Cora's Kismet (The Twin Destinies Saga Book 1) Read online

  After changing into the gowns, Liam took the clothes they’d been wearing and handed them off to a guard. “Take these to be scanned. We’re taking no chances.”

  “But, what are we supposed to wear?” Viola protested. “I am not walking around here naked.”

  “Fresh clothes will be brought for you in just a few minutes. Can we please get started Doctor?” Liam resorted to business first, as much as he’d like to whisk Cora away and spend every moment learning about her, he knew the sooner they got through this, the sooner he’d have his chance.

  “Yes, yes, let’s get started,” the Doctor said, as he clapped his hands and motioned for Cora to step towards the machine that looked like a giant transporter tube from some science-fiction movie. “I hope you’re not claustrophobic, but I promise it will go very fast. Please step inside and be as still as possible.”

  Cora stepped forward and exchanged looks with her sister. “I don’t like this,” she whispered. Viola just nodded her head in agreement. She stepped inside the tube and turned to face her sister. A door she hadn’t seen swept closed, making her jump, while trapping her inside. She started to panic, banging her hands against the clear glass tube.

  “Please calm down and be still. This won’t hurt you at all,” Dr. Brown said in a soothing tone, which had no effect on Cora whatsoever. It wasn’t until Liam stepped up to the tube, and placed his hand on the outside, that Cora responded to anything. She stopped banging on the glass and found her hand reaching up to press against it, opposite his. Her eyes met his, and for the life of her, she could not explain her reaction to him. Her world narrowed until he was the only one in it besides her.

  In the back of her mind, a small part of her recognized the fact there was a whirring noise as the machine started up, but she couldn’t focus on it. Her entire focus was on Liam. Every nerve ending in her body was reaching out to him, in a way she’d never experienced before in her life. She had no concept of time passing at all, when suddenly the door to the machine whisked open, making her jump again. She moved out of the tube as fast as she could and looked at her sister.

  “What just happened?” Viola whispered in her ear.

  “I don’t know,” Cora replied, shaken to her very core.

  “Well, at least he’s super-hot,” Viola whispered to her, as she stepped towards the tube. She wiggled her eyebrows at Cora and then stepped inside. Cora rolled her eyes in response to her boy crazed sister’s comments.

  “Did you find anything?” Cora remembered to ask, as the machine started to scan Viola.

  “Yes, if you’ll follow me.” The brisk nurse with zero bedside manners told her.

  “Can we wait for Viola?” Cora asked, hesitant to leave her sister’s side. She felt if they were separated now, they’d never be brought back together and she would not tolerate that. None of these people had earned their trust just yet. She knew it was possible she was being paranoid, but she just couldn’t help herself. That’s how they’d been raised up until now.

  “Viola will be done in just a couple of minutes and brought to where you are. We don’t have time for this. Let’s go,” the nurse clipped out. She reached out and grabbed Cora’s arm in a rough grip and tried to pull her along. Cora dug her feet into the floor and started fighting the nurse’s manhandling of her, flashbacks of the past replaying in violent scenes in her mind.

  “Let go of her now,” Liam bit out in a fierce voice that not only shocked the nurse, but Cora as well. Cora was so shocked by Liam’s strong reaction her memories faded behind the wall she’d built in her mind. The nurse released her at once.

  Liam reached out and took her hand in a gentle grip and started to follow the nurse, tugging Cora along.

  “Thank you,” Cora said in a soft voice. “I still don’t want to leave Viola though.”

  “I promise you, nothing will happen to her here. I’m sure she will be brought over to you as soon as she’s done being scanned, to have her chip removed as well. It seems the Kilpatricks did not want to take any chances of losing the two of you and implanted tiny microchips in the back of your right shoulder blades,” Liam informed her, as they reached a medical table and he helped her onto it.

  “They did what?” Cora exclaimed in shock.

  “They implanted you with a tiny microchip that transmits your location at all times. We need to remove it and dispose of it before they get here and find your location,” The nurse replied, before Liam could speak. “Now lie down on your stomach.”

  “Will removing it hurt?” Cora asked, procrastinating.

  “We will numb the area before removing it,” the nurse replied, her words clipped. She was long past getting on Cora’s nerves.

  “It’s ok, I’ll stay with you,” Liam told her, understanding her hesitance. He guided her towards lying down, face first, with the gentlest touch she’d ever experienced. When he touched her, she felt safe in a way she’d never felt before.

  “Promise?” she asked, before catching herself. She didn’t know who this wimpy girl was that had appeared in her body out of nowhere. Cora had never been a wimp. She’d always been strong through whatever life had thrown at her and Viola.

  The smile that lit up Liam’s face warmed her heart and made her forget the self-loathing thoughts that had been running through her mind. In fact, it made her forget everything but him. That wonderful smile made his blue eyes dance, highlighted his strong square jaw, which had a short beard growing on it that made Cora ache to reach up and run her fingers across it, enhanced his high cheek bones and made her heart melt all at the same time. She never even noticed when the nurse gave her a shot to numb the area the chip was to be removed from. All she knew, in that moment, was him.

  “I promise,” Liam said, reaching for her hand and gripping it tight. She knew in that moment she wanted him with her forever.

  Chapter Seven

  Cora’s shoulder blade was sore after having the chip removed, but she was glad it was gone. She couldn’t believe they’d chipped her. ‘Who does that?’ she wondered as Liam led her and Viola from the medical facility still holding her hand. She was thankful for the clothes that were brought to them, because she had no desire to ever put back on the clothes Anna had bought her.

  “Where are we going now?” Viola asked Liam.

  “We’re going to get you something to eat. It’s been a long day and you’ve got to keep your strength up,” Liam said.

  “For what?” Viola asked, as she gave Cora a slanted look. Any other time, it would have been her asking all of the questions. Instead, she was quiet as a mouse, absorbing everything going on around them, her primary focus being on the feel of Liam’s hand in hers.

  “As soon as your mother returns, they will unbind your powers. You will have to learn how to use them as quick as you can, which will be draining for you. Also, we’re going to have to teach you all about our history and ancestry. Being gone as you were, and bound, you’re missing vital knowledge that can and will save your lives,” Liam told her.

  “So, we’re going to Lunarian/Solarian summer school? That’s just great. I can assure you that is not how I planned to spend my summer vacation before senior year,” Viola said in typical dramatic fashion. Cora rolled her eyes and Liam gave her a small grin as they entered the kitchen & dining area.

  The smells coming from the room made Cora’s stomach rumble in anticipation of food.

  “I guess you could call it that. Come on, the spaghetti here is the best. I know you’re both hungry,” Liam said, as he tugged on Cora’s hand.

  “Spaghetti? You don’t have some off-the-wall menu of stuff we’ve never even heard of?” Viola asked in her normal upbeat tone. It was always amazing to Cora how Viola could take everything in stride. It even made her jealous sometimes.

  “We eat the same things as humans do. Their food is delicious. If we’re going to live here, amongst them, we have to blend in, that’s all there is to it,” he said, grabbing plates and handing one to each girl before grabbing h
is own.

  He heaped mounds of spaghetti onto each of their plates and grabbed several pieces of garlic bread for each of them. Then he turned and led them to a table out of the way. Cora could feel the stares of the few people who were lingering in the room follow them. It was starting to make her skin crawl.

  “So, do you live here?” Cora spoke up and asked, trying to distract herself from being the center of attention in the room.

  “No. We have apartments and houses and such,” Liam replied, before stuffing his mouth full of spaghetti. “There are bunks here though, for those who are working and don’t want to take the time to go home or don’t have the time to take, but need to rest,” he said after he cleared his mouth, then stuffed it full again.

  Each of the girls took smaller bites and about rolled their eyes into the backs of their heads. ‘Such a typical male, eating like a pig,’ Cora thought and smirked behind the napkin she’d brought up to her mouth to wipe the excess sauce from her lips. They both moaned in delight at how great the food was. None of them said much else through the rest of the meal, as they concentrated on eating.

  When they were through, Cora laughed. “I think you’re going to have to roll me out of here. I ate way too much. But it was just so good.”

  “Yeah sis, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you eat like that,” Viola said chuckling.

  “It’s good though. Were they not feeding you well where you lived?” Liam asked, concern etched all over his face.

  “Most of the time it was fend for ourselves. There was never much food in the house, so we learned to survive on very little,” Viola said, before Cora could stop her.

  “Why? Anna and Patrick had more than enough to provide for you anything you needed, or wanted.” Cora noticed the concern in Liam’s voice turn to anger and build as he asked the question.

  “Who cares? We’re outta there now. Not going back, even if we have to live on the streets,” Viola said with a shrug of her shoulders, which gave off the air of nonchalance but Cora knew beneath that air was fury and pain that ran deep.

  “I’m sure Thomas and Angelica will have something to say about that,” Liam said with a bite in his tone.

  Cora put a hand on his arm to calm him. “Don’t worry about it. We’re fine.”

  “Don’t defend them. It was wrong what they did, not feeding you properly. What else did they do to you?” Liam asked, realizing malnutrition may not be their only crime against the twins.

  “I am not defending them. I will never do that,” Cora said in a low tone, full of rage and then faked a huge yawn. “Can we talk about this some other time? I’m beat and I’ll bet you are too Vi.” She gave her sister a look, warning her not to say anything else. Viola had a big mouth once she got started and there were things Cora didn’t want known. She didn’t want to see the looks of pity that would be directed their way once word spread of the abuse they’d endured at the hands of the Kilpatricks from the time they could walk.

  “Yeah, I’m kinda beat myself. Even though that tranq put me to sleep, it wasn’t exactly restful. Where are we supposed to be staying?” Viola responded in an easy manner.

  “Of course you’ll be staying with us dear,” a female voice said from behind them. The girls turned around, and for the first time, laid eyes on their mother.

  Chapter Eight

  Cora and Viola entered the elaborate estate and looked around in awe. Never had they been inside a house so elegant. Their eyes traveled over the beautiful cherry and oak floors, accented with exotic Persian rugs, an ornate built in fireplace with a mantle covered in framed pictures and a high, domed ceiling with a gorgeous chandelier that cast light everywhere.

  Over the fireplace was an enlarged, framed copy of the picture from the hospital they had seen earlier, from when they were born. Tears began to pool in Cora’s eyes as she realized her parents had wanted her, had wanted them both. She moved over to the mantle and saw that the many framed pictures were of both her and Viola, in varying stages of their lives, and gasped in surprise.

  “How?” she asked in astonishment.

  “We’ve always known where you were my dears. There was no way we’d have ever given you up if we didn’t. We were provided with many updates and pictures of you throughout the years. It’s the only thing that has kept us going, for we’ve missed you so,” Angelica said with a sob in her voice. Her green eyes filling with tears she held back.

  Cora didn’t know what to say, so she kept quiet. Never had she imagined her parents had given them up because they loved them and wanted to keep them safe. She’d always imagined them as criminals of some sort, teenagers unprepared to raise twin girls or drug addicts that were too strung out to be bothered. She felt a knot of emotion begin to build in her chest.

  “Wow, this is just crazy!” Viola said, staring at their mother, mixed emotions showing across her face.

  “What’s crazy dear?” Angelica asked in a gentle voice.

  “All of this. You guys,” Viola replied, waving her hands in the air.

  “Weren’t you ever told about us?” Thomas asked his voice confused.

  “Never,” Cora said.

  “You were supposed to be told how much we loved, correction, love you, every day of your lives. You were supposed to want for nothing. Liam told us how you were malnourished, what else happened?” Thomas asked. It was quite apparent there was a steady anger growing within him for how mistreated his daughters had been. Cora wasn’t sure how much she should tell them.

  “You don’t even want to know,” Viola said with a vehemence that took both of their parents by surprise, and then closed the topic off before they could continue. “Where’s our room? I’m tired.”

  Angelica and Thomas exchanged a look before turning and heading up the long curving staircase. When they reached the top, they turned left and stopped at the first door on the right. Thomas reached out and turned the knob pushing the door open wide. Inside was an enormous room that was right out of a rich and famous magazine. They gazed at the large king sized bed in the middle of the room and looked at each other in confusion.

  “Why is there only one bed in here?” Cora asked.

  “There’s more than enough room here for each of you to have your own space,” Angelica replied as if the answer was obvious.

  “No,” both girls said in unison.

  “What do you mean?” Angelica asked, a look of confusion marring her beautiful features. Wrinkles appeared on her delicate forehead with the slight frown that appeared on her full lips, which were identical to their own.

  “We don’t want our separate spaces. We always share a room,” Cora replied standing firm.

  “But you don’t have to any longer.” It was obvious their parents did not know, or understand, them in any way.

  “We never had to, to begin with. We’ve always lived in a house big enough for us to have our own rooms, but we won’t be separated,” Viola spoke up, showing unity between them. What they would never say was there was a deep rooted fear of being separated and never seeing each other again.

  “Well, you’re going to have to quit sharing a room very soon, once you both become mated. I doubt your mates will appreciate sharing their room with others,” Thomas said, stepping into the conversation.

  “We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it and not before. This room will be fine, we’ll share the bed,” Cora said, stepping across the threshold into the room as if it was no big deal. Viola followed before their parents could press the issue further.

  “It will be sooner than either of you think. Cora’s already showing the signs of having found her mate in Liam,” Thomas said with a smug, proud look on his face. He gave Cora a pointed look and saw the shock that registered on her face. Cora looked over and saw that her shock was mirrored on Viola’s face as well.

  Angelica placed her hand on Thomas’ arm and nudged him towards the door. “I’m sorry girls, we know it’s an awful lot to take in right now. It’s been a very hard day for you both.
Please get some rest and we’ll see you for breakfast in the morning,” she said, and then paused at the door, turning back to look at them both. They could see the pride she had for them shining in her emerald green eyes. She took a hesitant step in their direction and lifted her arms as if to hug them, her eyes asking for the permission she was fearful of asking for aloud.

  When neither girl moved to accept the hug, she dropped her arms and looked down, with a sadness both girls could feel, at the fluffy carpeted floor. “Well, if there’s nothing else you can think of that you need, sleep well my dears. Please know we love you and only did what we felt was best for you.”

  The sadness in her penetrated Cora to her core, before she knew what she was doing, she raced over and wrapped her arms around the mother she’d never dared to hope for. Viola was not far behind Cora in wrapping her arms around their mother. Within moments their father had joined in, and the family moment lasted for what felt like forever and not long enough all at the same time.

  Chapter Nine

  After a long, emotional good night with their parents, the twins were left on their own for the first time since earlier that day. They looked at each other as they flopped back on the bed without bothering to remove their clothes.

  “What do you think about all of this?” Cora asked, swinging her arm around and then dropping it down across her stomach in exhaustion.

  “It’s a lot to take in all at once. Do you think we’re whatever they called us, Lunarians, I think it was?” Viola asked her in a soft, worried voice. Cora could hear the exhaustion in it.

  “I have no idea. It’s pure insanity to me. I mean, I don’t get it. If a Lunarian is supposed to ‘mate’ with a Solarian how do they differentiate which is which? Wouldn’t the children be like a combo or something?” Cora asked.