The swords clashed together. Yurika tried to keep a firm grip. They had been fighting non-stop for almost half an hour and she knew that Ferid would soon turn the tables for him by disarming her. It was a matter of minutes.

Suddenly she heard the sound of her sword dropping to the ground and she froze feeling the vampire's cold blade press under her chin.

"You're getting better and better, my little sheep."

"For you it's just like playing I presume." She huffed.

The vampire's lips on hers was what she felt the next moment. By now even Yurika's kisses had the passion Ferid had been waiting for. After enjoying her warmth for a long moment, he moved to her neck, showering her with kisses.

The day of the battle was approaching, he could not give in to his pleasures. He would be patient until they returned to quench his thirst.

"Will you settle for a few kisses?" The girl prodded him.

"You know you don't want to play with fire..."

Ferid lifted her up, his hands strong under her thighs. Yurika brought her hands around the vampire's neck, blushing.

"You know there are a thousand things I would do to you, my baby."

She felt her body heat rising, she couldn't deny it. Part of her wanted to give in to his teasing, but inside she didn't feel ready yet, especially given what was going to happen the next day.

Ferid knew it too, that was definitely the least suitable time to think about satisfying the pleasures of the flesh.

"At least you can give me a kiss though."

Yurika followed the vampire's suggestion, but it wasn't as passionate as the ones they had just exchanged, but rather sweet and gentle. As their lips slowly moved in sync the vampire wondered if the girl realised what she was capable of unleashing in him.

"Are you ready for tomorrow?"

"I'll never be ready for tomorrow, Ferid."

"Maybe a hot bath can help you relax... I could do better, though..."

Yurika laughed. "You're impossible."

The vampire had prepared Yurika's new uniform for the next day on the bed so he could show it to her before she went to sleep, he thought she would digest the blow better that way.

The girl immediately noticed something on the way out. It didn't take her long to realise what it was.

It was her outfit for the next day.

The uniform was very similar to that of the moon company in workmanship, only it was whole like a dress and white.

Like that of vampires.

It was hard to describe the flood of emotions and thoughts that gripped her mind at that moment. She was going to wear one of those uniforms she had fought against her entire life.

She had never done so with conviction, yet she could not deny the discomfort the situation made her feel.

She preferred not to imagine herself wrapped in such a foreign fabric; she would put the matter off until the next day.

Under Ferid's motionless eyes, she put the uniform on the table, away from her.

She smiled to see the boots at the foot of the bed.

Similar to the ones the vampire wore.

"Looks like we're going to be all too similar." She whispered softly.

"Come on, come to sleep Yurika. You need some rest."

The girl obeyed the vampire's words, no matter how much the idea of sleeping terrified her. For it meant that the worst challenge awaited her when she awoke.

She settled under the covers, in the vampire's arms, aware that it would not be an easy night.

Ferid studied the girl's heartbeat, hoping that she would be able to fall asleep as soon as possible.

In the meantime he thought back to the look on Yurika's face at the sight of the uniform.

Of course he did not expect a jubilant reaction, he could not expect so much from her, it would have been far too selfish of him to expect such a thing.

Yet all he could do was fantasize about her in those clothes.

In the guise of a vampire.

How simple it would have been if she had been a vampire, her life would not have been in such great danger and she would not have seemed so fragile anymore.

Of course, such a transformation would have entailed several changes. He could have trained her to a higher level, but there would always be a large gap between the two. But if she was a vampire, he wouldn't have to think about restraint in certain situations, her strength would never lead to her being unintentionally hurt.

He would no longer be able to enjoy the warmth of her body, but he could enjoy her presence for eternity.

It was a possibility that attracted and frightened him at the same time.

Could love survive that long in time? Could it be enough to give meaning to his life?

Yes, perhaps this love would have been worth continuing to live for.

But Yurika did not have eternity at her disposal like he did. There were still many years separating her from the biological age of the vampire, but slowly she would have reached it. Then she would grow old. Until she died.

He stroked her hair gently.

Was it too selfish to hope that one day she would agree to spend eternity with him?

Guren unbuttoned his shirt and took it off, letting it fall at his feet.

Tomorrow was the big day.

Soon he would have to see the obnoxious Ferid Bathory again.

You've been calling him that ever since he took Yurika. Mahiru's persuasive voice echoed in his head.

Guren didn't bother to answer her.

And you send my dear little sister to war, what am I to do with you?

"I'm following the plan Mahiru, stop bothering me."

You worry so much about her. All alone with that monster. Who knows what they'll do...

"Get lost."

He was used to his demon's jibes. The one who had been his lover. She who had brought him to ruin by showing him forbidden places and secrets.

What had he not done to satisfy the uncontrollable desire that bound him to her?

Had he loved her?

With all of himself.

Mahiru Hiiragi had been his personal sun for too long. So powerful that it blinded him, he had never been able to do without her, to free himself from the creature he had become. Because the feelings that united them had always been too strong to hope to be resisted.

He had never tried to repress that feeling, but now many things had changed.

He knew that for him and Mahiru the dances had been over for a long time, too long.

The girl he had loved was now dead.

Perhaps it was to make up for her physical absence that his interests had turned elsewhere.

By some twist of fate he had once again turned to a Hiiragi.

It was also Shinya's fault and the relationship he had established with Yurika from the start.

Not that Yurika could hope to receive any attention from her brothers Kureto and Seishiro, but that had been made up for by the last acquired member of the Hiiragi family, Shinya.

Guren had watched their sibling bond grow and strengthen, which is why he sometimes passed Yurika on his way to see his brother.

He had seen her crying before her official entry into the army, seen her crying next to Shinya when she still hoped to receive love from her family.

He had seen her become a woman and embark on exploits beyond her reach.

He wasn't entirely sure of her movements, but he thought he had an inkling of what she wanted to do with her demon.

Because he observed her behaviour more than the girl herself could have imagined.

Did he have feelings for her?

It would have been foolish of him to claim otherwise, he knew he didn't.

Yurika had managed to win a space in his heart, perhaps a space that was too small, or simply a space that Mahiru had made impenetrable.

He had loved her too ardently to allow his feelings for Yurika to take concrete form.

Yet they were there, hidden in the depths of his heart, but they were present.

Sometimes he envied his friend Norito and the way he was with girls. He was quite convinced that the only reason he hadn't made a serious move on Yurika was Shinya. He resented the explicit advances made to his sister.

He didn't dare to think of the reaction he'd get if she told him he was meeting Ferid.

He wouldn't have digested it in the best way. Why had he known and not lifted a finger?

But what could he do, even if he wanted to? Ferid Bathory was too strong an opponent for him, too strong for all of them. If he wanted something, he would take it, just as he had done with Yurika.

Already during the first meeting he had seen how he had approached her, far too much. Over and over again he told himself that he should have guessed the vampire's real intentions, maybe he would have spared the girl that unpleasant experience.

Ferid claimed that she was fine, but how true could his words be? Who could guarantee that he wasn't doing anything to her?

He clenched his hands and inhaled deeply, trying to hold back his anger as he imagined that filthy vampire touching Yurika with his dirty hands.

This made him boil with rage.

Yurika had no part in the whole thing, it wasn't fair for her to pay for pain that wasn't hers.

He hoped to somehow manage to isolate himself with Ferid the next day, however impractical a scenario that might be. He knew only too well that the vampire would not expose himself to an unnecessary risk.

Even so, it was also the only way he would be able to get concrete news about Yurika; he wanted, or rather, needed to know what he was doing to her.

Maybe it was still possible to convince him to leave her.

And, who knows, maybe Yurika would look at him in a different way.

This, too, was a difficult question for him to ignore.

He was aware that Yurika's feelings for him did not go beyond mere friendship, there was little he could do about that. This factor had probably also contributed to his not developing those feelings.

He thought about Yuuichiro and Shinoa.

Maybe the decision to take that team to the field was premature, no doubt about it, but the boys had more than just potential, that's why they were essential within the plan he had set in motion, even with the help of that filthy vampire, he had to admit.

The next day was going to be tiring, very tiring.

Yurika looked at her reflection in the mirror.

How long had it been since she had last worn a uniform?

It seemed like a lifetime ago.

She swallowed.

Impressive to think how profoundly his life had changed.

How she was now wearing a white, vampire uniform.

A shiver ran down her spine.

She truly looked like one of them. Only her eyes betrayed her. The strength probably did too.

From a distance, however, it was easy to create confusion, especially in the eyes of a human being.

Uncertainly she lifted her hands to her hair, trying to gather it up again.

Then she waved it back, as she preferred it this way too. It was freer, just like her.

She was free from the life of constraint that had been imposed on her.

Yet she still felt those old bonds interfering in her being. What would the others think if they saw her like this? If they recognised her?

Would they believe that she had been transformed? Would they see her as an enemy?

She could not deny it, she feared that possibility.

Ferid's arms wrapped gently around her.

"Are you ready?"

"No."

But it was all decided now, there was no going back.

She had made a choice. She had chosen to be the enemy's lover.

Now she would face the consequences.

09/09/2021