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

Chapter Twenty-Two - Offense

Joe led Jade to the battlefields after class. He equipped her with one of his extra staves and began showing her starting positions. She mimicked him well and took to his directions fast. They proceeded by making steps and showing the best way to wield the weapon with her stances. Joe wondered what was on her mind. Could she be so well-kept after all the events with Alex and the attack? If she wasn't, Jade did a great job of hiding it.

"Okay. Now position, I'm going to show you some battle attacks. We're taking it slow so you can observe the way the staff moves." Jade nodded and did as he instructed. The clacking of staff as they came into contact with one another was therapeutic. Joe's Chandiaan heritage was as new to him as anyone else. Pangy came across his path, and everything changed. But before that, he wouldn't allow himself to render helpless. He trained every day, worked out, and became strong, refusing to be unable to defend himself. Now, he was granting her the same thing. While Jade was not without ability, she was without an offensive ability.

Hours went by, and with each passing, she became better. She couldn't knock Joe down yet, but she could take a hit and get back up. She continued doing this until he finally called it. He reached in his bag and threw her a towel to wipe her face. She caught her breath but remained silent. He wondered what was on her mind, whether fear or Alex.

"So, Amelia and I invited everyone to hang out this weekend," she said, breaking the silence. "Do you want to come?"

"Yeah, I'm down. When you say to everyone."

"I invited Alex," she admitted. Joe's eyes widened, surprised. "We ran into each other last night, and I told him I wanted to try friendship. Since we were children, we've been friends, and it's too hard to give everything up."

"I get that. Just be careful, okay?" She nodded. "But yeah, I could use a break too. It's been a lot lately, hasn't it?"

"That's an understatement," Jade laughed. "And Joe, thanks for this. It's nice to feel in control."

"Of course. You deserve to be in control of your own life, Jade. I know it's hard to understand that sometimes, especially with the curveballs you've been thrown, but it's true. And, honestly, you pick up on things quickly. We shouldn't be this far into training after a single day."

"I can get determined," Jade laughed. "I never want to be caught like that again. I was powerless, and that is a feeling I never want to revisit." Joe nodded in an understanding.

"Hey, you want to meet Pangy officially? The last opportunity, we didn't get a chance."

"Yes!" Jade exclaimed. He led her down the hallway. They stopped as Alex's door opened and his father, William, walked out. Jade froze, seeing William, and her entire body trembled. Everything she said about never wanting to feel powerless again went out and was replaced by her nightmares.

"Well, look who it is," William said, crossing to her. He smiled at her and used a finger to lift her chin. "You're the one who broke my son's heart. You know I told him to stay away from you, and I knew you had this side to you. Then again," he whispered in her ear, but not quietly enough for Joe not to hear. "I've seen many sides of you, haven't I?" Jade blushed shamefully and turned her head. "Well, I see you've moved on quick."

"Joe's my friend," Jade said.

"Still have that Serf trait in you, don't you? Can't make eye contact with me? I mean, I do hold a high rank, Jade. You should show me some respect."

"Yes, sir. I'm sorry," her voice a tremble. Joe frowned, but this time he could understand. Alex's father was always terrifying, and after he said such a thing to Jade, he wondered just how much terror he brought to her.

"Now, that's a good girl. Obedience always looked good on you, Jade. You know I saw you training when I came in, but it seems there is always something that brings someone back to the weakness that dwells in them, hm? Well, I should be going." William walked off. Joe looked at her, concerned, but she seemed paralyzed.

"Jade?" Joe asked, breaking her from the daze. She looked up at him. "Do you still want to go see Pangy?"

"Yeah, yeah," Jade nodded, trying to regain her composure. Joe led her back to his room and took Pangy out of his cage and into her arms. He was amazed at how quickly Pangy took to her. Jade smiled, carefully caressing Pangy's head. "I've been waiting to meet you, Pangy." Joe smiled as she seemed to relax. He didn't want to bring her out of this daze, but at the same time, he knew he needed to be the one to get to talk.

"So, William?" Jade glanced at Joe and then back down. "Did he do something to you, Jade? What did he mean when he whispered to you." Her face paled. "I mean, you went from confident to completely undone in seconds. You know you can talk to me."

"Um. No. I Uh." He could tell she was searching for an excuse, but William brought her to a dark place. The fear in her eyes made his stomach turn. "William is just a scary man." That was all he was going to get. Her breathing was shaky, and so were her hands. She handed Pangy back to Joe, struggling to hold him still. "I think I'm going to go back to Amelia's room. I should shower and get to bed."

"You don't have to keep it inside, Jade."

"Yeah, I do," she whispered, standing up and leaving.

Joe frowned and returned Pangy to his bed and turned off the lights. He crossed out of the room and walked to Alex's room. He knocked on the door, and Alex only showed half of his face when he opened the door. "I saw your father was here," Joe started. Alex sighed and opened the rest of the door, his eye blackening. "He did that to you?" Alex shrugged. "He scared the Void out of Jade too when we returned from training.

"Did he hurt her?" Alex asked, his hands forming a fist.

"No, no, I wouldn't have let him." Alex nodded, and he let Joe in and closed the door behind him. "She can heal that, you know."

"I don't want her to feel guilty that she is what warranted my father's visit."

"What did he do to her? She became paralyzed at the sight of him."

"He used her as live bait for the Dark Eclipse by tying her up and having them attack her." Joe's face fell. "He also commissioned the paintings James made and the one on the cover of that magazine."

"Wera," Joe whispered, looking away.

"Don't tell her I told you that, okay? Please?" Joe nodded. He crossed over to Alex's freezer and grabbed an ice pack to put on Alex's eye. "You know, Joe. We never talked about the fact you had feelings for me."

"What's to say?" Joe asked. "It's not like I'm your type anyway."

"That's not true." Joe turned to Alex and met his gaze. "I get it, though. After everything I've done, and I just. I wanted to say it's nice to hear someone as amazing as you could have felt like that for me. I'm sorry that I betrayed your trust along with Jade's."

"Well, if she can forgive you. I can, too," Joe placed his hand on Alex's shoulder.