Page 88 of This Ravenous Fate
Dr. Harding seemed to relax a bit. He lowered the gun and sat up so his face was no longer blocked by the desk. “Small contact with the drug will cause amnesia. Your friend might have killed herself to saveyou. I’ve seen it happen in trials. When a reaper is given the cure and is unable to destroy someone near them, they destroy themselves instead. The drug creates an insatiable urge to kill.”
Elise thought back to Theo and Mei, who had been infected and still somehow stopped themselves from hurting her.
Dr. Harding continued, “Stephen Wayne is working on controlling the reaper venom market. He was going broke and figured this would be his big chance to make his money back. He probably went to other scientists first, who refused his ideas because they are so destructive. But I guess my failure caught his eye. My license was revoked after I ran a trial on a reaperhood cure without proper permission and my cure turned them into worse monsters. I want to cure reapers. I want tohelpthem. It was never my intention to turn them worse, or kill them. But Stephen told me I made something wonderful. It was my mistake believing him. But by the time I realized his intentions to make weapons out of reapers, he had already begun poisoning me with reaper venom. It made me bone tired and obedient. I swear, I wanted to do good.” Dr. Harding dropped his head.
Layla narrowed her eyes. She vaguely remembered how strangely he had behaved at the fundraiser. “How do I know you’re telling the truth?”
The doctor moved back behind his desk and pulled open the door to a cabinet where a row of vials sat. “These are actual antidotes that might have the ability to be turned into true cures. Thalia Gray was working on these, developing them from her mother’s work.They should have been given to Mrs. Gray,” Dr. Harding said sadly. “I confiscated them because I knew Stephen would get upset if he saw her working on them, but I believe he already had suspicions…”
Understanding weighed heavily on Layla’s shoulders. She crossed her arms, her glare deepening. “So what are you going to do now?”
“I want to stop Stephen Wayne. I tried to expose him the night of the fundraiser by exposing the real effects of the drug, but the chandelier…I think that was his doing. To stop my demonstration.” Dr. Harding shook his head. “He is planning on presenting these weapons to Hugh Arendale at a rally at the Alhambra tonight. It could be great for Arendale’s platform; people are afraid after the war and they want to make sure they’re protected. The deadlier weapons we have, the safer people will feel. There are many variations of these developing drugs, but none of them are ready. I believe Stephen Wayne originally saw hope in a cure, but grew impatient when so many tests failed. He turned to the darker route of using the monsters to his advantage. Now everyone is in danger.” Dr. Harding shut the door. “Too many people in power choose evil. Stephen wants glory even if it’s in creating destruction. One might say humans are innately malevolent—look at history. It’s not made by great men and great minds, but rather selfish motivations. Great minds can come up with valuable things, but also unfathomable destruction. But regardless, there is always an option. Always a choice to do good. I want to stop him before it’s too late.”
Layla nodded, an idea already popping into her mind. “Can you explain how this poison works?”
***
The Saint mansion rose up in front of Elise. Just a few more steps, and she would be able to face her family again. It had not been her idea; Layla had been the one to insist that she go home and apologize to get back into her father’s good graces.
“We need you in that house, Saint. It’s the only way we can keep close tabs on him,” Layla had said earlier that morning.
Elise’s throat went tight then. “I’m not even positive my father will let me back in the house.”
“Tell him your behavior was completely out of your control because I entranced you with my reaper venom.” Layla leaned against the kitchen counter, her arms crossed. She had been out all night, and when Elise found her in the living room this morning, she had resisted the urge to fall into her arms like a love-cursed muse. “Saint, I’ve got your back. If your father tries anything, I will be right there—”
“No. You have to stay away. He will have you killed,” Elise said quickly.
Layla’s eyes went soft. “I’ll be fine—”
“Promise me you won’t show up. No matter what,” Elise had commanded.
Now she stopped in front of the gates to the Saint estate, her hands up as Saint guards pointed their guns at her. Despite the time she had spent there since coming home, she still didn’t recognize any faces. It seemed the empire was growing and training new membersevery day. Her home started to feel less like one and more like a business the longer time passed.
“I’m here to apologize. Please just tell my father. I’m not here to cause chaos,” Elise insisted.
The Saint guard who was nearest her scoffed. But before he could speak, Sterling’s voice rang out from the now-open front door. “Let her in.”
Elise pushed past the guards and stepped into the house. It felt empty, mostly because her mother did not come sweeping in with a hug and stern words. “Where’s my mother?” Elise asked.
“She’s busy.” Instead of Sterling, it was her father who spoke. He stood outside his study, the door shut firmly behind him, his hands shoved into his pockets. “Care to explain yourself, Elise?”
Guilt dampened Elise’s eyes and she looked down. “Layla made me act for her. You were right. She has corrupted me with her venom.” She looked up, forcing tears into her eyes. “I didn’t mean any of it. I’m sorry for the destruction I’ve caused.”
Her father’s stony expression did not change. “Go clean yourself up. Then we will continue this conversation.” He looked at Sterling, nodding slightly. “Get her Stephen’s antidote—whatever you have left of the one he gave you,” Tobias Saint grumbled as he left the room, Sterling following after him.
Smiling to herself, Elise slipped upstairs to her room. She changed out of Layla’s borrowed clothes and into a formal dress, making sure to hide Layla’s shirt and pants beneath her mattress.
“I want my gun back.” Sterling’s voice turned her around. He seta vial on the nightstand—Stephen Wayne’s antidote.
Elise winced. “I lost it. I’m sorry.”
Sterling stared down at her with a strong jaw and steady amber eyes. He pointed to the antidote. “Take that. Don’t come down until you do.” His voice strained.
Elise’s heart fell as she watched him leave her room. Minutes ticked by, the vial glinting in the evening sun. She swept it into her pocket and headed into the hallway.
The second the elevator doors closed, Elise could not hold back anymore. She doubled over, sobs pouring out of her. Was this all she would amount to in her life? Walking away from one person she loved just so she could take a risk on someone who could barely look at her because it felt like it was the right thing to do?
Elise gripped the elevator railing and breathed hard, trying to calm the torrential downpour of tears. Moments passed as she steadied her breathing. By the time the weight on her chest lifted and the pain alleviated the slightest bit, the elevator reached the main floor.
