Labyrinth of the Library

The shelves encompassed them in their darkness. In this little section, it was like they were in their own world. Matthew was panting - they had run here to avoid being seen by some people from their college - but his lips were bared in a grin. Yujin was looking at the books on the shelves.

“I’ve never been here before,” he observed with faint surprise. “I thought I’d seen this whole place.”

Matthew picked up one of the books and held it up for inspection. “The Lost History of the Vampire King. Isn’t this the kinda thing you’d be into?”

“Yeah, that looks sick.”

Yujin glanced up sharply as footsteps approached. He exhaled as the footsteps continued walking in another direction, before looking back at Matthew.

“We’re too exposed here. Let’s move back.”

Matthew laughed. “It’s just some people we know, it’s not that big of a deal.” He quietened as Yujin shot him a glare, still grinning.

The rows of shelves were ridiculously long and maze-like. After walking for a few minutes, Matthew frowned. “Shouldn’t we be out?”

“We should almost be there,” Yujin replied, but his brow was creased in confusion. They walked for a few moments longer when he paused. “The shelves are different.” Sure enough, the light wood of the shelves was now a rich black stone. Looking closer, Matthew found that the books were different, too. He opened one and shuddered at the page he opened to - a graphic diagram of how to disembowel a human. Yujin peered over his shoulder and went pale.

“I thought these sorts of books weren’t allowed in libraries.” Matthew said hesitantly.

“They’re not.”.

Yujin turned to leave, but the way they’d come was blocked off by shelves, as though it had never been there. “Matthew,” he breathed, almost inaudible. He rarely saw the younger boy so much as startled, so seeing the stark fear in his eyes felt like a punch to the gut.

“It’s okay. There’s got to be an end somewhere.” It was meant to be reassuring, but the uncertainty in his voice made Yujin blanch. Silently, he turned and kept walking, but his hand was tightly clutching Matthew’s sleeve.

Matthew had no idea how long it was until they started to hear murmured voices. It could have been hours or minutes. It had been long enough that they had gotten tired enough to sit down and take a break a while back. They had been silent, Yujin leaning his head on Matthew’s shoulder. Neither had spoken in a long time.

He couldn’t tell what the voices were saying; they were too far away, and the twisting bookshelves distorted the sound. Beside him, Yujin’s face lit up, and both of them started to run. The voices got clearer, until they were just around the corner. Matthew’s eyes widened as he pulled Yujin back. The younger looked at him questioningly, but he just pressed a finger to his lips and gestured to listen.

“You’re certain he’s dead?”

“Positive. I slit his throat and drained him. No one could survive that.”

A pleased hum.

“I trust you are not having second doubts.”

“No, Master, I would never. If my current progress displeases you, I can spend longer hours training.”

“That shall not be necessary. Dismissed.”

Clothes rustled, and then footsteps as one of the people walked away. Matthew’s gaze flickered to Yujin’s face. It was a mask of horror. Slowly, they backed away until they were far enough to not be overheard.

“They’re murderers.” Matthew breathed. “I don’t understand. Where are we - how did we get here? Are we still in the library?”

“The library’s big, but not that big. Remember how long we walked for? But…there’s no attaching buildings, and we didn’t go up or down. This doesn’t make sense.”

“What makes sense isn’t important anymore. All that matters is getting out of here.”

They both crept back until Yujin’s back slammed into shelves. He turned with a muttered curse. It was as though the way they came had never existed. He turned to Matthew and paled, looking behind him.

“Well, well. New prey.” A low voice drawled. Slowly, Matthew turned.

The thing standing in front of him was humanoid, but there was a sense of wrongness emanating from it that filled the narrow pathway. Slowly, it stalked towards him, hands dropping into pockets hidden in the black, expensive-looking coat. Thin, spider-like veins encircled the black eyes.

“W-we don’t want any trouble.” Yujin stammered, voice trembling. “We didn’t mean to come here. We got lost.”

“Isn’t that a shame,” the thing purred, voice like velvet. “No, I think you should stay for a bit. After all, it would be impolite to leave so suddenly, wouldn’t it?”

It grinned, then its lips pursed as it whistled. As though it had appeared out of nowhere, another creature appeared. “Ricky, could you take our guests to their accommodations for the next few days?”

The other creature - Ricky - bowed its head. “As you wish, master.” It shot a look to the boys that had them following without protest; a look that said that he had killed many before, and he wouldn’t hesitate to add them to the list.

Matthew stared at the back of the thing’s hair as they walked. It was a silky blonde that was far too white to be natural, but he didn’t think it came from age; Ricky looked to be around twenty.

“Keep staring and I’ll rip your throat out,” the voice hissed from in front of him, and Matthew hastily lowered his eyes. He didn’t dare turn to Yujin to see how he was, but he trusted that the younger boy would keep his cool until they were alone.

After leading them through twisting stone hallways and several flights of stairs, Ricky took them to a sparsely furnished room that looked more like a dungeon than an accommodation. There were two mattresses on the floor, and a jug of water for bathing. They were both shoved inside, and Matthew watched glumly as pale hands turned the key in the lock. Those dark eyes sneered at him one last time, and then Ricky was gone.

“What are we gonna do?” Yujin murmured, sounding near tears. “I don’t understand what’s happening.”

Matthew pulled him against his side. “It’s fine. We’ll get out of this. We always do.”

“Those people…they’re not human, are they? There was blood on the first man’s hands, and they both had fangs. Did you see?”

Matthew felt a surge of pride. He hadn’t been paying attention to the details, but he had no doubt that Yujin was correct. “I didn’t see that, but I trust you. Maybe they’re demons?”

“No, one of them was wearing a copper necklace. Demons can’t touch copper.”

“Maybe…” Matthew mused, “one of them said he’d drained a body, right? What if he drank it?”

“Like a vampire?” Yujin blinked.

“Yeah. After all, we were in the vampire section when we got sucked into here.”

“That…makes sense, I think. And I don’t have any better ideas. But does it help to know what they are?”

Matthew stretched out his legs, leaning his back against the wall. “Well, we know vampires are vulnerable to sunlight, religious symbols, and a stake through the heart. And you…” he reached for the chain around Yujin’s neck and pulled out the part hidden beneath his shirt, “happen to have a cross on you.”

Yujin’s eyes lit up. “Crosses weaken vampires.”

“Exactly.”

They both sat in silence for a while longer, until Matthew felt a weight on his shoulder. He looked over to find Yujin asleep, mouth slightly open, and had to hide a smile. With a sigh, he settled in to keep watch.

The next morning, Matthew was pulled from a haze of half-sleep by someone banging on the bars. He opened his eyes to find Ricky staring at him, the beautiful immortal face spoiled by the permanent scowl that stained his features.

“Get up, mortal. My master wishes to see you.”

Hastily, he sat straight and made to shake Yujin awake, but Ricky stopped him.

“No. Only you.”

Matthew blinked but obeyed, slowly pulling Yujin off him. While he was hidden from Ricky’s sight, he quickly removed the necklace and pocketed it, before standing and turning to follow the vampire.

Again, they went through the maze of winding hallways. Ricky was taller than Matthew, and he found himself having to half-run to keep pace.

“Where are we?”

He was ignored.

“You’re vampires, right?”

An irritated exhalation of air.

“Are you going to kill us?”

Ricky whirled around, teeth bared an inch from his face . “If you don’t shut your mouth, that seems likely.”

Matthew couldn’t stop his lips from twitching into a grin. If he could feel human emotions such as anger, then that meant he could appeal to his human nature.

“Feisty,” he remarked lightly, smirking at the growling vampire. “If you kill me now, then your master won’t be able to tell me whatever it is he wants to say.”

Ricky shot him one last glare before pulling away. Matthew watched him go for a second before tackling him to the ground.

A second later, his back was on the floor, and Ricky was snarling on top of him. “You fool. Did you really think someone like you could defeat me? I will-” the words were cut off with a hiss of pain as Matthew, who had hidden the cross in his hand, pressed it against Ricky’s face. There was a horrible sizzling sound as the vampire thrashed, but Matthew held firm. He watched as black eyes faded to hazel, as the hatred on his face slowly melted away. It was only when Ricky went still above him that Matthew removed the cross.

To his surprise, but also relief, the cross hadn’t branded the vampire. There was a faint dusting of ash where it had been, but the pale skin remained unmarred. Warily, Matthew gazed up at the vampire, who blinked, blonde hair falling over his eyes.

“...How did you do that?”

“I don’t know.” Matthew answered truthfully. “It was a guess. Are you…not a vampire anymore?”

Ricky snapped his fangs at him. “Do I look human to you?”

“Well, you’re not trying to kill me anymore, so something changed.”

The vampire sighed. “Jiwoong was the one who bit me. My master,” he added, seeing the confusion on Matthew’s face. “Vampires are bound to those who turned them, and as the decades pass, you become more and more entwined with each other, until one is the extension of the other. I think…I think you removed that part of me. It was like an infection in my mind, growing until I had no control over my thoughts, and now…I feel lighter.”

Matthew grinned. “Well, that’s great. Not to interrupt your musings, but I would appreciate it if you got off me now.”

Ricky shot him a nasty look before moving away. Matthew wasn’t sure how he’d ever thought he’d become human; the face, the elegance and deftness in his movements…all of it carried an immortal grace that no human could possibly achieve. Matthew sat up, his bones aching from being slammed into the ground. “So…what now?”

“If you’re expecting me to help you-”

“Well, I was the one who set you free.” Matthew shot him his most charming grin. “Plus, if you leave me here, you’ll be stuck with me until I die.”

The vampire seemed more convinced by the latter.

“Fine. I’ll help you leave. But only you. I owe the boy no debt.”

Matthew frowned, suddenly serious. “I’m not leaving Yujin.”

“Then you can rot in this hole.”

The vampire turned to leave, but Matthew blocked him. He swallowed as he said, “You may not be under Jiwoong’s control anymore, but you’re still a vampire, and I still have a cross.”

Ricky snarled. “You dare threaten me?”

“I’ll do a lot more if it means getting Yujin out of here.” He met the vampire’s gaze steadily, ignoring the shaking of his hand by his side. “Will you help us or not?”

Ricky bared his teeth, but then bowed his head in a show of mock submission. “As you wish, Master.”

Yujin startled as he saw Matthew on the other side of the bars. “Matthew? What…how are you…” He paled significantly as he saw Ricky behind him.

“It’s alright, he’s with us,” Matthew panted, using the keys Ricky had given him to unlock the door. He glanced back at the vampire. “How long until Jiwoong realizes something’s wrong?”

“My master is cunning. He would have realised the moment I was freed for him. He is waiting…”

Matthew shuddered at the thought as he pulled the door open. Yujin stepped out uncertainly.

“Here. I’m sorry, I took this without asking, there wasn’t time.” Matthew pressed the cross necklace into Yujin’s palm, and the younger boy closed his fingers around it.

“Thank you,” he murmured.

“Now, tell Yujin what you told me about how to get out of here.”

“You got here through the library. By going too far into the shelves. It’s a spell that Jiwoong created; once you’re trapped in it, you have no choice but to continue walking until you reach here. It’s how he gets his prey. You need to get the copper key from around his neck. You can use it to unlock the spell - I’ll take care of that part.”

“How do we get the key?” Yujin asked, eyes big.

Matthew grinned. “We fight.”

He was honestly sick of these winding stone passageways as Ricky led him through them for the fourth time. Yujin was at his heels, eyes darting around as his quick mind gobbled up every piece of information it gathered, though god knows what he discovered from the monotonous, windowless walls. After a while, Ricky slowed and turned to face them.

“Jiwoong’s rooms are near. From now on, you shall need to be on high alert.”

Matthew swallowed, but nodded. “Yujin, stay behind me. Anything happens to me, you run, okay?”

Yujin opened his mouth to protest, but closed it at whatever he saw in Matthew’s eyes. “...Okay.”

Matthew tiptoed towards the door and pressed his ear against it to listen. When he didn’t hear anything, he eased it open…and found himself staring into Jiwoong’s eyes. The cruel face twitched into a smile.

“You really thought you could leave? Just like that?” His eyes moved to Ricky. “And you…I made you. You would betray me, just like that?”

Ricky’s eyes were cold. “You made me into a monster.” He lunged.

Watching Ricky and Jiwoong fight was like watching a dance. Limbs thrashed, knives flashed, blood splattered, but they managed to make it look as delicate as ballet. Matthew shook himself and joined in, grabbing a chair and smashing it over Jiwoong’s head. The vampire snarled as splinters of wood rained over all three of them, and then its black eyes lit up with amusement.

“This is what you want, isn’t it?” He pulled the chain around his neck hard enough for it to snap, then held the key in his hand. The copper glinted as it caught the light of the fire. “Then fetch, boy.”

As if in a blur, Matthew watched the key fly towards the fire. He lunged, and time seemed to slow. His hand reached out, almost there, as it dropped into the fire. He fell to his knees, watching the metal glow red hot, then melt. Matthew’s mouth opened in a roar. He felt feral, like an animal, as though he was watching someone else control his own body. He grabbed the splintered chair leg, the end sharp, and with all his might, shoved it into Jiwoong’s chest.

He heard a gasp from Yujin and faltered, but then Ricky’s hands were over his, pushing, and Matthew watched as the vampire died choking on its own blood. His heart was pounding, blood rushing in his ears, drowning out all sound. He reached up to push his hair out of his face and discovered that they were covered in red.

“The door,” he gasped out, “the key’s gone. We’re trapped.”

He felt Yujin’s hand hovering worriedly over his back and clasped it like a lifeline. Both of them watched as Ricky hesitated.

“No. Not quite. I didn’t tell you the whole truth.” He met Matthew’s gaze. “I didn’t tell you the truth because I was scared. Jiwoong…he was a terrible person, but he raised me. I didn’t want you to kill him. But…spells can be undone by killing the person who created them.”

“So we’re out. We’re free.” Yujin said, a note of disbelief in his voice.

Ricky inclined his head slightly. “The door is behind you.”

Yujin pulled at Matthew’s hand, tugging him towards the door. “Come on, Matthew.” But Matthew’s eyes were on Ricky.

“You’re not coming?”

“I have done terrible things. I have killed, and tortured, done unspeakable things to mere children. I shall remain here, as atonement.”

“No.”

Ricky looked up sharply. “What?”

“I said no.” Matthew’s voice was stronger. “We’ve all done bad things. Hell, I just killed a guy. Are you saying I should stay here too?”

“That’s not what I meant.” There was a crease furrowing the immortal’s brow.

“Then come. Come with us. We’ll find you somewhere to stay. You can live a normal life. Be free.”

“It’s not that simple. I’m a vampire. I feed on human blood.”

“Well, could you feed on animal blood?”

The immortal blinked, startled. “I…I suppose. I’ve never tried.”

“There’s a butcher on my block; I’m sure I could come up with an excuse to get bottles of blood from him.”

Matthew extended the hand that Yujin wasn’t holding. Ricky eyed it for a few moments, exhaled, and took it. Together, the three of them turned to face the door that would take them home.