The Halves of Us

by Sydney Paige Richardson

  “This time, I will defeat you.”

  Wendelone laughed. “My dear, you are my curse. No matter what you do, you will still destroy. After all these years, don’t you think I would’ve planned out any possible outcome? I created you! I know every route you could possibly want to take!”

  “I will defeat you!” Aura shouted again. She tried to keep her voice strong, but it wavered and she trembled.

  “Remember your Fate paper? You are the destroyer of all Fates, all lives. Thindoral is doomed to be destroyed by you. You cannot defeat me. The dark powers inside you burn. They will take over and feed on your sadness over losing your dear Felipe. They will feed on your anger over your sister not trusting you! And you have to keep the dark power, or else I’ll send every Sight on Thindoral to attack those you love.”

  Aura’s heart leapt in her chest. Please, no. She bit her tongue as hot tears stung her eyes. She couldn’t lose another to the Sights.

  “Aura, you’re my greatest creation. Your life’s purpose is to destroy everything you hold dear and free me. And there’s no way you can stop it.”

  Wendelone’s words fell sharp on Aura’s ears. She could hear her heart pounding and feel the anger rising inside. They were right. This was Wendelone’s plan all along. No matter what, Thindoral was doomed.

  “That’s right. Let the anger consume you.” Wendelone’s branches swayed behind her.

  “I choose my own Fate. I will defeat you!” Aura repeated, begging herself to believe she could do it.

  Dark clouds formed around her, instantly transporting her back to her chambers. She fell to her knees and wept. The curse was real. It was complete. She looked at her hands. I won’t destroy. I have to find a way to defeat this curse . . . to defeat Fate!

  43

  Adie

  Did Aura see me? Adie knew how Aura would react if she knew Adie was spying on her. Aura’s voice reading from the book gave her chills. Zakar. Curse. Wendelone. What have they done? And how is Aura a part of it? Her mind raced with thoughts, and she didn’t realize how long she’d been sitting until a knock at the door startled her.

  Her room was bathed in darkness. How late is it?

  Samuel walked in without an invitation and shut the door behind him. He froze, realizing he was now in the dark.

  Adie quickly lit a few lamps. “I’m sorry, I lost track of time and must have . . . dozed off.”

  “Gossamer said I should check on you.” He remained at the front of her room, and she felt his eyes on her.

  “I’m fine,” Adie said, musing with the sides of skirt and avoiding his gaze.

  Samuel came toward her. “Somehow I don’t believe you.” He wrapped his arms around her. “If there was something I could do for you, you would tell me, wouldn’t you?”

  Adie paused, taking in a deep breath and focusing on his scent. Vanilla. Comfort. She looked into his gray eyes. There was an unmistakable longing in them. She found herself getting lost in them and swiftly shifted her gaze.

  She nodded, addressing his questions without words, and softly kissed his cheek. “I’m about to meet with Aura to speak with her about my latest premonition.”

  “Gossamer mentioned that.” He glanced at her warily. “He didn’t speak to me about the details of your premonition, but if it’s bothering you as much as it’s bothering him . . .” Samuel sighed. “Adie, I’m worried about you. Let me help.”

  I don’t think you can. “I need to face Aura alone. Plus, I need to speak to her about . . . us. I think it would be best for me to do it alone. I’ll be fine.” Even Adie cringed at the lack of strength in her voice. No wonder he doesn’t believe me.

  She couldn’t look back into his eyes, in fear he would see how frightened she was. She went to the Rokis, which lay by her bedside.

  “Are you afraid of her?”

  “Aura?”

  Samuel nodded.

  Yes. But I would never tell you or her that. She turned her back to Samuel and measured her words carefully. “I’m afraid for her.” She sighed. It’s part truth.

  Samuel seemed pleased with the answer and headed toward the door. “I’ll await your return.”

  Adie smiled. “Wait, Samuel!” She turned to her dresser, pulling open a drawer, and took out a folded white sheet of paper. She held it close to her chest as she walked toward him. “I can’t tell you the image on my Fate paper.” Samuel started to speak, but she continued. “But what I can do is give you my Fate.” She handed the paper to him. “If what you say is true, and I’m your Fate, then I want to give you mine. I want you to have this. I know it isn’t much, but I want you to be a part of it.” She watched his expression carefully, wary he would change his mind since she couldn’t tell him what was on her paper.

  Instead, he took her hands and pulled her close. His lips grazed her cheek, returning her kiss from earlier.

  As she watched him exit, she beamed. I am his Fate. She shook her head, saving those happy thoughts for later. She needed to figure out how she was going to confront Aura.

  44

  Aura

  Aura had curled into a ball on the plush black rug on her bedroom floor. The tears had stopped, and she stared at the wall. She didn’t know how long she’d been lying there, but the light coming in from the windows had completely faded.

  She forced herself up and walked to the mirror. The reflection was her own. Red eyes and blotchy skin stared back at her. Bringing her finger to her face, she watched her skin smooth. The only redness that remained covered her cheeks and plump lips. Her eyes still looked sad, and she tried to smile at herself. “You will fix this.”

  A flow of wind came from the side of the room, and Aura turned as her sister appeared before her. The dark circles under her eyes made them appear hollow.

  “Adie.” Aura’s smile faded as she saw the worrisome look on her face. “What’s wrong?” She took a step forward.

  “I’ve come to check on you,” Adie said as she walked toward Aura’s bed. Her fingers traced over the gold satin sheets.

  Aura watched her sister’s stare stay locked on Zakar’s journal.

  “I’m fine. You don’t look . . . are you okay?”

  “Your eyes seem sad.” Adie’s gaze shifted back to Aura as she spoke.

  “I could say the same to you. You been having the nightmares again?”

  “I had a new premonition.”

  “Oh.” Aura’s mouth went dry.

  “It involved you.”

  “And you’ve come to—”

  “Warn you.”

  “Warn me?”

  “In the premonition, you said you knew of a curse and you were the only one that could stop it. You said you would fix it and make sure that I never knew.”

  Aura’s lips parted, but she froze. I never wanted you to know. I was going to fix it. Really. She knew she couldn’t hide this from her sister much longer.

  “Do you know of a curse, Aura?”

  Aura shook her head and avoided eye contact with Adie. Her eyes flitted to Zakar’s journal.

  “Aura, please. I beg you. Let me help you. I think the premonition was warning me of your—”

  “Adie, I’m fine,” she interrupted. The words sizzled on her tongue, and the fireplace roared.

  How dare Adie intrude on me! An anger burned inside of her, searing through her thoughts.

  “Aura, this is your life I’m speaking of. I know you know of a curse. Tell me what it is!” Adie’s voice waned. Her eyes glistened, and she swallowed hard. “Please, let me help you.”

  “She can’t help you.” The whisper returned. “This is who you are.”

  Aura turned back toward the fire. “You can’t help me.”

  “Yes! I can! With the power of the Rokis—”

  “What good will it do?” Aura huffed as she swatted the air and brought a hand to her head. She grimaced as it pulsed.

  The voice bellowed in her mind. “She doesn’t trust you. She has no reason to help you!”

  “So
you do know of the curse!”

  Aura looked back at her sister, shaking her head. She eyed the Rokis on her sister’s chest.

  “That thing changed you. You’re different when you wear it.”

  “I’ll take it off.”

  “NO!” Aura screamed. What if that’s what Wendelone wanted? An ache fell over her, pulling at the depths of her despair. Why am I so angry?

  She had to control herself, or she would become exactly what Wendelone wanted. She pushed the whisper out of her mind, focusing on her own thoughts. I will not bring destruction.

  Adie walked toward her sister. “Please tell me of the curse.”

  Aura let her shoulders slump, and her lip trembled. She bit it so hard the taste of blood filled her mouth. She looked into the mirror at the smiling reflection returning her gaze. Her eyes closed as she turned back toward Adie.

  Adie glanced at the mirror. “But that mirror was broken wh—” She stopped as Aura spoke.

  “Zakar wasn’t the main threat. It’s Wendelone. The Wicked Willow. She led Zakar on with the promise of power, but the full curse is hers.”

  “What is the curse?”

  I am. Aura felt the words dance on the tip of her tongue. I will bring destruction. “Me.”

  Adie’s shoulders fell as she stepped closer to Aura. “What?”

  “I’m the curse. Wendelone created me. She created my Fate, and I don’t want it.”

  “But how are you a curse? Wendelone is probably lying to—”

  “No. There will not be one, but two. The eldest will bring destruction upon her first breath. For by the sixteenth year she grew, the only salvation for Thindoral is death.” As she repeated the words, the anger returned. She pushed it down, burying it deep. You can’t become what she wants you to.

  “Death,” Adie repeated.

  Aura nodded.

  “But what does it mean?”

  “My whole life is a curse,” Aura said as she walked back to the bed and looked at the book. “This is Zakar’s journal. I’ve been reading it. For some reason, the words change and I can read them.” She couldn’t tell her sister of the dark powers. Not yet. Not like this.

  “Does he mention the curse?”

  “In his last few entries.”

  “Do you know how to stop it?”

  Aura looked at Adie as tears burned her eyes. “No. But you’re not safe. No one is. I thought staying here would keep the Sights from attacking, and while it may, I’m still cursed to destroy everything. But I’ll find a way to fix this, Adie. I will, but you have to leave. You aren’t safe here.”

  “Aura, I can’t leave you! You can’t do this on your own.”

  “See? She doesn’t trust you.” The voice of the reflection slithered past her.

  Aura faced her sister. A darkness rose from the pit of her stomach, and she hid her hands to make sure her sister didn’t see the sparks. “Why don’t you trust me?”

  “Trust you? Aura, I trust you, but this is too much to handle on your own. Let me contact the Sandman or Gossamer.”

  “No! You let me handle this on my own!” Aura trembled as her voice rose. She walked away from Adie, looking at the mirror.

  The reflection laughed at her and egged her on. She cursed the mirror and heard Adie gasp. Fool! You shouldn’t have told her!

  “Aura.”

  “I said, LEAVE!” Aura spun around, and red sparks flung from her hands toward Adie.

  The Rokis lit up, and a burst of blue light shot out, causing Adie to fall to the ground. The blue light clashed with the red sparks, and they dissipated into the air.

  Horrified, she rushed over to help Adie up just as her sister placed her hand on the Rokis.

  “Take me to Gossamer.”

  Her sister’s image faded, and Aura fell to the ground. “No! No!”

  She heard laughter from behind her and turned to the mirror.

  “Stop laughing!” She flung out her hand, but the mirror didn’t crack.

  The image scoffed. “It’s too late,” the voice said smoothly. “You can’t get rid of me. I am you.” The edges of the reflection’s mouth curled, and its voice grew sinister. “Your anger, your sadness, your frustration. It has made you into this. This is your reflection now!”

  Aura screamed and walked to the bed and flung open the book. The words!?

  They were all gone.

  She flung the book off the bed. The fireplace roared. Aura tried to control her thoughts but failed, continuing to argue with herself. Adie knows! She’ll tell Gossamer. She’ll tell everyone. They’ll all know you have dark powers.

  It wouldn’t be long until they realized everything she’d done. “I must fix this!” Aura paced the room.

  “There is nothing to fix. They know who you are now. The only way to fix this is to destroy them. Destroy—”

  “THEY MUST NEVER KNOW!” Aura shouted, realizing she was no longer arguing with the reflection but aloud with herself. They must never know. She froze. “They must never know,” Aura repeated. Her brain twitched, remembering what Adie said from her premonition. The curse! All curses are just riddles.

  The reflection’s laughter returned. Or maybe it’s just me laughing? She wasn’t sure anymore. Her eyes flooded with black as she fell between laughter and tears, trying to regain control of her mind.

  “You want to talk about the curse?” Her voice boomed throughout the room. She pulled at her hair, wincing at the pain, and focused on gaining control, to no avail. “There will not be one, but two. The eldest will bring destruction upon her first breath. For the sixteenth year that she grew—”

  She froze.

  “The only salvation for Thindoral is death,” Aura whispered. Her eyes wide. “They will never know! I can fix this. I can make sure they never know! If I never exist, then the curse won’t either!”

  Aura turned toward the fireplace. With a flick of her wrists, the lanterns on the wall moved toward her. The doors shifted inward, toward the fireplace, revealing the two ruby staircases. She stepped onto the staircase leading up.

  She had to get to the top of the tower. They would never find her there.

  45

  Adie

  Adie found herself in a poorly lit room. She stood, whimpering. Aura has dark powers. How did she get them?

  A chair screeched as it pulled away from the table, and a shadow stood.

  “Gossamer?” Adie asked, an aching in her voice. She tapped the Rokis, and the blue light shot forward, revealing her uncle standing at the Council Room table.

  “Adie? What are you doing? Are you okay?”

  “Gossamer!” Adie said. She ran toward him, embracing him. Tears pooled in her eyes as she trembled.

  “Adie, what happened?” he asked, his pale eyes tired and filled with worry.

  Adie pulled away from him. She took off the Rokis, laying it on the table. As she tapped the center gem twice, a light illuminated the room.

  “I went to Aura and told her of the premonition, how she wasn’t safe. I asked her if she knew of a curse.” Adie could barely finish her own sentences. She took a few deep breaths. “Gossamer. She said she is the curse. That even though Zakar is dead, it’s the Wicked Willow who’s been the threat all along. She just used him!”

  Gossamer had to balance himself on the table. “This is what I feared. We just assumed she was stationary, powerless.” Despair filled his voice.

  “She had her powers hidden and promised them to Zakar for helping her!”

  He turned to Adie. “I showed Tut the drawing of the planet again. I’m hoping it’ll help him locate it soon, but I need to tell you—”

  “Gossamer, please listen. Aura! I tried to help her! I tried, but she refused. She said it wasn’t safe. But Gossamer, she has . . . she has power.”

  “Power?”

  “Yes, she shot sparks of light at me.”

  “Sparks of light?”

  “Yes, from her hands! Sparks of red light, like in the nightmare with . . . with the portal.�
� Adie’s heart sank into the depths of her being.

  Our birth! She heard Aura’s voice ringing in her head. I can fix this! They must never know!

  She let out a guttural moan and turned to the Rokis. She placed her hand on the center gem. “Show me Aura.”

  A projection of light shot out into the room, and they watched as Aura climbed up a flight of stairs and quickly opened a heavy wooden door. Gossamer walked closer to the projection as she opened a window at the top of the tower and looked over Vadim.

  Aura wept, and Adie reached out her hand to touch her. I shouldn’t have left her.

  Aura turned quickly, as if to avoid her touch, and walked toward the center of the room. Dark clouds formed around her, surrounding her and taking on a ruby tint. They illuminated her face as she brought her hands together and a spark formed between them. The sparks grew into bolts of red light which shot from palm to palm. Wind rushed around her, and Aura gradually dropped her hands, but the bolts of light continued their crackling in the midst of the cloud. Aura stepped back. The black clouds fell down around her, and she surveyed the strange light.

  The portal. “She’s opening it.” Adie said in a hushed voice. “My premonition of our birth. Gossamer, she’s going to—”

  “She doesn’t know what she’s doing!” he shouted. “There’s a reason time travel isn’t permitted anymore, and never without the Rokis. Wherever she opens the portal, she will kill those surrounding it, changing the timeline.”

  Adie froze. Images of her premonition flashed across her eyelids. Her father’s lifeless stare, and her pregnant mother next to her, slowly dying while singing the lullaby. She looked to Gossamer. Fear flooded her gaze.

  “If she changes past events, rather than re-writing history, she’ll create an alternate parallel timeline. We have to stop her!” Gossamer roared.

  Adie broke their eye contact when the ground below her quaked. She ran to the Rokis, touching its center, and the projection disappeared. The ground trembled below them again as Adie put the Rokis on.