Page 71
“Excuse my friend,” I said quickly. “What he meant was hello, and can we possibly ask you some questions?”
Fear flickered across her face. Completely understandable when you were tied up and confronted by two strange men. “I don’t know you.”
“Tobias Breeze,” I said, gesturing at myself. “And this is—”
“Keaton Levine.”
I inwardly groaned at Keaton’s inability to give a false name.
“I’m Madeleine.” Her brow knitted. “So you’re related to Serena?”
“I am,” Keaton said, his words coming out in a rush. “She was my sister.”
“She…” Madeleine stopped abruptly. “I don’t think I should speak to you. Beloved Father decides who we can talk to. He wouldn’t approve.”
“Well…” I offered her my most charming smile. “He’s not here, is he? And aren’t you already being punished?”
She nodded solemnly. “I am. I welcomed corruption into my heart when I knew what the consequences of such an action would be. But the Beloved Father is generous with his affections.”
Oh yeah, I’d seen just how generous he could be. Tongue, and all.
“He’s a wonderful man.”
“I’m sure he is,” I said quickly before Keaton could argue. “My point is if you’re already being punished, what more can he do?”
“Tobias…” Keaton said, his body language reeking of impatience. At least he’d remembered not to call me August.
I cast him a sideways glance. “Don’t worry, I’ll get to it. Trust me.” I offered Madeleine another smile. “I promise you we’re perfectly harmless.”
She studied my face for a few seconds before doing the same to Keaton. When she turned her attention back to me, there was less fear in her eyes. “Your friend is upset.”
“He is. We just want to know about Serena, and then we’ll leave you alone.”
She bit her lip, indecision written all over her face. Then she gave a jerky nod. “She was my friend, but then she welcomed—”
“Corruption into her heart,” I interjected. “Yeah, I’ve heard the spiel.”
Madeleine frowned. “It is the word of the Lord. He sent the servants of darkness here to test us. If you’re pure, the virus will pass you by, but if you’re tested and found to be lacking, you’ll become one of them. It is the way of the world.”
“Pure!” Keaton snorted. “You hear that, Tobias? You just need to be pure.”
I ignored him, keeping my gaze fixed on Madeleine. “You don’t really believe that, do you?”
“Of course I do,” she said without missing a beat. “It has been proven. The Beloved Father―”
“Tell us about Serena,” I urged. “In simple language. What did she do?”
“She was a glutton. She took more than her share at dinner. It is forbidden.”
“She ate too much?” I said flatly. “That’s it. And they brought her here and tied her up for that?”
“Yes.” Madeleine’s face was expressionless.
“And you think that’s reasonable?” I asked.
“It is the Lord’s will. The dark servants are gluttonous. We as humans should be able to rise above that.”
“And she turned?” Keaton said with a deadly edge to his voice.
