“Evie, please!” she sobbed, holding her hands out.

“Please, tell them to stop! I’m your sister!”

I looked down at the scrap of ruined black silk still clutched unconsciously in her trembling fist.

“You were my sister ten minutes ago, Celeste,” I said quietly.

“Right when you were laughing at the scars on my back.”

Her mouth trembled violently. “Dad made me do it! He made me lie to the investigators!”