Hello,
Beloveds,
And welcome to today's reading.
Part one of a short story that I wrote called The Twins of Neptuna.
Just taking a few moments before we begin to make yourself comfortable.
Maybe taking some nice long stretches.
And some deeper inhales and exhales.
Snuggling down into your duvet and your pillow.
And when you are ready,
We will begin.
The night of their birth was remembered for centuries.
Stars streaked across the heavens in a dazzling cascade,
And those who witnessed it whispered that the gods themselves had sent omens.
In a modest cottage on the edge of the kingdom,
A mother labored and cried out.
Until,
At last,
She brought forth two children.
A boy and a girl.
Twins born under fire and starlight.
The boy came first,
Fists clenched,
His dark eyes fierce and unblinking.
When he wailed,
Sparks leapt from the earth as though answering him.
They named him Edward.
The girl followed moments later,
Her tiny hand curling around her mother's finger.
She was quiet,
Her eyes calm.
And when she finally let out a soft cry,
A warm golden glow spread across the room,
Soothing everyone present.
They named her Olivia.
From that day,
The villagers said,
The twins carried the heavens within them.
As children,
Their gifts revealed themselves in simple ways.
Edward loved to startle others with bursts of flame,
Popping sparks in his palms,
Setting dry leaves alight with a mischievous grin.
Olivia,
In contrast,
Found joy in easing small hurts.
Once,
When Edward scraped his knee climbing a tree,
Olivia pressed her tiny hands to the wound.
The bleeding stopped,
And Edward stared at her in awe,
Before laughing it off and racing back up the trunk.
Your magic is boring,
He teased.
And yours is dangerous,
She replied,
Smiling.
They laughed together,
Untroubled by the shadows their differences would cast one day.
By the time the twins turned ten,
Their magic had become impossible to hide.
Edward's power showed itself in fire.
A mere flick of his hand could set torches blazing.
And when he grew excited or angry,
A hearth would roar as though feeding on his emotions.
He loved the feeling.
Roar,
Alive,
Untamed.
The villagers would often gather to watch him perform tricks.
He would clap his hands together,
Sending a shower of sparks skyward,
Or trace patterns of flame across the air until they shimmered like constellations.
The children clapped and cheered,
And Edward basked in their awe.
Olivia's gift was quieter,
But no less extraordinary.
She could make wilted flowers bloom with a touch,
Or soothe fevered brows by laying her hand on them.
She rarely performed before a crowd,
Referring to help in silence.
If a farmer's sheep grew ill,
She would slip away to heal it without being seen.
If a child cried from a scraped knee,
She was there in a heartbeat,
Her golden glow gentle as the dawn.
Their mother often said,
Edward is fire,
Fierce and dazzling.
Olivia is light,
Gentle and steady.
Both are blessings.
But fire must be watched,
Or it will burn.
One spring afternoon,
The twins played by the river,
While the other village children gathered to watch.
Edward,
Ever eager for admiration,
Lifted his hand and shaped fire into a soaring bird.
It beat wings of flame,
Casting reflections that danced across the water.
The children gasped in delight.
Make it bigger,
Edward,
One boy cried.
Edward grinned and poured more magic into the shape.
The bird grew,
Its wings stretching wide,
Heat rippling through the air.
Crowd pressed back as the grass began to smoke beneath their feet.
Edward,
Stop!
Olivia cried,
Stepping forward.
But Edward only laughed,
Drunk on the thrill of their cheers.
The fiery bird swooped low,
Its heat singeing the edge of a girl's dress.
She screamed,
And in that moment Edward faltered,
The firebird bursting apart in a shower of sparks.
The children scattered in fear.
Edward's grin vanished,
Replaced by shame,
Not only for a moment.
Then he scowled,
Clenching his fists.
It was an accident,
He said,
Though no one had accused him aloud.
Olivia moved to the frightened girl,
Kneeling gently.
Her hands glowed as she soothed the singed skin on the child's arm.
The girl's sobbing eased,
Her eyes widening as the burn faded to nothing.
Olivia smiled softly,
Pushing the girl's hair back from her face.
The children,
Once captivated by Edward's fire,
Now clustered around Olivia.
Their whispers carried admiration,
Relief and gratitude.
Edward stood apart,
His jaw tight.
He watched his sister,
Watched the way their eyes shone for her.
A cold knot twisted in his stomach.
For the first time,
He wondered what it might be like if they looked at him,
Not with fear or awe,
But with love.
But the thought was fleeting,
Drowned beneath his pride.
He straightened,
Forcing a smile.
Next time,
He muttered,
I'll make it bigger,
They'll see.
Olivia heard him,
And her heart ached.
She said nothing,
Only reached out to take his hand as they walked home.
His fingers were warm,
Almost burning,
But she didn't let go.
The summer that followed was long and golden.
The fields around their village were heavy with wheat,
And the river sang with the voices of children at play.
But for Edward and Olivia,
The season marked the beginning of their first true divide.
One evening,
A storm rolled in from the mountains.
The wind lashed the fields,
And lightning cracked across the sky.
The villagers rushed to gather their animals and protect their homes.
In the chaos,
A bolt struck farmer Derren's barn,
Setting the dry hay ablaze.
The villagers shouted and screamed,
Buckets of water sloshing uselessly.
Against the fire,
It roared higher,
Threatening to leap to the farmhouse.
Edward stepped forward,
Eyes blazing as bright as the flames.
Stand back,
He declared.
With a sweep of his arms,
He summoned fire of his own,
Not to add to the blaze,
But to command it.
The raging flames bent toward him,
Spiraling like a living creature.
With a thrust of his will,
He drew the fire upward into a whirling column,
Then clenched his fist.
The blaze shuddered and died,
Leaving the barn blackened but standing.
The villagers stared,
Stunned into silence.
Then,
Slowly,
They began to cheer.
Edward stood tall,
Chest heaving,
Pride swelling within him.
You see,
He shouted over the storm's dying rumble.
You are safe because of me.
Without me,
You would all be ash.
Farmer Deron,
Grateful yet trembling,
Stepped forward.
We owe you our lives,
Boy.
I'll give you a fine reward for this.
Edward's lips curved into a satisfied smile.
Yes,
He said.
You should.
Olivia,
Who had rushed from tending frightened children,
Froze at his words.
Her heart twisted.
She had expected Edward to laugh,
To wave away the offer,
To bask in the joy of saving lives.
But he looked at the farmer as though payment were his right.
Later that night,
When the village had quietened and the storm had passed,
Olivia confronted him.
They sat by the riverbank,
Fireflies winking around them.
Why did you ask for a reward?
She whispered.
You saved them,
Edward.
Wasn't that enough?
Edward leaned back,
Staring at the rippling water.
His dark eyes burned.
Why shouldn't I?
Do you think anyone else could have done what I did?
They should value us,
Olivia.
We're not like them.
We were born for more than tending sheep and mending cuts.
Olivia shook her head,
Her golden hair catching the moonlight.
We were born with gifts,
Yes.
But gifts are meant to be shared,
Not traded for gold or power.
Spoken like someone who's never felt what I feel,
Edward snapped.
When the fire bends to me,
When the world obeys me,
It's as though I was meant to rule it.
You don't understand.
I do understand,
Olivia said softly.
I feel wonder when a wound heals under my hand,
When pain fades and life returns.
That's what our gifts are for,
Edward.
To lift others,
Not ourselves.
Edward's jaw tightened.
He looked away,
Fists clenched.
You can waste your light on small lives if you wish.
But I won't.
I was born for greater things.
The silence between them stretched,
Heavy as thunder.
Olivia's eyes filled with unshed tears.
She reached for his hand,
But he pulled away.
That night,
Olivia lay awake,
Listening to her brother's restless breathing.
She prayed the fire within him would not consume the boy she loved.
