Chapter 66 : The Family Tree

The banging was causing the door to crack. Rakiza's mind raced with ideas for what to do. Chin was trembling, so she had to take her somewhere safe.
"Let's go into Theo's room, Chin." She drew Chin away from the living room and entered Theo's room, locking the door and leaning against the wall. Rakiza made the decision because the banging never stopped.
"Let's get out of here," Rakiza said firmly. She realized they were running out of time. She strolled by and came to a halt in front of the closed window. "We can escape through the window."
They heard something breaking outside the room, in the living room. Chin exclaimed, "What shall we do now, Raki? They're breaking in. "
Rakiza opened the window and saw the dark woods once more. "There is no other option." Chin, please come here. Let's dash into the woods. But then something unexpected happened. They could hear the siren of a patrol car approaching.
"What was that?" Chin asked.
"Shh. Rakiza motioned for Chin to keep quiet.
The patrol car stopped in front of the house.
"The cops have arrived, Rakiza," Chin said, still shaking. "We're safe now. "
"Keep your eyes open. Some vampires may enroll in acting classes to appear human at night, "Rakiza warned.
"Oh, no. You're making me nervous. " Chin shivered.
"Hello? Is anyone inside? " A big man's voice called out.
"Are they really cops? What do you think?" Chin inquired.
"There's only one way to find out," Rakiza said as she moved to the door.
"What are you doing, Rakiza?" Chin was terrified.
"I have to get out. Meet those men. And you stay here, "Rakiza quickly opened the door and shut it behind her." She exclaimed, "What a beast!"
The main door had been thrown open, and cops stood outside, all staring at Rakiza. And one man stepped forward. It was Lupe.
"I'm delighted to arrive on time. What happened here?" Lupe inquired.
Rakiza began recalling every detail, beginning with the time they heard the door knocking. Rakiza, on the other hand, omitted Muriel's part.
The cops searched the area around the cottage for the intruder. However, no footprints were discovered by the cops. And there was no Muriel. The cops recorded everything and left after an hour of searching the area.
Lupe told Rakiza that he was about to park when he noticed men banging on the door. That is why he requested assistance from the police department, who arrived promptly.
"Have you seen a woman with any of the men you've seen, Lupe?" Rakiza inquired.
"I haven't seen a woman," Lupe replied.
Chin joined them after the cops left. She was still trembling as she stared at the broken door.
"You're not safe here," Lupe declared. "What are your suggestions?"
"First, you must accompany Chin back into the dorm," Rakiza explained.
"No, Rakiza. I want to accompany you." Chin begged, "Please, Raki, let me accompany you. I could be your assistant on whatever you're doing," Chin suggested.
"Why are you doing this, Chin?" Rakiza asked, scared. "You're not safe around me. Vampires are after me, as I told you. And that would put you in danger as well. And what I told you wasn't a funny story. It's true. I suffered severe anemia because of a vampire's blood extraction on me. "
Chin said solemnly, "I know." She locked her gaze on Rakiza.
Rakiza was taken aback by Chin's abrupt shift in mood and tone. "You were aware..."Rakiza became perplexed.
"Do you remember how I explained the properties of the white lotus flower and the vampire rose?" Chin explained. "I studied all kinds of plants, including poisonous plants, Rakiza. And I know how to use wolfsbane against vampires."
Rakiza couldn't believe what she was hearing from Chin. Chin had obviously been keeping something from them all from the start.
Rakiza inquired solemnly, "Who are you, Chin Hi?"
"I'm a dancer and a botanist. And I believe in supernatural powers, "Chin explained. She then took out a bunch of wolfsbane flowers from her herb basket. "And I know how to use them to our advantage."
"If you can do that, you'll be useful on our trip," Lupe declared last.
Both girls turned to face him.
"What trip are you talking about, Lupe?" Rakiza inquired.
"Sir Nikolas instructed me to accompany you wherever you go when he disappears," Lupe explained.
"And he is now missing. Is that what you want to tell me? " Rakiza inquired.
Lupe sighed. "Sir Nikolas had been missing for three days. And I know I can't find him in the "A Tower." But I must obey his commands. When he couldn't be found, I should have stood by you the whole time. " He added, "Miss Zanier, I can take you anywhere."
"And you're not afraid of vampires and werewolves, Lupe?" Rakiza inquired.
"No. I've been living with them since I was a teenager, "Lupe explained. "I'm an orphan, and no human wants to adopt me. And Sir Nikolas' father gave me a roof. "
"So, you're one of them," Chin replied.
"Are you a vampire?" Rakia inquired.
"No. They required human protection during daylight hours, and I am one of the preserve's humans. And Sir Nikolas predicted this moment and lent me money to fund your adventure, Miss Zanier. "
"You said that Nikolas had vanished." Rakiza was curious, "What do you think became of him?"
"I have no idea." Lupe replied, "But I had the impression he was still alive but had no control over his mother."
"You mean, Nikolas was threatened by her mother?" Chin retorted.
"Yes, Madam Tessa is a powerful vampire with a cold heart. She sees life from various angles. " Lupe added, "And she's dangerous. And it was she who persuaded the council that Rakiza was the cure."
"A cure for what?" Chin exclaimed, her eyes wide with delight.
Rakiza continued Lupe's story. "They believe that my blood is the cure for their sunlight sickness. They'll burn in direct sunlight. And that is what they intend to cure with my blood because of the story in that book. " She lifted the book from the table and said, "Some of the answers to my questions can be found in this book."
"We have to keep moving," Lupe suggested. "Now that the vampires know you're here, they'll come back for you, Miss Zanier."
"Where are we going?" Rakiza frowned.
"It's entirely up to you, Miss Zanier," Lupe said. "I'll be waiting at the car."
Rakiza tightened her jaw. She was torn between fleeing and locating Nikolas and Theo. Both men are important to her right now. And she was concerned for both of them.
"Rakiza, are you okay?" Chin inquired softly.
"I'm fine, it's just... oh God, where do I begin? And where to go and what to do? "
"Just follow your instincts," Chin advised. "What do you want right now, Rakiza?"
"I want to find a cure for my mother," Rakiza said, adding, "and for Nikolas, and to know where Theo is right now. That's all I want. "
"If you're the cure, you're too valuable for the vampire," Chin explained.
Rakiza was agitated. "Yes, if I'm the cure, I have to figure out how I'm going to cure vampires. And Nikolas' mother, Tessa, would never give up looking for me."
"So, first and foremost," Chin exclaimed.
"I have to return home," Rakiza stated.
"And we have to move right now," Chin said as she ran to get her belongings.

A few minutes later, Lupe accelerated the black car through the woods and away from Theo's house after a few minutes.
"Where are we going?" Lupe asked.
"North! We're heading north. In my birthplace! " Rakiza stated.
"What is your mission?" Lupe inquired.
"I need to go back in time!" Rakiza stated. "But Theo must know we stayed here for days," she said, taking a pen and writing something on Theo's table.
***
Theo walked with a heavy heart, inspecting all the dead packs piled on the ground in the camp. He directed all the fighters to gather all the victims into packs. And it's the most agonizing scenario Theo has ever seen. The dead children broke his heart the most.
He clenched his teeth as Ajella joined her in reporting.
"All victims totaled 122, including children," Ajella said, her eyes red and hurting.
Looking at the corpses, Theo was bothered. "I must save Rakiza."
"The question is, where is she now?" said Ajella.
"There's only one way to find out."
"How about it, Theo?"
"I'll go into A Tower."
"That's a significant risk, Theo."
"Everything we do against vampires is fraught with danger; it is better to die in the hands of the enemy than to do nothing in vain. I have to leave right now. "
"I'll accompany you," Ajella stated emphatically. "I can easily enter the tower in search of Rakiza."
***
Rakiza and her friends parked in front of the old house where Rakiza grew up. She was nervous as they got out of the car.
Rakiza sighed, "This is where I grew up." "I have to start rebuilding the past here."
The house was dusty and dark. Chin coughed as she opened the door.
"Perhaps we should clean the house first," Chin suggested.
"There's no time, Chin," Rakiza cut her off, "we only need the floor of the living room. I need to draw a family tree on the floor."
"Whose family tree?" exclaimed Chin.
"My family tree," Rakiza stated emphatically.