Disgraced: Twins of the Zodiac

Just A Random Little Boy At The Playground

    Aurora walked past the schoolyard of the rival players that the Luxeville Lions were going up against. 

    She was frustrated-so angry about everything that was happening. Why was it happening? Why was everything seeming to come to a head all of a sudden? Normally one to be able to take the heat, Aurora found herself becoming overwhelming by it all.

    There was something foul in the air, and Aurora knew that it was more than just that sneaky Jennifer. Although, now that her mind was suddenly on the girl, she couldn’t help thinking about some points between her and Jennifer, where Aurora had done some less than mundane things; and Jennifer barely bat a lash. Or she did, but not because she was surprised about the little inhuman things that Aurora had done.

    “I burned myself in front of that girl,” Aurora muttered to herself. “And healed myself,” She shook her head in amusement. “The girl didn’t even blink.” She sighed and kept walking until she came across a small playground that was across the way and in very close proximity to the small school parking lot.

    There was where she sat, lighting her cigar as she made herself comfortable on the edge of one of the miniature slides.

    As she sat there she thought about how she was going to play this game with Jennifer and her controlling Jeriko. Yeah, she knew; Aurora knew that Jennifer had done something to her brother’s mind. What it was, she wasn’t exactly sure; but she couldn’t irrationally act out of anger because if she did, there was no telling of what end result-good or bad, may occur if she had.

    She needed a place to concentrate-find a place where she would have no interruptions so that she could figure out how to find out more about Jennifer. Who was she? Why was she targeting Jeriko? What did she want? And more importantly, how would she go about ending her?

    This, while seemingly short in the way of a list, was a tall order to fill when considering the strength and tact she would need to find this all out. 

    Aurora looked down at her wrists and saw the fading calligraphy-like symbols on her arm. Before she could even attempt to do any of this, she needed to feed. She needed to satiate her hunger.

    She hadn’t eaten since the small taste that she had of Marlo. It wasn’t much but it was enough to keep her sane. Now, with all the bothersome thoughts and concerning problems, her need to satisfy that dark hunger was weighing heavily on her. There was no one around for stray pickings at the moment because everyone was at the game. ‘It is a good game, all things considered.’ Aurora thought to herself. 

    However, this moot point was only something else to remind her that she’d have to actually go looking for food.

    “It is the perfect place to go looking.” She thought to herself. She was in a small city and the people were plentiful as well as strangers to her. She wouldn’t have to worry about seeing anyone again.

    “Hey...miss lady?”  Aurora heard a kid say. She turned around to see a little fair-skinned boy with dark hair and deep blue eyes staring at her.

    “There’s another slide, kid,” Aurora said.

    The little boy gave her a small dissatisfied look, grimacing before going to the next slide and finding himself content with it.

    He went up and down the slide two more times before he sat down on the slide next to Aurora and just began to stare at her.

    Aurora was fixing herself to get up and search for blood when she noticed the young boy staring at her. She finally looked his way, her eyes aglow, wondering if that would frighten him but it didn’t. She sighed and looked away, sensing that there was no one else around. The kid couldn’t have been more than seven years of age and while she did not have children, she certainly would not have wanted her child wandering around alone. 

    “Hey...lady.” The boy said again, his voice light and almost mousy. Aurora turned around to attend to the boy. “You’re really pretty.”

    Amusement fell over Aurora’s face as she reacted to the little boy’s compliment with a small smile. “Thank you, dear.” She replied in a low voice. She turned away, crossing her legs before looking at him again. “That little compliment just saved your life.” She teased. No, she had never necessarily planned on harming the little boy, but she found the joke amusing nonetheless. “How old are you, little one?” 

    When she asked this question the little boy smiled. “I turned six yesterday.” 

    He was excited to admit this and if Aurora were being honest with herself, she found this quite adorable. She suddenly felt a genuine smile creeping upon her face.

    “Well happy belated birthday, love.” She replied. “Do you want a gift?” She asked.

    The boy’s smile faded. “My mommy says that I’m not supposed to take candy from strangers.”

    Aurora chuckled, though she could not help thinking about how careless his mother was for leaving him alone in the first place.. “Good thing, I do not have any candy in my possession. Where is your mother anyway?”

    The little boy shrugged. “I think she’s at home. She has a friend that she needs to talk to alone, so she told me to come here until she is finished.”

    Aurora cut her eyes. “And this was a man I take it.” She guessed, already beginning to get the full picture as to why this boy was here all alone.

    The little boy nodded and looked away. There was a deep-seated sadness in his countenance that Aurora could tell he'd been wearing for a while now. He was a very unhappy child.

    “Did you want to come here, little one?” Aurora asked.

    “Yeah! At first.” The boy said, his smile gradually fading. “But then I found out that mommy wasn’t coming with me.”

    The more Aurora talked to this boy about his mother, the more she thought about maybe making her the next meal stop on her list. “Understandable.” She sympathetically returned. “Mothers these days can be so disappointing.” She sighed. “And where is your father?” Aurora asked. The boy didn’t answer at first, however, his expression saddened even more when she asked.

    “He’s not here anymore. Mommy said, he’s in the ground; and that it’s just me and her.”

    This broke Aurora’s heart to hear how sad this boy’s life seemed to be. He was too young to have to deal with such lacking comfort from this mom of his.

    She took his hand, seeing him flinch slightly in surprise of her touch and more than likely how slightly cold it was. “My father is in the ground too.” She said. “My mommy was my best friend and she loved me with all of her heart. And because of that, I got through the worst years of my life.” She squeezed his hand. “You will too.” She reassured. Even if she had to make sure that his mother straightened out herself. “Do you have a brother? Or sister?” She asked.

    The little boy nodded a yes but his face suddenly became disgruntled. “But she’s a little baby. And she’s a girl.” 

    Aurora chuckled. “Then it is your job as her big brother to protect her and make sure she doesn’t become a pain so that you can be best friends.”

    “How can I do that? She’s a girl.” He repeated. This thought must have really bothered him but Aurora found it humorous nonetheless.

    “Girl siblings are the best,” She reasoned after a short chuckle. “I should know.” She grinned.

    “You have a brother?” The little boy asked. “Is he your best friend?”

    Though they were going through a rough patch that Aurora wasn’t even sure that they could get through, she didn’t want the little boy to know that. The last thing that she wanted to do at this point was to discourage him. Besides, at one point in time, they were best friends. Or at least, that was what she would have liked to think. She nodded. “Yes, he is. I look after him and he looks after me. And I will tell you something else. He’s my big brother too.” She said. “Do you think I’m cool for a girl?” She asked. He vigorously confirmed her question with a smile and a nod. “Imagine how much cooler your sister will be when you become best friends.”

    “I can’t wait!” The little boy exclaimed.

    Watching the young one’s excitement, Aurora was suddenly filled with an even bigger need to straighten things out with her brother; and more importantly, get rid of Jennifer. Talking to this little boy made her feel as though she may have had hope in reconciling her differences with Jeriko after all.

    She bent her head nearer to the little boy, him having brightened her day so much, she thought to do something for him. “Tell me, what is it that you want for your birthday, little one?”

    “Well, I wanted a black panther action figure to play with my other toys but mommy said no.” His face saddened.

    “What a terrible thing to say to the birthday boy,” Aurora expressed. “I tell you what…” She smiled, as in her mind, she materialized the same little action figure that the boy wanted. She wasn’t sure about what this black panther action figure was, but he knew and that was all that she needed. “Happy birthday, little one.” She smiled as she handed him the same toy that he had wanted so dearly. It brought her a great amount of joy-more than she had felt in a long time when she saw the wide-eyed wondrous smile on the little boy’s face.

    “Wow! How did you do that lady?” He asked innocently.

    Aurora simply smirked. “Magic, little one.” She stood from where she sat. “Now let's get you home. You should not be wandering about alone.” She held her hand out. “You never know who lurks these streets during the day.” She said.

    The little boy took her hand, his infectious smile widely across his face as he continuously admired his new toy.

    “Wait!" Aurora paused and waited for him to say what he had to say. "Wh-is your brother here? At this place?"

    "Yes," Aurora arched her brow in curiosity. "Why?"

     "Can...can I meet him!? Can I meet your brother?!” The little boy exclaimed.

    Aurora looked into the boy’s big pleading eyes and sighed. “Sure.” She gave in. “But then we take you home.”

    The little boy agreed as they started for the field, Aurora curious as to how her brother would react to this boy who so soon seemed to be a fan of his already. ‘How cute?’ she thought. 

    “Aurora Vale?” 

    Aurora stopped in her tracks as she heard her name, albeit wrong, being called. “Must be mistaken for someone else.” She then kept going with the little boy, whose name she never learned in tow.

    “I am almost sure that I am not mistaken at all, my love.” The woman said to her from behind.

    Aurora turned around barely sparing the woman a passing glance but looking at her long enough to catch a few physical details about her. “My surname is not Vale.” She countered. “So as I said before, you must be mistaken.” She turned around. “Come, little one.” She beckoned to the boy again.

    “No, your given surname is Valentine, but your real name...Aurora of the Vale.” The woman said again.

    She wanted to keep going, but a curiosity beckoned her to inquire-even in her gut feeling telling her that something was up about this woman. And it wasn't a good thing.

    “And how would you know that?” Aurora asked. 

     The woman chuckled. “Oh, love. Because I know your mother." She seemed to hesitate for a moment, granting Aurora impatience. "Abigail Valentine." She said. "But more importantly...I know your father.”