Paradox - Progeny Of Innocence (bk2) (Paradox series) (15 page)

They came into the world only moments apart, in the early hours of the 19
th
of June. Cindy came first, kicking and screaming and demanding everyone's undivided attention. Emily slipped quietly into the world seconds behind her sister, and was placed alongside her at her mother's breast. Emily gazed adoringly into the eyes of her older sibling. Moments later, the elder infant reached out spasmodically and grabbed hold of Emily's hand with her pudgy little fist. Whether it was a predetermined decision on baby Cindy's part, or a random reflex that enticed her to grab hold of her sister's hand, no one will ever know. But she hung onto that little hand as though her life depended on it.

Life hadn’t changed much since that day. There were no similarities whatsoever, though, in their features, temperaments or mannerisms. They were complete opposites in every way imaginable. The only things they had in common, apart from the same birth date, was their parents, their huge bank accounts and the ten-bedroom house they lived in, on East Point Road in Fannie Bay. However, with all their differences, the one true thing that linked them together more than anything else was love. It wasn’t always evident. They still fought on occasions, just as any sisters did. But the defining constant underneath it all was love. Perhaps it was sharing the watery confines of their mother's womb for nearly nine months? But whatever it was, whatever the circumstances, it was this invisible bond that would glue their lives together forever.

Cindy was fair-haired, tall, slim, and perfect, and couldn’t wait to fall in love, get out of school, and travel the world. She wanted to live life to the fullest, drink in all the world had to offer. Cindy wanted it all and she was determined to experience everything at least once. The way Cindy saw it, the world was her oyster, and hers for the taking. She wanted to drive a car. She didn’t particularly care what make or model, as long as it was fast, had a great stereo and was preferably red.

Emily, on the other hand, was a brunette. She was shorter than her sister, had a curvy figure and enjoyed school. She wanted to go to university and study to become a doctor. Her life's goals included getting married, having two kids, a boy and a girl, and a dog named Rover. She would buy a dependable four-wheel drive that was economical on fuel. Emily wanted to save the planet, so recycled everything possible. To the rest of the household's chagrin, Emily insisted that her mother purchase environmentally friendly products.

At school, both girls were considered popular with the other students, and made friends easily. They did what girls their age did. Talked endlessly about boys, well Cindy certainly did most of that. They listened to popular music, bought glossy fashion magazines, watched movies and television, and both girls had a crush on each of the Salvador brothers in the
Vampire Diaries
. They had posters covering their walls, which bothered their mother no end. They were invited to all the popular parties and friends' sleepovers.

When Caleb swaggered up to Cindy in the hallway after History class had finished, she was ecstatic.

"Cindy, isn’t it?" he asked, standing so close to her that she could feel his breath playing on her cheek as he murmured in her ear.

"Cin," she replied turning to face him, holding his steely gaze.

He narrowed his eyes. "As in the original sin?" he murmured. "So you like to play with fire?" he asked, flirting with her.

"Maybe," she replied, raising an eyebrow. "Who wants to know?"

He ignored her question and asked another. "And who is this little wallflower?" Caleb asked in a sad contemptuous voice, looking down at Emily.

"My name is Emily, and I am not a wallflower!" Emily shot back curtly.

"Oh," Caleb chuckled. "With an attitude like that little one, most would think certainly not." He smiled and tilted his head, listening to her thoughts. "But I beg to differ. And if you were being completely honest with yourself, and everyone else, you would have to agree that your bark is a lot bigger than your bite, little Emily."

"Whatever," Emily said, turning away from him to look at her sister.

"Cin, can we go now, please?" she asked emphatically, with her nails dug into her waist.

"No!" Cindy shot back. "Just wait a second. I won't be long..."

"Please," Emily repeated but with less determination. She dropped her arms to her sides in defeat, then sighed. This was not a battle that she was about to win.

"You go, Emily. I’ll catch up. I promise," Cindy said, not taking her eyes off Caleb. His eyes, freakishly yellow, were cold, dead, soulless. There was something very evil about him, she sensed, but that only added to her mounting infatuation.

Emily waited for a moment, hoping her sister would change her mind. "Fine, I'll go, but don’t be too long. You don’t want to miss our ride home," Emily said, turning and walking away.

"Lovely meeting you, too, Emily," Caleb called sarcastically after her.

Emily paused for a moment in the hall without turning around. Then she held up her middle finger and kept on walking.

"She’s right," Cindy said. "I should probably go. I don’t want to miss my ride…"

"Nonsense, I can give you a lift home. It will give us time to get to know each other a little better," Caleb purred into her ear. "Wouldn’t you like that? I know I would." He ran his finger across her cheek, down her throat, over her beating chest, and then let it linger between her breasts.

She sucked in a breath and held it to steady her heart. "I-" her phone vibrated in her pocket, and she quickly reached for it and read the message.

"Tell your sister that you have a lift home," he said.

"I should… I don’t even know your-"

"Tell her," Caleb repeated, cupping her face in his hand and running his thumb across her strawberry colored lips. "And my name is Caleb Strigoi."

Cindy nodded. "Okay then, I’ll tell her."

"Good girl," he said, dragging her into him. He held her there for a moment daring her to struggle. She did not. His hand traced up the back of her head, forcing her face closer to his. She could feel his warm breath on her skin, teasing her. Then he pulled her in and kissed her hard on the mouth. She felt herself falling into a void, but she was not afraid. Caleb was there in the darkness with her, holding her, showing her a world in her mind where her every desire would be granted.

Then, just as quickly, he pulled away, leaving her openmouthed with frantic eyes, pupils dilated and full of wanting. She had to have more of this world that Caleb had given her a glimpse into, a powerful, everlasting world. There was a price she would have to pay; she knew that. However, pay it she would. And without question! She thought about Charon, the ferryman from her Greek mythology lessons, and wondered what price would be demanded of her, to take her to the other side.

"I want more," Cindy said, in a breathless whisper.

"Patience. First, I must see if you are worthy of such a gift," Caleb said, taking her by the hand and leading her away. She followed him willingly. She knew at that moment that she would follow him anywhere.

Later that evening, after saying goodnight to her parents, Cindy snuck back down into the lounge room and stole three bottles of vodka from her parent's liquor cabinet. The vodka would not be missed. Her father bought alcohol by the dozen for his lavish dinner parties. And with her mother having a preference for vodka, a mere three bottles would go completely undetected. She wrapped them up securely in a towel and shoved them into her backpack, then crept back up the stairs to her bedroom where Emily waited anxiously for her.

It had taken her exactly an hour and a half to talk Emily into climbing out of her bedroom window to wait a little way down the street for Caleb and his friends.

They walked in silence, with only the sound of the concrete pavement beneath their shoes and the rustling of palm fronds overhead. The sultry breeze coming in across the ocean slapped strands of their hair across their faces. Emily rummaged in her bag, pulled out a colored band and secured her hair back into a makeshift ponytail. "Would you like a hair band, Cin?"

"No thanks." Cindy answered pushing the strands of hair off her face. "I’ll be fine."

Even with messy hair tangled across her face, Emily thought, Cindy still looked beautiful.

A dog howled somewhere behind them, causing Emily to walk a little quicker, a little closer to her sister.

"Don’t worry, Em," Cindy said, draping an arm protectively over Emily’s shoulders, "I’ve got your back."

They waited at the agreed-upon spot, a bus stop shelter just two minutes walk away from home. Emily paced while Cindy reapplied more black eye shadow and eyeliner. She had decided that it wasn’t dark enough, gothic enough.

"For God's sake, Em, sit down, you’re driving me crazy pacing around like that. Here, put some more makeup on, you look dreary. Don’t you want to make a good impression? Caleb said he was bringing friends. Perhaps he will bring that Damon guy. He’s cute, don’t you think, and quiet, so he’s probably more your type."

Emily stopped pacing and glared at her sister. Her arms folded stubbornly across her chest. "If they are anything like Caleb, which I highly suspect they are, then no. I do not want to make a good impression with them. In fact, I think this is a really bad idea, Cin, and I think we should just forget about this and go home."

"Not a chance in hell, Em. If you want to go home, go, but I’m staying," Cindy said, throwing her eyeliner back into her bag. Then she let out a sigh and grabbed Emily’s arm. "I’m sorry, Em. Please don’t go, I want you to come with me, and if they turn out to be losers, we will leave. Just give it a chance, okay. Do it for me."

"So you really like this… moron then?"

"Em," Cindy said, scowling at her sister.

"Okay, I’m sorry… so you like him?" Emily repeated.

"I really do, Em. He’s… I don’t know. There is something dark, almost unnatural about him, but that’s what makes him so exciting. It’s like he can see right inside of me, knows what I’m thinking… he gets me," Cindy added with a pleading look.

Emily sighed and sat down next to her sister. "Are you sure that’s a good thing? That he knows what you are thinking, Cin?"

"It’s what I want, Em. He’s what I want..."

"Alright... But you promise. If they turn out to be jerks, we go home."

Cindy nodded. "Sure, I promise," she said, applying lipstick to Emily’s pouting lips.

Emily glared at her.

"Come on Em. I said I promise. Now smile, okay? You’re much prettier when you smile."

Ten minutes later a Ford falcon, which looked like a sleek black cat, rumbled up and stopped at the bus stop. Caleb leaned across the front passenger seat and shoved open the car door.

"Great car," Cindy said, climbing in next to Caleb.

Emily forced a smile when a tall boy with burnt honey hair hopped out of the car and offered her a seat in the back next to a dark-haired girl.

"My name is Damon, Emily," he said, introducing himself. "And this is Lyssa. Caleb, I believe, you have already had the pleasure of meeting."

"Yes," Emily said, unable to hide her obvious feelings of distaste for Caleb. She move across the back seat next to Lyssa and gave her a quick smile.

Lyssa glared at her and raised a studded eyebrow. "Did you bring alcohol?" she asked.

"I did." Cindy answered turning around in the front seat to look at Lyssa. "I've got three bottles of vodka."

"That will do," the girl answered flatly, then turned away to stare out of the car window.

Damon hopped in next to Emily and closed the door behind him. Caleb revved the engine, dropped the clutch, and smashed the vehicle into first gear, propelling the vehicle forward. A cloud of smoke curled off the rubber tires as they sped away, spraying a barrage of gravel over the footpath and shelter.

Five minutes later, Caleb turned the key in the ignition, silencing the reverberating engine and the loud music. Most of the journey, apart from the deep, throbbing bass on the stereo, had been in silence. Now it was the eerie sound of a single night bird, and the lapping ocean breaking gently on the sandy beach ahead of them, that welcomed their arrival. Lyssa spoke first. "Vodka!" she demanded thrusting her hand out toward Cindy in the front seat.