Big thank you to Maryssa (chatnoirinette) for helping me with some of this chapter!

Dark Wings

"Are you sure?" Adrien asked. "We don't know what will happen if this works."

Marinette frowned at the tree. Leaves had started to unfurl, hiding the clawing branches under a cloak of green. It would be beautiful in the end—full and brimming with life. But she still felt its pulsing beat in her bones. Still remembered the threat.

"Soon, I will awaken, and then I will take what I need from you whether you like it or not."

"We have to try," she said. "Carmine is connected to this tree somehow. If we destroy it, maybe we can stop her before she awakens. Maybe we can stop all of this."

He nodded. "Okay. I trust—"

"Stop!"

They both flinched. A swarm of butterflies, gleaming like obsidian, had gathered in the courtyard to shape themselves into Hawkmoth's face. Somehow, his voice was being projected from the fluttering swarm.

"Father," Adrien said in alarm. "You were listening?"

"Did you really think I would leave the tree unsupervised when it was so close to being completed?" Hawkmoth arched his eyebrow, his voice like a smooth sheet of ice. "And see what I discover: my own son plotting to betray me."

Adrien's shoulders hunched. "You didn't give me a choice. I had to do something."

"Oh, I know. I don't even blame you for trying to go behind my back. We are similar in that regard—both determined to save the women we love." He shook his head. "But that's why you need to stop this, son. If you destroy the tree, you will lose her."

All the colour drained from Adrien's cheeks. "What?"

"Don't listen to him." Marinette glared at the fluttering mass. "Of course he would say that. He doesn't want us to ruin his plans."

"I only speak the truth."

She raised her chin. "Like I'm going to believe anything you say."

"You should."

She grabbed Adrien's arm. "Come on. We should act now. I bet he's just worried I'll actually be able to cancel his orders with my own, so he's trying to distract us to give himself time to get here."

"R-right."

"Son." Hawkmoth's hollow eyes fixed on Adrien. "I have been hard on you, I know. Some would say too hard. But everything I have done has been to save your mother. Trust me that I would not wish you to suffer the same pain that I have, not when there is no need."

Adrien stiffened, his shoulders hunching even more.

"Do not destroy the tree. I can help you to protect your wife from Carmine if that is what you're worried about—there is no reason for us to work against each other—but I swear that you will regret it if you go ahead with this plan."

Marinette tightened her grip on Adrien's arm. "He's lying. He's just trying to scare you into obeying him."

Adrien audibly swallowed. "What if he isn't? You're a remnant of creation. You dream about the tree every night."

"That doesn't mean I'll be hurt if it's destroyed."

"She doesn't know what she's saying, son. I have spent years gathering information about the remnants of creation. Believe me, you must not destroy the tree if you wish to keep her safe."

Adrien bit his lip, glancing between the two of them.

"Listen," she said, reaching up to clasp his face. "Your father is trying to manipulate you. Nothing bad is going to happen. This is our chance."

"Don't be foolish, son. You know I would not lie to you about this."

She met his green eyes, her own earnest and imploring. "We have to destroy the tree, and we have to do it now."

"The mortal is going to die. Is that what you want? To be alone again?"

Adrien pulled back. "I …"

"If you listen to her, you will kill the woman you love!" Hawkmoth said ruthlessly. "Is that what you really want?"

Adrien squeezed his eyes shut and placed his hands over his ears. "Stop! Stop!"

She reached for him, softening her voice as if approaching a frightened kitten. "Hey, it's okay. It's going to be okay. Just—"

He shook his head and took another step back. One of the butterflies fluttered towards him, so small and delicate. It sank into his robe like an oozing shadow and the wing-edged outline of a mask formed over his face. He cried out, clutching his head.

"What's happening?" she demanded. "What is that butterfly doing to him?"

"What is necessary," Hawkmoth said calmly.

Adrien collapsed to his knees, clawing at his hair and temples. His expression twisted and he muttered under his breath in a feverish string of no, no, no and I can't, I can't.

Her pulse throbbed in her neck. She rounded on Hawkmoth, her chest tight like a cage trapping her breath in her lungs. "Stop it! Leave him alone!"

"I cannot. I have to ensure that he will use his power as I wish."

"It's not enough to control your son with his true name, but now you do this?"

"It would not be the first time."

Her heart hammered against her ribs. "What?"

"The council was never going to let me have access to this castle, not with the Protector in charge. I simply chose to do what was necessary."

A cold lump settled in her stomach, twisting it into knots. "It was you. You made your son kill the Protector."

She'd had suspicions that he'd played a part somehow, but this was so much worse. Hawkmoth had really taken control of his son and forced him to kill. No consideration for the trauma it would cause. Not even a hint of remorse.

The hollowed eyes shaped by the butterflies stared at her with no emotion. "Like I said, I did what was necessary. As I will do now."

"He's your son! Doesn't that mean anything to you?"

"Getting Emilie back is the only thing that matters!"

It was like a slap to the face. Hawkmoth really didn't care what happened to Adrien. He had never cared.

She gritted her teeth, her nails digging into her palms. "Let him go."

"I think not. You plan to destroy everything that I have worked for. I cannot allow that."

"I won't let you do this to him!"

"And I'm afraid you don't have a choice."

Her eyes flashed. "We'll see about that!" She raised her chin, putting all her willpower into the words. "Adrien, I order you to help me stop your father! You will support me!"

It felt wrong to give him orders. She wanted to cringe, wanted to call the words back and swallow them down where they couldn't be heard. But Hawkmoth had pushed her to this point. If this was the only way to break his control, then she would do what she must.

Except nothing happened. If anything, the wing-edged mask over Adrien's face only gleamed brighter.

Hawkmoth laughed softly. "Oh, did I forget to mention? Your little plan to countermand my commands was clever, I'll give you that, but I don't like to take chances. Even if you could somehow make it work, you'll have a hard time getting through to him now."

"What do you mean?"

"You see, even if I am not the god of emotion, I am drawn to emotions when they're strong enough—it's what helps me choose my champions. Right now, my son's fear of losing you far outweighs anything else." His lips curved. "It's very easy to take that fear and twist it to my will."

"You're a monster," she whispered.

"Think what you will, but all of your tricks and plans are worth nothing now. My control over my son is absolute."

She gritted her teeth so hard it felt like they would snap. "I will stop you."

"You can try." His smile widened. "But you'll have to get through him first."

The butterflies dispersed. Purple rippled over Adrien, turning his hair to the colour of fresh snow. His ears, robe and tail also became white. Even his eyes iced over like a frost snatching all warmth. No more summer green. No more affection. As he stood up and faced her, his expression was as hard and soulless as a golem's.

She swallowed, taking an instinctive step back. Every hair on her arms and the back of her neck prickled. "Cat?" she whispered. Not Adrien. She couldn't say his name when he looked like that. "Are … are you okay?"

"Cat?" he repeated, tilting his head. His voice was like the caress of silk on a knife's point. "No, Marinette. I am Blanc."