Soren swore to look after the master, to follow him everywhere he went, not to let him injure himself or anyone else, not to make him feel unwanted, the master who is both frail and fatal at the same time, and he was well aware of what Zale is capable of ruining if he wasn't around.
"Maybe above t-thirteen," Zale shuttered, he guessed in his head since he couldn't remember how many he killed.
Soren nods, "How deep did you go?"
Zale trembled as he felt overwhelmed by the interrogation. He seemed completely opposite of how he actually is. Now he looked like a wet puppy who was bullied all day by the street kids.
His fragile features and trembling lower lips threw Soren in a pit of confusion but he didn't let it get to his head and stayed as composed as he could be.
"Didn't c-crossed the entire forest" Zale told him the truth. Soren did not show any emotion so Zale thought probably he didn't believe him. "I swear, I-I'm not lying this t-time."
Soren wanted to Squeeze him into a hug and told him that everything will be okay. But he knows that nothing like this is going to happen.
"I believe you, master Zale," Soren said disappointingly. He didn't fake his emotion like he always does to not let his master feel guilty or pressured. "I'm not like you."
"S-Soren," Zale took a step ahead and Soren took a step back, maintaining the painful distance between them.
The look of betrayal in Soren's eyes scattered Zale's heart into pieces, he felt a harsh sting in his chest.
"I don't break promises," Soren said harshly, ignoring the tears welling up in Zale's eyes and the heavy eye bags under his eyes from crying so much and stress. "I don't play with other people's feelings."
Zales' eyes widened in surprise, as if his lies had been exposed.
Soren ignored Zale's devastated expressions and felt another wave of rage approaching.
"You betrayed our trust. You went back on your words," Soren exclaimed with a hurt expression and visible rage on his face.
Oh, he meant that, Zale mentally sighed in relief in his head.
He sniffled more loudly and batted his eyelashes to let out more tears.
"S-Soren, I swear I didn't mean to. I-I couldn't control it, I woke up with a nasty nightmare. I was resting as you told me but it hurt so much. You weren't here either." He wailed like a child, he sobbed like he was in excruciating pain.
Soren's features softened slightly as he watched crying and being so delicate; it pained his heart every time he saw Zale crying. Zale examined his expression carefully. "I told you never leave me alone but, you do this every time and every time something like this happens. I swear I-I don't want to be like this, I don't want to kill anyone innocent."
His every word was like a fierce stab to Soren's anger, and to his conscience.
"Zale," He approached him, not caring about the blood, he took his unharmed cheek in his palm. "I apologise for leaving you, but you can't stay like this forever. We can't keep going like this forever. I can't stay with you forever, and neither can my scent, which is why you should let Avalon treat you."
Zale's tear-filled eyes became menacingly dark. Because this is the last thing he wants to hear. He wanted to hear the same promises that Soren had made to him as a child. Which were meant to be kept forever. He pushed Soren's hand roughly.
"You are a hypocrite. You told me that we will always be together, that you will never leave my side" Zale's face was clouded by bitterness. "It's not fair. It's not fair to me. Because you're trying something that's not possible. You always wanted to change me but you never once think about my feelings. You want to change me when you never tried to understand me, you never tried to figure out what's wrong with me, you just blindly believed what others told you about me."
Soren was too stunned to speak. He would have believed it if it had been someone else, but it was Zale, with whom he grew up. He is the reason Zale has not died at the hands of his father. He was the only person who cared for him. He taught him the meaning of a hug, that your arms could be used to embrace someone, and that an embrace could be comforting and reassuring. He couldn't figure out where he went wrong.
"I never understand you? I blindly believed what others told me? No, master Zale, I didn't." Soren looked at him dumbfoundedly, his heart filled with conflicts. "I believe what I saw with my own eyes, what I'm seeing right now."
Zale felt like a dick, when a tear rolled down Soren's pale cheek. But if hurting could bring Soren close to him, maybe it's worth the pain.
He gripped Soren's jaw and yanked his face close to him. Soren winced as he tightened his grip on him.
"However, you know what? The more negative things you hear about me, the worse I'll become." Zale spat with venom, making Soren feel even smaller and helpless. More tears streamed down his cheeks, and the corners of his eyes turned red, but he couldn't feel the pain. Zale's words were more painful.
What did Shilister instruct you to try and alter in me this time? Did you effectively deliver the report you had been preparing behind my back about me?" Zale grunts ferociously as he grits his teeth, wanting to hurt someone or something once more.
Soren's eyes widened in surprise. He couldn't believe Zale knew everything, so he was just acting absurd and playing dumb all this time.
"Did you get your usual red bottle? You put drugs in the juice you just made me drink, didn't you?" Zale was also hurt. He wasn't the only one who hid things; he just pretended to be unaware because he'd gladly accept anything if Soren was the one giving it to him.
Soren appeared to be on the verge of a nervous breakdown. He assumed Zale knew nothing and was not intelligent enough to comprehend anything, but he was wrong because Zale was beyond his imagination.
When Zale couldn't take it any longer, he let go. His heart sank, but he quickly swallowed any arising guilt. He turned around with his back to Soren.
"You think so small of me when you're the whole world to me." Zale let out, deeply inhaling as though he was exhausted from everything. "You just think of me as your fucking job!"
Soren's legs grew weaker, and the ground beneath him began to feel unstable. He felt as though his entire life's labour had been in vain after hearing Zale's words, which felt like someone had placed a 500-pound weight on his shoulders and he couldn't bear it.
He felt that he should have worked harder, been more watchful of Zale, he should have made an effort to understand him better, and he should have spent more time—if it was even possible—curing Zale than he has already.
"Then how can I help you? Tell me, I'm ready to go to any extent to help you. What can I do to make you stop doing this?"
Zale smirked as he heard Soren begging. A vicious grin spreads across his face. It was time for his next action, which was the most exciting part for him.
He spun around to face Soren with a tragic expression which cut Soren deeply.
"I know a way that you can help me." Zale took a step forward. He softly brushed his fingers against Soren's hand and intertwined their fingers, looking deeply into his eyes. "Because I know only you can help me. I don't need no one, it has to be just you and me."
Soren wasn't in the right frame of mind at the time; he was too heavily worn out to be able to understand anything, even though his senses were sharp. He squeezes Zale's hand back while nodding desperately and frantically.
"Then tell me, I will do anything you say! I just want you to be alright."
Zale fist bumped in his head, his face lit up. He let out a small smile.
"Anything?" He asked to confirm it.
Soren nods without letting him complete his words, making the snobbish wolf more happy.
Zale was about to propose his deal when they heard a knock on the door. When they turned their faces to look, more like Zale turned because Soren was in a daze of disarray. He found the vampire standing there crossing his arms with a playful smile like he doesn't care about anything in the world.
"Soren, can I have a word with you?" Avalon asked, and Zale's eyes drilled holes in his face. Avalon raised a brow but didn't faze from his glare.
Zale tugged Soren's hands who was lost in his own thoughts, and probably didn't even hear what Avalon said.
"My face hurts." Zale's face changed instantly and plastered a hurtful expression, pitiful big eyes looking back at Soren.
As soon as Soren heard Zale was in pain, he hastily ignored his surroundings and ignored the world around him.
Soren had never felt more defenceless and vulnerable. It was the same fear when he lost his parents. The same apprehension of losing someone dear to you.
"Y-Yeah, first aid box. Wait, let me get it for you." Soren exclaimed and Zale nodded, smiling affectionately at him. Soren let go of his hands and ran towards the drawers. "It must be here! I put it here!" He rambled to himself and Zale looked proudly at him.
All while Avalon watches the drama from the door.