Qoq Qagh

Chapter 5

 A few months had passed. The school year had started which means Es and Pro are out a lot Lasko has gotten used to his new human form and he has not received any snarky comments or questions about his appearance so clearly Es did a good job. As Lasko was working in the kitchen, making dinner for Es and Pro (who were busy with their own work, they received a knock on the door. He bolted to the door and saw someone with suntanned skin similar to Esmeralda's. In fact, the only difference Lasko could see between this woman and Esmeralda was this girl's hair was down to her back. He quickly ran to where Esmeralda was to check with her.

"I think you have a clone at the door waiting for you," he said.
Es raised an eyebrow. "A clone?" She asked. "I doubt it. It's probably my twin sister." She got up and went to the door and immediately knew who it was. It was her twin sister Darkling!

Without even thinking, she flung the door open and hugged her sister. Darkling hugged back, crying tears of joy which trickled down her cheeks and stained Es's red and green sweater.

"It's been a long time, sis!" she exclaimed, excited to see her again.
"I know," Darkling replied in a soft voice, crying lightly.
Just then, Lasko chimed in: "I didn't know you actually had a sister," he said.
Darkling seemed just as surprised as Lasko. "I didn't know you got married," she added.
Es blushed when her sister made such a bold accusation. "H-He's not my husband!" she said, stuttering. Just then, Pro came in.
"Mom?" she asked. "Who is this?"
Darkling smiled. "So you're not married to this man..." she began, pointing to Lasko, then looking to Pro. "But somehow you have this little kid?"
Es really didn't want to argue anymore so she changed the subject. "So what brings you here?"
Darkling frowned. "I have some bad news," she said, causing scared and curious faces to spread across Es, Lasko and Pro.
"Let's take this into the living room," Lasko suggested. Everyone agreed and they went into the living room. Lasko, Es and Pro sat down on the couch while Darkling sat on the recliner. Darkling put her hands over her mouth lightly as if struggling to find the words she needed to say while the three on the couch were leaning forward to hear.

"Es..." she said. "I've been diagnosed with some sort of strange disease... and I only have a small amount of time left to live."

Upon hearing this, Es gasped in shock. Pro and Lasko didn't know how to react, but Pro went up to Darkling and hugged her tightly, crying into her shirt.

"Sis..." Es cried softly, getting up and hugging her sister with Pro. "I'm so sorry." She started crying as well, leaving Lasko speechless.

"I wanted to spend my last moments with my family," Darkling replied.
"Well," Lasko said standing up and walking over to her. "A relative of Esmeralda's is always welcome."
"Really?" Darkling asked surprised. "You don't mind?" She got up, making Es and Pro stop hugging her.
"Of course," Lasko answered. "You say you wanted to spend time with your family, so I'm not going to deprive you of that."

Suddenly, Darkling hugged Lasko tightly, which felt weird given that he had dried paint for skin, but neither of them questioned it. Lasko hugged back. Es and Pro walked up to them and they all hugged each other sadly.

"Welcome home, Darkling."