New Haven

MAINLAND VISITS AND THE STORE THAT WASN’T THERE

Clowe, Dawn, and Dusk ran down the hill making it to the Ferry boat just as the ferryman started to close the door. He congratulated them for making it on time as he locked the boat door. The girls walked to the rails looking out towards the ocean and the main land.

“Okay girls! You got through orientation week, not totally unscathed because of the whole Kate thing, but definitely alive.” Dawn and Dusk laughed as Clowe continued, “You have your schedules, your uniforms, and you’re completely unpacked and ready to go for your first day of school on Monday.”

“Enough Clowe, we have an entire day to kill before we have to get back to this freaking school” Dawn said looking out towards the main land like a fat kid looking at fried ice cream. Clowe laughed as she looked at her watch she asked, “So what do you guys want to do first?” Dawn and Dusk smiled at each other and then looked at Clowe, “Book shopping for Dusk cause my sisters boring like that, window shopping for me because God knows I’m broke, and coffee for all of us… Dusk is paying…After we can go to the beach because momma needs a new tan” Dawn said.”

“What a plan,” Dusk said laughing with Clowe.

As they stepped off the ferry the day was already blazing hot despite the fact that it was barely nine in the morning. The sun wasn’t even high in the sky yet. Dawn and Clowe didn’t seem to notice the heat. Dawn shined in the sun in her shorts and top, with her long shiny brown hair pulled back in a tight French braid. Dusk on the other hand was a completely different story. Even though they were twins’ people always found it funny that they were complete opposites. It was strange that they suited each other so well as sisters. Dusk walked the streets with her hood over her head and a long sleeve shirt, full length blue jeans, and bright green chucks even though it felt like it had to be about 85 degrees outside with a light breeze.

Dusk was getting overwhelmed with every store they went into. She finally got a chance to relax as they got to an opening with benches and a water fountain. The sun slowly began to get covered by clouds and the temperature thankfully dropped significantly. Dusk pulled up her sleeves and pushed down her hood shaking out her untamed short brown hair as she let the wind hit her. This was beginning to feel like her type of weather.

“My feet are killing me and look at my sexy shoes,” Dawn exclaimed pointing down to her feet “They look completely worn out!” Dawn whined as Dusk looked down at Dawn’s feet. They were obviously swollen from walking half the day in six inch sandals.

Dusk couldn’t help but giggle a little, “Well no one told you to wear those death trap shoes anyways. You knew we were going to do a lot of walking. Why didn’t you wear sandals or something sensible like tennis shoes?” she said. Dawn glared at her as she flopped down on one of the beach benches exhausted.

“I’ve been reading this self help magazine,” oh god here it comes, Dusk thought as she listened to Dawn.

“Self help book?” Clowe asked.

“Dawn loves reading self help books. It’s like a hobby to her.”

“Oh, I get it,” Dusk could tell by Clowe’s facial expression, she really didn’t get it at all.

“Well, anyways… it said that when going out job hunting, meeting friends, or even walking around you should always put your best foot forward. These are my lucky shoes! Lot’s of good things have happened to me in these shoes. Also, they make my legs look awesome!” Dawn brushed her hands over her calves trying to massage them. “Well they did before my legs were completely swollen.”

Dusk rolled her eyes at her sister. Sometimes she just couldn’t understand how they were related. “When your magazine said to put your best foot forward they weren’t talking about footwear.” Clowe told her as she and Dusk giggled.

Dawn looked up at them from where she was sitting, “Really?”

“Let’s stop for today” Dusk said pulling Dawn up from the bench and began dusting her little sister off. Dawn tried to stand up on her shoes but fell right back down onto the bench.

“I can’t walk anymore,” Dawn whined as she began trying to undue the straps’ of her heals. Dusk had always been amazed at how funny her sister was, even unintentionally. Dawn looked up at Dusk from the bench, “I don’t think I can go on.”

“No. I don’t think that you’ll be able to go on either,” Dusk said looking down to her, “What do you think Clowe? Should we just leave her here to die a long and lonely death?” Clowe laughed and bent down in front of Dawn, slowly undoing the straps of her heels.

“I love the idea of stopping. It sounds like the reasonable thing to do seeing as how I have lost all ability to walk. We should have borrowed David’s car. I mean whose bright idea was it to walk anyways.”

“Yours,” Dusk and Clowe said in unison.

“I’m sorry,” Clowe said, “I should have told you we’d be walking a lot” Clowe slipped off the last of Dawn’s heels and put them into her bag.

“It’s okay Clowe, she wouldn’t have listened to you anyways,” Dusk said smiling at her, “Hopefully there’s a shoe store somewhere around here where we can get some sandals. I mean it’s not like we’re not at a beach!” Dusk started walking with Clowe down the side walk, leaving Dawn alone on the bench.

“Where you guys going? Are you guys ditching the cripple?” Dawn asked.

Dusk turned around, “We’re just going to check something out” she said. Suddenly Dusk was faced down on the floor. Something had grabbed her leg and when Dusk turned around to see what it was Dawn was latched onto her leg.

“What the hell Dawn,” she said getting up from the ground.

“Don’t leave me behind,” she pleaded as she held on tighter to Dusks’ leg.

“Is she alright?” Clowe asked looking at Dusk who just nodded.

“Yes she’s fine. She’s just over dramatic,” Dusk said, “Okay, just let go.” she squatted down in front of Dawn “Come on,” Dusk said stretching her arms out behind her, “climb up on my back and I’ll carry you. You cripple.” she said as she struggled to get Dawn on her back.

“Hey what’s that?” Dawn said into her ear and pointed out to something in front of them.

“What?” Dusk said as she followed where Dawn was looking and noticed a small mom and pop shop. Standing right in front of them tucked away in a corner.

“That’s weird,” Clowe said, “I don’t remember any one mentioning a new store was opening up” she said and then noticed a drug store.

“Maybe it hasn’t officially opened yet,” Dusk told her.

“Hey let me see if they have any bandages for Dawn’s blisters at the drug store. Maybe they’ll have some drinks for all of us too? I’ll go see and meet you back at that store.”

“Sure Clowe.”

“See ya,” Clowe waved as she began walking in the direction of the corner drug store.

Dusk noticed a pair of flat shoes in the display window of the mom and pop shop and looked up at Dawn who had the biggest smile on her face. Dusk sighed and walked to the shop, eager to get her sister off her back. It didn’t have a sign saying whether or not it was open and it didn’t have a ‘no shirt no shoes’ sign hanging anywhere on the windows so the girls were glad to be able to go in. Dawn reached for the doorknob and then pulled back her hand, surprised, “What the frankness,” she said.

“What is it?”

“The door knob is cold. It’s like freezer burn cold.” Dusk rolled her eyes at her sister and placed her hand on the doorknob. She was sure that her sister was just over exaggerating again. She stood shocked by what she felt. The doorknob was truly frozen to the touch. Dusk had to put an effort into pulling her hand off the doorknob. It nearly burned her.

“It’s hot out today. How the hell is this doorknob cold?” Dawn asked her sister. Dusk pulled her sleeve down over her hand and reached for the doorknob again, this time turning it and opening it. The store itself was not as cold as the doorknob. It was, for lack of a better word, perfect. Books filled the walls of the small shop. There were even piles of books both big and small placed along several coffee tables. There were couches and bean bags of all different shapes and colors. It looked like the perfect place to listen to some mellow music and drink a good strong cup of coffee.

“Hello. Is there anyone here?” Dawn shouted into the silence that surrounded the small space. “It’s not even cold in here,” she added as she climbed down from Dusk’s back. Dawn turned to check out the shoes that were in the display window. The shop had a warm feeling to it. It was bright even though there was no source light to be seen anywhere. It felt oddly familiar.

“Hey does this place feel…”

“Familiar” Dawn said nodding as she finished Dusk’s question.

“Uh” Dusk said walking around scanning the books until something caught her attention. A small necklace was on one of the mannequins in the back corner of the store glimmered and shined on Dusk’s face capturing her attention more clearly.

Dusks instincts hit her like a huge stop sign. She felt like those stupid girls in the horror movies. You know the one that all the people in the theater are yelling at not to go into the haunted house with all the warning signs on it. That’s how Dusk felt at that very moment. She could feel a pull towards the necklace that she couldn’t understand. It didn’t feel to her like an object at all but like a living organism with blood pumping through it and all. That very blood seemed to be pumping to the same rhythm as her own. Her body completely ignored her instincts. She found herself moving towards the necklace. Dusk extended her hand towards it when the mannequin itself suddenly moved falling over on her.

“AHHHH!” Dusk screamed.

“I’m so sorry,” A woman said stepping out from behind the mannequin, “I didn’t mean to scare you. Are you ok?” The women’s voice was so soft and familiar. She looked incredibly sincere in her concern.

“It’s fine. No blood no foul as they say.” Dusk was so completely fascinated by the women she didn’t even noticed that Dawn was standing next to her with a pair of flats in her hand and a puzzled expression.

“Here, let me help you up.”

“Thanks. Let me help you with this mannequin.” Dawn and Dusk both helped the woman lift the mannequin back to its original position. When the mannequin was back in place the woman floated by Dusk and Dawn heading towards the register. She was so graceful that Dusk couldn’t even see her feet move underneath the silk material of her dress. She wore a simple dark red dress that stretched from her striking neck to her elongated arms and extended all the way to the floor. Dusk wasn’t the only one who was stunned by her angelic features as Dawn stood gawking at shop women.

“I’m sorry but have we met before?” Dawn asked the women.

“No,” she smiled at her. Her eyes like that of the Mona Lisa, knowing more than they were willing to tell, “But I have been told that I do have one of those faces. You know some people just do.”

“Yeah.” Dusk and Dawn both said in unison. They stood there staring at the women for longer than was socially acceptable.

The woman’s face lit up as she smiled at them, “Were you planning to buy that?” she asked looking at the sandals in Dawn’s hands.

“Oh, yes. Thank you.” Dawn handed over the shoes to the women and she began to ring them up. Dusk was struck by the beauty of the shop woman as she smiled at Dusk. Dusk couldn’t help but feel whole, feel at home, when the woman smiled at her.

“That’s a beautiful necklace you have on display.” Dawn said motioning to the mannequin at the back of the store. Dusk’s attention switched back to the necklace. The woman stopped what she was doing for a second as she began to glide over to the necklace. She looked down at the necklace and lifted it over the mannequin’s head.

“It really is a beautiful necklace,” Dusk repeated looking at it.

“Would you like to try it on?” she asked Dusk, who didn’t even have time to respond before the women was behind Dusk placing the necklace on her neck. Dawn watched Dusk’s facial expression slowly change. Her older sister seemed filled with relief as the necklace was placed on her. It fit Dusk. They looked like one, Dawn observed.

“It comes with another necklace right?” Dusk asked the shop lady as she touched the necklace.

“Maybe we could see if we have enough money to buy both?” Dawn asked her sister. They both turned to the shop lady who had seemingly glided behind the cash register counter.

“You girls are right. This necklace does come with a sister necklace and it’s just as beautiful as this one. Unfortunately, the other necklace is already in someone else’s possession.” She said as her face turned hard. Dawn could tell the woman didn’t like the idea of someone else having the other necklace. The women’s face quickly changed back to a smile and apologized when she saw Dusk’s face sadden. “Here,” she took Dusk’s hand and led her towards a mirror, “I’ve held onto this for a long time. It’s just about time that I gave it to some new blood.”

Dawn looked at Dusk’s reflection in the mirror and was amazed at what she saw. It was like seeing someone truly for the first time. Dusk looked at herself with the necklace on and smiled.

“You look pregnant.” Dawn said.

“What?” Dusk asked her sister confused by her outburst.

“I mean you’re glowing,” Dawn clarified, “You know, like pregnant women are supposed to glow,” Dusk looked at her sister again, “What I’m trying to say is that the necklace suits you. You look very pretty with it on. I’m saying you’re glowing. I’m paying you a compliment.”

“Thanks, I think.”

Dusk turned and looked at her self in the mirror again and noticed what Dawn was saying about her. She was shining like she was freaking Claire Danes in that one movie where she was a star. It was the oddest sensation to be standing there next to her. Dawn came and stood next to her in a complete daze. They were both so focused on the necklace they didn’t notice the shop women had glided back to the other side of the counter grabbing the bag with shoes and handed it to them.

“Thank you and come again.” She said softly turning them both around and out of the store together. The sun hit Dusk and Dawn snapping them out of whatever trance like state they had been in. Dusk suddenly remembered they hadn’t paid for the necklace or the shoes as she turned around to a ‘We’re close’ sign on the locked door. They both stood there in silence confused, as Clowe caught their attention walking out of the drug store.

“Hey guys! Look who I found!” Clowe yelled enthusiastically as Logan, Seth and Alec came out of the corner liquor store. “Come on you guys I got some ice cream!” Clowe yelled waving at them from the corner. Dawn put on her brand new sandals and the girls ran over to where Clowe was. When they got there Clowe asked, “Hey, what took you guys so long? You were in that store a long time.”

“Really?” The girls asked in unison.

“Yeah,” Clowe said, “It’s been like an hour. We all have to hurry if we’re going to make it back to the ferry on time.”

“We can’t,” the girls said. Dusk glanced at Alec. He was staring at her again. “David and Sara are expecting us home for dinner,” Dawn told the group.

“Sara’s really been missing us and she tends to loose her mind when it comes to us,” Dusk said laughing. She pictured Sara’s face if they weren’t home for dinner that night.

“But we could walk with you guys to the ferry,” Dawn said. Clowe smiled brightly and the group walked together towards the ferry. As they walked Dusk noticed Alec staring at her again.

“What?” Dusk asked Alec as they fell further behind the group.

“It’s nothing. Just…” Alec seemed to be concentrating his penetrating gaze on Dusk’s face, making her blush profusely.

“What?” Dusk asked shyly looking slightly away from Alec’s gaze.

“Did you do something new to your hair?”

“No”

“You seem different somehow.” Alec observed.

“Is that a good or bad thing?”

“I’ll let you know when I figure it out.” He said stopping Dusk in her tracks as he casually began to walk ahead of her.

“Come on Dusk, you’re so slow. Hurry up.” Dawn yelled back at her sister, turning, she ran back to where Logan stood in the group. Dusk laughed at Dawn as she watched her twirling in front of the group. Dusk ran ahead and took her twins’ hand. They walked side by side together as Clowe came up and joined them. The rest of the group following closely behind them.

From the inside of the small mom and pop shop there stood the shop women who used to know two little beautiful baby’s who were growing into two amazing young women without her. She stood a long time just standing by the window looking out at the girls she so longed to know. She had come so close to touching them. Oh, how she wished she could just hug them and tell them everything. That she would be with them always and that she loved them.

“One down, one to go,” the shop women said as a wide smile spread across her face.

“Do you think that that was a good idea? Giving her such a powerful thing? She’s not even of age yet and that necklace has a history of bringing up some unwanted attention.” Dihedra Haven said to the shop lady as she walked out from her hiding place from behind a bookshelf.

“I do not remember needing or welcoming your opinion or advice headmistress,” the shop women said to Dihedra. Dihedra had moved to the couch behind the shop women. “You know as well as I do that there is no safer place on this earth for both necklaces than on those two girls. They’re the only ones capable of carrying them with no effect. The necklaces and the girls both need to be protected. Just make sure that their first day of school goes smoothly and that Dawn gets the other necklace. Am I understood?”

“Yes. I understand, but we both know that the owner of that necklace isn’t just going to give it to her. The Hearts are a very old and very powerful family. Alec Heart is their pride and joy. Why do we need to meddle?”

“It was my necklace first, so it rightfully passes on to my kin, Dawn. She needs that necklace like NORMS need air and water. We wouldn’t want there to be some sort of unfortunate accident now would we?”

“No, of course we wouldn’t want there to be an accident. But getting the Heart boy to give up that necklace is going to be hard,” Ms. Haven said, “It’s a family heirloom for Christ sakes.”

“Then we’re just going to have to get creative now, aren’t we Dihedra?” The shop women turned away from the window and faced Ms. Haven, “Oh, and one more thing, I’ll be looking in on my girls, frequently. To make sure that their properly being taken care of. I’ll also be checking on other matters as well. Do you understand Dihedra?” Fear surfaced into the headmistress’ eyes for the first time in the conversation. She looked up at the shop women who had suddenly become very close in proximity to her. She tried to keep her cool and her voice even, but with the room rapidly becoming increasingly colder and darker, she was having trouble even keeping her teeth from chattering and giving her away.

“I understand,” Dihedra continued, “I just wanted to know whether or not you would be accompanying the girls on their first day of school?” Dihedra said, amazingly, achieving a sarcastic under tone in her voice.

The entire shop suddenly disappeared leaving the headmistress to fall hard on her butt on the ice covered concrete.

“Do not mistake me Dihedra to think me kind. Never forget who it is that I am, and more importantly, do not forget what it is that I am,” and with that warning the shop women with the Angelic face, floating steps, and full length red dress disappeared into the shadows, leaving nothing but the cold concrete and a frightened headmistress behind.