Reflections Of Each Other (Reflections Series Book 4)

Chapter 1 – Past and present reflections

It had been a long and exhausting day in the Johnson household. Eileenia was putting her ten-year-old twins to bed and letting out a sigh of relief that the day was over. She sat down on her daughter Matilda’s bed and reached for her storybook.

Mummy, who is the orange bird that catches on fire? Matilda asked and her mother looked to her with a puzzled frown.

I’m not sure what you mean, Matilda.

She can catch on fire but still fly. She dies all the time but she always comes back to life. Matilda exclaimed and a memory at the back of Eileenia’s mind tickled.

Do you mean a phoenix? Eileenia asked and her daughter’s eyes widened with joy.

Yes, that’s it! the younger girl squealed and jumped around on her bed with sheer abandonment.

What made you think about that Earthly mythical creature, Matilda? Eileenia asked as she eyed her beautiful daughter.

I’m one of them. She pointed proudly to herself and all her mother could do was gape.

The truth in her daughter’s voice spoke strong. Eileenia had never known her daughter as one for fits of fancy. She couldn’t think what to say for a moment but within that time, Matilda’s mind had already changed topics.

Mummy, do you think Xander is my true life bond? she asked her mother in her serious tone.

Why do you ask? Eileenia watched as her daughter’s eyes glowed with the deepest of love and her cheeks bloomed with colour.

I kissed him today and something happened. The younger girl bit her lip and looked away showing embarrassment.

You kiss Xander all the time.

I do not. Matilda protested.

Fine, what happened today when you kissed him? Eileenia smiled at Matilda’s perturbed look.

This.

Matilda showed the palm of her hand where on the very tip of her index finger a tiny pink heart shape existed. Eileenia stared at her daughter’s hand in shock, that couldn’t be! She squashed down her emotions and tried to keep her voice as even as possible.

Do you know if Xander ended up with the same thing? Eileenia asked.

Yes, he did. What does it mean? her violet eyes identical to her mother’s questioned and Eileenia sighed.

I’m not quite sure but I’ll talk to your Nanna about it, okay? Now I think we should have your story and sleep time for you.

Matilda snuggled down into her bedding feeling better about that little heart shape now that she had told her mother. She wished Xander was beside her but he had left a while ago. She missed him all the time when he was away from her.

7 years later

Matilda

I watched as Xander approached me and I sighed. He was goofing off with my brother Kale and he hadn’t noticed me yet. To me he was flawless but most of the other girls didn’t think so. That was fine with me because then I knew that he was all mine.

He was tall and lanky but looked as if he hadn’t quite grown out of the gangly awkwardness of his earlier teens. To be honest, he had stopped growing years ago and I know it bugged him but I didn’t care, I loved him the way he was.

He wasn’t the most handsome boy but to me he was perfection. I had no desire to change any single part of him. From his white blonde hair that always fell across his face to those startling aqua eyes, he was beautiful. I had never wanted anything as much as I always wanted Xander.

I looked at my index finger where that little heart shape still existed looking cute and pink. He was about to walk past me when I touched my thumb to my index finger. He stopped and turned to where I hid in the shadows.

A broad smile bloomed on my face when he saw me. He smiled back in that shy way of his before biting his bottom lip. Goddess above, when he did that it always started my heart racing. It made me want to bite that lip of his.

Ugh, if you’re starting that lovey dovey crap then I’m out of here. I heard Kale say to no one in particular before walking off with a scowl on his face.

Hey, Tilly, I didn’t see you there. Xander said and I winked at him.

I know. I answered as I crooked my finger at him.

We’ve got class. Xander protested but I reached for him anyway.

Class can wait.

I pulled him back into the shadows with me. Running my hands up along his chest, I linked them around his neck. I watched him close his eyes and gulp in some air. I was about to tug those delectable lips of his down to mine when a light shone in on us.

Get to class, you two. Someone barked at us and I glowered at the interruption. Xander’s adorable lopsided grin made an appearance, before he tugged on my hand and led me away.

See I told you. He said with a bark of laughter. I rolled my eyes at him as we ran down the corridor and into our next class, which we had together.

Spell Making Theory was the most boring topic. I’m sure it could have been fun if our teacher Fandoling had any ounce of enjoyment in his life. He didn’t, so this was one class I always dreaded. I laid my head onto my desk halfway through the class but the teacher didn’t even notice. Bored so bored!

When Xander’s hand clasped mine, all warm and nice, I perked up for a moment. Then he touched his heart shape on his finger to mine and it took everything in me to stay still. With his cheekiest grin ever, he pressed his finger harder and I tried not to moan. He knew what that did to me.

Mum had never explained what that little heart shape had meant but as we grew up, we explored it. That’s how I discovered that if I touched it myself, Xander knew where I was. If we touched them together, wow, it was an almost indescribable rush of intense emotions. It made me want him. It made me desperate to grab him, pull him to me, and become lost in his kisses.

I glanced at him, pleased to see that he was as affected by our hands touching as I was. He bit so hard on that bottom lip of his that I couldn’t stop my finger from reaching over to touch him. He shivered and went to pull his hand from mine but I wouldn’t let him.

He was the one who started this but I sure as hell would be the one to finish. I scratched the nail of my index finger across his little heart shape and I swear he almost fell off his chair. His heated gaze pierced me through his low-lidded eyes, while a wicked smile appeared on his face. I had no clue what he intended to do and disappointment flared when the stupid teacher called my name.

Miss Johnson, you do realise that you are in Spell Making Theory, correct? Fandoling asked and I sighed as Xander’s hand left mine.

Yes, I do realise that. I answered with more sarcasm than I meant to.

Then concentrate. The stupid teacher turned back to his boring lecture while snickers surrounded me. I glanced at Xander from beneath my lashes but he looked as innocent as possible.

Just you wait. I whispered under my breath. His wicked little smile appeared again before he turned back to give our teacher an ‘I’m so focusing on your awesome topic’ look.

I didn’t get to reap my revenge until way later in the day, but let me tell you that I had it planned well. We had Translocation practice as the last part of our day and I couldn’t wait. Xander was going to beg me by the end of the next hour.

Right, class, today we are beginning Advanced Translocation. This means taking someone or something else with you by touching it before closing your eyes and concentrating on where you want to go. Our teacher Miss Fleeple explained and I had to contain my disbelieving snort.

I’m pretty certain there wasn’t a single person here who hadn’t done a blink and zap with someone else. It was the easiest way to get around. I think the first time I tried it was when Xander and I were running late for some family thing and we had zapped together.

Pair up and let’s give it a try. Miss Fleeple shouted with a little leap in the air. Her excitement flushed her rounded face and I enjoyed her enthusiasm.

What are you planning? Xander whispered under his breath and I smirked, he knew me far too well.

Wouldn’t you like to know? I told him with a naughty little laugh.

One at a time we will translocate to…

I paused the world around me and turned to Xander. He didn’t know this was one of my talents. It was something my family had tried to keep quiet ever since they discovered I could do it. I wasn’t able to move through time as my Nanna could, but I could pause time. In Argonia, it was a rare talent.

I smiled at him, he had turned his attention back to our teacher but his hand still reached out towards me. Chortling to myself, I knew he would have no idea what I attempted. He would have a crazy, passionate urge when I restarted time.

I pressed my heart shape against his and that intense need for him throbbed through me. I rubbed my finger against his and found it hard to keep my focus. I reached up and kissed his lips before pulling that plump bottom lip of his between my teeth.

With great difficulty, I pulled my hand away from his. I gave myself a minute to compose myself before restarting time. A gasp escaped him from beside me making me grin as the teacher finished her instructions.

What did you do, Tilly? Xander asked in a breathless voice.

Who me? I asked not able to wipe the cheeky grin from my face.

Xander and Matilda, it’s your turn. The teacher called to us.

Xander blinked and turned to me with a question in his eyes. I clasped his hand, closed my eyes, and focused on the hall where the teacher had directed us. Of course, we ended up there safe and sound, well at least I did. Xander still looked shell shocked and quite a bit aroused.

Tilly? his question demanded an answer but I smirked at him.

That’s what happens when you get me into trouble. I grinned before I went to leave.

I didn’t get far. Xander snatched my hand and pulled me out of the milling crowd who chatted together. He was always so shy until you riled him. Then, oh, then he became a possessive, demanding creature who gave me the greatest thrill.

What did you do, Tilly, because right now I can’t think straight? he growled at me but I continued to smile.

This time it was Xander who yanked me into the darkest place he could find. I was never able to answer him as his lips crashed down on mine. He backed me against the nearest wall and pressed his body into mine and I loved it.

I knew he would regret it later, saying that he took advantage of me, or something silly like that but I couldn’t care. I wrapped my arms around him tight and gave back as good as I got. He was breathing so heavy when he pulled back from me. I grumbled when he started moving away from me. I went to tug on his shirt so he came back to me but he stilled my hands.

Where are those two? I heard the teacher shout but with an edge of panic in her voice.

Oops. I whispered to Xander who smiled my favourite lopsided smile at me.

He grabbed my hand but not for anything fun. He was the one to blink and zap sending us back to class. I didn’t even get a chance to try to tidy myself. I’m pretty sure the rest of the class knew what we were up to but they kept quiet.

Xander gave a lame excuse that we kept practising. Everyone always believed him because he could pull such innocent faces, whereas nobody ever believed me. I couldn’t help it that things tended to happen around me. Sometimes I wasn’t even the one who caused them, uh, yeah, sometimes.

I sat staring out my window later that afternoon. I loved my room; the huge windows looked over the gardens of the massive Ambassador complexes. I always sensed that liveliness of nature reflected into my room.

Mum had explained that my affinity with nature was because I was a Moon Spirit like her. I never wanted to disappoint my parents so I never told them that I didn’t glow in the light of the moon, as I should. I’d never had a dream premonition, and I couldn’t talk to animals the way mum could.

In fact, I had no known talents that Moon Spirits were supposed to have. I kept it to myself, not even telling Xander, who was the person I was closest to in this world. Most of the time, it didn’t bother me but sometimes, like now the thoughts went through my head. Scrubbing an impatient hand through my light brown hair, I wondered what was wrong with me.

I sensed Xander was about to enter my room the moment before he did. I knew I couldn’t hide my melancholy mood from him so I didn’t bother to try. His parents worked closely with my dad who was the Ambassador to Argonia, so he was more often here than he was at his own house.

He walked in and I saw turmoil on his face. It seemed that I wasn’t the only one with problems today. I reached out a hand to him and he came across the room. He sat down and pulled me onto his lap. For a while, we sat in silence finding comfort from each other’s presence.

What’s wrong? I asked as I stroked a finger against his cheek.

Dad told me that I have to go away for the next week. He said we should have left on our birthday but… you know. He muttered the last bit and I did know.

Xander and I were born on not only the exact same day but also the exact same minute. My mum and his mum had been friends for ages, but had never found it strange to both have a pregnancy at the same time. When we started crying together when we were born, they were shocked.

That was only the beginning of our rather untoward relationship. We found it hard to be without each other. There was a deep-seated need within us that we stay connected. Every birthday the three of us celebrated Xander, my twin brother Kale, and me.

I know that Kale sensed he was on the outside of our relationship and it made him jealous. The trouble was that Xander and I couldn’t control our basic urges. We needed each other as we needed air to breathe. Thinking about a week without him killed me.

When are you leaving? I asked but dreaded the answer; I didn’t want to know.

As soon as I walk out of your door I have to… I can’t leave you. His voice dropped into despair as his arms tightened around me.

Why can’t you zap back from wherever you’re going? I asked trying to soothe his obvious distress.

Dad said I can’t. He said that I have to spend the week alone with him. It’s got something to do with a ritual on his side of the family or something like that. He explained and I stayed quite for a moment.

Xander’s mum Carley came from a normal Argonian family but his dad was from somewhere different. He came from an old tribe that lived in a land so distant and vast from us that no Argonian’s recalled its existence. His dad had come here as a visiting member for a treaty bargaining a long time ago.

He met with Carley at a ball that she attended because she worked with my dad. As they say, the rest was history from then on for them. It made me glad that they had met or I would never have known Xander and that would make my life tragic.

Okay, we can survive this. I cupped my hands around his cheeks and forced a smile as I looked into his eyes. He snorted and I sighed, he was right.

You’re such a bad liar, Tilly. He said placing his forehead on mine.

Only to you. I whispered back and a glimmer of a smile appeared on his face.

I have to go. He said as a soft knocking sounded from the door.

I don’t want you to leave.

I’ll be back in a week. He whispered as he kissed my cheek.

I shouldn’t have let him walk out of my door but I did. His dad looked perturbed at me before steering his son out of my room. If I had known what was happening would I have protested? Would I have demanded to accompany him to make sure he would survive?

If I could see the future and know how it was going to turn out I’m sure I would’ve clutched him to me and stopped time. Instead, I let him walk away with my heart aching in my chest. Even at that time, I wondered if things would be the same when he came back.

Chapter 2 – Cats are everywhere

Xander

This was insane! Why had my own father chained me to the wall? I could see the sympathy in his eyes as he watched and waited. If only I knew what he expected from me.

I need to show you something, Son. It will help explain why we are here and why you are chained, it was the first thing he said to me for a while and I raised my eyebrows. We are not like normal Argonian’s. We have special traits and we form even tighter bonds with people, like you and Matilda have.

The mention of her name burnt across my skin and a whimper escaped me. I yearned for her. She was everything in my world and my father knew that. I let out a fierce hiss of breath and he looked upset.

I watched him for a moment and my astonishment increased when he turned into a huge, savage looking Argonian Forest Bear. He stood as tall as the room would allow with huge paws, vicious looking teeth, and deadly claws. He left me stunned and scared but then he changed back to his normal self, and I had no idea what to say.

What the hell?  I shouted and he reassured me with a smile.

We are Shifters, Xander. I can turn into any type of bear, whether Argonian or from Earth. We are here tonight to find out about your animal. As soon as the moonlight hits you, that will trigger the change. Your first shift hurts like hell fire but you will survive. He told me this as he backed out of the dungeon like room and locked the door behind him.

Can we talk about this until then? I asked as my apprehension increased.

Why had I never known about this before tonight?  I’m sure I would’ve been fine with dad chaining me if he had at least explained things. Confusion fought with my fear at the lack of knowledge I had about any of this. I knew my Dad came from an unknown tribe. Did they stay hidden because they could change into animals?

Yes, Son, what would you like to know? he looked me in the eye and relief gripped me when he acted as my dad would.

You mentioned her. Why? I couldn’t bring myself to say Matilda’s name.

I knew that would be the first question you would ask. Dad’s wry chuckle appeared but that didn’t help me any.

Please answer and don’t say her name it hurts too much. I stated through gritted teeth.

Even thinking about her pained me. A week without her would be more agonising than anything else would be and I knew that.

The person who becomes our partner for life is someone who was born the same day and the same minute as us. If you’re lucky, as you were, then you find your partner early on in life. If you’re like me, you spend many years of your life with an ache in your heart and nobody by your side. He explained to me and in that moment, I knew how fortunate I was to have Matilda.

I see, so tell me about this change. Tell me about my ancestors the Shifters. I demanded, as the wall behind me to the right filled with moonlight that began to creep its way towards me.

"Fine, I shall start at the beginning. We moved away from Argonian’s many thousands of years ago. They became fearful of us when they realised we could become such ferocious creatures, so we separated ourselves. Our first change begins on the year we reach fifteen point two in the light of the full moon.

"From then on we can shift into any creature of the species we first change into as much as we like. We tend to shift first into an Earth animal because they are the creatures we have in our part of the world. I will take you and show you our homeland one day and you will understand

The shift will also change your physical appearance. You will no longer be the person who entered this room. In fact, after my first change I was unable to recognise myself. He explained and I listened with growing worry.

I’m going to look different after this? I sounded frantic. Matilda was the first person who came to my mind. If I looked different, would she even recognise me?

Xander, you have always complained about your lack of growth and this is the reason why. Until you shift, your body has not matured. The change will be instantaneous once you shift back to your Argonian body, you will be forever different.

Will she recognise me? I whispered the words and dreaded the answer.

Yes, she will always know you as you will always know her. I’m not saying it will be easy to explain to her but you will be connected forever no matter what happens. His last words came to me through a shaft of pain as the first moonbeam hit me. I stifled the scream that threatened as the intensity increased.

You can’t change until your whole body is in the moonlight, Dad advised and I closed my eyes as shards of pain jabbed into me. I know it’s a bad time to mention this, Son, but you can’t go and see Matilda until the change is complete. You must be able to shift into an animal and back to normal many times before you see her.

A scream of anguish exploded from me at hearing her name. The awareness that I wouldn’t see her for a week broke me. An intense agony of being away from Matilda hit me more acutely than the moonlight touching my face.

Moonlight drenched me and an intense throbbing pierced every single cell of body. My skin burned, leaving me wounded and damaged beyond repair. Powerful screams wrenched from me becoming a deafening roar as my whole body started to break and bend. Bones snapped unable to hold themselves together. My skin screamed from a heat so strong and sharp. My insides crawled with a need for this to end.

As fast as it began the pain eased back to tiny pin pricks shivering along my nerve endings. Pins and needles spread across me and I gulped in air at the horror I had endured.

Never have I been prouder, my Son. A king is now a part of our family. I heard dad speak with honour and I turned to him.

My chains had torn from the wall and I paced across the room. I turned and saw a tawny golden tail following me. Dad’s words filtered into my brain and I realised I was an Earthly lion.

Now comes the harder part, Son, you need to turn yourself back. The worst thing is that you don’t know what you look like but try to picture yourself. Your hair and eye colour won’t change so try to focus on those. Now close your eyes and picture yourself. Dad explained and I followed his instructions.

He was right, getting back into my Argonian body was high on the impossible scale. The only good thing was there was an end to the pain. After an intense amount of time, I managed to change back by working with excruciating slowness and changing one part of me at a time.

Dad walked back in at that time holding a full-length mirror. He stood it in front of me with a proud grin but I was hesitant to look at myself. It shocked me when I did. I remained tall but instead of looking like a gangly teenager, I looked like a man.

My hair was still white blonde, my eyes remained aqua, and my skin had the same light tan but everything else was different. The way my face had changed seemed small but it was still recognisable. My jaw strengthened, my chin had more definition, and my cheekbones looked more pronounced.

My body shocked me. I had always found it hard to build muscle but Kale and I improved our swordplay or we tested our skills most day. He never seemed to have any difficulty but now I understood why. I had to change, become like one of my Shifter relatives before my hard work would show. I had wondered for a while why I could carry more weight than Kale but now it was obvious.

Can I turn into any cat? I asked.

Yes, anything from an Argonian house cat to a puma, a tiger, a leopard or a lion, my Dad enthused. Now you need to practice. All those cats will be in your memory and now you must change into each of them.

Under dad’s persistent instructions, I worked long into the night. By the time he led me to a room of my own, with a wonderful looking bed in it, I was exhausted. It wasn’t a wasted effort; I could change into at least ten members of the cat family now.

Sleep flittered away from me and I knew why. I needed to do my nightly ritual, something I had done every day since we turned eleven, I had to say goodnight to her. Against my father’s wishes, I zapped to her room. It was only when I saw my reflection in her dresser mirror that I recalled that I couldn’t let her see me like this.

Closing my eyes, I turned myself into an Argonian house cat. I peered into the mirror to make sure I looked right. Now I had long pointed ears with a big, fluffy coat the same colour as my hair and a long luxurious tail. My eyes stood out but there was nothing I could do about that. I turned around and I was proud of my shift. I resembled a real cat who lived in many Argonian households.

I stalked past her opened bedroom door and took a deep breath. Her aroma surrounded me, which smelt even more intense with my renewed sense of smell. I jumped up on the bed to find her restless, with a smear of tears lining her cheeks. That distressed me more than I would like to admit. I nudged her face with mine and she startled into awareness.

Oh, Goddess! she exclaimed as she sat up. She blinked at me, tipped her head to the side and poked out her tongue as she does when she’s thinking. Hello, Kitty Cat. Where did you come from?

She looked at me curiously, and then around at her secure room. After a while, she shrugged and reached out a hand towards me. I rubbed my chin against her hand and started to purr. The smile that bloomed on her face melted my heart.

You remind me of Xander, especially your eyes. I feel so stupid that I miss him already. She whispered.

She stroked a hand down my back to my tail and sensations overwhelmed me. I leaned into her trying to send her comfort and she seemed to appreciate it. She picked me up and placed me on the bed next to her as she stretched out.

I think, Kitty Cat, my life is going to be hell for the next week, she mumbled, which twisted my insides. What am I going to do without him? she rolled onto her back and rubbed one finger against her little heart shape. I wonder what he’s doing right now.

I had to push her hand away from her mark at the sensations that threatened to take control of me. It triggered animal instincts inside of me that demanded I explore them. She rubbed that hand against me before rolling over and snuggling me into her arms.

A contended cat noise escaped me. She was here and she was mine. I may now be able to change into an animal but that didn’t change the true essence of who we were.

That was how the rest of my week went without her. Every day dad set me the gruelling task of shifting from one cat to another in constant repetition. Every night I snuggled in Matilda’s arms in cat form.

It was funny that she spoke to me in cat form as she would if I sat there next to her. She told me about her day, or mentioned how much she missed me. She talked about how boring her classes were without me.

On my last night away, she jumped around with excitement. She would settle down before sitting back up, squeezing me, and babbling on about how much she looked forward to seeing me.

My worries had increased about what her reaction would be to the different way I looked. If I kept staring in the mirror and not recognising myself, then how would Matilda know it was me? I still couldn’t grasp that this muscly man was me, so how could she?

When she drifted off, I leapt off the bed and went over to her mirror. Changing back into my normal form, I stared at myself. I then picked up a framed picture she had of us on her desk. When I tried to compare myself now to what I was then, I realised the similarities were few. I set the frame back down, turned back into a cat all the while wondering what I should tell her.

Dad beamed at me in the morning, once again not knowing that I disappeared all night. I had spent most of the night going over and over scenarios in my head. How could I explain my changes? Would she even know it was me? What if she ran away screaming?

I thought about everything and it dawned on me that she came from a family of shape shifters. Her mum could turn into a cheetah and now I could too. She would be okay with that I’m sure. As dad hugged me and babbled on about unimportant stuff I couldn’t concentrate.

Should I go to her house before school? Should I wait and see if she notices me at school? I headed towards a giant unknown that had me panicked and worried. The worst thing was that I still didn’t know what to do about it when we arrived home.

Mum was waiting when we arrived and the way her jaw opened was not a good sign. Dread filled me as she poked and prodded me for a minute, as if I was a new and fascinating creature she had never seen before.

Xander? she questioned and I forced a smile onto my face.

Hey, Mum. I answered in the second before she threw her arms around me to give me the biggest hug.

I knew your dad said you would change but this is unbelievable, she leaned back to look at me again this time her eyes shining with tears. My boys all grown up. She snuffled to herself and I rolled my eyes.

Come on, Mum, stop being such a drama queen. I said with an embarrassed grunt, which made her laugh.

Wish I could be there to see Matilda’s face. She chortled to herself as she let me go and I