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Aria shot up fro it "Hess!" she yelled "What did you do?"
"It was a necessary measure" Hess rose from his seat and joined Sable "They’re on sedatives to keep them submissive We couldn’t control the boy without thee," said Sable He lass wall until he stood in front of Cinder "You can hear us, correct?"
"Yes," Perry growled, answering for Cinder "We can hear you"
Sable smiled, like Perry’s reaction pleased him "Good Cinder, as you’ve just heard, you’re the key to our survival You are the only one who can unlock the door to the Still Blue We need you But in order for you to help us, you have to be taken off the suppressants so you can regain your strength and access the full power of your gift What we can’t have, Cinder, is you using your ability to harm us"
He turned his attention to Perry "That’s where you can help From what Kirra tells me, Cinder has already risked his life for you He looks up to you He’ll listen to you"
Perry’s gaze went to Kirra Teeks ago, Cinder had driven away the Aether so the Tides could reach the cave in safety She’d been there and must have told Sable
"Cinder needs to do for us what he did for you," Sable continued "That will require your help Keep the boy in line as he’s weaned off the suppressants Encourage him to cooperate He has the opportunity to save lives He can becorine A martyr"
"Ahis voice shake
"He’s just a kid!" The words flew out of Perry’s mouth before he could stop them
"He’s thirteen," Kirra scoffed "That’s hardly a kid"
"You have no leverage," Hess said "We have it all"
They did They had Roar and Aria--they could pressure hiree
Cinder began to cry beside him "I can’t!" He looked at Perry "You knoill happen to me"
Perry knew The last time Cinder had called the Aether, it had alnitude of what Sable described would make that certain
As Blood Lord, he’d needed to put people he cared about in danger to help the tribe, but thisa sacrifice? He couldn’t ask that of Cinder
"He’s not doing anything for either of you," Perry said, looking from Hess to Sable "And neither aain He sounded a little s as he said to Hess, "We’ll have to take my approach" Then he lifted his hand in the air "Cinder, I want you to think of these four words: Is it worth it?" he said, counting them off
"If you atteainst us, that’s the question you should ask yourself Then you should think of Peregrine--of Perry there--and consider how much he means to you Think about how you’d feel if he suffered because of you That will happen if you don’t do exactly as I say, and it won’t stop there
"Aria Roar Even the girl at the Tides Kirra tells rasp And I don’t think you want their pain--or their blood--on your conscience On the other hand, if you help us, then your friends will stay safe I’ll bring them all on the journey to the Still Blue, where they’ll live under my protection Rather clear-cut, insense to you?"
Cinder groaned "Yes"
"Excellent" Sable’s eyes glinted with intensity "Then I’ll ask once again: As you regain your strength, will you do exactly as I tell you? Can I trust you to obey me, Cinder? Will you submit your power to me?"
21
ARIA
No!"
Cinder’s ansas a battle cry A sound of raw defiance
The echo of his voice hung in the air as his veins lit with Aether, which covered his face and arhts in the room shuddered Gasps rose up from the Guardians and Horn soldiers Guns flew fro at Cinder
"Stop!" Hess yelled "Put away your weapons! He can’t harm you!"
Aria turned to Roar, whose face flashed with the strobing lights, thinking now
Roar pushed back frorabbed his chair between his bound hands, hurling it at the wall of s
It struck with a crack, bouncing off The glass splintered, spiderwebs splaying across its surface, but it didn’t shatter
Aria dropped and rolled beneath the table
She ca to Perry and Cinder’s cha in panic She jabbed at the security panel A red flashing e told her what she’d already known Only a special access code would get her inside
"Soren!" she yelled, having no idea if he’d help or if he was in league with Hess now
The rattle of gunfire exploded around her She covered her ears, tucking into a ball Gunshots pocked the door in front of her, and the smell of hot metal seeped into her nose She braced for the same slap she’d felt in her arm when she’d been shot in Reverie It didn’t come
"Stop! Don’t hurt the boy! He cannot be harmed!" Hess shouted over the noise Aria peered behind her to see him shove a Guardian, who dropped the pistol in his hand One of the Horns had Roar by the ar toward her from the opposite side of the room
She didn’t see Sable
"Out! Everyone out!" Hess yelled