They stared at each other, shocked and lost. Their hearts were overwhelmed by sorrow, struck by realization. Neither had known the truth, not until now. Their obliviousness brought many painful moments, which could have been avoided.

Bastian’s hand clenched, soreness flowing from his wounds as he tensed on the bed. His expression was one of pure sadness and hurt.

“You…” She trembled, for he questioned her with his broken gaze. “You really think I would do that to you? Send you to die?”

Her anger now made much more sense. Such betrayal would justify such fury and resent. But he did not commit that crime, not directly.  He could not understand how she could have believed he wanted her dead. It was inconceivable to him that she thought him capable.

He frowned, not truly knowing how to feel. There was both anger and pity in his heart, for he could see the horror in her eyes. She kept cowering away from him, and it did not take long for her to collide with a table behind her, which she grasped as she shook her head.

“I heard-“ She tried to find words, trying to piece together everything that led her to this point. “The vampires said they saw a scout, who spotted them and-“

He snarled, glaring at her with incredulity.

“You would actually believe the words of a vampire before trusting in me? After all we went through?” His eyes narrowed slowly, because she averted her gaze in shame. “My god… You really did.”

She raised her claws onto her eyes, unable to meet his.

“I thought you were resentful, that you secretly hated me. That night, I held you back… and I never forgot your words! That memory always haunted you, and yet, I still persuaded you to fight like us. All these years, you always have…” She let out a huff, the mere thought of Lyssa far too painful to handle. “There were so many things I could have been keeping you from reaching! I was-“

“You got to be kidding me.” She closed her eyes and cried silently, because his next words were bitter and accusing. “I would never wish to harm you. And if I ever did, I could not hurt her like that. It would break her heart, I have seen! Dammit, we both have mourned you, Nerys!”

His glare softened, seeing her send the table to the ground as she backed away more, letting her back hit a wall. She sat down against it with a sob, covering her face. He felt worry, because her nails were piercing, cutting faintly while she wept.

“I’m sorry, I know I can’t excuse what I have done! I just…!”

She hurt him, when he was innocent, blameless.

I am a-

Nerys held her breath, hearing a tired huff. She lowered a nail, daring to glance reticently, for she sensed movement. He had gotten off the bed, hissing as the wounds brushed against his bandages. It hurt, but he did not pay mind to it, nearing her. He spoke up with exasperation and contained bitterness, but care as well.

“Nerys, stop. You are clawing-“

“Don’t come any closer.”  

He halted as she growled loudly, baring her fangs. A snarl like that had always preceded her aggression, so he looked down at her carefully, debating. He chose to keep his ground, because she was cowering, like a scared animal.

“Stay away from me, Bastian!” She grimaced, seeing him take another step towards her, glaring defiantly. “I will-”

He scoffed, almost sardonic.

“What will you do?” He nodded sideways sharply, motioning at his neck. “Will you harm me? Again? No, I don’t think so.”

Nerys held herself, feeling small for once. Bastian crouched slowly in front of her, sighing tiredly, still dazed by her bite. That did not stop him from speaking firmly, his guilt diminished, somewhat.

“Look at me, Nerys. Please.”

She shook her head, refusing to lower her claws from her eyes. In fact, his request only made her clench them more, something that did not please him. She could not bring herself to comply, for she did not want to see the blood on him, or his pale skin. The scars were there, a clear reminder of what she could do.

“I can’t. I still feel-“

“If you really could lose control, you would have done so already.”

He had been unconscious, for a very long while, so her instincts had plenty of time to kick in. She had managed to treat his bleeding wounds and kept a very close watch on him by the bed. Right now he was inches away, and the only thing she could think of doing was backing away.

There was no reason for him to keep his distance. He knew she would not lay a claw on him, not to harm him. She would not do so again, not now. And so, he scolded her aversion, while condemning his own blindness.

“You hurt me, spitefully… You did. But it was for a reason. Your anger was logical, even if misguided. I can’t blame you for mourning what you have lost, what you thought I stole. To be honest, I would lose my mind too, if I suffered such fate.” He sighed, conflicted. “Look, you made a terrible mistake, I agree. But I made one first. I was the one to lead you to this, so in a sense, I’m the catalyst of this whole mess.”

He did not falter when those nails lowered, revealing sharp eyes, which fixed on his. They were narrowed in anger, but it was not directed at him. She leaned slightly closer with her claws open, in question, and not even as she growled in disbelief did he tremble.

“How can you say-“  

She could not finish, for a yell echoed.

“Sire!”

Both gasped, for there was a loud slam in the adjacent room, a door kicked open. Her green eyes widened when six of her soldiers bolted into the bedchamber, irate and dreadful. One was fast to tackle Bastian, who screamed as his arms were pinned down, painfully. In just a second, they pulled him away from her. He could only wince and gasp, intimidated by their bared fangs and loud growls.

“You disgusting human, we should have broken your limbs! How dare you-?!”

“Let go of him, you IDIOTS!

Their jade eyes widened in shock, because one of her huge claws dashed fiercely, slamming against the one who was pinning him. They all let go, gasping, never having seen her this angry. Even if she had not stabbed with her nails and simply punched strongly, it was still the first time she hurt any of them.

All cowered as Nerys towered over them, glaring holes through them with her flaming eyes, outraged. Even Bastian tried to step away from her when she roared, loudly.

“Don’t you dare lay a nail on him!”

They frowned, seeing her step in between, hiding him behind her huge figure. Her arms were tense at her sides, ready to throw another hit at any moment. One of them tried to reason, staring at her anxiously.

“Sire, we heard you yell. It alarmed us, for we believed you already had your… retribution. We feared he had harmed you, somehow.” When they bolted in, they saw the table on the ground, and him looking down at her. “He was-“

“He has done nothing!” She took striding steps towards them, showing her fangs clearly, lost in sudden instinct. “I was the one to cause harm in fact! Almost left him dry! All thanks to your blunder!”

“Nerys, stop-“

She snarled, feeling a hand lay on her back. He let go, because she turned around sharply to glare down at him. Her eyes pierced him for a minute, both falling silent, battling a million thoughts they could not voice at the moment.

Nerys eventually huffed and looked away from Bastian, unable to stand the sight of his scarred face, which she had considered befitting before. Her next growl was loud but exhausted.

“Dammit all to hell…” His eyes hinted hurt when she huffed in disgust, fed up with everything, mostly herself. “I can’t stand this.”

He felt lost, because she stepped away from him while waving a claw, commanding harshly.

“Take him away! And let it be clear, I will personally rip the fangs of anyone who dares hurt him!”

The guards nodded quickly, intimidated. Bastian tensed, because they proceeded to get a hold of him, obeying her orders gladly.

“Back to the dun-“

“No.” She glared over her shoulder, piercing them with a glare as she warned. “Take him to some chambers. Not inside the quarters of the servants, but in the west wing.”

They raised an eyebrow, not understanding.

“Sire, those accommodations are only meant for-“

“I know!” She stepped away towards a far corner, giving her ultimatum. “He shall wait there.”

Bastian frowned, remembering what the west wing contained. It was composed of big chambers, only intended to host vampires; usually high ranked ones, like officials and guests. The soldiers exchanged baffled and concerned glances, but they nodded in the end, not daring to object.

“It shall be done, sire.”

Bastian looked back at Nerys as he was led away, not shoved or pushed once. His eyes narrowed sadly, because she covered her face again with a claw, ignoring his last questioning glance. Outside, he heard clearly the growled sob she let out.

Alone, after a long painful silence, she dared to uncover her gaze. She stared at the mirror on the wall, contemplating her unsettling features. Her eyes glinted in the dark, their sharpness impervious to sorrow or grief.

Even when surrounded by shadows, she could still discern the trail of blood on her jaw, no matter how faint. The monster was looking right back at her, glaring as fiercely, as hatefully.

The last thing Bastian heard as he walked away from her… was a deep feral scream, and glass being shattered.