23. What’s Underneath a Waterfall? Water. LIAR.

“I’ve got a kitty, yes I do. I’ve got a kitty-who-you-can-never-have-because-he’s-mine.” Cassie sang as she dragged Jolen into my room. Orion and I glanced over at the shrieking Jolen clawing frantically at the floor in the opposite direction of us.

“Jeez. You’d thing he thought we were going to kill him or something. Sissy.” Orion scoffed and went back to reading his book from my beanbag chair.

I looked from Orion to Cassie to Jolen to Orion and back to Cassie. “Huh. I feel like I’ve seen this before. Meh.” I shrugged and resumed the movie I was watching. “So where’d you find sir ragamuffin?” I asked nonchalantly and flew onto my bed.

“Leaving by the back door.” Cassie grinned, hand still grasping Jolen’s leg like a leech.

“Ha. Funny.”

“Watcha watching?” she asked, scraping Jolen against the floor while she strolled over with ease.

“RUG BURN!” Jolen screamed, on the verge of tears.

“A movie about a masked vigilante who is made of pure awesomeness,” I answered, not looking away from the glowy box of entertainment.

“Never heard of it.”

“You’re dead to me.”

“What if I die?”

“You’re double dead to me and I’m not attending your funeral.”





“You know, I think I like having Jolen around.” Orion remarked as we watched a cascading waterfall from the lush grass on top of a cliff. A rainbow shone overhead and the air was pure and....sparkly. Oh, and Jolen dangled from the center of the waterfall as he flopped about like a fish.

I stuck an umbrella thingy in the ground and sat underneath it. “That’s because you aren’t picked on and bears don’t belong in the circus.” I remarked.

Orion gave me a strange look. “Then where do they belong?”

“In prison.”

“Where would the prisoners go?”

“Same place.”

“Ahhhh.” Orion and Cassie breathed.





“You’re insane.” Jolen sulked as he sat drenched at the kitchen table.

“And you are warping the wood. These are things we know.” I plopped a towel in front of him. “When you stink and we tell you to take a shower, you do it.” I scolded him and skipped over to the fridge. “Want anything?”

“Uhmm. You.” He showed his most common facial expression, a cocky grin with mischievous eyes.

“Kay.”

I heard him fall off the chair. “Wha?--really?!”

“Yup.” After rummaging through the cool fridge of yummyness I pulled a container of not-so-yummyness out. “Here you go.” I said, tossing it over at him.

He peeled the label off the front. “…You?” He read the word aloud.

“Yuppers. It’s some kinds of peppermint slash pineapple slash guacamole Cassie made. She named it ‘you’ cuz…well, frankly I don’t know. Enjoy!” I waved and walked down the hallway.





“I’m going back to the waterfalllll.” I yelled at Cassie.

“WHY?” she screamed back.

“BECAUSE I LEFT THE UMBRELLA THERE!” I screamed back.

“Okay, maybe screaming when we’re right next to each other isn’t necessary.” Cassie giggled as I got up and walked to the edge of the door before I jumped up and took off.

“Told you so.”





Umbrella, umbrella. I wandered through the tall grass feeling very much like a safari person. Okay, we’d walked past the tall grass and thennn. I soared into the air and looked down. If only I’d been able to do this that one time when the cops were chasing me because that clown had a restraining order and…nevermind. I spotted the waterfall and darted over. The mist engulfed me as I dove into the cool, clear water.

“Hm.” I said as I spotted something bright near the bottom. The water was a lot deeper than I’d anticipated. I swam closer and closer, squinting hard to see whatever it was. It looked sort of like a person…or a fish. I unfurled my wings and slowly spread them, then closed my eyes and imagined flying through the water. I sped through the water in hyper speed and crashed into something. I flinched and opened my eyes, I was face to face with a girl who looked about fourteen. “What are you doing down here?” I wondered aloud.

“Uh. Nothing. Nothing at all,” she grinned and hid something behind her back.

“You just hid something behind your back.” I rolled my eyes. “What is it?”

“I most certainly did not.” She stuck her chin up and looked to the side completely innocently.

“OH LOOK! A distraction!” I gasped and pointed behind her. She spun around and instantly flinched, realizing what I’d just said. Oh well, too late. I grabbed the ball she held. “Oooo.” I turned it over and examined it. It was a sparkling crystal with a light radiating inside.

“Fine, fine! But it’s mine, give it back.”

“Here.” I tossed it back. I glanced down, then noticing her fishy tail. “Uh. So. You’re a mermaid?”

“No. I’m a rock.” She rolled her emerald eyes and stayed completely still which was somehow very dramatic.

“Sarcasm. I like you.” I grinned. “I’m Luna” I waved then extended my hand then wondered why I’d waved.

“I’m Arae.” She waved also then shook my hand. “I like you too, why don’t you come with me? I need to take this back to the palace.” She held up the crystal and swam away.

“Well. Why not?” I wondered aloud then took off after her.

22. That’s What You Get.

“We have to do that thing we all talked about.” Luna sat across from me at our table, flinging chewed gum at the ceiling. Orion dangled from the ceiling by sticky licorice, dodging the gum.

“LET ME DOWN!” Orion screamed.

“Scalp him?” I asked, leaning my chair back so that I could stare up at him.

“Don’t scalp me, let me down!” Orion screamed.

“I’LL LET YOU DOWN WHEN YOU PROVIDE ME WITH THE DESIRED INFORMATION.” Cassie screamed back then turned back to me calmly. “No, that party thing. Fenrisúlfur and Sirena invited us. It’s in an hour, I think?” she glanced at her watch. “I sit corrected, it’s in thirty-six minutes.”

“LET ME DOWN!” Orion screamed while he squirmed.

“DESIRED INFORMATION.” Cassie yelled back.

“Alright. I suppose we should leave soon then.” I sighed.

“LET ME DOWN!” Orion screamed while he squirmed then screamed again when he saw me point my arm at him. Two shards flew from the bracelet and sliced the candy, making him fall to the ground. “Ow ow ow ow.”

“You said to let you down,” I shrugged as he glared back. “Now what have you learned?”

“Not to say anything while you possess your twisted mind and a lot of candy.” He wriggled free of the yummy ropes and slowly got up. “I’m going…to take…a shower.”

“The information, please.” Cassie stared icily at Orion, who froze with fear.

He sighed. “I ran around the playground nude yelling ‘I am the gingerbread man’ alright?”

I snickered and Cassie burst out laughing. “That’s so…stupid…” she gasped for air. “You’re not made of gingerbread.”

“That’s not the funny part.” I rolled my eyes. “When the teachers were chasing him, he kept yelling ‘Can’t catch meeeee!’ then he broke out of the school and ran down the streets like that. Best day of third grade. Ever. He ran naked.” I pointed at Orion. “And I learned that if you dumped juice on an annoying girl’s dress while the teachers are distracted, you can also dump ants on it.”

“Yeah. Ha. It’s funny. Go on without me, I’ll meet you at the party!” He waved over his shoulder as he walked down the hall.

“Okay, Gingy.” Cassie yelled back.





“Nifty.” I mumbled, staring at all the colorful lights as they swept back and forth across all the people/things. The music invaded my head with a steady beat as I scanned the crowds. “CASSIE?” I yelled at the top of my lungs. It was so loud and crowded I just got weird looks and…a giant swirly color lollipop.

“LUNA!” Sirena waved a couple feet from where I stood so I wandered over. She led me past a good chunk of more people and bright thingamabobbers with those thingies. I saw Cassie fall in behind me and Sirena stopped and turned back around. “Can you hear me?”

“No, I’ve gone deaf.” I grinned.

“Well, I’d like you to meet my friends,” she laughed and gestured to a small group of people about three feet from me. She pointed to a super-tall girl with long and smooth dark purple hair. She looked like a vampire supermodel and had tattoo swirls forming a ringlet on both her arms. Her matching purple eyes danced with joy and mischief. “This is Vix. Don’t let her looks fool you; she probably eats more than half the people here put together.” She grinned.

I glanced back at the mashed together people, there were two hundred, easy. It made me laugh a little when Vix’s jaw dropped. “I do not!” she protested. “That’s Jolen,” she glanced at Sirena and grinned.

“I heard that, Vix!” A voice called from behind me, it sounded eerily familiar. My body stiffened as I faced forward, that is, until a hand grabbed my shoulder. Then I reflexively grabbed it and flipped the owner. “…I should’ve known better. Geez, always violent, Luna.” I stared down, cocked my head to the side and made the Quasimodo face.

“Jolen? What are you doing here?” I asked as he got up, brushing dirt from his black jeans.

Jolen was thin too, just…guy thin, you know? He peeked up at me from under his black hair with his mischievous ghostly blue eyes. We stared at each other for a good twenty seconds before he smirked. He was staring at me. I was staring at his snakebites changing colors from the lights. “I live here.”

“OH!” Sirena broke in awkwardly, “So you know Jolen?” she asked, really not knowing what else to say.

“Yes, we’re lovers--OW! WHAT WAS THAT FOR, LUNA?!” he rubbed his skull where I’d bashed a tree limb against it.

“For lying, you weirdo.” I stuck out my tongue and Cassie caught herself from laughing. “Don’t lie to people or I’ll do things you won’t like.”

“I like everything you do.” He looked me over then met my eyes while wearing a cocky grin. I whacked the branch against his head again. “OW! Okay, stop doing that!” he put his hand up in a ‘stop’ motion as if that would do anything.

I thwacked him again. “Like that?” I stared at him, ready to take another swing. Sirena stood there, shocked; Vix was on the ground laughing.

“Okay, sorry, sorry.” He held his hands up defensively.

I dropped the branch and turned to Sirena. “Yeah, he’s my--” I started to say when Jolen leaned uncomfortably close to my face, making me freeze in surprise. Suddenly a fist flew from the side and connected with Jolen’s face, knocking him unconscious.

“He is her ex.” Orion grinned, putting his arm on my shoulder and leaning on me.

I snapped back to normal “I’m not made for leaning on!” I slapped his arm away and stared down at unconscious Jolen.

“What’re we going to do with him?” Orion asked.

“Take him back to the house and wait for him to wake up?” Cassie offered.

“I sayyy we push him off a cliff and see if he wakes up fast enough to keep from turning into Jolen pancake.”

“What…what just happened?” Sirena asked blankly, clearly confused. Vix was still on the ground, now red and not looking like she was breathing but still laughing.

“WELL.” Fenrisúlfur started, making Sirena jump.

“Don’t do that!” she yelled up at him.

“Do what?” he stared back down at her.

“Sneak up on me!”

“Oh that. Right. Sorry.” He beamed, she blushed. I was bored.

“We have to go!” I said, picking up one of Jolen’s arms, Orion picked up the other. “Had a great time, we’ll leave you two lovebirds alone now.” I winked and took off into the sky alongside Orion and Cassie with Jolen’s body dangling by his arms behind us.

21. We’ve All Got To Deal With It Sooner Or Later.

“ORION!” I screamed cheerily as I flew up from behind and crashed into him. “I’ve been looking ALL over for you, you big lug.”

“I’m neither clumsy nor unintelligent, thank you.” He stuck his tongue out then smiled, revealing his pearly whites. I stared. “What?” His smile faded into a questioning look

“You smiled.” I slumped over and squinted, making one eye look smaller than the other. I imagined it to look sort of like the hunchback of Notre Dame.

“What’s your point, Quasimodo?”

I sucked in air then started talking rapidly. “You never smile. It’s like you’re heart was made by evil elves who rebelled against Santa, determined to create an evil creature who feels NOTHING but evilishness. Hate’s a 24/7 job, anger, oh yeah, I’ve got some time tonight for that! Love? Throw it out the WINDOW!!! Disgust is my weekend pastime!” I took in another breath to continue, but he clamped his hand over my mouth.

“So,” He dragged the words out with a devilish grin plastered on his face, “you’re basically saying that I’m the evil ice god of the universe just that my heart was made by conspiring elves?” He waited a while then removed his hand before I bit him again.

“Yes.” I nodded seriously. He burst out laughing, slowly floating towards the ground. I followed after him.

“You’re something else, Luna.” He sat down on a nearby boulder.

“And you’re someone else.” I bumped him off the boulder and plopped down in his place. He glared at me. I propped my chin up with my arm and smiled innocently at him.

He got up shaking his head with a smile then walked about two feet and sat down on the boulder across from me. “Hey Luna?” he fidgeted.

“Yes, boss?” I stared up at him.

He took a deep breath then let it out. “What do you think about you and me?”

“Hmmm. I think I’m a smile and you’re a frown, therefore, you complete me.” I beamed and made a circle with my hands.

“…That’s the first time I’ve heard anyone say that.” He smirked. “But you know what I mean.”

I sighed and flopped facedown off of the rock, burying my face into the grassy earth. “Mrph.” I grumbled.

“Lunaaa, come on, talk to me,” he pleaded flopping down and lying sideways next to me, poking my side with a twig. Still face down, I reached out and poked him back, zapping him in the process. “OW!”

I turned so that I was face to face with him. “I got more superpowers.”

“Yeah, great.” He rolled his eyes, pushing my hand away.

“If you keep rolling your eyes like that, you’ll turn into a bowling ball.”

“What makes you think that?”

“Someone told me.”

“Who?”

“I did.”

“Oh. Well, I’m not sure if that’s a very reliable source…” He smirked and I punched him in the arm. “OW! Geez, you’re violent.” He teased.

“Yeah suuure. How can you be sure that mutant monkeys didn’t invade the planet and you’re in some illusion thingamabobber and they punched you?”

“You’re so weird.”

“But you love me anyways ‘cause I’m so darn adorable.” I beamed and looked as cute as possible.

He scoffed. “You’re like an evil stuffed animal. They look totally cute and all, but at the time you least expect it, you turn around and they go psychotically savage and kill you.”

“I won’t kill you,” I promised, “unless you turn into a zombie and I’m forced to.”

“You might not kill me, but you’ll probably tear me to shreds.” He smiled but his eyes looked so sad I felt a pang of guilt.

“Look, you know I’m not good with these things…”

“You mean emotions?”

“Yeah, those things.” I grimaced. “They’re unnecessary but somehow needed, unwanted but you know you need it, a circle of things that cause pain but at times completely make up for it with unbelievable amounts of great joy!” I started spinning around, pacing back and forth in the surprisingly short grass. “They’re, they’re just plain incomprehensible! It’s like--”

“Luna!” Orion firmly grabbed me by the shoulders in order to get me to stop moving.

“Uhhh…yes?” I stared back at him as he stared at me staring at him while he stared at me intently.

“I, um…” he searched for the words thoughtfully, breaking the stare and staring at the sky while he gnawed on his lip. Taking a deep breath, he gazed back at me, his dark eyes swirling with emotion. “You know how you’re not good at uh, emotions?” My heart skipped a beat, or two, or more, I think it stopped. His arms slipped from my shoulders and dropped to his sides. He stared down and glanced nervously back. “Well, I’m not so great with words, so I’m just going to say it.”

“Go for it.” I gave him a dorky thumbs up.

“I like you, Luna. A lot.” He blurted out, fidgeting nervously.

“Well, uh. I--” the words started to slip through my lips without my telling them to do so. “I--”

“HEYYYYYYYYYY!” Cassie screamed as she came crashing down through the trees like a pixie pilot who’s plane blew up. She smashed into they ground with a loud “THWAK” sound. “Okay, ow. Ow, OWWW. Oh my gosh, that hurt!” She said as she dusted herself off. “Oh, no. Don’t catch me,” she glared at the both of us, “I’m only hurtling towards the ground at thirty miles an hour. Catch her? Nah, the GROUND WILL BREAK HER FALL.” She yelled towards us.

“Oh.” I said. “That was a ‘catch me I’m hurtling towards the ground at high speeds’ hey? I thought it was the ‘watch this impact, it’s going to be hilarious’ hey.” I smirked, taking a couple steps from Orion and stretching my wings.

“Uh…” She glanced from him to me and back. “Did I interrupt something?”

I shared a knowing look with Orion, something we’d done for as long as I could remember. He smiled half-heartedly for a second before we both turned to Cassie and said in unison, “Yes. We were just plotting your demise by electric mind controlling gummi bears.”

“Freaky.” She grinned.

20. I Think You’re Too Serious.

I sighed as I stared down at the thick forest beneath me. Thinking back on it, my life had seriously changed in the past couple days. I always knew about the thing with Orion, but I figured I’d deal with it when I was forced to. Should I consider myself a freak now that I’d sprouted wings and gotten superpowers? I didn’t feel that’d be right. I was born like this. I just grew up somewhere… different. I kind of missed my old life, my parents, my friends… OK, so maybe Orion was pretty much the only friend that hadn’t moved away or anything, but still. And as far as the whole “crisis” here went, it was pretty lame for a world threatening situation. I couldn’t tell right now if my life was awesome or sucked. But like most times I start thinking, I jammed the thoughts as far back in my mind as possible and continued on like nothing happened.





“You know, Cassie, you really should think before you say something.” Orion sighed as he walked through the forest with her.

“Well, gee. My bad. I kinda thought when guys smile and say they love someone, they wouldn’t mind telling people.” She said, followed by Orion glaring and an awkward silence. “OK, so I didn’t think.” She grumbled.

“Uh huh. That’s something new,” he rolled his eyes. “You do realize that we need to find her since SOMEONE,” he glared icily again, “opened their mouth and scared her off.”

“I didn’t scare her off; she seemed perfectly fine when she left.” Cassie gestured with an arm in the direction Luna had gone.

“Yeah, well, she’s not fine. Luna ALWAYS plays it cool then takes off to think about stuff, and sometime wayyy later when she’s all alone, she’ll have a mini-meltdown. She doesn’t like to worry people and, honestly, I think you’d start freaking out if she cried.”

“I would not! ...Stop glaring at me like that. How would you know Luna so well, I’m her sister! You’re just--” she mentally sifted through words, clenching and unclenching her fists as if to actually grab a word from thin air.

“A bodyguard, peasant, guy?”

“YES! That one!” She pointed repeatedly at him while he just stared back. “Well, all of those actually.”

“I grew up with Luna, therefore I fluently speak Luna language, verbal and nonverbal.”

“Well, that’s not fair!” Cassie flung he arms up and cried out, exasperated.

“Life’s not fair, Cassie.” Orion grinned then flew upwards, piercing through the trees, his eyes scanning for Luna over the horizon.

19. Oh, The Things You’ll Hear.

“Okay, so we dropped the guy off at the happy place, can you guys take me exploring nowww?” I begged as we all soared through the air above the thick forest that ran for hundreds of miles.

“Sure.” Cassie grinned and dove straight down into the thicket of trees, followed by Orion.

“Hey! You can’t leave me here!” I shouted after them. “Okay, maybe you can.” I laughed and flew down after them.





“So. This is the forest.” Orion scratched the back of his head as we all stood there.

“Hm.” I stared at all the different colored flowers and the bushes. “Are those strawberries?!” I gasped and ran over to a pile of strawberries lying on the ground. I shrieked as something came up from the ground and swallowed me.

“Well…” Orion started, trying his best to keep from laughing, “yes, and you just fell in a trap.” He burst out laughing after staring at me in the net for a couple more seconds.

“Shut up!” I stuck my tongue out.

Cassie was already on the ground, laughing.

“Fine. If crazy quicksand monsters chase us later, I’m tripping you both.” I cut the rope with my now-apparently sharp nails and hopped out. “You’re both buttheads.” I said as dignified as possible and started walking off.





“Come on, Lunaaa.” Cassie whined as she tugged at the rope net that now held her and Orion.

“I don’t know…” I grinned as I stared up at them, they’d triggered a trap when they were running after me. It’s funny how the whole situation is a lot more humorous when it doesn’t happen to you.

“We’re sorryyy.” She whimpered, pawing at the rope with puppy eyes. “Orion, say you’re sorry.” She jabbed him in the side with her elbow.

“Ow! No.” He sulked and tried his best to turn his back to me.

“Dude, you’re in so much trouble. She’s the queen AND can kick your butt.” Cassie grinned.

“She can not!” he yelled at Cassie, it was entertaining, so I sat down and started eating the strawberries I’d picked up earlier.

“You’re just in denial.” She declared.

“I think I’m beginning to hate you both.” He glared.

“Well, gosh. You can hate me. Just don’t hate your girlfriend.”

“Who?” He raised an eyebrow at her.

“Luna.” She pointed at me. Orion’s jaw dropped and I started choking on the apple. “Well, isn’t she?”

“NO!” we both managed to shout at the same time. “Cassie,” I shook my head, “where did you get an idea like that?”

“From Orion.” She stated.

“What?” Orion stared at her disbelievingly.

“You talk in your sleep and when I was passing by your room, you said ‘I love you, Luna’ and then you smiled.” Orion’s face reddened like a tomato and his eyes widened when she said that.

“Huh.” I said then flew up and cut them both loose. “Well, this kinda makes things awkward so I’m going to fly around for a while.”

“Okie dokie!” Cassie yelled after me as I took off.

18. No Rope? Use Candy.

“What’s wrong?!” I burst into the kitchen, gripping a crowbar in both hands.

Cassie and Orion turned around then stared with their mouths practically falling off their faces when they saw the crowbar. “Where did you get that?” Cassie managed to blurt out.

“Oh…um…” I stared at the crowbar in my hands. “Y’know, I really don’t know.” I laughed.

“We don’t even have those here!” she flailed her arms dramatically.

“Yeah, well, why’d you guys scream?” I asked, the moment suddenly felt a tad bit awkward.

“You know the rumors of a mass murderer?” Orion said.

“Uh… yeah?”

“They were true, apparently.” He stared down at the floor in front of me; a guy that looked like he jumped out of a horror movie was lying there. You couldn’t really see his face or anything since he was all bundled up in dirt covered clothes, and he’d been lugging around a bloody axe that now lay next to him.

“Well,” I crouched down and rolled him over with the crowbar, “why’s he on the ground?”

“Cassie hit him.” Orion grinned.

“With what?” I cocked my head to the side while staring down at the guy, it looked like he was just knocked unconscious, but I didn’t know for sure and I wasn’t about to touch him.

“Uh.” She held up her now-bent spoon that she had been eating cereal with earlier.

“You hit him…with a spoon?” I stared disbelievingly at her.

“Yes?” she fidgeted nervously.

“A serial killer shows up and you hit him with a sugar covered spoon?”

“Uh-huh.”

“Well, gosh. You could’ve at least cleaned it first. Now bees will go after him or something. So is he just unconscious?”

“I think so.” Orion now stood next to me, staring down at the guy.

“Alright. Do we have any rope to tie him up with?” I asked, gingerly plucking the axe off the ground and putting it in the sink.

“I have super long twizzlers.” Cassie said.

“No. I’m eating those later, we need rope. Or at least a candy thing none of us like.”

“You two are unbelievable.” Orion shook his head and pulled out some plain rope from the closet next to the front door. He held the rope out to me.

“What?” I squinted at it as if I’d never seen anything like it before.

“Tie him up?” he said questionably.

“You do it, he’s covered in dirt. Besides, you’re the guy.”

“Whatever.” He grunted as he flipped the body over and started tying it up.

“Hey, Orion?”

“Yeah?”

“Can we go for ice cream after this?”

17. Right. No Big Deal At All.

“Time to fly, time to flyyy.” I started singing softly as I dug through my dresser, looking for some shorts.

“Lunaaa.” I heard a muffled voice from somewhere very close by.

I spun around to find no one behind me. “Hellooo?” I walked to the door and shouted down the hallway. Orion grunted a reply from the corner in the kitchen and Cassie was humming as she ate breakfast. She’d been there for an hour and ate slower than rocks did.

“Luna?” I heard it again, this time I could tell that it came from behind me.

I walked back into my room. “Yeah?” I waited a while and listened before I heard it again; it seemed to be coming from the dresser.

“Since when are elves into stalking people?” I asked as I dug through the dresser, looking for the tiny little thing hiding somewhere in there.

The voice was clear as I heard it this time, but it didn’t say Luna. Instead it yelled “YOUR MOTHER IS NOT AN ELF, NOW PICK UP THE NECKLACE RIGHT THIS INSTANT!!!”

“Huh. I picked up the little trinket from the bottom of the drawer and stared at it. So it was my mother who’s been sounding all stalker-like.”

“Luna.” The little black oval said.

“Yes?”

“Do you ever think before you say something?”

“Yes, I do. And then I wonder what I was thinking.”

“My goodness.” She mumbled. “Well, did you settle the dispute between King Fenrisúlfur and Lady Sirena?”

“Uh huh. Party later. Fun.”

“Alright. Oh, and one other little thing.”

“Yeah, mom?”

“Hmm… maybe not. I’m not sure it’s such a big deal.”

“What is it?”

“Well…”

“What?!”

“Did you take care of the mass murderer?”

“What mass murderer?” I stared blankly at the necklace. Then I heard it.

Cassie and Orion shrieked from the kitchen.

“Oh, it’s probably nothing. There’s just been rumors of a mass murderer going around and--” I dropped the necklace and took off towards the kitchen.

16. Maybe You Know Them Too Well?

“Get upppp.” I sighed as I tried to drag Cassie out of her bed.

“Five more minutes,” she whined, pulling the covers up over her head as she curled up into a little ball.

“…Orion’s in your bed.”

“WHAT?!” she shrieked, bolting upright. She got tangled in the covers as she tried to stand up and instead fell with a hard ‘THUD’.

“Just kidding.” I smirked as I dug through her dresser. I pulled out some light jeans and a plain white t-shirt and tossed them over to her. “You have to show me around before the thing tonight.”

“Ugh, you’re evil,” she groaned, picking herself up off the floor, “what thing?” picking the clothes up, she wandered into the bathroom and shut the door.

“The party.” I sat down, my back against the door. “With Fenrisúlfur and Sirena, remember?”

“Oh. Right. You’re still evil though.” She grinned as she opened the door and I fell.





“Get. Up.” I sighed once again as I beat Orion mercilessly with the ultimate weapon. A fluffy pillow.

“Ten more minutes,” he blindly tried to grab the pillow from me as he pulled the covers tighter, his mess of black hair the only thing sticking out.

“…You know Cassie’s in your bed, right?”

“Ha. Ha. I’m not falling for that.” He turned to the other side and his smirk disappeared as he screamed, “CASSIE?!”

“Hiya.” She waved as she stared face to face with him.

He backed up quickly and fell off the bed at my feet; he landed with a harder ‘THUD’ than Cassie had. “What is she doing in my bed?!”

“I figured it would be easier to wake you up if you started freaking out.” I grinned.

“You’re evil.” He groaned, still lying on the floor.

“So I’ve been told.” I laughed and grabbed Cassie as I headed out of Orion’s room. “Hurry and get up or you’ll miss breakfast.”

“You ruined my appetite when you dislodged my stomach,” he stuck he tongue out at me as I slammed the door.





“Sho whash ar ee ooing ooday?” Orion asked as he crammed his mouth full of chocolate chip pancakes.

Cassie was staring at Orion with a disgusted look on her face, not being able to tear her gaze from him.

“Well, first we’ve going to have to rush you to the ER when you choke on those,” I gestured to what filled his chipmunk looking cheeks, “after that, I want you guys to show me around, like what’s here and stuff.”

He finished chewing and swallowed before he spoke this time “Sounds alright. Just don’t go to the swamp, there’s quicksand.”

“But I can flyyy?” I grinned and flew around the kitchen, just a foot or two above the floor.

“Nuh uh. Our quicksand isn’t like on earth. Ours can chase after you, grab you, and THEN it sucks you under.”

“Well…that’s rude.” I sat down at the table next to them and folded my arms.

“Rude?” he looked at me as though to question my choice of a certain word.

“Yes. Like you sometimes.” I beamed, still sitting in the chair and lying partially on the table.

“I’m not rude.” He glared.

“Yes you are.” I propped my head up with my hands and glared back.

“Nuh uh!”

“You’re rude AND impatient.” I sat up and waved my arms dramatically.

“You’re testing my patience!”

“And you’re getting a C!” I half-screamed.

“Luna! Shut up!” he yelled.

“Oh.” I said quietly. “Now it’s a F. Go to your corner and sit there until I tell you otherwise.”

We all stared intently at each other with poker faces. Cassie was the first to start laughing, we followed right after. “I thought you were serious at first.” She giggled.

Orion and I exchanged looks before I said, “We were, now go sit in the corner, Orion.”

“Oh, come on!” he frowned.

“Go or I’m telling what you did in third grade.”

“FINE!” He picked his chair up and carried to a corner then sat down and faced the wall. “I hate you.”

“Love ya too.” I smirked.

15. Well… That Was Easy.

“What exit button?!” I shrieked, still falling.

“We were in one of those virtual rooms, except, it was real.” Orion tried, unsuccessfully, to explain.

“Uh?”

“It was real but it wasn’t.”

“…Brilliant.” I dug through my pocket, making sure the necklace was still there. It was.

“It’s an actually place, but it was created and it can appear or disappear?” He scratched his head thoughtfully.

“Forget it, I think I got it. Why are we falling though?”

“We’re not.” He flicked a switch, the lights came on and we all fell onto a cushy floor. “I thought you could see in the dark?”

“She can’t use her powers till later because she blew up.” Cassie opened a door and walked out. “Come onnnnn.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Orion sighed, picking himself up then helping me. “Our world is identical to yours as far as looks, just so you know. But we don’t have humans.”

“Great.” I trudged out of the room after Cassie. “Where’s Fenrisúlfur and Sirena?”

“Over there.” She pointed to some far off mountains. “It shouldn’t take us too long to get there.”





I stared disbelievingly at the two screaming teenagers before me, Fenrisúlfur and Sirena. They were both rather beautiful, or they would have been, if not for the screaming. “SHUT UP!” I screamed back at them. “You’re killing your families for that? That tiny bit of land?!” I pointed to a small island off in the distance.

“I want it!” they shouted in unison.

“Are there any inhabitants on the island?” I asked them.

“Faeries and Sprites, but they’ll be gone soon enough.” Fenrisúlfur shrugged.

“Why do you two want the island?”

“A summer home.” They both said in unison again.

“Let me get this straight. You want that little island that’s already inhabited. So you’re going to kill your families and drive away the current residents for a summer home?”

“…” they both stood there, silent and embarrassed.

“You two are supposed to be wise leaders! Act like it! That island is going to stay the way it is, and you two are going to stop fighting. Understand?”

“Yes.” They both mumbled, staring down at their feet. I bit my lip to keep from laughing. They were both about my age. Fenrisúlfur was rather muscular and Sirena was petite, she reminded me of an elf, except for her red eyes.

“Well,” I sighed. “Go home, and I don’t know, have a party or whatever. Get along instead of acting like kids.”





I shooed them out of the room two hours later laughing so hard I thought that I was going to die. “Okay…. I’ll be… there…. tomorrow.” I managed to say between gasps.

“Great!” They said in unison for like, the fifty millionth time.

“Okay, bye bye!” I held a grin for a while then fell over laughing again.

“What was that about?” Orion and Cassie walked through the door staring at me as I kept laughing.

“Oh nothing, nothing. But we’re going to a party tomorrow night.” I finally stopped laughing and managed to clamber to my feet. I yelped from the pain in my sides. “War’s over. ‘nighty night.”

14. Who’s To Say What’s Reality?

“Lunaaaaa!” I heard Cassie yelling through the forest behind me. “Lunaaaaaa!”

“God, if you love me, you won’t tell her where I am.” I prayed as I stayed on my back, staring up at the sky.

“Hi, Luna!” Cassie waved as she walked over.

“Who told you where I was?” I asked, squinting from the light.

“Orion.”

I stared up at the sky in silence for a few moments before pointing and yelling, “That’s not funny!”

“Who’re you talking to?” she stared blankly at me.

“Oh, just someone who thinks it’s funny to do what I say.” I sighed, getting up. “So. What am I supposed to do?”

“Huh?” she cocked her head to the side, still staring blankly.

“Didn’t you say there was this big battle thingy going on? With like vampires and stuff?”

“Well, mainly just the vamps an werewolves,” she stared up at the sky thoughtfully. “Yeah, just them now, the others settled things over a giant party.”

“Okay… what’s the deal?” I yawned and slumped to the ground poking at random wildflowers with a blade of grass.

“Territory stuff. New land was discovered and they both want it, so they’ve been in a war. A veryyyyy bloody war,” she said with giant eyes.

“Oh. Who’s in charge?”

“You.”

“I meant of the individual parties.”

“Oh. That would be. Uhm. What were their names…” she wondered around in a trance-like state until she hit a giant boulder and fell down. “King Fenrisúlfur and Lady Sirena.” Cassie blurted suddenly then gasped. “I… I can think again.”

I stared at her blankly “Cassie, how hard did you hit your head?”

“Hard enough to be able to understand that I’ve been acting incredibly stupid for the past few years.” She returned my blank stare. “NO WAY!” we shrieked at the same time.

“That’s great and all, but where do we go to see the peoples in charge?”

“Um…” she fidgeted for a moment then tossed the giant boulder she had run into to the side. “The button’s here, I think… AHA!” I heard a click then everything went black and we were falling through nothing.

“WHAT DID YOU DO?!” I screamed.

“I think she pressed the exit button.” Orion yawned from somewhere behind me.

13. There’s Nothing To Say, Just Be Speechless.

“Please?”

“No.”

“Please?”

“No.”

“Please?”

“Luna! What has my answer been the first twenty million times you asked?” Orion asked through gritted teeth as we walked back through a forest to see Cassie.

“Yes?”

“No.”

“No?”

“Yes.”

“Yes?”

“Stop that!” He wailed. “I swear if I was locked in a room with you, I’d die within the hour.”

“You probably would.” I grinned. “Can I please have a piggy back ride?”

“You have legs. Use them.”

“But what if I have some rare disease that will make me crippled if I keep walking? Then you’ll have to take care of me for the rest of your life.”

“…”

“Please?”

“FINE! But no talking.”





“Luna!” Cassie screamed, running to meet us. “EEEEEE!!!!” she squealed as she tackled the both of us.

“OWWWWWW. My arm doesn’t bend that way!” Orion yelped.

“Then why did it just bend that way?” I asked.

“…”

“You’re back!!!” Cassie shrieked.

“Thank you, Sherlock.”

“Where were you?”

“Places that are of no concern to you. Anything happen while we were gone?” I yawned, flopping back, onto the grass.

“Not really, some guy stole my wallet then I think he got mauled by a bear.” She said, looking deep in thought.

“No, I meant anything important.” I stared back blankly.

“Ummm, nope, don’t think so. Oh! Yeah, something did. I saw a bat in a tree.”

“And you didn’t tell me sooner?! Let’s go, I wanna see it!” I bolted up and started pushing her.

“It’s over there.” She pointed to one of the giant purple trees nearby.





“Cassie. This is a cat. Not a bat.” I trotted over to her and Orion holding the tiny black cat in my arms.

“Really?” she asked wide-eyed.

“…Cassie.”

“Yes?” she giggled, reaching out towards the cat only to have it hiss at her and bat her hand away.

“Be glad you’re pretty.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re almost as smart as a pile of rocks.”

“I’m like a bunch of brains put together?”

“Orion.”

“Yes?”

“I think I just lost some IQ points. If you need me, I’ll be bashing my head against some rocks trying to circulate the blood through my brain.”

12. That’s...Pleasant?

“OOH, OOH, PICK THIS!” I waved a tiny ring in the air.

“A ring…really?” Orion grimaced and dropped the pile of random swordy things he’d gathered into the bigger pile of random swordy things. Walking over he stretched his arms, “Luna, we’ve been at this for half an hour and all you found was a ring?”

“Well. If you’re going to be like that then I guess I’ll take it.” I tossed my hair and turned my back to him.

“Ugh, don’t be like thatttttttt. Ooo, pretty shiny thing.”

I turned around to see him staring straight at me. “Liar!” I gasped, dramatically clinging to my chest. “And oh! Woe is me, for I am but a mere damsel in these times,” I stood up and started pacing, “These dark times of great distress, these dark times of horrid anguish. Mankind is suffering, but it shan’t end like this! I will fight! I will--”

“Luna.” Orion clamped his hand over my mouth and stared into my eyes.

“Mph?” I stared back.

“I’ll take the ring if you’ll stop that.” He said, gingerly plucking the ring from my fingers.

I grinned. Then bit him.

“OWWW! What was that for?!” he shook his hand, as if that would make the pain go away.

“I SHALL NOT BE SILENCED!” I hopped on top of a rock and struck a heroic pose.

“Yeah, great.” He picked up three similar looking rings to the one I’d found and stuck them on two fingers of both hands. He pointed at the wall and four beams shot through the cave wall. “Can we go now?”

“Sure.” I hopped of the rock and started heading back to the beach.





“Are you sure we have to do this?” Orion gulped as we stared at the gleaming fins, sliding through the water. “We’re gonna die.”

“We are not going to die. Ready?”

“No.”

“Too bad.” I aimed the bracelets at several fins. The sharks shrieked. “Since when do sharks shriek?”

“This is a different dimension?” he guessed.

“Whatever.” I sighed and flew up, above the water. “Can we breathe underwater?” I stared down as he flew up next to me.

“Duh.”

“Fine. Die alone.” I dove into the water without waiting for him.





“MRLBGL!” Orion shouted as I picked up a tiny pitch-black necklace, bubbles flying from his mouth.

“Shut up, you don’t know how to talk underwater.” The words came out bubbly, but understandable. I stared at the necklace. It was plain, just a pitch-black, flat oval hanging from a thin chain, but you could faintly feel energy coming from it. What’s that supposed to say, mom’s got a black soul? I smirked at the thought and swam back up with Orion, past all the dead diamond-like sharks.

11. Life’s Everything But Boring.

“THERE IT IS!” I shrieked pointing at a cave.

“Ow! My ear! How about not shouting in it for once?” Orion whimpered as he covered his ears. “There what is?”

“The cave!” I giggled excitedly.

“Yeahhhh…?”

“Oh, right. I saw my dead mom in a dream. She told me that we need to get this amulet thingy that she dropped in the water where the sharks were, but that the sharks were made of diamond. So we hafta get the weapon in the cave so we can go underwater and get the thing without dying.”

There was that look again.

“What?!” I threw my arms in the air dramatically. “You’re looking at me like I’m crazy or something.”

“Just another one of Luna’s crazy ideas, just another one of Luna’s crazy ideas, just another one of Luna’s crazy ideas…” he mumbled and wandered ahead of me to the cave.

“Well, glad to see he believes me.” I laughed and followed after him.





“So, here’s a tree…in a cave…what are we supposed to do with it?” Orion asked, walking around the tree and staring at it.

“We get that.” I pointed up near the top of the tree. “The question is, how?” I stared up, trying to think of an idea.

“Luna.” Orion stopped to stare at me.

“Yeah?” I asked, still gazing at the top.

“You have wings.”

“Ohhhh, right, right.” I flew up and grabbed the clear, shiny object then flew back down. “Well, what is it?” I asked, staring at the box.

“I dunno, I think that’s a button though.” He pointed to one side of the box.

“Alrighty then.” I grinned and pressed the button. There was whirring and a clunk then it sprung open with and explosion. “Well…that was unexpected.” I stared at all the different weapons on the floor. They varied from daggers, to swords, to spiky ball thingies with chains, to whatever that thing over there was. “Ooo, I like these.” I picked up two long bracelets and clipped them on. “How do they work?...”

“You look like Wonder Woman now.” Orion grinned.

“You. Dork.” I laughed and pointed my arms at the wall. “Whoa!” I fell backwards as something came out of the bracelets. Long, clear, shards stuck in the wall across from me. “Awesome.” I got back up and turned towards Orion.

“I swear if you point that at me, I’m leaving.” He stared at my arms while in “Ready-to-Run” mode.

“Chill out, I’m not going to kill you.”

“Alright,” he relaxed and started rummaging through the weapons, “don’t injure me either.” After a while, he picked up a sword and stuck it in his hilt.

“Seriously?”

“What?”

“That’s so old fashioned. We’re staying here until you pick something cooler.” I yawned then plopped down on the ground.

10. Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend.

“Where are we going?” Orion whined. He flew after me as we soared above the ocean. “We just get here, and then BOOM!!! You blow up, then act like nothing ever happened, get up on your wings and soar in an uncharted area where you’ve never been, by the way.”

“Will you relax?” I rolled my eyes and started spinning through the air. “You worry too much.”

“That’s because you don’t worry enough! You don’t even know where we’re going, for all you know this could be as safe as a death trap!” He waved his arms dramatically with bulging eyeballs.

“I’m sure it’s perfectly safe. We’re like, fifty feet above the water anyways, what could possibly reach…uh oh.” I stared down at a blindingly bright object from the water come closer and closer. “That looks sorta like a--”

“Shark!” Orion yelled, pulling me back right before the giant glistening creature chomped at the spot where I’d just been.

“Well…that was rude.” I stared down as the shark plummeted into the water.

“…You’re either the bravest or dumbest person I know.” Orion said as he stared at me like I’d just sprouted…never mind.

“Orrrr both.” I grinned. “Come on, we’re almost there!” I laughed and sped off again, higher this time.

“Where?” He squinted ahead then flew into a cloud and came out soaking wet. “Okay, ew. Why does all this happen to me?”

“There!” I pointed to the giant sparkling island barely in view up ahead. “And I don’t know. You’re just that lucky, I guess.”

“Lucky, right. Geez, oh man, look at that.” He pointed down towards the gleaming ocean. “Is that more of those things?”

I glanced down. “You want to find out?” I stared at him questioningly.

“Uh, nah, I’m good. Don’t really feel like being eaten alive today by invincible carnivorous sharks.”

“They’re not invincible, just almost.” I giggled.

“…I don’t even want to know why you’re laughing.” He narrowed his eyes.




“Polished diamond trees? This is unbelievable, how was this never discovered before?” Orion gaped at the island with wide eyes.

“Oh, I don’t know. I mean, it’s not like there’s anything, y’know, DANGEROUS on the way here.” I smirked and headed farther into the blinding forest. “Ugh, too bright,” I grimaced then pulled a pair of sunglasses from my pocket.

“Where’d you get those?” he asked while shielding his eyes and walking behind me. “And where’d you get that?” he pointed to the diamond necklace around my neck.

“Meh, where I get most of my stuff.” I shrugged and handed him a pair of sunglasses too.

“Which would be?”

“Places that are of no concern to you.”

9. Anything Can Happen...Right?

“DUDE! That was so awesome! Let’s go again! Comeoncomeoncomeon!” I dragged Orion back towards the swirly portal of dark rainbow swirliness. “We were like shwoom! An it was all whoosh. Then the spinning and the falling! And, and, hey what’s up with you?” I glanced at the groaning Orion as he rubbed his temples.

“Dimension travel gives me a headache, okay?!” he snapped, ripping his arm from mine. “Now where’s the lights?” he fumbled around blindly, tripping over a step.

“What? The lights are on already, right?” I glanced around the dungeon looking room. “Where are we? And why are these stones purple and glowy? Where’s the furniture? Why is the room empty?! Except for that!” I pointed to a neon blue flower stuck to the wall.

“No, the lights aren’t on genius-…wait, you can see?” He spun around, tripping over his own feet. “And why the hell are you so hyper?”

“Duh, you can’t? Are you blind or something?” I rolled my eyes, and helped him up. Walking over to the wall, I poked the flower. A mechanical screech filled the room then it suddenly got brighter. “Ow.”

“I can see! Sweet, so-” He stopped short when he saw me, his face filled with confusion and terror.

“What?”

“Uh…Luna…don’t panic. Just, um…” He said, slowly inching into a corner.

“What do you mean don’t panic? IhavetonsofenergyandIfeelgreat!” I shrieked, suddenly I felt like a bouncy ball in hyper speed. Orion gasped and a giant boom sounded.




“Huh. All that changed was basically the paleness of her skin.” I heard Orion say from a few feet away.

“Yeah, and the fact that she, I don’t know, sprouted wings!” A girl cried happily.

“Ughhh,” I groaned getting up off the ground…wait, off the…oh, crap. I stared at Orion and a familiar looking girl from several feet up above them. “What the hell?! Orion, get me down!”

“LUNA!” Then girl shrieked and flew at me, knocking me off balance. “I knew you’d come, I just knew it. Because you’re my sister and you’d never abandon me and-”

“Cassie, shhh.” I covered her mouth with one arm and focused until I reached the ground. “Alright, why do I look like I’ve never seen the sun, and when did I get these?!” I flapped my wings, trying to look at them, but not succeeding.

“Because you turned into a shadow when you exploded.” Cassie grinned, still clinging onto me.

“Eh?”

“Dimension travel is different for each shadow, and deadly for humans. Orion gets headaches. When you traveled through, energy filled your human body to the point of explosion. After that, your shadow body broke free, so now you’re like this,” she nodded.

“Oh. Goody. Well, at least I can fly now.” I sighed, flopping back to stare at the sky. “I have to go. Orion, you’re coming with me.”

“But what about me?” Cassie frowned, putting on a sad puppy face.

“You can make us dinner, we should be back in a couple hours. If not, just assume we’re dead.” I smirked then took off with Orion dangling by my arm.

8. A Pinch Of Reality, And A Gallon Of Crazy.

“Well, we have one hour until the portal opens. Until then, I’m going to be sleeping. Because this is all just some crazy dream and I’ll wake up eventually.” I stood up and groaned as my aching muscles screamed in pain.

“This isn’t a dream, Luna. You’re not going to wake up from it because it’s reality, and you’ll have to accept that.” He sighed, walking over to the fridge and pulling out a bag of marshmallows. “Go to sleep, you’ll need your energy.”

“Why? So I can go through something like a sci-fi movie?! I didn’t ask for this and I don’t want it. It’s your fault I’m here in the first place!” I huffed and threw a couple pillows at him.

“What?! How is it MY fault? Huh?” He yelled, throwing the bag of marshmallows at me.

“You could’ve just let me die when I was a baby! Who knows, I might’ve survived anyways! I don’t need someone to protect me, alright? Just…just go!” I shrieked, jerking my arm to point at the door. Orion flew through the air and slammed into the door.

“Ughh.” He groaned, getting back up as I raced over.

“Orion, are you okay?!” I asked, helping him over to the bed. “Why the hell did you fling yourself into the door?!” Plucking pillows up from the ground, I rolled him onto the bed and shoved the pillows underneath his head.

“That wasn’t me, it was you.” He grinned weakly then closed his eyes.

“You- you’re not dying, right?!” I shook his shoulders and he let out a yelp. Pushing my hands away, he laughed.

“Of course I’m not dying. But marble doors hurt, you know. And you slammed me into it pretty hard.” He smiled and pulled me into a hug. “No more slamming people into doors, hm?”

“Yeah, okay,” I blushed and squirmed out of his arms. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to. I just got so mad and…and…” I started waving me arms frantically.

“I know, you didn’t know that you could do that, right? Listen, we have about fifty minutes of sleep, so we better use it, kay?”

“Alright,” I sighed and plopped onto the couch, “but if we get killed, I’m blaming you.” I smirked, pulling blankets over my head.

“You would.”




“Luna.”

“Mmm, no, lemme sleep.”

“Luna!”

“Noooo…”

“LUNA, WAKE UP!” A woman shrieked, making my eyes snap open.

“What?! Ow!” I shielded my eyes from the bright light she emitted.

“Look at me.”

“I’ll pass, thanks. Don’t wanna go blind anytime soon.” I shrugged, not lowering my arm.

“Look at your mother when she speaks to you!”

“Wha?!” I lowered my arm to stare at her. She had my straight black hair, my blue eyes, and my pale skin. Her presence was commanding and she wore the smirk I normally did. “Mom? I thought you were dead!”

“Well, gee. Thanks.” She rolled her eyes. “I am, but you’re dreaming. This is the only time I will be able to talk to you like this unless…”

“Unless what?”

“Well, there’s this necklace…but it’s in the Shadow’s Realm. I put a part of my soul into it so that I would be able to speak to people even after I died.”

“That’s weird.”

“Yes, but it works! Well, it does, but I dropped it into the ocean when I was flying a couple years ago.” She smiled nervously.

“Smooth move. So, I’ll look for it. Where is it in the ocean?”

“I think I dropped it in an area filled with sharks. It’s near an island with trees that grow weapons of diamonds and gold.”

“What is this?! Fairy Tale Land? Great, so I’ll pick up a couple weapons, kill the sharks, and get the necklace.”

“It’s not that easy.”

“What? Why not?”

“Well, uh, the sharks…are…made of diamond.”

“Oh! Great!” I threw my hands up and sighed. “What am I supposed to do, huh?”

“On the island, there is one tree. It is hidden deep within a cave, it emits a strong light and it itself is enormous. The weapon it makes will be tougher than diamonds, it’s clear and deathly sharp. If you can get it, you can kill the sharks.”

“Well, that’s great. I feel like an elf on a quest. So why didn’t you talk to me before?”

“When you were hidden as a baby, even I didn’t know where you were. Either half of you.”

“Yeah, so, what happened to the other me?”

“She died.”

“Great.”

“Oh no! I have to go, as soon as you’re in the Realm, take Orion with you to look for the island, no one else.”

“Gotcha. Bye, mom.”

“Goodbye, Artemis.”

“Who’s Artemis?”

“You are! Luna is just your nickname.”

“Oh.” I smirked then blacked out.




“LUNA!”

“AGH!” I screamed and fell off of the couch. “What?” I snapped at Orion.

“It’s time to go.” He laughed, helping me to my feet. “So, think you’re ready? Being as you were freaking out a little while ago.”

“I’m never ready.”

“Alright, it should be here any moment,” he mumbled, dragging me to the center of the room. “Now Luna, no matter what happens, stay calm. Don’t freak out.”

“Gotcha,” I grinned and gave him a thumbs up. “I mean, have you ever known me to do something stupid?”

“Yes.” He stared blankly at me.

“Yeah, well, who asked for your opinion?” I stuck my tongue out at him.

“Uh, you?”

“Yeah, yeah. Shut up.”

“Here it comes!” He yelled, as a gust of wind swept through the room. A circle appeared in front of us. As it got bigger and bigger, it looked like a black hole, waiting to suck us in.

“Whoa…dude, this is awesome.”

“Just wait till you’re on the other side. You’ll get to meet your subjects, your sisters, the animals.”

“Do the animals look weird?”

“Some of them.”

“Am I going to die by the black hole tearing me to shreds? And then the pieces of me drift on throughout space but no one ever finds them?”

“No, now let’s go!” he laughed and pulled me into it.

7. Always More To Life.

By the time I walked into the room, Orion had fallen asleep on the bed. “Orion, wake up.” I walked over and started poking him.

“Nyuuuh,” he groaned and pulled the covers over his head.

“I get to sleep during daylight, you don’t.” I jumped onto bed, ripping the covers from him. Flopping down, I buried myself in the covers.

“Ugh.” Groggily he got out of bed and went over to the fridge, pulling a sandwich and some juice out of it. “Cover stealer.” He smirked at the giant bundled up lump on the bed.

“It’s what I do.” I grinned.

“Of course it is,” he flicked on the T.V. and drank some juice.

“What kind of sammich is that?” I asked, scurrying across the floor with the blankets.

“Turkey. Last one.” He waved it in front of my face and took a bite. “But, as you now know, it’s mine.” He shrugged and started flipping through the channels.

“Like hell, it is.” I grabbed the sandwich, tore of the part he’d bitten and tossed it back at him. “It’s mine now, loser.” I smirked and stole his juice.

“Hey, that was mine!” he grabbed for it and I pulled it away. “And that was my sandwich.”

“Keyword being was.” I snickered then shoved the whole sandwich in my mouth and slowly ate it. Downing the juice, I handed the glass back to him and smacked my lips. “Thanks for the snack.” Plopping down next to him, I stole the remote and flipped to a channel.

“That was mean.” He said, narrowing his eyes.

“I’m mean,” I shrugged, staring at the TV.

“No, you’re an evil, maniacal genius.” He stared at the TV, too.

“Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.”

“Hm, nothing good is on.” I flipped through the channels once more before tossing the remote back to him. “So what are we gonna do till dinner?” I glanced at my watch, “Ugh, it’s two hours away.”

“Wanna go to the beach?” he flipped the TV off and flicked the remote into a couch corner.

“Um,” I glanced out the window, there was a furious thunderstorm raging, “Sure.”




“Hey, Luna!” Orion screamed from twenty feet away as I slowly waded through the icy cold water. “Don’t drown,” he pointed at the giant waves crashing in, several yards away.

“I won’t. If I did, who’d be here to get on your nerves?” I laughed. “Besides, the worst that’ll happen is the waves drown me, carry me away to the middle of nowhere, I get eaten by sharks and nobody misses me. Doesn’t sound too terribly bad.”

“Yeah, well, just don’t drown.” He laughed, setting up a beach chair and lying down in it. “We’ve been here for an hour, when do ya wanna head back?”

“Five more minutes,” I sighed, staring down at the rippling water. Suddenly the water smoothed and a girl stared back. “Holy crap!” I shouted, quickly backing away from the water. The reflection followed me no matter where I went so I decided to just stay put.

“What’s wrong, Luna?” Orion shouted as he stood at the edge of the beach.

“Nothing, go back to your chair thingy.” I waved him away and stared back at the girl. “Cassie?” I choked out as I stared at the familiar image of a girl with long, silver hair and blood-red eyes.

“Luna!” the girl shrieked, reaching to grab me in a hug before she hit whatever it was she saw me through and fell backwards. Rubbing her head, she got back up.

“I thought you were just a figment of my imagination, appearing only in my dreams?” I raised an eyebrow and folded my arms, staring at her expectantly.

“No! Well, sort of,” she said, her face twisting in thought. “That dream happened, and didn’t.”

“Eh?”

“You’re only half of you,” she stated, tilting her head.

“I repeat, eh?”

“Okay, it’s like this: you’re the eldest daughter of the Queen of Shadows. Shadows are one-third vampire, one-third werewolf, and one-third of all other mythological creatures with the appearance of a human, until they reach a certain age. Unless you’re to be the next queen, then you look the same,” she nodded at me then continued, “Shadows are the peacemakers of all creatures. Chaos is reigning because the queen died two months ago, and we need your help.”

“…I’m a queen now?” I sighed, rubbing my temples, “AND I’m supposed to settle a feud between giant, powerful monsters? End chaos, happy ending, that sort of thing?”

“Basically, yes.” She stared blankly back.

“You were wanted dead as a baby by evil creatures, you know. Your spirit was split in half, each getting an identical body, just in case someone actually killed one of you.” Orion hugged me from behind and poked the mirror thing. A spark flew through his finger. “I was sent to guard this half of you,” he grinned and flashed fangs.

“Lemme guess, you didn’t have your shadow power stuff or appearance all this time? And you just got it by touching that mirror thing?”

“Yup.”

“You knew about this all this time?”

“Yup.”

Turning around, I punched him in the face. “You should’ve told me,” I pouted. “Oh, hey, I want powers.” I glanced at Cassie, waiting for her answer.

“You’ll get several after you break this crystal. You’ll learn or pick up others later.”

“Alright!” I raised my arm, ready to punch the crystal.

“WAIT!” she waved frantically. “We need you here. There will be a gate in your room in exactly three hours. Go through it.”

“That all?”

“Yes.”

“Alrighty then!” I beamed and smashed my fist against the crystal. Pulling my arm back, I yelped in pain, the crystal wasn’t broken. “Oh, let me guess.” I sighed, rolling my eyes and flicked the glass lightly. It shattered into a million pieces and flew into me. Pain soared through my body like spikes and the world blacked out.




“Lunaaaa.” My blurry vision cleared, and I saw Orion staring down at me. “You okay? You’ve been out cold for two hours. I had to cancel meeting Ceres for dinner.”

“Ughhh,” I groaned and sat up, my head was spinning.

“How do you feel?”

“Like I’ve been pounded with sledgehammers and struck by lightning,” I smirked, standing up and stretching. “Alright, let’s try this.” I jumped onto the couch, ready to take of. Dashing from one edge to the other, I flew, for two seconds, then fell. “Alright, so I can’t fly.”

Orion burst out laughing, “No, apparently not.” He came over and helped me up. “What on earth made you think that you could fly?”

“I thought it’d be a power I got.”

“What?” he asked confused, staring at me like I was nuts.

“I’m a shadow, aren’t I?”

“A what?”

“Are you kidding me? That couldn’t have been a dream.” I sighed and plopped down onto the couch. Too bad she can’t fly yet, I wonder when she’ll get it. “What’d you say?” I asked, turning to stare at Orion.

“I didn’t say anything,” He shrugged. Did her head get messed up when I whacked it against the door on accident when I was bringing her back from the beach?

“AHA! I knew it! I am a shadow,” I jumped up and pointed at him. “I can read minds. Now why were you trying to convince me that I wasn’t a shadow?”

Sighing, he rubbed the back of his neck. “I didn’t want you to be put in danger.” I love her too much.

“Geez, I thought the you-liking-me thing was a joke.” I stared, wide-eyed.

“Nope.” He shrugged and sat down, obviously uncomfortable.

“Well, this is awkward,” I plucked a pillow from the couch and started poking at it while avoiding eye contact with Orion.

“Yup.”

6. Kids At A Hotel.

“Ohnoohnoohnohnoohno!” Orion cried s he fell out of the elevator, his face impaling into the ground. A heavy suitcase followed after him, landing with a hard ‘thud’ on his back.

“I told you my suitcase was too heavy for you,” I laughed, walking out of the elevator and picking the suitcase up, off his back. “But, hey, what do I know?” I shrugged as Ceres and I stared down at him.

“Apparently everything.” He grunted, trying unsuccessfully to shove the suitcase off his back or even roll out from under it.

“Good to know that you finally realized it.” I plucked the suitcase off of him and casually slung it over my shoulder. “So. Are you getting up or what?” I grinned and started walking off.

“Yeah, yeah,” he groaned as he got up, “what did you put in there, rocks?” Grumbling, he caught up next to me, Ceres following behind him.

“No, I put a rock in there.”

“Isn’t that what I said?”

“Pfsh. No. You said rocks, I said a rock. I had to take it. It has an ancient spell written on it from my great great great great,” I started counting on my fingers as I spoke, “great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great--”

“ENOUGH!” he interrupted, clamping his hand over my mouth. I bit one of his fingers and he yelped.

“Great Grandmother. Geez, Orion, you’re so impatient.” I rolled my eyes and Ceres giggled. “Yo, Ceres, it’s your room.” I pointed at the giant black marble door with silver swirls running through it. “Fanciful.” I remarked, lightly brushing a finger against it. “I feel sorry for the dude who has to polish this thing.”

“Yeah, the poor guy.” Ceres mumbled, rummaging through her bag and pulling the key out. “Huh, the locks not on the door, weird.” She slid the card through a slot on the wall. Gears turned and we heard several clicks before the door slid open. “Now THAT’S cool.” Ceres grinned and stepped into the room. “I’ll see you guys at dinner.” She waved right before the door slammed shut.

“All right then, to our room! Wait, no, that didn’t sound right. To our love nest!” I burst out laughing and dashed over to the next door, sliding the key through the slot and slamming the door before Orion could get in. “Ooo, you don’t know what you’re missing,” I whispered through the door. “There’s a hot tub, a giant fluffy bed with tons of pillows, there’s two floors, a giant fridge stocked with food…hey, is this champagne?”

“C’mon, Luna. Let me iinnnnn.” He whined, scratching at the door. “Please?” I felt sorry for him after he repeatedly whacked his head against the door and unlatched the door.

“You know you DO have a key.” I peeked through the partially opened door, watching him search his pockets until he pulled out the card key.

“…you’re dead.” He grinned deviously and pushed the door open the rest of the way then started chasing me.

“Ahhhh!” I shrieked, running up the steps to the fridge and pulling a container of whipped cream out. “Back! I’ll shoot.” I narrowed my eyes, pulling the lid off and pointing the can at him.

“You wouldn’t.” He said and reached for the whipped cream. Startled, I squirted him in the face. “I can’t see!” he stumbled around for a few seconds before falling over the rail, into the hot tub.

He came up gasping and I leaned over the rail, smirking. “How’s the water? I always wanted to see someone do that, but I never thought it’d really happen.”

“I hope you’re happy,” he grumbled, splashing his way out and grabbing a towel to dry off.

“I’m never happy,” I retorted and stuck my tongue out at him.

“And just why not?” he asked, balling the towel up and throwing it in my face. “You had to have been happy at least once.” Rolling his eyes, he walked over and started rummaging through his suitcase and pulling new clothes out.

“Yeah, when I was ignorant. The world is a cruel, cruel place and unless you learn to be heartless and unhappy at some points, you’ll never last.” I tossed the towel back at him and flopped onto the bed in a belly flop then bounced back up and stared at him.

“You like giving people the cold, harsh truth, don’t you?” he muttered and started to change, tossing his wet shirt in a corner.

“It’s called tough love. And you know you shouldn’t undress in front of a girl unless you know that it’s okay, right?” I said, getting up and standing beside him.

“You’re not a normal girl, Luna. We’ve known each other for like, ever.” He rolled his eyes and started slipping his pants off.

“You’re right.” I grinned and slapped his bare back as hard as I could. Laughing, I took off through the door to the hallway, hearing him shriek behind me.





Groaning, I picked up my ringing cell phone, “You’ve reached the depths of Hades, how may I direct your call?” I said perkily.

“Where are you!?” Orion screamed through the phone, forcing me to hold it arm’s length away. “You left a red handprint on my back and it feels worse than sunburn.” He groaned.

“I told you not to get undressed in front of me,” I smirked, twirling a pen through my fingers.

“Alright, I learned my lesson,” he chuckled, “how do you put up with me? I never listen to anybody.”

“I think I can break you of that. I’m in the lobby at the front desk, by the way.”

“What are you doing there?”

“Well, when I was running, I tripped over a luggage cart and went flying. I fell on top of the guy at the desk, and he went unconscious.”

“By you falling on him?”

“Sort of, his head put a hole through the wall. I think he’s okay, though. It doesn’t look like he has a concussion or broken bones or anything.”

“You mean he put a hole in a wall, right?”

“Nope, through.”

“You better get back here.”

“Yeah, I paid the manager for the damages already. I guess I’ll come back up. PROVIDED you don’t try to get me back.”

“Deal.”

“Alright, I’ll be up in a few minutes.” Sighing, I put the phone back in its case and hopped over the desk.

5. Old Friends.

“Luna!” a tiny, gothic Japanese girl with black streaks through her hot pink hair waved as we exited the airport. “I haven’t seen you in forever!” she shrieked, running over and tackling me.

“You know, Ceres. It looks kind of odd to have some random person attack you while you’re on vacation in Hawaii,” I smirked, getting up. “And!” I continued, holding up a finger, “it’s only been three years.” I grinned looking at the saddened Ceres from the corner of my eye. “Buuut, I suppose it has been a while.”

She perked up and beamed. “Yay!” she giggled wrapping me in a death hold. I mean, hug. “Oohh, lemme guess, this is Orion?” she asked, letting go of me as she walked around Orion and stared at him.

“Sadly, yes,” I grinned, stepping between them and linking my arms in theirs. “Come onnnn, I don’t want to grow old and die before exploring the island!” I tugged them along side of me.

“Waiiiit! Who’s this person?” Orion asked, peeking over at Ceres as we walked. “You didn’t tell me there was a person waiting for us.”

“Well, I didn’t know. Remember the nerdy kid from our class three years ago? She wore the whole nerd get-up and I was the only one who talked to her?” I laughed as Ceres made a face at me. “The nerd that seems to have acquired style over the years.”

“The one who followed you over to my house when I was sick? And helped you throw me into the tub filled with boiling water?” he grumbled, staring at the two of us as we tried our best to look angelic.

“Yup, Ceres is that girl,” I smirked and nodded at her. “I bet she knew we were coming here so she traveled ahead of time to greet us. Little Miss psychic person!” I gasped, pointing at the laughing Ceres.

“What? She is not,” Orion chuckled disbelievingly. “How do I know that you didn’t call her up and organize this? It’s a conspiracy against me, I tell you! A conspiracy!”

“I’ve dealt with this for an adequate length of time,” I sighed. “Stupid techno-irritant. Orion, turn around. Every time, I swear. She always thinks it’s a conspiracy.” I said, spinning him around. “Stupid little chips,” I muttered, lifting Orion’s hair up and pulling a flashing chip off of his skin then tossing it into the ocean.

“Thank You, Luna!!!!” Orion yelled, gripping me in a bear hug. “Never ever let me go to Sam’s house again. She’s pure evil.” He gasped, putting me down then falling over.

“She’s not ‘evil’ per say. She’s more of a… stalker. Heh, you have a stalker.” I snickered, plucking one of his hairs. “If you don’t want to fight for your free will, stay away from her.” I sighed, pulling him back up. “If she thinks I’ll never tell the difference between the two of you, she’s sadly mistaken.”

“You’re cruel.” He grinned, getting back up.

“Cruel, but honest. So, I’m guessing she activated the chip after I dashed off towards the airport?” I started walking again and they followed. “I’m going to enjoy my vacation with Ceres and lover boy, nothing shall stop me!” I beamed as we walked towards the hotel.





“Whoa,” I stared in awe at the towering gold structure with tropical plants in the gardens on all sides. Vines wrapping around the building, covering a good amount of it.

“Double whoa,” Ceres added.

“Dude,” Orion gasped.

“Shall we go in?” I asked, tearing my gaze from the building and picking up some of the luggage. “Orionnn, get the rest? Pretty please?”

“’Kay,” he mumbled, dragging the rest of the luggage in with us.

“I got the keys!” Ceres waved the plastic cards as she walked back from the desk. “I get 706 and you two get, um…” she pushed the bag slung over her shoulder behind her and squinted at the numbers. “…708. Yay, our rooms are next to each others!”

“What?” Orion asked, flabbergasted. “I thought you were joking about sharing a room?” he nervously chuckled.

“Orion, relax. Just think of it as the sleepover we had when we were four,” I patted his back, then walked over to the elevator and pressed the ‘up’ button.

“But you tried to kill me then!”

“I had a logical explanation!” I snapped. “I thought you were a character from a horror movie! A creature so vile, it chilled me to my very soul.” I murmured, staring blankly ahead of me.

“We watched a videotape of Barney,” he folded his arms as he came up next to me.

“Sha, his eyes were freaky. All plastic and lifeless, singing songs about manners and whatnot. I mean honestly, parents can teach their kids a whole book of etiquette in the time it takes to recover from watching the episode!” I shouted, throwing my arms up as we walked into the elevator.

4. Just An Ordinary Airport Trip.

“Ha! I beat you to the airport!” Orion shouted, pumping his fist in the air as he stood in front of the doors leading to the airport. “So does that mean I win a kiss?” he grinned.

“Actually,” I started as I stepped around him, opening the doors and walking inside, “what I had said was, if you could catch me before we reached the airport you get a kiss.” I laughed, patting him on the back. “Better luck next time, huh?”

“What?” he grabbed me and threw me over his shoulder. “You know this means war, don’t you?” he smirked and started trudging towards our luggage. “Why did you leave our luggage where anyone could steal it?”

“Ahhhh! Kidnapper!” I shrieked and started pounding on his back. “Help! Heeeellllllp!!!!” Shrieking even louder, I started waving my arms.

“Sir!” A security guard yelled as he ran past a group of staring pedestrians up to us.

“What? No! See, she’s my friend and--” Orion stuttered, pointing at random objects.

“No way!” I yelled, “He’s a stalker! And, and, he’s kidnapping me! Help!” Struggling away, I slipped off his back and ran over to our luggage as the guard led him away.





“Hey, anybody here?” I popped my head through the door and beamed. “Oh, who are you?” I asked innocently.

“You. Are. Such. A. Jerk.” Orion frowned as I walked over to him and sat on the table, putting a bottle of water next to me and holding another. “It feels like I’ve been here for hours! And it’s all. Your. Fault.” He whacked his head against the steel table, causing the one bottle to fall down and roll, making a soft “thump” against his head.

“Hey, you’re the one who said it meant war.” I said, plucking the lid off and taking a sip. “And you know, all’s fair in war.”

“Isn’t it ‘All’s fair in love and war?’” he asked, picking his head up to stare at me questioningly. “Or has it changed and I’ve failed to have been notified.”

“Neither. It’s just that all’s fair in war.” I stared up at the ceiling and flicked some of the water onto the lights. “It’s so boring here, why don’t we leave?”

“Gee, what a great idea. Why didn’t I think of it?” He rolled his eyes then picked up the bottle.

“Well, did you try it?”

“Well, no.” he stared at me as I flicked more water onto the ceiling. “But wouldn’t they leave a guard or something there?” he stared dumbfounded as I hopped off the table and kicked the door open.

“Hi-ya! Oh, no! There’s a guard, RUN!” I yelled, turning around and gesturing dramatically then stopped and folded my arms. “Seriously, dude. How do you think I got in here? Let’s go, our plane leaves in ten minutes.” I said and walked out the door.





“You’re an evil little girl, you know that?” Orion asked as we sat side by side on the plane. “So far today you stomped on my back, made me cry, and got me sent to airport jail. What’s next? A beating in a dark alley?”

“Are there dark alleys in Hawaii? There probably are…” I said as I stared out the window. “Only if you WANT a beating in a dark alley. If you’d think, they were all for your own good.” Turning around, I poked him in the forehead. “Think.”

“Okay, so the back thing snapped me out of my zombie phase, and the crying was to make my gift better, but what was the jail thing for?” He asked, slapping my hand away and leaning back into the cushy chair.

“Uhm. Fun. For me.” I shrugged, drawing faces onto the window.

“You just said that all of it was for my own good!” he pulled me away from the window. “Eeevil little girl.” He said, pointing at my face.

“I lied. And it’s rude to point.” I grinned, bending his finger backwards.

“Ow! Hey, that’s hurts!” he sunk to the ground, trying to pry my hand off his finger. “Let me go!”

“Fine.” I released his finger and watched him get back up and sit in his chair. “Have you learned your lesson?” leaning back in my chair, I watched him flex his fingers and stare at me.

“Yes, I’ve learned my lesson,” he grimaced. “How is it I’m older than you, but you act superior?”

“It’s not acting.” I grinned as he plopped back against his chair and went to sleep. “Thanks for listening.” I rolled my eyes and went to sleep also.





“Yo, time to wake up, sleeping beauty.” I laughed and started pulling on Orion’s hair. “We got on the wrong plane, we’re stuck in Cuba.”

“What?!” he shrieked, shooting up and whacking his head on the ceiling. “I don’t even know where Cuba is!”

“Doesn’t matter, we’re not really in Cuba. I just wanted to wake you up with minimum effort. You whacking your head was a bonus, though.” I grinned, getting up to pull the luggage out of a compartment.

“Your ways of doing things are cruel and unusual.” He grumbled, standing up to help me. Unfortunately, I didn’t know this and threw a suitcase into him. “OW! Hey, watch what you’re doing!”

“Like you do?” I asked, grabbing the rest of the bags out and heading off the plane. “Ah, Hawaii. A new land to torture you in. And best of all, we got here just as gloomy weather arrived.”

“Hey, maybe you’re a vampire or something. Miss Avoid-the-light-at-all-costs!” he grinned, following after me. “Oh wait, you can touch crosses, I forgot.” He said, catching up to me and staring at the silver cross necklace I was wearing.

“Stop staring at my chest, you pervert.” I grinned and whacked him with a bag. “Hey, you never know. I could be a super vampire! Muahahaha. Wow, I’m such a dork.” I laughed as we walked through the airport.

3. Fun With Friends.

“Nuns.”

“What?!” I asked, raising an eyebrow and turning around. I stood face to…well, neck with a dark haired, brown eyed, zombie expression Orion.

“My mom, she took me to a play about nuns for my birthday. I don’t feel so well now…” he swayed past me on the sidewalk then collapsed. “Ow. That hurt,” he said, staring at the street.

“I know how to fix this.” I said, walking up to him and looking down.

“How?” he asked, trying his zombie best to look up at me. I think he just ended up rolling his eyes back some.

“Like…” I swung my backpack off my shoulder and dropped it on the ground. I jumped up and came down hard, stomping on his back. “…so.”

“OWWW!!!! Luna, what’s your problem?! Have you gone nuts?! I think you just crippled me for life!” he shrieked, whacking at my legs until I got off. He jumped to his feet and stared at me like I’d gone crazy.

“Well you’re not rambling on about nuns anymore, are you?” I grinned, scooping my backpack up and putting it back on my shoulder. “So, uh, what was the play about besides the nuns?”

“I don’t know, my brain blocked out more than half of the play.” He shrugged, staring down at the sidewalk as we walked on. “But hey, at least it’s not as bad as last year.” He picked his head up then and stared at the sky.

“What?! Are you telling me you didn’t enjoy watching Anteaters on Ice,” I said, dramatically waving my arms. “I loved it! Especially near the end!”

“Maybe that’s because you put tons of marbles on the ice.” He grinned, looking at me from the corner of his eye.

“Hey, nobody saw me do nothing.” I puffed up my cheeks and pointed at him. “Oh, before I forget,” I said, pulling my backpack off again and rummaging through it until I found the box, “Your present, Monsieur.” I bowed, handing him the present.

“Tell me it’s not tickets to another nun play.” He smirked, taking the tiny box and opening it. “Why?!” he started crying, and tossed the box back at me. “What did I ever do to you?”

I burst out laughing and grabbed the tickets from the box. “Chill, Sherlock. These are the tickets your mom got. Look in the BOTTOM of the box.” I laughed, handing the box back to him.

“If these are tickets, I’ll kill you.” He sniffed, pulling the paper out of the box. “I’m not sure I can look now.” He glanced over at me with a frown but continued to remove the paper. “You…” he gasped, pulling several tickets out of the box. “These two are notes from our school saying we have a week off, these are plane tickets to Hawaii…how did you get these?”

“I have friends. You missed the tickets that basically pay for a week’s vacation, too.” I said, pointing at the box. “Oh wait, you didn’t want tickets for your birthday…” I reached out for the tickets and he slapped my hand away.

“I’d die for these tickets.” He stared at me menacingly. “Do you have any idea how many times I’ve tried to get even a day off of school?”

“Five thousand three hundred and seventy two.” I stated, staring at him. “And as your probably not wondering, I had a friend make androids identical to us. Well, as far as looks. They actually behave themselves.”

“Wait, we’re both going?” he asked, still staring at the tickets. “Oh yeah, I probably should’ve pieced that together when I saw two of each ticket.” He laughed, handing me mine. “You know, this seems like a plot to get me to fall in love with you. Just the two of us, no adult supervision…” he grinned deviously.

“Of course it is.” I tucked the tickets into my pocket and started jogging ahead of him.

“What?!” he yelled in shock. “You’re not serious, are you?” he ran up to me, grabbed me by the shoulder and turned me around.

I grabbed him in a hug and he gasped. “Of course I love you and want you to fall for me! And then we can get married, have kids, travel to the moon, go back in time, sprout wings and fly…”

“You are kidding, you jerk!” he tugged me off of him, his hair falling over his red face. “Don’t ever do that again.” He said, staring off to the side.

“Oh, so I was right. You DO like me.” I punched his side. “Well, we’re still going on the trip, our luggage is at the airport and we have to leave in an hour, let’s go, lover boy!” I pointed towards the airport and dashed off.

“Don’t call me that, you--” he started as he chased after me. He tried to grab my backpack and missed.

“Ooo, lover boy’s maaaad.” I laughed, running even harder. “Tell you what. You catch me before we reach the airport, and you’ll get a kiss.” I stuck my tongue out at him and ran even harder.

2. Another Day, Another Dread.

“Luna, Luna, wake up, honey.” I heard my mom say as she gently shook my shoulders. I open my eyes and blinked, my mom was next to me in her soft blue robe. Her eyes were tired and her brown hair was a mess. “Was it that dream again?” she asked softly.

“Yeah,” I whispered. “Mom, are you sure I never had a twin?” I asked.

“Yes, Luna, I think I would’ve known if you did,” she chuckled.

“How do I know you’re telling the truth?” I sat up, narrowing my eyes at her.

“You don’t,” she grinned as if she held thousands of secrets I’d never know, “Now off to school, you don’t want to be late for your first day.” She walked over to the window and opened the blinds, letting blinding sunlight stream through.

“Ahhh! My eyes! I’ve gone bliiiind!” I shrieked, diving back under the covers and pulling a pillow over my head. “It’s the dreaded monster of light, banish it! Banish it I say!”

“Luna, I know you don’t like sunlight. But would it kill you to go out without pretending it’s an evil monster that’s going to devour us all?” she asked with a frown.

“Who’s pretending?” I grumbled and she ripped the covers off of me and ushered me to the dresser. “No. Way.” I stated, folding my arms and staring down at the frilly sunflower dress she’d set out for me. “No offense, mom…but your taste in clothes is worse than dying a slow and torturous death by having your limbs ripped off and getting dunked in a tank of salt and acid over and over again.”

“What’s wrong with the dress I picked out?” she stared blankly at me as I tossed the dress aside and rummaged through my drawers.

“For one,” I grunted, yanking at the skirt that caught in the drawer, “it has the word ‘sun’ in it. Midnight Blue, Blood Red, Black Abyss; those are good colors. Bright yellow? Never.” I gasped as the skirt came loose and I fell to the floor.

“Oh no! The skirt ripped,” she exclaimed as she examined the long tear down the side. “I think I may be able to fix it by tomorrow.” She started gnawing on her fingernail as she stared at it.

“Fix it? It’s better now.” I grabbed it back from her and tossed it onto the dresser, glancing at the clock. It read 6:15 a.m. “Mom, I’m almost sixteen, can’t you let me pick out my own clothes for once?” I asked, hands on hips.

“Alright,” she sighed, “I guess it’s about time I let you do things on your own. My little baby is growing up!” she sniffed, wrapping me a vice grip that she called a ‘hug’ and crying on my shoulder.

“Mom! Pull yourself together!” I said, wriggling out of her hold. “As far as we know, I won’t be leaving home for another 2 years and a day. Sheesh.” I trudged back over to the dresser, ripping fishnets and a Lolita corset top out. “Mom.” I said, turning around to stare at her.

“Yes dear?” she asked, innocently staring back.

“Give me my black lipstick,” I stuck out my hand and started tapping my foot.

“Fiiine.” She grumbled, grudgingly handing it over. “My baby’s gone to the dark side.” Sniffling, she left the room.

“I’ve been on the dark side!” I yelled after her. “Now where is it…” I mumbled, plopping onto the ground and digging under my bed. “Nope.” I said, getting back up and glancing at the clock, 6:34 a.m. “Ughh,” I groaned, dressing hurriedly and running down the stairs. “Hey mom!”

“I’m in the kitchen, Luna.” I heard her yell back as I tripped and fell halfway down the stairs. “Are you okay?!”

“Fine, mom.” I said, getting up and strolling the kitchen. “I don’t see why you’re so obsessed with yellow.” I shielded my eyes from the blinding color as I made my way over to a large wooden table.

“Because it’s a cheerful color and brightens your mood.” She smiled, dropping an empty plate and a pile of pancakes in front of me.

“Well it makes me more pessimistic.” I frowned, pulling two pancakes from the center of the pile and dragging them onto my plate. “Where’s the present I got for Orion?” I asked, poking at the pancakes, “And are these safe to eat? They’re blue.”

“They’re blue because I spilled food dye when I was mixing the batter. So yes, they’re safe to eat. And as far as the present…” she said gesturing at the closet, holding a cup of tea in the other hand. “You really need to find a way to remember where you leave things.” She drank some tea then and walked back over to the blue mix of glop.

“You should add blueberries, it would make it a little less weird.” I trotted over to the closet and pulled a small black box and my backpack out. “Well, I’m off.” I opened, the door and started jogging away.

“What about your pancakes?!” she yelled after me.

I flipped my phone open and dialed the home number. “Hello?” she picked up after two rings. “Not hungry.” I said then hung up.

1. Just A Dream

“Cassie, wait up!” I screamed, running after my sister as she disappeared through the dark forest. “Cassie! Don’t go!” I yelled breathlessly, tears streaming down my face. I caught a glimpse of her silver hair through the trees and ran as fast as my legs could carry me. She had stopped dead in her tracks, her back facing me. “Cassie…” I whispered slowly walking up to her. I reached my hand out to touch her shoulder.

“I’m not Cassie,” she whispered.

“What are you talking about? Of course you’re Cassie.” I decided against putting my hand on her shoulder and dropped it to my side.

“I’m NOT Cassie.” She said, louder this time.

“Yes, you are. You’re my twin, you-”

“NO!” She screamed and spun around. I gasped, her eyes had changed from their usual deep blue to a blood red, she had an angry but sad expression on her face. “I’m not your sister anymore, Luna. I- I’m something else. I don’t know why or how, but- I- I just don’t know anymore.” She sighed, shaking her head. She stared at the ground, her hair falling from behind her ears into her face.

“Cassie,” I whispered, reaching my hand out towards her.

She jerked away and screamed, “NO! I’M NOT CASSIE, AND I WON’T BE EVER AGAIN,” I gasped as she screamed in pain and dropped to the ground. I saw razor sharp fangs emerge from her gums, and long black wings sprout from her back.

“CASSIE!” I cried when she started running again. I took off after her. After what seemed like hours of pointless chasing; we came to a big clearing where the moonlight washed over everything, the light radiated off of her body, giving her a heavenly glow.

“I’m sorry, Luna, I really am. But- I’m not who you think I am. I’m not Cassie.” She slowly floated off the ground, her wings gently flapping the cool night air.

She floated higher and higher, “WAIT!” I shouted, “If you’re not Cassie, then, who are you?”

She looked down at me with sad eyes and smiled weakly. “I’m just one of your shadows,” she whispered then flew off into the dark of night. I stood there confused, alone, and utterly shattered by the horrible night I had witnessed.


Little did I know that this event was the one that would alter my life forever.