Hey hey everyone. Sorry for the slow update. My kids (all three) are home right now and we're doing school from home which requires my computer (lots of online classes) so I don't get as much time to write as I like. Also, I haven't felt as inspired as I would like, but I feel a wave coming on, w00t w00t. Hopefully you enjoy this! I missed all of you and hope I haven't lost anyone! I love you guys. You're the heart and soul of me wanting to write, and I truly hope you all are being safe. I continue to work right now, as I'm in retail, so use caution! (I have vowed to update as I used to…weekly, for anyone stuck at home and I have a new story planned on top of adding to Miraculous Sins and finish Weave of Destiny…sooo…and Madness….)

Chapter Forty-Eight: The Price of Salvation

Plagg snarled, his hyper focused eyes narrowing to dangerous slits as he spied the prey shifting uneasily before his mutated form.

"Ours?" Mayura's voice wavered as she stepped back, her violet and onyx stained eyes darting uncomfortably between the trio flanking her.

Another feral sound emanated from Chat Noir's mouth, and Plagg flexed his tail, slashing it angrily from side to side. His nostrils flared as his green and obsidian orbs flickered towards his injured friend before settling squarely on Marinette. She looked like Queen Bee, after a fashion, but he couldn't mistake his mate's scent anywhere.

He released a low, trickling growl and Mari had the decency to look abashed, dropping her eyes to ground. They would have words later. Right now, he had an enemy to tear to pieces as he

Plagg…

Fine, we'll just maim her a little.

Plagg!

No time!

His altered body closed the distance between the peacock and himself in a single leap just as the woman veered sideways to escape the cluster of heroes. His claws lashed out, scraping through the cloth of her sleeve with ease, the immediate bouquet of her blood filling his already bloodthirsty senses.

Her yelp of pain did little to dissuade his bubbling primal instinct as he dropped to a crouch, tongue rolling out from between his canines long enough to lick along his maw. Get her. The panic erupted in her orbs and he vaulted as quickly as she did, galloping on all four to match her agility as she launched herself upwards to climb the Eiffel tower.

His snarls were full of malice and pleasure as he pawed her boot, delighting in the way she squealed in surprise. He grappled the bars with ease, flinging his body up between two of them to bypass his prey, using his keen balance to maneuver the inside of the structure. His eyes never left his kill, warmth erupting through his body, watching with sheer enjoyment at the way her face twisted in fear…the smell as her heart hammered more frantically.

He popped out above Mayura, using his left hand to hold the tower, pressing his feet into the metal as he snagged the front of her outfit with his free hand deftly. My, my, what do we have here?

"He sssaysss you look tasssty," Sass hissed, snickering, and Chat cast him a narrowed look of reprimand. "Okay, Masssster thinksss you'll have time to think on the way down if he throwsss you."

He rolled his eyes a little, but let it go, flexing his claws, something sharp digging into his palm as he did so. It didn't hurt, but it was annoying.

Adrien…that's her Miraculous.

"I can catch myself," she snarled defiantly, earning a snuffle of laughter from the cat heroine.

"Not without your Miraculousss," Sass interrupted, and Chat tightened his grip around the brooch.

Her muddled eyes widened before narrowing once more. "You wouldn't. You're one of the good guys!"

Chat shook his head, something akin to a smile gracing his muzzle. Sass blinked before displaying a similar look. "The normal Chat would not, however," he tittered. "Plagg would drop you in a heartbeat."

We need to know where Ladybug's earrings are.

Can we drop her afterwards?

An unsettling sense of pleasure came with the thought, and Adrien frowned. Only if we plan on catching her, too.

Aww, man. You're going to owe me so much camembert for that…she TOOK my Tikki…she was going to kill your mate.

Tell us what you did— "Massster insssists you tell him where the earringsss are," the serpent warned, flicking his narrow tongue out.

Adrien's grip slipped, his body plummeting towards the ground before his tail subconsciously reached out to snare the nearest rail, halting his entire body in a jerking motion that slammed his face into the structure of the tower.

A low trickling disapproval leaked freely from his maw, but Plagg was quick to mentally reciprocate his disapproval. You need to focus! Keep your wits about you!

Easy for you to sa—

The world wavered into fine tresses of obsidian and slate tones as he felt himself descending once more, claws clutching his wrist frantically.

Princess Bee, as she temporarily dubbed herself under the circumstances, spiraled elegantly through the air as she witnessed her cat going limp. The string of her top guided her expertly into a practiced arc through the Parisian air. Her deft fingers snagged leather, clutching his body to her chest even as the wide ascent spun into a fall.

Her limbs encircled him, nestling him against her warm body even as they sped towards the pavement beneath the Eiffel tower. In the last possible moments, her wrist flung out, the whirling of her spinning top snagging a piece of the monument, pulling taut enough to yank them off their trajectory and into another swing of acrobatic ease.

The sole of her boot skimmed the hard surface of the ground before leaving the anchor entirely, soaring haphazardly through the air into freedom. The breeze caressed her flushed skin with anticipatory comfort, allowing the calm to settle into the pit of her soul. It afforded the inner voice to come forward, dominating every corner of her present being. It possessed…it filled…it conquered.

"Faith," she growled triumphantly through clenched teeth as she spiraled endlessly. The action coursed easily through her veins, igniting the instinct beneath. "Trust," she screamed, louder this time. The singular word vibrated in the empty space yawning around them until it was the only sound that existed.

Vibrant sapphire eyes skimmed the seemingly never ending sky as the descent began, allowing her stomach to freefall, coinciding with her body…and that of her lover's. She would never let him go. Never again. The mistakes mounting amidst her indecision and uncertainty always weighed against her. The fact that she kept trying to go 'it' alone assured her defeat in every aspect. Here. Right now. This is what felt right. Only as a team would they find victory.

Marinette's feet met the pavement, but she found herself unprepared for impact, jackknifing with the connection. Her arms instinctively wrapped Chat's body against her chest as they toppled several agonizing feet, each sliding instance scraping a path along her body.

The heroine slid to a stop before automatically getting to her feet, Chat's semi-limp form protected behind her.

"You will never defeat us," she called firmly, confidently, as the crimson liquid trailed steadily from her nose and mouth. "Chat and I will always find a way," she whispered hoarsely, her brusque tone breaking on her affection. "With Chloe," she continued, "We could save the world!"

Mayura's eyes shimmered, the determination deep in their depths giving way. The uncertainty wavered, fracturing on the element of her emotions. She whimpered, the sound barely noticed along the current of the wind.

"I won't give up," the peacock whispered, voice listing along the sentiment of her declaration. The uncertainty coursed heavily through her veins, filling the air with a sweet thickness that stuck in the back of their throats. Even Ladybug felt the emotion, tangent with each beat of Mayura's heart to give way amongst the rapidly unfolding circumstances.

"You don't have to," Sass hissed in Chat's place, snickering maliciously. "Masssster would be happy to hunt you down like the fowl prey you are."

Mayura's eyes shimmered, but her fan flew high into the air, pulling Ladybugs bottom-up attention. Her bright eyes followed the item before she could stop herself, and several sharp points radiated along her body, inciting pain.

The world felt suspended as the copper taste pooled along her tongue. After eternity pulsated along the lengths of time, Mari coughed, crimson spray decorating the air before it splattered along the ground as she found herself on her knees.

The peacock's feathers jutted out of her body from several points of impact. One decayed piece of down had buried itself into the soft flesh of her throat, slightly off center to the left, and she quivered. Each nerve along her body screamed with panic, but oddly, her form stilled, eyes peering curiously at her foe.

"So sorry," she murmured, gurgling on the words as thick scarlet fluid bubbling up from her throat and cascaded over her lips.

"You….You're sorry?" Mayura's head tilted to the side, regarding the spotted heroine more intently now.

"I'm sorry I d-did—" Her lungs protested, and several harsh coughs proceeded until Mari's insides seethed for the oxygen she needed to survive. No immediate relief came, and the world burst into dull fuzzy outlines, dark spots listing along her view.

"Did what!?" The urgency in the woman's voice made Ladybug flinch, and she forced herself to swallow.

"Did—n't….save you," she whispered hoarsely, toppling onto her side as the warmth of her blood flooded her mouth. "You deserved s-s-so much b-better…" she sputtered, eyes sliding closed with languid ease. She felt the beat of her heart, intensified in strength….slowing in speed. It was working harder to preserve her, but it was losing its rhythm. "I g-guess…you'll just have to…f-find," Mari lurched, a gush of life fluid spewing from her mouth to spray the pavement in a violent splash before she settled again. "F-fin-d-d…a way to be happy and s-s-save yourself," she whispered hoarsely as the last of her breath left her body. Then, peaceful darkness was all that was left.

Author Note:

Calerose: I'm glad that you're still interested, and I'm making a vow during this quarantine/crisis that I will get back to updating frequently for those who are stuck at home. Hope you're well!

AquilaVetors: I'm glad that you enjoyed it. I hope you're safe, wherever you are!

Italian Guest: OMG! You're too kind. I actually have another work in mind that I'm going to start, so hopefully I don't disappoint! I promise I'm back to fully writing! Thank you for all your kind words, and I will try to live up to all you think/know! Thank you, truly, from the bottom of my heart.

Faefolk11: I'm glad you think so, and now, things should speed up. I truly apologize for the wait! It's not like me and I feel crappy for it. I will crack the whip and get with the writing team immediately for far more frequent updates ;)

Trying414: I did take the time I needed, and thank you so much for your support. Hope you enjoy!

Norikins: Thank you, but unfortunately, it looks as if the new year has brought us more suffering and melancholy. I, however, and still trying to put one foot in front of the other and hope you're still okay! Thank you, thank you, and thank you. You're amazing!

Kazza2182: I apologize for another long wait, but I appreciate your continued support! Hopefully I haven't lost you.

NazaKaos: Lol, I love Chloe in this story too. I think in the show her character was really doing a 180…and then blah. Sorry, I hate what they did, but I'm not them and we shall march on! Thank you for your continued support!

Guest: I've updated! I'm glad you enjoy :P

ItalianGuest7: I am here to help relieve some of the boredom, I hope anyway. I have vowed to update more as I did before. Once to twice a week. I'm sorry for the long absence. Get ready to have your mind blow….or at least amused :P.