Twinepathy (Part 19): Two People In My Head

Hullo, everyone! I know, it’s a Wednesday, and usually if I post an extra part, I do it on Friday or Saturday. But while I wanted to do an extra post this week, I wouldn’t be able to post again until Monday… unless I did it today. So I present you with an extra part, my friends! New? Check out Part One.

The darkness slowly clears, leaving pain as I press my hands to my eyes. “Sorry about that,” Blaze’s voice says from next to me. “I didn’t have time to adjust the light waves so they wouldn’t hit your eyes.”

I blink as my vision returns, leaving me with just a massive headache. I’m shocked to see that we’re in the middle of IDIA headquarters. Blaze is next to me and Brooklyn’s on the ground next to us. “Data!” Blaze yells, kneeling down and scooping Brooklyn up. He carries her towards Jen’s office, and I follow in a daze.

Jen comes out as we approach, her eyes taking in the situation. Immediately she grows serious and ducks back in, motioning for us to follow. I vaguely see Maddie peeking out, her eyes widening when she sees Brooklyn. Blaze lays her down on a couch that Jen pulls out of who knows where. Or maybe it was there before and I just didn’t notice it. I kneel down next to the couch.

“What happened, Jazz?” Jen asks gently.

It takes me a second to realize she’s talking to me. Code names are going to be very hard to get used to. I shrug helplessly. “I-I don’t know. I felt our connection snap, and then she screamed. When I got to her, she was already unconscious.”

Jen places a gentle hand on my arm, and I look at her, confused. A few seconds later she removes her hand, nodding in satisfaction.

“Do you…” My voice cracks. “Do you think she got amnesia, too?”

Jen frowns. “Maybe. This is different, though. So far, everyone’s just passed out, without any warning. Nobody’s screamed or anything. And you said you felt your connection snap…” She trails off, lost in thought. Then she snaps back. “Blaze, go grab some smelling salts or a wet towel.”

Blaze immediately disappears, and Maddie comes over to me, a solemn look on her face. “Will Brooklyn be okay?”

I take her hand and squeeze it. “I hope so, Maddie.”

“Squirt,” Jen says with a huff of annoyance.

“Squirt?” I look over at her, remembering the note from Blaze. “Who’s that?”

“Maddie,” Jen explains. “That’s the code name Blaze came up with for her.” She rolls her eyes. “We’ll work on it.”

Blaze reappears with two wet towels and some smelling salts. He hands them to Jen and then hands me a small bottle of ibuprofen. “I thought that might help your headache,” he says apologetically.

“Why did you do that light thing, anyway?” I ask grumpily, shifting closer to Brooklyn.

“It’ll help people forget about us, and confuse them,” Blaze explains. “And it also disguised our exit.”

Jen waves the smelling salts under Brooklyn’s nose. A few seconds later, her eyes open and focus on my face.

“Albany?” she croaks.

I squeeze her hand and laugh in relief. “You remember! No amnesia, oh, thank goodness.”

She tries to sit up, but falls back, exhausted. “What… happened?”

“We’re not sure,” I tell her. “You passed out at school. Do you remember?”

She closes her eyes, concentrating. Blaze appears next to me and offers Brooklyn a glass of water. Her eyes open and she accepts it. “I…” She stops and gulps down a little water. She turns to me, brow wrinkled in pain and concentration. “There were… two people. In my head… fighting.”

What? Who could be in her head? What’s going on, anyway? At least she doesn’t have amnesia…

Next Part –>

Interviews From The Writer’s Desk: Adira Billings

This is one of my favorite characters from a roleplay I’m doing with a friend, and she’s also Slade Ellery‘s cousin, along with having a pretty big part in his book. Please let me know what you think! 😀

I check my watch for the bazillionth time. Still five minutes. I’m both excited and nervous about this interview.

Benedict stick his head into my office. “She’s here.”

I nod. “Send her in.”

Half a minute later, a very tall, slender girl enters the room. Her light blond hair is in a French braid and pulled over her shoulder, and her green eyes glisten with excitement. She’s wearing a plain black t-shirt with a brown leather jacket, black pants, black leather fingerless gloves, and – yes – tall black boots. A gorgeous quiver is thrown over her shoulder, and she clutches her bow tightly, the only sign of her nervousness. I nod toward the chair and she sits.

I pull my laptop towards me. “Are you ready?” I ask. She nods. “Okay. What is your full name, and how old are you?”

“I’m Adira Billings, and I’m twenty-nine,” she replies.

“Where are you from?”

“I’m originally from Lerali,” Adira says. “But I recently moved here to Earth – more specifically, New York.”

I nod, typing. “Why did you decide to move?” I ask.

Her face reddens. “Um, well, I wasn’t exactly comfortable on Lerali anymore.” I raise an eyebrow, and she sighs. “Okay, fine. I was wanted on Lerali for quite a number of crimes, and I decided it would be best to lay low for a while. Hence, Earth.”

I nod again, not wanting to push her too much. “So since you’re a Leralian, I assume you have a Gift. What is it?”

“I’m actually one of the rare people with half of two Gifts. I’m half a Suspender, like Slade, and I’m half a Messenger, like Ellis. So I can send telepathic messages and read minds, along with doing some telekinesis, limited, though, not like Slade.”

I type. “That’s interesting. How would you describe your personality?”

Adira makes a face. “I’ve always been a bit of a rebel, seeking out adventure and excitement. Other than that, I’m sarcastic, and I tend to have a bit of a temper and go into things headlong without thinking.”

I smile. “Sounds a bit like Slade.” I hurry on when her face turns sad. “What about your family?”

Her face gets sadder. “Slade, his mom, and his sister are my only family. Both my parents and my older sister, Arza, are dead.”

Oh, goodness. How much more awkward can this get? “I-I’m so sorry. I just keep asking the wrong questions.” I pause. “What about your bow and quiver? Do you like archery?”

Adira laughs. “That might be a rhetorical question. Yes, I do. I’m pretty good at most fighting and martial arts techniques, and weapons are my forte.” She frowns. “But of course, after Slade’s dad died, I turned and used that for the wrong reason, the wrong people.”

The silence hangs awkwardly for a second and I clear my throat. “Well, I think that’s all for now. Thank you for coming.”

She nods. “I’m sorry if I made this more awkward than it had to be.”

I shrug, pushing away my computer and standing up as she leaves. “I don’t mind. Have a nice day.”

She gives a slight bow, a smile, and leaves the room. I slump back in my chair and laugh at myself.

Eric – Part One

This story was sooo much fun to write. Please let me know if you like it and provide feedback, and let me know if you can figure out the significance of Eric’s and Jeremiah’s names. 😀

“Eric!” a young woman called from the doorway of the small cottage. Her light brown hair was swept back into a bun, and her clear blue eyes searched the surrounding countryside with several other cottages scattered nearby. “Eric!” she called again. A laughing little boy only five years old came running around the edge of the house, his blue eyes sparkling in merriment. He ran up to the woman, the sun glinting off his golden hair. Another little boy ran around the corner of the house, stopping suddenly and watching the golden-haired boy. He had stunning red hair and green eyes. The lady turned to the golden-haired child.

“Who’s this, Eric?” she asked him.

“This is Jeremiah,” Eric replied.

The young woman turned to the other boy. “Did you just move to one of the cottages?” she asked.

Jeremiah nodded solemnly. “My parents couldn’t find work in the last town,” he told her. His voice was clear and strong, surprising for a young boy.

“Well, I’m glad the two of you have made friends with each other,” the woman said, smiling. “Eric, you need to get ready for dinner, though.”

Eric smiled up at her. “Yes, Mama,” he replied cheerfully. He skipped up to the door but turned in the doorway. “Bye, Jeremiah,” he called, waving to his friend. The little redhead smiled and waved back, then disappeared over a small hill. The young woman watched him depart and then turned back into the house.

~~~

“Hi, Jeremiah!” Eric exclaimed as he and his friend met in their usual spot almost a month later. Jeremiah smiled at his friend, but his face was sad. Eric frowned. “What’s wrong?” he asked.

“”We’re moving again,” Jeremiah told his friend.

“What?”

Jeremiah nodded. “My parents still haven’t been able to find work. They’ve decided that we should try another town.”

Eric’s eyes filled with tears. “But you’re my best friend!” he protested. “You can’t leave!”

Jeremiah’s eyes were sad. “I know, but I have to leave.” He hesitated. “I have two secrets I want to tell you first, and then I have to go.”

“Really?” Eric asked, leaning towards Jeremiah from his spot next to a tall tree.

“Yeah.” Jeremiah took a deep breath. “First: I’m adopted.”

Eric’s eyes widened. “Really?”

Jeremiah nodded. “My parents told me when I was four.”

“Whoa,” Eric whispered. He tilted his head to the side. “What’s the second secret?” he asked.

Jeremiah leaned forward. “Well, I have these dreams,” he whispered. “They always come true! One time, when I was little, I had a dream that I met a golden-haired boy with blue eyes named Eric.”

“Wow!” Eric exclaimed.

Jeremiah nodded. “I know. “Well, last night, I had a dream about you. You became a king!”

Eric’s eyes got even bigger. “Me?”

“Yes,” Jeremiah replied. He paused. “I just felt that I needed to tell you.”

“Thanks,” Eric said gratefully. “Although I don’t know if that dream will really come true.”

Jeremiah’s eyes twinkled, then became sad. “I have to go now,” he told his friend softly.

Tears filed Eric’s eyes once again. “Please don’t go,” he pleaded.

“I have to,” Jeremiah told him sorrowfully. He clasped his friend’s hand. “I’ll always remember you, Eric. We shall see each other again, my friend.” Jeremiah squeezed Eric’s hand one last time, and Eric watched his friend disappear into the forest.

~~~

Many years passed, and Eric found himself quite well off. Soon after Jeremiah left, Eric’s parents had begun to rise in both wealth and social status. They were able to pay for Eric to be schooled. His teacher soon discovered that he was quick and intelligent.

“He’s much wiser than most children his age,” she told his parents once. “He has an insight that’s hard to explain.”

Several years after that, Eric’s wisdom helped him. The king heard of Eric, and called him to the court. He asked Eric’s advice on several small, trivial matters to test him. Eric was soon appointed the king’s royal advisor.

Eric didn’t take advantage of his high position like many of the other officers. He was kind to everyone, and humble. His wise advice and kind spirit soon made him the second most powerful man in the kingdom. His life was full of happiness, including with his wife and children.

Then, one day, the king was pushed off his balcony by one of his servants. By the time the rest of the servants reached him, he was dead. Eric was horrified. He had become close to the king, and had even considered him a good friend, and now he was dead.

The former king had no heirs. Eric could never remember quite how it happened, but, somehow, it was decided that he should be the new king. The memories flooded back: a little red-haired boy sitting in the forest and a dream about Eric becoming a king. He remembered doubting the dream. Now it was coming true.

The preparations for the coronation ceremony proceeded frantically. Eric disliked the kingly clothes he was forced to wear, but he wore them anyway. He resented the extravagant decorations, but he approved them anyway. He didn’t believe that he should be king, but he felt that it was his duty to the people.

The coronation ceremony was beautiful, and Eric and his family settled into life in the castle. It seemed like it would be a happy life. The people respected Eric, and so did his advisors and officers. The country prospered, utilizing its natural resources in the most efficient way possible.

Then it happened: war. Two neighboring countries grew jealous of their prosperity and invaded quickly after they declared war. Eric was devastated, but he knew that he had to defend his country.

The army gathered and set off. King Eric and several of his advisors led the soldiers into battle.

The war dragged on. Weeks were spent fighting, and neither side gained an advantage. King Eric’s men were soon exhausted from the endless fighting.

Slowly but surely, the enemy began beating down King Eric’s army. New soldiers arrived for the enemy, and King Eric’s men were forced to flee. King Eric insisted that he and his advisors cover the retreat, to the dismay of his advisors.

One night, he and his advisors bedded down in a hidden clearing, taking turns keeping watch. King Eric fell asleep quickly. He awoke around midnight and found that his advisors had abandoned him, taking all of the weapons and supplies and leaving him with only the blanket he was sleeping on.