"Morning," Nox stood shakily off of his stool.

"You reek of nectar." I glared. "Fuck, he's wasted."

"I'm fine," Nox waved me off.

"You're not fine, you fucking moron," I hit him to the ground. "What the fuck?"

He looked up at me, black tears spilling down his face. "This is all my fault."

"Hey-"

"I'm so sorry," he grabbed at my leg.

"Fuck off!" I shoved him away. "This isn't your fault. If you think it is, then fucking do something to fix it. You're coming with us and we're going to fix my fucking wings."

Sal unleashed his ax from his belt, bringing the hilt down into Nox's temple. He fell down, asleep. 

"That's really not good for him you know," I stood over the slumped Nixie.

"'E'll be fine," Sal snapped his ax back into place.

"What now?" I poked him, finding him truly unconscious.

"I 'adn' 'ought 'at far," Sal eased back.

"Minimum," I opened my hands over Nox.

He shrunk down to a bareable size. I picked up the tiny Nixie, sticking him in my pocket just to keep him safe. Salvador and I set off into the sky. Sal followed Zephyr's map diligently. We took our first stop outside of Natelecten, a small city halfway across Newartic. By this time, Nox had awoken but he didn't say anything to Sal or I. Instead, he ate some bread and hid inside his tent.

"He didn't have to be so rude," I grumbled as Sal and I prepared for sleep that night.

"I migh' know somethin' 'at could cheer ya up," Sal leaned closer to me.

"I mean, yeah," I brought myself into his lap. "It would."

He kissed me. I was already in my underwear, as was he. There was nothing really to remove. He still played with me anyway. He placed his lips around my body, taking little notice of the scars that riddled me.

It made me think of how broken I really was. I was broken glass shattered upon the floor. I was covered in scars, I was less than sane, and now I was a crawler. I was obsessed with sex, with Salvador, and protecting myself. From what? Everything that had haunted me?

I came back to reality. Sal was still kissing me but with less heart. I hadn't been moaning and gasping like he wanted me to. I had to do something to please him.

"Sal," I looked up at him. "Choke me."

Part of me wanted to see if he would do it. He was very assertive previously, I wanted to see if it was his new thing. Another part of me was curious, ever since my mind alluded to it the last time he was being nasty me. I wanted to know what it felt like. Lastly, I wanted to know how it felt when I did that to Titus. My hope was to kill him but he seemed to enjoy it. I left bruises behind, the evidence of strangulation. I was interested.

He brought his mouth down on mine, slipping his tongue inside. I pressed against him, allowing him to know it was okay, that this is what I wanted and to also make sure he wasn't thinking about the absence of my wings. I was making sure there was only one thing on his mind and that was what was about to come between us.

He moved to get inside me. I let him do his thing, giving myself some time to breathe. I felt my heart pounding in excitement, in arousal. He bent over, kissing me roughly again, he was tall enough to do so.

That's when his hand wrapped around my throat. It wasn't so tight I couldn't breathe but enough that I barely could. My body felt loose like I was playing hard and fast with death. His one hand managed to hold me, the other keeping him up. I was gasping, not by choice, in euphoria. It felt great, brought new senses into my head that I hadn't experienced.

Sal's breath was getting heavier, as he had his way with me. He was enjoying this too. I was glad for it. My body was coming alive. It was a whole new perception.

My body shook. He stilled shortly after, releasing me before collapsing against me.

"I love ya," he caressed my cheek.

"I know," I grinned. 

"I didn' 'urt ya too much, yeah?" 

"No, just the right amount. You've exhausted me."

"'En get some sleep, love," he brought my blankets around my shoulders. 

I had the oddest dream that night. The snake, that Titania-damned fucking black snake was back. He slithered out of my pack, huddling up next to me.

"What the hell do you want?" I pressed him. "You don't understand what I mean when I say to leave me alone."

"But your soul is bound to mine," the snake answered. "I cannot leave."

I blinked at the fact that this snake could talk. I shoved it off, this was a dream after all. 

"What do they call you then?"

"My name is Seamus," the snake nodded. "I died many many years ago but I am in enough favor with my gods to come back and guide you."

"How long ago?" I inquired.

"Long enough that my son is finally reaching old age," the snake flicked his tongue at me. "I wish to see him again."

"What good is a familiar if you're focused on yourself," I huffed.

"I cannot tell you all my secret purposes. That would cause both of us to fail in our missions. Please, tell me about yourself. Why are you coated in scars? Why do your dreams trouble you? What plagues your mind, my dear child?"

"I'm not a child anymore," I glared at him. "I'm twenty now."

"Otherwise?"

"I am haunted by my past," I curled up into myself. "There were many things that I've been through, for example, hell with my father starring as the lead demon. He's the one who did this to me. That's what plagues me, that's what comes in my dreams, and that's why I'm coated in scars. Although, I suppose there are strange dreams like this too. What is with all the black snakes?"

"We have more in common than you know," Seamus smiled if snakes could even do that. "That you will have to see another time."

"Is this a dream?"

"I suppose," Seamus slipped beside me once again. "Or perhaps it is just reality."

I found myself asleep once again. And when I woke up, that damn snake was sleeping beside me.