Page 115 of Live To Tell

“Good.”

“Yes. But we need to be prepared that Viktor isn’t any of these if he doesn’t live in the city anymore,” Rowan replies. “And there’re a lot of Joe Smiths in the country as a whole.”

He takes the sheet of paper from me and draws asterisks by five Joes. Crumbs from Leif’s muffin fall onto the sheet, and I brush them away. “Anything significant about any of them? Please say yes.”

“Ordinary people, ordinary jobs. A couple of them also have a family.”

Grayson tenses beside me. “A family of victims?”

Rowan looks up. “Or ordinary humans.”

I’m struggling with Annabelle’s insight into Madison’s life and death, unable to fully comprehend the girl’s actions, and I gaze around at the other teens in the cafe. Is such a dynamic common in relationships?

“You okay, Violet?” asks Leif.

“I can’t accept that Madison killed herself,” I say stiffly, and the guys glance at each other. “Viktor must’ve killed her.”

“He’s a necromancer and a psycho,” says Rowan quietly. “If you were Madison and knew he intended to take your life and create a puppet from you—”

“I’d rip his throat out,” I interrupt.

“Okay, I’ll rephrase that. Madison wasn’t you. She chose an extreme response, but maybe that was her only way out—or Madison felt she had no choice,” Rowan replies.

“But why would Viktor do this?” I protest. “If Madison didn’t want a relationship with him, he should’ve accepted that and found a girl who did.”

“Like I said, psycho,” says Rowan.

My spine straightens. “Are you suggesting my father could be capable of such actions?”

“I’m sure not all psychopaths are alike,” says Grayson lightly.

My hand curls around the paper. “Do you think I’m capable of something like this?”

“Violet. You’re not a psychopath, remember?”

“No, but I’m a necromancer.”

Leif leans back in his seat. “You’re not capable. Violet, you’d never use necromancy to harm someone. Annabelle’s wrong—not all necromancers are immoral. Look at Eloise.”

But am I? I’d joked that I would’ve reanimated Wesley and demand he perform tricks, but did that idea come from somewhere inside? Now that I’ve seen the shifters and the result of necromancy, that joke’s hollow. I’m increasingly confused how I feel about this side of my nature now. The desire to master the dark magic exists as an inner compulsion, rooted in curiosity and pride that I’m one of few who can. But should I stop pursuing the ability?

I finally understand Eloise’s reticence. Even if you’ve saved a life, you’ve also taken one.

“Sounds like Viktor is a controlling, entitled asshole who manipulates people and refused to let Madison go from their abusive relationship. He had the added benefit of magic he could use to control Madison and ensure she couldn’t ever leave him.” Rowan shakes his head. “The disgust on your face proves you don’t have that evil in you, Violet.”

“No. I guess my darkness lies elsewhere.”

“Violet, the world’s full of people like Viktor,” says Leif. “People are shit.”

Grayson laughs softly. “Yeah.”

“I don’t like this world,” I announce. “Sometimes, I wish I’d never left Scotland.”

Rowan nudges me with an elbow. “But you wouldn’t have three wonderful guys in your life or the thrill from your new occupation as a detective.”

I regard him. Dorian’s words—tangled lives lead to betrayal and disappointment. Anger. If I’m already filled with disgust and fury at this witch for causing a girl’s death, what will happen when I see him? Rowan’s an example of a potent witch influenced by unconstrained emotions. I don’t use shadows, and I’m not capable of actions like Viktor’s, but what if I unravel and reveal my black center too?

I could kill Viktor.

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