Mike’s POV

Life is so fickle. These recent events have let me know just how delicate life is and how stupid a word like ‘normal’ really was. The person who thought of the word has done the world a great disservice as there is no such thing as normal. Normal is what we are used to even if it is not what we deserve or aspire to have, feel or experience.

For instance, me having a twin was so normal, normal as breathing. I was never alone, I was never sad, because my other half was there. Only to find that I was never a twin in the first place. I had a mother who loves me to bits and I thought that was enough. Silly me, who knew I would reject her offers to come home because of how rotten she had treated the person who means everything to me. I had a father, who saw no flaws on me, but now is missing and no one knows where he is. Then the Blood Queen, who I thought was far away, is yet here, breathing down my neck in hot hurried breaths, hoping to feed upon my pain.

Do you see now why I hate the word normal? As different as my life is now, I have to make this my new normal. Motherless, fatherless and alone in this world.

Not completely alone although- the best friends anyone can ask for are constantly about me; Neil and Shango. They too have no father or mother because they left them to help me. They do not laugh like most best friends do, no, they plot and scheme like wives, to get me out of my dark hole to speak to my half-sister.

Who used to be my twin.

Nkosi and Kafui, my teachers and friends aid and abet in providing cars for evening drives when I cannot breathe and books when I finish the one given previously with lightning speed. They tell me to get out of my dark hole to speak to my half-sister.

Who used to be my twin.

What they don’t understand is I am in a relationship with normal. I lie to myself that this is just a bad dream and I will wake up to my snoring sister who climbed in bed with me because of a bad dream that constantly tormented her. Who would tell me terrible jokes in my head just because she wanted to, and the nudge at the back of my head would tell me that I am not alone. I fear that if I see her, it will cement this bad dream into reality. If I see her in this nightmare, then I will know that she is truly my half-sister.

Who used to be my twin.

I knocked once on the door Neil at my right and Nkosi and Kafui behind me. We have been planning this for weeks all I had to do was look and listen but this is the first time I had a mission and of course I cannot fail. I cannot fail my first and only mission- bring Nikita back.

Shango opened it, positively beaming to see us. I did not need to look at Neil to know that he had a tight smile. We were all glad that Nikki was safe at least but Neil’s feelings about my tw…

Neil’s feelings about my half-sister were so strong that it sometimes got in the way of rational thinking. I hope I do not fall in love. There were 3 people in my heart and that was okay for me. Neil and Shango tried to get along and for the sake of the two of us, it worked fine like how it did today, even though Neil and Shango stared themselves down for a few moments. I wanted to scream that Shango loved her as a friend and he would never do anything to hurt him, but I was too tired to scream today. I wanted to lie down and sleep, but I was a man on a mission, and I wasn’t going to back down now.

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My sister was lying in Shango’s bed, where everything was orange even the heavy fur that covered her from neck to toe. She was busily concentrated in the book she was reading. Shango said that was all she did, read and read, never speaking, like when she first discovered who she was.

She looked like me. Anyone could be pardoned for calling us twins. Even though we were born at the same time of the same hour of the same day, we, having different mothers, still made us half-siblings. We were all not scared of her or of who her mother, we loved her and did not care who her mother was and we wanted her to know that.

“Nikki” I called. She whipped her head to face me, and then sat up slowly, taking the covers off her. Her eyes immediately swam, shining like the stars but on beautiful ebony skin. I smiled at her, my first genuine smile. I hope it was a nice smile that let her know that I loved her and needed her back. She smiled and nodded, reading my thoughts.

Normal is evil, it keeps appearing. If we were half-siblings, how come we can communicate telepathically and do things only twins can do?

Slowly she stood up, her clothes hanging off her.

I took a step towards her and she took three, what was needed to close the distance between us for an embrace. I held her tight; I do not think I will let her go again. Her hair had the familiar smell of shea butter but with long hair extensions carefully twisted. It made her look feminine but they did not make her beautiful. What made her beautiful was her laugh, her smile, her stupid dry jokes, her excitement, her boundless joy and infinite energy.

I decided as I held her that although I have to let normal go, I will keep her scarf.

“I do not care about biology” I said even though my voice was breaking “I don’t care what they said. You are my twin sister” Nikki let go of me and stared into my eyes, hers also wet and dripping.

“You…” Nikita swallowed, trying to get her voice to work after weeks of them not being used “you need biology you idiot”

“I can make it rain with a few words” I smirked at her “I am pretty sure biology can go fuck itself”

“Oh Mike!” she cried and held me again.

Neil came from behind and hugged the two of us.

“We missed you so much Nikki”

Nikki replied by snorting with laughter. After the embrace I hugged Shango in thanks for looking after my heart, my half-sister.

Who is now my twin sister.

Kafui couldn’t wait to scoop Nikki in his arms. He cried freely and apologized and Nikki smiled a sad smile. Nkosi came and silently embraced Nikki and gave her a peck on her forehead. She smiled freely; their connection evident. Shango told me that throughout this ordeal, he was the only one she would speak to.

“You have to leave” Nkosi said, getting into action “Now”

“Why?” Nikki’s voice was hoarse.

“You were able to scare the council to not meting out justice, but it does not mean they will not find other ways to hurt you”

“We have to find the rest of the 5” I continued “I am sorry we do not have more time…”

“Let’s go” Nikki said, the spark in her eye returning.

Kafui and Nkosi got a trailer, a white big car with bedrooms and bathrooms and a living room, a literal house on wheels. It was enhanced with a bit of Vodun of course.

Shango already had her clothes packed and took it into the car. Neil and mine’s clothes were already packed.

“I assumed you wanted a room with me, if not…”

“There is no way I am sleeping alone with the council coming after us” we grinned cunningly.

“Want a tour?”

“You can have it on the way” Nkosi said in his monotone.

“You’re not coming?” Nikki’s smile fell.

“I have to hold down the fort and keep them far away from you”

Nikki hugged him fiercely and Nkosi returned the favor, his eyes wet.

“Succeed in your mission and this goodbye will not last”

Nikki nodded seriously.

“Protect your sister” Nkosi said, taking my hand and shaking it serenely. I nodded; I already planned on doing so myself.

Nkosi kissed my sister in the crown of her head and then with a nod, he turned and left.

“Let’s fuck ‘em up” Nikki snarled, her eyes set in a mischievous gleam.

“Indeed”

The end