TORN BETWEEN

A broad, devilish smirk is plastered on her face. That smile a witch wears after casting a spell on someone. She has just done that, and now she knows the spell is working.

She has won! Game well played, Maria! Again, yet again, she won over me!

"You can stay." I mumble once again, and Andy snaps out of his state.

I expected him to ask me why I was doing this. Why am I allowing Maria to stay? But he doesn't say a thing. Maybe this is what he wanted; he just didn't know how to say it. I have lessened the burden for him. Now he doesn't have to say it. For him and Angel, I am willing to dine with the devil and even dance with it if that is all it will take to see them out of harm's way.

The annoying clicking sound of Maria's heels as she walks back to us again catches our attention once more. She must be doing it on purpose.

"You are so intelligent and humane, my dear cousin. Exactly, just as I thought." She mocks us, standing in front of us, but her eyes are on Andy. "I knew you woul