Disgraced: Twins of the Zodiac

Pressure Is On

    The game was underway and the Luxeville Lions were behind fourteen points.

    Jeriko was getting his butt handed to him out there on the field during the football game. Of course, he was more than capable of playing far beyond the expectations of anyone out there, but then...what fun would that be? And that was all aside from the fact that it was obvious that there was quite a bit on his mind; most of what was on his mind, concerning his twin sister and their suddenly strained relationship.

    Aurora sat there smoking on her cigar, her eyes on the game while her thoughts were lingering elsewhere.

    She blew smoke from her lips and nose, eyes closing for a moment to relish the enchanted herbs that enhanced the effect of her cigar. When she opened her eyes, there stood the bane of her existence. Jennifer.

    Aurora did not speak to her. In fact, she barely acknowledged her at all. She spared her half a glance, her eyes refusing to linger any longer than that before turned she looked past Jennifer.

    “Hi...Aurora.” Jennifer hesitated when she greeted her boyfriend’s sister.

    Aurora, in her volatile state toward her, ignored Jennifer. So well, as a matter of fact, that had Jennifer not so blatantly and boldly been standing there, one would think her either invisible or not standing there at all.

    “Aurora?” Jennifer stepped a little closer, it being very obvious that Aurora would not respond to her. And even after the second time that Jennifer called her name, she still said nothing to her.

    Jennifer seemed so so adamant about Aurora acknowledging her, she stood there in silence for what felt like forever. When Aurora still said nothing, she obnoxiously sighed and still said nothing.

    Aurora knew by this point that she wasn’t going to leave; this became quite apparent to Aurora when Jennifer continuously stood there in silence. This aggravated her immensely.

    “I thought ignoring you...would make you go away.” Aurora finally said, her attention still on the happenings of the football game. “What do you want?” She demanded in a low and impatient voice as she took yet another puff of her cigar. When Jennifer didn’t answer right away, Aurora finally caught an eye at Jennifer’s grimacing gaze.

    It was barely visible-not to mention an extremely quick slip up, but Aurora caught it nonetheless. 

    Surprisingly enough, it didn’t enrage her, however. No, she was actually amused-amused that her twin brother was so blinded by what this girl was trying to portray, that he could not see through such a phony facade.

    Aurora smirked. “What...do you want?” She said again, keeping to herself how unconvinced she was of this girl’s feigned innocent demeanor. She kept this to herself because judging by the expression on the girl’s face, she already knew that Aurora was hip to her deceiving personality.

    “We’re losing,” Jennifer said.

    “Yeah,” Aurora said, looking away again. “Caught that.” Jennifer didn’t respond fast enough for Aurora’s liking and so she looked at the girl again. “Did you want something else? Or did you just come to point out the obvious...and annoy me?” Jennifer didn’t answer quickly enough again and so she looked away and at the field again. It was then, during the huddle that she caught her brother staring her way. She knew then that he could hear every word that was being said between the two of them. She chanced a glance up at Jennifer just in time to see her glancing his way as well.

    “Look, Aurora. Your brother needs your support-”

    “Which is why I am here, dear,” Aurora said, her gaze attending the field once more. "Though both he and yourself have made it abundantly clear that you don't need me at all," Since he was listening, she'd give him something to listen to.

    “Okay, but-well I-”

    Aurora rolled her eyes. “Please get to the point before I rip your tongue out.” She mumbled under her breath, low enough so that the girl could not clearly hear what she was saying. She looked up to see her brother incredulously staring at her. He heard her. ‘Amusing.’ she thought 'that one was for you brother. “She’s not using it properly, anyway.” She referenced Jennifer not being able to clarify what she was trying to say fast enough.

    “I jus-I know it would mean a lot to your brother if you-” Jennifer started to say. She cut her own words off and sighed. “Look, you don’t have to be on the team anymore after this if you don’t want to. I understand. I just-you have the uniform on and we really could use you. We need you, Aurora.”

    Aurora looked at her expression. It seemed so insincere to her; and for that reason alone, she wanted to end the girl. She knew, however, that this would cause a practical war between her and her brother. So what was she to do?

    “You know just what to say don’t you?” She looked up at Jennifer with a haphazard grin on her face.

    “So, I’ve convinced you-”

    “No.” Aurora cut her off. “Not at all.” She answered, the small smile upon Jennifer’s face gradually dissipating when Aurora said what she had. Aurora relished in knocking the smile off of her face, watching her closely before she spoke again. “Almost like you know that he is listening to you.” She whispered, her head tilting in curiosity as thoughts ran through her mind. She couldn’t place the expression on Jennifer’s face. She smiled and sighed. “You know,” She put out her cigar in her hand and allowed Jennifer to watch it heal almost instantly. “When you talk, it makes it so hard for me not to want to kill you.” She said, mouthing that last part as she knew that her brother was still listening. When she saw the uneased expression on Jennifer’s face, she scoffed. “I’m going to stay on the team, just so you know.” She said, starting to walk past her. “I’d hate to disappoint the coaches since I am undoubtedly their favorite. After all, you did beg.” She said lowly next to her ear. “Not like everyone’s attention was on you anyway.”

    Jennifer turned around incredulously. “And what is that supposed to mean?”

    “Don’t act like you didn’t notice, dear.” 

    Jennifer, seeming annoyed started to follow after her. “What are you talking about?”

    Aurora’s amethyst gaze glanced over to Jennifer. “They’re all watching me.”

    Jennifer turned around and saw that Aurora was right. Most of, if not all of the crowd had been eyeing her the whole time; almost waiting on every move that was made.

    Aurora relished the fact that Jennifer did not like this at all. ‘The little wretch wants to play the innocent...then let us play.’ She thought to herself and headed to the huddle of the cheerleaders.

    It was time for the Luxeville Lion’s spirit squad to enter onto the field in subtle competition to the rival’s own. 

    Jennifer had been disgruntled since her little back and forth with Aurora but she tried hiding her discord for the sake of the day. Or at least that was what Aurora assumed.

    The cheer started and cheers erupted from the stands, following every move made in the seductive dance of the spirit squad.

    Having just shy of two centuries under her belt, Aurora wasn’t as affected by the crowd as the other young girls on the team. That is until she saw one, in particular, sitting in the stands. His gaze was unmoving as he watched her.

    “Hello there, Azul of the Arctic.” She said in a subtle way. She knew that he had heard her when she saw the smile that grew across his exquisitely handsome face. It was then that she saw Jennifer eyeing her suspiciously. “Nosy little girl.” She muttered. “I’ll give you something to watch.” She smirked. Aurora then closed her eyes and whisper. “Teketelenyi.” 

    No sooner had she said those words, every single girl on the squad froze in place and then repositioned themselves just in time for the new song to come on that Jennifer rehearsed for them to dance to.

    Aurora stepped forward, in front of Jennifer now. She glanced her way with an amused expression. “Frozen in place, dear?” She asked. “Don’t tell me you choked.” She further teased a speechless Jennifer. “Don’t worry, I’ll take over.” She said and stepped forward, parting her legs. “Just follow me.”

    As the song came on, everything that Aurora did-every move that she made, they all followed verbatim. 

    “Aur-Aurora!” Jennifer hissed. “What are-what’s going on? I can’t move on my own!” She sounded worried but she still kept with Aurora’s movements.

    “I have no idea what you’re talking about, Jennifer.” Aurora feigned in innocence. She dared Jennifer to say that she knew something more was up than what was assumed.

    Aurora knew that Jeriko was still watching and listening; it was quite obvious that he still did not trust Aurora alone with Jennifer.

    This was okay, however, as Aurora realized the day that she hemmed up Jennifer-the day that she officially accepted that this girl was a phony and that her brother would never accept that it was true...the day that he confirmed that he was abandoning her...Aurora came to the decision that she’d have to fend for herself against Jennifer and the one that she’d always thought would be there for her. Jeriko.

    Jeriko wasn’t aware of this little parlor trick, but there were so many things aside that of which he’d already witnessed that his twin sister was capable of. Blocking her power usage from him was one of those never-mentioned powers that she possessed. It took a bit of energy from her due to her not feeding as much as she probably should-something else that would probably have to change soon-but she did it anyway; deciding that she’d concern herself with the repercussions later.

    When half-time was over, and the squad finished their routines, Aurora walked off of the field, starting for Azul.

    “Hey, Ro!” 

    Aurora turned around, frustration apparent on her face as she attended her older twin brother. She still loved him and was still extremely hurt by the idea that he was abandoning her, but it did not mean that she would continue to hide her feelings of anger toward him just to appease him into staying.

    “What is it, Rik?” She asked.

    He hesitated a moment before approaching a subject that he knew carried the risk of angering his twin even more than she already seemed to be.

    “Do-what happened out there today?” He asked. When Aurora gave him space to speak further on the subject, he did. “I-I’ve never s-”

    “Get to the point, brother.” Aurora cut him off, an amused and yet annoyed facial expression appearing upon her youthful features. “You want to know if I caused it-if I am the one that made her freeze up.” She said. “You want to know if I was using.” She smirked.

    When Jeriko didn’t answer right away, she knew that she was right about his assumptions; but she wanted him to admit to this. Of course, he seemed adamant about not confessing such a thing until Aurora spoke again. But she didn’t make a verbal response at all-or at least, she didn’t consider a laugh a verbal response to her brother’s nonverbal question. Well, it wasn’t the response that he wanted.

    “Well, did you?” Jeriko finally asked after he realized that Aurora would not volunteer any sort of answer.

    “Hey, Riko! It’s time to huddle up!” Darvin interceded in the conversation. He stopped short of the twins when he noticed Aurora. He grinned. “Nice work out there today, Aurora.” He complimented. “Looks like you might be taking Jen’s spot soon. Especially, if she keeps freezing like I heard she did today.”

    Aurora feigned a smile, not giving away at all, what she had done. “Thank you, sweetie. But I very much doubt that I’d ever have a future in such a ridiculous position.” She smiled.

    “Well, I guess I can only speak for myself when I say I’d love to see those legs a-”

    “Darvin.” Jeriko cut his friend off. “Go away.”

    Darvin smirked. “My bad.” He then winked at Aurora. “See you around, Aurora. Maybe we can sit together on the bus later.” He then rushed off to the huddle. 

    After his friend shuffled off, Jeriko returned his attention to a seemingly amused Aurora, who began to walk away when Jeriko stopped her.

    Aurora turned around, rolling her eyes, “I had hoped that this conversation was over, brother.”

    “You never answered my question.” He said.

    Aurora looked at her brother’s hand against her arm, nonchalantly, before she pulled away from him-not aggressively as she may should have. 

    She sighed. “And reiterate again for me, what this question was.” 

    “You know what the question is, Aurora! It’s the only question that I’ve asked you since we’ve been standing here.” For the first time in a while, his accent began to peek through. 

    Aurora couldn’t help finding it surprising that her brother felt that this little thing was so serious to him that he’d come out of character because of it. She then looked past him and noticed Jennifer staring into the distance. She scoffed. ‘Sneaky little w***e’ She couldn’t help thinking.

    “Jeriko! Get back to the huddle!” The coach commanded. 

    “I’m coming!” Jeriko hissed. He then turned his attention back to his sister. “Did you...or did you not...use, Aurora?” He asked one more time in what almost seemed a warning tone.

    Aurora scowled, shaking her head before looking away from her brother. It seemed that the more she talked to him of late, the more disappointed she had become of him. 

    “Did you feel me using, brother?” She asked.

    Jeriko didn’t answer for a moment, watching his sister; hoping that she’d have some telltale signs that his gut feeling was right. That she had done something to make Jennifer freeze up and follow her lead. Then a thought occurred and made him wonder why he was so adamant about finding something that his sister did wrong? Why was he so suddenly distrusting of her?

    “No.” He finally answered. “I didn’t.”

    “Then if I am done being subject to the third degree, I’ll be on my way.”

    Jeriko, stressed about the fact that he had started something felt the need to apologize. “I’m sorry for accusing you, Aurora. I don’t know what has gotten into me-” He started to say when he heard a growl in the distance. It wasn’t his sister, however. It was the guttural growl of a male. “Where is that coming from….” His voice trailed off as he took in his surroundings. 

    It was when he looked up into the stands and noticed that familiar face-the one that he’d recognized when he delved into his sister’s mind’s eye that day. It was him! He incredulously looked at Aurora.

    “Why is he here?”

    Aurora shrugged. “I’m not sure.” She looked at the man, wondering why he was growling in the first place.

    “Why is he growling?” Jeriko asked.

    “Not sure of that either, brother,” Aurora said.

    “You sure about that?” Jeriko countered, not fully believing his sister’s answers.

    Aurora took in an exasperated breath. “You’re leaving, brother.” She said. “That means I will be on my own soon.” Aurora looked into the stands at a seemingly tension-filled Azul. “If that is the case...I have nothing to hide from you.” She half-gazed at her brother. “And I definitely do not have to explain myself.”

    “Jeriko! The coach is getting angry-”

    “I said I’m coming!” Jeriko bellowed, the draw of energy bursting from him in anger. Fortunately, enough, it wasn’t in his immediate vicinity; so, it could not necessarily be pointed at him. Although, it would be hard to explain why all of the sports drink barrels exploded.

    Aurora found this amusing as she watched her brother try and calm himself and reiterate what he said in a calmer tone. When he was finished, he turned his gaze to his twin but didn’t say anything.

    “Not so easy controlling yourself when the pressure’s on, is it, brother?” Aurora asked. “I guess now, you’ve gotten a taste of how you make me feel every day.” She said, her gaze cornered on Azul for a moment before she walked away from the field, not in the mood to deal with neither Azul nor Jeriko at this point.