Names Have Power -- Polysanders

Chapter 1: My Hart on My Sleeve

(Patton)

I got them when I turned sixteen, just like every other human on earth. It was so exciting, waiting for the clock to strike midnight on a video call with Virgil. As the clock ticked down, we talked excitedly about whose name I would get, if I would already know them, what gender they would be, how handsome or pretty they would be. "I'm so excited, Virgil! I literally cannot wait for this moment any longer!" Virgil smirked at me.

"You can wait, Pat. It's only three more minutes anyway, you will be fine." He smiled. "I'm sure the lucky person will be glad to deal with your non-stop energy for the rest of their lives."

"What if it's you?!" I bounced.

"Well, then I won't have to wait three more weeks to get my name, will I?" Virgil deadpanned, "I know very few people that could bear to handle my negative aura beside you." I giggled.

"Aww! You're not that negative! You're a sweet-and-sour misunderstood shadowling, that's all!"

"Sure, Pat," Virgil said, smiling. The clock chimed in the background, and Virgil looked back at his clock, glowing white in the darkness of his room. For him, it was starting to get light out. He looked back at me and smiled. "Its that time, Pat. Are you ready?"

The first one I saw was a short simple name. Logan. The marks never gave you the last name; it left you guessing at that. I raised my wrist and showed Virgil. "Look! It says Logan! There's a Logan at my school, do you think it's him?!" I shouted excitedly, grinning ear to ear. But Virgil wasn't smiling. I slowly frowned. "Virgil? Are you okay? Is something wrong? Are you having an anxiety attack?!"

"No, but you might start having one in a few minutes. L-look at your hand," he said softly. His eyes were wide and his face was pale like he had seen a ghost. I frowned more and looked down at my left hand. Scrawled across my index finger was yet another name. Virgil. My eyes went wide. I looked up at Virgil quickly.

"It's your name, kiddo!" I said brightly. "I sure hope it is you!"

"Um, Pat, there's another one. On your throat." Virgil said gently, a bit scared. I looked at him confused and got a mirror. I gasped; he was right there was another mark on my throat. This one said Roman.

"I have three soulmates! This is fantastic! So many people to love!" I squealed happily. Virgil looked at me and smiled a bit. He laughed softly.

"That's so perfect for you. You are a huge bundle of love and happiness," Virgil said, "Take a few minutes and make sure you don't have anymore." I nodded and shut off my phone camera for a minute and checked over my body. I'm glad Virgil had me check. Fate had written Janus across my right elbow. My last black mark adorned my ankle with the name Remus. A smile lit up my face, and I quickly sat back down at my desk. I brushed back one of my unruly strawberry blonde curls and turned back on my camera. "My favorite gloomy Brit! I have two more!"