Essence (Nectar 3)

Kyle opened the envelope, pulled out the folded up letter.

Kyla stepped out the door through the closet in Sasha’s office and saw that everyone was there. Sergey was speaking but stopped talking when Kyla stepped out.

“He seems okay; he’s reading the letter.”

“When he’s done, let me know and I’ll come in and disconnect all the machines, okay?” Sasha looked very concerned, very pale. Nervous.

“Okay.”

Tristan kissed her quick on the mouth and she went back in, got another bottle of water, sat on the sofa, and then opened and downed it. Kyle was still reading the letter.

After an eternity, he put the paper down. She’d been trying to avoid watching him read, but couldn’t help but look at him periodically.

I have a brother. A twin. And I’m remembering.He let out a big breath.

“How are you?” he asked.

“I’m, uh, good. Better now that you’re awake.”

“But you’re with him? Is he good to you? Or aren’t you sure?”

“He is. I love him.”

“So, you know him. You remember time with him?”

“Yes. I seem to be immune to mesmerizing. And yeah, I love him.”

“I was sick about it when I found out they had found you and were planning on giving you to him. I tried to escape so I could help. I failed. Adrian wasn’t happy.”

“I bet not.”

“You’ve met him. Adrian?”

Kyla nodded, “I kind of hate his guts.”

Kyle smiled, “I kind of get why. Without you even telling me.”

Kyla smiled and then her expression dropped, “Long story, but yeah. Um, whoever stole me made me forget you. I’m sorry that they did that.”

He shrugged, “You remember me now. That’s good.”

She nodded, “As soon as you opened your eyes it lifted that spell or whatever. It’s still kind of setting in for me.”

He nodded, “So you love him?”

“I do. I never loved anyone before. I guess since I was stolen. I didn’t know how. But he… he’s amazing.” Kyla’s eyes filled up.

Kyle smiled.

“He’s gonna help change things. A lot has happened but he’s going to help. And so is Sasha.”

“Who’s Sasha?”

“The letter. That’s from Sasha.” Kyla was confused.

“Dr. Jasper?”

Kyla nodded.

“I thought her first name was Samantha.”

Kyla shrugged, “I know her as Sasha.”

“She’s been like a mother to me,” Kyle mumbled and she wasn’t sure what the mumble meant in terms of how Kyle felt about the contents of the letter. “But I always called her Doc.”

“I should go get her. She’ll get all that equipment off. She’ll want to check you out, make sure you’re okay.”

“But I won’t remember any of it. Because she’s now a vamp.”

“I don’t know if that’s how it works.”

“That’s how it works.”

“Oh.”

“Alright. Well, see ya later?”

“Yeah. I guess there’s stuff to figure out but I’ll come back as soon as she’s done. Or as soon as I can. Okay?”

He nodded, a faraway look in his eyes.

“Um, bye for now.” Kyla moved to the door.

Awkward!

“Kyla?”

She turned back to him.

“I’m glad I have you back.”

She smiled, “I’m glad I have you at all. I didn’t know I had a big brother. I always wanted one.”

“I’m six minutes older,” he announced, “And I’m definitely still taller than you.”

“I can’t wait to get to know you,” she said and laughed and then she had a memory of them standing against the growth chart in their apartment together and her being upset that he was always taller.

“I know you already,” he told her, “I’ve known you all along. You’re happy. You’re smiling. It’s good you’re not sad all the time anymore.”

“Did you feel my feelings, Kyle? While we were apart?”

He nodded, “Yeah. Often.”

“That must’ve sucked.”

He smiled, “At least I knew you were out there. I wanted to get to you. But I couldn’t.”

They stared at one another for a beat and then Kyla shook off the sadness she felt at all this information, at all Kyle had never experienced being imprisoned his whole life. At the fact that he’d been a guinea pig for Adrian. She started to get angry.

“I wanna kill him myself. Motherfucking asshole.”

He shook his head and smiled, “Now you actually seem like the sister from my brain.”

The door opened and Tristan poked his head in, looking concerned.

“You okay, princess?”

“Yeah. Let’s go. See ya in a while, Kyle?”

Kyle laughed, “Yeah, after a wyla, Kyla.”See ya later, Alligator. After a while Croco-Kyle.

After a Wyla, sister Kyla.

Suzy grew a mustache, a mustache, a mustache…She heard her little girl voice with his little boy voice chanting this together. They were both on their bellies on that quilt, reading a book of nursery rhymes together and making up their own.

“Suzy’s face is smooth again!

“Polly’s face is gone!”

Peals of little kid laughter.

“You two are supposed to be asleep.” That was their mother. She was beautiful.Kyla’s heart hurt and then the cold anger started to rise in her.

“I’m gonna fucking kill him myself, Tristan. Let me do it. Take me to the goddamn boathouse!”