JADE I woke up with a silly smile on my lips. There was something different about me as I looked in the mirror, I couldn’t exactly pace my finger on it but it felt great. And generally, it was an amazing thing. I took a quick shower and dressed in the first thing I laid my hands on. Good thing it looked human and I didn’t seem like I have lost my mind. Blush coated my cheeks when I went back out and saw the messy rumbled sheets. And the slight scent of sex still clung in the air. My eyes trailed to the breakfast tray I hadn’t notice when I first woke up and a smile bloomed on my face. There is this giddy feeling in my stomach. Calling it butterflies seemed like such an understatement. Whatever I had with atlas couldn’t be summed into little words like that. I cleared my throat and brushed my hair away from my face. I din’t feel hungry. The things I was feeling was enough to sustain me for the rest of the day. I opted to take even a bite of the food at leats. He went through that
JADEAndrew’s laughter followed me as I stomped the rest of the way to the dungeon. The evil and din’t even come with me. He just wanted to rub it in my face.Asshole.I still had a smile on my face though now, I’m very conscious of how covered my neck was. I really should have paid more attention and maybe put on makeup or something to cover it up.Well, it is already too late now.It was when I got the door that I paused outside. What was I even going to tell Atlas? Why did you leave a hickey on me?I’m sure Annie has never asked that. In fact, when we were teenagers, she was always very happy to show her marl to everyone. It is not like we didn’t know they were sleeping together. But she just had to show it too much because she was an attention seeker.The thought of her made unease trail down my spine and I started thinking of what happened last night. All that I did.How does someone even know he did well? I didn’t have any experience. Heck, he was my first kiss and that only hap
JADE“Jade.” I didn’t stop to listen to whatever he had to say.I turned around and headed back out of the door. I could hear him coming after me so I went faster. Forcing my feet to move even though every part of me felt heavy. Lifting my legs felt like I was moving a boulder. Still, I pushed myself forward.My eyes were burning but I refused to let myself cry. Not gain. Not for him. He doesn’t deserve it. He doesn’t deserve me!Someone was coming out a car when I got to the driveway. I’m not sure I told you them excuse me as I pushed them aside and got into the driver’s seat. With eyes barely on the road, I reversed out of the driveway, and headed straight of the gates.Atlas was still yelling for me, coming after me but I didn’t care. I left him in the dust and exhaust the car left behind.I only had one destination in mind. I didn’t know what I would do when I got there but that is something I will have to worry about later. I reach;;ed something my dad had told me when we were h
JADE I couldn’t close my mouth when I saw the house. John only laughed, seemingly pleased with himself for the surprise. Or whatever this is. I kept blinking, asking myself if maybe they were playing pranks on me because this couldn’t be real. It really couldn’t be real. It was an actual castle. Like the types you see in fairytales and movies. I have never seen anything like it in real life. It was unreal. “Now I ca say welcome home your highness. It is really good to have you back.” I turned to him, still unable to close my mouth. He got out of the car and opened the door for me. I stepped out immediately. I couldn’t contain my excitement. There was a fountain right there in the middle of the driveway. It was large and magnificent. With a howling wolf in the middle of it. Water was coming out of its mouth and raining down. It was beautiful. I was drawn to it. I found myself walking there before I could stop myself. “Beautify, isn’t it?” I heard a voice as beside me. It didn’t
JADEI have noticed a lot of sunrises, since I woke up earlier than everyone and all. So sometimes I just sit outside and watch the sky gradually open up. It was always therapeutic.No matter how many sunrises I saw, it didn’t prepare for what it would be like here in Palm Springs. That was the name of my father’s—well, now my new home.And it didn’t matter how many times I saw the sunrise or sunset. It stole my breath every time.I breathed out a small sigh and take the drink to my lips.This really is the life. Drinking cocktails and watching the setting of the sun, surrounded by the most beautiful things in the world, and my family. I couldn’t forget that.Ray was beside me, also lying down on the lounge and sipping her non-alcoholic cocktail. This has become sort of our ritual the past few days and I’m loving it.She has also warmed up to me so much more since I got here. Generally, she seems a lot calmer here and I guess, you feel that way when you’e in a place you love.“Did you
JADEI looked in the mirror, my eyebrows creasing a little in uncertainty.Dad said they were hosting a welcome party for me and a lot of important figures in the country were attending. So naturally, I was nervous. Not because I want’t used to being around them. But I was ever the subject of their attention.I was always just a guest, or they were honouring Atlas and I’m his wife. I was more focused on making sure everything was going well, rather than thinking of how to socialise with them.I know a lot of their faces would be familiar. But that would be the end of it. I may not even remember their names.Now, I’m getting my hair and makeup done because I have to look the part. According to ray. She picked out my dress for me, much to my dismay. I hate to admit that what she picked out was definitely something I would have decided on by myself.It was simple and elegant and the green color made my eyes pop. She had given it a thumbs up before running off. She was giddy and excited f
JADE“You sure you want to leave that out there?” Ray motioned to my locket, which was glowing for some reason.I have become used to the random things the thing does that I barely even noticed them anymore. As long as it didn’t get scalding hot the way it did the other day. I had considered doing research on it to find out why it does all these things, but for now, I have’t really decided if I want to find out or not.Ignoring is bliss and all.“Dad said it is okay.” I replied.And I actually like having it with me. It felt like I had a piece of my mother and grandmother here with me. Even though they aren’t. I could feel their presence. Like they have their arms wrapped around me in a soft hug.“Okay.” She said and stopped outside a double door.It was similar to the one at the entrance but not quite as large. I knew this was the ballroom. Of course, they had a ballroom. It was a castle with almost two hundred bedrooms and I had my own apartment in the house. So yes, a ballroom is e
JADEAntonio stepped back, probably to give us privacy while dad winced, clearly not happy with what she said.When I got over my shock, I tried to plaster on a fake smile. My lips wobbled when she gave me a withering glare. She really does’t like me.I guess, I wouldn’t like me either if I was in her shoes.“Or are you going to keep hiding her form me?” More venom coated her words, it made the first one seem like child’s play.If looks could kill a person, I would have been dead by now from the way she was looking at me. She had no regard for the people standing all around. Some were definitely looking at us. Trying to overhear what was being said.&
JADE“i needed to come see him.”“Why?” He collected the baby from me “I told you that there's no need to. Why do you feel the need to come here even after I told you not to?!”“Because it's not just your victory! It's not just your life that he was after! It's mine too! And it's Ray's too! So yes, I needed to come down here to get closure.”He needed to understand that this meant something to me too, just as it did him.“Closure? Is that why you put the baby at risk? How much more closure do you need?”What on earth was he talking about?“Risk? Incase you didn't notice, I was there with him! I was at risk too! I needed him to look me in the eye and tell me why he did what he did to my family.”“Or maybe it's because you're too hung up on the past and you just can't let go. Incase you havent noticed, you're so stuck in the past and you are obsessing over it. Move on!”Well, I'm glad he finally got to say what he wanted to. Now I know how he feels about me trying to find answers. I w
JADEI didn't think it was worth it at first. Going to see the man that had made me grow up without parents and without the concept of what a true family felt like.But after much thought, he needed to know that all his plans failed and I was going to rub it in his face..I'd gotten all three pieces of the stone together and wore it around my locket.It would hurt him so bad to see that in the end, I won.Iniko decided that that was the right moment to start crying and everytime I dropped him back in his cot, he cried even louder.“Young man, what is it that you want? You've been fed and burped and I just changed your diaper so there's no way you could have soiled it again -”I stopped and remembered what happened yesterday so I took a peak for myself. There was nothing im his diaper.“So what exactly do you want?”I wish babies could talk.I guess I didn't have any other choice than to take him with me then. Atlas would blow a fuse if he found out that I took his son to see Ford.Whe
ATLAS“By wasting any more time, we are not doing ourselves any good! Sixth Circle pack is vacant. We have their leader in our custody and I've taken down every opposition in our way, do you think it would be long before we get more interests?”Sometimes, having a cabinet infuriates me so much. It was like I was speaking to brick walls. I didn't see any reason why they couldn't just agree to me taking over the Sixth Circle.It would even be better for us because it would improve our army base, it would make our pack bigger and in general, it would be a plus for us.But they weren't seeing it that way. All they were seeing was the fact that Ford had committed something against the pack and they weren't going to take it.I mean, what better way to teach him a lesson by taking over his pack?“Alpha, we're not disputing the fact that you've gone a long way-”“But you're diminishing my efforts. What's the whole point of defeating him and taking him into custody when I can't even go ahead a
JADERay and I weren't speaking for now.How could she hide something like that from me?“Where is she?”“I have no idea. All I know is that she ran away when we were little. She knew that he would come after her and she didn't want to put you in danger. So she ran away and left your nanny to take care of you. I don't know where she is.”How could she do this?“Before I lost my memory, did I know?”“No, you never knew.”I couldn't believe this. I lost my appetite for the rest of that day and I just stayed in Iniko's room because I couldn't even speak to anyone right now.I'd spent my life thinking my mother was dead only to hear that she was alive and she ran away because of that beast.“It’s not her fault, you know. Your mother ran away to protect you and Ray didn't tell you because she wanted to keep you safe. You have to forgive her.”I didn't blame her. It wasn't her fault things turned out like this. I was just hurt that I didn't know.Later that day, I took Iniko on a walk so h
JADEI was just realizing that this baby has Atlas's eyes and hair and everything!“This baby is rigged.”He turned around in shock.“What are you talking about?”“You did something to make the baby look like you.”He laughed and shook his head.“No, I didn't. It's just a coincidence.”“Coincidence? Look at this baby and look at you. It seems like I didn't even have anything to do with his birth.”“Don’t worry, you can have the second baby.”I scoffed.“You think I'm going to let you have another chance to have photocopies? Big joke.”Iniko was so small and he seemed so fragile.Ray brought my food and she took him while I ate.“I wish my grandmother was here to see him.”She gave me a sad smile.“Me too. She would be so proud of you.I'm proud of you.”I'm so happy my sister was here with me. She was the one who had been by my side throughout and if the child had been a girl, I would have named her after Raya.“Thank you for everything you did. If not for you, I don't know how I would
JADE“I'm going to need your blood as well. Atlas, I promise it won't hurt her. Just a little nick.”He nodded and she dragged the knife across my finger.“Place your finger over the stone and let the blood cover it entirely. Do not take your hand away from the fire.”It was a simple instruction but it seemed so intense.It was almost over. My legs were beginning to feel well and it was getting harder to quiet my screams.“What do we have here?”That voice. He was here.“What are you doing here?”All I had to do was keep my hand over the fire until the stone bled.Ray helped me stand up straight while Atlas and Andrew faced my uncle.“So this was why I came here. How did you do that? How did you call the other stones?”I eventually removed my hand from the fire since we had found them.“I always knew it was with one of you. That stupid old hag told me she couldn't find the other piece but I guess she gave it to you. “Why were all the worst things happening tonight?I was in labor and
JADEAtlas returned later that evening.I was right with what I'd thought.“What have you been up to?”I knew he knew I'd been eating because of the smirk on his face.“You know you don't have to hide from me when you eat right?”Oh, I did.“If you see how much I eat and the way I eat, I don't think you'd want to be married to me anymore.”He burst out laughing.“What makes you think I care about the way you eat? As long as you're healthy and our baby is fine, I don't care.”“But then, what if I get fat? I'll be so big that I won't be able to eat. I don't know why I eat so much.”This was actually a worry of mine. Normally, I ate but my appetite was not this big.“Blame it on the baby. I figure when you give birth, the cravings will stop and even though you do get fat, you're still my wife. It doesn't change anything.”I was really married to the best man ever, wasn't I?“You’re the best.”“I know. Ray says that we have to get there before midnight so that she can prepare everything.
JADEAt this point, I was realizing that the earlier we did things, the better.“I’ll arrange for the sacrifice to happen tomorrow. We need to move as fast as we can before he gets Intel that were here.”I didn't want to have to run with this big belly of mine.“What are you going to need?”“Don’t worry, I'll take care of it. Just bring the stone.”We went to bed that night because we were all completely exhausted.“Hey, are you okay?” Atlas asked when we were in bed.“Yes, I am. Why do you ask?”“You didn't cry when you found out that he killed your father. You didn't cry when you found out that she was not your grandmother. I'm worried.”Now that I think about it, it's true. But it was because I didn't feel like crying.“I don't know. Maybe my body just hasn't proceses it yet. Maybe its because I hate him so I'm not bothered that he's not my father and I never really knew my father so i can't cry for him. I've already mourned for my grandmother.”I just didn't feel the need to cry b
JADE“Jade, step away from that.”I walked back towards them and stared at the pile.“What kind of animal would do this?”I had no idea but I think I was beginning to understand why she wanted us to find this place.This place held secrets.I went back to the wall to look at the drawings and try to understand them.I used my fingers to trace them again and this time around, I heard the voice clearer.“Look at the bigger picture.”I stepped away from the wall so I could see the entire thing. There were more drawings to the side and when I walked up, I noticed that there was a sign at the bottom of it.That sign…looked all too familiar but I couldn't just place my finger.“Ray, come see this. I've seen this before but I don't know where it's from.”She crouched beside me and stared at it for a moment.“I know it's familiar but I don't know where it's from, either.”Andrew and Atlas joined us and just within seconds, they knew.“We know.”They shared a look and it made me scared.“Jade,