128. Angel (Jude's POV)

"Hah…" My heart beat heavily as I confirmed my suspicion.

The bird was not always a polite little crow; its bleak was sharp, and its claws were deadly. 

But instead of following the path of her supposed mother, she was strong and brave enough to let herself be formed into a high-school gym teacher that let kids run instead of skinning them — by an equally strong and brave old woman.

Putting the cat down and covering my mouth with my hand, I was amazed.

How was it that with every new puzzle piece, I fell deeper for the little crow? 

I chuckled. How endearing, so damn cute, to carry around the cat she had killed as a memento of her sin, while at the same time caring for it dearly, albeit still erasing every guilt from herself.