My Doppelganger Mate

Chapter 5

Not long after, the heavy doors to the chambers creaked open.

"Your Highness, the princesses," Lancelot announced.

Aria and Aurora stepped inside, dressed in long, flowy nightgowns with shawls draped around their necks to conceal their bosoms. Their hair flowed loosely down to their waists.

Aria spoke first. "Father, you called for us."

"Yes. Find yourselves a seat. Your mother and I have a crucial topic to discuss with you both," Malick replied.

"And what is it, Father?" Aurora asked, looking from her father to her mother. Gaia sat up straighter, readjusted her dress, and gestured for Malick to take the floor.

He cleared his throat before speaking. "The queen and I want you to know that everything we've done—every restriction—was for your own good. We never meant to hurt you or keep you confined. It’s been the hardest sacrifice, trying to protect you from harm—even from yourselves. And for that, we owe you an apology more than anything."

"It’s okay, Father," Aurora replied. "But we’re both curious—why has it been this way? Is it some form of tradition or culture?"

"No, my love," Gaia replied gently.

"Then why?" Aria asked, frustration simmering. "It’s tiring and suffocating. We can't go anywhere without the maids. We can't even mingle freely with other boys unless they’re people you've personally approved. We’re not free!"

"Aria, darling, it’s not what we wish for you," Malick said. "But there’s no smoke without fire."

"Well, we’ve seen the smoke long enough. It’s high time we saw the blazing fire," Aria shot back.

"It all started the day you were born," Gaia began. "You two were blessings to us after years of barrenness. Two beautiful angels—it felt like a divine gift. But only minutes before your arrival, something drastic happened."

"What happened?" Aurora asked eagerly.

"There was a great Oracle named Atlas. He was blind, yet saw more than most could comprehend. I was still in the waiting room when he came bearing prophecies about you. He was the voice of the gods. Whatever he spoke came to pass. We hoped for good news, but what he brought was neither good nor bad. It was... sour."

"What did the prophecy say?" Aria asked, her eyes locked on her father.

"When he first said you were divine blessings, we were relieved. But then he added that you would bring either peace—or doom—to the kingdom," Malick said.

"I don’t quite understand," Aurora murmured.

"You are mythical beings, born with a conflicting fate. Each of you has a mate—ordained by the gods—your doppelganger," Malick continued.

"Doppelganger? Is that even real?" Aria asked, incredulous.

"It is. Very real," Malick confirmed. "And your doppelgangers are twins too, from another kingdom. The day you meet them, fate begins to unfold."

"What fate, Father?" Aria pressed.

"When you meet your mate, your hair will change—either white or red. Each color determines your path. The white-haired one must survive to live, while the red-haired must kill to live."

"What?!" the twins exclaimed.

"This is ridiculous!" Aria interjected. "Who’s born with such a twisted fate? And you believed this? Where is this Oracle now?"

"That was the last we saw of him," Malick replied. "But darling, it’s not ridiculous. Strange things happen in this world. This is why your mother and I tried to prevent it from happening."

"You can’t expect me to believe this without proof! If this is just another excuse to keep us confined, then sorry to burst your bubble, Father, but I’m leaving these palace walls first thing tomorrow morning. And no one’s stopping me. Not even you."

"You will not!" Malick thundered. "Take another step, young lady, and I will have the guards place you under house arrest for the rest of the month!"

Aria scoffed. "You can’t stop me, Your Highness. Not even your guards are a match for me."

"Aria, what’s gotten into you?" Aurora asked, walking toward her.

"Are you really buying into this? It doesn't sound real!" Aria argued. As she took another step forward, Malick’s voice bellowed across the room.

"Guards!"

Within moments, four fully armed guards entered.

"Your Highness," they said in unison, bowing.

"Take her to her room and keep her confined until she reflects on her actions," Malick ordered.

But just as the guards approached, Aria discreetly flicked her fingers. The guards froze, unable to move. Their eyes remained wide open, but their bodies refused to obey.

"What’s keeping you?" Malick asked.

"We… we can’t move, Your Highness. It feels like our feet are glued to the floor," one stammered.

"I told you, Father," Aria said, turning back to him. "They’re no match for me. Not even you. And I wouldn’t want to hurt you… but I’m a bit of a mess right now. So if you’ll excuse me, my king." She bowed slightly and walked majestically out of the chambers.

The trio stood in stunned silence as the guards collapsed to their knees, groaning in pain.

"What in God’s name just happened before my eyes?" Malick whispered in disbelief.

***

Meanwhile…

Back at the Polivian Chambers, the rooms were dimly lit. Supper had just ended.

Taanay was fiddling with the fireplace, seeking more warmth. Thanatos busied himself with a broken drawer lock when Jordyn walked in.

"Thanatos, Taanay—come here and sit," she called out, holding a parcel wrapped in old grey rags tied with a leather strap. The wrinkles on her face were more pronounced now, aging faster than time itself. Her eyes harbored a pain only she could understand. She missed her husband deeply. Polivian had died while picking fruits for supper—bitten by a Black Mamba. He hadn’t made it to the physician in time. That year had been her darkest. The twins were only seven.

"Your father, Polivian, was a righteous man," she began. "He was honest, kind, and a good friend. A man of caliber. Life, however, played a cruel card and took him from us when we needed him most. Before he died, he kept something safe—something he said he’d share with you both when the time was right."

She handed the parcel to Taanay.

"What’s this, Mother?" he asked.

Boldly written on the paper was: "What Fate Has in Store for Them."

"What is this supposed to mean?" Thanatos asked. "What fate?"

Jordyn looked around nervously before speaking. "Your father… though a strong believer in faith, once gave in to temptation and visited a soothsayer to learn about your destiny. I didn’t know he believed in such things… but inside this parcel is the prophecy."

The boys opened the parcel and read the contents in silence. When they finished, they looked up at their mother.

"How… is this happening?" Thanatos whispered.