Eve knows.

But does this mean --

"She thinks that you are well. That she has made you safe and happy. She trusts in it. She trusts in the justice of the world, when no such thing exists. I have known for a very long time that she is wrong, because I can see you hurting. But she must not be allowed to discover it. Lynia's failure... She must not be made impure by it."

Eve agrees, of course. That's exactly why she can't kill herself. Or admit anything. But what else can she do? If she leaves...

"I think she is beginning to notice, Eve. If she spends much longer with you, then if you continue to hurt she will learn the truth."

Oh. Good. Another threat. Another wall to stop her from escaping. She --

She hangs her head in her hands. She is hyperventilating.

"Can I -- can I say goodbye to her?"

Teresa tilts her head. "Yes. Of course."

Hope! Sweetest Lynia: Eve will see her again. She --

She catches her breath.

"Yes, you will need to speak with her. She must believe that you are healthy and happy. That you leave because you no longer need us. It will sadden her, but she will survive."

She breathes in, and back out again.

That she no longer needs them...

"I'm sorry," she whispers. "Sorry I need you. I -- I never wanted to be a threat to her. I'll leave, I promise. Just like you said. Anything for Lynia. So you won't have to worry anymore..."

A hand on Eve's wrist.

She looks straight at Eve. Teresa's eyes are dry, but her jewels glitter like tears.

She is...bad at this.

"You misunderstand," she says. "It's not that I want you to leave. I care for you. I always have. It will sadden me, too, when you depart. It's just..."

Her heart is beating swiftly. She must not show it. Control, always.

"You understand, don't you, Eve? For Lynia, I would do..."

"Anything," Eve whispers.

Wait.

She looks at Teresa. There are no tears, but there is pain. She can detect it, just barely. She has seen this expression before. When Lynia was hurting, or upset. When such pressure was placed on Teresa's heart that even her diamond shell could not but begin to crack.

Teresa is actually telling the truth. This is crushing her. To send Eve away, to never see her again: to make Lynia's dreams a failure. And she is doing it anyway.

To protect Lynia.

Her heart is in her throat, and it pounds with violence.

She never -- she never realized quite so acutely --

-- how much she loved this woman.

Her hand darts out to seize Teresa's wrist.

Teresa flinches. Not quick enough. Eve's fingers are cold and strong. Too strong.

"Come," Eve says, and stands and pulls. It is with far more force than she should be able, because her muscles are not muscles anymore.

Because Eve thought that she loved only Lynia, and so there was no way out. But if she loves Teresa -- if she loves her truly --

-- then the sxelanth will have its meal.

Teresa is hauled to her feet with a sudden jerk. She does not understand.

"Eve, what -- "

Now Eve is pulling, dragging her across the room, toward the exit. Through, and into the cold night air beyond. Into an alley, shadowed and silent, a slice of the stars glittering above. None will disturb them here.

She presses Teresa against the stone brick wall.

She catches the barest glimpse in the starlight, and now she is gasping in fear.