Monsters & Demons

Rated M

Genre: Drama & Adventure

Summary:

When Tori arrived at Hollywood Arts, she knew things wouldn't be the same. Little did she know that she and her friends would find themselves wound into more than teenage drama. Jade thought all she had to worry about was her status being threatened. Does Trina finally have a true friend? A trio of newcomers shows up, bringing along more than the gang bargained for. Homework and plays don't sound so bad anymore.

A/N:

Here's the final chapter of the Yerba Arc.

In truth, it's really just me putting a bow on things before entering the next arc. There will be some elements of supernatural/Spirituality during the next set of chapters, but they shouldn't overshadow the overall story. The biggest factor will be the rivalry between the main characters, Liam and Travis.

Each will have their time to shine and all will be explained as the story progresses.

For now, enjoy this clean-up chapter and I'll see you all next time!


Chapter 16: Recovery Begins


As the plane reached its cruising altitude, Jade and Liam did their best to relax. While they hoped to go straight to L.A. there was a layover that required them to stop in New York first. A minor inconvenience to the teens. All that mattered was that they would be on American soil once more, away from the wretched country of Yerba. There were so many things that they couldn't wait to return to family, music, plays, and homework.

Anything was better than that war-torn country to them.

Katalaya and Garou would remain nearby to give the duo some privacy.

Still, some issues would need resolving when they arrived.

Namely two unfortunate souls who would potentially feel the wrath of Jade West should she ever gets her hands on them.

In the meantime, her mind would remain focused on a more urgent matter. As for Liam, he remained firmly in the middle seat of the row with Jade occupying the window seat. Despite his assurance, she was willing to let him out of their sight as he remained in the lying down position except to eat and use the restroom.

He had managed to get a little patched up, considering his wounds re-opening weren't necessarily deep. His ribs were indeed cracked but he would survive until they made it home. He would have to settle on Jade nagging him about the extent of his injuries even though he just wanted to watch the in-flight movie.

Once they managed to agree, Liam finally allowed himself to settle into his seat.

"What a crazy trip, huh?"

"Too crazy if you ask me..." Jade grumbled softly.

Despite his light chuckle, the goth couldn't shake the monkey off her back. No longer were they prisoners bound to the laws of a war-torn nation. There was no longer a deadly distraction to hide behind. Her feelings were unrestrained, swirling inside her chest.

"Jade, how often do you have to go to the bathroom? I'm tired of getting up..." he playfully bemoaned only to feel a finger stab his injured shoulder. "Yeow!"

"Smartass! I just... I know we agreed to wait and talk about things but, I can't wait."

Sensing the severity behind her words, Liam dropped his grin to match the tone. If she needed this moment, then he would grant her this. After taking a deep breath, Jade proceeded with her first question.

"How long have you had a thing for me?"

"Excuse me?" he jerked in his seat, hissing from his stinging side.

One serious glare and pointer directed at him forced Liam to raise his hands in defeat, despite the pain coursing through him. Jade was in no mood for jokes and games, a sentiment the boy shared. Another few seconds passed with the pair staring into the other's eyes, neither finding anything but legitimacy.

"I guess I've always had a thing for you since we were little. You were my first real friend when my family moved to L.A. I didn't think it was anything serious until we started growing up together and I got to see just how beautiful my best friend was becoming. After that, it just grew from admiration to outright attraction."

"Really?"

"Sure, you're rough around the edges, but that's a part of your charm, Jade. While others may view you as a heartless monster, I can tell they're misunderstood. You're sweet when you want to be. Your grit and determination are infectious. It's that fire that drew me to you when we first met. Many fear those flames will burn them, but I always loved the warmth and light that you possess."

Speechless, Jade narrowly held back the blush that crept along her face, though intrigue did dance behind her teal orbs.

Nobody, not even Beck had managed to describe her in such a way. It wasn't flattery, but a genuine dissection of her character; a little poetic if she was being honest.

"Such a gentleman..." she tucked some hair behind her ear. "...I guess that's what runs through your mind when we finally kiss?"

Now it was Liam's turn to blush, stammering slightly and averting his eyes, much to Jade's delight.

Leave it to Jade to flip the script...

He didn't fault Jade for hitting low this time; she deserved to have a bit of fun to keep things light.

It was her way and Liam knew that. Jade was unlike herself or at the very least, the image she portrayed to everyone else. Next to her sat the one person who'd seen her at her most vulnerable and still accepted her. Hell, if she hadn't stopped him, he would've killed for her, a thought that made her respect and fears the boy even more.

However, such a sensation wouldn't deter Jade from what she wanted.

"My next question is a simple one," she slyly wiggled her eyebrows. "Will you kiss me now?"

Unlike the first question, Liam didn't answer right away, instead, he chose to take his time, causing the nerves to rattle Jade more and more by the second. Sure, they agreed to keep things civil until after she broke up with the boy, but something in her couldn't hold back the impulses.

Curiosity and a slight feeling of worry began to get the better of her at this point, shown when she found herself nose to nose with the boy in hopes of prying an answer out of him. Stunningly, she found herself on the receiving end of a quick but meaningful touch. A little worry flickered in Jade's mind when an involuntary moan escaped.

Thankfully everyone was either asleep or preoccupied to notice the two.

As their lips met, a spark had set off between them, deepening their desires. Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on how you view it, they had to tear away, leaving Jade West in a love-struck daze, her lips stretching into an adorable smile.

The soft moan and shiver that resulted caused Liam to smile in the middle of their liplock before pulling away.

"How's that for an answer?"

A goofy grin was his reward for such a gesture.

"Perfect..."

"I hope you can keep that energy when we get home, Jade..."

The flutter in her gut ceased at the implication, understanding and dreading the truth behind his words.

"It's not cheating if he's not my boyfriend... Not anymore."

"Jade?"

"He forfeited that right when he left me on the runway AND left me to fall from the plane."

"Allegedly..." Liam lifted a skeptical eyebrow.

"Either way, I refuse to be with someone who's too selfish to even try."

"While that is a valid reason, I'd still feel more comfortable after you've told him yourself," he rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "While in Yerba it was permitted given our circumstances, I don't either of us want the drama of a love triangle and I'm in no shape to fight."

Jade couldn't help but smile at his upbeat attitude even despite the distressing reality that awaited them.

"I'm sure you could take him even with your injuries. I'm more concerned with what your sister is going to do when she sees us."

"Don't remind me..." Liam sunk slightly in his seat. "Lucille's going to flip when she finds out what happened to us."

"But, I promise I'll keep the romantic stuff to a minimum until this thing with him is resolved." Liam nodded and pulled his seat back into the downright position. He was grateful that there weren't that many people on the flight and he was going to take full advantage of that fact. Interestingly, he felt a sharp pointer lightly tap his shoulder. Gazing back at him was a disappointed Jade biting her lip softly. "Would it be alright if we still held each other from time to time?"

"Like now?" he grinned softly.

"Yes?" she fluttered her eyelashes comically.

Liam couldn't resist the smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

He agreed, giving Jade a chance to get comfortable. She responded by sensually crawling over him, staring deep into his eyes as she maneuvered herself on top of him, careful to avoid his damaged ribs. Heavy eyes soon closed as she felt the familiar fervency of her human cocoon engulf her. Then, with a soft un-Jade-like yawn, she began to drift off to sleep, eager to get back to the mundane normalcy of her life at home.

The last thing she remembered was feeling a pair of soft lips caress her forehead, allowing her to fully succumb to the stillness of her soul. Sure, a lot was waiting for them both when they returned, but, they'd cross that bridge when they got there. For now, all that mattered was that they were free, they were alive, and most importantly...

"We're going home..."


"I must be crazy..."

Jade weaved through the occupants picking up that something was amiss; it was a feeling that pestered her as she pressed forward. Even waiting inside the elevator, Jade would catch herself fiddling with her hair or clutching the sleeve of her dark blue top. The seconds passing would only result in butterflies fluttering inside of her.

Thoughts flew past her mind as if a hurricane of ideas and questions had touched down in the center of her brain.

Am I nuts? she asked herself. He's probably still in that medical coma... I should just turn back and-.

That familiar ding, the signal that told her that she had reached her destination pulled Jade from her inner monologue.

6th Floor: Intensive Care Unit.

Those words caused the girl to swallow a lump in her throat that she never realized was there before and though Jade wanted nothing more than to remain in that elevator, she found herself stepping through the open doors in search of the room that held her close friend and crush.

To take her mind off of the nerve-racking reality that awaited her by focusing on the encounter with Lucille. It was a shock to hear that the woman still considered her a member of the family, especially with the strained issues regarding the past incidents. They would reconcile during the time of Liam's recovery until Lucille was called into work. Jade was sure that the woman would've held some form of a grudge after hurting Liam on more than one occasion and in multiple forms.

Regardless, Jade was gifted the privilege of keeping watch over Liam during his rehab.

It was a wonder how someone could be so forgiving and understanding yet, here she was, granted complete access to see her injured confidante. Even still, there were some good memories as well.

Particularly, one night in Yerba oddly enough.

Remembering that night brought a grin to the girl's face, a tiny bit of relief for her.

That solace would become lost in the wind once she found herself staring at the oak wood door of Liam's room. For someone who was known as an impenetrable fortress emotionally, Jade was acting uncharacteristically right now.

"Only for you..." she whispered, her hand slowly pushing the door open in front of her.

Inside, Liam was sleeping soundly though he was still pretty wrapped up with medical bandages.

The sounds of a slow and steady heartbeat were a promising sign and, upon closer inspection, she realized that his head was nearly devoid of the wraps except along the bridge of his nose. A rosiness snuck up on her cheeks when she thought of how cute he looked when he was asleep.

Then it hit her...

He was damaged, severely.

She let out a sharp breath and grabbed a chair to sit next to him.

"You know?" she chuckled bitterly. "I wasn't sure if I was able to see you so soon after your surgery. I have to admit that even though I get a kick out of pain well... the good kind anyway, it pains me to see you like this."

With a swift peek at the cracked door, Jade smirked softly knowing that nobody was around to see or hear her like this. Worried. Sorrowful. Angry. These feeling and more mixed in her like a bubbling cauldron that only seemed to make her feel worse as they continue to sit inside.

"How did we get here?"

Jade leaned towards the comatose boy, taking in every detail of his facial features. She was never one to break down in a sob without a serious enough reason. This was one of those rare moments; one that he truly deserved. Hot streaks flowed trailed down Ivory cheeks causing her vision to become blurred.

Her heart was heavy knowing, to an extent, what put him here.

"I... I haven't talked to anyone since we got back, but... I'll admit that it's a lot easier when you're conscious... and able to talk back. But, I haven't been able to bring myself to deal with the others right now. Too many questions..."

Jade slipped her hand under the open palm of her loved one, hoping for some sign of life to appear in front of her.

Nothing.

The emotional storm seemed to be dissipating only to be followed closely by a torrent of worry.

"It's pretty hard to sleep when I know you're in this state. I have to admit, it's rough dealing with all of this when you're stuck in my mind. You know being mushy isn't my thing and yet..."

"I'm sure he's thinking of you too."

Jumping at the voice, Jade averted her eyes to the lustrous floor. Kataleya entered the room with a soft smile. No longer in military garb, Jade was shocked to find the elder woman wearing a loose-fitting black shirt that hung off of her left shoulder and matching leggings tucked in boots. Civilian attire suited her well.

"Doubtful. He is still out."

"You sure like to be pessimistic about things," the woman giggled, much to Jade's chagrin.

"Meaning?"

"What I mean is, you don't allow yourself to enjoy the moment. You're always trying to gain the upper hand over someone so that you're in control. It's a far cry from the girl I've been around for the past few days."

Jade simply chewed her bottom lip softly, grateful that her long hair hid her feature. Katalaya was right though, she was being negative about everything right now. But, she felt like she couldn't help herself. She hadn't heard anything about Liam's status since he went in and it was eating away at her. Her palms were sweaty and her body would involuntarily shiver at random times.

"I just... I'm just worried about him..."

"It's normal to feel concerned for others. It's one of the strongest aspects of us as human beings."

"But, how can you be so sure? It feels like a weakness sometimes."

Jade felt a hand rest on her shoulder, luring her attention to the woman next to her. She was greeted with a teary gaze before watching the woman open her arms. If anyone she knew had been there to see her, they would've been floored to witness. Feeling herself about to tear apart, Jade accepted the invitation and hugged the older woman, letting herself release the hurt.

"I understand how you feel. Neve is just as important to me as he is to you."

Jade sniffed a few times before quickly wiping away the few tears that managed to escape.

"I guess you have a point? Um...?"

"You want to know why I call him Neve?" Jade bowed her head in acceptance. "It's a common word for my nephew, at least in New Orleans, if I'm correct."

"Nephew? You're his aunt?" the goth crossed her arms in disbelief. " I've been around the family for years and they've never mentioned you once."

"Technically, I'm his half-aunt," Kataleya sighed heavily. "Long story short, I was already considered a black sheep for my parentage but, after I chose to join the military instead of taking up the family business, Celeste and my other sister disowned me before I could ever meet him. Only Lucille still keeps in contact, secretly of course."

"But, that still doesn't explain how you recognized him at Yerba."

Expecting to stump the woman, Kataleya snickered at Jade's skepticism.

"Let's just say that our family possesses a... rare trait that runs in our family. Our eyes tend to shine when we experience severe effusive triggers. I'm sure you've had to notice once or twice, right?"

As Jade took a moment to consider the soldier's assertion, a familiar stirring ripped her from any further investigation. They both honed their attention on the now awakening Liam, assessing the status of his health. While he assured them that he was feeling better, Jade and Kataleya continued doting on him, making him wish that he'd remained asleep.

The three enjoyed the upbeat ambiance until the doctor returned to run some tests, leaving Jade to ponder her future goals. With the new semester approaching, the pair's return would be unveiled to the student body and she wanted to ensure that things were accurate.


BANG! BANG! BANG!

What the hell?! Beck groaned softly, his head throbbing from the pounding outside his door. She's not supposed to come over until...

Though his vision was blurry, he could make out that there was someone in his bed next to him. He also realized that while he usually slept with no shirt on, he could feel the feather touch of his covers on his bare skin below the waist. He rubbed his temples lightly, fruitlessly trying to soothe the skull-cracking pain.

"Open the damn door, Oliver!"

"Oh, shit...!" Beck's eyes broadened in horror from the voice roaring his name.

She pounded her fist against the metal door of Beck's RV like a woman possessed. Not one to be kept waiting, she thankfully ceased her banging as she heard him scrambling inside his makeshift home. A few more minutes passed before the door eventually hinged open, exposing a nervous and out-of-breath Beck Oliver.

"Jade?! What... How?"

To say that Jade reveled in the horror on Beck's face would be an understatement, even if her glower never faded. The fury in her eyes flickered dangerously as he cautiously put on the shirt he seized on his way out. Out of all of the people that he could've run into, Jade West was the last person he'd expected to find at his doorstep at this time.

"Oliver. You're here!" he nervously chortled.

"In the flesh..."

"When did you get back? How did you escape Yerba? I have so many questions!"

"That's interesting. I only have one..." she narrowed her eyes. "Why?"

"What?"

"Why did you leave me behind?"

He watched as she crossed her arms under her breasts, a transient sign of protection; at least her hands weren't near her trusty scissors. This did little to aid Beck though as he just stared at her as if he was looking at a ghost. He tried to come up with an idea that would justify his actions but his mind would only succeed in drawing a blank.

"Please, just let me explain..."

"I'm listening."

He took a few seconds to try and get a read on the girl, but, she showed no noticeable signs for him to detect. She was a blank slate as far as he could tell and that only added to the increasing levels of fear tightening around his heart.

"I um... I'm sorry about-"

"I agreed to an explanation, not your current state of being, Oliver. Tell me why you left me on that runway to be captured?"

"Jade..." he lowered his gaze to obscure his humiliation.

"What was your reason for not coming back for me? What compelled you to just keep running after you felt my hand leave yours? What kind of coward leaves the woman he claims he loves ave his skin?!"

By this point, hot drops of hurt and turmoil began to pool up along the corners of her eyes.

Her breath hitched in her throat as she tried to blink away the blurry image of the boy she had once believed to be her future.

Surprisingly, Jade managed to make out his expression, darkness cast over his features as he looked back at her, envisioning that very moment in his mind. In truth, this was a question he asked himself ever since the plane's cargo door slammed shut, separating him from his girlfriend.

"You wouldn't understand..."

At that moment, all ideas of self-control disappeared from Jade. Her eyes grew larger as inquisitiveness gave way to pure hatred. She felt her pulse in her stomach as her blood boiled. She had half a mind to slap the asshole.

And a whole mind to act upon it, crashing her palm against his face with enough force to knock Beck on his ass.

"Don't you dare patronize me! You know damn well why you did what you did!"

"It was a lapse of judgment, Jade..." he replied defiantly, shedding the shock and awe he felt earlier.

"I saw you stand there!"

"For all you know, it was an accident and nothing more!"

Jade wanted nothing more than to grab one of her hidden pairs of scissors and give Beck a personal makeover, but something held her back. A visual flashed in her mind of a young man's broken smile while lying in the flatbed of the getaway truck back in Yerba.

Her best friend, Liam.

Jade remembered how much blood fell from his body as he fought off a psychopathic soldier just to protect her. She recalled him getting shot in the shoulder twice by poisoned arrows just to ensure her safety. She reflected on how he was tormented just for standing up for her from whatever horrors the Yerba guards had connived for her.

He expects better of me...

Jade took a couple of deep breaths and counted backward. Slowly, the anger began to flow out of her as she focused her mind on anything other than the scene unfolding before her. She didn't care whether Beck saw her like this as more tears began to fall down her cheek; black streaks marking her skin for the boy to see. Clenching her eyes shut, Jade didn't notice Beck approaching her.

"I'm sorry I left you behind. I wasn't thinking..." he started. "It was one of the biggest mistakes I could've ever made."

"Yet, you made it without hesitation. You made a conscious decision and that's all that matters. Whether or not you meant to break my heart that night, you still did."

"Jade I-"

"No Beck. Enough is enough." her unusually composed tone unnerved the boy. "I know I'm not the easiest person to deal with, but, I know that I deserve better. Ever since we got back together, I've always felt this odd feeling, as if I was out of place in this relationship and now I know why. We aren't meant to be together, not anymore."

Beck Oliver knew where she was going with this, and he didn't like it.

"Jade, think about what you're about to do..."

"That's the thing, Beck. I have thought about this. I've had plenty of time to think about this and you know what? Between what happened in that forsaken country and school and... us... We're not good together."

"Jade..."

"Goodbye, Beck."

She said nothing else, opting instead to turn to her truck.

"Jade!"

Again, she refused to acknowledge his cry.

Beck was forced to watch as his now ex-girlfriend hopped into the vehicle and put it in reverse. Without another word, he just stood there helplessly as she pulled out of his driveway and drove off without even so much of a glance in his direction. Each second passing weighed heavier than the last as the truth of the situation began to haunt his mind.

"So... Is she gone?"

It was truly over this time...

He'd lost Jade.

"Yeah..." he lamented. "She's gone."

"Then come back to bed. We have some things to discuss before I head back home."

Without hesitation, Beck obeyed the feminine voice, retreating into his RV.