Chapter 2

There was a knock on Yola's door as she went to open it, Amelia one of the castle servant was was cleaning her tears, ''What is it Amelia, why are you crying?'' when there was no immediate response as Amelia tried to get herself Yola asked again in a more panicked voice, fearing for the worst. ''Talk to me Amelia what is going on''

''I am so sorry Yola, I...I didn't..m..ean to report them'' Amelia wailed more, clunging her body. Seeing as she could not get anything from the crying woman, Yola decided to calm her down. Your not to blame for anything Ami, and am not blaming you, I ant even understand what your saying now, tell me what happened calm down okay. Amelia nodded breathing in quietly, The king asked that I called the girls out for dinner which the cook has served, I went into the room to get the girls only to find no one there'' Yola listened to her not wanting to interrupt, but she knew where this story was heading. ''Out of panic I rushed to the King and told him that I couldn't find the girls anywhere, at first he didn't believe me but later sent out guards to find them, he made me kneel at the throne room till the girls were found. He has them sent to his office, and I heard Bibian's crying for him to stop hitting her sister and the King's yelling.''

By the time Amelia could finish her story she was crying again. Both women knew how the King manhandled his youngest daughter, and the fate of that girl in her fathers hands. It was known that after the queen died from childbirth, he had despised the last twin and ignored her after that. At first the maids thought that he was only mourning, but the hatred became more intense after the oracle visited and told him that the his youngest daughter was chosen to be his heir. He snapped and yelled at the growing child, which made the twins to keep their distance from him. His daughters could not understand why their father was always angry and yelled at Vivian the most.

Not about to loose his elder daughter's love entirely, he tried buying her attention by buying her gifts and relucatantly tolerating Vivian's presence though he kept her distance while Bibian wanted them close. He bought only one toy for Bibian but to his annoyance the little girl would always share it with her sister. And cried, insisting to wear whatever her sister was wearing or remain naked. They were unseparateble. Their father got fed up with their lifestyle and aganist his wish dressed both in nice dresses and couldn't keep any one hidden because of how close they were. It was a pathetic sight for the castle workers to watch of the King's maltreatment of his elder daughter. The first time he had hit her, Yola couldn't take it, she refused to watch the King abuse the princess anymore, so she had prepared magical herbs to ensure that his hand got swollen and continue hurt him for a very long time. And after that it was the last time she had heard of the King hit Vivian until now.

''You cursed child, after all my warning you had the guts to sneak out of this palace, and to even think that you took your sister with you, how dare you'' Augustus yelled at Vivian as he delivered the third slap on the already swollen red face.

Vivian felt guilty, it wasn't her intention to displease her father, so she cried falling on the floor ''Am sorry father, we won't do it again, we only wanted to see the full moon am so sorry'' she sobbed. Meanwhile Bibian was in the same room a distasnce away from them held by the guard as she struggled to free herself from the guard who was holding her in place, her face red with anger as she glared at her father ''Leave her alone papa, I was the one who convinced her to come with me, It was also my idea to sneak away'' Bibian shouted on top of her lungs. King Agustus pushed Vivian away from him, as he approached his other daughter.

Bending down to reach her size he caressed her chin, ''Sweetheart you could have told me you wanted to see the full moon and we would go together, you are not supposed to sneak out from your fathers house. Your a princess, my princess'' He said in a comforting tune. ''I don't want to go with you it is either Vivian or no one else, this place is a prison, our prison. Let her go papa she didn't do anything.'' King Augustus stood fully, a frown on his face ''Vivian has influenced you, with nothing but but on how to disrespect for your father and at such she will be duly punished''

He spat, his voice held so much disgust., he went forward to instruct his guards to have Vivian locked up. Bibian struggled aganist the guard who held her tighter as she kept shouting and pleading with her father not to do this. Vivian accepted her fate and was quietly carried out of the king's presence.

It took two days of persistence permission taking from the concerned servants and Yola to the King,to be able to feed Vivian who remained locked inside her room. Yola's heart wept at the injustice the twins was suffering most especially Vivian who was barely Seven years, but she felt so helpless. When She walked into the dark room her heart broke at the sight of Vivian who looked so thin and sad, Yola put on the bedside lamps and sat back on the bed where Vivian lay but wasn't sleeping. ''I brought you some food child, How are you doing?'' She asked in a tender voice. There was no reply instead Vivian sat up, taking the water from the tray and finished it at once, before clearing her throat and eating the plate of food Yola came with. Yola waited patiently until she was done, as many thoughts went into her head, and as Vivian finially met her eyes, Yola shivered at the emptiness she was saw there. Something in her died and at the same time hardened and she swore there and then that she will not watch this child die.

''How is my sister?'' her voice sounded raspy, effects of not talking for sometime now, was the question Vivian asked after eating, her Legs were folded together as she dropped the now empty plate on the tray.

Yola smiled a little before answering her, despite her current predicament her sister's wellbeing still mattered to her. The girls really were loved one another. Deciding to be vague with her response to avoid bothering Vivian. She replied ''Bibian will be fine now that you have eaten and rested, as soon as your father permits she will be here with you. I know you two miss each other.''

Vivian nodded placing her head on her pillow as she closed her eyes, When Yola thought that Vivian was done talking she heard her quiet voice ''Tell Bibian not to waste her time, I know it won't be easy but she must learn to live without me''