Twisted Roots (DeBeers 3)

"Shut up." I threw back at him and hurried up the stairway, searching for Danielle. I wanted her to take me home. I could hear both Cade and Adrian laughing and following me with that stupid chanting: Hannah Banana, Hannah Banana.

It was a long corridor. and it wrapped around to the right. I headed for the bedroom Danielle shared with my father, but when I got there and called for her. I didn't hear her. This house was so big, she could have been downstairs in another wing, I thought. I went into the living room area of their suite and sat dejectedly on a sofa. When I heard the bedroom door close. I looked up.

My twin half brothers stood there, looking down at me.

"Leave me alone!" I cried, tears streaming down my cheeks now. "You're both mean and horrible, and you can't stop being that way, even on your birthday!"

"No, we're not We've actually been very considerate of you, Hannah. We've known the truth all this time, but we've never told anyone. have we. Adrian?"

Adrian shook his head.

"Never, and we could have many times."

"And were willing to keep it a secret now, too, right. Adrian?" Adrian nodded.

Cade stepped closer,

'If you're cooperative, that is." he said. "If you give us a nice birthday present. not that phony one our father probably had purchased for you anyway," he said.

I looked up at them suspiciously. There was a note in their voices that I hadn't heard before, but it was dark enough to scare me.

'What are you talking about now? What do you want?"

Cade's smile was thinner and sharper than ever. His eyes brightened as he drew closer.

"Take off your clothes for us," he demanded.

I thought my heart had turned into a tight fist and closed on my lungs. For a moment I couldn't breathe.

"What?"

"Come on. Show us what you have. You do it for your Haitian songwriter boyfriend, don't you? And he hasn't got anywhere near as much to offer. Take off your clothes. and we'll keep our mouths shut."

"You're both more disgusting than I could have imagined." I said.

"Don't make me angry," Cade threatened. "or we'll withdraw our offer."

"I don't care what you do."

"Oh, you don't? Do all your friends know about your crazy uncle? They don't, do they? From what Natalie was telling us, you're not Miss Popularity right now anyway. This would really do you in. don't you think? Tell her. Adrian." he commanded. gesturing for Adrian to step forward, "Tell her we're serious about this."

"We're serious." Adrian said. "And you know we can do what we say."

"Get away from me." I warned them.

'How is this information going to sit with your mother at the moment. huh? Her and her SIDS baby. What is she going to tell people when they call to tell her what they have heard?"

I shook my head slowly.

"You know shell hear about it. too. don't you? You know how everyone spreads stories in this town. You won't be Miss Goody Two-shoes anymore, and your mother... do you think people will want to go to her for mental and emotional help after they hear what a sinner she was?"

You bastard. Cade."

"Just take off your clothes. Give us a real birthday present and show us your birthday suit," he said. smiling. "It's as simple as that. You do it every day, undress. So do it here. Go on. Do it!" he ordered.

Adrian drew closer, his eyes full of interest, wondering if I would do as Cade ordered.

"I'm going to tell Daddy." I said.