"Now the curse is happy again," laughs Etty softly.

"Good. I'm glad. I'm glad it feels safe," she says, snuggling Etty some more.

"...He didn't say."

"It'd be easier to kill him right away if I could do it when you're not around. Or maybe when he's sleeping," she says.

"That makes sense. Maybe even I could kill him in his sleep. But I'd have a harder job timing it than you would, considering."

"Yeah."

"Do you think you can, now? If it doesn't stick - if you don't mean it right - and he hears you -"

"I'll only do it if I'm sure I mean it and I'm sure he can't hear me."

"Okay."

Yes.

"I could - if I know when you're going to do it - stand in view of his window?" Etty suggests slowly. "...Or you could come in while I'm. There."

"I don't know if I could see you from his window," she says. "And I don't know how to safely check."

"I can look out the window while I'm there, see what parts of the outside it frames," says Etty. "...But your eyes wouldn't be adjusted to moonlight, would they."

She shakes her head.

"So you might not be able to see me even if I stood in just the right place."

She nods.

"So - next time he takes me - if you think you can - then, you can come in after. He always falls asleep when he's through with me," shivers Etty.

Etty nods and tucks her head under Nona's chin and sobs once.

Nona hugs her.

"I'm afraid I'll get used to it. I'm afraid that I won't."