"I won’t let you go," she breathed against his neck, her gentle hands tightening firmly against him. Her arms held tight and it killed him to have her close, to have her neck just under his jaw. She was silent and he could feel the pulse on her neck, in her body, that achingly beautiful sound that he hated. He dipped his head down, his lips brushing against the curve of her neck, eyes closed as he fought with himself.

"I’ll hurt you," he whimpered, but still, he pulled her closer. She shook her head into his shoulder and kissed his forehead. He turned his head back up with a strength he didn’t know he needed, the monster inside of him making his throat burn and his eyes sting. She continued to trail soft kisses against his cheek, running her lips against his jaw.

"Aria," he breathed, his throat catching as another wave of fire coursed through him. He looked down and could see the terror dance in her eyes when she locked their gazes. He could see his own reflection in her brown gaze, his own eyes burning a crimson fire, pupils dilated with need. He opened his mouth in surprise and saw the flash of fangs sliding out.

"Maks," she cried and she clung tighter to him. Every intake of breath was like inhaling pure flame, but he couldn’t push her away. Finally, his jaw tightened and he grabbed her shoulders. Instead of letting him push her away, she slipped from his grasp and slid her hands up his chest. Fear shot through him. The only thought that consumed him was the fear of hurting her; fear that the monster inside of him would kill her.

She pressed her lips against his in a desperate attempt to save him and he struggled against the kiss. She held tight, forcing so much compassion into the simple touch, red-stained tears welled in Maksis’ eyes. He pushed her away and she looked up at him, tears streaking her own cheeks, eyes turning a haggard red.

"Listen to me, Ar. Get out of here. Run and never come back," he pleaded, but she moaned a ‘no’ and shook her head. She tried to wrap her arms around his waist, but he grabbed her wrists, his iron hold tight. His heart splintered into pieces when she looked up at him, an eerie sense of despair and hopelessness in her gaze.

"I said go," he growled and she stumbled back. Maksis released her and watched as her delicate frame staggered away from him. Once, she turned back to look at him, her face torn with different emotions. Maksis did the final thing that ripped his own heart to shreds. He curled his lips back into a snarl and let an animalistic growl tear from his throat.

She stifled a scream and ran, only terror of the monster inside of him left. Her love for him was gone, forever tainted by that memory. Maksis watched her go millions of times, replaying her face, her screams as she ran from him in his head as he stood on the desolate street.

Finally, everything crashed down on him at once. A ragged sob broke through his lips and he felt his knees buckle below him, his will gone. Nothing could support him now and he kneeled down on the ground, hands splayed out on the ground as he struggled to breathe. He sat back onto his knees and bundled up fistfuls of hair in his palms.

His cries resonated through the air, every tree stopping to listen, every bird quieting its tune. The world seemed to darken around him as his heart grew heavier in his chest. He wondered how it could still beat, how it still managed to keep him alive even though he was so broken, so damaged by everything in his life.

He didn’t realize what time it was until he came back to his senses, if you could call it that. He was vaguely aware of the approaching sunrise, but he didn’t care. His fangs were still prominent in his mouth, his eyes still burning with madness and rage. When the first few rays of sunlight washed away the shadows, Maksis closed his eyes and let them take him too.