Emma’s eyes blaze, and she lunges toward Jayla.
I quickly dart between them again. There’s a shove and then another. I sway in the middle of it. The wild part is I don’t know if this is about me or if the curse is bubbling up causing bloodlust and hate between them.
“Calm down!” I shout, holding my arms outstretched as I desperately try to keep them apart.
My heart races. A hand flies in front of my eyes, and at this point, I don’t even know whose it is, but my face suddenly hurts. I’m standing in the middle, looking like a fool as Jayla accuses Emma of some sinister plot to kill me and Emma labels her a psycho.
Voices rise. A fist flies. I catch it in my palm before it connects. My body jerks forward, pushed by Emma, who is trying to reach around me to Jayla as the girls toss insults at each other. I suck in air and struggle to keep them apart. If they keep fighting, Jayla’s powers might jump out, like they do anytime they sense danger. If Jayla shape-shifts… if she loses control of the lion, she could kill Emma. I won’t let that happen.
I shoot Jayla a nervous glance. I start talking in a soothing voice to calm my sister and keep her human so she won’t claw Emma’s face off. “Jayla, listen,” I plead, trying to defuse the situation. “It’s okay. We’re working together to end the curse. We’re going to kill Sabine.”
“It could all be so simple,” Jayla hisses, “but your stupidity makes it hard. She’s lying! She’s the enemy, Malcolm!” Jayla points at Emma with a red fingernail that has turned thicker, yellowed, and clawlike at the tip. “If youcan’t see that, you are more miseducated than the fools who doubted Lady Lauryn of the Hill. The truth don’t change ’cause she’s easy.”
“How dare you!” Emma lunges at Jayla again, but I stay between them so she can’t reach my sister.
Jayla huffs. “You made your choice.” Hair is starting to sprout from her growing knuckles, her hands transforming. My heart skips terrified beats.
Jayla huffs again. Behind her glasses, her eyes narrow in fury. “You left home, abandoned your family, for her?” My sister’s crying; her voice shakes. “For this doomed relationship? She’ll end you, Malcolm.”
“Jayla, it’s not like that!” I try to explain as pressure mounts, guilt lying heavy on my shoulders. “Emma’s not our enemy. Sabine is!”
“Enough!” Jayla’s shouts. “Don’t expect me to support you throwing away your future because you’re lonely. Or horny. This tramp took advantage of you!”
“Who are you calling a tramp?” Emma tosses a pillow. Jayla slaps it away, her claws ripping it in an explosion of feathers. They rain down as I glance at Emma, who is so mad she doesn’t look away from Jayla’s scowling face. She doesn’t notice Jayla’s hands; she’s not noticing the change. Maybe if she does, she’ll calm down before things get bloody…
“Don’t, please,” I stammer, torn between the love I hold for my twin, my other half, and Emma, my firstreallove. Emma doesn’t know how dangerous my sister’s power is when she’s triggered. But I’ve seen how deadly it can be. Jayla’s not the girl anyone wants to fight with.
“Why?” Emma scoffs. “I’m not afraid of her!”
“Stop!” I cry, but it’s too late. Jayla lunges toward Emma, her clawed hands outstretched.
My protective instincts override my thoughts, and I push Jayla back. My magic slips loose. The force—it was way more than it shoulda been. Jayla flies up five feet in the air and crashes down, shattering the glass table by the window and a vase full of lilies, sending shards of glass and flowers tumbling to the floor.
Her body is covered in tiny cuts, but I’m the one who feels broken. I’m supposed to be her protector. I never meant to hurt my sister. Not really.
Jayla lies there in shock. Her afro puffs are tilted and covered in specksof glass. Her glasses fell off, and her face is mortified, tears streaming over her brown cheeks. We fought in battle training and play fought as kids but never fought like this in real life. Jayla stares at me, moisture sticking to her lashes, her expression holding more betrayal than I’ve ever seen. And I swear, her pain—it cuts me deep. It’s like part of me is bleeding on the floor.
“Please, Jayla,” I beg, my voice trembling painfully. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you. Don’t you see? I love her. I’m trying to end the curse and save our families, not betray anybody.”
Jayla’s gaze shifts between us, agony and fury clear on her face.
“Love makes you stupid,” she says. Her words are sharp claws ripping into my heart. There’s fear in her wide eyes as she yells, “Did Imani tell you what’s coming, Malcolm? She’s going to kill you!” She sobs and trembles, her voice breaking. “Your lovekillsyou.”
Jayla’s body is covered in cuts and surrounded by shards of glass. Her hands are covered in fur, but the rest of her is fully human. Jayla could easily change into a lion and fight back, but instead she pushes my hand away as I try to help her up. Her bottom lip trembles as she picks up her glasses. “And even after you’ve betrayed our family for her, I’ll rip her apart for hurting you!” She weeps. “That’s the future! Remember who you are, Malcolm!” She staggers up on unsteady feet. “Remember whoreallyloves you. Before it’s too late!”
Is that how Emma and I died in that image we saw?
“Sis, please!” I reach for her again.
Jayla shoots me a look of disappointment. She pivots to leave but pauses, standing in the doorframe. “Malcolm.” Her voice is cold as the dead. “This isn’t over. I’ll tell Big-Mama. Everyone will know what a traitor you are.”
“Jayla, wait,” I call again, but she stumbles out. “I’m sorry!” But she’s already gone, the door slamming behind her, leaving us in a shocked silence.
My heart drums so hard it hurts. Regret, self-doubt, and too many questions swirl in my head. Is she right about Emma? Could all her kisses be fake? Could she kill me? I try to hide the suspicion in my voice as I say, “I never wanted this.” My voice is heavy with emotion. I didn’t want the fighting or tears. I just wanted Emma.
I look around at broken lilies, stems bent and twisted, and shards of glass on the floor in the wreckage of our hotel room.
Emma’s touch is soft on my back. “Malcolm,” she breathes. “She’s wrong. I love you. You defended me. You did the right thing.”
