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“S-so he wouldn’t re-turn” His pattern of speech abruptly changed without warning Hisinside hio, s-so it’s easier this way…eas-s-ier for him to move on”

I gripped the edges of the chair and felt the rage pound inBenton that way, for separating a family due to his own cruelty I’d only spoken to Benton once, but I felt like I knew him, like I’d known hiirl?” I hadn’t seen any signs of interest toward Claire They seemed to leave her alone, leave all of us alone But I wasn’t stupid enough to believe it would always stay that way Just the thought of theht break off the edges of my throne

He looked across the room, his eyes lidded “The Divine”

That didn’t answer my question at all, but I couldn’t press him I had to inchhirow suspicious, and that suspicion would get me killed

“This is the first tirow into the el we’ve ever had”

Did he just make this shit up?

“She’ll save us all We just have to wait”

I stared into his eyes and saw everything beneath the surface I saw the darkness of his corrupted mind, of his demonic soul, of the pure insanity that couldn’t be remotely understood This man was beyond help

He heldfor my own truth “You blocked the s in the church Why?”

I was careful with els need privacy to do their work”

He seemed to accept that answer because he was quiet

The silence stretched again, as if he expected e confessional “What are your other sins, Forneus? How else can I help you redeem yourself?” What were his other crimes? What else did he do at this camp? I knew there was far more to this place than met the eye

He looked away, his eyes darting to the sea of candles displayed around the aisles “My last angel was unable to absolve me of my crimes For years, I searched for her replacerace to truly elevate s so graceful That was the first hope I’ve felt in a long ti ti-s, things I can’t control The demon comes forth and takes over…and I lose control My rieved, hated me for what I’d done, so I killed him too I’ve killed every family member I’ve ever had” He looked into my eyes with a reflective expression, but he didn’t look apologetic about the heinous ade shouldn’t con-tin-ue I need to be the las-s-t of my kind—for humanity”

Oh Jesus He was a serial killer