I open my eyes. Before me stands a tall handsome man, and Alastair's back.

"Stay still," Samuel commands me.

"Come to me Alastair."

He looks at me, his eyes wide with terror. Is it terror? My stomach is in knots. I want to throw up.

His feet begin moving.

"I don't want her privy to your debauchery. Let my Eleanor go," he murmurs.

Samuel's lips tug up into a smirk. "You don't want her to see your weakness?"

Alastair looks at me. "Close your eyes, Eleanor."

I shut them tight. And for a moment all I hear is Alastair's heavy, slow footsteps, as he tries to resist.

And then they stop. But I keep my eyes shut. I know what's it like. To not want people to see the shameful part for you.

"Open them," Samuel commands.

They're being peeled open the moment he says it. I fight it, as hard as I can, but he wins, my body obeys him.

I look away. I try to avoid the scene. I have never seen Alastair weak. Even when he pleaded for my love I knew he was strong.

This is ungodly.

"Leave her alone," Alastair growls. "Samuel I swear, I will—"

"Kill me? Hurt me? You can't do any of those things, Alastair. In fact...you can't do...anything. Unless I let you."

Alastair stared at him in frustration. And then his face evens out. His eyes dart over to me, a silent apology.

"You know you don't want her here," He says softly. "Let her leave. It'll be just the two of us. Like old times."

Samuel frowns before glanced at me. I swallow roughly.

"I'm not stupid," he says but his gaze is Alastair now. My stomach turns again.

Alastair smiles. "I know. I know but we both know I'm too prideful to break down in front of her. If she leaves, you can have me exactly where you want me. All alone. You know how...weak I am when I'm alone."

This is an Alastair I'm not familiar with. And yet, I know this person. This person who must submit because they are powerless. Who must appeal to the perverse nature to guarantee safety.

I have been this person. He deserves more. But he'll never be free will he? And now...neither will I.

"As soon as she leaves you'll start fighting me again. I hate to fight you, Alastair. I love you."

Love. This is not love. I wince thought it was. Now I shudder to think what positions I may have put myself in believing that.

I know what love is now. Alastair taught me.

Alastair doesn't return his declaration of love.

"I will never love you as much as I love her," he whispers instead. "I will never love you like I love her. And you'll never be able to look at her and not know it,"

He glances at me.

Samuel's hand begins to shake.

"I gave you time," he whispers. "Wasn't a hundred years enough? It's time to come home now," he smiles.

Samuel isn't what you'd picture. He's not old, ugly. His dark hair glimmers, his brown eyes sparkling. He's tall, and tan and fit. Handsome.

But those eyes. Those eyes say it all.

"You know better than this, Alastair," he cups Alastair's cheek. "You're mine."

Alastair licks his lips. I've been released. Samuel's attention isn't on me. I feel the fog in my brain lifting.

Alastair's blonde lashes hide his eyes for a moment. Then he looks up. He meets Samuel's eyes, cupping his face.

I think I'll be sick. His voice is clear, strong sure. A command.

"I'm sorry," he says. My body stands at attention. The hairs on the back of neck stand up.

He's talking to me.

"I'm sorry for leaving you," He says. "I'm sorry...I didn't prepare you for this. I knew it was coming."

Why is sorry? Is it for himself? For this situation he's in. I swallow roughly.

"It's hellish," he continues. "And I can never escape it. And you love me enough to put with up it I'm sure, you're selfless in your love that way."

His other hand reaches into his pocket. He takes a vial out. He lets it fumble between his hands, falling between him and Samuel. Samuel looks down.

"I know that I've put you through a lot," his gaze is fixed on Samuel. But I know he's speaking to me.

"But I have...found some peace. I found peace with you," he smiles softly.

He eases a lighter out, a cross etched into the silver.

"I'm used to this. I've always known I'd have to do it," he chuckles. "So...I'm not sorry for me,"

He flicks the lighter, turning around to face me. "I'm sorry for you."

He lets it drop. Samuel tried to catch it, diverting all of his energy. I see the mist leave Alastair's eyes. But he stays still, looking at me with a small smile now.

The fire begins spreading, eating at his clothing. Samuel tries to pull him away, but the flames quickly grow out of hand.

I frown. "Come with me. Let's go, Alastair."

He just smiles. "What's your last name?"

U shake my head. "I love you Alastair. We have 50 things to together. We haven't even done number 48. That's your favorite we have to—"

"What's your last name?" He asks me again simple.

The flames are consuming him now. Recording him, taking his flesh and bones.

I try to run to him, to pull him out.

"Don't come closer," he orders me. My feet won't move.

He's older than me. He can control me. I frown. My eyes Well up with tears. I fight them back. Tears mean he won't leave with me. I can't...accept that.

"What is your last name, my dearest Eleanor,"

I swallow as the fire consumes what's left of him. "La Rue."

I see his smile, and he's behind a wall of fire.

He's gone. He's gone.