Richard, who was standing on the rung beneath her, shuddered a wistful laugh. "There are two kinds of monsters," he spoke. "There is the monster that fights himself when he has erred and seeks forgiveness, seeks to change. And there is the monster who is evil down to their soul. You've got a black soul, Samantha. I learned about your atrocities from a man named Garron last night."
Samantha, eyes aghast, hopped a step higher from him.
"By your expression, I can tell that name surely rings a bell."
Samantha started to shake visibly but made it bold to ask. "What--what did that person say to you?" She climbed back another step taller without taking her eyes off Richard.
Richard gaited up another step, bellying towards her. His light blue eyes had turned predatory when he said, "You do NOT deserve a love like the type Isabelle shows to you."
"Stop, okay. And step back!" Samantha swiveled and started up the steps like she normally would before the start of that man's confrontation.
