Jet and Jade | Black and White 1

Chapter 28: Jade

"What do you want to say to me?" I said cautiously.

"Well, firstly, my name is Arvion," the Qwen said. He looked concerned as he pulled off his white hood. "I am only here to help you, Miss Jade. I must warn you."

"Warn me? Of what?"

He hesitated. "Your sister."

"Jet?" I realized. "You might as well leave, then! She is my sister. I trust her."

"Yes, I know that..." Arvion replied. "That is why I had to come."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Jet Unelcera is lying to you, Miss Jade! She has always been hiding everything from you, hasn't she?"

"Yes, I know that. But she revealed everything when we were thirteen!" I argued. "She has told me everything already."

But my mind drifted back to when Jet had caught me searching her room. No, Jet wouldn't have kept anything secret, she had told me what she had kept hidden already, three years ago... right?

"Miss Jade, what has she said to you?"

I frowned. It was not as if he and the Qwen didn't know this, so it was fine for me to say it.

"She told me that she was an Infernal," I said confidently.

Arvion's brown eyes widened in shock. "Just that?"

"Well, what else is there?" I demanded.

"Oh... You have no idea." Arvion shook his head. "This is worse than I thought."

"If you really are here to 'help' me," I snapped, "tell me everything that you are withholding."

"Well..."

"You'd be doing both of us a favour if you did. The sooner you finish, the sooner you can leave me alone."

Arvion took a deep breath. "Your sister, Jet, is a reaper, Miss Jade."

I blinked. "Am I supposed to know what that is?"

"You don't?" He was surprised. "Well, a reaper is a being that takes the souls of the wicked to Hell."

I stared at him, dumbfounded.

"And you expect me to believe Jet is one?" I asked. "Then why am I not?"

Arvion winced. "Your mother, Lira, was a Qwen; I suppose that's what you are. But your father..." He stopped. "He was not."

"What?" I tried to digest his words. "Then what was he?"

"Honestly, I don't know," Arvion replied. "Some kind of Infernal, probably."

I stared at him in silence for a while.

"Then why would Jet lie to me about that?!" I shouted. "Why the heck should I believe you?!"

"I suppose you would not." He seemed reluctant to admit it. "After all, you've been led by her for so long... more than sixteen years! I feel sorry for you, really."

I glared at Arvion, but I could feel doubt seeping in. I was starting to believe him.

But he was a Qwen, one of our enemy. Why would he want to help me? Why would he want to tell me that? He would be better off keeping everything from me! None of this made sense, to me.

Yet... Jet had always been so suspicious. She was my twin sister, my only family, unless I counted my mother, but after that time... After I had searched her room, she had started acting so cold at times. It had been confusing, and it hurt, to say the least.

It was like she didn't trust me enough, like she couldn't afford to let me know about herself. Weren't we supposed to take care of each other? Did she just see me as some sort of baby?

I could feel my glare dissolving as tears pricked the corners of my eyes.

"Miss Jade... It must be hard to believe that she betrayed you." Arvion spoke up.

"Betrayed... she betrayed me?" I whispered.

Arvion bit his lip and nodded. "I think I know where she is right now, Miss Jade..."

"W-where?" I asked, but I didn't want to face her anymore.

"She has gone to Hell," Arvion said quietly, "and I don't think she wants to come back to you."

I felt my eyes widen, and that was when the tears finally fell.

"H-Hell?" My voice cracked and trembled. "W-why, Arvion? Why... w-why would she l-leave me l-like that?"

Arvion stepped closer. "I'm sorry that I had to tell you this way."

"T-tell me!" I sobbed. "W-what r-reason would J-Jet have to g-go there?!"

"I don't know." He seemed hesitant. "Perhaps she wants to be a full-fledged reaper."

"W-what? What does that m-mean?" I sunk to my knees.

"It means... that she wants to do the job of a reaper, Jade."

"N-no..." My hands were shaking.

"I'm sorry... I really am sorry."

Arvion seemed so kind, and... honest. He was honest in a way that Jet had never been to me.

"Th-thank you," I whispered, "but... t-that doesn't ch-change how... she's g-gone..."

"I know, Jade. And for that, I am also sorry."

I was grateful that he was here, and that he had told me the truth.

He didn't hide things, even when they hurt.

Unlike Jet.

It was a nice change to know that he wasn't walking on eggshells around me.

Unlike Jet.

His brown eyes were so warm and understanding.

Unlike Jet...

He wasn't like Jet at all. Jet was an overbearing and overprotective liar. I didn't need her protection. I could defend myself just fine.

But Arvion... He was different.

And with that, I made my decision.

"A-Arvion?" I said softly.

"Yes, Jade?" Arvion replied.

There was no pity on his face, just concern and sadness. For that, I was glad. I knew what I was doing right now was right.

"I want to go to Earth when you go back," I said firmly without stutter or hesitation.

He seemed surprised, so I continued.

"I would like to help you and the Qwen."

He blinked. "Are you sure, Jade?"

I nodded. "I want to defeat Jet with you."