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:
Chapter 19: Butterflies Affects Us All
Jade awoke from her slumber in the last place she expected; her bedroom.
She rubbed her sore forehead with a groan as she plopped back on her pillow. She'd been having a nightmare again, a recurring thing as of late.
After Halloween, Jade had begun to feel this wave of apprehension hit from time to time whenever she tried to piece together these insentient dreams. It was like an itch that, no matter how much she scratched, she couldn't rid herself of. Needless to say, she wasn't pleased when the unwanted feelings would surface.
While it was well documented that her mind was a dangerous place to tread, few truly understood the depths it held for the young girl. Her first instinct was to call her best friend when an abrupt thought reminded her of an unfortunate reality.
They were gone, having moved away some time ago.
Jade's memories were jumbled once again, cursing herself for forgetting something so impactful once again. It'd been a few months... or was it a few years? The time frame was always confusing and eventually, she'd just give up on trying to figure things out. Her brain was either so active that she would find herself tossing and turning in her bed at night, or when she did manage to get to sleep, it wouldn't last long due to a recurring nightmare that, indirectly, was linked to the events of Halloween night.
This night proved no different.
Jade found herself walking through a crowd, flanked by a mysterious figure. Though she couldn't see their face, she could tell that they knew one another in a significant capacity as warmth enveloped her whenever she'd look at them. As they wandered through what appeared to be a festival, she noticed a mysterious figure with their back facing her.
"What in the blue hell?" she arched an eyebrow, curious at the individual in front of them.
Like the comforting character, Jade couldn't make out the identity of the mysterious figure, yet she could tell that this person was not friendly. Evil eyes pointed at her with a sinister grin that left the goth frozen in fear. When she would turn to the pleasant being, they were no longer there, leaving Jade to face the entity alone just as it attacked.
Then she'd wake up in a cold sweat, confused and narrowly avoiding a panic attack.
"Why do I keep having this dream?" she huddled into a fetal position, her hard glare gradually softened as her true emotions crushed down the steeled facade.
The cool air bathed the campus of Hollywood Arts as its students poured out of the building eager for the next month of relaxation. Considering it was the month of February, this left many possibilities for the young boys and girls. Of course, this meant plenty of adventures for Travis, who was currently stuffing books into his locker.
Unbeknownst to him, someone was watching him with unknown intents from the shadows.
This didn't go overlooked for very long when he turned around with a cautious glare, though he would find nothing more than the occasional group of students chatting about their month-long holiday plans. Shaking his head, he instinctively rubbed the back of his neck as if trying to wipe away some unseen insect or something; after the events of the past few months, it was clear that he still hadn't fully recovered.
With a sigh, he shut his locker and began to make his way down the hall only to feel his phone vibrate in his pocket. Groaning softly, the boy pulled out the device and turned it on, seeing that he'd just received a text message.
Jade:
Come to the Black Box, please? Need to talk...
"What could she want this late?"
Almost immediately, his face shifted from a look of minor irritation to one of confusion as he turned around, heading down his impromptu detour.
The various conversations of those passing by took his mind on a rollercoaster of ideas and desires for his downtime. What held the most impact on his thoughts were none other than his beautiful girlfriends, Jade and Tori.
That's right, Jade & Tori were in a relationship with Travis.
While many understood his connection with Tori, Jade joining in was a shock to everyone at Hollywood Arts, especially when their most notable encounter was their attempt to kill the other. Perhaps it was the showcase that made a difference? Whatever happened, it was enough to convince the pair to join forces romantically.
Initially, Ahrya was against this but, after a long talk with her brother, she agreed not to interfere for his sake.
Being together for almost five months, he knew that they deserved to have something special done for them. The sounds of his army-style boots could be heard throughout the lone hallway showing that he was indeed alone but, it wouldn't last long.
"Here we go," he muttered to himself.
Pushing the door open, he found himself greeted by the lone figure of his scissor-loving partner, sitting along the edge of the stage in her standard dark garb. He stepped inside, catching her attention, and could tell that something was off. Her face, while holding a small smile, appeared strained.
Gazing lower, Travis saw her hands tightly gripping the edge of her makeshift seat and her legs, though crossed, would transition over each other every few minutes or so. Despite all of these subtle signs, there was one obvious one that he'd never miss.
"Hey." her tone; laced with worry and pain, drew out his empathetic side.
"Hey." he grinned softly. "Something on your mind?"
"Stuff."
"Jade?"
"What?" she mentally cursed at how harsh her response was. She could tell that no offense was taken as he sat down beside her; he was always understanding. Wrapping her in his arms, it was clear that she was struggling with whatever she wanted to tell him. "Sorry..."
"No problem." he kissed her temple. "But, seriously, what's going on Jade?"
She loved and hated how his warm voice melted down her icy defenses with minimum effort. "I've been having some issues."
"Issues?" he tilted his head. "Is it... that time of the month?" he whispered, occasionally looking around as if it was some deep dark secret. This earned him a rough shove and a cold shoulder from Jade.
"You can be an ass..." she crossed her arms, refusing to even look in his direction. "I'm trying to be open with you and you're joking around."
"I'm sorry, Jade." his amusement swiftly dropped to a more serious tone. "It was just a joke."
"Well it wasn't funny, Liam!" she snapped, her eyes filled with a fury rivaling the time when she was possessed until she realized her mistake. Seeing him wide-eyed and his mouth open, she clamped a hand over her mouth. "I... I'm sorry! I don't know why I called you... him!"
The damage had been though; Jade couldn't deny that as her beloved's face now resembled that of a wounded puppy.
"Right," his low tone, coupled with the trembling of his words only amplified the effect of her foolishness. "So, what did you want to talk about?"
Held hostage by his eyes, Jade couldn't find the words as her mind focused on his unreadable gaze. She didn't know why she called her boyfriend by her old friend's name. Something in her just uttered it and yet, it felt right.
As if time stood still, she pondered returning to her old ways, a complete 180 degrees from the young woman she had worked to become, with Liam's... Travis' help. That dark feeling, the need for self-protection grinned behind her, sensing its long hibernation coming to an end. All she had to do was keep pushing him away and that would be the final nail in the coffin; it was so easy to go back to old ways.
"You're still missing your friend, aren't you?"
She bowed her head in defeat, unable to combat Travis' notion. Jade felt the hints of a headache approaching so she slowly shook her head and tried to change the subject.
This was it, the moment of truth for Jade who gently chewed on her bottom lip for a few seconds. Parting her lips, she closed her eyes and grabbed Travis' hoodie, pulling the unsuspecting boy into a deep and longing kiss. Any attempt to speak was rendered useless as his moans would suggest. His eyes, previously wide and afraid, slowly shut as emotions lulled him into an angelic reverie.
Her soft lips were the perfect contrast to her intense movements. The two would quickly adjust, running fingers through the other's hair, pulling apart every so often for air, even noticing their respective scents as their need for understanding only grew.
Travis did his best to gain some level of control but succeeded in only winding up pinned under a remorseful Jade. Her hair shielded them both from outside gazes as she leaned in and captured his full lips with her own again. Each kiss now held some form of response to his inquiring mind.
Kiss.
I'm sorry.
Kiss.
Please forgive me.
Kiss.
I love you so much!
She poured out as much of herself as she could but, the clear orbs falling upon his cheeks gave him all he needed. Drops of pain and hurt stained his dark skin, trailing down without resistance. His heart ached for her as he cupped her cheek and wiped the fresh batch of tears away. Not comprehending everything, he felt that enough was processed for them to patch things up.
"Jade." the way Travis called her name, made her stomach do flips. He watched as she shut her eyes, emphatically shaking her head. She didn't want him to see her shame, though as she pushed off of him and gazed straight ahead. This did little to deter him though as he mirrored her movements, sitting up just enough to prop himself up on his forearms.
Why am I thinking about someone who's been gone? How could I? I am such a horrible girlfriend.
"Jade. Look at me, please?"
When she finally acknowledged her boyfriend, the evidence of her docility became apparent to the young man. While she still retained her snarky behavior at times, such antics were tame compared to before.
"I get it," he sighed. "Something about this Liam guy is bothering you. If I had to guess, he probably hurt you in the past."
Her silence spoke volumes to the concerned Travis.
Jade was resilient but, this? Seeing her boyfriend begging her to open up nearly broke her completely. She couldn't have him suffering for something that wasn't even his fault. Letting go of her pride, the gates to her soul lifted slowly giving him access to her vulnerability at its fullest.
"I don't want to lose you..." she pleaded.
"You won't lose me, Jade. I promise." he hugged the girl, tickling her ear with his lips. "Only you and Tori have my heart."
"You mean that?"
Travis nodded with a smirk. "I promise. You're my little ivory monster..."
Monster? I thought I was his dragon?
Rolling her eyes, she placed a light kiss on his lips.
"And you're my noble lion."
"So, what does that make me?"
The two nearly jumped out of their skin, turning to see a smirking Tori Vega standing only a few feet away from them.
"Dammit Tori," Jade spoke up, clutching her chest. "You nearly gave us a heart attack!"
To their surprise, she merely laughed at their current plight. "Sorry, I was just looking for you two and I didn't want to interrupt your moment."
Not in the mood for jokes at the moment, Jade glared at the giggling girl. "At least until now, correct?" her tone signaling caution to the brunette.
"Well, I couldn't resist such a perfect opportunity."
In Jade's mind, Tori was tied at the stake ready to be burned alive for ruining such an intimate moment. If it weren't for Travis having a firm hold of her waist, she could've gotten started with making that dark imagery a reality. Being the odd man in the middle, he wasted no more time in defusing the situation.
"So Tori! What did you want to tell us?"
"Oh, right. I got word from my Sikowitz about a new trip he had planned for later this month." To her surprise, the two exchanged sour looks.
Yerba...
While Travis showed visible discomfort, Jade once again felt something was off. She recalled going to Yerba but, everything was fuzzy. Visuals of a vicious madman, death games, unexpected aid, and a mysterious partner flashed in rapid succession before returning to the present moment. Was it Travis? Such assertions would have to wait...
"I don't know, Tori..." Travis spoke up first, averting his gaze.
"Maybe we should sit this one out?"
Tori remembered that horrific trip, frowning at the events that had transpired. Still, this wasn't going to deter the singer from her goal.
"I see your points, but we're not going out of the country this time."
Raising an eyebrow, Jade did little to hide the skepticism oozing from her pores. "Mhmm... so where would this trip take place then, Vega?"
"New Orleans for Mardis Gras." she answered in a 'matter-of-fact' tone.
"Mardis Gras?" Travis rubbed his chin lightly, deeply pondering Tori's answer.
"Land of Voodoo, Hoodoo, and a slew of otherworldly practices?" She then noticed Jade's smirk growing in size. "I think that's a definite improvement over last time."
The two watched Tori's eyes light up at seemingly persuading them to reconsider their initial declination of the trip.
"Alright, Tori," Travis chuckled softly. "I guess we're in too."
"Awesome!" she rushed over, planting a big kiss on both Travis and Jade. "I'll tell Sikowitz right now! Then we can get ready for the road trip."
Before either could say anything more, Tori had run off and disappeared, leaving her lovers behind.
"Road trip?"
The road trip was uneventful, to say the least.
For starters, the entire group wouldn't be attending the trip. Robbie and Ahrya had already signed up for a couple's course in cooking for their anniversary before finding out about the road trip; Though he'd never candidly admit it, Travis was discreetly relieved to hear that the two weren't going on this trip. The last thing he wanted was to deal with seeing his kin making out with her beau.
It was rumored amongst the group that the couple was intentionally left off of Sikowitz's invitation list due to their recent behavior but nothing was confirmed.
Whether that was true or not, Jade was the happiest to know that she wouldn't be dealing with that girl. Aside from the usual antics of romance, Ahrya seemed to rub Jade the wrong way. Having dreams to be the best was one thing, but the girl seemed to accomplish this in ways that made the goth wonder if she was a militant in a past life.
Either way, Jade felt her chest ache with an emptiness that required a bit of solitude.
Travis and Tori were troubled but ultimately honored her need to realign and unwind. While the others laughed and joked, Jade stayed in the back, content with letting her music attempt to drown out her thoughts; such was the fantasy of a naive girl. Try as she may, any such endeavor only agitated the void in her chest.
Heavy metal Metal only brought headaches. Country music just exacerbated the hollow area in her chest. She would settle for K-Pop but changed her tune when the idea made her cringe.
Jade had to face the fact that no amount of music was going to save her from this pit she found herself in.
But, she couldn't fathom how she ended up there in the first place.
Every memory of the past school year brought its own challenges to what Jade could recall. From the Showcase to Trina's disappearance to her break-up with Beck, it was as if every time these events occurred, it was Travis who was there to pick up the pieces. Such a noble act would make him the knight-in-shining-armor in anyone's book.
And yet, Jade could sense that something was off.
Her mind said that Travis was the one who'd been there for Jade all of this time, but her soul didn't agree with this notion. Maybe it was her lack of faith getting the better of her? Maybe such doubts were a result of her insecurities? Whatever it was, Jade wasn't thrilled to be feeling this way on a trip that was intended to bring peace.
Little did she know, such feelings were not mere coincidence.
Several more hours went by on the road to New Orleans after Sikowitz grabbed a wink of sleep. Considering they were having a paid vacation, no one bothered to complain... much... Every so often someone would bring up the obvious need to use the bathroom or pick up more snacks, but there wasn't anything serious to speak of from the future graduates.
At this time, the teacher let out a rather audible yawn that resembled the call of a wild boar.
Smacking his lips, he turned his head from side to side, scanning his surroundings. Seeing nothing out of the ordinary, his eyes rested on a sight none too foreign to him, the image of his students staring at him with uncomfortable glances here and there. At one point, he figured to himself that he'd miss these looks when they left, but now, he grunted like a neanderthal before pulling out the keys.
"You know?" he broke the silence, speaking over his shoulder. "Your faces will stick that way if you keep it up."
Andre and Cat peered through the window, taking in the scents that filled their nostrils from the unique stench of the swamps to the fresh smell of crawfish being prepared within the area.
Beck, typically used to the quiet surrounding, just soaked it all in as he closed his eyes, concentrating on the ride and sounds of the land. Trumpets soon filled the air, causing the students to all to observe the beauty of the city. Oddly built houses that held their own definition of beauty. The locals who noticed them would wave with large smiles on their faces; to which Cat emphatically greeted with a wave of her own.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we'll be arriving at our hotel in less than half an hour!" the coconut-loving nut educator they loved announced with vigor. "Once you've gotten settled in, please be sure to let someone know of your whereabouts whenever you decide to go out. Use the buddy system if able to and for the love of Gandhi, please promise me one thing children."
Every one of them gave him their undivided attention.
"Enjoy New Orleans!" he grinned proudly.
Night swiftly fell over New Orleans. In many parts of the city, the stars practically outshined the many lights.
Most of the group and Sikowitz decided to take the moment to rest and recover from being on a bus for such a long period. Meanwhile, in the middle of town, a young woman with terra hair and blond streaks wandered through the crowd with a young man leading the way for her and her partner while they marveled at the sights and culture of the city.
Her partner, a young woman in her early twenties, sporting a masculine-styled black pixie haircut took hold of her lover's hand, showing off a tattoo of a sugar skull, one of the several others placed along her body.
"I can't believe, after all of this time we're finally going on vacation!" she exclaimed while kissing the short-haired woman's cheek.
"Yeah, well... This is the party district and where I must leave you both."
The ladies looked at the young man, his smile as warm as his tone.
"Awww... Do you have to go so soon?" the brunette pouted.
"Sadly, I have to get some things for my family's shop and the owner will rip me a new one if I return without them. I'd hate to leave you both so soon, but the hotel is only a few blocks away from here, so you can manage."
Her lover rolled her eyes at the chivalry but she politely thanked the young man for his help before her partner gave him a hug of gratitude. From there he departed, leaving the couple to their own devices.
"How was your little reunion, babe?" the taller woman joked, smirking. "Does he do it for you?"
"Mercedes! You know it's not like that!"
"If I'm not enough, you can just tell me, darling..." Mercedes tossed her head back in faux sorrow. "Such pain is nothing to this wench! You only need to tell me the horrible truth that I am not enough for her royal highness!"
Such overdramatic conduct made the smaller woman sigh in annoyance, albeit with a lack of anger. Jabbing her partner, she earned an infectious giggle.
"Calm down, dear. He's just an old friend from a distant past... We were lucky he showed up or we'd still be lost!"
Mercedes looked away to hide her embarrassment, but her silence was enough for her lover.
"Whatever... Can we just continue to enjoy ourselves?"
"Sure. You deserve it," she sighed contently. "And we're just in time for Mardi Gras season? Things couldn't get more perfect."
"I'm here with you and that automatically makes this time better," she bumped the girl with her hip playfully, earning a light-hearted giggle for her troubles.
"For someone so tough, you sure can be a big softy." the brunette teased but wound up unable to move forward due to a hand gripping her jacket.
"solo para ti mi Amor (Only for you my love)"
As things were about to heat up, the amazoness pulled away to stare at her lover, or rather past her.
"Something wrong, Mercedes?"
The young woman shook her head, passing her significant other, her focus clearly on something else. Puzzled, she crossed the sea of locals and fellow tourists, her eyes set on someone specifically. Mercedes watched as whoever she had targeted, was flanked by two others at a far-off jazz club.
One whom she'd been following was a slightly pale-skinned girl with long black hair with streaks of blue at the ends clothed in an all-black ensemble, a tank top combined with a matching skirt and sheer leggings tucked into combat boots.
It was like looking in a mirror when she noticed the eyebrow piercing and tattoo of a raven on the back portion of her shoulder. As she pressed on, her eyes widened to find the tan-skinned girl turning her attention to a taller male, who she assumed to be African-American, with short hair. As the trio made their departure, no doubt in hopes of seeing the other sights Bourbon Street had to offer, Mercedes couldn't shake this feeling that she knew this girl.
Forgetting about her need for a relaxing vacation, she followed them. From china shops to the local restaurants, she refused to lose track of the three, even if it meant following them to a shady part of town. Sensing they were being followed, the girls would split off from their male ally, leading Mercedes on a
As if this was a predictable horror film, Jade and Tori wound up running into a dead-end near a river. Frustration set in when their ears took in the lone echo of footsteps stomping behind them. Their bodies stiffened like boards turning around shortly after amid the lone woman.
"Finally, I caught you..." she nearly wheezed. "I thought you two would never stop running!"
Stepping in front of a visibly worried Tori, Jade took a defensive stance. "Wouldn't have to run if we weren't be chased."
"Great, you're a smart ass too."
"Why are you chasing us anyway?" the goth managed to get out in between breaths.
"I need to talk to her." she pointed at a now confused Tori Vega.
"Tell us who you are and MAYBE I'll consider letting that happen." the amount of effort behind Jade's responses almost led Tori to believe that she was being territorial of her; as if, she was happy to protect her.
"My name is of no importance," she growled. "I just need to...!"
"What you need to do is leave them alone." a strong, forceful voice broke her threat attempt. Everyone turned their attention to the stoic figure walking behind the unknown woman. "Now, I believe my girls asked you a question."
Though his gaze was cold, it was enough to ignite a fire inside of the young woman. "I don't answer to hyper-sensitive boys!"
Twisting her body, she threw a low sweeping kick that successfully took him off of his feet. However, she was unable to land the finishing blow when he managed to torque his frame just enough to flip out of the way, giving him enough of an opening to throw a solid knee that was blocked by one of her own.
As he crouched to stand, she tackled him but found herself monkey flipped in the air forcing her to land on her back with a hard thud.
"You're pretty skilled, but that isn't good enough," he smirked confidently. "Sneak attacks are so unbecoming of a warrior though."
Pulling herself to her feet, the woman dusted herself off, paying no heed to his back-handed praise.
Without warning, she lunged at him once more, though, with enough time to counter, the boy was able to easily sidestep her and grab her wrist, folding it behind her head.
His advantage didn't last long as more footsteps began to echo through the night sky.
"Mercedes? Are you there?"
Everyone stared in shock at the voice calling out and even more when they spotted the two figures that arrived. That voice was so recognizable that nobody could deny the owner.
"Trina?"
"Tori?!" the older woman squeaked in shock at the sight of her sibling. Such astonishment would morph swiftly into horror when she noticed the young man still holding onto her girlfriend. "Travis?"
"You know these people?" Mercedes pulled away from her opponent who was still in awe.
Trina turned to face her, nodding with an unreadable gaze.
"Yes. She's my sister."
Taking in that revelation, she would turn her thumb behind her.
"Then who are those two?"
The older Vega sister felt like her heart was in a vice grip. Her mouth grew dry and her palms grew sweatier by the second. "T-the pale girl is J-Jade... and..." she couldn't bring herself to say the name of the male who, with the help of the goth, had gotten back up to his feet.
"So, after all of this time, you've come back from the dead?" Jade barked, not even trying to disguise the outrage in her voice.
As the conversation persisted in various directions, one person patiently watched, keeping his distance. Unlike the others, the young man wanted nothing to do with the chaos unfolding before and was only brought over when Trina happened to catch him searching for a particular herb at a nearby shop. His hands trembled in his pockets. A hastening heartbeat pounded in his throat while voices demanded that he leave.
It was a demand that he graciously accepted, slipping away just as things began to calm.
He was grateful that nobody had noticed him as he pushed through the crowd to quickly flee the scene. Unfortunately, while the young man managed to get out of dodge before the engagement turned to him, he unknowingly grabbed the attention of a pair of sapphires. She excused herself, relinquishing any anger once held toward the older Vega, to follow the figure, her mind urging her to push forward.
It couldn't be...
