Disgraced: Twins of the Zodiac

Broken Twintuition

    He never even came home last night. Here it was, over half the day had come and gone and he still had yet to return home.

    Where could he be? What on earth was so important with his little bimbo of a girlfriend that he couldn’t even return home? These thoughts were warring in Aurora’s paranoid mind until she thought about the most obvious answer; maybe he just decided to stay the night over her house. Maybe he just wasn't ready to come home yet.

   Geeze, I hope you didn't decide to bare your heart and soul to her, Aurora continued to think, although hoping that he would not be so idiotic to do such a thing. Even in it all just being thoughts and assumptions, the mere notions infuriated Aurora even more. Surely you wouldn't be so reckless!  That thought, in particular, was regretted as soon as she thought of it.

    "Hypocrite," She called herself aloud. "The nerve, accusing your brother of recklessness after what you did to Marlo...in front of everyone else no less," The memory of that afternoon still ate at Aurora. Especially, after realizing that Marlo hadn't been feeling too well following that day.

    Still, there was just something about that girl that rubbed Aurora the wrong way. Something about Jennifer that just seemed so distrustful; always playing the innocent whenever Jeriko and Aurora were around one another-or at least in close proximity to one another; almost as if she knew that Jeriko would pop up at any moment and that she had to stay in character until he had.

    No, Aurora was never truly alone with Jennifer, so technically speaking, she had no proof to back up this claimed assumption that she had. She could even admit that part of her assumption stemmed from a deep-seated sense of jealousy. Maybe even fear that her brother-her safety net was being taken away from her. In silent honesty, Aurora felt threatened, however not in the way that most felt threatened. It wasn't Jeriko's attention that Aurora was afraid of losing as she was used to not receiving and didn't feel completely dismayed about it. Her fear lied in the idea that she was going to lose Jeriko as a whole...that some entity was shoving them apart to weaken them and that entity was Jennifer. Why that thought gnawed at her was beyond Aurora, but she could not shrug it off, and in truth wasn't sure that she wanted to.

    Jeriko had found love once before in his life and while it did not end well, Aurora never felt so negatively about any girl as much as she did Jennifer. There was a festering negativity about that girl that it seemed only Aurora could see. There was no doubt in her mind that it would be best for Aurora to keep her eye on this girl.

     It may have all seemed like false accusations to her brother because for some reason he was whipped-another thing that did not make sense to Aurora as it took far more than six months to get under Jeriko's skin. Aurora knew that her assumptions were right about Jennifer. There was just something underlying that attractive veneer that spoke of mischievousness.

    Aurora noticed how discomfit Jennifer would become whenever Jeriko thought to check on her. She’d hear from afar when they were in close vicinity of Aurora’s heightened hearing how Jennifer would try and convince him that she was fine or that she'd be fine or that she needed to learn to be on her own.

    The day she and Jeriko ditched after-school programs together to spend some much-needed brother and sister time with one another, Aurora could practically feel the frustration emanating from Jennifer. Of course, when she inquired about her demeanor to Jeriko, he interpreted it as something else entirely, assuming that she was upset because they both decided to miss practices that day; and that after-school festivities were important to his girlfriend. Aurora decided not to bring up the fact of how many times Jennifer and Jeriko skipped school altogether, never mind practice. It wasn’t an important enough thing to point out if it would risk their good vibes. So, she left the subject alone that day.

    One thing, however, that granted Aurora pause-one major thing that in fact, in her mind, was the nail in the proverbial coffin; was the fact that Jennifer’s mind always seemed to be cordoned off from her. 

    Of course, when she asked Jeriko about this, more than a few times, he’d defend that she shouldn’t be delving into his girlfriend’s mind and neither should he. He was adamant that he was trying to protect her mental state. That he cared too much about her to delve into her sensitive conscious and that he wanted this time-this relationship to be different. Understandable...to a point. However, she couldn't help but notice the unease when she brought up the subject.

    While Aurora could never see what was so different about Jennifer, aside from her looks, in comparing them to some of Jeriko’s past flings, she still tried to accept her brother’s wishes. It was, after all, truly warranted and reasonable reasoning behind him doing what he was doing in protecting the girl’s ‘sensitive mental state’. If he was the one doing it.

     Aurora couldn’t help noticing something that she had picked up on as she was forced to be around Jennifer more and more, though. The power locking away Jennifer’s thoughts...most of the time, didn’t feel like Jeriko’s. So why was he under an impression that he was protecting her? Surely, he’d know if he were using his powers. So why couldn’t he differentiate when he wasn’t?

    Aurora, being Jeriko’s twin, was connected to him and he to her in a number of ways; sensing power usage from one another was one of those numerous ways. So, Aurora knew how Jeriko’s power felt-how it made her feel when he used it; and whoever it was that was protecting Jennifer’s mind, was not derived from Jeriko’s abilities. Not for the most part anyway. And this made Aurora wonder...what is it that that bimbo’s hiding?

    She wanted to bring this to her brother’s attention as well, but it never seemed like the right time to bring it up. Yes, the day that they ditched after school together should have been an ideal time-the perfect time even; as it almost seemed like for the first time in a while, her brother was being understanding-like he was...her brother. But it was just so nice not to have to think about the world around them; just to be brother and sister, that the whole thought slipped her mind. The fact that she knew that that subject of conversation in particular, more than likely wouldn’t have been well received, may have been a contributing factor as well. 

    Aurora didn’t even realize that she was staring into the pages of one of her favorite novels until that moment when she was suddenly pulled from her hail storm of thoughts.

    She was sitting on the side of her bed, legs crossed with her deep amethyst gaze absentmindedly penetrating the words on the pages; so engrossed in how badly the world was crumbling between her and her brother, that she had completely forgotten that she picked the book up in the first place.

    Aurora snapped the book closed and gave a mentally exhausted sigh, standing from where she sat. She tossed the book onto the bed and stood in front of the large vanity mirror, wondering where her brother could be. She knew that at the end of the day, he was trying to avoid her, but it didn’t stop her from wanting-no, needing to talk to him.

    She thought to use The Eye Of The Beholder ability; something that only a rare few twins had access to. Aurora was so tempted to connect to Jeriko’s eyesight and see where he was. What caused her hesitance, however, was the fact that he’d more than likely realize what she was doing and it would only cause further hostility between the two. Of course, during this discourse, Jeriko would not take into consideration the many times that he had invaded Aurora’s privacy and thoughts.

    A knock sounding at Aurora’s bedroom door averted her attention. When the already slightly ajar door was opened a little further Mags dipped her head inside. 

        “Hi, sweetie.” She said. 

    “Hi, Mags.” Aurora greeted, feigning a smile as she spoke; something that she usually never had to do until now. 

    “You alright, sweetheart?” Mags asked.

    “Yea, fine.” Aurora fibbed. “How are you faring today?”

    “Good.” Mags came into the room a little more as her expression transitioned into a small grimace. “I would be better if  your brother actually called to let me know that everything was alright.” She gave a frustrated scoff. “That he was alright.” She added and looked at Aurora. “Did he...tell you anything?” She asked. “Do you have any idea where he could be?” 

    If only she knew, I am the reason that he is still gone in the first place, Aurora thought to herself. She wanted to tell Mags this, but knew that a conversation would ensue that she just wasn’t ready nor was she in the mood to even have at the moment. She did want to reassure Mags, though.

    “I was actually going to ask you the same question,” Aurora said. “I’m sure he’s fine, though.” She added. That was one thing that Aurora was sure of. She definitely would have known if her brother was in peril or if he was in pain as they were connected in that way too. 

    “If anyone would know, you would,” Mags said with a look of relief on her face. “Twintuition and all that.” She chuckled.

    Aurora smirked and shrugged. “Yeah, twintuition. You could say that.” She then returned her gaze to the mirror, finally deciding that she’d delve into her brother’s mind’s eye to figure out where he was and what he was doing; if for nothing else than for Mag’s sake. 

    Just as her gaze began to transition, the sound of the front door downstairs opening was heard. Where her violet eye started to turn sea green/blue, it returned to its original exotic color.

    “Ha! Speak of the devil himself.” Mags sparked before leaving Aurora’s room.

    She waited for a moment, allowing for Mags to say her hellos and scold him for worrying her before she headed out of the room and down the stairs to confront him herself.

    “Jeriko. Hey, we need to talk-” The words barely had time to leave her lips before she saw who was standing there next to him.

    “Not now, Ro.” He said as he walked off. “I’ll be back, Jen.” He said.

    The only reason he felt comfortable enough to leave Jennifer around Aurora was because Mags was standing there. And he knew that with the hot water Aurora was in, she wouldn’t dare try anything.

    “Hey, Ro.” Jennifer smiled.

    “Aurora.” She curtly corrected. 

    “I thought we were cool enough to be on a nickname basis.”

    “We’re not,” Aurora bluntly twitched. “Unless, you like the name, bimbo.”

    “Aurora!” Mags tried to reprimand when Aurora looked Mags in the eyes. “It’s okay Mags, we’re just talking. Go to the other room and relax. I’ll deal with her.”

    Mags, in a trance, nodded with a smile before doing what she was told. Aurora hated using on Mags, but she didn’t need the distraction of her being around.

    “That was weird,” Jennifer said as she watched her walk away. “Almost like you made her go away. Like you hypnotized her.”

    Aurora turned around, glaring at Jennifer. “Why are you here?”

    “I’m supporting my boyfriend.” She said. “He seems to think that he is not getting any at home. That’s why I’m here.”

    There was something different in her tone. Something filled with a little more malice than any other time; like she wanted Aurora to know that she was being spiteful.

    “So, in other words, you’re manipulating him into thinking that he doesn’t have a support system-”

    “I would never do such a thing, Aurora.” Jennifer countered. “I care about your brother and I care about you!” She raised her voice.

    “You don’t even know me, princess,” Aurora spat. “You don’t care about anything or anyone but yourself. I don’t even know you but I can clearly see that. You just want to be in control.”

    “How could you say something so hurtful, Ro-”

    “I'd hate to have to correct you one more time,” Aurora growled, noticing how she raised her voice a little louder this time.

    Jennifer stifled the small smirk too late before Aurora had already seen it. “No wonder Jeriko doesn’t like being around you.” She said in a lower tone this time. “You’re uptight and just unbearable to be around.” She shook her head. “I’ve tried to be nice and you just won’t let me in.” This time she raised a voice a little louder.

    By this point, Aurora knew what she was doing. She grabbed Jennifer by the collared shirt that she was wearing and shoved her against the wall.

    “Unfortunately, my brother is blinded by naivety. But please know, I don’t trust you...I don’t like you. And the only reason you’re not dead is because of him.” She growled, no longer caring whether she saw her true colors or not. “Watch your back...because I’m coming for you. And Jeriko will not be there to save you when I do,”

    She could see the unease in Jennifer’s face before she covered it up and smirked. “We’ll see about that.” She mouthed. “Aurora, please! Let me go!” She screeched.

    “Aurora what are you doing?” Jeriko incredulously snapped, yanking his sister away from Jennifer.

    `Aurora backed away, her eyes cornered on Jennifer’s slithering expression. For a moment she had forgotten that her brother was in the room. "Trying not to kill your girlfriend," She mumbled.

    “What is wrong with you!” He snapped, causing Aurora to finally lock gazes with him.

    “I told you, we need to talk.”

    Jeriko shook his head. “How-why would I talk to you? When I know that we won’t get anywhere?” He grimaced. “There is nothing else to say, Ro. I’m done.”

    Aurora noticed the duffle bag in his hand. “I’ll get my other things later.”

    “Us not getting anywhere...is not because of me, Jeriko.” Aurora hissed. “Make sure you say bye to Mags.” She shoved past him and opened the front door to leave. “She’s been worried about you. You abandoned her once without saying goodbye. Don’t do it again.” And with that, she slammed the front door shut.