Page 37

For less than a half of a second, such a brief measure of time that had she not been paying attention, she would’ve missed it, she felt a fiery hot flash of Tveir’s anger before it was tamped down, squashed, and extinguished.Was her twin messing with her?Was the meek, scaredy cat act just that–an act?Or did she truly fear what Einn would do now that she’d found her voice yet was still unable to regulate her usual uppity attitude, need to be in control, and general know-it-all demeanor?

Einn figured it was the latter but couldn’t take anything for granted.Stepping forward, her glower firmly in place, she looked deep into Tveir’s eyes and brazenly probed her mind.It was something she’d never before done, something she’d sworn she wouldn’t do, but nonetheless, she was doing it.

By her twin’s audible ghast, the widening of her eyes, and the way her heart beat like a hummingbird who’d ingested a pound or so of sugar, Tveir was just as shocked–and that was all the proof Einn needed.Her sister truly was frightened, not of her, but she knew E could do.

After all, they were twins.Identical in every way except Einn could read any mind, anywhere, and Tveir had the talent of cryokinesis– the ability to control and manipulate ice, snow, frost and cold temperatures in general.Sadly, and for unknown reasons, T’s Power only worked in their little Rift in Time when their father was present.Something for which they’d never gotten a straight answer.

But that didn’t matter on this day.As a matter of fact, it made life infinitely easier.

Watching Tveir open and close her mouth three times, Einn scoffed, “Out with it, T.You look like a fish outta water.”Smiling snidely, she chuckled sarcastically, “You better be careful.Somebody just might come along and gut you where you stand.”

Clearing her throat, Tveir slowly nodded then quietly began again.“I mean no offence, but I was sure you said…”

“Nooooo,” she drew the word out for emphasis.Then taking yet another step forward, but this time trying not to lose her patience, her mind and her temper, Einn spoke slowly, distinctly, and if she was honest with herself, which she always was, condescendingly.“I didnottell you that we couldn’t spy on Higher Beings–a name I absolutely despise with a fiery passion because what the literal fuck makes them higher than anyone else?DNA?”Throwing her arms open wide, she threw back her head and screamed as loud as she could.“Well, fucking DNA didn’t do shit for us, now did it?!”

Dropping her chin until she was once again facing Tveir, she didn’t miss a beat.“I said…” Draws out the word like a petulant brat even ended by stinking out her tongue before she continued, Einn mocked, “…that we couldn’t go any lower into the Underworld than Helheim and no higher than the Realm of Promise.That is why we cannot see into Asgard and keep up with what dead old Dad, grumpy ass Granddad and pompous asshole Uncle Thor are up to.”

Nodding while lifting her hands that were tied at the wrist to her, Tveir tapped the ragged nail of the index finger on her index against her chin and sighed, “Oh, yeah, I forgot.I’ve been…”

“Don’t even start that crap with me.You have not been any busier than me.”

“You’re right, You’re right.We have both been…”

“And stop patronizing me.I know you’re just saying that because you think I’ll feel bad and let you out.Well, think again, Sister.”Waggling the index finger of her left hand side to side like the pendulum bar of a metronome, Einn haughtily explained.“Too little, too late.You have shit on me for the last time, T.You are gonna stay right where you are.It’s my time to shine, and baby, I’m gonna light up that blasted little Island like the Las Vegas Strip.Dear old Daddy, that blasted two-faced sister of ours, that do-gooder Hope and those Amazonian Dragon freaks aren’t gonna know what hit ‘em.”

Fist pumping with both hands, she planted her left foot, rolled her hips like a hula dancer, and did a complete circle before stopping right in front of Tveir’s cage.Dropping her hands to her sides, she deadpanned, “Now, go ahead.Try to throw cold water on my party.I triple dog dare you.Just try to ruin my good time, Sis.”Wrinkling her pointed nose like her favorite TV Witch, Samantha, she added, “Give me all you got.Goddess knows it’s nothing you haven’t thrown at me before.”

“You are absolutely right, Einn,” T beseeched.“I have been a horrible sister.The worst twin in history.And if you give me another chance, I will make it up to you.I swear I will.I want to help you.”

Rolling her eyes and sighing with so much frustration that her lips actually mimicked that silly raspberry sound human parents made when they were playing with their children, Einn knew shook her head and laughed.“Oh, puhlease, T.I am beggin’ you to stop treating me like an idiot.”

“But I’m…”

“Oh, hell yes you are.You are only being nice because you want out, and that shit just ain’t happenin’.”Moving her head side to side, she scoffed, “I will not be the forgiving her sister any longer.Two thousand years is more than enough.I’m done.D-o-n-e done.”Opening and closing her fingers like the flashing lights at Christmas, she kept right on going, “It’s my time to shine.It’s my time to show the world and beyond that I am the first daughter!”

Jabbing herself in the chest with her right hand while her left kept flashing, Einn got louder with every syllable that flew from her lips.“I am the number one twin, the smarter sibling, and most of all the one and only freakin’ genius in their little Rip in Time.”

Having said everything she wanted and needed to say, Einn spun on her knobby toes and walked back to her worktable.Returning to the Twinometer, she ignored any and all of Tveir’s incessant chattering attempts at flattery and manipulation.Tightening tiny screws and checking each and every chip, connection, and wire, she almost missed when her sister’s tone changed as she asked, “How are you so sure the Norse goddess of Helheim and the Omnipotent Being known as Hope are Fated Mates?How do you even know that Omnipotent Beings have Fated Mates?I’ve never…”

Whipping around as if some had pulled her cord, Einn shock the wrench in her hand at Tveir as she retaliated with all the scorn and sarcasm she could pour into her tone, “Well, of course you’ve never heard of it because you don’t pay attention to anything but yourself.”Crossing her gangly arms over her uniboob chest, she leaned her wide, round booty against the edge of her workstation, tapped the toes of her left foot, grinned sarcastically, and explained, “I know, sweet twin, because I pay attention.I keep my ear to the ground and talk to all the friends I’ve met on the Wicked Web every day.”Holding up her fingers, she started to list, “I have an account on Ghougle.You know Ghougle, right?”

When Tveir shook her head, Einn scoffed, “Why am I not surprised?”Fluffing the split ends of her matted, tangled and in desperate need of several hot il treatments carrot orange, hair she goaded, “You always did think anything fun was beneath you.”

“I did…”

“Yes, you did and I’m not gonna argue about it anymore.”Not pausing even when Tveir opened her mouth to speak, Einn kept right on going.“Do you remember what you said when I told you that Nostradamus, the Gargoyle who dad likes more than us, and his little Feydragon Mate had created Ghougle, a search engine for all Beings Magical, Mythical, Enchanted, and Supernatural?Do you?Huh?Do you?”

“Well, no, I…”

“Of course, you don’t.”Rolling her eyes and sucking her teeth, she kept going without even a breath, “You said that it was childish nonsense and would never amount to anything.”

“I don’t re…”

“Of course, you don’t remember because you are an idiot.And when I told you about all the different and specialized forms of social media for all of the Super Duper Supes like Smilie Joyner, the Fury who’s made one helluva name for herself on Ghoultube with her makeup tutorials and how-to break up with your significant other videos.She even had a super exclusive, invitation only webinar called ‘You don’t have to get even.You just have to get it all’ and I was there.I have been at all of them, and do you know why?”

As soon as Tveir gave a single shake of her head, Einn spouted, “Because I am on every single Magical, Mythical, Supernatural and Weirdo social media out there.My screen name is NumeroUnoTrickster, and I rock with my thought provoking and insightful posts.I have millions of followers, and some of them are even human.Isn’t that just adorable?”Not waiting for a response, she cackled, “I knew you’d think so.Anywho, like I said, I talk to people and post everywhere all the time.I get all the hot gossip and from all the best places.Of course, FangTissia is the best because girl, Vamps love their gossip, and they just love shooting the shit when it’s about a god, a goddess or an Omnipotent Being.It was SippingSherry666 who told me all about how Destiny and Fate have been trying to get Hel, our idiot sibling and their cousin, Hope, together for the longest time.”

“Are you telling me that Omnipotent Beings use…”