"Shut up."
"The compulsion proves it, Simon. Everything he's saying is true."
Simon turned on Viktor so fast that Charlie made a small sound of alarm. "I said shut up."
Viktor held his ground, studied him for a moment. "What happened at HQ? Did you take your pills, finally?"
"That has nothing to do with this."
"Doesn't it?" Viktor's gaze narrowed. "Then maybe you're simply terrified to think that some vampires might be decent people."
"I'm not terrified of anything."
"No?" Viktor gestured at Charlie. "Then why are you torturing him?"
"I'm not…" Simon stopped and looked at Charlie, who was still pressed against the wall, tears now sliding silently down his face. Waiting for whatever command came next because he had no choice.
Just like Simon had no choice when Reuben put him in that chair. When they pumped him full of chemicals that burned. When he was made to be grateful for having his teeth yanked out of his mouth because the pain would save him from turning into a monster.
But Charlie wasn't a monster.
Which meant...
No.
"Attack him." The words came out before Simon could stop them. He pointed at Viktor. "Show me what vampires do. Attack him."
Charlie's body jerked like someone had yanked invisible strings. His legs moved without his permission, taking one stumbling step toward Viktor.
"No," Charlie gasped, his hands coming up to grab his own arms, nails digging in hard enough to draw blood. "No, please, I don't want to."
But his body kept moving. Another step. His fangs descended.
Viktor didn't move. Didn't even blink as Charlie stumbled toward him, fighting his own body every step.
"It's okay, Charlie." Viktor's voice was steady, calm. "I know this isn't you."
Charlie made a wounded sound, his whole body at war with itself. His right leg stepped forward while his left tried to plant itself. His arms reached out even as his shoulders twisted back, trying to stop their own movement.
But he couldn't stop.
His body lurched forward faster now, hands extending toward Viktor's throat. Charlie turned his head away, eyes squeezed shut, a sob escaping his throat.
"I can't stop it," Charlie cried. "I'm trying but I can't. Viktor, run!"
"I'm not going anywhere," Viktor said simply.
Charlie's hands made contact with Viktor's shoulders, and that's when something extraordinary happened.
Instead of gripping, instead of attacking, Charlie's hands just... rested there. Shaking violently, yes. His fangs fully extended, yes. But even with Simon's command compelling him forward, Charlie's fingers wouldn't close.
He wouldn't cause harm.
"I can't," Charlie whispered, and it sounded like it was tearing him apart. "I can't hurt him. I can't hurt anyone. Please, Simon, please?—"
His legs gave out.
Charlie crumpled, but before he could hit the floor, Simon was there.
