Author's Note: Hey everyone! I hope you're enjoying this story so far. I'm really getting into writing it. I know this story hasn't been terribly violent or deadly yet, but I do plan on killing someone to satisfy any death-obsessed people out there. I don't think that person will be a "good guy" though. I'm too much of a sucker for a happy ending. But then again, who knows? You never know if a character might just up and die. They like to take control of my story *mutters something about her characters being stupid control freaks*. I think they think it's funny to throw me off *mutters something about her characters being stupid meany-heads too*.

Eve Eastborne: I'll seal up the wells, but no promises on the ring of light.

Jordan gave a mental laugh. Fools! All of them, fools! It was harder to change myself into Adam than it was to make them believe I was him. No wonder the stupid git got on so well with these people. Birds of a feather flock together. (A/N: Just pretend that they had that saying back then, okay?) Jordan continued to look around the boy's room. A meager place compared to the suite he was used to, but it would have to do. Not for long though, not for long at all.

Adam lay on a cold stone floor. He was miserable. He heard the clang of the door of his cell shutting and was dimly aware that he must be locked in, which meant that the five people who had just beat him to a bloody pulp had left. (A/N: There you go death people, violence.) This thought hardly comforted him though. He knew they would be back later. His mind was foggy with the pain that seemed to consume his being. If he could…just…black…out…

Dan and Elizabeth sat in Dan's room. They hadn't told anyone about their little "encounter" with Adam. They wanted to figure it out for themselves first.

"Well, something is obviously up." Dan stated. Elizabeth gave him a look that said, "You think?" Dan blushed and wondered how she could even make a glance drip with sarcasm. It must be a gift.

"There was something in his eyes…" Elizabeth said, "something I've seen before. I just can't place it." She paused, lost in thought. Finally she sighed. "And I still can't" she finished, frustrated. The two of them sat there talking about the incident for about an hour, but didn't get any closer to finding an answer.

That night, as the household slept, Jordan crept outside. He began drawing a complex series of circles, always keeping the cottage at their center. When he was done, he went back to stand beside the building. Closing his eyes, Jordan began a low chant. The circles of power he'd drawn began to glow, faintly at first but growing until the light would have blinded any being who passed by. The air cracked loudly and Jordan was gone, along with everyone who had been in the cottage.

Elizabeth yawned and sat up. What? Where the…, Why am…, What's going on?! She was sitting on a stone floor, in a heap with Dan-who, she noted delightedly, was only in his boxers, -Briar, Tris, Rosethorn, Lark, Sandry, and Daja-who had spent the night so that she could catch up with her friends. Frostpine had given her time off and she had decided to pay them a visit. (A/N: I want her there for something I might do later.)

"Good morning, darling." Rang out a sarcastic voice. Elizabeth knew that voice. Turning her head, she saw the despised face of none other than Jordan.

"Well, well, well," She replied, undaunted, "if it isn't the ego-maniac himself. What are you-no, what am I doing here?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Jordan asked smiling, "Being held captive. I figured the iron bars and locked door would give it away, but then, you never were very bright."

Ignoring his last statement, Elizabeth continued. "How did I get here?"

"I took you. It was quite easy actually. After I spelled you-and your friends- by writing the correct runes around your beds." At her confused look, he put on an expression of mock sympathy. "You're wondering how I got inside? Maybe this will refresh your memory." Then Jordan changed. Suddenly he was a teenager. More specifically, he was Adam. "Still having trouble?" Jordan asked her with Adam's voice. "Maybe this will help." He shrugged off his clothes. Flashbacks of Adam flipping her onto the ground the day that she went with Dan to bring him clothes ran through her mind. Jordan put his clothes on and changed back. "It was quite easy to kidnap the little brat after that big oaf, what was his name? Dan, that's it. After Dan left to tell you Adam's little earring secret."

"What did you do with him?" Elizabeth asked, her voice low and tight with the rage that shone in her eyes. Jordan gave a malicious smile.

"Would you like to see?" He asked her evilly. Elizabeth stood up and Jordan opened the door, closing it again after she stepped out. He led her through long halls and winding staircases, always going down. Finally they stopped outside a large door. Jordan took a key from a chain on his neck, and unlocked the door. Leading her inside, he took another key from his pocket to unlock another door, this one with bars, that led to a cell. Once Elizabeth was inside, Jordan slammed the door behind her.

"Get comfortable. I trust your friends will be joining you soon anyway." With that said, Jordan left. Elizabeth let her eyes adjust to the darkness. When she did, she almost wished she were still blind. Lying at the far end of the cell, was Adam. His body was covered in blood and bruises that made her stomach revolt. She went to kneel at his side. She looked at him, tears starting to form in her eyes. She began to yell at him, defiantly.

"You better not be dead. Don't you think for one minute that you can get out of having to hear me by dying!" She began, refusing to believe that he may be gone. "How could you keep the earring from us? You told us everything else! Why did you keep that to yourself? Look where it got you! Just look!" She said, screaming the last phrase at the top of her lungs. Tears began to stream down her face, but she didn't notice as she continued to scream at him. "How could you keep this from us?! We could have done something, we could have helped! If you'd just been able to tell us, we could have prepared! How dare you keep this from us! How DARE you go and get yourself beat up on me! How could you?! I thought I was your friend! Don't you know you can trust me? DON'T YOU!!!" She wept, and her tears fell on his body. Elizabeth, realizing that she was crying, controlled herself. Taking a deep breath, she said again, "You better not be dead." She placed her hand over his heart. She felt it beating very faintly. "He needs a healer." She said absently. What am I saying? She thought, I'm a healer! "Well, at least as much of a healer as he can get." With that decided, she put her hands over him and they began to glow as she worked her magic.

An hour-and many cramped muscles-later, Elizabeth opened her eyes. She had done her best to heal Adam's cuts and bruises, as well as the many internal injuries he had. The boy stirred, then opened his eyes. Elizabeth let out a sigh of relief. Adam looked into her eyes. "You've been crying." He stated simply. Elizabeth let out a small laugh at the simple-ness of the statement.

"Of course I've been crying, stupid." She answered him. "I thought you were dead." The memories came back to Adam in a rush. The kidnapping, the cell, the beating. He looked down at himself, realizing for the first time that he wasn't in pain anymore.

"How…?" Adam began, but realized exactly "how" when he looked back at Elizabeth. "Thanks." He said, simply. Elizabeth nodded and looked away. "I'll take it Jordan brought you." Adam said. It was a statement rather than a question, but Elizabeth gave an affirming nod anyway. "I'm sorry." He said. Elizabeth was quiet for a moment, then reiterated the question she had asked him a thousand times when he was unconscious.

"Why didn't you tell us about the earring?" She didn't look at him, but continued to gaze at the wall as she tried to fight back the new wave of tears that threatened to fall.

"I couldn't." He said bluntly. "You were all so angry with me already. I figured this would push you all over the edge. I'd never win back your trust."

"Oh, so you figured you could win our trust better by holding back information about the man out to murder us? Real logical. Why didn't I think of that?" Came Elizabeth's sarcastic reply.

"I'm sorry." Adam tried again helplessly, "It made sense then." Elizabeth snorted. "Look, if you're really that mad why didn't you just let me die!?" He yelled at her. Elizabeth whirled to face him.

"Don't you even try that." She said, "I saved you because I couldn't let you die. I saved you because deep down, I believed that you were my friend. I always watch out for my friends." Adam looked away sheepishly. He heard Elizabeth give a tired sigh and looked back up. "Maybe I was wrong." She said softly, as if to herself, "Maybe we aren't friends. But I still couldn't have let you die." Adam looked at her face. It held a sadness that was beyond tears. Cautiously, he crept up to her side and put his arm around her.

"We're friends." He told her. "Like it or not, we're friends." Elizabeth leaned on him, feeling drained. "Here," Adam said, "you should lie down. I know these aren't the best of accommodations, but you'll need to rest if you plan on facing Jordan again." Elizabeth nodded and lay down, drifting to sleep on the dirt floor as Adam stayed up as guard.

Author's Note: I have more to write, but this was getting long so I'll add it next chapter.