by Rena Marks
Damn. She could still see her face—her twin’s face—with the line of blood dripping from the split skin from her temple down her cheek. Her pale face, frozen like death.
She reached out to Angela’s completely still, hauntingly beautiful face. An errant lock of hair flipped over the side of her face, covering the scar that Everly knew was there. Smoothing the hair, she tucked it over her ear tenderly. Then she traced the seven-year-old scar, the pink skin so smooth it nearly felt slick. The scar that forever changed their lives.
“Something happened inside me,” she whispered, staring into Angela’s eyes as if she was in a trance. “So, so angry. My sister, my best friend, was helpless. Yet again. When she wasn’t supposed to be because we’d turned eighteen just yesterday.” Her mind failed her, making her think she was back there in the moment. “All her outer wounds were always healed but I knew they were there. I know where each and every cut was made. Looking down at her, watching the blood well as the scalpel cut into her head, I just saw a red haze. As I saw the blood drip down her white skin, I realized that the blood dripped down the walls in thick chunks. The room swayed and the lights flickered on and off, in tandem with my heartbeats. Then they flickered faster and faster as my rage grew. My father turned toward me, the bloody scalpel still in his hand, and he sneered. Told me we were nothing but lab rats from his seed. He told me he was going to perform a live autopsy to get to the root of the problem as to why she had no psychic abilities manifesting.”
Angela’s hand came up to cover hers, curling her cheek into her palm.
“The scalpel was flashing at me as it caught the flicker of lights, glowing through the red of Angela’s blood. It was his weapon, but I wanted it so badly. I can still see the stunned surprise in his eyes when the scalpel flew from his hand to mine. When I released it, I made sure no lab rats ever came from his groin again.”
There was silence around the room as if they didn’t understand quite what she’d done.
“Even now, what I’d done in my half-induced trance state from the drugs in Angela’s system sickened me. You see, sometimes with twins, things bleed over. If Angela was drugged, I was sluggish for days. If I was sleepy, Angela would take a nap. And right then, with my mind not thinking things through, I reacted on basic instincts. I mutilated him. And I left him shrieking on the floor, curled into a ball as he bled out, mindless with pain from the castration from the sailing knife. Dimly, I was aware of shouting—male and female voices. Our uncle lived with us. He and father were twins. The house-computer called the authorities, and they arrived to find me trying to hold Angela’s wound closed with a towel, our father, uncle, and mother all dead on the floor. That was who’d barged into the surgery—my uncle and mother. They both acted as our father’s surgical helpers. Because I wasn’t thinking properly, Angela scarred. I never thought to tell the computer to seal her wound immediately, and now it’s too late.
“By the time I was aware the authorities and drones had slipped into the lab, I was out of my crazed stupor. Somehow, I’d managed to destroy the entire lab without moving. With just my…my mind. Jars of Angela’s re-grown organs, genetic material, and extra blood was smeared everywhere except for an eighteen-inch perimeter around the table where she lay still draped in sterilized cloths, and I held her. She was taken to a hospital. I was taken to jail. It was the last time I saw her. A week later, I was informed she didn’t make it. There was an infection from the sterility of the lab being compromised. I didn’t think anything of it despite the fact that I’d unconsciously kept her perimeter sterile.”
Everyone was quiet for a few moments.
“I woke up in the hospital,” Angela said, her voice a whisper. They’d always sounded alike, but now, it was hard—even for Everly—to differentiate Angela’s voice from hers. “I knew what happened because while I was unconscious, I’d connected with Everly while she destroyed the lab and killed our father before the other two burst in. In fact, it was my anger—my impotent rage—that triggered hers.” Angela’s eyes filled with tears. “I’m sorry,” she mouthed then spoke out loud so the others could hear. “Then they told me she was in jail awaiting trial. I explained that it wasn’t her fault. She was upset because my father had always experimented on me and we thought when we turned eighteen it would be over. But it wasn’t. I had no idea that I was basically convicting her with my statements.”
“We were so innocent,” Everly said. “We weren’t like other children. In prison is where I learned of real life. I earned my teaching degree, well aware that I’d never be able to use it. Not as a felon. I also earned a degree in electronics. I took courses in chemistry. I did anything and everything to keep my mind off the fact that my sister was gone.”
“You were part of the rehabilitation program,” Robyn said, understanding dawning. “I implemented that for citizens over eighteen and considered adult by the legal system—yet were under twenty-one and not considered adult for other situations. They’re entered into the voluntary rehab.”
“Yes,” Everly said, turning from Angela’s face to shift her attention to Robyn. “I took the entire course. It shortened my sentence from thirty years to fifteen. With good behavior on top of the voluntary modified rehabilitation, it was shortened to seven. There was no one around to protest my parole hearing.” She sucked in a breath. “But there was nothing for me to come out to. I’d killed my family, if you could call our mother and uncle that. My sister was dead. And yet they shoved me out of the prison system like the previous day’s trash. I wandered, trying to pick up odd jobs here and there, trying to figure out how to survive on Earth-Ground. Then I saw the newsfeeds about the arrival of the Xeno Sapiens a few months earlier. And how hordes of people were taking up the cause and picketing outside the gates for fair treatment. I figured I’d at least have a place with others. And while I would never wish homelessness on anyone, it helped me blend in when so many others came to be in the same boat I was in.”
“Angela?” Robyn prompted. “What happened to you when you were released from the hospital?”
“I wasn’t. The Crested Ute authorities came for me. They told me Everly had been killed in prison. I had no reason to leave. They put me in a glass cage and watched me. Took notes, and I never realized there was anything wrong with it because that’s how we grew up. But one day, almost a year later, I realized there was something wrong. No one should live like they were in a zoo.”
“That’s when Everly’s rehabilitation would have kicked in,” Robyn said quietly. “Studies show it takes an average of nine to eleven months to have the brain become aware of new circumstances. I think you two, being twins, were still rather connected even though you both believed the other was dead.”
“The scientists had grown lax by that time,” Angela continued. “The next time an orderly came with my food tray, I knocked her out, took her keys, and snuck out. I’d been hiding out ever since, until Crested Ute was disbanded over the Xeno Sapien project. Then one day I watched the news feeds and saw my face—going through the crowds of people that live outside the gates of the Xenia. For a second, I was confused, and then I realized it was Everly. She was never dead. But she was released, which was a miracle in itself. I came here as soon as I could, but those crowds of people outside—they weren’t real friendly toward her.”
“I was kind of a trouble-maker by promoting some of the Xeno Sapien self-defense weapons,” Everly said dryly. “One contained Thane’s electricity conducting DNA code—and gave grown men an electrical shock if they touched me.”
Angela laughed when Thane draped his arm around her as if he was proud.
“I came here looking for her,” Angela said. “From what I knew during my time at Crested Ute, an electrical fence has a section that is deactivated when someone walks on top to avoid electrocuting that person. It stood to reason the fence for Xenia was the same way. I figured if I could trick someone into thinking I was Everly…”
“You waited at the bottom of the fence until a X
eno Sapien came,” Thane said.
“Yes. And when the scary looking guy with gold stripes arrived,” Angela said. “I told him ‘my guy’ would be there in just a few minutes for me. I hoped he’d assume it was Thane since I didn’t know Thane’s name yet.”
“Which would have come at the exact same time I sent the telepathic message to all Xeno Sapiens that Thane was bringing Everly back inside. Because at that point, Everly was at the front gate with Thane,” Steele said.
Robyn nodded. “Makes sense. But it also means that Angela was trapped in his pen the entire time Everly was here.”
“Are you sure you are all right?” Everly asked her.
“I am. I promise.”
“We thought he was digging out a tomb to prepare for his own death,” Steele said. “If we had any inkling, we would have checked it sooner.”
“It’s all right,” Angela said. “I was afraid at first—terrified, really. But I got used to him. I don’t want anything bad to happen to him.”
“We’d never hurt one of our own. We’re keeping him unconscious right now, hoping to see what has gotten him to change.”
“Well, now we have to figure out what we’re doing with the two of you. So, Angela.” Robyn leaned in. “I think you need to tell me why it is that with two such great women like yourselves, you’re an assassin.”
Chapter Twelve
Everly heard her own intake of breath.
Assassin? Her own sister killed people? Even after knowing that Everly had been locked up for killing their father? She looked at Angela with new eyes.
“It’s all I know,” Angela said, her gaze downcast. “It’s what Crested Ute was training me for. Why do you think I was able to escape so easily? I took to their training better than they suspected. You see, the whole time my father experimented on us, the objective was to enhance the telekinesis between twins. To strengthen the brain, to create the ultimate weapon with the one chosen to be the assassin. But he picked the wrong twin. I had no extra abilities, no matter how much he experimented. No matter how much he tried to enhance me. In all his arrogance at creating the perfect twin daughters, he never even assumed we weren’t equal in that aspect.”
“The wrong twin?” Thane asked, and even Everly felt confusion.
Angela nodded. “It was always Everly.”
“I can’t…not…”
“I know,” Angela soothed. “It only worked when you thought I was being harmed. Which proves that with all of their studies, they couldn’t control psychic abilities. Look, I’m not proud of what I’ve done. If I could atone for all the wrong I’ve caused, I’d do it. But I can’t change the past.”
“I think we forget the primary goal of Crested Ute,” Everly said softly. “Creating cold blooded killers. Assassins. They failed. They tried over and over to turn off the part inside you that makes you human. The conscience. The guilt. The caring. They failed, Angela. You’re still my twin.” She cupped Angela’s face in her hands and rested her forehead against hers.
“I’m not sure,” Robyn said, looking at Amanda. “But we think you may not be natural twins. The similarities between you two go beyond twinning. You seem more like clones. We think you were somehow created from one zygote. Not that natural twins aren’t developed that way. I just think Crested Ute wanted as much to do with your creation as possible. They split the twinning of the zygote themselves, wanting to play God, but staying off the illegal premises of cloning without a license. I can study it later, if you wish. In any case, you’re both welcome to stay in Xenia—but you can never leave. We can’t have information about our city leaked to the outside world, and without a contractor’s clause, freedom of speech rules. We’d experimented with a procedure that causes you to forget what you know once you leave, but it failed, and we haven’t tried again. So in Everly’s case, she’ll be mated to Thane and allowed to stay. In Angela’s, you’ll have to give up your outside life.”
Angela’s voice was definite. “I can’t do that.”
“Angela!” Everly couldn’t believe what she was hearing.
“I can’t be caged, baby girl,” she said softly. “It may be a lot bigger than what I’m used to, but I can’t do it.”
“I was caged—really caged—for seven years. We both were—for our entire lives when you stop and think about it.”
Angela smiled, and Everly felt a brief sense of it being almost too good to be true. But she was relieved when Angela gave in suddenly. “You’re right, of course. I’ll talk to Robyn later to sign away my Earth-Ground rights.”
Everly turned to Robyn. “Why can’t she become a contractor for Xenia and retain her rights to both worlds?”
Robyn sighed. “The laws are restrictive right now. Only doctors and scientists are allowed the contractor clause. The rest of the staff that works on Xenia? They have to return home after the workday. If they are offered permanent location to Xenia, they have to either give up their citizenship rights or become mated, which gives them a dual citizenship. Not a lot of people are willing to pick mates who don’t look completely human.” She glanced at Thane. “No matter how beautiful some are, to others…four fingers aren’t normal. Claws aren’t normal. A third eye can’t be overlooked. The list goes on and on.”
“Zee’s unconscious,” Thane said quietly. “If there was paperwork stating a union occurred between him and Angela, we’d have a backup plan. No one beyond this room has to know.”
Everly looked at him aghast. “What if he wakes up? He’s already possessive.”
“He will wake up. But like I said, we’re the only ones who would know. It’s on paper only. And it means Angela isn’t tied.”
“It falls within the rules of union,” Robyn said. “Three weeks of solace together? It’s more than a honeymoon. That’s the only reason why I’d consider it. But if Zealish should wake, I won’t keep it from him. He’ll have the choice to revoke it. And if you’re on the outside when that happens…”
Angela took a deep breath. “I understand.” She turned toward Everly. “And I won’t be, right?” Her voice was soft.
Of course not. Everly worried for nothing. It was all supposed scenarios, going back and forth. Angela would never leave. She just wanted all her options.
“This is perfect,” Angela said. “Zealish has the right to refuse it once he wakes. In the meantime, I have my freedom with dual citizenship,” she smiled at Everly. “Even though I don’t need it. It makes me happy knowing I have it, and I can be with my baby sis. I can tan, train in those gladiator pits I’ve seen, maybe even grow my hair out a little, since I won’t let Ev chop hers off.”
“Hey, for the first time in our lives, we can look different,” Everly said, tracing Angela’s scarred forehead to remind her of their differences.
Angela’s smile was distant. “Maybe later. Right now, I want things to be normal again.”
Her sister’s need to look like her was puzzling. But no one else seemed worried, so Everly let it go. She and Angela would have lots of alone time while Zee was unconscious. They’d renew their lost years. Angela would feel safe, not caged. She’d come to her senses when he chose to revoke being mated and would decide to give up her citizenship and live with her on Xenia forever.
She’d have Thane. She’d have her sister. Life would be perfect.
After the meeting adjourned, Thane took them to the mess hall to eat. He stood with both her and Angela in line.
The Xeno Sapiens stared.
The two of them stared back. Suddenly, Angela turned to her and grinned. “I’ve never been in a place where it’s acceptable to stare at other’s differences. This is great.”
“Isn’t it, though? Everyone was more careful when it was just me, but apparently both of us is overwhelming to some.”
“Whoa! Thane! Your girl. She…multiplied. Like Pax does.”
Beast, the black and gold Xeno Sapien, stood with three others. Blaze and his best friends, Covet and Reson. They all stood with their mouths agape.
“Humans are weird.” Covet elbowed Blaze.
“Shh,” Blaze mouthed. “They can hear you. Each has weird superpowers, like hearing. Hexing. Stuff like that.”
Reson elbowed Covet. “Good evening, Thane,” he said loudly, to cover up the other two. “It looks like your mate might have broken off into a piece. Does she do that often?”
“Everly is my mate,” Thane growled. “This one is Angela.”
Covet continued like Thane hadn’t spoke. “Oh. Well, Reson’s single, if you’re interested. He’s not much to look at now, but we can toss him in the shower and spritz him up.”
“I am spritzed, you purple ass,” Reson growled.
“Sorry,” Thane said. “Zealish might have issues with that when he wakes.”
“Hmm. It’s not a coincidence that his name rhymes with jealous. Well, then we wonder if Everly might sprout a third.”
“A third? My mate’s human, not a rabbit,” Thane snarled.
Covet winked outrageously. “Are you sure? You know, Blaze’s mate is a doctor, and she loves to run these experiments…”
“Really? We send you out for food, and you three have to hassle everyone in sight?” A lovely blond tugged Blaze’s arm, and he followed her like a puppy. “We apologize,” she said. “I’m Dr. Irina. I’ll get them out of your hair. Come on, Ava’s hungry.” She winked and led away Blaze, with Covet and Reson grumbling behind them as they followed.
Beast stood awkwardly. “Umm…this appears to be slightly my fault.”
“Yeah,” Thane said. “As you can see, this is Everly. Apparently, you helped Angela break into Xenia.”
