are you seeing double?

my dear, my dear, it is not so dreadful here pandora and lilith two minds. two souls. two hearts. one path.

[casshoward]

[heavensghost]

Someone you loved // Lewis Capaldi

[rachelsennott]

Sweet Home Alabama (2002) dir. Andy Tennant

[l-pgraves]

when: end of February 2021

where: Restmore Cabins  in Maitland

TW: sexual assault mention

“Let them burn, Pan.”

Ever since she could remember, she had been the apple of her father’s eye. She was young when her talents were discovered and she had set her nanny on fire. Despite what she had thought, Pandora was not in trouble at all. It had turned out that the nanny had been stealing from their family the whole time they had been employed. The young wytch hadn’t had the heart to tell her father that the reason she had set the nanny on fire was because they had tried to touch her. Not that she would have been heard in the first place. She very rarely was. Being the first born of the twins meant nothing in terms of attention in the Graves family household. It was all about how powerful one was and while she was the more powerful of the two it took more out of her to conjure. Lilith’s gifts came natural and while their father was proud of her. His pride and joy was Lilith. Though as she  grew, so did her power and control. Pandora was the more controlled of the two. Her emotions were raw but the were concentrated and direct. That was when the focus fell from her sister and followed her from that point on.

Pandora could still hear the screams of their nanny in her ears. Could still smell the burning flesh and hair. She was a mere five years old. So young and so vulnerable in terms of the world. She was not, however, impressionable. No, that was Lilith. Pandora was different in many ways. She knew what the world was trying to do to them and what it held for women. It was up to them to prove themselves. That, she thought at least, was what had drawn Valentino to the twins in the first place. They were full of raw power and had long proven themselves to the world that they were not to be trifled with. Since her run in with her lost love, Pandora had ran and ran and ran. She ran so far and so fast that her feet bled. Until she found herself where she was now: in the Restmore Cabins with one of them burning behind her.

It was here that her hear was broken the first time. It was hear that she had the inkling of an idea that Valentino was not the man that they had thought him to be. Tears in her eyes and her heart heavy with dread and anger, Pandora closed her eyes and let her flames consume her as she walked through the wood.

[perserphonee]

I like wearing your clothes. They smell like you and your scent is home to me.

[genterie]

[freddieardley]

A Different Realm 

Photographed by Freddie Ardley

[l-pgraves]

when: December 26th

where: utp

Lilith Graves liked to think of her and her sister, Pandora as a packaged deal. Wherever one went the other was sure to follow. It had been like that since the day they were born and had been like that ever since. But as the school term came to a close, Lilith found her and her twin sister growing further apart. Normally, she could read her sisters thoughts and vice versa. But now Pandora was closed off from the world. It was as if nothing and no one else mattered besides Valentino. Which to tell the truth he had hurt the more fragile twin more than she would care to admit. But she had let that part of their past go. Pandora on the other hand let it consume her. “Hm?” the Earth affiliated twin hummed in response to who had been speaking to her, “I was just thinking. Don't worry.”

[sethkate]

melissa.hernandez: Playing dress up with @sydney_sweeney 💕✨

[l-pgraves]

viknaerth​:

Vik shifted himself slightly to put an arm around his sullen company, toying the stray strands of on her shoulder affectionately. He hated seeing Lilith like this, someone who had the capacity to shine so brightly relegated to the shade. It wasn’t something he could stand for, feeling just how sapped Lilith seemed to be by it all. The blond didn’t have any brothers or sisters, no point of comparison for the bond, especially not a twin and how close both Lilith and Pandora seemed to be in better moments. A bisection of one whole person, admittedly representing the good and the bad quite clearly. They were chaos and calm and respectfully and Vik had enjoyed his time between the two though alone he did prefer Lilith’s soft nature. As soon as her eyes met his he had little in the way of choice, his brain didn’t often call him to action but his heart was much more dominant. She loves you just as much as I do - Though he’d lived more than one hundred years, most in the ocean, some on land, tortured, adored and a grand mix of the inbetween he was terribly uncomplicated. If you loved him, he loved you back. He pressed a thoughtful kiss to her forehead as a small thanks for matching his want to offer warmth. “Lil, I’d say you’re far in a way more qualified than I’d ever hope to be in talking to your sister, but… If you want me to, you know I’ll try.” It would be an earnest effort to. It was a great unknown as to what he’d be able to gleen from talking to Pandora but the least he could do was strike up a conversation and see where it went. “Did something happen?” There had to have been a trigger point, something that had diverged a path between them. “Did you fight about something? Surely there has to be some reason for all this, right?”

He kissed her forehead and Lilith melted into his touch. Vik was everything she needed in times like these. He was soothing and soft and love personified. He made her feel calm and as though everything was right with the world. If there was a way she could stay with him forever, she was sure she would. In terms of loving someone, the twins were very different. Lilith was much more prone to act on her emotions and letting them get carried away. She devoted herself to someone and them alone. Giving her whole self to them and even in terms of friendship she felt things more deeply than that of her sister. While her sister loved harder. Pandora was a being made to feel one thing and one thing alone. If she was angry the world would know. She bit on her lip at Vik’s agreement. “She closed herself off from me,” she said, the hurt cutting the air between them like a knife, “If someone other than me shows concern maybe she’ll be more prone to open up. Especially if it’s you. Pandora hates upsetting you.”

It was true that the twins clung to their friendship with him though in different ways. Lilith was never truly afraid of losing him the way she was Pandora or when she had decided to cut Valentino off. She knew that the two were too inclined to each other’s company too ever really let go. Lilith treasured his friendship and let him know how special he was to her every chance she got. But Pandora? If there was anyone she was afraid of losing it was Vik. Her sister lived life as though it was hers for the taking but knowing that she upset him in anyway rocked her. Disturbing her stance and derailing her path. “Not that I can think of,” she said, chewing on the inside of her cheek, “She’s been avoiding me and  sneaking off to go meet with someone. I think. I just don’t know who or why or if she’s alone. I did mention going to see Val at some point but she immediately told me not to. Normally, she brushes it off like I shouldn’t even bother.”

[l-pgraves]

luciusbelmonte​:

he turned around, the corners of his mouth lifting into a full smile. it was easier to display emotions as if a weight had been lifted from his  soul. display, not deal with them. because to all purposes he was still an infant in terms of emotional maturity. after the ceremony a gamble with his life that payed off. almost  losing the battle against eternal slumber made lucius have a new world view. apparent  freedom replaced the shackles that were blocking him.his new role at the CHURCH OF NIGHT was his way of winning his desired independence.it was rather that or taking it by force. thankfully, there was no need to go that far. adulthood was a new phase is so many ways.

lilith´s magic was always soothing. now even more so. however he feels someone else close by. pandora. the twins looked the same in terms of physical appearance. almost the same. lucius was aware of certain gestures that belonged to lilith alone. with his eyes closed he could tell the difference even better. magic was like a perfume, all had their own personal brand. and hers, lucius knew all too well.  " lily.“ a hand reached out to tuck the hair behind her ear. there was little hesitation, since he didn’t fear hurting her anymore. no more magically hidden gloves. ” are you hiding from your sister? I can feel her magic close by.“ too much. he wonders if her emotions are under control given the amount of magic that he can feel is slipping from her pores due to his skill. ”  we can hide together.“

“Trailing her,” she corrected. Her eyes darted to follow her sister. Panic clear in  her expression and periwinkle eyes. She hadn’t exactly been quiet in her jump from the tree where she was  carefully hidden. Lilith reached out, lowering branches in hopes that it might hide them a little more than they were. With luck Pandora didn’t look back and kept on her path to wherever she was going. “Something isn’t right and she won’t let me in anymore.” Being honest was another way of telling the twins apart from another. Her sister had a silver tongue and could lie her way through almost anything. She always could. It was how she always got out of getting in trouble when they were kids. Twisting words so that it looked as though Lilith was the trouble maker. Still to this day their father holds Pandora to a higher standard than he does her.

“You’re right though. We need to hide or get out of here. It’s only a matter of time before she catches wind that I’m following  her. Pandora has always been very aware of her surroundings. Almost nothing gets passed her,” she said pulling on his hand. Lilith was not stable. Not these last few weeks at least. Her emotions always getting the better of her. Just the other night the twins had gotten into a fight and she had caused a tree branch to crash through their window and grow so many leaves it nearly suffocated Pandora. It was only a matter of time before her magic ran rampant and gave way to her sister that she was being followed.

[skeletonites]

* ╱ 𝖛𝖆𝖑𝖊𝖓𝖙𝖎𝖓𝖔 𝖑𝖊𝖓𝖓𝖔𝖝

●︎ when: october 1st, 2020 ●︎ where: outside of saint leviathan university, rapid city ●︎ with: @l-pgraves

sitting at a bench outside his alma mater, the sands of time spiraled heavy melancholy his way. freshmen walked past him, gleaming eyes, and straightened postures to start an early morning; rebelling against human society but succumbing to the plights of the church. blindly, without question. a mutilated vanity will do that to a soul, will make them questions all they’ve known. and valentino’s personal battle within the passing months slanted, perverse his faith when he asked himself: is there anyone i can trust? the answer has yet to come.

coming out of the university’s entrance, lilith’s sharp face fills a dreary scene. “hey, you,” he called out with a calmness in his voice, unburdening himself. he didn’t call her by name but years in the making, the graves were not a splitting counterparts in his eyes. there was sturdiness lying behind the prim smile of pandora; lilith’s fleeting and demure stride and gestures gave her away each time. but he hadn’t taken the time to analyze of what a so called friendship with them would entail. he didn’t know if they were too entangled to make it work, too much history, not enough will to see things through. then again, life has thrown for a loop lately and his disposition has altered itself to fit the mold. the scarred flesh surrounding his right eye pricked at him, humbling valentino - only slightly, as his head never lowers. cocky as ever. “no texts, no calls; nothing. i’m a little hurt,” he bantered, anticipating the worst, hoping for a simple laugh to escape her lips.

[l-pgraves]

Late nights at the library never led her anywhere. It made her listless and restless and made her think she was looking too much and too hard. Spilling over books that never led her anywhere. Lilith had spent so much time trying to figure out what was going on with her sister she had hardly thought about anything else. The distance that only seemed to increase between the two had weighed heavy on the blonde and only served to cause an even heavier cloud to hang over her head. With nothing to show for her effort, Lilith began to walk around the grounds of the university. Trying to find solace in the night as the day came to a steady end. But her thoughts were interrupted by a familiar voice. A voice she hadn’t dreamed of needing to hear in so long.

Valentino had been a staple in her life more than any other being she had met. Blue eyes filled with tears she hadn’t anticipated as she turned to see him. The twins had agreed to cut him off entirely when they had left him. Both knowing that leaving him out of their lives forever was out of the question. They could never forget the Clyde to their Bonnie. Her heart ached at the sight of him. Remembering every second of time they had spent together with or without Pandora. Lilith ran to him all the same. Wrapping her arms around his neck and burying her face as she breathed in the familiar scent of him. He always had a way of calming her. The trees in the surrounding area began to droop with her sorrow for fear of losing the one person in her life she thought she would never have to say goodbye to. 

Letting go, she made sure that there was to reminisce of tears left in her eyes. Not wanting to give way to Valentino any hint that she was upset. A small smile uplifting the corners of her lips. “I didn’t mean to,” she said, pleading him with her eyes to forgive her. That was another difference between the twins. Pandora hardly ever felt remorse while Lilith felt everything so deeply she thought she might drown. “I’ve just been... caught up in life and trying to hang on to Pan’s coat tails,” lying was useless when it came to Valentino. Lilith could never find it in her to lie to him. Especially now that they’ve been entangled in each other’s lives for so long. He would know she was hiding something the moment it left her lips. 

[l-pgraves]

semthesagaferir​:

“Lots. My sister is five years younger than me, but we have always been close. My younger brother was far too young to remember our trips here, but he looked so cute in his little sun hat.” He can’t help but smile at the memory.  The texture change was one of the things he enjoyed most about being a vampyr. The grass against his skin did feel nice, but not as good as when he was in a body of water. “You live near by?” he asked, out of curiosity.  “Grass does feel nice, but not better than swimming.”

“I have a sister too,” she said, taking a seat next to him, “But we’re twins. It’s always just been the two of us so we’re very close.” Lilith looked away from him. The pain her chest at the mention of how close she had once been with her sister making her hurt. She didn’t wish to get into the talk of their childhood. Though she did anyways. “We used to come here a lot as kids too,” she looked back to him, curiosity in her eyes as she surveyed him silently, “Oh, I live in the college dorms but I’m from Deadwood. So I’m sort of nearby? You like swimming then,” she said, taking note. Lilith took note of most things that others told her. In the event that it came in handy later in life. “I didn’t really go swimming as a kid and I  don’t as an adult either. More of a trees and forest girl myself.”

[l-pgraves]

effiemyers​:

-

A classic beauty stood in front of her, blonde haired, probably blue eyed. Pretty, but Effie had no real time for pretty. “Lucifer? Is he the man in your life?” The taller of the two asked with a pointed smirk. People’s value lay solely in what they could do for her, whether they were a commodity or liability - relationship charts looking more like business spreadsheets. Though she never seemed it, the dark-haired woman was robotically transactional. Smiles and small touches in exchange for information, dinner dates for insight and so and so forth until she had whatever she needed and then like a landmine she would leave a crater in the target’s life. No longer useful may as well have read as an obituary.

“A question for little ol’ me, did you say?” Effie did enjoy offering theatrics with her movements, playing coy and tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. She wondered what it was to be innocent, what a excruciatingly boring existence. “The answer’s no, by the way, the first swing is always the most satisfying and I’ve been waiting for this all day.” Always better to preempt others’ selfish tendencies. It had been two days since she last a chance to get her hands dirty and disturbance or not her plans would not be derailed. 

Pandora grinned, splitting from ear to ear as she listened. She would never dream of taking that first swing away from a fellow...executioner. That was how she chose to think of it anyways. If she were honest about it (or with Lilith) she thought a natural order under way. There were those who wanted to spill the blood of others and there were those who took matters into their own hands. Pandora was one who took matters into her own hands. Though she was held back by her sister. Though those ropes binding the two together were well on their way to being severed. She shook her head, curls bouncing with the sudden movement. “No, sweets, there is but one man in my life and he’s...well, let’s just say he’ll be mine again eventually. Oh no, precious,” she purred, “I would never take that away from you. I was just going to ask if I could join in the fun.”

Pandora’s eyes wandered to the victim. Her eyes glossing over with want. Her hands shaking but only slightly. It had been an awfully long time since she had dared to end another’s life. A sigh echoed from her as she brought her gaze back up to meet the other woman’s. “It has been a long, long time since I’ve spilled blood. But all that is going to change very quickly.”

[l-pgraves]

viknaerth​:

-

Seeing her smile was a grand relief until it wasn’t. While her lips curled her body didn’t seem to follow along, eyes still remaining distant. When she patted the space next to her Vik didn’t hesitate in up-heaving himself and switching sides. Love bug. It pulled a grin all the way from his heart, face scrunched and eyes squeezed tight with momentary glee. He loved love, he even loved like, he loved any version of romance that allowed expression, freedom and contentedness to find each other. He placed a hand on her thigh, palm up. A small offering of touch and a hand to hold should that help lifting whatever dark cloud wished to hover above her head. “That’s very reasonable, Lil.” It wasn’t, but it had to be said. It was never reasonable for a beauty like her to have to disappear herself in hopes of finding solace; the idea of it clawed at his heart. “What’s the matter, darling? Surely there’s something I can do.” Anything, anything. 

Being around Vik made her feel at ease. Made her think that everything in the world was safe and warm. Being with him felt like sunshine. Which was what she needed to breathe--in order to live. Lilith, like any of her plants, needed the warmth of the love and the sun to survive in this cold, harsh world. That was another area in which she did not share with her twin sister. Pandora was the very essence of everything dark and sinister. Darkness gave her sister life whereas it stifled her and suffocated her. His words soothed her as she laid her head on his shoulder. Wanting--needing--to be close to him. A sigh pushed through her and Lilith gnawed on the inside of her cheek in thought. If there was anyone that could get through to Pandora--it was Vik. After all, her sister loved him just as much as she did. “Pan’s been...not herself lately,” she began, rubbing small circles with her thumb on his thigh, “She’s been very distant and closed off from me. I can’t even get through to her mentally anymore. I’m worried she’s in danger or getting herself into something she can’t get out of. It’s Pan, ya know? She’s more prone to burn herself than anything else.” She paused, lifting her head to look at him now. Lilith had always been the emotional one. Letting her emotions get the better of her. This may be one of those times and maybe Pandora was perfectly fine. But then there was the last time her sister had closed off form her. She had managed to kill someone in cold blood and Lilith was there to help bury the dead. “Who’s to say she won’t kill someone again,” she said with another sigh, “She’ll listen to you, Vik. She loves you as much as I do. If I can’t get through to her maybe you can?”

[luciusbelmonte-deactivated20220]

where: utp, Rapid City

when: 23rd september.

the contact lenses were constantly hurting his eyes. a spell had to be cast so that his right eye would look natural. the color was still changing after he woke up from the magical slumber. for those outside the CHURCH OF NIGHT that didn’t know the real reason for his forced disappearance the last months lucius was travelling. like any spoiled rich brat that finished his studies and wants to enjoy life before adult responsabilities. and he knows how to play that role well. with the sigils  removed from his flesh lucius no longer fights the battle against temptation.  the struggle to steal magic and devour it like a beast. acceptance was the key. that and the fact that he is now at peace with his other side. they are one entity and one soul. no longer separated by the bindings the church placed when he was a baby.it´s the sudden change of the atmosphere that warns him someone is near. magic speaks to him in a way that didn’t before.

[l-pgraves]

A rift had grown between the two sisters. It was eating away at her the way that her sister refused to look at her when she spoke. They used to be so close and now? Lilith couldn’t bear to reach out to her. She had tried so many times to reach for her both physically and in her mind. They used to be able to read each other’s thoughts and on some occasions she still could. But Pandora had set up a wall between the two. A heavy sigh and Pandora has shut their bedroom door. Leaving her sister alone in the room with nothing but the heartache she had to give. Lilith bolted up, rushing to the window to watch for when she exited the building before pressing her fingertip to the tree outside their window. Urging it to leave her a trail of fallen leaves or a vine to lead her to where her sister goes. 

A cab ride led her to Rapid City. Though what Pandora was doing was still a mystery. Lilith remained hidden. Hiding up in the trees as she watched her sister move and walk. But that was before her eyes caught someone else she knew. Someone she hadn’t seen for a long while. Not since their night out when he had helped her with a paper for class. Quietly, she ran up behind him. Blonde hair waving in the wind as she gazed up at him with round eyes as blue as the sky above. “Luc,” she said, softly.

[l-pgraves]

semthesagaferir​:

“It is a lovely day.” he agrees. The sun wasn’t too bad on his eyes, for now, but he has his sunglasses  on his cooler in case he needs them. “No, it has just been some time since I have been here. My mother used to take my and my siblings here during the summer.” There is a smile at the memory. The drive up, the lake during the day and camping at night. Being there made him feel connected to his old life. “And you? Do pretty women frequent the lake often?” he smirks. He could be charming when he wants to be. He can hear her heartbeat and as heartbeats did these days, he was anxious. The bloodlust was the hardest part about what he had become and he constantly had to fight it, his hunger never sated.

Lilith offered a small smile his way per the compliment. Had her sister been here, she would have eaten up the attention. Pandora lived for compliments and attention. But she was elsewhere and Lilith could feel the shift in atmosphere. There was something different in him. Something that wasn’t entirely human--maybe. Lilith wasn’t entirely sure what it was. But there was something off about him. Nevertheless, she brushed off her suspicions. “Must bring back some nostalgia,” she said, taking a few steps forward, “Sometimes. I like the way the grass feels against my feet on my way here.”