Chapter 11: The Hunt

*As usual the chapter may contain cursing and an epic turning event )*

**The bold italics are flash backs from the character's pov**

(Jamie's PoV)

I swam up from the ocean, brushing the salted locks out of my eyes. Something seems wrong…like a dark brooding feeling lingering around the shore.

"Look!" Someone shouts from a booth. All eyes glance at the bobbing figure frantically swimming towards the shoreline, a deep pool of red surrounding the body.

"Shit!" Alex shouts, running towards the water with Joe on his heels. I turned away, ready to head home when a voice instantly caught my attention.

"Jinx!" Every nerve in my body froze, slowly turning towards the small medical group working over the frail body. Blue hovers over, kneeling down to the body's level. Alex and Gina constantly push him away, but he seems not to get the hint. Martha and Alex carefully move the body onto what appears to be a white stretcher instantly turning a red color.

"Will she be okay?" A voice whispers among the crowd.

"So I guess this puts an end to the festival huh?"

"Do you think the farm house will be abandoned again?"

Alex, Martha, and Gina rushed by as quickly as they could, but they could not block the view that will forever stain my mind. Skin as white as snow; dark hair carefully slicked back by the salt water. Clothing stuck to the subtle skin, stained with the stream of red life. Jinx, her kind nature that always irritated me or when her eyes spark to life when she is determining how to figure something out. The way her warm baby pink lips…

I place my head in my hands, feeling a phantom pair of arms wrapping around my neck. With others, I constantly distance myself, obsessing over saving the Goddess. Other humans disgust me with their phony emotions and overly dramatic life only seen on sitcoms. And yet…

My legs push through the various mobs of people, earning distasteful glares in the process. Adrenaline pulses through my legs, throwing them into full throttle for the one destination at hand.

'Stupid idiot girl! Why could you not left me alone like the rest of the town?!'

The annoying girl stuck out her hand after attacking my face with the other. A stupid idiotic smile latched on her face.

"Let's start over. Hi, I'm Jinx the new rancher of this town."

I burst through the clinic door, watching Martha run frantically around to the other patients. Gina ran to a cupboard, pulling threads, gauze, and other medical supplies.

"Gina!" I grab her arm once it was free of supplies. Her gaze appears frantic, tears threatening to fall.

"Jamie…wha…"

"How is she?" Her eyes widen in surprise, instantly relaxing from the grip. My fingers unlatch from her arm, dangling at my side.

"Critical." A hard, painful thump hit in the center of my chest; something falling into the lowest pit of my stomach.

"Alex is working diligently on her, but…" she blew out a frustrated breath."She lost a lot of blood in the ocean. It will be a miracle if she pulls through this." A growl rose up into my throat, anger digging so deep, something needing to be demolished. A sickening sound rose up to my ears for a fraction of a second, but it instantly vanished under the sound of the pulse in my ears. My arms stop in mid strife, a strangle cry breaking through my ears.

She opens the door, her eyes slightly clouded over with a thick layer of sleep. Her milky skin shines in the light of the morning, but that is not what caught my eye.

"Jamie?" A yawn parts her baby pink lips. "What are you doing at my door?"

The other hand grips at a white sheet, her curves standing out greatly where the sheet clung. A heated feeling rushed to my face, but instantly darkens when my eyes lingered on a critical detail. Under her sheet, she bore nothing to conceal her girls underneath, allowing each swollen mound tighten under the spring morning air. I quickly turned away, scolding myself for even glimpsing at the idiot, let alone checking her out.

"The mayor wanted me to remind you about the Flower Festival coming up in a few days. That is all." I run away, keeping my head down as the heat engulfed my face.

'Stupid idiot girl…'

Someone held my arm back in mid-punch, allowing a liquid to cascade rapidly down my clenched fist.

"Now look what you have done," Gina tsked. She led me to a bed across the room, gently pushing me down into a sitting position. Blood created a small pool onto the sterile floor, staining it with the same copper life as Jinx had awhile ago. Pain did not hit the nerves yet, but judging from the disfigurement of at least three knuckles, they are most likely dislocated or fractured.

"Geez…" Gina mumbles upon closer examination of the slightly purple colored hand. She began setting the bones in place, securing each one with pressure and gauze.

"You know," she mumbles, not once letting her eyes drift away from her work. "At first I thought of you as an uptight prude who thought he was better than everyone else." Her hand hesitates, bringing her eyes level with mine.

"That was…until just now. You truly like Jinx enough to break your hand. Although…" she chuckled like it is an inside joke. "I cannot blame you there. There is something about her that just draws you in…"

"Hmph…"

"I do not know how special she is to you, but as of right now, you are far better than Blue." She spat his name in disgust. His name sent a ball of fiery into my veins, scorching them with a needed fury to beat the living shit out of him. I remember the day she is referring to all too well. The first day I actually felt something…odd… It was a strange compulsion to hold her and show her off as my prize to him.

I stood around in my kimono, watching the town gawk at the arrangement of various flowers. The sun is extra bright today and that really annoys me, but I guess I should be happy as it is a sign from the Goddess for a job well done. Everyone adorns their selves with a simple kimono, usually with one or two small designs on the side and all obnoxiously bright. My kimono, passed down from generation to generation is a pure black silk stretching itself down to my sandaled feet. The sleeves carefully engulf my arms up until my wrists, where at the little bridge a circlet of orange fire ran. Along my body's left side, the same orange color crafts a dragon carefully setting its gaze on the prey.

That is when I saw her.

The idiot girl came walking in with Alex on her left and Gwen on her right, both instantly breaking off the chain to associate with someone else. Her slightly shorten lilac kimono waves at her knee caps back and forth with each long stride, showing off her slightly toned legs. The sleeves seem to be modified; only a slip of purple fabric ran down one side of each arm to a triangular point at the middle of the hand. She stops in front of my flower bin, examining a specific flower out of the rest: the lily of the valley. Strange she picks the flower meaning return to happiness. I walk over there, getting a closer look at the curls framing her face and the bit of cleavage left to show as a bit of a teaser.

"You better not have killed it," I grumble behind her, watching as the little hairs on her neck stand erect at my voice. She carefully spins herself around; realization dawning on her stupid face after a few seconds.

"I did not kill it," the idiot huffs out in annoyance, crossing her arms over the subtle chest I had seen weeks ago.

"You could of if it remained out of the water for long. Plants need water, sun, and attention in order to survive. Take away one and you run the chance of killing it."

"So I was just giving it attention like you said it needed. I see no harm in it."

"You took away water which could have killed it."

She raises a delicate eyebrow, challenging my authority over the knowledge I possess. A taunting, seductive look from the eyes of an angel.

'You little…'

"Gina!" Alex ran straight into the room, almost literally throwing the curtain divider off. His face is drenched in sweat and his eyes seem wildly livid.

"Jinx woke up!"

"What?!" The two of them quickly bolt off into the critical care room, leaving something to beat with relief within my chest. I got off the cot, looking into the direction of a frantic Alex and a happily sobbing Gina.

'So…she is okay…' I felt an unfamiliar muscle tugging at the corner of my lips as I walk towards the exit of the Clinic. I took one last glance in her direction, the weird feeling lingering within my pit and a small smile on my face.

'Good…'

(Jinx's PoV)

An annoying beeping sound decides to make itself known by piercing my ear drums upon waking up. To make matters worse, I know if I open my eye lids, a bright, blinding light will burn the fires of hell into them. I can hear Alex writing frantically on a clip board, constantly messing with the tube in my arm and most likely the monitor.

"Alex... turn the god damn spectrum light off." I growl, keeping my eyes close shut.

"J..Jinx?!"

"No shit Einstein. Now turn the damn lights off!" The lights gradually dim, allowing my eyes to open without the harsh burning. Alex's face is pale and off setting from the usual tan scold he bears. He seems older somehow. It is true what they say stress makes people age rapidly but to see a boyish teen instantly look like an over worked adult is quite…shocking.

"Does anything hurt?" He asks, beginning the basic check up signs.

"Not that I can tell."

"Are you sure? You do not have to be brave. We can always put a little more morphine in you." I can see the worry clearly lingering behind his charcoal eyes. I stretch the arm without a tube out, gesturing him to lower his head so I can tap it.

"I am fine Alex trust me." I tap his head again. "There is a lot worse things than a cut up leg." He gravely nods, getting up to run off somewhere. For a moment, I thought I heard a familiar voice, but it instantly ran away when a body came at full force into mine.

"Jinx!" Gina sobbed into the side of my cot, wrapping her arms into a long friendly hug. "Don't you ever scare me like that again!" I gently rub the top of her head as she let a stream of happy tears out.

"Yes because I definitely plan for the most death defying grand entrance ever." She rolls her blood stained eyes, lightly flicking the IV tube in my right arm. There is a small pinch of pain, but it was gone as soon as it came.

"What happened out there Jinx? One minute, the contest is going all as plan and then the next; you are being pulled onto shore with blood everywhere!" I took a quick intake of breath; my heart began beating erratically causing the monitor to beat at a quick rate as well.

"What is wrong? Jinx?" Alex places his hand on my forehead which begins to perspire with cool sweat.

'I…cannot…no…I have to…no…'

"Jinx! Come on Jinx what is wrong?!"

"I…" A patch of dryness hits my mouth, drying up the ball of saliva half way down my throat.

"Jinx!" A familiar voice rushes in. In an instant, my view is obstructed by total darkness. There is a sudden hit of an earthy scent, allowing my body to relax into the embrace.

"Basil…" Basil backed up enough for his face to be visible; the lines clearly showing a restless night and concern. His light dirty blonde hair is completely disheveled, making him look like a little kid who works hard to be the son his father wanted.

"Alex, can you and Gina leave us please? I need to talk to Jinx alone." Alex looks at him skeptically, looking in my direction for an answer. I gave him a curt nod, ushering Gina and him out of the small cubical room. Basil waits for a few seconds until the footsteps could not be heard. He turns to me with the one question in mind.

"Jinx…what happened?" I sigh, blowing the frizzy strands out of my face for a fraction of a second.

"Centaur was sent out to hunt for Daaron's little prize," I spat, venom dripping from every word. Basil gasps, taking a hand and squeezing it slightly. He turns toward the bandage leg, realizing that is the work of Centaur's talons.

"I lucked out that my mutated self was able to scare him away before he did any more damage."

"So does that mean…" I gave him a curt nod; fear lingering behind his eyes at the knowing answer.

"Yes…Daaron has returned…" We sat in an uncomfortable silence, realization finally sinking in. For so long I dread the day that my psychotic ex decides to wreck havoc on my life once again. I thought for sure that he was gone the last time…Apparently he is not as gone as we perceived him.

"But I thought he…"

"I did too," I cut him off. "But I have to stop him now."

"You are too weak Jinx. Give yourself a few days to recuperate." I shook my head, feeling the weakness from blood loss settling in as I sat up.

"No I…"

"Am too stubborn to sit down and relax for a day I know. Here." Basil put a bright baby blue thermal in my hand, opening the tightly sealed lid. A rustic sweet smell instantly hit my nose; sharp points probing my bottom lip.

"Basil..I…I…can't…" I try to push it towards him, ignoring the animalistic urge to drink the warm liquid down. He continues to push it up in my face, forcing it until small drops lash up at the bottom of my lip.

"It is okay Jinx. This is not what you think it is. Just drink it please… for your health." The smell continues to snatch my senses and finally I give in.

(Jamie's PoV)

It has been a few days since I have seen the idiotic farm girl and for some reason, I find myself walking by her farmstead just to see if she has returned. The sun is slowly setting over the horizon as summer draws to the peak of heat. Even with the cool shade of the falling sun, it is still decently hot enough to seek refuge from the hot, humid air. Again, my mind seems to wander and then here I am, standing in front of her worn down shack. My mind continues to play out scenarios, as if something else has happened to prevent her return.

'Why should I care about the idiot anyway? She means nothing to me. She is practically worthless towards my goal in restoring the Goddess.'

"What are you doing here?" A voice sneers in the distance. I slowly spin on my heels, my blood boiling with a fiery rage for the creature a couple feet away.

"Blue," I hissed. "What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same thing," He snarls back. I cross my arms, glaring directly at him from under my cowboy hat.

"I was walking. There is no law against that now is there." His body began to shake, his fists clutching at his sides.

"Then get out of here Jamie. You have no business of being here." Something inside of me snaps, beating erratically, pumping a need to prove him wrong. The words left my lips before I could stop them.

"I do have reason to be here if I am her boyfriend." A triumph smirk hits my face as Blue's goes into a state of enraged shock.

"You are not her boyfriend." Blue spat, treading closer and closer with each word.

"And how would you know? Don't you have a girlfriend to run home to?"

I walk along the dusty trail, heading to buy some more seeds for the coming heat. Up in the distance, I see the idiot and Alex walking slowly, his arm is wrap securely around her waist. The idiot has her head down, faintly I can hear what appears to be a sob escaping her lips. I quickly hide behind a tree, briefly listening as they walk by.

"It will be okay Jinx…There are plenty of available guys on the island you will like." Alex consoles her followed by a hiccup from her.

"I know…" she sighs sadly. "It just hurts a lot to be led on like that."

"I know Jinx…I know…" Their voices fade off along with their footsteps. There is a weird urge to console her. To tell her it is okay…What the hell am I saying?! Why would I have that feeling to console that idiot?! She is nothing! Just a fluke in my plans! And yet…why is there this feeling that all is just a lie?

"Have you not hurt her enough?" I snap, getting dangerously close to his face. "After all, you are the cause of her pain!"

"Don't you think I know that?! It is not my fault though!"

"Not your fault?!" I laugh humorlessly. This is not like me…but the words keep spilling out. "You practically broke her heart!" I shove him forward.

"I know I did!" Blue shouts angrily, throwing a punch towards my jaw. I quickly side step it, throwing my own enraged punch with my good hand in his direction. It lands with a sickening crunch, throwing his head back.

"That is why I am trying to fix it!" Something cracks under my skin, throwing my head to the left. The hit pulses under the skin, but it is nothing compared to this enraged feeling under the skin.

"Fix it?!" A foot slides out, knocking him off his feet. "You have done nothing but prove you are nothing but a low life player!" Punches and kicks continued on both sides. I have lost count and the ability to think, just the urge, the need, to beat him to a bloody pulp.

'How dare he hurt her and do nothing about it! How. Dare. He!'

This went on for awhile, I cannot exactly say for how long…my memory at this point is long gone. After the rage completely subsided, Blue retreats home with numerous body bruising and a huge bruise to his ego. I can feel a busted lip, a swollen jaw, and bruising of the rib bones underneath, but overall there is a feeling of pride….I cannot explain it exactly how or why I feel proud to have beaten Blue up over a girl. More importantly fight over that idiot girl.

"Shit…" I whisper up to the star lit sky, watching each one silently shine with their own brilliant lights.

"Jamie?" A voice silently whispers like a slight breeze. I turn around, seeing a small, slender shadow step into the moonlight.

"Oh my…Jamie what happened?!" Jinx ran over, delicately placing her hands on my arm. I did not shrug her off…What is wrong with me?

Her ice hands slowly trail up my bicep, walking slowly on my shoulders, finally resting the cooling palms on my cheeks. Something inside bubbles happily at her touch, to have her so close within reach. A prize to be won and win I did.

"What happened?" She whispered, looking up at me with her molten chocolate eyes. They shimmer and shine, swirling the molten lava chocolate with the light hazel inner color that just draws the eyes in. Tears bordered the rim of her wide baby doll eyes, a sight that draws me in of a strange feeling. My newly bruised hand reaches up, wiping the bit of sediment threatening to fall from those beautiful eyes. Her face fuses up with a bright ruby red, adorable as ever the way it travels across each cheekbone over the little crooked bridge of her nose. The way her skin is kissed by the moonlight, creating a translucent glow.

"Nothing you need to worry about."

"But…"

A sigh escapes my lips; my arms snake around her waist and draw her into my beaten body. I lay my head down on top of hers, feeling the soft mat of her hair against my face. So close…her body feels so frozen against my own like ice. Her heart beat slowly gains rhythm, beating as fast as if it was to explode. Why…why am I acting like this? Why…does it feel…good to have this idiot…Jinx…in my arms?

'What…what is this feeling? This urge?'

I slightly push her back to see her eyes once more, but mine travel down to another feature. A small growl pushes up through my throat; my eyes close half way as they linger along her baby pink lips. Those same soft lips that taunted mine with their bright strawberry taste. Subconsciously she licks her lips and that is all I can take.

"…Jamie?" Her words, the sweet honeyed words she uses to talk. How stupid I was to ignore them.

"Jamie what…?"

'This is a strange feeling…what…'

I close my eyes, feeling the soft plush feeling of her lips once more.

'What…is this feeling?'

*Author's Note: Hey everyone! Did you enjoy this chapter? I have to admit being Jamie I was getting all riled up writing this! It was suppose to be released valentine's day but I ended up asleep ^^ll. Tell me what you think of this so far