Jiaz: I just love tormenting Jade's family. You wait and see. *roars with diabolical laughter*
Rika: Thanks.
Madnun: What will happen to Paula would not come so soon. Haha. Jasper can't make an appearance yet becoz I haven't found anything to do with him.
Spawm: Thank you. Indeed, as I was reading back, it sounded a little too detached. I shall try to work on stirring audiences' emotions harder.
Char: Hehe, see? I'm repentant. I really am.
Jac: perhaps you can post here you know, that way I don't have to keep remembering what you said through smses. Very taxing on my meager brain. Hehe.
Shir: Thank you! Haha!
Ching: Noe you're reading!!
Well, been very tired these days due to my drama prac and the weather here is practically killing me.
On we go!
The droplets of sweat slid down the temples of Maybel. It was already the seventeenth time she was trying out the spell. Brushing hastily away the drop of sweat that fell onto the crusty old paper, Maybel scanned through the list of ingredients again.
"…Clive oil, goat's liver, live frog…" Her voice trailed off as she double-checked the list with the ingredients on her work desk. The blood in the cauldron bubbled noisily as white smoke rolled off the surface of the thick liquid. Maybel tucked a stray strand of silvery-white hair behind her ear, messaging her aching back with another hand while bending over the cauldron to sift through the stuff in it.
"Dragon's scales!" she exclaimed suddenly upon remembering the missing ingredient. Must be my old brain, she lamented. She crossed the room and was about to reach into a cupboard for the packet of scales, when she caught her reflection in the full-length mirror. She approached the mirror slowly, unable to recognize the old woman in the reflection.
The hair was silvery-white, no longer the luscious crown of black hair she had just a few days ago. Her skin was papery, wrinkled and dry. Lips chapped, sunken cheeks, she looked nothing like the Maybel she saw a few days ago, right at this very position. A feeling of sick denial threatened to break free from herself. No, no, she thought, shaking her head fervently, this is not me. Not! Her hands flew around wildly and she caught a candle holder. Hurling it forward with all her strength, she gave an angry shriek as the mirror broke.
Maybel stared at her reflections, her chest heaving up and down in exhaustion. The mirror had broken into fragments, but most of the pieces still held on to the gold-rimmed frame. Wait, there is something familiar about the reflection, she told herself. The familiar blue-green eyes, the pouty lips, she did see herself. I just need to cast the spell again, she realized, an immediate sense of relief warming her heart. She gave a smile and then remembered her task.
Having put in the correct number of dragon scales, she picked up the piece of paper and started to recite the spell for the eighteenth time.
"Darkest secrets of the deep/ Greed makes all beings go down weak/ Demon of desire come forth and meet/ Grant me all and rewards be reaped."
The cauldron bubbled furiously and Maybel hardly had a chance to step back before the contents in the cauldron erupted like a volcano. But the blood red liquid, instead of raining down on her, became a light mist of crystal clear water.
"So… where are you, Demon of Desire?" She called out softly, the room dead silent after the explosion.
You called for me, witch.
Her heart squealing in delight, Maybel suppressed a giggle. "Yeah, I did."
You know the price of greed.
"I do! I do!" she answered quickly, looking around for the Demon.
And what is your command, witch?
A determined light glinted in the blue-green eyes of Maybel. It had been a wish, a wish that she had for almost twenty-nine years.
"I want back what's mine."
* * * * * *
Jade leaned back into the strong body of Kyle Caldwin, gazing up at the starry night sky. It felt good to be out at the beach late at night, enjoying the breezy cool wind and the sound of the waves crashing on shore in the otherwise quiet night.
"You know, I can lie like this in your arms forever." Jade mumbled softly. A chuckle from Kyle brought a smile to her face. It had not been easy for the couple to get together; they had gone through a lot of pains and obstacles to be with each other finally.
Right from the start, when they had discovered that they were soulmates through the soulmate link, it was a typical forbidden love. For there were laws in the Night World, that humans were not supposed to know about the Night World and more importantly, that Night People were not allowed to fall in love with humans.
Jade turned around and looked at Kyle. His face was illuminated by the gentle moonlight, dark eyes so deep-set they were hidden in the shadows of his brow bones. Sharp nose, high accentuated cheekbones and strong jaw line, Jade often wondered what she had done to deserve a soulmate that gorgeous.
But it was not all about the looks. Jade knew Kyle well enough to see beyond his cold façade. Kyle was not one who showed his emotions often, unlike his best friend Russell. Her soulmate's character was hard to grasp, sometimes Jade found even herself trying unsuccessfully to second guess his actions. However, his acts of saving Circle Daybreak, an organization of good Night People – and dying in the process of it – proved that he put his duty above his own life and safety. Not forgetting the two occasions when he saved Jade's brother, Jasper, from death.
It was only fair when Jade managed to tap onto her own powers as the Source to resurrect Kyle. Of course, immense love for Kyle and guidance from an Elder, Skye, had played vital roles in helping her unleash the powers that she never knew she had.
"What?" Kyle asked when Jade did not say anything after staring at him for a long time.
"Just trying to take a mental picture of you." Jade said. An amused smile played on Kyle's lips, "You need not do this. We can take a picture. I'm a vampire, not a ghost."
Jade ran a hand through Kyle's spiked-up hair. "I know." She peered closer at him upon hearing his soft sigh. "Why? What's wrong?"
Kyle looked up at the moon and his black eyes glittered under the moonlight, "I'm down for a mission again."
Jade was disappointed. "What? Again? But…" her voice dropped. A part of her did not want to part from Kyle ever again, but the rational self in her told herself that Kyle was an Elder understudy; it was only right that he would be sent for missions often – that was, if he survived the previous ones.
"I'm sorry." Kyle said softly. Jade gave a quick smile. "No, it's okay. I understand. Is this mission going to be dangerous?"
"Missions are always dangerous." Kyle said it with such seriousness that Jade almost laughed. The solemnity in Kyle always made him looked innocent, yet at the same time he appeared to have such an old soul. But the weight that had not been there since they got together a month ago started to weigh down her heart again.
The two headed back to the Daybreak Center. It was nearly dawn and Jade was feeling exhausted. Standing at the doorsteps of Jade's apartment, where she stayed with her mother Paula, the couple hugged for a long while. "I'll be gone by the morning, so don't come looking for me." Kyle whispered into her ears. Jade nodded slowly, her heart unwilling to let him head into danger again. She was so close to losing him, and she did not want to go through the pain again.
Kyle gave her a light kiss on her forehead. "Take care of yourself." He turned and was about to leave when she stopped and said with a sinister smile on his face. "And, oh, do behave."
* * * * * *
Well, that's it, second chapter. Thank you for staying tuned.
Now that the Demon of Desire had been summoned, what trouble will he brew? Where will he brew them at? And what mission is Kyle going to? Will Jade be able to withstand the loneliness? Will Kyle be able to take that loneliness either?
Or, *smirks* will they end up like Vicks and Becks?
Gotta stay tuned to find out! In the mean time, review! Thank you!