Electric Blue Rose - Book One. [COMPLETED] Undergoing Edits

Chapter Twenty-One - Released

Amelia helped Jade back to her room. Jade was healing well after the orbs Alex purchased came. Every day Amelia kept her on task to help her catch up. Jade was thankful because being behind in classwork would not permit her to become stronger as she intended to become.

Thanks to Edge, the swelling in her face went down, and no burn marks were present. From a cosmetic perspective, Jade looked the same as she did when she came to Omega 5. Though no longer just a shell of a person, but instead wholly herself. She grew up broken on the other side of everyone's punches and painful words. Now, she needed to become somebody else who wouldn't let everyone push her down. Someone who won't put herself in a position as she did with Alex again. The first step towards that goal would be training. Joe had already promised her that they would start training tomorrow. She was a healer, as Amorio said that wouldn't help with fighting back, but Joe hardly needed his ability to do that. She wanted to make her family proud and ensure they didn't have to worry about her well-being constantly. Amelia continued to take glances at her.

"Jade," Amelia said, breaking the silence. "I'm sorry you've been met with the worst Arcs our kingdom offers. I know you've had a lot of trauma, but I want you to know that I'm here for you. I'm glad I found a friend in you, and I hope you feel the same way."

"Of course, I feel the same," Jade smiled and squeezed Amelia's hand. "And, thank you for helping me focus on my work. I want to get stronger and better, and I don't want to be so far behind."

"I don't think that's going to be a problem for you. You seem to have an effortless way about your ability. Like you've been wielding it your entire life. Honestly, I get envious sometimes. But more so, I'm just proud to see you grow." Jade smiled. They drifted back to work. Amelia went over some other movements with Jenna and how to use them in different stances. Jade's aura floated around her. She took deep breaths, letting them flow along with her breathing. "You wield it so beautifully," Amelia whispered.

"Really?" Amelia nodded, confirming. "I wish I knew about my power earlier, and maybe it would've saved my mother. Then again, my mother had to have known about my ability, so maybe she didn't want to be saved."

"I wish I could answer your questions, but honestly, this situation should be impossible. Your mother would've had to get branded at birth, and it's not like she could've faked her way through it."

"Well, my birth father might've been the only one with an ability."

"True, but you would've been marked an Arc, not a Serf."

"Yeah." Jade sighed. "Amelia. A few days ago, I heard a voice in my head, and I also heard one during the fire."

"What kind of voice?" Jade explained the events about the voice. Amelia nodded, taking in the details and trying to formulate an answer. She crossed to her bookshelf, looking for the solution, but she stared and returned empty-handed. "I'm not sure, Jade. It could be some result of trauma, but it may be worth asking Dean Turk."

"Yeah, that's what I was thinking," Jade nodded. She sighed and rubbed her temples. "I feel like my life has just been going downhill for so long, and I'm looking forward to some middle-ground."

"Well, let's go out this weekend. All of us, and you can bring Edge," Amelia suggested. "We all could use a break, especially you."

"That sounds perfect," Jade smiled. Jade took a deep breath. "I think I'm going to go for a walk."

"Are you sure? I thought they didn't want you to be out by yourself?"

"I'll be fine. I promise." Jade grabbed a coat and walked outside. The brisk air filled her lungs, and relief overcame her. A weight that she hadn't realized she was carrying around lifted from her. However, that same weight was sitting ahead, staring at nothing in particular. She frowned and crept to see Alex. His eyes were red and looking at nothing in particular, staring forward. Tears stained his face, but she knew that feeling. The sense of loneliness, one that he helped guide her out of just earlier this year. Jade debated whether she should approach him or not, but ultimately she walked toward him. "Hey." Her voice startled him. He glanced at her and wiped his face upon recognition. "Figures we both would go out for fresh air simultaneously, hm?"

"Yeah, I guess so." Alex turned to her. "I can't get out of my head. Every bruise, every tear you've shed. I keep thinking about what you said, how I proclaimed myself yours, and it tore your life apart. I regret it so much, Jade, and I regret taking so much of your life from you."

"You gave me a lot to live for, too." Jade placed her hand atop of his. "Look." She sighed. "I don't think we're meant to be together because if we were, why would everything keep pushing us apart. I do think. However, you're my oldest friend, and I want to be there for you. I don't want to lose the friendship that started all of this."

"I don't either." Jade smiled, but he frowned. "But I can't look at you without seeing everything I lost. I don't even know what comes over me when I'm with you. Why did I let any of that happen? I don't understand. It's like I don't recognize myself in those moments. It makes me sick to think I was so power-hungry that I had to diminish you to seem superior. I don't want to be that kind of man."

"I know, and I think you won't be as friends." He nodded. "Amelia and I are inviting everyone to hang out this weekend. Do you want to come?"

"Are you sure they want to see me?"

"I want to see you." Alex smiled and nodded. "You know Alex. I put too much pressure on you too. I think about it now, and it was unrealistic of me to have waited so long without a response for you. I also couldn't let go, and I think because we did this to each other is why it hurts so much."

"Yeah, but we still loved each other deeply." She nodded. "I want you to be happy, and I want to be happy. I think it may hurt for a while, but you're right. We started as friends, and I think we can remain friends."

Alex held her tightly as she wiped his eyes like he always did for her. "Everything will be okay." She whispered, and he nodded and returned her smile.