Alchemised

by SenLinYu

He stepped over Helena’s body and walked out of the room without a backwards glance.

When Helena opened her eyes, she was lying on the floor in her room, head throbbing. Something niggled in the corner of her mind, dangling just past the edge of recollection. She tried to focus, but sharp red pain splintered her mind. Whatever it was vanished like water through sand.

“I thought you liked us dead.” Her head hurt so much, she wanted to vomit. He gave a barking laugh. “Consider yourself the sole exception to that rule.

Which meant that she had no memory of nearly nineteen months of the war. It blurred out of focus when she tried to think back, to remember anything more than the hospital shifts.

slender, dark metal ring on his right hand.

As he was regaining consciousness, she took his nearest hand, careful not to shift his shoulder as she started massaging the palm and worked slowly to his fingertips, knuckle by knuckle, her resonance seeking out every bit of tension and knotted muscles. Her father used

“Remind Crowther that if the Eternal Flame wants my continued assistance, they will keep you alive.”

“You are not expendable. You don’t get to push everyone away so that they’ll feel comfortable using you and letting you die.”

The reason I’m here—the reason I’m doing any of this—is to keep you alive. To keep you safe. That was the deal.” He searched her face. “They didn’t tell you.”

recognised the expression that slowly filled his eyes as he stared at the tiny person tenaciously clinging to him: possessive adoration.

If he’s a monster, then I’m his creator.”