The Realm of Truth (Book 1) [In the process of editing]

Chapter 5: Deception

"I don't understand." I said, cleaning my mouth off with some paper towels in the kitchen. I returned a while later from my hunt and I was pretty happy with what I caught in the woods. I managed to catch some deer and some bunny; and that was enough to satisfy my hunger. I was taking in what Damien said about how he planned things out from the other day. And...I paid close attention to hear his heart beat so I'd knew if he was lying to me.  I didn't know what to think so I mumbled, "I seriously have a twin..." Damien had his arms crossed and he leaned against the countertop. He had a tiny kitchen for a tiny cabin, so the countertop was just making an L shape from the sink from the side of the house. "That's weird."

"What, you really think you don't have another sibling?" he asked.

"I'm for certain I'm an only child." I nodded as if to say, 'duh'. "You can count out the siblings in the Brown family. They weren't technically related to me by blood. I mean, I've been hiding in secret since then. You're the only one who knows about me, and I don't really remember much after I turned."

He pondered a little bit about it and then said, "Maybe you could dig a little bit into your history?"

"I could."

We just stood there for a while, trying to think of what to do next. "Hey, I just remembered something. Your twin said she was you, but she's not you. What was that about?"

"Not gonna lie, that freaked me out." I said. "It was like facing my own persona."

"What's that?"

"Personas are like a mask - we're hiding something we don't want to face. It was like a message she was trying to send me. Maybe there's something about me I haven't faced about myself, yet."

Damien gasped in exasperation with a smile, "Odette? Scared about something? Oh my, we must dissect the subject, and find out what makes her tick." I made an annoyed sound and looked beside me. I found a wooden spoon and I threw it at him, but he managed to catch it in midair. He laughed at me. "There's nothing to be scared of, I'm sure she was just doing that to throw your game off." he said, walking up to me. I started blushing furiously as he giggled some more.

I stomped away and headed towards my room. "If you're not going to take this seriously, then maybe I should just figure this out on my own."

"Oh come on." he whined, "I was just joking! Odette-!"

I slammed the door in his face and I fell on my bed. My face buried deep in the pillow and I started to scream.

~~~

"Still mad?" Damien asked the following morning. I had a sip of hot coffee with my eyes closed tight. I didn't answer him so obviously I was mad from last night. The idiot almost got himself killed and I was the one rescuing him. He should be grateful. I thought bitterly. Damien had his arms rested on the countertop across from me and he watched me.

I still sipped the coffee and ignored him. I shouldn't have been able to taste this, but it was a good way to stop the urges of killing. Consider it a distraction for me.

"Listen, I said it because I wanted to lighten up the mood. I didn't think you'd react that way." Damien said, and I slammed my coffee mug down on the counter. I made sure it didn't shatter into pieces, but the slam was so loud, it made him jump. "Fine, go to school pissed. I'm sure that's going to change everything."

"Damien, that shapeshifter is out there." I said tightly. "They could be anyone and I don't even know if I will face myself again. I could be facing you and for all I know, you could be a shapeshifter right now."

"How do I know you're not one?" Damien raised an eyebrow at me. "I could've been sleeping and you could've swapped the entire time."

I glared at him, but he had a point, and I thought of a way to prove I was myself. "The only thing I can really prove myself is that the charm I have on my amulet is still on here. I don't think she replicated that from last night."

"That detail was super small and even I wouldn't have been able to catch that." he noted. 

"Right..." I said. "Wait, I thought of another way. So, Mr. Tanner, my history teacher thought that finding a partner today in class would be a great way to interact with my peers. I get to be social today."

That made him burst out in tears and laughter, and I found myself angry again. "You?! Social? As if!" he laughed some more, and I grabbed my bag next to me. I stormed out of the cabin and I headed straight to school.