The Aquarium

by Emily Shore

  Nodding, she points to the house where Blackbird gestures a greeting from the doorway. “Momma, wet us pway wif NAILS Junior.”

  I smirk at the thought of Lindy’s gift from their last birthday. Something special she promised to teach the twins one day when they got a little older. But Ebony had taken a shine to the miniature body-printer junior edition.

  “Did you decorate Verity?” I ask, remembering the last time they used it. Fortunately, the makeup and paint are all washable since Verity’s head looked like a bowl of cotton candy.

  Ebony shakes her head, pointing to Kerrie. “He wooked bwutiful,” she announces, impressed with herself, arms craning out to the sky like a dark bird spreading its wings.

  Blackbird wanders up to us, murmuring, “She wasn’t happy he kept picking off the rhinestones.” Then, she cups one hand over the side of her mouth to whisper, “I don’t think Kerrie liked her disco princess style.”

  Ebony has turned into quite the artist. In more ways than one. Last time she came over for a play date, she designed a fairy baker costume with the Fashionistar we bought her for her birthday. A fashion app and 3-D printer in one. But I have to admit, I’ll never forget how Sky worked that purple apron/tutu. He and Ebony made cupcakes, and they’d shared them with the twins that day.

  Finally, Verity reaches out for me, and I hand Ebony off to Blackbird so I can hold my daughter. My daughter. Even after two years, it doesn’t feel right. She might have my hair…Bliss’s hair…our curls, but so much of her belongs to Luc. Even the color of her hair is nighttime in autumn. A dark tawny. And soft as baby owl tufts. Every time, I find my sister in Verity’s eyes.

  Kerrie is a sharp contrast with his white-gold waves. Sun shining on seafoam. But with Luc’s beguiling stare. One that grants him an extra cookie every now and then. He doesn’t have his father’s strong brow line. Verity inherited that. Both share mine and Bliss’s smile, but Kerrie wears his in a more mischievous way. Verity charms in a conspiratorial fashion. She knows she’s the princess, and when Kerrie least expects it…

  “Arrgh,” he squeals when she grabs a handful of his hair.

  Snatching her hand away, I have to uncurl her fingers, but she’s managed to separate a couple of strands from Kerrie. Verity giggles, tilting her head curiously at her power over her brother.

  While our son glares, retreating into the safety of his father, I scold Verity firmly, eyes pointed. “You do not pull Kerrie’s hair.” I tap the back of her hand.

  “Or Uncle’s.” Neil shakes his finger. She grabs his index finger, then yanks it to the side. He squeezes her nose. “Got a fine grip there, Ver. You’ll need it when you get older. Can’t have Dad beat up all the boys for you.”

  Verity leans over, making a kissing noise until he reciprocates with his cheek. A second later, she repeats the action with me and wants to continue with Sky…and even Kerrie, who pulls away, resulting in a wounded expression. Verity has such a wide range of expressions. I understand where she gets that.

  “Okay, everyone,” Blackbird says, holding Ebony’s hand and motioning inside the house. “I’ve got dinner ready.”

  “Good.” Neil pats his belly. “I’m starved!”

  “And what makes you think I prepared enough for a surprise guest?” Blackbird challenges, and I watch, amused, as Neil shrinks away. My best friend is the only one who has ever really intimidated him.

  “Is that a trick question?” Neil attempts his suave smolder that seems to work on everyone but Blackbird.

  Suddenly, Blackbird grins, grabs his collar, and shoves Neil inside. “Get in here, Bloode.”

  Peering over her head, Neil stares at me and mouths, “She’s scary!”

  If Neil weren’t already a married man, he and Blackbird would be a good match.

  * * *

  During story time, the twins fall asleep. I listen to the gentle sound of Verity’s breathing, which is reminiscent of the faded ocean waves from beyond our cottage. Her steady, even breaths remind me of someone else. So does her scent. She is a more confident version of Bliss with her father’s face. That confidence came from Luc. She doesn’t get into mischief like Kerrie. Verity chooses her battles wisely…and wins every time. Someday, she may not. I hope I never live to see that day. Or if I do, I hope we’ve prepared her enough. I hope we’ve prepared them both.

  After tucking them into their cribs for the night and double checking we’d synchronized the monitors with our bracelets, Sky and I tiptoe out of the bedroom. Blackbird and Ebony went home earlier. There are still dishes in the sink, but I want nothing more than to ignore them. Sky gestures to the kitchen.

  “I’ll do dish duty tonight,” he offers, swinging a towel over his broad shoulder. “Go hang out with your brother.”

  Pecking Sky on the cheek, I retrieve a light wool sweater from the bedroom, then follow Neil onto the back porch with the balcony that overlooks the ocean. Salt particles sting my eyes and nose as soon as I step outside. The surf is calmer tonight. Waves content to make love to the shore and not to whip it into shape because nature is still the most violent of mistresses.

  We stayed at the lake house as long as possible, but after the twins’ second birthday, it was time to go to the Sanctuary. After the Temple, our family became too high profile. As it is, I still have to check in once a year with the Syndicate to maintain control of the assets I inherited from my father. The Task Force helps to reroute the volu-conferencing so they can never track our location. Legally, they can do nothing, but they aren’t too thrilled by the fact I refused to reopen the Temple for “sex work”. The shows and other businesses continue. Nothing else.

  “Nice place you’ve got here,” Neil comments, folding his hands together where he’s hunched over the railing. “Looks like you got a garden now.”

  “Mom’s idea.” I plant myself next to him, the sides of our arms touching. “She and Sky did it together.”

  “You still a billionaire, doll?”

  I nod, nose wrinkling at the thought of my father’s slave money. “You still a millionaire, bro?”

  He chuckles, rocking his shoulders from side to side. “Yep. If only money could solve everything.” Neil stares out at the ocean, eyes sweeping across the horizon, almost as if they are searching for that ink line where the sea meets the sky, but I know his thoughts are much farther away.

  “Something going on with Lindy?” I wonder, nudging his arm with my shoulder.

  “Maybe.” Neil looks down at his hands. Without meeting my eyes, he gazes into the distance.

  “Anything I can help with?” I implore earnestly, cupping his shoulder as if it can will him to look at me.

  He doesn’t respond.

  “Neil, last time you came, you were the happiest couple. And I know you weren’t faking.” I remember how Lindy and Neil bickered back and forth. That’s how I knew things were good between them. Not to mention how…loud they were in the guest room. And how Sky will never forgive Neil for how he caught them skinny dipping when he went to the beach for his morning workout.

  “You’ve got a good thing here, doll,” Neil acknowledges, turning so his back is against the railing. “I don’t want to screw with that.” His eyes drift to the inside of the cottage, to the toys still scattered on the playroom floor.

  “Neil…” I turn around, too, leaning my head on his shoulder. “You’re family.”

  Neil stretches, but uses it as an excuse to loop his arm around me. “So, you had a nice little anniversary present?” His lips twist into that mischievous smirk. “Clothing optional?”

  Placing both hands on his face, I groan and push him away. “You and my sex life. Seriously!”

  “You never give me any details,” he whines, and I move to open the sliding glass door. Neil follows. “Blackbird said it was an underwater room. Was there a bed? Or do you guys like to rough it?”

  Rolling my eyes, I try to ignore him, wandering into the kitchen where Sky is finishing. We could have had a kitchen bot, but Sky refused
. The 3-D food printer was enough, though he still insists on cooking dinner much of the time.

  While I wrap my arms around Sky’s waist from behind, Neil mutters something about, “Reverse Zeus and Leda.”

  Sky twists to me. “Do I want to know?”

  I shake my head. “Not a chance.”

  “Look.” Neil rubs a hand on the countertop, extending the other toward us. “Why don’t you guys go take a nice moonlit walk on the beach? I’ll listen for the twins. Still got a swinging door to the guest bedroom for me?”

  Giggling, I waltz up to him and pinch his cheek. “Aww, you’re still welcome anytime.”

  Sky captures my hand, startling me, before leading me toward the doorway. “A moonlight walk on the beach does sound appealing.”

  “Take your time,” Neil calls. “Skinny dipping is fun!”

  We close the door behind us.

  The best thing about our seaside cottage is kicking off our shoes and sliding down the dunes to the shore. At one point, Sky loses his balance and starts to roll. It’s clear he’s ready to take me with him. Our laughs tangle until he pauses to brush my cheek with the backs of his knuckles. We’re only a hundred yards from the shoreline where the sand is dry and cool, but I sense the sea is still warm from earlier.

  Hmm…

  “Penny for your thoughts, Ser?” Sky questions, thumb caressing the line of my jaw.

  “Remember our honeymoon? Our first time?” The lake and treading water is fresh in my mind.

  A moment later, Sky pulls me up by the arm, then tugs off his shirt. In the moonlight, I can trace the outline of the muscles in his arms, the steady pillar of his neck, but I have to press my hand to his stomach to sense the sturdiness there. Then, Sky undoes the buttons on my white peasant blouse while I shimmy out of my skirt. I leave the garments, a white pond of ruffles and lace. Sky removes his pants. Just before we embark toward the waves, I force his boxers to his ankles. He reaches to free the clasp of my bra with one hand.

  “You’re way too good at that.” I smirk, sliding the straps down my shoulders.

  “Had a lot of practice over the past two years.” He cups my breast lovingly, fondling its shape. “Still as beautiful as on our honeymoon.”

  Together, we join hands and start running. The spray and foam slap against us, but as I predicted…much warmer thanks to the molten sun marinating the ocean all day. Because even sunbeams enjoy skinny dipping in the sea during the summer.

  This is the easy part.

  Our togetherness.

  We remake our first time from our honeymoon. Even better this time with the waves lapping against our lower halves, wet sand shifting below, It feels more like a massage as Sky rocks against me. For a few minutes, we sit on the sand to let the wind dry us. Side by side with our hands joined with nothing but the sliver of moonlight and star granules across the black sky yawning over the ocean. We’ve always fit together. It’s fitting this family together in the context of the Sanctuary that matters most. Blackbird helps, but the rest…

  Everything else has become an adjustment. Life in the Sanctuary. But we knew it was important for the twins to be with family and…friends. Not isolated like Sky and I were growing up. A few minutes’ drive down the road is the downtown area of the island. Most times, the shield is up unless Founder Tuck has established the island in the middle of the ocean with no airway or sea traffic. Designed with high-tech camouflage, the downtown buildings resemble clusters of palm trees to any passing planes. We use the shield for boat and ship activity.

  In melancholy silence, Sky and I get dressed and start to finish our walk when the twins’ heart scanners tell us something is wrong.

  Their distant cries double that wrong.

  Sky and I take off running as fast as we can. Each time the sand shifts under my feet, it feels more like I’m sinking into the bottom of an hourglass. I’m never going to climb out. Suddenly, all the dreams I’ve had lately haunt me, chilling my spine. In the distance, I hear the fading sounds of the twins crying. A shrill scream escapes my throat when I see two dark figures escaping our house.

  Sky runs faster.

  We’re too far away.

  “Get inside,” Sky calls once we get close to the house. He bolts to the other side to the back path through the woods that leads to our private dock. There’s only one reason…

  When I hear the cries of the twins—getting softer and softer the farther away they get—it confirms my fears. Ignoring Sky’s words, I listen to my instincts, which are propelling me to keep moving with him. I gain on Sky, who’s always faster than me. When I reach the wooded path, I hear a motor rumble.

  I scream the twins’ names over and over.

  Please don’t let us be too late.

  2

  A n S w e R s

  * * *

  Once the trees around us clear, giving way to the sandy shore and our dock, we can see the intruders placing our twins inside a miniature submarine, strapping them in. I’ve seen them before. The Sanctuary uses them if the Task Force on the mainland wants to send us babies under the radar. The kidnappers’ careful hands don’t injure or abuse.

  Just as I reach the shore, with Sky close behind me, one intruder locks the lid in place and presses the button on the side to send the device underwater to an unknown location. Kicking up mini sandstorms behind me, I race as fast as I can and don’t think once before tackling the intruder just as he’s fitting on a breathing mask. Sky goes for the other one just as I crash into the waves, the water lashing at me, making my hands fumble. I can’t let him get away, but it’s impossible to see in the dark. As soon as my hands land on something, I rip as hard as I can, hearing one groan and then a final crash in the water. Sky lunges, but it’s too late. They’ve both disappeared.

  Nothing more for my lightning to grab onto. Just the remains of whatever is in my hands. The adrenaline starts to slip.

  Sky holds up one finger. “Serenity, whatever you do, don’t let go of the hair,” he warns.

  I look down at the clump of hair clenched in my hand. But I can’t focus on it. I can’t focus on the fact this might be our one connection to the twins. Sky must understand, must pick up on how my breathing starts coming in gasps, because he starts sloshing through the water, closing the distance between us until he’s close enough to pry my fingers apart and pocket the hair. And then, I crumble into his chest and start to sob. Loud, shaking, rolling sobs blended with wheezing gasps because my children are gone. I can’t hold Kerrie’s chubby little hand. I can’t breathe in the scent of Verity’s hair. I can’t hear them cry or giggle or screech or say “Wuv you, Momma.”

  Our children are gone.

  And then, I remember.

  Neil!

  * * *

  At first, I panic because he’s lying face-down on the floor, but as soon as I turn him over and see the fist-sized bruise on the side of his head and hear him groan, I know he’s not dead.

  “Ugh,” Neil moans, hand moving to his head. “Don’t give me mouth-to-mouth. Lindy would kill me. What happened?” He starts to sit up as Sky enters the house a minute later. His perimeter sweep delayed him.

  “You tell me.” Stalking toward Neil, Sky’s voice is grim and determined as a hellhound.

  Neil peers around before locking eyes with Sky right before my husband squats and seizes him by the collar. “How did they know our location?” he yells, bracing his fist. Neil raises his hands defensively, cringing from Sky’s assault. “How did they know exactly where to come? How did they know about the twins?”

  “Sky,” I shout, grabbing his arm to release my brother. Sky does, fingers uncurling, but he still keeps his eyes on Neil, measuring him, waiting for a response. Then, I get lower and pour as much ice into my voice and eyes as possible, the precursor to my lightning if he gives me the wrong answer. “Neil…answer the questions.”

  Neil glances back and forth between Sky and me. From his hesitance and the way he inhales, I can already read that he was involved.<
br />
  He lowers his head, shaking it. “I’m sorry, Serenity. I didn’t want—”

  Electric charge ignites my lightning. I react, shoving Neil to the floor and punching his mouth, his nose, his gut, his—

  “Serenity!” Sky’s voice finally penetrates at the same time he gets his arms underneath mine and hauls me off Neil, who coughs blood onto the floor…and a tooth.

  Sky puts me on the floor at least six feet from Neil, cups my cheeks, and places his thumbs over my eyes. A calming mechanism he’s adopted over the years. “Stay,” he commands before turning to Neil, who manages to sit up again, but this time, my brother crawls over to the nearby wall to use it to hold himself up. From his reaction, one would think I hurt him more than I had.

  Sky kneels before Neil and tilts his neck to the side, eyeing something I can’t see from here. Raising his hand, Sky peels back Neil’s shirt collar and discovers puckered flesh. I step forward, almost wincing from the brand. Neil doesn’t try to stop Sky when he pops the buttons of his shirt and opens it to reveal countless more marks. Some fresh, some old. It’s not my brother’s chest. Not his delicate skin. No wonder he’s thinner, yet he has an extra helping of subtle muscles along his arms. Someone tortured him.

  More lightning zigzags through me, and my butterflies all cram into a cave somewhere in my stomach.

  “You’re good at talking, Neil,” Sky says, sitting on his haunches. “So, start talking.”

  Neil glances up. I nod, confirming Sky’s words. Neil pinches the bridge of his nose, coughs one more time, swiping the blood around his mouth, then coughs once more. I groan at the delay but hurry to the hall closet to retrieve our aid device, which comes with some gel patches. After I open one, I apply it to Neil’s mouth. It instantly stops the bleeding, and it also serves as a numbing agent for the pain.

  Finally, Neil leans his head back and talks, “It started about a month ago. Lindy and I were at the Castle, living married life, traveling abroad every now and then but staying under the radar, lots of…” He looks up at us, at our impatient expressions, and he waves a hand. “Anyway…Nile Bodelo got a call.” He references his infamous graphicker name. “Old contact reached out to me. Said she had a temporary gig she wanted me to do. Marketing models for the new Temple photo shoot.”