The black red glow barely lights the skin it radiates from, but it puts a distance between us that time and space could not measure.

I stare at it. I can't force my gaze away, though I know I should. All I can see is too white skin and that ugly mark, branded into skin yet radiating a malicious light that I never want to look upon again.

"Satisfied, Lupin?"

I don't look up at his voice. I just continue to stare at the skull, and fancy that the hollow pits of eyes are watching me, searing patterns into my mind that I don't want to read.

"No."

I let go of his sleeve, and the black cloth falls back over the skin, like a velvet drape cutting out sunlight. Only this cloth will keep the darkness in. I feel like I can breathe again, and that the candlelight just grew stronger.

"You're a bastard, Lupin. Get out."

I stare for a few more moments, moving up his arms and shoulder, to a pale throat, and I can see his jugular pulsing, faster than normal, though maybe this speed is normal after seeing that thing. I know my heart feels like it's beating faster.

I look at his eyes, as fathomless and dark as the skull's. Rather than glowing, his eyes eat the light, reflecting back only a fraction of what they take. Maybe, his eyes keep trying to draw the light into him, to burn off the black red glow with the warmth of candle light and meagre amounts of sunshine.

I don't remember the last time I saw him in sunlight. Maybe I never have.

I stare at his eyes, and I'm not sure why I'm here, or why I did it. Him, weakened by his last meeting, slowed by potions and sleepless nights, he was no match for me, not now. Just a grab, catch one cold hand and pull up the dark cloth and now it's another thing that stands between us, and I never meant it to be.

I don't want him to think that I hate him as much as I hate that black red glow.

My fingers slide under his sleeve, and I can almost feel it as my skin touches the mark, like a tingle in my hand, telling me to flee. I hear him gasp, and his eyes go wide as I draw my hand down, along his wrist and over the skull, trying to close sightless sockets.

I leave.