Martha's Pov

The arrow and curse stopped before even exiting the alley we were in. I looked over at Steve and he looked back at me, puzzled. We look out the passage to see everyone completely stopped! Andor brushed some dirt off of his clothes and looked over at us. I ducked underneath the arrow and ran to Andor. I hugged him tightly and ruffled his hair.

"You need to get out of here." I said to him.

"No you do." He said calmly. Steve walked over.

"Mate! What is going on????" He asked. Andor smiled.

"Ianite may be unconscious but she is still powerful. I had only read of this ability before! She stops time when her followers are either about to mess something up, to give them more time to think about their options, or to help them use an opportunity." Andor says. This had happened to me once before. I had been shooting at a creeper and almost shot Helgrind in the head. He would have died! But then again looking at this now that would have saved me alot of trouble.

"So what's it this time?" I asked him.

"You were about to mess something up." He pointed at the arrow/curse.

"No. She was telling us three to run." I said.

"I must stay." Andor said.

"Why?! You'll just be put in jail!" I said.

"I h-have to be put in jail. For the balance." Andor said.

"That would tilt it in Mianite's side!" I gasped. "Come with us we can get you away from here!" Andor had a look of gratitude but one that said goodbye more than that he would take me up on that offer.

"Look." Andor said pointing at II_Jeriicho_II and OMGItsFireFoxx. "They aren't sure what to do, Sparklez isn't totally against Helgrind yet, and even you aren't doing all you could to stop him. I MUST go to jail. Whatever they do to me will be Ianite's real test for me. But what happens to me will motivate you." He said pointing at my heart. "All of you." A tear slid down my cheek. "Don't let me rot in jail too long."

"I'm sorry." I apologized while ruffling his hair. "That I lied."

"What?" He asked.

"That I will a-always be there to protect you." I stuttered. I might have sat there for a second or a year while Andor let me hug him while I was crying. He comforted me, even though he was the one going to jail. This was the face of Ianite. Mianite was supposed to be the kind one, but that is wrong. I looked up at Tom who was frozen mid jump. Dianite has more compassion than Mianite. I looked at Tucker and Sonja in disgust. A voice in my head told me 'Don't judge them too harshly for their hearts aren't directing them like the rest of yours. They are torn in two.' The voice sounded like three combined into one, Ianite's, Spark's, and Andor's. Finally I let go of Andor and kissed him on the cheek. I tried to hand him the golden apple Steve had given me this morning in case we had gotten into trouble but her refused it.

"I will not let Mianite prosper off of the fruits of Steve's labor. They will definitely search me." Andor said sadly.

"I love you." I said.

"I love you too. See you soon hopefully." Andor replied. I walked away and hid in the alley. I disarmed the curse and Steve pushed the arrow into the floor. Time started again and I had to watch my nephew be dragged away by the brother who abandoned me for cultists. Steve had to pull me away from the scene. I fought all the way back to the house. When we made it back I cried in the corner. It seems I do a lot of that recently. Steve had his own way of handling it, he stared blankly out his window.

"W-we COULD have killed Al. We COULD have helped him. We COULD have run." I said.

"No." Steve said blankly. "It had to be that way. Andor was right. There was no way around it. I want him to be fine as much as you do, but sometimes you HAVE to take one for the team."

I lulled myself to sleep that night in Steve's arms only to be plagued by Nightmares of Andor and what future probably awaits him.