The Twin Prophecies: Rebirth - Special Edition Read online

  “That doesn’t mean you have a power though, right?”

  “For months, I avoided touching anyone. Then at my parents’ funeral, every time someone came over to shake my hand or touch my shoulder, I saw things. I saw one of my neighbors discovering his wife was having an affair, I saw another guy my father worked with burning his arm pretty badly and the same arm was bandaged at the funeral. And I kept seeing things. It’s also how I knew that our fathers were driving the night of the accident. When the police came that night, one of them touched me and I saw the wreckage.”

  Violet let out a breath she didn’t realized she’d been holding. She felt sorry for Jack. She had imagined many times what it must have been like for her parents and Jack had actually witnessed it.

  Dr. Tesla had been studying Violet as Jack spoke. “Violet, you don’t seem to be very surprised by this.”

  Violet met his gaze and she knew there was no use in lying about it anymore. She found it hard to continue to look him in the eye as she confessed. “I can feel what other people feel, like Ashlyn.” Jack’s head snapped up. “What?”

  “It also started months ago. At first, I thought I was just really lucky at predicting someone’s mood. I could tell if my mother was annoyed or happy before I answered her calls or we’d be at dinner and I could tell what my Dad was feeling before he expressed it. It gradually advanced to me being able to physically feel someone else’s emotions: disgust, anger, joy, pride. I’d physically feel it, too. I’m talking rapid heartbeat, sweaty palms, shaky hands, you name it. Then, the day before the accident, it hit me like never before. It happened several times that day. Before that, I could go weeks without connecting to someone. The night they died, I purposely tried to connect to my parents. I’d never done that before, and I don’t know what made me think it would work. I felt my mother’s excitement about going out that night, but when I tapped in to my father I didn’t feel anything.”

  “It didn’t work on him?” Dr. Tesla asked.

  “When it happens there’s a buzz. It’s hard to explain. I can feel that I’m actually synced with the person. Well, with my father the connection was made; it worked, but there were no feelings coming from him. It was like he was already dead. It didn’t make sense at the time, but considering what you told us about the spell, it does now.”

  Jack threw up his hands. “So, that’s it, huh? We’re turning into the evil twins.”

  “No, Jack. It doesn’t work that way. You are Jack Morrow and Violet Ross. You are not, nor will you ever be, Lincoln and Ashlyn Bale. Clearly, having their souls is behind this, but I still believe it’s what you do with them, how you treat having powers, that determines what kind of person you’ll be.”

  “There’s something else.”

  Now that everything was out in the open, Violet saw no reason to hold anything back. “It started out that I could just feel the emotions, but lately I’ve been able to tell why the person is feeling the way they do. I don’t even have to be in the same room. It’s like I’ve entered their mind and I can see through their eyes. It was never like that before, ever.”

  “When did this start?” Dr. Tesla asked.

  “A few weeks ago.”

  “Jack, has there been changes in your ability?”

  “Actually, yeah. For the first time, I was able to get a vision from touching an object.”

  “Tell me about it.”

  Jack tentatively glanced at Violet. “Well, a few weeks ago I passed Violet her backpack and I had a vision.”

  “What was the vision?” Violet asked.

  “It was nothing important. You were just walking through the front door of this house.”

  Violet knew he was lying. She didn’t know if Dr. Tesla could tell, but she had come to know Jack well enough to know he wasn’t telling the truth about what he’d seen. She made a mental note to get it out of him later. Dr. Tesla seemed to be too deep in thought to notice.

  “I used to get what I called vision hangovers afterwards, but that hasn’t happened in weeks.”

  “You mean headaches? Me too.” Violet said.

  “Having headaches or experiencing exhaustion after using new powers is fairly common in the beginning. It usually takes awhile before they stop. I suspect that the reason the after effects have passed you two by so quickly is the same reason your powers have gotten so strong this fast. It proves something we’ve known for quite some time. Magical twins tend to be stronger and their powers even more potent when they’re together. Because you and Jack are now in each others’ lives, living together, it would make sense that your abilities would be enhanced. It seems they are developing even faster than it would in a new witch or warlock your age.”

  “But our powers don’t work on each other. I tried tapping into Jack when we first met and it didn’t work. In fact, it was like trying to use a toaster under water. It just seemed… wrong. “

  “That’s what you were doing in Gervais’ office?”

  Violet continued as if Jack hadn’t spoken. “How come he was able to get a vision from my backpack?”

  Dr. Tesla shook his head. “I’ll have to do more research, but at first thought I’d say that it’s the physical element. Jack’s ability is based on touch and they wouldn’t work on his … twin, so to speak. Lincoln and Ashlyn could not use their powers on each other. An item belonging to you, Violet, would be fair game.”

  “Wonder twins’ powers activate.”

  Dr. Tesla looked at Jack, confused. Violet asked, “So, what do we do now?

  “That’s simple,” Dr. Tesla said. “We train.”

  Violet sat at the desk in her room trying to concentrate on her homework, but it had become increasingly harder to focus and that had nothing to do with dyslexia. She thought having the secret of her ability out in the open would have been a relief. Instead, it added a whole new set of questions. Dr. Tesla said that all of Ashlyn’s power had been mentally based. Would she develop more powers? And if so, what would they be? Dr. Tesla couldn’t answer that.

  “Hey, Wonder Twin.”

  “Stop calling me that.”

  Jack entered her room and threw himself face down on her bed.

  “So, which one of us is it?”

  “Which one of us is what?” Violet didn’t bother turning from her textbooks.

  “Which one of us is evil? Which one of us ends the world?”

  Violet turned around. “Neither. Don’t say things like that.”

  “Why not? Obviously, The Trust’s great plan to save the world didn’t work. All it did was prolong things. We’re turning into the evil twins and it’s only a matter of time…”

  “You heard what Dr. Tesla said. We’re not turning into them. Having their souls in us just means we’ll have similar powers. It doesn’t mean we’re the same person.”

  “Uh huh. If that makes you feel better.”

  “Why are you being such an ass?”

  “Well, let’s see. My parents were killed for some mysterious reason by some mysterious person, then I find out I have the soul of an evil warlock in me and that’s why I’m able to see the future when I touch people. Futures that are, by the way, usually deadly.”

  “Jack…”

  “I’m not finished. My best friend is paralyzed, probably for the rest of his life, and I live with a warlock who is one of the few people in the world who knew about this evil soul in me, and I’m supposed to trust him and the dominatrix-looking vampire that comes and goes as she pleases.”

  “You finished now?” A few weeks ago, Violet would have responded by lashing out, but she couldn’t now. She understood how Jack felt even if she didn’t agree. “It’s not just happening to you. It’s happening to me, too.”

  “That’s supposed to make me feel better?”

  “Maybe it won’t. But it should make you feel less alone. Besides, you’re thinking about this all wrong. If what you say is true - and I don’t think it is - but if we are turning into other people, it doesn’t matter which of
us ends the world.”

  “How do you figure?”

  “Because according to the prophecies, we’re both going to do a lot of evil things before it’s over.”

  Jack’s sour mood hadn’t lightened by the time they went to school the next day. The morning bus ride was silent, and Violet gave up any hope of having a conversation halfway through lunch. She was scheduled to have her first training session with Kalina that evening, and thinking about it made her queasy. It wasn’t just a symptom of her dyslexia that caused the apprehension. Violet was still getting used to having people know about her ability. The thought of actually talking about it with someone – Kalina, no less – made her nervous.

  Sheila hadn’t come to school that day, and when she wasn’t around Charlotte chose to spend their lunch hour with students whose rung on Carter’s social ladder was higher than Violet’s or Jack’s. Not that she would have been able to confide in them anyway, but it would have been nice to have someone to talk to about anything since Jack opted to stab at his lunch instead of talk to her. Jack seemed to get little relief from having their secrets bared. Violet couldn’t blame him, really. As far as powers went, it seemed she got the better end of the deal.

  She looked over his shoulder and watched as Bobby wheeled into the cafeteria. With his lunch tray balanced on his legs he looked around the room, his eyes resting on Jack. He turned his chair in their direction.

  “Um…”

  “What?” Jack dropped his fork onto his untouched lunch and gave Violet an annoyed look. She looked pointedly over his shoulder. He turned as Bobby pulled up to the table.

  “Hey, Jack. Long time no anything.”

  Violet liked Bobby instantly. Jack had been ignoring him for months during a time when he needed a friend the most and yet, here he was, smiling easily and tossing out jokes. He didn’t look as if he held a grudge at all.

  “Yeah.” Jack would only look at Bobby briefly. Violet had never seen him so flustered.

  “I heard about your parents. I’m sorry.”

  “Thanks. Listen, I gotta go.”

  Jack stood so quickly that the trays on the table shook. He walked away before Bobby could say anything else.

  “I’m sorry.” Violet knew she didn’t have anything to be sorry for, but it felt like the right thing to say. “I’m Violet.”

  “I know who you are. I bet you know who I am, too.”

  Bobby pulled closer to the table and placed his tray on it. She knew he was the same age as she and Jack, but he looked older - like he’d already lived a full life and was wiser for it. Violet figured it was because he’d been through something traumatic. She wondered if people thought she and Jack looked older, too.

  “Yeah, I know who you are. Listen, about Jack… I know it’s not really an excuse, but he’s been through a lot lately. I mean, not that you haven’t! It’s just … as dumb as this may sound and as messed up as what he just did was, you shouldn’t take it personally.”

  “Violet, I was laid up in the hospital for months and my best friend couldn’t be bothered to visit just once. It’s hard not to take that personally.”

  Violet felt foolish and there was no way to defend Jack’s behavior - to explain his guilt - without revealing their secret and that was out of the question.

  “You’re right. I’ll just shut up now.”

  Bobby smiled. He had even teeth and bright blue eyes. Violet blushed. Bobby started eating his French fries, studying her face. Violet concentrated on shuffling her own food around the tray.

  “So, what’s it like? Living with Mr. Personality?”

  Violet grinned. “It’s been an adjustment.”

  “I bet.”

  “It’s actually worse here than at home. Here he just walks around with his head in the clouds, completely unaware of all the girls tripping over themselves.”

  Bobby chuckled. “Well, that’s a new one.”

  “I mean, he has his moments. Like I said, he’s been through a lot.” Violet cast a quick, shy, glance at Bobby. He was still watching her. “We all have.”

  “Yeah. Sorry about your parents, too.”

  “Thank you.” Violet pushed away from the table. She started gathering Jack’s and her trays. “I should probably catch up with him before our next class. It was nice to meet you, Bobby.”

  “Nice to meet you, too, Violet.”

  Violet dumped the trays on the way out of the cafeteria and glanced over her shoulder. Bobby was watching her.

  Violet found Jack sitting on a bench in the courtyard. Students were encouraged to eat outside when the weather was nice. When it was as cold as it was now, you were more likely to find students out here sneaking a smoke. She sat next to Jack.

  “It’s not either of your faults, you know.”

  “What are you talking about?” Jack wouldn’t look at her; instead he stared at his shoes.

  “What happened to Bobby isn’t your fault and it’s not his fault that he doesn’t know that you think it is. He’s just trying to be your friend again.”

  “Who are you, my shrink now?”

  Violet started to say, no, I’m your sister, but knew that would be bizarre. She didn’t know why she’d even think to say such a thing. Instead she said, “No. I’m just trying to help you.”

  “Can I ask you something?” Jack didn’t wait for an answer. “Who were you visiting in my vision? I said I saw you going into Dr. Tesla’s house, but what I really saw was you visiting some woman. I couldn’t see her face. I know it was recent because you were wearing your red coat.”

  “Why did you lie?”

  “I figured if you wanted us to know where you were going, you’d have said something. Now, I’m curious.”

  “She lives next door to my old house. Her name is Ms. Harkin. I go over there sometimes just to talk and … be close to my old life, I guess. Stupid, huh?”

  Jack cupped his hands and blew into them for warmth. “That’s not stupid. You’re lucky to have that.”

  Violet wanted to tell him that he could have that, too, that he had Bobby, but the bell rang and Jack stood and went inside before she could.

  Violet had worried for nothing. She wasn’t sure what she expected her first training session with Kalina to involve, but it definitely wasn’t something as simple and boring as Kalina presenting her with a large, leather-bound, dusty book.

  “What’s this?”

  “It’s a book of spells. The basic ones are in the front. They get significantly more difficult. Where is Jack?”

  “I don’t know. Was he supposed to be here?”

  They were in the living room, Violet sitting in front of a platter of veggies and dip she assumed had been left by Ms. Sweet. She found it amusing that Ms. Sweet insisted on being the perfect hostess, supplying snacks for a magic lesson. It was even funnier because she knew Kalina wouldn’t eat it.

  Since finding out that she was a vampire, a lot of things about Kalina made sense. Violet thought about all the times she’d tried to meet with Kalina during the day, but was told it wasn’t a good time or the many times they’d met in coffee shops, and although she ordered food, Kalina never ate or drank anything.

  Kalina looked annoyed. “Yes, he’s supposed to be here.”

  Violet flipped through the delicate yellowed pages. They were all covered in handwritten text that also looked to be very old. “What am I supposed to do with this? Dr. Tesla said you can’t just recite words and expect magic.”

  “Yes. The average girl next door couldn’t. But you are not the average girl, Violet. I thought that was clear by now. If you have the gift of empathy as Ashlyn did, it stands to reason that you are able to perform magic.”

  “You think this is a gift?”

  Kalina stood over Violet, looking down at her with a mixture of amusement and confusion. “God doesn’t make mistakes, Violet.”

  “Even vampires? “ Violet asked without thinking.

  Kalina knelt and leaned into Violet’s face.

  �
�God made me what I was. He did not make me what I am.”

  The hair on Violet’s arms stood at attention. Kalina reached over and took the book from Violet’s lap. “Now, I’ve marked a page here. This is the spell I want you to practice until our next session. Yes, practice. Even for a born witch, spells require concentration, practice, and intent. I want you to clear your mind and focus on these words. I want you to feel them. Believe them.”

  Violet looked down at the page. “Pelle Magicae?”

  “Yes. It’s a very basic spell meant to repel magic. It doesn’t require much power or experience and should prove effective if you find yourself in a situation where you need to get away quickly.”

  Violet’s throat felt dry. She swallowed. “Do you think I’ll find myself in a situation like that anytime soon?”

  “I hope not, but best to be prepared, yes?”

  Kalina stood and walked towards the door.

  “And I need you to tell Jack how much I hate being stood up.”

  That night, Violet sat in her room and read the words of the spell over and over again. She didn’t feel anything as she recited them, and she wasn’t even sure she was pronouncing the words properly.

  “Defendo adversus magicas. Defendo contra sermons tuos.”

  She felt silly, and considered that maybe Dr. Tesla was wrong. Maybe being an empath was all she was meant to be. Maybe she wasn’t strong enough to cast spells. To break up the boredom, she thumbed through some of the other spells and found several interesting ones, including one to start fire and another to douse flames. She was too afraid to try any of them. The last thing she needed was to be responsible for burning the house down. She went back to her assignment and read until she could barely keep her eyes open. Shortly before midnight, Violet switched off the light and crawled under the covers.

  She dreamt she was in the courtyard at school, talking to Jack. He was upset with her, but she didn’t know why.

  “Don’t tell him my secrets, Violet.”

  “Tell who?”

  Jack pointed towards the school. Bobby sat in his wheelchair by the entrance. He called out to her.