“So why do you think the demon encounters have risen over the past few weeks?” Luna asked. Conan sat across from her over a thick, dark brown desk. They each had computers, books, and whiteboard markers scattered all over the place. They decided to rent out a private room in the library to discuss the recent incline of demon activity.
During the couple's romantic evening, there were a few other demon sightings. The news wrote them off as “unexplained animal attacks,” but Conan knew better. He had seen this many times before. A few people were already getting hurt, and he did not have the energy anymore to keep the town safe. Even though reactivating his powers has allowed him to grow stronger, he was still not at his peak performance. With the current rate of acceleration, it would soon be becoming a disaster.
Conan had decided to spend more time at the gym. He began running again and training in the forest with his powers during the day. He insisted on Luna continuing her studies and he met up with her most afternoons. She was also asking her classmates and professors about the activity, with a few of them offering good sources.
They found a few history books and conspiracy sights with some valuable tidbits of information. However, many things did not line up. The only thing that made any sense was if these creatures were being summoned, but the presence of witches died out years ago in the town. They looked into other sources, possibly portals, other dimensions, and fate… they had no clue where it started or how to stop it. By the end of their session, they were more lost than when they began.
Luna and Conan carried all the books back to their homes and began to clean up the space.
“Hey, my roommates are going out tonight, would you like to come with us?” Luna asked, trying to change the subject from their frustrations. Conan had only seen her roommates in passing since they had been spending more time together, but he liked the idea of getting to know them better.
“That would be lovely,” he smiled. He knew they were probably going downtown and to where most other students partied on Friday nights. There was a country bar most students frequented that had discounted shots on weeknights. He despised the scene, but he wanted Luna to feel included in all her normal activities. Plus, Conan had not been dancing in a long time and wanted to stretch his legs.
Luna pecked his cheek and scurried off down the road to her place to get ready. Conan began to walk back to his apartment to shower and find some old cowboy boots.
On his way back, he felt the familiar frost on his lips. He looked around but did not see any obvious threats. The sun was setting so most predators would not be out yet. He then saw a light trail leading to the side of a building. He followed it and saw a woman. She looked very similar to Luna, she had her bright features and wide eyes. However, she had no hair and was extremely thin in human terms. Conan slowly approached her. She turned and smiled.
“Hello Conan,” the ghost said with a sweet voice.
“Who are you?” Conan asked the spirit.
“I am Luna’s mom,” she responded. “I have been watching over Luna for a long time, and I am happy she has found you. But, I approached you because the danger is near. Her life is in danger. There is a great evil after you both. I would never ask anything as I know you have given her love, but I need you to make her forget.”
“What,” Conan stopped. “I am sorry, but I don't think I can do that. First of all, I love her. And secondly, I don't have that kind of power. We both know she has seen the face of death and I cannot overpower that. Thirdly, with all due respect, how do you know there is danger?”
Conan’s mom looked down. “It really pains me to do this, but I would never interfere if it was not important. Please, I beg you to try. I think you can do it. I can offer my presence as well and hopefully, it would give your soul enough strength. I just cannot watch her get hurt.”
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Conan sighed. He knew this would happen. He should have never allowed himself to fall for her.
“Just think about it. Please,” Luna's mom’s spirit pleaded and she faded away.
Conan was crossed. He would not do it to Luna. He refused. He knew she was safer with him. He quickly walked back to his apartment, head lost in thought. Even if he did have the power to make her forget, he loved her. Selfishly, he did not want to lose her. But, he also wanted to keep her safe.
He was stuck in compilation for the rest of the night as he got ready. He decided he would see how the night went and see what was better for Luna. He got dressed and headed to the bar. He parked his car across the lot and passed by a large window before heading in. He glanced in and saw Luna and her friends dancing. She was laughing, they all had drinks in their hands and spun each other in circles.
Conan knew then. He had to do what was right. He walked into the bar and Luna was still dancing. Conan went directly to the bar and had whiskey neat. He downed it immediately and met Luna on the floor.
The music was blaring and everyone was bumping elbows in the crowded space. He eventually made his way to Luna, and she lit up when he came over. She grabbed his hands and they began spinning in a circle.
Conan smiled and placed a hind at the low of her back and he began to dance with her around the floor. They made a few rounds and with a final dip, they exited and they went to an outside bench to talk. Luna was breathing heavily from being spun around the floor. She chugged a cup of water as they sat on the bench.
“I didn’t know you could dance like that,” Luna exclaimed after she caught her breath.
Conan laughed. He looked deeply into her eyes and felt a deep sadness in doing what he was about to do.
“I just talked to your mom,” Conan started. “For some reason, she came to me and she told me we needed to end our relationship to keep you safe.”
Luna stared at him, probably thinking it was a joke, then the realization hit.
“Are you serious? You were able to talk to my mom? And that was all she said? What do you mean to keep me safe?” Luna asked questions quickly and seemed to be growing angry.
“I have to end our relationship for her,” Conan said flatly. “I don’t know why, but we cannot keep seeing each other.”
Luna gasped at him. Rage was seething in her eyes. “I think you are lying.”
“Why on Earth would I lie about this?” Conan asked her, he thought she was being ridiculous.
“Because this is all insane and coming out of nowhere! If you wanted to end it, you could have done it without bringing up my dead mother,” Luna retorted.
Conan groaned. This was not how he wanted to go about this. The truth did not work. He held his hand to his head and decided to try method two. He grabbed her shoulders and looked deep into her eyes. He felt his eyes blaze and he felt his body slither into hers. He hoped the trance would work.
“You will forget all about me, and everything we have done together,” he said.
He pulled his energy back and Luna was staring into space for a second. Conan hoped it worked, but she instantly snapped out of it and slapped him.
“What the hell was that?” she asked angrily. “Have you done that before? You can make people think whatever you want and you didn’t think to tell me? Was our whole relationship just a lie? Am I in a trance right now?”
No, no, no, no, Conan thought. He had dug a deeper grave. But was this not what he wanted? He sighed, he needed her to be mad at him, even if it shook his core.
“I guess we are done then,” Conan said, and before she could respond, Conan walked away.
“What! Are you serious? Don’t you dare walk away from me after everything we went through! I loved you, you sick prick!...” Luna screamed.
Conan felt his eyes burning with tears and it took everything in him not to turn around and apologize. He loved her so much, he had to protect her. She had become his world, and he had to protect her with himself instead.
When he got to his car, Luna had gone back inside and was surrounded by her friends. She seemed to be crying. Conan felt terrible. He was angry at himself for how he made her feel, but he also needed to end things before they got too serious. Luna was getting too close, and with things amping up again, he could not bear her getting hurt. He loved her too much, and he had to let her go.