Sins & Sinners

Cassiel. 1

"Cassie." My mother's voice was a gentle whisper in my ear as I stirred, opening my eyes blearily. As usual, she was already dressed despite the fact that it wasn't even eight in the morning. Not a hair strayed out of place, her dark blue blazer and pencil skirt as sleek as her black blouse and heels, hair already pulled back into a tight bun, pearl necklace gleaming under tough low lights of my room. Despite how cold and professional she looked, her eyes were warm and tone soft as she said, "Wake up, sweetheart. It's time for school."

Her fingers comb gently through my light-blonde locks, purposefully avoiding the silver streak near my temple that I was always painfully aware of every time my parents looked at me. Upon sensing I was more awake, she spoke again. "Do you want breakfast?"

I nodded, smiling and thanking her as I stood to my feet, bones popping and muscles stretching while she retreated from the room without so much as a glance to my younger twin curled in the bed at the far corner of the room. It was like she didn't exist. My face twisted into a small grimace. It wasn't particularly surprising — my parents always acted like this with Orisha — but that didn't mean it bothered me any less.

Everyone has always seen Orisha and I as polar opposites and in many aspects we are. But in many aspects, we're not. People act like Orisha's the "other" twin. The bad one.

But she's not. There's nothing bad or wrong about my sister. Sure, she's eccentric and talks to things and people that no one else can see, but that doesn't mean anything. It doesn't make her a bad person.

My sister emerges from our bathroom dressed in her usual all black. Combat boots, fishnets, shorts, muscle tee, dark makeup, the norm. She's always been curvier than me and a bit shorter, but it complements the black and dark colors she likes to drape herself in. She's pretty, no doubt about it.

"Morning," She mumbles shortly, walking past me while putting on her jewelry, her movements even more sharp than usual. Black lipstick with clear glittery lip gloss, sharp eyeliner, and some dark eyeshadow, adorns her features.

She's different this morning, eyes darting around the room, and neck craning to see out the windows like she's waiting for a present.

Probably whatever she has planned for today. I don't ask.

"Hi." I respond while grabbing my clothes and going in the bathroom. A sleepy, comfortable silence stretches between us as I go through my morning routine, body still groggy but refreshed after eight hours rest, unlike Orisha who probably just went to sleep at sun-up, if at all. She's at her best at night the way I'm at my peak during the daytime.

"Are you coming down to breakfast?" I call, leaning my head out the bathroom door, only to see an empty bedroom.

I knew what I would see as I leaned out my open window, but couldn't help checking anyway. Sure enough, Orisha had left through the window, already leaned against the huge, probably three or four-hundred-year-old weeping willow at the edge of the pond near the property's border.

I sighed, backing away from the window. I couldn't blame her for declining to be around our parents. It wasn't like they'd give her time of day anyway.