(Unedited)

Adelina had spent the last few hours pacing, wondering what went wrong. Her mind was racing with questions, but no answer could be found.

What had gotten into her?

She couldn't make sense of it, but nothing made sense at the moment. She didn't want to believe anything the men had told her, but what if there was truth to it all?

Would she have been already been dead had they not needed her?

She pulled at her hair, knots getting caught in her fingers. A scream of frustration escaped her lips as she flung herself onto the plush green sofa. She sat there staring out the window behind the sofa and into the dark night. Deciding none of this was going to help, she lifted herself up and went towards the closet. She picked out some comfortable clothes and changed. She had to be careful of the stitches on her arm and hand as she lifted her old shirt off and the new one on.

Adelina headed over and turned the light off, letting the moonlight give a soft hue into the room. She laid herself down with a pleasant sigh escaping her lips.

"Maybe I can figure this all out tomorrow," she said to herself.

She let her eyes close right as she heard a soft knock on the door. She kept her eyes closed tight, choosing to ignore the door and whoever was at it. A few seconds later, the knocks continued until she heard the door open and someone stepped inside.

"Adelina," Asmund said with a gentle tone.

She kept her eyes shut and let her breathing remain steady. She could hear the footsteps get closer and soon she could sense Asmund's body looming over hers.

"I know you're not asleep."

She didn't open her eyes, nor did she move a muscle.

"Come on now, that is enough." His voice was demanding and she knew he wasn't going to go away.

Her eyes popped open and she glared at him.

"Why couldn't you have just left me alone? What do you even want? Can I not sleep in peace now either?" Anger dripped out of her tone.

"Falentine has requested your presence,"

"Are you his messenger now? Is there a reason he can't come and get me himself, or just have left me alone?"

"I don't think you would want him to be the one to get you."

"That might be true, but not sure why you are doing his bidding. Here I thought you were all equals." Adelina laughed.

"I'm just trying to be nice. I could have sent Charles, Samuel or Frederick. None of them would be standing here arguing with you right now, or listening to you. So please just get yourself up and put on shoes. My brother doesn't like to wait, you are aware of this." His patience was wearing thin.

Adelina lifted herself up from the bed and meandered over to the closet, taking her time. She started to grab some clothes, but Asmund walked in behind her.

"You don't need new clothes. We don't have time for that. Here grab shoes and let's go." He handed her a pair of sandals. She slipped them on her feet with haste and walked towards the door.

"What is the rush? And also I don't know if you've realized this, but I'm not nocturnal like you all. Why the need to wake me up in the middle of the night?" She asked as Asmund grabbed her arm and began to pull her through the hall.

He said nothing as they walked through the halls, winding down each turn. Adelina felt her head spin as they kept twisting and turning. Finally, they stopped at a door Adelina recognized.

"The prison? Are you letting me see my family or Daniel again?" hope began to rise in her chest.

Asmund stopped and grabbed her elbow pulling her to face him.

"I shouldn't be warning you, but," he started.

The door swung open, interrupting him and startling them both. Adelina let her eyes shift and saw Falentine. He stood there looking at his brother and holding the door open.

"Asmund, what are you waiting for? Bring the girl in." Falentine voice echoed off the hall causing Adelina to wince.

Adelina looked back at Asmund. He looked down at her, but his face gave away nothing. He grabbed onto her arm again and directed her through the door.

As they entered the room she saw Tessa sitting in a chair in the corner. Asmund let go of her arm and she moved with swiftness towards Tessa. As she got close to Tessa, she saw Tears dripping down her eyes and onto her cheek.

"Are you okay? What is going on?" Adelina asked in a panic.

"I-I don't know," she stuttered as more tears spilled from her eyes. "They are bringing Daniel out here. I don't know why."

Adelina wrapped her arms around Tessa and held her tight, pressing Tessa's head into her chest.

"I'm s-o sorry. I didn't realize w-ha-t they were doing," Tessa sputtered out.

"What do you mean? What exactly are they doing?"

The door opened and two guards came in dragging Daniel. Adelina let out a yelp as she saw how bloodied and bruised he looked. His eyes were swollen shut and his lip was busted and bleeding. His body looked broken as they dragged him up into a chair. They secured his wrist onto the chair as Daniel whimpered in pain.

"Daniel," Adelina's voice came out as a whisper.

Tessa began to wail and her tears came faster. Adelina was torn on whether she should let go of Tessa or run to Daniel, her heart tugging in both directions. She grabbed at Tessa and began to try to move her towards Daniel, but Tessa was firmly planted to the chair.

"Tessa, I need to go check on Daniel. Stay right here okay? I'll be right over there only for a second," Adelina spoke with a soft tone.

"Don't leave me Adelina. Please," Tessa pleaded grabbing tighter onto her waist.

"I just need to go check on Daniel. Shhh," Adelina patted her hair before lifting her body up. Tessa held on to her with a tight grip, but Adelina took her hands and moved her arms with care.

"I'm just going to check on him. I'll be right over there." She said again trying to reassure her.

Adelina strode over to Daniel. As she looked around the room she noticed both Asmund and Falentine staring at her with blank expressions. She grasped on to Daniel and shook him very lightly. A moan escaped his lips.

"W-hy," she heard Tessa say from behind her.

Adelina turned back and saw Tessa staring, her lips turned downward and fist clenched.

"What do you mean Tessa?"

"WHY!!!" Tessa screamed standing up this time.

Adelina stared at Tessa in shock. Her face paled as she studied the expression Tessa wore. She had never seen Tessa's face contort in such a way.

"What is wrong?" Adelina shook as she questioned.

An awful cackle escaped out of Tessa's mouth.

"You choose him. You choose someone weak and pathetic over your own sister?"

"I didn't choose him. He is hurt, Tessa, look at him. I just wanted to make sure he is okay, which he clearly isn't. Look at him, he isn't even conscious. I have no idea what they've done to him." Adelina bent down and began to check Daniel injuries. His face lolled to one side as she touched his shoulders.

"He is fine. He is just being dramatic. I didn't hurt him that bad." Tessa stated with a small chuckle.

Adelina stood there, sure she hadn't heard her sister right.

"What? I think I misheard you, Tessa." Adelina was still bent down next to Daniel but her eyes were trained on her sister. A sinister smile twisted on her delicate face.

"I said, I didn't hurt him that bad. Just a few little whips. He is just being a big baby," Tessa mocked.

"Yo-u. You did this to him? Why."

"Well, I'm not responsible for the black eyes. But yes we did have a bit of fun."

"What is wrong with you? Have they done something to you? This isn't you Tessa. You have to know this isn't you." Adelina stood and began to move towards Tessa.

"A-d-elina?" She heard Daniel moan her name.

"Daniel," Adelina turned and moved back towards him. "Are you in a lot of pain? Where does it hurt, besides your eyes?" She began to run her fingers over his body with a light and delicate touch.

"Don't trust her," his head lolled down and then back to the right. He tried to face Adelina, but it was clear his eyes couldn't open.

"Shh, don't try to move. I'm right here." She said bending back down and grasping onto his hands. "It's okay."

"No it isn't 'okay'," Tessa spoke again. "You are both so pathetic and weak. You are so worried about him when you don't even know what he has done. You've always been so trusting and that will be your downfall, Adelina. That will be your weakness."

"Don't trust her. She has lost it. She is evil, Adelina. Pure evil. " Daniel said his voice gaining strength. His eyes opened barely as he glared at Tessa.

"Oh don't talk about me like that, Daniel. I don't remember you calling me evil before. In fact, I remember you telling me how sweet I was, how soft my lips were."

"SHUTUP!" Daniel yelled.

"Mm now, why would you say that to me? I don't recall you saying such a thing when you took my innocence, my dear Daniel. I remember you begging me to say your name. Come on don't play coy with me. I think it is exciting to think about." Tessa sauntered over to Daniel's side, opposite of Adelina.

She began to stroke the side of his face and leaned in to place a gentle kiss on his lips. Daniel pulled away, but Tessa grabbed his head and pulled him deeper into the kiss. When she breaks away, Daniel throws his head back and spits at her.

"How dare you!" She said as she smacks Daniel across his swollen cheeks.

Adelina is in shock, but moves to stand in front of Tessa.

"Stop this Tessa. Stop the lying."

"Oh I'm not lying Adelina. The night that we went to town, the last night I spent there, Daniel took me out to the forest. We had been planning it for some time. Why do you think I begged our parents to let me go to town? Why do you think I was so persistent? I knew what I wanted that night and so did he."

"Stop LYING!" Adelina yelled standing directly in front of her sister.

Tessa lunged at Adelina, fist in the air. She threw her onto the ground with her hands around her neck. Adelina's back stung and her lungs hurt as she struggled to breathe. Falentine and Asmund both rushed in pulling Tessa off. Asmund grabbed onto Adelina, trying to help her up, but her body ached. Adelina closed her eyes tightly as tears began to spill from the pain.

"Don't do that again," Falentine scolded Tessa. "You shouldn't hurt your sister like that."

"Is it true," Adelina whispered to Asmund as pain radiated through her body. She opened her eyes for a quick second to see his reaction. She watched as he nodded fast once.

"Why? Why would you do this? Both of you," Adelina's voice boomed through the room. "Sleeping together?" Adelina lifted her aching body off the hard concrete floor. She stood up with a whimper of pain.

"Why would you do this to your sister? Your twin, Tessa. I love you. I love you both so much. How could you do this to me?" Her voice became hysterical.

"Always about you, isn't it? I don't care to explain anything to you. And honestly maybe we aren't' even sisters. Beth and Carlson aren't even our parents, so maybe we were lied to about that too." Tessa stated anger evident in her voice.

"You two are twins we are certain on that." Falentine stated holding on to Tessa. He caressed her cheek lovingly. "Let's stop this fighting for now. It is getting boring. Plus we have some exciting news to share don't we, Tessa?" He said planting a delicate kiss on her lips.

Adelina stood there staring with anger at both of them. She felt betrayed and alone. Everyone around her had lied to her. Pain and anger radiated through her body.

"Well, tomorrow is an exciting day. Tessa and I will be celebrating our engagement." He held up her hand to show a giant diamond. "We will have a big celebration and a feast to honor this. I expect you to be there, both of you." He said nodding in Daniels direction.

Tessa grabbed onto Falentine and they began to walk out of the room, hand in hand.

"It will be a night none of you will forget." Falentine said as the door closed behind him.

Adelina stood there, shaking in anger. She couldn't quite understand what had just happened, but she knew she couldn't stand to be in this room a moment longer.

"Take me back to my room," She pleaded.

Asmund nodded towards the guards to take Daniel back to his cage. He grabbed onto Adelina's arm and began to lead her out the door. As he held her arm he felt her shake.

"Are you hurt?" He asked.

"No." She stated with a flat voice. "I'm fine. Just take me to my room."

As they walked back, Adelina let her mind race.

How had it come to this?

She knew one thing, she couldn't trust anybody but herself.