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:
Along with the previous chapter, the "Happy Birthday" chapters are more like filler. It'll still be important to the story, just without all of the drama of the previous arcs. Considering I forgot to mention that earlier, I just wanted to do it now! I hope you all enjoy this chapter and be on the lookout for the next one.
Chapter 32: Happy Birthday pt.2
The rest of the night was a blur but early in the morning, Liam woke up to notice an unconscious Jade huddled up under him. The last thing he recalled was an amazing night of losing his virginity to the gorgeous goth. As wild as this was, he was grateful that hadn't been a dream. Barely able to suppress his blush, he did his best to calm his nerves. To make matters worse, he could feel the blood rushing to an all too familiar organ, and he could have sworn that Jade's smirk was a clear reaction to its growth.
Spirits only know what she'd have planned if she was awake right now... he take a deep breath, hoping to avoid awakening the monster.
He took a good look around and noticed that it was nearly sunrise due to the tiny sliver of light in the sky. He softly groaned as he just stared at the ceiling. From what he gathered, it was a quarter past 9 am, no way he was going to school at this point. His eyes were still pretty heavy and his body felt like it was full of lead. There was no way he would survive the day dealing with teachers and classmates. After that mental war he endured, the word drained didn't even begin to describe how he felt. With the way things were going, any ideas of leaving this bed anytime soon were fading fast.
"Mmmm..." he turned his attention once more to Jade stirring. "Relax tiger. We're not going anywhere today," she yawned. "It's Friday and from what I heard, it's going to be a nothing day. Besides, I have some extracurriculars to run by you this weekend."
"You're lucky I love this side of you..."
"Since when have you ever believed in luck?!" she snorted, clamping a palm over her mouth. "I've known you since... forever! You've believed in a lot of things over the years. Zodiacs & constellations. Spirits and ancestors. Hell, what about that one time I had you believe in the boogeyman?"
"Jade..." he pinched the bridge of his nose, whining like a child at her taunting.
"I thought it'd only last for a week at best, but you ended up scared of the dark for months after I told you that story!"
Despite her teasing, Jade's snickers showed that her reminiscing was without malice. This did little to curve Liam's vexation at the humiliating memory. Nonetheless, even he couldn't resist embracing the humor behind his past, joining in the chorus of laughter.
"How could I forget? You ended up spending several nights at my house just to ward off the nightmares! Lucille was pissed that she had to babysit us the whole time so that we didn't cause trouble! We've been joined at the hip for so long that I can't imagine us not being in each other's life."
Jade propped herself up, turning away from the boy. How could she counter such sweet words, at least, with something to match his energy? Leave it to that numbskull to butter me up before 10 am...! she faked a yawn to avoid the inevitable conflict of interest. She had other things planned for his special weekend and romance wasn't on the menu.
But before Jade could do anything, her slender waist was captured by two strong limbs. Soft pecks peppered her back, drawing involuntary moans from her lips. These were devoid of lust, almost as if they were being sapped from her core. A dark chuckle slipped from his lips, yet the butterflies in her stomach went crazy. From this, her breathing became ragged and a slight shiver of her fingers grew more evident when he grazed the nape of her neck.
Dammit! He's turned the tables... Clever ass!
"I assume that this is... is payback?" she eked out, gasping when he bit her shoulder.
"Call it what you want..." he growled into her ear. "Just resist... If you can, Ayaba."
What was supposed to be a day of dominance seemed to be taking a turn in the opposite direction as Jade felt herself melt into his grasp. Whatever beast had been unleashed the night prior was back for round two; a sentiment that she welcomed with a twisted glee that was, borderline, her trademark.
"Devour me..."
Such a request would just be the first of many as the clock struck half past nine, the precursor of a long day ahead.
Tori had been staring at the door for what felt like hours.
In reality, she'd been standing in that one spot for a few minutes but the feeling of her stomach did her no favors. She stood in front of the West homestead for a couple more seconds, her stomach churning, her eyes closed. While a part of her was angry at Jade for diverting Liam away from their surprise party, coupled with the fact that neither of them showed up for school, she was also a bit understanding that the goth would want her boyfriend all to herself.
Her guilty conscious didn't help at all, especially when she had nothing to merit this discomfort. Why did she always feel like she was on trial whenever she would attempt to do anything involving Liam? He wasn't her lover.
It was a vicious cycle that she saw no clear end. The only thing that gave her any form of comfort was the realization that she hadn't come all this way to just turn and leave.
Three knocks, not too hard but just loud enough for anyone inside to hear.
No reply.
She tried again only to receive the same result.
"Dang it! Maybe they're not at home...?" she began brushing her hair between her palms. It didn't do much, but it was mildly comforting as she settled on trying one final time. "Here goes nothing!"
However, when Tori brought her fist down to announce her presence, said door flung open, giving her an eyeful of the last image she imagined seeing. Standing before was none other than Jade West wearing a bathrobe that barely hung from her slanting form. Upon further inspection, her azure pools were glazed behind half-lids and the dopiest of grins etched on her lips.
Upon closer inspection, she could make out faint traces of bite marks and scratches. If it wasn't for the euphoric grin on her features, Tori would've assumed the worst.
"J-Jade?!" she gasped, trying to cover her eyes, and failing miserably as she could peer through her fingers. "What the heck happened to you? You look like you were mauled by a lion!"
Close enough... Jade quietly chuckled. "You should see the condition Tiger's in, Vega!"
"Tiger? What are you...?! Oh, crap!"
"Don't go getting your bloomers in a bunch, madame fussy britches!" her grin soon morphed into a bored frown. "We used protection if that's what you're wondering."
Tori huffed at her frenemy, crossing her arms to emphasize her frustration.
"This is why you and Liam didn't show up for school today? Seriously, Jade?"
"If it's any consolation, he got plenty of cake and I got frosted..." the goth wagged her eyebrows suggestively. "Besides, he's my boyfriend and I can celebrate with him however I want!"
"That's beside the point, Jade! We all worked hard to put that party together and you just... you just had to go and be selfish! Did you even tell Liam about the party?"
"There's a party?"
Both girls turned to find the source of the voice, a gentle and carefree tone filled with curiosity. Said owner was also covered in bruises and scratches, some still semi-fresh with sanguine trailing from them. Jade wasn't lying when she mention the state he was in. However, it only resulted in the girls blushing profusely as they stared at his toned torso.
Thankfully, he was wearing boxers, even if they left little to the imagination.
"Are you two okay?" he frowned softly, taking their silence as a sign of something wrong.
Tori managed to shake off her inner lusting while Jade continued to drink in the visual. The former now found it difficult to keep her composure as she secretly wished he had chosen to be the decent one of the two. Since when have I found Liam attractive? she scolded herself for obvious reasons.
"I um... I was just saying that I doubt Jade told you about the party we all set up for you!" she nodded her head vigorously, trying to focus on convicting the goth. "While I understand that you both had something private planned, it was still a little suspicious when you didn't show up to school either. That's why I came over..."
"Look, Vega...! I told you before that..."
"We kind of had a spat that needed our attention!" Liam cut in, surprising both girls. "Jade was leading me to the party but, I was being extremely difficult at first. One thing led to another and we decided to try and work through the issue without bringing down the mood. If anyone's to blame, it's me, Tori."
Jade blinked at him with wide eyes, taken aback by the way he stood up for her. Sure, his words weren't a complete lie, but to take the brunt of the culpability was impressive in its own right. Even Tori couldn't deny that it was a noble act, even if his story had a few holes in it.
"...and what about the marks?" she pointed amusingly at his torso.
"Hazards of love and war?"
Both girls burst into laughter. Jade couldn't help but slide down the door frame while Tori used it to keep from falling over. Neither ever figured that Liam had this in him but here it was on display. With his heart dropping, he rubbed the back of his neck, careful to avoid the fresh scratches that resided there.
"Alright. I guess I can accept that..." Tori wiped a tear from her eye. "...on one condition..."
"You are NOT getting a piece of MY Liam, Vega!"
"No that's not what I meant... I meant-!"
"We are NOT accepting applications for an orgy if that's where you're heading toward!" Jade snapped, clinging to Liam's sore arm. "You and Travis can have your little games of debauchery somewhere else."
By now, Tori was ready to blow a gasket, slipping into Jade's web. By now, the girl looked as if steam would blow out through her ears. Instead, she stamped her foot in a way that resembled a child preparing to throw a tantrum. While Jade was too busy trying to keep herself from erupting into a fit of laughter, Liam stepped in between the two in hopes of defusing the situation.
Little did he know, given his appearance, Tori's mood began to shift from intense loathing to a complete and utter mess, her nerves, and stomach filling with butterflies. Her face lit up and her eyes grew wide while she fought to keep her gaze on the face of the boy. Little good it did though as the unpleasant tension shrouded her in its corruption, contrasting his innocent smile.
"Forgive my horny girlfriend," he chuckled sheepishly. "What did you have in mind?"
"Are you entertaining this?" Liam cringed at the sudden wave of envy rearing its ugly.
"Well... Well for starters, I found this jewel called an Ifaya ti Iruju and thought that you'd like it! I saw it at a local pawn shop and..."
"You thought it would be a good idea to give my boyfriend some jewelry? Of all the things for you to give him, you give him jewelry?"
Sensing a storm approaching, Liam silently groaned at the impending lunge that came far sooner than he expected. Reaching for the necklace, Jade missed due to a combination of Liam's body being in the way and Tori pulling away. To say that dealing with Jade's jealous rivalry with Tori wasn't a part of the planned day would be an understatement. He wanted nothing more than to return to Jade's soft bed and sleep off their morning escapade.
Why me?! he growled, providing momentary relief from the combined verbal assault swirling around him.
Eventually, their scratching and clawing at one another only ended when Jade pushed the boy into Tori. The bump forced her to knock the item into the air. All eyes locked on the shining gem, its glow inviting them all to reach for it. Only one hand managed to catch it though. That hand was none other than Liam who stared at the pinkish jewel, its shimmer continuing to lull him into its glow.
I sense darkness in your heart, child... A gentle voice, one that was motherly and filled with loving sorrow. You've pondered about a different life, one that plagues your mind.
No...! I love Jade and nothing will ever change that!
Dear child, I never said you didn't. I know of a point in your life that could've easily shifted the direction of events in your life. A point where you were exiled and at your lowest. It is merely a place in the infinite void of time where the lines between this life and another are shifted by a mere choice. Shall I show it to you?
I... I don't know. I won't do anything to lose Jade, not again!
It is only a glimpse into the mirror, a means to expose the truth of your bond with the one you hold dear. Consider this a gift of the truth of the love that, perhaps, transcends space and time. Again, I ask if you would like to see this outcome to prove her love for you. What say you, child?
Do you promise that this isn't a trick?
You have my word. This will merely reveal the extent of her love and how far she is willing to go for you. Nothing more.
Liam's mind screamed at him to decline the invitation. After everything they went through, dealing with anything supernatural should've been out of the question, and yet, he couldn't tear himself away from his curiosity. Unknown to Jade, his mother had a plan for his return to California, one that didn't include coming back to Hollywood Arts.
He ignored another warning cry from his mind, taking a deep breath.
"Show me..."
The trance relinquished its bond with his senses only to plunge him into a tunnel of light. The sights and colors soon morphed into images. Each memory of the past carried with them a powerful emotion, some good, and others...? Those were best left untampered with. Thankfully, the vision would give way to a blinding light that enveloped the boy.
His confidence wavered for only a second before he hardened himself for whatever came next; what life awaited, he'd face the truth.
Little did Liam know, he wasn't the only one who dared to venture into the unknown.
Jade sat in her car with a grim feeling swirling in her stomach. The sounds of some metal band blasting in her ear did nothing to quell the discomfort as she pondered to herself. She didn't come to this location by chance nor was it a misstep on her part. The main reason Jade came to this place centered around the hopes that she would find something, or rather someone, who could fix things. Thank goodness she had proper a/c as the sun had been beating down on everything not covered by some form of shade.
Pacific Coast Academy...
Her sapphire orbs scanned the area for her desired target but, it was becoming that they weren't going to be found through this method. Her frustration was evident in her features as her brow seemed to furrow deeper and deeper by the minute. Driving nearly an hour from L.A. to Malibu while dealing with obnoxious traffic from locals and tourists alike, it was safe to say whoever she was searching for was going to be in for a rude reunion.
Between that and trying to beat the heat, Jade shut her eyes in hopes of calming her disturbed spirit. During her unofficial reflective state, she found herself clutching her black tourmaline necklace as her mind began taking her back to the fateful moment that, in Jade's view, initiated this decline into her hell.
Regarding that day, the pale girl submitted to the strength of the resentful smile twitching at her lips.
Ahrya had gotten the best of the boy who was her closest confidant, all because she had gotten captured. She was the reason he decided to leave the school without a fight. From there, Jade found herself in a weird relationship with Travis and Tori, two people she'd rather battle against than with, even if only playfully.
"How did it come to this?" she huffed, leaning back in her seat. Anxiety ate away at her heart when she recalled their trip to New Orleans. An encounter with Trina and her girlfriend, Chevy or Audi or something, was what triggered this journey.
There Liam was, a little taller but unwilling to talk to acknowledge her. She tried to follow when he left, but her quest turned up nothing more than sore feet and a widening void in her heart. Jade felt the despair wash over her that night, robbing the goth of any chance of enjoying the rest of their vacation.
To make matters worse, Travis and Tori figured things out with the former growing more possessive. Ahrya had been using him as her lapdog ever since she took over the school as the Queen Bee. Thankfully the pair were spending their vacation with Tori for the week, opening the door for this moment.
Though she felt out of place, it was miles better than waiting for the trio to return from their trip. She fiddled with the black stone, freshly energized from the night before, reminding herself why she came to this place.
Stepping out of the truck, she did her best to ignore the sweltering rays assaulting her skin while doing her best to avoid bumping into the many people in her way. Upon closer inspection, she soon realized that many of them were students who were either moving in or getting ready for the upcoming semester. It took a few minutes but, after swallowing her pride, she would ask a random girl whom she deemed the least annoying for directions to the main office which she happily led her to. Once there, she thanked her and entered the building, grateful for the cool air that blasted her exposed skin.
"Hello, welcome to Pacific Coast Academy!" a young woman exclaimed with enough glee to make Jade want to vomit in her mouth. "How may I help you?"
"Uh..." she did her best to resist her inner gank's influence. "I'm looking for a student here. I um... have some supplies in my car that I wanted to deliver to him."
"Not a problem, I just need his and your name..."
"His name's Liam..." Jade said without hesitation. "Liam Marshall."
The woman only needed to tap several keys before turning her full attention to the screen before her. After about a minute of searching and Jade could see her sickening smile return in full effect. "Yes, we have him registered here as a returning student!" Jade sighed softly, beaming that her search had yielded the intended results and that her trip hadn't been in vain. "Now, I just need your name so I can verify with him and I'll give you the directions to his hall."
"Um... well, you see..." she bit her lip, feeling anxiety slithering around her like a python. "Y-you see... I'm bringing these things as a surprise for him. I wouldn't want to ruin that by announcing my arrival."
Slowly the woman's lips fell into a straight line, signaling a red flag for the pale-skinned girl. "Well, I'm sorry. Security rules dictate that I can't authorize you without clearance from an official or the student. If you know someone else here that could vouch for you, that may suffice but, I can't grant you access to the school grounds otherwise."
"B-but... I need to give these things to him!" her voice rose an octave, her irritation growing into full-blown anger which caught the attention of a few others that were either being assisted or waiting to be. "You have to understand!"
"I'm sorry, miss..." the woman shook her head. "I'm going to have to ask you to leave until you provide the necessary information."
"But..."
"I also advise that you not make a scene... Security can be a bit rough with noncompliant guests."
Jade cut her gaze to a burly man seated in the far corner of the main office, his eyes firmly locked on her form. Tightening her lips, the raven-haired girl stomped out of the building to lick her proverbial wounds. After walking little ways from the office, she sat down on a vacant bench nearby. "Damn woman..." she huffed. "I've got to find a way to see Liam..."
"I could help if you'd like..." a voice, foreign yet so familiar caught Jade's ear.
"You can?" she turned around with a soft smile that only lasted mere seconds before her signature frown returned. "What is this, a joke?"
Before Jade stood a brown-haired girl who was staring at her with a grin. "No joke. I know the guy if that's what you're referring to."
"Cut the act, Tori!" Jade spat with a glare so dark, the devil would shit his pants.
The girl stared at her ivory-skinned accusor with a raised eyebrow. "I don't know what you're talking about, but, I'm not this Tori girl. My name's Lola!" she then cautiously held out a hand to her. "Lola Martinez."
Despite the similarities, Jade began to see that she was telling the truth. While Tori Vega's hair had a bit more bounce and highlight, Lola's locks were purely mahogany colored and tied in a messy bun. While Tori's eyes were a light honey brown, Lola's were a darker oak colored.
To think there's someone that looks just like Vega... she jerked at the unwanted idea. She accepted the handshake from the girl and sighed once more. "I'm sorry. You remind me of someone back home."
"It's no problem," Lola chuckled awkwardly. "You're not the first person to mention a resemblance."
You're the spitting image of her.
"Let me guess; Liam thought so too?" the corner of Jade's lip tugged upward.
"Yeah! I don't know what she looks like but, he was so sure until I showed him my I.D. to prove my point," she took a moment to savor that memory before proceeding. "Who knew it would be the start of a beautiful connection?"
"That sounds like him, alright." The two shared a laugh at Lola's depiction of him being freaked out when they first met and how he swore that he was being haunted by his decision to leave his hometown. That realization made Jade feel legitimately bad as it reminded her of what she'd done to him. But this wasn't the time to brood about the past. "So, you said you know him personally, right?" the girl nodded. "I was trying to find him, but I can't get past the front office without him being notified and-."
"You're trying to surprise him?" Now it was Jade's turn to nod at her words. "Well security here is a bit overwhelming sometimes, but, I may be able to get you through the clearance."
"You sure about that?"
"Well, even though we click quite well, I would need to know your name first before trying to vouch for you." her face held a grin that Jade could've sworn had a degree of smugness. It was abundantly clear that this girl was Tori's 'twin' in appearance only.
"Jade. Jade West."
"Pleasure to meet you, Jade. Now, I just need a bit of information and we can get you through."
Skeptically, the gothic girl held her hands up. "What kind of information are we talking about?"
