Chapter 40: Growing Feelings

Laura spends her day in the Palace Library, just like her determination in front of Cliff. She will only stop looking once she finds the cause of the strange things that happened to Nena.

She walked down each shelf filled with many neatly lined books. She had read many books during the day but had yet to find a clue. Her gaze traced one book after another that caught her attention to read until her gaze stopped on a thick book called 'Other Creatures.' The title of the book reminded Laura of Cliff's words yesterday. Finally, she decided to read the book.

She opened page after page of the book, and many things were discussed, such as ghosts, demons, and other mystical creatures. She still didn't get any clues until the discussion about another creature called a vampire piqued Laura's interest in reading it.

Her eyes rolled up and down and to the right and left, following every word on the page of the book she was reading. Her eyes were perfectly rounded with interlocked eyebrows and a slightly open mouth when she felt she had finally found an important clue.

"This is impossible," she muttered, shaking her head. She was stunned for a moment as if she remembered something. She decided to read the page one more time. Not long after, she rose from her seat and walked quickly out of the Palace Library while both hands embraced the thick book she had been reading.

She mounted a horse and galloped away from her magnificent palace. Confidence shone in her eyes, and she didn't look the least scared, even when standing before Cliff. Yes, Laura went to the hut to meet Cliff, and here she was, in the hut right in front of Cliff, who was sitting on the bed.

Laura didn't feel daunted even though Cliff was glaring at her.

"I already know everything. What happened to Nena, the strange thing that suddenly happened to her? Why did she act like that, and who you are? I already know everything," Laura said firmly with straight eyes towards Cliff, sitting while supporting his chin. Cliff didn't respond, his face remained straight, but his gaze was fixed on Laura.

"Your skin is cold to the touch. Your irises are as red as blood. Your wounds can close by themselves without needing treatment. At that time, you said you were full even though I saw no food in this hut. At that time, I thought maybe Nena had time to make food for you. But now I know because you were full then, you did get your food. The food you get after you drink Nena's blood, right? You bit Nena, which caused Nena to act strange too. No, not to make her act weird, but your bite has changed her life, and turned her into another creature. Y-You're not human," explained Laura as she pointed her index finger at Cliff.

"Then what am I?" said Cliff with a sinister smile. He wanted to hear Laura continue.

"Y-You, you are..." Laura paused. For some reason, at the last second, she hesitated to say it.

"Tell me clearly, what am I?" added Cliff.

"You blood-sucking monster. You're a vampire." Laura finally said what she found in the book, telling all the characteristics of a vampire she found in the figure of a Cliff. The strange man she had rescued two days ago turned out to be the same man who caused the death of Nena, her maid.

"I found facts about you in this book," Laura added as she picked up the book she had held in her arms.

"According to this book, there are three types of vampires. First is a vampire who used to be human but turned into a vampire. This vampire can't control his hunger, so he slowly becomes addicted to blood. This vampire can't control his desire to drink blood, turning him into a fool and becoming a terrible monster, a level C vampire, his name. The second is a vampire who used to be human but can control his thirst for blood. These vampires can still think normally and even intelligently, and their appearance will remain the same as when they were turned into vampires. They are eternally young and will live forever. This vampire is just an ordinary vampire. Its food is human blood. Its bite can kill humans but cannot turn humans into vampires like them. And the third type of vampire is also at the highest peak of the vampire nation. This type of vampire has a charming appearance, enchanting anyone who sees them. With their extraordinary powers, vampires are respected and feared by all vampire groups. Just one bite can turn a human into a vampire. This type of vampire will stay young for life. They will never age. This type of vampire is also immortal and cannot die. You, Master Cliff, are one of this third type of vampire." Laura paused her words. She took a deep breath before finally opening her voice again.

"You are a pure-blood vampire," Laura added. Cliff smiled as he got up from sitting, ignoring the pain in his chest wound that he still felt. He walked over to Laura and stood before the girl, meeting their eyes.

"There were two errors in your explanation just now. First, pure-blood vampires can die if killed. Second, I'm not a pure-blood vampire. I ..."

"So you want to be evasive and not admit you're a vampire? It's useless. I'm already sure you are a vampire because I found similarities in this book. Admit it, you're a pure-blood vampire, right? You bit Nena and turned her into a vampire like you," Laura said, cutting off Cliff's words, which had not finished earlier.

"I do not dodge. I admit I am a vampire. But I'm also not lying because I'm not a pure-blood vampire. But don't worry, I'll admit it. I did bite your maid's neck." Laura scoffed, her eyes filled with anger.

"I'm a half-blood vampire. My father is a pure-blood vampire while my mother is a human." Laura covered her mouth in disbelief. The book she was reading had no explanation about half-blood vampires like what Cliff had just said.

"Your mother is a human? Can a vampire marry a human?" Laura expressed her curiosity.

"But wait, it seems that in this book, there is also an explanation about demons marrying humans, and then they have half-demon children. So the same thing can happen to vampires and humans, huh?" Laura added, to which Cliff didn't respond at all. He was still glaring at Laura intently.

"If your mother is human, shouldn't you also have a conscience like a human? But why did you have the heart to bite Nena, drink her blood, and turn her into a vampire? Even though Nena also took part in saving you. If it wasn't for Nena's help, there's no way I could have brought you here and saved you. After all, it was Nena who first saw you lying on the bank of the river. But is this how you return the favor? Did you retaliate by killing her? She died because of you. Her body was burnt by the sun, right? In this book, it is also explained that vampires will burn if exposed to sunlight."

"I salute the person who wrote the book. He seems to know a lot about vampires. Good, that means I don't have to talk to you at length because I don't want to do it either," said Cliff with a condescending look at Laura.

"Listen, Mr. Cliff, I told you I could find out about you, so I don't need your explanation either. It's just that, as for Nena, I want to hear why you bit her. Are you completely ignoring your conscience?" Laura insisted that she didn't even have the slightest fear on her face, even though she already knew who Cliff was.

"At that time, I accidentally bit her. Blame that lady-in-waiting for bringing her face closer to mine. When I opened my eyes for the first time, I saw her face. The smell of blood was powerful in my nose. A hungry lion saw a small rabbit in front of him. There was no way the lion would ignore him. That's what happened to me. In my view, it was your lady-in-waiting who gave herself to me. What should be the question here is, what was your lady-in-waiting thinking when she brought her face closer to mine? Did she intend to kiss me because she was too fascinated by my face?" Cliff laughed after saying that. A laugh that had long since disappeared from him, and now in front of Laura, he was laughing like that again.

"It's up to you. I also don't care what you think. You should be afraid of me now that you know who I am, right?" Cliff asked Laura, who looked at Cliff as if she had forgotten how to blink. Maybe she was too fascinated to see Cliff laughing earlier, even though the vampire man had only given her a sharp glare for the past two days.

"I-I..."

"You better get out of here soon. You know I can kill you easily. If you don't want me to hurt you, never come to this place again." Laura pursed her lips in annoyance because her words were cut off. She remained stunned where she stood when she saw Cliff walking away from her. The man opened the door and gestured with his chin for Laura to leave the hut.

"Go, princess. I don't want to kill the person who saved me a second time. I don't want to be thought of as ungrateful." Laura was silent, but she did as Cliff said in the end. She passed Cliff, who was standing holding the door.

"Don't come to this place again. After all, I've answered everything you wanted to know. Goodbye," Cliff added as his hand pushed Laura away from the door. Then he roughly closed the door.

***

Cliff has been in the hut for three days. He was forced to be in the hut because his wound had not fully recovered, even though Cliff wanted to leave immediately and continue the initial plan that had been delayed.

"Damn, it's because of Bastian. If he hadn't stabbed me with the darn poisoned sword, I would have killed Rowan Dawson," Cliff cursed as he clenched his fists so tightly his fingers turned white.

"I should have drank a lot of blood so my wounds could heal quickly. But let alone for hunting, just walking. My chest hurts," he muttered again. His gaze went straight out the window, staring at the scenery outside the hut before his eyes. While he was sitting, leaning his back on the head of the bed.

However, a voice from the door managed to avert his gaze. Cliff's eyes went a little wide when he saw the figure of a person standing in front of him. She was Laura, whom Cliff knew as the princess of this kingdom, and an annoying girl who, according to Cliff, was very annoying.

"You dare to come here again after everything I told you yesterday?" asked Cliff as if he couldn't believe the girl's courage.

Laura ignored him. She placed a basket she had brought on the table.

"I brought food for you. I'm sure you must be starving," Laura said, which made Cliff frown even more in astonishment.

"You know I don't eat human food, right? Don't do anything useless," he growled. Laura took the object that was in the basket. A bag of blood that she bought at one of the public clinics. She held up the blood bag, showing it to Cliff.

"I know very well what your food is, Master Cliff. I brought you many blood bags."

"Why are you doing this after everything you know about me? Have you forgotten that I killed your lady-in-waiting?" said Cliff, still looking surprised at Laura. According to Cliff, the girl before him had lost her mind. She didn't look scared, even after knowing Cliff's true identity.

"Do not take it wrong. I'm doing this because I don't want you to kill my people. You can bite Nena and drink her blood, let alone my people. I am a princess. I must protect my people, "said Laura authoritatively.

"After all, I still have a conscience, unlike someone. I can't bear to see you starve. And Nena's problem, don't think I've forgiven you. For the rest of my life, I will never forgive you for Nena's problem," she added, inviting a thin smile on Cliff's lips.

"So you're pitying me?"

"Yes, because you deserve to be pitied. Look at your condition now. I'm sure to walk. You must be in pain, right?" said Laura. Now it was her turn to flash a disdainful smile at Cliff. Cliff growled in anger. Had this girl gone mad to insult him? That's about what occurred in Cliff's mind.

Cliff stood up even though Laura caught the grin on his face. It was clear Cliff was enduring the pain.

"I hate it the most when pitied by others, especially by a woman like you. So that you know I can still find my food."

"Is it true?" Laura said back with a condescending smile, undoubtedly succeeding in making Cliff clench his fists tightly.

"That's why I brought blood for you. I don't want you to kill my innocent people. Never mind, you better admit it if you need my help now." Laura spoke as she crossed her arms over her chest. The posture seemed to be challenging a Cliff. She didn't know that at this time, Cliff desperately held back the desire to bite and drink Laura's blood.

"You think my only food is human blood? I do not want to drink the blood that you carry. I'll find my food."

"I told you I won't let you bite and drink the blood of my people."

"Is there a forest near here?" asked Cliff, succeeding in making Laura's eyes pop. First, Cliff diverted their conversation. Second, because she was surprised, Cliff asked about the forest.

"Yes, there is," Laura said curtly.

"Where?"

"Why do you ask the forest?"

"I'll look for my food, and you don't need to worry because I don't intend to drink the blood of your people. So tell me, where is that forest?" Cliff asked because Laura had been asking him questions since earlier.

"Can you drink animal blood too?" asked Laura, unsure of her thoughts because, according to the book she read yesterday, vampires only drink human blood.

"Not far from here. Just go straight north. You will find a forest there," Laura said, finally explaining the location of the forest after she noticed Cliff's face, which looked so annoyed at her.

Without a word, Cliff stepped out of the hut, even though he had to walk limply while his hand was holding his chest, which was throbbing in pain.

In the corner of his eye saw Laura now following him behind, the girl carrying a bow in hand. Cliff shook his head for a moment. He saluted the girl's courage. In his whole life, only now had he seen a girl as stubborn, too bold, annoying, and so annoying as Laura.

We arrived in the forest. Cliff saw a herd of deer and deer eating grass. He was about to pounce on them sneakily, something he used to do often but hadn't done in a long time. Cliff suddenly recalled when he made animal blood as his food. It had been a long time since he had drunk animal blood again because, since Ariana's tragedy, he had always drunk human blood. He doesn't hesitate to kill his prey, an innocent human.

Cliff intends to run to pounce on a deer, but he doesn't when he feels the wound in his chest throbbing with pain.

"See, what did I say? Right now, let alone for hunting and walking, I saw you were desperately in pain. Let me help you. I'll catch a deer for you to drink its blood," exclaimed Laura appearing behind Cliff.

Without waiting for a response from Cliff, Laura prepared to shoot an arrow at a deer. She released an arrow but missed the target, making Cliff chuckle when he saw it.

Laura did not give up, she returned to releasing arrows until she released more than five arrows, but none of them were on target. Her arrows always missed so far that the deer, initially eating grass calmly, now started running and left only a few tails.

"Don't make my prey run away. Your shooting method is wrong until your hair turns gray. You can never be on target if the way you release arrows is like that. Don't pretend to be good at hunting if you can't even hold a bow." Laura glared at Cliff's insults or, rather, her taunts.

Cliff was hungry right now. The chest wound made him feel hungry quickly. Seeing Laura's bow made Cliff realize that he needed that weapon. However, he was too proud to say he wanted to borrow the bow from Laura.

Finally, Cliff stepped closer to Laura and stood behind her, making Laura's heart beat fast for fear that Cliff would bite her. However, the girl's thinking was too much because Cliff hugged her from behind. The word hugging might need to be corrected because Cliff was trying to help Laura hold the bow correctly.

"I'll teach you how to shoot properly. So that other people don't laugh at you anymore because you're too lame," said Cliff, whom Laura ignored because the girl was busy controlling her suddenly crazy heartbeat.

When Cliff's cold skin touched her hand, Laura felt a strange shiver in her heart, especially with their position being too intimate, according to Laura.

"Pull this arrow so that the tip aligns with your chin, mouth, and ear. Then hold for a moment, don't let go immediately. Make sure your arrows will hit the target," said Cliff as his hands helped Laura position the arrows correctly.

Laura was even more nervous when Cliff bent to their height and accidentally brought his face closer to Laura's, making their skin pressed against each other.

"It's not you who follows the direction of this arrow, but it is this arrow that follows the direction you aim at. Make sure your direction is correct, right in the direction of your target. Try to pay attention to the direction. Is correct yet?" Cliff asked, but Laura didn't answer. The girl was busy staring at Cliff's face, which was close to hers.

"Hey, do you hear? You stupid and troublesome girl!" Laura gasped when she heard Cliff snap at her a little. Laura averted her gaze and was now looking straight at a deer that was her target.

"Y-Yeah, I think the direction is right," she stammered.

"Then let go of your arrows," Cliff ordered, which Laura immediately complied with. She let go of the arrow she had been pulling. The arrow shot quickly and stuck right in the deer's body. The deer immediately fell to the ground while the herd scattered and fled.

"See, as long as you do it right. You can't miss your shot," said Cliff with a warm smile on his handsome face. Cliff stepped closer to the deer he was about to bite without realizing that his actions just now had made a warm, sweet, and beautiful feeling in Laura's heart begin to grow for him.