Tori should have seen it coming. She should have known that any decision made without consulting Jade West was basically a deal with the devil. Because now, the morning after she brought Onyx home, she found herself in the passenger seat of her car, holding the most insolent, arrogant cat on the planet in her lap, while Jade drove with a scowl on her face and a dangerously prominent vein on her temple.
It wasn't that Jade was happy about the idea of taking Onyx to the vet. No. Rather, she had protested, flatly refused, and then, after reluctantly agreeing, swore that she would never, under any circumstances, pay a cent for this "four-legged version of myself that I didn't even ask for."
And yet, there she was.
"This is kidnapping, you know that, Tori?" "Jade growled, her fingers tightening on the steering wheel with an intensity that suggested she was seriously considering crashing the car just to get things over with.
Tori sighed, petting Onyx's head as she purred contentedly, completely oblivious to Jade's hostility.
"It's not kidnapping if you're the one taking us," she replied with an innocent smile, even though she knew full well she was playing with fire.
"Oh, please, Vega. All that's left is for her to put a gun to my own head and make me pay for this one's consultation…" Jade glanced at the cat, who was staring at her with her emerald green eyes, blinking with the same expression of silent judgment that Jade herself used when someone said something stupid. "Thing."
"Onyx," Tori corrected, gently kissing the cat's head, who raised her tail proudly.
Onyx, completely oblivious to the fact that his existence was slowly wearing down Jade's patience, stared through the grate with that natural superiority attitude that only cats—and Jade—could muster. His emerald green eyes sparkled in the sunlight, reflecting a hint of mockery as his little nose twitched slightly, taking in the scents of the outside world.
Tori, on the other hand, was delighted. She had spent the previous night researching cat breeds, and after an exhaustive analysis of images on the internet and comparisons with Onyx, she came to the conclusion that the cat was no simple stray: she was a Bombay, a feline with velvety black fur and intense green eyes, with the elegance of a miniature panther.
The veterinary clinic was bright, neat, and had that smell of disinfectant mixed with the faint scent of nervous pets. A few people waited their turn with dogs and cats, but most eyes were on the strange scene unfolding in front of them:
The waiting room at the veterinary clinic was packed with pet owners trying to keep control of their animals. A French bulldog snored heavily on a portable bed, a husky howled in protest because it didn't want to be there, and a parrot in its cage kept repeating "HELP! I'VE BEEN KIDNAPPED!", prompting the receptionist to put on her best please-someone-shut-it face.
"Welcome. What's the patient's name?" the receptionist asked pleasantly.
"Onyx," Tori replied with a smile.
"His majesty, the Hairy Demon," Jade murmured, too low for the receptionist to hear, but enough for Tori to nudge her in the ribs.
The wait seemed like an eternity. The sound of other pet owners' heels echoed on the floor as Jade kept staring at Onyx, growing more and more irritated by her presence. More and more, she felt like the cat was taking over her space, her life.
When it was finally Onyx's turn, the little cat was led to the exam table, and Tori followed close behind, while Jade, with a glare, kept drumming her fingers on her bag. The vet's assistant was a dark-haired woman, with a kind smile that tried to calm everyone, but nothing could soften Jade's hardness.
"So, what do we have here?" the vet asked, looking at the cat being examined with interest. Her eyes widened slightly as she noticed Onyx's features. "This is a Bombay, isn't it? They're so fascinating." —She came closer with more curiosity, observing the bright eyes of the cat that now fixed them with an overflowing intensity.
"Wow, what a beautiful kitten you have" he vet commented while taking a small thermometer to check Onyx."What is her name?".
Onyx responded, not with just any meow, but with a soft purr, as if she knew exactly what was going on and was delighted by the attention. Jade rolled her eyes, crossing her arms so violently that her wrists creaked.
"Tell the cat she's not a goddess," she muttered, looking at the vet with an expression that brooked no reply.
Tori laughed, but the laughter was quickly stifled when she saw that Jade was in no mood for jokes.
"Onyx" answered Tori with a smile, gently stroking the cat's fur. Jade gritted her teeth. Onyx? Really? She thought, wondering how could such a small cat have so much power of attraction over her girlfriend.
Jade, with a frown, could not help but throw scathing comments at every word the vet said. Every time Onyx did something that Jade interpreted as a challenge, her reaction was quick, almost instinctive. The rosebush of her attitude unfolded with every look that Onyx gave her. She knew that the cat did not respect her, that something in that small being saw her as a rival, and Jade did not tolerate rivals.
The vet nodded, watching Onyx with a clinical eye. The cat remained calm, but Jade could see how her eyes moved with interest to the vet's every move. There was something unsettling about that. Something that seemed to mock Jade, as if the cat was dominating the terrain.
After a couple of minutes, the vet stood up and smiled again.
"Everything is fine with Onyx. She's a very healthy cat, although she has a slight cold. Probably from being outside for so long," she explained as she gathered the papers. Jade let out a sigh of relief, but the feeling of unpleasantness didn't dissipate. "As a precaution, I'll prescribe her some medicine, and it'll be best if you keep her inside for a few days, just to be safe."
Jade looked at Tori, who looked relieved. But that only made Jade's irritation increase. It was clear that Tori was enjoying every moment she spent with Onyx, while she felt completely displaced. The cat had earned her place in Tori's life, and Jade wasn't about to give up that easily.
"So… how much is the total?" Jade asked, her voice thick with annoyance as she watched Tori pull out her wallet to pay.
The vet mentioned the figure, and Jade felt anger build up in her chest. She was paying for that damn cat's visit.
"It's a shame you can't see what I see, Jade," Tori said in a soft tone as she handed the vet her wallet. The comment, said so matter-of-factly, made Jade's heart skip a beat.
"What do you mean by that?" she replied, her tone acidic.
Tori didn't respond right away, but instead looked at Onyx with a fond smile. Jade frowned. What was going on here? What had Tori seen in this cat that she couldn't see? Was it possible that Onyx was everything Tori needed to feel complete?
When the vet was done, Jade reluctantly paid and left the office with Tori and Onyx at her side. The cat, as always, walked with an inexplicable grace, a confidence that irritated Jade even more. She, on the other hand, felt like she was losing control, like Tori's love was slipping through her fingers, with every glance Onyx threw her way.
The ride home was silent, but tense. Jade couldn't stop thinking about the cat. Onyx was winning the battle. But Jade knew that even though the cat had the appearance of perfection, she was Jade West, and she wasn't going to let a damn cat take away what was hers.
Jade couldn't help but feel like the situation was spiraling out of control around her, as if she was losing more ground to a small black-furred, green-eyed cat every day. Every time she looked at Onyx, she saw more and more of herself. That cat was becoming the distorted reflection of what Jade feared she was. The fact that Tori didn't see it only made Jade's anger grow.
When they got home, Jade left the car door open, watching as Tori, with a soft smile on her lips, took Onyx into her arms. The cat didn't resist, as if she was already used to being treated like a princess. Jade stepped back, letting Tori and Onyx enter first, a heavy feeling enveloping her. Everything was changing, and Jade didn't know how to stop it.
"Can I leave Onyx in your bed, or would you prefer her on the couch?" Tori asked, her tone soft and relaxed, as she stroked the cat's fur.
Jade could hardly believe what she was hearing. Tori had lost her mind over a cat. A cat that had more of Jade in it than she did. She felt like she was short of breath as she crossed her arms and watched the scene like a helpless spectator.
"Really? Are you going to ask me where the cat should sleep?" The sarcasm in her voice overflowed as she threw an icy glare at Tori.
Tori didn't seem bothered. In fact, her expression was almost curious, as if she was looking for a reaction from Jade.
"I know you don't like her very much, but... Onyx needs to be comfortable, and I'd like us to take good care of her," Tori said with that warm attitude that always characterized her.
Jade closed her eyes, fighting to maintain her control. She wanted to scream at her, she wanted to release all the venom she felt at that moment. But instead, she simply turned around and headed towards the bathroom, knowing that if she stayed there one more second, she could lose all control.
As the door closed behind her, Jade leaned against the wall. Her breathing became ragged as her hatred for Onyx continued to grow. Every time she thought about what had happened, about how Tori had gotten rid of her to welcome that... thing into her life, she couldn't help but feel overwhelmed. What was going on? Why did she feel like, at any moment, she was going to be replaced by that damn cat?
The sound of the door opening brought her out of her thoughts. Tori's soft voice reached her ears.
"Jade, I don't want you to be angry. I understand that this is weird, but I just want..." Tori paused, as if searching for the right words. "I just want you to understand that Onyx isn't here to replace you. No one will ever replace you. Just... give me some time to adjust."
Jade fell silent, Tori's words making her question everything she felt. On one hand, her love for Tori was still the anchor that kept her sane. But on the other, something inside her was breaking. What if Tori was starting to see Onyx as more than just a pet? What if that cat was gaining something Jade was afraid of losing? Tori's love.
"I don't know if you can understand, Tori," Jade finally said, her voice low, as if she were talking to herself. "But every time I look at that cat, I feel like everything I've ever been... is being erased. Like it doesn't matter anymore."
Tori approached her cautiously, without a single word, and hugged her, embracing her insecurities, her fears, too. Jade closed her eyes, letting Tori's warmth envelop her, but the knot in her stomach didn't go away.
"I promise nothing will change, Jade," Tori whispered, her voice soft, caressing her back tenderly. "Onyx is not a threat." All I want is for the three of us to be okay.
Jade pulled away a little, looking into Tori's eyes, searching for something more in her words. But all she found was that same warm look, the one that made her think that Tori still saw her as the same person, that she still loved her. However, the cat's echo kept resonating in her mind. Could she trust that promise?
Suddenly, a soft, annoying sound interrupted the silence. Onyx, that damn cat, climbed onto the couch, looking at both of them with those piercing green eyes. As if she knew that everything Jade felt was wrapped in a spiral of doubt. And then, in a defiant movement, Onyx began to purr, a sound that was almost like a mockery, as if telling her: You're not the only one here anymore, Jade. There's a new queen in the house.
Jade gritted her teeth, feeling the fury consume her again. Really? The cat was doing this to her right in front of her?
"Tori…" her voice was tighter, almost dangerous. "That cat is challenging me."
Tori looked at her, not fully understanding what she meant. Jade, however, was seeing past Onyx's sweet exterior. She wasn't just a cat anymore. She was a silent threat, one that was taking what Jade felt belonged to her.
Tori crouched down in front of the cat, smiling and petting her more lovingly than ever. It was like Jade was watching a movie, but she wasn't the protagonist. She was the villain. And Onyx… Onyx had taken the role of the heroine.
At that moment, Jade couldn't help but wonder if she had lost. Had she lost Tori forever?