gemini

chapter two

The stairs are a swirl of never ending gray. I can hear my heartbeat louder than anything else.

Arii's hand is clasped in mine, and she is in front of me, as she insisted. "Just in case," she said.

My father and sister.

Conspiring to have me murdered.

It makes so much sense, though. They've always hated me. I've always been a disgrace to the family. My mother would never have been proud of the way things have turned out. She probably despises me from heaven.

My chest is aching now, and I can't tell if it's from thinking about my mother or the fact that we are racing down these stairs way too fast.

We finally reach the entrance of my tower. The door is slightly ajar. Arii glances out in the hallway.

"No one's there," she whispers to me. Of course not. They're all preparing for my sister's wedding.

We clamber out into the hallway and pound past the stained glass windows, casting red, black, gold, and green shadows onto the stone floor. I glance at the images of our Savior as we rush by. I can't imagine if he'd want me dead as well.

"STOP!" a voice calls.

"Don't look, don't look, keep going," Arii screams from directly behind me. Already I am slowing down, trying to make sure that she is in front of me. If anyone gets hurt, it should not be her.

I hear a whish, and time slows down. I feel air blow past my ear and see bits of my hair fall. A clatter rings down the hallway. I see a ruby-edged knife spinning.

Without a second thought, I reach down as we pass it and pick it up. Arii is shrieking. I spin around and run backwards just in time to see Byro, the man Cassia is engaged to, launch another knife directly towards my best friend's back.

I throw my body into hers and we both fall to the floor. My shoulder immediately feels as if it's being jabbed by a thousand pins. I can only imagine how Arii feels.

I must act quickly.

I stand as Byro runs towards us, drawing his sword, and feel the energy coursing through my veins. My powers have not failed me yet, and I must trust them now in order to save myself and Arii.

I throw the knife.

It sails through the air, boosted by a gust of wind towards my target.

Never before have I thrown a knife, yet it lands directly where I wish it to.

Byro clutches his chest and falls to his knees. His face is waxen and his eyes are dulling. "Sorry, Cassie," I hear him whisper. He slumps to the ground.

"Oh, God, what have I done, what have I done," I whisper, also falling to the cold, hard floor. I curl up into the smallest possible ball and rock back and forth. Surely now I deserve to die. I should never have used my powers to kill another human.

I feel a gentle tug on my hand. Arii is pulling me as hard as she can manage in the pain she is in. My heartbeat slows. I must make sure that she is safe. Because of me, she could die. A man has been killed. We are both in danger.

I stand and wipe the wetness from my eyes. "Alright, Arii, lead the way."