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 20: Uncomfortable Reunions
The cheerful crowds and tempting scents of many shops and stalls held no interest to Jade West.
No.
In her mind, the only thing that held her attention was the young man she'd been following for a reasonable distance now. After noticing him with Trina Vega, the shock of her appearance still held weight, even now, Jade couldn't shake off the feeling that she knew him. Long brown hair, coiled like snakes. A stubble of a beard sat on his chin but the most notable trait was what kept the girl going.
Those emerald eyes.
There was something about those pools of green that charmed Jade though she couldn't understand why. From what she gathered during their 'introduction', that was where the similarities ended. To her, he was a stranger, yet something about him felt familiar.
With each step, a resounding presence guided her through the masses, urging her to maintain her goal.
Stop running from me!
Her internal command went unheeded as her target seemed to turn a corner. Following, her eyes were shrouded in a pale blue hue of the back alleyways, mystery, and danger lurking behind the shadows of the New Orleans' faithful. Jade was no stranger to the underground, stepping into its depths without a second guess. The sound of her boots was accompanied only by the cicadas buzzing about.
Unfortunately, her search would be exhaustive when the boy seemingly vanished from sight.
"Where did you go?"
"You should be more concerned about yourself, child."
Spinning on her heels, Jade found herself cornered by a stern older woman. While still retaining youth and vigor, her face was not without its wrinkles, few as they may be. The tiniest traces of silver decorated the roots of her locs, the same style that reminded Jade of the boy. She had to be in her forties at the oldest, a sign of good health, both physical and spiritual.
But, the heterochromatic shades of green and orange struck the goth.
"And you are?"
"Apparently, I'm the one who wields all the manners that you lack," the woman rolled her eyes. "Kids these days; they're always given more freedom than wisdom."
Jade ignored the insult, peering past the woman in hopes of spotting the young man she'd been trailing. Alas, it would appear that her search would be all for naught as only the annoyed company remained, a tight frown and furrowed brow accompanying her.
"Look, if you could just give me directions back to the main streets, that would be lovely! I was searching for someone I thought I knew, but it seems that I ended up getting..."
"Lost?"
"Yeah..." Jade grit her teeth at the smug tone. "I could've sworn that he went this way, but I guess I was wrong."
"This city is known for its mysteries, even matters of the heart are no stranger to the spirits. Perhaps you were led here by fate?" The woman finally dropped her suspicion, adopting a more motherly tone. "While there are many people here for the festivities, perhaps I could be of assistance? Do you know what this boy looks like; a discernable trait that may stand out in your mind?"
Jade took a moment to gather her thoughts.
"He has hair like yours, except it's longer, about halfway down his back."
"Mhmm...?"
"He's tall and dark-skinned, about 6'2" in height?"
"That could be a lot of people, dear. The bayou houses many that fit that description. I'm afraid I cannot help you unless you know of something that would be considered unique."
Jade bit the inside of her cheek while suppressing the growl in her throat. While the woman had discontinued her hostility, there was something about her that rubbed the pale girl uncomfortably; could she be hiding something?
"I remember him having... I mean, he has emerald green eyes..." she started, unexpectedly recalling a characteristic so absurd that it would be inconceivable to deny should it fit the description. The image of his neck, the slightest traces of blood dripping from two puncture wounds as a result of an otherworldly creature. "A bite mark!"
"Yeah! He and I were best friends since our childhood. I remember he used to live in Los Angeles before-"
Half expecting the polite lady to back away, Jade was surprised when her crimson-clad host leaned forward. A soft frown appeared, contemplation and analysis were all her expressions revealed for several seconds. For the first time since venturing into the back corners, she felt uncomfortable while the elder invaded her personal space.
"Come with me, quickly" she motioned for the girl to follow with haste. "Say not another word until we've reached safety!"
"Why Trina?" Tori pleaded with her sister, tears brimming at her lids. Whether they were of anger or sadness no one was certain, not even Tori. "Why didn't you come to us if you needed help?"
Tori, you don't understand..." the older sibling groaned. "I was in a really bad place back then. I was involved in... some things that were too painful to discuss. Running away was the only choice I had!"
Standing before her sister, Tori didn't look phased at all by, what she considered to be a half-ass excuse.
"We could've helped you, Trina!"
"And who is this alleged 'we', Tori?!" The elder roared. "Mom and dad treated me like I was a pest! Your friends?! YOUR FRIENDS! Not a single one of them could ever be counted on to help, least of all me!"
"And what about Travis... or Ahrya for that matter?!"
Her feral glare locked onto the young man behind Tori, his face unreadable as they stared at one another. As if time had never passed, the intensity of their souls clashed, crumbling Trina's earlier resolve, betraying the soft gaze. I thought I was over him?! Why does my heart still ache so much?
"Trina, what happened?"
Trina could only bow her head in shame, her tears betraying what little strength she tried to project. If they wanted answers then she'd give them what they sought after.
"I was a prostitute, Tori..." her tone suddenly shifted from desperate to flat-out broken. "I got involved with this guy; he said he could help me become a star and, I foolishly believed him. He paid for my audition but I bombed horribly." her brown eyes stayed fixed on the earth below, not wanting to face the deprecating glower of her flesh and blood. "After that, he told me that I had to pay him back with interest which led to me whoring around."
While her face didn't change, Tori's widening orbs gave all the evidence of her horrifying feelings.
"Trina, you were sleeping around with strange men?" concern managed to excavate itself from the grave of emotions.
She shook her head, much to her relief.
"No, I've only slept with one guy," she admitted, further quelling the flame burning inside her little sister. "But, that lifestyle is what led to me and Travis meeting. I was required to give oral sex in exchange for money and he happened to be spying on me... uh, not like a pervert!"
Such a comment brought a flushed tint to Travis' face.
"He mentioned that he was following some boys to the old theater where he stumbled upon what I was involved in. After the boys had their fun, he helped me out and even gave me his jacket so that I could cover myself. After that, all he wanted was to be my friend..."
Tori watched as searing tears began to descend the older Vega's cheek.
"Oh my God... Why didn't you tell anyone, Trina?"
"As I said, Tori, who could I trust? You were busy with your friends while mom and dad viewed me like a plague. I suffered in silence... Until Travis came along. He resisted my advances, defended me when I couldn't fend for myself, and was even willing to save me from my pimp and any of his associates. He was perfect..."
Losing herself to her thoughts, Tori couldn't disagree with her.
"If all of this is true," she sighed. "Why did you just leave him?"
That was the million-dollar question. Looking around, everyone around seemed to want the answer to such an inquiry, including Travis himself.
"It's because... because... I couldn't allow him to get hurt for MY fucking mistakes!" Trina stared at the soothing river beside them, allowing her words to flow just as freely. "When I left Sikowitz's challenge, Travis and I ran into each other on my way home. We argued a bit but he eventually invited me to stay the night and wait out a storm. Long story short... We... We..."
"You what?" Mercedes placed a gentle hand on her lover's shoulder, earning a flinch for her troubles. "Trina?"
"We shared our first time!"
All eyes opened in shock and embarrassment at the sudden confession. While Tori and Mercedes just stared with slacked jaws, Travis dug his nails into his arm. His heart wrenched at the thought of that night; that sacred yet cursed night. He'd been made a fool when he dared to see the good in Trina Vega and now, she was here. Such a delicate moment was nothing to trifle with.
She's mocking you with this partner's excuse right in front of Tori! She's trying to sabotage your relationship!
"Liam? Is this true?"
The aching in his chest gradually cut deeper as he clenched his eyes shut. This did little to block out the force of their gazes, each emotion easily decipherable within the darkness of his mind's eye.
Conflict.
Anger.
Understanding?
The latter troubled Travis as he finally huffed in annoyance at the former.
"Yeah... What Trina said is true. We gave our virginity to each other that night... Before Trina left me behind..."
"Excuse me?"
"Did I stutter?" a demented smile started to tug at his lips. "Despite all that we went through, you didn't hesitate to run away. You just packed up and left me!"
"And yet, you didn't waste time, did you?"
"I'm sorry, would you care to repeat that?" Travis gaped in disbelief at the one who once held his heart, his right eye jerked at the impudence.
Not backing down, Trina crossed her arms over her chest.
"You think we didn't recognize the way you two were so close, Travis?! How long did it take for you to hook up with my baby sister?"
"Big talk coming from someone who had to date someone from the same..."
"ENOUGH!"
All eyes turned to a visibly distraught Tori, tears flowing down like a fountain.
"Tori...?"
"I don't care about any of this!" she growled, the fire burning behind her glare rooted the pair in place. "Trina, what Travis, Jade, and I have is special and has nothing to do with trying to move on from you. It's been nearly a year since you left and he wouldn't even date until a few months ago!"
"Wait... Jade's with you?" the elder Vega sibling blinked in confusion. "I thought she was interested in Liam?"
"Who's Liam?"
In an instant, the unsettling air gave way to confusion when Tori questioned the identity of the name given. Trina, while not really knowing the boy too well during her time at school, knew that he had ties to Jade from their early years. Even Travis tilted his head, uncertain of what his former flame was talking about...
It was... Almost as if they had no memory of his time with them...
"Liam? Best friends with Jade since childhood? She even helped him get into school? They gave an extra performance after Travis and Ahrya. How could you forget?"
Still drawing a blank, Trina could tell that something was amiss.
"The guy I was just with before he suddenly disappeared..."
"That was him?!"
Travis clenched his fists, suddenly recognizing everything. He'd never admit it, but if that boy was indeed Liam, then that explained the fire burning deep in his stomach. His rival was here, in New Orleans! He'd give no admittance, but after the incident during Halloween, his mind had no recollection of the boy but he wouldn't deny his existence.
Now, he was able to pick things up, after they handled things here first.
This might be a fun trip after all...
"Hurry inside!"
The old woman ushered Jade through the back door of her shop, carefully scanning the area before ducking inside. Being surrounded by various mystical objects, while exciting for Jade, visibly unnerved her as well. Interestingly, the woman whom they assumed to be Lucille pressed on, stepping behind a curtain, she signaled the duo to follow to which they obliged.
"Make yourselves at home dear. I apologize for the sudden harness, but one cannot be too careful when spirits are lurking." she ushered them into what looked like a living quarter. "Now, what brings you to the dark roads of New Orleans?"
"I was following someone that I thought I knew." Jade swiftly answered, her eyes shifting from side to side.
"A name please?"
"Liam..."
"That's such a common name, young lady. I'm going to need more than that if I'm going to aid you. Perhaps there is a memory that you have that would allow me the chance to locate the one you seek?"
"Aside from the fact that we were childhood friends, a lot of my memories are hazy at best. I remember trying to find him a while back only to find that he and his sister had just abruptly moved away. We didn't have the greatest relationship, but I know that it wasn't like him to just leave without saying goodbye."
"So, is it closure that you seek?"
"Answers."
The woman simpered at the pale girl's resolution. Such an admirable quality was rare in this world, especially in the younger generation. How could she deny her request?
"Alright then... A boy named Liam who was your childhood friend suddenly vanishes without explanation and you're wondering if a young man you ran into earlier is him? Faded memories," the woman spoke to herself, checking the shelf and grabbing two mugs. "Try to remember something else; Anything else that could be a clue."
Jade took a deep breath and tried to focus.
As expected, that dull pain surfaced, steadily cautioning Jade away from this path. She ignored it for as long as she could before gasping from the intense pain. As she leaned bag, she noticed one of the mugs being handed to her. She took in the scent of lavender and some kind of berry that she could figure out.
"Will this help me peer into my lost memories?" she teasingly inquired.
"No. It's just regular tea..." the woman quipped back. "for that headache."
"Thank you..."
They both took a drag before the pleasantries were tossed away.
"Are you certain that you can't remember anything without ending up in agony?"
"No," Jade lamented. "It's like the further back I try to go the worse these damn headaches get!"
"What about the moments before he left?"
Once more, she paused and carefully considered the option. She only knew that there was a Halloween party and the boy was there. Deep in her heart, while unable to see the specifics clearly, Jade's soul knew that Liam was there. They were together, at least as friends according to what she could imply through the fog.
Or was it?
"He left a week after Halloween...! That was the last time I saw him! We went to Hollywood Arts together and then..."
"Then?"
"He left without a word... I remember a fiasco and... he was in pain... I passed out and..."
"Ma! Are you back here?" a baritone voice called from the distance. It was soon followed by the young man that Jade had followed. "There's something important that requires your... attention."
His final word trailed off when he caught sight of the light-colored girl, her stupefaction matching his own. His emerald locked onto shimmering sapphires as they tried to make sense of what was before them. Time froze as neither could form the right words to properly address one another.
What words could be said?
What must the other be thinking?
"Alexandre?"
"Yes... Yes, ma?" he finally pointed his gaze to the amused matriarch.
"The customer?"
"Oh! No... It's um... her."
Such amusement no longer had a place as frustration swiftly replaced whatever positive emotions she once felt. While Jade was left in the dark, the kin knew what this person's presence brought.
"That she-witch! She's always showing up when she's not invited!"
"Should I tell her you're not here?"
The woman shook her head and headed for the front.
"You stay here and entertain our guests; treat her like family, son."
"I... Yes, mama."
With that settled, she left the two teens to handle their uninvited visitor. As expected, the aura of awkwardness returned, threatening to swallow them whole. Jade and Liam, the two friends separated by unseen forces idly remained in their spots until the latter finally cleared his throat.
"So... Um..." he bit his lip, trying and failing to contain his apprehension. "You've finally met my mom, huh?"
"Yeah. Found me in a dark alley and brought me home like a stray."
Though it was played as a joke, the severity of her tone wasn't veiled enough for him to miss. Liam could feign ignorance, but he was no fool. Jade was a complex person and that spelled uncertainty for him. A 50% chance of things going over smoothly was still too low for his liking.
"Better than Lucille, right? She would've had my head..."
Liam's piss-poor exchange was cut off when the crack of her palm met his cheek, leaving behind a painful silence. Immediately, the spot swelled slightly, the shot even knocking his hair loose from its bun and concealing his somber features. Only a tiny smirk broke away from the uniformity of injury as he bowed his head guiltily.
Fuck! She still has a slugger for a right hand...
"I guess I deserve that."
"How could you just leave without saying something!" Her body shook violently, barely able to hold back her mixed emotions. Her porcelain features reddened by the second as her breathing grew hastened. "I know that my past relationship wasn't the healthiest, but did you have to just be an ass and run away without so much as a note?! Was I that horrible to be around?!"
Beck?!
"Jade, you don't understand. I didn't leave because of you... I mean... I didn't leave because you did anything wrong!"
Jade wasn't listening, her suffering blocked her capacity to hear his reasoning. All she cared about was raining down said pain upon the boy who abandoned her. Liam left her behind to deal with the remainder of school alone. She'd lost her position at the top of the food chain to Ahrya and ended up settling for Travis upon the girl's insistence.
How could he do that to her?
None of it made sense and all she wanted right now was to inflict as much of her agony onto him.
"Shut up! You left me, just like Beck did! Just like everyone else! We were supposed to stick together."
Each word carried with it a pounding on his chest while she buried her face.
Liam didn't bother to stop her; he knew better than to stop her retribution. Each hit did some damage but it didn't hurt as much as her sob. The rage and confusion blanketing her cries pierced him far deeper than any physical pain. His mind pondered about the miniature twin bumps resting on his neck.
As if reading his mind, delicate fingers grazed the area, halting any further assault.
"Are you ready to listen, Jade?"
No utterance came out, only a slow nod.
"Whether you remember or not, we both know that I didn't leave because of you." His even tone held a warmth that was previously unnoticed until her meltdown had finally subsided. The strong grip she possessed steadily loosened under the power of his peace; how was he able to maintain such a skill despite his turmoil. "It didn't have anything to do with Beck. We resolved that a long time ago."
"Then why?"
One of his hands clasped around her waist, the other stroking her hair. With every gentle touch, sour drops fell, tears that neither dared to wipe away. The grief and joy that each felt were on display as Jade enfolded her arms around his waist, sensing the truth behind his confession. Deep within her core, there was no denying his words.
So why mention them?
You needed to apologize... You're weary of the games, aren't you?
Her inner self knew best.
"I thought I was protecting you..." his whisper thinly veiled the regret passing his lips.
"Protecting me?"
"That bitch broke our promise..." Jade continued to wonder to no avail. "She took over the damn school on Halloween and held you and the school hostage. To protect you and the others, I agreed to leave without a fight despite your objections. I didn't want to risk her hurting the woman that I loved..."
"Loved?"
"Sorry, I meant the woman that I love... Unfortunately, Ahrya broke our agreement after sealing my spirit."
The mention of that triggered something in Jade's mind. True to Liam's remarks, the imagery of Ahrya and Liam debating something that brought panic to her heart. It was impossible to make out what exactly was said, but the hysteria that shrouded her gut was evidence enough. She could make out the self-loathing written on Liam's face as he was forced to surrender to the ultimatum.
"She bit you! I remember that!"
"Yep! After that, Lucille and Kataleya had me take a sabbatical from school and we moved to New Orleans for therapy and to reunite with my mom. She was able to break that witch's spell and soon, I ended up getting stuck training in spiritual where I learned a lot of things about her and her 'brother', Travis."
"So, you never wanted to leave! You were just planning out your next step?"
"It was never goodbye..." she pulled away to find that lopsided grin. "...but see you later, dragoni ayaba."
"Dragon queen?"
Now it was Liam's turn to see a smirk, albeit devious, on Jade's face.
"Since when did you learn Yoruban?"
"There's a lot you don't know about me, Tiger." she winked. "You should know this by now."
The two shared a laugh before embracing, savoring their reunion. Now Jade understood why the woman, Liam's mother, was so adamant about remaining silent. Someway, she knew who Jade was and was trying to protect her. If she wasn't a believer in spirits before, Jade would be after tonight. Amidst her tearful fit earlier, the two were content with how things turned out.
Gone were the headaches, but she wasn't sure to what extent.
As long as she was nestled in her companion's arms, that's all that mattered right now. She cared little for the likes of Travis; it was nothing more than a fabricated situation that she'd rectify soon enough. For now, she rested her head on Liam's shoulder, soon finding herself enveloped in the protective cocoon of his strong limbs. The pieces of her broken heart, sharp and loud in their cries for truth, grew quiet when cuddling with him; it was as if the puzzle of love was meant to be pieced together by him and him alone as slowly, their healing would rebuild the bridge the gaps left from Liam's absence.
There were trials ahead, nothing out of the ordinary.
That would wait as they both fell asleep on the nearby sofa, exhaustion having claimed their senses for the night. While they slumbered, two women arrived to find the duo resting under one another.
"Is it safe to say that this was foretold, Celeste?"
"Hush, Cecilia!" the elder growled. "I'm in no mood for your games. Your spawn is responsible for his condition in the first place. Now, the other one is probably here looking for a clash that neither of them is ready for! Why don't you leave and do your job as the Voodou Queen?"
"Oh, Celeste," the slightly younger woman giggled, earning the evilest glare mustered from her senior. "Once again, your emotions cloud your judgment. This was ordained the moment they met so long ago. The descendants of Aganju and Esu have always been destined to clash until a victor is declared. As for the situation, I know of no spawn that could've inflicted such a curse on my dear nephew."
"What are you going on about?"
Cecilia dropped her occupied mask, donning a sober countenance.
"The bloodline of Esu is not adept with curses and hexes. They are warriors, through and through. If anything, Aganju's heirs would be more intuned with magic than Esu's, and even then, they don't specialize in curses."
"So what are you saying?"
"These two are destined to clash, but not because of tradition. Someone else has been pulling the strings, a true outsider..."
