Meg writhes and claws at my arms as I struggle to restrain her, screaming Wyatt’s name as he reaches the elevator at the other end of the corridor and turns back to look at her. Placing his hand over his heart, the doors draw closed and she collapses to the floor crying harder than I’ve ever seen her cry before.
The scuffle to my right ceases with the guard getting the upper hand and thumping Garrett’s skull with a solid fist, striding from the room with taut shoulders while Dax rushes over to Garrett’s unconscious form. My head is spinning from trying to process everything that happened and my heart torn in multiple directions but clearly my twin is my priority. She’s the reason I came and she’s safe from harm, although I don’t feel as relieved about that now she’s hunched over and washing the carpet with her tears. Dropping to my knees, I stroke her back and bend forward to push her hair behind her ear.
“What the fuck was all that about?” Her tear-streaked face turns to me, more emotion than I’ve ever seen etched in the pale depths of her irises. She struggles to catch a full breath, choking on her own sobs as her cracked voice washes over me.
“I love him.” The truth of her words washes over me, a determination rising to the surface. I’d once thought love wasn’t real, but more of a fantasy people buy into to live content lives side by side. A way for those who are uncomfortable with their own company and have a deep-rooted fear of being eaten by their twenty-two cats to feel complete. But not now I can feel through our twin bond the sincerity of her emotion. Meg’s eyes are pleading me to help, the endless flow of tears confirming my suspicion – if Wyatt dies tonight, so will Meg’s spirit. Life for her will be empty and monotone, no colour worth seeing or flower worth smelling.
Sneaking a glance over to the boys, I see Dax is still trying to wake a blissfully sleeping Garrett behind the pile of shattered wood that was until recently a rather sturdy coffee table. Shoving the heels from her feet and gripping Meg’s under arm, I mouth for her to move and we quickly dash forward in crouched positions. I stop quickly to remove the key from the back of the door, pulling it shut and rushing to lock it on the other side. Dax’s fists pound on the other side in a second, yelling for me to return this instant but he must know that won’t be happening. Even if I was obedient enough to follow instructions, he still doesn’t seem to understand cutting ties with me earlier rather than later will be in his best interest.
We race through the corridor, my heart pounding in my chest as Meg reaches the elevator first, jabbing her finger on the button repeatedly until the doors finally open. The sound of wood crashing jerks me around, Dax’s furious expression now visible through a fist shaped hole. Unable to resist, even though I really shouldn’t poke the beast I’ve never seen in him before, I blow him a flirty kiss as the doors slide closed and block me from his view.
I’ve figured out why The Shadowed Souls are drawn to me. They think I need saving. I’ve often thought men are more affected by fairy tales than the ladies, boosting their noble intentions and giving them a false sense of purpose to always be the saviour, even when the damsel is more than capable of saving herself. Would prefer to, in fact.
Bursting into the lobby, we race across the marble and spill into the car park beyond. Halfway running towards the Nissan, I stop and feel around in my pockets. Fuck! I was frisked upon entering the seedy lounge, too caught up in searching for my twin to realize those pig-headed guards must have taken Huxley’s keys. Meg whirls around, panic in her eyes while her dress flaps wildly in the strengthening wind. I don’t know what to do, my brain going completely blank as I hunt for an answer.
A red Mini speeds along the central row among the parked cars, skidding to a halt between Meg and I. A brunette woman in the driver’s seat reaches back to pop open her rear and swings her brown eyes back to me.
“Get in, I’ll take you to him.” I don’t move, looking to Meg over the Mini and then back to the middle-aged woman. The long hair falling to her waist stands out against her pale skin, freckles covering her entire face in that unusually pretty way.
“Who are you?” I ask when all other words fail me.
“I’m Sydney Perelli, and I know exactly where they are headed.”
Sydney
“Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you…” mom’s sweet voice wakes me from a wonderful dream, my lips curving into a smile before opening my eyes. “Happy birthday to Sydney, happy birthday to you.” She places a kiss on my forehead as I roll onto my back, cracking my eyelids to see her wide smile. Noticing the tray in her hands, I sit up and shuffle over to let her sit down on my mattress.
“Mom, I’m ten now. I’m getting too old for you sing me awake,” I giggle, taking the plate of eggs and bacon forming a smiley face from her hands. She is the best.
“I don’t care if you’re a hundred and
