I retreated from the parlour and stalked down the thick red carpeted hallway. The dark glow of the overheard lamps swinging in mock serenity.

Her cool words stung like a whip across my back, tearing at a ruddy scar which I had hoped had healed in my gilded isolation.

Rounding a dark corner, I crept down a familiar passage way. A dark green tapestry lay against the wall paper, hiding any sign of my place of refugee. I ran my gloved fingers along the lush texture of the embroidered velvet like rich green moss clung to an old tree.

I flickered a look over my shoulder, my hands sweaty under my gloves. It was a warm clamy feeling like hot rain on a December Day. I tried to tear away the claw which unwelcome claw which twisted my gut but it had struck my heart.

I swallowed hard, the dark feeling of bubbling inside my like an overflowing cease pit. I tried to pull the dark curtain to my refuge aside but the heavy fabric seemed to have melted and reformed to form a solid wall of cold metal.

"Not now" I spat, the noise wet and echoing in my ears like a leaky tap.

I jumped as a soft muzzle poked the outside of my right thigh. Instinctively I froze, the warm gentle fur creasing but the wet feeling slowly faded. I let one of my hands lossen from its iron grip on the curtain, crushing the luxurious material.

"Thank you Boy" I whispered as the slowly burning sensation slowly withered and I was able to rasp out the words as I methodically stroked his well brushed coat.

One, Two, Three. The numbers small in my head. Counting each stroke, each contact with reality. Pilot let out a soft whimper and licked the tips off my fingers, the ghostly sensation of heat left a soft burn even through the fabric.

I pushed off the wall and my eyes flickered down the long corridor. I let out a dark sigh, it was absurd. The Dark Prince, The World's Greatest Inventor, skulking in a dark corridor with his pup like a frightened street urchin.

Finding the latch I slipped the curtain aside and opened the small door. I watched as Pilot's amber eyes glinted happily as he trotted up the narrow set of wooden stairs. They creaked loudly as I trudged up after him.

The long ride from London to Northumberland became more and more acute as I ascended the stairs. The backs of my thighs burned and my pace slowed to a crawl as I followed the sound of Pilot's whines from the top.

I let out of a sigh of a relief as I tumbled into my work shop. I stripped off the heavy midnight woollen over coat even though a chill hung in the air. The cold draft felt refreshing as it chilled my skin.

I settled myself in my dark leather arm chair, the deep gashes in the fabric didn't bother me. I rested my heavy head and stared up at the ceiling which was dotted with intricate carvings which had taken my months to construct. I grimaced  as I remembered the hot summer months and gruelling hours of work that took to build those alcoves but I did not regret it now.

Pilot settled himself on the thick goatskin rug on the floor. His massive size curled up into a ball so that he might disappear into the carpet, his large head rested on my foot.

I ran a tentative finger of the cold alabaster, moulded to the left side of my face with a gloved hand. The screams of gun fire and the burn of acid pulled at my senses but I shut them down.

You have had enough of me today I growled to the dark coiling void which whipped and withered as I shoved it back into the iron clad box in the deep pits of my mind.

But the burning sensation did not dull even though the screaming stopped. I pulled the mask from my face, running my hand over the thick scars.

You are exhausted maybe even delirious I snapped to myself but the pain only lessened and did not vanish. I pushed my elbows onto my knees and I rocked back and forth on my heels, the metal blocks of my boots making a clinking against the mahogany floor.

Pilot chirped and a small smile graced my features. "At least you won't abandon me Pilot" I said, the words heavy on my tongue like an iron bar.