The Gemini Reign

What was I going to do? I had no idea. My heart pounded against my chest, threatening to jump out. How could I decide? I knew that they wanted me to be happy. I didn’t even think about the last part of what Justin said. Did I even deserve to be happy?

“Avery,” I opened my eyes to see the boy, who was now in front of me. I looked into his icy blue eyes that were impossibly warm. He knew what I was thinking? He put his hand over mine. His eyes glossed over in curiosity as the incredible sensation burst through me. It was like I was so happy I couldn’t breathe. It made no sense, but somehow I knew Aiden was feeling the same. I didn’t even know this guy, yet somehow he was so familiar. It was scary.

I told all of them to leave my room. I told them I was tired and wanted to rest. I told them a lot of things. They were all lies. They lied to me. I shouldn’t feel guilty for lying to them. I didn’t know what to do. The logical part of me wanted to leave and never come back. Every other part of me wanted to stay, forgive them, get to know my siblings, be a good girl, and listen to whatever they said. To believe them.

I climbed into my bed and thought of everything that happened these past two days.

Rebecca and me being kidnapped. What did she think of me? I remembered what happened in that small room with the blinding light. About her arm magically healing and my burns going away the next day. How did I do that? Did I do that? Was that cavern real? Why did Justin and Selene look at each other like that when I told them?

Now that I was alone in my room, I could be vulnerable to what Justin said about…me being a murderer, an assassin for Angelica. I couldn’t imagine what she must have said to make me turn against my family, let alone how angry I must have been to have killed people. I shuddered at the thought. I always had felt different than how I was before getting kidnapped and enslaved. I thought it was just that I had witnessed my mother’s murder and all of the experiences that came with it. It turns out I was right, except that there were a lot more experiences than I thought there were. And I didn’t know if I wanted to know the extent of those memories that had been locked away.

Justin

I paced in the living room, worrying about Avery’s decision. The plan I came up with to distract her and lower her defenses worked to get her out of the bathroom, but I couldn’t force her decision. Before, I thought she would give in and embrace the dragon hood with her family, but I wasn’t sure anymore.

“She will come around. You were like this in the beginning too.” Selene encouraged.

“I can’t wait anymore. Avery could be thinking about running away. She could be planning to join Angelica at this moment. We have to watch her.” I said. I knew I sounded hysterical, but it was what was going on in my head. I couldn’t keep it in anymore. I couldn’t act like I knew what she was going to do anymore.

“She’s scared. She thinks she doesn’t deserve to be happy,” Aiden said. I was surprised. He barely had said anything to me except for in Avery’s room. He knew something I didn’t. I could tell from the look in his eyes.

“What do you know? What did she tell you?” I asked, truly curious about their bond.

He said, “Nothing. I could feel it somehow.” He looked confused.

“Are you saying that you know what she is thinking?” I asked.

“I don’t know. It’s like I feel Avery’s feelings too. Like she’s pushing her feelings into my head. I can’t control it.” He sounded weird, almost annoyed. That could explain his mood changes.

I didn’t think much about it before, but after talking to Aidan a few times. I realized that he was always angry or brooding. Shouldn’t he be happy to be home? I knew he must have gone through really traumatic things but still…it didn’t sit well with me.

“Um. Is something wrong? Are you mad?” I asked Aiden.

He narrowed his eyes, “Why are you asking?”

“I don’t know? You just seem irritated.” I said nervously, suddenly intimidated by the scrutiny in his eyes.

I triggered a rant. “And? I can’t be irritated? I should be happy? Did you ever think that I wasn’t happy here? I don’t know you people, and you think I should be caring about all your problems? Did you think that just because you brought me here, everything would be fine? I’m worse off here than with Angelica.” His eyes glowed with hate. “Here’s an update in case you were wondering, that annoying girl upstairs is throwing herself a pity party since she is all you people care about.”

“Aiden! How could you say all this? Of course, we care about you. We care about both of you!” Selene cried, clearly distressed at the things Aiden was saying.

“How? How could someone not think you only care about is pity party up there? All you talk about is her. All you think about is her. Even a stranger who you knew for five minutes knows what an obviously spoiled brat she is. Of course, I have a connection with her, so I know what she’s going through. I know that she is scared and overwhelmed, but I also know she’s also happy that she knows the truth. I like her. She’s my twin, I have to, but I still acknowledge that she has faults and flaws. It’s like you guys worship her, honestly!” His voice burned with anger and envy. Aiden took off, slamming the door to the house on his way out.

I looked at Selene, “I think he’s right. He’s been here for one day, and we’re dumping all this on him. All we talk about is Avery and helping her. We need to listen to his story. Connect with him. Get to know him.”

Selene sighed miserably, “I never imagined this would be my reunion with our brother.”

After Selene left, I shut off the house lights and headed up the stairs. I stopped at the door to Avery’s room. I could see the light flooding out from the gap between the white door and the wooden floor. I knocked on the door. No response. Not knowing what I would find, I pushed the door open slowly.

The door creaked as it opened. I stepped into Avery’s room…

She was sleeping. Releasing a breath I didn’t realize I was holding, I walked out of the room. Laying in bed, I stared at the ceiling, wondering what she would choose. I knew I was paranoid, but I wouldn’t risk losing her like I lost mom and…dad. I felt guilty for still only worrying about Avery after what Aiden said. I was so used to it being just Avery that I had to worry about, I didn’t even stop to consider Aiden’s situation.

I shut my eyes and forced myself to stop thinking about Avery and her decision. I couldn’t control this, and I shouldn’t have tried to.