Chapter Eleven – Jade POV

I stared in the mirror. “Evil.” I furrowed my brow, tilting my head downwards. I gave my best menacing grin and stared up at the mirror. “Evil.” I sighed. “No, that’s just silly.” I rubbed my hands together. “Evil.”

Marco came up behind me, but I didn’t notice. When I looked at the mirror again, I saw him, arms folded with an amused smile. I turned around quickly and blushed, embarrassed.

“You don’t have to look evil to be evil,” he said.

I sighed. “I’m going to the realm before we do this. After I drop Orion off with Caleb, I’ll go there. There’s something I need to do.”

He nodded. “Hurry back. I’d love to see you try more evil faces.”

I glared at him. “Asshole.”

He laughed as I walked past him, a sly grin on my face. Of course, I didn’t mean it. I was just teasing him.

Orion and I stood at the door of my old house. I picked him up and hugged him. “Mommy won’t be gone for long, okay? It’s just a little trip to clear my head. It gives you some bonding time with Daddy and Ruby.”

He nodded. “I’ll miss you Mommy.”

“I’ll miss you too, my baby.”

Caleb answered the door, almost frantic. “Oh, Jade. Hi. Sorry, I thought it was someone else.”

I tilted my head. “I told you I was on my way. Are you okay? You don’t look so good.”

He glanced around nervously. “Come in.”

Orion and I stepped in, with Orion immediately running off to play.

Caleb hugged me tightly. “First of all, I want to say how truly sorry I am.”

I also hugged him tightly, the bond we had never broken by anything the world threw at us. “I get it, Caleb. She was your first love. Maybe I shouldn’t have been so harsh. Honestly, I’m happy you two were reunited.”

He sighed. “She’s left, and hasn’t been back since that night.”

I pulled away. “What?”

He shook his head. “I don’t know where she went. She just vanished.”

I suddenly felt guilty for having the same plans. “I’m sure she will come back. I scared her and made her feel unwelcome. That’s my fault.”

“If I hadn’t-“

I put my finger on his lips. “Stop. Right. There. We could blame ourselves all day. Don’t. I’ll help you find her if she hasn’t come back when I do.”

He nodded. “Okay. Thank you.”

I gave him a warm smile. “Of course.”

“How long will you be gone?” He asked.

“I’ll only be gone for a week,” I said, lying of course. I would be gone for as long as I needed to keep up the facade. “But we can video chat anytime.” Again, I was lying. Once I was put under this “spell”, I would have to silence my phone. Ignore everyone.

Be a ghost.

He nodded. “Good. Well, have fun, stay safe. It’s dangerous out there. Now that Marco’s been targeted, I’m scared you will be too.”

I looked away. “I can handle myself.”

He touched my cheek. “I know you can. But I’ll still worry until I see you again.”

“You’d better,” I grinned. “But I have to go. I’ll see you in a week. Keep me posted on Ruby, okay?”

He nodded again. “I will.”

As we said our goodbyes, I teleported to the realm. I explained my “vacation” to Morgyn and Aidoneus, and when we parted ways, I quickly rushed downstairs. I needed to see what was in the book.

I glanced around as I turned the pages to the passage I needed. Reading it, my eyes widened. “The only hybrid to exist will be the downfall of the realm.” I stepped away. “No. That’s impossible. It can’t be. Why?” Moving back, I continued. “The only match for this chosen offspring would be their sibling, born to the same mother. What?! No!” I shut the book quickly. “No! It’s just a legend!” I felt tears fill my eyes. “Not my son! It’s just…” I broke down and cried into my hands. “It’s just a legend.” My voice had become a whisper. I quickly teleported out and back to Marco’s apartment.

I rushed out to the balcony and sat, crying. “Not Orion. Not my son. It can’t be. It’s not true. It’s just…just a legend.”

Marco came out. “Oh hey! You’re…whoa.” He rushed to my side. “Are you okay?”

I gripped onto him tightly as he put his arm around me, crying into his shoulder. “It’s just a legend. Not him. Not Orion.”

I felt his body tense. “Wh-what?”

“The book. It said Orion would be the downfall of the realm.”

He didn’t say anything, resting his head on mine as he held me. “It’s just a legend. You’re right, it’s not true, okay? Everything will be fine. He’s a sweet, bright boy. He doesn’t have it in him.”

I calmed down. “You’re right. He couldn’t.”

He shook his head. “No.”

I closed my eyes, wiping my tears. “It just scared me.”

“I know,” he said, rubbing my back. “That’s your son. Of course it would scare you.”

Marco fully calmed me down, and I felt like a fool for getting so upset over a legend. We started to get our plan in motion.

“So, how are we going to do this?” I asked, nervously wringing my hands together.

“I’ll tell him to meet us in the forests of Glimmerbrook. We tell him we were wrong in trying to fight him, and you’ve joined forces with me to join him in the rest of his efforts. We stay with him, plot with him, fight with him. All the while, I’ll get closer to Crystal and kiss her, freeing her from the spell.” He gazed at me. “Then I’ll kiss you like crazy to curb your jealousy.”

I giggled a little. “Good. You’d better.”

He grinned. “Once the spell has been broken, we pull her aside, explain our actual plans. At that point, we can come out of hiding and explain to the others what our plans are too. Together, we team up against Damien and take him down.” He cleared his throat. “Um, peacefully, of course.”

I patted his head. “Yes. Peacefully.”

“Do you think there will be fights in between?” I asked quietly. “Will I need to use dark magic?”

“Only if anyone gets in our way,” he explained. “If Damien picks a fight, even if we disagree, we need to back him up, or he will suspect something.”

I nodded. I hoped that wouldn’t happen. “Was he this exhausting before?”

Marco shrugged. “I wouldn’t know. Back then, we had the same goals. So if he was, I was too.”

I giggled and wrapped my arms around him. “You absolutely were exhausting.”

He stroked my cheek, narrowing his eyes. “Only for you pesky do-gooders.”

I laughed as he kissed me, pressing me against the wall with his body. Clearly, he had something else on his mind. He moved to my neck, trailing his fingertips up my sides as he pressed his hips against mine.

I giggled. “We have things we need to do.”

“It can wait,” he whispered seductively in my ear. My weakness. Dammit. He teased my skin some more. “Mi reina.”

I bit my lip, trying hard not to react, despite craving him more and more by the second. He pinned my arms above my head and kissed me again, fiercely. He then picked me up and threw me over his shoulder.

I yelped in surprise as he carried me to the bedroom, immediately lifting my shirt above my head as he laid me down gently.

We completely undressed each other, skipping the teasing and getting lost in each other again, slow movements and soft touches causing our desire to burn like a raging fire. He kissed and softly bit my neck, causing me to reach my release quickly, with his coming shortly after.

I giggled and stroked his hair. “Horndog.”

“I promise you, I’m really not,” he laughed softly. “It’s just you.”

“Well, then I feel special,” I grinned.

He pulled the covers over us. “It’s getting late. Let’s start tomorrow.”

I nodded, thinking we were going to go to sleep. To my surprise, he started to tease me, and once again, one thing led to another. Finally, we laid together, satisfied and breathless, and we fell asleep.

We woke up at dawn, getting ready quickly and setting out. Marco had contacted Damien to ask him to meet us, oblivious to our plans.

As we made our way to the forest, Marco stopped me. “Listen. We both have to play the part. I think it goes without saying that you’ll see…” he paused and closed his eyes. “That side of me again. It’s all an act.”

I nodded with a smile. “I know. It’s different this time.”

He also nodded and kissed my forehead. “Alright, let’s go.”

We headed into the deep forest, sitting on a log and waiting.

Damien approached quietly. Marco immediately stood up and shook his hand. “Damien.”

Damien glanced at him, then at me. “You’ve brought a friend.”

Marco stood tall, dominant. “We have both decided to join you in your efforts. But we need to stay hidden. Jade is still the sage, and she cannot be found or she will be dragged back to the realm.”

Damien nodded. “How can I trust you?”

Marco grinned. “You knew I couldn’t stay like this forever, old friend, right?”

“And her?”

“Recent events have made me realize that you are doing the right thing here. My power is of use to you.” I held my head high.

Marco put his arm around my waist. “And so, she’s joined with me to join you. If you still don’t trust her, know that I will keep her in check.”

Damien glared at me. “With a spell?”

Marco nodded. “Of course.” He tightened his grip on me, silently telling me that what he was saying wasn’t true.

“Come with me, then,” Damien said. “You can stay with Crystal and I until the sages stop scratching for you. There’s still a lot that needs to be done.”

Marco nodded. “What do you need me to do?”

“A lot,” Damien said frankly. “I won’t explain here. Come.”

Marco let go of me, and we walked out of the forest, led by Damien back to Newcrest where he lived.

Stepping in, we were immediately greeted by Crystal, who kissed Damien’s cheek. “You’ve brought guests!” She exclaimed. “Would you like coffee?”

Marco nodded. “Sure. Thanks.”

Damien led us to the living room. “Jade,” he smiled. “I’m so glad you joined us. I have to admit, I thought maybe you were making Marco a bit soft. I know his true self, and he has no place on the light side of magic.”

I grinned. “It didn’t suit him.”

“No,” Damien agreed. “And your power is exactly what we need for this ongoing battle.”

“What is your goal?”

“Mayhem,” Damien and Marco said together. Marco grinned. “That’s right.”

“My goal was to tear you apart, Jade,” Damien continued. “Seeing you join us is a surprising, but welcome bonus.”

I smiled. “Well, I’m glad you think so. Why did you want that?”

“Morgyn and Caleb are always getting in the way,” Damien said. “With your power, you helped them win.” He narrowed his eyes. “And let’s not forget that you killed me so many years ago.”

Marco sat forward. “Ah, come on. She was on their side, doing their work. She killed me as well.”

Damien glared at him. “All the more reason for you to hate her too.”

Marco shook his head. “Damien, you know I never truly hated her.”

“Ah yes. It’s why you tried to make her yours. Brainwashing her to be your queen. Bend to your will.”

Marco growled. “I don’t know why you’re trying to test me when I’ve agreed to fight with you. But haven’t you done the same with your lovely Crystal?”

Damien shrugged. “Of course. But a spell like that was unfitting for you. You don’t seek love. You seek power.” He gazed at me. “Dear Jade, no matter what side you’re on, Marco could never love you.”

I held his gaze, but didn’t say a word. I saw Marco clench his fist behind him. He was getting angry. Damien was testing him.

“I did what I had to in order to watch her,” he said. “She was a traitor. I had to make sure she didn’t do what she inevitably did.”

This must have been what he meant by seeing that side of him. He was justifying his actions with ease. I kept what he said in mind. He didn’t want this.

But he was a very good actor in this case.

“Are you still too scared to use Dark Magic?” Damien gave Marco a sly grin.

Marco held up his hand, conjuring a magic ball with swirls of red and black. “You tell me.” He made it disappear quickly. “Now, back on point-“

“No,” Damien interrupted. “I’m not done.” He stood up. “I need to be sure you won’t overstep me like you did when we held the realm’s power.”

Marco also stood up. “I didn’t. You have a twisted sense of reality.”

“I cast the spell to hold it in our power, but you became the mastermind!”

Marco narrowed his eyes. “You told me to. I am more powerful, you said it yourself.”

“Prove it. Cast a spell on Jade.”

“No.”

“Why not? You and I both know she can’t be trusted. We need her fully complicit.”

Marco growled again. “She’s on our side, Damien!”

“If you don’t, I will. I’m sure neither of you want that. I need proof this is you. If you’re truly joining me, cast the spell.”

I stood between them, looking into Marco’s eyes. “It’s okay. He’s right. I can’t be trusted. I betrayed you two once. You can’t risk me doing it again.” I gritted my teeth, reminding Marco that we needed to do as Damien asked. “Cast the spell. Prove your claim.”

Damien smiled. “Ah, see? There we go. Marco is outnumbered.”

Marco closed his eyes. “Fine.” He gazed at me apologetically as he confirmed magic between his hands, placing his hands on my shoulders. I felt my body tingle as the magic seared through me. All of my light magic was tucked away and replaced with fierce black magic. Marco stepped back quickly.

“Whoa,” he said, surprised.

Damien stood next to him, also looking surprised.

I glanced between them. “What is it?”

“Your eyes,” Marco said quietly.

I rushed off to the bathroom to look at them. There were no whites. My eyes sparkled red, glowing fiercely.

Marco came in and gazed at my reflection. “It’s your power mixing with the dark magic.” He grinned. “Perfect. It’s working.”

I grinned as well, leaning into him. “Perfect. Let’s get to work.”

He nodded. “Yes. Let’s.”

Chapter Twelve (click here)