Artwork for podcast The Voice of Dog
[18+] “Upon Thy Grave From the Ashes of My Heart” by Batced (part 2 of 2, read by Kergiby)
17th October 2024 • The Voice of Dog • Rob MacWolf and guests
00:00:00 00:59:28

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[18+] In 1818, Mary Shelley published her horror masterpiece, a tale of a monster whom its creator cannot love. But that is the story the public think they know…

Tonight’s story is the second and final part of “Upon Thy Grave From The Ashes Of My Heart” by Batced, longtime editor from Thurston Howl Publications. 

Read by Kergiby, a Full Time Panther.

thevoice.dog | Apple podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

If you have a story you think would be a good fit, you can check out the requirements, fill out the submission template and get in touch with us.

https://thevoice.dog/episode/18-upon-thy-grave-from-the-ashes-of-my-heart-by-batced-part-2-of-2

Transcripts

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Today's

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story

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concerns

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adult

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subject

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matter

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for

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mature

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listeners.

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If

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that's

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not

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your

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cup

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of

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tea,

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or

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there

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are

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youngsters

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listening,

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please

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skip

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this

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one

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and

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come

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back

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for

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another

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story

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another

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time.

You’re

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listening

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to

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the

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Ghost

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of

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Dog

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on

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The

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Voice

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of Dog.

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This

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is

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Rob

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MacWolf,

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your

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fellow

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traveler,

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and Tonight’s

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story

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is

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the

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second

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and

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final

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part

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of “Upon

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Thy

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Grave

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From

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The

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Ashes

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Of

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My

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Heart”

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by

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Batced,

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longtime

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editor

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from

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Thurston

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Howl

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Publications.

Read

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by

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Kergiby,

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a

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Full

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Time

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Panther.

Alert

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listeners

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will

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of

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course

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realize that

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this

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is

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not

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the

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story

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with

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which

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they

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are

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long

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familiar. It bears less than

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total

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resemblance to Mary Shelley’s

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groundbreaking

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work,

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and

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to

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the

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Boris

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Karloff adaptation, though precisely how much remains to be seen. And

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if we

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may

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indulge

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in

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brief

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Ashes Of My Heart” by Batced, Part 2 of 2

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

and

pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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to

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me

pedantry:

onto

pedantry:

your

pedantry:

lap.”

Orsino

pedantry:

cleared

pedantry:

his

pedantry:

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pedantry:

and

pedantry:

looked

pedantry:

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languor,

pedantry:

he

pedantry:

said, “On

pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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Miss

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But

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pedantry:

of

pedantry:

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pedantry:

things.”

Elizabeth

pedantry:

grinned

pedantry:

wide. “I’m

pedantry:

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pedantry:

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The

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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say.”
Duke

pedantry:

Orsino

pedantry:

winced.

pedantry:

The

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statement was

pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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soul.

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Miss Shelley’s

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pedantry:

Why,

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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father,”

pedantry:

said

pedantry:

Elizabeth. “And

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provided

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for through

pedantry:

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pedantry:

Frankenstein

pedantry:

estate

pedantry:

by

pedantry:

my

pedantry:

uncle

pedantry:

Alphonse.”

“Yes,

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well,

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“Matter

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stepmother?

pedantry:

Upon

pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

all

pedantry:

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pedantry:

lands,

pedantry:

titles,

pedantry:

and

pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

transferred

pedantry:

to

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her

pedantry:

heirs.

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And

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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me,

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agree?”

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pedantry:

duke

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shifted

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uncomfortably. “Madame

pedantry:

Baroness…”

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the

pedantry:

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like

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poison in his

pedantry:

mouth.

pedantry:

Elizabeth

pedantry:

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tell

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that. “You

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the

pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

And

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what

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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Would

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be

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reclaimed?”

“By

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turning

pedantry:

it

pedantry:

into

pedantry:

a

pedantry:

pleasure

pedantry:

garden,”

pedantry:

answered

pedantry:

Elizabeth. “You

pedantry:

are

pedantry:

right,

pedantry:

however,

pedantry:

I’ve

pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

and

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since

pedantry:

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pedantry:

But

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pedantry:

quite

pedantry:

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I

pedantry:

must

pedantry:

say.”

“Quite

pedantry:

so,”

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murmured

pedantry:

the

pedantry:

duke. “Well,

pedantry:

there

pedantry:

were

pedantry:

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pedantry:

of

pedantry:

course

pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

circumstances

pedantry:

of

pedantry:

Victor’s

pedantry:

habits.

pedantry:

But

pedantry:

your

pedantry:

death

pedantry:

did

pedantry:

change

pedantry:

many

pedantry:

minds and

pedantry:

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pedantry:

chose

pedantry:

to

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pedantry:

it

pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

you

pedantry:

and

pedantry:

your

pedantry:

good

pedantry:

name.”

“Why do

pedantry:

you

pedantry:

keep

pedantry:

saying

pedantry:

that?”

pedantry:

asked

pedantry:

Elizabeth.

“Saying

pedantry:

what?”

“My

pedantry:

death.

pedantry:

I

pedantry:

am

pedantry:

not

pedantry:

dead,

pedantry:

I’ve

pedantry:

returned.

pedantry:

There

pedantry:

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pedantry:

a

pedantry:

difference,

pedantry:

my

pedantry:

dear

pedantry:

duke.”

“So,

pedantry:

there

pedantry:

is,”

pedantry:

snorted

pedantry:

Orsino. “And as

pedantry:

such,

pedantry:

in light

pedantry:

of

pedantry:

our

pedantry:

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pedantry:

acquaintance

pedantry:

and

pedantry:

your…return,

pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

you’ll

pedantry:

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pedantry:

requesting

pedantry:

lodgings?”

“You

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misunderstand

pedantry:

me

pedantry:

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pedantry:

Duke

pedantry:

Orsino,”

pedantry:

the

pedantry:

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pedantry:

said

pedantry:

to

pedantry:

the

pedantry:

wolf.

“What

pedantry:

do

pedantry:

you

pedantry:

mean?”

“I

pedantry:

said

pedantry:

that

pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

And

pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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melodrama,

pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

the

pedantry:

grounds of

pedantry:

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pedantry:

father’s

pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

equally into

pedantry:

the

pedantry:

paws

pedantry:

of

pedantry:

the

pedantry:

last

pedantry:

Lavenza.”

A

pedantry:

growl

pedantry:

left

pedantry:

the

pedantry:

duke’s

pedantry:

gaping

pedantry:

maw as the

pedantry:

short

pedantry:

fur

pedantry:

along

pedantry:

his

pedantry:

back

pedantry:

raised in agitation.

pedantry:

Elizabeth

pedantry:

grinned

pedantry:

widely

pedantry:

at

pedantry:

the

pedantry:

sight;

pedantry:

women,

pedantry:

especially

pedantry:

ladies

pedantry:

of

pedantry:

polite

pedantry:

society,

pedantry:

were

pedantry:

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pedantry:

supposed

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to

pedantry:

speak

pedantry:

as

pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

had.

She

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liked

pedantry:

that

pedantry:

power.

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find that

pedantry:

the

pedantry:

magistrate

pedantry:

will

pedantry:

honor

pedantry:

the

pedantry:

legal

pedantry:

terms,”

pedantry:

she

pedantry:

stated. “Such a

pedantry:

request

pedantry:

will

pedantry:

result

pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

duke,

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

relationship.

pedantry:

And

pedantry:

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provide enough time for

pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

my home,

pedantry:

yes?”

“Quite,”

pedantry:

said

pedantry:

the

pedantry:

duke,

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

poise. “Be

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

this

pedantry:

evening?”

“I

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

Duke

pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

to

pedantry:

do

pedantry:

yet,”

pedantry:

answered

pedantry:

Elizabeth. “I’ve

pedantry:

established

pedantry:

a

pedantry:

residence

pedantry:

in

pedantry:

one

pedantry:

of

pedantry:

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pedantry:

unused

pedantry:

guest

pedantry:

houses

pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

The

pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

my

pedantry:

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pedantry:

than

pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

of

pedantry:

my

pedantry:

father’s

pedantry:

house.

pedantry:

Too

pedantry:

many

pedantry:

vermin

pedantry:

remain,

pedantry:

you

pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

on

pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

soon

pedantry:

enough,

pedantry:

yes?”

Orsino

pedantry:

snarled

pedantry:

something

pedantry:

but

pedantry:

she

pedantry:

did

pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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She

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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just

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and

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

But

pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

all

pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

Of

pedantry:

her

pedantry:

father’s

pedantry:

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pedantry:

friendships,

pedantry:

that

pedantry:

of

pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

their

pedantry:

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pedantry:

even

pedantry:

when

pedantry:

her

pedantry:

father

pedantry:

and

pedantry:

stepmother

pedantry:

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pedantry:

long

pedantry:

passed.

She

pedantry:

did

pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

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pedantry:

credit

pedantry:

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pedantry:

she

pedantry:

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pedantry:

into

pedantry:

the

hallway:

hallway:

at

hallway:

least

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he

hallway:

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hallway:

honest

hallway:

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hallway:

his

hallway:

desires.

hallway:

He had

hallway:

always

hallway:

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hallway:

that

hallway:

way,

hallway:

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hallway:

since

hallway:

she

hallway:

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hallway:

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hallway:

child.

hallway:

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Give in

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belly.

Ten

hallway:

Years

hallway:

Ago

“I

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want

hallway:

you,”

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hallway:

said.

“Forever?”

hallway:

asked

hallway:

Elizabeth.

A

hallway:

pause then, “And

hallway:

ever,”

hallway:

was

hallway:

the

hallway:

answer.

That

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response

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Elizabeth’s

hallway:

heart

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flutter.

The

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what

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as

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Justine

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hallway:

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arms

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kiss.

hallway:

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known

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such

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pressure

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before,

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suffering

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Victor’s

hallway:

hot

hallway:

and

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kisses

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upon

hallway:

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hallway:

lips.

hallway:

But

hallway:

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hallway:

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hallway:

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hallway:

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hallway:

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hallway:

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hallway:

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hallway:

bed.

hallway:

There

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Elizabeth

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returned

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her

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hallway:

Justine’s

hallway:

heart,

hallway:

and

hallway:

felt

hallway:

the

hallway:

muscle

hallway:

beat

hallway:

brightly

hallway:

beneath

hallway:

the

hallway:

binturong’s

hallway:

chest

hallway:

and,

hallway:

in

hallway:

turn,

hallway:

the

hallway:

vixen

hallway:

quivered.

The

hallway:

feel

hallway:

was

hallway:

like

hallway:

the

hallway:

discovery

hallway:

of

hallway:

a

hallway:

wound,

hallway:

but

hallway:

it

hallway:

was

hallway:

one

hallway:

born

hallway:

not

hallway:

of

hallway:

fear

hallway:

or

hallway:

terror,

hallway:

but

hallway:

fascination.

hallway:

Victor

hallway:

had

hallway:

preached

hallway:

before

hallway:

that it

hallway:

was

hallway:

the

hallway:

brain—and

hallway:

only

hallway:

the

hallway:

brain—which

hallway:

held

hallway:

the

hallway:

electrified

hallway:

coils

hallway:

to

hallway:

bring

hallway:

any

hallway:

essence

hallway:

to

hallway:

the

hallway:

useless

hallway:

lump

hallway:

of

hallway:

clay

hallway:

he

hallway:

called

hallway:

life.

hallway:

But

hallway:

as

hallway:

Elizabeth stroked the binturong’s

hallway:

bare

hallway:

chest,

hallway:

she

hallway:

felt

hallway:

that

hallway:

he

hallway:

was—as

hallway:

usual—wrong.

hallway:

There

hallway:

was

hallway:

so

hallway:

much

hallway:

more

hallway:

that

hallway:

made

hallway:

living

hallway:

than

hallway:

chemical

hallway:

or

hallway:

alchemical,

hallway:

things

hallway:

which not

hallway:

even

hallway:

he

hallway:

might

hallway:

discover.

There

hallway:

was

hallway:

love,

hallway:

in

hallway:

all

hallway:

its

hallway:

purity

hallway:

and

hallway:

wonder.

“Mistress,”

hallway:

Justine

hallway:

said,

hallway:

voice

hallway:

quivering. “I’m

hallway:

afraid.”

Victor

hallway:

often

hallway:

spoke

hallway:

of

hallway:

doors;

hallway:

it

hallway:

was

hallway:

how

hallway:

he

hallway:

referred

hallway:

to

hallway:

his

hallway:

work.

hallway:

He

hallway:

wanted

hallway:

to

hallway:

find

hallway:

out

hallway:

what

hallway:

was

hallway:

behind

hallway:

it

hallway:

and

hallway:

the

hallway:

only

hallway:

way

hallway:

to

hallway:

do

hallway:

so,

hallway:

he

hallway:

would

hallway:

say,

hallway:

was

hallway:

to

hallway:

step

hallway:

through

hallway:

it.

“I’m

hallway:

afraid

hallway:

too,”

hallway:

the

hallway:

vixen

hallway:

answered. “Everything

hallway:

is

hallway:

changed

hallway:

and

hallway:

transformed.

hallway:

Soon,

hallway:

I will

hallway:

be

hallway:

married

hallway:

and

hallway:

far

hallway:

from

hallway:

this

hallway:

place.

hallway:

You

hallway:

will

hallway:

be

hallway:

duty-bound

hallway:

to

hallway:

remain

hallway:

here,

hallway:

tending

hallway:

to

hallway:

Uncle

hallway:

Alphonse

hallway:

and

hallway:

the

hallway:

steading…”

“While

hallway:

you

hallway:

and

hallway:

Herr

hallway:

Victor

hallway:

will

hallway:

traverse

hallway:

the

hallway:

world,”

hallway:

replied

hallway:

Justine

hallway:

mournfully,

hallway:

holding

hallway:

to

hallway:

Elizabeth.

It

hallway:

was

hallway:

a

hallway:

reality

hallway:

that

hallway:

Elizabeth

hallway:

did

hallway:

not

hallway:

wish

hallway:

to

hallway:

admit.

hallway:

What

hallway:

was

hallway:

she

hallway:

but

hallway:

the

hallway:

wife

hallway:

of

hallway:

an

hallway:

aristocrat,

hallway:

whose

hallway:

duties

hallway:

were

hallway:

to

hallway:

be

hallway:

seen

hallway:

and

hallway:

not

hallway:

heard

hallway:

and

hallway:

viewed

hallway:

as

hallway:

an

hallway:

equal?

hallway:

Here,

hallway:

with

hallway:

Justine,

hallway:

she

hallway:

was

hallway:

resilient

hallway:

and

hallway:

seemed

hallway:

to

hallway:

be

hallway:

full

hallway:

of

hallway:

the

hallway:

personality

hallway:

denied

hallway:

by

hallway:

Victor.

She

hallway:

was

hallway:

not

hallway:

another

hallway:

of

hallway:

his

hallway:

failed

hallway:

creations.

She

hallway:

was

hallway:

her

hallway:

own,

hallway:

filled

hallway:

with

hallway:

her

hallway:

own

hallway:

thoughts

hallway:

and

hallway:

bursting

hallway:

with

hallway:

her

hallway:

own

hallway:

needs.

And

hallway:

looking

hallway:

into

hallway:

the

hallway:

eyes

hallway:

of

hallway:

the

hallway:

binturong,

hallway:

it

hallway:

all

hallway:

came

hallway:

to

hallway:

her

hallway:

so very

hallway:

plainly.

“I

hallway:

don’t

hallway:

want

hallway:

to

hallway:

marry,

hallway:

Victor,”

hallway:

said

hallway:

Elizabeth.

In

hallway:

that

hallway:

moment,

hallway:

they

hallway:

were

hallway:

each

hallway:

other’s safety

hallway:

net,

hallway:

falling

hallway:

madly

hallway:

into

hallway:

each

hallway:

other

hallway:

and

hallway:

realizing

hallway:

that

hallway:

the

hallway:

divides

hallway:

which

hallway:

sought

hallway:

to

hallway:

conquer

hallway:

them

hallway:

were,

hallway:

in

hallway:

all

hallway:

essences,

hallway:

meaningless.

“Then

hallway:

what

hallway:

is

hallway:

it that

hallway:

you

hallway:

do

hallway:

want,

hallway:

mistress?”

“I

hallway:

want

hallway:

to

hallway:

be

hallway:

saved,”

hallway:

came

hallway:

the

hallway:

answer. “I

hallway:

don’t

hallway:

want

hallway:

to

hallway:

be

hallway:

told

hallway:

what

hallway:

a

hallway:

good

hallway:

wife

hallway:

must

hallway:

do

hallway:

on

hallway:

her

hallway:

wedding

hallway:

night,

hallway:

placing

hallway:

my

hallway:

mouth

hallway:

around

hallway:

Victor’s

hallway:

cock

hallway:

and

hallway:

producing

hallway:

for

hallway:

him

hallway:

his

hallway:

legacy.

hallway:

I

hallway:

want...I

hallway:

want…”

But

hallway:

Elizabeth

hallway:

did

hallway:

not

hallway:

finish,

hallway:

for

hallway:

the

hallway:

words

hallway:

disappeared

hallway:

in

hallway:

a

hallway:

great

hallway:

gust

hallway:

of

hallway:

heavy

hallway:

breathing.

hallway:

Elizabeth

hallway:

tilted

hallway:

her

hallway:

head

hallway:

and

hallway:

received

hallway:

another

hallway:

kiss

hallway:

from

hallway:

Justine.

hallway:

It

hallway:

removed,

hallway:

momentarily,

hallway:

the

hallway:

thoughts

hallway:

Elizabeth

hallway:

had

hallway:

had

hallway:

of

hallway:

earlier

hallway:

that

hallway:

night,

hallway:

when

hallway:

she

hallway:

had

hallway:

gone

hallway:

with

hallway:

Victor

hallway:

in

hallway:

search

hallway:

of

hallway:

perfection

hallway:

for

hallway:

his

hallway:

creation.

hallway:

It

hallway:

felt

hallway:

good

hallway:

to

hallway:

be

hallway:

near

hallway:

the

hallway:

warm

hallway:

glimmers

hallway:

of

hallway:

life,

hallway:

rather

hallway:

than

hallway:

the

hallway:

cold

hallway:

and

hallway:

stiff

hallway:

grays

hallway:

of

hallway:

death.

hallway:

She

hallway:

had

hallway:

beheld

hallway:

oblivion,

hallway:

when

hallway:

separating

hallway:

an

hallway:

eyeball

hallway:

from a

hallway:

retina

hallway:

and

hallway:

touching

hallway:

the

hallway:

many

hallway:

long

hallway:

strands

hallway:

of

hallway:

intestine,

hallway:

helping

hallway:

Victor

hallway:

sew

hallway:

them

hallway:

all

hallway:

into

hallway:

the

hallway:

husk

hallway:

he

hallway:

hoped

hallway:

to

hallway:

raise

hallway:

as

hallway:

his

hallway:

true

hallway:

legacy.

Justine

hallway:

caught

hallway:

the

hallway:

momentary

hallway:

pause

hallway:

in

hallway:

Elizabeth’s

hallway:

movements,

hallway:

afraid

hallway:

she had

hallway:

done

hallway:

something

hallway:

to

hallway:

anger

hallway:

the

hallway:

vixen.

But

hallway:

Elizabeth’s

hallway:

expression

hallway:

changed

hallway:

just

hallway:

as

hallway:

quickly.

hallway:

She

hallway:

wanted

hallway:

to

hallway:

feel

hallway:

this

hallway:

sensation,

hallway:

this

hallway:

unending

hallway:

happiness

hallway:

for

hallway:

the

hallway:

rest

hallway:

of

hallway:

her

hallway:

life.

hallway:

She

hallway:

wanted

hallway:

to

hallway:

touch

hallway:

the

hallway:

binturong’s

hallway:

softness

hallway:

for

hallway:

the

hallway:

rest

hallway:

of

hallway:

her

hallway:

life.

But

hallway:

most

hallway:

of

hallway:

all,

hallway:

she

hallway:

wanted

hallway:

to

hallway:

be

hallway:

part

hallway:

of

hallway:

whatever

hallway:

else

hallway:

could

hallway:

be

hallway:

and

hallway:

shall

hallway:

ever

hallway:

be.
“I

hallway:

love

hallway:

you,

hallway:

Justine Moritz,”

hallway:

Elizabeth

hallway:

said.

“And

hallway:

I

hallway:

love

hallway:

you

hallway:

too,

hallway:

madame,”

hallway:

said Justine.

“I

hallway:

told

hallway:

you,

hallway:

don’t

hallway:

call

hallway:

me

hallway:

that.”

Justine

hallway:

blushed. “I’m

hallway:

sorry.

hallway:

Elizabeth.”

The

hallway:

vixen

hallway:

smiled. “That’s

hallway:

better.”

hallway:

Elizabeth

hallway:

had

hallway:

a

hallway:

vision

hallway:

of

hallway:

the

future:

future:

she

future:

saw

future:

herself

future:

as

future:

a

future:

housewife

future:

yes,

future:

but

future:

not

future:

one

future:

subservient

future:

to

future:

her

future:

husband’s

future:

whims.

future:

She

future:

saw

future:

herself

future:

with

future:

Justine,

future:

working

future:

as

future:

an

future:

equal

future:

partner

future:

and

future:

furthering

future:

her

future:

studies

future:

each

future:

day.

future:

She

future:

saw

future:

Justine,

future:

no

future:

longer

future:

the

future:

subservient

future:

maid

future:

but

future:

her…

“Wife.”

“Hm?”

future:

said

future:

Justine.

“My

future:

wife.

future:

My

future:

wife,”

future:

Elizabeth

future:

repeated

future:

happily. “My

future:

wife,

future:

my

future:

wife!”

“Mistress!

future:

I

future:

mean...Elizabeth...you

future:

don’t

future:

mean…”

“I

future:

do!”

future:

exclaimed

future:

the

future:

vixen,

future:

and grasped

future:

the binturong’s

future:

paws,

future:

looking

future:

her directly

future:

in

future:

the

future:

eyes. “I

future:

do

future:

not

future:

love

future:

Victor.

future:

I

future:

can

future:

never

future:

love

future:

Victor.

future:

But

future:

you,

future:

Justine...it’s

future:

you,

future:

it’s you.

future:

It’s

future:

always

future:

been

future:

you!

future:

My

future:

playfellow!

future:

My

future:

companion!

future:

My

future:

more-than-sister!

future:

My…”

future:

she

future:

paused

future:

on

future:

the

future:

word

future:

before

future:

it

future:

finally

future:

exploded

future:

in

future:

a

future:

burst

future:

of

future:

furious

future:

passion,

future:

tears

future:

spilling

future:

forward

future:

over

future:

her

future:

fluffed

future:

cheeks

future:

and

future:

onto

future:

the binturong.

“My

future:

wife!”

Victor

future:

was

future:

wrong.

future:

Desire

future:

was

future:

not

future:

simply

future:

the

future:

property

future:

of

future:

that

future:

innocent,

future:

fantastical

future:

province

future:

of

future:

the

future:

brain,

future:

the

future:

reactive

future:

tetrahedron

future:

which

future:

controlled

future:

life

future:

and

future:

all

future:

its

future:

matter

future:

and

future:

gave

future:

reason

future:

for

future:

being.

It

future:

was

future:

the

future:

heart—pure

future:

and

future:

simple,

future:

that

future:

somehow

future:

knew

future:

what

future:

it

future:

wanted

future:

long

future:

before

future:

the

future:

brain

future:

did.

future:

And

future:

perhaps,

future:

in

future:

Elizabeth’s

future:

mind,

future:

it

future:

was

future:

not

future:

the

future:

brain

future:

which

future:

held

future:

all

future:

semblance

future:

of

future:

the

future:

individual,

future:

but

future:

the

future:

heart,

future:

with

future:

all

future:

of

future:

the

future:

meaning

future:

and

future:

understanding,

future:

the

future:

logic

future:

and

future:

the

future:

personification

future:

of

future:

the

future:

person,

future:

radiating

future:

its

future:

sweetness

future:

from the

future:

one

future:

to

future:

the

future:

other.

“My wife,” repeated Elizabeth. “I love

future:

you.”

“Forever?”

future:

asked

future:

Justine.

“Forever,”

future:

replied

future:

Elizabeth. “My

future:

wife.

future:

Forever.”

“So!”

future:

said

future:

a

future:

sneering,

future:

solemn

future:

voice,

future:

causing

future:

both

future:

women

future:

to

future:

look

future:

up

future:

to

future:

the

future:

doorway.

It

future:

was

future:

Victor.

“So,

future:

it

future:

is

future:

true.

future:

Girls

future:

do

future:

love

future:

easily,”

future:

he

future:

mused,

future:

talking

future:

a

future:

long

future:

walk

future:

towards

future:

the

future:

bed,

future:

paws

future:

behind

future:

his

future:

back. “A

future:

little

future:

too

future:

easily,

future:

for

future:

my

future:

liking.

future:

But

future:

easily,

future:

nonetheless.”

“What

future:

are

future:

you

future:

doing

future:

here?”

future:

snapped

future:

Elizabeth

future:

cavalierly.

“I

future:

came

future:

because

future:

I

future:

wanted

future:

to

future:

know

future:

what

future:

my

future:

wife

future:

was

future:

up

future:

to,”

future:

replied

future:

the

future:

canine. “Why

future:

she

future:

was

future:

not

future:

in

future:

my

future:

bed,

future:

tending

future:

to

future:

my

future:

needs…my

future:

desires.

future:

My

future:

feelings.

future:

Hopeful

future:

that

future:

she

future:

would

future:

be

future:

with

future:

me

future:

on

future:

my

future:

wedding

future:

night.

future:

And

future:

instead,

future:

I

future:

find

future:

her

future:

handmaiden

future:

tending

future:

to

future:

her

future:

lady.

future:

How…quaint.”

Justine cowered,

future:

apologizing

future:

profusely

future:

as

future:

she

future:

scrambled

future:

to

future:

pull

future:

something

future:

decent

future:

to

future:

cover

future:

herself

future:

and

future:

her

future:

mistress.

future:

But

future:

Elizabeth

future:

stayed

future:

still;

future:

she

future:

had

future:

a

future:

good

future:

look

future:

in

future:

the

future:

mirror

future:

behind

future:

Victor

future:

and

future:

noticed

future:

that he was

future:

holding

future:

a

future:

pistol,

future:

thumb

future:

cocked

future:

on

future:

the

future:

flintlock’s

future:

hammer.

“Victor,”

future:

Elizabeth

future:

started,

future:

but

future:

that

future:

was

future:

as

future:

far

future:

as

future:

she

future:

got

future:

when

future:

Victor

future:

unveiled

future:

the

future:

pistol.

future:

She would

future:

remember—in a

future:

half-fog

future:

as

future:

though

future:

it

future:

were

future:

a

future:

dream—that

future:

the

future:

suddenness

future:

and

future:

speed

future:

was

future:

like

future:

lightning

future:

striking.

future:

The

future:

same

future:

could

future:

be

future:

said

future:

for

future:

receiving

future:

the

future:

ball

future:

from

future:

Victor’s

future:

pistol,

too:

too:

she

too:

remembered

too:

the

too:

piercing

too:

sting

too:

of

too:

the

too:

flintlock’s

too:

ball

too:

entering

too:

her

too:

chest

too:

and

too:

exiting

too:

through

too:

her

too:

back.

too:

And

too:

she

too:

remembered

too:

the

too:

rush

too:

of

too:

something

too:

warm

too:

and

too:

sticky

too:

gush

too:

down

too:

her

too:

neck and

too:

down

too:

her

too:

front,

too:

soaking

too:

the

too:

bed.

too:

She

too:

also

too:

remembered

too:

yielding

too:

from

too:

a

too:

glimpse

too:

at

too:

the

too:

dark

too:

red

too:

giving

too:

color

too:

to

too:

the

too:

white

too:

sheets.

Someone

too:

screamed.

too:

Whether

too:

it

too:

was

too:

herself

too:

or

too:

Justine,

too:

Elizabeth

too:

never

too:

knew.

too:

The

too:

next

too:

instant

too:

which

too:

she

too:

laid

too:

eyes

too:

on

too:

was

too:

the

too:

fainting

too:

Justine,

too:

which

too:

she

too:

feebly

too:

reached

too:

towards

too:

as

too:

her

too:

vision

too:

swam

too:

in

too:

ripples,

too:

her

too:

consciousness

too:

blanking

too:

in

too:

and

too:

out

too:

as

too:

Victor

too:

cackled

too:

over

too:

her.

too:

The

too:

bullet

too:

did

too:

not

too:

kill

too:

Elizabeth,

too:

which

too:

Victor

too:

would

too:

say

too:

was

too:

most

too:

fortunate

too:

as

too:

he

too:

aimed

too:

for

too:

her

too:

head

too:

but,

too:

befitting

too:

his

too:

all-sufficient

too:

philosophy

too:

that

too:

it

too:

was

too:

the

too:

brain

too:

that

too:

held

too:

everything

too:

important

too:

about

too:

life,

too:

was

too:

pleased

too:

his

too:

aim

too:

was

too:

poor

too:

and

too:

produced

too:

his

too:

cavalry

too:

saber

too:

from its

too:

sheath

too:

to

too:

finish

too:

cleanly

too:

what

too:

the

too:

bullet

too:

did

too:

not.

Now

She

too:

was

too:

not

too:

sure

too:

what

too:

she

too:

should

too:

have

too:

said

too:

or

too:

done

too:

then,

too:

when

too:

she

too:

heard

too:

the

too:

voices

too:

come

too:

to

too:

her.

Elizabeth

too:

had

too:

not

too:

made

too:

herself

too:

available

too:

to

too:

Duke

too:

Orsino’s

too:

guests.

too:

Certainly,

too:

they

too:

had

too:

all

too:

seen

too:

her,

too:

flitting

too:

about

too:

like

too:

a

too:

ghost

too:

or a

too:

demon

too:

about

too:

the

too:

grounds,

too:

particularly

too:

as

too:

night

too:

began

too:

to

too:

fall.

too:

But

too:

past

too:

a

too:

certain

too:

hour,

too:

on

too:

certain

too:

moments

too:

of

too:

the

too:

evening,

too:

she

too:

would

too:

disappear

too:

back

too:

into

too:

the

too:

guesthouse

too:

and

too:

none

too:

would

too:

see

too:

her

too:

again,

too:

ignorant

too:

to

too:

all

too:

the

too:

gangrenous glares which seemed to admonish

too:

her

too:

for

too:

her

too:

strangeness

too:

in

too:

their

too:

presence.

The

too:

duke’s

too:

eviction

too:

was

too:

moving

too:

slow

too:

and,

too:

true

too:

to

too:

form,

too:

had

too:

challenged

too:

her

too:

rights

too:

in

too:

front

too:

of the

too:

magistrate

too:

and

too:

the

too:

mayor,

too:

speaking

too:

to

too:

anyone

too:

in

too:

power

too:

to

too:

whom

too:

he

too:

could

too:

plead

too:

his

too:

case

too:

to,

too:

and

too:

all

too:

to

too:

no

too:

avail.

too:

And

too:

so,

too:

he had

too:

begun

too:

to

too:

bide

too:

his

too:

time

too:

with

too:

the

too:

merriment

too:

of

too:

his

too:

pleasure

too:

gardens’

too:

guests,

too:

flirting

too:

with

too:

them

too:

and

too:

glutting

too:

himself

too:

on

too:

food

too:

and

too:

drink,

too:

but

too:

his

too:

growls

too:

did

too:

not

too:

escape

too:

Elizabeth’s

too:

notice.

Nor

too:

did

too:

the

too:

whispers,

too:

all

too:

of

too:

which

too:

regarded

too:

the

too:

curious

too:

disappearances

too:

of

too:

several of the

too:

duke’s

too:

best

too:

guests,

too:

who

too:

were

too:

all

too:

last

too:

seen

too:

invited

too:

into

too:

Elizabeth’s

too:

lodging

too:

and

too:

not

too:

returning,

too:

many

too:

of

too:

whom

too:

were

too:

the

too:

duke’s

too:

better

too:

paying

too:

male

too:

guests

too:

and

too:

their

too:

absences

too:

became

too:

the

too:

talk

too:

of

too:

his

too:

dinner

too:

parties.

too:

The

too:

constables,

too:

alerted

too:

to

too:

these

too:

suspicions,

too:

searched

too:

up

too:

and

too:

down

too:

at

too:

Orsino’s

too:

insistence

too:

and

too:

found

too:

nothing

too:

amiss,

too:

the

too:

vixen

too:

herself

too:

saying

too:

that

too:

the

too:

guests

too:

had

too:

left

too:

of

too:

their

too:

own

too:

accord.

too:

It

too:

was

too:

an

too:

account

too:

that

too:

satisfied

too:

the

too:

authorities

too:

who

too:

did

too:

scent

too:

the

too:

presence

too:

of

too:

the

too:

missing

too:

persons

too:

entering

too:

and

too:

then

too:

detecting

too:

a

too:

lingering,

too:

leaving

too:

scent—despite

too:

Orsino’s

too:

demand

too:

that they

too:

open

too:

the

too:

strange

too:

black

too:

box of

too:

Elizabeth’s,

too:

which

too:

they

too:

declined

too:

to

too:

do.

too:

As

too:

a

too:

respectable

too:

widow

too:

of

too:

the

too:

Baroness’

too:

rank,

too:

they

too:

had

too:

said,

too:

it

too:

would

too:

be

too:

beneath

too:

her

too:

to

too:

be

too:

stripped

too:

and

too:

searched

too:

like

too:

a

too:

common

too:

strumpet.

too:

Strong

too:

words

too:

which

too:

Elizabeth

too:

did

too:

not

too:

care

too:

much

too:

for,

too:

but

too:

appreciated

too:

them

too:

as

too:

she

too:

saw

too:

the

too:

red

too:

and

too:

purple

too:

rage

too:

fill

too:

the

too:

duke’s

too:

face

too:

once

too:

he

too:

realized

too:

his

too:

defeat.

It

too:

was

too:

just

too:

as

too:

well,

too:

Elizabeth

too:

supposed

too:

and

too:

pondered,

too:

as

too:

nothing

too:

was

too:

ready

too:

at

too:

that

too:

time.

too:

Within

too:

a

too:

week

too:

of

too:

her

too:

arrival,

too:

she

too:

had

too:

stopped

too:

into

too:

a

too:

church

too:

presided

too:

over

too:

by a

too:

parson-naturalist,

too:

the

too:

only

too:

individual of

too:

the

too:

clergy

too:

whom

too:

she

too:

believed

too:

would

too:

perform

too:

the

too:

ceremony

too:

she

too:

wished

too:

to

too:

initiate

too:

based

too:

on

too:

the

too:

circumstances.

too:

The

too:

parson

too:

within,

too:

a

too:

genial

too:

elderly

too:

dormouse,

too:

had

too:

known

too:

her

too:

father

too:

and

too:

once

too:

proffered

too:

with

too:

good

too:

wine

too:

from

too:

the

too:

Lavenza

too:

private

too:

stock,

too:

listened

too:

carefully

too:

to

too:

what

too:

Elizabeth

too:

had

too:

to

too:

say.

Like

too:

the

too:

duke,

too:

he

too:

believed

too:

Elizabeth

too:

was

too:

interested

too:

in

too:

the

too:

administration

too:

of

too:

last

too:

rites

too:

for

too:

Victor.

too:

It

too:

was

too:

only

too:

right

too:

and

too:

natural

too:

that

too:

such

too:

a

too:

thing

too:

would

too:

be

too:

the

too:

meaning

too:

of

too:

her

too:

arrival

too:

to

too:

his

too:

church.

At

too:

first,

too:

he

too:

was

too:

in

too:

disbelief,

too:

then

too:

bewilderment

too:

until

too:

the

too:

moment

too:

she

too:

removed

too:

her

too:

veil

too:

and

too:

undid

too:

the

too:

top

too:

buttons

too:

of

too:

her

too:

dress

too:

to

too:

show

too:

him

too:

the

too:

truth

too:

of

too:

the

too:

matter.

too:

And

too:

the

too:

parson,

too:

eyes

too:

paling

too:

yet

too:

remaining

too:

stoic

too:

even

too:

as

too:

he

too:

pulled

too:

another

too:

deep

too:

drink

too:

from

too:

the

too:

Lavenza

too:

wine,

too:

saw

too:

that

too:

she

too:

was

too:

indeed

too:

telling

too:

the

too:

truth

too:

and

too:

offered

too:

what

too:

services

too:

he

too:

could

too:

to aid

too:

her.

Next

too:

came a

too:

visit

too:

to a

too:

seamstress

too:

that

too:

she

too:

had

too:

known

too:

in

too:

her

too:

girlhood,

too:

seemingly

too:

a

too:

lifetime

too:

ago.

too:

She

too:

had

too:

drawn

too:

up

too:

to

too:

her

too:

front

too:

porch

too:

in

too:

the

too:

wagon,

too:

with

too:

the

too:

big

too:

black

too:

box

too:

behind

too:

her

too:

and,

too:

with

too:

the

too:

assistance

too:

of

too:

the

too:

seamstress’

too:

strapping

too:

sons,

too:

brought

too:

the

too:

box

too:

inside

too:

their

too:

home.

too:

The

too:

party

too:

all

too:

looked

too:

to the

too:

box

too:

uneasily,

too:

smelling

too:

the

too:

strong

too:

copper

too:

and

too:

vinegar

too:

aroma

too:

which

too:

came

too:

from

too:

beneath

too:

the

too:

lid,

too:

but

too:

Elizabeth

too:

did

too:

not

too:

answer

too:

them

too:

regarding

too:

those

too:

contents

too:

just

too:

yet.

too:

Instead,

too:

she

too:

was

too:

interested

too:

in

too:

the

too:

seamstress’

too:

abilities,

too:

apologizing

too:

for

too:

the

too:

delay

too:

as

too:

she had

too:

needed

too:

to

too:

clean

too:

and

too:

soak

too:

the

too:

box’s

too:

contents

too:

first

too:

for a

too:

long

too:

time.

“The

too:

ravages

too:

wrought

too:

by

too:

decay,

too:

degeneration,

too:

and

too:

time,

too:

while

too:

savage,

too:

are

too:

not

too:

totally

too:

irreversible,”

too:

she

too:

said,

too:

basing

too:

the

too:

hypothesis

too:

on

too:

the

too:

notes

too:

left

too:

behind

too:

by

too:

Victor.

too:

Witnessing

too:

the

too:

confused

too:

expressions

too:

on

too:

their

too:

faces,

too:

Elizabeth

too:

realized

too:

she

too:

needed

too:

to

too:

show

too:

them

too:

all

too:

why

too:

she

too:

needed

too:

their

too:

help.

too:

The

too:

seamstress

too:

and

too:

her

too:

sons

too:

thought

too:

she

too:

was

too:

moving

too:

to

too:

the

too:

box;

too:

not

too:

yet,

too:

and

too:

with

too:

a

too:

smirk

too:

Elizabeth

too:

removed

too:

her

too:

veil

too:

and

too:

showed

too:

them

too:

what

too:

she

too:

was

too:

talking

too:

about.

too:

Their

too:

reaction

too:

was

too:

not

unexpected:

unexpected:

they

unexpected:

were

unexpected:

angry

unexpected:

and

unexpected:

started

unexpected:

violently,

unexpected:

demanding

unexpected:

her

unexpected:

removal

unexpected:

from

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

home

unexpected:

at

unexpected:

once.

Elizabeth

unexpected:

was

unexpected:

not unmoved,

unexpected:

and

unexpected:

she

unexpected:

understood

unexpected:

their

unexpected:

reticence

unexpected:

and

unexpected:

passion.

unexpected:

But

unexpected:

she

unexpected:

said,

unexpected:

in

unexpected:

polite

unexpected:

terms,

unexpected:

that

unexpected:

she

unexpected:

would

unexpected:

not

unexpected:

leave

unexpected:

without

unexpected:

their

unexpected:

help,

unexpected:

taking

unexpected:

a

unexpected:

tone

unexpected:

she

unexpected:

immediately

unexpected:

regretted.
But

unexpected:

had

unexpected:

not

unexpected:

Victor

unexpected:

gotten

unexpected:

what

unexpected:

he

unexpected:

wanted,

unexpected:

despite

unexpected:

what

unexpected:

pain

unexpected:

and

unexpected:

misery

unexpected:

was

unexpected:

wrought

unexpected:

from

unexpected:

it

unexpected:

all?

unexpected:

So

unexpected:

too

unexpected:

had

unexpected:

Elizabeth

unexpected:

at

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

end,

unexpected:

reluctantly

unexpected:

and

unexpected:

satisfactorily,

unexpected:

as

unexpected:

she

unexpected:

gazed

unexpected:

upon

unexpected:

their

unexpected:

good

unexpected:

work

unexpected:

after

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

box

unexpected:

and

unexpected:

its

unexpected:

contents

unexpected:

had

unexpected:

been

unexpected:

returned

unexpected:

to

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

parlor

unexpected:

of

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

guesthouse,

unexpected:

just

unexpected:

as

unexpected:

Elizabeth

unexpected:

had

unexpected:

instructed

unexpected:

their

unexpected:

assistance

unexpected:

with

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

final

unexpected:

act

unexpected:

of

unexpected:

their

unexpected:

duties

unexpected:

this

unexpected:

night.

Everything,

unexpected:

much

unexpected:

to

unexpected:

her

unexpected:

delight,

unexpected:

was

unexpected:

almost

unexpected:

ready.

unexpected:

Yet

unexpected:

she

unexpected:

could

unexpected:

not

unexpected:

allow

unexpected:

her

unexpected:

worries

unexpected:

go

unexpected:

unheeded.

That

unexpected:

night

unexpected:

Elizabeth

unexpected:

thought

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

murmurs

unexpected:

she

unexpected:

heard

unexpected:

coming

unexpected:

from

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

other

unexpected:

side

unexpected:

of

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

pleasure

unexpected:

garden’s

unexpected:

floral

unexpected:

walls

unexpected:

were

unexpected:

simply

unexpected:

figments

unexpected:

of

unexpected:

her

unexpected:

imagination.

unexpected:

She

unexpected:

did

unexpected:

not

unexpected:

deny

unexpected:

that

unexpected:

she

unexpected:

had

unexpected:

been

unexpected:

having

unexpected:

many

unexpected:

of

unexpected:

those

unexpected:

lately,

unexpected:

that

unexpected:

it

unexpected:

seemed

unexpected:

that

unexpected:

everything

unexpected:

since

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

events

unexpected:

with

unexpected:

Victor

unexpected:

had

unexpected:

thrust

unexpected:

her

unexpected:

into

unexpected:

some

unexpected:

sort

unexpected:

of

unexpected:

nightmare

unexpected:

which

unexpected:

she

unexpected:

couldn’t

unexpected:

quite

unexpected:

escape

unexpected:

even

unexpected:

if

unexpected:

she

unexpected:

wanted

unexpected:

to.

But

unexpected:

they

unexpected:

were

unexpected:

there,

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

voices,

unexpected:

and

unexpected:

were

unexpected:

no

unexpected:

longer

unexpected:

simply

unexpected:

fevered

unexpected:

impressions

unexpected:

on

unexpected:

a

unexpected:

weary

unexpected:

psyche.

“I

unexpected:

tell

unexpected:

ya,

unexpected:

I’d

unexpected:

read

unexpected:

that

unexpected:

book…”

“You

unexpected:

can

unexpected:

read?”

“Course

unexpected:

I

unexpected:

read!

unexpected:

It

unexpected:

was...mon dieu!”

“So

unexpected:

you

unexpected:

think

unexpected:

it’s

unexpected:

all

unexpected:

true?”

“Why

unexpected:

shouldn’t

unexpected:

it

unexpected:

be?”

“Well,

unexpected:

how’s she

unexpected:

able

unexpected:

to

unexpected:

be

unexpected:

walking

unexpected:

and

unexpected:

talking?

unexpected:

I

unexpected:

thought

unexpected:

that

unexpected:

monster o’

unexpected:

Frankenstein’s

unexpected:

broke

unexpected:

her

unexpected:

body

unexpected:

like

unexpected:

a

unexpected:

rag doll.”

“So

unexpected:

not

unexpected:

everything’s

unexpected:

all

unexpected:

true,

unexpected:

probably

unexpected:

didn’t

unexpected:

die

unexpected:

like

unexpected:

they

unexpected:

says

unexpected:

she

unexpected:

did

unexpected:

in

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

book.”

“But

unexpected:

Victor

unexpected:

Frankenstein

unexpected:

is

unexpected:

dead,

unexpected:

he’s

unexpected:

in

unexpected:

that

unexpected:

box.”

“Don’t

unexpected:

matter

unexpected:

anyway,

unexpected:

Orsino’s

unexpected:

not

unexpected:

paying

unexpected:

us

unexpected:

to

unexpected:

conjecture

unexpected:

on

unexpected:

life

unexpected:

and

unexpected:

death.

unexpected:

He

unexpected:

wants

unexpected:

us

unexpected:

to

unexpected:

kill

unexpected:

a

unexpected:

bitch

unexpected:

and

unexpected:

kill

unexpected:

a

unexpected:

bitch

unexpected:

we

unexpected:

will.”

“I don’t know, Jacques...I just don’t know

unexpected:

if

unexpected:

I

unexpected:

have

unexpected:

to

unexpected:

stomach

unexpected:

for

unexpected:

it.”

“You

unexpected:

know

unexpected:

very

unexpected:

well

unexpected:

if you don’t that Orsino

unexpected:

will

unexpected:

show

unexpected:

you

unexpected:

what

unexpected:

stomach

unexpected:

you

unexpected:

have.”

“So,

unexpected:

where

unexpected:

is

unexpected:

she?”

It

unexpected:

had

unexpected:

been

unexpected:

a

unexpected:

perfect

unexpected:

evening,

unexpected:

beneath

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

stars

unexpected:

of

unexpected:

Venice.

Elizabeth

unexpected:

had

unexpected:

almost

unexpected:

forgotten

unexpected:

what

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

night

unexpected:

sky

unexpected:

felt

unexpected:

like

unexpected:

upon

unexpected:

her

unexpected:

fur.

unexpected:

There

unexpected:

was

unexpected:

a

unexpected:

solace

unexpected:

in

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

shadows

unexpected:

of

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

amusement

unexpected:

gardens,

unexpected:

which

unexpected:

she

unexpected:

had

unexpected:

to

unexpected:

admit

unexpected:

had

unexpected:

a

unexpected:

certain

unexpected:

charm

unexpected:

to

unexpected:

them

unexpected:

despite

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

carnival

unexpected:

atmosphere.

unexpected:

Walking

unexpected:

far

unexpected:

away

unexpected:

from

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

view

unexpected:

of

unexpected:

everyone,

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

vixen had

unexpected:

closed

unexpected:

her

unexpected:

eyes

unexpected:

and

unexpected:

bathed

unexpected:

herself

unexpected:

in

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

solitude

unexpected:

and

unexpected:

darkness.

And

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

stars,

unexpected:

which

unexpected:

were

unexpected:

quickly

unexpected:

becoming

unexpected:

blanketed

unexpected:

by a

unexpected:

growing

unexpected:

bank

unexpected:

of

unexpected:

black

unexpected:

clouds.

A

unexpected:

storm

unexpected:

was

unexpected:

on

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

horizon,

unexpected:

as

unexpected:

beams

unexpected:

of

unexpected:

thunder

unexpected:

struck

unexpected:

out from

unexpected:

beneath

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

cloudy

unexpected:

veils.

“Soon,”

unexpected:

she

unexpected:

said

unexpected:

with

unexpected:

a

unexpected:

wry

unexpected:

smile. “Very

unexpected:

soon.”

She had

unexpected:

come

unexpected:

a

unexpected:

long

unexpected:

way

unexpected:

just

unexpected:

to

unexpected:

come

unexpected:

to

unexpected:

this

unexpected:

conclusion.

unexpected:

Even

unexpected:

in

unexpected:

Geneva,

unexpected:

when

unexpected:

she

unexpected:

had

unexpected:

broken

unexpected:

into

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

Frankenstein

unexpected:

family

unexpected:

crypt

unexpected:

to

unexpected:

remove

unexpected:

Justine

unexpected:

from

unexpected:

her

unexpected:

ill

unexpected:

slumber,

unexpected:

she had

unexpected:

pondered

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

whole

unexpected:

way

unexpected:

and

unexpected:

paused

unexpected:

on

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

right

unexpected:

of

unexpected:

what

unexpected:

she

unexpected:

was

unexpected:

doing.

unexpected:

She

unexpected:

had

unexpected:

wondered it

unexpected:

even

unexpected:

before,

unexpected:

back

unexpected:

before

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

madness

unexpected:

broke

unexpected:

loose

unexpected:

and

unexpected:

she

unexpected:

had

unexpected:

lost

unexpected:

Justine

unexpected:

and

unexpected:

everything

unexpected:

that

unexpected:

forever

unexpected:

had

unexpected:

promised

unexpected:

faded

unexpected:

with

unexpected:

all

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

puff

unexpected:

of

unexpected:

a

unexpected:

wicker

unexpected:

of

unexpected:

smoke.

Victor,

unexpected:

she

unexpected:

knew,

unexpected:

had

unexpected:

paused

unexpected:

and

unexpected:

pondered

unexpected:

such

unexpected:

questions.

unexpected:

But

unexpected:

he

unexpected:

had

unexpected:

not

unexpected:

paused

unexpected:

long

unexpected:

enough,

unexpected:

not

unexpected:

in

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

way

unexpected:

Elizabeth

unexpected:

was

unexpected:

now.

unexpected:

Victor

unexpected:

wanted

unexpected:

to

unexpected:

sneer

unexpected:

at

unexpected:

both

unexpected:

birth

unexpected:

and

unexpected:

life,

unexpected:

disrupt

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

natural

unexpected:

balance

unexpected:

so

unexpected:

that

unexpected:

he

unexpected:

could

unexpected:

be

unexpected:

in

unexpected:

control

unexpected:

of

unexpected:

everything.

unexpected:

It

unexpected:

was

unexpected:

a

unexpected:

deep

unexpected:

seeded

unexpected:

need

unexpected:

to

unexpected:

find

unexpected:

how

unexpected:

far

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

scales

unexpected:

could

unexpected:

be

unexpected:

tipped

unexpected:

into

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

favor

unexpected:

by

unexpected:

one

unexpected:

man,

unexpected:

a

unexpected:

typical

unexpected:

reaction

unexpected:

she

unexpected:

knew

unexpected:

now,

unexpected:

for

unexpected:

it was

unexpected:

only

unexpected:

man

unexpected:

who

unexpected:

wished

unexpected:

to

unexpected:

have

unexpected:

control

unexpected:

and

unexpected:

power,

unexpected:

forcibly

unexpected:

and

unexpected:

violently,

unexpected:

within

unexpected:

their

unexpected:

grasp.

Once

unexpected:

power

unexpected:

was

unexpected:

had,

unexpected:

what

unexpected:

else

unexpected:

was

unexpected:

there

unexpected:

left

unexpected:

to

unexpected:

conquer?

That

unexpected:

was

unexpected:

always

unexpected:

man’s

unexpected:

question, man’s

unexpected:

wants.

unexpected:

But

unexpected:

what

unexpected:

do

unexpected:

I

unexpected:

want?

unexpected:

thought

unexpected:

Elizabeth

unexpected:

keenly.

unexpected:

It

unexpected:

was

unexpected:

awful,

unexpected:

if

unexpected:

she

unexpected:

was

unexpected:

deep

unexpected:

and

unexpected:

honest

unexpected:

with

unexpected:

herself,

unexpected:

what

unexpected:

she

unexpected:

was

unexpected:

about

unexpected:

to

unexpected:

do.

unexpected:

It

unexpected:

had

unexpected:

been

unexpected:

awful

unexpected:

when

unexpected:

Victor

unexpected:

had

unexpected:

spoke

unexpected:

of

unexpected:

it,

unexpected:

even

unexpected:

more

unexpected:

so

unexpected:

when

unexpected:

he had

unexpected:

actually

unexpected:

done

unexpected:

it.

unexpected:

Perhaps

unexpected:

Victor

unexpected:

had

unexpected:

been

unexpected:

right

unexpected:

on

unexpected:

that

unexpected:

final

unexpected:

night

unexpected:

when

unexpected:

she had

unexpected:

confronted

unexpected:

him

unexpected:

after

unexpected:

so

unexpected:

long.

“I

unexpected:

am

unexpected:

more

unexpected:

your

unexpected:

father

unexpected:

than

unexpected:

you

unexpected:

think,

unexpected:

Elizabeth!

unexpected:

Look

unexpected:

into

unexpected:

my

unexpected:

eyes

unexpected:

and

unexpected:

tell

unexpected:

me

unexpected:

I

unexpected:

am

unexpected:

wrong!”

She

unexpected:

had.

unexpected:

She

unexpected:

had

unexpected:

looked

unexpected:

and

unexpected:

looked

unexpected:

deep.

And

unexpected:

she

unexpected:

gave

unexpected:

him

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

answer

unexpected:

he

unexpected:

had

unexpected:

asked

unexpected:

of

unexpected:

her.

Elizabeth

unexpected:

pushed

unexpected:

these

unexpected:

red-stained

unexpected:

memories

unexpected:

from

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

part

unexpected:

of

unexpected:

her

unexpected:

brain

unexpected:

which

unexpected:

brought

unexpected:

them

unexpected:

to

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

surface.

unexpected:

She

unexpected:

knew

unexpected:

that

unexpected:

she

unexpected:

wanted

unexpected:

to

unexpected:

trust

unexpected:

her

unexpected:

heart

unexpected:

more

unexpected:

than

unexpected:

her

unexpected:

brain,

unexpected:

at

unexpected:

least,

unexpected:

at

unexpected:

this

unexpected:

juncture

unexpected:

in

unexpected:

her

unexpected:

life.

And

unexpected:

if

unexpected:

there was

unexpected:

one

unexpected:

thing

unexpected:

that

unexpected:

elicited

unexpected:

a

unexpected:

positive

unexpected:

notice

unexpected:

from

unexpected:

her,

unexpected:

it

unexpected:

was

unexpected:

that

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

heart

unexpected:

knew

unexpected:

what

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

heart

unexpected:

wanted,

unexpected:

above

unexpected:

all

unexpected:

else.
She

unexpected:

felt

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

high

unexpected:

garden

unexpected:

wall

unexpected:

shiver

unexpected:

behind

unexpected:

her

unexpected:

tail,

unexpected:

and

unexpected:

her

unexpected:

ears

unexpected:

twitched

unexpected:

at

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

realization

unexpected:

of

unexpected:

two

unexpected:

pointed

unexpected:

flintlocks

unexpected:

and

unexpected:

a

unexpected:

sword

unexpected:

drawn

unexpected:

on

unexpected:

her.

unexpected:

Their

unexpected:

owners,

unexpected:

a

unexpected:

trio

unexpected:

of

unexpected:

young

unexpected:

hounds,

unexpected:

looked

unexpected:

at

unexpected:

her

unexpected:

with

unexpected:

a

unexpected:

hunger

unexpected:

and

unexpected:

anxiety

unexpected:

she

unexpected:

recognized

unexpected:

on

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

nights

unexpected:

Victor

unexpected:

had

unexpected:

toiled

unexpected:

in

unexpected:

his

unexpected:

laboratory

unexpected:

working

unexpected:

over

unexpected:

his

unexpected:

creation.

“Might

unexpected:

I

unexpected:

help

unexpected:

you,

unexpected:

gentlebeasts?”

unexpected:

said

unexpected:

Elizabeth

unexpected:

from

unexpected:

behind

unexpected:

her

unexpected:

veil.

“Perhaps

unexpected:

you

unexpected:

can,”

unexpected:

said

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

taller

unexpected:

hound,

unexpected:

whose

unexpected:

voice

unexpected:

she

unexpected:

recognized

unexpected:

as

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

one

unexpected:

who

unexpected:

had

unexpected:

Shelley’s

unexpected:

book. “See,

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

duke

unexpected:

wants

unexpected:

you

unexpected:

to

unexpected:

make

unexpected:

a

unexpected:

choice.”

“A

unexpected:

choice?”

“Oui,”

unexpected:

answered

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

gray

unexpected:

furred

unexpected:

hound

unexpected:

who

unexpected:

had

unexpected:

been

unexpected:

named

unexpected:

Jacques. “You

unexpected:

can

unexpected:

leave

unexpected:

your

unexpected:

grounds

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

same

unexpected:

way

unexpected:

you

unexpected:

came

unexpected:

in

unexpected:

two

unexpected:

weeks

unexpected:

ago.”

“Or?”

“Or

unexpected:

we

unexpected:

can

unexpected:

remove

unexpected:

your

unexpected:

soul

unexpected:

from

unexpected:

here

unexpected:

one

unexpected:

piece

unexpected:

at

unexpected:

a

unexpected:

time

unexpected:

til

unexpected:

you

unexpected:

beg

unexpected:

us

unexpected:

to

unexpected:

stop.”

“Oh

unexpected:

really?”

unexpected:

said

unexpected:

Elizabeth. “Would

unexpected:

it

unexpected:

be

unexpected:

prudent

unexpected:

of

unexpected:

me

unexpected:

to

unexpected:

tell

unexpected:

you,

unexpected:

friends,

unexpected:

that

unexpected:

mine

unexpected:

soul

unexpected:

has

unexpected:

left

unexpected:

me

unexpected:

some

unexpected:

time

unexpected:

ago,

unexpected:

and

unexpected:

that

unexpected:

what

unexpected:

you

unexpected:

are

unexpected:

spying

unexpected:

upon

unexpected:

is

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

gleaming

unexpected:

shell

unexpected:

of

unexpected:

what

unexpected:

was,

unexpected:

not

unexpected:

what

unexpected:

is?”

The

unexpected:

trio

unexpected:

stepped

unexpected:

back

unexpected:

and

unexpected:

looked

unexpected:

at

unexpected:

her

unexpected:

strangely

unexpected:

for

unexpected:

a

unexpected:

moment.

Then

unexpected:

their

unexpected:

eyes

unexpected:

stared

unexpected:

from

unexpected:

one

unexpected:

to

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

other

unexpected:

before

unexpected:

their

unexpected:

courage

unexpected:

was

unexpected:

raised

unexpected:

once

unexpected:

again.

“I’m

unexpected:

just

unexpected:

interested

unexpected:

to

unexpected:

see

unexpected:

how

unexpected:

much of

unexpected:

that

unexpected:

book

unexpected:

we

unexpected:

hear

unexpected:

is

unexpected:

true,” Jacques said.

“Which

unexpected:

part?”

“The

unexpected:

one

unexpected:

where

unexpected:

Frankenstein’s

unexpected:

monster

unexpected:

kills

unexpected:

you...but

unexpected:

yet

unexpected:

you’re

unexpected:

here

unexpected:

now.”

“That

unexpected:

is

unexpected:

because,”

unexpected:

Elizabeth

unexpected:

said,

unexpected:

stepping

unexpected:

toward

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

gray

unexpected:

furred

unexpected:

hound, “The

unexpected:

book

unexpected:

is

unexpected:

wrong. .

unexpected:

I

unexpected:

am that

unexpected:

which

unexpected:

returns

unexpected:

from

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

grave’s

unexpected:

cold

unexpected:

clay.

unexpected:

I

unexpected:

am

unexpected:

Death’s

unexpected:

broken

unexpected:

promise”
The

unexpected:

hounds

unexpected:

all

unexpected:

laughed.

unexpected:

And

unexpected:

Elizabeth

unexpected:

chuckled

unexpected:

too,

unexpected:

which

unexpected:

surprised

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

hounds

unexpected:

momentarily

unexpected:

as

unexpected:

they

unexpected:

wondered

unexpected:

just

unexpected:

why.

There

unexpected:

was

unexpected:

a

unexpected:

certain

unexpected:

unease

unexpected:

in

unexpected:

her

unexpected:

chuckling,

unexpected:

which did

unexpected:

not

unexpected:

sit

unexpected:

well

unexpected:

with

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

hounds

unexpected:

and

unexpected:

the gray

unexpected:

furred

unexpected:

one

unexpected:

named

unexpected:

Jacques,

unexpected:

who

unexpected:

held

unexpected:

a

unexpected:

flintlock,

unexpected:

fired

unexpected:

at

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

vixen’s

unexpected:

stomach

unexpected:

and

unexpected:

slashed

unexpected:

at

unexpected:

her

unexpected:

with

unexpected:

his

unexpected:

poniard.

The

unexpected:

ball

unexpected:

ripped

unexpected:

right

unexpected:

through

unexpected:

her

unexpected:

and

unexpected:

shattered

unexpected:

into

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

column

unexpected:

behind

unexpected:

her

unexpected:

tail,

unexpected:

kicking

unexpected:

up

unexpected:

dust

unexpected:

as

unexpected:

blood

unexpected:

spilled

unexpected:

from

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

hole

unexpected:

in

unexpected:

her

unexpected:

stomach,

unexpected:

running

unexpected:

from

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

inside

unexpected:

her

unexpected:

dress and

unexpected:

down

unexpected:

her

unexpected:

legs.

unexpected:

She

unexpected:

opened

unexpected:

her

unexpected:

mouth;

unexpected:

a

unexpected:

great

unexpected:

gout

unexpected:

of

unexpected:

red

unexpected:

bubbled

unexpected:

out

unexpected:

of

unexpected:

her

unexpected:

maw

unexpected:

and

unexpected:

splashed

unexpected:

her

unexpected:

chest

unexpected:

as

unexpected:

she

unexpected:

tried

unexpected:

to

unexpected:

form

unexpected:

words

unexpected:

that

unexpected:

did

unexpected:

not

unexpected:

come

unexpected:

easy

unexpected:

or

unexpected:

hard.

unexpected:

Her

unexpected:

face

unexpected:

was

unexpected:

a

unexpected:

distorted

unexpected:

mask

unexpected:

of

unexpected:

pain

unexpected:

in

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

brief

unexpected:

part

unexpected:

from

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

flint’s

unexpected:

powder.

unexpected:

Shimmering

unexpected:

black

unexpected:

spread wide

unexpected:

across

unexpected:

her

unexpected:

torso

unexpected:

as

unexpected:

she

unexpected:

fell

unexpected:

to

unexpected:

her

unexpected:

knees

unexpected:

in

unexpected:

pieces,

unexpected:

finally

unexpected:

collapsing

unexpected:

to

unexpected:

her

unexpected:

side.

“Well,

unexpected:

that’s

unexpected:

it

unexpected:

then,”

unexpected:

said

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

taller

unexpected:

hound. “Nothing

unexpected:

to

unexpected:

it

unexpected:

but

unexpected:

to

unexpected:

do

unexpected:

it.”

“Kind

unexpected:

of

unexpected:

a shame,”

unexpected:

said

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

taller

unexpected:

hound,

unexpected:

as

unexpected:

he

unexpected:

brought

unexpected:

his

unexpected:

sword

unexpected:

point

unexpected:

to

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

edge

unexpected:

of

unexpected:

Elizabeth’s

unexpected:

dress

unexpected:

and

unexpected:

raised

unexpected:

her

unexpected:

knickers. “Ugh,

unexpected:

look

unexpected:

at

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

mess

unexpected:

down

unexpected:

there though.

unexpected:

Frankenstein

unexpected:

must’ve

unexpected:

let

unexpected:

his

unexpected:

monster

unexpected:

get

unexpected:

her,

unexpected:

I’ve

unexpected:

never

unexpected:

seen

unexpected:

a

unexpected:

woman

unexpected:

so

unexpected:

torn

unexpected:

up.”

“Don’t

unexpected:

matter

unexpected:

much,”

unexpected:

replied

unexpected:

Jacques. “Here,

unexpected:

give

unexpected:

me

unexpected:

a

unexpected:

paw

unexpected:

and…”

Thunder

unexpected:

rumbled,

unexpected:

then

unexpected:

lightning

unexpected:

struck

unexpected:

near the

unexpected:

grounds,

unexpected:

drowning

unexpected:

out

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

hound’s

unexpected:

cogitation.

unexpected:

They

unexpected:

turned

unexpected:

their

unexpected:

heads,

unexpected:

as

unexpected:

all

unexpected:

hounds

unexpected:

are

unexpected:

wont

unexpected:

to

unexpected:

do

unexpected:

when

unexpected:

alerted

unexpected:

by

unexpected:

sudden

unexpected:

loud

unexpected:

noises. They

unexpected:

did

unexpected:

not

unexpected:

hear

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

soft

unexpected:

rustles

unexpected:

which

unexpected:

rose

unexpected:

from

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

leaves

unexpected:

behind

unexpected:

them,

unexpected:

or

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

fresh

unexpected:

and

unexpected:

coppery

unexpected:

scent

unexpected:

of

unexpected:

blood

unexpected:

still

unexpected:

flowing

unexpected:

from

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

subject’s

unexpected:

gaping

unexpected:

wound...

Or

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

sudden

unexpected:

ripple

unexpected:

of

unexpected:

undying

unexpected:

breath

unexpected:

bearing

unexpected:

down

unexpected:

upon

unexpected:

their

unexpected:

necks.

It

unexpected:

was

unexpected:

Jacques

unexpected:

who

unexpected:

felt

unexpected:

cold

unexpected:

and

unexpected:

clammy

unexpected:

paws

unexpected:

wrap

unexpected:

themselves

unexpected:

around

unexpected:

his

unexpected:

neck

unexpected:

like

unexpected:

a

unexpected:

heavy

unexpected:

vise.

unexpected:

He

unexpected:

managed

unexpected:

to

unexpected:

choke

unexpected:

out

unexpected:

several,

unexpected:

awful

unexpected:

screams

unexpected:

as

unexpected:

blood

unexpected:

poured

unexpected:

from

unexpected:

his

unexpected:

mouth

unexpected:

and

unexpected:

nose

unexpected:

like

unexpected:

a

unexpected:

gushing

unexpected:

faucet,

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

pressure

unexpected:

increasing

unexpected:

until

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

vessels

unexpected:

behind

unexpected:

his

unexpected:

eyes

unexpected:

burst

unexpected:

and

unexpected:

blood

unexpected:

trickled

unexpected:

from

unexpected:

behind

unexpected:

his

unexpected:

lids.

unexpected:

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unexpected:

figure

unexpected:

behind

unexpected:

him

unexpected:

dug

unexpected:

their

unexpected:

paws

unexpected:

underneath

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his

unexpected:

jawline,

unexpected:

their

unexpected:

thumbs

unexpected:

at

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

base

unexpected:

of

unexpected:

his

unexpected:

skull,

unexpected:

and

unexpected:

their

unexpected:

knee

unexpected:

dug

unexpected:

into

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

small

unexpected:

of

unexpected:

his

unexpected:

back

unexpected:

as

unexpected:

they

unexpected:

pulled,

unexpected:

Sounds

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of

unexpected:

ripping

unexpected:

and

unexpected:

tearing

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echoed

unexpected:

as Jacques’

unexpected:

screams

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faded,

unexpected:

as

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

fur,

unexpected:

flesh,

unexpected:

and

unexpected:

muscle

unexpected:

separated

unexpected:

from

unexpected:

bone

unexpected:

as

unexpected:

spinal

unexpected:

fluid

unexpected:

shot

unexpected:

into

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

faces

unexpected:

of

unexpected:

his

unexpected:

companions

unexpected:

and

unexpected:

mixed

unexpected:

with

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

blood

unexpected:

from

unexpected:

his

unexpected:

still

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pumping

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heart

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as

unexpected:

his

unexpected:

head

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was

unexpected:

removed.

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unexpected:

stood

unexpected:

Elizabeth,

unexpected:

holding

unexpected:

Jacques

unexpected:

head

unexpected:

as

unexpected:

though

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it

unexpected:

were a

unexpected:

harpastum

unexpected:

ball,

unexpected:

her

unexpected:

dress

unexpected:

a

unexpected:

mess

unexpected:

as

unexpected:

she

unexpected:

removed

unexpected:

her

unexpected:

veil

unexpected:

to

unexpected:

better

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look

unexpected:

at

unexpected:

them

unexpected:

and

unexpected:

offered

unexpected:

them

unexpected:

a

unexpected:

better

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look

unexpected:

at

unexpected:

her

unexpected:

face.

unexpected:

A

unexpected:

litany

unexpected:

of

unexpected:

scars

unexpected:

ran

unexpected:

from

unexpected:

one

unexpected:

length

unexpected:

of

unexpected:

her

unexpected:

countenance

unexpected:

to

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

other,

unexpected:

raised

unexpected:

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unexpected:

lines

unexpected:

that

unexpected:

were

unexpected:

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unexpected:

and

unexpected:

appeared

unexpected:

stitched

unexpected:

back

unexpected:

together.

unexpected:

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unexpected:

was

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unexpected:

coloration

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of

unexpected:

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change

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to

unexpected:

her

unexpected:

appearance,

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unexpected:

fur

unexpected:

with

unexpected:

its

unexpected:

mismatched

unexpected:

colors

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unexpected:

gray,

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white,

unexpected:

and

unexpected:

yellow

unexpected:

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unexpected:

at

unexpected:

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unexpected:

shoulder

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and

unexpected:

along

unexpected:

her

unexpected:

breasts

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as

unexpected:

her

unexpected:

watery

unexpected:

eyes

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met

unexpected:

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unexpected:

pair’s

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roving

unexpected:

glances.

unexpected:

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unexpected:

green-yellow

unexpected:

tint

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lay

unexpected:

beneath

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unexpected:

fur,

unexpected:

almost

unexpected:

offset

unexpected:

by

unexpected:

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unexpected:

bluing

unexpected:

cyanosis

unexpected:

at

unexpected:

her

unexpected:

patchwork

unexpected:

face

unexpected:

as

unexpected:

turbid

unexpected:

fluid

unexpected:

splashed

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

floor

unexpected:

when

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

hound

unexpected:

holding

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

poniard

unexpected:

panicked

unexpected:

and

unexpected:

slashed

unexpected:

at

unexpected:

Elizabeth’s

unexpected:

trunk

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with their blade,

unexpected:

revealing

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more of

unexpected:

her

unexpected:

misshapen

unexpected:

chest

unexpected:

and

unexpected:

a

unexpected:

portion

unexpected:

of

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

exposed

unexpected:

rib

unexpected:

flank.

Pain.

unexpected:

She

unexpected:

remembered

unexpected:

it,

unexpected:

how

unexpected:

fleeting

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unexpected:

feeling

unexpected:

was.

unexpected:

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unexpected:

unmaking

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of

unexpected:

what

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was

unexpected:

there

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becoming

unexpected:

broken

unexpected:

and

unexpected:

tattered

unexpected:

and

unexpected:

resurrected

unexpected:

into

unexpected:

something

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new.

unexpected:

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was

unexpected:

numb

unexpected:

to

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

vixen

unexpected:

now

unexpected:

as

unexpected:

she

unexpected:

dropped

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

head

unexpected:

of

unexpected:

Jacques

unexpected:

and

unexpected:

gripped

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

other

unexpected:

hound

unexpected:

by

unexpected:

his

unexpected:

mandible,

unexpected:

and

unexpected:

in

unexpected:

two

unexpected:

motions—a

unexpected:

twist

unexpected:

of

unexpected:

her

unexpected:

wrist,

unexpected:

a tensing of the raw muscles in

unexpected:

a

unexpected:

paw

unexpected:

not

unexpected:

her

unexpected:

own—snatched

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the

unexpected:

hound’s

unexpected:

jaw

unexpected:

from

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

upper

unexpected:

portion

unexpected:

of

unexpected:

his

unexpected:

skull.

unexpected:

The

unexpected:

major

unexpected:

arteries

unexpected:

pumped

unexpected:

feverishly,

unexpected:

spraying

unexpected:

Elizabeth’s

unexpected:

face

unexpected:

crimson

unexpected:

until

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

whites

unexpected:

of

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

hound’s

unexpected:

eyes

unexpected:

rolled

unexpected:

up

unexpected:

in

unexpected:

the

unexpected:

back

unexpected:

of

unexpected:

his

unexpected:

skull

unexpected:

and

unexpected:

he

unexpected:

fell

unexpected:

backwards,

unexpected:

never

unexpected:

to

unexpected:

rise

unexpected:

again.

Suddenly

unexpected:

she

unexpected:

felt

unexpected:

something

unexpected:

sharp

unexpected:

press

unexpected:

into

unexpected:

her

unexpected:

stomach.

unexpected:

She

unexpected:

blinked

unexpected:

several

unexpected:

times,

unexpected:

not

unexpected:

sure

unexpected:

just who

unexpected:

it

unexpected:

was

unexpected:

that

unexpected:

had

unexpected:

entered

unexpected:

her.

unexpected:

And

unexpected:

briefly

unexpected:

her

unexpected:

mind

unexpected:

flashed back

unexpected:

to

unexpected:

when

unexpected:

she’d

unexpected:

returned,

unexpected:

that

unexpected:

first

time:

time:

those

time:

same

time:

sensations

time:

of

time:

Victor’s

time:

needle

time:

points

time:

finding

time:

her

time:

and

time:

waking

time:

her

time:

from

time:

her

time:

slumber

time:

with

time:

the

time:

energized

time:

rays

time:

that had

time:

failed

time:

his

time:

previous

time:

experiments.

time:

Looking

time:

down

time:

upon

time:

her,

time:

proud

time:

of

time:

what

time:

he

time:

had

time:

done

time:

and

time:

speaking

time:

to

time:

her,

time:

though

time:

she

time:

could

time:

not

time:

form

time:

vocalizations

time:

yet.

time:

It

time:

would

time:

be

time:

a

time:

long

time:

time

time:

before

time:

she

time:

regained

time:

the

time:

ability

time:

to

time:

speak

time:

rational

time:

language

time:

and

time:

articulate

time:

her

time:

experiences.

It

time:

was

time:

just

time:

as

time:

well,

time:

Elizabeth

supposed:

supposed:

to

supposed:

everyone

supposed:

else

supposed:

in

supposed:

the

supposed:

outside

supposed:

world

supposed:

she

supposed:

was

supposed:

dead,

supposed:

moldering

supposed:

away

supposed:

in

supposed:

the

supposed:

Frankenstein

supposed:

family

supposed:

crypt

supposed:

if

supposed:

the

supposed:

Shelley

supposed:

book

supposed:

was

supposed:

taken

supposed:

at

supposed:

its

supposed:

most

supposed:

literal.

supposed:

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supposed:

had

supposed:

been

supposed:

easy,

supposed:

she

supposed:

found

supposed:

out

supposed:

later,

supposed:

for

supposed:

Victor

supposed:

to

supposed:

frame

supposed:

the

supposed:

maid

supposed:

for

supposed:

murder

supposed:

and

supposed:

then

supposed:

preserve

supposed:

all

supposed:

he

supposed:

needed

supposed:

from

supposed:

Elizabeth.

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supposed:

brain,

supposed:

my

supposed:

dear,

supposed:

and

supposed:

of

supposed:

course

supposed:

your

supposed:

heart

supposed:

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supposed:

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supposed:

organs.

supposed:

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supposed:

made

supposed:

for a

supposed:

better

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supposed:

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supposed:

a

supposed:

wife!”

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supposed:

was

supposed:

clever

supposed:

of

supposed:

Shelley

supposed:

to

supposed:

do

supposed:

what

supposed:

she

supposed:

did

supposed:

in titling

supposed:

the

supposed:

book

supposed:

the

supposed:

way

supposed:

she

supposed:

had.

Frankenstein.

Readers

supposed:

must

supposed:

have

supposed:

surmised

supposed:

it was

supposed:

the

supposed:

story

supposed:

of

supposed:

the

supposed:

creator,

supposed:

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supposed:

Shelley

supposed:

was

supposed:

creative in

supposed:

that

supposed:

she had

supposed:

split

supposed:

him

supposed:

into

supposed:

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yes,

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it

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sure,

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of

completion:

her

completion:

body.

The

completion:

knitter

completion:

made

completion:

a

completion:

motion

completion:

to

completion:

take

completion:

the

completion:

box

completion:

they

completion:

had

completion:

formerly

completion:

been

completion:

in,

completion:

but

completion:

Elizabeth

completion:

shook

completion:

her

completion:

head. “It’s

completion:

been

completion:

like a

completion:

companion

completion:

of

completion:

mine

completion:

all

completion:

this

completion:

time,”

completion:

she

completion:

said.

completion:

The

completion:

box

completion:

was

completion:

as

completion:

much

completion:

a

completion:

pleasant

completion:

memory

completion:

as

completion:

anything

completion:

that

completion:

she

completion:

had

completion:

had

completion:

this

completion:

whole

completion:

time.

“If

completion:

you

completion:

don’t

completion:

mind,”

completion:

the

completion:

knitter

completion:

said, “I

completion:

and

completion:

my

completion:

sons

completion:

would

completion:

like

completion:

to

completion:

stay.”

“That

completion:

will

completion:

be

completion:

fine,”

completion:

Elizabeth

completion:

answered.

completion:

She

completion:

then

completion:

turned

completion:

to

completion:

the

completion:

parson

completion:

but

completion:

did

completion:

not

completion:

look

completion:

at

completion:

him.

completion:

Instead,

completion:

her

completion:

eyes

completion:

were

completion:

to

completion:

the

completion:

parlor

completion:

window

completion:

and

completion:

through

completion:

it.

completion:

Outside,

completion:

another

completion:

bolt

completion:

of

completion:

lightning

completion:

struck

completion:

the

completion:

ground,

completion:

leaving

completion:

its

completion:

touch

completion:

on

completion:

the

completion:

earth

completion:

and

completion:

confirming

completion:

nature’s

completion:

balance.

Elizabeth

completion:

reached

completion:

inside

completion:

the

completion:

box.

completion:

The

completion:

padding

completion:

of

completion:

her

completion:

paw

completion:

was

completion:

cold

completion:

as

completion:

she took

completion:

Justine’s.

completion:

The binturong’s

completion:

paw

completion:

was almost

completion:

warm

completion:

by

completion:

comparison.

“I’m

completion:

ready,”

completion:

she

completion:

uttered

completion:

to

completion:

the

completion:

parson.

The

completion:

dormouse

completion:

started.

completion:

Elizabeth

completion:

was

completion:

barely

completion:

listening.

completion:

They

completion:

were

completion:

words—simple,

completion:

meaningful

completion:

words

completion:

she had

completion:

heard

completion:

dozens,

completion:

hundreds,

completion:

maybe

completion:

a

completion:

thousand

completion:

times

completion:

before

completion:

in

completion:

a

completion:

previous

completion:

lifetime.

completion:

She had

completion:

stood

completion:

for

completion:

them

completion:

and

completion:

had stood

completion:

herself

completion:

on that

completion:

day

completion:

long

completion:

ago.

No

completion:

one,

completion:

then,

completion:

had

completion:

cared

completion:

much

completion:

for

completion:

their meaning.

completion:

They

completion:

teetered

completion:

and

completion:

went

completion:

wild

completion:

after

completion:

the

completion:

weight

completion:

was

completion:

thrust

completion:

upon

completion:

them

completion:

or did

completion:

not

completion:

see

completion:

them

completion:

as the

completion:

words

completion:

which

completion:

bound

completion:

one

completion:

soul

completion:

to

completion:

another.

And

completion:

all

completion:

because

completion:

they

completion:

were

completion:

scared.

Scared

completion:

that

completion:

forever

completion:

would

completion:

be

completion:

a

completion:

long

completion:

time.

“And

completion:

do

completion:

you,

completion:

Elizabeth

completion:

Lavenza,

completion:

take…”

“I do,” Elizabeth said

completion:

quickly.

The

completion:

parson

completion:

smiled.

completion:

He

completion:

said

completion:

that

completion:

if

completion:

Elizabeth

completion:

was

completion:

ready,

completion:

that

completion:

she

completion:

may

completion:

kiss

completion:

her

completion:

bride.

completion:

Outside

completion:

the

completion:

sky

completion:

was

completion:

black.

completion:

The

completion:

rain

completion:

had

completion:

stopped

completion:

and

completion:

there

completion:

was

completion:

no

completion:

moon

completion:

baring

completion:

its

completion:

lunar

completion:

fangs

completion:

upon

completion:

anything.

completion:

But

completion:

the

completion:

thunder

completion:

and

completion:

lightning

completion:

rumbled,

completion:

rattling

completion:

the

completion:

windows,

completion:

almost

completion:

as

completion:

a

completion:

reminder

completion:

of

completion:

a

completion:

beating

completion:

heart.

She

completion:

sagged

completion:

against

completion:

the

completion:

box

completion:

and

completion:

bent

completion:

low,

completion:

pressing

completion:

her

completion:

lips

completion:

to

completion:

the

completion:

binturong’s.

It

completion:

was

completion:

like

completion:

lightning

completion:

which

completion:

rumbled

completion:

from

completion:

her.

completion:

Sparks darted

completion:

in

completion:

every

completion:

direction,

completion:

her

completion:

fur

completion:

stood

completion:

on

completion:

end

completion:

as

completion:

she

completion:

closed

completion:

her

completion:

eyes,

completion:

moaning

completion:

deep

completion:

into

completion:

the

completion:

binturong.

completion:

She

completion:

wanted

completion:

her

completion:

to

completion:

remember

completion:

all

completion:

the

completion:

good

completion:

times

completion:

which had

completion:

passed

completion:

between

completion:

them,

completion:

one

completion:

paw scurrying

completion:

up

completion:

and

completion:

caressing

completion:

her

completion:

cheek.

completion:

Passion

completion:

overflowed

completion:

and

completion:

she

completion:

did

completion:

not

completion:

stop

completion:

until

completion:

she

completion:

expended

completion:

and

completion:

given

completion:

all

completion:

she

completion:

could.
And

completion:

then,

completion:

Elizabeth

completion:

waited.

completion:

She

completion:

nodded

completion:

to the

completion:

knitter,

completion:

who

completion:

was

completion:

quick

completion:

with

completion:

her

completion:

needle

completion:

and

completion:

closed

completion:

the

completion:

chasm

completion:

of

completion:

Justine’s

completion:

chest.

And

completion:

then,

completion:

Elizabeth

completion:

waited.

After

completion:

a

completion:

minute

completion:

had

completion:

passed,

completion:

it

happened:

happened:

Justine’s

happened:

chest

happened:

began

happened:

to

happened:

rise,

happened:

air

happened:

filling

happened:

lungs

happened:

long

happened:

unused,

happened:

then

happened:

fell.

happened:

The

happened:

actions

happened:

repeated

happened:

as

happened:

Elizabeth

happened:

felt

happened:

the

happened:

air

happened:

from

happened:

Justine’s

happened:

nostrils

happened:

fall

happened:

upon

happened:

the

happened:

palm

happened:

of

happened:

her

happened:

paw,

happened:

and

happened:

watched

happened:

the

happened:

thin,

happened:

reedy

happened:

muscles

happened:

of

happened:

the

happened:

binturong

happened:

twitch

happened:

and

happened:

convulse,

happened:

as

happened:

one

happened:

finger

happened:

rose

happened:

and

happened:

trembled,

happened:

falling

happened:

and

happened:

attempting

happened:

to

happened:

rise

happened:

from

happened:

their

happened:

long

happened:

slumber.

A

happened:

clap

happened:

of

happened:

thunder

happened:

struck

happened:

the

happened:

roof

happened:

just

happened:

as the

happened:

binturong’s

happened:

eyes

happened:

fluttered

happened:

open

happened:

and

happened:

finally

happened:

an

happened:

arm

happened:

rose

happened:

from

happened:

the

happened:

box,

happened:

her

happened:

black

happened:

paw

happened:

gripping

happened:

the

happened:

edge

happened:

of

happened:

the

happened:

box

happened:

as

happened:

the

happened:

muscles

happened:

tightened

happened:

and

happened:

she

happened:

tried

happened:

to

happened:

help

happened:

herself

happened:

from

happened:

the

happened:

box.

happened:

She

happened:

stumbled

happened:

back

happened:

and

happened:

did

happened:

not

happened:

try

happened:

again

happened:

for

happened:

some

happened:

time,

happened:

until

happened:

mounting

happened:

another

happened:

attempt,

happened:

her

happened:

grip

happened:

slightly

happened:

weaker

happened:

but

happened:

she was

happened:

becoming

happened:

more

happened:

aware

happened:

and

happened:

more

happened:

cognizant.

Elizabeth

happened:

smiled,

happened:

and

happened:

her

happened:

heartbeat

happened:

grew

happened:

faster

happened:

from

happened:

the

happened:

anxiety,

happened:

thudding

happened:

like

happened:

a

happened:

drum

happened:

within

happened:

her

happened:

chest.

happened:

It

happened:

would

happened:

be

happened:

a

happened:

long

happened:

road,

happened:

she

knew:

knew:

what

knew:

were

knew:

the

knew:

likeliest

knew:

of odds

knew:

that

knew:

Justine

knew:

would

knew:

remember,

knew:

would

knew:

crawl

knew:

back

knew:

from

knew:

the

knew:

many

knew:

long

knew:

years

knew:

of

knew:

sleep that

knew:

she

knew:

had

knew:

been

knew:

forced

knew:

into?

For

knew:

the

knew:

briefest

knew:

of

knew:

seconds,

knew:

it

knew:

did

knew:

not

knew:

matter.

It

knew:

would

knew:

be

knew:

a

knew:

question

knew:

she

knew:

would

knew:

ask

knew:

of

knew:

herself

knew:

as

knew:

she

knew:

helped

knew:

bring

knew:

the

knew:

binturong

knew:

back.

And

knew:

to

knew:

remember…remember

knew:

the

knew:

past,

knew:

remember

knew:

what

knew:

she

knew:

had

knew:

been

knew:

and

knew:

meant

knew:

to

knew:

Elizabeth,

knew:

remember

knew:

their

knew:

good

knew:

times

knew:

and

knew:

to

knew:

remember

knew:

that

knew:

there

knew:

would

knew:

be

knew:

many

knew:

more

knew:

for

knew:

as

knew:

long

knew:

they

knew:

lived.

And

knew:

Elizabeth

knew:

paused

knew:

on

knew:

that

knew:

final

knew:

word.
Justine

knew:

would

knew:

live.

knew:

And

knew:

through

knew:

Justine,

knew:

she

knew:

too

knew:

would

knew:

live

knew:

and

knew:

together,

knew:

they

knew:

would

knew:

both

knew:

remember…remember

knew:

and

knew:

know,

knew:

just

knew:

what

knew:

it

knew:

all

knew:

meant.

“Alive,”

knew:

said Elizabeth,

knew:

and she

knew:

held

knew:

Justine’s

knew:

paw.



This

knew:

was

knew:

the

knew:

second

knew:

and

knew:

final

knew:

part

knew:

of “Upon

knew:

Thy

knew:

Grave

knew:

From

knew:

The

knew:

Ashes

knew:

Of

knew:

My

knew:

Heart”

knew:

by

knew:

Batced, read for you

knew:

by Kergiby, a

knew:

Full Time

knew:

Panther.
As

knew:

always,

knew:

you

knew:

can

knew:

find

knew:

more

knew:

stories

knew:

on

knew:

the web at thevoice.dog, or find the show wherever

knew:

you

knew:

get

knew:

your

knew:

podcasts.

knew:

Thank

knew:

you

knew:

for

knew:

listening

knew:

to

knew:

The

knew:

Ghost

knew:

of

knew:

Dog.

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