Chapter 39

Federica ran over to Liam, who came to Aaron's house after the man didn't show up for several days. The pale-skinned girl hugged Liam tightly as if his arrival was a great hope for Ethan's recovery. Meanwhile, Liam could only smile faintly, trying not to think about anything; he kissed Federica on the forehead and then said,

"I will give my blood to Ethan."

"Are you sure?" Federica asked, looking closely at Liam.

Liam nodded even though he hadn't time to ask his father about it. Liam spent several days recovering his strength, killing humans cruelly until there were cases of murder due to animal attacks. Liam doesn't care; the humans won't know that vampires are the cause. What he wanted now was to take Federica's blood without hurting the girl. He didn't have the heart.

The two of them stepped into Aaron's house and were greeted by several of Ethan's older brothers, who looked at him warily. Liam tried not to make the werewolves suspicious, or his plan would be completely ruined. Liam smiled but was met with a cynical look as if he was ready to sound the drums of war.

"If you kill Ethan, I won't hesitate to burn your body," threatened one of the werewolves. Even though his voice was so soft, it was like an echo saying the same sentence in Liam's ears.

Liam nodded reassuringly; then both feet entered the all-white room where Aaron lived. Ethan's body was still there, lying stiff and helpless with skin that was getting blacker every day. According to Liam, the man had no hope. The wolfsbane liquid that Blake gave him was too much and had destroyed Ethan's organs one by one. But, if you don't try, you won't know either.

Liam was silent, looking at Ethan's eyes, which had been closed for days. Liam bit his left wrist; blood leaked out and directed it towards Ethan's mouth. The blood continued to seep out until, several minutes later, Ethan's eyes suddenly opened with glowing yellow irises. Ethan forcefully pulled Liam's hand, sucking the vampire's blood as if he had found new food. Liam tried to pull himself up, but Ethan was too strong, so Federica and several of Ethan's older brothers separated the two.

Liam almost fell when he managed to separate Ethan, leaving a fairly large and severe bite on his wrist. After a few moments, Ethan collapsed again, unconscious. One of Ethan's older brothers danced Liam's collar with a sharp look and said,

"You killed him!"

Liam shook his head hard. "No. I don't know if he's like that."

Liam's body was thrown until it hit a glass cupboard. Federica screamed in surprise, holding Ethan's brother back from fighting in this place. However, Ethan's older brother, who was furious, ignored him; he pushed Federica until she fell and then beat Liam furiously.

Liam punched Ethan's older brother in the jaw and then hit him in the stomach with one punch, making the exotic-skinned man groan in pain. Not wanting to be outdone, Ethan's brother responded even more fiercely. He strangled Liam's neck and then threw the body on the floor. Liam screamed as his spine felt like it was breaking.

"Stop!" shouted Federica. "You guys are crazy!"

Before Ethan's brother threw another punch, he turned around when he saw Ethan get up again. Federica turned her head, and a smile spread across the girl's lips. She ran and hugged Ethan tightly, then kissed Ethan on the cheek with tears in her eyes.

"Welcome back, Ethan!"

#####

The splash of water wet Ethan's muscular body after he was unconscious for days. He didn't remember what happened as if the memories had been accidentally erased. Federica said that Ethan was hit by so much wolfsbane that he almost died if it wasn't for Liam who gave him his blood.

Ethan looked at his fingers, which were wet from the shower; now, the blood of someone he hated to death was flowing in his blood. Besides, maybe the effect of Liam's blood erased fragments of memory when they went on a trip to look for oak. I don't know whether to be grateful or hate myself.

After showering, Ethan came out to meet Aaron in the living room. Liam, Federica, William, and Ethan's brothers were around the living room table. Aaron embraced his nephew, who had returned to life happily after his hopes had been dashed.

"Thank you, Liam," said Aaron.

Liam glanced at Ethan briefly because he doubted the man's reaction. "Does not matter."

"What made you help me?" Ethan asked suspiciously as he landed his butt on the sofa on Aaron's right side.

“I told you, I'm your ally. Don't you still believe it?”

"Okay, let's not worry about that anymore," said Aaron, preventing a fight between the two stubborn teenagers. "We'll continue looking for the white oak tree, okay?"

"Federica and I will search around Blue Lake," suggested Liam, making everyone raise their eyebrows simultaneously. "There is a lake that was sacred to the Maori long ago. And there could be one of the remaining oak trees the vampires didn't know existed."

"But it's ruled by the Hawthorns," Ethan chimed in. "You know they're very wary of anyone but their clan."

"Who are they?" said Federica, not understanding.

"They're a type of dwarf human being who has lived in the lake area for hundreds of years, Fed. So far, no one has been able to enter there carelessly."

"Sounds more like Thor than a dwarf," said Gessy, laughing, which was met with a sharp look from Ethan. “Sorry. You guys are too tense.”

“And... I heard one of the big snakes in the lake protects the core of the Ice birch oak tree.”

“I think I heard ice bitch rather than—”

"Come on, G. It's not funny!" Federica's cursing made Gessy fall silent for a moment.

"If we don't try, we won't know, Ethan," Liam said reassuringly. “This is our only hope.”

Aaron nodded in agreement with Liam's proposal. As far as he remembers, there was a myth that one oak tree remained, but no one could take it because the Hawthorn closely guarded it. "If you can get there, please, Liam. We believe in you."

####

It didn't take long; when the moon came, Liam and Federica were ready to leave for Blue Lake, which took about two hours via the Nelson Lakes National Park route. During the trip, Federica never tired of thanking Liam for saving Ethan. He called the man a hero even though there had been feuds between the clans.

Liam only returned the compliment with a faint smile and a quick chest beat. It wasn't Federica's words that fascinated him, but Federica's neck, which was so smooth. He remembered the intoxicating aroma of the blood that came out from the wound he had received some time ago. Sweet as nectar ready to be sipped. Liam swallowed his saliva to hold back the urge not to tear and drain the girl's blood.

Liam's head looked up at the moon, which seemed reluctant to leave the two of them walking through the forest. Apart from that, the trees that were the pillars supporting Whakarewarewa seemed silent, leaving the two lovebirds lost in their thoughts. Federica was waiting for Liam to ask her to talk, not about the battle between the clans at hand but about continuing their relationship.

Liam moved, closing the distance from the beautiful girl, about to reach for her fingers and hold them tightly with longing. He wanted to spend the whole day with Federica like two teenagers about to grow up. The corners of his eyes glanced at the girl, trying to reach for her fingers shyly.

“Um, Liam!” Federica called, dispelling the awkwardness. Liam's hand reflexively scratched his head.

"Yes?"

“How did you know that tree was in Blue Lake?”

“My mother said it once when the Grim Ripper and his followers wiped out all the oak trees. She never said it to anyone before.”

"Then how are we going to get in if vampires can't get in there?"

Liam looked at Federica. "We'll try it."

"Liam."

"Hm."

Federica grabbed the man's right hand, gripping it tightly. "Is your body always this cold?"

Liam was already blushing and suddenly forgot that his vampire body was destined to have a temperature below normal humans. He could only nod when the warm grip of Federica's hand raised his body temperature.

“Can we go like this until we reach Blue Lake?” Federica asked hopefully. “I… just don't want to waste any time, Liam.”

"Why?"

“We are clans destined to be enemies. "I felt wrong if I fell in love with you," said Federica. “You have the blood of the vampire who once wiped out my entire clan. And now I come back to life as your best bait to rule the entire clan."

Liam stopped his footsteps, feeling that he didn't like Federica's words. Even though you realize the sentence is true, your heart engulfed in romance cannot be stopped where it lands.

“If vampires are destined to be your enemies. Is it okay if I fight my destiny?" His fingers grabbed Federica's hair, locking his dark irises lovingly, then down her cheeks and ending at Federica's luscious lips. Cupping that oval face and gently kissing Federica's lips conveyed Liam's sincere feelings.

The short kisses interspersed with kisses aroused their desire. Liam put his forehead against Federica's while laughing and promised they would succeed in preventing the resurrection of the Grim Ripper. Deep down, Liam prayed that times like this would not end quickly. He still wants to continue being with Federica. His lover, his girl, his encouragement. Staring at Federica's beautiful face will never get boring for Liam, who hasn't been greeted by love for a long time.

However, the shadow of His father dying made Liam swallow that dream deeply. He couldn't save both of them at the same time, and he didn't want his family to die at Blake's hands just like that. A dilemma was hanging around Liam's neck, and he was not given a chance.

###

Exactly at midnight, after trudging up the rocky path, they finally arrived at the border area of Blue Lake. The atmosphere looks tense around the lake, surrounded by the Alps. Liam looked around. Hawthorns are famous for being good at camouflage because their skin almost resembles tree bark. Even though their bodies are small and a little fat, the movements of dwarf humans are very agile. If it gets a sudden attack, Hawthorn often paralyzes the enemy with its large, sharp teeth and poisonous mucus that comes out of its mouth. The effect is that the wound will rot quickly, and no medicine can cure it.

Sneaking, the two of them entered deeper into the Blue Lake area, accompanied by a rustling wind disguised the sound of feet that Hawthorn could easily hear. After a while, Liam pulled Federica's arm when he heard the sound of movement. He stuck out his index finger and then told him to hide behind the trunk of a redwood tree.

"Fed, do you believe me?" Liam whispered, making Federica wonder.

"Yes, of course. So what?"

Liam cupped Federica's face, looking straight into the girl's eyes. Then he kissed Federica's lips deeply as a goodbye. "Whatever happens, trust me, Fed. I still love you."

The next second, Liam broke the girl's neck, making her collapse to the ground. Quickly, Liam slashed Federica's wrist until blood flowed profusely. Liam collected the blood into a small bottle. After he had enough, he left Federica's helpless body when Hawthron's gang came around him.