The Foundation of Lies Crumbling?

[sammy]

Cathy smiled happily at her father, who returned the excitement. The two of them were going to go to the movies later tonight because Daphne wanted to be alone with Giselle. She was so jubilant about it because she never got Daddy to herself without Daphne or Giselle in the way. Most probably Giselle, for Catherine knew her twin was jealous of a father's fleeting adoration. Cathy felt guilty at times about it, but she had never felt loved in her life, and now, when it was new and raw, she felt she needed more then Giselle did. She shifted in her seat as Daphne sent her that cold glare. Never talking. Always scolding by glares. Cathy looked away. Giselle coughed and bit daintily from her biscuit that Nina had prepared with great labor, just so they would be fluffy enough for Giselle. "This is far too hard." a complaint ran through the air, just as these thoughts entered Cathy's mind. She should have known that Giselle would find something to complain about, although the thickness of it hadn't been on her list. That was what Nina Jackson, the cook, had been slaving over this whole time, and Giselle couldn't even stop to appreciate it? Cathy stifled a giggle and looked away from her haughty twin to gaze at her own plate. She couldn't eat any more of it; another rule of the Dumas house. To be lady like, you had to have at least something left on your plate. It was such a stupid rule, especially when Nina prepared the best of food and it was never enough. Cathy gazed at it forlornly before pushing back her chair. "May I be excused?" she asked, looking only at Daddy and completely ignoring Daphne. Daddy nodded and Cathy stood and walked off, not looking back at the threesome. It probably wouldn't be a pretty sight; a raging Giselle, a excited Daddy and a Cold Daphne wasn't a good match. All three of them didn't go well together. Cathy sighed. Where did she belong? She often wondered if she really had torn apart the family like Giselle often mentioned. It was true that Daddy's love for Giselle and Daphne had been over-ridden by her, but that wasn't her fault. It was Daddy's choice. This was where she belonged....Or where she should have belonged.

Slouching off down the hall, Cathy's buoyant expression evaporated into nothing. She was confused about the manner of Daphne. Usually, she was throwing snide remarks Cathy's way but tonight she had been unusually quiet. Like something was on her mind. And then when she spoke to Giselle about meeting her in the lobby privately at nine had been frightening. Was she taking advantage of her time over Giselle alone to do something? Cathy struggled to come to a conclusion but her mind just wouldn't become a light-bulb, like it often did on the T.V. It remained, with the puzzled look apparent. Cathy shrugged it off, as if to shrug of a blanket. It wasn't important. Daphne didn't have the guts to do it, even alone. She smirked and twirled around to get her hopes rising again. Yes, it would be alright for Giselle. Why was she worrying anyway? It was perfectly fine and anyway, Giselle could take care of herself. She always insisted it this way, although the servants were her favorite leaning bricks. She twirled again and suddenly she felt afloat. That's right, Cathy. Relax. Enjoy. Daddy all to yourself....It's going to be so much fun! She jumped into the air before jogging off to her room on tippy-toes. Her toes were strong because she was somewhat of a ballerina. She only went during the summer, which wasn't enough at all, but it worked anyway. She was one of the leading ballerinas there and planned to be a prima ballerina in the future. She unlocked her door and stepped inside, gazing at all its contents. Everything was neat and tidy, nothing askew. Next to Giselle's room, it was perfect. The rub that hung on the wall showing a black and white puppy remained there. She smiled and started toward the vanity table. This was going to be fun! She had to prepare herself for the movies. She might even meet someone special there, as Daddy had put it.

The mascara and eye shadow brought out her gray-blue eyes wondrously. It was spontaneous when Cathy used much make-up like Giselle, who caked it on heavily. Now was a good time though. She had nothing better to do. Cathy smiled at her vanity mirror before walking primely out of the room. She was going to the movies with Daddy! Alone! She couldn't stop her thoughts from whirling excitedly as she moved toward the door. She opened it and there stood Daddy, in one of his laid-back suits, although it was striking none the less. She smiled confidently at him and he put a steady hand on her shoulder. "You look beautiful, my lady Cath-er-ine." he said, lightly mocking her. She swatted his hand off playful and hugged him. "I'm so excited Daddy. What movie are we going to see?" she asked, her voice slightly muffled by being stuffed into his jacket. She released him and grinned up. "I don't know yet Cathy, but we'll decide when we get there." he replied, already walking away. Cathy walked foreword to catch up to him. When she was almost to the stairs, she could of sworn she saw a blond head peek out of a door and then go back inside. She sighed sadly and felt real pity for Giselle. She was always destroying herself, if only she'd realize it. Cathy strolled beside her father as the went to the car. Oh, now she could barely stand still. Shifting from foot to foot, Daddy finally unlocked the door and they swept inside the green Mercedes. She patted the leather seats lovingly before locking her seat-belt.

"Why can't we go in my convertible, Daddy?" Cathy asked, her smile still playing across her fine lips. "Because your gas prices are going high up, Catherine. Even Giselle's isn't nearly as high as yours. Soon, your mother and I will have to start paying for some of it ourselves." Giselle uses my car instead of hers so she can bother me and make me pay. And Daphne isn't my mother! Oh, how Cathy would love to say this but she wouldn't hurt Daddy even more then he already was. She sunk into her leather chair and frowned, chewing on her lower lip. It was a habit both she and Giselle had. "I'm sorry, Daddy." she managed to spit out, her voice course with sadness. "I'll stop driving it so much." Daddy nodded, understanding as he always did. She saw him glance at her and sober when he saw her expression. Perking up at once, Cathy forced a smile. Daddy didn't need more excuses to be melancholy. "Really, Daddy. I understand why you're worried about it. I'll promise to not drive so much." Cathy tried again and this time she received a smile. She settled down in the seat once again, although this time she was feeling much better. Daddy was happy again. Good. She wanted him happy. Still smiling, she placed her arms across her chest and sighed happily. Daddy pulled into the big movie theater parking lot and turned off the engine, placing his keys in his pocket. They stepped out of the car and walked toward the entrance together.

The movie they saw, Hildago, was a good one. The poor horse. Cathy was nearly in tears at the end, when the cowboy almost killed his loyal steed so Hildago wouldn't have to suffer through the desert like the man did. Hopkins was his name. Catherine had to stifle a cry when that happened, but he didn't kill Hildago. Instead, the two of them won the race! They picked up and finally made it to the ocean, drinking in the water! Cathy grinned with satisfaction at the happy ending, while everyone else stood up to leave the theater. "Come Cathy. It's over now." Daddy beckoned to her. Somehow, he was already at the door, holding it open for the pushing crowd. "Oh, I loved it! What a wonderful movie. Suspenseful, exciting, happy, scary...." Cathy babbled all the way to the car and on the highway. Daddy listened with a bemused expression and only when they pulled into the driveway did Daddy turn to stop her chatter. "So you liked it?" he asked, turning the car off. "Oh yes, Daddy. Thank you so much for taking me!" Cathy cried and threw her arms around Daddy for a hug. He hugged her back. "I'm so glad you enjoyed it." he wasn't looking at her anymore. Now, he was staring at the door. Cathy reached for the handle to the car door but he stopped her. "No, Cathy. Wait." he pulled on her shirt to yank her back. Cathy gazed at him. Daddy looked strange. Not normal. She quivered slightly and followed his gaze to the front door. What was he waiting for. After five minutes, Daddy finally hopped out of his car. Cathy followed. "I think it's alright now..." he muttered to himself but Cathy caught it. She didn't mention it, although she connected her brows with confusion. What was alright? The door opened and Cathy expected Daphne and Giselle to be waiting for them but all was silent. And dark. Cathy shivered. It felt eerie, which wasn't right for such a big house. Daddy was at her side, but when Cathy blinked, he had gone. Shaking, her knees knobbly, Cathy stared all around and heard the door click shut behind her. Then, a light came on, blinding her momentarily. She covered her eyes with her arms. "Daddy?" she asked. "It's alright Cathy. I'm sorry. I thought we needed some light." Cathy nodded at him and stuttered toward him hesitantly. "Why is it - " she began but he interrupted, most unlike himself.

"Got to bed, Cathy. I'm sure your tired." he smiled then. Cathy returned it, but not with the full happiness that wasn't in his either. "Go on." he urged her when she didn't move. Reluctantly and with the sense he wasn't telling her something, Cathy moved toward the stairs. "Good night, Daddy." she smiled back at him and almost ran up the stairs, going as lightly as possible at the speed. What was going on? Why was it so dark? She shuddered again, almost out of practice. She knew something bad was happening. Daddy would never avoid her eyes or look so odd. Never. Cathy breathed in deeply, afraid. Bad things always happened to her. Why? Peeking at her room, she was surprised to find the door ajar. What...? A form was laying on the bed, ghostly looking. Cathy almost screamed. Giselle!

[giselle]

Dinner was a boring thing to Giselle. Not unlike anything else, actually. She paused through daintily placing food in her mouth to glance up at Cathy and Daddy, who were chatting about a movie they were going to attend. Giselle loathed silence but in this case, she'd rather hear nothing. They were talking so loudly that it echoed around the dining area, imitating their excitement that Giselle couldn't share. She picked listlessly at her food. Why couldn't Daddy like her anymore? What was so special about Cathy? He even called her 'My lady Cath-er-ine! There was something seriously wrong with that, no joke. He had picked it up from Cathy's old boyfriend, which was no Giselle's boyfriend. She had a sneaking suspicion, however, that Beau was more interested in Cathy then her. It was horrible that she could go from the adoration magnet to the second look after Cathy. She felt like pounding her hands against the table and screaming for attention but she remained silent. "Giselle, meet me in the lobby on floor three at nine sharp." Daphne had muttered as soon as Daddy and Cathy had really started to get into conversation. There were about ten lobbies in the Dumas house, and three on the third floor. Giselle shrugged. She would find the lobby easily enough. Cathy must have heard then, for she turned and stopped the conversation abruptly. The dinner was rounded off with silence, Giselle being the first to stand and walk away, her plate more then half filled.

The hall was extremely quiet except for the soft pit-pat of her heels. These weren't nearly as extreme as the usual, considering she was in the house, but it did cause some noise, just not the excessive clicking. She ran a hand through her beautiful long blond hair slowly, wringing out the knots. Bored was the only word able to cross her mind beside confusion and anguish. Why was Cathy better then her? She hated Cathy for taking away the love that was hers; the girl deserved a painful death! Giselle stormed silently through her mind, her voice not able to function at the moment. If it had, it would have been heard back toward the dining table. She wanted Cathy to know that Giselle was stronger then her. Better. Tougher. She didn't want to know that her emotions were in turmoil and that she couldn't control her thoughts as they ranged from anger to pity. It was sad, actually, that she couldn't even figure where she belonged. With Daddy and Mother? Or...where she was wanted? She knew that wasn't here any longer....Her face shadowed with depression, she moved through the halls. Her eyes were up arrogantly although the spark of fire and mischief had died long ago. Ever since that dratted Catherine Landry came into her life. Damn her! Giselle reached her bedroom and flung open the door, almost bringing it off the hinges. Stupid door. There should be a stronger one that could stand her fury. Maybe Giselle needed a punching bag. She would never get one though; Mother would think it unlady like. Giselle smirked and threw herself on her bed, accepting that she would go to the lobby at nine. If she didn't, the consequences wouldn't be pretty to behold.

The soda tasted good on her tongue as she chugged it down, a trickle running down her chin. Slamming it on the counter, Giselle looked up. No more Pepsi around. She had drank the last of it. Ha! She smiled. Her stomach churned. Grabbing it, she held her hands there until it went down. Maybe she had finished that off a little too fast....Giselle shrugged it off and moved away from the kitchen. In the cabinet near the window was whiskey, something she often let slip into her glasses. It was extremely good with soda too. If Mother knew about that....Giselle shuddered with the mere thought of her Mother's furious face. A door slammed. Daddy and Cathy leaving. No, they had left a while ago. It was eight. The movie should only be half-way done, if that. Giselle stopped walking and turned toward the source of the noise. Nothing. Again she shrugged carelessly. It was windy tonight, no big deal. She walked toward the lobby and opened the first door to the third floor. This lobby was completely empty. Only the dark cherry wood of the desk gleaming in what little light there was caught her keen eyes. No Mother here. Closing it sharply, Giselle sauntered off toward the next one. This one wasn't empty. Mother stood at the nearest desk, eying Giselle queerly. Was something wrong?

"I'm here Mother." she called loudly to break the mist of silence. Her eyes snapped an invisible whip over her, making her cringe. Mother had a way to intimidate people, maybe that was why she was so popular. Striding toward the nearest desk, these made of wood, she sat before her Mother, oblivious that she held a wand. Who cared? Daddy and Mother carried wands everywhere, did it matter she had one with her now? She smiled sweetly at her mother, who so far had remained mute. "Are we done yet?" Giselle asked, examining her newly polished nails. They were shiny in the lamp light that had obviously been lit by Mother. "No, Giselle. Keep that mouth shut now. I have no time for your whining. You need to learn something that will change your life forever and if I'm not the one to teach it, no one on the face of this Earth will be willing to." it was like she had put gasoline on Giselle's hair and set it afire. Learning something special? Giselle suddenly became afraid. No Daddy or Cathy. Just Mother, who wasn't speaking normally. Her tone had a huskiness to it that was terrifying. Something was wrong. "What are you teaching me?" Giselle tried to hold on to her arrogant self but it evaporated under Mother's look. Pure...evil? "I'm going to teach you what your future life will hold. Something that you should have known a long time before." She then raised her wand. Giselle shrunk under it, wishing she had her own. Had Mother been drinking? No, Mother never drank. This was Daphne Dumas, ready to...strike?....at her daughter. Giselle sharply inhaled. Oh no, no, no, no...."Don't be foolish, Mother. Put that wand down and let me go. I really have no time for games." she put on a shrill laugh that matched her tone of voice perfectly. High-pitched. She was drowning in fear. Daphne smirked. "You know I hate that attitude Giselle." she raised her wand then, and clearly spoke out, sounding the words of a curse Giselle had only read before. "Crucio!" she screamed and then harsh reality dawned upon Giselle. Only it was too late. She screamed. Really screamed. It echoed through the house, echoing through her own ears. The pain! Every cell in her body was on fire! She writhed and somehow managed to fall onto the floor from the desk. The stone was cold but even that couldn't put out the flame. Her screaming was blood-curling, her hair eyes began to roll as the curse strengthened with every passing moment. And then....it was gone. Vanished. Giselle continued to scream even when it had lifted. She screamed when Mother lifted her and shook her like a rag-doll. It was only when her face received a slap did Giselle quiet.

"Good girl." Mother said and with a twisted smile. The dictionary couldn't even describe evil this well. Giselle felt her feet hit the floor and she stood uncertainly. Her legs were limp and her vision horribly blurred. Her memory faded momentarily and then came back in big vestiges. Horrible screaming.....Giselle glared at her with all the strength she could muster, which wasn't a lot. "Why...?" she moaned behind her hands as she rubbed her eyes and backed away from Mother, who laughed mockingly. "Really, darling!" she almost screamed hysterically, gone mad. Giselle continued to back away. The door. Escape. Her mind wouldn't work properly. Her left foot refused to move and she tripped, falling to the floor hard. Stars. Many of them. Steps. She cried out as Daphne stood above her arrogantly, her poise still with her. How could the monster hurt her own daughter? "Get up Giselle. I'm not even close to being done with you." she said haughtily, pulling Giselle up. The daughter shrank at her touch. It was cold, like a cold hearted being....which was what she was! Giselle held the desk for a support. She was done. "I did that because you need to learn what you have to do. When you get older, you will be a mighty warrior, a fellow Death Eater, like myself. Your father didn't approve of it, especially after I had you and Catherine. But it's the way things are, and although I'm not able to serve the Dark Lord, I hope you will follow in my footsteps." her superiority was terrifying and Giselle quivered, almost missing what her mother said entirely. It got through enough to make her want to gag. "But - but....Cathy....she's better....then me. Why not her?" Giselle protested although she knew the answer. She was weak and Daphne was feasting on this. Cathy would refuse to do this even if it caused her death. She paled then and almost cried real tears. It came again. The pain. She had only but to close her eyes then to fell it again. Screaming filled her mind and she screamed until her voice cracked and her throat dried. She fainted so after five minutes of continuous torture.

She found herself on a bed. Comfortable and warm enough to make her headache ease slowly into nothing. She moved her finger to cuddle the pillow but it shot pain through her whole body. It was an electric jolt of a warning for her not to move an inch. More sleep. Needed more sleep. Everything so dark, scary. My head, it hurts. Thinking this sends pain. It's so dark. Dark. D is for Dark and Daphne. Why did she do what she did? Was what she said the real reason or is she drunk? She must be drunk. Must be. Mother wouldn't harm me. Never. No... Her eyes fell slowly to block her eyes from the darkness that scared her now. She couldn't sleep but instead became unconscious. Never did she appreciate it this much. So merciful. So welcoming. Death's grip was supposed to be harsh and cruel but it felt as light as a feather-down pillow....Was she dying? Giselle didn't move. She couldn't see or do anything but she felt. She thought. If thoughts and memories could kill, Giselle would be dead. She would already be decaying in this bed, rotting away. She wasn't an angel. She was a heathen, a horrible witch! And she knew it! Giselle screamed. It was silent but she kept on screaming, her mind screamed. Screamed for happiness. Screamed for Mother. Screamed for herself. A noise. Giselle wished to open her eyes but couldn't. She remained stiff. A hurry of footsteps and someone was sitting on her bed. Why can't they leave her alone to die? Giselle didn't move and the person went away after calling her name intensely. Nothing would help her now. She was gone.

[sammy]

That had been one of the scariest things in Cathy's life, sitting on the edge of Giselle's bed and trying to get the girl to move. She was either paralyzed or asleep. After waiting for a good five minutes, Cathy had abanded the hope that she would stir and went to her bedroom. The bed was made neatly, just as she had left it. To be truthful, she half expected to see Daphne laying there in the same state as Giselle was. She shivered slightly, glad it wasn't so. She could never comfort Daphne, even if she was hovering on the brink of death. She was just as cold and cruel as anything in the world that hurt Cathy. She had no intention of helping her when she would never help Catherine. Tucking herself in and switching off the lights. If only she could fall asleep as easily as that. She lay awake for hours, going over the vision of Giselle just laying there, motionless as anyone dead. Poor Giselle. Even Cathy felt pity for her evil twin. What could have happened to her? Or had she drunk herself into a stupor? Probably that, Cathy told herself. It had to be that. Unless Daphne did something to her when we were gone....Cathy's dark sense of things always over-powered her, especially in situation like this. There had to be a bad logic for this happening, and it had to do something with Daphne, since the two were all alone in the huge mansion. Anything could happen. Anything at all.

Cathy finally managed to fall asleep after four hours of thinking things over in her head. It didn't feel right for her to act like nothing had happend. She had to find out the why behind the confusion. Giselle didn't make a sound next door. In case the girl wanted some comfort during the night, Cathy had left their ajoining door unlocked but never did Giselle step inside. She probably didn't even notice Catherine doing this. When Cathy woke up at six in the morning, the birds weren't singing like the always did. Everything was dead quiet. Cathy curled up under the soft blankets and wished for sound to meet her scared, shaking self. The birds were always happing, singing in the morning to wake up all people with their music so they could listen too. Cathy loved to sit by her window and watch the birds sing, but if she would get up today and sit at that desk, what would she see? Nothing! They were gone! Cathy knew this only because there was no singing. She threw off the covers, rubbing away all signs of sleep away before getting off of the bed. It squeeked. Some noise was heard. A movement in the room next door. Did Cathy dare to peek inside while Giselle was in there, doing who knew what? She tip-toed to the closed door and apprensively opened it, only to view a big lump under the pillows. Giselle's hair flowed out of the small opening. Cathy stared for a few moments before closing the door behind her softly. That was all she needed to see to relax. Giselle - safe and sound. So far. Would she be able to move the next morning? Or would she be dead-like?

Breakfast this morning was simple. Pineapple with eggs, toast and orange juice. Daddy explained this was because Daphne was gone on a business expense, so she wouldn't be expected home until late.
"Daddy, I think there's something wrong with Giselle. She's not acting right and last night, she just remained in bed and didn't even move when I entered her room." She had to say it. Something was terribly wrong with Giselle. If Cathy ever went in her room under normal circumstances, she would be throwing random things at her, even the glass things that were so expensive it could buy the house all over again. She gazed at Daddy's face, trying to read what was hidden there. He looked troubled and there had to be a reason for it.
"I'm glad you're worried about Giselle, Catherine. I've never heard of Giselle just laying in bed doing nothing. She would consider that absolutely lazy. Perhaps you should check on her after breakfast?" Cathy agreed after inclining her head for a few moments. Sure, she would go check, but Daddy wasn't telling her something. He excused himself moments later and left Cathy all by her lonesome, nibbling on the bit of toast left. Good thing Daphne wasn't here. She would be scolded for eating her whole meal. After bringing her plate to Nina, she went on to the staircase. Something was wrong with Giselle and it was up to her to find out what. Daddy knew something about it, but he wouldn't tell her. Whenever he sealed his lips, they were sealed for good. Daphne had to know why, since she was probably the very cause of this disturbing incident. Cathy was clueless, but if anyone knew the details, it was Giselle herself.

Cathy paused at the entrance to Giselle's room, listening for any indication that she was awake and moving around. Again, there was nothing to hear. The girl was either still asleep or not moving. Cathy held her breath as she pushed open the door slowly and peered inside. There was Giselle, sprawled out on the sheets elegantly. The only thing out of place was her face, which was ghastly to behold. Pale and sick looking. Cathy creeped foreword, gazing at the new Giselle. She wasn't asleep, her eyes were wide open, but the glazed look on them wasn't normal. She was thinking about something. Cathy was torn between shaking her and running away. Why was it so difficult? She knew that answer: Because Giselle was always being twisted to Cathy, how could she expect Cathy to be nice to her when the need arouse? Giselle was a back-stabber, a tormenter, the meanest-girl in the school. Or at least the one Cathy had met. Maybe Giselle wasn't as mean as she let on. She shrugged and sat down stiffly on the edge of the bed. "Giselle?"

[giselle]

They were going home. Giselle stared out the window, her face as pale as the soft snow falling down from the sky. She couldn't belief it was time to face Mother again, to put up with her countless threats and be..be... Giselle shivered and stuck her hands into her jacket. Damn bus. Why did they have to ride a muggle bus anyway? Why not have a special ride to come and get them, the fashionably late Dumas twins. They had only been a little late but no.... Mother wouldn't put a finger down just to let them ride in a comfortable limo. Giselle sniffled. She didn't like Mother much anymore, but being pureblood meant having respect. Like that meant a lot. Mother expected respect. She accepted respect, but didn't give any back. She treated her two daughters like scum on her clean floor. Giselle traced her name on the misted window slowly. Giselle...Dumas. There. Everyone would know she was here. Giselle leaned back in the bloody stupid bench and sat with her hands clenching the inside of her pockets.

"Home sweet home," Cathy muttered as the bus stopped in front of the looming House of Dumas. Giselle smiled at her twin but didn't say anything to add on. As far as Cathy would ever know; Giselle loved home. Her twin wouldn't realized she feared her own home more then anything else. She feared her own mother, for Christ's Sake! To say that was equal to uttering profanity. Even Cathy wouldn't understand what Giselle had to go through. She had tried on the last few days of summer break, but had failed so miserably. Giselle had no desire to watch failure again. She stood up, wrapped her silk scarf around her neck and mouth, and rolled her luggage down the aisle. It must have gotten filthy snow on its wheels, for it nearly slid out of Giselle's gloved hands as she exited the blasted bus. It was dirtier then hell itself. She was sure she smelled like it too. With a deep breath and a steady smirk at Catherine, Giselle went up to the house and rang the doorbell once. Cathy caught up to her and stood there, staring with wide eyes at everything in sight. Poor girl, Giselle thought silently. She looks like a little child going back to day-care. Giselle looked away, not daring to wonder what she must look like.

The door opened just a crack and the old butlers' face appeared. Woodrow Elliot appeared. his crinkly old face smiling unpleasantly at them. Giselle grimaced. His yellow teeth were almost unbearable. She shoved past him and entered the house, wiping her feet slowly on the plush rug in front of the door. Everything was how she had remembered it. The floors polished until they shone like a beacon, as well as any furniture in sight. The desks were all made of mahogany wood and had intriguing curves and twists embedded into the legs. The ceiling held a French chandelier with tear-drop shaped glass. The window let in sunlight but weren't open, unlike in the summer. The snow continued to fall steadily outside. The air was so hot she felt like she was sweltering in it.

She flung off her coat and dropped it onto a desk, not a doubt in her mind that the maid would come get it soon. Her shoes were like-wise thrown on the rug and her luggage pushed into the corner, tracks of dirty snow on the wood floor. Two halls adjoined this entrance room. Giselle took the left, which lead to the stairway and their bedrooms. The right would take her to the kitchen, living room, bathrooms and the dining room. Speedily, she walked up the staircase to the fourth floor; her bedroom. It looked just like Giselle had left it. Spotless. The closet was packed with clothes enough to fill a department store and her floor had the same light pink carpet. The vanity table had perfect mahogany wood, streakless, for that matter. The mirror was as well cleanly and in order. All her make-up was to one side of the table and her brushes, combs, and things on the other side. The door to Cathy's room was open. She walked over and closed it. The bathroom door was open too, showing off her iris tiles and a bubble bath, shower, regular bath, mirror, and a dresser.

"Giselle?" A voice called from the other room, startling Giselle. She walked over and opened the door back open again. "What?" She asked Cathy's back, as her twin was unpacking her clothing at the moment. "Daddy wants to see you downstairs." Cathy turned to face Giselle. "He's not happy you ran up here without greeting him and Daphne first." Giselle ran a hand through her silky hair. "Oh," she closed the door with a soft snap and turned back to her room. She took a few breaths and turned to her closet. She rifled through the different blouses, picking the nicest; a green silk one with a low neck line and long sleeves. She got out a pair of jeans that were dark and appropriate, before walking back down the stairs. She had to look nice in order to survive inspection. Mother and Daddy were waiting at the bottom of the stairs. Daddy's face brightened upon seeing Giselle (of course) but Mother pursed her lips and put her hands on her hips. She was wearing a bountiful amount of make-up, making her long black hair even more beautiful and cold at the same time.

"Mother. Daddy," Giselle cried, flinging her arms around Daddy first, then Mother. Mother got a much shorter greeting. "Why were you late?" Mother asked, interrupting Daddy from saying a wonderfully warm greeting. He paused, looked at his wife, and then put on a sour face too. Amazing how men could be manipulated by women so easily. "I had some things to do, and the rotten bus driver went off before I could stop him. Cathy and I had to wait until the next bloody bus arrived." Giselle sighed and put her hand to her forehead. "I'm very tired. I think I'll go rest a bit." She looked from Mother to Daddy. Mother still looked doubtful, but Daddy was convinced already and motioned for her to run back up the stairs. She already had done enough exercise already, but Giselle didn't mind it this time. She walked up the stairs slowly until she was out of sight by the couple. She then jogged the rest of the way, jumping on her bed like a wild woman. She was safe. For now. How long it would last, she didn't know. Home sweet home.

[sammy]

Cathy pulled her knees up to her chest and moodily stared at Giselle, who was sitting at her vanity table, doing up the make-up again. "I already miss those drafty halls in Hogwarts." Cathy said to her twins' back. "Oh? It's much better here, darling. I don't know why you're so attached to that ugly castle. I can't wait to get out of it." Giselle replied loftily, pasting on the cake stuff. Cathy rolled her eyes. "You don't like this any better then I do." She watched as Giselle stiffened slightly before relaxing and breaking into a laugh. Fake. Phony. She was a liar, and she knew Cathy knew. Why pretend? "Of course I like it, Catherine. I can buy whatever I want here, and Daddy won't care. I can go out with my other friends and hang in the good dancing hang-outs. I can go see a movie. I can do anything here. At Hogwarts, I can't. I have to do blasted homework and all that dirty work. Honestly, I can't see why you like it so much. Whoever designed it obviously had lack of taste. I mean, who would make it with gray bricks?" Giselle laughed softly under her breath, pinning up her hair into a bun.

"Whatever you say," Cathy said with a shrug, annoyed that Giselle had an answer for everything. Cathy had noticed, however, the lack of mentioning Daphne in her small speech. Giselle was dropping hints everywhere, like that one muggle story. What was it? Where they dropped cookie crumbs or something? Cathy was knocked unkindly out of her thoughts when she heard the doorbell ring. "That would be for me," Giselle said arrogantly before Cathy could move. She walked out with an air of a Queen and opened the door moments later. Cathy remained in the bedroom listening. "Hi. Is.. um.. Cathy there?" A voice said. Cathy suddenly felt like she had been turned into an ice cube. She shivered. She knew that voice... "Oh, she's not here at the moment." Giselle sang loud enough for the whole house to hear. "You could come back later, maybe? Well, bye." And the door closed. Cathy stood up, rage shaking through her blood. Giselle had been an be-itch to her this whole summer, and Cathy had had it! No more of the nice, understanding her. Cathy ran out the door and down the staircase, pounding her feet so hard it surely sounded like an avalanche from the floor down.

"And what do you think you're doing?" An imperial voice demanded. Cathy stopped in her tracks, seeing Daphne at the bottom of the stairs. Oh no! She had done it now. "Are you a mute now?" She asked gleefully when Cathy didn't answer. "No," she said sharply, glaring angrily at Daphne. "Oh, too bad." She tilted her head, obviously waiting for the answer of her previous question. "I was running downstairs because Giselle turned away a guest of mine, saying I was gone, but I was upstairs the whole time!" Cathy explained, ruefully glancing at the tall figure of Daphne. She looked away when Daphne laughed. "Why didn't you get the door? Too lazy? Had to send Giselle down to do all the work, right?" Her voice was so sharp and cold, it was like putting ice-water in one's veins. Not comforting in the least, and soon Cathy could see Giselle come up behind her mother, wearing a satisfied smirk. Cathy put her hands over her ears. Was smoke coming out yet? "No, she insisted I stay up there." Cathy protested just as Giselle cut in.

"No, Mother, she's lying. She told me to go get up and get it, or she would make up something horrible about me and report it to you. I didn't want to get in trouble so I listened." Giselle wailed. "I only turned down the boy because he was rude and Cathy had been rude. I didn't want to have people like that around in the house, so I just told him no." "I understand," Daphne lazily drawled with a perfectly plucked eyebrow raised. Cathy felt betrayed and hurt at the same time. How could Giselle lie so well? She bit her bottom lip and looked away from the two. They were like two devils, making life harder then need be for her. "Go away, Giselle." She told her daughter rather abruptly. Giselle listened and turned away, plodding slowly down the hallway. "I don't want you to go anywhere today, Catherine." Daphne ordered when she was sure Giselle was gone. "You will stay in your room the whole day, not bothering a soul. Understand?" Cathy looked up, her face red from the embarrassment and the anger. "Yes." She then turned on her heel and walked back up the staircase, trying to look like the whole thing didn't bother her. When it did.