Split Souls: Issues
#4 of Split Souls
Things get really interesting from here on. It's not going to get any easier for either of them and they are going to have to learn to work together.
Jared woke disoriented the next morning. He was outside, sitting down, and suddenly liquid was poured into his muzzle. His shock almost made Cassie spit out the hot sweet tea, as it was she did end up choking because he started to interfere. 'Sorry. I, this has never happened before.' 'Well get used to it.' She snapped back before taking a moment to add her own apology and feeling of support knowing it was a shock for him. She let him look around finding that they were back outside at he table with the green umbrella and that the morning seemed mostly over.
"How are you this morning?" He glanced over at Nessandra who was sitting next to them. With a slight nod he stepped back leaving Cassie in the lead. She took another small sip before her sister continued. "That was rude. Isn't he even going to talk?" The pair was starting to have a small argument before she added in. "I can tell when he's active you're different but it's more than that, almost like you are less, kinda." Nessandra finished staring at them.
"Sorry. Good morning." Jared finally said.
"He's not one for waking up fast, just give him a few minutes." Cassie added. Jared barely listened as the twins picked up their conversation again. Cassie was evidentially talking about the schools they had been in sounding proud of how Jared not only caught up on the grades he had fallen behind while at the institution but jumped ahead a grade as well earning himself a half scholarship. 'Likely all gone now.' He thought out which seemed to echo with her words. "It's likely revoked now." She stated quietly.
"He should be happy he had it in the first place!" The two jumped at the seeming anger in Nessandra's voice. "Come on don't you realize as hard as it was for him and you , he owes you a lot. Tell me did you learn anything or do you only know what he knows." She could see her twins confusion. "When you took a test did he know ALL the answers or did you have some. Did you ever argue over who was right or catch a mistake he made?"
Jared and Cassie were sort of left staring at each other on the inside. In truth everything she had said was basically true. School was the main time that Cassie was most active learning right along side Jared and between the two with extra thought and answers from Cassie he usually aced most tests and did extra work on projects making them more accurate or impressive. They were interrupted again after several moments of inner thoughts.
"So now that the two of you are both awake I wanted to ask something. How should I treat Jared? Did you want me to talk to you both or try to do it separate. Are we going to pretend like you're only Cassandra or only Jared? And to Jared, are you going to ignore me... I, I won't just give up Cass. I should be allowed to be with her even if you're in charge." Jared could hardly wait to jump in when she finished even though her voice seemed to crack at the end.
"What about you, are you going to ignore me when its my turn? Will I just get stuck in a corner unless you want to talk with Cassie? Do I get a chance to live or will I just have to spend my time in some back room of the palace until the princess is called." Gaining his most serious voice even to the point of taking over some facial features he asked. "Tell me Princess Nessandra, Are you gaining something or just getting your sister back with some baggage?" He hadn't meant for it so sound so mean but it was the first time he had truly been able to speak out his worries and fear.
Nessandra immediately turned her chair and pulled on Cassie's some as well so they nearly faced each other. Next she grabbed her sister's head tilting it so she was staring right into her eyes before she leaned in and placed a light kiss on the fore head. Both of them were wondering what she was doing as she gripped their paws and spoke to them. "One thing I checked when I went back to the palace was what rewards were still offered for anyone who could help return Cassandra. The full offer stands at more than five million. Broken down its multiple cash rewards, a full title and court name, a large space of land which is currently farm and vineyard with two rather nice homes and even a small plot of land not far from here. Lastly I actually got mother to agree to allow my marriage as a possible reward as well. It was back when I was just twelve but she never had the offer removed."
What she said at first seemed to mean little to Jared but when she added in the last part his thoughts were winding up and were actually becoming a bit horny which he blocked from Cassie. "So he won't be left out?" Cassie asked.
"Neither father nor mother have said anything yet but I know Drake was implying you wanted all the money, well that he wanted the money." Jared tried to push all the naughty thoughts away gripping tighter to Nessandra's paws even going as far as to change them to his own.
"So then what are you offering. What would I mean to you?" There was a sharp spike of both irritation and anger from Cassie.'You are NOT marrying my sister!'
"I will do whatever you want to keep my sister close. You _are_important and worth far more to me than just money." Cassie stopped this by yanking back fuming at Jared. 'You're just sick. You think I want you near my sister.' Not seeing how this was going to turn out any different he pulled out every bit of resentment he felt at what had gone on and what he felt was lost whether it was her fault or not.
'I'll NEVER get a girl. I've never even seen one! I never had the time, always working and going to school fighting to keep up. You think I should spend my entire life alone? What about you, what if you find a boy you like, how are you going to get close? You've seen everything! Even when I masturbate you know what its like and I haven't even seen you.' There was a wave of worry and even denial from Cassie but he continued. 'You still don't get it. I offered you my entire life and expected the same from you. We, Cassie WE. Of course I want to have sex, and so will you but how will I ever be able to date someone if they know you're inside?' Jared grabbed partial control and began a change in the lower regions. Cassie realized what he was doing and she felt mortified trying to pull back control.
"Cass what's wrong!" Nessandra worried voice meant nothing as her paws covered her crotch trying to deny the bulge even while she fought to stop him. Jared had more than enough thoughts and pent up feeling to get half hard savagely fending off all her attempts to stop him even going so far as to push their hips forward to press into her hands.
'Jared STOP!' Cassie wailed feeling control of one paw slip as it rubbed up against the lump that was stretching her panties tight to the point of being painful. 'How would it feel to finish here?' he demanded. It was a simple bluff, one which he could never go through with, but he stopped when Nessandra's paws grabbed their shoulders and lightly shook them. "BACK OFF!" He half snarled out before he let go entirely feeling seriously drained. Thinking that he still hadn't recovered from yesterday Jared retreated to the far back of his mind where he collapsed.
Cassie was left shaking and crying as she lept out of her chair and launched herself into her twins lap. 'Together Cassie, together or not at all.' Were the last words he thought to her before he gave up his consciousness.
It wasn't until late in the evening at a quickly prepared second dinner for Lord Marverath did he finally respond to several questions asked of him. He did make an effort to offer a simple apology to both Cassie and Nessandra for the morning but was left even more irritated when Cassie went to the bathroom later and refused to even look at herself when Jared showed some interest. He had considered taking control of the head himself but felt to exhausted to even try.
The ferret ignored the rest of the night waking up first blinking their eyes open to a mess of fur pressing against their muzzle and another body he was holding close. Out of all the things he had done to upset Cassie he had no real wish to repeat the same today, nor a wish to upset Nessandra at all. He pressed a just a little closer letting out a small sigh content to wait until they woke, he hadn't realized though Nessandra already was. "Good morning."
He was worried suddenly feeling apprehensive but still answered, "Morning."
Jared could feel her back stiffen as she whispered his name. Unable to think of anything to say he stayed silent. She started to wriggle so he pulled back letting her move around till she could lay sideways and look at him. "Can I ask you a question?" With his nod she continued. "What exactly happened yesterday morning? Cass won't say anything besides you were being horrid. Please tell me."
He thought of dozens of things to say wondering how much he should actually offer. After a moment she pleaded again and he asked her. "What am I to you? Am I just someone in the way, maybe a friend, or could you see me like a brother."
This time when she wrapped an arm around her twin Jared could feel that even though she was hugging her sister it was all for him. "You are my sister's protector, her closest friend, her greatest ally, and the one who knows her best. You are everything I should be and everything I want to be." Part of Jared simply denied that, he only knew what she had told him and most of that was only recently. "You brought back the one person I have missed all of my life. You are far more than just some friend and if you wished I would call you brother."
"Both of our lives are ruined." Jared stated feeling the pressure as a lump started in his throat. He didn't want to cry and did everything to hold it back. "Cassie has seen and knows everything about me and I know almost nothing about her."
"How could that be true?" Nessandra interrupted him. "She is part of you."
"Yes but she usually remained hidden. She thought and talked to me but a lot of the time I tried to keep her out. Now it's even worse, she has a body and she doesn't even want to look at herself." He said trying to keep his voice level and quiet.
"You want to look at her!" Her voice was raised mostly in shock. Jared flinched at the accusation before he tried to explain.
"This is our body now, both of us. She already knows everything about me... every single thing. And now she hides it from me."
"You bet I will!" Cassie suddenly jumped in. She pushed Nessandra away almost causing her sister to slide off the bed taking full control and forcing Jared back at the same time. He had no resistance for the sudden strike feeling like he was being struck repeatedly with an over sized paddle as she continued to push him away. He spent minutes hiding before cautiously creeping forward to try and find out what was going on.
"Don't you DARE!" Cassie shouted out at her sister.
"Listen! Even Drake has seen me naked, although mom nearly dragged him through the rose hedges afterwards. She was upset but she told me later that it's normal for boys to try and catch glimpses of girls naked." Nessandra tried to explain.
"He doesn't need to see you!" She retorted. 'Cassie?'He asked quietly. He tried to pull his own anger and irritation as she turned on him but was unable to match her and simply gave in. 'We're supposed to share...' He tried with a quiet thought.'AND!' She cut him off. 'Today is supposed to be my day.'
Jared could feel another flare of anger and resentment as she pushed herself out of bed and stormed into the hallway and back to their room in nothing but her night dress. The whole time she grumbled and promised him serious consequences if he tried to peek at Nessandra.
It took Jared quite a while to get cleaned and dressed feeling sluggish and even oppressed at times by Cassie who, like a hawk, seemed ready to swoop down and pounce on him. As he was wondering what was going to happen when he receive a request to join the princess for a late morning tea.
"We never finished our conversation." Nessandra stated as he took a seat at her favorite spot under the umbrella. Tired of watching him just sit there she prompted, "I believe I had just told you how important you are and you said you were interested in a, special view?" 'DON'T you dare!' Cassie warned. Still finding him silent she asked, "Is something wrong?"
"I feel tired, and kinda lost. What happens next?" He finally asked.
"Father will be calling you in a few hours. So would you mind telling Cassandra to be quiet and allow you to speak. You both have every right to speak as Cass has pointed out several times and I want you to tell me why she was so upset yesterday morning."
Jared waited for an objection which didn't come. "She was upset because I forced her to have a penis." A gasp caused him to turn and look behind them at the female maid, the same one he had seen on the first day.
"Do not worry about Florence. She will not repeat any of this." Nessandra stated firmly.
"No Lady, of course not Lady." Was the quick reply.
"So you gave my sister a penis, why?" The question him a little off guard but he answered.
"Because I was upset. She already knows what it's like to be a male and to masturbate. And I got a little excited when you seemed to be offering something, personal. Cassie got upset with me for even thinking that. The thing is I never even had time for real friends let alone a girlfriend. If I spent time going out of dates or going out with friends to the movies I'm sure I would have been told I'm waisting time and money. But now... Cassie, I don't think she has really realized what we are now, or accepted it. We won't ever get married, I'll probably never have a girlfriend or even get a real kiss, its not likely she will either. I mean how would you feel if a guy woke up in the middle of the night and said sorry love she has to go. Or worse how happy would you be if your boyfriends other half was out seeing and doing things with some guy? There isn't a person in the world who would accept us together."
Nessandra made a little gesture and Florence stepped forward filling her tea. "You might be surprised, the two of you. I had already considered that part. I reviewed the rewards because I AM willing to marry you. It wouldn't matter to me if I slept beside you or Cass, and how could I ever get upset with my sister if she found someone she loved. Of course if she couldn't find someone I would never let my twin go, unfulfilled." She took a slow sip from the fresh tea before setting the cup back down with a little tink.
She stood giving a small wave at the older canine. "You can tell her that yes I am entirely serious and that she has no right to tell me who I can and can not marry, mother has already tried that and failed several times. I will leave you two now since I would guess you might wish to talk this over." Jared waited expecting Cassie to say something, anything, as her twin left but nothing came out as the other walked down the path to the house.
'Royals marry for convenience as often as love.' Cassie suddenly quoted several minutes later. Jared who had been slowly sipping the tea had a different thought. 'She wants you. Think about it, if she married me you would always be close and she could make sure I stayed at the palace.' 'Exactly convenience.' She responded. Jared shook his head,'Nope love, her love for you.'
He ended up finishing the cup but stayed seated for a long time. Both of them attempted to keep a conversation going but often only a little was exchanged. "Cassie, do you hate me?" Jared suddenly asked aloud.
'Of course not.' ~'Do you love me?' It took her a few seconds but she replied, 'Jared you are me. I can't hate you any more than I can hate myself nor can I love you any more than I can love myself. I'm angry and upset with you sometimes but then....' ~ 'Cassie, please. Do you love me? Or at least care for me?' He interrupted.
When the silence continued he tried again, 'If you were real, like had your own body, would you be upset if I asked you out on a date. My first date?'
'It's not the same.' She quickly tried to point out. Jared closed his eyes and leaned back feeling the sun now warming his fur. 'No it's a whole lot worse. From now on Cassie it is always going to be you _and_me. Are you really upset because I'm curious about you?'
'I don't mind that you were curious but Jared your trying to make me do something I don't want to. You could at least give me some privacy if I need it.' She told him.
'When have I ever had privacy? You drove me near insane sometimes and now I have given you half of my life! You have your sister, your family, heck you're a princess. All I have is you... Maybe your sister will be close to me, but I don't ever see your parents or Drake or anyone else changing. Privacy? Exactly how do you think we should do that. The whole point of the spell was so we would share everything, absolutely everything. I didn't ask to do anything, I just wanted a look.'
'Look? You expect me to believe that? You want more than just a look. Girls are different from guys.' Her words were pretty much the truth but still had Jared nearly laughing out.
"And how are girls different from boys? You haven't seen any more pussy than I have." The comment pretty much hushed her up. At first she had been embarrassed in front of Nessandra's hand maid changing out of Jared's underwear so fast so the other couldn't see and neither did she. Then she had never taken them off during the entire session of trying on dresses. The same had held true each time she had changed being extra quick if she needed new underwear. 'You're just a curious as I am!'His mental shout startled her as he realized it. 'And I know you enjoyed my privates as much as I have.'
Jared opened his eyes and stood up. 'Maybe I did want to see you and yes I was hoping we could, explore together but you shouldn't have been so upset. You've seen me for years and you never thought twice. I do expect you to look at yourself soon, it would be only natural, but don't expect me to try and look away or ignore it. After all _we_have been through I deserve to know you as well as you know me.'
He started towards the house with her offering several arguments against that point but in reality she had already partly accepted what he said. Cassie could remember several times when he was a young teen and she had tried to entice him to play with himself, feeling the ride of emotions and chemicals that ran through his body. That thought led to her own, wondering how it might feel to do that herself.
~~
"Sir?" Jared jumped up from the chair surprised because he had not heard anyone approach. He had sat down on one of the lower decks on the far side of the property that overlooked the river.
"Yes." he answered.
"The High Lord has requested that you and the princess return to the house." The avian turned and waddled off as soon as it had finished speaking leaving him to stare after it. He had been contemplating returning to his room for a rest for quite some time unwilling to actually get up but that would have to wait now.
When he reached the study door Nessandra burst out with a happy little half yip and nearly tackled the ferret with she saw him. "Come on! Come ON! Everyone is going down to swim. Forget that." She told him when he looked towards the office. "Even father will be coming. Let's go, they found some swim stuff that should fit both of you."
Jared allowed himself to be pushed to his room before he flopped down on the bed glad to be left alone. 'Come on change!' Cassie spoke infected with the excitement of her twin. She waited a full minute but when he still hadn't moved she took enough control to sit them back up.'Hurry up.'
"Cassie stop." He protested. 'I don't really feel all that great.'
'So you're just a little tired. Think of it like this, how many people get to swim with the royal family?' She tried to push a little of her energy his way urging him to go.
'Whatever.' His answer seemed to spark more than just a little resistance. Jared could feel parts of his body start to change. 'If you won't go I will.' They struggled for several seconds Jared straining against the change snarling back, "It's my day STOP!" He struggled to stand up stumbling towards the door actually running into it before Cassie gave up.
Irritated he stomped down the hall and shoved open the back door stepping out. He had not expected to literally stumble into Drentan and a small group of people. "What are you doing? Father requested Cassandra to join us."
"Relax brother." Nessandra stated having made a swift change in the last few minutes to a modest two piece top and bottom of light green. "Did the suits not fit?"
"I really don't feel like swimming. I'll just go sit on the deck for now." In truth the ferret wanted to go lay down but he now wasn't sure if Cassie was going to stick with their agreement if he fell asleep. As he took a step to the side Cassie spoke out. "I want to go swimming."
Before he could take another step a paw on his shoulder stopped him. "You would be smart to listen to Lord Marverath. Go back inside and get_changed!_" Jared pulled away but before he or Nessandra could protest the price continued. "IF Cassandra is _your_sister," He spoke glaring over at Nessandra, "then one does not treat a princess in such a manner. Go Change!" He ordered looking back at Jared.
"Both of you stop it. Drake maybe stupid at times but Cass you know better. It is Jared's day! Jared go ahead and relax, you don't look all that great. Are you feeling sick?"
"No just tired. I'll take a nap later." He was again surprised as Nessandra stepped forward and gave him a hug.
"Join us if you change your mind, or we can talk later." She spoke quietly squeezing his paw as she stepped back. Drake was still glaring as two people stepped out of his way and he walked to the stairs heading back to the seat he had left just a little while ago.
He had been expecting an argument or at least a few jabs to try and persuade him but instead she was silent. Twice he dozed off only to startle himself awake a few minutes later. 'Cassie?' ~ 'Yes?' "You're not going to take over are you?"
"Excuse me sir? Did you need something." He turned to see a hare staring at him halfway down the lower set of stairs.
"No sorry, just thinking out loud." He had learned long ago to never say he was talking with himself. But the fact he had spoken out loud instead of a whisper only proved to himself how tired he was. After the guard had moved off she asked him, 'What do you mean?'
'If I lay down. I'm not going to end up in the water am I?' At first he thought he had really upset her since she was hiding her own thought and feelings so well and taking so long to respond. 'I won't wake up in the middle of the night feeling myself up will I?' Jared almost found himself laughing that they were both worried about the same thing until a small part of him realized he wasn't trusting the one person he needed to.
'Cassie, I swear, I promise. I will NEVER touch or use your body and I will never forcefully take over if it's your turn.' ~ 'Do you really think that I would...' She asked.
"Yes!" he spoke quietly but with force before she could even finish. 'It's your family, I know you want to go and be with them. You almost took over in the room. And yes I felt like I had to ask because I thought the moment I fell asleep you would take over, no matter what I wanted.'
After nearly a minute she responded. 'I'm sorry. I was excited but Ness was right. I can't simply take over because I want to or my family says so because that would mean you really wouldn't have any time. I was sort of thinking the same thing, if I fell asleep would I wake up and still be me or worse that you would do something still being me. I was really upset this morning when I realized you were awake and holding Ness.'
Jared thought for a moment. 'I guess we both need to set up some rules. I mean I wasn't going to be rude to her, or ignore her and you were already holding her and to be honest she sort of hugged me.'~ 'I know that's what started to wake me up. I wanted to throttle you when I realized what you two were talking about. I even though you might try and take a look right then.'
They both sat in silence for several moments, 'You know I have no real family. I know I could always call and talk to Uncle Max but besides you, and Nessandra maybe I'll have no one to talk to if we go to the capital, no friends, no classmates, no one who will even care.' He stopped her from talking further deciding he really should get some sleep but after he stood up and stretched a jolt ran through him, one that seemed to pull at his soul.
He grabbed his chest heart pounding out in fear trying to figure out what was happening when Cassie suddenly shouted. 'NESS!' It didn't matter whether it was her fear or his, their pounding heart and terror drove them to act. He flung himself towards the river taking two flights of stairs in a couple of steps before charging down the wood decking that ran parallel to the river. 'Hurry!' Cassie urged trying to push him forward with her will alone.
Jared turned the corner actually ripping the wood hand rail with his blunt claws feeling his shoulder pulling painfully as he tried to stay upright and moving. Ahead of him was the last few dozen feet of wood decking that lead to a shore wall. The break that lead to the dock was offset a full two feet but instead of slowing down to dodge Jared leaped up landing on top of the three foot wall jumping slightly sideways as he jumped again landing on the wide railing that ran down one side of the dock. He concentrated running down the flat handrail nearly stumbling because his head moved up and around scanning the water.
'There!' Cassie cried as she zeroed in on Nessandra who was struggling to make it back to the dock and safety. Jared's heart stopped and his courage nearly fled as they both recognized the sleek flat hide like rock that seemed to glide towards the young vixen. A Glant was a rather voracious creature that had mid level animal intelligence and a strong resistance to magic. Normally the one to two foot pancake looked like a cross between a turtle and a frog, a heavy hide instead of a shell with small flipper like forearms and long powerful back swimming legs. The real problem was a wide mouth full of slightly hooked teeth that would continue to draw in prey to be swallowed, or if it bit something to large it would shake and thrash attempting to tear away a chunk to eat. Catching a person unprepared our unaware a Glant could take a three to four inch chunk out of a leg if one didn't act fast enough.
This one was nothing like what a Glant should be. Nearly twice its normal size it was quickly eating up the yards between itself and its prey looking big enough to take off one of the flailing arms of the vixen as she struggled and pushed her way through the water. There was nothing Jared could think to do, even if this side of the river seemed shallow, over three feet, there was no way he could cover the nearly two dozen feet at the end of the dock that was rapidly approaching. 'JUMP!' Cassie shrieked at him and he was left with little choice as he felt a solid wall behind them.
Even as he pushed off he had to alter the magic some allowing it to slide past and move them in the direction they needed while Cassie still threw everything she had into giving them the distance. 'Crush IT!' As she made her plan known he had no time to think on how stupid or foolish this could be as Cassie's entire will was bent on stopping the creature that was now feet away as they passed Nessandra.
He drew on what power he could, what little he seemed to have forcing all the energies to change driving them downwards adding what he could to their drop. His shoes started to slide across the leathery back before more of his weight stalled the creatures forward movement driving it below the surface. The magic kept pushing them down s he locked his knees digging his heels into the Glant beneath him.
It was a jarring impact stopping him with the water nearly touching his groin. They strained together trying to keep upright as the last of the magic push down. Suddenly something gave way beneath his right foot. Jared wasn't sure what had happened as the creature thrashed under him. Its flailing unbalanced him and before he was able to gain both feet again he was struck across the side of the muzzle while a separate impact drove into his chest.
Jared was pushed back into the water robbed of breath and nearly consciousness he sank stunned. Nothing happened in the following seconds except him sinking to the river bed with Cassie trying desperately to rouse him or make his suddenly overly heavy body move. She tried to cry out reaching to find some kind of help, her sister was now near safety but she still gave off waves of terror as she pushed her way forward. Cassie no longer cared about whos turn it should be as she forced the change thrashing out with her own limbs trying to get out of the water.
She breached the surface flailing out with her arms hearing the yelling cries and screams along with splashing noises that made everything confusing. Rare had been the days that Jared had been to a pool or tried to swim. Her first worry was of drowning before one foot found the bottom and pushed off heading in the direction of her sister. From there she launched herself out of the water as she half jumped half flopped trying to get back to the dock.
She saw as well as felt something large fly past her body making a large splash behind her. "MOVE GIRL!!" Someone shouted over the noise, almost at the same time by simple luck her paws touched the line of whatever had been tossed behind her. Feeling it jerk away she gripped out of pure reflex tightening up as it slid through her hand. Her arm, shoulder, then body were roughly yanked forward several feet before she lost her grip. Cassie was close now struggling to find her feet and keep moving forward in the shallows when something grabbed her top half. She was hauled forward through the air and water before two sets of paws grabbed each wrist yanking her entire body upwards and down onto the dock.
Pulled to her feet she wasn't even able to take a step on her own before she was squeezed in a crushing grip. Cassie's protest was blasted by joy and relief before she echoed with her own. The two were steered stumbling down the dock both twins refusing to let go of one another even as they passed the stone wall.
Their moment of shared feelings was broken by an even stronger hug that came close to crushing them together. "Thank the very essence. You two, you especially... Stupid Foolish, but safe, you're safe." He had stop speaking staring at Cassie. His paws broke the pair up before he gripped his daughter's shoulders firmly still staring at her. "I'm sorry... It was so hard to even thing that you were back, and the possibility of losing you again.." She was again drawn into a rib bruising hug. "I'm sorry Cassandra. My DAUGHTER, welcome home." He choked out the last words as Nessandra pressed herself into the hug as well.
Jared ws trying to steady himself suddenly washed in waves of more love and emotion far stronger than any he had felt before. 'Cassie?'He questioned weakly. It felt like he was swept into a tornado spun around by her excitement replaying for him what her father had just said with full force. She literally dropped him turning her attention back to her sister as the two hugged and rocked each other.
'Cassie... Cassie? I'm happy for you. Enjoy this, at least... At least one of us has a family, a life.'