∞
“Twins are special in Ever Realm and extremely rare.” The Professor glanced around the room when his gaze landed on Jayden and Jasper. “Why, we happen to have one pair here with us.”
Students turned to stare at the twins. Jasper soaked in the attention and made a show by flipping his hair and winking at the girls while Jayden glared, causing them to quickly look away. Scarlett rolled her eyes at the display and returned her attention to the professor.
“Dreamer twins are known to share a powerful link between their minds unlike no other. Even stronger than a partner’s link. You see, where one twin goes, the other must follow. They cannot be on different planes.”
Scarlett glanced between Jayden and Jasper as they both regarded this as old news.
“It’s been told they could even speak through their minds.” The professor glanced at Jasper who gave a cheeky smile.
“Maybe we can, maybe we can’t. If I were able to read Jayden’s thoughts, let’s just say I would most likely not be here right now.”
The class laughed while Jayden rolled her eyes and resumed staring out the windows. Jayden told Scarlett they weren’t able to read each other’s minds, but they could communicate if they needed too. In her words, ‘the only perk to having a twin.’
The class was dismissed and students rushed out.
Scarlett searched for Jayden as she walked down the hall. She was anxious as to what she had up her sleeve for today. Jasper was talking and Scarlett wasn’t hearing a word.
“You’re not listening are you?”
“Nope.”
Jasper shook his head and was about to speak when Jayden appeared beside Scarlett. “Hey, you ready?”
“Yeah.” Scarlett eagerly said.
Jasper slowed his walk and glanced between the two. “Since when did you guys become friends?”
“Since a week ago, little brother. Catch up and stop slacking on your gossip.” Scarlett stifled a laugh as Jasper scowled.
“Now I’m not even bothered by the fact I didn’t know. You’re only five minutes older so take a chill pill, Barney.”
Scarlett burst into a laughing fit as Jasper narrowly avoided Jayden’s slap. If they weren’t headed somewhere, Scarlett was sure Jayden would’ve done Jasper in.
“You’ve been spared, Jasp. We’ve got some girl things to do. I’ll see you later.”
Jasper gave Jayden the finger as he walked ahead and she gladly returned the gesture. Scarlett lightly laughed at the twins.
“Now, you and I have someplace to be and there’s only a short window, so let’s get going.”
Scarlett skeptically looked at Jayden’s waiting hand. “What exactly are we going to do?”
“Shut up and let’s go.” She rolled her eyes and grabbed Scarlett’s hand.
∞
“Jayden what are we doing here?”
Her question was ignored as Jayden pulled her towards the buildings of the Refuge. The smaller buildings that surrounded Cain’s tower were bustling with Dreammares. They walked about and minded their business, but some stared as if knowing exactly who she was. They most likely did.
“Don’t mind them, green is a common color for these guys. They’re stuck here while we can freely leave. They wouldn’t blend in as easily as we do.”
Jayden led Scarlett between the small shiny buildings. They were shops on the lower floor and housed the apartments above it. A big one with purple lights entered their line of sight and Jayden made a beeline towards it.
“What –?”
Jayden opened the door and shoved Scarlett inside.
“A store... you brought me to a store.” Scarlett glanced around at the shirts, dresses, and jeans. They hung from the ceiling, lined the walls, and filled the racks. The place was packed. There were a few other female Dreammares that flicked through clothes. They glanced at Scarlett out of the corner of their eyes before going back to their search.
“Go look for some clothes, I’m going to be on this end.”
Jayden left Scarlett before she could get another word out and disappeared into the jungle of clothes.
“Okay then,” Scarlett muttered to herself.
As she searched through a pile of dresses, she came across one that caught her eye. She was reaching for it when a hand slammed down on it.
“So, you’re the bitch?”
Scarlett’s eyes traveled up the pale hand to icy blue eyes framed by thick black lashes. Her hair was a white blonde, almost like Liam’s but had more color to it. She was tall and slender with muddy brown armor. From her appearance, Scarlett gathered she was probably around twenty-five.
“Excuse me?”
“Are you deaf?” She threw the words out and rolled her eyes. “Cain’s new puppy toy.”
Scarlett's eyes widened and she glanced around for Jayden who was nowhere to be seen. “You must be confused.”
“Nope, I’m pretty sure you’re his new bitch.” The woman rolled her lips and looked Scarlett up and down. The judgment was clear in her eyes. “It’s because you’re new sweetie, the initial interest will pass. It always does and then he’s back with me at the end of the day.”
Scarlett’s jaw dropped. “Look, I have no interest in –.”
She tried to get the next word out but it became lodged in her throat. Her mind turned to mush as if a restriction had been activated. She couldn’t finish the sentence. The ball in her chest was beginning to rage and storm while her temperature rose as her dislike at the disrespect grew. The woman was tripping a wire to a bomb.
“Cat got your tongue? Everybody has an interest in him, sadly for you, his main interest is in me. You’re just a little too ugly for his taste.”
Scarlett opened her mouth to snap when a conversation came to mind. It hit her like a truck and everything made sense. Scarlett grabbed a hold of the reins, smoothed out the edges of the ball within, and released her tensing shoulders.
‘I’m going to kill Jayden.’
Swallowing the words that almost slid out, Scarlett sweetly smiled and wiggled her fingers. The signs were all there.
“Miss, considering you look about ten years older than me, bringing another woman down doesn’t make you look any better. I’m going respectfully remove myself from your toxic waste of a presence and I suggest you learn how to climb out of the mud because, from the looks of it, you’ve been rolling in it for quite a while.”
Scarlett sympathetically smiled and turned as she left the woman with a gaping mouth.
She released a breath as she walked away and exited the shop.
She did it.
Jayden leaned on the wall beside the door with a smile on her face. “I’m so proud of you!”
Scarlett furrowed her brows as she confirmed the incredulous scheme. “Why would you do that?”
“To see your self-control. What you just did, wouldn’t have been achievable by any Dreammare unless they went through months, even years of training. You did it in a week. ”
Jayden beamed while Scarlett remained confused.
“Why would it have been unachievable?”
Jayden was about to respond when she realized the words she’d have to speak. “I don’t think that’s my place to say.”