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“No. But they created me as an experiment—that part is true. ”
“You’ve made yourself into who you are—not them. ”
“He said I was going to self-destruct. He said I was going to die. He said—”
Cinder fell silent as Sable’s voice came through the speakers.
“We need Cinder to get us through that wall of Aether. He’s the only one who can do it. ”
Aria shook her head. “No. It would kill him. And he won’t do it for you. ”
Sable and Hess exchanged a look, but Sable answered. “I think I speak for us both when I say we’re only concerned with your second point, which is why your arrival here couldn’t have come at a better time. ”
He rose from the table and came to the windows. “Hess, make this transparent, please. ”
The glass lost a faint smokiness that Perry hadn’t noticed until then. In the other room two dozen people turned in unison.
Aria shot up from her chair. Fear flashed in her eyes; he hated seeing 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 them. ”
“That’s going to change,” said Sable. He moved along the glass 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. Two weeks 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 become a savior, Peregrine. A martyr. ”
“A martyr?” Cinder whispered beside him, terror making his 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 him to comply—but he still couldn’t agree.
Cinder began to cry beside him. “I can’t!” He looked at Perry. “You know what will happen to me. ”
Perry knew. The last time Cinder had called the Aether, it had almost killed him. The magnitude 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 this . . . a 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 am I. ”
Sable’s voice came through the speakers again. He sounded a little smug 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 attempt to escape or use your abilities against 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 me you’re so fond of. They’re all within my grasp. 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, in my opinion. Is all of this making sense to you?”
Cinder groaned. “Yes. ”
