They're poison, all of them. Each and every person bearing the name of Crabtree. As punishment they would be forced to bear the weight of eternity and know nothing but loss and the cruelty of time. Even love - yes, especially - would be used against them.

Alecto knows this, thinks about what his sister used to ask in the dead of night - "Does evil come from within us or from elsewhere?" - as he puts two fingers inside of himself, slowly, knees falling wider in reaction to the sudden stretch.