Prologue

"Never, I will never agree to it. Regardless of what you say I will never allow it."

Leaving their statement to make its meaning perfectly clear, the tone of finality behind it would leave no one with the impression that they could read between the lines, or either remotely alter it to their own benefit.

Illuminated by the softly filtering rays of the midday sun, a silent figure stood gazing out upon the scenery before them. The midday light giving them an almost heavenly glow, while the dancing blossoms outside cast their play of shadows over their form. At first glance it would appear that a fragile creature stood before there, its elegant form hiding well the core of steel that resided within them.

"After all this time and he could be alive. What I fool I've been, how could I have ever believed a word that monster said?"

Hearing the pain and remorse which resonated with each and every word spoken Mr Stanley Dickinson could only imagine what his companion must be feeling. The events from a few years ago still all to clear within his own memory; to this day his own regrets still plagued him. Yet, he hoped that his recent and future actions might rectify those mistakes and in the process save more than one innocent soul.

Understanding why his companion would be hesitant in agreeing with the idea he had placed before them, he also knew that given the present circumstances it was probably the best way to proceed.

Turning his attention towards the now silent figure before him Stanley would never ceased to be enchanted by the elegant woman before him. Despites the simple, yet elegant dress of pale lilac, the regal air of its wearer still shone through. Despites her silvery white strands being bound in a French twist, it didn't detract from her beauty, but add to it.

Seeing the sense of despair settle upon his companion, Stanley knew they couldn't blame them selves for what had happened. Considering all that had happened at the time, he would have done no different than she at the time. He couldn't stand ideally by why one of his oldest and dearest friends blamed her self.

"My dear Isabella, please do not blame your self. You aren't the only one who has been fooled by that monster; no one can blame you for believing him at the time. You'd just been through a horrible loss, then to be faced with what happened no one could blame you for the actions you took."

"But it was my blind ignorance, my desire to run, to take her as far way from that place that stopped me from thinking. If I hadn't been so blinded, this could have all been prevented, I would have them both, instead that vile thing of a human has had him for years. Who knows what my poor Grandson has been through?"

"It's time to stop hiding, to stop running. It's time our family was whole again, it's time our friends were with us again."

Startled by the new voice entering the conversion Mr Dickinson didn't fail to notice the look of panic which overcame Isabella's face, as the subject of their conversion stood framed by the study doorway. Glancing over towards the new arrival Mr Dickinson could see that the same streak of stubbornness that ran through Isabella also ran through the one before him. Silently watching their walk from the doorway to where Isabella stood, Mr Dickinson only found his assumptions being proven even more as he observed them.

"Do not ask me to let you go? I will not risk that man getting his hands on you again, I will not lose you."

"I heard what Mr Dickinson said and I agree with him, besides I wouldn't be on my own and there's no chance that he'll ever get his hands on me again. Not only that, but I'm sick of hiding, I'm sick of pretending to be someone else, I know it's been for my own protection, but I want to me be and I want my brother as part of our lives again."

"But there's no guarantee that who Stanley saw was your brother, you can't….."

"Of course it's my brother, I've known my brother's been alive all these years, despites the lies, despites the cover up. I know this has to be him, I mean look at me. As soon as anyone sees either of us they can't mistake us for anything but brother and sister, it was you yourself that said we couldn't look anymore similar if we tired."

Realising the fierceness of her outburst the young girl who now stood trembling before her Grandmother could only bow her head in shame, knowing the woman before her didn't deserve the outburst and anger which had been directed at her. Yet, despites the shame she felt, she knew as long as the chance to find her brother was there she would not back down. As well as the prospect of regaining her brother, there was the chance of keeping a promise to another which fuelled her drive to go along with Mr Dickinson's plan.

"It's not just my brother, I made a promise to someone, and it's a promise I want to keep. Please Grandmother; I'm begging you let me do this."

Hearing the emotion within her Granddaughter's voice, Isabella found her heart going out to her, although she knew her Granddaughter deserved more from the life she had been leading, it was only now upon seeing the trembling figure before her that she realised how much her fears had held her Granddaughter back. It was also now that she truly saw her Granddaughter burning with a light she hadn't seen in years, a light which she couldn't put out.

However, it was upon hearing the whispered statement that her Granddaughter made that Isabella realised who else held their concern. Smiling at little at this realisation, Isabella knew in her heart that this was the best chance for both individuals in question.

"I have always tired to do my best for you, I know my insistence upon your dual life hasn't been the easiest and I'm sorry that I've hadn't seen till now how hard that's been for you. I know how important this is you to, so I wouldn't stop you from going so long as you do everything Mr Dickinson says."

"You really mean that? I promise I'll do everything Mr Dickinson says, I wouldn't stray an inch from his plan. But what made you change your mind?"

"Two simple reasons my dear. The first being that just like you I want my family back, if there's any chance of regaining my Grandson then like you I want to do everything in my power to achieve it. And second, I also my made some promises, ones which its time I kept."

Taking a quick moment to send Mr Dickinson a reassuring smile Isabella knelt down to meet her Granddaughter's eye.

"Its time to bring them home, both of them."

To be continued.