"Do you actually know where we're going?" Cat mumbled as she nearly tripped over Tori as she came to another sudden stop.
Tori was staring intently at the corner of the building, attempting to read a script she knew was invisible to her eyes. Andre and Cat were neutral spirits, neither Dark nor Light, meaning the markers written for the demons of Pandora would be invisible to theirs as well. "Kind of," Tori replied in frustration. "It was dark the last time we were here."
"You said the place moves a lot; what makes you think it's still here?" Andre was a few yards ahead, peering down a dead-ended alley.
"I don't know where else to start. Look for destruction – a troll tore the place up really bad last night."
"So we're really going to walk into a demon bar – just the three of us – and demand answers?" Cat ignited a small flame in her hand to light the way in the fading light.
"Well… I thought we'd ask nicely. Some of them are just Rogues, not monsters. They may be willing to help us." Tori felt strangely defensive of Dark hybrids after spending some time in Jade's company.
"If we can even find the place," Andre commented.
"Looks like your Guardian called in backup." Eris nodded a bowl of water on the counter before her. A simple enchantment had converted it into a magical seeing glass; each demonic marker served as a portal to view those nearing Pandora. The three Guardians had just passed another one, and were nearing the bar.
Shade's smile was growing. "Lesser beings, Eris – a fire sprite and a rock spirit. Friends of Jade, and unwilling to harm her, I bet."
"Would you care to dispose of them? Take some of the vampires; I'm sure they'll be eager to drain a few Guardians."
"I doubt I'll need their assistance," Shade countered defensively.
"Better safe than sorry, Shade. Go, before they get any closer. I don't need another disturbance tonight."
Shade bowed her head and exited to the main room, pointing an index finger at a table of vampires and jerking her head out the door. "Dinner's here," she explained.
Meanwhile, Jade was throwing herself at her restraints. No! Her mind was racing as she tested every inch of her prison. Leave them! Cat and Andre were the last of her friends… Tori was… She was going to have to watch them die by her own hands. She couldn't.
"I will make sure their deaths are quick." Shade winced, pressing two fingers tentatively to her temple. "Though I can't promise they will be painless."
When I get control of my body …
"Enough, Jadelyn. You're giving me a headache."
"Are you okay?" One of the vampires asked skeptically. Three of them had taken them up on her offer and were following close behind.
Shade ignored them and removed her hand. "Guardians are heading this way – three of them. Do what you want with the other two, but save the brunette for me. We have unfinished business to take care of." With any luck, killing Jade's friends would break her vessel's spirit permanently, giving Shade unrestrained control over this new body.
"Okay, we're getting close." Tori was getting excited and picking up pace. Things were beginning to look familiar. Thankfully – the sunlight was all but faded in the cramped alleyway. As the trio rounded the corner they came to a complete stop, face-to-face with a small group of vampires.
"They've been waiting on us," Cat whispered, noting their defensive stance. Tori nodded in agreement; these weren't three vampires that had just left the bar. They'd been sent here.
"Three on three?" Andre clasped his hands together and cracked his knuckles. "Almost doesn't seem fair… for them." Tori watched as his skin thickened and began to crack, splitting into stones of various sizes. His face was the last to harden as stone encased his soft, distinctive features.
A flash of light drew Tori's attention away from Andre to Cat, who had just engulfed both hands in bright flames; she could feel the heat from where she was standing. She alone could make quick work of the vampires, and Andre was practically impervious in this form. This fight would be over quickly.
"Then let's even up the odds, shall we?" Tori only felt her approach a split second before a tight grip wound in her wavy locks. Her head was snatched back at a nearly-impossible angle and Tori found herself nose-to-nose with Jade. Cat and Andre jumped, adjusting their positions so their backs weren't to either adversary. "So nice to see you all again." She mocked.
"Jade?" Cat ventured. She stared at Jade like she had risen from the grave.
The demon flashed a fanged smile but said nothing before wrapping an arm tightly around Tori and dragging her backwards. "Let her go!" Andre's voice was practically indiscernible in his current form, but the tone was unmistakable. Cat may have been paralyzed by sentimentality – he was not. He wouldn't hesitate to attack to save Tori. Jade continued to back away, melting effortlessly into the shadows the moment Andre took a threatening step forward.
"That's better. Just the two of us," the demon said cheerfully as they rematerialized in Jade's dark apartment. She tossed Tori violently onto the bed and waited patiently for her to regain her bearings. "What's the matter, Tori? I thought you said you weren't going to call in backup." She stuck out her bottom lip and pouted.
"I thought you said you weren't evil," Tori croaked, righting herself and assessing the situation. It didn't look good. Hopefully she could distract the demon long enough for Cat and Andre to take care of the vampires and trace her location; there was little chance she could defeat Jade on her own… not that she even wanted to. She wanted to hold out hope that there'd be some chance to revive Jade and return the demon, but things were looking grim. There didn't appear to be anymore struggle, anymore uncertainty.
"We all knew it was just a matter of time."
"Well… what now?"
"Now?" The demon began to close the distance between them. Tori retreated backwards until she bumped into the headboard. "I wanted to have a little fun. Jade's putting up a fuss in here, you know," she tapped her temple to accentuate her point. "That little bond of yours is keeping her alive. I'm hoping that torturing you might weaken her… and killing you might break her."
Tori's hopes rose, albeit barely, in her bleak situation; Jade was fighting. It meant they still stood a chance. "Cat and Andre won't have any trouble with your vampires. They'll be able to track me when they're done. Do you really want to take on the three of us at once?"
"I considered it, but I really would like some time alone. Just bear with me a moment." She lunged and Tori rolled off the side of the bed, bolting for the bathroom just feet away. Jade appeared from the darkness and grabbed her by the throat, driving her backwards until she fell onto the bed. The Latina clamored for bare flesh to use her powers, but the demon had prepared for that.
Jade sat on her hips and wrapped Tori's arms up in the sheets, effectively pinning her with one firm grip. She ripped the Guardian's shirt upwards, revealing a heaving chest and lacey, fuchsia bra. "Calm yourself; you'll mess it up." From her back pocket she drew a pocket knife. She flicked it open with a sharp click and examined the edge. "It's funny, really. Jade discovered my master's mark all on her own."
"Wha-what?" Tori stammered, eyes trained on the blade. She squirmed anxiously as the demon traced the tip down the dip between her breasts.
Jade sighed and pulled down the collar of her own shirt, revealing a raised scar. "Obscurity."
"A rune?"
"A rune," Jade repeated. "Funny, isn't it? A simple design can mask my location from millennia-old magic. Eris designed it for the Phonoi, so we might be untraceable. I wore one in my original form; I was delighted when Jade carved one on herself. But I digress," the demon released her shirt and rested the tip of the knife against Tori's breast. "This will insure we have a few minutes alone."
She pressed down suddenly, dragging the blade smoothly through the thin skin and flaying open a long arc of flesh. Tori hissed at the burning pain and attempted to jerk away, only to feel the blade pressed against her throat. "Don't make me kill you now."
Tori swallowed and released a ragged breath. "Good girl." Jade resumed her work, savoring the tiny whimpers and hisses from her prisoner. "See?" She dropped the knife to the bed and leaned down, hovering inches above the crimson flesh. "Isn't that better?" She snaked her tongue out and lapped the blood as it flowed freely from the wound; she released a deep moan and Tori felt her hips grind against hers. She was lost in a carnal bloodlust.
Tori shifted her hips suddenly, using Jade's askew center of gravity to throw her forward so they were pressed together. She managed to free one arm and wrapped it tightly around her captor as they struggled. Imbued with demon strength, Jade was incredibly strong. It was a challenge to maintain a solid grip on her, and the two rolled along the bed until they toppled off the edge. Jade landed first and cracked her head solidly on the wood floors, dazing her. Tori used those few precious seconds to pin one arm under her knee and place her free hand on her face and cranked her vibes up to 11.
The demon released a howl. "Isn't that better?" Tori hissed as the older girl seized and jerked violently. Tori held on – her very life depended on it – and sank her nails into Jade's face to maintain a solid connection. "I want Jade back. Give me back our Jade!" She demanded through clenched teeth. The demon managed to free one of her hands and wrapped it around the Guardian's throat, squeezing as tightly as she could manage.
Tori retched and coughed as an invisible wall slammed into her and she jerked, almost releasing her grip. The demon was retaliating with her own empathic blast. Her resolve began to crumble, and the passion she was feeling became angry, vengeful. She knew what was happening, but it didn't stop her grip from tightening. Blood began to pool under her fingernails as she pierced Jade's skin. "Tor-Tori!" Jade choked. The vice-like hold on her throat loosened momentarily. "Tori!" She rasped again.
Tori frowned and unclenched her hand, hesitant to release her own grip. "Jade? Is it you?" She still felt chaotic waves rushing from her. They were still encouraging her to give in to her own vengeful desires.
Jade wasn't alone anymore; half imprisoned, half freed, Jade struggled against Shade for dominance. Her shackles had been loosened, and she felt regained sensation in her limbs. She could feel the world around her again, even if her body wasn't responding to every order. She can't save you! The demon cried, using a burst of energy to reclaim her body. Her grip resumed with vigor on Tori's neck, and Jade watched in horror as Tori removed her hands to try and pry Jade's hand away from her throat, momentarily forgetting to use her powers.
"No!" Jade screamed as her body disobeyed her orders and drove the younger girl onto her back. "Let her go!" She tried to release, tried to throw herself to the side.
I'll kill her! I'll kill her and you'll be able to watch the light in her eyes go out. Jade felt her grip tighten. Tori's lips were turning blue, and her pawing was becoming more sluggish and uncoordinated.
"Use your powers!" Jade reminded frantically. "Please!" She felt a glimmer of hope as the Guardian did as she was told, and the demon inside her recoiled.
No! The demon used its dissipating strength to crack Tori's head against the hard floor, knocking her out cold. The empathy faded, leaving Jade alone. Her eyes began to burn and water as she watched Tori's hands fall away limply. She felt her own grip tighten as she choked the very life out of the only one who had ever been foolish enough to trust her. Her resolve crumbled with every passing second, subject to her own chaotic empathy, and, once again, she felt herself being shoved back into a mental prison.
"Say goodbye, Jade," Shade taunted with her own mouth. She released her grip and planted a hand on either side of the Latina's face and lowered herself so there was barely any room between them. "She's gone."
Jade stared, unable to accept what she was seeing. Tori was always supposed to win – she was good. Jade had always been able to sense the power in her; it was overwhelming. Tori was a bright light, one Jade felt she would never be able to look upon without being blinded. She forced away the shadows and, despite's Jade's disdain, made her existence more bearable. Pleasant even.
There was no pleasure in staring down at Tori's bloodied and lifeless face, and Jade felt as if all of the happiness in the world had been snuffed out. "I'll give you a moment," the demon smirked, permitting her limited control of her limbs. She placed a tentative hand on Tori's cheek, as if she was worried she might wake her, and brushed away some of the dried blood.
"You weren't supposed to lose, Vega," she whispered, "you were stronger than me." The monster laughed within her. "And I was just starting to like you, too."
In such close proximity both Jade and Shade noticed the slight flaring of Tori's nostrils but, before either could act, the Guardian closed the distance between them while planting a hand on the back of Jade's neck.
The kiss was unexpected. Jade whimpered in surprise as soft lips pressed against her own. A calming wave washed over her with enough force to loosen Shade's hold. Jade, unused to piloting her own body, wobbled unsteadily and nearly collapsed. Tori was prepared, and a weak arm wrapped around her waist and held her secure. The good vibes intensified, radiating through the hybrid's body like frantic ripples across a pond's surface, certain and unrelenting.
Jade closed her eyes and submitted to the kiss, scared of breaking the connection, and allowed her body to melt against Tori's. She wanted to absorb as much as she could through skin-to-skin contact. The demon screeched as it desperately tried to reclaim control; every attempt it made to seize her body wounded it and it retreated as the light grew stronger within her. Tori was filling her with a light, and Jade willingly accepted her for the first time. As warmth washed over her she was filled with peace, one she hadn't felt since before her soul had fused with a monster over a century ago.
She felt Tori illuminating a path, forcing Shade back into the very cell she had been trapped in; there was nowhere else for it to retreat – Tori's light caused great pain, and it had no choice. When the door slammed shut and the lock turned, silence fell. No more screeching, no more struggle. Peace.
Jade opened her eyes and pulled away, though only far enough that she could still sense the warmth from Tori's lips. "I knew I was winning you over," Tori rasped, a faint smile claiming her features.
"What. The fuck. Was that?" Jade demanded.
"I just went with it," she replied, "it was my Plan Z."
"It didn't work so well for you last time," Jade reminded.
"Well… no. But this time I caught you both off guard. And it worked really well." Tori smirked triumphantly, albeit weakly.
"I'm worried about how candid you are about your near-death experience."
"Stop worrying, Jade. I'm fine." She pulled the older hybrid closer so their foreheads were resting together. "I saved you this time. You let me save you this time."
Jade fought the urge to reply with some snarky comeback and, instead, allowed Tori's good vibes to calm her. She closed her eyes and the last of her anxieties melted away as she lowered every last defense for the younger hybrid. "How are you feeling?" Jade murmured.
"Like I've been run over by a bus," she replied honestly, "a demonic bus." She smiled, though, because for the first time in decades she felt whole. That powerful connection the two had shared for such a brief moment so many years ago had been renewed, and Jade didn't appear to be in any hurry to rend it again. She wasn't sure what this meant for them, but she knew well enough to not ruin the moment.
They sat in silence for a moment amongst the blood-stained sheets and upturned furniture before Jade finally spoke up. "Andre and Cat…" She muttered.
"I know," Tori replied.
"No," The direness of the situation suddenly returned, and Jade's eyes snapped open. "They can't go to Pandora."
"Why? What's there?" Tori began pushing herself precariously to her feet. Jade hooked her under the elbow and helped haul her upright and steady her.
"Eris."
"Eris," Tori repeated blankly, her eyes widening as realization dawned on her. "A god?"
Jade nodded grimly. "And Cat and Andre are walking right into her den." She wrapped an arm around Tori's waist and began leading her carefully towards the darkened bathroom.
"We have to fight a god?" She continued, pulling Jade into an embrace and resting her head on her shoulder.
"It's just a minor god… not one of the big twelve," Jade tried to encourage.
"Oh, well that makes me feel so much better," Tori groaned as their bodies rippled then faded into darkness.