Every minute stuck in the cell felt like an eternity. The lack of windows made every hour blur together, the only indication of passing time being the meals brought periodically. 

Tracy and I where getting paler and thinner with every passing day. Our eyes had dark circles under them from the lack of sleep. Our hair was starting to get knotted and ragged. We where each given one plain, gray dress that was basically a rag and the clothes we had when we were thrown in here. 

The cell was tiny and uncomfortable. We had one small mattress that Tracy and I shared or took turns using, a large pail in the corner with water we used for bathing and a similar device for using the bathroom (AN: how did prisoners survive before plumbing??????) 

We would each get three meals a day, usually consisting of Edward's left overs. We would usually get a visit from our traitorous brother once a day, coming in to gloat over the success of his reforms and our upcoming execution. A few times a day, Edward's guards would march into the dungeon, bringing with them a new prisoner. These prisoners would be taken to a nearby cell, any resistance punished by a sharp slash from one of the guards whip. Occasionally we would get a glimpse of someone we knew, an extended family member or a servant that we recognized. Unfortunately, no one would ever talk. Any exclamations or words of recognition from when the new prisoners would see Tracy and I in our cell where quickly muffled by the slash of the whip. Tracy and I barely spoke to each other, spending most of our time in crushing silence, only broken during Edward's visits. 

In short, it was a miserable existence. Tracy and I spent most of the time weeping in each others embrace, slowly giving up hope in any chance of survival. We knew our executions where coming. Edward's delayed action was no comforting gesture. Every day was spent waiting for the inevitable. My original plan of starvation had gone down the drain. I knew I wouldn't be alive for much longer, but I had to spend all my time taking care of Tracy. Unlike me, she had a chance at survival. I would somehow convince Edward to keep her alive. I had too. 

It was weeks before any out of the ordinary happened. The cells around us where quickly filling up with prisoners. Multiple people where packed into cells, at the very least five in each one. Tracy and I where kept separated from all the others. Edward wanted to eliminate every chance of conspiracy theories being set up. No communication between the prisoners was left unpunished, our only break from the deafening silence being Edward's visits, which were becoming less and less frequent as the time went on. 

Then one day, something different happened. When the dungeon lit up with the opening of the door to show Edward standing in the hallway, he was not on his own. Someone else was with him. He wore the all black attire of the men who Edward would refer too as his "followers" or "brothers".  He was carrying a bag at his side. His cold gray eyes swept the dungeon, falling open Tracy and I, who where huddled up on our mattress against the wall. Edward walked towards our cell, the man following him. One of the guards opened the cell, and Edward and the man stepped inside. 

"Tracy, get up." Edward commanded. "Now." Tracy got up from the mattress, glaring at Edward. "I have decided that you are in need of a proper education," Edward began. "After some thinking, I have determined that the best way to get the people to cooperate is to give them someone to follow, someone they already know and trust."

"I thought everything was going great. I thought people where accepting your rule," I spat from my corner. The guard who had opened the door raised his whip and started walking towards me. Edward held up his hand. 

"There will be no need for that," he said. "Her punishment will come soon enough. But as you said, we are unfortunately struggling with cooperation. As you can see, several people have been revolting." Edward gestured to the other cells packed with people, all glaring at him. "Soon there will be no more space for new prisoners, and I would hate to execute all of these people." Edward smirked, showing that he would not at all mind a mass execution. "There's no point of being King if there's no people to lead."

"So I have decided that the best course of action is too have someone the people can connect to and learn from. Tracy, being the beloved princess of the kingdom is that perfect someone. She is loved, and she is still young. She can be taught the ways of the new order, and represent it. Unfortunately for you Josephine, we have no choice to dispose of you. Although more powerful, I'm afraid your influence will be more negative. This," Edward gestured to the man beside him, who had been, until this point looking around the dungeon with an air of superiority, "is Mannox. He will be teaching you our ways. You are too follow all of his instructions. If there is any rule breaking from either of you, I will ensure that you are punished."

Edward stepped out of the cell, leaving behind Mannox. "Remember, Mannox is your superior. You may be princesses but he has the power."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Yay I updated!!!! 

Usually I write a prologue and the first chapter of a story than forget about It or leave it behind :,(

Thank you for reading!

I hope you liked it!

Love, 

Crystal