Bloodlines & Betrayal

The night the Kims visited the Lees had begun like any other evening wrapped in luxury and quiet danger—two empires built on secrets, loyalty, and blood, sharing laughter over polished marble floors and expensive wine.

But four years later, that warmth was nothing more than a memory.

The mansion was too quiet.

That was the first thing Zeta noticed.

Not the peaceful quiet of a sleeping house—but the kind that felt… wrong. Heavy. Like the walls themselves were holding their breath.

Then—

Gunshots.

Sharp. Violent. Too close.

Zeta’s eyes snapped open in the darkness of her room.

For a split second, she lay still, her heart pounding against her ribs. Then instinct took over—the same instinct her father had drilled into her over the past four years.

Move.

She slid out of bed silently, her bare feet making no sound against the cold floor. Crossing the room quickly, she dropped to her knees beside a loose floorboard near her bed. Her fingers worked fast, lifting it just enough to reach inside.

The cold metal of the gun met her palm.

She exhaled slowly, steadying herself.

“Okay…” she whispered under her breath. “You’ve trained for this.”

Another gunshot echoed.

Closer.

Zeta’s jaw tightened.

Jimin.

Without wasting another second, she slipped out of her room, moving low and fast through the dim hallway. The mansion lights flickered faintly—either from panic or sabotage, she couldn’t tell.

“Hazel?” she whispered once, but there was no answer.

She didn’t wait.

Jimin’s room was upstairs.

Zeta took the stairs two at a time, her grip firm on the gun, every sense on high alert. The house that once felt safe now felt like enemy territory.

When she reached his room, she pushed the door open carefully.

Empty.

Her heart dropped.

“No… no, no, no…”

She rushed inside, scanning quickly—bed, bathroom, under the desk—

Then she heard it.

A small, trembling sound.

From the closet.

Zeta moved toward it slowly, lowering her gun just slightly.

“Jimin?” she called softly.

The crying stopped for a second.

Then a small voice, shaky and scared:

“…Zee?”

Relief hit her so hard she almost laughed.

“I’m here,” she said gently, opening the closet door.

There he was—curled up in the corner, hands clamped over his ears, eyes wide with fear.

Zeta’s expression softened instantly.

“Hey, little prince…” she whispered, kneeling in front of him. “Why are you hiding here all alone, hm?”

Another distant gunshot rang out. Jimin flinched hard, squeezing his eyes shut.

Zeta reached forward, gently pulling his hands away from his ears.

“Hey, hey…” she murmured, brushing his hair back. “Look at me.”

He did, barely.

Tears streamed down his cheeks.

“They’re loud…” he whispered.

“I know,” she said softly. “But it’s okay. I’m here. No one’s going to hurt you. I promise.”

He hesitated for a moment—then threw his arms around her.

Zeta held him tightly, one hand still gripping the gun behind his back, the other rubbing soothing circles on his shoulder.

“See?” she murmured. “Big sis is here. You’re safe.”

She pulled back slightly and wiped his tears with her thumb.

“Can you be brave for me?” she asked.

He nodded slowly.

“Good boy.”

Zeta carefully lifted him into her arms, adjusting her hold so she could still move quickly if needed.

Just as she turned toward the door—

A shadow moved.

Zeta’s body reacted instantly.

She spun, raising the gun—

“Zee, it’s me!”

Hazel.

Zeta froze.

Hazel stood in the doorway, slightly out of breath, her eyes wide but sharp—alert, calculating. She looked older now, more hardened… but in that moment, there was something else there too.

Fear.

Real fear.

Zeta lowered the gun slowly, her expression turning cold again.

“…You scared me,” she said flatly.

Hazel stepped inside, glancing behind her before closing the door halfway.

“What’s going on?” she asked urgently. “Do you know who it is?”

Zeta shook her head once. “Not yet.”

Jimin clung tighter to her. “Haze…” he whispered.

Hazel’s expression softened immediately at his voice.

“I’m here,” she said, moving closer. “Are you okay?”

He nodded weakly, burying his face into Zeta’s shoulder.

For a brief second, Hazel’s eyes lingered on the way Zeta held him—protective, steady… strong.

Then the moment passed.

“We need to move,” Hazel said quickly. “This place isn’t safe.”

Zeta’s grip on Jimin tightened slightly. “Where are Mom and Dad?”

“I don’t know,” Hazel admitted, her voice dropping. “I tried calling them, but—”

Another gunshot cut her off.

Closer this time.

Both girls stiffened.

Zeta’s expression hardened instantly.

“Then we don’t wait,” she said. “We get him somewhere safe first.”

Hazel nodded.

“Follow me,” she said.

Zeta didn’t move.

Hazel paused, looking back at her.

“…What?” she asked.

Zeta’s eyes met hers—sharp, guarded.

“For once,” she said quietly, “don’t lie to me.”

The words hit harder than the gunshots.

Hazel’s face fell, just slightly.

“…I’m not,” she said, just as quietly.

A long, tense silence passed between them.

Then—

Jimin shifted in Zeta’s arms, his small voice breaking through.

“Please… don’t fight…”

Both sisters froze.

Zeta looked down at him.

Then back at Hazel.

“…Lead the way,” she said finally.

Hazel nodded once.

And just like that, the three of them stepped out into the chaos together—past the fear, past the distance, past everything that had broken between them.

For now, survival came first.

Everything else… would have to wait.