“Your hours will pass in dread and misery! Soon the bolt will fall which must ravish from you your goals forever. You have stripped me of everything save revenge—revenge, henceforth dearer than light or food! I may die, but first you, my tyrant and tormentor, shall curse the sun that gazes on your form, which hides so much. I, the monster, who shrinks now from sight, while you walk freely! Be careful what you do, Victor, for I will watch with the patience of a snake.”

“Leave!” Victor said, as cold and eternal as the wind buffeting the island. “Your mere presence offends me.”

“I go. But remember, I shall be with you on your wedding night.”

I shuddered, dread seizing me. This proved that I remained the monster’s target. Victor was not yet free of its demands, nor ever would he be.

But as long as Victor had something the monster wanted, he was safe. Assured of that, I sank against the wall. Victor was safe. I might be living under an unseen blade hovering ever ready to cut my soul from my body, but so long as I had breath, I had the same goal as the monster: revenge.

—

I sat for some time considering the laboratory. With Victor in the cottage, I could not destroy it. And I was not ready to face him. He still thought me an angel, still thought he had protected me by keeping me unaware of all this. I did not know how he would react if he knew that was not the case. Doubtless he was already close to his breaking point, which could trigger a blind rage or a delirious fever.

I could only hope he would suspect the monster had taken Justine’s body after Victor refused to resume working his dark arts on her. Victor needed to believe I was innocent of any knowledge of his actions. Would that I could erase all I had done and seen!

Just as I was determined to creep back down to the dock, I again heard the approach of footsteps. My breath caught as I anticipated the monster’s return. But no. There were several sets of footsteps. Someone pounded on the door to the cottage.

“What is the meaning of this?” Victor asked.

“We are arresting you in connection with the disappearance of Henry Clerval. And we want to question you about several mysterious deaths in the area.”

“This is an outrage!” Victor said. “I cannot be held accountable for the actions of that fool. I certainly cannot be arrested for them!”