*AN: Hey guys!! Sorry I've been gone so long- I just read back through this and laughed and cringed so much- it's really quite dumb.... But I guess I should finish it up a bit...*

Trey pulled me close for a moment more and then sighed and released me.
"I guess there's something I should tell you... And I'm sorry that I didn't tell you sooner."
I look up at him, readying myself for whatever he says.
"You have a brother. He's the only family of yours that I have ever met. Though you used to talk about have a dad too."
I take a deep breath.
I have real family.
"What's my brothers name?" I ask.

"His name is Alvar."
Trey says slowly.

"Do you know of anyway I could contact him?"
I question.
Trey bites his lip.
"Umm... I don't know-" His eyes lit up with an idea. "Wait! Yes I do! We used to call on our imparters all the time. I bet if we used my imparter to call yours, someone at your house might answer!"

I slowly nod. "I guess we could try that. Do you have it with you right now?"
Trey answers by pulling the small imparter out of a pocket hidden beneath is cape.
"Emily Huxley."
He says into it.

Nothing happens for a moment, and then it lights up and we're looking into the face a young man with brown hair and icy blue eyes.
His eyes widen at the sight of me.
"Emmie?" He gasps.

...

Less than five minutes later, Alvar leaps to the school and we meet him outside. He pulls me into an embrace and ruffles my hair, but doesn't say anything.
I wave goodbye to Trey and make him promise not to tell anyone.
Then Alvar takes my hand and we leap away.

We arrive in a dark room, lit only with a scone on the wall. A black cloaked figure leans against the wall near the light.
"Well, if isn't the princess of disappointment, come back to grace us with her presence."
He sneered, crossing his arms.

"Get lost Gethen." Alvar growls.
"Ah- well I would, but I've been ordered to bring back the princess here's memories upon her return."
He stalks forward, and I try not slink away.
He laughs and rubs his hands together.
"Hurt her an I'll-" Alvar starts.
"You'll what? Tell on me?"
Gethen laughs again and places his cold fingers on my temples.

I try not squirm away as he closes his eyes, holding my head very tightly in place.
Nothing happens for a minute and then Gethen let's put a deep breath and takes a step back, wiping sweat from his brow.
"That was...harder than I expected." He growled.
"Did it work though?" A person standing in the shadows asked. I squinted trying to make out out who it was, but all I saw was a blurry shadow.

"I believe so. We'll know for sure in a minute."
He replied coldly.
A couple awkward seconds of silence followed, before I felt something pop in my head.
I cried out as pain flared in my mind and I sank to my knees, cradling my head in my hands.
Memories rushed into my conscience like a tidal wave, washing away all the fake ones.

I sucked in a deep breath as the onslaught eased and I was able to stand.
Alvar put a hand on my arm when I swayed a bit.
"Better?" He asked.
I slowly nodded, and he backed away.

I remembered everything. From my first memories of my father and Gisela as a child, too being ubducted by the black swan, and having my memories wiped.

The figure stepped from the shadows then and I recognized Gisela, her golden hair in a tight bun that pulled at the skin of her face so much it looked like it hurt.
Anger kindled in me as I remembered what she had said in the hideout in the woods.
"You gave me away?!" I cried, pointing an accusing at her.

She brushed imaginary dust off her cloak before answering me. "We had a plan."
"That included me having my memories wiped half a dozen times?!"
I growled furiously.

"Not necessarily." Another voice answered.
I whipped around recognizing the voice.
My father leaned nonchalantly against the cave wall, barely recognizable, his left eye was swollen and black. His lips cracked and bleeding.
"Dad-" I gulped.
He stumbled as he pushed himself off the wall, and I put my arms out to steady him.

"W-what happened to you?" I stuttered.
His cloak was ripped and there was dried blood in his disheveled blonde hair.
He pulled himself from my grasp, his eyes on the ground.
"Disobedience comes with consequence."
Gisela said, almost smugly.

My breath hitched.
They had done this to him?
His own people?
Then again, I honestly shouldn't have been surprised, considering all the torture I had been through at the hands of these idiots.
I had been around Sophie and her posse of kindness.
I was getting soft.
I swallowed and dipped my head in acceptance.