Alchemised

by SenLinYu

she watched Ferron like a cornered animal.

"Are you watching me with eyes of a predator as you move towards the door."

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

Nooooo 😭😭😭

He gave a mocking smile. “Steal my heart with your wit and charms.” Helena scoffed. “Who knows, perhaps I have a proclivity for—” He paused, studying her, trying to find something. Helena walked away. “Maybe tomorrow.”

please remember 😭

“It wasn’t blind. I chose him,” she said. He stepped back, and something about his expression sharpened. “Did you?

"She chose me." "Did she?"

“The world already knows she’s mine,” Ferron said, his words pointed, “but if you’d like, I can remind them.

Feminism out the window

“Why don’t you die?” There was no point in being coy. She wanted to kill him; they both knew it. Blood was still flowing down the hilt of the knife, dripping scarlet across the white marble floor, spattering across the ouroboros mosaic. His lips curved into an insincere smile. “Prior commitments, I’m afraid.”

"Don't die." :') my heaaaart

“I will die before I lose her,” Ferron said, his grip tightening.

If she only knew whyyyy

“Ferron always comes for me,” she whispered. He stopped short. His jaw locked, fists clenching, saying nothing for a moment. Then his throat dipped, and he sighed. “What did he do to you?” he asked in a low voice, kneeling next to her.

YESSSSSSS

“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.”

SOBBING, HEAVING, DYING

But the world slipped from her grasp. She was dimly aware of her legs being lifted onto the bed, the duvet pulled over her. “I’m so sorry.”

Oh my gaaaahd my heartt

The room flipped as she was dragged up and crushed tight. “Stay…please…stay.”

I can't breathe. KAINE SAYS STAY AND IMMA STAY.

“I have warned you, if something happens to you, I will personally raze the Eternal Flame. That isn’t a threat. It is a promise. Consider your survival

Mhmm. 😌

as much a necessity to the Resistance as Holdfast’s. If you die, I will kill every single one of them.”

THIS MAN

There was a predatory curiosity in his eyes, like a wolf stalking prey.

"Are you watching me with eyes of a predator as you move towards the door?"

She slid a hand behind her back, curling it into a tight fist until her nails bit into her palm,

She remembered this motion when he did the same thing in the present…

Surely I deserve something in return, to warm my cold heart.”

😭 please Kaine

“Do you say that to every girl?”

ANOTHER RECALL *sobs*

tarnished silver ring;

The matching ring to the one he wears in the present

Ferron stared at her, his mouth twisting. “Are you wanting a confession? Shall I tell you everything I’ve done?” She stared into his mocking eyes. “Do you want to?”

He was replaying the conversation to help her remember??

started massaging the palm and worked slowly to his fingertips, knuckle by knuckle, her resonance seeking out every bit of tension and knotted muscles.

My heaaart

“I—” she stammered. “I would see if I could make it loyal.” “And if you couldn’t? If a monster can’t be made loyal, what would you do then?” Their faces were close. Helena’s throat tightened, her heart beating too fast. “I’d look for flaws in the transmutation,” she said. “The splicing isn’t very good, so there are mistakes that could be aggravated to accelerate deterioration. You wouldn’t have to kill it outright, you’d just—speed up the inevitable.” He leaned forward, so close she could feel his breath. For a moment she thought he was going to kiss her.

Are we still talking about the chimaera? 😏

“Don’t die, Marino. I might miss you.”

Im UNWELLLLL

“I must admit,” he said in a low voice as though making a confession, “if anyone had told me you’d become so lovely, I would never have come near you. I was rather blindsided when I saw you again.”

Anything. Anything for this man.

“You’re like a rose in a graveyard,” he said, and his lips twisted into a bitter smile. “I wonder what you could have turned into without the war.”

😭

He looked at her and then tilted his head back and stared at the ceiling for a full minute. “Why do you think I was kissing you?” he finally asked in a tight voice.

Because he's falling for you girllll

Calculating, Cunning, Devoted, Determined, Ruthless, Unfailing, Unhesitating, and Unyielding.

“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.”

Sobbing.

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

“She’s dead,” he said. “You are not. My loyalty was to those least responsible for her suffering, but if the Eternal Flame has decided that you are an affordable casualty, I will not be noble or understanding. I can exact dual revenge. I will make them pay if they get you killed.”

😏😌

“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.” She shook her head, giving a broken sob and—before she let herself think—she kissed him.

I love them so much.

“Then use me,” Kaine said.

The man that you are, Kaine Ferron.

He pulled her close, crushing her to his chest. “You’re mine. You swore yourself to me. Now and after the war. I’m going to take care of you. I’m not going to let anyone hurt you. You don’t have to be lonely. Because you’re mine.”

😭😩💔