Jade almost reached him when a shadow swooped down overhead. She noticed the movement, but it was too fast to avoid the jaws and claws that descended on her. This time, they pierced her flesh. Few creatures were capable of that. With a roar she was tossed aside, falling to roll across the grass. She stopped herself and sat propped on her hands and knees, taking a moment to catch her breath. She looked up at her new opponent and gasped.
"Where did you….?" she stammered, looking up at the glinting sand-colored scales of the beast before her. It was small for its species, a bit bigger than an SUV. But it was still something she never thought she would see alive. She thought they were killed off years ago.
"I found her in an excursion through the mountains near home. Beautiful, right?" Beck spoke up, walking over to run a hand over the dragon's side. Its spined tail swayed through the grass and its wings flared. A low rumble fell from between sharp teeth. Jade pushed herself to her feet, flinching at the pull of torn flesh. She wasn't used to such injuries. The werewolf came trotting over at a slow pace, still dazed but willing to fight again.
"Just say you'll come home, and I'll call them off," Beck told her.
"Nothing you can say or barter with will make me stop. Not until I see her," Jade spat out, a clawed hand pressed to her side. It was the first time in a long time that she felt her own blood on her hands. It was slowing her down considerably. But she was nothing if not determined and stubborn. She would keep fighting to make sure Tori was safe.
"Fine," Beck finally agreed, seeing that her unwavering glare still held strong. He signaled to the werewolf who let out a piercing howl that echoed around them. An answering howl responded from far off. A few minutes of tense silence and then the pounding of paws could be heard. Another werewolf, smaller and slimmer than the first, appeared. He held Tori in his jaws, teeth locked on thick rope that bound the human's arms against her sides. Her legs were tied together. She was unconscious and a large bruise stood out on her jaw. Jade tensed at the sign of injury.
"I had to smack her around a little. That girl has a mouth on her," Beck said, smirking at Jade's reaction. She was just barely holding herself in place. For a moment, he thought she would snap, but then she sagged to the ground, knees meeting earth. Her head bowed and her wings drooped.
"Please. Don't hurt her. I'll go with you," she muttered, all fight leaving her. Beck was surprised, but it didn't take long for him to gloat. He strutted over to her and grabbed her by the chin, fingers hard on unyielding flesh to make her look at him. He leaned in.
"Good. Or I may have had to get creative with her torture right in front of you. Physical pain isn't the only thing I can inflict on you," he whispered, emotionless dark brown eyes on hers. She refused to react besides a furrow of her brows.
"What did she offer you, I wonder. Someone to eat?" he proposed. Jade only stared, giving away nothing.
"Someone to fuck?" he tried next, earning a slight twitch of unease. He raised at brow.
"Well, she's full of surprises. Letting you have your way with someone, knowing you could very well tear them apart if you wanted to," he said, watching her expression closely. Her eyes lost their fierce edge, and suddenly, he knew.
"She let you have her," he stated, laughing when she averted her gaze.
"Wow, I didn't see that coming. You've caught feelings for a human. You of all things!" he said, laughing again. He grabbed her by the neck, suddenly serious.
"When I first saw you, I was a little kid. You made me wet myself in fear. The sheer power you wielded. You never showed mercy. You were unstoppable. A true monster. I loved you for that. But then you ran away and look at you now. Pathetic. Weakened by a human. You can't even stand up for yourself," he derided, shoving her. She let her head drop to her chest, still unwilling to fight. And it pissed him off. He crouched in front of her and brought his mouth close to a pointed ear.
"Would you sit there uselessly if I promised not to kill her, and instead, I got to have my way with her too?" he whispered scathingly. In a flash she was in motion, a grinding growl in her throat. He expected it, and although he was only human, he managed to avoid the worst of a deadly swing of her claws. She tore into his chest and stomach but missed disemboweling him like she intended. He swore at her and stumbled back, catching himself against the dragon's flank. It hissed sharply. The werewolves' hackles raised. Jade crouched, rage building.
"If you touch her…I'll kill you," she promised. Beck scoffed, turning away.
"I'd like to see you try. Ryder, she's all yours, Shapiro, with me," he ordered. Jade darted forward, seeing the larger werewolf move to stop her. She slammed her forearm into his throat, crushing his windpipe and causing him to choke. She effortlessly flung him out of her way. Beck's eyes widened at the swift discard. He looked to the slim werewolf who had already grabbed Tori and made for a hasty retreat. Beck followed. The dragon stepped in to block Jade from giving chase.
Its tail whipped at her, but she blocked, catching it when it came at her again. She yanked, claws chipping away scales. It roared, pulling back. She lost hold of it and dodged a swinging claw. She leapt for a wing, shredding a corner. The dragon keened in pain, smacking her off. It lunged to bite, and she met it with a blow to its snout, dazing it and sending it crashing into the ground. She didn't waste time covering the distance to Beck. He had just reached the fountain at the park's entrance and was rounding it, the werewolf carrying Tori just in front of him.
Jade ran faster and threw herself at him, blind rage narrowing her vision until all she saw was his death at her hands. She didn't see when the werewolf backtracked to stop her. A claw struck her across the face, sending her careening into the fountain. She fell in the cool water, clawed feet scraping stone to find purchase and get up. He didn't wait for her to orientate herself. Jade caught the first attack, and the next, holding him back. The werewolf roared and she snarled in return. Her claws tightened and she could feel bone straining under her unforgiving grip.
Jade pulled back sharply, causing him to lose balance and fall in the fountain. While he was momentarily disoriented, Jade shoved him over and tore out his throat, turning the water red. She tossed aside the body and stalked towards Beck who was standing at the other end of the fountain. He held Tori in his arms. Jade burst into a run, water kicking up behind her. She could see the fear in his eyes, already taste his blood on her tongue. She reached the lip of the fountain and stumbled. Her foot was suddenly too heavy to lift. The icy sensation ran up her leg, further slowing her down.
"No. No! Not now!" she screamed, pulling at the frozen limb. She roared and tried to reach for Beck's smug face, but she couldn't. He was getting away, separating her from Tori. The icy sensation spread faster with each step he took. The dragon came loping over behind him just as she lost feeling in her waist, both legs frozen to the floor of the fountain.
"You know where to find me, Jade. Let's settle this," Beck said, waving. He climbed the dragon's back, and it lifted into the air. Jade reached for him once more, a scream frozen on her lips, and then nothing. Darkness for hours that passed her by in minutes. She woke up with her clawed hands still held up, teeth bared, tail mid lash, and wings spread. Her body relaxed with the frown pulling at her lips, tears in her eyes. She failed. All she did was cause a scene. She looked around at the police tape strung up everywhere. She pushed a line of it off her, scoffing at the fact that they used her and a light post to block off part of the area.
Did they know what she was? Or did they think she was part of the fountain and something else killed the werewolf? Because a dead werewolf reverted back to its human form, making this a murder scene. Of course, they would look into it to check if it was a human crime or a monster battle. She hoped they wrote it off as a fight that didn't involve humans. That way no one was in trouble. After all, creatures of the night were only bound by law when it involved humans. Any disagreements between them were left to themselves to figure out. Humans were at least smart enough not to get involved when it didn't concern them. Jade stepped out of the fountain and looked around. In the distance she could see the kicked-up grass and torn earth where they had been fighting.
A section of the field was blocked off there too. Markers similar to the ones at her feet could be seen dotting the grass. She hoped that meant the other werewolf died from his injuries too. She intended to break his neck with the blow, but if she didn't and he healed quickly enough, he could have survived. She didn't worry about it. There was one thing on her mind right now. She had to find Beck. She had to save Tori. She didn't allow herself to think about anything else. It would only distract her. She started toward the entrance and turned down the street, willing herself to relax enough to hide her true form. It took time, but she managed it a block later, keeping to the shadows to avoid unwanted attention.
Beck said she would know where to find him. Unfortunately, he was right. It would mean traveling back to that hellhole. The Oliver family estate. The place where she was summoned. The place where she served. He wanted her to return there, and what better way to do that then to lure her there. She told herself she would never go back. Nothing in the world could ever make her go back. She hadn't anticipated falling for a human.
She barged into her apartment and dug around for a change of clothes. Something sturdy and meant for travel but something that also didn't impede movement in case she had to fly. She would journey on foot. It would only slow her down if she used transportation. Human rules and regulations would just get in the way. She grabbed her spare phone and logged into the Hunter app. She searched for someone a city over as she made her way out to the street. It was better to get some distance first before stopping to hunt.
She kept track of where she was and where she was going, only stopping somewhere before sunrise to charge her phone. Otherwise, she would find somewhere out of sight to wait out the day. An abandoned home, a cave, a tall tree, or a roof. She laughed at the ridiculousness of that. A gargoyle crouched on a roof. How original. She made sure to hunt twice more before reaching her destination. She had to be fully healed and energized for whatever she had to face.
She was only slightly shocked to find no traps or defenses waiting for her. She walked freely across the cobblestone courtyard, eyes constantly scanning her surroundings. It felt strange to be back. Nothing really changed over the years except for small technological improvements and modern vehicles. She didn't want to use the front door. It was obvious. But she didn't want to risk breaking in either. She stopped at the first step of the wide staircase leading up to the mansion and looked up. The red door opened to reveal Beck. He was a bit haggard, and a bandage was wrapped around his torso, visible under his open button-up.
"I knew you would come. You aren't heartless anymore. You're spineless," he said, smiling as if he already won.
"I'm plenty heartless, and if I get my claws on you, I'll show you what spineless really looks like," Jade promised, starting up the steps. She paused when a large shadow passed overhead. She looked up to see the dragon flying out over the surrounding forest of trees. It held something in its claws.
"Tori," she realized.
"Yes, Tori," Beck agreed, her name spoken as if it was a swear. Suddenly, he was too close. Jade moved to jump back but he already had her. Sharp pain lanced at her side where a dagger dug under her ribs. He shoved her back and she fell, tumbling back down the steps. She pushed off the ground only for him to strike again, slashing her arm when she blocked the blow from her face. He punched with his left hand, and she caught it, leaving her open for a slash across her stomach. She squeezed, making sure to crush his fingers in her grip. He screamed and slashed at her again, blindly. A few made contact but she dodged most.
"Dragon bone. The only thing strong enough to pierce your flesh. You don't know how good it feels to make you bleed," he panted, his broken hand tucked close.
"You're stupid to fight me head on," she told him. He laughed. She glanced at the dragon. It was getting away. This was just a distraction.
"I won't let her take you from me. If I can't have you, then neither can she. I know I can't beat you, but I can destroy you," he stated, glaring through the pain. Realization dawned on Jade, and she ran. She pushed herself and eventually took to the sky when that wasn't fast enough. The dragon flew just ahead. Its claws opened and Tori dropped, unconscious and free falling. Jade shot down sharply but was snatched from the air by her leg. She kicked and clawed until the dragon dropped her and she pulled in her limbs to fall faster. She put on speed with her wings and reached out but barely brushed Tori's hand, thrown off course when claws tore at her wing. She flipped through the sky, trying to right herself. The force of the air around her made it difficult, but eventually she was back on track.
A roar from above signaled another attack, but she wasn't prepared for the teeth that locked on her lower half, digging into her middle and mangling her wings. She screamed and quickly stopped the jaws from cutting her in half, forcing them back open. She slashed at its tongue and the roof of its mouth. It reared back to shake her loose. She fell from its mouth and right for Tori, wrapping her protectively in her arms and turning them around just as they met the ground. The earth exploded under the force and jarred Jade's hold to send them flying in different directions.
Tori landed feet away in a tall patch of grass and Jade crashed through a boulder before coming to an abrupt stop against the foot of a steep cliff. She breathed heavily, inhaling the dust and dirt that settled around her. The boom of the dragon landing nearby forced her to move. She shakily climbed from the hole she created. Rocks and gravel fell loose under her hands and feet. She fell once she was out and wiped the back of her hand over her eyes to clear her vision of dirt and blood. The dragon stalked towards Tori. Giant claws slammed down, so close to crushing her.
"Hey!" Jade screamed, causing it to stop. It hissed out a growl and turned to look at her.
"What kind of dragon are you? You can't even kill me," she spat, taking an unsteady step forward. It eyed Tori again and Jade threw a good-sized rock at its head. It screeched, turning back to her.
"I know you can understand me, you stupid lizard!" she yelled, picking up another rock. She raised it, but before she could throw it, it darted forward and had her in its claws. It launched into the air and gained height quickly. Jade used the rock to crush its clawed toes. It released her but didn't let her free without retaliation. Its tail whipped her back and tossed her through the air. The dragon caught her by the foot with its jaws and she swung forward to latch onto its neck, halting it from biting down.
It roared ferociously, tossing its head to shake her off. She dug her claws in harder, finding a weak spot behind the hinge of its jaw. It landed heavily at the edge of the cliff, aiming to crush her between it and the ground. She quickly let go and rolled out of the way, grabbing at its tail. She yanked with enough force to make it step back, crumbling the fragile edge of the cliff under its weight. It dug in harder, but it only sped up the process.
There was a loud crack and the whole thing gave out. Jade scrambled to clear the collapsing cliffside. The dragon pawed at something to hold on to but was soon lost to the pull of gravity and fell. Boulders crushed it on the way down where it landed, buried under the rockslide. Jade threw herself out of the way just in time and peered over the edge once everything settled. She spotted Tori laying in the grass and jumped.
She slid down the newly made slope and stumbled at the bottom. It took her a moment to get her feet under her again, but then she was up and jogging to Tori's side. She fell on her knees next to her and gathered her in her arms. Her face was bruised, and a black eye was starting to form. Cuts crossed her arms and dried blood on her shirt made Jade push it aside to see more slashes to her torso. A large bruise mottled her side. Jade's clawed hand trembled where it pressed gently at the human's damaged skin. Tori jumped at the cool contact and her eyes fluttered.
"Tori?" Jade called to her, removing her hand to press it to her cheek. The human groaned pitifully and pulled away.
"Can you hear me?" Jade tried again.
"It's a trick," Tori grunted, tired eyes finally opening. What did he do to her? Jade held back her anger. It wasn't the time.
"It's not a trick. I'm here," Jade corrected her, gently turning Tori's head so that she could look at her. Dull brown found her gaze and brightened with unshed tears.
"You found me," she said. Jade let out a relieved exhale and held Tori close.
"I was afraid I would be too late," she admitted. Tori rested in Jade's lap a moment, running a hand over the wound marring Jade's torso. A tear fell.
"He beat me. He kept telling me you wouldn't come. That you didn't care. That I was just a plaything, and you would find another one to replace me," Tori muttered, sniffling.
"I didn't fight a vampire, two werewolves, and a dragon for a mere plaything," Jade responded, wiping a tear away.
"I know. But it was hard to ignore him at the time. I felt so hopeless. I was lucky he didn't do anything more. He kept hinting at it but never went through with it," Tori said, looking up at Jade. She tensed at the words, going still in a way that made Tori nervous.
"He wanted to capture me first and make me watch. I'm sure he would have gotten rid of you after he had his fun," Jade responded, removing her hand before she hurt Tori. It clenched into a tight fist, but Tori held it in her hands and rubbed away the tension.
"Is he…alive?" Tori asked, hesitant.
"Yes, but not for long," Jade vowed, standing up with Tori in her arms. However, she faltered and fell back to her knees.
"Put me down," Tori requested, moving out of Jade's hold.
"No, I have to get you to safety," she refused.
"I am safe. Nothing will hurt me out here," Tori said, gesturing to the ruin around her. The dragon was dead, and the rockslide most likely scared off any wildlife in the area.
"But-" Jade refuted. Tori shook her head.
"Go. I'll be here when you get back," she told her, pushing at her arm. Jade stared at her determined expression and nodded. She struggled to stand, and Tori helped her up the best she could. Jade pointed at a recess in the cliffside.
"Hide. Don't come out for anything," Jade ordered. Tori nodded.
"Okay," she accepted, pulling Jade into a kiss that lingered. Jade closed her eyes for a moment and then let her go. Tori picked her way over the rocks and slipped into shadow, effectively hidden. Jade followed but started to climb up the side. She wished she could fly, but her wings were severely damaged. It took longer than it should have, but she reached the top. She trudged her way back to the mansion as quickly as she could, stopping to rest a few minutes. When she made it back, she didn't hesitate to climb the steps. She wasn't surprised to find Beck sitting on the main staircase, waiting, when she burst through the door.
"I knew you'd be back," he said, voice scratchy and monotone. A makeshift bandage covered his hand. He sat hunched over, defeated. And yet he still had to point out how well he knew her. Jade stepped inside and threw the door shut behind her. The slam echoed through the empty halls. She scanned the room. The interior almost looked abandoned. Beck noticed her questioning expression.
"They all left me. After grandfather died, I started to train in preparation to take over after my father. But once my father died, they took a vote and decided I wasn't worthy. I thought that if I could bring back the one thing that made us powerful, the one thing that made me powerful, then they would accept me," he explained.
"But you failed," Jade said, walking forward.
"You ruined everything. I got lost in revenge and I wanted to hurt you. I lost sight of my role. I lost control in my need to get you back and punish you for leaving," he spat, glaring at her. Jade stopped, eyes on the dagger gripped in his only working hand. She was wary of it, but unconcerned.
"I know why you're here," he stated.
"Then you also know that it's pointless to fight," Jade responded, moving forward again. Her intentions were clear. He stood up, dagger at the ready.
"If I die, I die fighting," he refused. She growled low before lunging, clearing the first few steps gracefully to land next to him. He swung low, aiming to plunge the dragon bone blade into her stomach, but she deftly caught him by the wrist. He pulled back, but she didn't let go, and it only served to pull them together. Now nose to nose, Beck leaned in, his lips on hers. His wrist snapped under the pressure of her grip, and he cringed, pulling away. He sucked in a pained breath through clenched teeth.
"I just had to know what it felt like," he admitted, managing a weak smirk. She sneered, baring sharp teeth. She gripped under his jaw and forced his head back. He swallowed and closed his eyes. Her teeth met flesh and his blood ran, thick and warm. She bit down again and tore, pulling back. She held him tightly in her claws, digging in and drawing more blood. The smell hung in the air and coated her tongue. She tried not to enjoy it, but it felt too good. It felt right. And it was the last thing she thought about when the icy sensation began dragging her into darkness.