I was nowhere near as good as Matt but I was getting better. Matt admitted to being a half demon but I never pushed to see if he was the Batman half demon. I didn't want to push Matt away with such a personal question after all the help.

I started to pick up on one of Matt's tells, or motions that he was about to make a move. Matt primarily used a long thin sword to fight and his fingers almost away twitched right before he grabbed it from the back of his belt. Like he was flexing before grabbing it.

As a half demon, Matt could access magic but he also liked having a physical weapon that allowed him some distance from his opponent. His sword never made actual contact with me in a way that hurt me, Matt spelled it to not break the skin while we trained.

I raised a dead rabbit and told it to attack Matt and he kept it at a distance with his sword. I raised a dead squirrel and told it to attack him from behind. The squirrel moved quietly and got to nip Matt's ankle before he noticed it. Matt swung at it and sent it sailing across the yard. He created a ball of red sparks in his left hand as he beheaded to rabbit. Then sent the ball of sparks my way. I threw myself backwards out of the way with a yelp but not far enough. The sparks singed my shoes.

Matt holstered his sword and extended a hand towards me, I took it and stood up. Brushing dirt off my pants.

"Not bad," he nodded. "I want you to try for bigger animals though. These guys can move quietly but they wouldn't do much physical damage in a fight." Then he added, "We need to fine tune your skittish nature. It could be helpful in dodging attacks if you pick up on them soon enough."

My mouth was dry, "Can we take a break and get some water first?"

Matt smiled and nodded, "Of course, this isn't a boot camp."

"What's it like being a half demon?" I asked as we walked back up to the house.

Matt shrugged, "Its being nonhuman in a human body. I can access magic and do spells and whatnot. My strength is more than your average human. But I'm nothing compared to full demons."

I thought back to the demon I freed at the Edison building, all the heat and energy that flowed through that demon. The limitless capabilities. Matt was a smaller version of that?

"That's crazy," was all I could say.

Matt nodded, "It's something that can go very right or very wrong. Those who don't know they are half demonic or don't know how to handle it, can experience sporadic bursts of power that gradually kill them. We have to harness our power through safe outlets, never let it build up too much."

"But you've been sitting around Tess' for a year now," I point out. We are standing at the bottom of the stairs now. "Wouldn't it have built up a lot by now?"

"I still have outlets when I'm here," Matt nodded. "Haven't you noticed how even grass is? But you've never seen one of us on a mower, have you?"

"Cutting grass can't be enough," I said.

"I don't cut it; I funnel my magic through a spell that holds the grass at a consistent length. Constant effort, constant magic, constant outlet."

We walked up and into the house, everyone was preparing to eat dinner. At the site of the food, my stomach growled loudly.

Aunt Lauren looked up from fixing her plate, "My god Chloe you look awful. You should get cleaned up and be presentable."

Tess looked over when she spoke, "Let the girl eat first. She can shower anytime, the foods only hot and fresh for so long."

Aunt Lauren glared at her. I walked over and picked up a plate, keeping my gaze low so I wouldn't make eye contact with Aunt Lauren's glare. I was picking sides by doing that and she did not like it.

I quickly filled my plate and sat in between the boys on the living room couch. Derek planted a quick kiss on my sweaty forehead and the boys started telling me about their day. Kit had taken them into town to get new clothes because theirs were starting to get worn out. I dove into my food as I listened. I didn't talk about Matt because I was afraid it would come across braggy that I got to spend the day training. I just sat back and listened to the two of them tell their 'adventure' to the store. Aunt Lauren called me from the kitchen but I ignored her. Probably not a good idea but all I knew right now was this food was amazing and I wanted to talk with the boys. And I wasn't going to let her stop that.