Children of Fate

***Six Months Later, April 3, 2011***

Ana wiped the sweat off her forehead. As she trudged back to her quarters she rubbed her sore muscles. Her legs and stomach and thighs ached, but she had never felt more alive.

Dancing did that to her.

She had been taking dancing lessons from Monsieur Frisk for the past six months, ever since she had arrived at Blackenvire Castle, every Friday and Monday. She took dancing lessons with Senna and Amber-Lyn every Tuesday and Thursday morning as well, but she was beyond that level by now. Something came over her when she was dancing, something magically wonderful, something all her own. One class Monsieur Frisk had told her that she danced like poetry.

And he was right.

Of course, Ana was smart enough never to dance better than the princess. In the past six months she had witnessed many jealous outbursts from Senna, and more often than not they turned violent and dangerous. Senna was like her father when she got angry, or so Ana had heard people whisper under their breaths. Her face got near demonic, her eyes blazed with fury, and her nose crinkled in an uncomplimentary manner.

Someday, Ana knew, that crinkle in Senna's nose would not go away, and her eyes would stay permanently furious, and she would become truly evil, like her father before her. Ana had to remind herself of that every time she shared a laugh with the princess.

As for Duchess Marjoni? She was just as evil and ambitious as her daughter and husband, but her moods had been high in the past two months. She was just about to pop with her first son, and Ana even heard that the Dark Lord was on his way to the castle. And he was bringing many of his officials.

Three key people would be present.

First of all Draco Malfoy would be coming. Ana had heard this from Senna earlier that week. She had grown very pale, even more so than when she had found out that Voldemort was expected. Would he recognize her from the dream if he saw her? Would he be suspicious even if he didn't remember her?

And then there would be Princess Maria Riddle. Ana remembered her dream with the Princess of Pain in it, the one where she was beating the girl who was identical to herself. In the past months Ana had begun to wonder if that girl was Jenny, her little sister. She had not seen the girl in her dreams again, and she hadn't seen Nicholas either.

In fact, she hadn't seen anything but the past. She had seen memories of her days as a child, memories that she had long forgotten. She had even dreamed of first meeting Tinkerbell. After that dream Ana had woken up crying.

But out of all the people coming, the third was the most important to her. Kylo Nott was coming, and with Kylo Nott came half of his staff, and included in half of his staff was Liza.

Or so Ana and Sugar hoped.

Voldemort might have his reasons for keeping Liza away from Ana, but he might also have forgotten where he assigned Ana, or he might not remember which wife he sent her to, in which case he wouldn't care who Nott brought along. If Liza came with her new master then the plans would be easier to make.

Speaking of plans, everything had been finalized. Over the past six months Ana, Amber-Lyn, and Sugar had put their heads together and come up with the perfect escape. Drawing information from AC--whom Ana was quite fond of by now, and who had never met Amber-Lyn--had been an enormous help, and they now knew where Senna shopped, how long she usually went out, and what times of day were busiest in Mardentine.

Senna had aided their plans as. Witlessly she had told her two "trusted" handmaidens every single detail of the trip, which they would depart for on April twenty-second, two days after the celebration of the new baby boy had ended. She told them where they were staying, how long they would be staying, and best of all she had given Ana a map of the city.

Ana and Amber-Lyn planned to wait at least ten days before escaping. By then they'd know the layout of the city better, and any suspicions of an expected escape would be long since forgotten. Ana and Amber-Lyn had let Sugar decide the route they would be taking towards the coast, and they had money saved up from many tips and small rewards. They would travel nonstop on foot to the coast, and then they would buy two tickets on some cheap boat that would take them to Ireland. Once there they would lay low, and then they would find the others.

It was a well thought out plan, and as Ana rounded the corner to her rooms, she hoped it would work. All thoughts of her escape, however, were interrupted when Marie came bustling around the corner.

In the past six months Marie had taken to Ana and Amber-Lyn as much as she had AC. She treated them like they were her own flesh and blood, but as she approached Ana her usual cheerful smile was gone. Instead Marie Connelly looked irritable, stressed, and over worked.

"There you are!" she cried when she saw Ana. "I've been looking all over for you, Ana! Where in Merlin's name were you?"

And was slightly taken aback by the matronly woman's outburst, but she replied steadily with, "At dance lessons. Today's Friday, and Monsieur Frisk ran late."

Marie lost a bit of the bite in her look, but her tone hadn't changed a bit when she began barking orders. "Ana, you come with me quick! The queen is in labor, and I have to get there right away."

Ana raised her eyebrows. "Why me? I don't know a thing about having babies!"

Marie shook her head so hard that her loose bun came loose, and her long, frizzy gray hair fell down past her shoulders. "I know how to birth the baby," she said sharply, "but I need an assistant, and you know enough about taking care of children. Now come on! Babies don't wait for anyone, you know!"

Ana was apprehensive about the whole arrangement, but she followed Marie without protest to a darkly grand part of the castle. Ana had never been in that part of Blackenvire before, but thought it to be the hallway to the Royal Birthing Chamber, where Duchess Marjoni had given birth to her two daughters. Her belief was confirmed when she heard the agonized wails that could only belong to a woman in labor.

"Damn it!" Duchess Marjoni's curse carried down the hallway. "Is there nothing that will make the pain go away?"

Ana saw Marie grow rigid. "Dear me," she muttered. "We had best hurry and help her."

Marie grabbed Ana's wrist and dragged her down the length of the hallway and to a pair of huge ebony double doors. She clapped twice, and the doors flew open. As soon as the entrance was wide enough for Marie's large frame to make it through, the matronly woman shot into the room. Ana followed quickly behind her.

There were three young servant women scurrying around the simple bed in the middle of the room, and they all looked wildly relieved at the arrival of Marie. "Mrs. Connelly," the youngest of the three gasped, "thank Merlin you're here! The duchess is having particularly painful contractions, and they're forty seconds apart. Other than that, I can't help-"

"OH, HELP ME NOW!"

An ear-shattering cry came from the bed, and the covers were thrown off with great force. Marie stopped listening to the servant girl and turned to Ana. "Dear, can you go now to that large cupboard in the corner and get a small, green vial with clear blue liquid in it? Then take it to Duchess Marjoni and help her to drink it. That should help ease the pain, and while you're doing that I can get my equipment together."

Ana did as she was told and rushed to the cupboard Marie had pointed out. When she opened it she found hundreds of different colored vials filled with different colored liquids, but the small green vials Marie had specified were easy to find, and once she had secured one Ana bustled over to the bed. The duchess laid there, her long, thin body shaking awfully and her hair a sweaty mess, but she still had enough strength to down the liquid.

"This had better work," she growled at Ana when she was through.

"It will, Duchess," Marie assured her while spreading her legs in the birthing position. "I made it myself, and it has eased many a birth since."

"Stop bragging and do your job," Duchess Marjoni snarled. "I want this baby out soon, you hear? I want to hold my prince tight. His father has been owled, and he should be arriving any minute."

Ana's blood ran cold when she heard the duchess. Voldemort was on his way? He would be here any minute? She silently prayed that the Dark King would be too preoccupied with his new son to notice the gangly servant girl who had been assisting the midwife.

"Ana!" Marie called sharply. "Stop daydreaming and get over here! The new prince is on his way, and I need someone to catch him while I coach the duchess!"

Ana paled even more and prayed again, this time that she wouldn't drop the baby. She positioned herself in front of the duchess, tried to be too horrified by the mass of goo that lay on the bed--Duchess Marjoni's water had broken there, Marie would later explain--and, within moments, she saw a tiny head. Then the shoulders, and then the torso, and then the legs, and then she was holding a squalling baby boy in her arms.

"Give the prince here, Ana," Marie commanded, and Ana was all too glad to do so. Within seconds Marie had severed the umbilical cord, dried the baby of its birthing sack, and wrapped him in a royal blue blanket and handed him back to Ana. "Here, dear," she said softly as Ana tried to support the baby's head. "Go give this prince to his mum."

"Yes." Duchess Marjoni said weakly, bathed in sweat but looking very pleased, "Bring me my baby boy."

Ana shuffled quickly to the duchess, and she handed the new prince over carefully. Duchess Marjoni took him into her arms, and, for just that moment, Ana forgot what an evil woman the duchess was and smiled softly at the mother holding her son for the first time. Marie was smiling softly too, but Ana had to wonder if Marie had ever seen the duchess as evil in the first place.

The peacefulness was broken as quickly as it had come, though, by the pounding of fists on the door. Duchess Marjoni was alert then. "Hurry, Mrs. Connelly," she hissed, clutching the prince tightly. "That must be my husband. Let him in to behold his new son."

Ana was surprised that her heart hadn't leapt out of her chest when the duchess said that her husband had arrived. She was doubly surprised when no one seemed to notice how loudly it was beating. She barely heard Marie say, "Come with me, dear. It's time for you to go to your rooms, but first we must let in our King."

Ana followed Marie to the door in a fearful daze, and she shrank behind the portly woman as the door was opened. Instantly a chill came over the room, and Ana could almost feel a wicked presence clinging to her skin.

She dropped her eyes to the floor when she heard a high, cruel voice ask, "Has my son been born yet?"

Marie replied in a fearful, "Yes, my King, your prince was born not ten minutes ago."

"Very good. And you birthed him with no assistance?" the cruel voice asked. It was as though the man speaking was looking for some way to criticize Marie.

"No, my King. I had the help of this girl here, Ana Lowell. Ana is a handmaiden to Princess Senna, and she knows much about children." Marie stepped away from Ana and Ana suddenly found herself staring into the reddest eyes she had ever seen. They seemed to penetrate her skin and feel out every secret she had within her, and Ana had never felt more nervous in her life.

"Ana Lowell?" Voldemort asked after thoroughly checked her over. "I once knew a tramp named Kaitlyn Lowell." Ana tried not to look angry. "D. Malfoy! You remember Kaitlyn Lowell, don't you?"

Ana froze when she heard a familiar drawl reply, "How could I forget that whore?" The man who Ana knew as Draco Malfoy appeared by his master's side. He gave Ana a strange look, as though he vaguely remembered her from somewhere, but then his eyes glazed over with an obedient hatefulness that was common in Death Eaters.

Voldemort didn't lose interest in staring at Ana though. He had begun to frown at her now, and he looked as if he were trying to decide something. "You're the one who used to work at Pegatha Davies manor, correct?"

Ana looked to Marie, who nodded, and then she replied with, "Yes." She couldn't bring herself to call Voldemort 'her King', like Marie did so readily. She knew instantly that she had made a mistake. Voldemort arched an eyebrow, and he looked strangely suspicious, but he didn't chide her on it.

"My wife, Queen Valicent, requested that you be moved to a more adequate place to work," he added. "She said that you have promising qualities that could help me eliminate some of the renegade groups running around." Voldemort gave her a chilling look. "You'll go far in this world, Ms. Lowell, but it would do you well to learn some manners and respect. Next time we meet you will address me as your King."

"I'm sorry for insulting you, my King." It was out of her mouth before she could stop herself. She bowed her head in shame. She had submitted to the Dark Lord, just as she had promised herself she'd never do. Just as in the days before she had come to know about Kaitlyn Lowell her fear had overcome her judgment. Old habits always died hard...

Fortunately she was still listening to the conversation, so she heard when Voldemort screeched for everyone but Marie and Mr. Malfoy to get out. Ana was all too glad to scurry from the birthing chamber, and she was down the hall and back towards her rooms before any Death Eaters could harass her. However, as she slowed down to catch her breath, three men caught up to her. They were all talking in hushed tones, and their eyes traveled right past the disheveled servant girl, but the few words that traveled from their conversation to Ana's ears was enough to captivate her attention.

"So, Nott, you said that you had some brandy?"

"Oh yes--got it from the King himself! Come back to my quarters and we'll have some."

Ana made careful note to memorize that face of Kylo Nott. He had sharp, raptor like features. His nose was long and pointed, his eyes were deep brown, and his black hair was tucked under a ridiculous looking Robin Hood type cap. His shoes looked just as comical--dark red with pointed toes--and Ana had to hold in a laugh. This fellow wasn't going to be hard to follow at all.

Quietly she stuck to the shadows as she trailed the three men down the hall. Ana knew for a fact that all servants were kept within close quarters of their masters, for purposes unknown. If she followed Kylo Nott long enough she might be led to Liza.

When it was obvious that they were nearing Nott's residence Ana slipped away and began lurking around the surrounding rooms. She didn't know how to go about finding if her friend had come, so luckily the door behind her opened and-

"Excuse me? Can I help you?" A bony middle-aged woman had stepped out. She was carrying a basket, and she looked slightly annoyed to find someone loitering around her master's area.

"Um, yes," Ana stuttered. She had to find a plausible and unsuspicious reason to bring Liza back to her chambers for the night. Then she remembered something that Marie had mentioned earlier that week in preparation for the arriving guests. "I know that the quarters visiting servants are given are often cramped. I was wondering if there was anybody my age that would like to come and stay in my chambers."

The offer was irresistible. "Of course there is," the woman said, and her attitude towards Ana changed visibly. She stepped back into her rooms and screeched, "Little snipe! Get out here!" There was a rustling from inside the rooms and a young pretty girl stepped out. "This here girl is willing to let her stay with you. Mr. Nott won't mind, I don't believe, so be off, the both off you." The woman stepped back into her quarters then, and Ana was left all alone with-

"Liza! It's really you!" Ana's joy burst out of her like fireworks. "Oh, Merlin, I never thought I'd see you again! Is this where they've been keeping you, Liza?"

Silence. Liza stared questioningly at Ana. It was only then that Ana sensed something was wrong.

"Liza?" she asked again. This time she was cautious. "It's me, Ana. You know, your best friend?"

The girl looked confused, and then she looked pitying. "I'm sorry, Miss," she said softly, much as Liza would have, "but my name is Kira, and I've never seen you before in my life."

***

She had the same beautiful unblemished honey colored skin, the same round, scholarly eyes, the same shy temperance...But she looked bewildered whenever Ana or Amber-Lyn called her Liza.

"My name is Kira," she would always say. When asked how long she'd been working at the Notts' home she would reply, "Roughly six months. And before that? I don't remember a stitch before six months ago."

Now Sugar was conferencing with her two charges in Ana's room while Liza sat stiffly at the kitchen table. "Is it really Liza?" Ana asked tearfully. "Or could it be some look-alike?"

Sugar peered out the door at the young girl. "Oh, darling, that's Elizabeth Jordan, all right. I can see her mother in the way she holds herself. What I can't believe is how we didn't see this coming."

"See what coming?" Amber-Lyn asked. She was noticeably less concerned than her cousin, but she still seemed on edge.

"Well, of course Voldemort isn't going to want Liza to remember her past! What if they got it into their heads to find their old friends like you did? So a Death Eater obliviates her memories, supplies her with a name, and tells her to keep her head down." Sugar looked proud of her thesis.

"But how will we get her to remember her past again? And why didn't he do that to me?" Ana was less antsy, but she was still very concerned.

"Leave that first question up to me. I'm pretty sure I can jog her memory. But as for your second question--why didn't he black out your memory?--I think it's because he underestimated you."

"Eh?"

"Voldemort was probably told that Liza was 'the smart one'. Therefore he destroys her past and eliminates what he believes to be the brains of the operations. How could the other two function properly if they didn't have her smarts on their side?"

"He thinks we're both dumb?"

Sugar shook her head no. "Not dumb, exactly, but more like...needy. You can do enough, of course, but you need Liza's brains to get you out of tight places."

"And just when I thought we were so close..." Ana made a face.

"She'll be more of a burden, now, than a help." Amber-Lyn's comments were cruel but factual. "She may be too frightened to come, if she doesn't know her past, or she might rat on us."

Ana was quick to rebuke her "cousin's" statement. "Liza could never have met me, and she still wouldn't tell on me! Memories don't change stuff like that! Right, Sugar?" She turned to her tiny friend for help.

"We cannot afford to forget any experience, not even the most painful, Dag Hammarskjöld once said. He was undoubtedly right." Sugar looked at her fingertips then. "As you might have noticed over the past six months I have retained a bit of my magic despite being trapped in this small form. I may have just enough to jog her memory, but Liza will need to be asleep first.

"The two of you go to sleep in here, and I'll wait for Liza to crash in Amber-Lyn's room. Then I'll sneak in there and give her a small jolt...Hopefully ths small jolt will send her into an almost comatose slumber. Then memories will begin to come back to her. They'll be insignificant memories at first, but gradually she'll see more and more important parts of her past. When she awakes in the morning she should, with a bit of luck, be able to remember things."

"With a bit of luck?" Ana seemed uncertain.

"It's the best we can do," Sugar replied. "Now to bed with the two of you. The princess will be busy tomorrow morning, what with the arrival of both her father and a new baby brother. You'll both need plenty of rest. Let me handle things." There was a strictness in Sugar's voice that made both girls groan and climb into the small bed. "Sweet dreams," the faerie whispered before turning off the lights and shutting the door behind her.

The silence was almost as great as the darkness. Ana disliked sharing a bed with Amber-Lyn, but desperate times called for desperate measures. This was only a small price to pay for getting Liza's memory back. Ana drifted off to sleep then, happy with the knowledge that her friend was nearly cured.

***

"Oh, god, make it stop hurting!"

Ana started at a woman's grating scream. She was standing in a cozy bedroom, and she was facing a very wide bed. Lying on the bed was a pretty woman, and the woman was obviously in labor. It took Ana only a few moments to realize that the woman was her mother.

She was witnessing her own birth.

A short, chubby brunette with red cheeks came rushing into the room. "I told you," she said calmly, "that this would have to be a natural birth. If I use any drugs or potions to try and ease the pain it might create complications."

Kate screeched angrily, and her back arched off the bed. "No ten minutes of fun is worth this!" she screamed. "Damn all men for not having to suffer through labor!"

The brunette shook her head as if to say 'aw, how cute'. "You'll feel differently when the little darling arrives her, Kate," she said. "They always do."

Kate nodded, but she didn't look as though she believed the midwife, who Ana realized must have been Orfay Weasley. There was another loud scream, and a tall, willowy girl ran in. Her black curls were a mess, and she stopped short when she saw Kate.

"Oh, god!" the girl cried. "I thought she might be having the baby."

Orfay waved her hand impatiently. "Keri, run and get Felicite and Molly. Molly can assist with the birth, and I believe that your sister wants to name Felicite the godmother."

"Sugar and Tink!" Kate called as her little sister started for the door. "Find them too! They said they were going to go have a chat with Ginny Weasley!"

"I'll do my best," Keri assured Kate before she was out the door.

Another contraction hit Kate, and she wailed in pain. "Oh, lord, it's been five hours!" she cried. "Five bloody hours! Damn it, why won't the baby get the hell out of me?"

Orfay shook her head. "Just calm down, dear. She's going to come soon, I think. It's going to be over."

That brought a smile to Kate's lips. "I wonder if she'll look like her father," she whispered softly, "or like me."

"Who knows?" Orfay asked, and Ana saw how uncomfortable the midwife had been with that question. Kate noticed too, for she closed her eyes and blushed.

"Kate! Kate, darling, I came as soon I 'eard!" A tall, beautiful woman raced in. She had a French accent. Felicite Audric, Ana guessed.

"And us three too!" A plump woman with faded red hair was soon to follow. Sugar and Tinkerbell were perched on opposite shoulders. Keri appeared in the doorway again, and this time she had another girl with her, probably Jeanette.

"I never want to have a baby again!" Kate cried.

"It's worth it, 'oney," Felicite assured her.

"It had better be!" Kate retorted. She gave another shriek, and then Orfay ran to her.

"Spread your legs wider--there, that's a dear. Now push...Good, good! Now push harder--Oh, she's on her way! I can see her head! Now push one last time! Push really hard!"

"Waaaaaaaaaaaa! Waaaaaaaaaaaaaa!"

The cries of a baby filled the room, and Ana stepped closer to the bed as she saw Mrs. Weasley sever her umbilical cord. Orfay took her to a small basin in the corner and swabbed her clean. Newborn-Ana was still wailing then, and she didn't stop until she was placed in Kate's arms.

"Oh, she's so beautiful!" Kate murmured, and Ana felt her eyes begin to water. Kate was stroking newborn-Ana's cheek, and it was obvious that she thought her new baby daughter was more precious than gold.

"I think we should give the new family some time alone," Orfay said softly, and, reluctantly, everyone left the room to make a pot of tea. When they were gone Kate began to whisper to newborn-Ana, and she began to cry softly as she spoke.

"God knows why I was given a blessing such as you, little Liana Mandolin. You deserve a million times better than to be born to a French tart on the run. You deserve to have a daddy, and you deserve a big house, and you deserve more than I can give." Ana turned away from her mother and her newborn self. It was getting to be hard to watch. "But remember, my baby, that you'll always have me, and I'll always have you.

"I may not always be there to watch over you, but I'll always be there to love you. If you were taken from me I'd go to the end of the world to find you. You are my precious, my firstborn, the light in all my dark times." Kate chuckled softly, and Ana turned to face her mother again. Kate was bouncing her up and down lightly, but then a strip of the blanket fell away from newborn-Ana's body, and Kate's eyes went wide.

"Felicite! Felicite! Come in here!"

Felicite appeared soundlessly a few seconds later. Sugar and Tinkerbell were arguing quietly on her right shoulder. "What is it, Kate?" she asked.

"Felicite, my daughter is the Savior..."

***

With the blink of an eye Ana was thrown into yet another past memory. It was a dark night, but the countryside was lit up by the fiery glow of the inferno that was destroying a small cottage. Shrieks filled the air, and Ana was filled with a strange sense of dread. She felt as though she should know this memory, but she had a feeling it was something that she had forced herself to forget.

People in dark robes with hoods ran around. They wore white masks, and when Ana saw the Dark Mark floating over the burning cottage she knew that this was the work of Death Eaters. Only they would know how to cause so much destruction.

Her attention was drawn, however, to two tall forms racing across the large, dark expanse of lawn. Their hoods were drawn tight, but when they passed Ana she saw that they wore no masks. They were two women, both in their early twenties, one with hair of richest black and the other a fair blonde.

They were her aunts Pegatha and Marlene.

"Hurry up, Marlene," the young Mrs. Davies hissed.

"I'm trying, Pegatha," the young Marlene hissed back.

"It won't be long before they figure out who the children belong to, and then after that there won't be any way to destroy the evidence of the four!" Mrs. Davies looked harried. "We have to do this, Marlene. If we do this we can rest easy."

Ana was intrigued, and she raced after her "aunts". They were making there way towards three tents, and when they reached the tents they went in the smallest one. Two young men--novice Death Eaters, Ana supposed--were guarding a small playpen. Inside the playpen were four babies, no older than a year.

"Oh my..." Ana whispered, but nobody heard her.

"What are you two doing here?" the taller of the men asked.

"I'm here to send you to your grave," Mrs. Davies snarled, and she raised her wand. "Avada Kedavra!"

The first man fell down in a heap, and, before the second one could cry out, he too was killed. "Marlene, you destroy the papers. I'll grab the children and get them to my manor. Make it seem as though the deaths of these two were accidents, and meet me at the designated spot in three hours time."

"It will be done," Marlene whispered, and Mrs. Davies walked quickly to the playpen. All of the children were awake and alert now, and they all seemed frightened of this pale brunette woman.

"Mummy?" one of the two girls asked. Her brown fist was clasped tightly in the fist of the second girl.

"No, not mummy. I'm Peggy, and I'm here to take you away."

"Mummy?" the second girl asked. "Mummy come?"

Mrs. Davies looked annoyed. "Mummy won't come," she said in a tone that bordered on venomous. "But I'm your auntie."

Ana's suspicions were confirmed. She was seeing the events of the night she was taken from Lavender Brown's house. She recognized the first three children to be herself, Liza, and Rey, but the fourth boy was unfamiliar. He must have been Adrian Audric.

"God, she looks like Kate did when she was a baby," Marlene breathed, and Ana watched Mrs. Davies grow tense and agitated.

"I was hoping she wouldn't," the brunette admitted, dropping to her knees and scooping the two girls into her arms. She placed them in two thick bags attached to the hips of her dress, and then she picked up the two boys. "Best of luck," Mrs. Davies whispered before apparating.

***

"God help me, Ana, but I hated your mum."

Ana was in a study. Mrs. Davies's study to be exact. There was a playpen set up in the corner, and Liza, Rey, and Adrian were curled up in it, sleeping peacefully. Mrs. Davies was sitting on a wine colored couch, and she had baby-Ana in her arms.

"Don't look at me like that!" Mrs. Davies screeched at her niece. It was then that Ana saw two shattered bottles of vodka a few feet away from the couch. Baby-Ana began to wail, and for one fearful moment Ana was sure that Mrs. Davies would throttle her. Her 'aunt' regained her composure, however, enough to soothe baby-Ana's wails.

"Don't look at me like Kate used to. Don't look at me as if you have a right to judge me. I did what I did for a reason." There was a long pause, and Ana saw her 'aunt's' demons of the past begin to emerge. "It hurt so much, being shoved out of the Peggy-Kate-Miranda trio. One day I woke up and Kate didn't trust me anymore. She pretended that everything was still normal. Maybe she was stupid enough to think that it still was. But one day it got to be too much. Everyone wanted some from me--mother wanted me to raise Josie's bastard child, Kate wanted me to cover for her while she whored around, and then I just snapped."

Mrs. Davies let out a chilling cackle. Baby-Ana began to cry again, but by now Mrs. Davies was so into her tale that she didn't bother shushing the child up. Ana had long ago begun to wish that this dream would end.

"I changed to world, Liana, for the worst. I betrayed all my sisters, I betrayed the Light, and I sold all my soul to the devil. It haunts me every time I look in the mirror, to be sure, but what else could I have done?" Baby-Ana continued to sob, and her cries awoke Liza. The tiny child in the playpen watched the unfolding scene with wide eyes. "And now I have one last chance at redemption. I didn't have to save you, Liana, but I did. I could have let you be murdered by the Dark King, but here I am risking my neck to cover for you, just like I always covered for Kate."

Baby-Ana stopped crying. She too was staring at her aunt with bright eyes.

"So, Liana, remember this when you're hating me in the dark of the night for taking away your mummy. I saved you from death. I may be bad, but I'm still human. The Dark Lord will suck away my soul soon, but I'll make sure he won't get a chance at yours."

Then everything went black.

***

Ana awoke with a start. Her cheeks were wet, so she must have been crying, but she soon found that she wasn't the only one. Amber-Lyn was curled up in the far corner of the room, and she was crying her eyes out.

"Amber-Lyn?" Ana asked softly. "Amber-Lyn?"

The crying didn't stop. If anything it worsened. Ana got out of bed and made her way to sit by her 'cousin'.

"What's the matter?" she asked.

"The memories," Amber-Lyn sobbed. "I saw everything in my past...I saw my real mum give birth to me, I saw my adopted mum hating me, and I saw what a horrible person I was."

"You weren't that bad," Ana muttered.

Amber-Lyn gave a short, rueful snort. "Not that bad? Oh, I'm as bad as you are passive, Ana." Ana's cheeks burned in the dark. "I made fun of you and your friends, I looked down my nose at anyone who was the least bit different, and you took it all."

"What choice did I have?" Ana asked sullenly. "Rebel against you and get punished? I think not! It was easier to just go along with everything."

"We were both wrong," Amber-Lyn concluded.

"I guess."

A long silence filled the room. Amber-Lyn's snuffles were the only noise the whole apartment. All Ana could think about was how much Amber-Lyn must have been hurting. At least now Ana had friends while her cousin had no one. She sat and thought about how she had really always had the better deal, until finally Amber-Lyn worked up the nerve to talk again.

"Can I be your friend?" she asked. "I know we've never been close, and we've always hated each other, and now that you have Liza you don't really need me, but could we be friends?"

Ana didn't even have to think. "What's family for?" she asked, and she squeezed her cousin's hand. After that it became easier to talk. Ana answered a few questions about Josephine Lowell, and Amber-Lyn told Ana all about the politics that ran the Dark Kingdom.

Sugar found them curled up in the corner the next morning. Their heads rested against each other, and they both looked content. After watching the cousins for a few peaceful seconds Sugar woke them up.

"The buzz will go off in about five minutes, but I expect that it'll be best if you get to the princess's early. Today will be a big day for her, what with her father being here, and I suspect he'll want breakfast with her." Sugar clapped her hand's to wake the girls up faster.

"But what about Liza?" Ana asked in between bites of cold cereal.

"Still asleep," Sugar informed her. "I had to give her a doubly hard dose so my spell my her sleep longer, and it might have hit you two as well." Sugar looked guilty when she saw the faces of her charges. "Sorry about that. You two didn't see anything too bad, did you?" she asked.

"We'll tell you later," Amber-Lyn promised as she stood up. Ana followed her, and soon the girls were rushing down the hall and towards Senna's chambers. They were only halfway to the chambers however when Marie appeared in front of them. She seemed oddly pale today, but she gave both girls warm smiles.

"Morning, dears," she said. "You're doing well in getting to Princess Senna early. The King wants to have breakfast with his daughter, and she needs help finding a suitable dress."

"Are you all right, Marie?" Ana asked. "You seem...flushed."

Marie gasped softly. "Well, I do feel a little warm, but it's all right. I didn't get much sleep last night, and it's probably just a tiny bug." She shook off the girls' concerned looks. "Be off with you two," she laughed jovially, and they nodded and obeyed.

The mood when they reached Senna's rooms was far from jovial, though. It was quite the opposite, in fact. Senna was sitting on her large bed Indian style, still clothed in her thin nightgown, and wearing a spiteful frown. Her pillows had been thrown around the room in an angry tantrum, and, when asked what the matter was, the princess handed Ana a letter.

April 4, 2011

To the Princess Senna Riddle Marjoni,

My eldest daughter, it is my deepest regret to inform you that, due to the birth of your baby brother, Prince Kirian Riddle Marjoni, we will not be going on our annual trip to Mardentine. Your father, the Dark King, wishes to spend the next three months at Blackenvire, and there would be no one else to escort you.

As an added caution please be aware of the sudden outbreak of Rooken Virus that has overtaken the West Wing of the castle. Five servants have already fallen ill, and two maids have passed on. Be careful and stay in your rooms until your father sends an entourage to bring you to his rooms.

Regally,

Mother

Ana's stomach dropped. "You're...You're not going to Mardentine?" she asked, and she tried not to sound too upset. She felt rather than heard Amber-Lyn's stifled gasp of horror.

"No," Senna growled. "Bloody brother ruined it all."

Ana's heart was racing. All their well thought out plans were ruined. They had been so busy mapping out every twist and turn that none of them had bothered to think whether the trip would be canceled!

"You won't be able to change her mind?" Amber-Lyn asked hopefully.

"No. This is my Daddy's doing, and once he makes up his mind about something it's best not to try and change it." Senna looked dour and brooding. "Ms. Wood, you had best begin to draw my bath. My father has scheduled breakfast at nine, and we only had fifty minutes to prepare."

"As you wish, princess," Amber-Lyn murmured, making her way to the bathroom.

"I'll find your dress," Ana volunteered. "Is there a particular color your father favors?"

"Green," Senna replied, "but he says I look best in black and deep red. Any color would be suitable."

Ana ended up choosing a black velvet wraparound dress. She knew that many of Voldemort's other wives were coming, and this dress was unlike any that his other daughters would be wearing. Senna might let them off early that evening if her father singled her out.

However, the girls never even made it to breakfast. Halfway through dressing the princess a message boy--he said his name was Lyle--burst into the room. Senna let out a mighty screech and dove behind her bed, but the boy didn't seem to care.

"I'm here with a message from the Duchess and her husband the King. The Rooken Virus has taken a turn for the worse, and it's spreading throughout the castle. Princess Senna is to remain in her rooms at all times. The door will be opened for no one without permission from the King, and, should the princess start to show signs of nausea, overheating, or throwing up contact a castle official immediately." He finished his speech quickly and dashed out of the room.

"Well, this day is just getting better and better," Senna groaned as she stood. "Locked in my rooms all day."

Ana felt the exact same way. Would she be allowed to return to her rooms that evening? She and Amber-Lyn desperately needed to speak to Sugar.

"Isn't there anything to do here?" Amber-Lyn asked. "Any games?"

Senna shrugged. "I'm too angry to play with anything," she muttered sourly. "I just want to be left alone. Why don't you and Ms. Lowell go fetch some books from my library?"

"Or better yet," Amber-Lyn said, "why doesn't Ana entertain by dancing? She's quite good."

Senna sat up on her bed. "Is she? We haven't had practice in a while, so I've forgotten."

Ana squirmed on the spot. She didn't want to dance in front of the princess, but she knew better to refuse a wish when the princess was in one of her moods. "All right," she said softly. "I'll try my best."

And try her best she did. Ana wasn't gifted at many things, so dancing was her one true blessing. Even the princess couldn't get envious over her handmaiden because it was obvious with every step Ana took that she was not just some show off but a gifted young girl. Just when a wonderful burning sensation was beginning to creep through Ana's muscles Senna stopped her.

"That's enough," she said. "I think I'm game for a story. Ms. Lowell, could you possibly rustle up a nice romance?"

Ana, though tired from the dancing, nodded and sat down in the chair beside Amber-Lyn's. "Very well. I was told this tale when I was a very young girl..."

***

It was nighttime before Senna tired of hearing love stories, and Ana's voice was hoarse by the time she and Amber-Lyn were allowed to leave. They had an escort back to their rooms, of course, so that they would not go into any of the eight sickbays that had been set up throughout the castle.

"The sickness was brought in by two Death Eaters coming from the East," their escort said. "They're dead, along with half of their servants, which is just as well, for the Dark King would have slaughtered them for bringing in a virus that could harm Prince Kirian."

"How many have died in total?" Ana asked.

"Last time I checked there were little over a hundred-thirty casualties. Even more are sick."

"Why doesn't the King move his family away from here?" Amber-Lyn asked.

"Because the vaccines for the sickness are on the way. Once they arrive all those who are not sick will become immune to the virus, and until then magical guards will keep the sickness out of the rooms of those who are well. This will all blow over within a few days, so why move an entire family somewhere else?" The escort slowed down as they reached the girls' apartments. "Well, here we are. Would there be any guests who you'd like me to bring to you? Without an escort no one's allowed to leave their rooms."

Both Ana and Amber-Lyn shook their heads. "No thank you, sir," Ana said.

The escort smiled kindly. "Very well. If you need me then I'll be at the right end of this hall."

Ana nodded and watched him until he disappeared into the darkness of the dim hallways. Once he was out of sight she allowed Amber-Lyn to open the door to their apartment. "You first," Amber-Lyn said, displaying a strange show of kindness.

"Thanks, Amber-Lyn. You know, I think that-"

What Ana thought Amber-Lyn never found out, for the moment Ana stepped into the tiny entry room she was assaulted by a crying blur. "Oh, Ana! I never thought I'd see you again!"

Ana gave a girlish squeal when she realized the blur was her own dear Liza. "I never thought I'd see you, Liza! Oh, god, do you remember again?"

Amber-Lyn stepped back, shut the door, and covered her ears. Her cousin and Liza had forgotten to keep their voices down, and whenever the talked their voices were loud and piercing. Eventually, when both Ana and Liza were tired of rolling around on the floor, they stood up dusted themselves off.

"Liza," Ana said after she had straitened her dress and fixed her mussed hair, "I believe you remember my cousin, Amber-Lyn." Liza nodded, though she looked a little confused. "Amber-Lyn and I have had a chance to bond over the past six months that we've worked here," Ana explained.

"My...My aunt gave me the boot a while back," Amber-Lyn muttered shamefully, "for believing that I helped Ana escape Davies Manor."

"You escaped?" Liza sounded impressed.

"For a day," Ana told her friend. "I wanted to go back to the manor to get some of my mum's stuff, and Mrs. Davies nabbed me while I was trying to liberate Amber-Lyn."

"Old hag," Liza muttered. She seemed to know about Ana's mother though. "I wasn't made to do any work today," Liza said, "so Sugar filled me in on just about everything that's been going on."

The words 'going on' suddenly reminded Ana of the disaster that had happened earlier. "We're not going to Mardentine," she said softly. Liza must have known of the Mardentine plans, too, for her face turned frightened. "Then how will we escape?" she asked. "My master's daughter was going, but only because the princess invited her. Now I suppose it's a no go."

Sugar had appeared now, and she looked just as upset as Ana felt. "Damn it!" she snarled, pounding a tiny fist into a tiny palm. "This ruins everything!"

"We know," Ana groaned as everyone made their way into the kitchen. "How could we not know?"

Sugar slumped down against the fruit bowl. "I have no idea how we'll escape now," she said helplessly.

No one seemed much in the mood for talking after that. A heavy depression had settled over the group of four, and every trekked off to bed. Liza was sleeping on a pullout bed in the tiny parlor, so she was the one to answer the door when someone came knocking at twelve-thirty later that night. The persistent, steady knocks had awoken Ana, and she was terribly surprised when Liza came dashing into her room.

"Ana, a man is here to see you!" Liza panted.

"A man?" Ana sounded worried.

"He's nice, and he's French. He says he's been teaching you how to dance-"

"Monsieur Frisk," Ana breathed. "But what could he want? Can it wait until morning?"

Liza shook her head. "No, not at all. He said he needs to speak with you privately right away!" Liza paused before rushing on. "Something's about to happen, An, something big! I think this man knows something important!"

Ana nodded. She had the same tingly feeling that Liza probably did. She felt as though this adventure was beginning and a new one was start. She had a feeling that the dawn of that morning would bring new promises.

Just as Liza had said, Monsieur Frisk was waiting for her outside her rooms. His face was taught with worry, and he visibly relaxed when Ana appeared. "Madame Lowell," he said hoarsely, "I 'ave come 'oo your rescue."

Ana stopped dead in her tracks. She turned to see if Liza had come with her for support, but her friend had shut the door behind her and was probably back in bed. She turned back to the dance tutor. "Mademoiselle Lowell?" she asked slowly. "Be careful how you address me, Monsieur. The princess wouldn't take kindly to her handmaiden being referred to as a 'Mademoiselle'."

Monsieur Frisk, much to her surprise, scoffed. "Zat whelp?" he asked disdainfully. "I wish I were brave enough 'oo rebel against 'er family."

"What?" Ana was more than a little confused by now. In public Monsieur Frisk had always been a family friend of the Marjonis. He ate at their banquet table on holidays, he was given expensive gifts, and yet here he was, proclaiming that he actually hated them?

"Ah, you 'ave a right 'oo be surprised," the Monsieur said. "I 'ave never given any sign of displeasure with ze Marjonis, or ze Riddles, for zat matter." He chuckled coldly. "What can I say? I am but a coward." Monsieur Frisk sighed. "I suppose I should explain my motives."

"That would be nice."

Monsieur rubbed his hands together even though it wasn't that cold. "Very well," he said. "When I was a young boy I was made 'oo zake dancing lessons." He paused. "I was very gifted, as you might 'ave noticed, but so was my dancing partner, Kaitlyn Lowell."

Ana let out a strangled sound. "My mother..."

"Your mother," Monsieur Frisk. "I went on 'oo become a dancing instructor when ze Light Side fell, and I 'ave remained a supporter of ze Dark King ever since, despite my strong beliefs zat ze Dark Arts are very, very, very wrong."

Ana's eyes were narrowed. This man was a strange one, a cowardly one, and she couldn't tell where he was coming from. "You said something about 'an hour of need'."

Monsieur Frisk nodded. He suddenly looked pitying of Ana. "I'm so sorry about Marie," he said.

"Sorry about Marie?" Suddenly Ana was confused. "What about her?"

"You mean you 'aven't 'eard?" Monsieur Frisk ran his hands through his brown hair. "She passed on from ze fever earlier zis evening."

"Oh, no!" Ana felt tears welling in her eyes. Oh, why motherly Marie? Why not someone awful, like one of Senna's aunts?

"'Er death, 'owevr, 'as opened new doorway 'oo you and your friends." Monsieur Frisk was talking rapidly. "I 'ave devised a way for you and your 'oo friends 'oo get away. It's dangerous and frightening, but it will work!"

Ana was still suspicious. "Why are you doing this, Monsieur?" she asked slowly.

The Monsieur flashed her a tight smile. "Deliverance, Mademoiselle Lowell. I've been 'aunted for ze past eleven years by my actions. I 'ave become a man I do not recognize. You are my redemption. You are my last chance at compassion. You will take away the guilt, and for a moment, saving you will make me human again, if only in my own eyes."

Ana took a deep breath. This was a long shot in the dark, but she had no other choices. "Very well, Monsieur. What's the plan?"