Chapter 31

"Hey, are you done with your assignment?" Liam asked when he met Federica in the student locker hallway.

The girl nodded as she put several books into a red backpack. "I could barely sleep because I had to do it overnight."

"I know the feeling." Then he kissed Federica's lips, making her body freeze. Her cheeks were blushing, but she couldn't hide how fast her heart beat.

"How is William?" asked Liam.

"He's getting better; Uncle Aaron is caring for him patiently. William left a message for you; he said thank you for saving him."

Liam smiled very sweetly as he walked hand in hand beside Federica. Occasionally, they discuss exams before summer vacation arrives. Liam said he never studied and preferred waiting for the holidays with his sister. The conversation between the two teenagers made several children look at them while whispering. Federica rolled her eyes when she heard the inner voices of the humans.

Is it true that they are lovers?

Didn't they hate each other before?

I don't like that girl!

Liam is too handsome with Fed.

I saw him kiss Federica! Eww ...

Federica chose to plug her ears with earphones rather than hear her friends' ridicule. Liam, who knew Federica's attitude, grabbed the girl's right hand and held it tightly. Federica reflexively turned her head with her eyebrows furrowed.

Liam took off the earphones in the girl's right ear. "Let them know."

"What do they know?"

"Us." Liam smiled and kissed Federica again without being shy.

"This is school, Liam. You can't kiss like--"

"Like this?" Liam kissed her again. "I will do that every time they say something bad about us. You are mine, and there is nothing wrong."

Federica was blushing for a second time. "Why?" Federica baited Liam while holding back a smile.

Before Liam answered, Ethan and Gessy came out of the teacher's room and were shocked by what they saw. Ethan even blinked his eyes several times to ward off the nightmare ruining his day. Unfortunately, the figures of two creatures from different clans are in love.

Neither Ethan nor Gessy thought that Federica and Liam were in a relationship. Moreover, Ethan, who is now in the same house as Federica, seems to have kept a tight lid on all her closeness to Liam.

"Ethan," said Federica, approaching the man. "I am looking for you."

Ethan's eyes glanced sharply at Liam. "It's like you're with him, and you're not looking for me," Ethan quipped, making Gessy raise an eyebrow.

Ethan pulled Gessy's arm and left Federica and Liam. The man sulked like a child who wasn't given a cupcake. Federica just sighed, not understanding Ethan's attitude these past few days.

"Just let him be," Liam said, putting his arm around Federica's shoulder.

"I don't understand. Is there something wrong? He is always angry easily."

Liam smiled faintly; he knew where Ethan's gaze was directed when he held Federica's hands. The man with glasses didn't see Federica as a friend anymore but as a beautiful girl worth fighting over. Liam didn't want his possessions to be taken away; he only felt that his life was more enjoyable when Federica came. No. Liam wouldn't just give Federica to Ethan.

###

In class, Federica deliberately sat next to Ethan during history class. The man moved a little away by moving his chair while glancing sarcastically. Federica thought Ethan's sulking attitude was very childish. She didn't even know where she went wrong to make the man angry.

"Are you mad at me?" whispered Federica when a blonde woman explained the history of the Second World War.

Ethan shook his head, pretending not to hear Federica's words. Even inside his chest, he was thundering, seeing the girl's togetherness with Liam. He glanced at the girl from the corner of his right eye momentarily.

"Are you jealous?" Federica whispered, causing a reddish tinge to appear on Ethan's cheeks.

The man was silent for a long time as he stared blankly at the teacher explaining in front of the class. The rumbling in his chest grew louder and tighter. Honestly, he didn't know whether what he felt was jealousy or not. Ethan never had his heart set on girls; he was only interested in beautiful girls like Paula with bright blue eyes and thick lips like Gigi Hadid. But his feelings seemed to have been mixed up since Federica's arrival.

Federica is his friend and the girl who must be protected. However, the meaning of friendship for Ethan and Federica slowly faded with the presence of Liam. Yes, Liam. That annoying vampire so quickly got between him and Federica. He even came like a hero when he helped William.

"Why be jealous of you when you don't think I exist, Fed?" Ethan replied, along with the loud sound of the school bell.

After packing his books into his backpack, the man got up from his chair. His heart was beating faster and faster; he felt like he was losing the war, and he couldn't even look at Federica's face.

Federica chased Ethan, who stepped hastily through several children who filled the school hallway. She tried to reach Ethan's shoulder, wanting to know what the man meant by his words. Federica was guessing, but it turned out that the earlier sentence made things worse. Federica didn't understand Ethan.

"Harrison!" Federica exclaimed, making that boy stare at her.

Ethan's steps stopped when Federica stood in front of him with an incomprehensible look.

"I don't understand, Ethan. We were apologizing to each other, and suddenly, you're just so angry. Have I done something wrong to you?"

Ethan lowered his head to align his gaze with the girl's brown eyes. "If you are half-blood, you should be able to read my mind, right?"

No answer. Ethan decided to leave the girl while nudging her left shoulder roughly. He knew this hurt Federica's feelings. On the other hand, he also wanted Federica to know that Ethan put his heart into it like Liam did.

Federica turned to look at the man's back with trembling lips. Yes, he could hear what Ethan was thinking. It was so clear that guilt overwhelmed him. Federica didn't realize that Ethan had always pinned his hopes on her.

Then, who should I choose if I only have one heart?

###

Ethan's silence continued until he got home. Even when Aaron planned to look for a white pine tree, Ethan stared blankly. Aaron asked Federica, but the girl shook her head, pretending not to know.

Suddenly, Ethan stood up from his sitting position and walked out of the house. And sure enough, Liam was standing, wearing a blue polo shirt with faded jeans.

"What are you fucking doing!" Ethan exclaimed.

Liam approached, making Ethan fully alert.

"I'm not here to fight with you, Ethan," Liam said. "I'm here to...."

"Uncle called him Ethan," said Aaron behind Ethan's back.

Ethan gaped in disbelief at his uncle's face with one eyebrow raised. "What for? No vampire is allowed to set foot in this house, Uncle. Not even Liam."

"You're not listening to me, Ethan." Aaron patted his nephew's shoulder to tell him to enter the house. "Liam, come in."

Liam followed Aaron's steps into the big house. His eyes met Federica, who was sitting on Ethan's right side. Aaron told him to sit in the chair on Federica's left side. Liam winked at Federica, making the girl widen her eyes in embarrassment.

"Forgive me!" exclaimed Gessy, who suddenly entered the house, panting for breath. "I have to ask my father for permission. So, sorry if I'm late." Gessy landed her butt on Liam's left side.

"What is this actually?" asked Ethan, not understanding.

Aaron rolled his eyes, a little annoyed. "We're going to look for a white pine tree, Ethan. Please listen if you don't want me to throw you into a ravine."

Aaron took a breath momentarily, looking at the four teenagers before him. "The Grim Ripper and his allies have destroyed all the oak and white pine trees since the last war with the half-bloods. Just in case, we will try to find one of those trees again."

"Wait a moment." Liam interrupted, "We don't know whether half-blood exists; how can we activate the weapon?"

Aaron looked at Ethan, Gessy, and Federica. He looked at Liam and said, "We don't know if half-blood exists or not, Liam. We're just on guard, especially since the blood moon is coming. If we don't do that, I'm sure the whole clan will die at the hands of your clan."

"So where do we start, Uncle?" said Gessy.

"First, we must find out where the Grim Ripper's body is. And as you promised, Liam. You have to be Blake's spy," said Aaron.

Liam nodded.

"Second, you will split into two teams to look for the tree."

"Where? This country is vast, Uncle. Even exploring one mountain is not enough for one day," said Gessy.

"Even the oak trees in the Oakleigh settlement have disappeared," said Ethan, looking sharply at Liam. "The settlement was just a name when the vampires massacred them."

Liam cleared his throat, making Federica turn around with a million questions.

"Come on, that's an old story, Ethan."

"An old story that will never be forgotten, Liam. Even for my clan," explained Ethan with emotion.

“It wasn't my fault. OK.” Liam avoided feeling embarrassed by Ethan's attitude, "That's Blake. It's all Blake's doing, Ethan. We have nothing to do."

Ethan reflexively threw the flower vase on his right side until it shattered on the floor. He grabbed Liam by the collar and beat him mercilessly.

Federica screamed in surprise and then pushed Ethan away from Liam.

"You're too much, Ethan!"

Ethan's breath caught as he glared at Federica. Aaron grabbed Ethan's arm but was pushed away by the man wearing glasses.

"I'm right, aren't I? My little brother died from a vampire at Oakleigh, Uncle. And Liam stood there silently like a coward, watching Blake kill my little sister. You and your cousin are the same, Liam! You're fucking murderers! Even if you dodge, the blood of the Grim Ripper is still on your body! "

Hearing that, Federica's body froze for an instant. She turned her head to look at Liam, who looked at her meaningfully. Suddenly, her ears buzzed. It is impossible that Liam is of the Grim Ripper bloodline even though he is Blake's cousin. She thought Liam was from another clan with no blood ties to the vampires who always chased her desperately.

Liam tried to grab Federica's arm as if he knew what the girl was thinking. However, the reaction was the same: Federica refused and left Ethan's house uncertainly.

"Fed!" called Liam.

Federica ignored Liam's call. He ran through the bushes and looked for a place to cool down. Liam and Blake. He didn't think they were still the same family.

Dumb! I should have known from the start...