Chapter 29
All night, Federica's eyes couldn't close. Her heart was still filled with worry about William's condition, who was still unconscious. Even though Aaron had said that William was fine even though he had broken ribs, cuts on his neck, and lacerations on both arms and forehead. At least Aaron had treated the wounds based on his experience at the hospital.
The ferret Christie was taken home by one of Ethan's brothers two hours ago. Federica and Christie hugged for a moment before they finally said goodbye. Christie also told Federica that William would be fine. However, the girl could only smile to repay Christie's kindness despite her sore heart.
Federica's eyes couldn't stop looking at the scars on William's face, with several bandages covering the wounds. Then, she put her head down to listen to the heartbeat of the man who had helped her face modern human life. Even though there is no bloodline in Federica's blood, she loves him much like her biological father.
"You'll recover soon, right, Dad?" said Federica with a sad look.
Silence.
Without realizing it, the girl's tears fell. She felt sad; a human-like William should not experience this. Even Federica started to blame herself. She should have gone home earlier. She should have been able to save William. It should be... Ah, Federica shook her head hard. No matter how great she is now, she can't turn back time.
"Fed."
Ethan's voice echoed throughout the room, making Federica turn her head. The man wearing glasses stood at the end of the door grimly. Then, he stepped slowly toward his friend. A feeling of guilt covered Ethan's feelings; if it ended like this, he should have taken Federica straight to her house without delay. The sense of selfishness that sometimes explodes inside Ethan makes him hate himself so much in the current situation.
Ethan took a breath as he touched Federica's right shoulder. The girl looked up with teary eyes, then hugged Ethan tightly. Instantly, her tears spilled out like a broken dam.
The man was silent and did not interrupt at all. He knew that the girl who looked strong had profound sadness. All Ethan could do was rub Federica's back, give her a friend's hug, and whisper to her that William would get better soon.
"You just need to be patient, Fed. William is a strong human being. I'm sure of that."
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While groaning in pain, Blake slowly woke up with the silver knife still stuck in his chest. With his remaining strength, he pulled out the knife forcefully while shouting, breaking the forest's silence. It took several minutes for the red-beaded vampire to breathe a sigh of relief, even though his head was still excruciating due to the actions of Liam, his cousin.
In annoyance, Blake looked at the knife in her right hand and then threw the silver object carelessly. While getting up, Cassandra suddenly appeared with her five servamps. The girl with sharp eagle eyes rolled her eyes and then said,
"You didn't come home because you were busy sleeping here, Blake."
"Tch! It was Liam who stabbed me with a silver knife and broke my neck, Cassie. We should just kill our clueless cousin."
Blake stared at her sister's five servamps. Without warning, he sucked the servamps' blood until their bodies were dry. Cassandra's pupils dilated, her mouth gaping as Blake busily sucked on the last servamps.
"You're greedy! They're mine!" Cassandra held her servamps like valuables that not just anyone could have.
Blake threw the servamps' limp body like trash while cleaning his lips with the back of his left hand.
"I need energy, Cassie. And all I have is your servamps ."
Cassandra just groaned at her brother's selfish attitude. She crossed her arms across her chest and asked, "Why exactly are you so interested in Federica? I still don't get it, Blake."
"I'm looking for answers, Cassie," Blake answered in an emotional tone.
"Tsk! Looking? How long? This doesn't seem like you. Ah, never mind! Mind yourself, Blake. I don't want to--"
With a quick movement, Blake's right hand strangled his sister's neck and pressed the girl's body against the tree trunk. "If you weren't my sister, Cassie. I would have torn your body apart! Can't you wait? Federica's blood... I'm attracted to it because the scent of that blood reminds me of the last half of blood's body scent."
Cassandra's eyes glared at her brother, and then she kicked Blake in the chest and flew far away.
At the same time, he picked up a silver knife that was lying around and slashed it at the cruel man's chest without any fear showing in his dark red iris eyes.
Blake screamed, breaking the silence in the forest, her heart seemed to be slowly slicing open as the knife plunged into her chest. With great difficulty, he pulled out the bad luck knife again while looking angrily at Cassandra, panting for breath.
"I should have let yesterday's bullet stay in you, if you were ungrateful," Cassandra snapped and then sped away.
The man was still standing there, shouting loudly to vent his anger. Then he looked up at the moon which was slightly dim behind the clouds. Blake's eyes narrowed and then lit up brightly in the darkness of the Whakarewarewa forest.
"Half blood, I'll find you."
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The next day, Liam came to Ethan's house to see William's condition. However, again the owner of the house did not seem to allow him to step into the house. Even Ethan didn't hesitate to fight with Liam and thought that what happened to William was Liam's fault.
Hearing the commotion, Aaron, who was checking on William, told Federica to meet Liam. In fact, Federica didn't want to leave William for a second, but Aaron's gaze seemed to indicate that she should immediately meet Liam instead of having a fight like yesterday.
"Liam," called Federica coming out of Ethan's house. For a moment he looked at Ethan who looked tense. "Ethan, we talked about this, didn't we?"
Ethan approached Federica and stroked the girl's cheek. A face that looks quite tired with very clear dark circles. "You should rest," said Ethan softly.
Federica shook her head with a faint smile then hugged Ethan for a moment. "I'm okay. Sorry to make you have to accommodate me and William."
Ethan's arms tightly hugged the ginger-haired girl's waist and inhaled her scent deeply. "No problem. You're my friend, Fed."
"I'll talk to Liam for a moment, please look after William for me."
"But ...."
Federica showed a silver knife and a gun loaded with several bullets. "I wouldn't be that stupid."
Ethan nodded then let the girl step closer to Liam. Meanwhile, Liam smiled, making Federica feel a strange vibration again.
"How are you?" asked the man while hugging Federica imitating Ethan's style and glancing at her.
Ethan's eyes widened. "I'm watching you Turner!"
Federica's body felt like it was going to explode like sparks. Liam's touch really made all her nerve cells tingle at once. She couldn't even hear her heartbeat anymore. Her thoughts suddenly stopped. It took a while for her to neutralize the feeling. Federica took a deep breath and exhaled as slowly as possible. She was afraid that Liam would know how nervous Federica was now.
"I-I... I'm fine. William is still unconscious," answered Federica as she let go of her arms.
"Can I take you around as I promised?" Liam's offer made Federica smile broadly with sparkling eyes.
The girl nodded happily, "Wait, I need Aaron's permission."
Federica jogged over to Ethan with a cheerful face, making the bespectacled man confused. Federica stepped into the house to meet Aaron.
"Uncle....oh my God!" Federica screamed with dilated pupils when she saw William now leaning against the head of the bed with Aaron beside him.
Federica approached William and hugged the old man with emotion. William groaned a little when Federica's arm accidentally touched the bandage on his wound. They laughed for a moment.
"I'm glad you're awake," said Federica. "Uncle, thank you." He looked at Aaron who felt touched by the relationship between the two of them.
"William is fighting for himself, Fed. I'm only helping a little," said Aaron. "So, William has told him everything he experienced."
"Someone help me before I faint, Fed," added William.
“That’s Liam, Dad.”
"We should at least thank him," said Aaron, smiling faintly.
"Uncle, can I go with Liam for a moment? William, can I?" asked Federica.
William nodded weakly. "For now, you just do what Aaron says. I'm still weak, Fed. But, have you brought your weapon?"
Before Federica answered, Aaron spoke up. "Go, if you feel safe with Liam."
Federica smiled broadly then kissed William's forehead affectionately. "I love you. Thank you, Aaron."