The Ryu Dynasty Returns

The Wei Estate.

The chandelier lights reflected softly on the floor as the guests moved in circles with glasses of champagne in their hands, exchanging pleasantries beneath the sound of slow classical music.

The entrance was heavily guarded by security personnels. Waiters moved in and out of the crowd with trays of drinks balanced on one hand.

The crowd slowly hushed as the grand doors opened.

The Wei family stepped into the hall.

Cassian Wei, the head of the Wei’s family, walked at the center, his arms wrapped around his wife, Seraphina Wei. Beside them were their two children.

Fourteen year old Riven Wei and Five year old Asia Wei, holding a doll.

The moment they entered into the hall, countless eyes turned towards them filled with admiration and respect.

Cassian calmly led his family towards the center of the hall, taking a glass of red wine from a waiter, he raised it slightly.

“Good citizens of Kairen’s City,” he began smoothly, his voice loud and audible, echoing across the hall. “I am grateful that you all have honoured our humble family’s invitation to be here tonight to celebrate I and my wife’s 16th anniversary.”

A faint smile appeared on his face as he glanced briefly at Seraphina.

“Thank you all once again. Please enjoy yourselves tonight.”

A soft applause erupted from the guests. The moment his speech ended, the family was approached by the guests with smiles, gifts and congratulatory greetings.

“Congratulations Mr&Mrs Wei, may your marriage last long!”

“Congratulations to the Wei family, may you all grow stronger in peace and love forever!”

“Chairman Wei truly has a blessed family.”

…

Asia tugged lightly on Riven’s sleeves as more guests gathered around their parents.

“Riven, I’m hungry.”

Riven looked down at her with a slight frown. “You have been eating since we got here.”

“That doesn’t mean I’m full.”

Riven rolled his eyes causing Asia to grin victoriously before dragging him towards the table where the desserts lay.

As she excitedly reached for another cupcake, Riven’s attention shifted somewhere else. One of the guards near the northern entrance was missing. His brows furrowed slightly.

The position has been left unattended to for the past ten minutes now and that wasn’t normal. Especially for a large occasion like this.

Before he could think further, a hand held his shoulder.

“You are hiding from the guests again, Riven,” Cassian said calmly.

Seraphina was beside him, staring at Asia with a frown. “How many cupcakes have you eaten, Asia?!”

Asia’s gaze immediately went to the floor, her hands tightening around her doll. Cheeks and hands covered with cake fillings.

“One of the guards is missing, papa,” Riven said before Seraphina could speak.

A dark gaze immediately flashed through Cassian’s eyes and disappeared the same moment it came. Cassian adjusted his cufflinks calmly as he stared at his son.

“I already handled it,” he responded.

Somehow that answer did nothing to calm Riven’s tensed mind but he still gave a stiff nod.

At that moment, one of the Wei’s staff hurried towards Cassian nervously and whispered into his ears. Riven immediately noticed the change in his father’s expression, even Seraphina did too.

Their parents exchanged glances and Seraphina nodded.

“Children,” she said, trying to hide her inner turmoil behind a smile. “Come with me.”

Riven didn’t argue but Asia grumbled, angry that her little feast that had been cut short.

But before they could move any distance away from the hall, an explosion sounded causing yelling and panic from the guests.

“Hurry children!” Seraphina said, over the chaos.

Asia began to cry as Riven’s hand tightened around hers. His heart pounded against his chest. In the rush, Asia’s doll slipped out of her hands.

Seraphina led them towards the back door and hid them in a room further away from the hall.

“Riven. Asia,” she whispered. “No matter what happens do not come out. Stay in this room. Do you understand?”

She looked over at Cassian.

“Papa and I will handle it.”

“Take care of your sister,” Cassian said sternly earning a nod from Riven.

He was visibly shaking, holding his sister tightly as their parents closed the door behind them.

The sound of gunshots grew louder. Hurried steps and voices accompanied by screams echoed through the hallway. Asia buried her face in Riven’s chest.

“I want mommy!” She cried.

Riven felt his throat run dry as he gripped his sister tighter. He moved slowly towards the door and opened it slightly.

Through the small opening, he watched his parents forced onto their knees on the bloody floor, surrounded by men wearing frightening masks with guns pointed at their heads.

Bodies littered everywhere.

“Please,” Cassian begged, blood dripped down from his forehead. “Take whatever you want, money, anything. Just let my family go.”

One of the gunmen cocked his gun.

“We have already been given orders,” he said coldly.

BAM!

The sound echoed like thunder, rocking Riven’s whole world as his eyes widened.

Seraphina dropped to the ground, a thick dark stain spreading across the marble floor.

Cassian roared in fury, throwing all caution to the wind as he stood up and knocked one of the men unconscious, his gun sliding across the floor, stopping just inches away from where the children hid.

Then—

BAM!

BAM!

BAM!

Three shots rang out as bullets pierced through Cassian’s back. Tears rolled out of his eyes as he fell forward. Dead.

Riven’s vision blurred. His eyes rang like static. He felt something ripping out within his insides but he couldn’t scream.

Before he could blink, Asia bolted out of his arms and into the hallway.

“Dollie!” She cried, running towards her doll on the floor.

“Asia, no!” Riven yelled, running after her.

This attracted the men’s attention as they turned around and stared at the children. Riven caught his sister and held onto her hands tightly.

His heart pounded heavily against its cage as he stared at the men and slowly at the bodies of his dead parents. His little fist coiled up into a ball.

“And what do we have here?” One of the men cooed.

Riven could picture a scrowl on the man’s face behind his mask.

“Papa, mama!” Asia called out, staring at their parents dead on the floor with confusion in her little eyes.

Riven’s heart shattered all over again. Asia doesn’t realize that their parents were dead.

“Take the girl,” the one who had killed their mother ordered.

Riven instinctively held onto his sister tightly as the men advanced towards them. His eyes went to the gun behind him and in one swift move, he picked it up and pointed it at them, making them halt.

“I’M GOING TO KILL YOU ALL!” He screamed.

For a brief second, the masked men were stunned.

“What the hell are you waiting for?!” The leader yelled making them flinch. “Take her!”

But before they could get closer to the kids, Riven pulled the trigger—

BAM!

The recoil of the gun nearly threw Riven backwards. Asia cried louder. The bullet had penetrated into one of the men’s legs cleanly.

“Argh!”

He collapsed on the floor with a bloodcurdling scream.

The others wasted no time. One slapped Riven, causing a cut on his lip and collected the gun from him while another ripped Asia away from him.

“ASIA!!!!!” He hollered.

“Riven!”

The leader carried Asia over his shoulders, ignoring her little kicks and screams. “Kill the boy.”