Raise the Blood

by Nenia Campbell

And what was the green book?

The book from the library Nadine! With the arsenic, duh

“You want to run, Nadine? Run to me.”

“What will you do to me, my little sparrow? Beat your hands against my chest? Scratch me up? Shout at me in that sweet, trembling voice? If that’s the case, you tempt me to villainy, simply by making me crave the punishment.”

Would you like to be my sparrow, Nadine? All you would have to do is submit to me, fuck me—love me. And in return, I’d take care of you. Forever.”

But all roads lead to me, darling, so I really do suggest you make the right choice. You won’t get a better ally than me in this house.”

So tell me, little sparrow—if I truly am the heartless hunter you think I am, why am I the one who’s caught?”