Chapter 10: The Twin
A/N: Thanks to the people who reviewed; I love you all boundlessly.
Three days later, Karina woke up early. It was still dark outside, only a hint of grey penetrating her chamber to signal the coming dawn. She never awoke this early, but she couldn't risk the other slayers finding out what she was doing; they would surely report it to Dilandau and that she couldn't afford. She sincerely doubted he would appreciate what she was doing.
Silently she slipped into her uniform and opened her door, wincing as the metallic click as it shut echoed down the hall.
Karina had gone back to the door several times, but each time it had been closed. Not only that, but Dilandau had been watching her closely every time.
A satisfied smirk crossed her face as she thought of the look he'd get if he realized that she had outwitted him. Stupid bastard deserves a little decrease in ego, she thought bitterly, recalling the times he had mocked her with a smile not unlike the one she wore now. It was a little upsetting that he'd never know what she was doing to fool him, but Karina could live with it.
It didn't take her long to reach the door in the middle of the corridor near the mess hall. Her walk there was undisturbed, the silence remained eerie, and when she came to the metal door in the wall she let out a small sigh of relief.
It was shut but she wasn't worried—she had stolen the pass codes to the doors on this corridor earlier in the week.
Hesitantly she typed in the code, looking around warily before she punched in the sequence of numbers and letters. It was one of the stranger passcodes on the Vione, actually, because it actually made sense rather than being a completely random set of characters. Th3 Tw1n C313nA. Karina wasn't sure what it meant, but she was going to find out just as soon as she discovered who it was that resided in this room.
The door opened and the dark opening yawned before her. She couldn't see inside, but she stepped through anyway, determined not to show her fear. She had a feeling that whoever was in here wouldn't harm her; how could it when it had beckoned to her so sweetly the other day?
There wasn't a sound in the room other than Karina's soft breathing, and through the quiet her only warning was the hiss of a blade being drawn.
Before Karina could blink a strong arm was wrapped around her and the cold edge of a knife pressed against her throat.
Drop your weapon, a soft voice hissed in her ear.
Karina might be new at fighting, but she wasn't an idiot. She kept her knife firmly gripped in her hand. One thing she had learned from Dilandau: Rule #1, never drop your weapon.
Drop it, the voice repeated, or I'll add another pretty mark over this one. The knife tapped the thin red line on her neck. Karina let out a low growl, a sound she had learned from the General. The wound was finally almost healed, and she wasn't about to let it get opened again.
Karina rammed her elbow back into the ribs of her attacker and gripped the hand at her throat at the same time, twisting the knife out of its grasp. In the blink of an eye, she was pressing the person against the wall, the knife to its throat.
The voice laughed. Nice try. And suddenly Karina was on the ground, no longer in possession of her knife and trying to figure out where it could have gone. The answer was across the room in the wall, and the girl's knee was pressed painfully into her back. Karina was roughly turned over and a girl peered down at her. Suddenly, her blue eyes widened in surprise, and she stared at her captive.
Karina blinked. Those were the same eyes she had seen just the other day, those which had beckoned her to come in.
Suddenly the woman started laughing, a musical soprano sound completely opposite of the fierce whisper she had let out a moment ago. Karina scrambled back, not entirely certain of the woman's sanity.
Karina, right? the blond asked casually, as if they hadn't just nearly killed eachother. She flopped into a deep armchair and smiled up into Karina's confused face.
Karina gave as weak reply.
It's really nice that you decided to come and find me, the girl remarked conversationally. I don't really get to talk to anybody except for him, and he's not the most polite man in the world. Karina said blankly. Whatever she had expected to find here, it wasn't a blond, blue-eyed girl with a talent for knife-fighting.
Dilandau. He doesn't exactly like to carry on the most pleasant conversations in the world. Also, she added with a grimace. I haven't seen a girl in over two years.
Karina just stared at her. she asked finally. Why would anybody choose to be on this Godforsaken ship? And why the hell would anybody choose Dilandau as a friend?
Because I can't really go anywhere. Well, I could, but it's better for me if I don't.Is somebody keeping you here? Karina asked, an almost hopeful glimmer in her eyes. It might be rather nice to not be the only prisoner here.
No, only me.I'm Celena, by the way.I'm Kar—Karina, I know.
Karina looked at her in silence for a moment. The girl was quite lovely, with high cheekbones, full lips, flawless pale skin. What would a girl like this be doing here? Why the hell would you want to be here? she said abruptly.
I don't really. It's just that, if he gets hurt, then so will I.
Celena rolled her eyes. Dilandau, of course. You see, we have this unfortunate physical connection and if one of us gets hurt, so does the other.I don't get it.We were sort of the same person once.The Sorcerers turned me into Dilandau when I was younger, and then we got separated. But nobody else knows so you'd better not tell anybody or I'll slit your throat. She said the last without changing expression, though there was a tiny glimmer in her eye, and Karina could see for a moment the resemblance between her and Dilandau other than the platinum hair.
So if he were to die, so would you.Yes. And I'd rather know if I'm about to die.
Karina could see the logic in that. So you guys are like twins, only connected in a very creepy way. Celena agreed with a chuckle. But it's not like we can feel exactly what the other is feeling. We just know if one of us gets hurt. Then we not only feel the pain, we get the injury. It's a physical kind of connection rather than a telepathic connection. You would know all about telepathic connections.
Karina blushed a little. She was rather embarrassed by her unique ability. Even a complete stranger knew what kind of person she was. What kind of freak she was. I've only read about telepathic connections. she said in her defense.
They're fascinating, aren't they?Yeah, I guess. I just wouldn't like the idea of having somebody know exactly what I was feeling every minute of the day.Usually only the intense feelings get through, unless the people are physically close to eachother, a tiny, knowing smile crossed Celena's face, or unless the telepath and the other person are extremely strong. Then, from what I've read, the connections become rather interesting.Most of the people I've read about have gone insane. As far as I've seen, there's no cure.That's just what the textbooks think. There's always a cure. I've got a twin when I used to be one person, the textbooks didn't predict that, did they?No, I guess they didn't. Karina glanced at the clock in the room and jumped; she would be late for breakfast! Celena, I'm sorry, but I have to go. Dilandau would probably kill me if he knew I knew you.Yes, he very likely would, she agreed, looking thoughtful.
But it was lovely meeting you, gotta go. Karina was halfway out the door when Celena's voice stopped her.
You must come back and visit me, all right? I never get company. I miss seeing people other than my twin.I will. I promise.
Karina left and shook her head, wondering how it was possible that two people who had been the same person could be so different. But then, there was something in Celena's eyes that made her think they might not be so different after all.
A/N: Sorry that was such a short chapter; the next one will be MUCH longer I promise. Hahaha. You have no idea what is coming. Well you might but I can still cackle. BWAHAHAHAHAHA! Love ya, bye!