Page 103 of The Puppet Master
I walk to my desk drawer and pull out a bottle I’ve kept specifically for this moment, the moment I choose mercy. I crouch and pull out the dropper from the bottle, yellow liquid filling it halfway.
It feels like admitting defeat when I drip the liquid into Lila’s water bowl. In a way, I am. It’s clear I can’t do this on my own.
Just as I’m putting the bottle away, a knock sounds on my door.
Thorne tries to smile, hip cocked against the doorjamb. “I see the girl is roaming the halls. Does that mean…?”
I could laugh.
“Failure, my love. Not success.”
Thorne frowns. No one is as saddened by the necessity of Sawyer Hansley as him.
Bringing athiefinto the compound… I agree, it’s unpleasant.
Sauntering into the room, Thorne takes a bottle of pills from his pocket and sets them on the desk. “I had to buy these from a drug dealer, just so you’re aware…”
Pulling the bottle toward myself, I try to smile—just to practice. “Thank you for the effort.”
Thorne perches on the desk. “So… If Miss Lila is a failure, does this mean I should head back to the city? Or are we going to let the trafficker pick the girl?”
Movement draws my eyes over Thorne’s shoulder. Lila stands in the doorway, head down, arms wrapped around herself. Her thin body quakes with what I imagine is fear, more than typical.
I frown, snap my fingers, point at the cage. She hurries toward it and crawls inside.
“There’s no need. We’re finished with the experimental captives.”
I truly don’t think I can stomach this again. Not without the promise of success.
“What? I thought his initiation test was?—”
“It is.”
Thorne’s head tips to the side. He waits—patiently—for me to explain, but like a coward, I hesitate.
Father knows.
My sisters know.
The other Keepers know.
But Thorne… For him, I am a mouse.
“I’ve decided to use a woman inside the compound. There’s little doubt he won’t take the challenge seriously, so I’d like to spend the initiation simply learning his methods. Who better for that task than the woman he’s conditioning?”
Thorne’s brows raise. “Smart.”
“Yes… It’s been brought to my attention that he might have an issue opening up to a personality like mine, so I’m going to have Raven conduct his interviews.”
Thorne shifts. His arms cross over his chest. “Raven?”
“Oryou, my love. If you prefer.”
“Are you really going to be okay with that?” he asks, clearly confused.
Tell him.
Just say it.
