Jade

Chapter 35

“What?” I asked Aris, “Why can't you stay with me?”  “I need to lead.  I can not do that and focus on you at the same time,” Aris answered, “this way I am assured that you are safe so that I can do what I need to do.”  You will be fine.  Trust your skin and if things go bad, just ask for help.  “Okay,” I agreed, not as sure as I tried to let on.  “You will be fine.  I trust Ripley with you,” he assured me.  I nodded my head yes in acceptance.  He took my hand to reassure me.  It had that familiar calming affect.

They started discussing strategy.  Lia and Max would accompany Ripley and I.  The others would all be stationed at various points on the compound.  More men arrived as we were eating lunch, so we would outnumber the Drakes enough that they shouldn't cause any trouble.  We are planning just in case.  There was more talk about strategy, but I didn't understand so I quickly lost interest.  My attention went to Ripley.  He was watching me.  I smiled at him.  He smiled back reassuringly, We will be fine.  I can handle it.  Wait a minute.  Ripley?  Yes.  You can speak to me like this?  Yes.  Yaris opened up the communication line for us.  Can he hear us?  If he wants to, but he will not unless we invite him or if there is an emergency.  I don't understand most of what they are talking about.  We could go smoke.  We can do that?  “Yaris,” Ripley interrupted, “Jade and I are going for a break.” Aris nodded, “we will join you shortly.”

Ripley and I got up from the table and left the room.  We went to Ripley's room so that he could put on his winter wear.  I changed into mine.  “How do you do that, anyway?” he asked.  “I don't know.  I just do,” I told him.  He nodded accepting the answer.  There must be things about him that he can't explain too.  “There are,” he answered.  I looked at him.  “How do I make it to where you can't hear everything I think?”  “I can not explain that because it will be different for you.  Yaris needs to do that,” he answered.  “Okay,” I acknowledged, “Would you like to see something cool?”  “Sure,” he agreed.  I turned my back to him, then told the skin to braid my hair, slowed down.  “So you think a command and it just happens?” he asked.  “Yes.”  “That is the coolest thing that I have ever seen.”

He held the door open for me.  We went out into the hallway and met up with Antony and Kale.  They had just gone out.  I heard them whispering after, but couldn't understand what they were saying.  We went out to the front porch instead of the back porch.  “Why the front porch?” I asked.  “Because that back porch is going to be packed all of the time right now,” he answered, “I do not want to have to introduce you every time we go out.”  “Yeah, I don't want that either,” I smiled.

He lit me a cigarette, then one for himself.  I took a long draw off of mine, held it for a second, then exhaled, “I wouldn't mind having some of his good wine again.”  Ripley smiled, “He said that he will bring some out if we wait for him.”  “Okay,” I agreed.  A few minutes later Aris came out with a bottle of wine and handed it to me.  “How do I make it to where Ripley doesn't hear everything I think?” I asked him, then took a drink.  “Here, look into my eyes and watch until I release you,” he answered.  I got close to him and stared into his eyes.  I watched the colors and pictures swirl around in his eyes until he kissed me, then moved back away from me.  “Now he will only hear your thoughts when you want him to,” Aris stated.

“Are you still talking strategy?” I asked.  “Yes.  I am sorry.  I know that it is boring to you,” he answered.  “Not boring.  I just don't understand a lot of it,” I commented.  “We are almost done.  Then it will be time for dinner.  You could go see if Lia would like help in the kitchen,” he suggested.  “Okay,” I agreed, happy to be useful.

“Jade, can I hear your thoughts for a little while just so I can grow accustomed to it?” Ripley asked.  “How do I give him permission?” I asked Aris.  “You just think it like you do when you change clothes,” Aris answered.  “Okay, does that work on you?”  He smiled and shook his head no, “It's different for us.  But I will not be listening as much.  I will be too busy.”  “But you will hear me if I need you?”  “Yes, always.”  We finished our cigarettes.

“Now I need to take you to the back porch to introduce you,” Aris told me.  “Do we have to?” I asked, my anxiety level increasing, “I don't like to be in the spotlight.”  He took my hand and started to rub small circles on my palm, instantly relaxing me.  “It is something you will have to get used to,” he told me, “The troops really want to meet you.  You give them something to fight for.”  “Okay,” I agreed reluctantly.  What if they don't like me.  They are going to love you, they both answered in unison.  I giggled, that's just weird.  They both smiled.

We went inside and walked through the cabin to the back door.  Aris turned to look at me, “Are you ready?”  I nodded my head “yes.”  Aris opened the door and we walked out.  There were so many people gathered.  Men and women, but no children.  They almost immediately went silent and stood looking at us.  They all saluted.  Aris and Ripley saluted back.  “I would like to introduce to you Jade,” Aris looked at me, “These are our people.”  I smiled then saluted at them.  They all started cheering.  You are not marked, so stay with me.  Some of them have been drinking.  Okay.  Ripley will stay close too.  Aris took a hold of my hand.