"This sucks... We've been walking for hours. When will this end, Hex?"

"When we get there. You lose more energy when you talk while walking," Hex groaned, marching on.

"I don't care. I'll talk if I want to talk. It gets my mind off the walking."

We had been walking in silence for a few hours, so I was bored and tired. I wasn't used to walking up hilly areas, as I always paced around my room if I wanted to walk. The sun was still up, though it'd be going down soon.

"I'm sick of walking in quiet. Let's talk. We could know more about each other."

"We told each other our biggest secrets. Do we have much more to talk about?" Hex questioned, looking exhausted.

"Sure we do. There are basic things. What's your favorite color?"

Hex sighed, giving in to the conversation.

"Blue, as it's always been."

"Your taste didn't change? Anyway, you probably know my favorite," I said, as I kept it since I was little, similar to his liking of blue.

"Red. You enjoyed looking at ladybugs when we were little, so it became your favorite. It's probably your favorite now because of your blood obsession..."

"That's not true... I still like ladybugs... I have memories of my younger days. Fond memories," I told, speaking softly. It felt bad for him to think that of me. Hex regretted his comment, as it greatly upset me.

"I'm sorry. I'm disappointed with you, though I shouldn't be. Your image is warped in my mind, and I see you how everyone else does. I know you're a good person, but you don't act it anymore. You strike fear in everyone, and I'm included."

I sighed, accepting what Hex said. I know everyone is scared of me, though I'm not proud of the fact. I thought Hex thought a bit better than everyone else...

"I don't want you to fear me. Can you equate the images of the old me with the new one? I'm not content with how I am, but I'm like this. Maybe I'll be bettered by this realm, as I've needed time out of my room."

"I don't want to fear you, but it's hard not to. You're ridiculously powerful. Possibly more so than Father. Along with your strength, your anger issues make you terrifying. No one wants to wrong you, as it could mean their life," Hex explained, glancing at me to see how I'd react.

"My power will always scare those around me..."

"Not true. You have a few kinks about you, but if they're smoothed out, you shouldn't be feared. I'll help you out. I'm sure you'll be a good king when all is said and done. Let's focus on your eating for now. We'll slowly go down your list of sins, correcting them."

"Do we have to correct lust? I kind of like it. Is it a bad thing?" I questioned, considering if I'd even be able to quench my urges now that I've become freed from my room.

"Yeah... We can skip that. If you have lust, that's your personal life. Let's focus on gluttony."

"I know I can be a dick, but please bear with me. My mental state is in shambles," I commented, hoping he'd stay with me to keep me in check.

"Don't worry. I'll deal with you. If you're willing to change, then I'd be the dick for leaving you. Besides, I wouldn't do that, even if you turn into a bigger jerk later on. Unlike you, I'm a good brother."

Hex held his hands over his mouth, realizing what he'd said. He turned to me while we walked, worry on his face. I felt depression cover me.

He doesn't think I'm a good brother...

"You don't think I'm a good brother?"

"That came out wrong," Hex muttered, his mind lost in thought.

"I'm sorry that you feel that way... I know I don't make the best decisions, but I try to be decent to you... I didn't think I was a bad brother to you, just not perfect..."

"I didn't mean it like that... Compared to everyone else, you've been tame with me."

"I'm... not... good," I mumbled, the words firing off inside my head at rapid speeds. I stopped walking, standing perfectly still. Hex stared at me, his face filled with guilt and panic.

"Are you okay? What are you thinking?"

"Not... good... I'm not... good. I'm... worthless..."

"I didn't say that you're worthless! I didn't mean it... Can we forget I said that?" Hex spoke swiftly, seeing my sorrow raise with each second.

"I'm not good. I suck. I'm an asshole. A bad brother..."

"Stop it! Stop saying that stuff... Where did your confidence go?"

"It's... true... I don't have a purpose... I'm... not... good. I'm not even bad... I'm... a monster... An enraged monster that terrifies everyone... I... regret... my life," I stuttered, my body perfectly still and my eyes staring off into the dirt below my feet.

"You're not a monster! Don't say that! Silence! I command you!"

Tears were falling from Hex's face, sobs made. My mumbling ceased, but I broke out of his spell in seconds, taking up some of my energy. We were standing near each other, both depressed. I felt my anger bubble up until it burst. My mind was wrapped in fury, a scowl forming on my face.

"You cast a spell on me... You cast a freaking shitty spell on me! Who do you think I am?! Did you think I couldn't break free from a crappy spell like the silencer?!"

"I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean it," Hex whimpered. He was frozen, standing in place.

I ran up to him, about to slap him. He looked away, trying to block his face with his arms. I stopped in my tracks while looking at Hex's fear-stricken and crying face, then paced to a large tree. I started continuously smacking my head into the bark, sap covering my face. I was pissed off at myself, as I terrified Hex again. I teared up, clenching my teeth together. I hit my face harder against the tree, getting covered in scratches, though they healed instantaneously.

"Stop it! What are you doing, Sanneroal?!"

"Just let me do this! Maybe I'll get a concussion... I'm worthless... I should tear out my brain and get over with it," I murmured softly, my words barely leaving after my shout. I banged my head harder, the tree denting where I hit. I felt blood drip down my face, but the wounds healed to be opened again.

"I'll HATE you if you kill yourself! I'll visit your grave to spit on it daily! Stop freaking harming yourself!"

"I'm... not... good... I'll even be hated at death... I should leave... I could drink from as many humans as I want, then die when a vampire hunter shows up... I could die with blood in my mouth..."

"You love blood that much?! You want to die with it?!" Hex yelled, sorrow and aggravation in his voice.

"What if I do?! What will you do about it?! It's the only thing I feel comfortable with... No one ever came to see how I was!"

Hex came up from behind me, punching my back. He was enraged, causing him to hit me in his fury. I heard his knuckles crack. My rib broke, but it healed back up.

"Stop it! You shouldn't have stayed in your room, and I shouldn't have let you be! We both messed up!" Hex shouted, resting his head on my back and crying. I pushed him back, dislocating his shoulder. He fell on the ground, holding his arm. He was still crying. I frowned, feeling remorse for hurting him. Tears fell down my cheeks, as I was in great inner pain.

"I-I didn't mean to do that... I should go... Don't follow me... You can find a way back to our realm by yourself..."

"What?! Don't leave! I'm following you!" Hex yelled, choked up by his tears.

"I said not to follow me! Listen to what I say, Hixrinas! I'm not a good brother, so you'll be fine without me! Kill the rest of our brothers when you get back, and you'll be the next king! I don't care about it anymore..."

"Don't give me that crap! You've always been thrilled about being the first prince! I'm not becoming king!"

"Bye. I'm going. I'll miss you, Hex."

I started walking away, but Hex grabbed tightly onto my ankle. I tried to shake him off, but his grip was firm.

"Don't...leave... You've already left once! Don't leave!" Hex begged, trying to pull me to him. I lightly kicked his wrist, shattering the bones. Hex would've held it, but his other arm was down too. I felt extreme guilt, as I didn't want to inflict pain on him.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to injure you... Don't look for me."

I turned away, running through the trees. I heard Hex calling for me, but his voice slowly vanished. I didn't know where I was going, nor did I care. I felt like I had an eel moving within my stomach. My head seemed as if termites called it home.

The sun had set when I finally made it to a town. On the walk there, I stopped caring about everything. My mind was completely numb. I ended my thoughts of Hex, only caring about blood and myself. My back was slumped, and my were eyes dulled.

I went to an inn, deciding to sleep for the night. I was tired, physically and emotionally. The bed was comforting, though it didn't fully comfort me. I had nightmares that night, though I can't remember what they were about.