Nox had been pacing in her room for the past ten minutes. Sooner or later she'd have to deal with Lokar. After all he was training her. And that was something she was dreading since last night. Confused was an understatement to all of the emotions going on inside. Before Nox had gone numb to everything; she had forced herself not feel any emotion. Afraid to have any sort of emotion she shut down. That was until Lokar found her that night in New York. Numbing the pain only made having all these thoughts and emotions colliding together at once much worse when she finally felt it. Her mind kept wandering back to the night before. Lokar had kissed her then choked her like it was her fault. "How can he be so bipolar about everything?" she muttered to herself. After another five minutes of pacing she felt something wet and warm on her right hand and a pain in her left arm. Just noticing what she had been doing the entire time she lets out a hollow laugh. For the entire 15 minutes she had scratched her healing self harm cuts raw. Once she felt the sting from the air Nox made her way to the bathroom. Making her way to the medicine cabinet she sighed. As she cleaned her wounds she heard a voice she knew all too well.

Aw, little Kenny Boo having a tough time again?! It cackled wildly.

Exhaling deeply Nox gave another hollow laugh, "I was wondering when we'd talk again…"

You're so pathetic… it scoffed, hurting yourself just because you're upset… How pathetic…

Nox remained silent as she wrapped her arm in gauze.

You are a weak, pathetic, loser. Why else would anyone want to cut them open like that? You can't even get out of bed some days! It howled with cynicism. Only someone who is as weak as you would want to do that!

Finally done with wrapping her arm she then proceeded to clean up any blood that remained in the sink or anywhere else.

Why won't you talk to me? You know I'm right. If someone hurts you don't beat yourself up about it! It's making a fool of yourself! You're lucky to have me here you pathetic runt! You're so weak!

"If you think I'm weak and unfit for you, why don't you just leave me alone?"

If I could I would. Unfortunately I'm stuck here with you. So I might as well make sure my host body takes care of its self. But it seems you're too useless to even do that. You spend your effort standing up for others when you can't even stand up for yourself! You are so pathetic.

"You can stop calling me pathetic, weak, and a loser. I know it's true…"

Of course you know it's true! Why else would you have let Atoch slap you? Why else would you put up with the Redakai's abuse as well? Speaking of abuse… How are things going with Lokar?

Nox went pale, well paler than what she already was. That was something Nox would rather not talk about.

You don't want to talk about Lokar, Huh? That's okay; I see all of your thoughts. I know you enjoyed it. So you're not going to talk to me anymore? Fine. Goodbye.

With that the demon Krazor left Nox's thoughts. Now a new thought came up, if she didn't leave she'd be late for training. Angering Lokar anymore would only make things worse. Checking her new bandages to make sure they were on tightly and would hold out she hurried out of the room.

"You are getting sloppy," Lokar growled as he redirected Nox's attack and uses it against her. He scowled as he watched her stand up. Normally he would have sneered at her obvious pain but today he was completely cold to Nox.

"I'm -" before she could say "trying" Lokar sent another powerful blast at her. Once again she was on the ground.

Getting back on her feet Nox sent a kairu blast back at Lokar angrily. Unfortunately he predicted her move and was able to use Nox's own attack against her once more. "Try harder," he jeered.

"I…" she panted, "I can't." Putting all of her strength and energy into standing up, she breathes, "We've been at it for-" Hitting the floor once more she let out a yelp of pain. She hadn't seen Lokar's attack coming. Blurry black dots clouded her vision for a few seconds. Finally when she was able to see again, Nox found Lokar standing over her, scowling.

"If you had been battling the Redakai you'd be fighting for your life. They would have killed you without a moment's hesitation or remorse."

"You don't think I realize that?" she moaned with pain.

"Get up," he exhaled sharply. Lokar's expression told Nox that he was seconds away from hitting her. Not wanting to be hit again, she had enough of that today, she obeyed reluctantly. When she finally stood and met Lokar's look of death still on her, staring her in the eyes. "You need to learn to control your emotions," he said staring down his nose at the teenage girl.

Images of what happened the previous night flashed through Nox's head. It was more than enough to push Nox over the edge. She had enough of Lokar's passive aggressive abuse. "You want me to control my emotions?! I'm not the one who shoves someone against a wall kissing them one minute, then chokes them the next!" Frustration was more than what Nox felt. And had she not been feeling so many emotions at once she would've instantly regretted saying that because once again Lokar looked like he was going to snap. No, she wasn't going to give in.

Lokar stared at Nox. He told her not to bring that up. "We agreed that never happened."

Nox let out a hollow laugh, "That doesn't change the fact that it did happen."

Closing the space between them, Lokar scowled to hide any other emotion but anger. "We are done with today's lesson. Get out of my sight," he barked taking a step backwards.

"No," she wasn't giving up.

"No?" He scoffed, "What do you mean by 'no?'"

"I mean no!" Nox shook her head making her messy, snow white hair moving with the motion. "You're telling me to control my emotions. You're a complete hypocrite! Acting like you care about me one moment, even though I know you don't; then strangling me the next. Who does that?"

"Nox," his lip twitched angrily.

"No, you're acting like what happened last night was my fault!" hurt filled sorrow filled her voice. "I can handle the beatings; I've dealt with it my entire life. I've gotten used to it," she spoke with a humorless laugh. Anyone would be creped out by such a hollow and lifeless laugh. "But the second you start giving me that passive aggressive emotional abuse… I draw the line there."

Lokar raised an eye brow. He wasn't sure where Nox was going with this but he intended to find out. "Just what are you saying, Nox?

"If you treat me like this…" She paused to take a breath and gathered up the courage to say the last part with some confidence, "I'll leave."

Lokar narrowed his eyes. Even though he often threatened her he would send her back to the Redakai, or back on the streets he couldn't let his most powerful creation leave. As much as she infuriated him to no end he wouldn't let her walk out on him. Especially not like this. No, she was his creation and Nox belonged to him. Noticing Nox had taken a few steps back as if she needed to make a run for it. He wasn't going to let that happen. Swiftly grabbing her arm he fiercely laughs, "What makes you think I'll let you leave that easily?"

Nox bit her lip. She wasn't going to get out of this mess that easily.