechul the horse still refused to let Siwon on it's back, and everyone was confused on what to do next until Siwon spoke up.

"I'll walk. You guys go on ahead." He said, his voice strained while trying to hide the pain. Everyone protested, even Sungmin; they were all silenced by a sudden loud snarl from Siwon, the matter settled. Something else was troubling the young man, Heechul knew. Past pain told him to not get involved, the last time he had tried to help Siwon...

"Siwon, wait! I'll...I'll go with you. Just in case."

Heechul jumped off of the horse, tossing another weapon to Ryeowook before slapping the horses hindquarters and sending him galloping off into the darkness. Heechul smirked, happy that he had done that quickly so that Siwon had no choice but to allow him to stay. They walked the quiet hills alone and silent, Heechul occasionally glancing over at Siwon's stern expression. The silence was definitely uncomfortable, and Heechul had enough. But instead of berating Siwon like his natural response would be, he decided to be gentle. Siwon was in a bad mood already, and if he decided to attack Heechul...Heechul didn't think he could bring himself to kill him.

"Pretty lucky that we had Ryeowook, yah? Who would've HE had history!"

"Yea...good for him."

Uncomfortable silence once again. He used to be able to get Siwon to confide in him easily. He really had changed.

"Siwon-ah, how are your wounds?" Heechul reached a hand out to touch his raw back and Siwon jerked away angrily.

"They're fine! Leave me alone, Heechul!"

"What the hell is YOUR problem!?"

"You wouldn't understand."

This made Heechul furious. He wasn't a little kid; he had dealt with more mature problems before, and he wasn't about to be repremanded by some bratty werewolf.

"What wouldn't I understand!? So you were nearly beaten by a vampire. BIG DEAL! You weren't killed, and your lucky I was there to save you. Ungratefu-!"

Heechul gasped as Siwon pinned him by the shoulders to a nearby tree. His face was super close to Heechul's, but he didn't dare make a move to kiss him; Siwon definitely wasn't in a romantic mood this time.

"I'm not mad or ungrateful that you rescued me, but the fact is...we got lucky. Ryeowook knew this vampire, but what if he hadn't?"

"I wouldn't have heisitated to kill him."

"That's not the -ARGH!" Siwon released his grip on Heechul, kicking out at a tree branch in frustration and splintering the thick wood. He inhaled deeply, exhaled a shuddering breath, and repeated the process until his voice was slightly level. Heechul just stood by dumbfounded and angry. Siwon turned to him, placing one hand on his shoulder. His voice was low but the shakiness in his words noted that he was on the verge of either crying or releasing some REAL anger.

"I don't care if you don't love me anymore, Kim Heechul. But I DO love you, and I WANT to protect you!"

"I told you I don't need..." Heechul began to protest, but bit it back when he felt Siwon's grip tighten threateningly.

"You DO need me to protect you; what you should say is that you don't WANT me to. And its not your fault that you don't..." he broke away sadly.

He began walking by himself back to the barn in the distance, not looking back at Heechul. Heechul followed behind slowly. He had really messed up. Why was it whenever he WANTED to say something he couldn't, and all other times what should've stayed inside his head was blurted out!?

Siwon leaned heavily against a tree just overlooking the hills, not facing Heechul as he walked behind him. He opened the barn door and bit back a scream of frustration at what he saw. Ryeowook was curled against Sungmin in a ball, his head snuggled into his neck. Sungmin wasn't asleep, naturally, but he lovingly stroked Ryeowook's back as he hummed softly. His eyes jerked up when he saw Heechul enter, but Heechul just strode past him stiffly and laid down against the uncomfortable hay with his back to the pair. Tears fell slowly as he realized how much he missed Siwon's warmth,realizing with horror at how he might never feel it again.