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Not many students visited the Magical Archives in the sub-cellars of Pitchfork Prep Academy. Most of them had no use for the ancient texts kept there, separated from the rest of the library by steep stone steps and tunnels. Most of the studentbody was not interested in the history of the school, which was well documented there, or the curious texts dating back to the time of the Crusaders.
Broody had often said that it was the only part of the library worth preserving, and the founders must have agreed, because in the event of a fire, or even a holocaust, it was likely that only the texts in the sub-cellars would survive.
It was always cold down there, even in the warmer months, and as the autumn kicked in the drop in temperature as she descended the winding circular stairway—which was the only way to reach the sub levels—she found herself shivering.
She was also thinking that if Luca and Broody had asked her to meet them there as a joke and didn’t show up, she would use the itching charm she had just learned to vex the entire contents of their underwear drawer.
But there they were, on time, sitting in a pool of light that Luca had provided with aLuminaspell since the lighting in the sub-cellar was barely adequate. They were sitting at the end of a long library table and looked up as soon as she came into view.
Broody stood up and pulled out a chair catty corner to where he was seated.
“So glad you joined us, Moni. Please have a seat. I know you are wondering why all the subterfuge, but please hear us out and you will understand why we decided that it was best not to meet in public!”
Moni unwound the scarf she was wearing around her neck so that it hung loosely over her small shoulders and said, “Wow! I haven’t been down here since I was researching Mission Moth Messengers at the beginning of school for the Enchanted Entomology course. So, what’s up? And I would have much rather met in the Charm Café. We could be sipping lattes right now!”
Luca sighed, exchanged a significant look with Broody and said, “Moni, Broody and I think that guy who showed up out of the blue claiming to be your brother is a fake—an imposter—someone justposingas your long lost brother Sam! I can tell by the look on your face you think we are insane, buttrustme. We knew your first reaction would be to get mad and accuse us of being jealous because you are spending so much time with Sam?—”
“Which I alreadyampissed off, andyes, I think you both are jealous of our relationship and I also think you’ve gone mental,” she replied in a snippy tone. Where in theworlddid you get the idea he is not my brother, mytwin, for God’s sake. Don’t you think I would know my owntwin? I mean, if you put lipstick and a wig on him, he could be my double!”
“Not bodywise—” Broody started to object.
But Luca nudged Broody into silence as he replied, “Moni, there is just somethingoffabout him. Both Broody and I sensed it from the beginning. And yeah, he’s a nice enough guy but he acts differently when he’s not around you. Broody and I were playing a game of pickup basketball the other day with some of the other witches and he joined in… Well, a couple times during the game he exhibited superhuman skills, well beyond the capacity of mortals. And you know the gym areas are warded from any type of magic to keep things fair when we play games. At one point he made a vertical leap into the air to make a basket that no ordinary witch could achieve, Moni! I mean it wasbeyondOlympic quality. Other times, he was moving too fast for the eye to follow! Whatever he is, he isnotyour twin! I’veneverseenyoumove like that!”
“And the way he talks about you is creepy,” Broody chimed in. “I mean,reallycreepy. We were all watching you across campus the other day, hanging around in the Commons after class, and he was watching you as you walked and saidsomething to Shady, like, ‘Moni is so hot, who wouldn’t want to tap that ass!’”
Moni blanched at the revelation but came to Sam’s defense immediately.
“Maybe that just came out wrong! We have no idea where he has been. He can’t remember and even Proctor Reynolds couldn’t find out anything when he was doing Crystal Ball scrying. He’s just confused or something. Maybe Shady misheard what he said!”
“Would you listen to yourself?” Luca interjected, his face flushing as he half rose up out of his seat. “Are you his attorney? Are you not hearing any of this? Okay, I wasn’t going to tell you, but— He took me aside yesterday and asked me how you were inbed. What the hell kind of question is that for a brother to ask about his own sister?”
Luca hadn’t expected the slap, but even though it was hard enough to cause his head to snap back, he reached for Moni’s shoulders and shook her as if trying to wake her up.
“That’s what he said! I swear to God! How does that sound anywhere close tonormalto you?”
But she was gone in the next instant, and both Broody and Luca could hear her footfalls growing fainter and fainter as she clambered up the winding stone steps to the main level of the library.
Moni was still furious as she exited through the centermost of the main library doors and ran out into the campus yard. She could feel her face burning and she was irate, but at the same time she could feel tears streaking their way down her cheeks, making cool trails as she faced into the chilly evening breeze.
She hated them for trying to fuck up her relationship with Sam.
Most of all she hated herself for crying over it.
She felt that Luca and Broody had turned on her, and for no other reason than petty jealousy. She hadn’t done a thing to deserve that, and neither had her twin, Sam.
She decided to ask Sam if she could move into his small, plain single room. She would drag some of her clothing and her mattress down there before Shady or Broody got back.
She was determined to avoid them—not Shady, but Luca and Broody—at least until they apologized for defaming her brother.
CHAPTER SEVEN-REVELATIONS
“They really miss you, you know,” Shady was saying, as she drew in a lungful of the fuchsia color smoke from the imported French cigarette she was smoking and puffed it out in three neat and colorful smoke rings. “They hardly know what to do with themselves since you moved out of the room. They’re like little lost puppies!”
“Good!” Moni found herself saying as she swung her legs. She was sitting on one side of the steps to their dorm, and Shady was sitting back to back with her so as not to blow smoke in Moni’s face. “They need to get a grip. Maybe they don’t understand the bond that exists between twins, but at this point I think it’s deplorable that they made up lies?—”
“Luca and Broody wouldn’t lie, Moni!” Shady said, cutting her off. “Believe me when I tell you that even though they like to goof around and play pranks, I have never known either of them to tell a lie… Anyway, aren’t you getting horny? Are you dating anyone else now—wait—of course you aren’t, tending to your brother takes up most of your time still, right?”
Moni sighed. “Yeah, he seems really attached to me but heismaking other friends. Though heisa bit neurotic, like he has to know where I am and what I am doing every minute. He isconstantly texting me! It’s like babysitting. I was trying to get him interested in Brandy Tanderell, and I think they actually made a date! Maybe if he makes more friends he won’t be such a stickleburr!”
