Page 45 (1/2)

“We will have the sacrifice to—after your departure”

Whoa, what now? “The sacrifice?”

“We el to heaven once you leave us”

Shit, there was a catch A big one

“There is no other way”

There were plenty of other ways…if you weren’t fucking nuts

“We will bind her to the cross—and turn her body to ash so her spirit can return to the sky”

I pictured Laura then Nadine on that cross Beatrice, her skin on fire as she screa far worse…Claire I wanted to flee this place just as much as everyone else, but not under these circuet the police and beat Forneus before he returned to the cult…not in time

My brief ht switch It was devastating, to watch my freedom be snatched away like that, in the blink of an eye “I’ve changed my mind I wish to stay…with you” I could barely force myself to say the words out loud, even if it was a lie, because it was so disgusting

That sel needs her demon”

Sure…whatever you say “I ask for so else”

His smile remained

“A her—and it needs to stop” I suspected I knehat his ansas, but I had to try anyway, do whatever I could to spare her and Claire this horrific pain

“You’re el Not them”

“But they’re els You should protect them too”

“The relationship between deel is intimate and private He knohat’s best for her”

Fuck

Even if I ran away and got caught, Forneus probably wouldn’t do anything But if they got caught…they would be el would be sacrificed The only ere getting out of this place was if we all went together

He watched el is sad”

“I just…wish they had a demon like you”

“I knew you were s under those lights, sent from heaven just for me”

Creepy-ass shit,with it, because I believed that was the reason he’d taken a liking to me, because I fulfilled this ridiculous fantasy that wasn’t based in any forave me what I wanted

He suddenly rose to his feet and extended his hand to me

I stared at it, unsure what to do

He held the posture, patient

I stared at the scar on his hand, the same one I had

“Coether”