Aeron frowned as he returned to the room with the tray of food. Where was Aleksandr? He placed the tray down, his head snapping to the bathroom as he heard the noise from the bathroom.

He approached, knocking twice on the locked door. "Little Vampire, I fetched some breakfast up for you."

Aerons frown deepened when he didn't hear a reply, rather a tug of the mental connection the two had - initially, he had believed it to be a reply, but he felt something was wrong. He didn't know why, but he thought something was wrong.

Initially, Aeron assumed Aleksandr just wanted some time to himself. Slowly, Aleksandr had been wanting some alone time. Aeron was concerned, but he realised it was a good thing. But, after waiting about a minute, listening to for any signs, he realised he could hear the tap running.

Aleksandr hated water.

Aleksandr had a deep-rooted fear of water, whether that be a bath or a shower. Vampires themselves weren't often too fond of showers, as it rid themselves of their outward scents and their clan scents, though they stayed hygienic in other ways- but this dislike had grown and plummeted. Aleksandr had been water boarded, and that was the only time he was near water during his time in the pit.

Aeron knew Aleksandr wouldn't be in the shower. Aleksandr loathed being near the thing - he only would go anywhere near it if Aeron was there. So, why was the tap running?

And most of all, why was the carpet starting to darken with a wet patch?

Aerons brows creased, and he turned the knob- it wasn't locked, but there was a latch about a foot above the handle that was set. Meaning, he couldn't get in. Aeron gritted his teeth, wrapping his fist around the knob. He wiggled it to see how else to get in.

Aeron took a step back and shoved the door with all his weight. A crack and the splintering of wood could be heard. The latch fell to the ground with a clunk, and the door slammed against the wall as Aeron entered the bathroom.

Aeron had seen a lot of things in his time. From torture cells and slave camps to barren land and the land of the rich. He wasn't taken by surprise by anything anymore. But this did.

"Little Vampire?" Aeron breathed out.

"Go away!" Aleksandr hissed, baring his fangs.

As much as Aeron wanted to do as the vampire was saying, from the look of the room and Aleksandr, he didn't know whether he could trust him to be alone. Aeron so desperately wanted to be able to leave him, but he couldn't risk it.

The bathroom was flooded, the tap was running, and a figure crumpled in the corner. Aeron stepped in, the water soaking his socks and bottom of his jeans, but he didn't care. He needed to get to Aleksandr.

"Darlin'?" Aeron called out.

Neither Aleksandr nor Aeron could make sense of what was happening.

Aeron watched, his breathing heavy as he fully laid eyes on the scene before him. Aleksandr stared at him with empty eyes. The void expression on his face was quickly breaking, and both knew it wouldn't take long for one or both to break. Tears stained both cheeks, and his lips were cut where his fangs had forced themselves to bite - biting lips were a soother for young vampires in small amounts.

Just the day before, Aeron remembered their friendly banter. Aleksandr seemed to be great, smiles all-round. It was a drastic change Aeron had expected at some point, but no matter how he had prepared for back-steps, it still absolutely terrified him.

What if Aleksandr went back to how he was when they first met? The slave he had met not seven months ago, who begged him to kill him. He would have gone through it too, if he hadn't helped heal the physical injuries, (being a Godling meant he was one of the very few with the ability to do that) gave him back enough stability to let him realise his purpose.

He couldn't let his family suffer anymore.

"Go away."

Aeron chuffed as he raised his brows.

"Aleksandr."

Aleksandr hesitated, recognising the concern and unable to read the other emotions swimming behind his eyes.

"I said go away."

Slowly, Aleksandrs gaze rose to meet Aerons for the first time since the two had met. It was a challenge, and Aeron wasn't sure whether he could push back.

Was it too soon?

A silent agony churned, and a tidal wave of hatred flowed through him - enough it made Aeron feel physically sick. He noticed the emotion felt familliar, as it wasn't directed at him.

Rather at himself.

"I said go away!" Hysteria revealed itself in the exclamation. "Stay away from me! I'm a murderer! I'm disgusting! I'm a good for nothing, soulless Leech! I deserve what I got! I deserve death -"

Aerons eyes widened as a claw neared the back of his neck - the physical transformation being unable to be accessed by the vampire since being captured.

"Get away from me!"

Aeron moved swiftly forward and grasped his hand, moving the sharp claw to his own neck- to the scar Aleksandr clearly could see. He knew the story behind that scar. The clawed hand suddenly turned human- Aleksandr petrified at the mere thought of hurting the human.

"Go on," Aerons voice was bitter and even. It showed a side to him Aleksandr had not seen in so long. "Do it to me. If a murderer deserves death, Aleksandr, I definitely do. You know what I have done, what I did to you alone. Go on, do it."

Aleksandr tried to free his hand, but he was too strong. "A-Acest lucru es-este diferit!" [Thats different!]

"No it fucking isn't!" Aeron shouted, the loudness making Aleksandr flinch. "Please, Aleksandr. Come with me into the bedroom, we need to talk."

Aleksandr swallowed thickly. His instincts were all over the place, one thing telling him to do as Aeron was asking, the other fought- it fought everything in him that made him want to please Aeron and it told him to break free of the hold and just do something.

Aeron didn't let go, waiting for the obeying nod that usually followed his requests. It took a couple seconds, but, ever so subtly, It showed itself.

[Word count: 1066]

This chapter is entirely thanks to H_E_Ravens fantastic work. I draw inspiration from the books I read, but theirs always stuck with me. Thanks so much!!!