#aimery park

[winterrhayle]

tlc characters as random text posts i found on pinterest

[joemerl]

Winter and Scarlet Discussing Aimery's Death:

[shellyseashell]

BREATH OF LIFE

Notes: this entire fic wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for these next chapters so <3

Masterlist

Warnings: blood, death, violence, intrusive thoughts (briefly), anxiety, guilt

Act 2 - Guard

21: split

LEVANA WASTED NO TIME IN FIGHTING BACK. As soon as their video aired, it seemed, Levana had sent out a video of her own, of her and Kai claiming Cinder was a violent criminal and she was not Princess Selene. It grated at all their nerves, but no one could shut it off, and they had no idea how either of the videos were being perceived, so they had no choice but to continue on and hope something would come of it.

They had worked through the night. Two runners had returned that morning, sharing news that the guards had been restrained in neighboring mining sectors, and they would join Cinder when she marched on Artemisia. Others had spread messages through mines, lava tubes, and maglev tunnels to confirm Cinder was Selene. 

When they regathered later today, Cinder planned on splitting them into teams to gather medical supplies (which Ling had volunteered to help with), watch the maglev platforms, gather food, watch the guardhouse, and ransack the mines for weapons and tools. Wolf, Ling and Aminah would teach basic combat, and Ling had volunteered to help train gifts with anyone who wanted to, though the idea made her feel physically sick. 

They had gathered around a holographic map of Luna, determining how they would lead the siege. Wolf showed them what routes he thought they should take, with Ling confirming them and informing them on the guard rotations, to make sure they wouldn’t get caught. Or at least, some of them wouldn’t be, though they had decided to come from all directions so Levana had to stretch her forces thin. 

“We should avoid Research and Development, and also Technical Services,” Wolf said, pointing at two sectors near Artemisia. “Most people there will be Levana supporters.”

“RD-1 seems easy enough to get around,” agreed Cinder, spinning the map to get a better view. “But TS-1 and 2 are right in our path if we’re going to hit these agriculture sectors on the way.”

“We could split up,” Ling offered. “Send everyone one way while a smaller team gathers people from the agriculture sectors.”

“Too risky,” Thorne said. “If you were captured? No guarantee you’d make it out okay, and we’d loose the agriculture sectors. What if we barricaded them? Trapped everyone inside. We could get through, and it would stop anyone from sneaking up on us from behind.”

“That might work,” said Cinder, “but what do we have to block them?”

“Doesn’t this sector manufacture building materials?” Scarlet pointed at GC-6: General Construction. “Maybe they have something we can use.”

Cinder turned to one of the miner’s gathered with them. “Can I appoint one of you to look into that?”

He clapped a hand to his chest in a salute. “Of course, Your Majesty. We can take some of the mining carts to transport the materials too.”

Ling felt a chill each time someone called Cinder Your Majesty, like she expected Levana to stop out of the shadows and kill them all. She kept waiting, for her own hand to betray her and slice her throat open. It never did.

Wolf stiffened, and Cinder asked, “What is it?”

Wolf started to shake his head, paused, and frowned. He turned his gaze towards the window. “I thought I . . . I smelled something.”

Ling’s blood ran cold.

“What sort of something?” Cinder asked, her voice tense.

“I can’t place it. There are a lot of bodies here, a lot of scents. But there was something . . . . Someone is near. Someone who was also on the rooftop of New Beijing.”

Guards. It was the only possibility. If only they hadn’t waited to set up a guard rotation.

Iko grabbed the portscreen and shut off the holograph.

A shrill scream echoed through the streets below, and Cinder raced to the window, pressing herself against the wall. Thorne plastered himself next to her. Aminah grabbed Ling’s hand, giving it a squeeze. Ling pulled her close, letting Aminah wrap her arms around her as they approached the windows themselves. 

Ling was sure she had never seen so many guards in one place. Never. There were at least half a dozen Thaumaturges as well, and Ling couldn’t spot Kalise. Not for the first time, she wondered what had happened to her. Because of Ling. Because she was a traitor, and she had killed Jerrico, and now she was helping a rebellion.

The most terrifying part of it all was Thaumaturge Aimery Park, standing on the edge of the fountain Cinder had stood on only hours before, wearing a white jacket, because of course he was Head Thaumaturge now.

There were too many guards. They kept pouring out of the narrow streets, too many to quell a simple uprising. Which could only mean one thing — they knew Cinder was there. 

They dragged people out of their homes, forcing them into uniform lines around the fountain. The man who had been beaten by the guards. The woman who had stockpiled her rations for years and had offered to give them all to those who would be fighting in Artemisia. The boy who had trailed after Iko all morning, looking absolutely in love.

“They’re rounding up everyone in the sector,” said Maha. “No doubt they’ll search these buildings too.” She stepped back with a fierce expression. “You all should hide. The rest of us will give ourselves up. They might not search these upper floors if they think everyone is accounted for.”

Cinder said, her voice hoarse, “They wont stop looking.”

“Then hide well.” Maha hugged Wolf, and then she was gone, just as the door on the first floor banged open. The other miners followed as if they were one collective mind.

Ling pulled herself closer to Aminah, as if she could melt into her, as if Aminah was her hiding place.

They listened to the guards shouting orders, to Maha telling them they were unarmed and coming down voluntarily. Then they were being shoved towards the crowd in the square with guns at their backs.

Scarlet gasped. “What about Winter?”

Ling cursed. They had left Winter at the house, thinking it would be safest for her. But now, there were hundreds of guards, and no one protecting her.

“I can go,” Iko said. “They won’t be able to sense me like they would any of you.”

Ling wanted to go with her, but she knew she couldn’t. She’d get them caught. Aminah seemed to know this, because she said, “I’ll go with you. You should have backup, in case anything goes wrong.”

Ling wanted her to stay. She knew Winter’s safety was more important, but some stupid, selfish part of her wanted Aminah to stay. She couldn’t lose Aminah too. But she couldn’t lose Winter either.

“Be careful,” said Cinder. “Sneak through the loading bay.”

Aminah pulled herself out of Ling’s hold. “I’ll be back.”

“Be careful,” Ling said, her voice pathetically weak. 

Aminah gave a small smile. “You too.” And then she and Iko were gone. 

Ling moved closer to the others, feeling like some vital part of her had just been cut out. Scarlet wrapped an arm around her, but the real comfort was knowing they were too high up for their bioelectricity to be sensed. 

Aimery started speaking. He wasn’t yelling, but his voice echoed off the factory walls just the same. “Residents of Regolith Mining Sector 9, you have been gathered here to face the consequences of your unlawful behavior. In harboring and aiding known criminals, you are all guilty of high treason against the crown.” He paused, letting the words settle. “The sentence for this crime is death.”

Ling couldn’t breath. She had seen countless executions before. There had never been this many at once.

There were over two thousand residents, and forced to their knees, they lined the streets as far as she could see. He couldn’t kill them all. He couldn’t reduce so much of Luna’s labor force. He couldn’t.

Her hand twitched. She should be down there. She should be lined up, ready for her death.

Aimery stood on the fountain, two guards flanking him, and Ling was aware of how similar it was to how her, Cinder, and Aminah had stood. 

They had to do something. They had to do something. They all were armed, in one way or another. They could take out the guards and Thaumaturges, but that would give away their location. Aimery would use the sector residents as shields.

“However,” said Aimery, “Her Majesty is prepared to offer you all amnesty. Each one of you will be spared. All you must do is tell us where you’re keeping the cyborg.”

They had to give up Cinder. That was all they had to do, and they would be safe. Ling knew someone would, because at one point, she would have too.

Cinder shoved a knuckle into her mouth to keep herself from screaming. 

“You cannot go out there.” Scarlet’s whisper was harsh. 

“I can’t let them die for me.”

Wolf jerked Cinder away from the window, glaring down at her. “No one is dying for you. If anyone dies today it will be because they finally have something to believe in. Don’t you even think about taking that away from them now.”

“If you die,” said Ling, “the revolution dies too.” They would have nothing to believe in. They would have their hope taken away again. They could only handle so many failures before they gave up.

“But I can’t—”

“Cinder, get yourself together,” said Thorne. “You are the heart of this revolution. Ling’s right. You give yourself up, and it’s over. Besides, Levana will probably kill all those people anyway to make sure this doesn’t happen again.”

A gunshot made Cinder yelp, and Wolf clapped his hand over her mouth, but she threw herself at the window anyway. 

A man’s body was sprawled at Aimery’s feet. 

Aimery scanned the faces near him, smiling pleasantly. “I will ask you again. Where is Linh Cinder?”

Everyone kept their eyes pinned to the ground. No one spoke. Maybe Ling had underestimated them all. Maybe now that they had something to believe in, they were willing to sacrifice themselves for it.

Cinder pressed her hands to her ears. Scarlet pulled away from Ling and wrapped her arms around Cinder, tucking her face into the crook of Cinder’s neck. 

Aimery signaled to a woman seven rows back. Another shot. Another dead body. 

This was worse. This was so much worse than deaths by their own hand. At least then, they would know when they would die. 

She should be down there.

“All it takes is one person to tell me her location,” said Aimery, “and this will all be over. We will leave you to your peaceful lives.”

Ling’s vision blurred. She should have been down there. 

Thorne took Cinder’s hand, wrapping his other arm around Ling. She fell into his chest. Wolf stood on Cinder’s other side, forming a barrier around her. 

Aimery pointed at the boy who had been smitten with Iko. 

“No!”

Aimery held up a hand. “Who was that?”

A girl a few rows behind they boy was crying hysterically. “No, please. Please, leave him alone.” She couldn’t have been much older than Ling herself. The boy’s sister, she assumed. 

A few people gave the girl betrayed looks, but Ling couldn’t blame her. She would have done the same thing in her position. 

“Are you prepared to give up the location of the cyborg?” Aimery asked.

“Maha Kesley,” the girl stammered. “The cyborg was being housed by Maha Kesley.”

With a flick of his fingers, Aimery made the guard aiming at the boy lower his gun. “Where is this Maha Kesley?”

Maha stood before she was betrayed. “I’m here.”

Wolf took in a shaky breath, and Ling shared his pain. Had her mother been this brave? She knew her grandmother would have been. 

“Come to the front,” said Aimery.

Maha stood straight as she walked to the front. She didn’t tremble like so many had before their execution.

“What is the number of your residence?”

Maha gave it, and Ling had never been more scared for Aminah. Is this how Aminah had felt the night of the wedding, knowing she was in danger, but there wasn’t anything she could do to save her?

Aimery gestured at the captain of the guard — someone new, who Ling didn’t recognize — and a Thaumaturge. They stepped away, signaling for additional guards to join them. 

Aimery returned his attention to Maha. “Have you been sheltering the cyborg Linh Cinder?”

“I do not know that name,” said Maha. “The cyborg I know is named Princess Selene Blackburn, and she is the true queen of Luna.”

The crowd rustled. Chins lifted, shoulders squared. Maha had reminded them what they were risking their lives for.

Aimery smirked, and they watched as Maha raised her hands above her head, grabbed her right thumb and yanked it back. They heard the crack and Maha’s cry, and then Ling stepped away from the window. It took her a second to realize Cinder had forced her, Thorne, Scarlet, and Wolf to step away from her. 

“Cinder, don’t—”

“It’s the people’s revolution now. Wolf, you’re coming with me. I’ll keep your mind under control but not your body, just like in Artemisia. Thorne, Scarlet, Ling, stay here and target Aimery and the other Thaumaturges, but don’t shoot unless you have a clear shot, otherwise you’ll just give away your location.”

“I’m coming with you,” said Ling before she could think it through. Cinder opened her mouth to argue, but Ling added, “I’m not standing aside and watching when I could help. Not anymore.”

Cinder couldn’t argue with that, and Ling felt Cinder wrap her concentration around her mind as they rushed down the stairs. 

“I have to, Wolf,” Cinder said as Wolf growled. Outside, they heard another cry of pain from Maha. “I can’t do nothing.”

“He’ll kill you.”

“Not if we kill him first.”

They reached the bottom, and Cinder pushed open the factory doors. Maha screamed again. Three broken fingers. 

“Here I am,” Cinder bellowed. “You found me. Now let her go.”

In unison, the guards swiveled, pointing their guns at her, but no one fired. 

Aimery grinned. “So the imposter has finally graced us with her presence.”

She clenched her fists and started towards him. Wolf and Ling followed. “You know very well that my claims are true. It’s the only reason Levana is so determined to have me killed.”

They reached the front row of civilians. “You came here for me, and here I am. Leave these people alone.”

Aimery cocked his head. “Imagine how differently this could have gone,” he said, stepping off the fountain, “if you had chosen to claim the minds of these people before our arrival. Instead, you left them adrift on the ocean of their own weaknesses. You turned them into targets and then did nothing to protect them. You are not suited to be a ruler of Luna.”

“Because I would rather my people know freedom than constant manipulation?”

“Because you are not capable of making the decisions a queen must make for the good of all her people.”

“The only people,” said Cinder, “who have benefitted from Levana’s regime are the greedy aristocrats in Artemisia. Levana is not a queen. She’s a tyrant.”

Aimery bowed his head, like he was agreeing with her, and maybe he was. “And you are nobody at all.”

“I am the true ruler of Luna.” The words fell flat, because surrounded by so many guards, with so many people at Aimery’s mercy, she wasn’t much of a queen.

“You are a child playing at war games, and you’re too naive too see you’ve already lost.”

“I’m surrendering to you,” she said. “And if that means I have to lose so these people can go free, so be it. What you don’t seem to realize is this isn’t about me. It’s about the people who have lived in oppression for far too long. Levana’s rule is coming to and end.”

Aimery smiled. Opened his arms to the crowd. “Let it be known that on this day, the imposter princess surrendered to Her Majesty the Queen. Her crimes will be dealt with swiftly and justly. However, I promised that your lives would be spared if anyone were to give up the cyborg’s location. It is a great shame no one came forward sooner. I do not like being kept waiting.”

A shot fired. Maha fell to the ground. 

Wolf inhaled sharply, and Ling held back a cry.

Another gun fired, this one farther away. Aimery stumbled as his thigh soaked through with blood. Another shot hit the fountain. They were coming from the factory.

Wolf roared and lept foward. The nearest guard blocked his path, but he was too slow to shoot, and Wolf batted him away and rushed for Aimery.

Ling struggled to pull out the gun she’d stolen from a guard as the miners were forced to turn on them. She got out one shot, but she didn’t know if she’d hit anyone. 

Then she was on the ground. She kicked the person’s feet out from under them and used the momentum to pull herself to her feet. A guard rushed at her. He soon fell, blood soaking his uniform.

It took only one person to take her down, and she cursed her small size. A large man pinned her to the ground, and she couldn’t breath. The man’s eyes shone with regret as he was forced to keep her down, as he was forced to pull the gun from her hand. She was reminded her arm was not fully healed, because she was pretty sure it was bleeding again. 

“The shots are coming from that factory,” said Aimery, standing above them. “Send a team to search it, and bind these three before they try anything else.”

Her arms were pulled behind her, and she let out a yelp of pain. She was pulled to her feet, her knees buckling. Everything felt numb. 

Ling glanced around, and met Cinder’s gaze. Cinder’s eyes latched onto her arm, confirming that the wound had been opened again. 

She didn’t let any emotion show as the two of them and Wolf were forced to their knees in front of Aimery. She would not be afraid. Not anymore. 

I’m sorry, Aminah.

Taglist: @salt-warrior @yeah-asbestos @cinderswrench @linh-song @cindersassasin @healing-winston-pratt @just2bubbly @gingerale2017 @thestarryeyedsapphic @zephyr-thedragon @that-glasses-dog

[thetlctrash]

Reposting because the last polls duration was only one day

[notjacinclay]

I hate that mf with every fiber of my being </33

[readingabookmostofthetimes]

Winter deserves an hug after murdering Aimery. I'm still proud of her, but I know she is hurting

[cosmicnovaflare]

Aimery Park and Sybil Mira

[incorrectlunarchroniclesquotes]

aimery: if you had to pick between your step-daughter and all the money in my pocket, which would you choose?

levana: wait, how much money are we talking?

winter: uh stepmother???

aimery: eleven cents

levana: sold!

winter: STEPMOTHER?????????

[degenderates]

@lunarchroniclesnet event 02: villains

↪ Aimery Park

“Prettiest only, my queen. But no mortal can compare to your perfection.”

[princessselene126]

Aimery: *approaches*

Cinder: Jacin, I'm going to ask you not to do anything violent.

Jacin: What? What are you talking about? I only use violence as an appropriate response.

Aimery: Hello, Jacin.

Jacin: *turns around and punches Aimery in the face*

Cress, watching the fight: And this is?

Cinder: Aimery; they used to work together.

Jacin: *throws Aimery onto a table*

Cress: He seems to rub Jacin the wrong way.

Cinder: You think?

Jacin: *still beating up Aimery*

[kevin-day-is-bi]

Every day

I wake up and

Thank the Stars

That Thaumaturge

Aimery Park

Is

Dead

[thereal-linh-cinder]

“My queen. Everyone thinks the princess is beautiful, but she is no match for Your Majesty. You are perfection.”

thaumaturge aimery park

[shellyseashell]

BREATH OF LIFE

Notes: a bit late, but I’m dedicating this chapter to @that-glasses-dog since their birthday was a few days ago. I hope this chapter is angsty enough for you ily <3

Masterlist

Warnings: violence, guns, suffocation, mentions of death, panic attacks

Act 2 - Guard

22: home

“PRINCESS,” IKO CALLED. Her voice barely raised above a whisper. “Princess, where are you?”

They had already scoured the house, but they checked the rooms again. There were three places Winter could have been — cabinets or closets, under Maha’s bed, and the shower — and she wasn’t in any of them.

Iko and Aminah shared a look, returning to the living room. Had Winter already been found? No. She couldn’t have. She was the smarter than that. Or at least, Aminah hoped she was.

At least she knew Ling was safe.

Before either of them could say anything, footsteps stomped outside the door. Iko pulled Aminah with her as she tucked herself under the kitchen counter. They huddled as close as they could, though Iko was nearly unbearably warm, still overheated from their run. Aminah pulled her shirt over her mouth in hopes of stifling her breathing.

The door banged open. “The database confirms this is the residence of Maha Kesley.”

A short silence. “I sense someone, but their energy is faint. Perhaps muffed behind a barrier of some sort.”

Neither her or Iko could be sensed, Aminah was positive, which left one other possibility — Winter.

“In my experience with the cyborg,” said a third voice, “she does not always react as one would expect to mind control and manipulation. Perhaps she is capable of disguising her energy as well?”

“Perhaps,” said the second voice, who was definitely a Thaumaturge. “Kinney, search the perimeter and neighboring homes. West, check the bedrooms.”

“Yes, Mistress Pereira.”

More footsteps. The front door shut. 

The Thaumaturge entered the kitchen only seconds later. Aminah stopped breathing at the same time the Thaumaturge stopped in the middle of the kitchen, her red coat fluttering around her. 

She stood there. And stood there. Just as Aminah was sure her breathing would not be heard and they would be safe, Iko’s fan started up again. 

The Thaumaturge glanced down, startled. 

Iko raised a hand. “Hello.”

Aminah was going to throw up.

The Thaumaturge studied them for way too long of a moment, then said, “Shells?”

“Close,” said Iko, grabbing a towel off the dish counter and lunging. Aminah tucked herself farther back. This was it. She’d finally be discovered and she’d be killed and — and — and Ling wouldn’t even know what had happened to her, not if they got Iko too.

The android in question pressed the towel against the Thaumaturge’s face, stifling a scream. She fought against the grip, but Iko kept her pinned against the wall.

“Just pass out,” Iko said, as if giving someone fashion advice, “and I’ll let you go.”

“Hey!”

A guard had spotted them through the window, and within a second he was standing in the doorway, pointing a gun at Iko.

Aminah snapped out of her panic and lunged at the guard. The two of them fell, the gun clattering out of his hold, and then he was on top of her, holding a knife to her throat. 

“Do anything,” said the guard, “and I’ll kill her.”

Iko didn’t have to think long. The Thaumaturge fell, and it must have looked enough like Iko doing something, because the guard retrieved his gun and pointed it at Iko.

Aminah scrambled to her feet and ran. She didn’t know where she was going, she just had to get out. She knew she was leaving Iko to fend for herself, but her mind was screaming at her to save herself, because she knew what would happen to her if she didn’t. 

She slammed into the other guard in the living room. She stumbled back, trying to clear the fog from her mind to fight back. Her hesitation was enough for him to shove her against the wall, and sliding to the ground, she couldn’t find the will to get up.

She was a coward. 

She knew what was happening. Around her ragged breathing, she could hear all of it. She heard Iko getting shot. Heard the guard — Kinney, she was pretty sure — figure out she was an android. Saw Winter run past her. Heard the insults. Heard Kinney kill Sir West. Heard him give Iko instructions on what was going to happen next. 

And yet, she didn’t move. She couldn’t move.

—

THEY WERE TAKEN TO AN UNDERGROUND CARGO PORT. Three royal ports stood out against the battered delivery ships. So, that was why they had been ambushed. They only had a watch posted on the maglev platform.

Ling’s arms throbbed, her sleeve sticking to her arm with blood. With every step, her legs grew number and number, and Wolf’s energy was so overwhelming with fear and devastation that she wanted to scream.

A royal guard was waiting for them, someone Ling vaguely recognized as Sir Kinney. Jacin knew him, somehow, she was pretty sure. Kinney’s eyes flashed with recognition as he met her gaze, but he quickly looked away.

“Report,” said Aimery.

“Mistress Pereira and Sir West are dead.”

“How?”

“We were ambushed inside the Kesley house by an Earthen android and shell girl,” said Kinney.

Ling’s breath stuttered.

“A brawl ensued. The android was immune to mental manipulation, nor did bullets do much to afffect her. She . . . it suffocated Mistress Periera. The shell stopped me from immediately attacking her, but I was able to pin her and threatened to kill her. I was forced to instead fight the android, and the shell escaped. Sir West took her out before coming to help me. The android disarmed me and used my gun to shoot Sir West and our Thaumaturge. While it was distracted, I managed to lodge my knife in its back, severing its . . . spine, of sorts. That successfully disabled it.”

Ling made a sound somewhere between and whimper and a sob. She would have fallen to the ground if not for the guard holding her up. Aminah. Aminah was dead. She had been killed, and Ling hadn’t even been there to help. They had been split up and . . . and nothing good happened when they weren’t together. She never should have let Aminah out of her sight, because now she had no one.

“With the threat removed, I conducted a thorough search of the rest of the house and surrounding properties. I found no other accomplices.”

She couldn’t bring herself to be revelived that Winter was okay.

Aimery stared at Kinney for so long Ling thought he’d lost the ability to speak before he said, “And you’re certain the shell was killed? What became of the android?”

“Sir West had shot the shell, and I found no pulse.” Aimery frowned, upset they wouldn’t be able to use her blood. Ling had never wanted to kill anyone more. “I found and destroyed what I believe was the android’s power source,” Kinney continued. “I threw what was left into the public trash compactor.”

“No!” Cinder stumbled forward, but the guard behind her stopped her from falling.

Kinney spared a small glance at her before saying, “I left the bodies behind. Shall I return for them?”

Aimery waved a hand. “We will send a crew for them.”

Cinder’s head hung low. Wolf and Ling shared a glance, before turning their gazes to Cinder. She glanced at the both of them. 

All three of them had lost someone today.

Ling didn’t feel like she was made of ice, like when her father had died. She didn’t cry because crying was her only option. She felt like some part of her had been cut out. Her chest was hollow. In the hollowness anger boiled, hot and bubbling. It had always been there. She knew it had been, because she’d always had to suppress it for the sake of her family. She didn’t suppress it now. She had nothing left to loose, and she would make sure Levana felt her pain.

A black-coated Thaumaturge and more guards entered the space. “We have not found any more accomplices, or discerned who was firing on us from the factory windows,” said the Thaumaturge. “It’s possible they’ve retreated to a different sector. They might attempt the insurgence elsewhere.”

Aimery smiled. “Let them try. We are not afraid of our own people.” He settled his gaze on Cinder. “This little rebellion is over.”

Cinder and Ling lifted their chins, but it was Wolf’s low growl that gained Aimery’s attention. Wolf snarled at him, looking like he’d like nothing more than tear apart everyone in the room.

Aimery laughed. He stepped forward, cupping Wolf’s chin in his fingers and squeezed. “Besides, how could we ever lose when we have beasts such as this at our disposal?” Aimery released his chin, instead slapping him tenderly on the cheek. “Alpha Kesley, isn’t it? I was there for the queen’s tournament, the day you won your position in your pack. It seems you’ve been lead astray by these Earthens. What shall we do about that?”

If looks could kill, Aimery would have been dead ten times over. 

One of Wolf’s knees gave way and he knelt before Aimery. A moment later, Wolf had bowed his head. 

Ling’s stomach turned. She knew how much Cinder struggled to control Wolf, and Aimery did it so easily. She would have had that power too, one day.

“There’s a good dog,” Aimery said, patting Wolf’s head. Ling growled, but Aimery ignored her. “We will take you before Her Majesty and let her decide the punishment for your betrayal. Does that suit you, Alpha Kesley?”

Wolf’s voice was robotic, clearly forced, as he said, “Yes, Master.”

“As I thought.” Aimery turned his gaze to his entourage. “Should there be any lingering pockets of rebellion, ensure they are swiftly stamped out. There is to be a royal wedding tomorrow, amd we will not tolerate any more disturbances.”

The Thaumaturges bowed and scattered, after which Aimery tucked his hands into his sleeves and turned on Cinder and Ling. “Which leaves only the question of what to do with you two.”

Cinder held his gaze. “You could bow before me as your true queen.”

“Kill her.”

Ling flinched as the guard behind Cinder whipped out his gun and held it against Cinder’s forehead.

“Stop, I’ve changed my mind.”

The guard put the gun away. Cinder sagged. 

“My Queen has requested the pleasure of deciding your fate herself. I think I will suggest she offer your head to Emperor Kaito as a wedding gift. As for you,” he said, turning to Ling, “your trial will ultimately end in your death, but I will keep you alive until then. I have been waiting for this trial.”

Ling snarled, but Aimery only laughed. 

“Thaumaturge Park?”

He turned to the Thaumaturge that had spoken, who had her palm on the side of a small podship.

“This is a royal pod, and it looks like it arrived recently. Hardly any dust. Odd for it to be way out here.”

“I am not surprised there are thieves about, and it might help us locate the missing rebels. Run a search on its tracking numbers and see what you find.”

The guards loaded the three of them into Aimery’s ship, placing them on separate benches. No one spoke, and soon they were on their way to Artemisia. 

Ling didn’t want to return. The idea of returning to Artemisia had scared her before, but now it made her feel sick. Her family had died there. It wasn’t a home anymore — she wasn’t sure where home was. She didn’t want to return, only to be killed on the same floor her family had died on. She would rather die here.

The ship stopped in Artemisia’s underground port. Guards pulled the three of them up, and they were greeted by a dozen more guards and three Thaumaturges. Once again, none were Kalise.

“Thaumaturge Park?”

“Sir Kinney.”

“Permission to seek immediate medical attention?”

Aimery examined the blood on Kinney’s uniform. There was a lot, but Ling couldn’t tell where he’d been hurt. “Fine,” he said. “Report back as soon as you are cleared for service.”

Ling’s anger boiled. Of course. Of course an injury that might not even exist could be treated, but an illness garunteed to kill couldn’t. Ling wanted to kill Aimery. 

The three of them were led through the halls, and Ling immediately knew where they were going. But when they stopped at an elevator bank, Wolf was pulled away from them. 

“Wait,” said Cinder. “Where are you taking him?”

Wolf growled and struggled, but he was subdued under mind control. Ling said, her voice barely above a whisper, “There’s a reason they’re called special ops.”

Understanding dawned on Cinder’s face. “Wolf! No!” She stumbled forward, but she was held back. “Wolf!”

Wolf turned the corner, and he was gone, leaving Cinder panting and shaking, and Ling staring numbly at where he had been. 

Cinder and Ling shared a look as they were forced into the elevator, and they both realized the same thing: they may never see Wolf — or any of them — again. 

“I’m sorry we aren’t able to give you a private tour,” said Aimery, “but we’re rather preoccupied with wedding preparations. I’m sure you understand.”

“I’m sure it wouldn’t have been a very good tour anyway,” Ling said. 

The doors opened, and they were led through a dim corridor that reeked of stale air and urine and bodies. Technically, they were in the prisons, but it really did feel much more like a dungeon. 

“I hope you’ll find your accommodations acceptable for such a distinguished guest,” Aimery told Cinder. “I understand you’re already accustomed to prison cells.”

“I wouldn’t say that,” said Cinder. “The last one could only hold me for a day.”

“And this time, she’ll know how to get out,” Ling added. She hadn’t been down to the prisons much, had always avoided them when she could, but she knew the palace like the back of her hand, and she was a certain a tunnel led down here. She was confident she could get them out.

They paused, and a guard unlocked the door, the ancient hinged creaking. The smell got worse as the door opened.

“You will remain here until Her Majesty the Queen has time to see to your trials and executions,” said Aimery. “Of course, you’ll want to use the time to get reacquainted.”

“Reacquainted?”

Their bindings were cut off and they were shoved into the cell. Cinder stumbled and caught herself on the wall. Ling on the other hand, fell to her knees, and hissed as they absorbed the shock of the fall. 

There was a whimper. As the door slammed shut, Ling lifted her head. Two people huddled together in the far corner. Even as her eyes adjusted and Cinder turned on her flashlight, Ling didn’t recognize them. 

Cinder seemed to though, because she slumped against the wall and said, “You can’t be serious.”

Taglist: @salt-warrior @yeah-asbestos @cinderswrench @linh-song @cindersassasin @healing-winston-pratt @just2bubbly @gingerale2017 @thestarryeyedsapphic @zephyr-thedragon @that-glasses-dog

[sparklyselene]

Aimery: good afternoon, Your Highness. Made anyone cry today?

Levana: sadly, no.

Levana: but it's only 4:30.

[darkcrowprincess]

Horrific. Please let Aimery have a painful death

Now I really want Scarlet to shoot him. In the balls preferably.

[readingabookmostofthetimes]

Scarlet did murder Aimery with help from Winter