He felt her muscles stiffen and suddenly he wasn't so sure that he'd be able to woo her back towards him. Armas closed his eyes, frowning hard as he drew in a sharp breath, but she spoke before he could. When he felt her muscles uncoil and she began to relax, he smiled and laid her head against the back of her head. "I see no problem with any of that. Fighting is normal... besides, I like it best when you fight with me. It reminds me of how strong you are. You aren't like any other I've seen. You're strong, like a burning flame in the dark."<br/><br/>He drew in another breath, relaxing. He could see her, the tiny frame of her body glowing so brightly and so sure in the dark of the night. No trees or moonlight penetrated the field of his vision, but he watched her as if he himself was that swirling darkness trailing after her. He could recall the feeling of his heart elating at the sound of her tender voice and suddenly he was swooning over the thought of kissing her full lips.<br/><br/>Armas could hear Anna continue to speak and as he imagined himself circling around to see that face he longed to meet with. He was greeted with<span style="font-style: italic">her</span>face. The memory recoiled like a blackened parchment burning over a candle fire. In return, Armas shrunk back away from her. He hadn't realized how he had crossed their arms over her chest and held her so closely to him as if he were cherishing her but he was there now.<br/><br/>Memories of the past drawing up on him dug into his conscious and the crying and pawing of long thin fingers and kissing over lips over his solemn face brought him back to reality. It was as if he was watching them all die again, watching each woman he held crystallize in his hand then at the tiniest breath, break away into rivets of crystalline dust. His fingers felt cold and that rum induced warmth made him feel more sober despite the fact that he never drank human alcohol.<br/>His eyes were dark with melancholy and he looked more dead and hurt than ever before. "I don't know why you insist on drawing this out of me every time, Anna," he said. His voice hinting a new bitter note that had replaced the chipper notes that sang through even when he was frustrated with her all the times before. Suddenly he was pushing himself away, jumping up from the spot he had crouched her behind her at and he was standing on the porch, the shadows crossing the lines of his face. "I can give you everything you ever wanted, but those two things. I do not<span style="font-weight: bold">love</span>humans and freedom to leave me is out of the option. Why can't you just be happy the way you are?"