(Diego p.o.v)

How is it possible?

There must be a mistake.

I still couldn't believe what victor told me or is it more like I don't want to.

Today Victor and I have some important business to deal with, underworld stuff of course. we informed Edward last night itself to take care of everything at office, he just gave us a questioning look, but didn't ask or speak anything.

May be he too realised the seriousness or reality of the situation.

We don't have know how much time is left with us, I desperately hope that we aren't too late.

I watched the happy smile on Callie's face as she plated food for us.

I know she was waiting for our reaction,the food was really delicious, when she knew that we loved it, her face lit up like a Christmas tree.

There was the smile, I always wanted to see on her face.

But soon it wasn't there anymore.

Her face changed into blank mask before it changed to a pained look as if she is remembering something painful and horrific memory. she looked like she was fighting for control over herself. Her fingers gripping at the edge of the table, she had her eyes shut tightly.

I glanced at Victor, who was also staring at Callie, he too had a blank mask on his face, but the way he clenched his jaw, I can tell that he is tensed . Damien and Xander looked worried, they were about to shake her and wakeup from whatever trance she was in, but Victor gestured them not to.

I know that both of them are really anxious by now, about whatever is happening. I myself is getting anxious, but it's time for them to know.

After sometime, Callie went still, as if someone froze her, her grip on table loosened, her whole body posture now calm.

She slowly looked at us, her face now blank, her eyes a dark shade of grey

"Aren't you guys eating?" She asked as she eyed our plates with a raised eyebrow.

"Yeah, it's delicious Callie, when did you learn to cook" Victor asked, he was careful with his words.

"I know someone who love to cook, I used to help her" she replied, with a shrug.

"Who? Someone from orphanage" Victor asked softly

"Well, it was kind of orphanage, we only had each other as a family" Callie replied, sounding bitter.

"You now have us Callie, we will take care of everything, we will protect you" Victor almost sounded like pleading.

"Protect from whom?" Callie asked with a dry chuckle

"Peter and Andrew? Andrew is gone, well Peter he won't even be able to touch me, funny how time works" Callie smirked.

Yeah he won't be able to touch her ever.

"Callie, you know we want to help you" Victor spoke softly.

"Help! Help! Help! I wanted help long time ago, but there was no one to help me, it was just me, just me all alone. I saw, learned and experienced a lot, I don't feel anything, I don't feel any pain, I have always been like this, not like the broken side of mine, this side of me don't want anyones help, I do my own thing" Callie replied darkly as she started playing with a kitchen knife.

I am really starting to get frightened about her, how couldn't we notice the change in her earlier.

After few moments, Callie dropped the knife, she then looked at us.

"Aren't you guys eating, didn't you like it" she asked softly with a pout.

What the fucking hell!!

"Yeah, it's delicious Callie" victor replied with a forced smile making Callie smile, he tried his best to hide his shock and act normal, before Silently gesturing me to eat.

Really, how the hell am I supposed to act normal, when there's nothing normal happening around me.

" Victor, I wanted to ask to something" Callie spoke a bit hesitantly.

"What's it Lia" Victor asked carefully

"Can I go to my friends house for a night stay, please they have been asking me for few days now" Callie asked with pleading eyes.

"When is it?" Victor asked, Callie looked at him surprised.

She surely didn't expect Victor to ask this, she must have expected Victor to disagree instantly.

"This coming sunday" she replied with a excited face.

"Who all will be there?"

"Just us friends, we will be staying at Sophia's house"

I looked at Xander and Damien, they looked pale as if they saw some ghost, I couldn't blame them. Even I am startled by Callie's sudden change.

I understood what Victor is trying to do, so I tried to get the attention of Xander and Damien without her noticing.

Finally, I managed to get Xander's attention, I gestured him. He immediately understood what I was trying to say and started to play along.

"How can you allow her so easily Victor" Xander asked making Callie look at him.

"When is your results coming Callie" Victor asked trying to get her attention back from Xander, who is miserably failing to keep his tough composure.

"I don't know" she looked confused

"Well it's today, Victor if Callie score more than 85 percent you can let her go, what do you say Callie" Xander asked with a smirk making Callie Silently glare at him.

I know Xander is nervous, but he managing it well.

She looked stiff, but then she relaxed,

"Deal" she replied with a smirk.

Xander stormed into Edward's room followed by Damien, victor and Diego went outside for their work, and Callie went to her room to get ready for school.

Edward was sitting on the chair reading a file

"What's happening with Callie?" Xander asked through gritted teeth.

"What do you mean?" Edward asked calmly, making Xander more angry.

"Edward I know, you know what's happening, don't try to hide it from us, tell us what's going on dammit" Xander shouted grabbing his hair in frustration.

"What happened right now that both of you are Suddenly feeling that we are hiding something?" Edward asked, as he stared at both of boys with a questioning look.

Damien told him what happened.

"She was smiling one moment and next moment she looked like someone possessed her, she started to speak like nothing happened she didn't even showed any emotion when she spoke about Peter and Andrew, she was taking everything so casually as if she don't give a shit. What's happening to her Edward, her behavior is making me worried, one second she is laughing and smiling, but next second she look so different and cold"

Edward took a deep sigh as he began to speak

"Both of you know about XEXO weapon dealing right, how an attack happened and next day almost everyone including the game leaders were found dead" Edward asked, both Damien and Xander nodded their head, not understanding the connection between it to Callie.

"Well, the attack was planned by knights, he send 3 of his assassin, a boy and 2 girls. They were behind the attack, it was the youngest one of them who killed the the leaders. She was just 14 years, when she ruthlessly killed the gang, her name is Eva Gabriel, only survivor of the 3 members who was involved in attacking the dealing. Bodies of other two was found as you already know, tortured to death" Edward looked at his brothers, who were carefully listening to him, but they had look of shock on their face.

"But the girl Eva, she is Missing, no one have any idea about where she is, where she came from, or about her real identity or family" Edward choose his words carefully.

Edward himself don't know weather his assumptions are right, he didn't ask Victor or Diego because he is afraid of their answer.

He is afraid of proving right.

He couldn't bring himself to believe it first. But he was there when victor got a call from doctor Steve and left urgently, he was also there when victor returned looking dejected.

The moment Victor made eye contact with him, he realized with horror that his worst nightmare came true.

They couldn't protect Callie.

All these times they were trying to protect Callie by keeping her away from the darkness of underworld, by keeping her away from them, by hiding the secrets from her. but now it seems that she would have been safe and better with them knowing the truth.

But it's too late, because she already witnessed and experienced the hell, they never wanted to see.