Blood Shadow's Favor.

The Bloodline

While Aungel enjoyed a rare moment of calm, the same couldn't be said for the island, where the bloodline's sanctuary was in utter chaos. That morning, a shocking rumor spread like wildfire: the Lord had been ambushed and was now missing without a trace. The bloodline buzzed with speculation, and the seven Elders convened an emergency meeting in the council hall.

"How could this happen? What are we supposed to do now?"

"And when did the Lord venture into human territory? He didn't even inform us! If not for the rumors, we'd still be in the dark," the Third Elder exclaimed, his disapproval evident as he spread his hands wide.

Zhuwanyi, with her arms crossed, sneered, "Since when does the Lord need to report his movements to you?"

"Seventh Elder, that's not what we meant. We're concerned about his safety," the Fourth Elder retorted.

"Worrying about the Lord? With his abilities, he doesn't need your concern," she replied disdainfully.

"What's that supposed to mean?! The Lord may be young and lack experience—he still needs our guidance!" The Third Elder's voice was tinged with frustration and a touch of shame.

Teast, standing by the empty head chair, watched their bickering in silence, not bothering to intervene.

Peishu, having observed the scene, noted that only the First Elder had yet to speak. The others, however, seemed eager to seize the moment, rallying together to critique the absent Lord.

Seeing their opportunistic behavior, Peishu scoffed. "So, you're quick to overstep your bounds again? Have you all forgotten the last time you meddled?"

His words cast a heavy shadow over the room. The mention of a past incident triggered a series of grim expressions among the Elders, bringing the council chamber to an abrupt silence.

It was only then that they seemed to remember Teast, one of the formidable members of the "Beacon," was still in the room, quietly observing from the front.

Breaking the silence, the Fifth Elder ventured a cautious question. "Teast, have you found any trace of the Lord? Do you know why he went to the human region? What—"

"We're still searching. As for the rest, you'll have to ask the Lord himself once he returns," Teast interrupted, his tone brooking no argument.

"…." The elders exchanged frustrated glances but knew better than to push further. One by one, they reluctantly dispersed.

Once the hall was clear, Zhuwanyi and Peishu remained seated. After the last elder had departed, they approached Teast with concern etched on their faces. "What's the situation? Have you found him yet?"

"We have," Teast replied, his earlier sternness softening. "He's injured but currently recuperating."

Both elders exhaled in relief. "Good. Let him know that we'll handle everything here to the best of our abilities."

"I'll relay the message."

With a nod, the couple left the council hall, their steps lighter than when they had arrived.

The First Elder's Residence

"Father, is it true? Has Aungel really gone missing?" Stella asked, her voice laced with a mix of curiosity and schadenfreude.

"Nonsense! That's not your concern. Go fetch your sister," the First Elder scolded.

Stella had been too young to understand the extent of Aungel's power when he first took over as Lord. She had since become emboldened, especially after hearing whispers that the current Lord was only half-vampire. Her behavior had grown increasingly reckless, though fortunately, it hadn't yet drawn public scrutiny. But the Elder knew if her actions weren't reined in, it could spell disaster.

Despite her father's stern tone, Stella pouted, stamped her foot in defiance, but still did as she was told, flying off to fetch Sean.

"Sean, Father wants to see you," she said, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Have you heard? Aungel's been hurt!"

"Yes, I've heard. And you should refer to him as the Lord—it wouldn't be proper if someone overheard."

"I refuse! He's not a pure bloodline member, just a half-vampire. He has no right to the title of Lord!" Stella declared, lifting her chin defiantly.

Sean frowned, glancing around to ensure they were alone before letting out a sigh of relief. "You're grown up now. You can't keep—"

Stella cut her off, pushing her sister toward the door with impatience. "Yeah, yeah, I get it! You sound just like Father. I only call him that in private. Now hurry up and go."

"Hey, wait—" But before she could finish, Sean found herself on the other side of a closed door, left to shake her head in exasperation.

Downstairs in the study, the First Elder was deep in thought, his brows furrowed.

"Knock, knock. Father?"

"Come in."

"Is there something you need?"

"I assume you've heard about the Lord's situation. He's missing, and it's highly likely he was injured by silver. When he returns, you know what you need to do."

"…Yes, Father."

As she left the study, Sean's expression darkened. Her father had always groomed her as a future consort for the Lord, never once considering her own desires.

Aungel was undeniably handsome and one of the strongest among the bloodline, making him an ideal partner by many standards. Several women in the clan admired him, but Sean knew the truth. The Lord would never harbor feelings for her, nor could he ever be controlled. Her father's plan to use her as a pawn to keep the Lord in check was doomed to fail. And if Aungel ever found out…

As night fell, a dense fog crept across the landscape, swallowing everything in its path. The clouds veiled the moon, allowing only a few stray beams to pierce through, casting mottled light upon the ground.

A group of shadowy figures moved silently through the city, scattering to search every corner. They had been combing the area for days, starting from the outskirts and slowly closing in on the city's center, leaving no stone unturned. But even now, there was no sign of Aungel.

"He's still nowhere to be found," a subordinate reported.

"I see. Keep searching. I'll report back to the master," the Right Enforcer replied before vanishing into the night.

Not long after, the Right Enforcer knelt before Floge, bowing deeply. "Master, we have yet to locate him."

"It's been so many days, why haven't they found him yet?! Didn't they say they succeeded? Where else could he have gone?!" Floge's voice rose in frustration as he lashed out, sending the enforcer crashing to the ground with a powerful kick.

Suppressing the pain that shot through his chest, the Right Enforcer quickly got back to his knees, remaining silent.

Floge's breathing was ragged as he struggled to regain his composure. His voice dripped with venom as he gave his next command. "Double the search efforts. I want him found, dead or alive."

"Yes, Master." It wasn't until he was out of the room that the Right Enforcer dared to cough up the blood he had been holding back.

A thought suddenly occurred to Floge, and he summoned the Left Enforcer. "How is your injury?"

"It was just a gunshot wound. I'm nearly healed."

"Good." Floge's fingers tapped rhythmically on the desk as he narrowed his eyes. "Last time, you mentioned he used a gun against you. Are you certain?"

"I'm certain. I saw him draw the gun myself."

The Left Enforcer recalled the moment vividly. "But since he was already injured, he missed. The bullet only grazed my arm."

Floge's suspicion deepened. There was something off about the whole situation. "Once you've recovered, investigate where he got that gun and what he intended to do with it."

"Understood."

The bloodline was born with certain powers, never relying on human tools or weapons. Ordinary weapons could hardly harm them. But Aungel wasn't one to engage in meaningless actions.

With no clear answers in sight, Floge pushed the thought aside. The priority now was to find Aungel before the "Beacon" did.

Floge's gaze drifted toward the distant villa through the window, his eyes cold and calculating, radiating a chilling intent that could freeze one's soul.

"Aungel, what's mine will eventually return to me," he muttered, each word laced with deadly resolve.