Read Cora's Kismet (The Twin Destinies Saga Book 1) Online
Authors: Cheryl Davis
As much as she’d like to continue to eavesdrop on her
parents, she knew it was only a matter of time before they were caught. She
stepped away from the wall, drawing a confused look from Liam. She smiled at
him as she stepped toward the door and knocked loud enough to draw her parents’
attention.
Thomas’ footsteps thudded as he crossed the room and opened
the door. Cora smiled up at him.
“Hello Cora, are you feeling better?” Thomas asked, as he
moved aside for them to enter.
“Yes much better, thanks to Liam,” Cora replied, and gazed
at Liam for a moment with affection before turning back to her parents. “Have
you seen Viola?”
“Not for a little while. She was sleeping on the couch in
the living room when we came in here to talk, but we haven’t checked on her.
Was she there when you came in?” Angelica asked, mild concern etched on her
features.
“We didn’t look. We came here first,” Liam responded. “I’ll
go check on her for you if you’d like?” Liam asked, cautious in a way he’d
never had to be before. He wasn’t sure how to feel about Thomas not wanting him
to train Cora and Viola. He’d just thought he’d be the natural choice for the
job. He was also worried about who Thomas would choose to train them.
“Cora, we need to talk to you and Viola both in about an
hour. Please meet us back here then,” Thomas informed her in a stern voice.
“No problem,” she said, flashed him a smile, and then walked
out of the door, holding Liam’s hand tightly in hers.
Cora didn’t say anything as they walked down the hall and
was relieved when Liam didn’t either. She didn’t want to be overheard, and of
course, didn’t want her parents to know they’d eavesdropped on their
conversation before making themselves known.
Instead of going to the living room to check on Viola, Cora
steered them to her room and closed the door behind them with a soft click.
“What was that all about?” Liam asked her.
“As you heard, there’s more going on than Viola and I are
aware of,” Cora replied, sarcasm accenting her words, as she moved over to the
bed and plopped down, letting her anger boil over. “One thing I really hate is
being lied to.”
“Well, you can count on me never lying to you. I hope you
know that by now,” Liam said and sat down next to her.
“I certainly hope that’s true. I need to know what it is
they think would make Vi and I walk away and leave everyone to die. It’s funny,
my father wants us to share our past experiences, but doesn’t want to tell us
everything. Kinda hypocritical don’t you think?” Cora was working herself up to
being furious. She didn’t understand what was going on and that bothered her
even more.
“We will find out Cora. I’m in this with you all the way. I
don’t understand why Thomas doesn’t want me to train you and your sister. I am
the obvious choice because of the connection you and I share,” Liam said,
suspicion making him edgy.
“I thought you’d be the one training us too,” Cora said
confused. There were a lot of things rolling around in her head at the moment,
and that was a minor one compared to most of the others.
“I say we just play it cool right now and see how things
play out. If your parents don’t tell you everything before the unbinding
tonight, we’ll do some digging on our own. I won’t let you do this alone.
Besides, I have resources that will help you,” Liam said, already anticipating
Cora’s next course of action. They were already starting to sync, which filled
Liam with pride.
Cora nodded, getting lost in her thoughts. There was so much
she wanted, no needed, to know before all of this prophecy crap was front and
center in her life. For all of her life, she’d always wanted a family who loved
her for who she was and wanted her around. She’d always wanted to be cherished
by parents who valued her. She’d always known deep in her heart she’d been
meant for something monumental, but now that she was confronted with it, she was
downright scared. She didn’t want to be responsible for the lives, or in this
case, deaths, of others.
Liam seemed to sense she was trying to process everything in
her mind and sat with her for a while not saying anything. After about half an
hour, he looked at his watch and then up at her.
“I’ll go find Viola and bring her back up here so you can
fill her in on what’s going on, if you’d like. We need to be back in Thomas’
office in about twenty minutes or so,” Liam said, as he leaned over and placed
a kiss on her cheek. Cora only nodded, still lost in her thoughts, and then he
left the room.
Cora sat in silence, trying to figure everything out with
the limited information she had available. She needed to know what this
prophecy she and Viola were a part of, was all about. She also needed to know
what her parents, or her father to be precise, were trying to hide from them.
All of this was so confusing.
Did she even want to be a part of all of this? Did she even
have a choice? Too confused to keep thinking, she got up from the bed, walked
over to the window and gazed out at the beautiful scenery, trying to clear her
head.
She got so lost in the beauty of the nature she was looking
at, she jumped, startled, when her bedroom door flew open and Viola came bursting
into the room with Liam close behind. Liam caught the door, as it rebounded
from banging against the wall, and closed it with an almost silent click.
“What’s going on? Liam said you needed to talk to me and
that we’re supposed to be meeting dear old Mommy and Daddy dearest in a few
minutes,” Viola said, and flopped down in a nearby chair with a huff.
“Wow, got something to say Sis?” Viola shot back.
“I’ve got a lot to say, but now isn’t the time. Right now,
you need to get it together and listen,” Cora snapped back at her sister.
“Look, you both need to pull it together. You can’t be
divided right now. That’s what our enemy wants and both of you are feeding
right into it. You need to stop arguing, work out your problems and get past
them. Dividing you would be exactly what Anna and Patrick wants. Are you going
to give in to them now, after everything they’ve put you both through?” Liam
interjected, placing his body between the twins and pointing looks at each of
them.
“We’ll have to talk about this later, we need to get down
there and see what our parents have to say anyway,” Cora said, and let her
shoulders fall from the tension that had been building up inside of her. She
didn’t understand what was going on. Never in their lives has there been this
much distance between her and Viola, and it felt wrong. “I’m sorry I jumped all
over your back Sis. I love you.”
Viola stood and walked over to Cora and gave her a tight
hug. “You may not think I realize how serious this whole messed up situation
is, but you couldn’t be more wrong. You have no idea the crap they tried to
feed me while I was being held prisoner. I’m sorry I blew up this morning and
said everything I said, and you’re right, you should have had a say in what,
and when, we told about our past. I can’t take it back though and I’m not sure
I would, because they needed to know the horrors we lived through every day,
and I know you wouldn’t tell anyone. I’m sorry, but I had to rip the band-aid
off whether you were ready or not.”
“I didn’t want anyone to know, ever. It was bad enough
living through it all the first time, but listening to you tell everyone like
that just brought it all back. I think you’re right though, they needed to
know. I have a feeling that what you opened, was a can of worms that can’t be
closed again, and we’ll get more and more questions asking for details,” Cora
said, as she wrapped her sister in a tight embrace. She saw Liam smile at her
over Viola’s shoulder and smiled back.
“I know, that’s the part that sucks. No one is ever going to
leave us alone about it all. They’re the ones who gave us up, and we’re the
ones who keep paying the price for it every single day,” Viola sighed as she
pulled away from Cora.
“No kidding, right?” Cora said, and smiled at Viola. She
knew her sister would understand and, seeing the look on her face, knew that
she did.
“So, I guess we need to go talk to Mommy and Daddy now,”
Viola said, straightening her back.
“Yep, then later we need to talk. Liam and I overheard some
things, but we don’t have time to get into it now. I’m hoping they’ll just talk
about everything we overheard so we don’t have to go all Nancy Drew on them,”
Cora said, her voice grave.
“Oh, I’ve got no problem going Nancy Drew on them. I don’t
trust them for a second,” Viola said, and gave Liam a pointed look.
“Meaning, you don’t trust me either?” Liam asked her
straight up.
“Why should I? You’re close to dear old Dad and that doesn’t
make you trustworthy in my book. Sure, you protected Cora, and I’m thankful for
that, but that doesn’t mean you won’t go running to Thomas and tell him
everything we say and do,” Viola confronted Liam, now that he’d opened the
door.
“I don’t think you need to worry about that, Viola. Liam’s
not going to turn on us. Part of what we overheard was about him too, and I’m
sure he was not at all happy to hear what was said. Besides, he’d be betraying
me if he did what you’re suggesting and that’s one thing he’d never do,” Cora
said, and walked over to his side.
“We’ll see. Trust is earned. I hope you’re right Cora, but
please be careful,” Viola said, and walked to the door. “Shall we?”
“Yeah, we’d better get this over with. Besides, I have a lot
of questions that need answers and I’m hoping they’re volunteering those
answers at this meeting,” Cora replied, and headed out the door with Liam close
beside her. She’d never felt as strong as she did when he was near her. She
liked the feeling, but also feared it. She didn’t want to be dependent on a man
for anything. Crap, she was in deep and had no idea on how to find her way out.
The twins and Liam entered Thomas’ study without a word and
sat together on the plush couch that was arranged in a seating area away from
his desk. Thomas and Angelica were seated on matching chairs across from an
ornate coffee table situated in the center that was covered in tea, coffee and
fruits of all kinds. Cora had a feeling all she’d be able to stomach during
this meeting would be the coffee. She reached forward and poured herself a cup
before settling back onto the couch against Liam’s side.
“There is a lot you both need to know before the unbinding
ceremony tonight. I know we won’t be able to fit in all of the history of our
culture, but we can give you as much information to work with as possible. The
rest you will learn over the course of the next six months, as part of your
training.” Thomas paused in speaking, looking at each girl in turn, and then
giving Liam a puzzled look as if he didn’t know why Liam was there at this
time. Liam gave Thomas a small nod but didn’t say anything.
“History is great and all, but I’d much rather know what’s
going to happen at the unbinding ceremony, as well as more about this prophecy
we’re supposed to be a part of,” Viola said, showing her stubbornness. She
wasn’t going to give an inch to their parents and Cora rolled her eyes in
response although, in her head, she agreed with her sister.
“We will get to that in due time,” Thomas said stiffening
up. Cora could tell he was getting irritated with Viola, but couldn’t bring
herself to care after the confusing discussion she’d overheard earlier. “The
history is just as important.”
Viola huffed and was about to make another snarky comeback
when Cora changed her mind by grabbing her arm and shaking her head to stop
her. They were going to get nowhere fast if Viola kept it up. She didn’t expect
her sister to be all warm and fuzzy with their new found parents just yet, but
she didn’t want her alienating them either. Viola flopped back against the
couch and crossed her arms over her chest, making her displeasure evident. One
thing Cora knew Viola would never do, would be to hurt her on purpose. Cora
relaxed a little then turned her attention back to their parents.
Thomas nodded his appreciation to Cora and continued with
what he was saying.
“We are a strong and proud race,” Thomas started, but Cora
interrupted.
“Wait, I thought there were Solarians and Lunarians? That
sounds like two to me,” Cora asked confused.
“Two halves of a whole. Neither Solarians nor Lunarians can
exist without the other. We keep each other balanced. There was once a civil
war between our two halves that almost decimated our entire culture. It was
horrific, and we have learned to keep a delicate balance between the two sides
in order to survive. We found during the civil war that we could not reproduce
while we were divided.” Thomas paused letting that sink in, hoping they’d
understand just how rare they are.
“Wait, why couldn’t you reproduce while you were divided?”
Viola asked confused. “Both of you are Lunarians yet you gave birth to us.”
“You two are the first, and only, instance of that
happening. That is one reason why you both are so important. Every other child
has been born to a combination of Solarian and Lunarian parents. That is why we
are two halves of a whole and one culture,” Thomas said, and sat back, watching
the girls for their reactions.
“Did you know when you found each other as mates that you
were the parents of the children in the prophecy?” Cora asked, as curiosity won
over her anger.
“No. We thought we were doomed to never having children.
There have been other couples mated who were both the same but none of them
produced children,” Angelica replied, and Cora could see the honesty in her
eyes. “When I became pregnant with the both of you, we were overjoyed, and terrified,
all at the same time, because that was when we knew what your destiny would be
when you grew up. As much as we wanted children and loved you with all of our
hearts, we still didn’t want that burden on your shoulders. We still don’t, but
there’s no other choice.”
“Wait, are we even human?” Viola asked, with fear lacing her
words.
“No, we are not human. We coexist with humanity, on peaceful
terms, as long as they don’t know we’re different from them,” Thomas replied in
a calm voice.
“Are we from a different planet then?” Viola asked again.
“So Anna and Patrick, are they Solarian, Lunarian or human?”
Cora found her voice and asked.
“Patrick is Lunarian, like us, but Anna is Solarian. We
thought they were on our side when we entrusted them with your care,” Angelica
said, with an angry glint in her eyes.
“So when Patrick attacked us at the cabin, why didn’t he use
his powers against us?” Cora asked.
“That I could not tell you. Patrick is not speaking, even
though we’ve tried numerous ways to get him to talk,” Thomas replied, with a
note of bitterness.
“No. That is out of the question,” Thomas said with
authority.
“I don’t think we have much of a choice here. We need to
know what he knows. Anna is planning something, I know she is. You think
Patrick’s bad, but she makes him look like a soft and cuddly puppy! You need me
to try,” Cora stated while glaring into Thomas’ eyes.
“She’s not kidding about Anna. That’s one evil, sadistic
bitch,” Viola said with a shiver.
“We cannot risk either of you. We have our best working on
him, he will break at some point,” Thomas insisted.
“I doubt that will ever happen,” Cora snorted.
Angelica laid her hand on his arm, “Maybe we should listen
to them. They lived with those two all of their lives. He is not the man we
knew, at least not anymore. Let Cora try. After her display in the cabin, he
would already be scared of her, and just might give us something useful.”
Thomas sat silent, with his lips pursed, hating to be
overruled by his wife, daughter or anyone else. All he wanted to do was protect
everyone and do the right thing. Cora could almost see him seething in anger.
“I will think about it, but right now, I want to make sure
you understand just how critical you both are to the future of our race.
Without you, we will fight to extinction and die off, because those who believe
otherwise are wrong,” Thomas said, the graveness of his voice sending chills
down her spine.
“Yeah, I think we got that,” Viola snapped. “So, what aren’t
you telling us?”
Cora’s eyes widened, just a bit. She didn’t know how, maybe
it was the twin thing, but Viola had picked up on what Cora hadn’t said in the
room before they came down here for this meeting.
“I don’t think I understand what you are asking,” Thomas
skirted.
“I’m sure you know what I’m talking about,” Viola pushed.
The twins and Liam watched as Thomas and Angelica exchanged
a look and didn’t miss when she gave him an almost imperceptible nod. Thomas
seemed to think for a minute before turning back to them and taking a deep
breath.
Thomas paused, watching the girls for their reactions,
before continuing. He was disappointed when they didn’t seem to start picking
up on where the story was heading. Even though he knew they believed themselves
to only be Lunarian, they possessed the powers of both. It was proven by Cora,
at the cabin, when she used Solarian powers while her Lunarian powers were
bound.
“This woman had her own agenda however. She wanted to pit
the brothers against each other. She worked very hard to turn brother against
brother, start her war and almost demolish our race. It was almost too late for
us when the brothers came to their senses and realized what she’d been up to.
They banded together and turned on her, driving her far away. They’d wanted to
kill her, to end the evil that she represented to us, but she’d managed to
escape instead.” Thomas paused to take a drink of coffee that Cora hadn’t even
realized he’d poured. Clearing his throat, he continued the story. “The reason
we are at the brink of war right now is because that woman was never killed.”
“What do you mean?” Cora asked confused. “You said the civil
war was a long time ago, there’s no possible way she’s still alive, much less
causing one now.”
“No, but she found a man to impregnate her and she continued
her line of Solarian/Lunarian mixed women. No woman in that line ever gave
birth to a male. Every female in her line, except one, has been poisoned into
believing this woman was wronged by the brothers, and that they need to seek
revenge by dividing the sides to give her justice.” Angelica took up the story
for Thomas.
“So there’s a living descendant out there who doesn’t
believe this woman’s hype?” Viola asked.
“Yes. Well, now there are three, including the two of you if
I’m reading your reactions right,” Angelica revealed.
“Wait, you?” Cora asked astonished. She stared disbelieving
at her mother.
“Yes, I am descended from this woman,” Angelica said in an
ashamed voice.
“So, are you the one who’s trying to divide our race?” Cora
asked confused.
“No my darlings, I am trying to save it. The prophecy states
that the twin daughters, born on the winter solstice full moon, of the woman
descended from Camilla, who disbelieved her version of the truth, who did not
bear the powers of both Solarian and Lunarian inside of herself, and was mated
with one of her own kind, would be the ones to make her wrongs right by sealing
the two sides together again forever, erasing her taint from our race and
ending the joined bloodline of women who carried both powers inside of herself.
My dears, that is you,” Angelica said and looked up at them both, with hope and
despair in her eyes.
“Wow, um, give us a minute on that one. So what you’re
saying is, our bloodline almost destroyed our race and now it’s up to Cora and
I to fix what this woman, Camilla broke?” Viola asked in disbelief.
“Yes. That is exactly what we are saying. You two are meant
to be the last of those women of our bloodline who will carry both the Solarian
and Lunarian powers of our people and bring us to peace once and for all. If
you do not do that, we will continue to fight and not only will we decimate our
own race, we will decimate all life on this planet, because our powers will
kill, not only each other while we are fighting, but it will get to the point
where we don’t care who we are hurting.” She looked back and forth between the
girls and held her breath as she watched them take in the new information. This
was a moment of truth she prayed worked out in everyone’s favor.
“Ok, so this story doesn’t exactly match what Thomas told us
before,” Cora brought up a bit hesitant at calling her father out.
“Well, it was not my place to tell you your mother’s family
history, therefore, I had to adjust the prophecy I told you, so it was a
version of the truth. I did not lie to you. Also, at that time, I was not sure
you could handle all of the information. To be honest, I’m still not sure you
are ready, but that is out of my hands now and placed into yours.” Thomas spoke
in a tone that made Cora believe he was praying they made the right decision.