hursday night went fairly uneventful. The phone had rung and Kat had answered it the same time as her mom. Her mom took the call but not before Kat realised it was Darryl. She also noticed that her mom and Darryl stayed on the phone for a long time and Dad spoke to him too. She knew her parents were up to something. Her night with Marc had been good but Kat couldn't help feel she had been very distant and when he left he said he understood but it hadn't made Kat better. She checked on Jade in the morning and watched her sleeping. Kat got her things together and headed for uni and hoped she would run into Marc today. She could really do with talking to him and she wanted to apologise for being so distant last night. Plus she just needed some reassurance that they were still together. Kat was in the library when Marc found her. She hit the roof when he laid his hands on her shoulders but when she realised who it was she relaxed. He gently massaged her neck and shoulders and said nothing. Kat sunk into her chair for a few minutes before breaking the silence.

"Can we talk?"
"Can I stop you?" he teased and Kat smiled
"I just wanted to know that everything was still ok, between us that is"
"Hmm lets see now, I get a wonderful dinner that defiantly surpasses my cooking skills, a dance with a beautiful woman to good music and a verbal invite to a party. I think I had a good night so unless that wasn't you in my arms last night I think everything is ok between us"

Kat jumped up and hugged Marc warmly and then after a few looks decided they should go somewhere else.

***

Jade woke up before midday. She took a shower and got dressed. She had ended up working overtime and she hadn't really minded. The money was good,the work distracting and fortunatly she didn't have uni today. She grabbed her bag and went towards the city. She had to pick up Kat's present. It was more expensive that she sort of had planned but she knew that Kat was going to love and adore it. Well she hoped she would anyway. Kat's present was a rock formation of rough Amythest. She had found it in a small shop she had never heard off and got it straight away. It was fascinating to look at and seemed to have a reflective pool in the bottom of the scoop of its bowl like shape. She had already gotten the book wrapped up in some purple crepe paper but she was stumped on how she was going to wrap the rock until the store told her they could do it. She was meant to pick it up last night but never got the chance. She picked up the rock now fully wrapped and ready to go. Jade stopped off at Kat's favourite store where Kat had recently acquired a job and picked out a birthday card. She noticed the crystal ball had a sold sign underneath it and wondered if her parents had taken her advice and bought it for Kat.

An hour or so later Jade got home. The house was empty and Jade put the presents and card away after writing in the card and drawing a little picture because she was feeling creative. Plus Jade hated writing in cards. She put an Enigma cd on and settled down on her bed. She dozed off a little but was awoken by the phone. She debated not answering but the ringing wouldn't stop so she gave up and got up. She picked up the phone and it washer Grandma. She was flying over to visit but the plane was going to belate by an hour. She jotted that down and pinned it on the cork board. She went back to her bedroom but before she could lay down again she felt very sick. She raced into the bathroom just in time to be sick in the toilet. She heard the phone ring but wasn't in any state to pick it up.

***

Darryl waited and the phone rang out. He had hoped that someone was home since when he tried a few minutes early it was engaged. He was going to ring again but decided to wait. He had spoken to Lucia and Erick last night and was on the phone for a long time. He felt better for talking to them altho he really wished he could have talked to Jade. He didn't know why he blew up like he did but he had felt awfully lonely ever since. He wondered if he was still welcome to Jade and Kat's party. He hoped so as he had a very special present for Jade. He picked up the phone again and tried calling Jade again.

***

Kat got home and was whistling a happy tune. She and Marc had gone out for lunch and Kat had a great time. Kat hadn't felt this happy for months. A job, a boyfriend and a visit from grandma not to forget a birthday party. Kat opened up the house and called out to see if anyone was home. She closed the door and headed for her room. She stopped and answered the phone as it rang just as she reached it. It was Darryl. She said hello and he asked if Jade was home. Kat said she didn't think so but decided to check and put the phone down. She found Jade in the bathroom looking really pale and really sick.
"It's Darryl," Kat said.
Jade simply shook her head. Kat returned to the phone and told Darryl that Jade wasn't home, but that she'd tell her that he had called, and once he'd hung up, Kat returned to the bathroom and knelt beside her twin.
"What's wrong?"
"Tummy bug, I think. Food poisoning maybe."
"Ate at the caf?"
"Lunch at the food court."
"That would do it. Want to get up?"
"Yeah."
Kat helped Jade up, and she washed her face and cleaned her teeth.
"Bed?"
"Yeah."
Kat walked with Jade back to her room, tucked her in, left to get a towel and bucket in case Jade felt sick again, then returned to sit on the edge on her bed.
"So, do you want to talk about it?"
"I don't know, it's just so stupid... He took the whole thing so badly."
"What thing?"
"I told him about your nightmare, and Mum and Dad's offering not to go away, and he just hit the roof..."
"Oh," said Kat, suddenly feeling like everything was her fault.
"And so I yelled at him and he yelled back, and I slapped him and came home."
"Oh."
"The whole thing is his fault, but..." Jade yawned. "Sorry, Kat, I'm really tired..."
"I'll leave you to get some sleep."
"Thanks."
Kat left the room and Jade fell asleep.

***

Lucia got home early from work, and found the house silent. She wandered slowly through the rooms, and found Jade asleep in her room, and worked out what was wrong with her fairly quickly. She continued through the house, and found a painting. Lucia walked up to it, and examined it carefully. The paint was still wet, and Lucia was surprised to notice that Kat had been the artist rather than Jade. Lucia continued through the house, but Kat wasn't home.

Kat arrived home later in the evening, saying that Marc had invited her to stay the night - in an "almost completely platonic" way, of course - but she had thought that was moving a little too fast, and came home instead. After all, the party was tomorrow. Jade had got up for dinner, had a piece of toast and gone back to bed, and Erick and Lucia were just heading that way themselves, so Kat followed suit and went to bed.

***

Darryl was over when Kat eventually got up in the morning. That he and Jade had made up was immediately evident, from the way they were snuggling in the kitchen. Kat decided that Jade was obviously feeling better, made herself a pot of tea, ran herself a bath, and settled down for a soak.

The party that evening was in full swing when the door bell rang. Kat was dancing with Marc, Jade was dancing with Dazz, and Lucia answered the door.
"Hello," said the man on the door step. "Sorry to interrupt the party. My name is Leo, and I'm here to see Jade."
"May I ask what about?" Lucia asked suspiciously
"Actually it's a private matter" He replied vaguely
"Well I'm sorry but now is not a good time. You will have to come back later. Goodbye Leo"

Lucia closed the door and then moved to the lounge room to watch him leave.
He stood at the door for sometime looking rather angry then he walked back to a car and drove off. Lucia sighed and turned when she felt two strong arms wrap around her waist.

"Who was that?" Erick asked
"A guy by the name of Leo, he wanted to see Jade but he wouldn't tell me why. I didn't like him"
"Oh? What was wrong with him"
"I don't know exactly, maybe I am just still vary after what happened with..." Lucia trailed off and sighed again
"Don't worry love" He gently kissed Lucia on the forehead and she smiled up at him
"Do you think I am being silly?"
"No." He pauses and then grins "Unless of course your talking about your decision to marry me and then I just think your nuts"

Lucia laughed and lightly punched him and he pulls her closer to him. The stay there for a second before joining the rest of the crowd. Erick turns down the music and waits for everyone to pay attention.

Erick spoke for some time embarrassing the twins a little until their grandmother stopped him and told the twins to unwrap their presents. Kat got the crystal ball she had wanted for so long from her parents and Jadegot a plane ticket and VIP ticket to an art show a few states over. Marc gave them both a pewter rose and he gave Kat a necklace with matching earings. Darryl gave Kat a faerie book and Jade an art book. Then he got down on one knee and putting a ring on Jade's finger asked her to marry him. Everyone in the room held their breath including Jade's parents. Jade looked at the ring and studied it painstakingly before allowing a smile and then squeal of delight.

"Darryl it's so beautiful"
"Is that a yes?"
"Oh... Yes it's a yes"

***

Jade was walking through the art building looking for one of her lecturers when she ran into Leo. She thought about walking by as he still gave her the creeps but decided against it.

"Oh Leo, my mother said you came round to our house the other night"
The guy turned and faced Jade staring at her rather intently
"I did... Oh yes I did. Well it doesn't matter it isn't important"
"Oki" Jade replied and then hurried past him

She walked into her lecturers office and Leo was there again.

"Ahh Jade there you are. I have been meaning to talk to you"
"How did you get here so quickly?"
"Sorry?"
"I just saw you in the hallway. You changed your top too. You had on a white polo top"
"I've been here all along"

Jade shook her head feeling very confused. Miss Howe then walked in.

"Hello Jade"
"Hi Miss Howe"
"I am glad you dropped by. Leo and I have some news for you."
"Oh?"
"Yes but that can wait a second. You didn't take back your art folder did you?"
"No"
"Well Kat handed it up for you and now neither myself or Leo can find it anywhere. It's like it just disappeared"

Jade didn't say anything. She was very protective about her art work and this news did not bode well with her. However she was secretly happy as it did solve the problem of Leo seeing the pictures she drew. She waited for Miss Howe to continue

"Well I guess that can't be helped, I am sure it will show up somewhere. Anyway the second bit of news that Leo tried giving you on the weekend is..."

The phone rings and Miss Howe excuses herself and answers it talking for a few minutes and then puts the phone down then looks back up to Jade

"What was I saying again?"
"You were about to tell Jade the news" Leo prompted
"Oh, right. The university is having an art competition. Going by your folio pieces, Leo and I think you have a running chance. Would you like to enter?"
"Um... Sure," said Jade, somewhat bewildered.
"Great. Entry forms are here," Miss Howe handed Jade a couple of sheets of paper, "and closing date for entries is April 24th. Judging is in May."
"Um... Who are the judges?"
"Well, Leo is, and the teacher of a local art school, Mrs Gina Ross, and our local art critic, Miss KatE Porter."
Jade swallowed nervously. KatE had a reputation for being scrupulously fair, but incredibly tough to please. In somewhat of a daze, Jade left the office. When she reached the bottom of the stairs, she checked her watch. It was 5:45 now, her lecturer would have left. Jade walked to the bus stop and headed home.

"Hello, I'm home!"
"In here," Kat replied from the lounge room.
Jade walked in and looked at the carnage.
"Um..."
"Not me. What do you think? Latin, Greek, or English?"
"What?"
"Pick!"
"Latin?"
"Ah, good. That's what I was leaning towards too."
"What?"
Kat stirred from her position on the floor, and held up two tiny kittens. One was completely black, and the other completely white.
"May I introduce Lux Lucis and Tenebrae?"
"Who?"
"My kittens. Aren't they adorable?"
"Your kittens."
"Mmm Hmm."
"You got these when?"
"This afternoon."
"From where?"
"As a birthday present."
"Do Mum and Dad know?"
"Apparently, though I didn't tell them."
"Then who did?"
"Yasmin asked them, before she bought them for me."
"And you called them what?"
"Lux Lucis, and Tenebrae. Lucis and Tenny for short, I think."
Jade dropped her bag on the ground and settled across from Kat.
"Trust you to call them something like that."
"You're the one that picked Latin," she replied, handing Jade the black kitten.
"Oh, she's so soft... Which one is this?"
"Tenebrae. She's playful."
"She's responsible for the mess I guess?"
"Oh... with help. Yasmin and I were playing with them."
"I see," laughed Jade.
Kat simply beamed.
"What would you have called them if I'd picked Greek?"
"Melanie and Phoebe."
"Ok."
Kat laughed, and placed Lux Lucis in the basket, followed by Tenebrae when Jade handed her back, and the two kittens curled up and slept.
"Mum and Dad will be late tonight," Kat commented as Jade picked herself upfrom the floor. "They're going out for dinner. And there's a present for you on the piano."
"There is?"
"Yes. From Yasmin," Kat replied, picking up all the wrapping paper and ribbons.
"She doesn't know me."
"She knows I have a twin, and she knows your name."
Jade tossed the wrapping paper in the middle of a nice patch of clean floor, and grinned at Kat's glare. In her hand she held a smooth red stone in her hand.
"What is it?"
"Red jade."
"Oooh... Say thank you for me."
"I did already."
"Say it again."
"Ok."
Jade picked up her bag and ran off to her room, to try and find a place for her new stone. Kat remained to tidy up the lounge room, then went into the kitchen and started making Jade's favourite stir-fry.

Roughly an hour later, Kat heard Jade come out of her bedroom, jingling her keys. She stepped into the kitchen, and Kat looked up from the wok.
"You're dressed up," she commented cautiously.
"Yup. Going out for dinner with Darryl."
"I see."
"Yup."
"Thanks for telling me," replied Kat, turning back to the wok.
"I did! When I got home!"
"No, you didn't."
"Yes, I did!"
"You didn't, but it doesn't matter. Go and have a good time."
Jade paused for a moment.
"I did tell you."
"Fine, whatever," snapped Kat. She tossed the wooden spoon onto the bench and turned off the gas, then stalked out of the kitchen towards her room.
"I'll be home tomorrow," Jade called after her, then took their car and drove to Darryl's.

After Jade had left, Kat returned to the kitchen and finished cooking. She dished some up for herself, then put the rest in a bowl in the fridge. She ate her dinner, fed her kittens, then took them to her room, and went to bed. As she was laying there, she considered her relationship with her sister. Jade had become so preoccupied since they'd moved states, and didn't really seem to need Kat any more. Now that her health was back to normal and she had Darryl, she seemed to have absolutely no use for Kat at all. And anything that ended up going wrong for Jade was generally Kat's fault - like her fight with Darryl. Jade had told her how she'd been the cause of that. Kat wasn't worth anything to Jade. So carefully, carefully,she found the cord that allowed Jade complete access to her mind, and gently closed the door on it.

***

Leo sat in his darkened bedroom, staring deep into his mirror.
"You will leave her alone!" he commanded. "They are not the twins we seek."
"They are."
"They're not."
Leo's reflection leaned out of the mirror and his own hand grasped his throat.
"Perhaps it is time that *you* spend some time in the glass!"
"No!" Leo cried, forcing the hand away from his throat. "I am still stronger than you!"
"Only because I projected myself today. The next time you see her you will Keep Me Well Informed! You almost ruined everything today!"
Leo kicked the base of the mirror and a black cloth fell over it, covering the only reflective surface in his room. He breathed a sigh of relief, and rubbed his throat. It was sore. He would have to be more careful. He was getting very strong.

Leo pondered possible courses of action. He had to warn Jade somehow... but how? She wouldn't trust him, especially not after his reflection had appeared to her. Leo picked up Jade's folio and turned on a light to look at it. There, on the page in black and white, was his mirror image. Leo sighed. He had to warn her... He had to make her see the differences between him and his... reflection. His curse. His folly. Leo studied the picture carefully, gently touching a finger to a tiny birthmark, just beside the picture's left ear, then touched the mark beside his right ear. Now there was a way... But no. The birthmark could barely be seen, and his reflection would know if she suddenly started staring at his ears. No,there had to be another way. Leo turned off the light and lay on his bed. There had to be a way...

He drifted off to sleep.