Disclaimer:

This chapter contains possible violence, gore, and mentions of rape. If any of these things disturb you, there will be a marker that will give you a chance to skip past those sections. You will be informed before and after the specific scenes so that you can avoid any triggering themes or acts that are written out. Keep in mind that this disclaimer is a 'precaution' and will be followed up with direct warnings when necessary.
Thank you in advance and enjoy the chapter.


Previously:

"It is," Jade pointed at his bothered face. "It's beyond hilarious!" Suddenly, all of the laughter aside from her own ceased. Looking confused, Jade could see the dumbfounded looks on both girl's faces. "What?"

"What happened to your face?" Zoey gasped.

Jade simply stared at them both until she realized something rather important. She'd been crying (that was obvious) which meant that her eyes would probably be red from doing so. What didn't catch her thinking until this exact moment, was that she'd been wearing makeup to cover up the mark left by her 'beloved' boyfriend.

While Liam simply sighed in resignation, she immediately turned around to hide the grotesque bruise.

"I should go..." she muttered.

"NO!" the three yelled simultaneously, causing the goth to jump slightly at their unified outcry.

"That wouldn't be a good idea," Lola exclaimed. "If anyone sees you like that, they're bound to ask questions and what do you think will happen after that?"

"They'll assume I caused trouble and kick me out..." Jade surmised. "Either that, or they'll blame Liam since they know I came to see him. Neither of us wants that, I'm sure."

Liam simply sat on his bed, pondering their options. "Do either you two have anything that can cover that up without looking suspicious?" Unfortunately, they both shook their heads. "Damn, so what can we do? I have to finish setting up the room and I don't think the RA will be pleased to find a girl in here overnight."

The room fell silent once more, a recurring theme for them as it seemed. Jade had no idea what to do since her makeup kit was in her car, outside of the school campus. Lola began pacing the floor, growing more anxious with each step she took. An exhausted Liam did his best to come up with an idea, but nothing he came up with would be viable without someone seeing his friend's injured eye.

This left Zoey, who'd been relatively calm, all things considered.

"I think I have an idea, but..." everyone turned their attention to her. "Jade, you may not be receptive to it."

The ivory skinned girl gazed, puzzled at Zoey while Liam and Lola would turn to one another, each exchanging unsure glances.

"Look, whatever idea you have, it's better than waiting around and possibly getting you all in trouble. Whatever the risk, I'm willing to take."

Pulling out her phone, she dialed a number and flashed one more look, as if to ask: Are you sure? Expectedly, Jade nodded and soon, the call was placed. Several rings later, they all heard a voice that was familiar to the trio but, clearly unknown to the dark-haired girl.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Quinn..." Zoey responded nervously. "Can you meet me in Liam's dorm? We need you to bring something that can cover up a bruise."


Demons Within

Chapter 49: Silver Lining

Quinn Pensky wasted little time heading over to meet Zoey in the senior boy's dormitory after their short conversation. After having Michael set up her large monitor, she gathered everything she felt necessary to fix what she considered to be a trivial issue. In her opinion, she felt her intelligence was being taken as a farce for a situation that could easily be taken care of with some mascara or blush but, she agreed to use her genius to solve the issue to quell her friend's worry.

"I could be picking up on my research black hole particles and multiverse theory or working on my miniature cold fusion reactor," she grumbled while stomping up the stairs. Finally, she'd arrive at Liam's dorm, her special briefcase in tow. "Alright, guys... What's this big-?" she stopped in her tracks when she noticed the somber atmosphere that filled the room. In the far left sat Lola who managed to pull her gaze away to spot the brainy girl, her eyes full of hope as a small smile began to form on her lips. "Problem?" Scanning the room, she quickly noticed the odd girl sitting on the side of her male friend's bed. Seeing the goth, Quinn viewed the harsh reality of why she was summoned.

"Quinn!" her eyes blinked several times as she adjusted her gaze towards the relieved blond. "Finally, you made it."

"Yeah, um... sorry it took so long?" she forced a smile though it did little to hide the suspicion swirling around her. She was fortunate that everyone was too concerned with the status of the mysterious girl to notice her demeanor as she continued to analyze the young woman who refused to meet her calculating eye. From the looks of things, Quinn Pensky discerned that the pale girl was a victim of some degree of abuse, given her slumped posture. Her eyes, whirlpools of blue faded and downcast, revealed to the scholar that she was indeed suffering some form of physical pain. Upon further evaluation, she settled on the fact that she'd have to receive some answers before proceeding further. "Alright, I need you three to go," her voice, calm and airy, yet, filled with a seriousness not normally exhibited by the logical student.

Confused, and a bit defensive, Liam finally stood to his feet. "What's wrong, Quinn? Is Jade going to be alright?"

Realization flashed behind her glasses as the name whistled through her ears. 'That name...'

Without hesitation, her mind had fully registered the identity of Liam's guest.

"Quinn?"

"Huh?" Quinn found herself pulled from her mental journey courtesy of Lola snapping her fingers.

"I asked: Are you okay?"

She nodded. "Y- yeah. But, like I said, you three should leave for now," her tone left more questions than answers for the trio as they slowly began to file out.

Liam was the only one to be opposed as he wasn't sure of what his high-tech associate was planning to do to Jade. "I really think I should stay, Quinn."

"This isn't up for debate, Liam," she snapped back. "I need complete concentration when I do this! I can't have you or anyone else around to distract me."

While Jade watched in wonder, Lola & Zoey seemed to just groan; a sign that this was as normal as eating and breathing. Logic and emotion began to go to war silently as Liam and Quinn glared daggers at one another.

"What's with those two?" she spoke up in confusion.

Raising a hand, 'Tori's twin' (as the goth viewed her) stepped forward.

"These two are what you'd call polar opposites. Quinn here is virtually unmatched when it comes to matters of the mind while Liam, he's probably the most well versed in matters of the heart. Their views, however, conflict the other's sometimes." she hunched her shoulders, bringing them down slowly. "What you're seeing here is a product of that conflict." she then seized the left ear of her boyfriend, amused by the slight yelp he gave from the shock shooting in the side of his head. "Let's go, baby. Quinn needs some quiet so she can focus."

Leading him out of the room, it would be Zoey who'd shut the door behind them all, leaving only a nervous Jade and Quinn to the next step. Supreme silence permeated the studio apartment sized room, making either girl feel self-conscious.

For Jade, she wasn't used to being open about things she'd deem personal and this very moment wasn't doing her any favors in that notion. In Quinn's case, it was a similar sentiment, preferring to keep to herself unless she felt something was worth doing along with her friends.

Now, they both found themselves forced to engage a complete stranger in order to reach a mutual result.

"I'm Quinn..." the brainy girl announced, a sense of caution spilling from her lips.

"Jade..." the goth, averting her gaze, replied curtly.

It became clear to them both that this was not going to be as simple as just putting a band-aid on a wound. The dark mark under Jade's injured eye afforded her with all of the information needed to assess the next step.

"I know exactly who you are," Quinn's tone dropped low, almost going past without detection. Grabbing a cotton swab, she soon began rummaging through her case for the things necessary to complete her mission. "You're the infamous Jade West, the Queen of Hollywood Arts, right?"

Shock shrouded Jade's face at the mention of her infamous title; though it was no louder than a whisper, it was enough to elicit a strong reaction from the fortress known as Jade West.

"Nobody calls me that unless they're from school..." furrowed brows tightened over her features. Before she could react, she could feel something cold and wet being dabbed under her eye, causing her to wince. "Ow..." she hissed but never relented in her desire for answers. "You didn't happen to go to Hollywood Arts yourself, did you?"

A few more light dabs later, Quinn simply shook her head, her lips closely knit into something resembling a smile.

"No, I know a guy that managed to get in there a while back," her voice, previously devoid of any emotion, now carried a measure of pleasantry as she gracefully smeared another liquid over the grey wound. "I doubt they even go there anymore, but, they did mention something a goth girl with blue-green eyes who was at the top of the food chain there. After I saw you, I just matched their record with you and took a gamble."

"Either that or you're a mind reader..."

"Nope, I don't believe in that stuff, unless some form of technology is involved," she shrugged. "Oh! How does your eye feel now?"

Reluctant at first, Jade allowed her finger to brush the flesh under her optics, prepared to shudder at the impending shock only to find none.

"It feels... much better now," the rim of her lips drew upwards. "Thanks, Quinn."

"No problem, but, I recommend waiting for a little while before going out, That stuff is really sensitive to extreme heat. I suggest waiting until the weather cools down in a few hours before going back out."

"That's fair," Jade sighed. "What did you put on my eye anyway?"

"Nothing major, just a mixture of Aloe Vera & Cocoa Butter mixed with experimental nanite technology," from the mere mention of nanites, Quinn couldn't resist releasing a small laugh at the girl's shivering form. "Relax, they're completely harmless unless you expose the gel to heat against my advice. The solution will clear up the nasty bruise too so, you'll be fine."

Jade was still a bit unsure, but, she made no complaint about the goop that rested under her injured eye; she marveled at how fast the swelling was going down.

"I'm not one to give out compliments, yet, you're a life-saver."


After leaving the place he called home, Liam, Lola, and Zoey decided that they would take the opportunity to hang out in the common room until they were summoned back by Quinn. Due to the many students still moving into their dorms, the large entertainment center was relatively empty, give or take a few people that passed through. While Zoey felt a little unnerved by the unexpected silence, Lola was more than content with the degree of privacy afforded to them; a point she emphasized by snuggling under her beau on the couch.

"I don't know about you guys, but I'm going to check on things back in our room," she continued onward, passing the juice bar en route to the girl's dorm hall.

The pair watched until she was no longer in view, leaving them in the well-lit room. Neither seemed to care though, they were too wrapped up in their reunion.

Lola Martinez looked up from her seated position and smiled brightly at her boyfriend's relaxed features. From what she remembered, his hair had grown a bit more over the holiday period, just enough for him to have the locs pulled back into a ponytail. Aside from that, the only other notable change came in the form of his chin, which now sported a modestly sized patch of dark fuzz on it, giving the seventeen-year-old a more sophisticated look.

Examining her lover, the brunette encircled her arm around his neck, pulling the boy down into a swift peck. Her delicate lips grazed his, leaving a charge that incited Liam to draw her slim frame closer to his own. Safe to say, it was sufficient in luring him from whatever was occupying his mind as his face slowly lit up with a cool grin.

"I take it that you've really missed me, huh?" he chortled.

"Of course," she smiled warmly before planting another kiss under his chin. "Do you have to ask?"

Shaking his head, Liam found himself enraptured by her beautiful brown orbs. "I guess you're right," he nuzzled her neck, long brown locks tickling his nose. "But, I love hearing you tell me you miss me."

The sounds of giggling reverberated in the vacant place as the twosome continued their fraternizing until the laughter became too much to sustain. Soon, the vibrations of amusement would begin to die down, replaced by a subtle sense of tranquility that each felt could only be found from the other.

"I've really missed you, Liam," by now, Lola managed to settle on top of the boy, her chin resting on his chest. "I really have..."

"I've missed you too, babe," he smirked gently, his green gems flashing in awe of the young woman staring back at him.

Like him, Lola had matured physically as well, ditching the long colorful streaks from her earlier years on campus and settling on her natural shade of oak instead. Her body had begun to fill out a bit more as she was nearly 17 herself. Gone were the features of the young girl that he met midway through his sophomore year, replaced by the lovely presence of the young woman in front of him.

They remained there, locked in mirroring gazes of earth and nature, both strong-willed and yet, full of fragility that fueled their individual resolves. Their minds soon took them to many days that defined not only their relationship but, the beginning of their bond of friendship. As time flashed in their internal journey, both mentally agreed on one fateful day.

The day they met...


2 Years Ago

The day for Liam only seemed to get worse as he trudged across campus, the skies pelting him with a barrage of water that served to slow him down, both physically & mentally. It had only been a week since he moved from Los Angeles to Malibu and, as if expected, he was regretting his decision. On day one, he'd run into a group of seniors who felt it was their duty to "break in" the new guy with a series of pranks. Needless to say, things didn't go well as he found himself the victim of several "harmless" jokes before finally doing something about it.

By day three, he'd gotten into a fight with one of the guys, some bratty rich kid named Jason Richmond who turned out to be the leader of the group. The two fought off campus with Liam pulling out the victory with minimum effort, but, it didn't do him much good as he'd already developed a reputation for being vicious. While this normally wouldn't be a problem for him at his previous schools, he soon remembered that he was trying to keep a low profile until he was somewhat comfortable at PCA. Eventually, he just gave up, accepting his new role as a lone wolf at the school.

Now, with a little time behind him, the African-American boy stared straight ahead towards his destination, his campus hall, where he hoped to have some form of peace and solitude. His eyes, a dark green abyss, locked onto the doorway to his home and beyond as he entered the building. Several steps led him closer to what he deemed his sanctuary; his fortress of solitude awaiting him to arrive.

"Finally," he groaned softly, his hoodie dripping from the barrage of rain set upon him earlier. "I can chill out for a bit before getting a bite to...?!"

Crossing the final step to his floor, Liam turned the corner only to notice a girl leaning against his door with an impatient expression on her face. Upon further inspection, he steadily began to notice her identity, which did little to quell his nerves. From her skull cap to her blue-tipped hair, there was no denying who she was as he pressed forward, his eyes hardening with every step he took.

"Can I help you with something?" he folded his wet arms over one another.

Turning her gaze to him, the tan girl's eyes widened for a moment before she turned her sights elsewhere. "Not that it's any of your business, but, I'm waiting for my English partner."

"Right... after running into me last week, I reckoned you just couldn't leave me alone and now I find you camping out in front of my door..."

The girl's dark copper-colored eyes shot open at his hypothesis for why she was outside of his dorm room. Despite this, she still refused to give up, opting instead to continue the childish contest of pettiness.

"I'm sure you would think that," the corner of her lip sunk slightly, uncertain of what his next move would be. "I'm probably waiting on your roommate, some guy named Liam..."

Sighing loud enough to garner her full attention, he removed his hood revealing his calm visage. "I hate to break it to you, but I'm the only one who lives in this room." Seeing her face twist into a scowl of disapproval, he discerned an incoming smart comment about 'how that couldn't be true' or 'he was mocking her intelligence' so he did the only thing he knew he could: prove her wrong.

He reached into his jacket, digging around until his fingers found their target. He then pulled out a small set of keys, One by one, he flipped each key until he found the one designed for his room door. Slowly, he pushed the door open and stepped into the seemingly bare room. "Welcome to mi casa."

Entering inside, the girl scanned the surrounding area, for what, she wasn't completely sure. At first, things appeared to be centered around proving that he wasn't living alone and that he wasn't the person she was tasked with finding but, that was quickly ended when she noticed only one full sized bed inside the rather large room had been made up. On the other side, the bunk beds were empty aside from the white mattresses.

"No way..." she whispered. "You really do live by yourself. So, that means that you're-."

"Liam Patterson," he finished. "I'm the one you're looking for."

There were so many things that the girl wanted to say in response to his revelation. However, the only words she succeeded in gathering failed to fully express her true feelings towards him.

"You've got to be kidding me," she whined while trudging into the plain room.


Back in the present, the couple once more snickered at that one moment that began their journey to becoming friends and even more. While neither would've admitted it then, they both accepted that it was one of the best things to have happened to them.

"I still remember the look of shock on your face, Lola!" the boy poked her cheek playfully. "I thought you were going to blow a gasket when I told you who I was."

Not one to be upstaged, Lola playfully pushed him back onto the couch and, with cat-like agility, turned her body so that the two were facing one another anew.

"You're laughing, but, if I recall correctly, you weren't so thrilled either!" Liam turned his gaze towards the ceiling as if reflecting her declaration. She watched with a tiny shred of confusion before pools of verdure fell upon her honest countenance once more. "I would say that we borderline hated each other back then..."

Sensing the direction, Liam wrapped his arms around the pouting girl, amused when her bottom lip poked out as a result.

"Lola," she loved and hated when he dropped his voice, welcoming goosebumps all over when his soft voice danced in her eardrums. "We both have come a long way since those days. Who would've thought that the 'annoying girl' with the colored streaks in her hair would turn out to be my gorgeous girlfriend?"

"And who would've thought that wannabe tough guy would wind up being my handsome boyfriend?" she let out a faint laugh. "I figure anything can happen, huh?"

Despite the smile adorning her lips, she could tell that her boyfriend was picking up that something was bothering her, a point emphasized by her wry smile.

"What's really on your mind, Lola?" his unblinking eyes left little room for deceit.

"Nothing!" she stared at him wide-eyed. "I was just reminiscing about the past, that's all."

"Lola Isabella Martinez..." her heart skipped a beat after hearing her middle name spoken by the object of her affection; it was never a good sign when he used it. "...You're a good actress, but, we both know you can't trick me when it comes to important stuff."

She bit her lip, her mind wandering in several directions all at once. In her heart, she knew something was troubling her, it wasn't difficult to for someone close to her to have noticed. Traveling down her mental highway, she found herself averting her gaze from him, her own focus withering under his presence.

"I- I just feel that..." she continued to avoid those portals. "I was just thinking about Jade."

Upon her admission, the young boy smiled warmly, though he retained a great deal of concern. In his mind, he suspected things were a bit awkward when the couple had revealed that fact to the goth.

"What about Jade?" his innocent nature only made it much more difficult for Lola to come out and mention what was plaguing her. "I thought the two of you had just become BFFs?"

She nodded but, it did little to change the worried expression.

"You're right. At first, things were pretty well between us. Then, I began to notice something after she found out we were together." Her eyes shook with the intensity of her anxiety. "When I left you two alone, I could see something in her eyes."

She watched as his face shifted between a trio of emotions; from worry to clueless and finally, realization.

"Wait, you're not implying that-..." he broke away from the latter half of his question when his girlfriend responded.

"Jade likes you."

Just as Liam was about to object to her claim, the buzzing of his tekmate took them both by surprise. While digging in his pocket, Liam felt the weight of his lover lift from his sternum. He answered immediately only to be greeted by the casual tone of the person on the other line informing him of Jade's progress. A few 'Yeahs" and "Okays" later, he hung up the phone then resumed his attention to Lola.

"That was Quinn. She said that she's finished with patching Jade up," he sighed softly, feeling her sullen vibes all over him. He wanted to check up on his old friend, but first, he had someone that needed him much more right now. "Babe..."

"We should check up on Jade," she folded her arms, lifting her guard up. "I'm sure you must be worried after all."

Liam stood there, paralyzed by the cold reaction from the tan skinned girl. After weeks of not seeing one another, was she really allowing her insecurities to dictate her actions? He couldn't believe this... No. He wouldn't allow something like this to ruin something they've both worked hard to establish.

He took a deep breath, sorting out his emotions and thoughts before making a move; he wouldn't just fly off the handle to satisfy his own emotional scars. He wasn't happy, yet he'd rather do anything else other than reciprocating the temporary pain to his beloved. A few more seconds of deliberation passed when he opened his eyes, his mind completely prepared to fix a crumbling bridge.

"Look, I get that you figured out Jade's possible feelings, but, I need you to know something that you might've forgotten." He observed Lola's intrigued appearance though he kept a close eye on the small frown on her lips as well. "I only knew Jade as a friend, an old friend that I haven't talked about nor seen since I left L.A. some years ago. I can't say if there was anything blooming between the two of us back then. I left before anything could even be said, Lola!"

By this point, his left hand was clutching his chest as he took a few more deep breaths. His eyes suddenly flashed with a familiar presence that she knew all too well; it was something that she knew from the early days of them interacting.

Torture.

Somehow, this subject was having a profound impact on Liam and it wasn't a good thing either.

"I left Hollywood Arts to leave my past behind. I left my friends and my family to start over because I felt the weight of the world crashing down on me after a woman shattered my heart into a million pieces! But, in the end, I don't regret leaving because, out of all the negativity I've endured, there was one thing that truly helped me to overcome that former life I lived."

Hearing the magnitude of his words, Lola Martinez felt the vexing hand of her insecurities slowly pull away only to be replaced by a warm sense of adoration in her core. It wasn't until she watched Liam point to her that her fears dissipated, lost in the air around them.

"Me?" she whispered, her inability to trust her own voice preventing her from fully answering him.

"Yeah," his own tears gathered around the corners of his lids, stinging that spot while he struggled to contain them. "If I hadn't left, I wouldn't have met you and, I wouldn't be the most thankful guy in the world right now."

His words were a cure to the world's more lethal diseases to her. Each time he opened his mouth, she found herself swept in a whirlwind of desire, love, and affection that made her hold onto her stomach as butterflies began to flutter inside.

"Lola, you're truly special to me, and that's why I can't have you convincing yourself that life is a certain way when we both should know the truth," he took a moment to swallow then approached the awe-stricken girl. "Jade and I are close friends. Whatever attraction that might have been, has no place in my life. I have you. I want you. I can't get enough of you, Lola. But, you should also know that, as of today, I'm officially telling you that," her cupped hands covered her mouth in anticipation of the next statement to exit his mouth. "I love you, Lola."

Her dark brown eyes, earth truly represented behind her visual portals, blinked several times as fresh drops of her inner-self beginning to descend down to her jawline. Her heart was beating so hard, she grew afraid that it would break one of her ribs if she didn't get things under control.

"Liam, you don't have to tell me this," she quietly wept. "I know you care about me. I just feel stupid for assuming that something was going on."

"No..." she stopped when he wrapped his strong arms around her petite frame. "Never feel that you can't express yourself to me. We've been together for far too long for things to be like this. No matter who comes and goes in my life, I want you there with me."

At that point, Lola was no longer able to restrain herself as she clutched onto his shirt, fingers tightly weaved around the cotton fabric of his sleeveless hoodie. Hot tears penetrated through the material, even piercing through to his soul.

"Thanks," she whispered, relieved that the demon inside had been exercised. "I needed that reassurance, Liam."

"It's my pleasure, querida," he kissed the top of her head, his nose flooded with the scent of fresh cherry blossoms. "I'm here for you, whenever you need me."

"I'm sorry..."

"No need to be. I understand."

The two remained in that spot for seemed like ages, neither wanting to leave this magical place that had them in blissful enchantment from one another's display of love. It would be Lola, however, to pull away just enough to take in the full image of her boyfriend's warm gaze and smile.

Then, as if reacting to a voice telling her to, she slipped her arms around his body, mouthing something that made the athletically built boy lean down. Rewarding his compliance, she met Liam halfway, their soft lips caressed by their lover's. There were no moans; there was no need for them this time as the duo surrendered to their urges of righteous passion.

Liam & Lola.

Two people who, at first, couldn't stand each other now sharing the first true embrace since before summer vacation began. Time stood still, granting the couple everything they needed to enjoy the company connected to them.

Only the familiar sound of a tekmate vibrating in Liam's pants pocket could spoil the moment, though they'd simply resume things at their earliest convenience. This time, he handed the device to her, allowing Lola to read the message sent from their brainiac friend.

"She's asking where we are..." she giggled, hoping it would afford her the ability to resist touching the electric charge surging through her mouth. "Guess we should get going?"

Unlike before, Liam could tell that she was a lot more upbeat that minutes prior.

"Yeah, I guess we should..." he chuckled apprehensively. "We don't want to owe her any favors, do we?"

"No way. The last time I owed her a favor, she tried to knock my head off after I kiss Mark."

"Del Figgalo?"

Lola nodded then grabbed her lover's hand as she led him out of the building and into the heated outdoors but, not before giving him another meaningful kiss. They arrived within a couple of minutes only to stop in front of the main door to Liam's home. Confused, he turned his head towards her.

"What's up?"

She rubbed her arm, clearly nervous despite her cheerful demeanor. "I just want to thank you again for sticking with me through that little episode." Instead of a verbal reaction, she would receive Liam's kiss on her forehead which made her want to melt right then and there. "Stop, I'm trying to tell you something!" she playfully jabbed his arm.

"Hehe sorry, querida," his sincerity overflowing at this point, accentuated by him bowing. "you can continue..."

"Thank you," she curtsied. "As I was saying, I know I'm not the easiest person to deal with, but, I'm glad that it's you who's with me. No matter what is said or was between you two, I have to understand that it's not for me to judge who you were before you came to PCA, nor should I suspect things just because something's seems off with someone. You've given me no reason to doubt or question your devotion so, I want to say that I appreciate you, Liam. I'm glad we're in a relationship together, and I believe I love you too."

Hearing those words, Liam could feel the corner of his lip tugging rapidly.

"You're truly one of a kind, you know that?" he grinned.

"Hmmm, you can stand to say it more often," she winked, proceeding inside right after. "I wouldn't get tired of hearing it, love."

Following her lead, the two would head up the flight of stairs upon entry.

"I'm sure you wouldn't..." he silently chuckled to himself.


"Are they okay?" a light-hearted voice of concern asked the older woman who appeared to be muttering to herself. "Mother?"

Celeste towered over the unconscious forms of the young men and women scattered along her home. Currently, she was taking special care of Jade West, gently rubbing rosemary on her pale forehead as a way of helping her.

"I don't know, child..."

"But, you can bring them back. right?" A hallowed silence filled the room, giving Lucille her answer. There wasn't much that could be done besides praying, utilizing talismans and herbs to ward off any further damage to the young men and women's psyche. Lucille, for her part, was patiently watching the still forms of those she cared about with anxiety. "Who or what could have caused this?"

At that moment, Celeste froze in her tracks. Dark orbs slowly turned creepily to the younger woman, fear and anger burning behind them. While this rage was not directed towards her, it was still enough to make her stop the line of questioning.

"The Livro da ilusão..." her voice was so low that it came off as if she was afraid to utter the name too loudly. She then turned her hardened gaze back to the young adults lying down before her. "As for 'who'? It is a cursed book that was written by a mambo asogwe (high priest or priestess) who desired to control the strands of time and fate. While successful, that asogwe was punished by the Loa for stealing their secrets and documenting them."

"So, what exactly is happening to them?"

Celeste sighed, mainly due to the level of stress that was beginning to overwhelm her.

"Have a seat child, this will be a lot to take in."


Main Characters (thus far)

Liam Patterson:

After finding out that Trina ran away, after sharing their first time with each other, a betrayed Liam decided that he no longer wanted to stay in a city that continued to destroy his outlook on the world. He chooses to transfer, winding up in PCA where it is learned that he encountered Zoey and the gang at some point. This is definitely true with Lola Martinez, whom he initially mistakes for Tori at first. After that awkward encounter, it is revealed that the two have become an item at some point. With a new semester looming in a month, he finds himself thrust back into the uncertainty of his past: the return of Jade West.

After an initial argument, they both seem to settle things enough after, unintentionally, recreating the day they nearly killed each other. After a fit of laughter, they engage in an emotional back and forth that finally explained a little bit of why she came to PCA looking for him. As the conversation progressed, Liam & Jade seem to have rekindled their friendship, all while managing to avoid any misunderstandings with Lola and Zoey.

Lola Martinez:

Shortly after he transferred to PCA, Lola meets Liam at some point where the two share an awkward encounter with one another. Eventually, they form a strong friendship that, sometime later, form a romantic relationship. She happened to run into Jade West after overhearing her mentioning Liam and helped her get onto the campus grounds. After getting to know her, but, also seeing her boyfriend's reaction to her, it's safe to say that Lola will be keeping a close eye on the goth.

It is later discovered that she and Liam became a couple after a school dance (more will be elaborated on in due time). Despite her reservations, she would find that Jade posed no threat to her and settled on her first impression of the girl. Now, with Zoey, she's looking to help out her new friend with the help of Quinn Pensky.

Jade West:

After finding out that her friend, Liam was leaving Hollywood, Jade, at some point, fell out with the young boy. After over a year of no communication, Jade went looking for him, while keeping her mission a secret from Beck, Tori, and the others. She tried to get in once she found a lead on his location but struggled to get inside until she met Lola, whom she also mistook for Tori Vega. The two eventually worked out the 'kinks' with that and soon, Jade was given access to PCA as a registered guest. Conflicted with her actions, she finds that her lead was true as she prepares the fateful encounter.

She would explain her actions to Liam, after some verbal warfare that resulted in an emotional breakdown and revelation of their shared connection with Jade's boyfriend, Beck Oliver. While Liam had always known the truth since his departure, Jade was stunned to find out that his leaving had little to do with Trina Vega but her significant other. After a tearful embrace, she can rest easy (to some degree) knowing that her bond with Liam is still intact after not speaking for years.

Zoey Brooks

While having the least to do personally so far, Zoey is responsible for Liam and Lola formally meeting after his arrival at PCA. She even introduced him to the other members of her friendship circle which opened the door for him to start a new life. Throughout his time there, she tried to get him to open up about his past but only succeeded in getting tidbits and general information about his life before PCA. Now, she has a better understanding after eavesdropping on his and Jade's discussion about their past connection.

She now seems to handle the role of "Voice of Reason" very well as she had the most level-headed resolve out of the four so far, even coming up with the idea of bringing in their good friend, albeit reluctantly, Quinn Pensky.


With this post, all three of the original chapters are now up! This means that I'll be taking down "A Demon's Kiss" and will continue it here as part of the main story. Secondly, while these are pre-written chapters, the official chapter 50 will be completely original and thus, I'll be looking for a primary antagonist to combat Liam and the gang.

If you're interested, then let me know either in the review section or private messages. I am open to a guy or a girl or both as I can create a dastardly duo. If any are interested, then I'll post a short application in the next chapter. Once again, thank you so much to everyone who supports this fiction and I'll be updating very soon.

Enjoy the rest of your day/night and I'll catch you all later!