Chapter 5

“Maybe we can come back when I can eat again?” I suggest.

“Yes. I’ll make a booking before we leave.”

“How did you get in here? I thought they’d be booked out,” Jacob asks his brother.

“Don’t you worry you pretty little head about it.” His brother stares at him as though to say ‘really?’ but he is holding back a smile.

“We sell food to go. It can all be reheated but is good cold too. You just have to keep it in the fridge. I can also sell you a bag of our dry roasted blood ground coffee,” The waitress who was taking their food order tells us.

“Okay, angel.” My face must have lit up. My daddy Dirk turns to the woman and knowing my tastes perfectly he orders everything I would have to go.

“Sure thing. I’ll have it ready for when you leave.”

She leaves a moment later with all our orders.

“Don’t worry. We’ll pay.” They don’t work, they live off their wealthy parents money.

“Thank you, everyone. I am so happy,” I can’t help but smile. “I’ll have to give Lily a thank you gift.”

“Lily?” The others question.

“The woman from the store, right?” The ever intuitive Lazarus asks. I smile and nod.

Dinner is brilliant despite me not eating a thing. There is a strong connection between us all.

Mal told my daddies about him and my grandmother and our history.

“So you are her principal?” They ask surprised. They haven’t had a reason to go to my school.

“Yes. And my brothers are teachers but have been sabbatical the last year.” They know now Lazarus isn’t a blood brother, but they had been brought up and always been together. Their parents are good friend.

With our order we went straight out to the car and drove to the store to give Lily the special coffee beans as a thank you gift.

She wasn’t surprised to learn about me and my daddies, but was extremely grateful for the coffee. According to her the restaurant has a very long waiting list.

During our time in the store, both my daddies phone buzzing repeatedly, but they completely ignored it as though it wasn’t happening. Before we left I had to use the toilet. My daddies were reluctant to leave my side. I think they are a little traumatized from the last time I left. “I’m not leaving you. You’re stuck with me.”

Mal nods agreeing with me. “We, all of us, are together now. We’re forever.”

“You should call the police to let them know Zelda has been found. They will likely want to talk to her,” Lazarus suggests distracting them.

“Yes and we should probably call our parents too.”

I proceed to the ladies where I swear I had the longest wee of my life. It lasted long that Mal actually asked me telepathically if I was alright.

I couldn’t help but laugh out loud. ‘I’m alright. Just one minute.’

I leave a moment later and both my daddies draw me into their embrace. Almost as though they were scared I had left. I understand so don’t say anything.

“Sorry I took so long.” I kiss each their cheeks. But notice both look odd, worried, but I can tell it isn’t about me.

“What’s wrong?” The only thing I can think that would concern them this much is Zayda. As much as I dislike her for what she has done. I can forgive her because she was manipulated by our mother. “Is it Zayda?” I ask concerned.

“Yes. They police want to speak to you tomorrow. But have informed me Zayda won’t be charged or face any punishment.”

“That’s confusing but I can accept that as long as Luna is being punish.”

“Yes. She has been sentenced to death, but they are waiting for your presence to complete it,” Daddy Dirk explains.

“Did they explain why she wouldn’t be punish?” I ask and they shake their heads.

“They wouldn’t tell us since she is technically an adult. We’ve both tried to call her but she is ignoring our calls and your grandparents have no idea what is happening.”

“How can they not? Isn’t she staying with them?” I ask annoyed and even more confused. They have always been nonchalant with me, but they always adored her. “Weren’t they the ones calling you?”

“Yes. According to them after she came to see us last time she returned home – our home – and refuses to return or see your grandparents.” I can tell they are concerned and want to go see her.

I know without question our other mates will agree too despite disliking her.

“We have to go home.” I can tell they are torn and really don’t want to leave me.

“I’ll go with you,” I say surprising them all.

“Don’t get me wrong, I still dislike her personality and what she has done. She is not a good person. But I have had plenty of time to think and she is my sister, I have and will always love her. We shared a womb for nine months. Where as my mother I just hate. Zayda was taught from an early age to be a bitch by our mother. Everything is because of her. She was groomed.”

The others agree. “Yes. We will go with you too. She is apart of our family now too.”

We all agree to go together and get into the car together, driving to my childhood home.

It is agreed during the drive that we’d all wait downstairs while my daddies head upstairs. I’d only got up if called for. Which I doubt very much will happen.

But first we stopped at a special store and brought some blood, not knowing if or how much is left. Going off what my grandparents have told my daddies she hasn’t left the house in just under two weeks and they haven’t seen anyone enter.

They haven’t a key to the house because my parents were very private. Plus they never used to visit our house.

“Zayda and Zelda are twins, correct?” Lazarus questions.

“Yes,” Daddy Byron answers.

“I know they…” He looks to me. “I know you weren’t close with your sister. But twins, even fraternal have a connection others don’t.” Both sets of twins nod in agreement. “It sounds like your sister is in crisis and as her sister you will be the best person to get through to her.”

“But she hates me. We’ve never gotten alone.”

“That’s not completely true.” I look to my daddies confused.

“Luna always favoured your sister and would take her out alone. But every time she did you’d both cry your hearts out.” I am surprised to hear this. “Yes, Luna always put you in separate beds, but you’d always end up in the same bed or you’d both scream all night.”

Mal nods his head. “Jacob and Issak were the same. Only I’m guessing Luna did something to change the relationship?”

“Neither of us know what happened but Zay began to pull away and get more snappy when she was only two or three.”

“We thought it was just the terrible twos,” Daddy Byron adds and daddy Dirk agrees.

“I have a theory that she is in crisis because she is separated from you,” Mal says. “When my brothers were young Jacob had a friend Issak hated.” I see a smile appear on Lazarus’s face and I raise my brows. “Yes, Issak really hated me when we were younger,” He says amused. “Shame because I really liked him and Jacob.”

“But I thought you were childhood best friends and stayed with them a lot?”

“I did and I saw him as a good friend.”

“But I hated him,” Issak continues. “He was so handsome and perfect. I was angry and jealous. I thought he was trying to steal Jacob away. It all came to a head when they went away without me.”

“We asked him to come but he refused to come until the end.”

“He’s very stubborn,” Mal says agreeing and explains. “It is common for twins to imprint on one another at birth, so I was pretty certain they were mates.”

“Not to bore you too much I lock myself in my room, refused to eat, stared out the window and broke a lot. Forcing them to return early.”

“After that we were all inseparable.”

After speaking to them I was only left more confused.

Arriving at the house, we changed our minds, deciding I’d go with my daddies and we’ll play it by ear.

‘I know what she has put you through, but remember she is your sister and we are here for you,’ Mal tells me telepathically knowing my fears.

Entering the house it is eerily quiet and she is nowhere in sight.

I half expected my grandparents waiting to be let in. But my daddies never mentioned anything about my grandparents asking about me. I’m not surprised, they have always acted disinterested in me.

We left our other mates looking at our family photos.

Heading to the stairs, we head to her room, only are surprised to find no one there.

“Let’s cheek your room,” Daddy Dirk suggests. I’m still not convinced but silently agree and we proceed to the back of the house where my room is. My parents room is on the upper level and Zayda’s around the front. And it’s a big house, so they aren’t close.

Only arriving at my room I am shocked to find her fast asleep on my bed hugging my pillow.

Moving into the room it is clear she has been crying. Her eyes are sunken, her skin pale. She clearly hadn’t eaten in days, maybe longer.

I hear our daddies sob and struggle to hold back my tears too as I move onto the bed besides her. Things could have been so much different if our mother hadn’t manipulated her.

Reaching for her the moment I place a hand on her shoulder her eyes snapped open.

Her eyes connect with mine and it is like I’m looking at her for the first time. They held so much emotion. She reaches out to touch my cheek almost timidly. Only the moment she touches me memories run through my mind.