Waiting for me?

While Ethan was silently mulling over things and calculating risks versus the guilt he could live with, his sister had already made her way to the new character standing beside him.

"Don't tell me… this is the reason why you have been missing in action…" Marella stared at a now red-faced Lia and was giving the poor woman a thorough once-over. 

Lia, for her part, shifted awkwardly under the scrutiny, her hands fidgeting at her sides like a child caught stealing cookies.

Ethan sighed, his shoulders tensing as he anticipated the storm brewing in his sister's head. "It's not what it looks like," he began, but Marella shot him a pointed look that froze the words on his tongue.

"Sure, its not. Where are you from and how dare you bewitch my brother like this? Did you use a skill? Are you an enchantress? You look very beautiful. You cannot be trusted. Why are you here and what are you doing with my brother?"