He closed his eyes when Elijah wrapped his arm around him, cherishing the feeling of comfort, while restraining himself from doing what he always did. Simon nodded slowly. Things weren't easy now. But half of that was his own fault. He struggled with guilt and disgust, but it was his own actions that brought it on. Home was hell, but it was Simon who provoked, repeatedly, and even when father tried to talk to him, or offered mercy and a fresh start, Simon would walk away. Rose was losing patience with him, and it was because he kept lying. And so on. And in a sense, it wasn't even a stage. He had always been wicked. It had just become worse over time. Sometimes even Simon himself feared where it might end. "I want to..." He sat up more straight. "I'm going to be better."