Unable to ignore his words Brandon shifted on the bed and stared back into the man’s beautiful l eyes. Finally with a small sigh Brandon lifted a palm and shrugged as he forced himself to speak. “Ezekiel.....It’s all really complicated, but like I said before I have something inside of me. Something strange that I can’t control.” Brandon stopped, swallowed and tried to recount the events of the attack, without stammering. “It started when you followed me into the forest. I was....was attempting to escape the newest Lock Down.”

“I remember.” Ezekiel said softly. There was no inflection in his voice. No anger or blame, but Brandon still felt hurt because he knew that his actions had nearly ended in tragedy.

With a small nod to show Ezekiel that he acknowledged his words Brandon continued.

“A few seconds after you confronted me, we came under attack from the Ghouls...” Brandon explained and shook his head as the stark image of long razor sharp teeth in his face and the strong scent of fecal matter rose from Brandon’s memories. After a moment he continued. “When you realized we were too far from the Mansion, you quickly decided that our only chance to survive was to jump from the waterfall over the Grand Lake.” Brandon explained

Ezekiels eyes flashed in confusion. “I did?” he asked. It was obviously frustrating for the Guardian to be able to remember so little from the event because his forehead creased and he put a hand to his temple as if he could force the scattered memories to resurface in perfect clarity and order.

“Yes you did.” Brandon supplement to his words turning his eyes away from Ezekiels painful confusion so he could focus.

“Anyway we ran towards the cliffside, and the Ghouls followed us.” He said. “After we jumped over into the water, we went down the rapids, and finally crashed into the basin at the bottom of the cliff.” Brandon softly summed up the events. “We then swam to the shore of the lake...and for a moment it seemed that the Ghouls had perished from the fall....but at the last moment we were both blindsided.” Brandon closed his eyes as he saw himself falling into the water....and feeling the claws that had been meant for him, slicing into Ezekiels body.

With a swallow Brandon opened his eyes and continued. “You....you pushed me aside from the attack and got poisoned. We drowned the Ghoul in the water....but moments after it was dead...you....you started to die.” To his horror Brandon started to choke on the sharp emotions that still came upon him as he thought of those few pained and pain filled minutes where he believed Ezekiel was lost.

But Brandon was also assaulted by those terror filled moments in his memory when the Flame had seemed....connected to both Brandon and Ezekiel. When the energy had swelled beyond understanding and so had the pain...and pleasure. It was all so overwhelming even just in his memory. He didn’t know how to express it. Brandon wanted to continue, but his throat worked on sandpaper

Ezekiel seemed to instinctively understand his in ability to continue and softly he spoke instead. “I have images of the Ghouls. I even remember feeling the cold water on my body. Then I have a vague sense of pain. I remember you putting a blood covered wrist against my lips....but it’s all so vague” Ezekiel suddenly let out a small smile as he looked up and caught Brandon’s eyes. “So I was hit with the poison and you...gave me your power? You fed me your blood to save me?”

Once more hoping to express that his actions hadn’t been heroic or kind Brandon shook his head. “I simply hoped that if you drunk my blood, the power in it would help you, so you could survive.” The explanation was terribly missing in substance....or elaboration. It didn’t explain much....or even tell Ezekiel what the power Brandon held was or what it did do.

....But Ezekiel didn’t pressure him or get frustrated or angry with him for his lack luster responses. As much as Brandon was struggling to revel these things. Ezekiel seemed to be struggling to remember them.

With a small glint of recognition in his eyes Ezekiel looked down, and put a hand to his throat. A pained look fettered across his face as if he were parched, and with a heavy swallow he softly murmured. “The blood. I keep tasting it. In my dreams....or when I’m around you I feel it running down my throat.....it burns.” Ezekiels gaze snapped back up, his blue gaze that had been mortal, was now glowing with the blue suspicion of a beast. “What is it? What’s in your blood?” he asked, the cat-like slits in his gaze demanding the truth.

“I...I don’t...” Brandon took a small breath. “I don’t know.” The simple lie was dancing through Brandon’s teeth before he could stop it. Brandon was surprised it had even fallen out....but....was he ready to even reveal the origin of his powers to Ezekiel? Was he ready to tell this man....about all of the sick and horrible urges and desires that the Flame created inside of him?

No.

Brandon also wouldn’t even know where to begin. All Ezekiel wanted to know about was the blood. And the power that he witnessed in the gym. Brandon had told him enough. He didn’t want Ezekiel know any more....to see any deeper. He knew the Guardian would not only despise what he saw there....but that he would have no choice...but to want him dead.

All while he thought these things Brandon kept his face smooth, his eyes empty, and he started straight ahead, because Ezekiel was staring over at him. Analyzing his words, all of a sudden Ezekiel gathered himself up and stood up from the cot, he stepped up to Brandon’s side, leaned down and placed his hand against Brandon’s chin, making him look up.

“You truly don’t know? Can I believe that?” There was frank light in Ezekiels eyes as he spoke. He had a right to be mistrustful after all of the lies. Brandon was choked by guilt, but he couldn’t bring himself to offer any words and before he could think of what to say Ezekiel squinted and shrugged his shoulders. “I would be a fool to trust anything you told me.” He said, shook his head....then smiled and finished. “But for once I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt.”

A sharp thorn of more guilt hitting him made Brandon release a shiver that was impossible to hide from Ezekiel since he was touching him.

A beat of silence followed his words, then Ezekiel released a small hiss, his fingers tightened on Brandon’s chin slightly, and his gaze became direct and demanding.

“Brandon please.....Are you hiding something else from me? Something more?”

At his question and beneath the guilt that was trying to choke him the words nearly leapt unbidden from Brandon’s heart.

The Ghouls......They are hunting me for THEM. The ghouls are tracking me down for THEM. And.....those men want me to return to hell

Perhaps Ezekiel had already discovered that the Ghouls were chasing him....but Ezekiel didn’t know that they had been sent after him, or that they had been chasing him....for nearly three years. Or that Brandon was responsible for...countless tragedies.

I’ve done terrible things. I’ve done monstrous, disgusting...terrible things!

“No.” Brandon choked, cleared his throat and sighed. Ignoring the inner words of his conscious. “I’m not hiding anything else. I’ve told you everything.”

“No you haven’t.” Ezekiel hissed suddenly making Brandon jerk up and looked at him. Releasing a cynical chuckle Ezekiel shook his head.

“You’re still lying to me I bet...” He sighed and before Brandon could deny it, Ezekiel had placed a small kiss to his lips. It was sweet and soft. A kiss devoid of any fire or lust.

“But for now this is enough....” Ezekiel said pulling back and softly looking him in the eyes. “Thank you for telling me about your power at least.”

It was aggravating that the Guardian couldn’t be fooled and that he still thought Brandon was lying, but his intuitive nature was part of what Brandon found to be so charming, so rather than argue with him Brandon let the moment stand.

(Especially since he was still mostly lying through his teeth to the man.)

“Alright then....” Brandon murmured quietly and looked away from him. “So....what happens between us now?”