Castor sighed. He was looking into the mirror. But there was nobody looking back. His reflection had flitted away again. It came and went. He pulled his nape-length black hair back without a mirror. His eyes, he knew, were black. His skin, pale. And his fangs, of course, were brilliant, spotless white. He knew what he looked like. So he really didn't need a mirror. But it was nice to have things that normal people had. He glided across the room. and lit a lantern. His sister would be waking soon. She wouldn't be able to see in the dark as well as he. In fact, his sensitive ears picked up her footsteps right now.

"Cast. Good morning. Or rather, good evening. Good night. Whatever." Ayoka was a beautiful girl. The same pale skin that her brother had was ivory and blemish-less on her. The black eyes were big, and could look into the soul. Her hair was kept long, hanging straight and past her waist. She was average height, and average weight. Her fangs were not as long as her brother's- for she was not as much of a vampire as he. She glided to the mirror and began to brush her hair. She could see her reflection. Hers never ran away. Ayoka turned to her older brother. She saw his eyes, looking sad. She hugged him tightly.

"You know I love you, Cast. Why are you always so worried, and so upset?" He pushed her away gently, and mussed her hair. She squealed and leaped gracefully back in front of the mirror.

"You know how I long for the sunlight. And the company of others." He saw in her reflection the grin that lit up her face.

"Well, I have a surprise for you! Come on, let's go running!" Ayoka perferred running. Castor perferred flying. Neither really enjoyed the mist. So they left their home, the home with black sheets covering the windows so that no sunlight could get in. Neither of them would die if they were in the sun. But Castor would receive blisters, and Ayoka would get bad sunburn almost immediately. But if they wore their cloaks, and covered their skin, they would be okay.

Ayoka changed eagerly into her wolf form, a white one with shaggy fur. Odd. Castor's wolf shape was night black. He changed into bat, not as eager as his younger sister. He wasn't used to the blindness, but he liked the ability to echolocate.

"Come on, Cast. Let's go!"

"Where are we going?"

"Somewhere where we'll be accepted. Where we are like the other people. And we can maybe find ourselves a lifemate."

"Ayoka, I told you before. Girls aren't interested in me. Human girls are frightened because I'm part Vampire, and Vampire girls are frightened of me because I'm part human. Of course, you don't have that problem," grumbled Castor. Ayoka giggled as she ran through the darkness.

"Not lifemate as in love, silly. Lifemate as in a dragon!" Castor was silent for a few minutes. And then he spoke up quietly.

"You think dragons will accept us? Me, especially? It's not like I can just fly him or her all over the place during the day. It's not like I'm normal." Ayoka spoke back, angrily this time, bitterness in her voice. Rare for her.

"Stop feeling sorry for yourself. We have the same mother. We're the same, except you've got more vampire in you. Neither of us are exactly 'normal' in terms of regular humans. And then again, they're boring." Even though Ayoka called them boring, Castor thought he heard the slightest tinge of jealousy in her voice. Perhaps she wanted to be normal too. But he didn't say anything. They went along in silence for a while. And then, finally, Ayoka spoke up.

"We're not the strangest that are there, Cast."

"How do you know, Ayoka?"

"I've been to the Healing Den before. I met some of the people. There's some ghosts, a feline person, a banshee, a druid, a girl raised by wolves, a shapeshifter, and these two girls that were like made or something... I dunno. But we should fit in fine. And most of them are girls..." She smiled wolvenly. Her brother was silent the rest of the way there. The sun would be rising soon... They needed to get covered. There were some underground areas... The two went there. They met a girl, who introduced them to a guy. The guy's eyes kept flitting to Ayoka, and he stuttered. She smiled, flattered. Castor sighed. If only he was good-looking.

"Castor, you look fine. And you have a wonderful personality. You just need to find a girl who cares about those things." castor looked at his sister, who was looking back at him.

"Get out of my head, Ayoka." He felt her leave his head. He sighed. Alone again.

_____

Sometimes Ayoka was fed up with her brother. He cared too much about what people thought. He needed to lighten up. Ayoka hoped that if he impressed, he would have a little more fun in life. But right now, she was hungry. A girl pointed in the direction of a pen filled with herd beasts. She drank until she was filled, and then mentally called her brother to eat too. She knew she could never be angry with her brother. She loved him way too much. Even if he was no fun.

_____

"Yes...umm, yes. You would make a good candidate. And your sister, Castor. And if you'd like, there's a flit nest over there." Ayoka thanked the man, and dragged her brother to the nest. She slapped some meat in his hand, and he grumbled. She waited patiently for an egg to hatch. Castor grumbled, looking with disgust at the meat. They sat, waiting for a bit, before Ayoka's chosen egg began to ruck. She smiled anxiously, and then out burst a blur of colour. Ayoka squealed with delight and fed the small purple flit the bit of meat.

"Her name is... Masquerade." Castor snickered.

"Masquerade?" Ayoka's eyebrows dropped and her lip pouted.

"Yes, Masquerade. I think it fits. With the time of year, and the Frenzy theme. Look, your egg is moving." Castor turned aharply back to his egg. It wasn't just shaking, it was spinning and rocking back and forth. It split open into many pieces, revealing a night-black flit. He crawled from the wreckage and sat up. Castor fed offered the meat, and the firelizard accepted gratefully.

"Trik," murmmered Castor. Ayoka smiled as he scooped the flit into his arms and whispered to it. She had known all along he would enjoy this experience.

Baeris Kshau's Healing Den

See What Happens To Castor See What Happens To Ayoka