Demo. Was all a dream?

Changing the orientation of her blades, Blue charged, using her speed to surprise. Estheniel blocked the attack with his daggers, sowing a shower of sparks in the process. He arched an eyebrow at her and the mischievous smile she returned showed him that she was enjoying it. He quickly counterattacked, causing her to retreat. They exchanged a series of blows, each more vicious than the other, increasing in intensity. Blue was beaming with joy as she demonstrated perfect risk control. Complicit, Estheniel raised the bar and they waged a merciless fight before she knocked him off balance and put the daggers to his throat, one knee to the ground. The silence that reigned was shattered by applause from customers and staff. Leifr raised his glass and greeted them. Blue reached out to Estheniel to help him sit up and they bowed to thank their audience before joining Leifr in the alcove.

"Well done to both of you! Your complicity would almost make you jealous. If I'm not mistaken, tonight's demo was purely physical, right?"

"Indeed. I'd rather wait a bit before Estheniel and I use our powers in combat. After the next changes, it will probably be possible to start. At the moment, my powers are a bit unstable and take a lot of energy."

"Our young friend here is dangerous enough not to need her powers. During the whole demonstration, she never forced herself. I would even say she held back. In my opinion, she wanted to show her future students what they could do with training."

"It's training for me too, Estheniel. At the moment I am not pushing my limits and I recognize that I need to restore my health, but as soon as possible, I resume my daily programs. I don't want to soften up because safe: the Fae won't give up, no matter what Lilith may think. He will use other methods, even if it means bewitching someone else. You are neither the first nor the last that he has used in this way. The first one I can remember is a vampire who nearly drained me before my parents died. My blood gave him his freedom and made him a day-walker for several months. Technically, you must be the fourth that I release and the third to survive. And Leifr does not fit into this account, his problem coming from unscrupulous wizards."

"What I would like to know is how much your safety can be threatened. Guess your... message should cool more than one, giving you some breathing space."

"I'll be frank, Leifr. At best, I've won a month's break. If I want to make public demonstrations, it is mainly to discourage the reckless who would be tempted by the bonus it offers. Since birth, my safety has been compromised, which is one of the reasons Nemhain moved every 3 years. She didn't want to lose her trained animal, although it amused her to let Estheniel stalk and attack me."

"I understand better why you choose not to stay at home. What I suggest you do is make some arrangements in the house that you feel comfortable there for the next few weeks. It's the least I can do to help you. Another problem, in your future students there is a trio of vampires, how do you plan to give them lessons?"

"Private lessons on their day off, quite simply. I am not going to create other daywalkers on purpose. I had already thought about the question ... first class when the Moon closes and the next the following night if that suits them. For the living, the problem does not arise, they will have their lessons in the afternoon. It only remains for me to determine where the lessons will be held. I had the idea of ​​using the parking lot at the back of the club, for practical reasons. I would give some solo lessons, especially on show days. I refuse to let Estheniel force, especially if during the demonstrations we are going all out."

"My queen, if I may, there is no way I will let you take care of everything on your own. I don't accept that you think you have to spare me. Nemhain is no longer there to exploit you until you fall. I would keep my commitments whether it be the lessons or the demonstrations. For tonight, what would you say to come home to rest? You have already done a lot for today."

"Blue, for the parking lot, I agree. This will allow them to take a break and relax before the Moon opens. And if more reckless come, you will have room for another tune-up. In the meantime, I would prefer you to come home, your day has been busy."

"Well... Since you both want it, I'm going home with Estheniel. Good evening, Leifr."

Blue stood up and walked to the back of the club. On the way, she stopped at the end of the bar to talk to Lucian, signaling that she was coming home. The smile he gave her cheered her up and she confirmed the date of the first class and the location. Once in the parking lot, she waited for Estheniel with her head bowed. When he arrived, she got into the car, closed her eyes to hide her tears, and raised her mental barriers, shutting herself off from others. Feeling it close, he clenched his teeth. He who hoped she would talk about her day, what she had been going through ... He and Leifr had made a mistake, this wall was proof of that. It was clear she would have liked to stay but had complied with what she had taken as an order. He put a hand on hers and squeezed, hoping to comfort her. Once home, Blue got out of the car and walked to the bedroom without having said a word from the club onwards. One of the vampires in the living room wanted to stop her but the look she gave him and Estheniel's arrival stopped him in his tracks. It was clear that it was better to leave the little princess alone. Estheniel closed the bedroom door and turned to the young girl sitting on the sofa.

"Blue, talk to me, please. Did I hurt you by my attitude or my words? You haven't said anything since we left the Moon. Tell me what you want, don't reject me, please."

"I don't want anything, I don't need anything either. You and Leifr didn't do anything, you were just yourself." The young girl put her new daggers on the sofa and stood up, heading for the bathroom. "Today was a beautiful dream, Estheniel, a beautiful dream that I woke from."

With that, she shut the door, leaving him stunned. He had just realized how badly Nemhain had damaged her. She was unable to trust and their concern for her well-being had triggered a conditioned response. She was convinced that they had played on her and that it was all a lie. He was comforted in this idea when she came out of the bathroom, barely dressed, and leaned against a corner of the wall to sleep in. Estheniel sat down next to the girl and hugged her, wishing to reassure her, before carrying her to the bed. She remained passive as he put her to bed and returned her blank eyes with extinct eyes when he tried to speak to her.

A few hours later, the bedroom door opened to let in an exhausted Leifr. Estheniel looked up and motioned for him to join him on the sofa. Speaking in a low voice, he explained to him what had happened since he and Blue had left the club, sharing his conclusions and fears with him. A moan made them lift their heads and walk towards the bed to find the young girl curled up and in tears, as if in a nightmare. Leifr put a hand on her shoulder, trying to gently wake her when her skin began to shine. Estheniel frowned and echoed hers before placing a soothing hand on her forehead. The young girl seemed to be undergoing a major demonic outbreak, something impossible in theory. He remembered what she had said to the Premiers in their last fight and now understood the magnitude. Pushing the vampire back, he took her in his arms and made his aura resonate with the rhythm of that of the girl. He absolutely had to help her synchronize the powers she was developing with those she possessed.

"During the past seven years, our young friend has been infected regularly with my blood. The resulting powers conflict with hers. What I'm trying to do is synchronize them so that she doesn't suffer the consequences. From what I can feel and see, her next surge will be demonic and especially important. In theory, only demons or those with this blood make these surges. If this hypothesis holds true, there is a risk that she will also develop vampire powers."

"In which case, indeed her life will be greatly threatened. Should this ability ever come to light, the Fae won't be the only one wanting him dead. How to guarantee her safety? She does not trust us and will see any protective measure as another imprisonment or punishment. For tonight, you both sleep on the bed and I sleep on the sofa."

"I do not want to exclude you from what is happening, admittedly I have known her for a long time but you were the first to offer her sweetness, tenderness, and kindness. You look exhausted and the sofa is too small for you. I'd rather you be by her side to help her through this ordeal, get used to you and get to know you."

"I agree on that point, but how do I erase the trauma caused by my sister? I admit that I doubt the success of this operation. Today, I felt like she was accepting me and starting to change when she didn't. I admit to being puzzled by the complexity of our young friend. I can't help but notice that despite everything that has happened, she feels close enough to be familiar with you. She trusts you, well I think."

"I wouldn't speak of confidence at this level. More than thirteen years at the mercy of your sister, seven of which spent freeing me from a spell do not help build a healthy relationship. For her, better the executioner she knows than the vampire she does not know. I would need your time, your patience to help her adapt. When she wakes up, we will have to have a serious discussion about it. She can't continue to keep you at bay, especially if what I suspect is confirmed. And for good measure, do you have a room that I can borrow for the next few weeks? It is time that I sleep somewhere other than in her bed or her room: she, too, has the right to her privacy."

"I understand. There is a free room on each side of it. You'll take one and I'll take the other, so we'll all have our personal space while keeping an eye on Blue. For that night, that she sleeps between us seems appropriate, hoping that she realizes that this is not a prison. Your hypothesis worries me in many ways..."