Protection

Just as you go to pull her into another firm comforting hug a great flash of brilliant white light sweeps through the room. In an instant your sister is gone from your arms, her sudden lack of support causing you to tumble off the foot of the bed and onto the floor. The light flows from the interior wall out toward exterior one and after just a few seconds is gone again, leaving your room dim like it had been before Vespera arrived.

“No!” You scramble up to your hands and knees desperately looking around for your twin but you could sense her absence from the room. After finally learning about her your twin had been literally ripped from your arms! “Ves? Ves? Are you here?”

You hear the breeze outside and the normal deep creaking of the old manor. Everything back to normal. Getting to your feet you make your way to the darkest corner of the room and run your grasping hands over the wall as if you might dig through it.

“Ves? Ves, where are you? Vespera?” You slam your fists into the wall. “NO! Come back, please!”

You hear a squishy knock on your door. “Jake?” Then, from under the bottom of the door, you see a pair of purple jelly lips pop through. “Are you okay?”

You storm toward the door and swing it open. Trixie’s mouth glides up her humanoid shaped body to return to is proper place on her face. She looks at you with her big candy apple red eyes.

“What was that?” You ask her. “That light?”

“Oh that.” She smiles. “That was just a spell. A protection spell, a whopper of a spell too! You’ll get used to them.” She giggles. “It must be so weird suddenly seeing all this stuff for the first time.” She moves to hug you but you avoid it. “Do you want your present? I got you something for your birthday.”

You let out a frustrated huff and settle yourself. You had already hurt her feelings once tonight despite none of this being her fault. “No. No thank you Trixie. Tomorrow?”

She nods. “Okay.” She spluts her hands together, forming them together, and looks up at you with a big pout. “You mad at me Jake?”

“No. It’s just been a hell of a night.”

“Yeah, I guess. I’m still Trixie though. I’m still your silly little Sis.”

You nod and give her a glum grin. “I know. Sorry. I haven’t been very nice, have I?”

“It’s okay.”

As much as you didn’t want to be rude you had bigger fish to fry right now. “Hey, uh, do you know where Dad is?”

“Up in his tower for sure.” She says. “That’s where he casts the big spells.”

“Thank you.” With that you slip around her and march down the hall.

“Hey! We’re not allowed up there!” She calls after you.

You don’t look back as you make your way through the house toward the tower that stood at the far end of the East wing. You were angry, so angry. You could hardly remember ever being so mad. As you are approaching down the long dim hallway toward the great iron door to your father’s private sanctum you watch as he steps out. He waves a hand, makes a gesture, and mutters what you guess is an incantation behind him before turning your way. He looked tired and drawn out.

“Jacob!” He stops, surprised to see you. He takes note of your nightwear and mussed up hair. “Did the light wake you? I forgot about you seeing these things now. I’m sorry if it woke you.”

“Father.” You growl through gritted teeth.

A look of patient understanding washes over him when he sees your mood. “You are angry. About the big reveal. Again, I apologize son. Did you have a bad dream?”

“Don’t condescend to me!” You stride up to him, fists clenched at your sides. “It’s about my sister, Vespera.”

Your father’s entire demeanor shifts. His face falls deadly serious, his presence seems to fill the hall, and crackling power buzzes through the air around you. For the first time in your life…you were afraid of him. His look wasn’t the caring expression of a concerned father but the cold steel gaze of a man accustomed to and capable of great ****. All of your gusto is gone as you suddenly felt very very small. The others of your family weren’t the only ones revealed to be not what you assumed this night. Dad might be human but he had secrets as well.

He steps closer, his voice still as calm as a mountain lake yet with powerful currents shifting just beneath the surface. “What about Vespera?”

“Um…” You stutter.

“Did you see her?” He presses. “If you see her you must tell us. She is very dangerous Jacob. Speak up. Now.”

A voice revealed to you from the past echoes in your mind, his voice from a few years back. “Is it him keeping her tethered to this place? They are twins. Could he be her weakness?” The memory shakes you to the core. Weakness? He was looking for a weakness in your sister. To banish her permanently? Or worse!? You knew you shared a special connection with her, what if he was right? What if he learned to use you to get to her? You needed time to think about this before you revealed anything.

“Hhhmm.” You clear your throat as you do your very best to keep your cool while still acting angry. “No I didn’t see her, thank God! She was so scary!” You bluff. “The others, I mean, yeah they’re scary but…she is terrifying! I hate her! I want nothing to do with…it! Why didn’t you tell me I had a thing like that as my twin? Why didn’t you tell I had a twin?”

His face returns to normal and his tight shoulders relax, the crackling energy dissipates. He pats your shoulder. “I wish I could have told you everything son, I really do.” He smiles. “Don’t worry. She won’t be able to get to you for a while. Don’t you worry about a thing my boy, we will protect you. But I stress that you must let us know if you ever see her.” He looks into your eyes in that serious father-son sort of way. “Okay?”

You let out a sigh and nod. “Okay. Thanks Dad.”

He pulls you in for a hug which you return stiffly. “I know this will be an adjustment. Give it time. You’ll get used to it.”

“Yeah, thanks Dad. Sorry about this just…after the day I had, I think seeing that spell just triggered something.”

“No worries.” He pats your shoulder again. “Go to bed Jacob. Everything will seem better in the morning, you’ll see.”

“Yeah.” You nod. “I’ll do that. Thanks Dad.”

“Anytime.” He smiles.

One last hug is exchanged before you turn and head back down the hall. Instead of heading to your room however you zip down stairs and make a beeline for the back kitchen door.