"Fourth Brother, where did you meet her?"

"Fourth Brother, how long have you been together?

"Fourth Brother, you haven't told me what homo sapiens are. How come I have never heard of them?"

"Fourth Brother, I am curious how homo sapiens taste like."

In the car, I close my eyes and listens to Siouxsie's loud questions. Eli is driving the car. He hasn't answered a single question. I understand why he shows so much patience toward me. I can guess where he got the habit of saying stuff like he wanted to eat me. Having two sisters who are suffering from delusions is hard. But why did he marry a woman like me?

"Sister-in-law!"

"Sister-in-law!"

.I look back at her. "Yes?"

"Sister-in-law." She looks at me with a broad smile. "What's your name?"

"Nell Solomon."

"My name is Siouxsie." She closes her eyes and leans closer. "Sister-in-law, you have a scent of the winter solstice. It's a very --

All of a sudden, the car halts. I fall forward. I feel his hand on my forehead, pushing me back. He looks at his sister. "Go home."

"But Fourth Brother…" His sister w.h.i.n.es to him. "I don't want to go home today."

"Do you want me to throw you out of the car?" Eli scowls at her darkly.

"I want to spend some time with sister-in-law."

"Siouxsie, get out!"

"This little marshmallow also has a temper." The cat on Eli's l.a.p raises his head and licks his chin. "Hey, don't be mad at your sick sister."

"I can act however I want." The devil looks at me sullenly. "Tell him not to scold his little sister?"

It's best to stay out of other people's fight.

I sigh and look out of the window. The sky is cloudy today. Where is this place anyway? The buildings are familiar. The road goes to a place where I used to go. I see the Devil in the middle of the road. He looks back at me.

"What are you waiting for?" The devil yells. "It's you who want to know where this road leads to."

Will I appreciate finding out where it leads to?

"That depends on you." The devil sighs. "It might be something you want to see."

Why should I trust the devil?

The devil rolls his eyes. "Coward."

I turn to Eli who is still arguing with Siouxsie. "If she wants to stay, let her stay."

"But, Nell…" Eli looks at me helplessly. "She has to go home."

"I will go back tomorrow." Siouxsie puckers her lips.

"It's just for a day." The devil is glaring me. I don't want to stay at this place anymore. "Let's go back to the house."

He squeezes his eyes close, frowning at the car wheel. He seems frustrated about something. After letting out a heavy sigh, he restarts the car. The devil reappears on my l.a.p this time. I pat the Devil's back.

It will be over soon.

"Sister-in-law is on my side." Siouxsie grins at me. "Only you can melt this man's dark and cold heart."

Dark and cold? I glance at Eli. He gives me a small smile, shaking his head a little. It's good to see that someone can get on his nerves.

"What's dark and cold about this little marshmallow?" The Devil asks me. "Even his body is literally hot to touch."

This little marshmallow has nothing dark and cold in his heart.

***

"Little…" Siouxsie gives her a look over. "Marshmallow?"

Nell widens her eyes. She turns her head toward them. Did she say it out loud?

"Has nothing dark and cold in his heart?" Siouxsie raises her sharp brows.

She doesn't meet his gaze and looks down, trying to hide her face between the strands of her hair. Damn! Why did she say it out loud? Fl.u.s.tered, she looks toward the window and replies with a quivering voice, "It wasn't about your brother."

"If it was not me, who were you talking about?" Eli asks her with an amused tone. She's acting shy. Why won't she say it out loud? He would love to hear her call him that every day. It's better than hearing 'Doctor Sanguine'.

"Sister-in-law, you only reach up to his c.h.e.s.t." Siouxsie shakes her head at Nell. "There's no way he's the little one. You smell young and fresh. I am sure that he's older than you are. Calling him a marshmallow? Sister-in-law, which part of him is soft or squishy?"

Nell peeks at him. When she sees him watching her, she looks away again. Eli is sure that he saw her face turning flaming red.

"Siouxsie, let it go." Eli purses his lips together, trying hard not to laugh. "Don't tease my sweet addiction."

Only he can tease her.

"Little Marshmallow and Sweet Addiction..." Siouxsie wrinkles her nose. "Even a ghoul can lose his head in love."

Nell clears her throat and speaks with a polite tone, "You must be hungry, Siouxsie. I will make you something good when we get home."

His sweet addiction is trying to change the topic. Eli accelerates toward the house with a broad smile.