Chapter 6

Memories of my daddies trying to comfort me when I cried for my sister and how close we were. Until one day she just began ignoring me. Around that time our mother began treating us better, at least in front of me. She’d still favour my sister but she stopped hitting us and yelling. Or so I thought.

Over time Zayda only became more cruel, at school she was my bully. She made certain I was always alone and at home she ignored me.

It was heart breaking for me but I was too young to understand what was happening and got used to it. I always was lonely and something felt missing but again I became used to it.

The perspective changed suddenly from mine to Zayda’s, I was seeing her memories. Not only memories, but I felt her feelings.

She was intelligent – even as a baby – she learned quickly to pretend to be asleep and then snuck out to be with me. She once genuinely loved me more than herself. Even sneaking blood to me when our mother’s back was turned since I was always left hungry for more.

What I didn’t know was that every time our mother took Zayda out or was left alone with her she would abuse her both mentally and physically.

She made it clear to my infant sister she was to be our mother’s replacement and our daddies wife.

She’d beg to stay with me and our daddies but Luna would say no, that she needed to do her training while they took care of the baby, me.

I know our daddies wanted more time with her but Luna always manipulated things.

Over time it got worse. Instead of hitting and screaming at her, Luna began to threaten my life, forcing Zayda to stay in the sun. Children are even more sensitive to the sun than adults. It is agonising. She’d burn her raw and then feed her blood to heal her so our daddies wouldn’t find out.

Around the age of three it came to ahead. Luna mentioned our daddies being her husbands and Zayda said I would be her wife too.

That made Luna snap and she lied telling Zayda sisters couldn’t be married. This isn’t true. At least not in the vampire society. That I would have my own husband when I grew.

Luna told her the only way it wouldn’t happen, that I wouldn’t leave her is if I stayed a child forever.

It was that day her attitude changed to me. But despite how she acted towards me she was and still is completely in love with me.

She acted the part for our mother, the abuse continued until the day I learned about the blood being switched.

After I left not only our daddies but she fell apart too.

She wanted to help them search but the one time she visited them they snapped blaming her and our grandparents tried to keep her at their house. She wanted to be close to me and return home.

Their concern for me was minimal. Instead they took over from Luna. They never abused her. But they began pressuring her to imprint on our daddies.

She finally escaped when they went to see our daddies.

She has been in my room since.

I remember something Mal told me earlier. It is common for twins to imprint at birth.

I’ve missed her, I can’t deny it. I think it is another reason I forgave her so easily.

I snap but to reality and know she saw my memories as I saw hers.

She is staring at me with tears in her eyes. Avoiding her lips, I kiss her cheek.

“I understand now, Zay. I’m sorry.” She breaks down crying in my arms, clinging to me and hiding her face in my chest.

Seeing our daddies standing watching us I don’t have to ask them, I knew they know we had imprinted on one another years before. Or at least have an idea.

“Zay, we have to wait,” I try to say feeling her lips on my neck. Only before I can finish her fangs are in my neck.

My words catch on my throat and come out as a moan. Vampires don’t feed on one another but I’ve heard females often bite their mate to warn others off.

I bite my bottom lip to stop myself but catch our daddies eyes and they are clearly aroused.

Only when her hands began to wander I stop her.

Pulling back she is close to tears but is so run down I doubt she’d be able to cry.

Silently taking the blood from daddy Dirk I hand it to her.

“Drink. I’m not rejecting you but do need to speak properly. I love you,” I tell her as she drinks that and a second daddy Byron hands her. “I always have, even when I disliked you. But I don’t blame you. I forgive you and understand why you did it.”

She finishes and silently returns to my arms clinging to me.

Mal asks me how things are and I tell him everything. It is much faster than speaking and tell him to warn the other and only seconds later our daddies are crying and holding us both on the bed.

They both repeatedly apologise and beg for her forgiveness. They blame themselves. But much like with me, they weren’t to blame.

She shook in my arms clinging to me. I know instantly why. After everything our mother has put her through and then our grandparents, they have scared her off men. When Luna was around she acted strong and willing because otherwise she’d be beaten but now she is free and allowed to be herself without fear.

‘No one is going to force you to imprint on anyone,’ I tell her telepathically. I don’t have to try with her, I can just connect telepathically, like with Mal.

She peeps up at me surprised. ‘I have other mates, including our daddies. And maybe eventually you will imprint on them but you do not have to. None will force you to do anything,’ I try to reassure her.

‘I love you, don’t let me go,’ She repeats.

‘Sorry to interrupt but it’s going to get light soon. We should leave,’ Mal tells me apologetically.

She must have heard the exchange began to panic.

“It’s alright, Zay, I won’t leave you and no one will do anything without your permission.”

“No one will ever hurt you!” Daddy Dirk says protectively and Byron agrees. “We will protect you.”

She nervously looks at them, her eyes filled with tears. “Please let me stay with Zelda,” She begs still clinging to me. It happened so fast but I saw it, snake eyes. Thankfully Zayda didn’t or she’d be panicking. I know without asking they won’t do anything.

“Don’t worry, baby. No one is taking Zelda from you.”

“We are leaving here, but you’ll be safe,” Daddy Byron assures her.

She became a little panicky realising we are going to my other mates house.

‘I will be by your side the whole time. I promise I won’t leave your side and no one will touch you.’ I press a kiss to her chin and see a flicker of a smile.

“Daddies, go grab some clothes. I’ll take Zay to get some things so I can bath her at the house.”

“Okay, angel. You take care of your sister. But don’t worry about grabbing everything. We’ll come back tomorrow to sort the house out.”

I nod and they leave the room. “I’m sorry, Zelda,” She began to say but I stop her.

“I forgive you. You were abuse, groomed, forced. I love you. I always have.”

I press a kiss to my finger and then my finger to her lips. “Until I can kiss you properly.” I know she saw my memory about ancient rules, she’s seen it all.

Standing up, she stands with me. She is looking much better and more herself. She brightened, no longer looking sick. But her skin was still pale, the same shade as mine and her eyes dark.

I put it down to lack of real sleep.

Stood besides one another, I notice for the first time that, yes, we are the same build and height now. We look a lot alike. “You have gotten so beautiful,” She says looking at me in awe.

“We look more alike now,” I say happily making her smile.

“Is there anything you want from your room?” I ask her. “Don’t worry about clothes and underwear, you can share mine.” I know she is the same size as me.

We walk to her room together and she goes straight to the corner of her room. Kneeling down she pulls the carpet back and then pulls up a floor board before reaching out and pulling out a small box. About two inches by two inches, not big.

“I always dreamed we’d find a way to be together.” She opens the box to reveal a beautiful black golden ring with a large Ruby. Identical to one she always wears.

A mating ring, rumours always said an older man gave her it.

In truth I thought she brought it for attention. But the real truth is she brought it as a set, with the hopes of giving the other to me. Her mate.

“It is hard not to kiss your lips,” I admit.

“We will be one another’s first when the time comes?” She asks hopeful and I nod. I love my other mates. But something was missing. Being with Zayda now I feel complete. I love my mates all the same. But I have always felt empty but I never realised why until today.

As though reading my mind her whole face brightened and she gives me a beautiful smile. So unlike her old smiles I now realise were forced.

She slips the ring on my finger, our eyes connect and I notice for the first time her eyes aren’t just dark, they are brown. They look like my own.

Memories fill my mind, neither mine or Zayda’s.

Memories of Luna yelling at my daddies, telling them they couldn’t be in the room when we were born. Even refusing trained medical professionals.

They were heartbroken, she hadn’t even let them see scans. The only reason they knew it was twins is because they were told.

Instead she had a doula. A woman neither the twins or the twins parents liked. But agreed because it made Luna happy and comfortable.

From the memory of the argument to an older memory of Luna’s first ultrasound.