Turncoat
by Yami Yue
Chapter Six: Jade's Curse
Sakura made it to the park at the agreed time. There was no way she wanted to be late. To be on the safe side she brought Syaoran along with her. Jade was waiting for them near the king penguin slide. She smiled when she saw them, though it did little to soften her look, The dark haired girl looked like she'd been up all night. "Thank you for coming." She said softly. "Yue told us about the curse." Sakura said. "..but what exactly is this curse?" "I don't think this is the right place to be discussing this." Jade said. "Is there somewhere else we can talk." "My house is close and everyone's gone for the day." Sakura said. "We can talk there." Syaoran looked to Sakura. The card mistress understood that look immediately. Syaoran didn't trust Jade. Sakura was wary of her as well. None of them had seen this woman Lena, and only Yue had seen Kero since he ran from Sakura's house. Even that was no guarantee that it wasn't a mirage like the phantom Kero had been. Sakura gave Syaoran a slight nod as if to say she agreed with him. "Thank you." Jade said. "Whatever happens, my sister and I are forever in your debt." Sakura nodded and led the way with Syaoran beside her. "I don't trust her." Syaoran whispered. "Neither do I, but she does need our help." Sakura whispered in response. "Just look in her eyes. Something's wrong and if she's telling the truth we can make it right." Syaoran nodded in agreement.
When they arrived at Sakura's house Yue was waiting for them. "What are you doing here?" Sakura asked in surprise. " Yue stood in the living room with his eyes closed. The sunlight made his silvery white hair shine. Even without his wings the moon guardian looked angelic. "Here's here to watch over you, keep you from harm." Jade said softly. "Isn't that right Yue?" Yue opened his eyes, his gaze was now locked with Jade's. Syaoran frowned. Jade was becoming as mysterious as Eriol. Yue nodded. Jade smiled at him. "Go ahead and make yourself at home Jade." Sakura said. "I'll make some tea." Jade nodded and sat down on the couch. Yue's eyes followed her every movement. Sakura tugged at Syaoran's sleeve to get his attention. Syaoran took the hint and followed Sakura into the kitchen. "I don't think Yue trusts her either." Sakura whispered. "Let's just hope she really can help us get Kero back." Syaoran nodded in agreement. "We'll have to be careful what we say around her." Syaoran said. Sakura nodded in agreement. "Not a word about Yukito or the cards." She said as Syaoran helped her to prepare a tray of food to take into the living room. It wasn't long before the tea was done. As Syaoran and Sakura entered the living room with the tray, Jade was taking a large book from her bag. "The woman holding Kerberos also has enslaved my sister and I." Jade began. "We can break the spell she's using to control your friend but only if the spell that binds us is broken." "So how exactly do we break this spell?" Syaoran asked. Jade closed her eyes in concentration then began to speak.
The eye of darkness must be made to close
Before you can bring an end to your woes
The eye must be made blind
Only then can you undo your bind
Jade opened her eyes again. "What's the eye of darkness?" Sakura asked. "The necklace Lena wears. It's the main source of her power." Jade answered. "She's sure to be wearing it tonight." "We strike then." Jade then opened the book and began flipping through the pages. She didn't look up as Sakura poured tea for Syaoran, Jade and then herself. Syaoran and Yue watched the raven haired girl intently. After a few moments of silence Jade smiled. "Aha!" Here it is." Jade exclaimed triumphantly as she set the book down on a clear spot on the coffee table. "This is the necklace I was telling you about." Jade informed them as she tapped the drawing with her finger. Sakura, Syaoran and Yue leaned in closer to get a good look at it. The necklace in the drawing had a most unusual pendant. It was an disturbingly realistic looking eye. Sakura shuddered. "We're supposed to close that eye?" she asked. "According to the riddle. We're suppose to blind and close the eye. "We have to find a way to blind it, that will force it to close." Jade answered. "I think I know just the way." Syaoran said. "If Yue shot it with one of his crystals, the eye may be blinded." Sakura immediately picked up on Syaoran's slight emphasis on the word shot. "The shot card could definitely do the job." She thought. "..but if I use the light card to blind it first, the shot card would have a better chance at destroying the eye." "Good idea." Jade agreed. "If we can destroy it, we can keep Lena from doing more evil." Jade took a sip of her tea and closed her eyes. "We must wait until tonight to make our move." She said. "The demon won't make her move until sunset." "Last night you said that Kerberos may be lost to us." Yue said. "What did you mean by that?" he asked. "Lena used a spell to control your friend, fortunately he is strong so he was able to break free of that control temporarily." Jade began as she opened her eyes. " She plans to drain you all of your magical energy and add it to her own, but the spell she is going to use can only be cast at the peak of a full moon." "If she succeeds she'll be able to control Kerberos easily. There will be nothing left of the friend you know and love when she's through." She finished. "He will become her mindless slave." Jade closed her eyes again. "Are you alright?" Sakura asked. "My sister and I are growing weaker." Jade answered. "That is why I no longer use my magic." "I'm sorry if I frightened you with my illusion the day we met." She apologized. "I wasn't strong enough to make it more solid." Sakura placed her hand over Jade's and gave it a gentle squeeze. "It's alright." Sakura said. Jade smiled. With her other hand she set down the now empty teacup and sat back. Her eyes closed and her smile faded. She remained still. Sakura, Syaoran, and Yue watched her warily. To Syaoran it didn't even look like she was breathing. "Is she…..?" he began. Sakura gently felt the underside of the girl's wrist for a pulse. "She's asleep." Sakura informed him. "Will you two help me take all this back to the kitchen?" Sakura asked softly as she stood. The look in her eyes told him the question had a hidden meaning. Yue and Syaoran both nodded.
They helped Sakura clear the table then followed her silently into the kitchen. "I was thinking that if we blind Lena with the light card, the shot card may have a better chance of hitting the eye. " Sakura whispered. "Combined with Yue's crystals it could be enough to work." Syaoran added. "Exactly." Sakura said. "What if it's protected?" Yue asked. "Talismans such as the eye do have a tendency to be shielded." Syaoran agreed. Sakura thought for a moment. "I remember that book that Jade brought with her did say something about the eye being able to shield itself, but if Lena is distracted enough wouldn't it fail?" Sakura reasoned. "I'm willing to bet that Lena will try to use Kero against us. If you were to attack her with one of your cards Syaoran, as she tries to defend herself against that attack I'll use the light card to blind her then the shot, Yue when I call out for the shot you attack the eye." "There's no way her shield can defend against such a quick, strong onslaught." She finished. Sakura took the Star Cards from her pocket and sorted though them. She placed the light card at the top of the deck followed by the shot and the sword. She then placed the cards back into her pocket and without a word began washing up the dishes they'd used. Yue returned to the living room. Jade still sat there peacefully sleeping. "Hello Moon Angel." She said. "How did you know I was here?" Yue asked. "I can feel your presence." Jade answered. "Just as I can feel the presence of the guardian beast. " "He is worried, yet hopeful." She continued. "He has faith in all of you and so do we." "We?" Yue asked. "Yes." Jade said as she opened her eyes. Yue was taken aback by the color of her eyes. They were no longer jade green but sapphire blue. She blinked and they were green again. Jade closed her eyes again. "Jade?" Yue said softly, but received no answer. Jade remained silent the rest of the day. Syaoran, Sakura, and Yue watched over her sleeping form.
"Kerberos." A soft voice called. Kero immediately woke from his nap. He looked around the room but saw no one. "Where are you?" The sun guardian asked. "Right in front of your eyes. The voice said softly as a woman appeared in front of the cage. Her long dark hair seemed to be blowing in the wind. Her eyes were the color of sapphire. She was as beautiful as Lena, but her demeanor had none of the sorceress' fierceness. "Who are you?" he asked. "A friend." The woman replied. "I for one think it's high time you got out of this dreary place. Jade may not have been able to free you but I can." She added as the cage door opened. Kero wasted no time getting out of the cage. The window opened. "Go now and help your friends while you still can." She said. "Thank you." Kero said as he flapped his massive wings and flew toward the window. He grabbed the ledge with his claws folded in his wings and squeezed himself out of the window. As soon as his wings were free of the window he spread them again and with one last push he was free. Kero flew off toward the setting sun, glad to be free at last.
Jade's eyes suddenly flew open and she sprang to her feet, startling the others in the room. "The sun is setting." she said. "I must go." "Go, why?" Sakura asked. "My mistress will awaken at any moment and she must not know I was here." Jade answered as she headed toward the door. A violent pain suddenly shot though Jade's body and she doubled over in pain. Sakura was immediately at her side. "It's too late." Jade whispered as another wave of pain racked her body. "Sakura." Jade said softly. "Yes?" Sakura answered. "RUN!" Jade yelled. Sakura, Syaoran and Yue felt a surge of magical energy as Jade's dark hair began to lighten. Her eyes became lighter and then her body began to change. The teen's body became taller and her curves more voluptuous. Sakura stepped back and found herself in-between Yue and Syaoran. In a matter of moments the transformation was complete. Jade had become Lena. "So we finally meet card mistress." The red haired woman said. She stepped toward Sakura. Yue stepped in front of Sakura and Syaoran then spread his wings. Lena smiled. "The angel rushes to defend his mistress." She said. "How sweet." Lena stepped closer. "Futile, but sweet." She said smugly standing firmly in her place. Lena's smile grew wider and she began to softly speak in a language none of them had heard before. Her words flowed together making it sound more like a song than a chant. Yue's brow crinkled in confusion.
He heard Syaoran's sword as he drew it. That was his only warning before he was struck. Yue moved just in time to avoid a crippling blow to his wing, but not to his arm. Yue moved swiftly to avoid another blow. The moon guardian knew that in such close quarters his wings would be useless. He made them vanish in the blink of an eye. As Syaoran prepared to strike again Lena made her way toward Sakura. The card mistress had already willed her staff to form and was figuring out the best way to attack. Sakura thought about using the firey card, but that could cause more damage. Another idea quickly came to her. "Yue switch." Sakura called. The moon guardian was struck once again by one of Syaoran's blows but he managed to get in between Lena and his mistress. "Sword." Sakura called, and immediately her staff became a sword and the spirit of the sword card was guiding her moves. While Sakura used the magic of the sword card to fend of Syaoran, Lena formed a ball of light in her hand and hurled it at Yue. The moon guardian dodged the first one and retaliated with an attack of his own, but was unlucky enough to be hit by a second ball of light he hadn't seen. It struck him square in the chest, knocking him to the floor. Yue felt as tough his whole body was on fire. His body convulsed with the energy the ball had been composed of. Sakura seemed to fly at Lena with her sword bearing down on her. The temptress grinned and a sword made of the same energy appeared in her hand. Yue managed to get to his feet and saw that Sakura had managed to bind Syaoran with the wood card and disarm him. Needless to say, Yue was impressed.
As Sakura's sword clashed with Lena's, Yue made his way behind his enemy. Lena saw Yue coming up behind her. With her sword locked with Sakura's she brought the swords around in a circle then lunged forward, knocking Sakura to the floor. Lena whirled around, converted the sword into one of her electrifying light balls and lunged at Yue. The moon guardian was knocked to the floor. Lena pressed the ball of light to Yue's chest. Yue cried out in pain. This one seemed a thousand times worse than the last. The moon guardian's cry ended and his eyes closed. Lena leapt to her feet and a heartbeat later a sword was at her throat. "You've got guts card mistress." Lena said with a malicious smile as Sakura felt a strong pair of hands squeeze her wrists. Sakura was forced to let go of the sword. Lena turned to face Sakura. "It's a pity I'll have to come back for the angel." She said as she walked passed her to the door. "Time to take our guest home." She called to Syaoran. The enchanted young man mutely pinned Sakura's arms behind her back forcing her to follow Lena. In a flash of light they were gone.
It was full dark when Kero arrived at Sakura's house. Surprised to see the front door open, he flew around to the back of the house and peeked inside through the patio doors. His eyes widened at the sight before him. The living room was in shambles and lying still on the floor was Yue. Kero opened the patio doors and entered the house. "Yue." Kero said softly as she nudged the unconscious moon guardian. "Yue, wake up." Kero said, beginning to panic. "Please wake up." He pleaded. "You're too soft as always." Yue said softly. Kero nearly laughed aloud. "Are you alright?" Kero asked as Yue opened his eyes. "I'll live." Yue answered as he slowly pulled himself to a sitting position. "Where's Sakura?" Kero asked. "Gone." Yue answered. "So is Syaoran." "I'm sorry." Kero said. "I'm sorry I wasn't here to help." "You're here now and this time you can help." Yue said, then quickly told him of their plan. "It just might work." Kero agreed. "With your power at it's strongest tonight we have a good chance of defeating Lena." "We'd better hurry before she does any more damage." Yue nodded in agreement. Together they headed out the patio doors, spread their wings and headed to Lena's home.
To Be Concluded . . .
Author's Note: I need help thinking of a name for Jade's sister. If anyone has a suggestion please don't hesitate in telling me.
Thanks,
Yami Yue