Emilia does not let herself be moved by either of their pleas.

If she allows herself the vulnerability now, there will be no hope for Five Hargreeves. She refuses to resurface from Hell only to tell Allison she has lost a second brother to borrowed agony. She refuses to let her own heart get in the way, whatever becomes of her relationship to Five.

At least he will live long enough to hate her for this.

Hate them.

Wrath issues his directive, and she's all too aware there is no time to waste. She moves where Five cannot, releases the hold on her knife the way an archer loosens an arrow. The sharp point of the dagger's blade lodges straight into the shifter's throat, pleas now gurgled. The sound of Five's name choked.

It is terrible, and it is anguishing, until it isn't. Ben's skin starts to turn scaled and green, his voice revealing a true demonic nature. Five has failed in its mind, and now the shifter screeches at him reproachfully in a language he will not understand. The chains rattle far louder than before, the attempts far more violent.

She strikes yet again.