Alchemised

by SenLinYu

“The war is over. What is it you think you’re protecting in that brain of yours?”

She looked up at him. “You’re a monster.” He raised an eyebrow. “Noticed that, have you?”

“Why all this sudden interest in me?” he asked. She shrugged. “You don’t make sense.” He raised an eyebrow. “Oh, is that all? And here I was hoping you were plotting to seduce me.” She stared at him blankly. He gave a mocking smile. “Steal my heart with your wit and charms.”

“There are a few things scheduled to arrive tomorrow, to spare myself any additional inconvenience from all this. Please”—he placed overt emphasis on the word—“do not mistake it for a sign of affection.”

He nodded towards Helena just as Ferron stepped between them. Helena shrank towards Ferron without thinking, so close she could smell the scent of juniper on his clothes.

“And in the future, if you’re curious about something of mine, you may ask.

Ferron’s lips remained pressed against Aurelia’s, but as he kissed her, he raised his eyes, and his gaze locked onto Helena’s face.

“The world already knows she’s mine,” Ferron said, his words pointed, “but if you’d like, I can remind them. I wouldn’t want you to think I’m hiding anything, my dear.”

“You irritate my wife,” he said. “Seems I do,” she said blandly. “If you want to do something about it, you could kill me.”

Ferron laughed, his lips close enough to her neck that his breath ran down her spine. “And here I thought you’d use poison,” he said, his voice mocking.

“The Undying. You’re his source of power, and the Resistance—we figured that out, didn’t we? How to kill him. How to kill all of you.”

it. Things that seem too good to be true usually have a price you don’t know about until it’s too late.”

He tilted her face up towards his, and his expression grew horrified. He touched her cheek and held her face as he drew several deep breaths.

“How do I fix it?”

He placed his hand over hers, their fingers aligning, and she could dimly feel his resonance through her own fingertips before it cut off at her wrists. “Show me.”

If you ever go near her again, or speak to her, or so much as set foot in this wing again, I will kill you, and I will do it slowly, perhaps over the course of an evening or two. That isn’t a threat. It’s a promise. Now get out of my sight.”

nights. Except her. “Oh, Marino.” His thumb trailed along her neck, following the scar below her jaw. “If I’d known what pain you’d cause me, I never would have taken you.”

“But at this point I suppose I deserve to burn. I wonder if you’ll burn, too.”

“Kaine Ferron has offered to spy for the Resistance,”

“He wants you, Marino,” Crowther said. “Both now and after the war.”

As she kissed him, she let her fingertips brush the back of his neck, fingers sliding up through his hair, following the curvature of his skull, and then she let a whisper of her resonance slip beneath his skin. Ferron was not human.

“Was that—before you killed Principate Apollo?” Ferron stared at her, his mouth twisting. “Are you wanting a confession? Shall I tell you everything I’ve done?”

“You think you’re better than us because you’re immortal, but you’re dead inside already.”

“Do you leer at and fondle all your unconscious patients, or am I special?” Ferron’s voice was as unexpected as a bucket of ice water.

He glanced at her, his face empty. “How could immortality be a punishment? It’s what everyone wants.”

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.

“If you don’t want me to kiss you, you should say so now,” he said.

She ran a hand along his jaw, and when her palm grazed his cheek, he pressed his face into it, eyes fluttering shut, a breath escaping him, as if he were starved of touch.

She knew that people enjoyed sex, but she had always thought it was an indulgence. She had not known it was a hunger. Or that she was starving.

Helena turned, then gave a brittle laugh. “You know, I just realised, if I succeed, you’ll control Ferron the same way you use Luc to control me. It makes me feel rather sorry for him.” Ilva didn’t look at her. “Well, he’ll deserve it more than you do.”

“And what would your dear Luc say if he learned how you let his father’s killer buy you like a whore?” As

“You are not ever allowed to take these apart or turn them into medical instruments. Not for anyone.”

“I must say, Marino, you’ve ended up being quite expensive.”

:(

His eyes found her instantly, scanning her from head to toe. She stared back at him, a feeling like hunger rising inside her. “What is it?” he asked as the door closed behind him. “Did something happen?”

I’m not one of your fucking idiots who thinks one moment of self-sacrifice can change everything. If I wanted my betrayal to matter, he couldn’t see it coming.”

“I can’t—I can’t do this again—” he finally gasped out. “I can’t care for someone again. I can’t take it.”

“Is it—actual crawling? Or was there something more constructive Ilva had in mind?”

Her hands dropped. “Kaine, I—” “Don’t—use my name. I hate the way it sounds on your tongue.” He ripped the envelope from her fingers and left.

Of course you’d weaponise your guilt in order to use mine.” He gave a low bitter laugh. “I’m sure there’s something poetic in it all, but right now all I feel is a new set of manacles.” He let go and stepped away from her, heading for the door. “So forgive me if I dislike looking at you. I’m still adjusting to the ways these new ones chafe.”

“You idiot,” he said, and dragged her up out of the water, crushing her hard against his chest.

He cradled it in both of his and ran his thumbs across her palm and up to her wrist, his resonance like a balm, repairing the damaged tissue and the broken blood vessels with the sweep of his thumbs, then working along each finger. He was so gentle. She recognised the technique. She hadn’t realised he’d paid attention.

He blocked the door, his eyes gone cold. “Remind Crowther that if the Eternal Flame wants my continued assistance, they will keep you alive.”

“You are not replaceable,” he said, his hands trembling against her shoulders. “You are not required to make your death convenient. You are allowed to be important to people. 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.”

He touched her cheek, tilting her face up and kissing her. “Use the ring, call me, if you ever need anything.”

“Then use me,” Kaine said. He was right next to her. He pulled her close and tried to kiss her.

He didn’t let go. “Helena…” She stilled at her name. “I’m alone, too,” he said.

She reached out, her fingers brushing back his hair. “Don’t worry. I’m always going to come back to you.”

“Don’t go,” he said softly.

“Call me, and I will come.”