Oh, did Malachi not believe him?  Not think him capable of things worse than carving a cross into a man's skin?  In seconds, the doctor's mind was flooded with things far more gruesome than that.  He stared at Malachi, imagining it all for a long and quiet moment.

Arthur couldn't help but smile.

"Leave and find out," he said simply.  "Or stay, and don't."

Had Malachi said before that the girl had a brother?  Arthur supposed Malachi cared for the both of them a great deal.  If he wanted love, why not get it from them?  Children were so easily swayed one way or the other.  It couldn't have been that difficult to gain affection from them.

Perhaps the priest was really that unlovable though.

If that was really the case, he and Arthur were perfect for each other.  Why couldn't he see that?

"Don't do this, Malachi.  Stay.  Stab me again, kill me, love me, if you think you want to.  Just stay."