Could there have been more sin in someone's blood? The blood of murder and amorality, deceit, betrayal, conceived on the eve of the most heinous crimes London had known. But it seems to me that the blood of an average Londoner doesn't boast much more purity. My parents were driven to what they did, at least they were in my mind, and from what I can conclude. Nellie especially, who's often declared the more monstrous of the two by the average attendee of the tale. Yes, she was willing to manipulate to any length of get what she desired, but why is that worse than murder or rape? Because she was a woman?
I never knew Johanna or Lillian; Johanna found another sailor to marry soon after escaping Sweeney, and left for who knows where. Lillian went to find relatives in the country, never to return to London. Even if she'd considered taking Mara with her, Lillian refused to have anything to do with me, the demon child. So Mara and Toby were left in the bowels of the city to find shelter for themselves, to find grueling work in a factory and still take care of a baby. My sister lived as honest a life as she could from then on, which meant we were honestly poor. She and Toby raised me in a small apartment, but even when they were both adults they never grew terribly fond of each other. Mara always had unwanted admirers, and she eventually married one to get us out of a nothing life, choosing a well-off lawyer who wanted a pretty little wife to serve him domestically and sexually. And I suppose Mara wanted children of her own so that she could forget me, her disturbing Ella who looks too much like Nellie.
Toby was left with the apartment to himself.
I still think my sister always felt Nellie's influence the strongest within her values, in her independence while she was poor, and the pride of wealth when she was married. There were moments when she would stare off at nothing, even while she was knitting or surrounded by her children, and have a pained look in her eyes. Maybe she was feeling loss, or maybe she was hoping to God that someday Nellie's desires would stop pulling her apart inside.
I don't think many have ever actually trusted me, at least not completely, as though they could tell what evil was supposedly running through my veins. I may have my mother's disturbing eyes and my father's dark, coarse hair, but if I inherited their evils, who could know? Perhaps they're lying dormant, and will come forth when they're needed.
When the world deserves it once again.
And thus, an Ending to what came before.
