Wow! Chapter three! Already?
Well you deserved some Hsi, Jade interaction.
Okay, here we go!
chapter 3 He Who Dwells In Shadows
Jade raced toward the temple as fast as her youthful legs could carry her. There was something about forboding places that captured her imagination and piqued her curiosity. She sped forward, never looking back, eager to embrace an adventure. she noticed the beautigul fireflies of the region were out in the droves, every few steps, she would stir up another flock of them and they would fly around her. This place, something about it was almost magical, like something out of a fairy tale. Jade inhaled the lush forest air with great vigor. The sheer chi energy of the place was radiant, there could be no danger here, for chi energy repelled evil, no cruel demons awaited to carry her off in the night for a late night snack, she was sure the innkeeper was just a superstitious fool. She gave a wild laughas she continued up the slope. She soon reached the temple, still riding a wild wave of adrenaline, she stepped inside eagerly.
.............................
Seymour was finally ready to journey outside the temple. He had changed his clothes in favor of a pair of brown pants and green, baggy shirt. He had decided that they would be more acceptable than his usual purple sash or sleeveless shirt which he wore on occasion. With one final check of his appearance, he started down the endless corridors to the temple exit. He was almost out the door when he saw her. A girl! How did she get here? When? She must not see him. He skidded to a stop, falling backwards onto his tail bone. He squinted in pain, but managed to scramble back into a shadow. He was desperately thankful that she hadn't seen him. He knew that there was no possible way that he could flee back into the depths of the temple while transforming. He had tried it many times and failed. Countless people had fled from him over the years. He had become very adept at hiding.
He observed the girl, she did not seem as aloof or conceited as everyone else he had encountered had been. He noted her casual and practical utilization of pants and walking shoes for temple exploring. She had sily black hair that seemed to hold itself in a naturally perfect bob. Her eyes were a dark brown, the color of coffee beans. He felt a slight burning sensation on his cheeks, he was blushing! He'd never blushed before, why should he start now? The girl, could she be the reason? Suddenly, she looked directly at him. Terror filled Seymour's eyes and heart and he drew farther back into his shadowy hiding place. He shuddered and squeezed his eyes tightly closed, waiting for the horrible pain to rip across his body as it had every time a human girl looked at him. Nothing came. He opened his eyes and let out a relieved sigh. The girl turned back in his direction and began walking toward the small area where he had concealed himself.
"Who's there?" the girl called, slight unease in her voice. Her voice, so pure, sweet, the first voice he'd heard in such a long time that wasn't a scream. It sounded so good to his lonely ears.
"I know someone is there!" she called out.
Seymour froze. Cold sweat ran down his face. He pulled himself up along the wall and pressed his body against the wall, as if to push himself into it. She continued to come closer to him, his heart beat faster, to the point where he thought it may collapse.
"Hello?" she called.
"Don't come any closer!" Seymour suddenly shouted. His hand immediately came to his mouth. He hadn't wanted to say anything, much less that, especially in such a rude, desperate manner.
"Wat are you doing back there?" she asked, noticing a slight movement in the shadows.
"I'm sorry. I......I...Please close your eyes,'
"What?"
"Please, I beg you, close your eyes,"
"Why? How do I know that you won't try something funny?"
"I give you full permission to do something horrible to me if I try something, which I also promise that I will not,"
"Tell me your name. You tell me, I'll tell you and maybe I'll close my eyes,"
"Fair. My name is Seymour,"
"I'm Jade,"
She smiled widely and extended her hand in friendship. Seymour longed to reach out and take it, but he dared not. For in order to take her hand, he would have o remove it from the shadow, she would see him. He could not allow this. She looked momentarily hurt, that crushed him. He felt horrible for not extending his hand, Seymour desperately wanted to touch someone, he hadn't in years. He felt as if he would cry. Then, thankfully she remembered what he said.
"Oh, yeah. Heh. Sorry, how about now?"
She shut her eyes and left her hand extended. Once Seymour was sure that her eyes were totally closed, he stepped out of the shadow and took her hand. He blushed again at her touch, it was bliss for someone who hadn't been touched kindly in years. She shook hands firmly, but not so that it pained. He unwillingly released his hand when she did.
"Why are you here?" Jade asked.
"Oh, I...I live here,"
"Where's your family?"
"They died,"
"I'm sorry," she sounded very sad.
"It's okay, it was a long time ago," Seymour assured.
"Oh, I'm visiting here with my Uncle. He's an archeologist,"
"That must be interesting,"
"Not really. It would be a lot more interesting if I didn't have to write a report about it,"
"Why is that?"
"Well, I'd rather learn for fun, ya know?"
"I......see,"
"Where do you go to school?"
"I was homeschooled,"
"Lucky!"
"I'm not,"
"Ch. so you say,"
"Really,"
"Hey, this might sound weird but can I feel your face?"
"Why?"
"Well, since you won't let me look at you, I was thinking that I could touch your face with my hands and I could "see" you that way,"
"Of course you may," Seymour smiled as he lifted her hands to his face and allowed her to feel over his face. He was impressed with her ability to think and feel. She respected his wishes and even troubled herself to follow his bizarre request.
"You feel okay. Why don't you want me to see you?"
"It's a long story,"
"Oh,"
"Jade, I feel that I need to tell you something,"
"What?"
"I'm not.."
"Jade!"
Jackie's voice pierced the still air in the temple. Without thinking, Jade opened her eyes and stared directly into a pair of chocolate colored ones. She observed a boy her age stood before her with a look of horror and despair on his face. Tears welled up in his large brown eyes.
"Why.....why jade?" he stammered.
He cried out and fell to the ground as if someone had struck him down. He pulled his legs to his chest and lay there sobbing. Jade was about to ask why he was cying and what she could do to help when she noticed his hands. They were bleeding and long black claws were growing out of his fingers. His body was growing larger and two enormous lumps appeared on his back. She noticed that his spiked hair became sharp spines, his feet were terrible talons and a thick black tail protruded from his pants. He looked up at her with glowing red eyes and tear streaked face.
'I'm sorry, Jade. Please, please don't look at me,"
"Seymour.......,"
He screamed the same inhuman scream that had awakened her from her sleep. Jade could only watch in horror as enormous wings burst from his back. Seymour looked up at her miserably. She stared at him, not able to fully believe what had transpired before her eyes.
"Seymour," her voice sounded as if it were about to break. "What....what happened?"
"Jade.."
Seymour felt suddenly ashamed of his demonic shape and drew his wings around him, so her beautiful eyes would not be troubled with the groteque creature that he was. Once he was concealed, he spoke through his wings.
"Oh Jade, I'm sorry. I never wanted you to see that, never. I never wanted anybody to see that. That's why I did not want you to look upon me. I am cursed. I was cursed with this body long ago. I am only allowed to return to my true form during the full moon. But, whenever a human girl looks upon me during the full moon, I become this ..thing!"
"There must be something ...."
But Jade did not get to finish, she was scooped away by a pair of strong arms. She struggled against the arms, in hopes that whoever had whisked her away from her new friend would release her.
"Jade, stop that. What are you doing out here alone? Don't you realize you could have gotten hurt? Didn't you hear those awful noises? I don't know what I'd do if something happened to you,"
Jade felt herself being tightly embraced. She finally realized who it was. Jackie.
"Uncle Jackie, I wasn't alone! My friend Seymor was there, where did he go? I need to tell him i'm sorry and that I want to help him! He's hurt and alone! Please let me go to him!"
"Jade, there is no one there. He must have left. We're returning here in the morning. Maybe your friend will come as well,"
"But...,"
"No buts, we're going now,"
Jade felt herself being picked up and carried away from her new friend and back to the inn. With tear filled eyes she whispered,
"Good bye, Seymour,"
Deep within the temple, Seymour was curled in a corner deep inside of the temple. He help his monstrous face in his taloned hands and sobbed. Deep sobs that came from the core of his being. He felt that he had actually connected with Jade, yet she had been ripped away. It had been fortunate that he had seen the shadow of jade's uncle coming and with a flap of his wings, had made it to the ceiling undetected. Now he was alone again, a state from which he feared he would never be free from. As the sun peaked over the mountain, Seymour stared blankly at it, hoping against hope that Jade wold come again. She hadn't run away, she hadn't even screamed at him. Could she actually learn to care for him? He hoped that she would, but feared that his dear Jade would not.
End Chapter 3
Well you deserved some Hsi, Jade interaction.
Okay, here we go!
chapter 3 He Who Dwells In Shadows
Jade raced toward the temple as fast as her youthful legs could carry her. There was something about forboding places that captured her imagination and piqued her curiosity. She sped forward, never looking back, eager to embrace an adventure. she noticed the beautigul fireflies of the region were out in the droves, every few steps, she would stir up another flock of them and they would fly around her. This place, something about it was almost magical, like something out of a fairy tale. Jade inhaled the lush forest air with great vigor. The sheer chi energy of the place was radiant, there could be no danger here, for chi energy repelled evil, no cruel demons awaited to carry her off in the night for a late night snack, she was sure the innkeeper was just a superstitious fool. She gave a wild laughas she continued up the slope. She soon reached the temple, still riding a wild wave of adrenaline, she stepped inside eagerly.
.............................
Seymour was finally ready to journey outside the temple. He had changed his clothes in favor of a pair of brown pants and green, baggy shirt. He had decided that they would be more acceptable than his usual purple sash or sleeveless shirt which he wore on occasion. With one final check of his appearance, he started down the endless corridors to the temple exit. He was almost out the door when he saw her. A girl! How did she get here? When? She must not see him. He skidded to a stop, falling backwards onto his tail bone. He squinted in pain, but managed to scramble back into a shadow. He was desperately thankful that she hadn't seen him. He knew that there was no possible way that he could flee back into the depths of the temple while transforming. He had tried it many times and failed. Countless people had fled from him over the years. He had become very adept at hiding.
He observed the girl, she did not seem as aloof or conceited as everyone else he had encountered had been. He noted her casual and practical utilization of pants and walking shoes for temple exploring. She had sily black hair that seemed to hold itself in a naturally perfect bob. Her eyes were a dark brown, the color of coffee beans. He felt a slight burning sensation on his cheeks, he was blushing! He'd never blushed before, why should he start now? The girl, could she be the reason? Suddenly, she looked directly at him. Terror filled Seymour's eyes and heart and he drew farther back into his shadowy hiding place. He shuddered and squeezed his eyes tightly closed, waiting for the horrible pain to rip across his body as it had every time a human girl looked at him. Nothing came. He opened his eyes and let out a relieved sigh. The girl turned back in his direction and began walking toward the small area where he had concealed himself.
"Who's there?" the girl called, slight unease in her voice. Her voice, so pure, sweet, the first voice he'd heard in such a long time that wasn't a scream. It sounded so good to his lonely ears.
"I know someone is there!" she called out.
Seymour froze. Cold sweat ran down his face. He pulled himself up along the wall and pressed his body against the wall, as if to push himself into it. She continued to come closer to him, his heart beat faster, to the point where he thought it may collapse.
"Hello?" she called.
"Don't come any closer!" Seymour suddenly shouted. His hand immediately came to his mouth. He hadn't wanted to say anything, much less that, especially in such a rude, desperate manner.
"Wat are you doing back there?" she asked, noticing a slight movement in the shadows.
"I'm sorry. I......I...Please close your eyes,'
"What?"
"Please, I beg you, close your eyes,"
"Why? How do I know that you won't try something funny?"
"I give you full permission to do something horrible to me if I try something, which I also promise that I will not,"
"Tell me your name. You tell me, I'll tell you and maybe I'll close my eyes,"
"Fair. My name is Seymour,"
"I'm Jade,"
She smiled widely and extended her hand in friendship. Seymour longed to reach out and take it, but he dared not. For in order to take her hand, he would have o remove it from the shadow, she would see him. He could not allow this. She looked momentarily hurt, that crushed him. He felt horrible for not extending his hand, Seymour desperately wanted to touch someone, he hadn't in years. He felt as if he would cry. Then, thankfully she remembered what he said.
"Oh, yeah. Heh. Sorry, how about now?"
She shut her eyes and left her hand extended. Once Seymour was sure that her eyes were totally closed, he stepped out of the shadow and took her hand. He blushed again at her touch, it was bliss for someone who hadn't been touched kindly in years. She shook hands firmly, but not so that it pained. He unwillingly released his hand when she did.
"Why are you here?" Jade asked.
"Oh, I...I live here,"
"Where's your family?"
"They died,"
"I'm sorry," she sounded very sad.
"It's okay, it was a long time ago," Seymour assured.
"Oh, I'm visiting here with my Uncle. He's an archeologist,"
"That must be interesting,"
"Not really. It would be a lot more interesting if I didn't have to write a report about it,"
"Why is that?"
"Well, I'd rather learn for fun, ya know?"
"I......see,"
"Where do you go to school?"
"I was homeschooled,"
"Lucky!"
"I'm not,"
"Ch. so you say,"
"Really,"
"Hey, this might sound weird but can I feel your face?"
"Why?"
"Well, since you won't let me look at you, I was thinking that I could touch your face with my hands and I could "see" you that way,"
"Of course you may," Seymour smiled as he lifted her hands to his face and allowed her to feel over his face. He was impressed with her ability to think and feel. She respected his wishes and even troubled herself to follow his bizarre request.
"You feel okay. Why don't you want me to see you?"
"It's a long story,"
"Oh,"
"Jade, I feel that I need to tell you something,"
"What?"
"I'm not.."
"Jade!"
Jackie's voice pierced the still air in the temple. Without thinking, Jade opened her eyes and stared directly into a pair of chocolate colored ones. She observed a boy her age stood before her with a look of horror and despair on his face. Tears welled up in his large brown eyes.
"Why.....why jade?" he stammered.
He cried out and fell to the ground as if someone had struck him down. He pulled his legs to his chest and lay there sobbing. Jade was about to ask why he was cying and what she could do to help when she noticed his hands. They were bleeding and long black claws were growing out of his fingers. His body was growing larger and two enormous lumps appeared on his back. She noticed that his spiked hair became sharp spines, his feet were terrible talons and a thick black tail protruded from his pants. He looked up at her with glowing red eyes and tear streaked face.
'I'm sorry, Jade. Please, please don't look at me,"
"Seymour.......,"
He screamed the same inhuman scream that had awakened her from her sleep. Jade could only watch in horror as enormous wings burst from his back. Seymour looked up at her miserably. She stared at him, not able to fully believe what had transpired before her eyes.
"Seymour," her voice sounded as if it were about to break. "What....what happened?"
"Jade.."
Seymour felt suddenly ashamed of his demonic shape and drew his wings around him, so her beautiful eyes would not be troubled with the groteque creature that he was. Once he was concealed, he spoke through his wings.
"Oh Jade, I'm sorry. I never wanted you to see that, never. I never wanted anybody to see that. That's why I did not want you to look upon me. I am cursed. I was cursed with this body long ago. I am only allowed to return to my true form during the full moon. But, whenever a human girl looks upon me during the full moon, I become this ..thing!"
"There must be something ...."
But Jade did not get to finish, she was scooped away by a pair of strong arms. She struggled against the arms, in hopes that whoever had whisked her away from her new friend would release her.
"Jade, stop that. What are you doing out here alone? Don't you realize you could have gotten hurt? Didn't you hear those awful noises? I don't know what I'd do if something happened to you,"
Jade felt herself being tightly embraced. She finally realized who it was. Jackie.
"Uncle Jackie, I wasn't alone! My friend Seymor was there, where did he go? I need to tell him i'm sorry and that I want to help him! He's hurt and alone! Please let me go to him!"
"Jade, there is no one there. He must have left. We're returning here in the morning. Maybe your friend will come as well,"
"But...,"
"No buts, we're going now,"
Jade felt herself being picked up and carried away from her new friend and back to the inn. With tear filled eyes she whispered,
"Good bye, Seymour,"
Deep within the temple, Seymour was curled in a corner deep inside of the temple. He help his monstrous face in his taloned hands and sobbed. Deep sobs that came from the core of his being. He felt that he had actually connected with Jade, yet she had been ripped away. It had been fortunate that he had seen the shadow of jade's uncle coming and with a flap of his wings, had made it to the ceiling undetected. Now he was alone again, a state from which he feared he would never be free from. As the sun peaked over the mountain, Seymour stared blankly at it, hoping against hope that Jade wold come again. She hadn't run away, she hadn't even screamed at him. Could she actually learn to care for him? He hoped that she would, but feared that his dear Jade would not.
End Chapter 3
