Ferid's awakening had not been the best. Or rather. He was quiet next to Yurika, everything was going on as usual until he arrived at his study and his day took an interesting turn.

He had received a call from Krul. Even before answering, he had imagined what the motives might be. There had not yet been an official declaration of war against the humans, but he had realised from his last conversation with the queen that the time had come. War with the humans was inevitable, there was nothing that could be done. What amused him most was the superior attitude that dear Krul seemed to have taken on. He was sure she wasn't the only one who saw an easy victory on the horizon.

Because the vampires were stronger, the humans were reduced to the bone and easily subjugated. He couldn't wait to savour the fateful moment when the vampire realised the mistake she had made. Then there would be a good chance of seeing movement from the vampires of the rest of the world. He couldn't put his finger on it yet, but he could hope.

"So, my beloved queen. To what do I owe this call? We met a short while ago, you don't mean to tell me that you are intent on finally confessing your love for me?" "Stop talking nonsense, Ferid Bathory. You know perfectly well that I require your presence only when strictly necessary. You are the strongest vampire after me, I cannot ignore you. It seems a group of humans have captured some of our test subjects. You must go and show those filthy humans who's boss." "Uh, a little fun. And tell me, is your seraph coming too?" "Stop calling him that." "I'm describing things as they are, you know perfectly well too. And you also know how much Mika loves my company! Almost more than our queen does!" Krul didn't fail to notice the vampire's mocking tone. It would only have taken her a moment to counter.

Asking him about the human he was keeping. She would have liked to do so, but bringing it up risked bringing out his interest and blowing her whole plan. She wanted to see how far the seventh progenitor had come. Was it once again a toy or was there more to it than that? She wanted to find out. And to investigate she needed to keep Ferid away from the mansion. Then she would act.

"I expect you to join the army tomorrow to settle this. Understood?" "You know you can always count on me." The vampire smiled and closed the communication. The vampire sighed. His absences would probably become more and more frequent because of this. It was one more element that was going to colour his days.

"You have to fight the Moon Demon Company?" Yurika asked with a twinge of apprehension, not quite sure if she was just worried about Ferid or something else. It was true that it was hard for her to consider the army as a real family, but it was inevitable that she would get anxious. She thought back to Guren and Shinya, perhaps the only ones with whom she could say she had any sort of bond. She remembered those fateful fights against Ferid when he had kidnapped her and shuddered. She thought back to Shinoa and those kids who had just joined up. How would she react if something happened to them? What if their eventual death was at the hands of the vampire?

"Yurika, nothing will happen to me..." "I know no one will hurt you..." She whispered with a hint of a voice. "But what if something happens to the others?" "I didn't think you were so close to those people." Ferid replied brusquely. "But... I've spent my life with them... I can't completely give a damn..." "I can't promise you anything. You know I won't be the only one fighting. Some loss may be inevitable."

Yurika shuddered. "Is this about something bigger?" she asked hesitantly. "A war is coming. It's inevitable by now. The queen has not yet spoken explicitly about it, but her intentions seem clear enough. An actual declaration is not long in coming." "Ferid, you... had you hoped for this?" "A war is always exciting for a vampire, but here I think things may go quite unexpectedly. You humans have developed weapons that can put the vampires in serious trouble, and if that happens, I don't rule out the possibility that the vampire council might intervene in Japan."

"The vampire council?" "What do you think? That only you humans have organizations and such? We, too, must maintain order within the vampire world. That's what the council is for, it includes all the vampire leaders of the world. These are mostly high-ranking progenitors, I who am only of seventh rank could never have a say, for example." The girl glared at the vampire. "I had never thought about the possibility that there might be other vampires, even stronger than you. The whole thing makes one shudder." "You'll agree that too many things in this world make one cringe, and again. Humans don't joke about it either." "How can you be so certain of that?" She asked with the specific intent of investigating what motivations drove the vampire to make such claims.

"Let's just say I have my good connections." It took the girl a moment to register the significance of that information. Could it really be possible that the vampire was in contact with some human? Someone important enough to have access to secret information?

"Knowledge within the military?" She hazarded. Ferid laughed. "Are you interested in the subject?" Yurika quivered. She wasn't sure she wanted to know more. Perhaps for fear of discovering more uncomfortable details. She lowered her gaze. "So you're telling me there's someone inside the military who's been passing information to you?"

The vampire took her chin in his hand, bringing her face closer to his. "I'm the one passing on information about vampires." Yurika's eyes widened. "What?" Ferid smiled, but added nothing more. "I'm afraid it's time for me to leave the camp, a battle awaits."

But the girl was crossed by other thoughts. Thoughts that cut off her breath, preventing her from breathing. She felt tears welling up, but managed to hold them back as a feeling of revulsion took over her body. "If you pass information to someone in the army... then... I..." The vampire lowered his gaze towards her, unable to understand what the girl was getting at. "What, Yurika? I don't understand."

"You didn't kidnap me. You took what was rightfully yours." She said in a voice broken with tears.

The vampire lowered himself to her level, his hands immediately on her face wiping away her tears. "Why do you say that?" "Did they offer you me in exchange for the information?" Hearing her say that made him cringe. "Who would want to do that to you?" "Because they never cared about me." The tears continued to fall. Ferid was interdicted. How could she be convinced of that? He sat down next to her on the couch, ready to do something that wasn't on his agenda.

"Yurika, look at me. Please." She lifted her gaze shyly. "It is to Guren that I pass the information." The girl widened her eyes. "So... he agreed that you..." "No, no. No. You weren't planned. You weren't part of our deal. In fact, the last time I saw him, he almost went ballistic. He said I had to bring you back, even tried in vain to threaten me." "Guren... Did he do this for me?" The hopeful note he read in the girl's voice didn't please him one bit. What was going on between those two? Why had Guren become so inflamed, but more importantly, why had she reacted like that? He spoke without thinking.

"What's between you?" "Between us?" "Don't play dumb, between you and Guren. Was there something?" Yurika gasped. "Nothing." "Nothing? Yet you seemed happy before." The girl lowered her gaze. "I'm glad to know that someone still thinks of me..." The vampire stood up without saying a word. Yurika listened to the vampire's footsteps as he walked away. She sighed as she lay down on the couch, tears wetting her face.

She had let him go without trying to put things right. But what could she have said to him? She could not even understand the reason for his reaction. How could he be jealous of Guren? How was it her fault that he had tried to defend her? After all, they were friends. Maybe not as close as he could be with members of his team, but they remained on good terms. Nothing more. At least for her.

She had never been interested in anyone before she met Ferid. No one had ever touched her the way he had. Had she been wrong to appear so happy? Had the vampire misinterpreted her reaction? Yes. She loved only him. She had told him. She had said she would stay with him, despite everything he had done over the past centuries. He definitely didn't have the right to get angry over such trivial matters. Accompanied by these murky thoughts, she fell asleep.

Yurika! The girl opened her eyes in her mind, in that space that only she and her demon shared. Do you want to discuss Ferid? The girl asked annoyed. You have a much bigger problem to deal with. Sentenced Kurena. Don't get agitated Yurika. Stay calm. I'm with you.

Kurena? She couldn't understand her.

Krul Tepes is here.

Yurika woke up suddenly. Kurena made it easy. She felt her heart begin to beat frantically when she saw rosy hair swaying in front of her. She crossed the vampire queen's unyielding rubies, all too aware that she was at a dead end. If that vampire had wanted her dead, she would have had only to lift a finger. And she wouldn't even have had time to breathe.

"Yurika Hiiragi. You and I have something to talk about."

20/05/2021