I wonder if anybody likes this story anymore. The more chapters I post the fewer reviews I receive. The only one who keeps reviewing is rite4fun, and I have to thank you for sticking with me through the whole thing.

A Hearts Illusion

Noting the tension in the air, Kori cleared her throat, calmly glanced at all the shocked members she begrudgingly had become friends, despite her better judgment.

"Father, Mother and I were going to collect Violet. Could you please prepare a room for her?" Nodding his head in understanding, he swiftly lifted himself out of the beautifully decorated chair, disappearing out of the dining room into the hallway. Following her father's lead, she lifted her lithe body out of the chair, grabbing her jacket out of the coat closet. Before catching up with her mother who was waiting somberly at the door, she stopped by Raven's seat, leaning down to whisper something in her ear, then continued on her way.

The night was cold, like an uninvited guest and Kori was glad that she had remembered to bring her fur coat her mother had bought her for Christmas. Even though she gave her no warning of her invitation, her mother had prepared a Christmas gift months ahead of her arrival.

Without an attempt to fill the silence with conversation, Kori watched the people pass by, shivering in their coats, hurrying to a warm house with gifts packed under a decorated tree. Tonight, with the bitterness of the wind and the wet dampness on her frozen fingers, Kori didn't need any warning of snow.

No matter the winter or the weather conditions, God fulfilled his promise of powdery snow on Christmas Eve. To Kori it felt that this was God's way of crying for the brutal disappearance of Isabella. As if he was trying to apologize for meeting her in such painful circumstances. Snow. Her beloved powder that covered the world with white innocence, melting to spring where new beginnings were made. At least that was Isabella's theories. Kori could never quite get herself to believe the naïve point of view, though she accepted it like a breath of fresh air.

"How soon can you make the pill?" Kori didn't take the effort to stare at her mother but she could feel her gaze, warning her she was intrigued by her question.

"I don't know why you're asking when you already know the answer. From half a day to at least a day. In this particular case, I would say it will take me a day."

"Christmas is tomorrow." Without warning, Kori changed the subject without a bat of her eyelash. "Do you think Isabella will be happy to see her two daughters, morning together for her?"

Scarlet refused to reply, choosing to observe the sky stormed and brewed, the cold wet snow. Silence fell upon them once again and sometimes Kori wondered if she was too used to the quiet. They parked as near to the harbor as they could, watching the variety of people pass them. It was odd to Kori how many different types of people could live so peacefully together. Rich, poor, beggars, nobles, soldiers, painters, writers, businessmen, they all settled down in one small area and amazingly cooperated with each other very well. People were rarely robbed and very few crimes happened in her little town. It was the vision of peace.

As the waited longer and longer, less people came and Kori was starting to loose interesting. Racking her brain to quench her boredom, she thought and thought, future plans, her friends, her family, her mother, her life, God, life in general. She just kept thinking, thinking and thinking till she felt her brain was going to split from a headache and her heart was going to explode from the overwhelming sense of self-pity.

Lost, she didn't realize that half an hour passed by quietly, a word not spoken from their mouths, when she came walking around the corner.

Long hair swayed in the wind, as dark as the night, curling like waves of the ocean, dancing gently against her waist. Magnificent onyx eyes peered coldly to the world, metallically bright against porcelain ivory skin. Lips the color of soft rose petals matched with a small delicate nose. She wore a shimmering gold ballroom dance that followed her fluid footsteps, as she walked closer the isolated carriage.

No movements were made as they observed her walk down the street, getting dangerously close to the carriage. They felt the vibrations of the door being opened with unnatural force, a controlled face twisted in anger.

She pressed her foot hard into the step; it creaked under the impressive force.

"You're despicable." It wasn't a jester, or a familiar saying out warmth or affection. It was a cold ruthless threat with the intent of hate. At least to anybody else witnessing this event. However, to Kori its translation meant, you're agitating rather her having a corrupted personality.

Kori waited till Violet had settled in her customary seat by her, her back rigidly straight, her chin held high, her eyes calculating her surroundings.

"What makes you say that, dear friend?" Kori smile was forced, just tilted enough so it seemed genuine but low enough so Violet could expect trouble.

"You purposely made me walk to the carriage." Violet glared at Kori. She seemed tired; the bags under her eyes were a deeper shade of violet. Her face was paler, making her bright features seem duller as if eroded away by the elements.

"Why, of course. Someone as beautiful as you should be open to the world to admire at."

Violet sent her a glare from the corner out of her eye, yet Kori just innocently tilted her head and smiled a little wider.

"Are you two done quarreling? I would like to return to my house sometime tonight."

"She hasn't had her desert yet." Kori whispered into her ear, the smile on her face grew mischievous. Ignoring her taunting daughter, Scarlet knocked on the wall behind her, signaling the driver to start the carriage. Without a problem, he heard the quivering knock, snapping the reigns, making the horse start walking in a slow and steady pace.

The house came into view twenty minutes later. During that time the tree had a light conversation, explaining what happened over the year, the people the met, the things they've done, the hilarious stories. It was just a normal conversation in Kori's book.

Like a curse, familiarity of routine set in as they neared the house. Violet felt like she could breathe normally, as if the cold air was restricting her lungs. Footsteps that flowed like a held back river, Violet opened the door. Smelling the scent of warm food, she breathed in deeply, setting her suitcase down by the door. In a few minutes, she predicted John would be coming in with a warm smile and a greeting, chatting away in a steady tone about how she should visit more often, and what has school been like, did she check out any universities?

She was starting to wonder if the Andrews stopped evolving. They were constantly changing, from facial expressions to clothing choice, even to sentiments. They were in constant movement, always jumping to new complete unpredictable odd things that Violet considered writing a book on their lives. She was sure nobles would die to get their polished clean hands on a copy.

Surprised but the deepness of shock, Violet watched as John glided into the dining room, did she mention that all Andrews' had this incomparable grace that just from watching them walk people thought they were God's beloved angels, a small grin on his face. The instant he caught glimpse of her, his smile widened, his eyes shining with homely warmth.

She was drawn away from his gaze when she caught the people who propped their selves up behind him. She instantly recognized the man on the far right corner. For a short interval of 4 years, he had stayed with them and she only remembered him with two expressions. The first was a careless smirk that suggested that he knew everything and the second was a deep scowl accompanied by glaring crimson eyes. Usually he only wore the second expression when Kori was in a provoking or "devilish" mood.

Her memories of him only remembered him being a rude little boy, yet when she saw his sturdy rigid posture; it had suggested that somewhere along lines someone had put some thought into teaching him manners. She listened as he let out a deep chuckle from is newly defined face, he felt her deep gaze on his back and in response, he raised his hand slightly, as if it was a substitute for a proper greeting.

Next to Xaphier was a man that Violet had never met. Glancing between Kori's childhood friend, Violet recognized the strong resemblance between the two men. They both had lean, muscular built bodies, developed and trained through constant years of fighting she could only assume. They both had the same shade of midnight black hair, the same slanted square eyes that were slightly narrowed. Even the scars on their hands curved in the same pattern.

However there were a few key differences. The other man was shorter by at least two inches and his posture had a slight slouch in it. His hair was disheveled, as if he had just awakened and ran a hand through his black tresses without making them look presentable. The last and most important difference was his eyes. They were a deep blue grey, like a lake on a clear winter day, dazzlingly in the soft light of the oil lamps. Guiltily, her thoughts wondered what color his children's eyes would be if he got married to Kori.

Standing in the middle was John, who was so excited to have such a large amount of company he tried to encourage a conversation with three uninterested people, she being one of them.

Next to John was the youngest of them, not quite into adulthood yet not a child. He had a rather lanky weak build, his bones peering through the layer of his peach colored skin. He was rather shorter, shorter than her, only reaching her height with his forest green hair that was styled parallel to his head, curving at a slight angle. His eyes were the same color, a deep green the color of a thick dense forest, and worried hid behind them as he observed the person beside him.

She could see with the upwards smile that he was used to laughter, a genuine happiness, hidden beneath was a layer of loneliness. She perceived the feeling as if he was abandoned; silently begging for love under his joking eyes and to her he truly represented a forest.

Following the odd green haired gaze, she turned to observe the last and final guest. Hair the color of violets burned her eyes, straining her brain's mental power as a wayward memory of a pregnant woman in a dusty picture frame. A soft heart shape with a smile echoed back an imagine laugh, rich violet eyes, vibrant against pale skin.

Mother.

Alright a few notes. I am changing Kori's last name to Andrew just because I think it wounds better. Also sorry this is so short but it is a transitional chapter. My third note is my beta is revising my first chapter and in the mean time I have already reposted my revised version of chapter two. Please review.