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"So you have no idea how any of this happens? Or whether we’re supposed to change to hu human isn’t an option, Kayla"

"But how do you know?" I ask "How do you know you have to turn?

"Look inside your own head," he says "It’s what Monarch wanted us to do If we’re going to fix the world to what it e have to be stronger than anything in the world"

"But what about Aiden?" I ask "Is he not a part of this?"

He sighs, standing "He chose not to be a part of this, along with the rest of theer for what happened down there" His voice lowers and so does his eyes "It wasn’t easy"

I think of the torn little boy, begging aze up at him "What started the virus? What started the experi perfection Monarch was seeking a cure," He says "But what started all of it--and ill cure it--I don’t know" A pause "But I think you do"

I rub athas slowed a little, but the numbers are still there "Why me?"

"Because you’re the perfect soldier," he says "You’re the one he finally created that could ith the vampires"

"I’m not a soldier," Ithe truth?" I hate that I have to ask it, but there’s so about him--perhaps that he makes me nervous and that his heart doesn’t beat--that I can’t tell if the words that leave his lips are the right ones

He rubs his lips together, his black eyes burning like charcoal He kneels to the ground, right in front ofto do even before he does it, and I should stop it But there’s soe as he caresses his lips against mine His lips are wariven that was laced with silver I can see what he feels, knohat he thinks Our bodies andbut the truth ever leaves my lips"

My weak heart starts to pound with a feeling I’ve never felt before, but I’ether "I want to see hi else"

He leans back, looking at me funny "Who?"

"Aiden" My heart knocks in my chest

"Whatever you want" He tries to sound calets to his feet and walks out the door, leaving it cracked

I ju for an escape, so I’ll be prepared, just in case this isn’t what it see this reaction was probably instilled by Monarch The perfect soldier I glance over my hands and arm, the cut on my wrist, the veins, the numbers

The door creaks open and Aiden and Sylas walk in, side by side I can see the similarities in their features Sylas’s hair is a little darker and shorter and Aiden’s taller and more est difference is their eyes Honey and black, light and dark

Aiden i "How bad are you hurt?"

"Not too bad" I glance at Sylas, picking his fingernails with a knife

"I’ you about them About you I just didn’t want to lose you to them"

"How poetic" Sylas rolls his eyes "Now that you know he’s okay, let’s get into that head of yours"

Before he can finish, Aiden whirls around, guiding me behind him "You can’t do that--not with her She self-oes under"

"Were not using your littleEmmy"

"You can’t sick Emmy on her," Aiden snaps hotly "She could kill her"

"Wait aout froirl," Aiden tellswhere she can make people reht None of this is right"

"Thing?" I question

"Like how you can send va into peoples’You didn’t think the experi Monarch was trying to create uniqueness--a Highers worst night however you look at it," Aiden says "And let’s not forget to tell her your thing What is it again?" He asks and Sylas glares Aiden turns to me "He can manipulate how people feel"

My face drops "What?"

"Yeah, he can make you feel however he wants you to at thethe truth no matter what you do"

It’s like he knows about the kiss "Look," I say to Aiden "Do you think I know things that no one else does? Things that ether "You don’t have to be one of them to find it out, Juniper"

"That’s not what I’ht know so important that could lead us to a cure"

He shakes his head, frustrated "You said that you heard Monarch saying you were going to fix the world, right?" he asks and I nod "Then there’s your answer"

I take a breath and then step in front of Sylas "Okay, see what’s in h his fingers Emmy walks in Her eyes are black like Sylas’s and her black dress fluffs out at her waist The laces of her ragged boots drag across the floor

"She’s ready for you, Erin

E smile It’s fake, plastic Really she’s afraid Sylas will find out what she’s hiding A dark secret about who she really wants to be