Chapter 7
For the next few months, Jade's life was perfect.
Her day went a little like this.
She woke up to see Drago's grinning face.
They had a pillow fight or whatever they got their hands on that wouldn't cause Jade harm.
She went to break fast and scowl to herself when Drago looked at the female (good looking) agents.
He would apologise.
She would have her agent lessons and somehow pass them all with a cheeky smile on her face.
She would have her lunch while Drago snarled about his most recent run in with Black, or the 'fudge packer' as he liked to call him. That always made jade laugh.
Then she would return to her room and laugh, play games, have fun verbal spars with Drago and talk. These were the times when they learned the most about each other. When they were alone and with no interruptions. Jade learnt a lot about Drago. She learned about how he was half human, his mother unknown to him. how his father had made his life a quoted 'fucking nightmare and strife for me to just survive the day without that marmite minor or a school master kicking my ass, burning me, or those few, pleasant times when dear old dad would practice his more 'user unfriendly' magics on my hide. Fucking retard…'
But Drago learned just as much as Jade did, if not more. He had to chuckle as he learned how Jade actually got involved in the constant struggle that was the Chan's day to day life. All the way back with Valmont and the first round of the talismans. He understood how controlling her parents were in China, Jackie so mothering (or annoying as she put it) Uncle so deranged and manic, Tohru when he tried to gut her and then almost had a fit when she told him about their 'carbs are the enemy' work out sessions where she would take him around San Francisco for a 'light jog'. He had to admit that he found it rather refreshing that he could just sit down and talk with someone, who wanted to listen to him. Not be tolerant, but interested and understanding. And Jade loved how Drago didn't try to sugar coat…anything because of her age. His language was very colourful at times and his sexual innuendoes increased. Never towards her (not that that upset her…yeah…right…) but he treated her like the adult that she had been constantly telling everyone she was. She was nearly 14! How more adult can you get!
But today didn't go like 'every other day' like they had for the last few months.
Jade fluttered her eyes open and gasped as she looked directly into the red ones of her best friend.
"Morning My little Gem." He chuckled softly, and stroked her cheek. "Happy birthday." She gasped even louder when she realised that it was her birthday. With the whirlwind of her new budding friendship, and the lack of family and other friends in proximity, she had forgotten all about her own birthday! Drago grinned even more as he saw her big, honey eyes light up and shine at him, and her moth bloom into a beautiful smile. "I got you something."
"You did?" she sat up, not embarrassed that she was only in her Pj's. He had seen her like this often enough. "But I didn't ask for anything."
"Oh, yes you did." he chuckled, like a cat who most certainly got the cream. Months ago you did."
"I can't remember that?" she smiled. From the twinkle in his eye, she knew he was up to something. Something, she would definitely like.
"Here." Something heavy entered her lap, and she looked it over.
"But isn't this…Uncle's blow fish?" She raised a brow, and looked to him. "I asked for Uncle's blow fish? Now I cant remember doing that."
"No, you didn't ask for that." he chuckled and jumped off the bed. he seemed to be skipping across the room to her drawers. She blushed but didn't protest as he threw things from her draws. Her face looked like a tomato when he threw her underwear at her. especially her lacy, petite bra. He turned, humming a tune to himself as she changed. As usual, she wore her smaller flame shirt that was jagged around the rims and edges, exposed her left shoulder, her black jeans, her black fingerless gloves, and her present from Drago when they first went shopping. A smaller, but identical version of his leather coat. It had the sleeved torn off too.
"Ok chuckles, why are you singing like you just won an all excess pass to moose world for a month?"
"Ooo, we can do that later if you like." She raised a brow, and walked closer. "But first, you birthday present." He crouched down and rested his elbows on his knees, looking at her with something in his eyes that she couldn't quite place. "Come here my little Gem. Time to come and get me."
"But you are locked in a cell…right?"
"Right. how clever you are my little pupil." He grinned and pulled on her sides, hugging her closer, and making her face the door like a teacher. "But not for looooonnnnnngggg." He sang and her face lit up immediately.
"I know what you mean now!" Jade giggled madly. "You want me to free you, right?" he grinned even more (if possible) and nodded. "So that is what you meant. When you said I asked for this. I asked to see you, the real you when I first found out that you were alive. Oh my god Drago!" Jade sheathed the tail of the magical fish in her belt, wrapped a towel around him and hugged him furiously. "This is the best gift you could ever give me!"
"I was hoping you would say that." they stood in silence for a moment, simply looking into each other's eyes…and he let it slip. "When I get us out of here, I am going to kiss you." He didn't even falter when she gasped and blushed furiously. But she didn't seem to object… "Come, the sooner you find me, the sooner I can touch that soft skin of yours." Yes, now she beamed up at him. "Even though your skin covers that pain-in-the-arse of yours." She chuckled at his smirk, and they left.
Jade looked left to right all the time to see if any of the agents had noticed that she was going the wrong way, or that she smelt of fish. As her eyes darted at a maximum security door, Drago stopped, grabbed her sleeve and yanked her inside a cupboard with him, looking out of the door gap. There, stood Captain Black, holding a cup of coffee and talking to one of the guards. "Now Jade, I will have to distract the guards and piss Black off enough to make him take the guards away. Then, sneak past them and I will instruct you then. You will have to chant for me Pauk mie con cha."
"But." But he was gone.
Jade watched through the ajar door, looking as Black seemed to grit his teeth at a sound that came from behind the large steel door with so many bolts, she couldn't count them all in fear she would miss what ever instructions she was waiting for.
"How
the hell did we wind up like this
Why weren't we able
To see
the signs that we missed
And try to turn the tables
I
wish you'd unclench your fists
And unpack your suitcase
Lately
there's been too much of this
Don't think its too late
Nothin's wrong
just as long as
you know that someday
I will
Someday, somehow
gonna make it allright but not
right now
I know you're wondering when
(You're the only one
who knows that)
Someday, somehow
gonna make it allright but
not right now
I know you're wondering when
Well i hoped
that since we're here anyway
We could end up saying
Things
we've always needed to say
So we could end up stringing
Now
the story's played out like this
Just like a paperback novel
Lets rewrite an ending that fits
Instead of a Hollywood
horror
Nothin's wrong
just as long as
you know that
someday I will
Someday, somehow
gonna make it allright
but not right now
I know you're wondering when
(You're the
only one who knows that)
Someday, somehow
gonna make it
allright but not right now
I know you're wondering when
(You're
the only one who knows that)
How the hell did we wind up
like this
Why weren't we able
To see the signs that we missed
And try to turn the tables
Now the story's played out like
this
Just like a paperback novel
Lets rewrite an ending that
fits
Instead of a Hollywood horror
Nothin's wrong
just
as long as
you know that someday I will
Someday, somehow
gonna make it allright but not right now
I know you're
wondering when
(You're the only one who knows that)
Someday,
somehow
gonna make it allright but not right now
I know
you're wondering when
(You're the only one who knows that)
I
know you're wondering when
(You're the only one who knows that)
I know you're wondering when!"
"Alright Drago. This is not a pop song recruitment centre." He said sternly.
"What? Don't you like my singing? I thought you kind likes theatrics?"
"I am not Gay Drago, stop saying I am." He was getting enough nervous glances as it is.
"But I feel like singing today." He grinned at the scarlet veins that popped in Black's eyes. Not much further now. Just push a little more. "I have learned an appreciation of your mortal music."
"I notice you like Nickelback. Jade likes them too."
"I
know. I stole her walkman once. Love them." so that is where my
walkman went. Jade made a mental note to remind him of it later…
just then Drago burst out into song again. He sounded remarkably like
the actual singer. She would have to tell him that later too. "Never
made it as a wise man
I couldn't cut it as a poor man stealin'
Tired of livin' like a blind man
I'm sick inside without a
sense of feelin
And this is how you remind me
This is how you
remind me
Of what I really am
This is how you remind me
Of
what I really am
It's not like you to say sorry
I was waiting
on a different story
This time I'm mistaken
For handing you a
heart worth breakin'
I've been wrong, I've been down
To the
bottom of every bottle
Despite words in my head
Scream "Are
we having fun yet?"
Yet, Yet, Yet, no no
It's not
like you didn't know that
I said I love you and I swear I still
do
It must have been so bad
Cause living with me must have
damn near killed you
This is how you remind me
Of what I
really am
This is how you remind me
Of what I really am
It's
not like you to say sorry
I was waiting on a different story
This time I'm mistaken
For handing you a heart worth breakin'
I've been wrong, I've been down
To the bottom of every bottle
Despite words in my head
Scream "Are we having fun yet?"
Yet, Yet, Yet, no no
Never made is as a wise man
I
couldn't cut it as a poor man stealing
And this is how you remind
me
This is how you remind me
This is how you remind me
Of what I really am
This is how you remind me
Of what I
really am
It's not like you to say sorry
I was waiting on a
different story
This time I'm mistaken
For handing you a
heart worth breakin'
I've been wrong, I've been down
To the
bottom of every bottle
Despite words in my head
Scream "Are
we having fun yet?"
Yet, Yet, Yet, no no"
"Drago stop that singing! You are supposed to be in torture, not having the time of your life…unless you are cracking up at last! Victory!" Black jumped in the air and ran at his men. "Quick. We have to get Uncle and get the information from Drago while we can. Hurry! Everyone!" and just as Drago had predicted, they all left. Although she could hear the singing, she couldn't actually see Drago through the wall.
"What did he say to chant again...Pauk mie con cha? I hope this works." She pulled the blow fish from her hip and she began to chanted as it began to glow…blue? Wasn't that Dark Chi? Great, Jade was using Dark Chi at leisure. But it would be worth it. Jade walked down the corridors and hall ways, ducking and hiding around corners as agents walked past her. They were all following an ecstatic Cap Black. The thick door swung open after glowing blue…and she saw a large corridor? Wait, she had heard Drago like he was just on the other side. How was this possible?
She realised, she was helping a wanted, dangerous Dragon Demon prince escape underneath the noses of all the J team. All her family and friends had forgiven her for giving Drago all of the Demon chi before, but if she freed him this time…Her breathing got faster as the blowfish tugged her further and further into the complex, down more and more stairs and going deeper underground. She finally saw a room with large locks on the bolts and no way in. "Now what?"
"Jade?" She looked behind her and saw astral Drago.
"I'm here."
"Good. I knew you would be. Now, close your eyes." Jade closed her eyes and felt really strange. Something was flowing through her arms and making her head feel slightly dizzy. "Chun pa tsou." The words left her lips, but she didn't say them.
"Jade!" She span round and saw Jackie running towards her.
"Back off Chan!" Wait! I didn't say that!
no, I did Jade.
Drago! You're in my head! Why? How?
that doesn't matter. Relax. Let me take control of your body.
But!
Do you trust me Jade?
…Yes.
"Jade, what are you doing!"
"Jade isn't here Chan. And soon, neither will I!" Jade turned back to the wall and chanted again before Jackie could stop her. "Chun pa tsou!" the blowfish shot from her hands and exploded against the wall.
see you on the other side Jade.
"Jade? What did you do!" Jackie pinned her arms to her side, and she regained control of her body in a wave of cold. "Jackie?"
"Oh, you're back. Thank God." Jackie held her tightly…but she didn't hold him back. "Jade?"
"You lied to me."
"What?" Jade pulled away and looked to the hole in the wall. But the fish looked to have made a hole in some bars too…
"Aww. I hope I'm not interrupting anything Chan!" Drago's nostrils flared and smoke started to flow fro his mouth.
"Drago!"
"Don't act surprised Chan. Jade knows you kept the truth from her. That you lied to her." Drago walked over to Jade, who was running towards him.
"Jade! Come back here!"
"NO!" Jade saw at once that she would have to make a choice. Jackie or Drago. She stood between them and thought hard.
"Come on Jade, come back here and we will put Drago back in his cell." Jade looked to her uncle, and then to Drago. He smiled at her, making her heart flutter and he reached with one hand.
"Come on my little Gem. Time to go." Jade didn't budge and let Drago put his hand on her shoulder. "Are you ready for some fun?" Jade looked to her palling Uncle, and back to Drago.
She had made her choice.
"Yes. Yes I am." Drago roared in joy and laughter, before lifting Jade up and holding her close. Very possessively.
"Jade!"
"I'm fine Jackie. I am safe. Don't come after me or else." Drago chuckled and nuzzled her neck, taking in all her scent.
"Good choice Jade. My precious little Gem." Oh yes, he had become quite attached to her. Can't you tell?
His eyes radiated heat and Jade hid her face in his chest, feeling his pecks beneath and out of view. But she heard his chuckle. "How would you stuffed little friend say? Up up and away!" with his heat beam eyes he blasted a large whole in the roof, and rocketed through it, holding Jade tightly to his chest.
Jade watched as her family, her old life grew ever smaller. Like ants Jackie ran around on the floor, panicking like the very creature she was comparing him to.
They kept flying for a long time. Neither of them said anything until Drago landed on the roof of a large story of flats, and looked to her. "So, me and you. Living together." He smiled. "I have just the place in mind." He reached out with a claw, and ripped a portal in the air before them. it shone with a mixture of good, and bad chi as seen from the golden rays and the dark, smoky tendrils as they liked at the normal realm. "My world Jade." He put her on her feet, held her arms and looked her in the eyes. Those eyes that had looked upon him with the utmost admiration for so long. "If you step through here with me Jade, I might never let you go. But I am giving you the choice. I can return you to your uncles if you wish…or I can make you a princess like you deserve!" he seemed to rub her arms again and looked longingly at her. "I want to cherish you like your foolish uncles never did. Teach your magics that they wouldn't dare to and never would; I want to…care for you. I have my own castle Jade, and we can live there. I am a Dragon/Demon prince after all. I could offer you anything your heart desires. And that is a promise."
"Anything my heart desires?" she blushed slightly, but he didn't notice. He was still hooked that she might be hooked on coming with him.
"Anything and everything." She looked up into his eyes, and smiled.
"Then what are we waiting for?" he roared again, loving his luck.
"Happy birthday Jade." He held her hand and they walked up to the portal, but he stopped her just before they entered. "I do believe I have forgotten something."
"Oh?" his eyes twinkled with the alien light again, as he lowered to one knee.
"Yes. I did say that once I got us out of here…" One claw lifted her chin, and the other hand snaked around onto her back. "…I would give you something. Can you remember what that was Jade? My stunning little Gem." He could tell from his behaviour that Mating season was drawing ever closer. As was his lips to hers. She was so young, he kept telling himself. So very, very young. But he couldn't stop himself. Something, whether that be the impending mating season that all Demons had to endure, or because this was Jade, how he had grown so close to, he couldn't decide. In the end it might have been both. But as Jade parted her lips ever so slightly, he closed his eyes and felt the last shreds of his self restraint ebb away. He was so close, their breaths mixed and he wanted ever so much to just dart out with his tongue and taste the delights of the one who had freed him.
"A Kiss?"
"Jack pot."
