"Kali," the name escapes my lips before I even have a chance to think. I have seen her many times before, too many times to count.

Memories come flooding back to me. I remember the her being at my wedding: tending to my every need, reassuring me that Soren was the perfect man for me. Whenever her family would have events before I got married, she would always invite me to them. She was really the reason why I fell in love with Soren. We met through her.

She was, is, Soren's sister. She had run away last year for some random reason, without a trace. Somehow, I managed to find her and am standing right in front of her.

Her face is all wrinkled in confusion. It corrupts her beautiful features. "What are you doing here? Who are they? Where is Soren?"

I want to ask her similar questions, but I don't. "I ran away from Soren. You had to see his transition. Now he wants to change me and my daughter, but I am desperate not to let him." I am not sure what Kali will think of my actions but if she supposedly ran away, then she must understand.

Kali lowers her gaze down to my stomach, her mouth wide open. She probably wants it to convince her of the truth, but there is no physical indication yet. "Well, congratulations, I guess," Kali starts, slowly looking back up at me. Her eyes stare directly into mine, as if she is critiquing me. "But shouldn't you have stayed with Soren, especially in this time when you are so vulnerable? Your daughter may serve to unite you and Soren despite your differences, haven't you thought of that?"

I quickly shake my head, averting my gaze so that I don't have to look at Kali. Why does nobody seem to understand? The concept is so simple to me. "The problem is that he doesn't seem to care for me or my future daughter as a person. The only distinguishing feature of my daughter will be that she is extremely beautiful. She won't be able to think for herself and she won't understand anything going around her. I don't want a daughter that doesn't know anything! Furthermore, Soren wants to change me, similar to te way that he got changed. Why would I ever want to stay with him if he's not accepting of me the way I am?"

I try to blink the tears away, but as my voice grows louder and more frustrated, they just keep coming. Kali probably doesn't care, nobody does. The only one that does seem to partially care about my plight is Trace, but he doesn't even fully understand it. As my vision becomes clouded with the persistant tears, I feel an embrace. It is warm and comforting, something I hadn't expected to feel. A hand gathers the hair on the back of my head; it pushes my head into a soft, flowing shirt. I feel more at home than I ever have after running away.

"It's okay, Nyx. You'll be okay," Kali whispers in my ear as she successfully attempts to comfort me. Her calm voice soothes my sporadic breathing.

Once I manage to calm down, Kali releases me from her loving embrace. I back away from her a little bit, so that I am near Trace and Cyrus again. Kali once again looks at the two men next to me curiously.

"You never answered one of my questions. Who are they?" She points to both Trace and Cyrus almost accusingly, but her tone is soft. She just seems concerned for my well being.

"I met them soon after I ran away, actually. We decided to band together. That one's Cyrus, and he's Trace." I nod towards each of them as I say their names.

First, Cyrus strolls up to Kali. He seems to tightly grip her hand as he shakes it. I can almost see the veins popping out of his forearm. As he sternly looks into her eyes, he says. "I'm Cyrus."

I am astounded by how bipolar Cyrus can seem. He always seem at least tolerable with his actions around Trace, but with me and even Kali, a total stranger, he can just be cruel.

Kali turns to Trace with a frown on her face, obviously discouraged by Cyrus's attitude. Unfortunately for her, she doesn't get much of a better response from Trace. He doesn't seem to notice that she wants to shake his hand. He is lost in his own thoughts.

Finally, he asks, "Where is Avery?" He is not looking at Kali, but rather past her, towards where the person in question may be.

Kali looks in the direction of Trace's gaze and then turns towards me. She shoots me a look, seemingly asking me why these guys are acting this way. I can't answer her, because I don't know. "He is upstairs, trying to relax. I figured he wouldn't mind if I answered the door."

"Who are you anyway?" Trace asks, almost accusingly. He is nearly eyeing Kali down, wondering why she would have the authority to answer for Avery.

"I'm his fiancée," Kali coldly replies, staring straight back at Trace.

I don't believe it. Why would Kali have agreed to marry this person? She is Enhanced, he isn't. She seemed so content with her life back in the Inside, why would he ever leave it? I always thought that there was something strange about her disappearance and I might finally figure it out.

"Well, if you're so close then, can you help me?" Trace asks, starting to soften his tone. He seems to have realized that if he wants help he has to at least act nice.

"What do you want?" Kali asks, not bothering to look at Trace.

"Well, your fiancée determined that my brother was to be executed today and I was wondering if you could try to do anything about it or convince him otherwise." Trace is looking at the ground through his plead, but once he finishes he looks up at Kali innocently. His brown eyes remind me of those of a puppy. I know I wouldn't be able to resist his gaze.

Kali's grey emerald eyes look questioningly at me, as if asking if she should consider Trace's plea. I slightly nod my head. "Who is he?"

"Xander." That is all Trace needs to say and Kali is nodding her head.

"You know what he has done, right?" I guess that Trace's brother is a well known person, but unfortunately not in a good way.

"Yes, I do. I don't approve of it, but he's my brother. Do you have a sibling? You must understand how I feel if you do. Being forever separated from him is unimaginable!" Trace's voice is starting to break. I truly admire the passion he has for his brother. Even though his brother did something wrong, Trace still has an undying love for him.