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[i][u][color=b18f71]January 1st, 9:30 PM.
New York City, Pricetown, Nello's home.
Interactions - None.
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Blood had long since been washed off Nello's pale scales, flowing across the sleek shower floor and into the drain as if a swirl of red wine. Hugging his knees beneath the warmth of an ever-streaming current, it would be impossible to note the salty tears coating a boy's cheeks. Trembling, Nello hid his face between his kneecaps, unable to wash the taste of blood from his mouth, a lingering presence of sanguine nightmares which had fueled a certain desire for war, and destruction. What brought the young teenager to his knees was the infuriatingly addictive essence brought along the crimson fluids, as his demonic side took center stage. Blood tasted good, no, it tasted far better than simply 'good'. It was intoxicating. Clenching his teeth, Nello let out a whimper, attempting to focus on the warmth which had coated him. This night had been a success, but a disaster, all the time. Children were sent into freedom, and released from the shackles of a coven surpassing all the ruthlessness of humanity, and yet, there was an emptiness within Nello which could not be filled. 

Tightening the embrace around his knees, Nello's crimson gaze had been shut tight, his eyes unable to meet a world which had been revealed to be so cruel, and unjust. He inhaled a trembling breath, before feeling a pair of arms wrapping themselves around his shoulders, the presence of another bringing comfort to his shattered self. He knew who it was, of course. Nocturne, who had never found himself further than a mere few feet from the young teen. [color=b18f71][i]"What were the options, Nello?"[/i][/color] Came a soft whisper, as the demon's snout gently brushed against the boy's ear. Though silence met the creature, Nocturne was aware that even Nello would know the answer. No other options had been presented. Malfiell would have killed them both, had Nello not taken that ultimate step, and delved into his demonic savagery. [color=b18f71][i]"You did the right thing."[/i][/color] Nocturne continued, his embrace around the young hero lingering in a tender motion, where they sat. 

Those versed in the art of killing, and those who could close the eyes of others would perhaps look at Nello and consider the boy a fragile mess. They would be right, and one could continue on the path and point out the teenager's tender age. This was not a comic book, nor was it a series displayed upon the surface of a television. Nello was not a character, he was a person, and the weight of ending another life was heavier than most would admit to. There was, after all, a reason as to why soldiers had nightmares. [color=b18f71]"I tried so hard..,"[/color] the boy began, [color=b18f71]"to not kill him."[/color]

Placing his hand on Nello's cheek, Nocturne raised the young hero's face towards his own, where their eyes met in a shared exchange. [color=b18f71][i]"Your heart is pure, but no one else, least of all a demon, will leave you breathing at the end of a fight."[/i][/color] He saw how the teenager inhaled another sharp breath, his teeth clenching as the boy's eyes closed. Nocturne's words rang true, and Nello knew this, but adopting this wisdom onto the field of battle had resulted in this very moment. Leaning forward, Nocturne brushed his lips against Nello's in a tender, compassionate kiss, before pulling him into another loving embrace. [color=b18f71][i]"The world isn't black and white."[/i][/color]

Speaking through sniffling tears, Nello buried his face in Nocturne's neck, the boy's arms holding the other close in desperation. [color=b18f71]"I know..,"[/color] came a quiet, muffled response. It was almost as if Nello was clinging to the demon, believing that if he let go, Nocturne would fade away with the flowing stream of water coating their exposed shapes. He could not let go, he could never let go, because the demonic entity ever so close kept the boy alive in far more ways than the drawing of breath. [color=b18f71]"I just..,"[/color] Nello continued, his body tensing at the thought, though managed to calm somewhat as he felt Nocturne's hand gently stroking his back. [color=b18f71]"Even if we had the chance, should we have let him live, Noct'..?""[/color]

[color=b18f71][i]"No,"[/i][/color] the shadowy being offered, without a second to consider. There was no scenario which could possibly have played out, which would have left Nello with the possibility of sparing Malfiell, and also leave that room, knowing that the demon had been defeated, for good. He would have risen once more, angrier and more furious than before. A demon suffering defeat, was far more dangerous than one content in their power. Malfiell would have elevated his torture, his darkness. There would have been no end to the eternal damnation he brought, along with the coven he so dutifully served. [color=b18f71][i]"Being merciful to muggers and bandits is one thing, Nello,"[/i][/color] Nocturne explained, holding the boy tightly without loosening his embrace for but a moment. [color=b18f71][i]"But the Blackthorn Coven is different. Your morality doesn't apply to them."[/i][/color]

Finally able to breathe without the trembling stream of tears to hinder its progress, Nello managed to move back, somewhat. With his hands in Nocturne's, the boy lowered his eyes to the floor, seeing how a coat of water washed past them in a harmonic flow. [color=b18f71]"Why?"[/color] He tried, melancholy taking shape in his eyes.

As Nocturne raised his clawed hand to Nello's face, lifting the teen's gaze to meet his own, a response was uttered. [color=b18f71][i]"Mercy is earned, and it can be erased. The Blackthorn Coven does not deserve mercy. You know this, and I shouldn't have to explain it."[/i][/color]

Clicking his small, dragon-like claws against Nocturne's hand, Nello uttered a sigh. He gently removed the creature's digits from resting against the boy's features, and tenderly grasped them between his own. [color=b18f71]"What scares me the most, Nocturne..,"[/color] Nello began, his body once more tensing, before blood red eyes met their reflection in Nocturne. [color=b18f71]""Was that I liked it..."[/color]