The look of Surprise

Part 1

She stared at the door. She had been told she could leave at any time. She wasn't sure she entirely believed him. Everything he had just told her was so foreign, so alien. It was so outlandish that she simply stared at the door, stunned. 

All she had to do was stand up and leave. She believed him on that much at least. The rest of it just seemed incredulous. There was no way it could be true. She was here because of her own free will. Or was she? She was no longer entirely sure. 

She looked down at the fire burning, pondering the situation. He had told her everything, bared his soul to him. She could get up and leave, and never have to worry about looking back. He would let her go, she would never have to worry about anything and she would never see him again. It would be so easy. 

But his words intrigued her. She wondered what life would be like if she stayed. If anything he had said were true, it would be a life she had never imagined. A life of fantasy made real. Her every wish, her every desire satisfied. His words still echoed in her mind. 

The little voice, the one that always refused to be silent at times like these, wondered if this was just not suave words on his part. People always lied. Maybe he was telling her all the things she wanted to hear. Was she lying to herself in hopes of her dreams coming true? She wanted to believe that it was possible. But it was so hard to give that hope life. 

She stared at the flames. The red glow of the coals, with the white ash on top. The orange and blue flames licking the sides, tickling the wood as it consumed. That was life. To live was to consume, to take from another. How was this any different? It was such a simple choice, yet so absurdly complicated. So many factors to weigh. 

She heard the kitchen door open, he was returning. She knew that she would have to give an answer very shortly. There was no exiting quietly now, if she still chose to go. Now she would have to look him in the eyes, and speak. Give an excuse. Assuming she chose to go.

He approached her. Standing over her, she slowly rose her eyes, taking in the drinks in his hand and rising to his eyes. His beautiful blue eyes. She loved to stare into those eyes. Everything he had said came pounding back through her mind. 

She stared into his eyes, he spoke, "Well? Staying or going?" 

She could no longer meet his gaze, she dropped her gaze. She heard herself speak softly, "staying". She raised her eyes, searching his. The eyes of a warlock. Her master.