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ignored Wilhelm’s protest and stated kindly, “Alric’s curse is different from all the others.” He moved his hands to the side of his face as if admiring something. “Once, every twenty-one years, a child is born to be the Head of the Macter Family. That child—”
    “Rusuto,” Wilhelm again interrupted.
    “Shut-up,” Angel barked. “I love this part of the story.”
    “Story!” Dan shouted. “This is reality.”
    Angel sighed, admiring her daydream. “I can’t wait to see how it ends. I bet Alric falls in love and then the curse will be lifted from our family.”
    “Me?” The voice was so lifeless it made Nieves’s bones ache with fear. “Fall in love?”
    Everyone directed their attention to Alric standing in the doorway. His hands were tucked neatly into the pockets of his black suit pants, hair dark and slightly in a mess.
    “Don’t stop on my account,” Alric said without bothering to sound an emotion. “I love it when people talk about my curse. In fact I encourage you to announce it on public television so the whole world knows what I am. Please, Rusuto, continue.”
    Alric’s bitter tone drew everyone’s gaze to the lacquer table before them. Nieves felt slightly fearful of Alric—especially after she had escaped his possible torture. Yet, in her heart of hearts, she could not hate Alric.
    She began to want to help him.
    Wilhelm didn’t seem at all pleased—as well as Rusuto.
    “Well, good evening, Alric,” Rusuto greeted.
    Alric brushed his greeting aside casually. “You have something I want.”
    Rusuto let out an over-exaggerated sigh.
    Angel got to her feet. “I’ll get another cup of tea.”
    “I’m not staying.” Alric’s expression never moved.
    Angel, the kind hostess, was quite insulted. Alric had rejected her offering—the head of the house rejected her kindness. “Oh okay.” Angel slowly sat down again lowering her gaze to her hands.
    Rusuto lifted his tea cup. “We don’t have much,” he told Alric kindly. “I’m sure we could give you something, Alric. We have a large variety of snacks. Dan has always been a junk-food eater.”
    Dan raised a brow at the challenge.
    “I’m not staying,” Alric repeated.
    Wilhelm felt slightly torn between the two opposing forces: the one who owned his heart—Rusuto—or the one who owned his life—Alric. He gave a soft sigh. “Come, Nieves. There’s no reason to fight this.”
    Nieves looked up from the darkness of the table. Wilhelm sat neatly adjacent to her with a hard expression.
    Angel, who sat next to Nieves, leapt into a tight hug around the girl. “No,” Angel cried. “Nieves stays!”
    Nieves’s eyes watered and misted. “It’s okay,” she said with a beaming smile. “I’ll come back and visit you soon.”
    Angel whined. “Promise?”
    “You bet!” Nieves nodded her head and hugged Angel like she would hug a little sister. Though Nieves wasn’t sure if she could keep that promise she prayed that it would be up held one day.
    Wilhelm was already to the door by the time Angel released Nieves from her grasp. She wiped away a tear drop from Nieves’ cheek.
    “Come back if you need anything,” Rusuto ordered from the head of the table.
    Nieves got to her feet. “Thank you so much.”
    Dan huffed. “Better come back. Angel won’t stop bugging me if you don’t. She’ll whine the entire time you’re gone.”
    “No I won’t,” yelled Angel in her own defense.
    Nieves, without further word, walked towards Wilhelm and the hate-filled Alric. The Head Macter turned around, leaving for the front door. Wilhelm, who had been so kind to her, gave no effort at all to comfort Nieves.
     

 
     
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER 6
     
     
    The car ride, Nieves felt, was far too quiet and awkward. Instead of keeping quiet—while sitting between two tense men—Nieves found herself asking, “Since your birthday is coming up, we should throw you a party.”
    Wilhelm’s entire body tightened with anxiety.
    Had