Demon Empire
"Jackie?" Jade called out quietly as she searched through the many halls of the palace.
She'd tried to follow her uncle after her disturbing revelation, and had been lead right into Shendu's fortress. Jade hadn't been in the interior of the place when she'd last been here when he resurrected the palace, but now she felt hopelessly lost in the great bowels of the beast. Every hallway was dark, the architecture was like something out of a gothic-horror movie. Dragon statues twisted around columns, giant teeth hung from archways like a gaping mouth, and dark shadows hung in every corner. It gave her the creeps, big time.
"Jackie?" She called again as she passed a little curtain-cupboard. "Where'd you – Ah!" Jade shrieked as she was suddenly yanked behind the curtain, revealing it to be some sort of storing cupboard for the servants' equipment. And there in front of her, was her now long-haired uncle Jackie.
"Today, you must scrub master's bath chamber." Jackie said with a smile as he tossed her a scrubbing-brush.
"No way." Jade said as she tossed the foul-smelling thing away.
"Then, fill his tub with fresh muck," Jackie ignored her as he handed her a bucket filled with a hot, brown sludge. Jade had to fight the urge to hurl as the stench of eggs and bad-milk wafted into her nose and mouth.
"Eww!" She squealed as she put the bucket on the floor and pushed it away from herself with a foot.
"And, it's talons-day." Jackie said pleasantly as he held up a pair of extremely large sheers and a harness. "So don't forget to trim master's toe-nails."
"Jackie! Listen to me!" Jade exclaimed angrily to get his attention, not wanting to even entertain the thought of clipping Shendu's… gross! "I don't work for Shendu – and neither do you! Demons don't rule the world, humans do. The demons were banished to the Netherworld by the Eight Immortals, a long time ago. Then they got out, and we banished them again. But Shendu found this magic book, changed the past, and now none of that ever happened!"
Jackie stood there gaping at her for a moment, before giving an endearing chuckle. "That's crazy, Jade, you're crazy." He smiled and then went to walk out of the room. "Humans ruling the world…"
"It's true!" Jade cried desperately as she threw herself in front of him to bar the exit. "We built cities, with cars and computers and books!"
"Jade, you know that books are forbidden to slaves." He said with a roll of his eyes. "We do not know how to read or write."
"No! We do!" Jade protested. "We had loads of books! Valerie used to love–"
"I told you not to mention her name! You know it is forbidden!"
"What? Why?!"
"Because Master decreed it!"
"That doesn't make any…" Jade cut herself off, knowing she would be going around in circles at this rate. "Look, Jackie, you gotta believe me!" She noticed her Mooseworld watch out of the corner of her eye, and quickly struck an idea as she thrust it towards Jackie. "My watch! Look at my watch!"
"What's a watch?" Jackie leaned closer curiously.
Jade pressed a button and voice spoke out of the digital watch: "Hee-hee-hee! I'm Marlin Moose!"
"Ah!" Her uncle recoiled in fear. "Magic is outlawed! You know that!"
"Argh!" Jade growled in frustration as she put a hand to her head. "It's not magic! It's technology – human technology. And you gave this watch to me…" her voice then trailed off as a melancholy look came over her face. "But… I guess you wouldn't remember that…"
"Jade," Jackie said softly, seeing the look on his niece's face and feeling compelled to comfort her. "If what you say is true, why don't I remember any of it?"
"I don't know, maybe…" The girl said helplessly. But then her hand brushed her pocket, reminding her of her unexpected cargo, and she pulled out the torn page. Pulling it open, she finally managed to get a look at the Chinese script written upon it in golden ink. "And Jade Chan became a wily accomplice in the battle of good vs evil." She read. With wide eyes she turned to Jackie. "This is from the book! And it's about me. It didn't get re-written, so neither did I. That's why I remember… and why I'm still wearing these clothes…" She murmured as she looked down at her usual normal-world wear. Jackie gave a thoughtful look, and Jade felt a spark of hope that he was actually taking her serious.
But then, they heard a loud, crashing gong, and Jackie flinched in fear.
"The dinner gong!" He gasped. He then picked up a set of clothes from a shelf and hand them to her. "Quickly, you must change into these before master sees you!" And with that, he turned and ran from the room.
Jade sighed, that spark gone. But with nothing else to do, and considering that Jackie had kind of said that Shendu was expecting her to serve him, that meant that she had to play the part, go under-cover in order to foil Shendu's new world.
"Guess I don't exactly blend," She murmured to herself, before looking at the page in her hand. Uncle had said that the Book of Ages magically recorded history, so perhaps this page was still important. "Better keep my life story someplace safe…"
With a fond smile for happier times, she remembered how she hid the half of the tiger talisman in her shoe… maybe she could do the same now.
Jade had managed to find her way through the palace once she'd gotten changed, trying to find Jackie. Even in a world run by demons, the girl knew that the best place to be was at his side. She thought she got lost twice, but all the corridors seemed to lead towards a central room, and following her gut, Jade kept going forward. Eventually she heard music, and curiously went onward, through a small opening she slipped into the shadows of a large room, where she gasped at what she saw.
She was standing on the edge of Shendu's throne room. The dragon himself was sat on a massive golden throne, with a slave on either side of him fanning him. Shendu looked bored as he leaned his great head on his fist, red eyes dull and uninterested. Jackie stood off to the side of the throne, an emotionless mask on his face, though Jade could see by the way his back was ramrod-straight that he was nervous. Three slaves sat in the corner playing various instruments that Jade didn't recognise, and from the music flowed the beat that five men were dancing to.
Jade didn't know whether to be appalled or burst into fits of laughter when she saw that the members of the Dark Hand, including Hak Foo, were dressed in ridiculous orange and purple jester outfits and were doing various things in order to try and entertain their master. Though from the looks of it, Shendu was not exactly impressed. He kept drumming his claws and glancing at the large double entrance doors to the throne room, as if he were impatient for something. Finally, the dragon-demon gave a loud hiss as he straightened with a curled lip to reveal his fangs.
"Dance my jesters! Dance!" He commanded, and for added measure shot heat-blasts from his eyes. The jesters screeched and tried to duck and dive out of the way, but Chow wasn't so lucky, and got hit right on his behind. The man yelped and ran around to try and put himself out, and the rest of them all looked at Shendu fearfully. "Dance!" He ordered again, his eyes glowing threateningly.
All the jesters shared a knowing look, and nodded. Then, they got into a line and began to river-dance. Shendu seemed amused by this and settled down. If it had been in the normal world, Jade was sure she would've laughed. But at that moment, she was just astonished.
"No… way…" She whispered.
"You!" Shendu snapped as he trained his red eyes on where she hid in the shadows, obviously having heard her.
Jade felt all the blood run from her face, especially when Shendu held up a finger and beckoned her closer. As if her feet were under some kind of spell, she couldn't stop herself from walking towards the dragon. Half of her mind was convinced this was some sort of nightmare, and in a way it was. Shendu alive and in power was the worst thing she could possibly imagine, and now she was living that nightmare herself. What was more unsettling was the fact that she hadn't seen Valerie or Uncle the entire time, and wondered what had happened to them. But she pushed such thoughts aside as she came to stand in front of the beast's giant throne.
"Why do you not bow?" Shendu narrowed his eyes at her with a hiss.
Jade felt for sure that she'd just blown her cover and was about to be vaporised, and in that moment of terror she could do nothing but stand there frozen. But Jackie quickly jumped in front of her, his own face filled with fear as he quickly bowed in front of Shendu.
"Your Scaliness!" He stammered quickly. "Please excuse my slow-witted niece!"
Shendu reached forward calmly, and grasped hold of Jackie's long braid and lifted him off of the ground as if it were a rope. Jackie took an intake of breath and his face pinched with pain, but that was all the reaction he gave as to the fact that what Shendu was doing was hurting him, as if he knew better then to let Shendu see his pain. Jade felt a guilty lump in her throat as she watched helplessly.
"If she were not excused, she would be in flames." He told Jackie curtly, before dropping him. "Now fetch my dinner!"
"Yes Master!" Jackie whimpered as he bowed from where he lay on the floor before dashing from the room.
"Jackie…" Jade whispered uncertainly. But her uncle was back within moment, hefting a huge tray above his head, filled with giant wriggling insect-like creatures, though Jade had never seen anything like it before.
"Tasty treats for his glorious excellence!" Jackie proclaimed as he bowed with the dish resting on his head and shoulders, completely level.
Shendu rumbled hungrily before reaching forward and grabbing at the insects, taking half the plate in one swipe. He threw the lot into his mouth, and his large ivory fangs tore into the flesh as he chewed, a wet, squelching sound making Jade's stomach turn. The dragon then swallowed loudly before reaching for another handful.
"What a good slave you make, Jackie Chan," Said the dragon with a mocking croon.
But Jackie still beamed. "My joy is to serve you, Master."
Jade honestly tried to keep her glare hidden. She hated Shendu on a whole new level for the psychological conditioning he had placed on Jackie – her hero. Shendu had everyone wrapped around his finger, and he was loving it. He threw the last of his dinner into his mouth, and when he swallowed loudly again, his long forked tongue snaked out to clean his long crocodilian jaws of the fluids of his prey that dripped between his teeth.
"Keeping one's enemies close is not just wise," Shendu mused aloud. "It is gratifying." The amusement in his voice and the smug smile upon his lips sent a shiver down Jade's spine. Jade's eyes went wide when she realised that Shendu must remember the alternate reality as well. But Shendu had already turned away to look back at Jackie who had straightened with the now empty dish. "Are the preparations in order?"
"Yes, Master." Jackie nodded enthusiastically. "The monk, Daolon Wong, is arranging the ritual, even as we speak. And the seamstresses will be giving the final touches tomorrow."
"Excellent." Shendu purred.
Suddenly a gong sounded, and everyone in the room froze, even Shendu, who suddenly became as tightly wound as a pulled elastic band, every muscle in his body tensing as he sat straighter, eyes widening slightly, his breath hanging as if on a blade's edge. His entire focus was on the doorway, every ounce in him unable to tear away for even a fraction of a second. Oh great, Jade thought with an inward groan. Which of his demon-family has suddenly paid a visit?
But the one who had been announced was not one of Shendu's siblings, and not a demon. A servant quickly came forward, falling to the floor in a hasty bow to Shendu, before she announced in a rather shaky voice:
"Announcing Her Grace, Lady of All Asia, betrothed of his Mightiness, Emperor Shendu, and his future Queen…"
Gross! Jade thought with a shudder. Who on earth is actually considering marrying this overgrown, dictating, scaly –
"Her Highness: Valerie Payne." The servant finished.
Jade froze in place, mouth dropping open as all her thoughts came screeching to a halt. WHAT?!
And sure enough, not a second later, in walked Valerie. She still looked the same, though like Jackie, with a few alterations. Her hair was longer, now reaching down to her waist and no longer scraggily as it was brushed until it appeared to be as smooth as sunshine silk. Instead of wearing the awful slave uniforms that every other human seemed to be wearing – apart from Shendu's "jesters" – Valerie was in one of the most beautiful gowns Jade had ever seen. Jade wasn't normally a "girly-girl", she was the exact opposite in fact, but the dress that Valerie wore reminded Jade of nothing short of an empress! She wore robes of red lined with gold, and stitched into the side was a delicate pattern of flowers in bloom. Large, pink, transparent sleeves flowed to her wrists, and a veil of golden silk hung from her hair. Her face was only touched with slight makeup around her eyes and painted mouth to accentuate the curves of her face. Jade had had no idea that her friend (and previously thought to be nerd, tomboy and bookworm) could dress up so well. Though she had no doubt that there was also some sort of Shendu-meddling involved. Speaking of the demon-dragon, he rose from his throne slowly, eyes never leaving the human who gave a small, somewhat nervous smile as she gazed up at him with her blue eyes.
"My love," Shendu spoke softly, affectionately… and triumphantly.
Jade recoiled, stopping herself short of actually taking several steps away from Shendu in case he noticed and her cover was blown. But it physically made her sick to watch Shendu's smug face drink in the sight of her friend. What did he have to gain from this? Making Jackie, Jade and Uncle as his servants she could somewhat understand, even the Dark Hand as the court jesters, that played in as some sort of payback. But this? What on earth did he have to gain from this?! Was this some sort of twisted play at revenge? To prove to everyone that his victory was absolute?
Valerie curtsied; rising with a smile for Shendu as he walked towards her. Even though she was only at his knee height, the way they looked at each other was as if there was no one else in the room at all.
"My Lord," Valerie said. Shendu held out a hand towards her, something in his face looking close to astonishment, as if he couldn't quite believe this was real. Valerie gave a soft smile, before daintily putting her hand on one of his fingers. There was a moment when the pair of them shuddered as the energy passed between them, and Valerie looked slightly uncomfortable from the pressure inside of her, but Shendu quickly led her back towards the throne.
"I have been waiting for you," Shendu crooned to Valerie, and Jade struggled not to shiver in revulsion. "You were gone for too long, my dear."
"Forgive me, Lord Shendu," Valerie climbed a small set of stairs beside the throne, and sat herself on the arm of it as Shendu sat in the seat itself. "I merely lost track of time."
"Then I shall have to remind your slaves to keep you on time." The dragon snapped, but there was no bite to his words as he spoke to her. He then snapped his gaze towards Jackie, eyes instantly cold and unforgiving. "Bring in the gift!" He thundered, and Jackie all but sprinted from the room.
"Gift?" Valerie asked.
"I thought I might spoil you," He grinned at her. "Consider it an early wedding present."
Valerie blushed.
Jade felt her new reality come to a crashing halt. WHAT?! Shendu and Valerie were… no! She refused to believe it! Jade was sure that Valerie hated Shendu's guts, as she always had, but why would Shendu want to marry her? Was it because they were Others? Was it some sort of payback? Jade didn't want to know, but she felt the sudden urgency in her mission double as she knew she didn't want Valerie married to this demon!
"I shall have my jesters entertain you while we wait." Shendu clicked his fingers and the jesters once again did various tricks.
Valerie maintained a pleasant smile, and her eyes held interest, but by the way that she never once laughed or applauded, Jade knew she wasn't 'entertained'. Shendu himself looked just as disinterested, but as he sat there, his hand absentmindedly moved. As if automatically, as he reclined in his seat, his claws gently stroked through Valerie's hair, passing through the combed locks without any resistance. This contact didn't seem to be enough to warrant the exchange of power between them, but the pair acted as if this were a regular occurrence. Valerie didn't notice, but Jade did, when Shendu subtly leaned forward and took in a large breath as he scented her hair, before sitting back again with a slight sigh. Jade fidgeted, uncomfortable with this whole new situation.
As if noticing her again due to her constant shifting, Shendu snapped his gaze onto the girl, and a wicked grin hinted at the edges of his mouth. "Child!" He commanded, and Jade put herself at attention immediately.
"Y-Yes, Master?" Jade hoped Shendu couldn't see how much she was sweating with nerves. But the dragon merely grinned.
"It's talons-day…" He mocked in a sing-song voice as he held up a foot towards her. In that instant, Jade thought she was going to throw up her entire insides.
Valerie laughed. "Shendu, do not be cruel to the girl." She chided good-naturedly. "As magnificent as you are, I wouldn't want to see such things before we are to go to dinner."
"As you wish," Shendu grumbled as he cast Jade another glare, but put his foot back down on the ground. With a flick of his wrist, he ordered her back, and the girl gladly did so.
It was then that Jackie came back into the room, huffing and puffing from having run so far. "A gift to the lady-empress from his glorious excellence!"
Several humans hefted tight chains, and Jade could hear something growling and snapping as it was dragged into the throne room. Her eyes grew wide in shock as one of Shendu's dragons was pulled into the throne room. It was slightly smaller than the others she had seen, those being as tall as Shendu, though this one seemed about half that size. However, what it lacked in mass, it made up for in ferocity. The dragon hissed and lashed its powerful tail, trying to swipe its claws at any human that came close. The only thing that kept its mouth shut was a chain wrapped around its muzzle to prevent it from spitting fire or biting anyone. A leather collar was around its throat, and the servants were pulling at the chain attached to it.
Shendu rose from his throne and strode across the throne room, and Jade watched in fascination as the demon grabbed hold of the chain, flinging aside slaves carelessly in his wake. He pulled the chained muzzle of the dragon towards him, and the two locked stares. There was a moment of tension that hung in the air like a physical presence. Shendu's eyes flashed a brilliant red, and then the dragon was submissive as it dipped its body towards the ground and its growls were silenced. Huffing in satisfaction, Shendu pulled the chains off of the muzzle, and then turned to a wide-eyed Valerie, beckoning her forward.
"Come, see what I am giving you." He said.
Hesitantly, Valerie slowly climbed down from her perch, and made her way forward towards Shendu and the now still dragon. Jade shifted from foot to foot nervously, not wanting her friend to get too close. The woman stuck close to Shendu's shadow, but curiosity overcame her, and she boldly moved ever closer. When the dragon's eyes snapped to hers, she gasped and didn't take another step forward.
"Do not be afraid," Shendu said. "I have commanded that he is never to harm you." Encouraged by his words, Valerie took another daring step forward. The dragon sniffed at her, though Shendu still held it's chain. Jade saw that Shendu was watching intently as Valerie approached the lowered muzzle. "Touch him…"
As if under some spell, Valerie's hand slowly raised, her eyes wide with wonder. The dragon snorted, and she froze a moment, before slowly continuing on. She gently laid her palm upon the dragon's snout, and there was a moment of stillness as the room awaited to see what would happen. Then, Valerie moved her hand in slow circles as she gently stroked the beast, and the sound like the rhythmic thrumming of a volcano filled the throne room. The dragon was purring for Valerie.
"He likes you." Shendu murmured with a triumphant grin as he watched the dragon press its snout closer to Valerie's touch.
"He's beautiful…" She said softly as she continued to shower the animal in affection.
"He is yours."
"Mine?" Valerie gaped up at Shendu, who had now dropped the chain.
"A gift. My bride is to be protected at all costs when I am not there. And what better protection then this?" He proclaimed proudly. "I have bred him to be twice as ferocious as the others to all except for you and I. He is smaller to accommodate you when you ride him – if you chose to, that is. And he will now obey your every command."
"I…" Valerie looked between Shendu, the dragon, and back again, speechless. "I don't know what to say… Thank you! This is so… How can I ever repay this?"
"The only thanks I shall need," Shendu purred in a low and suddenly husky voice as he leaned closer to Valerie. He didn't touch her, but he was still close enough that his breath ruffled her hair. "Will be for you to say 'I do' the day after tomorrow."
Jade gave a tiny gasp as she realised that her window of opportunity was shrinking by the moment. The two at the other end of the throne room seemed oblivious to everyone else, however. Valerie averted her eyes as another deep blush blossomed on her flesh. She turned back to the dragon as Shendu pulled away from her.
"I shall call him… Ryuu." She said eventually.
"A name?" Shendu asked.
"Of course." She smiled up the demon as if there were no room for argument. "Ryuu it is," As if in agreement with her, Ryuu suddenly darted out his long forked tongue to lap at Valerie's neck and face, the drool dripping onto her fine robes. Shendu growled darkly, and Ryuu immediately retreated back away from the woman, but Valerie only gave a slight grimace. "It would seem I will now need to change for dinner."
Shendu nodded in agreement. "I shall await you in the banquet hall."
Valerie then gave another deep bow, before she and a flurry of servants made their exit. Not a few moments later, a skinny servant came up to Jackie and hurriedly rushed something into his hands before sprinting back out of the room. Jackie came up to Shendu with a scroll in his offering hands.
"Master, a message just arrive from your brother, his Highness Emperor Hsi Wu." He said.
Shendu cocked a brow, before sliding his gaze towards Jade. It was only for a moment, but it still made the girl gulp quietly, her stomach quivering in dread for unknown reasons. Silently reading the scroll, it didn't take long for Shendu to ponder the words on the page, and then, Shendu ordered his own slaves to leave him be. Jade took that fabulous opportunity to slip away and follow the "Empress's" entourage.
After changing into cleaner robes more befitting dinner, Valerie allowed her slaves to comb through her hair and pin back the top half into a bun with sharp pins. The lower half of her hair was left to hang down to her waist, because Shendu liked to touch her hair and had decreed that she keep at least a part of it down at all times. As they worked, her slaves did not speak to her nor raise their eyes to her level, as they always did. Valerie merely sat at her dressing table, staring into the mirror as she waited for them to finish.
The young woman hardly noticed that little lonely feeling anymore. She'd been born to this life, had lived in a wonderful house with her family out away from the city, kept safe and well cared for. When she had become a woman, she had been summoned to live in Shendu's palace at his insistence. Though when that had happened, human contact ceased. Their Emperor had placed her on a pedestal above other humans, and she could not do anything to change that. At first, she'd been lonely for someone to talk to, but she'd lived with it for so long now that it was normal. And Shendu was company enough.
But still, some part of Valerie's spirit retained some form of independent fire, and so she dismissed her slaves in order to do the last finishing touches of her appearance herself. The slaves immediately bowed low to her, which she ignored, frustrated with such tediousness, and they left. As the slaves filed out, Valerie thought she was alone, but then heard the soft scuffling of feet. With an irritated growl she turned back around to the door.
"I thought I told you to –" Her biting words stopped when she saw a ten year old girl standing in her chambers, with ebony black, unruly hair and honey-gold eyes.
"Hey Val," The girl smiled.
Valerie gasped, her eyes widening and her mouth falling open in shock. "Y-You… you spoke to me… that is forbidden!"
"It's your name, isn't it?" The girl shrugged nonchalantly. "And we're friends, aren't we?"
"Are we…?" Valerie echoed in confusion. She seemed to recognise the familiar gleam in the child's eyes, and cautiously made the connection to the slave that was always at Shendu's beck and call. "You're that Chan girl… Jade?"
"You don't know who I am?" Jade looked stung at the very thought as her eyes grew wide and glistened slightly.
"I know that your family has a stigma against it. And I don't know any slave names – they are forbidden to speak to me, unless relaying Shendu's orders."
"Why?" Jade tilted her head in confusion.
"Because… because… that's the way it is." Valerie said dumbly, struggling for a justifiable reason. "I am to be Shendu's bride, I must not be–"
"No, Val!" The girl declared angrily.
"I beg your pardon?" Valerie's eyes blinked wide in indignation.
"Val, listen to me," Jade said earnestly. "None of this is real – it's all a spell!"
"A spell?" The woman cocked a brow.
"Ah-huh," Jade nodded. "This is a different reality! In the normal world, humans rule – not demons. Shendu possessed you to get to a magical book called the Book of Ages, where history is magically recorded. He rewrote the past so that now he and the other demons rule the world."
"I did not know that madness ran in your family…" Valerie gave a snarky remark.
"It's true! I can prove it! Look at my watch!"
The girl held up her wrist and Valerie peered down at the strange contraption. When Jade made it speak, Valerie felt her stomach tighten. "Jade, you are a young girl. I would have thought your family would've known better then to let you dabble in forbidden-magic!"
"How many times do I have to tell everybody – It's NOT magic!" Jade growled angrily. "Look, Val, I need your help,"
"My help?"
"Yeah – you can help me re-write the Book of Ages. You know all about books."
"Do I?" Valerie asked, becoming more confused by this delusional child by the moment. At Jade's gaping expression, she felt the need to clarify. "I only read what Shendu permits me,"
"Val! You love books! No one could ever stop you from reading books – you told me they were your best friends growing up."
"I'm sorry, Jade. But you must be mistaking me for someone else."
"No – I know you." Jade said determinedly. "Your name is Valerie Payne, you're a bookworm, a nerd, and proud of it. You lived in Toronto and you moved to San Francisco to work with us at the Antique store. Your father is dead and –"
"Dead? What are you talking about? My father is not dead!"
"What?" The girl frowned, confused.
"My ears are burning, someone must be talking about me." Came a joking voice and they both turned to see someone walking out of Valerie's bed-chambers. There stood a middle aged man with brown hair and large round glasses. The only thing that connected them, was that they had the exact same smile. John Lawson blinked in surprise when he saw Jade, and instantly became formal as his joking mood vanished. "Jade Chan, what are you doing here?"
"You're… you're Valerie's father… Shendu must've rewrote your death…" Jade murmured in awe.
"My death?" John blinked in surprise before a teasing smile came across his face. "Don't go on with mysteries, kid, I was never good at detective stories. It's good to see some imagination in the young these days." He then turned to Valerie, the slight crease in his brow telling her that he was worried. "You'd better wrap this up quickly before the Master gets here."
"Okay, I'll see you tomorrow." Valerie murmured. For some reason she felt a slight ache at having to say goodbye to her father. It was as if she'd had a terrible dream where he wasn't there anymore, and she couldn't bare the thought.
"I love you, chicken." Her father murmured with a smile before he left.
"Love you, daddy." Valerie whispered to herself. The door closed behind him, and he was gone.
"Chicken?" Jade asked as she looked up at Valerie with a slight smile.
"A childhood nickname." She returned the smile fleetingly, before she was reminded of their previous conversation. "But you see? My father is not dead. You must be suffering from some very vivid dreams, Jade."
"No Val, please – you gotta believe me! I don't know who else to turn to!" The desperate plea in her voice was enough to make some part of Valerie feel a little guilty for not being able to help. "I know I said some bad things (which you probably don't remember) but you're my best friend, Val. I need you. And I can't watch you go through with this and marry that monster!"
"Hush!" Valerie quickly slapped her hand over the girl's mouth to silence her, looking fearfully at the shadows on the walls. She waited with baited breath for a moment, but when nothing leapt out at them, she sighed as she looked down at the girl again. "Be careful with what you say, or you'll be killed. Frankly, if anyone knew you'd talked to me at all, you'd be executed."
"You're gonna hand me over…?" Jade asked in a broken whisper, hurt by the thought.
Valerie hesitated for only a moment. Her father had always taught her to obey the law, but she'd always known to follow her gut. "No." At the relief on Jade's face, Valerie knew she'd made the right decision. So she ushered her over towards the side wall, pulling back a curtain to reveal a small opening and set of narrow stairs. "Quickly, go down these steps, follow the servant passages and you'll find your way out of the palace. Go home."
"But Val…" Jade went to protest, but something changed her mind. She still gave a slight smile though, and nodded. "Thanks." And then, she was gone.
Valerie breathed a sigh of relief, relaxing as she felt her nerves finally unravel. But still her mind was swimming with thoughts. She couldn't help but ponder over Jade's words. Jade believed in them far too much, there was too much conviction in her voice for it to be lies or a cruel joke. And Jade didn't seem to be the type to gamble her life for a prank. And despite her earlier words, Valerie couldn't see any madness in her eyes. Could there be anything even remotely true to this? It was a puzzle indeed…
Her thoughts were interrupted and forgotten when she heard a loud knocking on her door, and knew immediately who it was as she turned to stand straight and poised for her fiancé.
"Come in." She said.
Author's Note: Valerie's outfit in this chapter has been wonderfully illustrated by purpleorchid-8863 on Deviantart, links are on my profile :)
Also, some people were curious as to Hsi Wu's changed role in this arc due to him and Jade being Others. Please note that I have not forgotten this, and am leading up to it, I just want you guys to suffer in suspense for a little while longer. hahaha!
I loved writing this chapter! And I hope you guys enjoyed it as well. Please don't forget to check out the 8-tracks playlist and the TV-Tropes page for this story. And Please don't forget to review!