(Back to Peaches's POV)

I closed my eyes, prepared to become face-to-face with both my favorite person in the world, and my least favorite person in the world.

I was kicked out of my preparation by a voice. "So, it's awake?"

I opened my eyes, perfectly willing and ready to face my father.

Oh, you were expecting my father to be the "favorite person" of my life? Psh. As if. You must've mistaken him for Uncle Diego.

Anyway, I glared at my father and snapped, "I would really prefer it if you would talk as if I were actually here, thank you very much. And another thing: I am not an 'it', 'thing', or 'human'. I am a 'Momo', or a 'her'. Your choice on whether to call me either."

Manny (I refuse to call him 'Dad' yet) faltered, surprised to hear that I could speak English, or Animalese, or whatever weird crackpot language they spoke, but quickly recomposed himself, rolled his eyes, and stomped away.

I smirked, and settled back down in my blankets, putting my arms behind my head, my idea of a "victor's pose", when all of a sudden—

"Just who do you think you are?"

I looked up, holding a hand in front of my face to block out the sun. It took me a moment for me to realize that the one chewing me out was a saber. It didn't take a genius to realize that it was Uncle Diego.

"Well, saber, I think that I'm Momo McGuire, a human girl, twelve years old. What do you think I am?"

Uncle Diego glared at me, and said, "A brat who doesn't know how to keep her mouth shut. Don't you know that Manny's first mate and son were killed by you humans?"

I faltered. God, why didn't I think of this? Of course Dad would be hesitant about trusting humans! God, I'll never get this assignment done!

"How was I supposed to know that?" was all I responded with. It took all my willpower not to punch my own lights out. Stupid, stupid, stupid! Shut up, Peaches!

I stood up, and all eyes turned to me.

"I'm leaving," I said. "My little sister's out there and I want to go looking for her as soon as I can. So…Thanks for helping me out there. If it wasn't for you, I'd probably be dead."

I took a step away from the herd, when all of a sudden, "Why don't we help you?"

"That's not necessary!" Manny hastily exclaimed.

"Yes, it is!" Ellie came back. She looked at me. "Why don't we help you find your sister?" she repeated to me.

"It's okay," I said. "I don't need your help."

I caught a flash of hurt in Ellie's eyes, but (to my utter annoyance) she pressed on. "Of course you do. It's the middle of winter. You'll need help. Do you even know how to make a fire?"

I blushed. To be absolutely honest, I didn't. Uncle Diego was going to teach me, but we never got the chance to. I thought quickly of a comeback. "Do you?"

I whipped around so I didn't have to see the hurt in her eyes.

But, now the thought of my inability to make a fire just added to my worries about Stefi. Maybe she had matches or a lighter with her, maybe a few candles, even.

Then, I mentally slapped myself for being so selfish. I would rather freeze to death—no, I would rather burn in Hell for freaking eternity—than see my sister suffer.

I remember how Stefi always prayed to those phony spirits of hers. She was so naïve. She didn't know just how awful a place the world was. She just needed to find out why and how I hunt, and she'll learn.

But I couldn't destroy that sweet smile on her face. The way she greeted everyone she met with a wide smile and a great big "Hello!" How she was practically joined at the hip with her twin brother, Gavin, how she always asked if he could play tag, or follow-the-leader, or whatever stupid game Marissa, Sylvia and I would play, as if Gavin weren't blind.

And now, she could be in a blizzard freezing to death. Oh my god…

"Are you okay?" I heard Ellie ask. When I touched my cheek, I figured out why: my hand was wet. I was crying.

I looked up at Ellie, at her green eyes, so like my own. I opened my mouth to say that I was fine, but when I did, all that came out was a tiny sob. I fell to my knees, buried my face in my hands, and began to cry.

I cried for everything I left behind. I cried for my brother's blindness, my mom's long hours of work, Uncle Diego's hysteria over his wife's pregnancy (honestly, I didn't know why; Aunt Amaya was fine), and for the cold that was probably cutting through Stefi.

I cried, and I cried, and I cried, hardly even hearing Ellie's words of comfort.