5

The days passed slowly. Life without Marissa seemed not life at all. Her mother was staying away, and Kerissa had never felt more alone. Everyone looked at her in pity, thinking that her sister had died in the freak fire that the paper had reported, but Kerissa didn't want their pity. What she wanted was her sister back.

The Daughters tried to convince her that everything was going to be fine, Alex tried to distract her, and Tianna even apologized.

But Kerissa didn't want to be distracted. She'd rather think of Marissa, and the wonderful times they had shared. Of Marissa, and how her death had been Kerissa's fault. If she had been strong enough to fight the Demon, Marissa wouldn't have died.

Guilt racked her, and Kerissa lost ten pounds in three days.

She was sitting, alone in her room, when a sudden gust of wind almost knocked her over. Standing in front of the window, framed by the sunset, was Marissa. Or, rather, the spirit of Marissa.

She frowned at the sight of Kerissa. "I thought this might happen." Marissa muttered.

Kerissa stared at her. "You're back," she whispered, tears streaming down her face, anew.

Marissa's face softened. "No, not back." She sat down on the bed. "Just here, for a short time, in spirit. I have become a Guardian, and Selene permitted me to visit you, and make sure that you were okay. I'm glad she did."

"I'm so glad to see you," Kerissa whispered. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry for everything. All the times I've fought with you. But mostly, sorry that I couldn't fight the Demon. I'm sorry that you died because of me."

Marissa smiled, sadly. "I didn't die because of you." she whispered, "I died for you. And I'm glad." Kerissa looked at her, surprised. "Besides, you couldn't have fought it. I read a prophecy," she went on, "about the Last Demon. I found it in the library. It was talking about the 'youngest one' and the 'pure one' and the 'pure one's mirror'. It read that only the pure one's mirror could vanquish the youngest one.

"It wasn't until I saw the Last Demon that I realized that the prophecy was about the Last Demon. The Last Demon was the youngest son, of the Great Demon, while you were the pure one, and I your mirror. Your mirror image."

Kerissa smiled slightly at Marissa, who smiled back. "You think of it as dying," Marissa continued, "but I think of it as a necessity. Only I had the ability to get rid of the Last Demon. So be it if it cost me my life. My life hardly seems much, compared to the rest of the world's. Compared to yours," she added, softly.

Kerissa bit her lip, trying not to cry.

"What you don't understand, Kerissa," Marissa went on, "is that I feel honored to die for you. That's how I'd do it, if I were to do it again. And I will never, ever regret it. I love you, and I want you to live. Live, and be free. I know you would have wanted and done the same in my place."

Marissa stood to leave.

"Are you leaving already?" Kerissa asked.

Marissa smiled sadly, "I can feel Selene pulling at me. But," she continued, "listen to me. Don't shut yourself up like this. I would gladly do this all again, but don't waste my life and yours by shutting yourself up."

She turned towards the window, and stepped into the air, turning back, one… last… time. "Always remember this: I will always love you. I will always be watching over you, and guiding you. And live each day as if it were your last. Treasure love and friendship, for they are the keys to life, not knowledge. Without knowledge, you can still succeed, but without friendship and love, you have nothing. And I love you." Marissa turned to leave.

"And I love you." Kerissa whispered back. Marissa turned her head slightly, smiled, and disappeared.

It was one of those times, Kerissa later decided, when it was better to celebrate the person's life, then to mourn the loss. For Marissa really was in a better place.

The funeral was not a sad thing, but a celebration of Marissa. Her mother did not come. In fact, Kerissa had the feeling that she wouldn't see her mother again for a long time.

"Marissa was a great sister, and a great friend," she began, when it was her turn to speak, "she sacrificed herself for the greater good of the world. She will always be remembered, and we will always miss her. But we know that she gave herself willingly, and that she gave the greatest sacrifice. She is the true hero, of all of us. And we will celebrate her victory, and her life."

Kerissa was glad that she had insisted on a private funeral—just the Daughters and Alex, Stanton, and Collin. Michael didn't come, as he still didn't know about the Daughters.

The celebration was huge, and afterwards, she moved in with Vanessa. She was sick of being at her house, alone.

One day, nearly a month after Marissa's death, and around the time she had accepted that Marissa was truly gone, something odd began to happen.

A weird feeling grew in the pit of her stomach, near her scar. (a white line across her stomach, right where her gash had been) It wasn't bad, she knew, but it was alien.

Suddenly, a flower sprouted next to her hand. A flower was growing on her bedspread… definitely not normal…

Suddenly, she saw a figure, pure white, wink at her. Marissa. Then she was gone. Kerissa knew immediately what had happened.

A shadow formed near her, and Alex stepped out. "How are you?" He asked.

Kerissa grinned. Alex caught sight of the flower growing out of the bedspread. "What is that?" he asked.

"A flower," Kerissa replied. "Don't you like it?

Alex raised his eyebrows. "It's lovely. But what is it doing, growing there?"

"I'm not sure," Kerissa said, "but I think that I made it grow."

"You… of course."

"What do you mean?" Kerissa asked.

"Well…"

"What aren't you telling me?" Kerissa teased.

"Twin Daughters," Alex finally said, "have only occurred a couple times. Ever. Extremely rare. Only once in history has one twin of the pair died. In that case, they hated each other. Fought all the time. But the surviving twin recorded that, afterwards, she possessed a trace of her sister's power.

"On the other hand, you and Marissa hardly ever fought, or even disagreed. In fact, you got along great. And Marissa gave her life for you, the greatest sacrifice of all. She willingly, at that time, surrendered her power to you. Depending on your relationship, your body would accept a certain portion. I imagine that your body accepted all of it.

"Therefore, you are now a Double Daughter. You possess both the power of leeching mimic, and nature."

"No," Kerissa shook her head; "I think I'm a mind-reader, now. I absorbed so much Follower power when I was angry, that I don't leech, or mimic anymore. I am now a telepath, with control of nature, who has an affinity for occasional telekinetic and invisibility."

Alex laughed. "How did you get from the fire?" he asked.

"I'm not sure," Kerissa said slowly, "it was something about seeing Marissa."

"But you didn't see her the first time."

"But, according to Catty, time is like lake, it all exists at once. Therefore, I saw Marissa, because they were already going to time-hope when I saw them."

"You've lost me," Alex said, grinning. "So she saved your life more than once."

Kerissa nodded. "Yeah."

"Are you still miss her?" Alex asked.

"You know what?" Kerissa said, "I do. I always will. But it won't make me sad, anymore."

"You won't be lonely?"

Kerissa shook her head, "No. Because I'll never be alone. She'll always be with me. Or, if I may quote, "Those we love never truly leave us." As long as I believe in her, she'll be there."

Alex smiled.

"Love is the greatest power there is," Kerissa said. "Stronger than hate, revenge, light, dark. It's all the same. But love will always be there."

Always. And it was. Because when you love, you already have something.

"To love another person is to see the face of God."

-- Les Miserables

Author's note: I hope that wasn't too bad. Give me some feedback, so that when I continue writing, you'll like it more! (I cried writing that last couple chapters!)