Chapter 30

  Revelation of Bloodline – The Legacy of Zedwan

  Location: Grand Hall of the Night Palace, Vampire Territory of Lysa

  Time: Late night — artificial crimson drizzle falling from the darkened vampire sky.

  After the briefing concluded and the visiting outsiders were escorted to their designated quarters by the night guards, the core group was granted temporary rest within an ancient ceremonial hall.

  The chamber was majestic yet unsettling — walls carved with dragons, skull motifs, and black thorned roses twisting across obsidian pillars.

  Shinin sat alone at the far corner, elbows on knees, brow furrowed.

  Aisha idly tugged at Fran’s hair.

  Zoarfang polished his blade with obsessive focus.

  Ritz bombarded HasyaLys with questions about vampire bloodline history through the comlink.

  Meanwhile, Lysa remained locked in silent tension with the presence of Ching Lee within her consciousness.

  Then—

  Shinin spoke.

  Softly.

  Uncharacteristically hesitant.

  “I want to ask something…

  But don’t laugh at me.”

  Fran raised an eyebrow.

  “That sounds like the beginning of a tragic backstory.”

  Shinin exhaled slowly.

  “I just realized something…

  Your scents.”

  Silence.

  “Your blood… it smells similar to mine.”

  The hall froze.

  Zoarfang clicked his tongue.

  “You’re only noticing this now?

  I thought you were pretending not to know.”

  Ritz smirked.

  “I suspected from the start…

  But you smell like a walking zoo, so I didn’t bother mentioning it.”

  Aisha stared.

  “Wait… you can smell us?

  Like… family?”

  Shinin nodded.

  “Everyone here smells like… a fragment of me.”

  His gaze shifted.

  “But Lysa…

  Hers is the strongest.”

  Lysa’s Revelation

  Lysa approached with her usual regal composure.

  Yet something had changed.

  Her expression was calmer.

  Softer.

  For once, Ching Lee did not interrupt.

  Perhaps even she… was listening.

  Lysa placed a hand on Shinin’s shoulder.

  “Shinin…

  Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  It is time you learn the truth.”

  A pause.

  “Zedwan… your father…”

  Her voice lowered.

  “…was my elder brother.”

  Shinin’s eyes widened.

  “What…?”

  “He was the firstborn of the Zawrath blood branch.”

  She met his gaze.

  “I was the second.”

  A beat.

  “Which makes me…”

  A faint, almost gentle smile.

  “…your aunt.”

  Shinin’s brain visibly short-circuited.

  “…Aunt?”

  Aisha gasped dramatically.

  “WAIT —

  He’s the nephew of the Vampire Queen?!”

  Fran folded his arms.

  “Fantastic.

  Not only do you smell like a zoo…”

  A grin.

  “…you’re vampire royalty too.”

  Zoarfang blinked.

  “Hold on.

  Then what does that make the rest of us?”

  Lysa turned toward them.

  “Fran. Zoarfang. Ritz. Aisha. HasyaLys…”

  Her crimson eyes gleamed.

  “All of you…”

  “…are Shinin’s cousins.”

  Ritz lit up.

  “So we’re basically a dysfunctional family reunion destined to fight cosmic darkness?”

  Emotional Impact

  Shinin slowly looked at each of them.

  Processing.

  Rebuilding.

  “All this time…

  I thought I was different.”

  “Just the son of a feared beast.”

  His voice trembled slightly.

  “But… I had a family.”

  Lysa’s tone softened.

  “Zedwan never told you.”

  “Perhaps he feared you would be hunted for your mixed blood…”

  “Powerful… yet despised.”

  She squeezed his shoulder.

  “But now…”

  “You are no longer alone.”

  Ching Lee’s Roast Session

  Right on cue—

  Ching Lee’s voice sliced through the mood.

  “Awwww… how touching.”

  “Should I prepare premium royal-edition vampire tissues?”

  Lysa sighed.

  “Must you ruin every emotional moment?”

  Ching Lee chuckled.

  “Please.

  If I didn’t intervene, this place would drown in melodrama.”

  Fran smirked.

  Zoarfang snorted.

  Aisha laughed.

  Aisha’s Response

  Without warning—

  Aisha hugged Shinin from behind.

  Tight.

  Warm.

  “Cousin or not…”

  “You’re still ours.”

  She grinned.

  “Yeah, you smell weird…”

  “…but you’re our hero.”

  Shinin laughed quietly.

  A rare, genuine smile.

  “Thanks…”

  “Even if I still can’t fully believe this.”

  Fran’s Closing Line

  Fran stepped forward, voice steady.

  “Believe it.”

  “Because what comes next…”

  His eyes hardened.

  “…won’t be survived by strangers.”

  “Only by family.”

  Impending Danger

  Then—

  BOOOOOOM

  A massive bell thundered from the northern tower.

  The hall trembled.

  A vampire guard burst through the entrance.

  “Emergency alert!”

  “Dark Beasts have breached the northern boundary!”

  “They’ve crossed through an unstable portal!”

  Lysa’s face darkened instantly.

  “So it begins…”

  Her voice sharpened.

  “They are here for the heirs of Zawrath Kein's blood.”

  Her gaze locked onto Shinin.

  “They are here…”

  “…for you.”

  Final Beat

  Shinin rose slowly.

  Eyes glowing faintly.

  No fear.

  Only resolve.

  “Then let them come.”