Bex gasped at the nice and shiny sword. It was so shiny she could see her reflection in it. Lyssa carefully grabbed it with two hands on the handle.

"This is a 16th-century style long sword crafted with the strongest of metals and then dipped into and coated with pure silver. It has been enchanted so that way the silver never becomes tarnished or soft. The enchantment can do other things as well, but we will get to that later. I got it for you as a way to protect yourself. I was going to wait until past the holidays to give it to you and teach you how to use it, but with our most recent scare I figure it is better to be safe than sorry."

"Oh my gosh... Lyssa. You got me a freaking sword! Made with Silver! Are you crazy!?"

"What?"

"I'm not going to use that thing, I could hurt someone, I could hurt you!"

"Obviously you won't use it on me, I have gotten you some fake wooden swords to practice with first, then we shall switch to a regular long sword before I let you use this."

"Do I look like a sword-wielding type of girl? No! I am the type of girl that freaking runs! What the heck were you thinking?"

"I was thinking that I want you to be able to protect yourself."

"Yeah, thanks but no thanks."

"This is serious!" Lyssa's voice boomed off the walls.

Bex flinched.

"This is not to be taken lightly. Do you think Lacy and McKinley are the worst of our problems? They aren't even the strongest vampires out there! Lacy knows powerful people and if we hurt another hair on her head they will come after us with everything they have and are you ready to watch your family be slaughtered before your eyes!?" Lyssa held the sword out so that the tip touched Bex's neck.

"That won't happen."

"Why not? What makes you think they will just stop short of killing me, or you? What do you know of a vampire pack? Were you a part of one? Have you seen one? Do you know how packs are formed or why? Let me enlighten you, Rebecca. I was part of her pack, and that pack was formed for one purpose only, to punish other vampires for violating vampire norms. What we are doing, you and I in a relationship, they will not take kindly to that. Your friends knowing about them, me befriending a vampire slayer, I have made a mockery of what it means to be a vampire all in the name of Rebecca Cross. They won't just kill you, they will kill everyone who has ever associated with you as a way to wipe the stain of you and your name off this earth. And I won't just stand here and let you allow that kind of danger to go unchecked. You will take up arms Rebecca, not just for yourself but for everyone else who is depending on you. Like it or not you put them all in danger, and if they get hurt that's on you. And if you get hurt, that's on me. I won't accept that knowing I didn't do everything in my power to make sure you were ready and could defend yourself. Do you understand me?" Lyssa's eyes flashed red.

Bex let a sob escape her lips before running out of the room. Lyssa sighed and let the sword clang to the ground. She whispered patience is key in French under her breath before putting the sword away. Then she zoomed after Bex who ran to the kitchen to splash water on her face.

"My apologies my love, I didn't mean to frighten you." Lyssa rubbed her back.

"Yes, you did! You stupid vampire!" Bex wiped her tears.

"Rebecca, I just want you to know how serious this all is. It won't stop with Lacy, I know it won't. We will always be looking over our shoulders and sleeping with one eye open. We will never be safe. Should we live our lives in fear? No, but it would be idiotic if we did not at least prepare for the worst."

"I don't want to hurt or kill anyone!"

"I know my love, I know, but they want to hurt and kill you. You have to be willing to do anything to protect yourself. This sword will severally injure any vampire or even a succubus, werewolf, and demon for that matter. The only way you could kill a vampire with this weapon is if you cut off their head. So you see, you could still protect yourself without killing anyone."

"I need to think about this," Bex sighed as she went to the fridge for a drink.

"NO! uh, allow me." Lyssa quickly blocked her access to the fridge.

Bex raised an eyebrow.

"Valyssa Norwood, what are you hiding from me?" Bex crossed her arms.

"Nothing," Lyssa said too quickly.

"I can feel your emotions, you liar."

Lyssa sighed and opened up the fridge.

Bex gasped at the box full of blood bags.

"Lyssa! Where did you even get all this?" Bex pushed her to the side.

"The hospital." She admitted.

"Lyssa you can't just steal! People need this! Oh my god, how long have you been doing this?"

"About a month," Lyssa admitted.

"Lyssa!"

"What! I didn't want to burden you. I already drink too much from you as it is. This is just a way for me to make it to the next feeding without losing it. It holds me off. Think of it as a balanced diet."

"How long does this usually last you?" Bex eyed her.

"About a couple of weeks. I drink one a day."

"Lyssa you should have told me."

"I know, but I didn't want you to worry or burden yourself. I know you are under a lot of stress as is. Please, Rebecca, don't take this upon yourself. I am dealing. I am managing."

"Anything else you want to throw at me while you're at it?" Bex sighed.

"No my love, that is all the surprises I have for today."

Bex grabbed a water bottle which was next to the blood bags and opened it before taking a big drink.

"Are you mad at me?" Lyssa asked.

"You can feel my emotions you should know the answer to that." Bex grabbed Lyssa's hand.

"I'm sorry I push you, I'm just terrified of losing you."

"I know. I feel the same way about you. Just don't hide things from me. We are a couple now, a package, a dynamic duo. You have to open up to me Lyssa. You have to let me in past this hard shell to your soft center. I know it's hard for you, but please, if you would just let me in instead of forcing your way onto me, I might understand better and be more willing to comply."

"I'm sorry. I don't mean to push you away. There are still some things that are hard for me to talk about, some things that I would rather leave buried. That being said, I am willing to share with you if you are willing to comply with me."

"Deal, come on, we have sword-fighting lessons to go over."

"And I shall tell you of the time when I learned to sword fight." Lyssa smiled as she interlocked her and Bex's fingers.

Together the two walked back to the training room.