"I could rip it right out of your head if I wanted," he remarked. He'd heard the shout of projected, angry thought, but hadn't pushed for any more, and after a moment he shook his head and stepped back, squirreling it all away, the trapped feeling of a man who was playing nice because it was expected, but nobody really understood. "But that's not really what I'm here for. Just like I wasn't here for her."

He wanted to keep his nose, thank you very much.

"I know it hurts. Nobody can see the real you because if they did they'd be horrified. You have to be someone that you're not just to blend in, when in fact you're so much more special. But nobody understands, and you keep playing housepet when all you want to do is rake your claws through them and see how they bleed."

Now that he hung back, there really wasn't much for it, and he raised his hand up higher, pointing his finger at Sam's temple.

"I'm only here to take your ability. You can keep the rest."

And he began to cut.