Chapter 25, now up. You probably don't care about this whatsoever so I'll keep it short.
Disclaimer: I do NOT own VicTORious. Disappointingly enough, I have a few ideas that would make it awesome. Well, would have…Oh well.
Lasa-ma sa te ajute(Let me help you) Cat's POV-The Valentine residence (Two months after the Attack)
"Caterina, I appreciate that you have found someone, but we do not like that that someone is of the same gender." Father was trying to sound unbiased. His brown eyes mirroring my own as he stared me down from across the table. I tapped my fingers on the surface, only listening half-heartedly. I knew that this was coming, ever since they noticed my attention elsewhere.
"I don't think gender really matters, Papa. Love itself is genderless, meaning everybody experiences it. It shouldn't matter who I fall in love with." I saw him start to interrupt and I held up my hand. "Let me explain. How would you have reacted if I told you that I fell in love with a demon?"
"I would have been appalled, hija. You know that they are the pinnacle of evil and distrust. He would not be happy, let alone pleased." His fists tightened over the marbled surface. I could see the vein is his forehead bulging at his anger.
"How are we any better than they, Papa? You know of the Fallen, you even told me the stories when I was little! Before I had gained my wings you spoke of the greatest archangels falling to temptations and disgracing themselves. The creation of demons coming from the de-evolution of archangels, something that you never thought of turning into a reality. You couldn't even imagine changing them back. I did that, Papa. I metamorphosed three demons into their original forms. Why can't you see the good that I've done?" I was having trouble keeping my temper in check. Jade's influence could be pretty evident in some cases, with my temper flaring every now and again. Papa's jaw ticked and his nostrils flared as even his stoic mask trembled with anger.
"You are my daughter. I am simply looking out for you. Your interactions with these demons have changed you! I do not believe they will ever be good influences for you. Look at what you are doing now? You are arguing with your own father! I bet your hedonistic so-called "friends" do the same! Those animals wouldn't know respect and kindness if it slapped them in the face." At that remark I growled out a sound similar to that of Jade's own.
"Do not compare my friends, my only friends mind you, to animals! They have done nothing to deserve your harrowing judgment! How dare you pass judgment upon them when you expect none to be passed upon yourself! We are not perfect creatures, Papa, you should know that. You have no right to deem who is worthy of my love and friendship!" He sat back, his eyebrows disappearing into his graying hairline. His jaw was still set, and I could tell that he was not going to change his mind within one argument. He leaned forward, steeping his fingers in front of his mouth. The barrier was up, and I knew that this "discussion" was over with.
"I do not want to see you with her, Caterina. I forbid you from visiting and contacting her." His voice was low, confirming my previous thoughts. I stood and spun away from him, looking over my shoulder.
"Try and stop me, Papa." With that, I stormed out of the house, much like the girl who had stolen my heart does.
West Residence
"Caterina, what a pleasant surprise. Please, come in." Mr. West welcomed me with open arms, a contrasting agent against my own household. The man's graying hair and blue eyes showing kindness despite his title of Demon King. The wrinkles around the corners of his eyes were a testament of his many smiles and the joy he takes out of life. His demeanor had vastly changed since the Attack, no longer showing the stress of his rule. His daughter's transformation aided in his happiness, but also causing heartache that could be seen in the deep blue. "Are you here to visit Jadelyn?"
"Of course, Mr. West. Is she around?" I looked around the main foyer, trying to see if there were any noticeable changes. It was well lit, and the polished floor shone in the flickering candle light.
"Well, she is up in her room, I believe. I haven't seen hide nor hair of her since last night's dinner. Perhaps I should check on her?" He made his way over to their grand staircase before I stopped him with a hand on his shoulder. "Or, I suppose you could do that for me, yes?"
"Might be a better idea, Mr. West. I'll give you an update when I leave, okay?" He nods before stepping off towards another room in the estate. I make my way up the staircase and find my way through the winding hallways. I find Jade's room easily, years of practice allowing me to see it with my mind's eye. The black door is shut, and there isn't any noise coming from behind it. Frowning, I knock on the wooden surface, praying that she is awake. It takes a few seconds, but the door knob twists and the door pops open to reveal a tired face.
"Cat? What are you doing here?" Her voice is groggy and strained. Her eyes were what made me pause in answering her. One was her normal blue-green while the other was the vibrant yellow of her demon days. She noticed my staring and blinked, her eyes returning to normal. I swallowed and filed my question away for later.
"I wanted to see you…And I got into an argument with my dad." I looked down at my feet, the guilt finally starting to catch up. Jade's fingers wrapped around my wrist and pulled me into her room. A small squeak escaped me as she swiftly closed the door behind us. I sat down in her rolling chair, noticing the finger marks that creased the top. She perched on her bed, crossing her legs in front of her and resting her elbows on her knees.
"What was this argument about?" Her grin and cheeky demeanor no longer hampered by her slumber. Her brown hair was twisted up in a high ponytail, but a few strands had escaped and were dangling about her ears. I drew one of my knees up to my chest and put my chin on it. Taking a deep breath, I settled my stirring thoughts and began.
"Surprisingly enough, he was being the opposite of what we are. He couldn't see past the "sins" of what the past demons have done. He was judging you guys for what your ancestors have done, and just because of what you are. Can you believe that? I thought we were supposed to be without that aspect. I thought we were supposed to be better than humans and their sins." I sighed, picking at the stitching in my jeans. I heard a low chuckle from Jade, and I looked up to see her smile widen.
"It appears that you are not the only angel to be affected by demons, hm? I am no longer allowed to say anything against your kind, seeing as I have changed my own colors. I will say this, your life is yours to live, and yours alone. I'm going to bet that that was not the only part of the argument?" She tilted her head to the side, fingers twirling an errant strand. I felt the blush rise in my cheeks as the other half was brought up.
"Well, he doesn't approve of my friendship with Andre and Robbie…" She quirked an eyebrow, and raised her chin in question. I swallowed again, trying to keep my pulse down. "And he doesn't approve of our relationship."
"Oh really now?" I can hear the growl in her voice before seeing her mouth twitch down. Her fingers are now curled over her knees and a sneer has replaced her cat-like grin. "So, even now, as one of his own kind, hell, I'm even better than him, and he still won't accept me?"
"I know, I gave him a piece of my mind-" Another growl escaped Jade's lips as she stood abruptly.
"I don't believe this. I completely changed for you. I have struggled with my tendencies, and the disgrace of my family. Your father disgusts me. I thought that becoming an archangel would help gain me favor in his eyes, and at least give me some leeway. Unfortunately it appears that I will never be good enough for you. How ironic is that? I became the most "pure" creature known to mankind with the bloodiest skin and I am still hated by angels." Her eyes flashed yellow again before returning to blue. She paced between the chair and her bed, fists clenching and unclenching in her anger. I stood and got in her path, causing her to stop and look at me. The amber glow was back and I could see her teeth peeking out underneath her lips.
"It wasn't just that, Jade. It's because you're a girl that we can't be together." I heard her sharp intake of breath, and saw her jaw set much like my father's. I gently took her face in my hands and her breathing settled. "Jade, I left him alone in that house. You are more important to me than my family. I want no part of a judgmental group because that is not what I stand for. This is where I need you more than anything. You can't shut me out now, not when we've been through everything separate."
"I won't, Cat. I can't, not after this. I wasn't alone in my fight against Marko. Cimmerian and the other hosts were there to help me out, but I haven't heard from him since. It's so quiet, Cat, and I don't know if I can handle it. Who would have thought hearing voices would become so commonplace, hm?" She stopped, probably noticing the confused look on my face. "What? Did Halo never talk to you?"
"No, no, she did, but I didn't have any "hosts" talking to me. In fact, she never mentioned belonging to anyone else." The gold ring on my finger felt cold against my skin. Now that I thought about it, she hadn't spoken to me since the Attack either. I guess I never really noticed her absence. Jade's scrunched eyebrows showed her own perplexity. "Has he been quiet this entire time?"
"Yes, I can't find him anywhere in my mind either. It's like he simply disappeared! And yet, I still cannot remove this damn ring!" She glared at the obsidian colored ring of metal around her pale finger. I could see the insanity brewing behind her eyes before ebbing away with each frustrated blink. "Cat, I'm going insane in my own mind. My inner demon is still around, hissing its insults and fighting against my archangel. The two different sides are constantly warring against each other. I thought when I changed that I would completely leave my demonic side. Unfortunately, it's been curling around and twisting its claws into my sanity and driving me mad! I can't seem to get a grip anymore."
"We'll get through this, Jade. I can help you, we can all help you. All you needed to do was ask." She took my wrists in her hands and held them together. She kissed the insides of my palms before placing a chaste kiss on my lips. This was her way of politely telling me to stop worrying.
"Cat, I appreciate it, but I think I need to figure this one out on my own." I gritted my teeth and shook my head, not liking the idea at all. "It's my decision, Cat, and I'm sticking to it. I'm sure my parents will gladly have you live with us while your dad figures out what he wants to do with his life. I need you to understand this, Cat. I will figure this out, and I will come back to you. Make no mistake, I love you with every fiber of my being. I just need a little time to make things right in my head, okay?"
"Jade, please don't do this without me. I'm here to help you, use me!" She copied my movement from earlier, catching my face in her hands. She gave me a sad smile and lightly shook her head. "You don't get to make this decision without me, Jade. Please."
"I'm sorry, Cat. But this is my cross to bear." With one last kiss that caused my heart to stop, she disappeared into thin air. A single tear escaped and trickled down my cheek, dripping down onto the plush carpet.
Jade's POV-(Four Months Later)-L.A., California.
I have found the demon responsible for these deaths. It belongs to the Ghast caste and these demons love horrifying the public. Infamous serial killers like Bundy, Manson and Dahmer were Ghasts simply masquerading as humans. This one takes a sick pleasure in tearing the throats out of its victims and smearing its name on the surroundings. Lawrence seems to be the name it likes the best, seeing as its past eight victims have all had names that start with the same letter. The humans are calling him "The Beast", only giving him more enjoyment. He has killed thirty two people, each with a gruesome scene played out. I rolled my shoulders, watching as this demon lured another victim into an alley. He looked like a young gentleman who claimed to have lost his dog. Playing on the kindness of a middle-aged woman, he led her into the darkness. A low growl crept its way up my chest and I had to swallow to keep myself silent. I couldn't let my cover be blown just yet. This was my first chance at catching him in the act, and I wasn't about to let him go. I ready myself as he moves in to strike the woman with his claws. Letting out a battle cry, I fall in between the two, halting the demon's attempt.
"Don't even think about it, Lawrence. I've had enough of your sins, and you have had enough blood stained on your skin. Your time is up." My wings stretched out to my sides, the tips brushing the brick walls, and stood to my full height. I was a head shorter than the demon, who gave me a cat-like grin that mirrored my own once mischievous one. The woman behind me screamed and ran out of the alley.
"Damn, you scared her off. And it was just getting to the best part. I guess you'll have to do, angel." His nose curled as he let out a maniacal laugh. Striking first, I stepped to the side and he missed by a few inches. His grey eyes widened as he swung again and promptly missed. "You aren't like any angel I've ever faced."
"Probably because I'm not just any angel." I drew my short sword and tipped it towards him. He hissed as he realized what I was. "I'm an archangel, and your time's up."
Well, she found him. Were any of you doubting her? And I fulfilled one of your wishes, reviewers. I hope it was somewhat to your likings. If not, tell me about it. If it was, still tell me about it. I didn't get a whole lot out of you guys, but I do appreciate the "welcome back!". I have missed this story a little bit. It will be done soon, so that I can wrap up my other stories. Thanks for sticking with me you guys. BlueWolf Leader~Out