"Zarek, is that you?"
He kissed her.
"That better be you."
He snorted at that.
With no time to waste, he raced over to Thanatos's snowmachine and ripped a hose from it. He led Astrid to his vehicle. "You have to get out of here, princess. My powers can't contain him for long."
"I can't see to drive this thing."
Zarek stared at her, memorizing her face. Memorizing the way she looked up under the moonlight that was spilling through the clouds.
She was beautiful, his star.
Unlike any in all the universe.
He heard Thanatos breaking free.
Then he did something he had never done before. It was a power Ash had shown him centuries before, but one he'd never had a use for.
Tonight he did.
He kissed her passionately.
Astrid felt the warmth of Zarek's lips. As his tongue danced with hers, her eyes started to burn.
She pulled back from him, hissing, only to realize that she could see everything around her.
Her heart stopped.
Zarek stood in front of her, his eyes the pale, pale blue hers were whenever she lost her vision. His lips were swollen and bruised, one of his eyes was black and blue.
Dried blood was crusted around his nose and ear. His clothes were also torn and bloodied.
He had been beaten to a pulp and had never uttered a word to her about it.
She choked as she saw the blood that was still pouring down his arm from where Thanatos had stabbed him.
He handed her his backpack, then fumbled with the snowmachine until he had it started.
"Go, Astrid. Fairbanks is straight that way." He pointed down a pathway through the woods. "Don't stop until you get there."
"What about you?"
"Don't worry about me."
"Zarek!" she snapped. "I won't leave you here to die."
He offered her a sad smile as he cupped her face in his hands. "It's okay, princess. I don't mind dying for you."
He kissed her lightly on the lips.
Thanatos burst through the cabin door.
"Get on the snowmachine, Zarek. Now!"
He shook his head. "It's better this way, Astrid. If I'm dead he won't have a reason to hurt you."