Chapter 8N Augustus ' chest rose and fell violently . " You're so desperate to kill my sister just to become Mrs. Cordova , aren't you ? " W " Mr. Cordova , I- " } " Guards ! Throw her into the Serpent Pit . " N " Mr. Cordova ! " My eyes widened , blood surging in my temples . " They have to induce vomiting now ! Another minute and it'll be too late - let go ! Let me go ! " N Beatrice's eyes reddened . " Annalise , to become Mrs. Cordova , you're even willing to risk someone's life ? You're a doctor ... " W Carmella had been unconscious for so long , she had no idea who had dragged her back from death again and again . When she heard Beatrice crying , her own face twisted in resentment . " " Brother ! Why is this doctor so evil ? Does she want me dead before she's satisfied ? " Seeing his sister's frown , Augustus ' face darkened further . " What are you waiting for ? Throw her in ! " " No - don't !! " g Snakes . They're my greatest fear . And Augustus ' favorite playthings . " A tangle of bright , venomless serpents writhed below . Without hesitation , the guards shoved me . " I fell into the heaving waves of snakes . A slick , damp stench swallowed me whole . The wound in my chest hadn't healed . " I had no strength left to struggle . I could only feel fangs piercing my skin . " Augustus ' snakes weren't poisonous , but they loved to bite . Eventually , even the pain dulled into numbness . " Until someone dragged me back up . Augustus yanked me out , his grip like iron . " Carmella is coughing blood - save her ! Save her now ! " & They threw me beside the bed . Carmella's blood soaked the sheets in scarlet blotches . I closed my eyes briefly . " It's too late . " N " How can it be too late ! " Augustus ' fingers dug into my shoulders . " You're the best doctor - if you can't save her , who else can ? " A bitter smile curled my lips . " Dr. Ingram is better than me . Why not go find her ? " Augustus ' gaze darkened with venom , but beneath it was regret . " That wretched woman ... she ran off with your ex - boyfriend . " { I wasn't surprised . Beatrice had probably planned her escape the moment she administered the drug . " These past months , she received plenty of rewards from Augustus . " For the Cordova family , even crumbs between their fingers could feed two people for a lifetime . " By now , they were likely offshore with wiped identities . I turned back to Carmella . " She couldn't speak , blood gushing from her mouth . Her eyes pleaded with me . " I shook my head . " If you'd induced vomiting right away , there would've been hope . But after all this time - not even a god could save her " My vision swam as I swayed and fell , but Augustus caught me just in time . Only then did he see the countless snake bites on my body " Dr. Humphrey His voice trembled . " Dr. Humphrey ! Come here ! Bandage her wounds ! " Through the blur , someone gripped my hand tightly Augustus voice cracked with desperation . " I'll give you what you want - I'll make you Mrs. Cordova - just save Carmella , please , I'm begging you . A faint , mocking smile tugged at my lips 8 " Why would I want to be Mrs. Cordova ? don't even like you ... " Shock flickered across his eyes , followed by regret . Slowly , he let go of my hand He knelt beside me , despair flooding his gaze . When they finally bandaged me and I stood before Carmella's bed , Augustus remained kneeling at my feet N