*Apologies: It's been an age. You may need to go back over previous chapters.

~Twelfth Night ~

Air rushed past me quicker than I could think, and as the realisation came to me that I had escaped Mircea's advances, by falling from my chamber window, I hit water.

Ice. So much ice. It cut into me harsher than any dagger or sword. It was blinding, disorientating. The world; as it was, no longer existed, and yet I found my natural needs urged me upwards, the pain in my chest spiking, as after what seemed like forever, I broke the lake's surface.

I gasped, water invading my throat as I thrashed blindly at the cold that engulfed me. Normally I was a strong swimmer, those Springs spent by the river had made me so. However, those waters had been warm, inviting, not a dangerous well of arctic darkness, and now I found myself sinking below the surface again.

Fight it, I ordered myself, desperately trying to ignore the desire; the water's constant call, to just let go, and allow the lake to claim me as it's own, as it likely had so many others. Weak, I thought angrily, as slowly my arms and legs began to give up the fight.

In a last attempt to win the battle against the inevitable, I threw myself what-I-thought was skywards, but could not have been, as I collided with hard stone. My hands naturally reached out, groping wildly - a wall. I used it instinctively to direct me, and as my mouth once again found air, I greedily gulped it down, coughing and spluttering, and now clinging to the stone for dear life.

Mircea, had he followed me down?

I looked around feverishly, trying desperately to ignore the cold, and to concentrate. I needed to get onto dry land soon, because it was quickly becoming clear, that if the water didn't claim me, the cold soon would. My eyes darted wildly, noting that the edge of the lake was obviously too far, I'd never make it. I spotted a questionable alternative, a drain not too far that appeared to lead straight back into the castle.

One hand in front of the other, Liliana, just pull yourself along.

My body followed out the orders before my mind could really note I was doing them. I could no longer feel the harsh stone beneath my fingers, and my chest struggled with the amount of air the cold was allowing it, but by some blessing of the Gods, I made it, and I laughed painfully with relief as my hands grasped the opening. It was only as I was about to duck my head to fit under the wall, that I heard Mircea calling my name. No, no, no. I looked back over my shoulder, he was stood at the edge of the lake, two others flanking his sides, but before he could order them into the water after me, I disappeared back into the castle, my eyes struggling to adjust to the darkness that was suddenly thrust upon them from all sides. I swam forward blindly; caught in the waters, until suddenly my toes brushed against sand and I was able to stand.

I noted that my body weight was a burden I could have done without. Yet to my relief, my eyes were slowly adjusting to the dark and I could make out a ledge an arms reach away. Grasping greedily for it's edge, my first attempts were pitiful, but with my third effort I made it safely onto the platform. Goosebumps pricked my skin as I forced myself shakily to my feet, and I stumbled forward, crashing painfully into what took me moments to realise was a door. My fingers groped quickly for it's iron handle, and the metal protested loudly, the hinges heaving one long groan as I pulled with all my might.

Light.

Small and distant, but I could see it beckoning from the opposite end of what was a very long and sloping corridor. I descended, tripping and falling more than I care to mention. I was dully aware of a sharp pain in my side, and an ache against my temple - apparently the fall hadn't left me as unscathed as I'd first thought.

I frowned, but pushed onwards.

I'd never seen this part of the castle, and in truth I didn't really know what I was doing. I should have allowed Mircea pull me from the clutches of the lake, it would have been the sensible option, but my pride and my fear had spoken louder than my instinct to survive, and so I was here... wherever here was.

I have been foolish.

For whatever small amount of time my fleeing had bought me. It was likely going to cost me far more greatly.

Why hadn't Mircea followed?

I looked back over my shoulder fearfully only to find the darkness I'd left behind. My affirmed solitude did not bring me the comfort I had hoped, and I now was shaking, frozen.

I yearned for heat.

I slipped suddenly, crying out as my damaged side collided once again with stone. I bit back a sob, the wound less superficial than I'd anticipated, and groaned.

"Hello?"

I looked up. Startled by the unexpected sound of another.

"Are you hurt?" The voice asked again.

But that voice... I knew it, did I not? I knew it well.

Too well. My heart sank with the realisation as I got slowly to my feet.

Grimacing, I leant against the wall for support, scanning the dim to find a caged metal door, and a small, pale face, peeking shyly out behind it.

"Hello." He said again.

No.

"You are hurt."

"Bram?" I whispered, staring. "Bram is that you?"

"Lily?" He croaked back, confused, his pet name for me now alien on his tongue.

I hadn't noticed before, but his voice was weak, dry. I stumbled forwards, reaching out for him through the bars, and falling painfully to my knees, as if in worship. Was his presence not enough to me make me call upon the Gods?

"Lily." He repeated, as if confirming to himself. "You are alive?"

I laughed softly, tears running freely down my face. "Of course, sweet Brother. You think I would let the demons here best me so easily?"

I tried to catch it, but my laughter broke into a taught moan, and he shook his head, his little face very serious.

"I am sorry." He breathed, his breath catching in his chest as it gave a heavy rattle. "I came to find you, but I am not as strong as our brothers. I was caught and they brought me here. I think they mean to kill me. Sometimes I hear them whispering... and then there is the one who comes. He told me you were dead."

Another sob from my chest.

"No, no. They are liars here, my sweet one." I promised quickly, knowing too well who his nightly visitor must be. "You must not listen to the dark fables that they tell you. They are wicked creatures."

He nodded, and a thin arm reached cautiously through the bars, tender fingers looping as they always had, gently into my hair. His features crinkled, and I saw how his mouth had darkened, his skin now tight across his bones. He blinked.

"You are wet, Lily. Have you been swimming?"

I laughed again despite myself, bringing his hand lovingly to my lips. "Yes, sweet Bram, but only a little. It is very cold outside."

He nodded. "It is cold in here too. Sometimes they let me light a fire."

I nodded, but only because I knew no words to say. I was struggling to cope with the idea that he had been here all this time. So close, and Mircea had never said even a whisper of his presence. Nor had his brothers and sisters for that matter. Surely they would not have missed a chance to torture me so easily? They had always loved to twist the dagger, so what new foul game was this?

"Bram." I said gently, thinking carefully how to phrase my words. "Bram how long have you been here? We are very far from home. Did Father not follow you?"

Again he blinked, that same strange stare. "Father is dead."

An arrow in my chest. " What?"

"Father is dead." He repeated, his voice heavy with the weight his words carried. "A spirit stole his breath in the night, Lily. He fought it off for many moons, but it won in the end, as I knew it would."

What.

"A spirit... Bram, he is really gone?"

Bram nodded and I stared, dumbfounded.

Father...there had been no one to care for him. He had died sick and in pain, with no one there to ease his journey from this world into the next. Bram would not have understood. He would have seen their Father twisted and contorted, and been afraid. He would have invented a way of coping with that horror. An evil demon to blame for stealing away the last of his kin. A spirit.

I shook my head brokenly.

"I am sorry, little Brother." I whispered, pushing my own grief painfully to one side, as I pulled myself closer to his bars. "You should not have faced that terrible thing alone. I am so very sorry."

"Do not cry." He murmured back, noting the tears that had evaded even myself. "I am not alone now."

"No." I coughed, smiling quickly, eager to show him the love he had no doubt been starved of. "No you are not, and I will not leave your side. This I swear to you, Bram. Do you hear me? I swear it. We shall face this place together."

Again he nodded, that strange look still carved hauntingly into his tiny features. I sat back on my heels, tired and troubled. A loud banging noise from further down should have then added to my to my woes, but I believe my heart had no room left for it.

And suddenly, we were surrounded.

R&R

Apologies. I know it has been a very, very long while. Life as always has gotten in the way. However I have some free time now up to the end of the year, and I hope to get this story finished. (and for those of you who are wondering where the other stories went, I will be putting something up on my bio in the next few days)

Let me know if you liked this chapter. I do hope you did. I haven't written for a while, you see. I had forgotten how much I like writing Liliana – she is such an onion. (layered: for the non-Shrek lovers).

Anyhoo, take care chickens! And stay tuned for where this story is heading... xxx