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By the Void, she was so tired. Struggling to focus her eyes correctly, she still inspected her patient's wound with extreme care. It was a bloodfly sting, fortunately in its earliest stages. The poor child didn't see the nest until it was too late, he was lucky his mother heard him screaming and yanked him out of there. He was especially lucky to walk away with only five stings. She tried even harder to focus, blinking her eyes repeatedly. It took her a moment to realize that someone was saying something, and likely had been for a while now.

"Doctor Hypatia...?" she finally made out, forcing her eyes upward... seeing the face of an extremely concerned mother.

Alexandria finished applying the salve to the last sting, smiling sheepishly at her and saying, "I'm sorry." The small boy was no longer crying, seeming to be soothed by the pain relieving qualities of the salve. She grinned warmly at him, squeezing his hand and exclaiming, "all done, now. You were so brave, how about you go and get a piece of candy from Susan?" She gestured to her assistant, who was across the room. He put on a tiny smile, nodding and rubbing his eyes before getting up from the cot and shuffling across the room. Alexandria got up and off of the floor where she'd been kneeling, grabbing a large burlap sack and beginning to fill it with what the boy would need.

"He'll be just fine," Alexandria promised, handing the mother the sack, "all you need to do is apply the salve to the stings three times a day, for as long as the pain continues... and make sure he has a cup of the Addermire Solution twice a day, for two weeks."

The woman peered inside the bag, appearing to be shocked by the amount of medicine the doctor had willingly just given her. She began digging through her pouch, stammering, "y-you'll have to allow me to pay you something..."

Alexandria reached out and gently put a hand on hers, trying to keep her from looking for money. "Nonsense," she insisted, "I said I was giving free exams, and I meant it. There's no need for any coin."

"But... Doctor Hypatia, that was over a year ago," the mother said hesitantly, just as her son came wandering back over to them. He appeared a bit more calm, now that he'd gotten his candy.

The doctor shook her head, insisting, "don't worry yourself over it... just get him home and make sure he gets his rest, and fluids. If his fever progresses or doesn't break within a couple of days, make sure you bring him back to see me."

The other woman stared at her for a moment, looking a bit concerned, before nodding her head and taking a hold of her son's hand. "Thank you, Doctor Hypatia," she said, sincerely, before Susan led them up the stairs and out the door. Addermire had been undergoing quite a few renovations ever since Alexandria had regained full control of herself. Right now the consult wing was one of such renovations, so she was seeing people in her lab. Her lab was one of the first rooms to be... fixed.

Alexandria simply stood there for a moment, staring at the wall, mind going blank for a while. She sat down on the cot, before figuring that she had about fifteen minutes before Susan brought her the next patient. She laid down, deciding to close her eyes while she waited. As Alexandria laid down the muscles in her back tightened and spasmed - she'd been on her feet so long that her body didn't know what to do with laying down. She struggled for a moment to find a comfortable position, before settling for laying on her left side, facing the wall. She shut her eyes, groaning a bit - her eyes were scratchy and painful. She didn't have much time to think about how badly her eyes hurt, though, as the moment they closed she was out cold.

It was dark, and damp. She felt her way around in the dark, gently running her fingers over the stone walls. Where was she?

Suddenly a voice rang out from deeper in the darkness, "hello, little mouse."

No. No no no. Alexandria had been here, before. She stumbled backwards, one hand still on the wall to feel her way around.

"You're always so surprised to see me," the guttural, feral voice mused, getting closer. She could make out a slight shine in the dark - two yellow eyes.

Alexandria shook her head, backing further away. "You're not real, Alex... you're an awful dream," she insisted, clenching her jaw to keep her voice from shaking.

"How are you so sure I'm not real?" she prodded, "I might just be sleeping. Someone, or something could wake me up." Suddenly the eyes disappeared, and Alexandria frantically glanced around, trying to find them. There was a loud thud behind her, and before she knew it, hot breath was up against her neck, "I'm very real... just as real as that delightful taste you had in your mouth when the child empress put me back to sleep."

The doctor clenched her eyes shut tightly as her stomach churned, trying to ignore what she was saying. She didn't want to remember the disgusting taste she had in her mouth when Emily injected her with the counter serum. Alexandria tensed and held perfectly still, too afraid to move, knowing how close she was. She supposed it was useless and silly to be afraid of Alex, but she couldn't help it.

"Don't you remember?" Alex asked, taking a long, deep breath in before letting it out, as if she were remembering the most delectable smell, "I had plenty of tiiiiime with him... plenty of fun. Do you know what that does to the meat, dear sister?" Alexandria screwed her mouth shut tighter, muscles locking up as she felt the breath moving to her ear. "It makes it tougher," Alex explained, cold lips grazing her ear, "and a bit sour... in the best way."

Alexandria ripped away, hunching over and gagging, before immediately heaving up what was in her stomach. Suddenly in a bright flash, the room became illuminated with light. She was still hunched over, and when she saw just what she'd purged she stumbled backwards, tripping on a rock and landing flat on her back. She scrambled to sit up, scooting backwards and away from the severed fingers that were somehow in her vomit.

"Don't act so innocent," Alex growled, making her way over to the doctor on the ground, "you like to say that you didn't know... but really, who has a man dying in their lab for months and never even notices?"

Alexandria wiped at her mouth, shaking her head and covering her ears. "I wasn't well," she insisted.

Alex chuckled, crouching down in front of her and grabbing her chin tightly, squeezing. She shoved her chin upward, forcing their eyes to meet. "You weren't well? You act like I'm some kind of disease you can cure, doctor. No, no... I'm a part of you, and I always have been."

"You're wrong!" Alexandria shouted, shutting her eyes tighter and trying to drown her out.

There was more laughter as her chin was released and cold fingers ran through her hair. "Poor naive, sheepish little Alexandria," Alex said under her breath, "do you really think you had nothing to do with what I did to Vasco? If you let yourself remember, you might like it..."

There was no response from Alexandria. She shook her head harder, smacking the hand away from her hair. It was becoming harder to stay silent and still.

"You might have liked cutting him open... singeing his flesh under the heat lamps," Alex explained, biting down on her lip and shuddering, obviously savoring the memory, "or maybe you would have liked the sound his toes made when they snapped, the most." She leaned in closer, getting in her face, "don't worry, I didn't waste any of your precious chemicals on him... it would have tainted the meat. And oh, the meat... the meat! I didn't get to savor it very long, that honor was yours."

Alexandria felt like she might vomit again for a brief moment, but that feeling was soon overcome by the anger that was building up in her stomach.

"You know, he never once fought back," Alex chuckled, the sound coming from deep within her throat, "too afraid of hurting poor, innocent Doctor Hypatia." Alexandria felt a sharp pang of guilt run through her, and it cut deeply. "My only regret is that I never got to take him apart," Alex exclaimed, biting down on her lip and saying breathily, "roll in the mess, slide against his skull, drive myself against his-"

Something in Alexandria began boiling, at this point. She clenched her hands in to tight fists, eyes finally shooting open and glaring at her aggressor.

"Oh, is sweet, timid, boring, dryyyy Alexandria getting angry...?" Alex asked, grinning, before leaning in closer, "do you know why I kill? Why I torture, and pull them apart?" She chewed on her lip, whispering, "because I know how much it will hurt you. You know... I really do abhor you, and I suppose I am you. Now, just what does that say about you, little mouse...?"

"I am not a LITTLE MOUSE!" Alexandria shrieked, lunging off of the ground and at Alex, slamming her head in to the hard, damp stones. She'd snapped, she couldn't sit there and listen to her talk anymore - about Vasco, about her, about anything! She didn't want to think about the implications of Alex's motivations for killing, it was too painful.

At first Alex looked shocked, crying out when her head crashed in to the wall. She reached up and behind her head, feeling at the wound before bringing her hand in front of her, seeing a large amount of blood dripping down her fingers. She grinned, chuckling weakly and muttering, "see? You're more like me than you know..."

Alexandria's eyes flew open wider and she immediately let go of her, backing away. She stared at her as she slid down the wall and on to the ground, a splash of blood on the stones where her head had collided. "No..." she muttered, backing even further away.

Alex chuckled quietly and slumped back against the wall, murmuring, "yes... just like me."

"No!" Alexandria shouted, stumbling back further, but her back was met with the wall.

"Hypatia!" a voice called from all around her, "Alexandria, wake up!"

The doctor jolted upright on the cot, gasping for air and clawing at the fabric underneath her. She looked around wildly, trying to get a firm grip of her surroundings. She was back in her laboratory, but it was dark, other than a single dim lamp in the corner. Alexandria flinched a bit when she saw a figure looming over her, but suddenly relaxed when she noticed that the figure was a man - not the Crown Killer.

Once her eyes adjusted, she finally realized who it was. "Stilton?" she asked quietly, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

"Yes, it's me," Aramis said, sounding relieved that she'd woken up, "you were having what appeared to be one hell of a nightmare."

"I..." Alexandria stuttered, looking around at the dark room, "why is it dark? What... what time is it? Where's Susan?"

"She's at home, where everyone else is, too," Aramis explained, "it's rather late in the night."

Alexandria's eyes flew open wider in panic and she threw herself off of the cot and to her feet. "Late at night?" she asked frantically, "why is it late at night? Where are my patients?"

"Home, Hypatia. Susan sent them home," before she had time to panic even more, Aramis explained further, "the boy you saw earlier was the last emergency, and no others showed up while you were sleeping. We would have woken you if they had."

Alexandria was definitely relieved to hear she hadn't missed any emergency patients, but she had to admit, she was livid. Her brand of livid, however, was to simply frown and ask, "why would she send them home?"

"Don't be too upset with the girl," Aramis pleaded, "I told her to do it."

"You did what?" Alexandria asked in disbelief.

Aramis sighed, taking a few steps forward and asking, "Alexandria, when's the last time you got some sleep?"

"Last night," the doctor answered honestly, crossing her arms.

Aramis shook his head and raised an eyebrow, correcting himself, "when's the last time you got sleep that lasted longer than an hour?"

Alexandria frowned, looking at the floor and shrugging, "I don't know, I've been busy, Aramis. There's been a constant influx of patients."

"Because you never close your doors," Aramis pointed out, "I know you want to help people, but you need sleep."

Alexandria sighed and gently pushed her way past Aramis and back in to her lab. She pulled out some beakers and test tubes, preparing to get back to work on attempting to perfect the Addermire Solution. How could she possibly explain why she felt she had to keep her doors open at all hours? Aramis was a good man and a good friend, but she wasn't sure how he'd handle the truth. Working in the new Duke's counsel alongside Aramis, Paolo, and Byrne had been both a blessing and a curse. She enjoyed helping the people of Serkonos... but now it seemed she'd known them long enough for one of them to begin worrying about her, and asking questions, no doubt. It made sense that it was Aramis that Susan had contacted - after all, Alexandria had been working with him and his miners for years before the coup.

Aramis followed her over to the counter, asking, "when is the last time you ate something?"

"I had... some grapes this morning," Alexandria answered, knowing full well just how bad that was. She was a doctor, and she would be very worried if one of her patients took up the same habits that she had, recently. She had her reasons, she just couldn't tell anyone those reasons. She could handle this alone.

She could hear him sighing, "I thought you might say something like that." He reached out and gently pushed her flasks backward, "that's why I brought some food down, for you."

Alexandria took a deep breath and held it for a moment, before letting it out slowly and insisting, "thank you, but I'm fine." She attempted to grab her flasks and move them closer.

"Fine?" Aramis asked, voice exasperated, "Hypatia, you are far from fine. You're not sleeping, and you're not eating, and I have absolutely no idea why." He wedged himself between Alexandria and the counter, cutting her off from her lab equipment. "What in the world is going on?" he demanded gently.

Alexandria put on her very best angry face, which really only looked mildly perturbed. "I missed a day of sleep and food, I hardly think it's worth this much fuss, Aramis," she said.

Aramis crossed his arms, "it's been far more than one day, Alexandria, I believe we both know that." She looked up at him in confusion, wondering just how he knew that. He read her face rather easily, explaining hesitantly, "Susan... may have been concerned about you and contacted me." The doctor sighed, closing her eyes and rubbing the bridge of her nose. "Please, don't be angry with her," Aramis pleaded with her yet again, "she's only concerned about your wellbeing, she is a doctor's assistant, after all."

Alexandria took a deep breath, letting it out slowly and saying truthfully, "I'm not angry." She wasn't. How could she be angry at Susan for doing exactly what she would have done if she were in her shoes?

The mine manager inspected her face, seemingly trying to figure out if that was the truth. After a few moments he seemed to relax a bit, before stating carefully, "Susan said this has been going on for months."

She sighed, crossing her arms loosely and hanging on to her elbows. "It can't be helped," Alexandria said quietly.

"What do you mean, it can't be helped?" Aramis asked gently, seeming to be trying very hard to get her to confide in him. Alexandria shook her head, looking to the side, unable to make eye contact at this point. Aramis frowned, saying quietly, "if you don't want to to explain, then that's alright... but you can't keep denying yourself basic needs like this..."

Alexandria kept staring to the side, trying to figure out what she could possibly say. There was nothing she could say. There's an idea! Maybe if she just stayed quiet and ignored him, he'd get angry and go away. She hated the idea of hurting him in any way, but she wasn't willing to just lie down on this one. She knew it was childish, but something reckless in her was screaming that she had to do this. She had to see as many patients as possible, and when there were no patients she had to work on perfecting the Addermire Solution.

She screwed her mouth shut, reaching around him and grabbing her flasks. She carefully carried them to the other side of the counter, going back to setting them up as she wanted.

"Hypatia?" Aramis asked, sounding confused. After a good while of waiting, realization leached in to his voice, "ignoring me won't make me go away."

Alexandria wasn't sure how he'd figured her out so quickly, but she stayed quiet none the less. She'd made up her mind months ago... this had to happen.

Aramis sighed, "Alexandria, this is ridiculous and childish." She knew he was right, she really did... but maybe just this once, Alexandria Hypatia wanted to be ridiculous and childish. She was hardly even able to reason with herself as to why not sleeping and eating was a good idea, anymore... but some stubborn part of her said that she had to.

There was an even longer silence this time - so long, in fact, that Alexandria was beginning to think that perhaps her plan had worked. She realized that was wrong, however, when she felt him wrap a gentle hand around her wrist. She set the flasks down, finally looking up at him, for just a moment. There was something about Stilton's face that was permanently gentle, even now. Alexandria wasn't sure if she'd ever seen him truly angry. However, as he held his eyes on hers, she noticed something else on his face. It wasn't threatening, no, nothing like that... though something told her she should probably just eat. No... she needed to work on the Addermire Solution, and also, food sounded revolting right now. She held the gaze for a bit longer, looking back to the side and trying to pick up her flasks again.

Aramis sighed, keeping his grip on her wrist and leading her away from the counter. Alexandria blinked in confusion, but followed none the less. "Aramis?" she asked, confusion obvious in her voice.

"If you want to act childishly, then I'll treat you like a child, Alexandria," he explained, as if stating a fact.

The doctor cocked her head, wondering just what he meant by that. She wasn't sure she liked the sound of it. If she wanted to, she could easily pull away - nothing had changed about the grip on her wrist... it was still just as gentle as before. For some reason she didn't really understand, Alexandria allowed him to lead her in to the back room, where she'd been sleeping earlier.

Without another word, Aramis finally let go of her wrist. He hooked his arm around her waist, sitting down on the cot and hoisting her over straight over his lap.

Alexandria gasped as she was lifted up, and once she was set down it didn't take long for her to put two and two together. "Aramis!" she exclaimed, in complete shock.

Before she really had much time to say or do anything else, Alexandria felt a sharp, stinging pain connect with her backside. She let out a high pitched yelp, entire body jolting forward a bit. "Aramis!" she called out again, trying to sound angry, but really she was just tired, both physically and emotionally.

He wasn't holding her down, and he seemed to know that she knew that, as he'd paused his movements. It seemed he was waiting to see what she'd do. Part of Alexandria was ready to jump right back up to her feet and ask him to leave... while the other part of her wanted to stay put. She couldn't honestly put her finger on why she wanted to stay. It definitely wasn't fear; sure, he was bigger than her but Aramis Stilton wasn't exactly a man that instilled fear in to the hearts of people. In fact, he did the exact opposite. She'd hate to think about what condition the miners would be in without him around. No, it wasn't fear... but what was it? Her curiosity finally got the better of her and she stayed still, reaching out and loosely hanging on to the edge of the cot.

She could feel Aramis wrap his left arm around her waist, before she felt his hand come down once again. Alexandria flinched and gasped, hanging on tighter to the cot. Before she had any chance to respond, Aramis explained, "there's something you're not telling me, and if you don't want to then I won't try to force you. Your business is your business, but Alexandria, you can't possibly think I'll just sit here idly while you deny yourself food and sleep."

Alexandria buried her face in to the crook of her arm, sighing and saying quietly, "there's too much to be done."

"There can't possibly be any good reason for starving yourself, Alexandria," Aramis scolded, landing several quick, sharp smacks over her pants. It didn't matter that they were over her pants - Aramis frequently worked side by side with his workers in the silver mines. No one would ever question his arm strength, especially not Alexandria, especially not now.

She buried her face more deeply in to her arm, cringing and trying to hold still. She shut her eyes tightly and said with conviction, "you don't know that." That had come out a bit more strongly than she'd intended it, but she couldn't help it... it was how she felt.

"Hypatia, I don't know what's going on, but I promise you," Aramis said, quickly peppering her backside with harder swats, "starving yourself isn't going to help anyone."

Alexandria knew he was right, but it wasn't really about helping people. It was far more complicated than that. She stayed quiet, shoulders tensing and feet drumming in to the bed in frustration.

Aramis sighed softly, raising his knee up a bit. At first Alexandria wasn't sure why he was doing so, but then when his hand crashed down over the undercurve of her backside she understood perfectly. She yelped loudly, kicking a leg out in protest. Oh, that really didn't feel nice. "You are a doctor, Alexandria, you know better than this, I know you do," he admonished, "why in the world are you doing this to yourself?"

The doctor's shoulders tensed further as something inside of her simply snapped. "Because, I deserve so much more than just a spanking, Aramis!" she abruptly shouted. Alexandria didn't know why she'd suddenly snapped. She just felt so absolutely full of rage. She was immediately regretting her decision to say that, as now he'd halted the spanking and was sure to begin asking questions.

Sure enough, Aramis paused before asking gently, "Alexandria, what could you have done that is so horrible?"

"You have no idea," Alexandria said quietly, shoulders tensing as she already felt tears beginning to brim, "I've... I've hurt people..."

Aramis reached for her shoulders, gently pulling her up and in to a seated position next to him on the cot. Alexandria fought him on it for just a moment, honestly feeling like staying over his lap would be easier so she wouldn't have to look at him... but she eventually allowed herself to be pulled up. She stared down at her lap, unmoving. "Alexandria," Aramis said gently, leaning down a bit to try to look in her eyes, "what do you mean, you've hurt people?"

The doctor shut her eyes tightly to avoid his, gripping her pants in her fists. She shook her head quickly, tensing up even more - her muscles felt like tightly wound springs at this point.

"Alexandria..." Aramis said even more gently, "whatever happened, I'm sure you had a good reason-"

"There was no good reason," Alexandria snapped, jumping to her feet and pacing slightly. She rubbed the bridge of her nose, "there was... no reason in any of this."

Aramis got to his feet, approaching her and slowly grabbing her hands. She cautiously opened her eyes, looking down at her hands before eventually up at him. "Dealing with whatever this is all alone looks exhausting," he observed. He squeezed her hands, offering, "if you don't want to do it alone, you don't have to."

It wasn't that she wanted to do it alone, it was that she didn't see another option. She wanted nothing more than to tell someone, yet at the same time feared it more than anything. Alexandria shook her head, "that's not possible."

Aramis drew his brows further together, asking, "why not?"

"Because," Alexandria said, shutting her eyes tightly again, "if anyone except Emily, Meagan and Sokolov knew... I'd end up in prison, or worse, and... and as much as I deserve it..." She teared up, holding her breath for a moment before admitting, "I don't want to go to prison." Aramis had been an ally of Emily's fight, but he hadn't been on the ship when they found the Crown Killer. She was grateful to the three of them for keeping her secret quiet, even to him.

"If the Empress already knows and hasn't told anyone, then what reason do I have to tell anyone?" Aramis asked, squeezing her hands again, "if she didn't tell anyone then I'm sure it was for a reason."

Alexandria opened her eyes, very slowly looking back up at him. She searched his eyes with her own glassy ones, looking for any kind of truth in that statement. He looked as genuine as always, as well as hopeful that she'd tell him. Oh, was she really going to do this? She sighed, she couldn't continue at this pace for the rest of her life... it had only been a year and she was already physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausted. If she couldn't tell Aramis, was there honestly anyone she'd ever be able to tell?

The doctor screwed her eyes shut tightly yet again, before taking a deep breath. She let it out slowly, before saying quietly, "I... I am the Crown Killer."

There was a long silence, and for a moment Alexandria thought she was going to vomit. She shouldn't have told him, now he was going to leave, and tell Armando, and-

"Alexandria, I think we need to get you some more sleep," Aramis said, sounding very concerned, "you're not the Crown Killer - Emily said she took care of them."

"She did," Alexandria said, slowly drawing her hands away from his.

Aramis frowned, saying cautiously, "Alexandria, you're not making any sense." He tried to guide her back to the cot, probably hoping to get her to lay down.

Alexandria pulled away from him, before asking, "what happened? That night, four years ago."

"What?" Aramis asked, suddenly looking nervous.

Alexandria finally looked back up at him and said more clearly, "the night we summoned Delilah at your manor."

Aramis backed away a bit, "how do you-"

"You'd met the Crown Killer once before, but her face was always hidden," Alexandria said quietly, doing her best to keep her voice from shaking, "that night, the Duke was going to let you see her face, wasn't he?" She was only going to be able to convince him by using the memories she'd obtained in her dreams.

There was a long silence, before he finally nodded and said, "that's... that's right."

Alexandria hung on to her own arms tightly, looking back down at the ground. She couldn't look at him anymore. "You never did show up," she explained, "why not?"

Aramis had visibly paled by now, which she could see as she peeked up through her bangs. It was his turn to look away now, as if he'd been caught harboring some huge, shameful secret. Well, she supposed he had been - she'd been so busy worrying over her own sins that she'd forgotten that he might be insecure about his own. Everything just seemed so small when held up against 'I killed and tortured people, for years, and then ate them,' she supposed.

He sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose and explaining, "someone broke in to my home that night. They didn't take a single thing just... found me in the back garden and knocked me unconscious."

Alexandria finally looked back up at him, a bit shocked, "really?"

Aramis nodded, looking back up as well, "when I woke, I found all of my guard detail unconscious, as well."

"Then you're very lucky," Alexandria pointed out, before slowly approaching him. She wasn't sure if he really wanted her anywhere near him, right now. Sure enough, he was beginning to back up, the smallest hint of fear in his eyes. She sighed, staying where she was and insisting, "I'm so glad you never ended up getting involved. Nothing good could have ever come from that."

By now Aramis was mostly just looking at her in confusion, trying to somehow put two and two together in his head. He just couldn't seem to understand how she could be the Crown Killer, though he still looked frightened, if only a bit. She sighed, figuring she'd better explain. "Do... do you remember when I was working on a serum to help clear the miners' lungs?" she asked.

"Of course," Aramis answered, sounding confused.

Alexandria wrapped her arms tighter around herself as she explained, "I produced a finished serum, but we weren't willing to let the miners test it... so Vasco and I tested it."

"Alexandria!" Aramis scolded, obviously not liking the sound of that.

Alexandria looked down at the ground, "it worked but... it had unintended side effects. Both of us became extremely... aggressive and... and hungry." She felt her stomach churn at that thought. She looked back up at him, trying desperately to read his face, but it was almost blank. She bit her lip, "I decided the serum was a failure, but the Duke heard about what it had done to me and he..."

She couldn't continue, just yet. This was all becoming too much. Alexandria took a shaky breath, burying her face in to one of her hands.

Suddenly there was very real anger in Aramis' voice, "what did he do to you?"

Alexandria put both hands to her face now, holding her breath and shaking her head. He sounded furious, she couldn't look at him. She flinched when she felt him put a hand on her upper arm, not sure how to react. "Alexandria..." Aramis asked again, more gently, "what did he do to you?"

She slowly peeked through her fingers and looked up at him, surprised when she saw that his face was lacking in fear and disgust. No, that was wrong... there was disgust, it just wasn't directed at her. Alexandria carefully pulled her hands from her face, but turned her gaze to the side. "He found a way to get me to take it, apparently over and over," she explained. "All so he could meet her and get her to kill for him," she said, before a heavy jolt of pain shot through her chest and she corrected herself, "to get... to get me to kill for him." She shook her head, shutting her eyes tightly and covering her mouth so he couldn't see it twist. After several moments she finally dared to look up at him, pleading, "I swear, I never knew what was happening!"

Quite a long moment passed, and Alexandria was beginning to fear the worst. She jumped a little as she very suddenly felt two arms wrap around her. Her eyes flew open in surprise, finding her face mashed in to Aramis' shoulder. Her eyes began watering when she realized what this meant. He believed her, he wasn't going to tell Armando, and most importantly, he wasn't afraid of her. Alexandria reached up and loosely hugged him back, shutting her eyes tightly to will the tears back.

"Is this why you haven't been eating or sleeping?" Aramis asked, still keeping her held tightly against him.

Alexandria sighed, nodding and explaining, "so many people died... because of the Duke's lockdown on Addermire. He told people I was perfecting the Addermire Solution... working on a cure for Bloodfly Fever..."

Aramis sighed, pulling away and holding her at arm's length. "So now you feel you must make up for it by keeping your doors open, is that right?" he asked. Alexandria nodded slowly, looking off to the side. He gently squeezed her arms, "Alexandria, I can't even begin to really understand what it's been like for you. I can understand why you might feel like you have to make up for something... but putting your health at risk isn't the answer, here."

The doctor kept her gaze to the side, clamming right back up. If this wasn't the answer, then she really wasn't sure what was. She had a horrible habit of going quiet when confronted - it was much easier to say nothing than to explain the complex and frankly terrifying things she was feeling, right now.

Aramis seemed to notice her train of thought, as he'd already wrapped his arm back around her waist. In one quick movement, she found herself back over his lap, on the cot. It happened so quickly that the first thing to come out of her mouth was a loud yelp as his hand came crashing down yet again.

"Aramis!" Alexandria cried out in protest, but buried her face in to her arm and held still. What was it that was causing her to allow this? Maybe curiosity was partly responsible. Perhaps she was tired of handling this alone, and was willing to try his idea. Maybe she felt she deserved it. All three? She honestly wasn't sure.

Aramis landed several swats in a quick flurry, apparently wanting to get her attention. She gasped and held on tightly to the edge of the cot with one hand. "Alexandria," Aramis countered, "you seem to think that ignoring me will make me go away. Now I know why you've not been sleeping... now, how about eating?"

Alexandria felt her stomach churn at that question, not wanting to answer it. She shut her eyes tightly, saying through grit teeth, "you know what the Crown Killer did to their victims, Aramis. I know you do." She buried her face deeper in to her arm, "there was a reason they were often missing... pieces..."

The spanking halted, and Alexandria waited for what she'd just said to sink in. Waiting for the inevitable disgust and horror. Suddenly she felt him squeeze around her waist, and heard him admit, "I can see why eating might be... a challenge." She thought she might cry from relief - how could someone possibly be this understanding?

"I... I have a hard time keeping meat down," Alexandria admitted, "I do try to eat."

"I'm glad to hear you're at least trying," Aramis concluded, "but have you been trying to sleep?"

He had her there. She sighed, saying quietly, "I did... in the beginning. But, I have so many patients to catch up with and the... the nightmares are constant..."

"Nightmares?" Aramis asked, "about the murders?"

Alexandria nodded hesitantly, "just... about her in general. I didn't remember much at first, and for a while I thought they were just nightmares... but I've come to realize they're just..." She paused for a moment, before continuing, "repressed memories. Or... I hope that's all they are."

"What do you mean, you hope that's all they are?" Aramis asked, cautiously.

Alexandria chewed on her lip, before explaining uncomfortably, "part of me... is afraid it might be relapse..."

"Relapse...?" Aramis asked, going quiet for a moment before asking, "just how did the Empress return you to normal?"

"Vasco..." Alexandria started, feeling a lump in her throat, "Vasco had figured it out, and... began working on a counter-serum." She buried her face in to her arm deeply, holding her breath for a moment before admitting, "but she... I... figured out what he was doing and, and stopped him. He was able to tell Emily where it was, and she finished it." There was a long pause from Aramis, and Alexandria was able to tell what question was now lingering in the air. She teared up, saying quietly, "Bartholomeaus is... he's gone, and it's all my fault."

There was an even longer pause, before Aramis let out a quiet, "oh." It seemed that what she was trying to say had finally clicked. Suddenly she felt a hand on her shoulder, squeezing. "I'm so sorry, Alexandria," he said, voice immeasurably sad.

"You're... you're sorry?" Alexandria asked in disbelief, voice slowly turning to watery anger. "What in the world are you sorry for? You're not the one that... that..." she stuttered, taking a deep breath, before slowly letting it out. Her shoulders shook with both rage and emotional exhaustion as she spat out, "you're not the one that killed your closest friend."

Aramis let out a sad sigh, before lifting his knee a bit once again and bringing his hand back down over her undercurves. Alexandria yelped loudly, not having expected that. "Your anger is displaced, Hypatia," he explained, landing swats in a random pattern as he spoke, "while I cannot exactly blame you for how you feel, most of this anger should be directed at Luca, don't you agree?"

Alexandria gasped and kicked one leg out, hanging on tighter to the cot. She buried her face more deeply in to her arm, shrugging her shoulders weakly. She could feel the lump in her throat climb higher as she tried to speak, finally getting some words out, "I, I don't know. I'm the one that made the serum and... and tested it on myself..."

"I will admit, testing it on yourself may have been unwise," Aramis agreed, swatting a bit harder. Oh, wow, her pants were offering no real protection, here. She whimpered and began whining just slightly, struggling to hold it together as well as she had been. "However," Aramis continued, "in the end, you didn't honestly have any control over what Luca did. He used you, Alexandria! Get mad! Be furious! You have every right to be."

Alexandria held her breath, mulling over what he'd said, in her head. She hadn't really thought much about being angry at Luca, not since she'd first woken up. There were a few small moments, aboard the Dreadful Whale, where all she could think about was the anger at being put to sleep against her will, the rage that she'd been separated from her patients, and worse - forced to be the opposite of everything she ever was. That rage was soon buried by the massive amount of guilt that washed in as her memories began returning at a faster pace. She kept her breath held, not wanting to face the emotions she'd been burying.

Aramis swatted harder, occasionally catching her thighs. She yelped and began squirming, flailing a bit. She wasn't willing to speak, so kicking would have to do! Aramis wrapped his left arm around her waist, holding her somewhat in place as she kicked. "Do you think that Vasco blamed you, Alexandria?" he inquired.

Alexandria bit down on her lip, tearing up and shrugging. Part of her wanted to immediately say yes, because that was what she felt she deserved... but most of her knew that Vasco never blamed her at all. Aramis moved the swats down to her undercurves again, causing Alexandria's resolve to hold still to crumble. Her hand shot back without her even thinking, trying to shield her backside from the assault. Aramis briefly stopped, taking her wrist and pinning it to her side. She let out an angry whine that she didn't know she was capable of making, kicking a leg out in protest. Really, she understood... he couldn't have her hand getting caught, but that didn't mean she had to like it.

It seemed that Aramis also hadn't known she was capable of that sound, because there was a long pause. He pulled his hand back, landing it with a loud crack over her backside, eliciting a high pitched yelp out of the doctor. "Alexandria, Vasco was a good man, an understanding man," he insisted, swatting faster as he spoke, "he wouldn't have ever even created that counter-serum if he'd thought you were making any of those choices of your own volition." He moved the spanks down to her undercurves yet again, asking, "do you know how he knew that it wasn't you?"

Alexandria gasped and kicked her feet rapidly for a moment, before going still and shrugging yet again. Aramis sighed, letting her kick again as he continued to pepper her undercurves with sharp swats. "It's simple, you see... Doctor Alexandria Hypatia helps people... saves people," Aramis explained, occasionally catching her thighs, "she doesn't hurt people."

She gasped as he caught her thighs, but suddenly froze at what he'd said. Alexandria could feel her face getting hotter, and the lump in her throat rising. She tried to fight it back, eyes shut tightly and shoulders trembling.

Aramis seemed to be able to tell that she was trying to bury it down, because he soon began trying to peel back the layers. "I know eating is horrible, and I understand that sleep is terrifying," he said, voice sympathetic as he swatted her thighs a few more times, "but Alexandria, you're a doctor. If you keep evading sleep and food, you're going to end up accidentally hurting someone. I know that's not what you want, is it...?"

Alexandria bit down harshly on her lip, burying her face more deeply in to her free arm and going quiet. After a few short moments, the dam burst - she didn't want to handle this alone anymore. She couldn't handle this alone anymore. A loud, raw wail escaped from her throat as she shook her head avidly from side to side. She certainly didn't want to hurt anyone.

It must have taken Aramis by surprise, as she could feel him flinch, just slightly. Through the sudden, frantic sobbing she could just barely notice that he'd released her wrist and was attempting to get her to sit up next to him on the cot. After several tries, she raised herself up in to a seated position. He tried to pull her in to a hug, but she stopped him for a moment, grabbing on to his upper arms tightly and looking away. Alexandria's body shook with each sob that she was releasing between words, "promise me... promise me if I relapse that... you'll stop me!"

"What are the chances of you relapsing without more of the serum?" Aramis pointed out, obviously trying to talk his way out of making that promise, "and if you did relapse, could we not just make more of the counter-serum?"

"And if... if for some reason that doesn't work," Alexandria explained, trying desperately to catch her breath between words and crying, "then you have to stop me..."

She could almost hear the color draining from his face as he muttered, "Alexandria..."

"No, Aramis!" Alexandria shouted, voice quickly falling apart in to a mess of sorrow, anger, and urgency. She squeezed his arms a bit harder, eyes finally darting back to look in to his. She held her gaze firmly, tears spilling down her face, voice absolutely frantic as she demanded, "p-promise me! Promise me that if it comes down to it, you'll stop me. I... I can't become that again. I'd rather... I'd rather die... so promise me!" She knew she was asking something unspeakable of him, but there weren't many she could ask.

Aramis stared at her in shock for what seemed like forever, eyes wide. Eventually his expression softened and he brought his hands up to rest on her arms, squeezing gently. "I promise, Alexandria..." he said quietly, voice a bit watery.

Alexandria let out a small sigh of relief, just so grateful to have some kind of safety net. The feeling of relief didn't last terribly long, though, because soon the overwhelming feelings that she'd been trying to hold at bay for the past year began crashing in. She wrapped her arms around herself tightly, shutting her eyes and letting out a painful, guttural cry. Aramis reached out and pulled her in to his arms, squeezing her and holding her head to his chest.

Alexandria allowed herself to fall against him, burying her face in to his jacket and sobbing. She reached up with one hand and took a tight fistful of his shirt, pulling slightly and apologizing, "I'm sorry I... I thought I'd have a better handle on, on... whatever this is by now but I, I don't know if I'll ever get over it, I-"

"Get over it?" Aramis asked in surprise, "Alexandria, if I'm completely honest with you, you may not ever 'get over it,' and that's perfectly alright. You're a good person, and unfortunately good people don't just get over something like this in a year's time."

Alexandria held her breath for a moment when she heard him call her a good person. She eventually had to let said breath out, and it was quickly followed by a whimper and louder sobbing. "I k-killed people, slowly just..." she stuttered, taking a deep breath and letting out a loud wail, "and I ate... I ate..."

"Shhh..." Aramis tried, carding his fingers through her hair, "I know."

She was grateful that he'd cut her off, because she really hadn't wanted to finish that sentence. Tightening her grip on his shirt, she buried her face more deeply in to him and sobbed, "I killed... I killed Bartholomeaus..." Any physical strength Alexandria had remaining completely failed her at that moment and she completely collapsed against him. Aramis kept her held up easily, keeping her held tightly and letting her cry. She took a deep breath, shuddering as she did so before whispering, "I loved him." There was a long silence, before she sucked air in to her lungs sharply and proceeded to bawl, "I l-loved him, I... I-"

"Oh, Alexandria..." Aramis murmured, pulling her in closer and beginning to rock back and forth. He continued to run his fingers through her hair, offering quietly, "I couldn't be more sorry..."

Alexandria slowly reached up with both arms, wrapping them around his neck. She kept her face buried in his shirt, hanging on tightly as her body heaved with each heavy sob. She'd hardly allowed herself to feel most of these feelings since she was aboard the Dreadful Whale... especially her grief for Vasco. It was all coming to the surface, now... and it was undeniably extremely painful. For a moment the emotions became too much and she felt incredibly nauseated... but even still she couldn't stop the violent sobs from wracking her body. Aramis stayed silent, seeming to know that there honestly wasn't anything that could be said to console her. The bawling quickly escalated in volume until it was almost screaming, the sound barely muffled by his shirt. "I'm s-so, so sorry!" she cried out, feeling like she had to say that to someone, anyone.

"Alexandria," Aramis offered softly, "none of this was your fault."

She was sure he was trying to make her feel better, but it wasn't working. The sobbing and screaming had reached a point where Alexandria was now suddenly very glad that Susan, as well as everyone else on this floor of Addermire, had gone home for the night. The longer she grieved, the more and more anger finally bubbled up to the surface - anger at both herself, and Duke Luca Abele. "I shouldn't have, shouldn't have tested it on myself," she sobbed, before her face contorted and she finally admitted what she'd been trying to deny for the past year. "I dedicated my entire life to helping people, and he took that and he..." Alexandria stuttered, almost whispering, before breaking back down in to the screaming, "he took that and he, he twisted it! He threw it in the filth!"

Aramis pulled her in closer, giving her a tight squeeze. "He did," he agreed, gently petting her hair back, "and you deserved so much better than that, Hypatia."

Alexandria held her breath for a moment, attempting to calm down. All she could think about were her patients. She suddenly remembered the man that had braved the waters around Addermire in his tiny boat just to bring his dying son to her, only to have the guards turn him away. She finally exhaled, bursting back in to sobs and angrily declaring, "he made them t-turn away my patients!" She buried her face more deeply in to him, trying to muffle the sound even more as she wailed, "people died, I... I could have have helped them, I c-could have helped them!"

The sorrow was clear in his voice as he said quietly, "they deserved better, too, I know... they all did." Alexandria nodded in to his chest rapidly, agreeing wholeheartedly. At the moment, she felt more anger at Luca for separating her from her patients than she did for anything else. She let herself sob and scream - she wouldn't have been able to stop herself if she'd tried, anyway. Not that she would ever admit it, but she knew that finally letting these emotions out was a good thing. However, it was the furthest thing from pleasant.

The crying was powerfully loud and obviously furious, ripping from her throat and echoing off of the walls. This was a vehement storm of emotions - sorrow, shame, fury, and all types of other emotions that she wasn't even sure had names. Aramis kept her held closely, rocking back and forth and staying quiet, other than to occasionally make nonsensical sounds of comfort.

After what felt like forever but was likely a very short time, Alexandria's uncontrollably loud and frantic bawling had died down in to something more manageable. She eventually realized that she'd been clenching the fabric of his shirt rather tightly, and released it, hiccuping and letting out a shuddery breath. She cried quietly, letting out quiet sniffles every now and then as the storm slowly passed. Aramis stayed silent, riding out her emotions with her, all the while carding his fingers through her hair. Alexandria eventually peeled herself away from him, sitting up straight and frowning when she saw the gigantic puddle of tears and mucus on his coat. "I'm sorry," she offered quietly, nodding to the stain.

Aramis looked down at his chest, before shrugging and smiling at her, "oh, I've got all kinds of these things, try not to worry so much." He reached in to his pocket, pulling out a handkerchief and handing it to her.

"Thank you," Alexandria said, voice coming out raspy and hoarse. Just how long had she been screaming? It didn't matter, she supposed. She wiped her face with the handkerchief, before folding it over and holding it to her nose, blowing hard. As the process was repeated several times, she finally began to feel some of the pressure in her face melt away.

"How are you feeling?" Aramis asked, cautiously.

Alexandria thought on that question for a moment, before she finally arrived at an unexpected conclusion. "...Hungry," she answered, sheepishly, slowly looking up at him. She suddenly felt famished - the appetite she'd been trying to ignore was now in the forefront of her mind.

Aramis looked surprised, but soon a grin made its way on to his face as he proclaimed, "well luckily, I brought food." After a moment he frowned, offering, "it's meat, but I also brought some fruit, if you'd prefer that for now."

"I... suppose I really should try to eat some meat," Alexandria admitted, "it has, well, been a few days."

She could see the worry on his face as she informed him she hadn't eaten any meat in days. He got to his feet, heading out of the small room and out in to the lab. Alexandria waited, too exhausted to follow. What had just happened? She still wasn't completely sure why she'd allowed it to happen, but she most definitely felt lighter. Her eyes were scratchy, her head hurt, and she felt like taking a nap... but she felt lighter. Realistically she knew that it wouldn't last, but to get even a short break from the heaviness was a welcome relief.

Aramis hurried back in to the room, carrying a plate of food, along with a glass of water. He handed the plate to her and she didn't hesitate to take it, absolutely feeling the hunger she'd been ignoring so well, before. "Thank you," she said quietly, picking up the fork and pressing it in to the smoked meat. She frowned, hesitating for a moment before asking, "what... what kind of meat is it?"

"It's rabbit," Aramis reassured her as he sat down next to her, not once bringing attention to her odd question. Alexandria nodded, slowly bringing the food to her lips, hesitating yet again. Aramis reached out with one arm, wrapping it around her shoulders and squeezing encouragingly. She took a deep breath, before finally taking a bite and very slowly chewing. She was almost immediately revolted, feeling the way the meat fell apart in her mouth, feeling the fibers tear apart. Alexandria gagged, but did her best to keep her mouth firmly closed, forcing herself to chew. She chewed significantly longer than she needed to, putting off swallowing it... but eventually realized that she'd have to swallow. She took a deep breath, swallowing the meat and almost immediately gagging. It was a struggle for a while, but eventually she won her battle - the bite was staying down. Alexandria frowned, staring down at the rest of the meat on the plate with dread. She was a doctor, and she knew that Aramis was right - if she didn't start eating properly, she could end up hurting a patient. It was incredibly reckless that she'd allowed herself to go so long without proper nutrition. She was very lucky she hadn't hurt anyone. With those thoughts in mind, she forced herself to pick up the remaining meat with her fork, shoving it in her mouth. It was a little too much to chew gracefully, but she wanted this part over as quickly as possible.

As she choked down the rest of the meat, Aramis gave her a squeeze and offered her the glass of water. "Maybe this will help," he suggested.

"Thank you," Alexandria murmured, taking the glass and immediately chugging it to get rid of the taste and texture remaining in her mouth. Next she picked up a grape and popped it in to her mouth, feeling a bit better now that she'd gotten rid of the flavor. She slowly looked up at him, smiling just a bit and pointing out, "I see you're growing a beard and mustache."

Aramis chuckled, feeling at his face as he explained, "ah, yes... the last time I saw the Empress, she said that she felt I'd look good with facial hair. I thought, why not try?"

Alexandria smiled, glad to see that Aramis had grown less worried about his appearance in the past few years. He used to be so paranoid... worried that the nobles wouldn't find him good enough. It was silly, of course they'd never find him good enough - no one born in to poverty would ever be good enough for them. She smiled, agreeing, "I think that she may have been right." She threw a few more grapes in to her mouth, realizing now that she was getting more and more tired with each bite. Her eyes were heavy and burning, both from general exhaustion and the crying.

"Are you getting tired?" Aramis asked quietly, seeming to already know the answer.

Alexandria hesitated for a moment, before regretfully nodding her head. She'd already told him everything, there was no point in lying to him now. "How long was I asleep?" she asked.

"Only around four hours," Aramis said, before asking cautiously, "when was the last time you had a good night's sleep?"

Alexandria shrugged, looking to the side and admitting, "I... honestly don't know."

"That's alright," Aramis assured her, before suggesting, "why not try to get some more sleep?" Alexandria stared at him cautiously, not honestly liking the idea. She had nightmares on a regular basis, and she was quite frankly terrified of what she'd dream right after she'd experienced such intense emotions. He gave her another squeeze, suggesting, "I could stay, if you like."

Alexandria shook her head, "I couldn't ask that of you."

"And why not?" he asked, seemingly sincere.

Aramis was too good for his own good, she felt. She sighed, "Aramis, you need sleep just as much as I do. You've spent enough of your time here, putting up with me."

"Putting up with you?" Aramis asked in disbelief, "Alexandria, you're my friend, I haven't been 'putting up with you'." He sighed, "I'm happy to stay here with you, if you need me." Aramis put his hands on her shoulders, trying very hard to get her to look him in the eyes as he asked, "would sleeping be easier if I stayed?"

Alexandria fought him for a bit when he tried to look her in the eyes, but eventually she gave in and slowly looked up at him. "I, I don't know," she answered honestly, sighing and looking away again, "...maybe." She didn't want to admit it... it was simply that she was tired of lying. It was absolutely exhausting.

Aramis smiled, saying quietly, "then I'll stay... there's another cot, after all, since you're so worried about my sleep, doctor."

Alexandria rolled her eyes a small bit, before sighing and nodding. She was completely exhausted, and after that meltdown she didn't think she had the strength to stay awake. She didn't know how to thank him for staying, and she certainly had no idea how to thank him for still wanting to be here, even after finding out what had happened. Was there really anything she could say?

He got up, taking the plate and the glass from her, setting both on a nearby table. "Come then, let's get you to bed," Aramis offered, gesturing for her to lay down. Alexandria slowly let herself fall on to her side, lifting her legs up on to the cot. She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to stop the burning. He walked over to a nearby cabinet, searching around its drawers before finding what he was looking for - a blanket. He unfolded the blanket, shaking it out and then gently draping it over her.

"Aramis," Alexandria finally said, reaching out and grabbing on to his wrist. She felt like she had to say something, anything. There was a long pause, before she squeezed his wrist and muttered quietly, "thank you."

Aramis shook his head, sitting down on the floor next to her cot, "nonsense. I'm happy to be here."

"I don't... I don't just mean for staying the night," Alexandria tried to explain. He was staying, despite knowing what she was.

His face softened and he reached out to run his fingers through her hair, "again, I'm happy to be here. Now... you should try to sleep, alright?"

Alexandria wasn't sure when her eyes had closed, perhaps while he was speaking? She was absolutely exhausted. She'd put off sleeping for far too long. Maybe the nightmares would leave her alone tonight, or maybe they'd be fifty times worse. At least if she did have a nightmare, she wouldn't wake up alone. "Alright..." she agreed, voice barely audible. The doctor was quickly succumbing to her exhaustion, and the fingers that were carding through her hair definitely didn't help. Alexandria took a deep breath, letting it out slowly and allowing her body to melt in to the cot.

For what felt like the first time in over a year, Alexandria Hypatia slept.

Chapter Text

She hated the bandages. They itched, and obstructed some of her sight. Still, the Duke had insisted - usually she didn't have to wear them around Luca, Breanna and Kirin... but this time they had a guest. The mine baron with the pathetically huge, bleeding heart would be attending their meeting tonight. It didn't seem like a smart idea, but she'd never been one to put much stock in politics or relationships. It honestly didn't matter to her if all of this backfired - she never really cared about the cause... she was in it for the blood, and perhaps the entertainment.

Alex didn't mind risking a little chaos, a little madness.

Breanna, however, seemed far more concerned. "I'm not so sure about this," she exclaimed sharply, pacing just a bit, "why Aramis Stilton? There are dozens of nobles, each with several large homes that we could have chosen from and you chose him?"

A heavy sigh came from the small back room where the Duke and Breanna had set up a shrine. "His home is perfect, I've seen it multiple times throughout my life," Luca explained, "his study is protected by a combination lock, and is mostly isolated." He sighed, "and I will admit, it is partly out of loyalty to my father."

"I don't see why we couldn't have it at my mansion," Kirin interjected before bringing his prosthesis to his mouth and taking a deep breath. Leave it to Kirin Jindosh to turn a prosthesis into a travel-sized hookah, Alex figured.

Luca shook his head, "and risk one of the many visitors trying to conquer your mansion just... jumping out of the walls? No, too risky." He picked his glass of wine up off of the table, taking a sip and musing, "he's probably here, by now." He looked up at Alex, suggesting, "how about you go fetch him?"

"Are you sure you want to send her," Breanna asked, folding her arms, "wouldn't want her to turn him into an appetizer."

"Oh, Breanna," Alex tutted, getting up close and personal and breathing heavily into her ear, "why would I want an appetizer when I could have the main course?" It wasn't the first time that Alex had threatened to eat Breanna, and it probably wouldn't be the last. She wasn't particularly fond of the woman, and she knew that Breanna felt the same way. She'd always treated her as a second class citizen. Who cared if her existence was technically just moderate intracranial swelling? Breanna's pompous attitude was obnoxious and unneeded. Honestly, she would have had her way with Breanna by now if she weren't such a central part of summoning Delilah, and therefor getting the royal blood that she was promised.

The curator pulled herself away from her, heading to the shrine and waving her hand halfheartedly, "be careful with this one, he doesn't know your identity and we should keep it that way until he's shared in some of the culpability. Can't have him flapping his boorish trap, can we?"

"Don't worry your pretty little head," Alex grumbled, heading for the exit to the hidden room, "he doesn't need to know about the little mouse." She opened the door, walking through the small hallway and pulling the lever to open the door that led to the wine cellar.

Sure enough, a somewhat large and stocky, yet obviously unsure man was waiting. He appeared to be closely inspecting a wine label... most likely trying to keep his mind busy. "Aramis Stilton," she exclaimed, causing him to flinch in surprise. "My my my, someone's jumpy," Alex prodded, approaching him and looking up at him through her bandages. "I've been sent to fetch you," she explained, putting extra, annoyed emphasis on the word ‘fetch’. She wasn't a dog.

Aramis looked her over wearily, asking, "and you are?" He looked like he didn't want to be here.

"You can call me Grim Alex," she answered, trying to figure out just why he was here. He was a friendly acquaintance of Alexandria - really, the two were destined to be friends. They were both pathetically... good. She came closer, moving her body around animalistically as she inspected him. He smelled of sweat, minerals, silver... and a disgusting, no doubt expensive cologne. She never understood cologne. Her eyes scanned him over, resting on the large tattoo peeking out from the collar of his coat. ‘Deep Down’, it read. He was always so worried about not fitting in with the nobles, she bet that tattoo drove him insane. Alex brought her face right up to his until it was resting just an inch away, causing him to recoil just slightly. She stared up into his eyes, her own eyes wide as she inquired, "tell me, miner... why are you here?"

Aramis backed away slowly, though his back was soon met with the wine rack. Glass clanked as the wooden rack nearly gave way under his massive weight. "I..." he stuttered, staring down at her, "I have to look after Luca."

She stared more intently for what was likely an uncomfortable amount of time, causing him to begin shifting from foot to foot. She chuckled, backing away from him, "look after Luca?" Alex laughed again before her voice lowered even more, "make no mistake, good Mister Stilton... he's a lot like me. He'd stab you in the back for a bit of gold... I just prefer a different currency." She leaned in closer, whispering, almost hissing, "he would toss you away like so much detritus, if need be." Something softened in his eyes. She cocked her head, "but you knew that already, didn't you? Mmm, so why do you persist...?"

There was a very long pause, followed by a sigh. "I have no idea," Aramis finally answered, looking to the ground.

Alex blinked, before throwing her head back and laughing. He whipped his head back up to look at her, obviously having no idea what was so funny. "Then you're a fool!" she exclaimed, before smirking, "but an honest fool. I like honesty - no need to spin lies or beat around the bush."

"And... why are you here?" Aramis asked cautiously, not fighting her on her assessment.

“I love killing, and they promised me quite a bit of it," Alex answered honestly, grinning at the shock on his face. "Like I said, no need to spin lies," she whispered.

Suddenly a sharp, stern voice called out from behind her, "I thought we agreed that he wasn't an appetizer!" Impatient bitch.

Alex rolled her eyes, exclaiming in a sing-song voice, "Breannaaaa, we talked about this." She turned her back to Stilton, skulking over to Breanna and staring at her. The curator stared right back, not backing away as Aramis had. "Why would I want an appetizer when I could have the main course?" Alex asked, pulling the bandages down to rest below her mouth and quickly sliding her tongue up the side of Breanna's face, leaving a wet streak behind.

Breanna gasped loudly and shoved the other woman away from her, before rearing her hand back and crashing it harshly into her left cheek. Aramis gasped as well, jumping a bit and watching the scene from a safe distance. The killer stumbled backward just a bit, hunching over and wrapping her arms around her stomach. Laughter erupted from deep in Alex's chest as Breanna looked at her in disgust, wiping vigorously at her face with her glove as she proclaimed, "by the Void, you really are a disease, aren't you?!"

Alex laughed a bit harder at her statement, truly almost in hysterics. The idiot didn't even know the difference between a disease and a side effect. She began to run out of breath, laugh getting breathier for a while. Finally she let out a sigh and stood up straight, wiping the tears from her eyes. Oh, that was a lovely reaction. She snorted, looking Breanna in the eyes and saying confidently, "I may be a side effect, but at least I don't taste like a miserable cunt." She turned her head to the side and spat on the floor to illustrate her point, before pushing past Breanna to the hallway as she muttered, "one day you'll all be just like me, anyway." She didn't bother sticking around to hear a response, she just simply chuckled to herself as she returned to Luca and Kirin.

“What's so amusing?" Kirin asked curiously, taking another deep breath from his prosthetic hookah.

Alex chuckled, repositioning the bandages over her mouth and explaining, "just having a bit of fun." As she said that, Breanna came storming back into the room, immediately making her way to the shrine.

Kirin sighed, smiling a bit and raising an eyebrow, "one day you're going to push her too far, you know."

"I have to get my fun in now, before I have to go back to my day job, with the little mouse," she said in obvious disgust.

Aramis finally made his way into the room, asking quietly, "and just what is your day job...?"

Alex let out a little laugh, looking over at Aramis and saying patronizingly, "I help people." Pathetic.

"Doctor Hypatia," a voice echoed off of the walls, turning everything pitch black. Alexandria jolted just slightly, blinking slowly as she opened her eyes. Susan was standing over her cot, smiling apologetically as she said softly, "I'm sorry to wake you, but you have a patient in consultation."

Alexandria immediately sat up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes and saying gently, "it's alright, thank you for letting me know." She raised herself to her feet, stretching her arms out in front of her, before cracking her neck. Ow, she'd slept on that wrong. She reached up, feeling at her hair to make sure she was presentable, before heading out and into her lab and up the stairs. Taking naps in her lab wasn't all that uncommon - she'd been allowing herself a bit more sleep since Aramis had visited, three months back.

Alexandria exited recuperation and headed down the stairs, descending two stories before making her way into the consultation area. Susan was waiting for her, standing outside of one of the doors. Goodness, she was always so much faster than her! To be fair she was in her twenties, and Alexandria was, well, not.

“Your patient is Abigail Blythe," she explained, "she's presenting with wheezing, dyspnea, and abdominal pain." She was silent for a moment, before saying quietly, "and she's in a very bad mood."

It sounded like a clear case of silver dust inhalation - but that was odd... Mrs. Blythe didn't live anywhere near Batista. Alexandria frowned at the warning, saying quietly, "thank you for letting me know." Susan nodded, finally moving out of the way of the door to let Alexandria inside.

As she swung the door open, Abigail's arguing could be heard, "we should just go home, Garrett, I'm fine."

Alexandria interrupted as she shut the door, "Mrs. Blythe, I hear you're having some issues breathing?"

“It's Miss Blythe, now," Abigail snapped, getting to her feet and crossing her arms, "and coming here was a mistake, we were just leaving."

"No we weren't!" Garrett asserted, before looking at Alexandria, "she's always wheezing and she hardly eats anymore."

Alexandria's heart sank when she heard the change of title. What had happened? Before she could ask any more questions, Abigail swept past them, swinging the door open and beginning to leave. Garrett reached out and grabbed her arm, exclaiming, "Abby!"

"No!" the young woman insisted, pulling her arm away and saying, "we should have gone somewhere else."

Garrett shook his head, "Doctor Hypatia is the best doctor in all of the isles!"

"Then where was she when Silas needed her?!" Abigail shouted, before immediately falling into a violent coughing fit. The exertion of shouting alone seemed to badly agitate her lungs, the doctor observed. After a moment, what the woman said finally began to sink in. Silas Blythe must have been one of the many people that had died when Duke Luca Abele closed Addermire to the public.

Abigail coughed harder, grabbing her chest and gasping a few times. Alexandria approached her, placing a hand on her shoulder out of instinct and saying so softly, "Abigail, I'm... I'm so sorry, I-"

Suddenly a sharp pain connected with Alexandria's face, sending her stumbling backward about a foot as she yelped. She grabbed her left cheek, looking up at the distraught widow with big, surprised eyes. "Don't you dare say you're sorry," Abigail spat, angry tears streaming down her face as she said, "sorry won't bring Silas back." She turned on her heel, storming out of consultation. Coughing could still be heard in the distance.

"D-Doctor Hypatia," Garrett exclaimed, "are you alright?"

Alexandria's mind was both racing and at a complete stand still. She couldn't believe Silas was gone. Abigail was so angry and bitter. It was her fault... if only she'd seen through the Duke sooner. After a few moments she realized that she needed to snap out of it and do her job. She had to at least try to do right by Abigail. She stopped the tears trying to pool in her eyes, blinking them back and nodding her head, "yes, I'm fine."

“Please, forgive my sister," Garrett pleaded, "she's still sick with grief."

Alexandria finally peeled her hand from her face, putting on a smile and reassuring him, "there's nothing to forgive, really. It's perfectly understandable." She frowned, saying quietly, "it sounds like she's been inhaling silver dust... I thought she lived in the Aventa Quarter?"

"After Silas passed away, she came to live with me in Batista," Garrett explained, rubbing the bridge of his nose in frustration, "and immediately began working in the mines."

"I see," Alexandria said, sighing when she realized she had to deliver some bad news. "Unfortunately, the only real cure for this is for her to distance herself from the mines for a while. Preferably a long while," she explained, before offering, "but she's not likely to go for that, is she?" Garrett smiled sadly, shaking his head. Alexandria thought quietly for a moment, before suggesting, "how about a break? At least a month."

Garrett frowned more deeply, "she's going to bring up money..."

"Tell your sister to take the time off," a deep, kind voice boomed from across the room. Alexandria looked over, shocked to find Aramis standing there.

"Aramis!" Alexandria exclaimed, "exactly how long have you been there?" She asked partly out of shock, and partly out of embarrassment.

Stilton made his way over to the two of them, "oh, maybe fifteen minutes or so... not long. I told Susan I'd wait until you were done with your patient." Oh, he'd seen everything, then. He smiled at the younger man, offering, "Garrett, tell your sister to take the time off. Myself, and the Family Committee will make sure she's taken care of."

“Mister Stilton," Garrett exclaimed, "are you sure? A month is an awfully long time..."

Aramis patted him on the back, leading him toward the exit of Consultation. "Nonsense, it's no trouble. I want silver, not sick workers," he promised. He stopped at the door, "we'll see what we can do about getting her a mask to filter solids. Unfortunately I don't have enough for everyone right now, so I've been reserving them for the people with lung problems. Soon we should have enough for everyone."

Garrett looked as if a large weight had been lifted from his shoulders. How long had he been worrying? How long had she been putting off coming to Addermire? Garrett reached out and shook Aramis' hand firmly, looking him in the eyes and saying sincerely, "thank you, Mister Stilton."

"It's my pleasure, you and your sister are both fantastic workers," Aramis promised, before attempting to gently nudge him out the door, "now, you'd best go find Abigail."

"Yes sir!" Garrett said, smile beaming as he headed out of the room and down the stairs, "I'll see you tomorrow!"

Aramis waved to him, before turning around and heading back over to Alexandria.

"Not that I'm complaining about you helping my patient," Alexandria said, before expressing her concern, "but he's right, a month is an awfully long time."

He shook his head, promising, "I can afford it." Aramis put a hand on her back, seemingly trying to rush her into one of the consultation rooms as he said under his breath, "we have a problem."

"A problem?" Alexandria asked, automatically mimicking his soft tone as she followed him. Aramis shut the door, running his fingers through his beard in apparent worry as he paced. "Aramis," she prompted, beginning to sound concerned as she shut the door behind them, "what's wrong?"

Aramis sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose as he explained, "Ashworth asked to see me."

Alexandria frowned - nothing good could come from Breanna Ashworth. "What... what did she want?" she asked, not sure that she wanted an answer.

She wanted me to talk Armando into a shortened prison sentence..." he started, pausing for a moment before finally looking up at her, "in exchange for the identity of the Crown Killer."

Alexandria could feel the color draining from her face. She quickly lowered herself down onto a nearby cot, feeling her world crumbling around her. Stilton seemed to have read her face, as he soon rushed over to the cot and knelt in front of her. "Of course I've not told anyone, I came straight here," he promised.

Alexandria stared at the wall, just thinking. Why did Breanna specifically go to Aramis? That was simple, she supposed - he'd allowed them to use his home for the summoning of Delilah. She probably assumed he was the most trustworthy of the new counsel. Maybe she should just allow her to talk... maybe that would be better. Perhaps that would be the right thing. She slowly looked over at Aramis, saying quietly, "why not just let her talk..."

There was a long silence, before Aramis finally exclaimed, "you can't be serious..."

“And why not?" she challenged, "maybe it would be better if everyone just... knew the truth."

Aramis got up from his crouched position, sitting down next to her and asking, "do you really believe that?" Before she could answer he interjected, "Alexandria, you could be separated from your patients again."

Alexandria frowned - he was right. Emily would never allow her to be executed, or to be imprisoned for long... but she'd likely lose Addermire. Abigail's heartbroken voice played over in her mind, and at that moment she knew that giving up wasn't an option. It was definitely a bit selfish, as well... she'd been hoping that he might have an even half good reason to not allow Breanna to talk. As guilty as she felt, she wasn't completely sure that guilt overrode her self preservation. She nodded slowly, looking down at her lap and admitting, "...I have no idea what to do."

A deep sigh escaped from Aramis as he thought for a moment. "I'm... not so sure myself," he said, "you were right to suggest sparing Breanna and Kirin's lives, but I'm afraid it's come back to bite us, now."

Once Armando felt he had a firm grip on his role as Duke of Serkonos, he established a council made up of Alexandria, Aramis, Paolo, and Byrne. The five of them wasted no time trying to decide the fate of Breanna and Kirin, once their trials were complete. Paolo and Byrne argued for their execution, and honestly, she understood why. However, Alexandria could not, in good conscience, see Kirin Jindosh executed. He was no longer a man - he had the brain of a little boy, and no real, concrete understanding of why he'd even been arrested in the first place. Executing him, in her opinion, would be more than a little unethical. As for Breanna, Alexandria argued that the Empress had spared her for a reason, and that they should respect her decision. Luckily, Aramis agreed with her on both counts. Ultimately, Armando broke the tie... choosing to forgo execution. Kirin was sent to an adult care home, and Breanna was sentenced to thirty years in prison. Considering her age, that was a life sentence for Breanna.

Alexandria frowned when he said it had come back to bite them. She turned to look at Aramis as she said firmly, "Aramis, you know this isn't something you have to get involved in. I know you want to help, but I'll... figure this out." She didn't want him getting hurt.

"Nonsense," Aramis insisted, "I told you, you don't have to deal with this alone." Alexandria sighed - he really was too good for his own good. It worried her sometimes. Still, she had to admit that she'd rather not figure this out on her own. There was a long silence between the two of them, before she finally suggested, "how about Addermire...? We could easily play off her information as insanity."

Aramis frowned, shaking his head, "isn't it hard enough to have Luca permanently residing here?"

She sighed, nodding - she supposed he was right. Having the main person that was responsible for turning her into a monster living here wasn't exactly her definition of comfortable. She most certainly didn't want Breanna living here as well. One would think that Alexandria might like Breanna, since Alex disliked her so much... however, her opinion of the curator hadn't really changed all that much. Despite that, she knew that killing her wasn't an option. Emily had spared Breanna, and she didn't want to disrespect that. After all, Emily had spared Alexandria as well.

"...Theo would have understood if the Empress had taken Luca's life," Aramis suddenly exclaimed, "but, I think he would be happy to know she didn't. He'd be grateful to you for keeping him here."

Alexandria wrapped her arms around herself loosely as she said, "I hope you're right." She figured that any parent would want their child to live, but keeping Luca at Addermire wasn't exactly merciful.

She went quiet again, staring at her lap as she thought. How could they keep Breanna quiet without hurting her or moving her to Addermire? Damn it, she had no idea. She was a doctor, this wasn't exactly in her skill set. The worst thing, she realized, was that if Alex was here, she'd know what to do.

By the Void.

Alex would know what to do.

The doctor suddenly rose to her feet, looking down at Aramis and saying quietly, "...follow me." Aramis slowly stood, obviously unsure of exactly what her plan was. She turned on her heel, opening the door and heading out and through consultation, to the stairs.

Aramis was trailing behind her, asking under his breath as they climbed the stairs, "where are we going?"

"My lab," she answered simply, her posture extremely stiff. She led him to Recuperation, taking a deep breath before swinging the doors open and putting on a big smile for the patients that were in the room. There was no reason to worry them. They quickly made their way to the entrance of her lab, and Alexandria closed the door behind them.

"Do you... do you have an idea?" Aramis asked, seeming confused.

Alexandria led him down the stairs, chewing on her lip and admitting, "I don't know. Perhaps." She went into the small office that was off to the side - the office that Alex had used as her own, while she was still here. There was a small trunk in the corner, with an unusually sturdy lock keeping it securely shut. She pulled out her keyring, taking a moment to find the right key before kneeling down on the floor in front of the trunk. Alexandria held her breath as she unlocked it, opening it painfully slowly. She exhaled as she pulled out the first thing she saw, a long, red scarf.

She handed the scarf up to Aramis, and then pulled out a beige hooded jacket. As she held it out in front of herself at arm's length, Aramis asked in quiet disbelief, "is that what I think it is...?”

There was a long silence before Alexandria finally nodded, explaining, "I found it in here when I returned to Addermire. I... didn't know what to do with it so I locked it, and haven't touched it since. Until now."

"Alexandria... exactly what kind of idea do you have...?" he asked cautiously.

She chewed on her lip for a moment before she finally got up to her feet and exclaimed, "we could scare her."

Aramis stared at her for a long while before he finally looked down at the scarf in his hands. "Are you suggesting that you should wear that... and go visit Breanna?" he asked, sounding less than confident in this plan.

"Unless you can think of another idea?" she asked hopefully, not necessarily wanting to go anywhere near these clothes ever again.

A long silence passed, and Aramis finally sighed and shook his head. "I suppose I can't," he admitted.

Alexandria nodded, staring down at the rest of the outfit that was still remaining in the trunk. Just what did she think she was doing? She'd had a sudden jolt of bravery, but now she could feel it melting away as the reality of the situation came crashing down. She looked at the jacket and muttered, "I don't know, I-I'm just a... a little mouse..."

After a long pause, Aramis finally asked, "a little mouse?" Suddenly, his face was stricken with some sort of profound realization. He stepped forward, nodding down to the scarf in his hands and saying, "little mouse, that's what she'd call you, isn't that right?"

Alexandria nodded slowly, saying quietly, "I don't really have a brave bone in my body, when it comes down to it. Maybe if I did... she wouldn't have had control so long."

“You... don't have a brave bone in your body? Truly?" Aramis asked, almost scoffing. "Two years ago, a section of the mine collapsed and one of my workers was trapped. Do you remember what happened?"

Alexandria placed the jacket back into the chest, nodding, "of course, his leg was trapped just below the knee, we had to amputate."

"Yes, we didn't have the machinery on us to move the rocks, and they would have taken too long to remove by hand," Aramis reminded her, "the shaft's integrity had been compromised and it was going to collapse. You stayed with him the entire time, and didn't leave until you got that leg off and got him out of there."

“And? I did what any doctor would have done, Aramis. I'm sorry I... I don't see your point, here," Alexandria exclaimed.

Aramis shook his head, "no, I'm not so sure just any doctor would have done it. Alexandria, that shaft could have collapsed at any time, you could have been crushed, but you didn't care." She finally looked up at him, not entirely sure what he was trying to say. He came closer, holding the scarf out to her as he said, "you're the opposite of her - you get your strength from your compassion. You're no little mouse, Alexandria... you're just wiser than she was."

Alexandria bit her lip, slowly reaching out and taking the scarf from his hand. She ran her fingers over the fabric, feeling her stomach twinge as the fibers turned coarse on one section - blood. She sighed, lifting herself to her feet and setting the textile back in the chest. The thought of wrapping that horrid thing around her neck made her want to crawl out of her own skin, but imagining that her secret might get out or that her ability to practice medicine might be revoked also scared her. What was most daunting, however, was imagining that even more people might die due to her absence. It sounded self centered, but the simple truth was that doctors were in short supply... especially ones willing to accept I.O.U.s, a freshly baked pie, or just a smile for payment in an excruciatingly slowly recovering economy.

"...I'll do it," she murmured, wringing her hands and turning to face her friend. The moment it left her lips Alexandria was already regretting it.

Aramis stared at her with a dumbfounded expression on his face for what seemed to be an eternity. It seemed that his attempts to boost her self esteem had gone in a direction he may have not been planning. Finally, he asked the question that she knew was coming. "How do you plan on convincing her that you're... her?"

Alexandria tried to straighten her back out. "I know I didn't remember much at first, but I've remembered a lot since then," she said, swallowing and stating evenly, "vividly."

"Remembering and being are two very different things," Aramis asserted, "I want to help, but this is insanity. You need to be absolutely sure..."

The alchemist looked down at her shoes, studying the stitching in them. "It's not as if I have ample time to practice, or take a nap to go see her," Alexandria spat out quietly. How could she convince him, and also herself, that she was capable of such a lofty pursuit.

Aramis shook his head, "no, maybe we should find another way... perhaps contact the Empress."

"We do not have the weeks to send a courier..." Alexandria muttered even more quietly.

Silence filled the air between them, slowly sucking the oxygen from the room. She sighed, raising her eyes back up. Her gaze wandered, fixing on the tattoo peeking out from his shirt collar. Abruptly, her earlier dream came racing back to the forefront of her mind. Alexandria's eyes shot back to her shoes as she recalled meeting Aramis in Duke Abele's wine cellar. Oh. She didn't want to do this, but she was sure it would convince him.

"No..." Aramis said, shaking his head, "we'll have to find another way."

Alexandria shut her eyes tightly, taking several ragged breaths and trying to force herself into her own head. She tensed the muscles in her legs, slowly bending her knees before lunging across the room. The mine baron hardly had time to flinch before her fist was wrapped tightly around his tie. She forced a feral growl up from her chest and out of her mouth, shoving him back against the desk with all of her weight.

Aramis let out a loud gasp, huffing and bracing himself against the wood. "Alexandria!" he exclaimed, his shock plainly evident.

Alexandria took a deep breath and forced her gaze upward, shoving her face into his. She consciously peeled her eyes open wide, tightening her throat to the point of pain as she growled, "your honesty can't save me, miner... there's no wholesome way out of this," Aramis' face almost instantly drained of its color - she had apparently jogged his memory. Alexandria could feel her stomach twisting and her head swimming, this entire thing made her sick. Still, she persisted. "You may have been spared becoming one of dear Luca's festering trash heaps, but I wasn't fortunate enough to be knocked out cold, like some people." She tightened her grip on his tie, yanking down on it sharply, eliciting a surprised grunt from him. Alexandria kept her eyes held tightly on his and nowhere else, muttering, "I can do this with or without you."

The air in the room had only gotten thicker, and Aramis hadn't moved once since being pinned against the desk. It looked as if he didn't dare breathe. Oh, what had she done? Alexandria immediately released his tie and stumbled backward, voice quickly bounding from harsh and wild, straight to watery and repentant. "A-Aramis I'm so sorry, I... I was just trying to, to..." she tried to explain, throat growing tight.

Suddenly, a deep chuckle, followed by a roaring laugh escaped from Aramis. He pushed himself back up to his feet, straightening his tie and smoothing his jacket out. "By the void, Alexandria, you truly had me!"

Alexandria let out a relieved sigh, stumbling backward and landing shakily on to the couch. Her stomach burned in defiance, not at all appreciating her boldness. Grimacing just a bit, Aramis made his way over to the couch and sat down next to her. "Perhaps you should practice, beforehand," he suggested, before asking, "are you alright?"

Laughter abruptly erupted from her as she exclaimed honestly, "no, I'd like to vomit." Aramis looked conflicted, as if he wasn't sure if he should laugh as well. She took a few deep breaths, steadying her stomach before asking, "how... long do you think we have?"

"Not long, I'm afraid," Aramis admitted, "she was becoming very vocal, and I fear if she doesn't hear back from me soon, it will be Byrne she calls on next.”

The blood drained from Alexandria's face. He was right, Overseer Byrne would be Breanna's next logical choice. While Overseer Byrne wouldn't necessarily be pleased with speaking to a former witch, she had no doubt he'd be more than ready to hunt down the Crown Killer. He also had a penchant for executing first and asking questions later, meaning that there would be little chance of contacting the Empress before then.

She stared down at the blood crusted scarf she had at some point twisted around her wrist with anxiety. Silence filled the empty space between them for a while, before she finally asked quietly, “...when should I do this?”

“I think you mean when should we do this,” Aramis corrected her, before sighing and running his fingers through his beard. “I wouldn’t recommend waiting longer than another few days.”

Alexandria sighed and unraveled the scarf from her wrist, dropping it back into the chest. “Aramis,” she began, thinking carefully on how to word this, “this isn’t your fight. This could end badly, and I’ve… mostly accepted that it could end with my execution.” She closed the chest, reattaching the large padlock and locking it again. “But you don’t have to risk that. Your life would be in danger, too… and if not your life, your wealth,” she explained.

The miner raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms and booming gently, “have you forgotten where I was raised? Do you honestly believe I would rather let my friend put her life on the line without my help while I sit comfortably in my mansion, than risk going back to the dirt? I like to think you think higher of me than that, Alexandria.”

“That’s just the problem, Aramis, I know you’d risk everything, that’s why I’m reminding you of the risk. You’re too eager to throw it all away,” Alexandria pointed out.

Aramis sighed, sitting down on the couch across from the chest. “I have long played the coward, Alexandria. Perhaps if I had stood up to Luca, not allowed him to have that seance at my house…” he trailed off.

“If you’d done that, they would have just had it elsewhere. Or worse,” Alexandria said, paling, “he might have sent her… me, after you.”

“Perhaps,” Aramis agreed, “I know you’re right. Still, I can’t help but curse my cowardice.”

The hard lines of stress that had taken a hold of Alexandria’s face softened. She felt like a bad friend - she’d been so wrapped up in what the Duke had done to her that she’d not considered what he’d done to Aramis. “I know, but that doesn’t mean you must put your life at risk to make up for it. Trust me, I know something about that,” Alexandria explained. It had been Aramis, after all, that had convinced her that harming herself due to guilt was not a road that she wanted to travel.

“Your concern is appreciated, but I am not trying to ‘make up’ for anything,” Aramis promised, “but that doesn’t mean I wish to stay the same. I am sick of playing the coward, Alexandria. Please… allow me to help.”

Alexandria drew her lips into a thin line, thinking this over carefully. She couldn’t very well do this alone but at the same time she feared for the stubborn man. “Alright,” she finally conceded, “but if we get caught, I will deny you had anything to do with it, understand?”

“Very well, if that’s what it takes,” Aramis sighed. She wasn’t sure that she believed him, but she stayed silent.

Pursing her lips again, she eyed the chest of clothing wearily. She held her breath for a moment, letting it out slowly as she looked up at her friend. “Alright,” Alexandria said, squaring her shoulders, “how on earth are we going to accomplish this?”

“I think this sounds like a job for Meagan,” Aramis said, running his fingers through his beard. “I’ll go speak with her today.”

“Yes, her and her new friend just moved not too far from the dock yards,” Alexandria agreed, “if anyone can help us figure this out, it’s her.”

Aramis nodded, “then it’s settled. You take care of what needs to be taken care of here, and then we head out tonight.”

“Tonight,” the doctor said, voice shaking, “yes, I suppose we have no choice.”

Tonight, they risked madness.