Chapter 45: a Loving Embrace

Harley rushed into Marian’s arms, kissing her passionately. “I love you so much,” she said. She held Marian close, pulling at her as if trying to pull them into the same space, to get so close that they became one.

“I love you too, ma cherie,” Marian said, holding her tight. She brushed her hand over Harley’s hair, pressing their foreheads together and locking eyes with her. “And I could not let him do that to you.”

Harley looked up at her, smiling desperately. “I didn’t think you - I didn’t think you’d be able to break free.”

“For myself, I could not,” she said. She looked over at Walter, who was staring at where Jonathan had fallen. It occurred to her that she couldn’t break the compulsion for Walter, either. “My body did not respond to my urgings. But when he started to - when your life was at risk, I did not even need to urge. I just- I just did it.”

Harley looked over her shoulder at Jonathan, not wanting to let go of Marian but needing to see his corpse.