Page 96 of Tis the Season to be Bullied

“Tell her about Gabriel,” Reuben says. “She has to know.”

Zachary holds up a hand. Licks his lips. I’ve never seen him this unsure of himself, and it makes panic flutter deep in my belly.

Earlier, they seemed convinced Gabriel was,what?Some kind of kingpin? The guy responsible for all their pain and suffering.

Zachary opens his mouth, but he can’t seem to produce words.

For some reason, that terrifies me.

A hand lands on my shoulder. Reuben turns me to face him. It’s unreal, seeing such deep pain on such a young, vital face. He could have been the poster boy for a high school football team.

“I’d always beg my Ghost to tell me why he was doing what he was doing.” Reuben slaps his palm into his chest. Apollo flinches. “Whyme?”

My mouth goes dry and goosebumps race over my flesh.

His black eyes trap me like tar.

“He said I should ask the Guardian. That he could explain it.”

I’m hanging on every fucking word, but Reuben’s struggling with this as much as Zachary was. His wide chest rises and falls as his breathing becomes slow and deep.

“I told him—” Reuben burrows a hand into the top of my blanket. I don’t fight him—by now I know what he’s looking for. He takes hold of my crucifix and rubs the wood. It seems to calm him, because some tension leaves his face. “I told him I didn’t know who the Guardian was. That I only saw him. So he told me?—”

His voice grows thick. Rosewood hits my nose how hard he’s rubbing that crucifix.

“Rube,” Cass whispers from behind me. “Bro, you don’t have to?—”

“The Guardian said we were the cure.” Black eyes pin me. “That the Ghosts had a sickness. We kept their symptoms—those urges—at bay, so they could do their jobs.” His breath hitches. “So they could preach the Word of God without being plagued by their desires.”

My mouth falls open. Without thought, I lift my hands and wrap my fingers around Reuben’s fist. My chest closes rendering speech impossible, but there’s nothing I could have said anyway.

Nothing.

“When they were done—” He pauses to swallow. “When their visit was over, they would meet with the Guardian and confess their sins.”

Reuben’s hand trembles inside my fingers.

“And he would bless them, and make them pure again.”

He lets go of the crucifix, taking back his hand and slowly putting them face down on his thighs.

“Until their urges came back, of course,” Zachary says.

My heart fucking bleeds for these boys. I rub a palm over my collarbones, willing it to go inside and ease the ache they caused.

“Then the whole sick cycle would start all over again.” Cass leans close, sliding his hands over my shoulders. “All with the help of your BFF.”

I shake my head, and it frees a tear from my lashes. “No,” I whisper. “Please. I’m sorry about this. What happened to you. It’s…it’s fucking wrong and disgusting.” I haul in a breath and stand on shaky legs, turning to look at them. “But Father Gabriel didn’t have anything to do with this. Iknowhim. He’s agoodman. He’s always been there for us.”

Four stony faces watch me.

“Please. Believe me. It’s not him. He’s not your Guardian.”

Fabric rustles behind me. I whirl around as Zachary gets to his feet.

“We thought you’d say that.” He cocks his head and slowly scans me up and down. “And you’re right. We don’t have any proof. Not a?—”

Reuben sucks in a breath, but keeps quiet when Zachary holds up a hand.

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