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“Constance saved her…and killed the Malevolent”

My breath released with relief

“I couldn’t have done that”

“How did she kill him?”

“She stole a knife from her demon”

“What happened to her?”

“Nothing,” she whispered “They just watched her do it It’s a fucking freak show…”

My hands released, the tendons relaxing

“Even if I had been there, I don’t knohat I would have done When they took s…they wanted to do the same to her They took her froed theer to her stomach because she knew her de her That was how it stopped Because of her She said she would take her life if anyone looked at Claire again…and it worked”

I stared at hter alht

“I wanted to give up” She suddenly got choked up, her voice breaking, the tears cascading down her cheeks

My eyes remained on her hands

“But she told me not to… I would have done it if it weren’t for her”

My hand didn’t reach for hers I didn’t provide co

She cried for a while, her loud tears filling the dark bedroom “I can’t stay here, Benton”

I didn’t ask her to stay Not this time

“I’m sorry…”

Her words fell on deaf ears

Green eyes pleaded in silence Desperation filled the air between us A broken voice begged for hter safe

And I’d shut the door in her face

20

Constance

I called for a cab froot into the back, I told him to drive around

Just aimlessly

Through the slick streets, we drove, puddles splashing onto deserted sidewalks, raindrops on the windshield The drops started to fall once again, the rain co back for a second shower

I couldn’t go back to the motel