Even though he feels as if he doesn't have any other option, for a moment Marcus still considers backing away, leaving her to her relative safety. She's a friend of Matthias's, someone he trusts, and Marcus should be able to extend that trust in turn, knowing Matthias will only ever have his best interests at heart, but he's frightened.

It's been a long time since he's been scared like this. A demon is one thing, but Marcus has never liked to dwell on the power in his hands, not even when it was God working through them rather than the ability to create ice and snow. It simply is, a thing he's always been able to do, the control with God. Now, though, he's not sure where the control might be.

"Thank you for meeting with me," he says, offering her a thin smile instead of abandoning the situation, the offer of help he so clearly needs. "Matthias said... well, not a lot. I've mostly been keeping to myself. Been a bit worried about what I might do without meaning to."