Winona~

Orion walks me to shop. While I am nervous and flustered at being alone with him, I am glad for the company. So much has happened in the last couple of hours that I need someone to prevent me from wandering off aimlessly, lost in my thoughts.

Neither of us talk. I can tell that he is worried about Rowan having to go back to his farm, and I feel sorry for him. He doesn't deserve to have a dad like that, and I know that it kills him to see the suffering caused by Catastrophe and not do anything about it.

The rest of the town is relatively silent. The shock from the air raids hasn't worn off yet, and no one wants to go outside and see the posters that litter the streets. Soon the town waste crew would clean them up, but I know that their imprint on the minds of the people would stay for weeks.

As we turn down Craftsman's Avenue where the dress shop is, Orion speaks.

"You must hate me."

I turn to him with surprise.

"Why would I hate you?"

His shoulders are slumped, and when he meets my gaze I can see the sadness and underlying anger in his eyes.

"Because my idiot of a father supports the ruler that killed your cousins."

I gasp slightly at the mention of my family. It still hurts to think about them, and I doubt I can talk about them without feeling sad for a long time.

"I don't hate you, Orion," I say, my voice quiet. "I know that it isn't your fault. You are not your dad, and I know that you are the last person in the world to want to support or agree with Catastrophe. Just because your parents have decided that he would be a good ruler doesn't mean that you support that as well. You are a caring, kind person who would never side with Catastrophe, and I don't blame or hate you at all for what your dad does."

I feel tears welling up in my eyes and I blink them away angrily. I had had enough crying for one day and was not going to break down again.

"But-"

"Don't give me 'buts', young man. I don't blame you or hate you. In fact, I admire that you realize the wrongness of your father's actions and that you try to make a difference. I know that if you weren't held down by your parents you would go and join the Resistance today. That's just the kind of person you are, and I admire that you have enough courage to be willing to risk your life for what's right."

"In fact," I say, lowering my eyes. "I might feel a little bit more for you than just admiration."

We've reached the dress shop by now and I hastily go up to the door, slide my key in and enter, not waiting for Orion's response. My face is burning and I am glad that I was able to make my retreat.

The shop is dark and the blinds are down, but I know the arrangement of things by heart. I tiptoe to the window and crack the blinds, looking to see Orion's reaction.

He's still standing there with a slight smile on his face. After a moment he smiles wider and begins walking back home, his gait happier. 

Orion~

Well shoot. 

I did not expect the conversation to take a turn like that. For years, our parents imprinted in our heads never to apologise unless absolutely necessary, and I thought it would be imprudent not to say at least something about Father to Winona. Then we had a deep conversation leading to her admitting her true feelings about me before quickly retreating inside her shop. 

I had no idea how to react, but the smile on my face could be clear to someone a mile away. I’m grateful she left, in a way, because I would have had no idea what to say. 

I slowly start walking back home, not wanting to appear as though anything happened, although I can’t help but have a skip in my step. But that excitement wears down as I approach the estate, nearer and nearer. 

Once I’ve made my way to the front door, I quickly open and close it, not wanting to draw the attention of Father. Instead, when I turn around, I see the face of Mother. 

“Mother?” I swallow. 

She motions for me to come sit with her in the living area, so I hesitantly follow, my steps light and becoming more quiet. 

“We have several things to discuss with you,” she says. 

I nod, uncertainly, and sit beside her. 

“Well, I say we, but your father is cooling down in his study, so he’s not available at the moment.”

I nod again, not wishing to speak in fear that she’ll never tell me what’s wrong. 

“First, you shouldn’t be so hard on your father.”

I can’t help but let the small sigh escape my lips, and my eyes grow hard. 

“He’s trying to support this family, and he is dead set on the views of the New Republic-“

“Forgive me for my interruption, Mother,” I say. “But you mean to tell me that you too agree wholeheartedly with what Father has done?”

She fidgets with her skirt and purses her lips, giving a quick and almost unnoticeable shake of the head. “I agree with some aspects of what your father says-“

“Mother, do stop being so formal. Tell me.”

She shakes her head again, and looks down, a tear slipping out. I immediately loosen my posture and give her a sad look, not sure as to how to comfort her. 

“I-I just,” she chokes out. “Your sister...he didn’t have to go so far as to kick out your sister...his own daughter...my daughter....”

Her voice trails off until it is followed by silent sobs. 

I furrow my brows. I must have missed whatever happened. 

“Tell me what happened, Mother. Please.”

She nods and lifts her head up, trying her best to regain herself. “After Sera ran out of your father’s office and you went to drop Winona off, he called me in to vent. He said he didn’t understand why his children were so stubborn, and he especially didn’t like the way Sera talked to him that way. He was embarrassed and frustrated. He then demanded where Sera was, and I replied that she was still recovering in the bathroom. At that point, your father also asked where the whereabouts of the rest of you were. I said that you had gone to drop Winona off to her family’s shoppe, and Rowan had gone back to the farm.”

Mother’s voice breaks and she begins crying again. “And then-and then-“

I touch her arm and she looks up. I nod at her to continue. 

She lets out a shaky breath. “He said ‘good.’ I asked him what he meant, and he smiled, an unnatural smile that made me look at him, very confused. Your father told me that he’s noticed the developing friendship between your sister and Rowan, and that he didn’t like that at all. I agree with him. Rowan’s a peasant, and Sera is an aristocrat. But he didn’t have to...but he didn’t have to-“

Her voice breaks off again before she sniffs quickly. “He didn’t have to bomb the father.”

My eyes widen and my blood begins to boil. “What.”

“Your father has been lying to you,” she says, her eyes glassing over. “It’s time you knew, as the oldest child.”

“I’m a twin,” I snap. “Sera has every right to know to, even when Father hates her.”

Mother shakes her head. “You don’t understand. We’ve lied to you a lot.”

I shake my head, now utterly confused. “What are you saying?”

“Let’s start off with the big lies,” Mother says, the corner of her mouth twitching. “Your father is a part of the Black Skull. They’ve recently bombed a part of Northern Kyngdom where Rowan’s father was visiting. Now, they bombed it because it had a large Resistance underground network, but your father pressed the Board to bomb the rest of the town to insure no survivors or stories. Just wipe the town off the map and there’ll be no idea what happened. But he also had a small, side agenda which involved Rowan’s father. Your father and Rowan’s have never gotten along, what with their separate views and long time rivalry.”

“Rivalry? I don’t understand.”

She sighs. “Rowan’s father has always supported the Resistance and has tried several times to stop your father’s works in different parts of Kyngdom. So killing him was helpful. But the fact that there’s a small thing going on between Sera and Rowan was like icing on a beautiful cake. Once Rowan finds out Sera’s father killed his-well, those ties will be cut off.”

“No,” I say, standing up suddenly. “How could you. The both of you. Why did you not stop him?”

“I wasn’t against it,” Mother scoffs, all tears suddenly dry. “I thought it was a good plan.”

I shake my head slowly in disbelief. “Anything else you wish to tell me?” is all I can say at the moment without my blood curdling. 

“Family secrets, yes. I’ve been wanting to tell you for some time. I might as well now. It’s just a couple, nothing too extraordinary.”

I frown. “What?”

“It has to do with siblings,” she replies. “You’re actually a year older than Serafinne, and you have a real twin brother who was killed.”

I have to lean against the wall to catch myself from falling. “What?” I ask, my voice at a whisper. How is this possible? But more importantly, why was this kept from us? Then I snap my head up and speak louder. “What?!”

“Galileo, your brother, was killed by radical members of an underground organisation that despised the Black Skull. We then had to dress up Sera as your twin in order to keep your father’s identity a secret to other aristocrats and valued business members. They had known we had twins, but had never known about Sera as she was just born and we hadn’t announced her yet.”

“No,” I say, my voice strained. “You’re lying.”

“I’m not. We didn’t tell you because we didn’t think you were mature enough. But you’re a year older than you think you are.”

I shake my head again. “How could you?”

She begins talking again, but I don’t hear her. I head out of the estate, my feet controlling me, tears rolling down my cheeks.

I don’t know where Sera is, or Rowan, but I need to talk to someone. I need to tell someone. I need to visit Winona.

I'm hemming up a gown in the small flat above our shop when I hear a pounding on the shop door downstairs. The flat came with the shop and was connected to downstairs by a rickety old metal spiral staircase. It had previously been used as a home for our family, but when my brother was born we moved out as it was too small. It was now being used as a work area and storage space, as the small shop below was insufficient for all of our fabric and in progress dresses.

I decide to ignore the pounding outside. The shop was closed, and whoever  it was could wait until tomorrow to get what they wanted. They would soon realize that no one was answering and leave.

The pouding continues, however, and I put my needle and thread down with a sigh. I would just have to go and explain to them that the shop is closed.

I clomp down the stairs grumpily, not caring how much noise I make. I am the only person in the shop anyways as the rest of the family is at home trying to recover from the news.

 I cross the shop and crack the blinds, expecting to see an impatient noble wanting their dress.

 Instead, to my surprise, I see Orion. He looks hurried and anxious, and I quickly walk to the door, unlock it and open it.

 "Orion," I say, surprised. I force myself not to slam the door in his face and hide. After all, I had just told him that I liked him only a short while ago 

 "I'm sorry for bothering you," he says, pushing past me into the shop. "But I need someone to talk to."

 I start when I see his face. He looks angry and devastated, and immediately I am worried.

 "What is it?" I ask while I close and lock the door again. "Did something happen? Where's Sera? Did something happen to her?"

"No," Oriana says. "Not that. It's just that my parents are lying, despicable humans who are actually part of a secret organization that they didn"the tell me about and my dad killed Romans dad and also failed to tell me that Sera isn'the actually my twin and that I have a brother but he's dead."

He sags against the wall and runs his hands through his hair, as if saying it has deflated him.

My eyes widen and I gasp. The information begins to process and my eyes grow even wider.

"Come up to the flat," I say weakly. "We need to talk about this." 

Someone post!!!!! We can't let this thread bottom!!!!!

Orion~

I find as I continue to tell everything to Winona, I feel myself growing sadder and sadder, until I can’t contain the tears any longer. Father always told me that real men don’t cry. But everyone needs to let it out sometimes, right? I feel embarrassed, but then I feel relieved. Like confiding in someone has lifted the crushing weight off my shoulders. 

“Does Sera know?” Winona asks quietly. 

I shake my head. “I wouldn’t even know where to start.”

“Well, tell her what you told me,” she replies. 

I look to the side. “It’s not as easy as that.”

Silence follows, before Winona finally clears her throat. 

“Do you wanna help me...umm...I mean, maybe, ya know, with this mending and hemming. I’m actually not sure if you even know how too, but-“

“Oh, I can,” I say quickly, glad she’s changed the subject. I need to keep my mind off of this matter for a little while. “Mother taught Sera how to mend things behind the maid’s back, and I was bored so I caught on. It definitely won’t be as good as yours though.”

She laughs. “Why thank you. Give it a try.”

Winona hands me a purple shirt in which the seam has come loose near the sleeve, and also gives me a needle and thread. 

While we work, we try to make small talk. 

“Can you do anything else involving sewing?”

I shake my head. “Nah. Just a French knot and basic sewing and mending.”

She nods. “Oh....I wish I could see the dresses that they wear at all those diplomatic balls and dances, they look absolutely wonderf-“

“Winona,” I interrupt. 

She stops abruptly and tips her head. “Yes, Orion?”

“About what you said earlier-“

She interrupts me. “No, that’s much too tense to face now-“

“But we have to face it at some point,” I say, a bit more firmly. “Plus, it’s only fair you let me express my thoughts also.”

She gives me a pleading look. “I know...I-I realise it was completely unnecessary, and we are to remain as strict friends. I apologise, for I do not know what came over me-“

“I share the same feelings also.”

“And I shall never admit such feelings again, as surely they are bound to- Wait, what?”

“I said, I share the same feelings also. About what you said to me. Earlier.”

Her eyes widen almost comically in shock. “What?” she asks again, her voice barely a whisper. 

“I said-“

“I know,” she replies quietly. “I just...I thought I might have been imagining such things- I mean, I am not ill in any way, I just did not think that...or, I thought you would turn me down- er, I’m not saying! Look, I’m not saying you are rude and not a gentleman, but I just...What I’m TRYING to say is that-“

I interrupt her. “Do stop talking, Winona.” 

We both laugh. 

“Sorry,” she grumbles. “I’m not good at expressing my thoughts sometimes.”

“I understand,” I chuckle back. “Neither am I.”

I look out the window and notice the sun beginning to go down. 

“I should head back,” I say, getting up. 

She nods and purses her lips. “Yeah.”

We walk downstairs, and I open the door and step outside. She steps outside with me and leans against the door frame. 

“See you later, Orion?”

I nod. She smiles slightly and I turn to leave. But I suddenly turn back to her, and without thinking, give her a swift kiss on the cheek.

“Goodbye, Winona.”

She looks startled but smiles at me. I mirror her smile before turning around to begin to walk back home. If father or mother knew, they would kill me. But they won’t know. I’ll never let them hurt me, Winona, Sera, Rowan, or anyone I love again. 

That is my silent vow.  

Rowan~ 

I sit by the water beside Sera as we let the tide bury our feet in the sand. We're quiet for awhile. I can't think of anything to say, and I don't think she can either. 

"Well," I say finally. "Ginny asked me this morning to pick up a few loaves of cinnamon raisin bread from the bakery sometime today. I guess I had better go do that." I stand and take a deep breath.

"Mind if I tag along?" Sera asks. 

"'Course not." I smile. I walk over to Smoke, who's somehow found a patch of green grass poking out of the sand and is tearing away at it. He raises his head when he sees me, and I slap his flank. 

"Go on, boy." He knows the way back to the farm from almost anywhere, like all of the horses. He whinnies and takes off.

Sera and I start off toward the road, our shadows dragging out in front of us in the waning sunlight. As we walk, our fingertips brush, and without thinking, I take her hand. She doesn't pull away. 

It isn't long before we've reached town. Soon, I've gotten what I need from the bakery, and we start up the block. 

As we pass the dress shop, I catch a glimpse of two people through the window. Winona and...Orion. He's just walking in. Normally, I'd brush it off. I can tell that Orion's sweet on Winona, and he probably just stopped by for a visit. But Winona's concerned expression tells me otherwise. 

"What is it?" Sera asks. 

"It's Orion and Winona. In the dress shop." I point through the only open window. "They're talking about something important, I think. The window's open, and I can hear their voices."

I walk a bit closer, and soon voices start to drift out of the open window. Winona's asking him a question. Then he replies. 

"No," he sighs "Not that. It's just that my parents are lying, despicable humans who are actually part of a secret organization that they didn't tell me about ,and my dad killed Rowan's dad and also failed to tell me that Sera isn't actually my twin and that I have a brother but he's dead." 

A gasp from Winona. "Come up to the flat," she whispers. "We need to talk about this."

I feel sick. The world starts spinning and my vision blurs. Surely I didn't hear him right. I put a hand against the wall of the shop and slide to the ground. I can't breathe.

"Rowan," Sera asks, worriedly. "What's wrong?"

I repeat everything I heard Orion say in a flat voice. "He said your parents are lying despicable creatures who are actually part of a secret organization that they didn't tell him about, and you're not actually his twin, and that he has a brother that's dead." I take a breath. "A-and your dad...killed my dad."

Sera~

I gasp, no idea what to do. 

I find myself ignoring the part about siblings, and instead my minds narrows to the part where Father killed Mr. Ash. How could he? Why would he? I look down at Rowan who has his head in his hands, and his shoulders are shaking. 

I don’t know what to say. Claaws, I wish Orion was here right about now. But no. He’s not, and I need to figure this out myself. 

I silently sit beside Rowan and hesitantly pull him into a hug. I have no idea what I’m doing, but this is what Mother used to do when she wanted to comfort us...this is what she used to do when we wouldn’t reject her...this is what she used to do when we still thought she was a good person. 

Surprisingly, he lets out a sob, and his head buries into my shoulder. I lightly stroke his hair, and feel myself beginning to cry as well and GOODNESS I hate today, it’s all just crying, crying...is Father bent on breaking us all?!

My gaze averts to the side of the wall outside, where I’ve just heard the chime of the entrance to the door. I can make out Orion and Winona’s voices, and watch as Orion finally appears from the other side and begins to walk back out of town. 

“Orion,” my voice chokes out. 

His head whips around to where he finally spots us on the other side of the shop, and his eyes widen. 

“Sera? Rowan?”

Rowan sniffs and lifts his head up, quickly wiping his eyes. 

“Are you guys alright?” he asks, walking up to us and kneeling down. 

“We may or may not have heard your conversation with Winona while trying to get bread at the bakery,” I reply, smiling sheepishly. 

He groans. “Everything?”

“Just the beginning line,” Rowan cuts in. 

Orion goes stiff and runs a nervous hand through his hair. “Look, about that-“

Rowan shakes his head sharply. “No. Don’t get me wrong, I want to slowly kill your father, but it’s not your fault. Neither one of you.”

“Yeah, everyone’s saying that,” Orion mumbles. 

“Because it’s true,” Rowan replies. “He’s trying to sever all ties between the four of us, because we keep each other on our feet. He doesn’t want that. But we’ll do something one day that will make him wish he’d tried harder.”

“I’m still sorry though,” Orion replies. “I’m sorry for him, because I know he’ll never apologise.”

“And that’s his problem. Don’t beat yourself down because of your father, Orion.”

I nod. “We try not to. Sometimes we wonder how we ended up having a guy like him as our father.”

At this, Orion lets out a dark laugh. “Oh yes.”

There’s a small silence between us before Orion gets up, us following. 

“I shouldn’t come home tonight, Orion,” I say quietly to him. “And you shouldn’t either.”

“I have to,” he replies. 

“Why?” I scoff. 

“If he finds out I’ve been staying at another family’s house, he’ll definitely kill that whole family. But you can’t come home, or he may kill you. He’s very angry at you Sera.”

“One more thing,” I say. “What do you mean we’re not twins? And how did Rowan’s father die?”

He quickly tells me the stories, and looks up at me expectantly. 

“I...I just always thought-“

“I did too,” he cuts in. “We’re just not...technically twins. However, we act like it enough, so I’d say we are.”

“So you’re really seventeen then?” I ask. 

“Yeah. According to Mother.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah.”

A small silence lapses between us, before I nod. “I’m staying at the Ash farm tonight.”

“Good idea. I’ll have the maids deliver clothes there by morning for ya.”

“Thanks Orion,” I reply, and we embrace before he begins to walk off, in the left fork of the road. 

“Good night Sera. Rowan,” he calls. 

“Good night, Orion,” I reply. 

“See you later mate,” Rowan calls back with a sad laugh. 

We turn and walk down the hill. 

“How?” Rowan asks. 

I tilt my head. “What do you mean?”

“How did he die?” Rowan replies, his voice smaller now. 

I sigh. “Father is a part of the Black Skull,” I reply hesitantly. “They sent a reconnaissance team to North Firshire, where your father was. There was an underground Resistance base there. Now the town is wiped off the map.”

Rowan shakes his head angrily. “The Black Skull. I hadn’t heard much from them in a while. I guess Catastrophe isn’t the only one doing the wrong things.”

I nod. “I’m really sorry.”

“Don’t apologise. There’s nothing you could’ve done.”

My heart sinks. He’s right. There’s nothing I can do, unless I kill Father. But even then, there’ll still be plenty of Black Skull members left. 

We’ve arrived at the farm, and Rowan directs me in the house. I greet his siblings and mother, making sure to offer my condolences. She doesn’t realise that it was my father who killed her husband, and I don’t have the heart to tell her now.

“Rowan, take her to the loft. I just sent your sister to put fresh sheets, blankets, and a pillow on the bed. Hopefully she did her job if she didn’t get distracted.”

I thank his mother once again before heading upstairs to where the loft is. The room is small, simple, and homey. A good change in palate from the estate. 

“Are you good?” Rowan asks. 

I smile at him. “I believe this is perfect.”

“And you don’t want any dinner?”

I nod. “I’ve lost my appetite.”

He smiles sadly. “Goodnight then, Sera.”

“Goodnight, Rowan.”

Winona~

I close the shop door and walk inside a few steps, my head spinning. I collapse onto the nearest low display table and massage my temples. So much has happened in the last few hours, and I can't help wishing that today was over.

Despite my aching head I'm smiling. It feels so good to know that Orion didn't think me a complete weirdo. That he actually feels the same way that I do.

After a few seconds I haul myself up and walk upstairs. It was getting dark, and I felt like it was futile to try to work when I couldn't even collect my thoughts.

I put away the dress I was hemming and pack up my sewing kit. I set it on the shelf next to my sister's and go back downstairs. Heading out the back door, I make sure all of the lights are off and that the door is locked behind me.

It only takes me a short while to arrive at my family's home. I hear the piano music coming through the open study window, and my heart falls at the sound. Eloise was playing a slow song, not her usually happy melodies and jigs. The news had arrived about our cousins.

I open the door and lock it behind me. Hugo, my five-year-old brother, comes walking towards me with his arms outstretched.

"Winnie," he says softly as I kneel down and bundle him up in a hug. "Mommy is sad. Did I do something wrong?"

There is a break in Eloise's playing and I can hear my mom's sobs and my dad's low voice from upstairs. Tears fill my eyes, but I don't break down again. I had had enough crying for one day.

"No, Hughy, it's not your fault," I whisper, rubbing his head. "Mommy just got some bad news, that's all."

His face brightens slightly at the reassurance that he wasn't the cause of my mother's grief. He's too young to understand the bitter pain of losing people you love.

We knew as soon as we heard about the bombing that my cousins probably hadn't survived, but my parents tried to keep up hope and not break down in front of us. Now, however, with the deaths confirmed, my parents were letting out the pent-up grief. 

"Why don't you and I go play with your toys?" I ask as Eloise's playing starts up again. I needed to keep him from bothering my parents and asking hurtful questions.

Hugo smiles and nods, then turns and runs down the hall, the one happy thing in a house full of grief.