“I could have, but I didn’t. This is to help you drown out all other stimulation.” He frowned and asked, “Are you ok?”
“Yes, I’m fine,” Jade rubbed her hands together. The last time she tried to project herself, out of body, she had fallen asleep. She doubted she was relaxed enough to do that again.
“As long as we don’t end up putting you to sleep, we’re doing well,” Malik said with a smile. “Remember, you only see what you want to see. The truth is sometimes hidden even in a projection.”
“I’ll try.”
Jade breathed in deeply, remembering all the steps that Malik had shown her. She could go anywhere in the world and see anyone. She chose Seven at the film studio. She unraveled the thoughts in her brain until she was bare, and then she took control of her thoughts and concentrated on a feeling. And then she concentrated on a location. Lastly, she concentrated on a person. She almost fell asleep, but stopped herself. Part of her knew she was in Bryant Park, but she couldn’t hear anything except the sounds of the film studio.
Everything was hazy, like the early morning fog over a meadow. She looked down and didn’t see her body, but she felt like she was standing.
She saw Seven, standing in the sun. He was wearing shorts. He was with someone. They were both standing at the beach. It was a woman and they were laughing and talking. He put his hands up like he was waiting for someone to throw him a ball.
She stepped closer to the scene. Seven and his companion were unaware of her presence.
She held her breath when she saw Seven walk towards the woman. He walked to the woman and in front of her. He held both of her hands and kissed her.
Jade felt a deep dagger of jealousy pierce her heart.
The woman opened her eyes and she pulled back from Seven, looking at Jade. “Hello, Jade,” the woman said.
Jade stepped back. It was the new actress. Jade didn’t know if this was an illusion, like Malik had warned her about, or if this was a look into what was really going on.
She looked at her bare feet and the golden sand that pooled at her toes. She wiped her face and her tears mixed with the sand, scraping her cheeks. Her breathing slowed to a calculated tempo in time with her broken heart. The fault line of doubt cracked her heart wide open. All that was left was emptiness.
Sounds of the park infiltrated her mind abruptly. She opened her eyes and sat without talking.
"What did you see?" Malik asked.
Jade looked at Malik and shook her head, hopping she could stifle the tears that edged at her lashes, threatening to spill over.
"Jade, you can’t always believe what the projection shows you." Malik tried to grab her hand, but Jade pulled away from him.
"I want to be alone." Jade ran until she was on the subway heading home. Once home, she locked her door and slumped to her knees. She remembered what Malik had warned her: "Pain is the doorway to light or darkness."
She didn't feel light at all. She held out her hand and shot a thin flame out of her fingers and burned the framed photo of Seven that had rested on her night stand.
***
It was three in the morning and she couldn’t sleep. Jade knocked on Seven’s door.
She’d played through a thousand scenarios of what she’d tell him when she saw him again. But tonight’s shooting went on late.
“Hey, babe,” he said, opening the door wide for her.
Alejandro was asleep on the living room sofa, with a video game controller in hand.
She looked up at him, her eyes dark with circles below them.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, holding her shoulders. “You haven’t slept.”
“No.” She sighed, not knowing where to start. “This may sound crazy, especially to a shapeshifter but—”
“Hey, you know you’re part shapeshifter,” he said, leading her into his bedroom. He sat on the chair near the window as Jade sat on his bed.
“Yes, I know. But I’ve been practicing with Malik and one of the things we were working on was projection.”
“Okay,” he said.
“I saw you with her.”
“With who?”
“With Connie. She even spoke to me, taunting me.”
Seven kneeled in front of Jade, taking her hands in his. He kissed the middle of each palm.
“You were on the beach, and—”
“Jade, I told you that Connie has issues with boundaries. I avoid her like the plague when we’re not in a scene together.”
“It was so real. It broke my heart.”
“We are real. My love for you is real,” Seven said.
Jade was unsure. She pulled her hands from his slowly and rested them on his face. “Promise me that you’ll always be truthful to me.”
“I promise.”
“I found out from someone who spies for Soraya that Bex is close to re-creating the deadly Flora Mordis.”
Jade explained to Seven what that was and he shook his head. “We have to stop her before she can perfect it.”
Hearing him say that helped calm her mind. She knew that between the two of them, Bex didn’t have a chance.
Something was still bothering her. She thought of the secret she was hiding from him and it tugged at her conscience.
“I have something else to tell you. I’ve been keeping something from you, but only because I didn’t want you to worry.”
“Okay,” he said, sitting down beside Jade on the bed. He clasped his hand with hers.
“I know you want me to be safe, but some mornings I roam the rooftops, looking for criminals in action. It sounds crazy, but it makes me happy.”
Seven smiled with a gleam in his eye.
“How did you know—have you been having your shapeshifters follow me?” She shook her head, grateful that her secret wasn’t really a secret anymore.
“I’ve had some shapeshifters keeping an eye on you now and then. Not always, because that’s stalking, I’m sure.”
“You think?” she said, laughing. She wasn’t sure if she should feel looked after or coddled like a baby.
“Jade, this city is dangerous. You are the woman I love. I’m sorry if I’m overprotective. But at least they’ve stayed out of your way. I made sure of that.”
“Scoot over,” she said.
Seven moved to the other side of his enormous bed. He patted the space beside him. “For right now, let’s forget about Flora Mordis, the election, the Faction, crazy actresses, criminals – you know I can go on and on.”
“Yes, unfortunately you can. But you’re right. All that can wait.” She wrapped her arms around him and pressed her lips to his.
“Do you remember when we first met?” Seven asked.
She said, “Yes, you shapeshifted into a tiger and I thought I was going to die of amazement.” She remembered the intense attraction she felt for him. It frightened her then, but now it only pulled her closer.
Seven helixed and his eyes turned a golden color with flecks of brown. “For you,” he said, kissing her.
She was glad she didn’t let doubt and fear erode her love for Seven. She felt closer to him now, more than ever. She vowed to fight to protect their love.
Jade’s eyes helixed to match the color of Seven’s eyes as she lost herself in his embrace.
***
Seven was glad he had the next few days off. Jade threw him a flashlight and he threw it in their duffel bag.
“Anything else?” he asked.
“I think that’s everything,” Alejandro said.
“Thanks for telling me about this. I know I’ve been busy with family drama, but Bex has got to be stopped. Has Nyx called you yet? She has me worried.”
“Not yet,” Jade said, frowning.
Seven called several of the shapeshifters in the NYC area.
They arrived at the Zoralia Mansion, Bex’s headquarters, and the doorman, who was a fairy, held up his hand and said, “No shapeshifters allowed. Move on.”
Alejandro said, “We’re here to see Bex. She’s expect
ing us.”
“Fairy Enthrall does not receive shapeshifters. Leave.”
Jade looked at Seven and asked, “Isn’t there an easier way to get there? We can shapeshift and fly there.” She looked at the rappel gear he had brought and winced.
“Yeah, but we’d get there naked and without our equipment. This way, I’ll get there first, and then you and the other shapeshifters will be let in once I take over the console.”
Jade weighed what Seven said along with her fear for him. She knew that the poison was too dangerous for them to fail tonight.
“Ok, but be careful.” She kissed him, “I love you.” She tugged on his rappel harness once, making sure it was on tightly.
“I love you.”
Standing on the building adjacent to Bex’s lair, Seven held the hook and aimed it towards the building. He pressed the trigger, sending the hook up and far, but not far enough.
“Crap,” he said, pulling it back up. He would have to wrap it again and try again.
It took five attempts. Jade was watching all the while from below with binoculars, holding her breath.
“He’s got this,” one of the shapeshifters said to Jade.
Jade was too tense to talk.
Once the metal anchor clanged onto the roof of Bex’s building, Seven yanked the cord a few times, ensuring a secure grip.
He clipped the hardware onto the rope and exhaled as he sped his way to the building.
Once he arrived, Jade finally breathed and slumped to the ground. “I’m never watching that again,” she said.
Inside, Seven attacked the fairy that was arguing with Alejandro and Jade and the shapeshifters entered with their equipment.
Zoralia Mansion was lavish, as could be expected. Jade had received a rudimentary map of the place that Soraya drew up for them based on her informant.
They took the elevator to the eighteenth floor while some took the stairs.
Once they were on the right floor, Bex appeared. “You know, security cameras exist. It’s not even magic, really.”
“What I do know is that you’re working on Flora Mordis,” Jade said.
“Hmm, how did you hear about that?” Bex asked, arching an eyebrow.
“It doesn’t matter. We’re here to stop you.”
“Catch me first, hybrid,” Bex said. She whirled her hand around and created a tornado-like effect in the room. Then she ran down the hall towards the lab. Seven and Jade followed.
Jade stepped behind a wall and undressed. Falling to her knees, she bent left and right, shapeshifting into a tiger. She roared loudly.
She heard the panting of Seven, who had appeared to her left. They walked in behind Alejandro, who remained in his natural form.
“It’s nice not having you talk,” Alejandro said to Seven.
Seven growled low.
“I was just joking. Lighten up,” Alejandro said.
Behind Jade and Seven, three more shapeshifter tigers flanked the group.
Jade pounced on the lab door, knocking it down with a crash. Seven and the other shapeshifters sprinted in. The tigers panted, looking for any sign of Bex. She was in the corner, holding a vial.
“This is it, and I’m not letting you take it from me,” she said. “Before you come for me, look at this.”
Bex held up a cell phone, showing a photo of Soraya, sleeping.
Jade was still in her tiger form, so she was unable to speak, but she growled and lunged forward. She stopped near Bex, close enough to smell her fetid breath.
Seven and the other shapeshifters held back.
“If you kill me, I tell my guards to kill Soraya, right now in her sleep.” She held up the phone and the image showed a man holding a glowing dagger, ready to strike at Bex’s command.
“Okay! Jade wants you to call him off,” Alejandro said.
Jade stepped back and stood near Seven, who was panting and clawing at the marble floor.
“Even after tonight, know that I have this guard watching your mother and at my call, he will strike. If I get hurt, so does Soraya. It’s a paradox, I think they call it. Kill me and your mom dies.”
“Enough,” Alejandro said, putting his hand on Jade and Seven’s shoulders. Jade found it harder to control her desire to rip Bex to shreds while in tiger form. She roared once and finally turned, walking out of the room.
Later, when Jade lay in bed, she realized once and for all that Bex would have to die in order to be stopped. Jade knew she would have to be the fairy to rid the world of the evil queen.
***
Several hours later, Jade prepared for the upcoming big day. She couldn’t help but feel like a failure, remembering the standoff in Bex’s laboratory. When she looked at Soraya, she realized how close she had come to losing her last night. Jade clenched her fists, angry at Bex.
But if she wanted to defeat her, she would have to put that behind her for the moment. She and Seven agreed it was best to have shapeshifters watch Soraya and not tell her that she was being watched.
***
It had been a long time since Jade tried the fairy dress on. She glided her hand over the white lace and beads. She remembered wearing it for the first time at Seven’s home in Washington. It felt like years ago, when it was only mere months.
“Come out, already. I’m going to pass out with anticipation, Jade,” Nyx said.
Jade was glad that Nyx was finally talking with Soraya, even if it was only a few words. The tension between them had made her feel guilty because she was the one who had searched for the truth about her birth mother and opened that envelope.
Jade was glad that was in the past now. She was a day away from the election. There was still so much that she didn’t know, but she had learned several spells, and the history of fairies. Malik was tough, but a good teacher. And now, she was going to see if the dress was somehow more magical. She doubted it.
“I don’t want to rip it or anything.” Jade unbuttoned the back and stepped inside of the dress. She turned to the mirror and draped the hood over her head. “There.” She was surprised when the buttons fastened on their own, one by one.
She said, “There seems to be some new upgrades to the dress.” She imagined finally strengthening her fairy magic bonded her more strongly to the magical dress.
“It’s probably you, dear. Let me see you,” Soraya said.
“Okay.” She wanted to say ‘Okay, Mom,’ but she had a mom already, and a dad. She’d have to come up with something else to call Soraya. She couldn’t replace the mother that had loved her and raised her for almost all her life. She hoped both her adoptive parents would be able to come to the ceremony.
Jade turned the cold crystal door knob and walked into the pink room.
Nyx squealed while Soraya clasped her hands over her mouth to stifle her gasp.
“You are beautiful. It fits perfectly and it knows you. Look.” Soraya pointed to the dancing hem.
It billowed out and found its way back to Jade. The lace flowers danced, moving along the threads.
“Does it feel weird, wearing a dress that’s alive?” Nyx asked.
“It feels almost like I’m wearing nothing, or a comfy t-shirt—not like I’m wearing a heavy gown.” She put her hands together in the wide sleeves and a ball of light appeared.
“That’s an unexpected benefit. This dress has been created by the Light Walkers. They are known for their gowns that have protected armies. This dress will help protect you,” Soraya said.
“Just when I thought it couldn’t get weirder.” Nyx plopped into a furry pink chair and sighed.
“But that’s a good thing,” Soraya said.
“If my dress can protect me, what will Bex’s dress be able to do?” asked Jade.
Soraya arched an eyebrow. “She, no doubt, will be wearing a dress made by the Death Spinners, a group of people who create the most gruesome fabrics stitched together with the quill of a fierce vulture named the Valzern. Maintain your distance from her, as you should always do. And
never let an evil fairy touch you.”
“Why?” Nyx asked.
“Do you really need an answer?” Jade said to Nyx. She shook her head and added, “I’m good. I get it, Soraya.” She remembered what had happened to her dad after he touched the wrong fairy in Atlanta.
“So, do you think I have a chance at beating Bex?”
“Yes, you do, my daughter.”
Jade smiled. It was weird, but still nice hearing Soraya say that.
“So is this what it feels like to have a family?” Nyx asked.
“You will never be alone, my girls.” Soraya hugged them both.
While Jade was changing, Soraya turned to Nyx.
“You know, I’ve known many Cloyn fairies. It doesn’t have to be scary for you. If you are going to Bex for advice, she is feeding you lies, Nyx. Bex doesn’t have a truthful bone in her fairy body.”
“Did Jade tell you, too?” Nyx said. She stood up and threw her book bag on her shoulder. “We were beginning to get along, but you don’t have the right to try and be the mother that I wanted all my life.”
Nyx stormed out of the room.
“I guess that didn’t go very well,” Jade said, holding her white dress and folding it carefully.
Soraya sighed, “Nyx is playing with fire. She has no idea who Bex really is.”
Five
The election was in two days. Jade was tense.
Jade leaned out of her apartment window and saw the man below. She bit her bottom lip and hoped he would turn and walk away. He didn’t. The man buzzed their apartment. His police car was parked on the street.
“I thought that fairy spell would work. Isn’t it supposed to work on normals?” Nyx asked.
“Yeah, I said it three times, but he’s still here.”
They all looked to the intercom. Jade ran her hands through her hair.
"It's my fault," Nyx said. She shoved her hands down her back pockets.
"It could be anything," Alejandro said. He knitted his brow, keeping his eyes locked on Nyx’s eyes.
"We've never had a cop visit here. This is not what any of us needs right now." Seven stepped back from the window and stood near Jade.
Jade felt her pulse race. She was angry at him, but didn’t want to talk about it in front of Nyx and Alejandro. She folded the failed spell and slipped it in her back pocket. “We can do this.” She pressed the button.
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