Jet and Jade | Black and White 1

Chapter 26: Jade

I walked out of the house that Jet had built with our powers twelve years ago, strapping a dagger to my arm. She had been three years old, and so had I, but somehow... she could make this.

I marveled at the sight of our mansion, but I knew I couldn't waste any time. I had to find my sister. Jet was not in immediate danger-- if she was, I would have felt it in my soul-- but she could be soon. I was quite sure she was not on Uranus at all, but I had to look here first.

I held out my hands and closed my eyes, imagining a veil of light surrounding Uranus. Just as Jet had taught me. When I opened my eyes, everything was glowing. I felt myself smile, just slightly. I could see every inch of the planet when I tried hard enough, but it was sapping my strength. Even after three years, my endurance had not increased much. Jet had always been better than me on that front. Well, she had always been better than me at everything.

Scanning the area of Uranus, I discovered what I had feared. Jet was not on Uranus at all. There was not even a single living thing on the entire planet except for me.

I bit my lip. My head hurt from maintaining the light.

Where could I go now?

The last time I'd been on another planet, except for Earth, had been when I was three years old-- when we had been dropped on Mars by the Qwen for around two days. Since Jet had brought us here, to Uranus, by then.

I had to find Jet! But I would never be able to find my way around the galaxy.

But what about our soul connection? Couldn't I use that?

Quickly, I let my hold over the light dissipate. The veil of light disappeared, and with it, my nausea.

I sat down on the blueness, crossing my legs. I closed my focus and focused on deep inside me, searching for that familiar presence of the string that tied Jet and I together.

And it was there.

I felt my breath quicken as I reached for it. It slipped out of my grasp and disappeared.

The second time I tried, the connection wrapped around me like comforting embrace. It pushed me to stand, and I slowly opened my eyes.

I let the tug of the red thread guide me in the right direction.

Jet, I'm coming.

But each step felt heavy as I held on desperately onto this new feeling. I knew I couldn't hold it for long; I wouldn't last for the rest of today. Yet I couldn't just give up and leave Jet out there.

I forced my body onwards.

The Qwen hadn't attacked for three years. I wasn't sad about that, but it was... unsettling. They'd been so set on killing Jet and I, but now they were taking a three-year break. It might become four soon.

Something told me to go faster, so I did. I started to run, but not too quickly, so that I wouldn't run out of stamina. But ten minutes later, I gasped and stopped, panting. Apparently, I had overestimated myself.

I sighed and kept inhaling the non-air. I began walking slowly, knowing that I had to find her. I had to get to her.

Jet was in danger, I could feel that much, but in what way? Who had the power to do this to her? Had the Qwen grown that much stronger?

I went a bit faster.

Today, I would be the one to save Jet instead of the other way round. Sure, I was still weaker than Jet, but for her, I'd try.

A figure came to my sight, and I halted in shock, freezing in place.

I drew my dagger. It was the only weapon I had, but I knew I could use the light to my advantage. I still wasn't great at utilizing it as if it were a physical object.

"Who's there?" I demanded, choosing to take the first move.

The white figure turned, and I blinked as his brown eyes met mine. He was a Qwen, he had to be. But there was no animosity in his expression or stance.

"Miss Unelcera..." he began.

"That's my parents' name," I cut whatever he was going to say off, "not mine."

He nodded. "Of course, I'm sorry."

"Why are you here? What do you want?" I asked.

"I came to talk to you, Miss Jade."