Jade's Awakening (Delacourt Saga Book 1) (5 page)

"You used to be so nice. What happened to you, Alejandro?" Jade said. She shook her head as she grabbed her duffel bag and laptop.

"Same to you, Jade. You used to be so normal..."

"I'm out of here. Take all my lotion if you want. I've got to go save my dad." Jade and Seven rushed out of the room towards the elevator.

"I'm coming, too!" Alejandro yelled as he ran out of the hotel room behind Jade.

"Is he always like this?"

Jade looked up at Seven, "Yeah."

Alejandro caught up with them. They walked into the elevator. Jade hit the lobby button and they waited in awkward silence as the elevator music serenaded them.

"You're a sucky actor. There, I've said it." Alejandro said. He smiled.

"You're an—"

"You guys better get along and not screw this up. I have to find my dad." Jade said.

"Sorry," they said in unison.

Jade felt her emotions swirl inside her. They were a mixture of fear, anger and vengeance. "The last thing you two should do is make me use my new, unwieldy power on you."

Seven and Alejandro looked at one another silently. Neither dared to speak.

She was glad when the elevator doors finally opened.

So were they.

* * *

Bex walked into the open courtyard and waited. Two fairy guards stood behind her. A hummingbird flitted near her and she sneered at it, "I see you, Belindo; back the hell away." She swatted at it and hit her face by mistake. She shoved a curl back into her braided and beaded up-do.

"Bex. I'm surprised you accepted my invitation," a tall man said. He walked swiftly towards his guest.

"What, and forgo a chance to kill the number one on my hit list? I'm no idiot." She collapsed onto the huge patio furniture and paused, listening to the fountain water. She appreciated beautiful things and vowed to one day kill him and take over this exquisitely designed home. She shook her head from her daydream and looked at her host with a tepid smile.

Gregory Balliste, the leader of the Faction, hated supernaturals, but when he heard Bex was in Atlanta, he knew it was a smarter strategic move to work with her than compete with her. They both wanted to kill Jade, after all.

"Continue what you began in the letter. I'm intrigued," Bex said. Gregory watched as the maid poured Bex a glass of honey water. The fairy grabbed one of the daisies lying on a plate and dipped it in the sweet water. She bit the head off the flower.

"It goes without saying that you can trust all food and drink in my home. I am not my predecessor." He folded his hands on his lap. The breeze blew his toupee flap up. He held it down and put on a baseball cap.

She smiled and nodded. She remembered killing Herbert last year. He shouldn't have poisoned her drinking water with licorice. Licorice was deadly to fairies. She licked her fingers and motioned for him to continue. She hated humans -- probably as much as they hated her.

"Jade is an abomination, really," Gregory continued. "Had it not been for her evil father, we'd only have to deal with shapeshifters and fairies. Now, with her in the mix, she's opened up the door for other crafty supernaturals— no offense—"

"Offense taken, but continue," Bex said.

He gulped, "— for other supernaturals to breed, creating super supernaturals."

"Super supernaturals," she repeated. She cocked her head to the side and said, "I hate this. Jade thinks she has the right to exist. She should be begging at my feet. If she was at my feet, do you know what I'd do, Gregory?" She leaned toward him.

"No." He waited. He held his breath.

She stood up and plucked a rose from a bush. Her finger bled and she let her blood trail down her hand, down the hem of her yellow dress. She dropped the rose and crushed it beneath her shoe. "I'd kill her. And I'll have no mercy when I finally see this Jade face to face."

"We have one of our new Supernatural Hunters on detail with Jade, Alejandro Bienamie. He's shown promise. Best of all, they are neighbors. Alejandro is thirsty for his first catch."

"A Sup Hunter? Really?"

"We prefer Supernatural Hunter, if you don't mind."

She stood up and was immediately flanked by two fairy guards. "I don't care what you call yourselves as long as she's dead by tonight."

Henri looked around the empty warehouse. He wondered what he'd gotten himself into, but more importantly, he wondered how Jade was. Part of him wondered if his ex-business partner, Michael Denkins, kidnapped him to steal the business back. The world of health food drinks was very competitive, he thought.

He hummed to himself as his mind worked all the scenarios out. He realized he needed his inhaler. He felt his chest tightening. The dust in the warehouse wafted in the shaft of light streaming from the window. He wiggled his hands but nothing happened. He couldn't reach his inhaler.

"I need my inhaler. Hello! My inhaler. This isn't some elaborate escape plan, for God's sake. I sell natural juices. No skills here except making a killer juice." He laughed at his own joke. He coughed, and then broke into tears.

Someone walked by and undid the ropes around his wrists. The person put a bag over his eyes. "Use the inhaler, use the bathroom, then I'll give you a sandwich. I'm not trying to kill you." They handed him the inhaler.

He lifted the hood to slide the inhaler into his mouth. Henri caught a glimpse of his captor's shoes. They were green high top sneakers.

* * *

Jade couldn't believe she was stuck with Alejandro and Seven. They were actually similar, come to think of it. She wished one of them would go away, but she wasn't sure which one. She walked up to the hotel lobby desk and held up her phone with a recent photograph of her father.

"Have you seen this man?"

The front clerk leaned forward, "Yeah, I remember him because he was sweating. He must have parked far. He stopped here and grabbed a breath before he continued."

"Anything else?"

"No, I'm sorry; I became busy with another hotel guest."

"Thanks."

Seven and Alejandro eyed each other silently.

"You two are going to have to stop this, or nothing's going to get done. I could do this by myself and probably get more accomplished."

"Okay, what can I do to help?" Alejandro offered first.

"You could see if any hotel employee recognizes my dad."

"Got it." Alejandro walked off.

"And me?" said Seven.

"Same thing."

"Okay."

"Are you okay? You don't have to do this," Jade said.

"My dislike for Alejandro keeps me from thinking about David. I'm okay."

"Alright, but remember you have a choice."

"Not anymore."

"What?"

"The Voltic Vow."

"Oh, yeah."

Alejandro walked back with a grin on his face. "He talked to a green girl they recognized as a waitress at a local restaurant."

Jade was relieved they were making progress. She had to find her dad soon. They rushed to the restaurant and found two women.

"Did you see this man yesterday?" She held up her phone. She watched as the two women looked.

"Yeah. So?" One of the women said.

"So he's my dad and I want to know what you did to him."

"He's safe. You got a text, right? Back off. I did a gig, that's all." She looked at the three of them and back into the table.

"I swear I don't know my own strength. I will—"

"She's upset. Where's her dad?" Seven said.

Erin turned green and lunged towards Jade.

Alejandro blocked the punch and fell backward, "What the—"

Jade swung her leg out and kicked Erin into the table. She fell on her back.

"Okay, okay. He's at the Alexis Hotel. That's where I dropped him off. I did what I was told."

"What room?"

"It was room 725," she said.

"Stay away from my family."

Jade looked at Alejandro. His usually brown skin seemed pale. "Look, Alejandro, I know we've got issues, but you have to keep this quiet, okay?"

"Are you a supernatural, Jade? I need you to admit it."

"I will admit to wanting to punch you if you don't get out of my way."

"I know she is," he said as he pointed to Erin. He shook his head. "But if you are—"

"What, Alejandro? What are you going to do about it?" Seven asked.

"Nothing, I just want to know. I've heard rumors, but never really believed it. That's all."

"You better keep it quiet, you hear?" Seven said. He grabbed Alejandro by the collar.

"Are you one, too?" he blurted out.

"Shut up and get out of here if you're going to keep asking questions you do not want to know the answers to," Jade said. "If you want to stay, let it go."

* * *

They found no true leads at the Alexis, just vague information that left them frustrated and at each other's throats.

"Fine, then you leave. I'm staying." Alejandro told Seven.

"You leave. I was here first. Besides, I made a vow to Jade."

"You two got married?" He paused. "Crap, Mrs. Delacourt's going to kill me." Alejandro threw his hands up in the air. He eyed Jade.

"My mom's making you spy on me? I thought this was because you cared, or were just curious." She frowned at Alejandro. "No. We are not married. But I made a special promise."

"He called it a vow. I heard that word." Alejandro said with his arms crossed.

Jade shoved her hands in her back pockets. "Alejandro, if you don't leave now, I'm going to call your mother and let her know her two youngest sons are roaming the streets of Atlanta."

"She picked them up this morning." He shrugged one shoulder. "You've got nothing on me, Jade. I'm making my own vow. I won't let this wannabe actor get one on me." Alejandro kneeled down and said, "I, Alejandro Bienamie, hereby vow to help Jade find her father. And I will not eat nor sleep until I do so."

"Such an ass." Seven said.

It was already nine at night. The red and black of the sky merged into a blend that could only make you feel nature's frightful beauty.

"Shut up, guys, listen to this." She read a text from her phone, “Jade, your father is being taken care of. Meet us at 1474 Thornton Street.”

"Did they say to come alone?" Alejandro asked.

"No, Alejandro."

"Well, usually they do."

Jade's phone buzzed again.

Come alone.

She glared at Alejandro and shoved her phone in her back pocket.

Seven walked up to her. "They don't know what you look like; I can go as you."

"No, that wouldn't work. My dad would know the difference. Besides, I want to be there."

"Can I offer a suggestion?" Alejandro asked.

"No," they both said in unison.

"I do a lot of strategic video game playing with my annoying brothers. It's called the Pincer Ambush. Jade stands there, and Seven and I come in and finish it off."

"More like Seven comes in and saves your ass."

"Tell him, Jade; I've got some moves."

"Alejandro is actually a good fighter. He taught me most of my moves." Jade said.

Seven looked between the two. “I see you two are closer than you let on."

"Anyway, Pincer Ambush is the way to go-- so you come in alone, let the adversary approach out of the shadows, and we sneak in and knock him out," Alejandro said with a smile on his face. "We won't let you get hurt, Jade. Your mom would kill me."

"It sounds good," Jade said.

"I've got gear with me."

"You brought your stuff? Here?" she asked.

"I have some alternatives we can use."

* * *

Jade and Seven stood at the door as Alejandro surveyed the damage in his hotel room.

“What happened?” she asked. She walked in with Seven trailing behind.

“My dumb brothers trashed the room.” Alejandro walked in and stepped over soda cans and bags of chips.

Alejandro laid his phone on the dresser.

Seven ventured in and picked up Alejandro's phone. He swiped through a few photos.

"That's personal, dude. I don't know what they do in the acting world, but that's rude."

Seven held up his hands, "Sorry."

Alejandro pocketed his phone, threw a duffel bag on the bed, and pulled out several items. "First, rope. You never know when it comes in handy. Next, olive oil. Good for slipping and such. Followed with a side of mace, and—"

"I can't stand this," Seven said. His body convulsed and he fell to his knees. He stood up and shapeshifted into a bear. His brown fur glistened in the daylight streaming in from the window. His eyes were dark and he bared his teeth. He lashed out once with his claws, then lowered his immense paws. He looked at Alejandro and growled low.

Alejandro jumped back on his bed. "Tell him to stop!"

"Seven, enough," Jade said. She felt her adrenaline rush as she saw him shapeshift. She wanted to join him but had to remember she couldn't, not in front of Alejandro.

Seven shapeshifted back. "I just wanted him to know that we don't need his stupid kitchen supplies. You have me."

Jade closed her eyes. She realized she'd have to go without them. She opened them and smiled patiently at the two. "Guys, I'm going to go to my hotel room. Stay here and I'll see you in about thirty minutes. Don't kill each other."

Before they could register her words, Jade walked out, making sure not to look like she was escaping. She walked normally, and then sprinted to the elevator. The doors closed and she was relieved she was finally alone.

* * *

She went straight to Nina's apartment. The light was on, so she wouldn't give up.

"I know you're in there. I see that your light's on." She knocked again.

Nina opened the door and let Jade in. "So, what have you learned today?"

"I learned that David died. I learned that my dad was kidnapped and that Seven and Alejandro are annoying beyond belief."

"I'm so sorry. Alejandro? Who is he?" Nina asked with a frown.

"He's my neighbor."

"Be careful who you trust, Jade."

"Tell me about it. I lost them both so I could gather my thoughts. By the way, don't call Seven and tell him I'm over here." She dropped her duffel bag down and shoved her laptop in it.

"He'll figure it out eventually. He's got smarts behind those good looks." Nina sat back down on her sofa.

"I'm going to meet someone who has my dad, but I'm afraid I might kill them. I don't want to be a killer. I mean, if it's life and death, I might do it, but I'll be plagued for the rest of my existence. That's how I'm made." She threw her hands up in the air.

"Be yourself. You are more in control than you think. Learn how to balance both the regular Jade and the supernatural Jade. It can be done. "

"Thanks."

"I've made this bag for you, in case you need it." She pointed to a brown bag near the front door. “There may or may not be a book in there for you, and a few other things. I have a feeling you'll be on your way to hiding soon. I'm no millionaire, but I stashed some money in there too."

"You did that, for me?" Jade couldn't control the feeling of gratitude that swept over her.

"Not just me. You have more support out there than you know. But you have a ton of enemies, too. Give me your license."

"No. Why?"

"You need to trash it. If you use it, they'll find you faster than a sneeze through a screen door."

"I like this picture."

"Do you like living, Jade?"

"Fine."

Nina handed her a pair of scissors.

Jade cut up her license. She felt truly committed now. "I guess there's no turning back." She said more to herself than Nina.

"Now, it's time for my murder mystery show to come on. I'll expect a detailed account tomorrow. All I can tell you is be very aware of your surroundings. Use your senses. Be safe." She threw a key to Jade.

"I will." Jade snatched the key in the air and left. It was early but she headed to the warehouse, anyway.