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

Chapter Thirty - Finding Her

Alex and Edge walked beside one another as they made their way toward Jade's class. While they tried to be friendly, no conversation ever came up naturally. Most of the time, they appreciated the silence. They saw Amelia and Joe waiting out front, an unnerving expression across their faces when they got there. Alex glanced at Joe, who immediately averted his gaze. Edge was looking behind their shoulders before turning his attention to them.

"Where's Jade?" Edge asked, his expression growing unnerved as they grimaced.

"Well, you know how the Enlightened came by today?" Edge and Alex nodded. "Well, he said Jade was the one he was looking for, and well, he took her."

"I'm sorry? He took her?" Edge asked. "Why would he take her? That makes no sense."

"We don't know," Amelia shrugged. "He mentioned he was looking for a large power source, and Jade seemed to be it. I mean, it makes sense. I always commented on how bright her aura was, and I should've realized how it reflected on her power."

Alex looked dumbfounded between them all. He watched Edge shaking his head and pacing. "No, no, I'm going to Dean Turk. He can't just take her?" Edge's breathing became rapid. Alex hadn't seen Edge so unnerved before, not even at their first meeting. "What is he going to do with her?" Edge whispered. "I'm going to find out right now." Edge rushed away. Alex, Joe, and Amelia struggled to keep up with him, but Dean Turk outside his office door met them all.

"I don't know," Dean Turk answered without them saying a word. He gestured for them to come inside his office, where he crossed back to his desk. "I'm trying to figure out why the Enlightened would take her without saying a word to me, okay? I was just informed that she'd be gone for a few days, and that's all I know."

"That's not good enough!" Edge exclaimed. "You need to press more!"

"Son, she is with the Enlightened. Jade is as safe as she could be." Dean Turk reassured.

"How do you know that? What does he even want with her?" Alex had never seen Edge so distraught. His fear seemed irrational, but was it? Why was there such fear of Jade being with the Enlightened?

"She's okay," Alex said, placing a hand on Edge's shoulder. "Jade is strong and so smart."

"I know," Edge turned to Alex, his eyes glossed, "but Alex, she was also a Serf until just a few months ago."

"I understand you care deeply for her," Dean Turk said to Edge, "but Jade will be fine. The Enlightened isn't going to do anything to hurt one of our students, especially one with as much promise as it seems she must have for him to seek her out."

"Dean Turk is right. She couldn't be anywhere safer than with the Enlightened," Amelia said, trying to comfort him. "The Enlightened seemed to be searching for someone he proclaimed was reading high on an energy reading. If that person is Jade-." She stopped, "actually, that may be what Jade needs."

"What aren't you saying?" Edge said, noticing her change in composure. Dean Turk and Alex also turned curiously to Amelia.

Joe and Amelia sighed when exchanging a glance. Amelia started to explain. "Well, there was an issue with her power a few classes ago. Professor Q. ruled it out as exhaustion, but it caused her pain. She held her stomach before blacking out. Then she told me about a voice she heard." Alex shrank in place. "It worried her."

"A voice?" Edge asked. "What kind of voice?" Amelia shrugged. Edge's gaze led to Alex, and he recognized an expression that Alex hadn't realized he was giving off. "You know something, don't you?"

"Jade mentioned a voice before the fire," Alex admitted. "It told her to enjoy it while she lasts." Alex turned away. "I thought it was just the trauma. When that happened, she was in a bad place, and I didn't take it seriously then."

Amelia changed the subject noting the tension building up. "I also believed that Jade may have more than one ability. "After that day in class, I couldn't let up. I knew it wasn't her exhaustion, but the only thing I could find on abilities that caused pain were relative to the Enlightened's absorption." Amelia stilled. "Wait, is that it? Does Jade have his ability, and that's why he came to find her?"

"Jade's birth father," Dean Turk trailed. They all had the same thought, but none said it aloud. There was no way after all the trauma she faced that Jade could be, and Alex dismissed it, realizing just how insane the thought would be.

"Look, I'll call my father and visit him. Maybe I can get a real answer of what is going on?" Alex offered. Dean Turk nodded. Alex noticed Edge's expression, he recognized the agony Edge had of relying on Alex to do this, but he nodded. "I'm sure there is a more realistic explanation for all of this." Alex took a deep breath and reached for an orb he stuck on his ear in his pocket. "Hey, dad," Alex started as the connection patched through. "I was wondering if you could send transportation from me. I need your help with something. Yeah, yeah, I'll be ready." Alex hung up and nodded. "I'm going to head up to the front of the Omega. I'll be back as soon as I can be."