ears p

d. Life for the Dubois and P

not guilt, but a sense of responsibility to see what had become of the woman he

o, felt a duty to check on his sister, though he

even more dilapidated than th

eyes glinting with a slyness

gesturing vaguely. "Been a han

lked through the

hey sa

e, struggling with several ma

and filthy, her clothes tattered ra

authoritative men, approaching, her

mpering, and scrambled to

ase, master, I be good. I

of submission. Then, remembering what often appeased The Elder,

sgust. "My God, Rory

rrified. "Has

humbled, perhaps resentful, bu

d with some basic respect due to her background, however fallen. They had no

of her complete "degradation," her "madness," or worse, a manipula

said, his voice hard with revulsio

ing. This couldn't be the sister he kne

e more desperate to appease. This was the cycle she

stand their word

eir sister or fiancée, was a fog.