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"Cast it out!" the congregation chants

"Stop this!" Grandfather yells

The Howler frantically flays about under the water My chest tightens and I can’t breathe, like I’ Her silver eyes widen and with a terrified gasp she sucks in a fatal breath It’s over They pull her out of the pool and dump her body by my feet Splashes of water drip on ri to the Lupines," Mr Langdon says "For every life they take, ill take one of theirs"

"So sayeth His Mighty," everyone chants

Catherine throws a guilty look in irl, sha in my stomach

"So sayeth us all," I say

7

EDMUND

PATRICK AND DREW PICK UP the girl’s liation files out of the chapel Mrs Langdon looks adoringly up at her husband as they walk down the aisle Tears glisten in Catherine’s eyes as she obediently follows theround still daht’s downpour Woetting ht’s dance and what they plan to wear, the conversation polite and forced In the center of the town square is a large wooden cross,conflict between the Darklings, Lupines and people of Amber Hills that resulted in hundreds of deaths--any citizens caught associating with a Darkling would be tied to the cross, on the Guild’s orders They’d be left up there for days Many would die from exposure or starvation It hasn’t been used in almost two decades, until today that is Patrick binds the dead girl to it as a warning to anyfor another victidon strolls over to Grandfather, his wife still hanging off his arm He can’t be much older than thirty-six, but his sandy beardparents, as it’s cohteen and have your first child at nineteen I look longingly at Catherine, who is outside her house with some kids fro would take her to the dance--strolls over to her He’s lanky in a way that’s stylish rather than aard, with a sprinkling of freckles over his nose and auburn hair He dips his head and whispers so arm around her shoulders Jealousy flares insidemy attention

"Thank you," Grandfather replies coolly "The ending was certainly eye opening"

Mr Langdon gives a forced sth in these terrible times We can’t let the Howlers think they can take our people without consequence"

Grandfather scowls "Is it really worth starting a conflict between our species over four people?"

"If you ask don chi the fact that no one asked for her opinion She looks just like her daughter, with the same brunette hair, pale skin and heart-shaped face "If I had my e’d put them all down We have to protect the children, Hector"

Grandfather slides a look at Mr Langdon "I always do"

Athe dance tonight?" Mrs Langdon asks irl I suspect she wants the girl’s long, snohite hair--Lupine fur is worth a lot ofCatherine, actually," I say

Grandfather arches a thick brow at don replies, clearly disappointed "You’ll have to colance down at my brooolen pants and jacket I’d intended to wear these

"I can’tumA new suit would be very expensive," I don says, brushing soinary dirt off his own expensive frock coat, which has faint fleur-de-lis pattern on it

"Thanks," I say, feeling anything but grateful I hate charity; it’s the sa as pity

"Will you please excuse us?" Grandfather says

I reluctantly follow hi look She’s too busy talking to Eric to noticequarters There are just four rooms in the apartment: a kitchen, a tiny bathroom, Grandfather’s bedroom, and the attic where I sleep The best word to describe our home is sparse The walls are white, the hardwood floors and furniture all the same shade of brown

There aren’t many objects in the kitchen, which is the lass jar filled with dead butterflies, while raph of ray eyes, dark hair and a wide, thin mouth Did she really kill herself, like Mrs Hope said?

Grandfather turns to irl What were you thinking, Eds and humans to date"

"Only because the Guild says so"

"And for a very good reason You only have to look at yourself to understand why"

I flinch

"I’azes down at me with kind eyes, which are so hty every day that I inherited my mother’s eyes and not s; you’re a good boy But His Mighty never ether That’s why their offspring are--"