Dale woke up to a burning in his chest. He felt as if he had been staked. When he looked down, all he could see was smooth, unblemished skin.
That's strange, he thought.
He got up and headed to the bathroom. Looking in the mirror, he carefully inspected his golden eyes. He then moved onto his nose. Nothing strange there. He ran an experimental hand through the golden hair spilling onto his shoulders. It was a bit mussed from sleep, but otherwise fine. Finally, Dale inspected his mouth. Two puncture wounds, rapidly healing, were on his bottom lip. He must have done that when the pain started.
Everything seemed normal. He didn't understand. He felt as if he were suddenly missing something vital. How could everything be so wrong, even though nothing had changed?
Dale sneered at his reflection, revealing two very sharp canines. It was hunting time. Shrugging off the empty feeling in his stomach, he rushed out to the line of trees bordering his backyard.
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Jade stared at the body on the bed. She took in the golden eyes, now flat and lifeless. The gray leathery skin stretched tightly over high cheekbones.
She bent over one last time and kissed Daren's lips. Stroking his spiky golden hair, she whispered into his shriveled ear, "I am not your little mouse anymore."
Jade extended one pale hand towards the chair leg protruding from his chest. Grasping it firmly, she shoved the makeshift stake farther down. She let go only when she heard the mattress tear.
Silently, she rose from the bed and dressed herself. Just before she left the house, she glared into a mirror near the back door. The bruises would fade, but her heart would forever bleed.
She had thought Daren was her beloved Jerek come back to her. He had looked the same. The soulmate connection hadn't been there this time, but she had been so overjoyed, she hadn't noticed until it was too late.
No longer will I let anyone treat me as an inferior.
Jade threw back her long, glossy black hair and stared hard at her jade eyes. They had been her namesake, back when she had been human. Her mother had liked to say she was her precious stone.
Jade snorted. Some gem she turned out to be.
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A/N – Hey everyone. I have no idea how many of you are actually interested in my stories, but I figured I would give you a glimpse of this one while I continue to be stumped with The Troubled Mermaid. I do hope you enjoy it.
I do have one person to thank. Kiana, you were a huge help with the editing process on this first chapter. For that, I will be eternally grateful.