Page 29 of The Reaper's Vice

Like a ghost, he vanishes, leaving me alone in an empty room with nothing but thoughts of the golden-eyed girl to fill my head. Bacchus squawks from the sill, reminding me I’m not as alone as I think. I step over to him, stroking a hand across his silky black feathers, my mind a mess of images and questions—though one shines through brighter than them all.

Just what exactly did they do to you, little dove?

11

SERAPHINA

“THE SHRIKE”

14 years ago…

“Nina! Nina! Guess what, Nina?”

I raise my head from the tatteredNational Geographicmagazine Maggie loaned me, finding the red-haired girl in question racing toward me through the field. Her foot snags on a bramble root in her haste, and she goes flying forward in slow motion.

I’m moving before I even know it, leaping across the short distance and snagging Maggie midair, wrapping my arms around her as I twist so my body takes the brunt of the impact. The air leaves my lungs in a mightywhooshas we crash to the ground, the yellowed grass barely softening the impact as it crunches heavily beneath my back.

“Nina! Why did you do that?” Maggie scurries off me and takes my face between her delicate hands, searching for signs of injury. “Are you okay?”

“Peachy.” I roll to my hands and knees and take several deep breaths. “You should be more careful, Magoo.”

“I’m plenty careful!” Maggie stamps her foot while crossing her arms. “Hey! You didn’t even ask what I wanted to show you!”

I roll my eyes at the eight-year-old, unable to believe she’s only two years younger than me. Madams in Training are forced to mature so quickly, it’s strange Maggie still acts the way she does sometimes.

Of course, part of the reason is because I protect her at every turn.How could I not?Maggie is the best of us. The heart of our messed-up little group. Her joy for life is the only reason half of us keep going every day. Without her, we would be lost.

If only everyone saw it that way…

“Margaret! Seraphina! What are you doing?”

My blood freezes as the familiar lilt of the Madam’s voice carries throughout the clearing, and my terrified eyes find Maggie’s, silently begging her to run.If the Madam catches us out here relaxing…

Maggie shakes her head, puffing her chest out like she’s six feet tall. “I’m not scared of Calathea the Cruel.” Her cobalt eyes shine with pride as she utters the Madam’s secret nickname among the trainees. “I’m not scared of anything.”

A crunch sounds behind us, followed by the unmistakably low growl of Madam’s twin tigers, Nix and Niege. Madam is currently bent over, her shiny auburn hair falling around her face in perfect waves as her arm stretches to grab—oh gGods, no.

“And what… isthis?” Madam’s emerald eyes pierce us with malice as she holds up Maggie’s copy ofNational Geographic. Her twin white tigers Nix and Niege appear behind us, snapping at our heels, their fangs dripping with saliva as they force us to step forward.

Maggie goes to speak, and I shoot my arm out, clapping my hand over her mouth before she has the chance.

“It’s mine, Madam.” I lower my eyes with a feigned look of shame. “Margaret was attempting to confiscate it to show you, and I was trying to fight her off when you found us. I can’t tell you how sorry I am.” I fall to my knees, pressing my forehead to the dirt beneath her feet. “I promise, Madam, it will never happen again.”

“Is this true, runt?” Madam turns her gaze onto Maggie, and I watch from the corner of my eye as her tiny fist clenches at her side.All she has to do is play along and?—

“No. It’s mine.”

My heart falls out of my chest at the beat of silence that follows. Deadly silence. Terrifying silence.

“Nina is trying to take the blame to protect me. It’s mine, Madam. Let her go. She didn’t do anything wrong.”

Madam’s eyes flit between us, their murderous sheen sealing our fate before she even utters a word. “So… you’re telling me Seraphina is a liar?”

Maggie’s face goes white. “Wha? No! She was just?—”

“So which is it,girl?” Madam advances on Maggie. “Did Seraphina steal the magazine, or is she lying to spare you? Thief or liar.Thief. Or. Liar?”

Maggie stutters, her wide eyes flicking from my face to Madam’s in a terrified frenzy. “I don’t… I don’t?—”

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