Roman ducked behind a pillar in the main hall of the Osha castle. Two Militia guards walked past having a casual conversation. His plans weren't fully complete, but he knew he had to do something before Aundreya and Helena got their hands on Noelle.

Peeking around, Roman checked to make sure the coast was clear before dashing out down one of the east halls leading to the dungeon. The cold onyx walls reverberated his footsteps, the sound echoing around him.

"Be quiet," he hissed, running at full speed. Within seconds he was at the dungeon door, his heart pounding at the thought of what he was about to do. Getting to the dungeon wasn't the problem. Running, unseen through the castle wasn't asking much more from him than any other day.

It wasn't even getting into the dungeon. It was after.

Convincing the Army to trust him and get them all out alive didn't have the ease of simplicity to it. And Noelle--poor, sweet Noelle. Would she forgive him for leaving her down here? If he'd known--but no, now wasn't the time for excuses.

Steeling himself, Roman opened the dungeon door and stepped inside. Pollemius looked up from the warden's desk, an eyebrow arching.

"Who are you here to see today?" he asked, a note of dislike in his voice. He frowned, his gaze trailing behind Roman. "Lady Aundreya isn't here for this?"

"No, I'm not here on her orders," Roman said, clenching and unclenching his fists. Could he trust Pollemius to keep quiet? Did he have to fight a man twice his size before he even got started?

"What can I do for you, Sir?"

"You can start by not calling me 'sir.' I have a question - are you under Aundreya's power? Because I'm not, and I'm hoping you'll help me."

Pollemius's gaze narrowed as he sized Roman up. "I'm not sure I know what you mean."

"Yes, you do. She can control people--you have to have noticed. Unless you're under her control right now." Roman glanced around the dank stone dungeon, the walls dripping, creating a chill in the air. It would slow him down, but not by much. "And if you are, I'm afraid I'm going to have to get you out of my way to do what I came to do."

Pollemius opened his mouth to reply but stopped short at the soft sound of approaching feet. Roman glanced to his left as a figure appeared holding a candle for light. He'd forgotten how small she was. Though she and Aundreya were the same height, the latter wore heeled shoes to add height to her small frame.

"Rufio is all taken care of. I think his cold will--" Noelle stopped short at the sight of Roman, her eyes going wide. The light cast her face in an eerie glow, and Roman's stomach lurched at the sight of her face, half cast in shadow.

A long scar ran from her forehead between her eyebrows, down the right side of her nose, and across her lips. It continued down her chin, creating the illusion that she had two separate faces stitched together. On the left, Noelle as she'd always been--softer than Aundreya, with a pert nose and sweet smile. On the right of the scar, her skin was pinched, puckered from healing. It made her appear older and fierce.

But when he looked in her soft brown eyes, he saw the friend he'd known all those months.

"Noelle," he breathed, stepping forward and enveloping her in a hug. She stiffened at his touch, and he pulled away, dropping his gaze. "I'm sorry. I didn't know you were here. I would have--"

"What? Abused me the way you've abused the other prisoners here? All for Aundreya?" Her harsh tone surprised him, the venom something he was used to with her sister, but had never heard from her.

"No. Of course not. I--" a flash of anger coursed through him. "I didn't have a choice! I've only just started coming out from under her power. I'm not even sure how I'm doing it--I think she's stretching herself too thin, but--"

"Right, and of course I believe you." Noelle set her candle holder down on Pollemius's desk and clasped her hands in front of her. "Becuase I'm sweet, naive little Noelle, who believes there's good in everyone." She dropped her hands to the side. "Save it, Roman. I know why you're here, and whoever my sister wants you to hurt - I won't allow it."

"You're not listening," Roman snapped back, frustrated and afraid. "I'm trying to get you all out of here. We don't have much time. They'll wonder where I've gone soon. I have to get you out before they come looking for me."

Noelle snorted. "I'm not leaving them. Pollemius can go if he pleases, but these men have been through enough. I'm not going to run away while my sister--"

"Would you shut up?" Roman's shout echoed through the dungeon and he winced. The last thing he needed was to draw attention to them. "I'm trying to get you all out. That includes the Army soldiers. They can't stay here--Helena will execute them."

Noelle glared up at him, no hint of trust in her eyes. "What do you think?" she asked Pollemius, who shrugged.

"He's never been this clear-headed before. I think he's telling the truth. Even if it's a trap, I'd rather go out with a bit of hope than to rot in here--although, technically I'm not a prisoner."

"Hope." Noelle shook her head. "What is that?"

Roman stared at her. "What do you even mean?"

Noelle folded her arms and arched a brow at him. "Phoenix is dead. We're stuck here as my sister's prisoners. Maverick and Gwen left us--"

"They didn't have a choice," Roman said, tone firm. "They would have been killed." He let out a grunt of frustration. "We're wasting time. If you want to stay here as Aundreya's personal pincushion, be my guest. I'm taking action."

He brushed past her, snatched the keys from Pollemius's desk, and went to the first cell with a closed door. Springing the lock, he threw open the door to find two men inside. They didn't seem surprised to see him.

"We heard everything," the one on the left said. "You really letting us out?"

Roman stepped back out of the way of the door, gesturing out with his hand. "Be my guest. I'm going to unlock the doors--tell everyone what's going on."

Before they could argue, Roman vanished in a blur. He sped from door to door, unlocking them at lightning speed before moving on. They were all unlocked within a minute, and Roman came to a halt back at Pollemius's desk.

"Now what?" one of the men asked.

"Now's the hard part." Roman grimaced, tugging on his ponytail. "We need to get out of here without being seen."

"I might be able to help you." An Army soldier stepped forward, stretching out his hand. He was thin and wiry with spectacles to match, his grey hair sticking straight up. "I'm Lieutenant Port. I'm good with maneuvers."

"Maneuvers?" Roman repeated.

"Yes, young man. Maneuvers. I can get an entire Army around Braskey without being noticed. I think I can get us out of this castle now that I'm not locked up." Port patted Roman on the shoulder and then launched into action.

The men were accustomed to listening to him, following his orders at once. It didn't take long for them to move out, Roman bringing up the rear at Port's insistence. Noelle followed along but said nothing, and her silence bothered Roman more than her caustic words.

"What's the matter with you?" he finally asked in a whisper as Port sent them in groups up a servant staircase.

"What do you mean?" she asked, shooting him a glare.

"You're all bitter and...mean."

"Maybe I'm more like Aundreya than I thought."

Roman grabbed her by the arm before she could take the staircase, spinning her around. "Hells, Noelle, knock it off. I don't know what's wrong with you, but make it stop. You're not your sister. You're better than she is. Stop being such a monster."

Noelle blinked, tears pooling. "Haven't you noticed? I am a monster now."

"Oh please." Roman realized everyone else was already up and dragged Noelle along with him as he climbed the stairs. "You're better off now. You have your own face, distinctly different from hers."

"And I'm so grateful." The sarcasm in her tone made Roman grit his teeth.

"You should be. You're unique. Better yet--you have a battle scar. You have proof that you've endured something awful and survived. I didn't know getting a cut on your face would be enough to change who you are. Looks like Maverick picked the wrong sister after all."

"He didn't pick me," she shot back at him. "He left me. Here. Besides, who would want someone--"

"I'm not listening to you anymore," Roman said, releasing her as he marched up the steps. "I'm rejoining the rest of the group and--"

"And what?"

Roman froze as someone appeared at the top of the steps. He stared into the icy glares of Aundreya and Mygel.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk." Aundreya wagged a finger of disapproval at him. "I had such high hopes for you, Roman. Alas, it looks like we're going to have to have a little talk."

Roman's heart thudded in his chest. He had a feeling he could speed past her, but he'd be leaving Noelle behind--and he couldn't do that to her again. The best he could tell, the Army soldiers had escaped. If he could only--

"Whatever you're planning, stop." Aundreya pursed her lips. "You're my puppy dog, remember? You do as I say. Now don't move. Don't do anything."

"Heaven forbid you find a man who likes you without you having to tell him," Noelle snapped from behind him. He tried to clear his head, but Aundreya's pull continued.

"Ah, dear sister." Aundreya shifted her focus. "You're going to help me, too. Want to know why?"

"Why?"

"Because if you don't, I'll kill Roman. Actually, no. I'll force Roman to kill himself while you watch. I'll make him say your name as he does it. I'll make him think you're the one doing it. Not enough? I'll do the same to every one of your little friends down in the dungeon."

She doesn't have them yet. Roman couldn't move, couldn't plan. His mind felt cloudy again, and he couldn't remember what he was supposed to do about it.

"Maybe I don't care about them anymore," Noelle said. "Do what you want."

Aundreya's brows arched and a look of delight flickered across her face. "You don't? Maybe you and I finally have something in common." She came down a few steps as Noelle stopped at Roman's side. "How would you like to partner together, sister dear? Instead of trying to tear each other apart?"

"What's in it for me?" Noelle asked, crossing her arms. "You always get the good end of the deal. Why would I bother to help you?"

"You'll help me because you have no choice. You're going to do it--want to do it. You feel the sisterly bond growing inside you. We're sisters, and we're bonded. You want to help me magnify my powers so all of Braskey will be under my--"

"Helena's," Mygel cut in.

Aundreya gritted her teeth. "Helena's rule. But, in the interest of being fair..." Aundreya trailed off, her face twisting in concentration. "In exchange for helping me, I'll give you whatever you want."

No. No. No. No. Roman watched Noelle, his mind drifting away from him. A flicker of a smile crossed Noelle's lips.

"Done."

DUN DUN DUUUUUUUN

1. Noelle's crossing to the Dark Side. 2. Roman is powerless against the twins. 3. You met the real Lieutenant Port!! 4. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH 5. Don't expect good things for these guys anytime soon.