“It’s rude to stare,” the older woman says to the younger one, her voice low.

I guess the younger one is her daughter because her face is now fully hidden behind the magazine.

I’m led from the main room to a corridor lined with doors. When we reach the last door, the man without the ring opens it, and the scent of antiseptic assaults my senses. This must be his office. Is he a real doctor? Or some freak employed by The Society to run these “tests”?

He gestures for us to enter.

When I hesitate, Abel places a hand at my back and urges me inside.

The man closes the door. There’s no lock, I notice. I guess I’m free to go. But if I do, will they bring Evangeline here in my place? The thought is sickening, but looking at these men, the fat one with the ring who takes a seat on the couch across from the examining table looks far too eager, and I’m pretty sure he’d have no problem with the idea.

The room is average size and more brightly lit than the living space which was cozier. This has more functional lighting. A large desk is centered against the far wall. A sitting area against another and an examining table opposite it. There’s a privacy screen in the corner of the sitting area.

“Ivy,” the man without the ring says. He gestures to the single, simple wooden chair facing his desk. “Have a seat.”

I do, and Abel stands behind me, hands on my shoulders as if he’d keep me down if I tried to run.

“I’m Dr. Chambers.”

Chambers?

As in Maria Chambers’ father? I think back to the girl who used to torment me. And I realize why the one in the living room seemed familiar. It was the gleam in her otherwise unremarkable eyes. The wickedness inside them.

She was staring because she knew exactly what would happen here. What they would do to me.

I swallow, feeling hot. I’m glad I’m sitting down because I think I’d fall otherwise.

“Your brother has explained the requirement, I’m sure, but I’d like to go through it to be sure you are here of your own choice.”

“My choice?”

Abel squeezes my shoulders.

Dr. Chambers clears his throat, ignoring me. This is a sham, and everyone in this room knows it. And they’re all taking pleasure in my torment. Am I surprised? Maria Chambers was a bully at thirteen. She must have learned it somewhere.

“Mr. De La Rosa is a member of one of our founding families. As such, we, of course, hold him in the highest regard, as I’m sure you do.”

The man on the couch snorts in the middle of that sentence.

I glance over but only momentarily.

“I’m sure she does,” Abel answers the doctor.