"And you're not very perceptive," Mesaraih said, his eyes narrowing. "I just told you my name. You also haven't answered any of my questions," he pointed out.<br/><br/>Mesaraih noticed Ester leaving the house, annoyed, and he let her go. She didn't have his same curious nature.<br/><br/>"This tea is quite good, though," he said, pretending to take another drink but letting it dribble down the teacup instead.<br/><br/>"I think, more than anything, I want to know why I shouldn't be suspicious of all this," Mesaraih waved a hand around the room.<br/><br/>He was starting to feel strange. His mind wanted to be on alert and his instinct told him this was some sort of trap. But all his instincts and senses were dulled, addled. He knew how he should feel, but what his body told him was something quite different. Inside, he felt warm, and comfortable, and maybe a little tired. He wanted the strange woman to come and let him nestle his head on her lap.<br/><br/>But he couldn't allow himself to do that. It couldn't possibly be safe. And it didn't make even the smallest amount of sense. As much as he believed he saw through the woman's act, he also wondered why he couldn't bring himself to just walk away...