United (Magics AU - Part 1)

Chapter 39 - Aaron

Aaron couldn't decide if he was glad he'd stood up and followed his daughter and Marcus into the hall, or if he would have rather stayed seated to avoid this. Though he had never met Tartarus personally, he vividly remembered the rumors that had quickly been spread about the organization of scientists and experimenters, with Tartarus as their leader and spokesperson. During Aaron's reign, there had been a few unsettling stories floating around, ones that including scientific experiments and tests on human beings. But those stories quickly died away when Tartarus himself had appeared in Utopia and accompanied their king and queen in a friendly dinner. The knowledgeable man had claimed that he was not using people as test subjects, and that he would make sure to squash all of those theories about his organization. For years after that, Tartarus and his group had remained an underground subject, something people hardly ever spoke of. Whatever he was doing here, especially right now, was a mystery to Aaron. 

Aaron was standing at Marcus's right shoulder, watching in startled confusion as Linda held Tartarus firmly by the neck, her eyes locked directly with his almost in a challenging way. Tartarus had both hands raised and was looking down at her with wide eyes, his mouth parted slightly in fleeting shock. The guards who had been standing on Tartarus's either side were both turned to watch in confused uncertainty. 

But the surprise slipped away from Tartarus's face, and a slow smile crawled onto the man's face, his brown eyes narrowing as he studied Linda's face. "Ah, Linda," he said in a smooth, very slightly accented voice. "I didn't realize that you would be here, my dear." 

"Call me that again," Linda snapped sharply without moving, "and I will kick you where it hurts." 

"Excuse me," Ruby interrupted before Linda could speak again. The queen raised one hand to gain everyone's attention. "I'm sorry to interrupt this... ahem, lovely banter; but I think we could be handling this a bit differently. Let's start over, shall we? Linda, I have to ask you to step away from him." 

"With all due respect, Your Majesty," Linda said without turning around, "no." 

Aaron frowned at the back of Linda's head, and beside him, Marcus straightened threateningly. "Linda," the king said, "try that again, if you please." 

"I'm sorry, was it not clear enough?" Linda asked mockingly, finally turning slightly to glare icily at Marcus. "I am not letting go of his neck, let alone stepping away from him. He's staying right where he is." She turned back around again before Marcus could protest. 

"Then at least explain yourself," Ruby demanded roughly, gesturing to the man pinned against the wall, even though Linda wasn't looking. "What in the world are you doing this for? He's a guest who simply wishes to speak with us." 

"He's a wretched dog who deserves to be thrown into jail and rot in solitary confinement forever," Linda shot back, her voice like daggers. "He is not here just because he 'simply wishes to speak with you', Ruby. There is no way he doesn't have some deeper, darker motive hidden underneath this."

Aaron couldn't help but wonder how Linda was connected to this man, the one who claimed to simply be a scientist trying to figure out new things that could change the world. From what Aaron had heard about him before, there was true enthusiasm behind Tartarus's motives, almost like an excited child who had just learned something new. 

Linda pushed harder against Tartarus's neck, and the man's smile faltered slightly. "What are you really doing here, Tartarus?" Linda demanded harshly.

Tartarus grimaced under Linda's firm hand, but he kept his hands raised innocently, the sleeves of his white coat bunching up at his elbows. "I assure you, Linda, I am only here to speak with the royalty."