Blood flowed into the stream, the blue hues awash with crimson.

Upstream a deathly still Nikolai was lying in a ditch, blood soaking the soil and encrusting his fur.

A shadow fell across him as one eye weakly opened before sliding back to see it was SIN-the demon prisoner of war from around six months back. SIN's lips peeled back to reveal bared fangs framed by a feral snarl that crackled with energy.

"Kill me if you want," Nikolai croaked out in a harsh rasp, "I was told to find a ditch to die in."

SIN transformed from his albino, tattooed human form, that was now well muscles thanks to months of intensive training, to his black and white werewolf form.

"He said he owed me that much respect, letting me die in peace."

SIN's snarl faded. He looked at Nikolai and where he once saw a monster now he simply saw someone who was in pain needed help just like he was-just like we all are on some level. And what would inflicting more pain do except cause more suffering?

Senseless cruelty and violence, he was realised, would be the undoing of the world. The world was heartless and needed a heart, so he decided to offer his to bring warmth and kindness.

And it was in this moment that he chose peace over war, love over hate, acceptance over rejection. He was going to break the cycle, he couldn't end the rebel and demon war-but he had the power to end his own war with Nikolai, Halone and Leiden.

And it was only now that he knew true, unencumbered freedom. He felt as light as a feather now that he had unburdened himself. Free from pain, heartbreak and suffering-because everything was going to be okay, he truly believed that.

"I'll find you some healing herbs," SIN said simply before quickly leaving. He knew if Nikolai could survive the night the healing herbs would have him back to full strength by the time the full moon rises.

Soon enough he returned to Nikolai, bundles of healing herbs held in his arms, before dropping to his knees as he started to apply them to his deep gashes, cuts so deep the yellowish bubbles of fat were easily visible, as well as the muscle.

"Why...," Nikolai struggled to lift himself, gritting his teeth in frustration as swear beaded his brow, and SIN gently lowered him back down into the bloodied ditch.

"Rest, stay still, it'll make the healing herbs work quicker," SIN said.

"Why spare me?" Nikolai asked in a fragile voice.

"I spent months training myself to be a killer-but seeing you lying them half dead I realised I don't have the heart for it. I'm a carer, not a killer," SIN explained, "I wouldn't do anything to hurt you."

"Just as an f-y-i killing does get easier and eventually you just stop caring...or at least you're supposed to. I could never stop caring when it came to kids and mothers," Nikolai said with a forlorn droop to his expression and words. "I've caused so much suffering I don't think I could ever make it right."

"I know just how you feel," SIN sighed heavily, "before I got with Beelze I was with another guy called Azazal. He was a peasant and I was a royal, also it was gay so it was a doubly forbidden love. When they found out they killed Azazal on the spot...he died because of me, I might not of physically killed him but I was the last nail in the coffin," he explained, blinking away tears that threatened to spill as he told his story.

"At least he's at peace now. My mum always used to tell me growing up that each death was a new angel in heaven looking out for me," Nikolai explained.

"That's a nice way of looking at things," SIN offered Nikolai a watery smile, sadness masquerading as something other than a broken heart.

"Hey Nikolai why don't we make a pact?" he asked.

"A pact?" Nikolai repeated with confusion.

"Yes, a pact. A pact to make sure we never let anyone suffer like how we have," SIN said.

"Sure," Nikolai nodded slightly, the movement making his wounds ache and sting, "sounds good."

They reached out their hands to one another before shaking lightly.

And just like that, the pact was made.

"No more pain," SIN said.

"No more pain," Nikolai repeated.

__________

So chapter thirty is officially done! Only ten more chapters to go now, I'm so excited to finish this story so I can get onto the sequel