The Forgotten Twin

Gold and Sliver

Liv

We’re finally old enough to practice magic. Meredith and I woke up and jump out of bed. We were so excited to feel like we are a part of the coven now.

“Aren’t you happy for today Livy?” Meredith walks towards me from her side of the room.

“Yes Mery, are you?” Taking her hand and jumping up and down with her.

“YYAAAYY WE’RE WITCHES SISTERS!!!” Yelling in unison.

“GIRLS ARE YOU DRESS FOR YOUR LESSONS!” Mother yelled.

“ALMOST MOTHER!” I yelled back.

*Door Opens*

Mother pokes her head through the door, with a sooth voice. “15 minutes for breakfast then down in the cellar, okay girls.”

Nodding our heads. “Yes mother.” Respond with unison.

*Door Closed*

“Okay Livy, get ready.” Letting go of my hand, still jumping up and down. We hurry and get dress fast. A few minutes later and we both race down the stairs while pushing each other. Trying to see whom will make it to the kitchen first.

At the same time we made it down the stairs and turn to the corner. Ran through a hall and turn another corner. Ran through a longer hall and turn one more corner. As we ran and ran faster and faster. Not caring to bump into and get in everyone else way.

“Wow I smell..” Mery says very cherry, lifting her nose to the air.

“BACON!” We both scream as we turn into the kitchen. Everyone jump in shock, when we enter the kitchen giggling. This wasn’t out of the ordinary. Meredith and I usually race for breakfast all the time.

“Alright jelly bugs. Settle down and eat.” Father said. Father pop his head out the fridge holding a toast in his mouth.

“And you sir, get a plate and sit.” Mother grabs the toast and glare at her husband. Smiling at each other. So deeply in love. You can see it in the way they stare into each others eyes, every time they got a chance. Father broke the tension and smack his lips into mother’s. And mother push him with rosy cheeks and giggles.

“Eeewww gross.” Meredith and I scrunch our nose and shields each others eyes.

With a rumble belly of excitement storming inside us both. We quickly ate our food.

“Done!” Meredith yelled.

“Done!” I yelled. We both giggle at each other.

“Okay girls head down stairs, your mother is there waiting.” Father said as he grabs our plates from the table.

“Okay.” Both Meredith and I yell as we jump off our chairs and headed down to the cellar. Ever more excited for today. We both have been waiting so long. And now the day has finally came.

The cellar was a bit dark and cold. But what cellar isn’t. It was where we kept most herbs locked up. These were our families little stock. And of course father’s little whiskey collection.

“Ahh hurry girls. Take a seat, lesson is about to begin.” Mother said to us as she arrange some candles.

I look around when I got to my seat. There were candles everywhere. What were we gonna do on our first day of magic class. My little heart beat in and out. Excited to express the way of magic. Just like everyone else in the coven. We can actually feel like we are apart of our coven now that we can practice. Meredith and I had watch some of the others practice around the land. It was cool, it wasn’t like that fake magic you see in Hollywood movies. This was real magic, because we’re real witches.

“Okay girls do either of you two know what we will be practicing today?” Mother turns around with her strict face, but had a soft gentle tone with it. Both of us look at each other and shook our heads.

We were only 5 and mother and father didn’t allow us to practice until now. We couldn’t even touch a grimwald.

“Well today we are gonna start nice and slow for you two. Once you have master the basic. Then and only then you can advance to greater power.” Mother walks back and forth as she spoke.

“Our basics always come in handy. We use it very often than you may think. It’s like a mortal’s way of daily task. We just have more fun with it.”

We jump and smile a little as mother went on to explain why magic was so important and wasn’t something to play with. Magic was just as dangerous than anything else. If done wrong or no control on time. A life can be taken away. Mother had told us that many times. If we had to take a life. It had to be in good reason, and if it wasn’t. Well, either way it was a feeling we shall never forget. That day we taken a soul. It would stain on ours until our time has came.

“Do you girls promise me to use magic only when it is needed. And not for the joy you indeed to mess with?” Mother asked.

“Yes mother we promise.” Unison we respond.

“Alright then. Your first spell with me is simple. Should just take you today to learn if not by tomorrow.” We kept our eyes in mother direction.

Watching every move she took. In any second, something can change. Mother stared at a candle. It was place in the middle of the table. She spoke under her breath. And flick. The candle was lit. She didn’t even blink. She just held a hand out to the candle and she lit it. Meredith and I was shock. We couldn’t wait to try for ourself.

“First practice the spell. Then try to master it.” Nodding at us. Together we repeated mother’s words over and over again.

This was one of the only time my sister and I didn’t play around. We knew how magic was for the coven and mother wanted us to perfect it. We were also worry to disappoint either mother or father as well. Mostly mother. She had her temper when she took something very serious. So we knew once we started learning. We had to be good girls and listen to her.

“Good girls. Now do as I do.” We follow mother’s movements. “Now when I call your name, I want you to try and light the candle.” We nod our heads at her. I had sweaty palms. Worry I may mess up.

“Meredith?” Mother calls to her.

I watch as Meredith sat up straight. Close her eyes and spoke the words softly. When she open her eyes, I gasp and clap for her. She had lit a flame on the candle.

“Good job Meredith.” Smiling back.

“Elizabeth your turn.” Said mother.

I rub my hands on my skirt and copy Meredith. I straighten up my posture and close me eyes. Held my hand up in front of my candle and whisper the words. Lighting up my candle.

“A bit thin but good Elizabeth.” It didn’t bother me that my flame wasn’t as big as Mery’s. I was just as happy to had it lit at all.

Both Meredith and I join hands and shriek at each other. We were over joy with our first spell.

“Now repeat again.” Mother demanded. And we did. We went on for hours, just perfecting the lit candle. Over and over. “Seem easy right.” We nodded.

“Sometimes it is easy to control one flame. But it is more difficult to control multiple flames at once. But never impossible.” Mother explained. “What is the one thing I always tell you girls?” Lifting her head up in a dominant way.

“If you believe you can do it, than you shall succeed.” We both repeat.

This was the one thing mother as always told us growing up. If you believe you can do it, then you shall succeed. It works for any life task you can go through.

“Good.” Mother nodded.

Mother had hardly smile today. Which was odd. When mother took something very very serious she had a straight face on. Father calls it her witchy face.

“Now, that you two have master on the object. I want you to practice and master two or three. And than in a few days. You will be able to lit this whole room with just a flick of your wrist.”

We watch mother as she went on to show us the tricks to mastering multiple objects. Lighting up the room that had candles all around it. Mother begins to tell us that it’s all in our heads. Just to think of what we want to do, where to do it, how to do it. And then it should be done. Sounds easy, but it wasn’t.

Meredith and I spend the last few hours trying to get at least three candles. We stayed and practice together. It was hard to just get two by itself. And Mother kept telling me to stick with two until my flame was brighten up. But I try to keep up with my sister who seems better at it than me. Her flame was bigger than mine, each time. And mother smile at her’s and let a small frown at mine.

I felt sad each time I lit a candle. I didn’t know what I was doing wrong. I said the words right. Maybe I wasn’t as strong enough than my sister. Which wasn’t a surprise. Meredith was always a bit better at everything than me. And both mother and father always remind me about it. They always praise her on her excel skills. Rather for me. It was a consent line of lectures on how to succeed more. To practice more and stop fooling around. Telling me I didn’t take stuff serious like Meredith did. But I did. I try. Hard.

Mother would always end her lectures with. “Why can’t you just be like your sister?”

I never know how to respond back beside, “I’ll do better mother. I promise.” That usually keeps mother happy. Yet I still feel a string of failure inside.

Meredith always tries to help me. And I thank her every time. She was my best friend. We help each other out with everything. I just feel bad some times. I don’t want to hold my sister back. I was fine not being better than her. But I wanted to at least try to meet her in the middle.

When Meredith saw me struggling she squeezed my hand and whisper. “You got this little sis.” I let out a small smile. Trying once again. And getting it done perfect. Meredith was just a few minutes older than me. But she plays the big sister when she need to. She was my best friend, we grew in the same womb together.

After we spend a few more hours practicing, mother allow us to take a break. I sigh in relief. I felt like my whole little body was strain with exhaustion. My brain ache with a hard throb bumping against my skull. I look over to see Mery felt the same. She had sweat dripping down her face. But she wiped it off before mother saw.

“Okay girls that was good for today. Go on and play.” Waving her hand away from us.

“Yes mother!” We said in unison.

We both jump off our chairs but realize our legs were asleep. We slowly just walk our way out the cellar. Meredith and I wanted to play hide and seek but once we got up the stairs we smell a sweet scent fill the air.

“Mmhh it smells like..” Mery sticks her nose up into the air.

“Sugar cookies.” I finish the sentence for her.

We look at each other and we walk slower into the kitchen. Snicking in to see who was baking. As our head pop into the corner. One head on top of the other. We saw a slim woman with long red dark hair. She had it tie up in a fish tail. The woman was whispering a song underneath her breath.

“..with love and peace,

Joy and magic,

Be now and always filled.

So mote it be”

She sings a song to bless the kitchen. We listen to her spoke the words. As her voice was soft with every note.

“Bless be this kitchen

Of Air, fire, water and Earth.

Be warmed by the scared light

Of the Goddess and honor one.

May all that is created here

By means both magic and mun…”

The woman stop singing. She had stop whipping something that was in a large mixing bowl. “Mmhh I smell two little goblins, who dare disturb me.”

We both move our heads away and hide behind the wall. Giggling softly. We couldn’t help but laugh when we heard her footsteps get closer and closer to us. We stood there holding hands waiting for her to come around the corner.

*Footsteps Stop*

We shut our eyes closed. Patiently waiting. Once it had gotten quiet we open our eyes and look at each other confuse. “Huh.” I murmur. I wave to Mery with my hand. Telling her to look in the kitchen.

“You do it.” Mery whisper.

“Fine,” I slowly walk over the corner and pop just a little bit. I peek one eye slightly. Glance into the room and saw nothing. The woman was gone. “Where she go?” I turn around and look at Mery.

She put her hands down from her face. We gave each other a look. And deiced to walk into the kitchen and try to snick a cookie or three. As we both giggle our way slowing into the kitchen.

“Bbooooo!” The woman jump from behind us.

“Aahhhh hhhahha.” We both scream. She had use our one trick against us. “Aunt Mable!!” We scream once we saw the woman’s face.

“Hi my pretty goblins.” Aunt Mable got on her knees and open her arms wide for us.

We both skip a little to her embrace. Aunt Mable was our father’s sister. She and father are like twins. They grew up attach to each others hip. At least that’s what aunt Mable says. Father says she was annoying and never left his side. Always wanted to do whatever he was doing. But I think they’re both right. Even now, I always see them doing things together and they always find a way to annoy each other. It was cute really. Brother and sister love. That’s how me and Mery wanted to be. We hope to live together and practice magic together. Even get marry to brothers and have twins of our own. But who knows, we were still way way too young for all that.

“Hows my girls doing?” Mable had a rosy face that brings a joy to the room.

“Great aunt Mable.” I told her with cheeky cheeks.

“Guess what we just did today?” Mery jumps with excitement.

“Tell me Meredith, what did my goblins do?” Poking Mery’s nose.

“We just did our first spell!” Looking at me and Mable.

“Yeah, we learn to light a candle.” Meeting Mery’s excitement.

“Ohh wow, that is great. I am so proud of you two.” Poking both our noses now. We jump up and down with joy of the news.

*Heavy footsteps enter the kitchen*

“Mmhh do I smell cookies..” father walks in. Father smiles with widen eyes as he saw the three of us. “Aahh hey girls, hey sis. What you guys up to.” We ran to hug our father.

“Well the girls just got done with magic school. And I was just making some cookies.” Mable walk towards the island where she left the mixing bowl she was mixing earlier.

“Alright well are the cookies..” father stick his head up looking for some cookies in the room.

“No no, they are still baking.” Starting to mix the batter.

“Ahh damn.” Putting a pout on. Mable shakes her head at him.

“They will be done soon. You impatient butthead.” Mable chuckle to father who returns a chuckle of his own.

Mery and I jump up and down while holding hands. “Yyayy.” We said.

As the day goes on, we waited for the cookies and took a nap. The rest of our day went on as usual. We were woken up for dinner and Mable told us about her recent boy stories

Aunt Mable was a hopeless romantic. She got in too many relationships, hoping that she finds the one. But in the end she dumps them because of lack of interest. I think she has high standards really.

“I don’t know why you bother Mable. You are always so happy without dipping into a relationship after relationship. Don’t you just want to focus on yourself for a little?” Mother ask Mable.

“I would but, I have to be in the mix to find my prince. There’s no harm in looking.” Mable was too nice for this world. She never allows anything bad get to her.

“If you say so sis.” Father never puts his opinions in when it comes to his sister. I guess he doesn’t want to make her mad. I mean who would. Mable had the gift of True Kakoneiros. She was able to bring your worst nightmares to real life. In some rare occasions it can lead you to go mad.

We had heard a story where she use it on father once. They were 19 and father had stole her car and crash it. It was her birthday gift and he had gotten drunk. She wasn’t happy about it and use her gift on him. Father kept his distances from her for a long time after that. But after a few years they made up. But I guess that’s why he doesn’t say anything to piss her off.

After eating dinner Meredith and I just went to bed. We wanted to get our rest. So we can be up and ready for our lesson tomorrow.

“Goodnight mother, goodnight father, goodnight aunt Mable.” We hug everyone and went off to brush our teeth, comb our hair and put our matching pj’s on.

We climb into our own bed, with our favorite stuff animals. Mine was a bat. I love the dark as do they. Meredith was a butterfly. She love colors and their free will. “Livy, do you think we will be great witches one day like mother?” Mery asked.

“Yeah of course we will.” Sitting up in my bed to look at Mery.

“Do you think we will like our gifts. Once we get them?” Mery seem upset. Maybe just nervous.

“Mery, don’t worry. The Ancestors will gift us with something just as amazing as we are. You just have to wait and see.”

I aways had to remind her that the gifts are a good thing. But sometimes she listens to those who talk about expression magic and gifts that were wrong and meant to only kill. I think they just wanted to scare her. They were older kids.

“Okay Livy. Goodnight.” She roll over to her side away from me.

“Goodnight Mery,” I too lay down and roll to my side. Falling fast asleep.