Authoress Note: I'm sorry, I'm sorry! *flings self at everyone's feet* Sorry! I know the last chapter was a disappointment (or at least for ME it was), but I'll work hard, I promise! *slaves away at laptop* Please don't blast me with Raging Heart!

Many thanks to Avalon for her lurvely reviews and many thanks to everyone else!

"Fate-chan?" Nanoha stared out the front door, wondering where her friend could have gone. Precia flashed through her mind, but she dismissed the thought immediately as impossible; Precia could not have come here…or could she? Nanoha knelt to the floor and picked up the black ribbon, clenching it in one fist. Fate…

***

Fate screamed. She couldn't help it, although she had promised herself to be strong and not show the pain that flashed through her like fire. She closed her eyes as Precia brought her belt down again, and another scream tore its way out her throat.

"Really, what were you thinking, Fate?" asked Precia, her honeyed voice as dangerous as a snake preparing to strike. "Trying to run away from me and confiding in that…brat," she flicked her wrist, and Fate winced as the leather split her skin. "Now…you don't want to disappoint your mother, do you? You know I don't like to punish you, but…"

The belt swung through the air a fourth time. The bonds that kept Fate in place burned her skin as she struggled fruitlessly as Precia continued, and Fate's throat tore and seared painfully as she continued to scream.

Precia finally let the belt fall to the floor and untied her daughter. "Don't disappoint me again, Fate," she whispered, caressing the blonde's face lovingly as she turned and walked swiftly up the stairs, out of the basement underneath the Testarossa house, leaving Fate alone on the floor, her golden hair providing the only light in the dark room.

Eventually, she mustered the strength to stand up, and stared at her arms and legs. Had Precia forgotten the way she never left lasting marks that were visible? Alicia and Nanoha would be…angry. She put one hand over the only still-bleeding cut on her arm, and clambered to her feet, trying the door to upstairs.

It was locked.

Oh. Of course. That was why Precia hadn't bothered to be careful. Fate didn't dare to pound on the door; she heard Precia moving around upstairs, and she would surely be whipped again if she tried to escape.

Fate sank to her knees, leaning on the door, and closed her eyes.

She would be here for a very long time…

***

"Hi, Mother," muttered Alicia as she walked in the door at six o'clock. Precia turned to smile at her as she passed.

"Hello, Alicia. Were you at clubs?" she asked.

"Yes," answered Alicia in the same dull voice. Then she looked around. "Do you know where Fate is? Nanoha said she left her house…"

Precia smiled wider. "Oh, no, I haven't seen her at all. I don't know where she could be," she said sweetly. "Would you care for some dinner?"

"Usually Fate cooks when you're at work," Alicia said.

"Ah, I came home early today, since I was worried about you," Precia explained. "What would you like?"

"Pizza,"

"Of course, I'll order it right away," Precia answered, and Alicia stomped upstairs moodily. Precia stared after her for a moment before grabbing the phone and heading downstairs, where Fate was.

Precia found her daughter curled on the floor, eyes closed, and awakened her with a sharp slap. Fate's eyes snapped open and she sat up quickly, her auburn eyes wide. Precia smirked at the fear held there.

"Hungry, Fate?" she asked. Fate didn't react. "Well? Answer when your mother asks you a question," Precia added.

"Yes," Fate said quietly.

"That's awful, because you're not getting anything to eat tonight! And if you dare call for your sister while I'm on the phone, you will never see the light of day—and neither will she!" Precia threatened.

Fate's eyes widened. "You wouldn't dare touch Alicia," she whispered. "You…love Alicia,"

Precia smiled. "Yes, Alicia is everything you're not. But, if it keeps a monster quiet…I'll have to resort to such measures. I would hate to harm your beautiful sister…"

"Yes, Mother," Fate answered, lowering her eyes.

"Good girl! See you tomorrow, Fate," Precia said teasingly, and walked upstairs into the house, her long hair rippling down her back.

***

"I still haven't seen Fate-chan anywhere," Nanoha said sadly at lunch with Alicia, Hayate, Vita, Signum and Shamal. Her blue eyes were as dark with despair as rainclouds heavy with rain.

"Me neither," Alicia sighed, leaning her head on her hand and picking moodily at her lunch.

"Maybe she's gone off with her mystery lover," teased Hayate. Her smile disappeared as soon as she saw the looks on her friend's faces. "Maybe we should put up missing kid posters," she suggested.

"I don't think…she's missing, exactly," Nanoha said, shooting a quick glance at Alicia, whose eyes narrowed to dark amber slits.

"Are you suggesting I know where she is and I'm not telling?" asked Alicia angrily, standing up.

"No, Alicia-chan, really, I'm not," Nanoha insisted. "Really, I was just…."

Alicia sighed and sat down again, her anger fading as quickly as it had come. "It's fine," she assured Nanoha. "I'm sorry I snapped,"

"No problem," Nanoha said, shrugging. "But…after school, maybe we should look around your house," she suggested.

Alicia nodded. "Good idea. Hayate, we'll ask for your help if we need it," she added, looking into Hayate's disappointed blue eyes.

"Okay—after school," Nanoha answered, and her jaw clenched. "I just hope she'll be okay until then…"

***

Not good. Fate clutched her stomach, which was steadily growing angrier and angrier…hunger was not the issue here, it was really water. She had searched endlessly through their small basement for any abandoned water sources, and had failed. She had already passed out twice.

She swallowed, trying to soothe her swollen throat, and stared at the tiny picture book she'd been trying to distract herself with. Colorful pictures bloomed in front of her, making her feel sick, and she closed the book hurriedly.

The door open, and there were two voices—Nanoha and Alicia! Fate scrambled weakly to her feet, but collapsed almost immediately, feeling light-headed.

"Where do you think she could be?" asked Nanoha.

"Basement, attic, Mother's room, the upstairs bathroom…" recited Alicia quickly. "One of those—any of those, could hide Fate,"

"You'll do Precia's room first, and I'll do the basement," Nanoha decided quickly.

"Fine," Alicia agreed, and Fate heard her feet patter upstairs, while Nanoha's footsteps grew steadily louder. Fate dragged herself over to the door, feeling wobbly from lack of food and water.

Nanoha tried the door, and Fate heard her yell up to Alicia. "THIS DOOR'S LOCKED!"

"Nanoha…." Fate whispered into the door—her voice had gone hours ago from talking to herself, and the name escaped barely more than a rasp.

"Fate-chan? Fate? Are you in there?!" Nanoha shrieked.

"Nanoha…."

"Alicia-chan, hurry!" Nanoha pleaded.

Alicia's footsteps grew steadily louder as she neared the basement door. "There's a key, up there…wait, it's gone," her voice saddened at the end.

"Pick the lock," Nanoha said angrily.

"I don't know how!"

Nanoha tried the door again, and Fate heard her prying in the keyhole with a pin or something, trying to spring the lock. She was successful; the lock clicked and Nanoha swung open the door as Fate stumbled back several steps to avoid being hit in the head with the door.

"Fate-chan!" cried Nanoha, grabbing her best friend around the shoulders as she reached her friend.

"Fate? Are you okay?" asked Alicia, relief clear in her voice as she took her twin sister's hand.

"Ye…s…" murmured Fate, her voice tired and broken.

"How long have you been down here?" demanded Nanoha.

"Since yesterday…" Fate said.

"Water, and food," Alicia said tensely. "Help me carry her, Nanoha-chan,"

"Right,"

Fate felt herself being hoisted to her feet and half-dragged, half-carried up the stairs, through the door and into the living room, where the two girls lay her on the couch.

"Water?" asked Nanoha.

"Cupboard, the one with the flowers on it, and the fridge has a pitcher," Alicia said quickly, pillowing Fate's head on her lap.

Nanoha ran and returned in a minute with a cup full of water, which Fate suck down greedily.

"There are sandwiches in the fridge, too," Alicia added, handing Nanoha back the cup.

"Right," said Nanoha, racing back into the kitchen.

"Hey…Fate…" Alicia said slowly, staring down at Fate's ripped clothes and small cuts. "What…happened?"

"Nothing," Fate said defensively, her voice a little worn but otherwise normal.

Nanoha returned with a sandwich and a cup of water, which Fate grabbed and started eating to avoid anymore questions…and also, she was starving.

"Fate, what happened?" repeated Alicia, crossing her arms and glaring at her sister.

"What do you mean?" asked Nanoha. Alicia rolled her eyes and motioned to Fate. Nanoha took a closer look, and her eyes narrowed as well. "Fate…"

"Nothing happened! I tripped down the stairs," Fate lied.

"That's why you were locked in the basement with no food or water," said Alicia dryly. "Of course. Now tell us what really happened,"

Nanoha bit her lip. "Fate, did she…"

Alicia turned her dagger eyes on Nanoha. "Did she what?" she growled.

"Nothing!" insisted Fate. "Nothing, nothing…"

"She whipped you didn't she?" asked Nanoha softly. Alicia's eyes grew wide with shock.

"Whipped you?" she repeated incredulously. "Whipped? No…way. It can't…be…She didn't, did she, Fate?" asked Alicia pleadingly.

Fate looked down at her sandwich in her hand. "I…"

"She punished your for running away, didn't she? That absolute—"

"Nanoha," said Fate softly, and Nanoha muttered, "Bitch," under her breath. Fate smiled at her briefly, amused by her vocabulary; Nanoha rarely cursed, and turned back to Alicia.

"Alicia?" she asked softly.

"That…monster…" whispered Alicia, horror crawling over her features like a mask. "Monster…she… how can Mother…?"

"Alicia, it's fine," whispered Fate, touching her twin's cheek. Alicia grabbed her hand and held it there, staring down at her sister with shock in her eyes. "It's fine…"

"Like hell!" Alicia cried suddenly, springing to her feet. Fate's head hit the soft pillows with a small thump. "Like hell, it's 'fine'. Whatever this is, Fate, it sure as hell isn't fine," she shouted, glaring down at her sister. "I mean, look at you, you look like crap, and MOTHER did this to you! "

"No…Alicia…"

Alicia sank to her knees beside the couch and lay her head next to Fate's, closing her eyes. "It's not fair," she moaned. "I love Mother, still, even though she's…" Alicia shuddered briefly, and Fate stroked her golden bangs lightly. "Mother…"

"I love Mother, too, Alicia," whispered Fate. "Whatever she does, I'll still love her. She's just…lost. She's really a kind person, but she's lost,"

"Kind?" muttered Alicia. "What kind of freaking kind person whips their daughter?" she opened her eyes and stared into the mirror-like ones next to her. "How can she be kind?"

"She loves you," Fate whispered. "She looks at you like you're the most wonderful thing in the world, and she loves you,"

"Then why does she hate you?" asked Alicia.

"I don't know,"
Alicia groaned. "This is so complicated,"

"No, it's not. Just leave things the way they are. I can deal with this. I promise," Fate said.

Alicia glared at Fate. "Yeah, right. You think I'll let you get ripped apart by a monster? No way!"

Nanoha had been quiet all this time, but she spoke up now. "Now what are we going to do?" she asked. "Really, what can we do?"

"We can call the police, and Mother will go to jail," suggested Alicia.

"No!" Fate gasped. "Mother…"

"It wouldn't be bad,"

"But…where would we go?" asked Fate. "Where would you go?"

"A foster home, probably. It'll be a hell of a lot better than this…hole," Alicia answered.

Fate groaned.

The door opened slowly and the three girls froze. Alicia could feel Fate shaking, despite her best efforts, and fury filled Alicia like a hot drink. She moved to the couch and propped Fate up against her. Nanoha sat on Fate's other side as Precia entered the house.

"Fate…" she whispered threateningly. "What is going on?"

"Alicia…found me, Mother. She picked the lock," Fate explained. Her shivers subsided and she was calm, cool. Alicia, on the other hand, was not.

"Monster," choked Alicia at Precia. "Monster…"

Precia's face crumpled. "No…Alicia…"

"How could you?" asked Alicia, tears filling her eyes. She bit her lip to keep the sobs from overflowing. "How…could you do these things to Fate?"

Precia drew herself up, and crossed her arms. "When I was pregnant, the only baby I was supposed to have was you," she said. "And then, one day, Fate appeared on the ultrasound. It was impossible. Unbelievable. She wasn't supposed to be born! It was only you, Alicia! Not…that monster!" Precia ended on a shriek.

"No," Alicia rose to her feet. "Fate is my sister, and I love her. And you…hurt her! Whipped her!"

"She's not human,"

"She was born, wasn't she? She was born with me, from you! She looks human and acts human and laughs and talks and cries like a human. What about her ISN'T HUMAN?!"

"She's a monster, a horrible monster,"

Fate was shaking into Nanoha's shoulder, and Nanoha had her arms wrapped around her. Nanoha let her go slowly, and stood up next to Alicia, her blue eyes dark and hard, like slate.

"You have two daughters. Fate and Alicia are your daughters. But you hurt and whipped, bruised and attacked Fate, and threatened her when she did anything not to your liking. If there's anyone not human here, it's you!" Nanoha screamed, stepping forward.

Precia surged forward suddenly and slapped Nanoha. "This is none of your business! It's a family affair," she hissed. Nanoha collapsed onto the floor, holding her cheek.

Alicia stared, and her mouth dropped open as Fate got to her feet.

"Mother…you can do whatever you like to me," she said slowly. "But taking my friend, and hurting her…that is unacceptable,"

Precia turned to stare at Fate, then smirked. "And you think you can tell me what to do?"

"Yes, I do," Fate said. "Nanoha and Alicia are important to me,"

"And Fate is important to me," Alicia said.

Nanoha scrambled to her feet and ran out the door. Fate couldn't blame her; after suffering at Precia's hand, she had to be afraid.

Precia grabbed something from around her waist, and Alicia saw her belt. Precia stepped forward and raised it. Fate closed her eyes, and the whip came down. Fate let out a scream as it slashed a new cut and Alicia gasped.

"No…" she whispered, running forward to keep her sister upright. "You…can't…."

"Alicia, darling, I'm sorry. I have to," Precia said, pleading with Alicia. "I have to stop this…wretch, from doing as she likes. She's already warped your mind," she raised the belt again.

"NO!" screamed Alicia, but she couldn't keep herself from flinching away as the belt split them apart. Fate let out another shriek. "NO!" Alicia sobbed.

Precia brought down the belt again and again until Fate was bleeding profusely onto the floor. Alicia grabbed her sister's hand and gathered her into her arms, protecting her from further harm. "Alicia…move," Precia ordered.

"No," Alicia whispered. "No, I won't,"

"Alicia…"

"Don't…" Fate whispered. She wasn't looking at Alicia, but at Precia, her eyes wide. "Don't hurt her… Please…" Alicia couldn't see her mother's reaction, but Fate stiffened. Alicia braced herself, but found herself being pushed out of the way, by Fate.

"NO! FATE!" screeched Alicia as Precia flicked her wrist. "FAAAAAAAAAAAATE!"

Fate screamed, and Alicia scrambled toward her, but Precia pushed her out of the way, and prepared for another strike, but…

Sirens sounded outside, and Precia turned disbelievingly. Then she dropped the belt and started running toward the back door. Alicia gathered Fate to her again as Nanoha and five police officers came into the room.

"Fate-chan!" Nanoha cried, kneeling beside her friend.

"Where did she go?" asked one of the men, and Alicia pointed toward the back door. Three of the five headed that way, and the other two checked Fate's pulse and forehead.

"She'll live," one announced, and he hefted her into his arms single-handedly. The second police officer, a woman, looked down at the other two girls kindly.

"Would you like to come to the hospital with us?"

The two nodded solemnly, and the small party walked out into the starry evening.

A/N: Don't worry, it's not the end yet…there will be many more chapters, pinky-swear! {or not, you know.} Precia will not be arrested, sorry to disappoint you idealists—but I need her to be cleared. That will come next chapter!

Please review, I promise to reply…I'm sorry if I haven't gotten around to your review, whoever you may be, but I was really busy getting this done in one day. Sorry! T-T