CASTLE LORE.
Ixora Crystabella Moores woke to the sounds of chirping birds, people talking, and laughter. Slowly, she opened her eyes, struggling to focus after a deep sleep. When her vision cleared, she shot up from her bed.
"Oh no!" Ixora exclaimed, glancing outside. It was already nighttime.
"Cherry!" She called out desperately, holding onto hope. "Cherry?" She repeated as she searched for her slippers. When met with silence, she made one last attempt. "Silverbella?"
But deep down, she knew. Her twin wasn't at home; she had gone out again.
Ixora sighed. She wasn't supposed to oversleep. If she had been awake, she might have been able to stop Cherry from going out. She quickly found her slippers and headed outside. She thought about how her late Grandma Nora would have been driven mad by Cherry's wild antics.
Outside, Ixora paused to enjoy the fresh evening air of Castle Lore, their small town. Her dyed blond hair swayed in the wind, brushing against her face. There was no place like home.
Back when she was in school in New York, she had missed the peacefulness of Castle Lore. New York was a bustling city that never slept, a stark contrast to the tranquility of Castle Lore, where everyone knew each other, but there were always new faces passing through.
That's why she found herself at the gates of A-Good-Night, known as AGN, the largest bar in town. Most travelers passing through the place. Whenever she needed to find her twin, AGN was her first stop.
It was still early in the evening, so she didn't bother checking AGN's club or its rooms. On some nights, she had to search room by room, disrupting couples and witnessing things she'd rather not see while looking for Cherry.
She stood at the entrance of the bar for a moment, hesitating. Would there ever be a time when she didn't have to chase after Cherry like a worried mother hen? Would there ever be a time when she didn't have to rescue her twin from her own actions?
With a resigned sigh, Ixora took a deep breath and pushed open the bar's door, entering inside.
*******
Cherry Silverbella Moores took a sip of her beer, eyeing the man across from her. His name? Mark? Matt? She couldn't recall, but he looked at her as if he wanted to sweep everything off the table, place her on it, and devour her. His eyes held unmistakable promises, and she felt a tingling sensation at the thought.
Bring it on, boy.
She casually shrugged, taking another sip of her beer. There was no need to hurry; they had all night.
"Have I mentioned how beautiful you look, baby? You're absolutely stunning," he drawled, his gaze fixed on her again.
Compliments didn't faze Cherry; she was confident in her looks. But well, what should a girl do?
"Thanks, Mark. You don't look bad yourself. So, where did you say you were headed?" She asked, though she didn't really care about his destination; he was just her company for the night, sparking conversation.
"Oh, Casa Varde," he replied with a smile. "And it's Matt, short for Matthew, not Mark."
Whatever. Cherry doesn't give shit if it was short for Nicodemus, but she played it cool. "Sorry, my bad. So, what's taking you to Casa Varde? The gold mines?"
"Well, I'm on leave from work, so I wanted a vacation... You know, take a stroll, see the world, explore new stuff," he explained. "Casa Varde was my first choice because I've—Holy shit!" He suddenly exclaimed, looking past her at the door, then back at her, alternating between the door and her as if in disbelief.
Cherry sighed dramatically. Ixora was here.
Matt couldn't believe his eyes. The beautiful blonde before him suddenly looked like a duplicate copy. It was mind-boggling, and he had never encountered such a strikingly identical twins.
Without bothering to turn around, Cherry knew her twin was now at the bar, about to ruin her fun, as usual. Three seconds passed, then two, then one.
"Look who I found here! It's my pregnant twin!" Ixora exclaimed, standing next to Cherry and placing a hand on her shoulder.
Cherry snorted, rolling her eyes. Pregnant? Seriously? That was Ixora's idea for tonight?
"Pregnant!?" Matt echoed, eyeing Cherry's stomach skeptically.
Cherry thought the same thing, but she kept quiet. It didn't really matter; once Ixora found her, she always ruin the fun. Always.
"Oh, but she is. She's two months along, my poor twin," Ixora gasped, covering her lips dramatically as her eyes shifted back to Matt. "Oops. You weren't supposed to know that! After tonight, you were supposed to become the father of the baby!" She turned regret-filled eyes on Cherry. "I'm really sorry, Cher. I didn't mean to let the secret slip." She batted her eyelashes apologetically, knowing her twin was an excellent actress.
Matt looked horrified. Of all the girls in the club tonight, he had to pick the one with a lying pregnant twin? Unbelievable!
Exasperated, he thudded his beer on the table. "Conniving bitch!" he hissed at her, storming out of the bar.
Cherry sighed softly, watching him leave. She remained calm until he was gone and the door slammed shut. Then, she turned and shot her twin a furious glare, her eyes blazing with anger.
Cherry was simply furious.
*********
Ixora sensed her twin's seething anger as they returned home, and when Cherry slammed the door with a resounding jangle, she braced herself for a shouting match. Instead, Cherry shot her a glare that could've frozen fire. She grabbed her bag, intending to retreat to her room, but Ixora halted her with words; anything was better than Cherry's cold silence—anything.
"What!? You've got nothing to say?" Ixora demanded, her own anger flaring.
Cherry spun around so abruptly it felt like a whirlwind. "You mind your own fucking business, Ix," she spat, venom lacing her words.
Anyone else might have cowered under the intensity of Cherry's anger, but not Ixora. She was too furious to care. The Bella Twins had one thing in common, and that was their fiery tempers.
Ixora almost relished Cherry's anger because it was far preferable to her cold indifference.
"Your business is my business! You've got to stop acting like some cheap prostitute! Just yesterday, you climbed out of that drunk David's bed, and now he's spreading rumors all over town about what you both did! The worst part? He's not even claiming he slept with you; he's boasting about bedding a Bella twin, leaving it ambiguous. It could be either of us. I had to hear it from old Ceaser yesterday; he wondered why I got involved with that guy, knowing how loose-lipped he is!"
Cherry rolled her eyes, smirking. "I couldn't care less about what people think, Ixora. Maybe you should give it a try; it's incredibly liberating. I'll be with whoever the hell I want, however the hell I want, and I couldn't care less if they labeled you as the 'prostitute.'"
Ixora couldn't believe her twin sister, anger simmering deep within her. "Enough, Cherry. Get a life, find a job, and stop behaving like a reckless teenager. You're twenty-three fucking years old, and a Moores. For crying out loud, you're my twin! People mistake me for you all the time! Your conquests approach me on the street, begging for 'another night of awesome sex,' and your dealers offer me drugs! Pull yourself together, Cherry!" Ixora's voice was practically a shout now.
Cherry let out a humorless laugh. "Oh, poor you. Stuck with the evil twin as always," She shook her head.
"But guess what? It's my life, not yours! I do whatever the hell I damn please, and I don't give shit about you or your fucking reputation. If you've had enough of me, there's the door—" Cherry pointed angrily at the exit. "Feel free to get the hell away from me! I'm hate looking at your face. I'm sick of seeing you...God, you disgust me." She turned her back to Ixora, stormed into her room, and slammed the door shut.
Ixora stood alone in the living room, frozen like she'd seen a demon, Cherry's words echoing in her ears. She took shaky breaths to calm herself, but already she could feel the tears coming. Her chest suddenly felt too damn heavy.
I hate looking at your face, you disgust me. I hate looking at your face, you disgust me.
Ixora retreated to her room, laid down on her bed, and then, the tears really started coming.
Was Cherry truly fed up with her? Despite her sister's flaws, she was still her twin. They had once been inseparable. Cherry was never this wild before, infact, at some point...she'd been the 'perfect' one.
But all that had changed. Now, it felt like she had lost her twin the same day she lost her parents.
She wished Grandma were still alive; she could have used another ally in dealing with Cherry. Her heart ached as she cried herself to sleep, muffling her sobs so her sister wouldn't hear just how deeply she was hurting.
In her bedroom, Cherry unpacked her boxes of cigarette, selecting one without bothering to put the rest away.
She sprawled on her queen-sized bed, retrieved her lighter from the nightstand, and lit the cigarette. She took a long drag, trying to ignore the muffled sobs coming from Ixora's room. Her nearly non-existent conscience pricked at her, but she quickly shoved it away.
She was Cherry, and Cherry simply didn't give a damn. Not anymore.
.
.
.
**********************
.
In the dead of night, the room echoed with soft whimpers, gradually intensifying into strangled cries.
Ixora stirred from her slumber, her senses alert to the distressing sounds that filled the silence. With a swift glance at the clock, its hands frozen at midnight, she felt a pang of worry clutch at her heart.
Driven by concern, Ixora swung her legs out of bed, her bare feet meeting the cool floor as she ventured toward the source of the unsettling noise. The corridor was dimly lit, shadows dancing ominously on the walls as she made her way to Cherry's room.
Upon entering, a scene of heart-wrenching vulnerability unfolded before her eyes. Cherry laid trapped in the clutches of another haunting nightmare. The contours of her twin's face were etched with fear, her body contorting in the grips of unseen terrors. Ixora's heart tightened in her chest.
She approached quietly, her steps cautious, not wanting to startle her sister further. Ixora didn't attempt to wake her; she knew it was futile because Cherry remained unresponsive during these episodes. Instead, she settled down beside her twin, watching as Cherry wrestled with unseen terrors, making incoherent sounds.
Ixora had often wished that Cherry would utter just a single word during these nightmares, something that might offer a clue to what haunted her dreams. But all she ever heard were gasps, sobs, and those strangled whimpers, like a frightened child.
"It's alright, Silver. Everything's alright," Ixora cooed, gently rubbing her twin's leg. Like a tempest that had run its course, Cherry calmed instantly.
In this state, Cherry didn't recoil from Ixora's touch, unlike usual. Her twin despised sleep, which was why she often kept herself occupied at night, either by leaving the house and indulging in her "Cherry ways."
Does these nightmares have anything to do with their parent's death? Ixora wished her twin would say something to her, anything at all.
Ixora and Cherry had their differences. They fought constantly, and Cherry would always pull away from her touch. Her twin had made it abundantly clear that she hated her. Despite all of this, Ixora loved her twin deeply. She was willing to do anything within her power to protect her.
"Sleep well, Cher," she murmured an hour later, as she rose from the bedside and returned to her own room.
.
.
.
NEW YORK CITY."Mother, I'm back," came the deep, familiar voice.Camila Brown willed herself not to startle, not wanting to alert her son that she had been lost in thought once again. With her back still turned to him, she carefully wiped away the tears that had welled up in her eyes as she set down the picture she had been gently caressing, lost in mourning.She whirled around and managed a watery smile as she approached her son's imposing frame, enveloping him in a tight hug. At least, Jake was here, she thought painfully."How was your day at work today?" Camila asked, as she released herself from her son's embrace.Jake smiled wanly, "It went great. Do you remember Sarah? We performed surgery on her today, and it was a success," he said joyfully.Sarah was a familiar patient at Jake's hospital, a seven-year-old girl with a fragile heart. The little girl had spent several weeks in the large medical facility and had made many friends, including Camila. Sarah's kind-heartedness, des
Cherry Silverbella Moores stood in the living room of a local drug dealer, waiting for him to fetch her package from his bedroom. She had woken up early that morning, careful not to disturb her twin sister before leaving the house."Are you sure you don't want to come into the room with me?" Jobb called from his room.Cherry rolled her eyes. "No, I'm fine here," she shouted back. Just because she fucked around didn't mean she wanted to have sex with Jobb. There was nothing appealing about him, not even his name. He might even have a similar future to his biblical namesake. She had zero interest in fucking him.Jobb emerged from the room with a wrapped bag and handed it to her. "Here you go, all set," he said, passing the bag to her.Cherry took the package and paid him in cash. "Thanks. Until next time."On her way home, she passed by old Bobby's shop and noticed that his son was inside while the old man was absent. Excitement coursed through her as she entered the shop. It was time f
"Whoohooo! We've missed the bar-time, girls. Let's head straight to the club; it's club-time!" Vera, Ixora's best friend since high school, exclaimed in excitement as they entered the gate of A-Good-Night and heard the distinctive roars of bands and music.All eyes turned to the three of them. They looked absolutely stunning, but gasps escaped people's mouths at the sight of the twins. They wore black gowns that barely covered their hips, hugging them tight, accompanied by big diamond earrings, necklaces, and silver heels. Everything matched perfectly, and they appeared stunningly identical.Ixora glared at her best friend, adjusting her gown slightly. "We said we were going to the bar, Vera, not the club. This gown is so uncomfortable.""Your friend's right, bar-time is over. Look, the club is already heating up," Cherry chimed in, scanning the crowd for attractive men."But Cher, you said the bar—" Ixora began to protest.Cherry grinned mischievously. "You can go to the bar, Ix. We'
The screech of the door caught Jerald's attention as he sat in the dark corner of the room. Pushing his hair away from his face, he watched as the young girl entered, her long dark hair trailing down to her waist, concealing her face as she brough in his 'food and water.'As she dropped the provisions beside him, he uncurled from his seated position and approached her cautiously. "I'm escaping from here tonight, Berezira," he said, keeping his voice low and non-threatening. Berezira was already too frightened of him, a fear he couldn't blame her for.Her eyes darted up at him, then quickly averted. "That is good. I wish you the best of luck, good master. I..." She paused, a faint shudder running through her small frame. "I am to serve Master Amardad tonight. It's his turn to keep watch. I will try to steal the key to the secret vault from his waist belt."He knew exactly which key she was talking about. The secret vault was the only way out of this underground prison, a hidden passage
"Have you ever thought about getting married, Cherry?" Ixora slurred as she took another swig of her beer.Ixora was a bit tipsy, but then again, it was a girls' night out. They were at the bar while her best friend, Vera, was still at the club.Cherry squinted at her twin with narrowed eyes and shook her head slowly, taking a drag from the cigarette in her left hand. "Nope. That's for losers, Crystabella. Those who can't stand on their own two feet," Cherry stated bluntly.Ixora managed a sad smile. "I've been standing on my own since Mom and Dad passed away, but I still want to get married. I want to have kids." She hiccuped; her head felt like mush. "I just need to find someone who won't profess love one moment and then sleep with you the next."Cherry snorted and leaned in to sniff her drink before downing it, feeling the burn down her throat. "Unlike you, I'm not interested in that fairytale called love. I just take what they offer, that's all. Men are all the same—stupid as hell
COR DEXTRAS HOSPITAL, NEW YORK. "Doctor Jake?" Jake Brown sat in his office, lost in thought, his mind perpetually dwelling on the same painful subject for months now. People often spoke of the emotional pain of heartbreak in relationships, but they rarely mentioned the agony of losing a brother and attempting to move forward. Nothing felt the same anymore, not for him and certainly not for his family. If only Jerald were still alive. "Doctor Jake?" The voice, slightly more insistent, broke through his reverie. Jake lifted his head to find Mara standing before him, her expression etched with concern. Mara was a highly competent nurse who had joined his hospital ten years ago, shortly after it was accredited and commissioned. At twenty-seven, she appeared youthful and beautiful. She had gotten married three years ago and was now the mother of a lovely two-year-old daughter named Ciara. Over time, Mara had grown close to Jake after learning the reason he had left the arm
Cherry Silverbella Moores arrived home that evening to find Ixora lounging on the couch, looking relaxed with her left leg soaking in a bowl of water."What are you up to?" Cherry asked as she plopped down in a seat across from her sister.Ixora grabbed a pillow and tossed it at Cherry, who managed to dodge it, causing the pillow to fall behind her.Cherry glared at her sister and reached into her bag for some bubble gum. "What was that for?" she asked, popping a piece of gum into her mouth.Ixora shot her a pointed look. "Stay away from my stash, Cher. If you take beers from old Bobby's shop, at least pay for them. No need to give poor Chris high blood pressure trying to figure out how to get his payment."Cherry grinned cheekily. "Where's the fun in that?" She waved off her twin's concern. "Forget about that. Tell me about your day. Did you get the job?"Ixora let out a loud sigh as she reclined on the couch, her leg still in the water. "Mr. Ronald was out of town, so I had to leave
"Do you really want people to think I'm your daughter, Good Master?"Jerald paused mid-dinner, his gaze fixed on Berezira across the table. "People might gossip if they find out we're not related but still living together. It could attract unwanted attention, and I don't want Mostafa catching wind of our location," he explained. "Could you call me 'Father' instead of 'Good Master'? I think it might suit you better than 'Daddy.'"Berezira nodded. "Alright...father," she replied before returning to her meal.The girl rarely spoke and seemed older than her years. She rarely left the house, and when she did, it was only to watch birds and animals in the woods nearby. She never ventured far, avoiding social interaction and even leaving the TV off. Jerald was concerned, but he had no idea how to help her. He'd faced bombs, guns, and bullets before, but a withdrawn, twelve-year-old girl scarred by a traumatic past was a challenge beyond his expertise.They ate in silence for a while until Je