"I think we should let him rest now," the girl said quietly.
Tsering nodded.
"Yes… get some rest. We'll talk about everything in the morning."
With that, the two of them stepped out of the room and moved into the hall.
For a moment, silence filled the house.
Then the girl spoke again.
"I think I should leave now."
Without waiting for a reply, she turned and walked out into the night.
🌑 Meanwhile — Vampire Castle
By the time she reached the castle gates—
she was already expected.
Vampire soldiers surrounded her instantly.
Before she could react, they seized her and dragged her inside.
The great hall was filled with shadows and silence.
At the throne—
Queen Rinchin sat calmly.
Beside her—
King Lobsang.
Rinchin's lips curled into a faint smile.
"Look who has returned," she said softly.
"A traitor… who nearly killed our king."
The girl's eyes burned with anger.
"I am not a traitor," she said.
"You are the traitor among us—"
Her voice rose.
"—the one who killed her own family for power!"
A ripple moved through the hall.
"How dare you!" Lobsang snapped, rising from his seat.
Rinchin gently placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Relax, my king," she said softly.
Then she looked back at the girl.
"King Lobsang saw her hunting humans," Rinchin continued calmly.
"When he tried to confront her… she attacked him."
The girl shook her head desperately.
"No… that's not true! You are the one hunting humans—
you're the one drinking their blood!"
Lobsang's expression hardened.
"You dare accuse the Queen to hide your own crimes?" he said coldly.
"We have heard enough of your lies."
He stepped forward slowly.
"You will be punished for breaking our laws…
for drinking human blood…
and for attempting to kill your king."
Rinchin added quietly—
"And not just her."
A cruel silence followed.
"Bring them in."
The massive doors opened.
Two figures were dragged inside—
her mother…
and her little brother.
The boy clung tightly to their mother, trembling in fear.
Both were forced onto their knees.
The girl's face broke instantly.
"No—please!" she cried.
"Let them go! They've done nothing!"
She looked around the hall desperately.
Begging.
Pleading.
But no one spoke.
No one moved.
Rinchin stood.
Slowly.
Calmly.
She descended from her throne.
"This is my law," she declared, her voice echoing through the hall.
"Anyone who breaks the laws of the vampires…"
She paused.
"…will be punished with death."
Her eyes turned cold.
"And their bloodline… will die with them."
Before anyone could react—
She moved.
A flash of steel.
Two strikes.
Clean.
Merciless.
Their heads fell.
Their bodies collapsed onto the cold floor.
Blood spread across the hall like a dark river.
The boy's tiny hand slipped lifelessly away from his mother's robe.
Silence.
Heavy.
Terrifying.
The girl froze.
Tears streamed down her face, but no sound escaped her lips.
Her world had shattered before her eyes.
Rinchin stepped toward her slowly.
With the tip of her blade, she lifted the girl's chin.
The girl glared at her through tears, rage burning in her eyes.
"You will never succeed," she whispered.
Rinchin smiled faintly.
"We'll see."
And in the next moment—
The blade moved again.
The girl's body collapsed to the floor.
Still.
Dead.
The entire hall stood frozen.
No one dared speak.
Even among vampires—
this level of cruelty was horrifying.
The soldiers silently carried the bodies away.
Soon—
only blood and silence remained.
Rinchin walked slowly through the hall.
Blood stained her lips.
She licked it slowly.
And instantly—
she saw everything.
The memories.
The abandoned house.
Tenzin.
Tsering.
A smile slowly spread across her face.
"So… that's where you're hiding," she whispered.
Her eyes darkened with obsession.
"Not for long… my love."
🌑 Morning
Soft golden light entered through the curtains.
Tenzin's eyes slowly opened.
For a brief moment—
everything felt peaceful.
Then he saw Tsering.
Sitting quietly beside him.
Holding a small cupcake with a single candle.
A soft smile rested on his face.
"Happy birthday…"
Tenzin blinked in surprise.
Then smiled faintly.
He leaned forward and hugged him tightly.
"Thank you, brother."
Tsering closed his eyes for a moment.
"…Always."
But the warmth didn't last long.
Tenzin slowly pulled away.
His expression changed.
Serious.
Confused.
"What was she saying last night?"
His voice became quieter.
"That… you're not my brother."
A pause.
He stared directly into Tsering's eyes.
"Is that true?"
Tsering remained silent for a long moment.
Tenzin's gaze never left him.
"Is it true?" he asked again softly.
Tsering exhaled slowly.
"…Yes."
The word hit like a blade.
Tenzin froze.
"What do you mean… yes?" His voice trembled slightly.
"You're my brother."
Tsering lowered his eyes for a moment.
Then looked back at him.
"I am your brother," he said quietly.
"But not by blood."
Silence filled the room.
Tenzin's expression hardened, confusion and anger mixing together.
"Then what are you saying?"
Tsering stepped closer.
And slowly—
he told him everything.
How he had been adopted by their mother.
How their grandfather had turned him into a vampire.
How he had protected Tenzin all these years from the truth.
When he finished—
the room felt colder than before.
Then Tsering spoke again.
"We have to save our father."
The words struck Tenzin like lightning.
"We have to free him from her control."
Tenzin slowly stood despite the pain in his chest.
"That wolf…" he whispered.
"The one I fought…"
Tsering nodded slowly.
"…was him."
Tenzin staggered back slightly, his mind spinning.
Tsering's voice turned firm.
"And if we don't act now… we'll lose him forever."
Tenzin clenched his fists tightly.
"Then we save him," he said.
"Tell me how."
Tsering picked up the ancient book and opened it carefully.
"There's only one way."
His voice grew heavy.
"It's written here… the control can only be broken if the one controlling him dies."
Tenzin looked up slowly.
Realization filled his eyes.
"You mean…"
Tsering met his gaze.
"…Rinchin."
Silence filled the room once more.
Cold.
Unavoidable.
"If she dies," Tsering continued,
"our father will finally be free."
"And if she doesn't?" Tenzin asked quietly.
Tsering closed the book.
"Then he will remain her weapon forever."
A long silence followed.
Then—
something changed in Tenzin's eyes.
The hesitation was gone.
Only determination remained.
He slowly looked up.
"Then we end this."