Aurelius said nothing as he looked into the pretty face.

Behind him, Yulio came up the steps with a gag and rope.

"How could it be you? What happened?" Aurelius cried.

"I need you to learn that leaving. Has. Consequences. Yulio, mind doing the honors?" the woman asked.

"Gladly." Yulio laughed.

Aurelius spun around too slowly and Yulio quickly had the gag and ropes on him. Aurelius grunted and fell to the ground on his knees.

"I..." Aurelius's plea was silenced.

Yulio kicked Aurelius down more. He winced as he skided across the floor.

The woman walked off the platform and went toward Aurelius. She stopped before him. "Pity it had to end this way. To the room, Yulio."

Yulio grabbed Aurelius's ropes and dragged him after the woman. Aurelius struggled to keep his eyes open.

When they reached the room, Yulio tossed Aurelius in a chair and tightening the ropes and removing the gag.

The woman sat in the desk before him. "So, hand it over, and this all will end."

Aurelius straightened. "I will not give it to you."

She sighed. "If this is how it must be." she signaled for Yulio.

"Because I don't have it." Aurelius finished.

The woman stopped Yulio. "What do you mean you don't have it? You always used to have it on you!" she stopped herself. "Oh shit."

Aurelius widened his eyes. "A-Aubrey? Are you serious?"

"Ugh, fine." Aubrey took her hood down.

Aurelius looked away.

"Uh, Aurelius, who is that?" Aubrey asked.

Aurelius turned his head around and looked up. Cosmia stared down at them with narrowed burning white eyes.

Her voice was booming as she spoke. "I don't know what's happening, but I do know it's because I'm angry."

Aurelius sighed and turned back to Aubrey. "I gave it to her in a necklace."

"You what?!" Aubrey shouted, looking up at Cosmia. "Yulio, get her! What are you doing?"

Yulio stopped eating his doughnut and put it on Aubrey's desk. He ran for Cosmia.

Aurelius just smiled. "You're never going to get it, Bry."

Aubrey growled. "Of course I will."

Behind Aurelius, Cosmia accidentally shot Yulio with bright beam from her hand. She smiled and laughed after, realizing her true power.

Aubrey sat stunned in her chair. Cosmia came down and stood by Aurelius.

Aubrey laughed nervously. "Can we...talk this out?"

"Not a chance." Cosmia removed the ropes from Aurelius and tied them tightly around her.

Aubrey whimpered.

Aurelius got up and took Cosmia's hands. Her eyes and body returned to normal.

"I was going to save this for our next time alone, but, now that we're both here, I might as well use it." Aurelius slowly took a box out of his back pocket.

"Have you had that in there the whole time?!" Aubrey shouted.

Aurelius turned his head to her. "What do you think?"

Aubrey grumbled.

Aurelius turned back to Cosmia and really slowly got down.

"OMG OMG OMG, Aurelius you don't even have to ask!" Cosmia exclaimed.

Aurelius laughed once and got back up. "Dear sweet Cosmia, will you marry me?"

Tears started running down Cosmia's face. "The answer will _forever_ be yes."

Aurelius smiled. He leaned down to kiss her and she returned it.