Atlas sat still a moment, then got up and went into his room. Pulling his wand from his pocket, he went to the corner and cast a small spell, lifting one of his floor boards, from the hole created he grabbed a small leather pouch, then replaced the floor board before walking back into the main room.
He tossed the bag of coins onto the table, then went to Minerva, placing his hand on her cheek. "No," he said plainly, then pulled her to him for a swift but deep kiss. "I'm not letting you walk out that door," he told her then.
Pulling back, he grabbed the purse off the table and pressed it into her hands. "This is enough to pay you back for the potion, and extra. Trust me, Minerva, I want to do what you want me to do. I want you to not hate me, I want to keep you happy. . . but I can't do it all. But right now, with things the way they are with the decree and. . . and what I've done? Do you think they're just going to let me go after finding out about the people I've killed? They'll lock me up. . . or worse."
He sighed and then touched her face again, gently. "I am afraid," he said. "I'm afraid they won't forgive what I've done. I'm afraid they'll put me away. Please believe that I will do anything for you except this. Let me at least try, okay? Let me try."